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What really is justice? Justice is the basis for all civilization. In assuring the ordinary citizen's right to work and live peacefully and without fear, justice forms the cornerstone of nationhood. This notion is central to all civilization. That is why every nation worthy of its citizens has spent and continues to spend enormous resources trying to ensure the independence of the justice system. The moment the justice system of a nation fails to uphold the rights of the ordinary citizen, that nation's end is near. Such a time, is upon Ethiopia.

Although it can't be said that Ethiopia's justice system had ever been strongly independent or even remotely influential in the nation's affairs, it at least had the basic framework to administer the rudiments of justice. It had also managed to create some individuals able to fathom the lofty ideals of a nation's justice system and with the capacity to implement them—if only they had been allowed to. This nascent justice system was struck a great blow by the Derg, (the repressive military and communist former government of Ethiopia), and nearly destroyed. It was a particularly painful period in our history and it would be better not to dwell on the immeasurable suffering the Derg's “revolution” brought upon our people as a whole. Unfortunately, this suffering was not going to end with the demise of the Derg.

Hope was great at the time of the EPRDF's, (the ruling party currently), ascendance to power that many of the wrongs suffered by the nation would be addressed and/or redressed. Similarly, it was everybody's hope that critical public institutions marginalized during the time of the Derg would be invigorated and trust in those institutions reestablished. Sadly, this was not to be. Apparently, the EPRDF, like all groups with power before it, was only paying lip service to the ideals we all held and still hold dear. From its inception, the government of the EPRDF was more interested in controlling the institutions that build trust rather than in strengthening and allowing them to develop. By so doing it nipped in the bud the hope and the confidence of the public in those same institutions. The justice institution—(Courts, Prosecutors and Police)—was given “special attention” and naturally, became the one that suffered most among these institutions. The justice system, leave alone being revived, was being buried deeper in its grave and with it, the hope that Ethiopia at last had a fighting chance to peace, stability and development. Examples abounded at the time but not many paid attention—some out of misguided notions of support for and belief in the government, others with the false impression that it won't affect them any and many out of numbing apathy. One need only recall or see the farce of a “trial” of the Derg's officials, the thousands of political prisoners languishing in overcrowded prisons without any charges whatsoever, the rampant corruption in the police departments,….the list goes on and on.

This all came to a head after the rift in the higher ranks of the TPLF (the major partner in the ruling party) came out into the open. Well, as witnessed many times in history (but seldom learnt), that which was marginalized or ridiculed ends up being the one that decides one's fate—the losing group of the apparent power struggle turned to the very justice system that they helped emasculate, or at best did nothing to support, for help. Some might see poetic justice in this while others might say that two wrongs never make a right. Be that as it may, what makes it sad, unfortunate and unfair is that it is claiming victim many innocent citizens as well. Citizens who had believed in their country and contributed far more to the well being of the nation through their efforts than all the (apparently) self-serving politicians put together. These people have become the unwitting pawns in a political game they had no hand in creating. In countries with a functioning justice system, these people would have been presumed innocent to begin with and the courts would have decided through due process of law if they were indeed, guilty of what they have been accused of. Not so in Ethiopia, and the facts bear out. The questions one needs to ask are would the justice system, further weakened and never strong to begin with, be trusted to uphold these people's rights? Would a justice system controlled inside out by the political elite through application of the carrot (economic well being, sometimes even bordering on survival in Ethiopia) and the stick (threats to self or family) be expected to come up with a finding not to the liking of the people calling the shots? It would be anyone's belief, that indeed this won't be so. After all, these are the people who preside at courts which, found nothing wrong with the “personal” law abrogating the constitutional right of an accused individual to bail.

It is clear that the resulting damage to the country is incalculable. What guarantees would an ordinary citizen have against an all-powerful political elite, their acolytes and the ever-present opportunists out to get him/her? Which investor would trust to put even a penny in a country where arbitrary decisions are the norm? This government is destroying the very fabric of Ethiopian society by conducting state-sponsored, vicious campaigns against individuals it deems dangerous to its survival. Not only that, it is employing the machinery of the country's figuratively “independent” justice system to paint the veneer of legality to the crimes it is committing against innocent citizens. After all, this is a government that thinks nothing of planting the seed of perpetual conflict through various non-inclusive “agreements” it is arrogantly and irresponsibly entering into. What more shows the callousness, contempt and utter disregard this government has for the well being of its citizens? Enough is enough. The world at large and Ethiopians in particular should examine the facts at hand and see the sham of a government in Ethiopia and the sophistry of its leaders for what they really are. This web site will present facts supported by actual documents that we hope will help in this regard. It is a reflection of the age-old yearning of our people for the ever-elusive, ever-unattainable justice and for fair treatment. As such, it will try to bring to light the true nature of the status of justice, (such as there is), in Ethiopia. It will also try to accommodate all relevant information and data on the status of justice in Ethiopia, the workings of the Courts and the current “trials” being conducted. The utmost effort has been made and will continue to be made to ensure the authenticity of all information, data and supporting documents posted on this site.

Ethiopia is an ancient land. Its name is mentioned with respect in ancient history tomes and the holy books of the world's dominant religions acknowledge it as a land of refuge and succor for their followers. Its people have been around since the dawn of civilization and, in giving rise to a unique culture that has weathered them through thick and thin, have contributed their share to the development of human kind. Its place in mankind's history is assured. Ethiopia and its people have gone through countless natural and man-made calamities but still managed to survive. Its identity as a nation and a people, however, had never come under question—until recently, that is. Time is running out fast. Justice has fallen victim to political intrigue and expediency and to the short-sighted whims of the leaders of the ruling party. Now is the time to say enough is enough. Naturally, the responsibility of the judiciary and all affiliated legal professions in carrying out their duty in this regard cannot be overemphasized.