Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia

AHRE asks the Ethiopian government to respect the constitutional rights of citizens for safety and information, especially during the spread of Corona Virus pandemic.

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The spread of Corona virus pandemic has gravely affected the everyday life of majority of the world’s population, the economy, and the political climate. We understand and stand in cooperation with appropriate measures government and health professionals are taking so as to minimize the spread of the virus and protect human lives.

Ethiopia is one of the many countries in the world to have confirmed cases of COVID19, with confirmed individuals being treated for the virus. The Ethiopian government is using all media and telecom services to raise awareness and prevent the spread of the virus, especially this past week. However, Ethiopian government has shut down internet and telecom services western Oromia region, where the military has been conducting operations against a rebel group.

AHRE strongly urges the government to lift these restrictions, especially now where citizens need information to protect themselves and their community. It is very hard if not impossible to fight the virus without regular and accurate information, and without proper communication with health professionals, media and other concerned bodies. Families living elsewhere also have the right to communicate and to know the health status of their loved ones.

AHRE urges the Ethiopian government not to put the lives of innocents at risk by restricting internet access and telephone lines. The government must be able to find a solution to the ongoing conflict through peaceful means. Citizens in that area should not continue to pay for the bitter conflicts through their lives. We ask the government to respect the constitutional rights of citizens for safety and information, not just during this pandemic where it is very critical, but also at all times. No human being should risk losing life due to lack of communication. Not availing communication means, including internet and telephone particularly during this pandemic hinders the attempt to contain it and endangers the communities under restriction and–due to the nature of the virus–beyond.

To Permanent Representatives of

Members and Observer States of the

UN Human Rights Council

Geneva,

19 November 2019.

Re: Addressing concern regarding Ethiopia’s escalating ethnic and religious violence.

The undersigned human rights groups and CSOs, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), consortium of 27 Ethiopian Civil Society Organization know with the name TIBIBIR and a group called ‘WE Are Ethiopia’ (WAE) wish to address your office and all concerned bodies expressing our grave concern regarding Ethiopia’s escalating ethnic and religious violence.

The country saw, according to government figure, the death of 86 individuals last October following a Facebook post by a controversial Oromo activist and media owner Jawar Mohammed on the 24^th of October. His post said that police had encircled his house and was trying to remove his security. This was followed by large scale protest across Oromia against the alleged police intervention. The protests quickly turned violent leading to the killings of 67 individuals, according to initial reports. Fifty-four were stoned to death and the remaining were killed from gun shot by police. 

The past week witnessed another round of violence, killings, rape, property destruction in different parts of the country, mainly in Oromia. The violence reemerged when 2 students were killed by mob in Weldia Universisty. This escalated to more violence in Jimma University, Dembi Dolo University, Ambo University, Bulu Hora University, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa University and Wollo University.  In all these universities, students are in fear of their lives, hundreds have left the university premises and have since then taken shelter in churches. In general, tensions and conflicts still remain. The most recent casualty was a student in Dire Dawa University who lost his life from “falling of a building”; this is the fifth student to have died after the incident in Weldia University. Furthermore, we have just learned that another student had reportedly died from similar kind of “accident” in Wello University this week.

The past week also saw burning of two churches by extremists in East and West Hararghe Zones. In addition, two other churches were attacked, Christian homes in different places of Hararghe Zone have been burned down, and unknown number of individuals were beaten and robbed.

AHRE has already released a statement on the 27 of October expressing its grave concerns of the very volatile situation the country has taken. That concern remains very high; violence and tension are soaring each passing day, and citizens are still assaulted, killed and displaced because of their religious and ethnic identities.

The signatories below cannot stress enough the high risk of full-blown civil war in Ethiopia. We urge the international community and all concerned bodies to act quickly and decisively. We urge your office to discuss these pressing concerns with the Ethiopian government; offer to provide all necessary assistance; offer to send your team to conduct independent investigation, and to curb the looming threat of civil war.

At this time and age, the world should not witness such catastrophe. The country and the horn of Africa region cannot afford a failed state. Recovering from such calamity would not be possible for a country of over 100 million citizens. We reiterate our call to urge your good office to use everything at your disposal to stop that from happening.

CC:

• Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
• Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons
• Special Rapporteur on minority issues
• Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
• Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
• Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings

Signatories:

1. Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE): [email protected]
2. TIBIBIR (Consortium of 27 Ethiopian Civil Society Organization):  [email protected]
3. We Are Ethiopia (WAE): [email protected]

Press Statement

October 27, 2019

The news coming from Ethiopia this week is extremely disturbing and alarming. Dozens of people are ruthlessly killed based on their ethnicity and faith. At least 67 people have died, according to reports, out of which 54 were stoned to death and remaining died from gunshot from police. The violence had started after Jawar Mohammed, executive director of Oromo Media Network (OMN) and prominent activist, posted a note to his over a million followers on his Facebook page that police had circled his house and tried to withdraw his security forces this Wednesday around 2 AM Ethiopian time. Many of his followers in different parts of Oromia region marched on the streets stating their loyalty to Jawar, which then escalated into violence. Dozens of people were violently killed by crowds of youth, businesses and places of worships were burned to the ground.

According to DW Amharic, in Dodola, 14 people were killed since Wednesday. Residents told DW that, many whose houses had been burnt by mob, are still taking shelter in Churches. In Bale, in two days nine people were buried while two bodies had been sent to families elsewhere. AHRE has videos of helpless citizens who took shelter in churches begging the outside world for help. The number of recorded videos and audios from ethnic minorities is deeply disturbing to hear. Several others have been killed in different parts of Oromia, including in Sebeta, town located in the Oromia Special Zone Surrounding the capital, where eight ethnic Gamos were violently killed two days ago.

In an extremely worrying development, a video is circulating on social media today where a group of people had summoned a large number of people in Bale Robbe, Oromia region. They instruct the crowd, among other things to evict ‘Neftegnas and Dorzes’, terms largely used to describe Amhara and Gamo ethnic group respectively. They also say, “we will no longer trade with Neftegnas and Dorzes; anyone who refuses order shall be cursed. in addition, they warn against eating with, worshiping, and living together with the Neftegnas. The video was in afaan Oromo and AHRE has not independently verified the translation, however different sources have similar translation.

AHRE has released many statements for the past couple of years alerting international institutions and the government about increasing ethnic based attacks, violence and displacement. Executive Director of AHRE, Mr. Yared Hailemariay, says that “Having closely followed these unfortunate incidents, AHRE strongly believes that the current situation is grave and particularly different because the killings have occurred at the same time in different parts of Oromia, including in the outskirts of the capital city; because of the tensioned political climate between the prime Minister and Jawar Mohammed and in general the weak nature of the central government; and because the video circulating will likely lead to more killings.” He also says that “The death toll and violence does not seem to abate and AHRE was still receiving unconfirmed reports of violence in Oromia when preparing this report. Majority of the deceased are ethnic minorities and Christians.”

There are a number of cases where police have ceased a high number of firearms; local news has reported about these firearms repeatedly in this year alone. This is particularly worrisome because officials and police have collaborated in the attack against minorities in recent violence, which worsens the already dangerous situation.

Therefore, it is with utmost urgency and gravity, that we alert the international community about the looming threat of civil war and likelihood of genocide in Ethiopia. Action must be taken swiftly by government forces, international community and all concerned bodies. We urge and alert all concerned bodies that every important action must be taken immediately to avoid civil war in the country.