Joint statement form SOCEPP Canada and Unity for Human Rights and Democracy Toronto

An urgent appeal to the Government of Canada and all Parliamentarians

March 31, 2010

The Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political prisoners, (SOCEPP Canada) and Unity for Human Rights and Democracy are Toronto based Human rights groups striving for the respect of Human and Democratic rights in Ethiopia.

We are writing to request your immediate intervention to avert a serious human tragedy in Ethiopia.

The health of Birtukan Mideksa, the jailed leader of the opposition UDJ, the first and only female political party leader in the country’s history, is deteriorating fast. Reports indicate that both her physical as well as mental health is at an alarming point. Birtukan Mideksa who is clearly categorized as prisoner of conscious is jailed for speaking her mind and standing firm in her opposition to the ruling group that has been in power for the last 20 years. Birtukan Mideksa, needs to be provided with all the proper medical care that she needs.  Birtukan Mideksa is a political prisoner and she needs to be released without any precondition.

The repression against the free press has intensified. Ethiopians continue to be denied of their most basic rights. The Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, in a recent interview with one of the local government media, has openly stated that his government was “testing its ability to jam” Voice of America’s Amharic service. There are fresh reports to indicate that, like many other radio transmissions and web sites before it, the VOA has now been blocked in Ethiopia. This blatant disregard of the free press and the plight of the international community is a continuation of the unabated affront against the international human rights standards.

In the run up to the May 2010 election, the government is increasing its attack on the opposition. There are numerous reports of continued attack on the members of the opposition all over the country. For example, in Jimma Zone, western Ethiopia, candidate of the opposition Medrek was attached by a knife wielding security agents and seriously injured. Another member of the opposition Medrek, Ato Aregawi Gebre Yohanes, was brutally murdered by six members of the same security forces in the northern province of Tigray. Another opposition party - AEUP has stated that a number of its members have been arrested and jailed without cause. In short, indications are that the governing TPLF/EPRDF is forcefully implementing all the means to frustrate the opposition and withdraw from the said election in May 2010.

Additionally, it has now been reported by the likes of the BBC and the party’s former functionaries that, the international humanitarian and relief aid sent from the western world during the great famine of 1984/85 was appropriated by the TPLF and used to buy arms and strengthen its fighting forces while millions of Ethiopians were flooding into the Sudan and tens of thousands were made to perish. There are similar reports to indicate that the TPLF/EPRDF has continued to misappropriate international aid even after it came to power to buy vote  while close to 13 million of our people are facing once again facing starvation. It is also reported that those who are suspected of supporting the opposition are denied humanitarian aid.

In view of these harrowing past and present events, then, it is imperative that the international community take these issues seriously, heed the calls of such human rights groups as: Genocide Watch, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and stop enabling a government that has and continues to perpetrate possible crime against humanity and possible genocide.

We specifically urge the government of Canada and all parliamentarians to:

• Engage in a formal discussion regarding the situation in Ethiopia and provide a principled political leadership. A good place to start would be a hearing in the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee on the situation in Ethiopia.
• Take immediate action for the respect of the basic rights of Birukan Mideksa including access to medical treatment, to visit by her family friends and international organizations such as the ICRC.
• Strive for the release of Birukan Mideksa and all political prisoners including Aberash Berta and many others.
• Investigate if Canadian aid was and continues to be used for political purposes by the ruling TPLF/EPRDF both in the mid 1980’s and at the present time.
• Demand that the ruling party in Ethiopia respect international conventions and treaties on Human and Democratic rights including freedom of the press and assembly.
• Monitor very closely the upcoming election in the country and demand that the ruling party refrain from harassment and suppression of the opposition.
• Suspend all direct budgetary aid until the ruling group show full compliance for the respect of Human and Democratic rights in Ethiopia.

SOCEPP- Canada                                   Unity for Human Rights and Democracy

socepp-can@humanrightsethiopia.com         7 Woodmount Ave. Toronto, Ontario

                                                      M4C 3X4

P. O. BOX 413, STATION E,                       www.andnettoronto.blogspot.com/ 
TORONTO, ONTARIO                                 www.freebirtukan.org           
M6H 4E3                                                       unityforhumanrights@gmail.com
CANADA

www.humanrightsethiopia.com