Saturday 18 November 2006 00:10.
Nov 17, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian Ministry of Defence has suspended three generals. This suspension comes after the defection of several high ranking officers who joined armed oppositions groups.
Brig. Gen. Kemal Geltu
The Ethiopian Defence Council in its meeting Wednesday 15 November announced that it has suspended three high ranking officers who were found an obstacle to the constitutional duties, a statement from the Ministry of defence said.
According to the statement, Maj-Gen Alemshet Degefe, ex-Ethiopian airforce commander, Brig-Gen Kumer Asfaw and Brig-Gen Asamenew Tsege have been suspended.
The Ethiopian TV in Amharic said yesterday that this decision intervenes as part of reform activities in a bid to bring about changes in the ministry.
The ministry said that it had been engaged in extensive activities to implement its constitutional duties and bring about institutional changes in the ministry.
Ethiopian Prime Minister attributed last October the defections in the ranks of the Ethiopian army to fears from reform programmes aiming to purge the army from disloyal elements.
“It has been noted that there are individuals in the defence forces, who are not loyal to the constitution, and these things have been ignored.” Meles explained.
“At a time when final preparations were made to purge the institution and make it a place where only those loyal to the constitution can participate, there were situation where some individuals who did not like the process fled before the purge was carried out. However, the programme continues according to plan and is expected to be completed soon.”
High-ranking officers from the Ethiopian army defected since August. Mostly, they joint the opposition Oromo Liberation Front bases in the neighbouring Eritrea. Brig. Gen. Kemal Geltu was the first to defect to Eritrea, with 150 Ethiopian soldiers on 10 August.
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