Despite opposition outcry, the controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill was endorsed with 286 votes in approval.
The new legislation introduces powers for police such as being allowed to make unwarranted searches and even arrests; hold suspects up to four months without charge; and prosecute them on the basis of hearsay evidence.
Many aspects of the bill have drawn strong criticism from human rights organisations and the opposition.
The Legal and Administrative Affairs and Foreign, Defense, and Security Affairs Standing Committees of the parliament, said the bill was prepared in line with the binding principles of the constitution and would prevent and control terrorist acts to safeguard the nation from threats it has endured in the past.
"The Government of Ethiopia has a history of stifling dissent and it is worrying that this law now risks further violating Ethiopia's obligations under international human rights law," Amnesty International's Africa programme director, Erwin van der Borght said.
One aspect that raised the concern of Lidetu Ayalew, the leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party, was the definition of terrorism.
In the new law, this is: Whosever "intending to influence the Government, to immediate the public or section of the public, or to destabilizes or destroys the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social institutions of the country, for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological," and causes crime is punishable with imprisonment from 15 years to life.
The opposition leader, who voted against the bill, claims this is a very broad definition by international standards.
He said: "Terrorism has unique characteristics and accordingly it needs a unique law and approach, yes we support that and the legislation to address the concern.
"The characterisation of terrorism set by the legislation is far from internationally accepted meanings: armed struggle in Ethiopia, for instance, becomes terrorism under this legislation.
"Yes, armed struggle or protest is a crime and punishable by law, but it is not terrorism, it is simply challenging the Government by force. An action is only terrorism when it doesn't distinguish between groups and wages attack against all and legislations are put in place to protect the mass that could not defend itself, not the Government, as this bill targets to do."
Lidetu added that international designations didn't include the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on terrorist lists.
Supporters of the bill insisted that the definition of terrorism was based on European classifications and that it was not significantly broader.
The legislation awards the power to decide a group as a terrorist faction to parliament though international practice shows executives exercising the right. In Great Britain it is the prime minister, while in the United States the State Department classifies groups as terrorist factions.
"Now parliament can not say no when it is asked to regard every armed faction as a terrorist group," Lidetu said.
According to observers OLF, ONLF and the Ginbot-7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy, which is based in the US, are likely to be the first casualties from the categorisation.
The Government already refers to Ginbot-7 a terrorist group, but from now it will have to seek parliament's permission to do so. Government Communication Affairs Office Minister Bereket Simon hinted a few months ago that Ethiopia may seek the handover of Ginbot-7 leaders, such as Dr. Berhanu Negam who is facing charges in abstina.
"The State Department doesn't see Ginbot-7 as a terrorist group so it is unlikely to give up Berhanu or others," one US diplomat comments, "However, I won't be surprised if a number of people in the current administration supported the idea. But this on the other hand may ignite opposition lobbying in protest, probably resulting in a rethinking of the entire US polices towards Ethiopia and I think the Ethiopian Government knows that and doesn't want to see it happening."
By Kirubel Tadesse
Capital
