Monday, May 5, 2014

Ethiopia: UN Review Should Condemn Media Crackdown

Activists, Journalists Persecuted Under Draconian Laws

May 5, 2014, Geneva(HR) – United Nations member countries should call on Ethiopia to stop targeting activists and the media under draconian laws. The UN Human Rights Council will review Ethiopia’s human rights record under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) procedure on May 6, 2014.

A Human Rights Watch submission to the UN on Ethiopia highlights its ongoing suppression of the media and nongovernmental organizations, and the lack of accountability for torture and other serious abuses by its security forces. The arbitrary arrest of nine bloggers and journalists on April 25 and 26, just 10 days before the review, reflects Ethiopia’s blatant disregard for fundamental rights and should be strongly condemned by UN members.

“The UN review is taking place just as Ethiopia is renewing its crackdown on free speech,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director. “To make this review meaningful, UN member countries should forcefully tell Ethiopia that its attacks on the media and activist groups are a blight on its human rights record.”
Since Ethiopia’s first UPR review in 2009, the human rights situation has deteriorated substantially. The authorities have shown harsh intolerance of any criticism of government actions and have sharply restricted the rights to free expression and association.

Despite Ethiopia’s commitment during the 2009 review to take “measures to provide for free and independent media,” Ethiopia now has one of the most repressive media environments in the world. Numerous journalists languish in prison, independent media outlets have been closed down, and many journalists have fled the country.

Critics of government policy – including journalists, rights activists, and opposition party supporters – risk harassment, arbitrary detention, and politically motivated prosecutions. Many prosecutions are carried out under repressive laws that have dramatically curtailed the ability of independent Ethiopian and international organizations to investigate and report on human rights violations and other concerns.

Critics are also subject to illegal surveillance of telephone communications, and the contents of these communications are sometimes used during unlawful interrogations. Government censors routinely block websites of opposition parties, independent media sites, blogs, and several international media outlets.
During the 2009 review Ethiopia rejected recommendations to amend two draconian laws – the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law) and the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation – to comply with international human rights standards.

“Ethiopia’s membership in the Human Rights Council should make it a leader in respecting rights, not repressing them,” Lefkow said. “UN members should press Ethiopia to amend the laws it uses to decimate independent media and civil society.”

The Ethiopian government has failed to conduct credible investigations or prosecutions of members of the security forces implicated in torture and other rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This includes security force abuses in Gambella, the Somali region, Oromia, and in Somalia.

In an October 2013 report, Human Rights Watch documented the use of torture by police and investigators against detainees in Maekelawi, the main investigation center in Addis Ababa, the capital.

At the Human Rights Council, countries should stress the need for Ethiopia to address torture and other serious crimes by security forces, and to investigate and prosecute security personnel responsible for serious crimes.

“Ethiopia’s refusal to address serious crimes by security forces is a major obstacle to human rights progress and deeply distressing for the families of the victims,” Lefkow said. “UN members need to push Ethiopia to meaningfully investigate grave violations and to hold those responsible to account.”

Friday, May 2, 2014

» URGENT INFORMATION NEEDED: Who is Colonel Tesfaye? – Woyane to Crash #OromoProtests Violently, and Col. Tesfaye is in charge ---- Gadaa.com Oduu – News

URGENT INFORMATION NEEDED: Who is Colonel Tesfaye? – Woyane to Crash #OromoProtests Violently, and Col. Tesfaye is in charge

Posted: Caamsaa/May 2, 2014 · Gadaa.com

Updates from #OromoProtests

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We have received official document from credible source that shows a certain Colonel Tesfaye, has been assigned as coordinator of a ‘command post’ established to crash ‪#‎OromoProtests‬ in Oromia regional state. The ‘command post’ is made up of 9 people. Muktar Kadir is assigned to lead the ‘political response’, while the mysterious Col Tesfaye has brought all security entities under his command. Below is list of members of the command post.

1) Muktar Kadir
2) Nuree Qamar
3) Zalalem Jamane
4) Col. Tasfayee
5) Addisu Badhaasaa
6) Fiqaduu Saboqa
7) Ibrahim Hajii
8) Raabiyaa Iisaa
9) Jamaal Abbaasoo

Strangely only this Colonel is listed without last name. In fact every source we asked so far says he is simply addressed as Col. Tesfaye. However our sources say he is a veteran TPLF commander within the military intelligence unit. We have evidence that Col. Tesfaye authorized the use of lethal force against civilians during the Ambo protest.

As our legal professionals prepare to take the matter to appropriate human rights court, we need to gather as much information and evidence against those ordering and perpetuating the ongoing heinous crime against defenseless civilians. Lets start with Col Tesfaye. Please cooperate with us in identifying this person by sending us pictures, his middle and last night, place of birth and current residence, details of his family, past involvement, source of wealth etc. Basically any thing and every thing you know about this guy will be helpful to launch full investigation into his criminal activities. We will post his picture and other bio data as soon as we receive it in order encourage inflow of more information.

In addition to Col. Tesfaye, we need as much information as possible on each of the above mentioned individuals. Please send us their mobile and house phone. We promise to make available to public so that they can hear your concerns and complaints.

Also if you know them personally or related to them, give them last warning. They will be held accountable for every violent action perpetuated under the leadership this command post. We have let it slide when those participated in past human rights violation ran away and took asylum in our midst. After consciously participating in such crime, they should not expect asylum when TPLF throws them out like their predecessors.

Thank you,

ETHIOPIA: Region-Wide, Heavy-Handed Crackdown on Peaceful Protesters

HRLHA Urgent Action

May 1, 2014

The human rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its deepest concern over the widespread brutalities of the Ethiopian Government in handling protests in different parts of the regional state of Oromia by peaceful demonstrators. In a heavy-handed crackdown being carried out by the federal armed squad called Agazi, which is infamously known for its cruelty against innocent civilians particularly during such public protests, 16 (sixteen) Oromo students have so far been shot dead in the town of Ambo alone and scores of others have been wounded, according to HRLHA correspondents in the area. The victims of the brutal attacks were not only from Federal Police brutality in Ambo town among those who were out protesting in the streets, but also among those who stayed behind on university campuses. Hundreds of others have also been arrested, loaded on police trucks, and taken to unknown destinations.

Although the brutalities of the armed squad and the resultant fatalities happened to be
very high in Ambo Town, the peaceful protests by Oromo students of different universities and faculties have been taking place in the past couple of days in various towns and cities of Oromia including Diredawa and Adama in eatern Oromia, as well as Jimma, Mettu, Naqamte, Gimbi, and Dambidollo in western Oromia.

The Oromo students in all those and other universities took to the streets for peaceful
demonstrations in protest to the recently made decision by the Federal EPRDF/TPLF- led Government to expand the city of Finfinnee/Addis Ababa by uprooting and displacing hundreds of thousands of Oromos from all sorts of livelihoods, and annexing about 36 surrounding towns of Oromia, the ultimate goal of which is claimed to be re- drawing the map of the Oromia Region. The federal annexation plan, which was termed as “The Integrated Development Master Plan”, is said to be covering the towns of Dukem, Gelan, Legetafo, Sendafa, Sululta, Burayu, Holeta, Sebeta, and others, stretching the boundary of Finfinne/Addis Ababa to about 1.1million hectares – an area of 20 times its current size.

The Oromo protesters claim that the decision was in violation of both the regional and
federal constitutions that guarantee the ownership, special interests and benefits of the Oromo Nation over Finfinne/Addis Ababa. Similar unlawful and unconstitutional action taken at different times in the past fifteen and twenty years have already resulted in the dispossessions of lands and displacements of hundreds of thousands of Oromos farmers and business owners from around the city of Finfinne, forcing them into unemployment and day labourer.

The HRLHA has been able to obtain the names of the following students from among
those who have been shot dead, wounded, and/or arrested and taken away:

No Name Gender University & Department

1         Falmata Bayecha                               M              Jimma, Medicine 5th year
2         Galana Ababa                                    M              Jimma, Governance 3rd year
3         Zabana Barasa                                   M              Jimma, Oromo Folklore 3rd year
4         Getacho Darajje                                 M              Jimma, Governance 3rd year
5         Isra’el Habtamu                                 M              Jimma
6         Husen Umar                                      M              Jimma
7         Ababa Kumsa                                    M              Wallagga
8         Abdisa Nagasa                                  M              Wallagga
9         Tashome Dawit                                 M              Wallagga
10        Gexe Tafari                                        F                Wallagga

By so doing, the Ethiopian Government violates the property rights of peoples, which is clearly described both in local and international agreements including the Ethiopia constitution of 1995 article 40(3). While strongly condemning the brutality of the Ethiopian Government against its own people, specifically the youth, HRLHA would like to once again express its deep concerns regarding the whereabouts as well as safety of the students who have been taken into custody in relation to this protest.

HRLHA calls up on the Ethiopian Government to immediately stop shooting at and killed unarmed peaceful protestors who are attempting to exercise some of their fundamental rights and freedom of expression; and unconditionally release the detained students. We also request that the Ethiopian Government bring to justice the security agents who have committed criminal offences against own citizens by violating domestic and international human rights norms. HRLHA also calls up on regional and international diplomatic, democratic, and human rights agencies to challenge the Ethiopian TPLF/EPRDF government on its persistent brutal, dictatorial, and suppressive actions against innocent and unarmed civilians.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to the Ethiopian Government and its concerned officials as swiftly as possible, in English, Ahmaric, or your own language expressing:

 Your concerns over at the apprehension hundreds of students, and fear of torture of the citizens who are being held in Ma’ikelawi Central Investigation Office and other detention centers since February, 2011 to present at different times, and calling for their immediate and unconditional release;

 Urging the authorities of Ethiopia to ensure that these detainees are treated in accordance with regional and international standards on the treatment of prisoners,

 Urging the Ethiopian Government to disclose whereabouts of the detainees and,

 Your concerns to diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your respective countries,