{"id":13609,"date":"2012-09-07T07:23:13","date_gmt":"2012-09-07T11:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/humanrightsleague.com\/?p=13609"},"modified":"2012-09-07T07:23:13","modified_gmt":"2012-09-07T11:23:13","slug":"somaliland-detentions-and-deportations-of-ethiopian-refugees-asylum-seekers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/?p=13609","title":{"rendered":"Somaliland: Detentions and Deportations of Ethiopian Refugees & Asylum Seekers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 HRLHA Appeal and Urgent Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

September 06, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its deep concern regarding the disturbing situations of Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers inSomalilandthat has been surfacing since August 30, 2012.<\/p>\n

According to information obtained by the HRLHA through its correspondents, the Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers in Somaliland, most of whom were Oromo nationals, were clashed with the land owner of the area located in front of the Social Welfare Center (SWC) and in the meantime they were unexpectedly surrounded by armed forces of the Somaliland Government at the Social Welfare Centre in Hargessa, where they have been harbored since October 2011. It was said that the armed forces happened to be around the Centre up on a request by a land owner next door to the Social Welfare Centre, who had been accusing the refugees of unlawfully and inappropriately using his land for some purposes. The armed forces were reported to have been harsh and violent in their actions that a refugee named Jafar Jamal was shot at in the leg and the shoulder and sustained serious injuries, while many others were beaten up. It has also been reported that, among the deployed members of the various armed forces, many were injured and one of them died from a seriously injured he sustained during the clash. Even a journalist from Space Channel TV, who attempted to document the incident was dealt with in the same manner, according to HRLHA\u2019s correspondent. Once surrounded by the armed forces, the refugees and asylum seekers were indiscriminately denied exit from and\/or entry into the Centre. They were then started to be loaded on trucks and taken away to unknown destinations, except for about fifty six (56) of them, who are reportedly being held in two separate police Stations in Hargeisa.<\/p>\n

HRLHA has learnt that those who were left behind in the Social Welfare Centre, most of whom were children and mothers\/women, have been kicked out of the Centre in to the streets by the police Officers, and left with no food, water, and other basic needs.<\/p>\n

The refugees were appreciative of Somaliland National Human Rights Commission\u2019s efforts to interfere; although it was to no avail.<\/p>\n

HRLHA\u2019s reporter has managed to obtain the names of the following refugees among those who were detained<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
No<\/td>\nName<\/td>\nUNHCR File #<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nUmar Ahmed Golu<\/td>\n758 06c 00 879<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nJamal Ahmed Abdii<\/td>\n758 06c 00965<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nNasir Ahmed Booke<\/td>\n758 04c 0014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nNasradin Mahamed Ibroo<\/td>\n758 07c 0082<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nAbduu Jabir Abdul-Qaadir<\/td>\n758 RF 06 234<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nUmar Aman Mohamed<\/td>\n758 06c 0027<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nUmar Ababe Gabramadin<\/td>\n758 RF 149<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nJabir Mumme Boruu<\/td>\n758 04c 00094<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nGetachew Dhuguma<\/td>\n758 06c 00029<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nIsfan-Der Abdalla Adam<\/td>\n758 06c00583<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nArife Sheek Umer Amiyo<\/td>\n758 08c 00251<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nMohamed Abdella Ahmed<\/td>\n758 06c 00609<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nIbrahim Hassan Ahmed<\/td>\n758 06c 0089<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nMubarif Mohamed Fadir<\/td>\n758 08c 00681<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nBadiri Abdi Abdulahi<\/td>\n758 06c 00621<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nJamal Indale Bulcho<\/td>\n758 06c 00870<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/td>\nIbrahim Ahmed Umar<\/td>\n758 12c 00977<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nNasiradin Shek Badri<\/td>\n758 04c 00028<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nNizamu Hassan Qada<\/td>\n758 04c 00172<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nBelay Tafese Tesema<\/td>\n758 06c 00630<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nHussein Adam Turfe<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nKadir Haji Rube<\/td>\n758 06c 00912<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/td>\nAhmed Nur Mohamed<\/td>\n758 0Rf 08074<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\nGossa Tasso Ragassa<\/td>\n758 09c 00078<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/td>\nGetu Bekele<\/td>\n758 06c 00403<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nIbrahim Yonas Aliyi<\/td>\n758 06c 00555<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/td>\nChaltu Mohamed Yusuf<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There have been reports that, on August 31, 2012, among the 56 refugees and asylum seekers held in two separate police stations in Hargessa, 33 were taken to Wachale, a town along the border withEthiopia, for deportation. There were also reports that around one hundred other refugees, most of whom were from among the mothers and children kicked out of the welfare centre, have been added to the 33 refugees taken to and held in Wachale for deportation. There are unconfirmed reports that all those refugees have been handed over to the Ethiopian Government on September 1, 2012.<\/p>\n

Under Article 33 (1) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (189 U.N.T.S. 150), \u201c[n]o contracting state shall expel or forcibly return a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his . . . political opinion.\u201d The Ethiopian government has a well-documented record of gross and flagrant violations of human rights, including the torturing of its own citizens who were involuntarily returned to the country. The government ofEthiopiaroutinely imprisons such persons. There have been credible reports of physical and psychological abuses committed against individuals in Ethiopian prisons and other secret places of detention. This obligation, which is also a principle of customary international law, applies to both asylum seekers and refugees, as affirmed by UNHCR\u2019s Executive Committee and the United Nations General Assembly. By handing over the Ethiopian Oromo refugees and others, the\u00a0 Somaliland Government is breaching its obligations under international treaties as well as customary laws.\u00a0 Under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1465 U.N.T.S. 185).\u00a0Somalilandhas the obligation not to return a person to a place where they face torture or ill-treatment.<\/p>\n

Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture provides: 1. No state party shall expel, return (\u201crefouler\u201d) or extradite a person to another state where there are substantial grounds to believe that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture. 2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the state concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.<\/p>\n

There have been similar ill-treatment and deportation cases of refugees inSomalilandover which the HRLHA expressed its concerns through urgent actions and\/or press releases.\u00a0 The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to once again express its concerns particularly\u00a0 about the safety and security of the refugees handed over to the Ethiopian Government and those who are still living inSomaliland.\u00a0 It urges the government ofSomalilandto respect the international treaties and obligations it has signed.\u00a0 It also urges all human rights agencies (local, regional and international) to join hands with it and condemn these illegal and inhuman acts of both the Ethiopian and the Somaliland Governments against defenseless refugees and asylum seekers. It requests governments of the West and other international organizations to interfere so that the safety and security of the deported refugees toEthiopiaand of those refugees currently living inSomalilandwould be secured.<\/p>\n

Recommendation: <\/strong><\/p>\n

v\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to the Somaliland Government, concerned Somaliland officials and \u00a0to diplomatic representatives inSomalilandwho are accredited to your country as swiftly as possible, in English,\u00a0 Somali Language, or your own language expressing:<\/p>\n

v\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your concern regarding the apprehension and fear of torture of the citizens who are being held in different detention centers; and calling for their immediate and unconditional release;<\/p>\n

v\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0urging theSomalilandauthorities to ensure that these detainees would be treated in accordance with the regional and international standards on the treatment of prisoners,<\/p>\n

v\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Abide to the International Conventions of the refugees and asylum seekers not to return a person to a place where they face torture or ill-treatment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights <\/strong><\/p>\n

United Nations Office atGeneva1211Geneva10, Switzerland Fax: + 41 22 917 9022 (particularly for urgent matters) E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org this e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0African Commission <\/strong>on Human and Peoples\u2018 Rights (ACHPR) <\/strong><\/p>\n

48 Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 673,Banjul, TheGambia.<\/p>\n

Tel: (220) 4392 962 , 4372070, 4377721 \u2013 23 Fax: (220) 4390 764<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

E-mail: achpr@achpr.org<\/a> <\/em><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Council ofEurope<\/p>\n

F-67075StrasbourgCedex,FRANCE<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0+ 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21
\n\u00a0+ 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0Contact us by email<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0U.S. Department of State <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tom Fcansky \u2013 Foreign Affairs Officer <\/em><\/p>\n

Email;-TOfcansky@aol.com>Washington, D.C. 20037 <\/em><\/p>\n

Tel: +1-202-261-8009 <\/em><\/p>\n

Fax: +1-202-261-8197 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Amnesty International \u2013 London <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tom Gibson<\/p>\n

Telephone: +44-20-74135500<\/p>\n

Fax number: +44-20-79561157<\/p>\n

Email;- TGibson@amnesty.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Human Rights Watch \u2013 New York, <\/strong><\/p>\n

Leslie Lefkow<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\nlefkowl@hrw.org; rawlenb@hrw.org<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Tel: +1-212-290-4700<\/p>\n

Fax:+1-212-736-1300 Email: hrwnyc@hrw.org<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 HRLHA Appeal and Urgent Action September 06, 2012 The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its deep concern regarding the disturbing situations of Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers inSomalilandthat has been surfacing since August 30, 2012. According to information obtained by the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13609\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanrightsleague.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}