Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia

Joint civil society letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister-designate on recent arrests of journalists and human rights defenders

by

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)

 

Ethiopia arrests 11 journalist, bloggers and activists

by 

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

by

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