Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia

Ethiopia arrests 11 journalist, bloggers and activists

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Press Statement

March 26, 2018

 
AHRE has found that 11 journalists, bloggers and activists arrested during the weekend, including recently released political prisoners, On March 25 2018, Ethiopian Police and Security forces arrested journalists Eskindir Nega and Temesgen Dessalege, activists Andualem Arage, Addisu Getinet, Yidnekachewu Addis, Sintayehu Chekol, Tefera Tesfaye and Woynshet Molla, and bloggers Mahlet Fantahun, Befiqadu Hailu, Zelalem Workagegnhu, and Fekadu Mehatemework, Their arrest was ordered by the Command Post while they were attending a private gathering at the resident of journalist Temesgen Dessalege in Addis Ababa, Jomo district. This private gathering was to celebrate the release of political prisoners who were recently freed. They are currently being held at Gotera-Pepsi Police Station in Addis Ababa.

AHRE also received information that another 15 people were arrested on March 24, 2018 in Bahirdar town, Amhara regional state, while they were collecting a petition to establish a new political party with the permission of the National Electorial Board. Those arrested include Dr. Dessalegn Chane (professor at Bahirdar University), Gashawu Mersha, Yesuf Ibrahim (a lawyer and former university lecturer), Temesgen Tessema (lecturer at Wolo University), Belete Molla (lecturer at Addis Ababa.University), Nigatu Asress (journalist at Amhara Regional TV), Belete Kassa (former editor-in-chief of Qelem Qend newspaper), Sisay Altqseb, Daniel Abebaw, Mengiste Tegene, Bogale Abebaw, Mengiste Tegene, Bogale Arage, Kassu Hailu (lecturer at Enjibar University), Tessema Kassahun, Dirssan Birhane, Berihun Assefa, Fikru Kassaw, Temesgen Birhanu and two other people.

They were arrested while attending a dinner party in Bahirdar town after they held their first General Assembly during the day. According to local sources, the 19 detainees were brutally beaten by police during their arrest and they have been forced to sleep on a concrete floor without giving them mattress and bed sheets. They are all now being held at Bahirdar town 9th police station.  

AHRE condemns the government’s continued violation of the right to freedom of association and use of the new state of emergency to increase the repression, arrest and harassing of human rights defenders, journalists and the political opposition. We urge 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, recognize, and promote constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly;

·       Immediately and unconditionally release journalists, bloggers, political activists 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, 

https://ahrethio.org/ 

 

 

Ethiopia: Killings, arrests under new State of Emergency

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

Ethiopia: AHRE condemns killings of civilians under the state of emergency in Moyale town, Southeast Ethiopia

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Press Statement

11 March, 2018

Ethiopian military forces fired live ammunition into a crowd, injuring and killing civilians, on March 10, 2018 in Moyale, a town in Oromia region, Eastern Ethiopia. According to AHRE’s sources, at least 15 were killed and more than 12 injured.
The Command Post Secretariat, established to enforce the recently decreed state of emergency, confirmed that 9 were killed and 12 others wounded. Its statement claimed that 5 member of the army acted based on a ‘mistaken intelligence report’ while attempting to capture members of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) who crossed the border from Kenya to the Ethiopian side.
There was no protest or irregular activity at the time of the killing, and eyewitnesses confirmed that most of the victims were shot while walking on the streets, at coffee shops or restaurants. They also reported that the shooting took place in different parts of the town. One of the victims, Temam Negeso, was a school principal in the city school. The head of the Oromia Regional government communication bureau, Mr Addisu Arega also confirmed the killings in Moyale in his Facebook post, and according to the Addis Standard[1], terrified residents of Moyale town fled into neighbouring Kenya.
AHRE recently reported that at least 12 civilians were shot and killed by military and security forces on 20 January 2018 in Weldia town, in Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia.
“AHRE is extremely concerned by these repeated instances of killings and arbitrary attacks in the context of a renewed clampdown on fundamental rights and the declaration of a new state of emergency,” said Yared Hailemariam, Executive Director of AHRE. “Persistent lack of accountability is at the center of the crisis Ethiopia is going through and such attacks risk instigating and triggering more anti-government protests and civil unrest”. 
AHRE once again reiterates that the government should refrain from arbitrarily shooting civilians or protestors and respect fundamental human rights. AHRE urges the government:
⁃    Explicitly respect, recognise, and promote constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly;
⁃    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.
⁃    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;
For further information:
Yared Hailemariam
Executive Director
[email protected], Mobile: +32 486 336 367,
www.ahrethio.org  , https://www.facebook.com/AHREthio.org/?fref=nf
[1] https://addisstandard.com/ethiopian-army-targets-civilians-in-moyale-killing-nine-wounding-above-a-dozen-martial-law-command-post-calls-it-a-mistake-residents-dispute/