Press Release

May 5, 2018

AHRE strongly condemns the continued displacement of Amhara people from their home in Kemashe Zone, Benishangul Gumuz region. According to our local sources, more than 530 ethnic Amhara households (each household has from 2-8 members) have been forcefully displaced from their land and forced to leave their home. We have received credible reports that local authorities ordered armed militias and other residents to attack Amhara people who settled in the area for many decades. The recent attack started in October 2017 and continued till end of April 2018. During the attack 13 ethnic Amhara people were killed and at least 50 others were injured. Thousands have fled to the neighboring Oromia region and to the capital of Amhara Region, Bahir Dar for shelter. AHRE has the names of the victims and official documents which show their legal status as residents in the region.

Ethiopia has failed to stop such an ethnic-targeted clashes, displacement and assaults that have been repeatedly observed in different parts of the country, including in Benshangul Gumuz. Forcible eviction of population by expulsion or other coercive acts from the area in which individuals reside lawfully is unlawful and prohibited under international law and Ethiopian constitution. Ethiopia’s ethnic based policy has largely contributed to the displacements and attacks which has cost the lives of thousands of Ethiopians for over two decades. [Read more…]

Prime Minister-Designate, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali

Cc: Abadula Gemeda, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representative                                                                                                                                                         29 March 2018

Your Excellencies,

The undersigned international, regional and national human rights and development organisations write to express our grave concern over the recent arrest of 11 Ethiopian journalists, bloggers and political opposition leaders amid a new crackdown on fundamental freedoms. Such measures undermine the Ethiopian government’s international human rights obligations as well as recent political commitments to initiate an era of widespread democratic political reform. As you assume your position as Prime Minister, we urge the Ethiopian Government to immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders, political activists and journalists, including the 11 individuals detained this week.

On 25 March 2018, Ethiopian police and security forces arrested journalists Eskinder Nega and Temesgen Desalegn, Zone9 bloggers Mahlet Fantahun, Befekadu Hailu, blogger Zelalem Workaggnhu  and political activists Andualem Arage, Addisu Getinet, Yidnekachewu Addis, Sintayehu Chekol, Tefera Tesfaye and Woynshet Molla.

The arrests were carried out while the defenders were attending a private meeting in Addis Ababa at the home of journalist Temesgen Desalegn. The private gathering was held in recognition of the recent release of thousands of political prisoners amidst ongoing and widespread protests against political marginalisation and land grabbing in the Oromia and Amhara regions which began in late 2015. The eleven are currently being held at Gotera-Pepsi Police Station in Addis Ababa.

Days earlier on 8 March, authorities arrested Seyoum Teshome, a prominent blogger and university lecturer. Teshome, who is a frequent contributor to Ethiothinkthank.com and was detained for three months under the previous State of Emergency, is currently being held in the notorious Maekelawi Prison in Addis Ababa.

While the authorities have not publicly indicated if charges will be brought against the defenders, under the February reinstatement of the national State of Emergency, groups and individuals must seek permission from the Command Post to host public gatherings.

Prior to their release in February, several of the defenders had previously been imprisoned for periods ranging from two to seven years in relation to their legitimate work as journalists, bloggers and political activists. Eskinder Nega and the Zone9 Bloggers are recipients of international awards celebrating their contribution to independent journalism and human rights.

The arrests follow the declaration of a national State of Emergency on 16 February by the Cabinet for a period of six months. The State of Emergency includes a number of draconian and overbroad provisions. Among other worrying violations of fundamental democratic freedoms, the State of Emergency imposes a blanket ban on all protests, the dissemination of any publication deemed to “incite and sow discord” including those who criticise the State of Emergency and allows for warrantless arrest.

Such measures are contrary to international human rights law and the Ethiopian Constitution and are counter-productive to peace and security. The invocation of the State of Emergency criminalises dissent and persecutes human rights defenders, protesters and journalists.

We urge the government of Ethiopia to: (i) immediately release all human rights defenders, political opponents and journalists detained for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly; (ii) end all forms of harassment against journalists and all citizens with critical views on national matters and; (iii) review and amend the State of Emergency to ensure that any limitations on fundamental rights are in line with  international human rights obligations.

Sincerely,

1. Access Now
2. African Law Foundation (Nigeria)
3. ARTICLE 19
4. Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
5. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
6. Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC)
7. Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)
8. Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
9. The Article 20 Network
10. Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN)
11. Bytes4All Pakistan
12. Caucasus Civil Initiatives Center
13. Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
14. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
15. Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
16. Commonwealth Human Right Initiative (CHRI)
17. DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project)
18. End Impunity
19. Endorois Welfare Council (Kenya)
20. Ethiopia Human Rights Project (EHRP)
21. Freedom House
22. Front Line Defenders
23. Karapatan (Philippines)
24. Global Participe (Republic of the Congo)
25. Greenpeace Africa
26. International Civil Society Centre
27. International Service for Human Rights
28. JOINT – Ligas de ONGs em Mocambique (Mozambique)
29. Odhikar (Bangladesh)
30. OutRight Action International
31. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
32. PEN International
33. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
34. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
35. Sengwer Indigenous Peoples Programme
36. Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF)
37. West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
38. West African Human Rights Defenders’ Network (WAHRDN)
39. World Movement for Democracy
40. World Organization Against Torture
41. Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA)

 

Seyoum Teshome 

Press Statement

March 09, 2018

On March 2, 2018, the Ethiopian Parliament approved a new six-month state of emergency declared by the Ethiopian Council of Minsters on 16 February, although the voting results were disputed.

Protests erupted in different parts of the country, mainly Oromia region, in response to the declaration. The state of emergency places similar draconian restrictions on fundamental freedoms to the previous one, which was in place between October 2016 and August 2017.

Since 2 March, in Oromia towns of Nekemte, Ambo, Gimbi, Dambi Dolo, AHRE has found that at least 7 people have been killed by military forces. AHRE’s sources confirmed that many protesters were wounded after security forces used live ammunition against them.  Doctors at hospitals in these Oromia towns reported that more casualties were documented in the last few days amid clashes between protestors and military forces.

AHRE also received information that hundreds of people were arrested for violating the state of emergency, a few weeks after the government released thousands of prisoners, including high profile political prisoners such as Eskindir Nega, Dr. Merara Gudina, Bekele Gerba, and Yonatan Tesfaye. They have not been charged and their current location is unknown.

On 8 March, during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Addis Ababa, prominent blogger and university lecturer Seyoum Teshome was arrested. Sources report that security forces surrounded his home in Woliso Campus and searched his house. Seyoum was taken to an unknown location. He was detained in a camp for 2 months under the previous state of emergency for posting criticism of the government online.

On March 6, 2018, officials from Ethiopia’s Immigration department deported British journalist William Davison. He was detained at Immigration Main Department before being told to leave the country or be taken to the police station jail. For the last 7 months Ethiopian authorities have failed to grant Davison accreditation.

AHRE condemns the government’s continued violation of civil and political rights through the declaration of a new state of emergency and repression, arrest and killing of protestors. It urges the government to release all political prisoners and hold an inclusive and genuine dialogue to begin a much-needed reform process in the country.

AHRE urges Ethiopian authorities to:

⁃    Explicitly respect, recognise, and promote constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly;

⁃    Immediately and unconditionally release blogger Seyoum Teshome and peaceful protesters who were recently arrested for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly;

⁃    Cease the practice of harassing and intimidating HRDs and journalists;

⁃    Engage in a meaningful and inclusive national dialogue with civil society, regional governments, and local elders, to address grievances at the root of protest movements;

⁃    Lift the ban on basic freedoms and fundamental rights that are enforced by the authorities and Command Post following the declaration of the state of emergency.

 

For further information:

 

Yared Hailemariam

Executive Director

 

[email protected], Mobile: +32 486 336 367,

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