File #2368: "2018_Book_ProsecutionOfPoliticideInEthio.pdf"
Text
1|Acknowledgements|6
1|Contents|8
1|Acronyms and Abbreviations|11
1|1 Prefatory Part|13
2|Abstract|13
2|1.1 General Introduction: Setting the Context|13
2|1.2 Objectives of the Book|22
2|1.3 Outline of the Book|22
2|References|23
2|Cases|25
1|2 Historical Survey of the Derg Regime and the Infamous Red Terror|26
2|Abstract|26
2|2.1 The Prelude to the 1974 Revolution|26
2|2.2 From an Aristocratic Feudal Monarchy to the Dictatorial Military Junta|32
2|2.3 The Urban Opposition Against the Derg|40
2|2.4 The Genesis of the Red Terror and the White Terror|45
3|2.4.1 The Pre-September 1976 Terror|45
3|2.4.2 The Post-September 1976 Terror: Qey Sheber|47
4|2.4.2.1 Red Terror: Phase One (11 September 1976–3 February 1977)|50
4|2.4.2.2 Red Terror: Phase Two (February to November 1977)|52
4|2.4.2.3 Red Terror: Phase Three (November 1977 to mid-1978)|58
2|2.5 Human Cost of the Terror: Quantification of the Victims|60
2|2.6 The War against the Insurgents in the North|63
3|2.6.1 Indiscriminate Bombardments|65
3|2.6.2 Creation of Famine and Manipulation of Aid|68
3|2.6.3 Forced Resettlement|69
2|2.7 The Demise of the Mengistu Regime and the Rise to Power of the Ethnic-based Insurgents|70
2|2.8 Interim Conclusion|71
2|References|72
1|3 The Ethiopian Legal Framework for the Prosecution of Crimes Under International Law|76
2|Abstract|76
2|3.1 Introductory Remarks: Setting the Framework|76
2|3.2 A Brief Survey of the Regulation of Core Crimes Under Ethiopian Law|78
2|3.3 International Crimes Under the 1957 Penal Code|79
3|3.3.1 Genocide|79
4|3.3.1.1 General Overview of Genocide Under International Law|80
5|Historical Background and the Etymology of Genocide|80
5|Definition of Genocide Under the Genocide Convention|83
4|3.3.1.2 Genocide Under the 1957 Ethiopian Penal Code: Definition|87
5|Actus Reus of Genocide|89
5|Individual Acts|89
5|Understanding the Contours of Individuals Acts of Genocide|91
5|Typologies of Protected Groups: The Scope and Definition of the Groups|94
5|Categories of Protected Groups|95
5|Definition of the Four Protected Groups|95
5|Protection of Political Groups from Genocidal Acts: Politicide|98
5|Definition of Political Groups: Is Registration a Criterion for Protection?|105
5|Commission of Individuals Acts against the Protected groups ‘As Such’|107
5|Criterion for Identification and Classification of the Protected Groups|110
5|Mens Rea|111
3|3.3.2 Crimes Against Humanity|114
3|3.3.3 War Crimes|118
2|3.4 Modes of Participation Under the Penal Code|121
2|3.5 Defenses|129
2|3.6 Penalties|130
2|3.7 Interim Conclusion|131
2|References|132
2|Cases|140
1|4 The Ethiopian Approach to Reckon with Derg Crimes: The Road to the Creation of the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office|143
2|Abstract|143
2|4.1 Overview of the Strategies to Confront a Repressive Past|143
2|4.2 Promulgation of the Interim Charter and the Establishment of the Transitional Government|153
2|4.3 Criminal Accountability as a Means to Confront Derg Crimes: The Establishment of the Special Public Prosecutors Office|156
3|4.3.1 Creation of the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office and Establishment of a New Court System|158
4|4.3.1.1 Mandate|159
5|Investigating and Prosecuting Derg Crimes|159
5|Establishing Historical Record of the Violations|162
4|4.3.1.2 Years of Coverage, Organization, and Duration of the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office|163
3|4.3.2 The Judiciary and the Office of the Public Defender|168
2|4.4 Habeas Corpus Petitions of Detainees|171
2|4.5 Interim Conclusion|174
2|References|174
2|Cases|180
1|5 Criminal Accountability for Derg Crimes: Prosecution of Politicide|181
2|Abstract|181
2|5.1 The Special Public Prosecutor’s Investigation and Prosecutorial Strategy|181
2|5.2 Terror on Trial: The Red Terror Trials|182
3|5.2.1 The Accused|183
3|5.2.2 Victims in the Red Terror Trials|185
2|5.3 The SPP v Colonel Mengistu Haile-Mariam et al: Filed First; Concluded Last|187
3|5.3.1 The Indictment|189
4|5.3.1.1 Provocation and Preparation to Commit Genocide or Incitement to Politicide|189
4|5.3.1.2 Commission of Politicide: Genocide Against Political Groups|190
5|Killings|191
5|Causing Serious Bodily and Mental Injuries|192
5|Subjecting People to Destructive Conditions|192
4|5.3.1.3 Illegal Detentions|193
4|5.3.1.4 Abuse of Power|193
3|5.3.2 The Trial: Heads of State and Government on Trial|194
4|5.3.2.1 Motions to Dismiss the Charges and the Special Public Prosecutor’s Rebuttal Responses|194
5|Objection Related to the Transitional Government’s Authority and the Charter|195
5|Immunity|196
5|Objection Related to the Charges of Politicide|200
5|Acts Authorized by Law|203
5|The Charges Barred by the Statute of Limitations|205
5|Objection to the Framing and Organization of the Charges|208
5|No Punishment Without a Law|211
5|Dismissing the Case in Favor of Reconciliation|212
5|The Ruling of the Federal High Court on the Objections to the Charges|212
3|5.3.3 The Main Trial: Tendering Evidence and the Ruling of the Federal High Court|215
3|5.3.4 Conclusion of the Prolix Trial: The Verdict|219
4|5.3.4.1 The Decision of the Majority|219
4|5.3.4.2 Judge Nuru Said’s Dissenting Opinion|220
3|5.3.5 Stocktaking of the Judgment: Evaluation|223
3|5.3.6 Sentencing Decision|224
4|5.3.6.1 Majority Decision|226
4|5.3.6.2 Presiding Judge Medine’s Dissenting Opinion on the Sentencing Decision|228
3|5.3.7 Appellate Proceedings: Arguments of the Parties and Appellate Court’s Decision|230
4|5.3.7.1 The Special Public Prosecutor’s Grounds of Appeal|231
5|Legal error in Regard to the Mitigating Grounds Applied by the Trial Court|232
5|Failure to Consider Aggravating Circumstances|232
5|Severe Punishment (Death Penalty) for the Policy and Decision Makers|233
4|5.3.7.2 The Submissions of the 21 Respondents|234
4|5.3.7.3 Appeal by the Accused against the Conviction and Sentencing Decision of the Federal High Court|234
4|5.3.7.4 The Special Public Prosecutor’s Reply to Appellants Arguments|236
4|5.3.7.5 Determination of the Appellate Court|237
5|Dismissal of the 23 Appellants Appeal|237
5|Appellate Court’s Decision on the Special Public Prosecutor’s Appeal|239
2|5.4 From Pardon to Release on Probation|241
2|References|245
2|Cases|248
1|6 Stocktaking of the Red Terror Trials: Is It an Approach Worth Emulating?|250
2|Abstract|250
2|6.1 Criticisms or Pitfalls of the Ethiopian Transition—The Red Terror Trials|250
3|6.1.1 Trials of the Vanquished: Victor’s Justice|250
3|6.1.2 Trial in Absentia: Criminal Proceedings in the Absence of the Accused in the Dock|252
3|6.1.3 The Use of Capital Punishment|256
3|6.1.4 Protracted Proceedings and Their Implication for Fair Trial Rights|264
3|6.1.5 Genocide or Not Debate: Did the Mengistu Regime Commit Genocide?|268
3|6.1.6 Offenders Oriented Approach: A Thin Slice of the Truth|272
2|6.2 The Legacy of the Red Terror Trials to Ethiopia’s Transition from the Derg Past|276
3|6.2.1 Trials, Not Summary Executions: Reversed Summary Vendetta?|276
3|6.2.2 Accountability for Heinous Crimes: Justice Redux|278
3|6.2.3 Legal Legacy|279
2|References|281
1|7 Concluding Remarks|285
2|7.1 Recommendations|289
1|Annexes|291
1|Index|308
1|Contents|8
1|Acronyms and Abbreviations|11
1|1 Prefatory Part|13
2|Abstract|13
2|1.1 General Introduction: Setting the Context|13
2|1.2 Objectives of the Book|22
2|1.3 Outline of the Book|22
2|References|23
2|Cases|25
1|2 Historical Survey of the Derg Regime and the Infamous Red Terror|26
2|Abstract|26
2|2.1 The Prelude to the 1974 Revolution|26
2|2.2 From an Aristocratic Feudal Monarchy to the Dictatorial Military Junta|32
2|2.3 The Urban Opposition Against the Derg|40
2|2.4 The Genesis of the Red Terror and the White Terror|45
3|2.4.1 The Pre-September 1976 Terror|45
3|2.4.2 The Post-September 1976 Terror: Qey Sheber|47
4|2.4.2.1 Red Terror: Phase One (11 September 1976–3 February 1977)|50
4|2.4.2.2 Red Terror: Phase Two (February to November 1977)|52
4|2.4.2.3 Red Terror: Phase Three (November 1977 to mid-1978)|58
2|2.5 Human Cost of the Terror: Quantification of the Victims|60
2|2.6 The War against the Insurgents in the North|63
3|2.6.1 Indiscriminate Bombardments|65
3|2.6.2 Creation of Famine and Manipulation of Aid|68
3|2.6.3 Forced Resettlement|69
2|2.7 The Demise of the Mengistu Regime and the Rise to Power of the Ethnic-based Insurgents|70
2|2.8 Interim Conclusion|71
2|References|72
1|3 The Ethiopian Legal Framework for the Prosecution of Crimes Under International Law|76
2|Abstract|76
2|3.1 Introductory Remarks: Setting the Framework|76
2|3.2 A Brief Survey of the Regulation of Core Crimes Under Ethiopian Law|78
2|3.3 International Crimes Under the 1957 Penal Code|79
3|3.3.1 Genocide|79
4|3.3.1.1 General Overview of Genocide Under International Law|80
5|Historical Background and the Etymology of Genocide|80
5|Definition of Genocide Under the Genocide Convention|83
4|3.3.1.2 Genocide Under the 1957 Ethiopian Penal Code: Definition|87
5|Actus Reus of Genocide|89
5|Individual Acts|89
5|Understanding the Contours of Individuals Acts of Genocide|91
5|Typologies of Protected Groups: The Scope and Definition of the Groups|94
5|Categories of Protected Groups|95
5|Definition of the Four Protected Groups|95
5|Protection of Political Groups from Genocidal Acts: Politicide|98
5|Definition of Political Groups: Is Registration a Criterion for Protection?|105
5|Commission of Individuals Acts against the Protected groups ‘As Such’|107
5|Criterion for Identification and Classification of the Protected Groups|110
5|Mens Rea|111
3|3.3.2 Crimes Against Humanity|114
3|3.3.3 War Crimes|118
2|3.4 Modes of Participation Under the Penal Code|121
2|3.5 Defenses|129
2|3.6 Penalties|130
2|3.7 Interim Conclusion|131
2|References|132
2|Cases|140
1|4 The Ethiopian Approach to Reckon with Derg Crimes: The Road to the Creation of the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office|143
2|Abstract|143
2|4.1 Overview of the Strategies to Confront a Repressive Past|143
2|4.2 Promulgation of the Interim Charter and the Establishment of the Transitional Government|153
2|4.3 Criminal Accountability as a Means to Confront Derg Crimes: The Establishment of the Special Public Prosecutors Office|156
3|4.3.1 Creation of the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office and Establishment of a New Court System|158
4|4.3.1.1 Mandate|159
5|Investigating and Prosecuting Derg Crimes|159
5|Establishing Historical Record of the Violations|162
4|4.3.1.2 Years of Coverage, Organization, and Duration of the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office|163
3|4.3.2 The Judiciary and the Office of the Public Defender|168
2|4.4 Habeas Corpus Petitions of Detainees|171
2|4.5 Interim Conclusion|174
2|References|174
2|Cases|180
1|5 Criminal Accountability for Derg Crimes: Prosecution of Politicide|181
2|Abstract|181
2|5.1 The Special Public Prosecutor’s Investigation and Prosecutorial Strategy|181
2|5.2 Terror on Trial: The Red Terror Trials|182
3|5.2.1 The Accused|183
3|5.2.2 Victims in the Red Terror Trials|185
2|5.3 The SPP v Colonel Mengistu Haile-Mariam et al: Filed First; Concluded Last|187
3|5.3.1 The Indictment|189
4|5.3.1.1 Provocation and Preparation to Commit Genocide or Incitement to Politicide|189
4|5.3.1.2 Commission of Politicide: Genocide Against Political Groups|190
5|Killings|191
5|Causing Serious Bodily and Mental Injuries|192
5|Subjecting People to Destructive Conditions|192
4|5.3.1.3 Illegal Detentions|193
4|5.3.1.4 Abuse of Power|193
3|5.3.2 The Trial: Heads of State and Government on Trial|194
4|5.3.2.1 Motions to Dismiss the Charges and the Special Public Prosecutor’s Rebuttal Responses|194
5|Objection Related to the Transitional Government’s Authority and the Charter|195
5|Immunity|196
5|Objection Related to the Charges of Politicide|200
5|Acts Authorized by Law|203
5|The Charges Barred by the Statute of Limitations|205
5|Objection to the Framing and Organization of the Charges|208
5|No Punishment Without a Law|211
5|Dismissing the Case in Favor of Reconciliation|212
5|The Ruling of the Federal High Court on the Objections to the Charges|212
3|5.3.3 The Main Trial: Tendering Evidence and the Ruling of the Federal High Court|215
3|5.3.4 Conclusion of the Prolix Trial: The Verdict|219
4|5.3.4.1 The Decision of the Majority|219
4|5.3.4.2 Judge Nuru Said’s Dissenting Opinion|220
3|5.3.5 Stocktaking of the Judgment: Evaluation|223
3|5.3.6 Sentencing Decision|224
4|5.3.6.1 Majority Decision|226
4|5.3.6.2 Presiding Judge Medine’s Dissenting Opinion on the Sentencing Decision|228
3|5.3.7 Appellate Proceedings: Arguments of the Parties and Appellate Court’s Decision|230
4|5.3.7.1 The Special Public Prosecutor’s Grounds of Appeal|231
5|Legal error in Regard to the Mitigating Grounds Applied by the Trial Court|232
5|Failure to Consider Aggravating Circumstances|232
5|Severe Punishment (Death Penalty) for the Policy and Decision Makers|233
4|5.3.7.2 The Submissions of the 21 Respondents|234
4|5.3.7.3 Appeal by the Accused against the Conviction and Sentencing Decision of the Federal High Court|234
4|5.3.7.4 The Special Public Prosecutor’s Reply to Appellants Arguments|236
4|5.3.7.5 Determination of the Appellate Court|237
5|Dismissal of the 23 Appellants Appeal|237
5|Appellate Court’s Decision on the Special Public Prosecutor’s Appeal|239
2|5.4 From Pardon to Release on Probation|241
2|References|245
2|Cases|248
1|6 Stocktaking of the Red Terror Trials: Is It an Approach Worth Emulating?|250
2|Abstract|250
2|6.1 Criticisms or Pitfalls of the Ethiopian Transition—The Red Terror Trials|250
3|6.1.1 Trials of the Vanquished: Victor’s Justice|250
3|6.1.2 Trial in Absentia: Criminal Proceedings in the Absence of the Accused in the Dock|252
3|6.1.3 The Use of Capital Punishment|256
3|6.1.4 Protracted Proceedings and Their Implication for Fair Trial Rights|264
3|6.1.5 Genocide or Not Debate: Did the Mengistu Regime Commit Genocide?|268
3|6.1.6 Offenders Oriented Approach: A Thin Slice of the Truth|272
2|6.2 The Legacy of the Red Terror Trials to Ethiopia’s Transition from the Derg Past|276
3|6.2.1 Trials, Not Summary Executions: Reversed Summary Vendetta?|276
3|6.2.2 Accountability for Heinous Crimes: Justice Redux|278
3|6.2.3 Legal Legacy|279
2|References|281
1|7 Concluding Remarks|285
2|7.1 Recommendations|289
1|Annexes|291
1|Index|308