February 2011
PUBLIC, 21 February 2011
The Situations of Ethiopian, Oromo Refugees in Yemen
Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) is highly concerned about the current situations and future fates of Ethiopian Oromo refugees in Yemen.
According to recent reports obtained by HRLHA from its correspondents in Sana’a, Yemen, about 300 (three hundred) refugees from Ethiopia are currently languishing in an underground detention camp in Jawazat locality in the city of Sana’a. The detainees have been subjected to a high health risk resulting from suffocations and over-crowdedness in the underground prison.
HRLHA has learnt that some of those refugees from Ethiopia have recently been deported; and seventeen of those refugees (listed below), who refused to go back lest they would face human rights violations such as extra-judicial prisons and punishment, from which they originally fled, have been exposed to beatings and other forms of torture in the Jawazati prison. HRLHA has also learnt that, despite repeated attempts, UNHCR delegates have not been able to visit the detention centre and investigate the situations or status of the detained refugees; as they are misguided by local government agents every time they travel to the area. On the other hand, Ethiopia’s secret agents have been allowed access to both the detention centre and the refugees in order to falsely coerce the refugees into deportations by pretending that they are delivering letters of decisions by the UNHCR. Twenty refugees have already fallen victims of this kind of sabotage; and have been deported to Ethiopia based on decisions faked under the name of the UNHCR.
Refugees from Ethiopia have been held in the Jawazat detention centre for over nine months, according to HRLHA informants; and following is the list of the seventeen Ethiopian refugees who have been exposed to continuous tortures and intimidations after refusing deportation:
- Haashim Kadiir Nagahii.
- Kaalid Huseen Muhammad.
- Muhammaad Kadiir Ahmad.
- Alii shamsii Abseenoo.
- Umar Ayyaanoo Korroo.
- Ahmad Xayyib Heydar.
- Imaana diin Jamaal Ahma.
- Misbaahuu shittaa Abdallaa.
- Gaadinee Ayyaaloo Imar.
- Muhammad Amiin Roobee huseen ,
- Abdoo Muhammad Amiin,
- Yaasiin Ibraahim Jamaal,
- Diinee Muusaa Ibraahim.
- Ahmad Jamaal Ibraahim,
- H/ Muhammad Hasan.
- Naziif Abdallaa Jamal.
- Yuusuf Abdu rahiim Amee.
It is obvious that what are happening to Ethiopian refugees in Yemen are in breach of international human rights laws and related documents. Under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1465 U.N.T.S. 185), the Yemen Government has the obligation not to return a person to a place where they are likely to face torture or ill-treatment. Article 3 of the Convention against Torture provides that:
1. No state party shall expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite a person to another state where there are substantial grounds to believe that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture.
2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the state concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.
Due to these and other similar facts, HRLHA is highly concerned about the fate of those arrested refugees. Therefore, HRLHA calls upon regional and international humanitarian and diplomatic communities and agencies to approach and pressurize the Yemen Government to disclose the whereabouts and the current situations of those refugees, and also refrain from deporting them. HRLHA also calls upon those same agencies and communities to exert pressure on Yemen to refrain from becoming tools of authoritarian regimes and instead respect the rights of refugees to safety and protection according the regional and international refugees rights agreements.
Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) calls up on the Yemeni Government to abide by both international and regional covenants, treaties and agreements, and ensure that the rights of refugees in its territory are respected.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to the Yemeni Government and its concerned officials as swiftly as possible, in English, Arabic, or your own language expressing:
- concern at the apprehension and fear of deportation of the refugees who are being held in detention since in February, 2011 at different times and calling for their immediate and unconditional release;
- urging the authorities of Yemen to ensure that these detainees are treated in accordance with regional and international standards on the treatment of prisoners.
APPEALS TO
- His Excellency, Mr. Ghazi Shaif al-AGHBAR
Ministry of Justice
Tel: 967-1-256-933
Fax: 967-1-222-015
E-mail: courts@moj.gov.ye
- His Excellency, Mr. Huda Abd al-Latif al-BAN
Ministry of Human Rights
P.O. Box 16313, Sana’a
Tel: 967-1-419-672
Fax: 967-1-419-555
967-1-419-700
- His Excellency, Mr.Abu Bakr Abdallah al-QIRBI
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 1994, Sana’a
Tel: 967-1-276-612
967-1-276-545
Fax: 967-1-286-618
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9022
(particularly for urgent matters)
E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - UNHCR main office Geneva, Switzerland.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse. telephone number: +41 22 739 8111 - African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (ACHPR)
48 Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 673, Banjul,
The Gambia.
Tel: (220) 4392 962 , 4372070, 4377721 – 23
Fax: (220) 4390 764
E-mail: achpr@achpr.org
- U.S. Department of State
Tom Fcansky – Foreign Affairs Officer
Email;-TOfcansky@aol.com>
Washington, D.C. 20037
Tel: +1-202-261-8009
Fax: +1-202-261-8197
- Amnesty International – London
Tom Gibson
Telephone: +44-20-74135500
Fax number: +44-20-79561157
Email;- TGibson@amnesty.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Human Rights Watch – New York, Tel: +1-212-290-4700
Fax:+1-212-736-1300
Email: hrwnyc@hrw.org
