HRLHA Urgent Action
\n__________________________________________________<\/p>\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
September 06, 2014<\/p>\n
The human rights abuses against Oromo Students in different universities have continued unabated over the past six months- more than a hundred Oromo students were extra-judicially wounded or killed, while thousands were jailed by a special squad: the \u201cAgazi\u201d force
\nThis harsh crackdown against the Oromo students, which resulted in deaths, arrests, detentions and disappearances, happened following a peaceful protest by the Oromo students and the Oromo people in April – May 2014 against the so-called \u201cIntegrated Master Plan of Addis Ababa\u201d. This plan was targeted at the annexation of many small towns of Oromia to the capital Addis Ababa. It would have meant the eviction of around six million Oromos from their lands and long-time livelihoods without being consulted or giving consent. The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) has repeatedly expressed its deep concern about such human rights violations against the Oromo nation by the EPRDF government
\nThe HRLHA reporter in Addis Ababa confirmed that in connection with the April-May, 2014 peaceful protests among the many students picked from different universities and other places in the regional State of Oromia and detained in Maikelawi \/\u201dthe Ethiopian Guantanamo bay Detention camp\u201d ,the following nine students and another four, Abdi Kamal, TofiK Kamal and Abdusamad business men from Eastern Hararge Dirre Dawa town and Chaltu Duguma (F) an employee of Wallaga Universty are in critical condition due to the continuous severe torture inflicted upon them in the past five months.
\nNo Name Gender Occupation
\n1 Lenjisa Alamayo M Student Jimma University
\n2 Tamire Bekele M Student Jima University
\n3 Gemechu Bekele M Student Jima University
\n4 Nimona Chali M Student Haromaya University
\n5 Magarsa Bekele M Student Haromaya university
\n6 Abebe Urgessa M Student Haromaya University
\n7 Bilisuma Gonfa M Student Haromaya University
\n8 Adugna Kesso M Student Adama University
\n9 Bilisuma Damana M Student Adama University<\/p>\n
The current ongoing arrests and detention of Oromo students started when the students were forced to attend a \u201cpolitical training\u201d said to be a government plan to indoctrinate the students with the political agenda of EPRDF for two weeks before the regular classes started in mid- September 2014. Before the training started, students demanded that the government release the students who were imprisoned during the peaceful protests of April-May 2014. Instead of giving a positive answer to the students\u2019 legitimate questions, the federal government deployed its military forces to Ambo and Wallaga University campuses to silence their voices; many students were severely beaten and hundreds were taken to prison from August 20-29, 2014. Through the brutality of the federal government\u2019s military \u201cAgazi\u201d, students from Ambo University, Hinaafu Lammaa, Kuma Fayisa, Tarreessaa Waaqummaa Mulugeta, Sukkaaraa Cimidi, Leensa Hailu Bedhane (F) and Elizabeth Legesse (lost her two tooth) were among those harshly beaten in their dormitories and then thrown outside naked in the open air.
\nThe HRLHA reporter documented the following names among hundreds of students taken to different detention centers from both Ambo and Wallaga Universities on August 28 &29, 2014.
\nNo Name Gender Occupation
\n1 Hunde Firisa Warku M Student Wallaga University
\n2 Mitiku Anbese M student Wallega Univrsity
\n3 Gemechu Bely mekonen M Student Wallega University
\n4 Anbessa Ayele M Student Adama University
\n5 Zerun Yewalun wandimu M student Dilla University
\n6 Nagara Fiqadu M Student AA University
\n7 Gurmessa Wondimu Iticha M Student Mada Walabu University
\n8 Temesgen Shiferaw M Student Wallaga University
\n9 Gaddisa Damana M Student Adama University
\nl10 Endale Irranaa M Student Wallaga University
\n11 Alamayyo Sori M Student Samara University
\n12 Fikiru Rafisa M Student Mekele University
\n13 Firaol Bekele M Student Mekele University
\n14 Birhanu Niguse M Student Adigrat University
\n15 Chali Anugna M Student
\n16 Firaol Kelbessa M Student
\n17 Habtamu Wirtu M Student
\n18 Gizacho Marga M Student
\n19 Abdi Tesfaye M Student<\/p>\n
Among many Wallaga University students, those who were severely beaten on 28\/08\/2014- Markos Taye, Ganati Desta and Mosisa fufa- were first taken to Nekemte Hospital and later transferred to Tikur Anbasa, a hospital in the capital city more than 300km away for further treatment. They remain there in critical condition.
\nThe most recent report (Sept 03,2014) received by HRLHA from Ambo town indicates that more than 250 students released from Senkele detention center have been taken back to their villages so that their parents of guardians can sign documents stating that their children are responsible for the conflict created between the students and the federal military. The parents of the students rejected the attempt of the government to make their children guilty by supporting, instead, the demands of the students \u201cFree our friends, bring the killers of the students to court\u201d
\nBy killing, torturing and detaining non-violent protesters, the government of Ethiopia is breaching:
\n1. The 1995 constitution of the Ethiopia, articles 29 and 30, which grant basic democratic rights to all Ethiopian citizens .
\n2. All international and regional human rights instruments that Ethiopia signed and the UN Human Rights council 19th and 25th sessions resolutions that call upon states, with regard to peaceful protests, to promote and protect all human rights and to prevent all human rights violations during peaceful protests.
\nTherefore, the HRLHA calls upon the Ethiopian Government to refrain from systematically eliminating the young generation of Oromo nationals and respect all international human rights standards, and all civil and political rights of citizens it has signed off in particular.
\nHRLHA also calls upon governments of the West, all local, regional and international human rights agencies to join hands and demand an immediate halt to such kinds of extra-judicial actions against one\u2019s own citizens. Detainees should be released without any preconditions and the murderers should brought to justice. .
\nRECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to the Ethiopian Government and its appropriate government ministries and\/or officials as swiftly as possible, both in English and Ahmaric, or in your own language:
\n\uf076 Expressing concerns regarding the apprehension and possible torture of citizens who are being held in different detention centers including the infamous Ma\u2019ikelawi Central Investigation Office, and calling for their immediate and unconditional release;
\n\uf076 Request that the government refrain from detaining, harassing, discriminating against Oromo Nationals
\n\uf076 Urging the Ethiopian authorities to ensure that detainees are treated in accordance with the regional and international standards regarding the treatment of prisoners
\n\uf076 Also send your concerns to diplomatic representatives in Ethiopia who are accredited to your country.<\/p>\n
Mailed To:
\n\u2022 Office of Prime Minister of Ethiopia
\nP.O.Box \u2013 1031 , Addis Ababa
\nTelephone – +251 155 20 44; +251 111 32 41
\nFax – +251 155 20 30 , +251 1552020
\n\u2022 Office of Oromiya National Regional State President Office
\nTelephone – 0115510455
\n\u2022 Office of the Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia
\nPO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Fax: +251 11 5517775; +251 11 5520874 Email: ministry-justice@telecom.net.et
\n\u2022 UNESCO Headquarters Paris.
\n7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP France
\n1, rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France
\nGeneral phone:
\n+33 (0)1 45 68 10 00
\nwww.unesco.org
\n\u2022 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)- Africa Department
\n7 place Fontenoy
\n75352
\nParis 07 SP
\nFrance
\nGeneral phone:
\n+33 (0)1 45 68 10 00
\nWebsite: http:\/\/www.unesco.org\/new\/en\/africa-department\/
\n\u2022 UNESCO AFRICA RIGIONAL OFFICE
\nMR.JOSEPH NGU
\nDirector
\n\u2022 UNESCO Office in Abuja
\nMail: j.ngu(at)unesco.org
\nTel: +251 11 5445284
\nFax: +251 11 5514936
\n\u2022 Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
\nUnited Nations Office at Geneva 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Fax: + 41 22 917 9022 (particularly for
\nUrgent matters) E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org this e-mail address is being protected from spambots. Youneed JavaScript enabled to view it
\n\u2022 Office of the UNHCR
\nTelephone: 41 22 739 8111
\nFax: 41 22 739 7377
\nPo Box: 2500
\nGeneva, Switzerland
\n\u2022 African Commission on Human and Peoples\u2018 Rights (ACHPR)
\n48 Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 673, Banjul, the Gambia.
\nTel: (220) 4392 962 , 4372070, 4377721 \u2013 23 Fax: (220) 4390 764
\nE-mail: achpr@achpr.org
\n\u2022 Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
\n\u2022 Council of Europe
\nF-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, FRANCE
\n+ 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21
\n+ 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53
\nContact us by email
\n\u2022 U.S. Department of State
\nLaura Hruby
\nEthiopia Desk Officer
\nU.S. State Department
\nHrubyLP@state.gov
\nTel: (202) 647-6473<\/p>\n
\u2022 Amnesty International \u2013 London
\nClaire Beston
\n“Claire Beston” <Claire.Beston@amnesty.org>,
\n\u2022 Human Rights Watch
\nFelix Hor
\n“Felix Horne” <hornef@hrw.org>,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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