The Human Rights Situation in Ethiopia

ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

EHRCO stands for democracy, the rule of law and the respect of human rights

EHRCO
The Human Rights Situation in Ethiopia
29th Regular Report
January 2008
Introduction
The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) in this 29th regular report assesses the general human rights situation in the country. The human rights violations incorporated in this report have not been covered by any of EHRCO’s preceding reports issued until the end of December 2007, and are compiled based on complaints received from victims, evidence gathered through onsite investigations and testimonies of eyewitnesses.
Table 1 Human Rights Violations incorporated in the Report
No.
Type of violations
Extent of damage
Page
A
Extra judicial killings
17 (see the details of nine of them in section 2, page 29 and 31)
2
B
Beating and torture
16
4
C
Rape
1
9
D
Violation of the right to freedom of expression
1
9
E
Illegal detention
􀂃 Detained and released
Still under detention
244
59
185
9
F
Enforced disappearances
3
19
G
Threats and intimidation
3
19
H
Unlawful dismissal from job
24
20
I
Denial of justice
2
23
J
Enforced isolation from social life/property damage/looting
6 families
24
Part Two: Rights violations associated with ethnic conflicts
Killings, destruction of property, eviction, enforced isolation from social life, etc
26
1
Part One
Various forms of Human Rights Violations
A. Extra judicial killings
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which Ethiopia has endorsed, provides that everyone has the right to life. Article 6(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Ethiopia is a party, states that every one has a natural right to life. Likewise, Article 15 of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) also recognizes the right to life.
However, in violation of the aforementioned provisions of the country’s constitution and of international human rights instruments, the following persons have been killed.
On 5 August 2007 on the excuse that the day was the last day before the start of the fasting period for orthodox Christians, prison officials allowed alcohol to get into the premises of Mota Prison, East Gojjam Zone in the Amhara Region ignoring rules that prohibit the use of alcohol in prisons. In the festivities, the prisoners got drunk. At around 5:00 p.m., a brawl ensued between the inmates and the prison guards, and as result the following five inmates were killed. The families of the late victims reported to EHRCO that they were not allowed to take the bodies of their loved ones and they later heard that all five men had been buried in one grave. The details are presented below.
1. Bamlaku Azmeraw Worku: 29, He was from Amhara Regional State, East Gojjam Zone, Huleteju Enessie Woreda, Mota town, Sona Medhanealem Kebele Farmers’ Association. He was running a private business going to prison in 2006 suspected of killing a police officer. Hw was awaiting trial. On August 5, 2007, at about 5: 00p.m., he was shot and wounded by prison guard for allegedly trying to escape from prison. The prison guards kept on beating him with butt of the guns and truncheon until he died. He was then buried in the Mota Giorgis cemetery. Family members of the deceased reported to EHRCO that they were not allowed to take the body of late Bamlaku, and was buried with other four inmates killed in a similar account. Police have also refused to give back the personal effects of the deceased unless the family produced a letter from the Kebele stating that the deceased was killed because of his own fault. The mother of the deceased further reported that she put under detention for a day and were insulted and intimidated for asking the body of her son.
2. Yeshiwas Mekonnen : 50, He was from the Amhara Region, Ense-Sar Midir Woreda, Borebor Bete Midir Kebele. He was the head of a seven-member family, and member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP).He was arrested for allegedly concealing firearms in his house. On August 5, 2007 at
2
about 5:00 p.m., he was shot dead by the prison guards for allegedly to escape from prison. His body was laid to rest in the same condition as the late Bamlaku (stated in No. 1 above). The family of the deceased reported to EHRCO that the prison administration refused to hand over the personal effects of the deceased to them unless they produced a letter from the Keble stating that the late Yeshiwas had died on his own fault.
3. Ambelu Gedefaw: 48, He was from Amhara Region, East Gojjam Zone, Enessie Sar Midir Woreda, Shewa Kebele Farmers’ Association. He was also a member of CUDP. In January 2006, he was shot by police and arrested for allegedly concealing firearms. On August 5, 2007, at about 5:00 p.m. he was shot dead by prison guards for allegedly trying to escape from prison. He was buried in the same condition as Bamlaku and Yeshiwas (No. 1 and 2 above). His family reported to EHRCO that the prison administration refused to hand over the deceased’s personal effects to them unless they produced a letter from the Kebele stating that Ambelu had died on his own fault.
4. Jemberu Yibeltal: 24,He was from Amhara Region, East Gojjam Zone, Enessie Sar Midir Woreda, Jan Gebeya Kebele Farmers’ Association. He was a member of CUDP, and arrested being accused of hiding firearms. On August 5,2007, at around 5:00p.m. , he was shot dead by prison guards for allegedly trying to escape from prison. His family reported to EHRCO that, he was buried in a similar condition as the other victims mentioned above. They also said that the prison administration refused to hand over the personal effects of the deceased to them unless they produced letter from the Kebele stating that the Jemberu had died on his own fault.
5. Nigat Settie: He was from Amhara Regional State, East Gojjam Zone, Enessie Sar Midir Woreda, Yizana Kebele Farmers’ Association. He was in Mata prison for reasons EHRCO was unable to establish for the time being. On August 5, 2007, at about 5:00p.m., he was shot dead by prison guards for allegedly trying to escape. As his family reported to EHRCO, he was buried in the same conditions and in the same grave with the other victims mentioned above.
6. Zerihun Abate: 17 He was a resident of Oromia Region, East Wollega Zone, Guto Wayu Woreda, Nekemt town, Kebele 09. On 29 April 2007 at about midnight, he was shot by a police officer on his chest and died instantly. Although the killer was put under control, he was not formally charged by the time this report was being compiled.
7. Aregash Gebremariam (F): 45, She was a resident of Somali region Jijiga town. On August 17, 2007 she was brutally stabbed to death by a member of the Somali ethnic group who had a long-standing claim to the house she was living in. The deceased reported the threats to her life several times to the kebele office as well as to the police but nether acted in time to prevent
3
her death. After her death her house was broken into in the night of 3 September 2007 and property belonging to her was looted. After this incident her family, reported the house breaking to the police and requested the police to seal off the house to prevent further break in. The region’s Police Commission wrote a letter to the kebele to seal off the house as per the request of the owners but kebele officials refused to comply with the order saying that the letter should have come from the Regional Council, not from the police. IT was learnt that the killer was not apprehended and brought to justice by the time this report was being compiled.
8. Ehite Getahun (F): She was a resident of Somali regional state, Jijiga town, On August 17, 2007, she was stabbed to death along with the late Aregash (No. 7 above) by the same assailant.
B.