Open Letter to President of Yemen

July 1, 2014

Open letter to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi: President of Yemen Arab Republic

by Mulat Hailu

The people of Ethiopia are Shocked and disappointed over the illegal detention of Andargachew Tsige, Secretary General of Ginbot7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy by Yemen security forces during his transit flight in Yemen.

Mr. Andargachew is an Ethiopian origin and British citizen who has been struggling for prevalence of democracy in Ethiopia. He has devoted himself to the true cause of Ethiopian people, the inevitable desire for democracy. Though foiled successfully, the criminal dictatorial regime in Ethiopia has attempted to assassinate the leader Andargachew in November 2013. Mr. Andargachew is hero for Ethiopian people and is one of the icons of democracy in the nation.

The Senna Security forum that has been signed under former president of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh and former dictator of Ethiopia Melse Zenawi which lead TPLF to establish surveillance base in Yemen for surveillance and phone tapping on Ethiopian opposition has been serious concern for Ethiopian people. The illegal detention of Mr. Andargachew, by Yemen Security forces since June 23, 2014 has no ground and is grave concern for the people of Ethiopia. We urge the government of Yemen to immediately free Mr. Andargachew and the Yemen security forces not to transfer him to the criminal regime in Addis under any circumstance. Yemen has no ground to detain Mr. Andargachew who has been tirelessly working for prevalence of democracy in Ethiopia. We request the government of Yemen to carefully evaluate its long term interest and lasting cooperation with the people of Ethiopia and avoid short termism in dealing with dictatorial regime in Ethiopia. The long historical relationship between the people of the two sisterly nations has endured, in spite of changing regimes, on the basis of mutual cooperation. The people of Ethiopia considers the act of transferring Mr. Andargachew to the dictatorial regime in Ethiopia as direct attack on its long aspiration and struggle for genuine democracy in the nation. We hereby request President Hadi not to take any steps that will jeopardies the long lasting relationship between the people of the two sisterly nations and to order the immediate release of Mr. Andargachew. Thank you in advance for your serious consideration.