Re: Violazione sistematica dei diritti umani in Etiopia

[Bashir Hussein <bashir@popcsi.unian.it>]

Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP)
Postfach 411305, 12123 Berlin, Germany , SOCEPP-USA P.O.Box 28605,
Oakdale, MN 55128, USA ,
SOCEPP-Canada, P.O. Box 413, Station E, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 4E3

e mail: Socepp@aol.com

JUNE 4,2000

REPRESSION IN GONDAR

Reports reaching SOCEPP confirm that the ruling EPRDF has intensified
its repression in the Debre Tabor area of
Gondar,specifically in the region known
as Farta. The government has disarmed more than 105 peasants and
detained many others. Unconfirmed reports
allege that the motive for the repressive measures is the government's
fear that the people in the area may rebel
against its rule.

Among those detained and who have now disappeared, the following names
have been foreworded: student
Belatchew Wale, Tadesse Alebatchew, and student Agegnehu whose father's
name is not yet known for sure.

In North Gondar, Ibnat region, in a place called Mena Mekatawa, a
teacher of the Fasiledes school, Ato Tsegaye
Gebresit, was shot dead by police who erupted into his house. His wife
was seriously wounded and taken to Bahr
Dar's Felege Hiwot Hospital for treatment. Ato Tsegaye had publicly
expressed
his criticism of the so-called new educational policy adopted by the
government.
SOCEPP
Visit our web page at www.socepp.de
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Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP)

Postfach 411305, 12123 Berlin, Germany , SOCEPP-USA P.O.Box 28605,
Oakdale, MN 55128, USA ,
SOCEPP-Canada, P.O. Box 413, Station E, Toronto, Ontario, M6H 4E3

e mail: Socepp@aol.com

June 5, 2000

DISAPPEARANCE: JUNE 1991-JUNE 2000

JUNE 1991-- EPRP Leaders and veteran militants were captured by the
Tigrean front (TPLF) in Sankisa,Quara,
Gondar region and from parts of Gojjam. Those captured were: TSEGAYE
GEBRE MEDHIN, YISHAK DEBRETSION,
SITOTAW HUSSEIN, BELETE AMHA, HAGOS BEZABIH, TEKLAI G.SELLASIE, AZANAW
DEMILE and ABERA.

They were imprisoned in Bahr Dar for a few months along with other EPRP
members who were later released. From
Bahr Dar, they were taken to Tigrai and kept incommunicado. They have
all disappeared since much like Ms
Aberash Berta, Tesfaye Kebede, Lemma Haile, journalist Berhanu
Ijigu,(all detained in Addis Abeba), Demissie
Tesfaye and Eyob Tekabe (from Arba Minch,Gamo Gofa), Abebe Ainekulu and
Wondusirak Desta (from Bahr Dar)
who all have now disappeared.

The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi continues to deny ever
having detained all the above though all
were seen by others while in custody. There
are fears that most of the above may have been executed in secret.

SOCEPP calls on the EPRDF government to account on the whereabouts of
all the above. Families and friends want to know the truth.

Visit our web page at www.socepp.de
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June 7/2000

REPRESSION IN WOLLISSO

Midnight June 3 in the town of Wollisso( 115 kms outside of
Addis Abeba on the Jimma road), EPRDF policeman, Isaias,
arbitrarily shot dead truck driver Habtamu Tena Zemedkun
outside a Mobil petrol station. This was not the first time a
policeman killed an innocent civilian in the town.

The inhabitants of the town asked for permission to stage a
peaceful demonstration protesting against police brutality and the
fact that the police who shoot people to death in the town have
never been tried. Permission for the demonstration was denied.
However, the people gathered and marched on the central
police station on June 5. Police gain opened fire at the
demonstrators and wounded three youngsters (Mamush,
Geset,Boru Abera) while there are reports that one policeman
was stabbed by the demonstrators.

Special Flying Squad police from Ambo rushed to the town to
control the situation and disturbed the people by their random
and continuous shooting into the air. The police have detained a
number of people while others, fearing reprisals, have fled from
Wollisso. The tense situation that still prevails in the town
highlights the routine trampling of the law perpetrated by the
government police and security men who act with impunity and
cruelty in such small towns.

The government has not up to now shown any vigor in
persecuting police or security personnel who shoot and kill
people arbitrarily for whatever reasons. This has favored the
further violation of rights and the absence of due process and the
rule of law. SOCEPP calls on the EPRDF government to stop
the repression in the town of Wollisso and to bring to trial the
policemen involved in the arbitrary killing of civilians like the
above- mentioned Habtamu.

SOCEPP

Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere!