Ethiopia: 18 000 arrested, reports human rights network

Case ETH 031105.1
Update Case ETH 031105
Extrajudicial killing/torture/arbitrary arrests

Geneva, 8 November 2005

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Ethiopia.

Brief Description of the Situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the
Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), a member of the OMCT network,
that more people have been killed, wounded and arrested following
street protests on 31st October 2005 in Addis Ababa.

The conflict has spread to towns such as Gondar, Bar Dar, Arbaminch
town, Dessie, Nazareth and around.

According to the information received, almost all leaders of
opposition parties have been arrested, some with their family members.
Furthermore, about 18,000 youths, arrested in Addis Ababa, were taken
to the Dedessa River in Wollega and are being held in an open field
near the banks of the river. This is a harsh lowland infested with
malaria and full of wild animals, including lions. The detainees have
no shelter, food and drinking water is not easily available. There
have been reports that a number of youths have been eaten by
crocodiles from the river, and many have fallen ill. In addition, a
truck with a trailer carrying youths arrested in Addis Ababa was
overturned killing some detainees and injuring several others.

4th November 2005

The following persons are reported killed on 4th November:
Bar Dar

Teshome Addis
Teacher Mulalem Muche
Abere (a student)
others two whose names are not yet identified
Yosuf Mohammed 20years

Addis Abeba on 3rd November:

Tsegahun W/Gabvriel (a college Student)
Yasin Nuredin 10 years

In Gondar, 4 persons were reportedly killed

In Dessie 7 persons were reportedly killed and more than 300 persons
were arrested.

3rd November 2005

Four persons are reported to have been killed at Arbaminch town
(Southern region) on 3rd November:

Hassen Dulla 70 yrs old
Hussein Hassen 30 years old (son of Hassen Dulla)
Mrs. Elfe 35 yrs old
Boy of 7yrs old – name unknown

The following persons were reportedly wounded by bullets in Arbaminch
town on 3rd November 2005:

Bale Dejene 15 yrs old – wounded in the throat
Engda Kebede 18 yrs old
Getnet Geja 18 years old – wounded in the chest
Mekonnen Gancho 18 yrs old – wounded in right leg
Zelalem Zewudie 18 yrs old – wounded in right leg
Mateows Dufte 32 yrs old – wounded on left hand
Messay Yonnas 18 yrs old – wounded on right hand
Tariku Fanta 18 yrs old – wounded on left hand

The following persons were reported wounded in the town of Bar Dar:

Brehanu Goshu
Tigist Ayele
Masitewal Tilahun
Ashenafi Amat
Zemedhun Agdew
Adane Negussie
Gebre Medhin Zegeye

2nd November 2005

In Addis Ababa, the following two women were reported to have been
killed on 2nd November 2005. They were both shot after asking
questions.

Kibnesh Melke 50 yrs old and mother of 5 children
Senait – age and full name unknown

The following persons were arrested between 2nd and 4th November in
Addis Ababa:

Sister Belaynesh Awoke - mother of Edskinder Nega , the journalist
Mrs. Hadas Gebvru Mother-in law of Journalist Eskinder Nega
Legesse Bajeba ( CUD elected for Addis Abeba city council)
Mrs.Nigist G/Sellasie (CUD Secretariat)
Ephrem Mulatu
Alayehu Semie
Haile Behailu
Zekarias Minda
Abayneh Mengist
Eyob
Alula
Mefin - these three are brothers and were arrested and taken to unknown place.
Solomon Tek
Seife Teka
Fasil Teka these three are bothers arrested at night and taken to
unknown destination.
Fiseha Mulugeta
Kiros Habte
Mrs. Amsalu Gulilat (wife of Asefa Habtewold, the newly elected
Secretary of Addis City council- detained when they failed to get him)
Mrs. Aberash Tadesse
Tesfay Haile (both family members of Asefa Habtewold)
Mahlet Tensaye News Paper Publiishers
Kokeb Lulseged - sister of Wondwesen Tefera who is CUD member
Lidia - Daughter of Nigist reported to have been arrested
Siefu Kekele - CUD elected for AA Council taken to an unknown place
Genet Abebe wife of Alemayehu Yeneneh -CUD member
Ermias Wasihun (2nd Nov 2005 18 years old)
Gesit Techane
Nebiy Dawit 3rd Nov

In Dessie the following persons were arrested:

Mersha Alamirew
Teacher Bezu
Wole Ahmed (CUD elected regional council)
Seifu
Mesafint
Alene Libsework

The following is list of Journalists who work for a newspaper known as HADAR.

Dawit Kebede
Feleke Tibebu
Woubshet Taye whose whereabouts is known (Nov3, 2005)

It is also reported that Mr. Tamirat Tarekegn (member of CUD) is still
unaccounted for but his sister has been arrested and the family is not
allowed to go out of their home.

CUD representative of Gedio Zone Mr. Fikre Eshete was arrested on 4th
November and office broken, property taken. 9 other CUD member are
reportedly arrested in SODO zuria.

Until 4th November, more than 26 students are reported to be detained
in Aboste Police training center 50 km away from Awasa.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned by these
reports and calls on the Ethiopian government to immediately put an
end to arbitrary killings and arrests, and to immediately release all
political prisoners and persons arrested in the last few days.

Actions requested

Please write a letter to the authorities in Ethiopia urging them to
immediately order the security forces to stop all human rights
violations, and:

i. Immediately guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons;

ii. Order the immediate release of the
above-mentioned persons in the absence of valid legal charges, and if
such charges exist, to ensure that they are given prompt and fair
trials, in which their procedural rights are guaranteed at all times;

iii. Order a thorough and impartial investigation
into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those
responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or
administrative sanctions as provided by law;

iv. Ensure respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and
international human rights standards.

Addresses

Prime Minister, His Excellency Meles Zenawi, Office of the Prime
Minister, P O Box 1031, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Fax:+ 251 1 552020 /
552030 (please keep trying)
Minister of Justice, Mr Harka Haroye, Ministry of Justice, P.O. Box
1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Fax+ 251 1 51 77 75 / 520874,
Email:[email protected]
Ambassador Fisseha Yimer, Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United
Nations in Geneva, 56 rue de Moillebeau, Case postale 338, 1211 Geneva
19, Switzerland, Email: [email protected] /
[email protected], Fax: +41 22 919 70 29

Please also write to the embassies of Ethiopia in your respective country.

Geneva, November 8, 2005