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, 2001

His Excellency Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's Office
PO Box 1031
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia



Your Excellency,


I read with great interest about the speech that you made in Addis Ababa last November to the All-Africa Conference on African Principles of Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation. In particular, I strongly support your ideas regarding the basic elements of building peace and stability:

"Without good governance, equity, fairness and the culture of tolerance, even those [African countries] relatively strong are bound to fail making whatever peace and stability they have, durable."

It is in the spirit of fairness and tolerance raised in your speech that I take the opportunity to express my concern about the imprisonment of Dr Taye Woldesemayat, who last year was convicted of armed conspiracy and sentenced to fifteen years in prison without credit for the three years served during his lengthy trial.

I appeal to you to investigate the allegations that the evidence presented by the prosecution was extracted under torture, and to ensure that Dr Taye is granted a new trial. Alternatively, may I suggest that you grant him an amnesty, or that you recommend the court to reduce his sentence to time served so that he can regain his freedom forthwith.

These small steps would make a significant difference and would be a noteworthy sign of fairness embodied in a culture of tolerance.

In the sincere hope that my request meets with your favourable consideration, I remain, yours sincerely,