Death Sentences Passed On Tigrayan Members of ENDF

Translation of News Published by Ethiopian Press Agency in Amharic on 6th August 2021.

Sentences passed on members of the Armed Forces who supported the aims of the terrorist TPLF while it committed cruel injury to the Armed Forces

The First Instance Military Court of the Western Command has filed charges and is sentencing members of the Armed Forces who supported the aims of the terrorist TPLF while it committed cruel injury to the Armed Forces. 

It was noted that the sentencing is being delivered following proper legal processes, building on documentary and testimonial evidence, hearing of witnesses, and the filing of charges.

According to Colonel Mareye Ebabu, who is in charge of the Western Command Court under the Defence Forces Military Judiciary, these are many soldiers that had been given a mission from the terrorist group to demoralize the army and to sabotage its activities in an organized manner just before the terrorist TPLF launched an attack. 

It has been proven that the members were found to be carrying poisons when searched; derqosh (dried injera) for battle presented as evidence; as well as promoting TPLF propaganda on social media and disseminating TPLF agenda claiming that there was no legitimate government after the 5th of October, said Colonel Mareye.

In addition to working to disgruntle the army and alienate it from the government in loyalty to TPLF, they not only rejected the change [reference to Abiy Ahmed coming to power] there were also insults and significant belittlement, it was explained. 

The plans of the Tigrinya-Speakers in the army that were given a mission by the terrorist TPLF were in preparation to cause damages no less significant than that which was inflicted upon the Northern Command, he said. 

 Noting that the members were charged as per their crimes and according to the law with their rights to appeal maintained, they were mainly charged with treason and were sentenced to death and life in prison as well as other sentences that have been passed on them.

The presiding judge of the Primary Military Court of the Northern Command, Captain Thomas Matthias on his part said that the court-martial of the command has charged and sentenced members of the 5th Mechanized Regiment of the Northern Command who were, through investigation, identified to have attacked and abetted the attack of the Army as well as members under the command [Western] and he thanked the army for its eager cooperation to deliver witness testimony. 

Although most defendants were charged with treason, defense lawyers were appointed to all defendants that appeared before the court, indicates the evidence we got from the Defence Forces page.