January 24, 2018
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) strongly condemns the brutality of the Ethiopian Military force who massacred at least seven Woldia town youth on January 20, 2018 who were gathered to celebrate the Ethiopian Orthodox church annual festival of Epiphany. The North Wollo Zone Police commander Amare Goshu confirmed to regional TV that six people were shot dead by security forces and least other 15 people were injured. Commander Goshu blamed the youth for chanting anti government slogans and attacking members of the military force by throwing stones.
Ethiopians have been totally under military control since November 12, 2017whenthe federal government and the regional state governments decided to use military force to bring peace into the country governed by a committee, the National Security Council. The National Security Council- led by the Defense Minister Siraj Fegessa- has controlled the regional states’ police and security activities,paralyzing regional police and security institutions, and violating the Ethiopian constitution of 1995 article 39(3): “Every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has the right to a full measure of self-government which includes the right to establish institutions of government in the territory that it inhabits and to equitable representation in state and Federal governments”.
In an earlier attack against youth on Dec 10, 2017 in Chelenko, East Hararge Zone, Oromia Regional State, 15 innocent people were massacred, 14 of whom were youths. These most recent massacres by a government military suggest that the youth are the real targets of the government
The HRLHA once again expresses its deep concerns regarding the killings of the youth in the country on a daily basis at different places; they are being killed simply because they used their constitutional right to speak their minds and protest against the suppression of the government.
The Ethiopian parliament and people should not keep silent when the lives of the new generation are at risk at the hand of the dictatorial government. They must unite and say enough is enough!
The Ethiopian Parliament must have absolute sovereignty and be supreme over all other government institutions, including executive or judicial bodies. The legislative body may change or repeal any previous legislation and approve the newly created legislation, so it is not bound by the written law. The Ethiopian parliament must use its supreme power and question the formation of the “Ethiopian National Security Council” which put the country under military rule.
The people of Ethiopia must unite and confront the Ethiopian totalitarian rule by saying NO MORE KILLINGS! NO MILITARY RULE! The military must return to its military camps.
The HRLHA therefore calls upon the Ethiopian Government to immediately stop targeting the youth who are the future of the country and unconditionally return its military to their military camps. The right to a full measure of self-government of the Regional States mentioned in Ethiopian Constitution article 39 (3) must be restored.
The HRLHA also calls upon regional and international diplomatic, democratic, and human rights agencies to challenge the Ethiopian TPLF/EPRDF regime on its persistent brutal, dictatorial, and repressive actions against innocent and unarmed civilians, especially youths who are simply exercising their democratic rights.
Ethiopia: A Generation Targeted, the Future of a Nation at Risk Another Massacre in Woldia Town, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia
