Mr. Taye Dendea, who was removed from his position as Minister of Peace yesterday by the Prime Minister, was arrested on suspicion of “plotting to overthrow the government”.
According to a statement sent to the local media by the Security and Safety Joint Task Force, Ato Taye was being monitored by the government and was conspiring to overthrow the government by making contact with the leaders of the Oromo Liberation Army, known as Shene.
“He was found to be conspiring to overthrow the government through violence, terror and armed struggle by forming links with the leaders of OLB Shene and extremist forces suspected of terrorist crimes,” the statement added.it will be remembered that Ato Taye blamed his government for the obstruction of negotiations between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army in an extensive interview with the BBC last week.
The statement of the task force alleged that the former official, who was removed from his position by the order of Prime Minister Abiy, “was found working with anti-peace forces working to destroy Ethiopia in Hbue.”Ato Taye, who was a senior official in the Ministry of Peace, is said to be involved in the arrests that took place in various areas.
The statement added that he was involved in the terrorist activities that were being carried out against innocent citizens in various areas of our country, especially in relation to kidnapping. In a statement issued by the Joint Task Force, Mr. Taye accused them of trying to undermine the government and his party when he was in power.
“When he accepted his governmental responsibility and was working, he was being investigated and monitored relentlessly, understanding that he was engaged in activities to undermine the governmental and party structure in a conspiracy,” the statement said.
Ato Taye, who was asked by the BBC if there was anything that could be prosecuted by the Prime Minister following his resignation from office, said, “What’s wrong with this [legal inquiry] then?” But there is a law and they ask me by law. And if you ask me, I’m ready,” he said on Monday night.
Ato Taye is known for openly criticizing government leaders on his personal social media page and giving interviews to the media unlike other government officials.
Ato Taye expressed his regret on his Facebook page after his farewell and said, “I thought it was true that they were praising me when I was praising you for the useless war that was being waged in the name of the survival of the country and which not only killed Ethiopians but also crushed the country.”
The Joint Task Force, on the other hand, said Mr. Taye “repeatedly is heard criticizing the government as a murderer and oppressor; But in practice, it has been confirmed through surveillance that he was the one who had the link of destruction with terrorists, extremists and murderers. The task force also stated that the government and party structures are also monitoring those engaged in what he called “evil” purposes.