Ginbot 7
Ginbot 7 is an Ethiopian opposition political organization founded by Berhanu Nega.
According to their mission statement, Ginbot 7's goal is "the realization of a national political system in which government power and political authority is assumed through peaceful and democratic process based on the free will and choice of citizens of the country."[1] According to The New Yorker in 2014, Ginbot 7 are " an exiled pro-democracy party that the Ethiopian government labelled a terrorist group in 2011, under a vague and widely condemned proclamation."[2]
Ginbot 7 means "15 May", the date of the Ethiopian general election, 2005, which was "marred by protests over alleged fraud that led to the deaths of about 200 people."[3]
Members, past and present
- Berhanu Nega, founder of Ginbot 7, is the founding chairman of Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice and a deputy chairman of Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).[4]
- Andargachew Tsige was a founder[5] and its secretary general.[3]
Coup or smear?
On 24 April 2009, the Ethiopian government claimed, through the Ethiopian News Agency, that it had foiled a coup attempt led by members of Ginbot 7 to overthrow the government.[6] Ginbot 7 described the allegation that it had attempted a coup as a "baseless accusation" that fitted a pattern of distraction and scapegoating by the government.[7]
References
- ↑ "Ginbot 7 Mission Statement (English)". Ginbot7.org. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
- ↑ Kopstein, Joshua (10 March 2014). "Hackers Without Borders". The New Yorker. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- 1 2 "Ginbot 7's Andargachew Tsege: Ethiopia confirms arrest". BBC News. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Ginbot 7 forges an alliance with 2 other parties". Ethiopian Review. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
- ↑ Iaccino, Ludovica (10 August 2016). "Protest crackdown in Ethiopia sparks fears for fate of Ginbot 7 founder Andy Tsege". International Business Times. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Woyanne claims it has foiled Ginbot 7 activities in Ethiopia", Ethiopian Review
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120418222418/http://www.ginbot7.org/Ginbot_7_PressRelease_25_April_2009.htm