Nobody is above the law. P.M. Meles Zenawi is no exception. He upheld the law by respecting the Ethiopian Constitution when he declined to interfere in the case of convicts Eng. Hailu Shawel et al. Thus, in my opinion, the Prime Minister’s credibility remains intact and beyond reproach.

I have always maintained that Meles Zenawi was fair and consistent, contrary to those who branded him as manipulative and vindictive. Most prominent among his political adversaries were/are Siye Abraha the hero, who has been on trial for the last four years; and ex-Prime Minister Tamirat Layne who is serving an 18-year prison sentence for embezzlement. Tamirat Layne is long overdue for “pardon”; and I pray that P.M. Meles Zenawi would grant him one very soon. It is the right thing to do!

Siye Abraha and his remaining siblings (the case against Asefa Abraha was recently dismissed) will come before the Court for deliberations very soon. I believe that their cases will be dismissed outright. If however, they are found guilty, they are more than worthy candidates for pardons from the Prime Minister. Certainly, Siye Abraha is most deserving because of his life-long service as freedom fighter and Military Leader, in the tradition of Ras Alula, Ras Abebe Aregay, and General Aman Michael Andom.

For the sake of consistency, P.M. Meles ought to consider a wide range of “pardons” for all prisoners with political baggage real and imagined, who may be languishing in prisons. I doubt if any of their crimes came close to that perpetrated by DERG and its Clones upon the Ethiopian people. If one group is entitled to pardons, the same courtesy must also be extended to others, for consistency. As saying goes, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

I would like to tell Ana Gomes (a.k.a by her “vocal” partners) to “eat her heart out”! The Prime Minister of Ethiopia will not renege on his duty to uphold the Constitution of Ethiopia in exchange for any handouts from anywhere. He will exercise his authority, by virtue of his position as Prime Minister, at the appropriate time.

In conclusion, Ana Gomes should spend some of her time, of which she has plenty it seems like, lobbying on behalf of Isaias Afwerki’s prisoners (his comrades) who are languishing in prisons; and many more inside shipping containers, without ever stepping inside a courthouse. It would be a humane way of utilizing her abundant time.