Madam, - The Irish Government must use its influence to prevent the execution of 38 opposition leaders and activists in Ethiopia. Prosecutors have called for the death penalty for the men, who were convicted of "outrages against the constitution".
These men, who include the mayor-elect of Addis Ababa and several MPs, were charged under incitement to violence legislation after the country rose up two years ago in protest at rigged elections. In the suppression of those protests, 193 people were killed.
Now that the men have been convicted, prime minister Myles Zenawi has claimed that he cannot interfere with the judicial process and their fate is in the hands of the courts. But under the constitution, he has the power to grant a pardon or amnesty after sentencing.
Since the Ethiopian government receives approximately €40 million from the Irish Government each year, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is ideally positioned to use his influence to have the lives of these men spared. - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'SHEA, Goal, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.