ETHIOPIA: Cardinal Berhaneyesus Welcomes Former Political Leaders who Imprisoned him
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| H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus and Captain Tessama Belay |
Cardinal Berhaneyesus welcomed the
former ‘Derg’ communist regime political leaders who imprisoned him for 7 months. The political leaders paid a
visit to his office to congratulate him for his elevation to the Cardinalate.
former ‘Derg’ communist regime political leaders who imprisoned him for 7 months. The political leaders paid a
visit to his office to congratulate him for his elevation to the Cardinalate.
On the occasion, the group leader
Captain Fikresilassie Wegderes said that it is a great pleasure for them to be
at the Cardinal’s office and congratulate him for this honor. “You mean a lot
to us Your Eminence, as you were by our side at the most difficult time of our
lives, you have thought of us in prayer, you loved us, you pleaded for our forgiveness love;
and most of all, you were our voice,” said Captain Fikressielassie.
Captain Fikresilassie Wegderes said that it is a great pleasure for them to be
at the Cardinal’s office and congratulate him for this honor. “You mean a lot
to us Your Eminence, as you were by our side at the most difficult time of our
lives, you have thought of us in prayer, you loved us, you pleaded for our forgiveness love;
and most of all, you were our voice,” said Captain Fikressielassie.
He thanked His Eminence and the
Catholic Church for Her role in their release so that they can be reunited with
their families. “Many thanks to you and other religious leaders for your
contribution to our release for that we are living a free and peaceful life
with our families,” he said adding that “You went through many complicated
processes for our release and it will remain in our heart forever.”
Catholic Church for Her role in their release so that they can be reunited with
their families. “Many thanks to you and other religious leaders for your
contribution to our release for that we are living a free and peaceful life
with our families,” he said adding that “You went through many complicated
processes for our release and it will remain in our heart forever.”
Another official, Captain Tessama
Belay who imprisoned H.E. Berhaneyesus, recalled the time of his encounter with
His Eminence in Jimma when he imprisoned him and then he talked about the time
they met again when the religious leaders visited them in prison. “When I asked
you for forgiveness, I did not have to repeat it again, you told me right away
that you had forgiven me a long time ago,” he said adding that, “We all have a
unique feeling for you and the Catholic Church as you were there for us in our
time of need, you have thought us a lot.”
Belay who imprisoned H.E. Berhaneyesus, recalled the time of his encounter with
His Eminence in Jimma when he imprisoned him and then he talked about the time
they met again when the religious leaders visited them in prison. “When I asked
you for forgiveness, I did not have to repeat it again, you told me right away
that you had forgiven me a long time ago,” he said adding that, “We all have a
unique feeling for you and the Catholic Church as you were there for us in our
time of need, you have thought us a lot.”
His Eminence Cardinal
Berhaneyesus, C.M., at that time a young priest working in Keffa and Jimma
area, was among many religious leaders who were imprisoned by the ‘Derg’ Communist
regime. H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus had on different occasions visited Captain
Tessema while he was in prison and he had even comforted his family.
Berhaneyesus, C.M., at that time a young priest working in Keffa and Jimma
area, was among many religious leaders who were imprisoned by the ‘Derg’ Communist
regime. H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus had on different occasions visited Captain
Tessema while he was in prison and he had even comforted his family.
His Eminence Cardinal
Berhaneyesus, C.M on his part repeated his call for forgiveness and how
important was it to one another. He explained that the National Committee is
still active and efforts of achieving national reconciliation are ongoing. He
said the Catholic Church will continue to do her part as member of the
committee and on the other side the Church will also work to contribute to the
rehabilitation process of both the victims of the ‘Derg’ Regime and some of the
released former officials who are less fortunate. He thanked them for their
kind congratulatory words and closed by saying a prayer together.
Berhaneyesus, C.M on his part repeated his call for forgiveness and how
important was it to one another. He explained that the National Committee is
still active and efforts of achieving national reconciliation are ongoing. He
said the Catholic Church will continue to do her part as member of the
committee and on the other side the Church will also work to contribute to the
rehabilitation process of both the victims of the ‘Derg’ Regime and some of the
released former officials who are less fortunate. He thanked them for their
kind congratulatory words and closed by saying a prayer together.
The Former ‘Derg’ communist
regime officials were sentenced to death for the crimes they committed while
they were in office. The Catholic Church along with other religious
institutions in the country engaged in continuous discussion with the
government to request pardon from the death penalty which was the sentence
court had passed.
regime officials were sentenced to death for the crimes they committed while
they were in office. The Catholic Church along with other religious
institutions in the country engaged in continuous discussion with the
government to request pardon from the death penalty which was the sentence
court had passed.
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia
had been working vigorously to achieve national reconciliation among the
officials of the Former ‘Derg’ communist regime and the people of Ethiopia. A committee
was established for the purpose of national reconciliation which travelled to
many different parts of the country.
had been working vigorously to achieve national reconciliation among the
officials of the Former ‘Derg’ communist regime and the people of Ethiopia. A committee
was established for the purpose of national reconciliation which travelled to
many different parts of the country.
After gaining the people’s
acceptance of the request for reconciliation, discussion with the government
continued. Finally their sentence was reduced to life time in prison which
meant, according to the Ethiopian law is 25 years. 5 years was deducted from
their sentence with parole and they were released after 20 years in prison 3
years ago. One of the first things they did after their release was visit H.E.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus, C.M to thank him personally for all his kind efforts and
mercy.
acceptance of the request for reconciliation, discussion with the government
continued. Finally their sentence was reduced to life time in prison which
meant, according to the Ethiopian law is 25 years. 5 years was deducted from
their sentence with parole and they were released after 20 years in prison 3
years ago. One of the first things they did after their release was visit H.E.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus, C.M to thank him personally for all his kind efforts and
mercy.
By
Makeda Yohannes, Social Communications and Public Relations Officer, Ethiopian
Catholic Bishops Conference
Makeda Yohannes, Social Communications and Public Relations Officer, Ethiopian
Catholic Bishops Conference
