Family scrambles for news of Canadian detainee
June 06, 2008
Debra Black
STAFF REPORTER

The family of a Canadian who has been imprisoned in Ethiopia for almost 18 months is desperately scrambling to confirm reports that Ethiopia has charged him with "terrorist activities" and that he is now on trial.

Bashir Makhtal, a former Torontonian who was arrested in late December 2006 on the Kenya-Somalia border and sent to Ethiopia in late January 2007, has been charged with being a member of the leadership of a rebel separatist group with alleged ties to Al Qaeda and being involved in terrorist activities, according to federal NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar.

Makhtal's cousin, Said Maktal, said he's heard nothing about the charges or trial and has been unable to confirm reports with Canadian officials or relatives in Ethiopia.


"It really makes me nervous," Maktal said. "I can't even breathe ... The only thing I see is the life of my cousin is really in danger."

A foreign affairs department spokesperson was unable to give any information related to reports of charges or a court case yesterday.

The reports come on the heels of a statement by Canada's parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs on Wednesday who said he flew to Ethiopia in March to press the case for consular access for Makhtal who has been held incommunicado since his detention in Addis Ababa.

Calgary Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai said officials told him Makhtal was in "good health" and was being treated humanely. Obhrai did not return calls yesterday.

Dewar said he was told by an Ethiopian embassy official in Ottawa yesterday that Makhtal was arrested for being a member of the Ogaden National Liberation Front and part of their leadership and he was now facing charges of terrorism in a civilian court and that the court case was already underway.

Dewar said the embassy official told him that "following due process, he (Makhtal) will be convicted and a sentence will be handed down." Depending on the outcome of the trial, Makhtal, who is in his early 40s, could face six to 12 years in prison, Dewar said he was told.


Dewar said the official also told him the Ogaden front was affiliated with a terror group in Somalia known as Al-Shabab and that group had links to Al Qaeda. Makhtal is originally from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, where his grandfather started a separatist movement.

It's nothing more than "guilt by birth," said Dewar. He quoted Ethiopian officials saying: "This is part of the international war on terror and he (Makhtal) should be seen in that light."

Dewar believes it's time for Ottawa to intervene. "The question is, what is the Canadian government doing now to protect Bashir's rights and why aren't they bringing him home in light of the fact this is a case of rendition," he said.

Toronto Star

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