The Ethiopian Red Terror Trials

Transitional Justice Challenged

Professor Charles Schaefer author Girmachew Alemu Aneme author Kjetil Tronvoll editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:James Currey

Published:19th Mar '09

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Ethiopian Red Terror Trials cover

This collection analyses the approach taken by the current government of Ethiopia to deal with the massive human rights violations that took place from 1974 to 1991 under the Derg. How was an autocratic emperor replaced by a totalitarian dictator? An unexpected popular upsurge in February 1974 made the ancien regime of Emperor Haile Selassie buckle. The Derg, a group of army officers led by an obscure and ruthless major Mengistu Hailemariam, seized power by military coup in September 1974 and removed the Emperor. What was the 'red terror'? The callous executions of members of the old regime initiated a cult of violence. The Derg were united by the shedding of blood. Search and destroy campaigns against militants led on to the full-blown 'red terror' in which thousands of the regime's opponents were brutally murdered in the streets. In what way was 'transitional justice' administered? The main officials were found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity by the Ethiopian Federal High Court and sentenced to life imprisonment. Some of the minor officialshad already been sentenced to death, whilst President Mugabe has given Mengistu Hailemariam sanctuary in Zimbabwe. KJETIL TRONVOLL is Professor in Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Studies at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo; CHARLES SCHAEFER is Associate Professor of African History, Valparaiso University; GIRMACHEW ALEMU ANEME is a Research Fellow at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of Oslo.

A major contribution to the paltry transitional justice literature. * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE *
For shedding light on a process that has dwelt in inordinate obscurity, this volume is very valuable. It can deepen contemporary understandings of the dilemmas and opportunities presented by the assertion of jurisdiction for international crimes by the ravaged and war-torn states in which they occur. * INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW REVIEW *
Is bound to raise awareness of an otherwise ignored historic courtroom drama. [It is] a solid, luminous, and timely work, a must-read for all Ethiopianists, especially for human rights advocates and policy analysts. * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHIOPIAN STUDIES *
This collection is an enlightening read. It provides the first comprehensive and detailed account of Ethiopia's Red Terror trials and will be of interest to scholars, academics and policy makers concerned with human rights, transitional justice, conflict and post-conflict resolution. * AFRICAN STUDIES BULLETIN *
This collection is an enlightening read. It provides the first comprehensive and detailed account of Ethiopia's Red Terror trials and will be of interest to scholars, academics, activists and policy makers concerned with human rights issues, transitional justice, conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. * LUCAS BULLETIN *

ISBN: 9781847013200

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

176 pages