Fear of Torture
HRLHA Urgent Action
______________________________________________
For Immediate Release
May 7, 2015
Harassments and intimidations through arbitrary arrests, kidnappings and disappearances have continued unabated in Ambo and the surrounding areas against Oromo youths and intellectuals since the crackdowns of last year April, 2014, when more than 79 Oromos, mostly youths, were killed by members of the federal security force.
According to HRLHA correspondents in Ambo, the major target of this most recent government-sponsored violence were Ambo University and high schools Oromo students in Ambo town. In this incident which started on April 20, 2015 more than 50 university and high school students were arrested; more than 20 were severely beaten by the security force and taken to Ambo General Hospital for treatment.
Although it has been difficult to identify everyone by their names, HRLHA correspondents have confirmed that the following were among the arrestees:
No Name Sex Occupation
1 Magarsa Mashsha Ayyana M Student /Ambo University, health professional
2 Urgessa Danana M Student, Rift Valley College
3 Birehanu Diriba M Teacher, Rift Valley College
4 Getachew Gadaa Dereje M Student, Jimma University
5 Tarku Debisa M
6 Abdata Olansa M
7 Marara Tujuba M
8 Homa Hundasa
9 Argamsisa Lenjisa M Student, Ambo University 4th year Engineering
10 Obsa Abdissa M Student, Liban Mecha school 9th grade
11 Homa Hundassa M
12 Kumsa Bayisa M Student, Liban Mecha school 9th grade
13 Tadesse Sime M Student, Liban Mecha School 9th grade
14 Daran Demisse M Businessman Kebele 02, Ambo
15 Amsalu Midhaqsa M
15 Solomon Abebe M Student, 10th grade
16 Gamachu Siyum M
17 Sisay Lamessa M
18 Misgana Chemeda M
19 Geleta Chaluma M
20 Chimidessa Mutasa M
Those who were badly beaten and hospitalized in Ambo general Hospital:
1 Gabisee Simee Student, 7th grade
2 Motuma Kumala
3 Bdhassa Gurmu
4 Rajiif Qajela Student, 9th grade
5 Fayera bekele M Student, 9th grade
According to HRLHA reporters, the arrests were made to clear out supporters and members of the other political organizations running for the fifth election to be held May 24, 2015. The EPRDF, led by the late Meles Zenawi, claimed victory in the elections of 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. The TPLF/EPRDF government of Ethiopia has started a campaign of intimidation against its opponents. Extra-judicial arrests and imprisonments particularly in the regional state of Oromia, the most populous region in the country, began starting at the end of October 2014.
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) expresses its deep concern over the safety and well-being of these Oromo nationals who have been arrested without any court warrant and are being held at police stations and unknown detention centers. The Ethiopian government has a well-documented record of gross and flagrant violations of human rights, including the torturing of its own citizens who were suspected of supporting, sympathizing with and/or being members of the opposition political organizations. There have been credible reports of physical and psychological abuses committed against individuals in Ethiopian official prisons and other secret detention centers.
HRLHA calls upon governments of the West, all local, regional and international human rights agencies to join hands and demand the immediate halt to such extra-judicial actions against one’s own citizens, and the unconditional release of the detainees.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to the Ethiopian Government and its officials as swiftly as possible, in English, Ahmaric, or your own language. The following are suggested:
Indicate your concern about citizens being tortured in different detention centers including the infamous Ma’ikelawi Central Investigation Office; and calling for their immediate and unconditional release;
Urge the Ethiopian authorities to ensure that detainees will be treated in accordance with the regional and international standards on the treatment of prisoners, and that their whereabouts be disclosed, and
Make sure the coming May 24, 2015 election is fair and free
Send Your Concerns to:
• His Excellency: Mr. Haila Mariam Dessalegn – Prime Minister of Ethiopia
P.O.Box – 1031 Addis Ababa
Telephone – +251 155 20 44; +251 111 32 41
Fax – +251 155 20 30 , +251 15520
• Office of Oromiya ( right spelling?) National Regional State President Office
Telephone – 0115510455
• Office of the Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia
PO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Fax: +251 11 5517775; +251 11 5520874 Email: ministry-justice@telecom.net.et
Copied To:
• Office of the UN 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
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• Office of the UNHCR
Telephone: 41 22 739 8111
Fax: 41 22 739 7377
Po Box: 2500
Geneva, Switzerland
• African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (ACHPR)
48 Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia. ( The Gambia or just Gambia?)
Tel: (220) 4392 962 , 4372070, 4377721 – 23 Fax: (220) 4390 764
E-mail: achpr@achpr.org
• Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
• Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex, FRANCE
+ 33 (0)3 88 41 34 21
+ 33 (0)3 90 21 50 53
Contact us by email
• U.S. Department of State
Laura Hruby
Ethiopia Desk Officer
U.S. State Department
HrubyLP@state.gov
Tel: (202) 647-6473
• Amnesty International – London
Claire Beston
Claire Beston”
• Human Rights Watch
Felix Hor
“Felix Horne”
