December 21, 2016 – Some 9,800 people who were taken in for questioning over a month ago after being involved in violent activities in parts of Ethiopia were freed on Wednesday.
During the 40 days of their stay under custody, the suspects were given awareness raising training on peaceful exercise of the freedom of expression, Government Communication Affairs Office (GCAO) said.
According to Zadig Abriha, GCAO State Minister, the suspects were also briefed on the efforts being exerted by the government at all levels and achievements made in terms of job creation.
The Premier on Wednesday paid a visit to Tolay center, Oromia region, where some 5,602 of the people suspected of being involved in the recent violence in parts of the country were kept.
4,035 of the suspects there were freed later Wednesday to integrate to normal life after receiving relevant awareness raising training.
They were briefed on the peaceful exercise of the freedom of expression as well as the government’s ongoing efforts and achievements with regard to job creation.
There were limitations among government officials before the violence in terms of listening to and properly addressing the demands of those sections of the society, the Premier noted.
The participants of the violence had also chosen the aggressive, rather than the peaceful, way to forward their demands, he added.
The cases of the remaining 1,489 suspects would be handled by the court of law, it was noted.
