Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia

Ethiopian authorities should immediately disclose the location of Temesgen Desalegn, who was jailed on spurious charges two years ago, and give him access to medical care, said the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) and DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) today.

Temesgen Desalegn is serving a three-year sentence in Ziway prison on charges of defamation, incitement, and false publication. However, relatives have attempted to visit him for seven consecutive days, and been told by Ziway prison administration officials that his location is unknown. His relatives reported that they had not seen him since 7 November.

On 12 December, a Ziway prison official speaking on the condition of anonymity told a journalist from Deutsche Welle’s Amharic service that Temesgen was at the prison. However, one relative who attempted to visit him today was told by prison officials that he was not there, and that they do not know is whereabouts.

One of Temesgen’s relatives told AHRE that they have been travelling 160km from the capital Addis Ababa to Ziway prison to visit him, and that since the State of Emergency was declared on October 8 their visiting time has been reduced from 40 to 8 minutes.

“It is unacceptable that after two years of detention in Ethiopia’s insalubrious and overcrowded prison system, authorities are unable or unwilling to provide Temesgen’s relatives with information on his whereabouts,” said Yared Hailemariam, Executive Director of AHRE. “We are extremely concerned about Temesgen’s poor health and urge the Ethiopian authorities to immediately disclose his location and give him access to medical care.”

While in detention, sources close to Temesgen reported that he was being denied access to medical attention. He told visitors that he was suffering from stomach problems and back pain and having difficulties walking. Recently, he told relatives he had become deaf in one ear after complaining of pain for six months and being refused treatment.

The owner of Amharic-language weekly newspaper Feteh, which means Justice, was arrested and convicted in October 2014 in a case stemming from a series of opinion pieces published in 2012. Feteh was closed and 30,000 copies of the newspaper were seized in July 2012 when the paper was accused of being “detrimental to the country’s national security”.

The Information Minister at the time of his conviction, Redwan Hussien, told CPJ that the case was related to news articles discussing the peaceful struggle of Ethiopian youth movements and expressing criticism of the government.

“The situation of human rights defenders in Ethiopia has dramatically worsened since the protests broke out one year ago, and has been compounded by overarching restrictions imposed by the State of Emergency directives,” said Hassan Shire, Executive Director of DefendDefenders. “The government’s extreme sensitivity to criticism has led to a ruthless and persistent crackdown on protesters, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens who attempt to express legitimate concerns and grievances.”

Since the State of Emergency was declared on 8 October, severe restrictions have been placed on civil and political rights, and AHRE has documented several cases of arrests of journalists. These include Abebe Wube, general manager of Ye Qelem Qend newspaper, who was arrested in Addis Ababa by security forces on 18 October and Befekadu Hailu, co-founder and member of the Zone 9 bloggers collective, who was arrested on 11 November 2016 at his home in Addis Ababa. Both are still currently detained.

 

For more information please contact:

Yared Hailemariam, Executive Director of the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia: yaredh@ahrethio.org and +32 486 33 63 67

Hassan Shire, Executive Director of DefendDefenders, executive@defenddefenders.org and +256 772 753753

Press Release

December 06, 2016

The Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) is deeply concerned with the wide-ranging restrictions the state of emergency decree has enabled, which severely affect freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, association and peaceful protest in Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s close allies and partners in the international community unequivocally condemn the grave violations of human rights in Ethiopia and the misuse of the directive to silence political dissents, to threaten and systematically targeting journalists, bloggers, human rights activists and peaceful protestors across the country.

Since, the six-month nationwide State of Emergency was declared on October 9, 2016, tens of thousands of individuals have been arrested arbitrarily arrested. Dissent and independent reporting on the state of emergency directives has been quashed through the arrest of journalists, bloggers, human rights activists and opposition leaders and their members. On 12 November 2016 the Ethiopian the authorities have announced that they arrested some 11, 607 people since the declared state of emergency was enforced. However, different sources on the ground confirmed that the number of arrests is in reality much higher. According to AHRE, nearly twenty thousand people have been arrested in Oromia region, and over fifteen thousand have been arrested in Amhara region, notably in Gondar and Gojjam.

Our sources on the ground confirmed that most the authority has use harsh treatments in those detention centers, including denying medical treatments while knowing that the location of most of these prison centres are affected by high degree of malaria. Our sources confirmed most of the prisoners are suffering with malaria and other related infection with lack of medical attention. Prisoners are also forced to do some heavy military exercises for the purpose of punishment. The whereabouts of most of the detainees are also unknown, and access to information has been severely limited by a two month long suspension of 3G mobile internet network in several regions, including the capital Addis Ababa.

On 18 October 2016, journalist Abebe Wube, the general manager of ‘Ye Qelem Qend’ newspaper, was arrested in Addis Ababa, by security forces. On 11 November 2016, police detained one of the Zone 9 bloggers and a co-founder of the collective, Befiqadu Hailu, who received the 2015 CPJ’s International Press Freedom Award from his parents’ house in Addis Ababa. It is also reported by CPJ[1] that Befekadu was arrested in relation with an interview that he gave to the U.S. government-funded broadcaster Voice of America’s Amharic service, criticizing the government’s handling of protestors.

On 18 November 2016, former leader of UDJ, Daneil Shibeshi with other two journalists Elias Gebru and Ananiya Sori were arrested by security forces. The outspoken journalist and former political activist Ananiya Sori was arrested following his recent critic against the policy of the government and its reaction during the large protest in the country on a radio debate that was organized by the pro-government media, Fana Broadcasting, in October 2016.

CPJ also reported about the disappearance of Abdi, Gada in its report. Abdi is an unemployed television journalist who disappeared since November 9 and his family fear that he might be arrested. On 31 November 2016, prominent opposition party leader Dr, Merera Gudina, Chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) was arrested upon his return from Europe after he delivered a speech to members of the European Parliament, in Brussels, on the current situation of Ethiopia.

Three of the main opposition parties, the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), Blue Paty and All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) have claimed that a large number of their leaders and members were targeted by the Command Post and arbitrary arrested. It is reported that tens of UDJ members were arrested during and before the state of emergency announced. AEUP reported that around 20 of its members were arrested in the last few weeks. Blue Party also reported to AHRE that 23 of its members including three leaders of the party, Bilen Mesfin, Abebe Akalu (teacher) and Yidnekachewu Kebede (lawyer) were arrested under the order of the Command Post. AHRE also informed about the criminal charge of the Wolqayit Committee members who have been targeted by security forces since the beginning of the popular protest in Amhara region, particularly in Gonder and Gojam, in July 2016. Including Colonel Demeqe Zewude, other members of the committee have faced criminal charge under the 2009 anti-terrorism law of Ethiopia.

In addition, the authorities have not given any information on the thousands who have been arbitrarily arrested since November 2015 throughout Oromia and Amhara regions during and after the protests. There has been no international, independent, and impartial investigation into allegations of the security forces’ use of excessive and unnecessary lethal force to disperse and suppress peaceful protests that costs the life of hundreds. According to Amnesty International recent report released on 18 November 2016 heavy-handed measures by the Ethiopian government risk escalating a deepening crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 800 protesters. [2]  On 4 November 2016, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted a resolution calling for the government to authorize the Commission to conduct a fact-finding mission to Ethiopia.

The state of emergency directive gives ultimate power to the Command Post that has appointed by the House of Representative to enforce the decree, including suspending basic and fundamental political and democratic rights granted under the constitution of the country, the African Charter on Human and People Rights and international standards of human rights.

AHRE strongly urges the Ethiopian government:

• to 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;
• to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, journalists, bloggers, human rights activists and opposition leaders;
• to ensure due process of law for those who were arrested before and during the time of the state of emergency and to respect basic rights of prisoners,
• to allow independent and impartial investigation into allegations of gross human rights violation during the enforcement of the state of emergency and since November 2015 when the protest were began.

 

For further information, please contact:

yaredh@ahrethio.org, +32 486 336 367, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)

www.ahrethio.org

https://www.facebook.com/AHREthio.org/?fref=nf

 

[1] https://cpj.org/2016/11/ethiopian-newspaper-editor-bloggers-caught-in-wors.php

[2] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/10/ethiopia-draconian-measures-will-escalate-the-deepening-crisis/

http://www.achpr.org/sessions/59th/resolutions/356/

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 59^thOrdinary Session held from 21 October to 4 November 2016 in Banjul, Islamic Republic of the Gambia;

Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);

Mindful of the obligations of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as a Member State of the African Union, and State Party to the African Charter and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance as well as other regional human rights instruments;

Recalling that one of the objectives of the African Union is to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter, and to promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance;

Reaffirming the provisions of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 19 of the African Charter which guarantee the right to be protected from discrimination, the right to equal protection of the law, the right to life, the right not to be subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, the right to personal liberty and protection from arbitrary arrest,  the right to a fair trial, the right to receive information and to freedom of expression, the right of assembly, the right to participate freely in government and the right to equality of all peoples;

Further reaffirming the standards and principles stipulated in the Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa, the Guidelines on the Conditions of Arrest, Police Custody and Pre-Trial Detention in Africa, General Comment No. 3 on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Right to Life, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, and the Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Study Group on Freedom of Association and Assembly in Africa;

Deeply concerned by the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia following the protests which began in November 2015;

Concerned by the use of excessive and disproportionate force to disperse protests, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several protestors, as well as the arbitrary arrest and detention of many others;

Alarmed by reports of a fire outbreak in Qilinto Prison in Addis Ababa, on 4 September 2016, leading to the deaths and injuries of a number of inmates, including detainees;

Deeply concerned by reports that more than fifty-five people were killed and several hundreds injured in a stampede, following police attempt to disperse the crowd in a break-out protest, at a religious festival on 2 October 2016;

Concerned by allegations relating to the arbitrary arrest and detention of members of opposition parties and human rights defenders;

Alarmed by the loss of lives and the destruction of property resulting from violence perpetrated by some protestors;

Concerned by the declaration of a state of emergency on 9 October 2016, which restricts fundamental human rights and freedoms;

Further concerned by restrictions on movement, assembly, media access, internet services as well as the arbitrary arrest and detention of many people following the state of emergency declaration;

Noting reports of the release of 2, 000 persons who were detained on suspicion of engaging in protests;

The Commission:

1. Condemns the deteriorating human rights situation in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in particular the undue restrictions on fundamental human rights and freedoms resulting from the state of emergency.
2. Calls on the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to:

1. ensure that fundamental human rights and freedoms are respected and upheld during the state of emergency;
2. lift the ban on movement, assembly, media access, and internet services;
3. ensure due process of law for persons arrested and detained in connection with protests, in accordance with regional and international standards, and release persons arrested and detained without charge;
4. refrain from the use of excessive and disproportionate force against protestors and, more generally, take the necessary measures to guarantee the security and safety of its population;
5. initiate prompt and impartial investigations into these alleged human rights violations and ensure that the perpetrators of these violations are held accountable and subjected to appropriate sanctions reflecting the gravity of the offences, in accordance with relevant international and regional standards;
6. comply with the letter and spirit of the African Charter and other regional and international human rights instruments to which it is a party and, more particularly, the instruments referred to in this Resolution;
7. ensure that victims of the above violations and their families obtain full and adequate redress, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition; and
8. authorise the Commission to undertake a fact-finding mission to Ethiopia.

3. Calls on protestors to exercise their rights with due regard to the law and the rights of others;
4. Calls on all actors, particularly leaders and members of opposition parties, other stakeholders and the population in general, to refrain from any form of incitement and all other acts of violence.

Done in Banjul, Islamic Republic of the Gambia, on 4 November 2016