Human Rights

Widespread Violence against Students in Ethiopia

Dismissals and Suspensions of University Students on Political Grounds

February 20, 2012

Three students of Jimma Unversity in the regional State of Oromia in Ethiopia were given academic dismissal while four others were suspended from their studies at the university for two years for demanding for a halt to what was described as politically motivated racial slurs allegedly perpetuated by students of Tigrian oringin, the ethnic group that controls the political power in the current regime in the University campuses. According to the HRLHA reporter in Jimma (Wetern Oromia), Wubshet Zelalem, Mengistu (Amhara nationasl), Tesfaye Berihanu Bari’e and Moera Lema Debela (both Oromo nationals) were dismissed from the University, while Mekonnin Dabale Tolla, Nuredin Ahmed Bariso  and Takalign Konta Oli (Oromo) were temporarily abrogated for two years. Another student called Melesse Tilahun (who was a Gurage by birith) was penalized with one year suspension from the University. Read more…

Screams from the Desert

February 16, 2012 (Huffington Post) – I can’t get the sounds of their torture out of my head. Sounds I imagined. But the accounts of the Eritrean men, women and kids we met at the Shagarab refugee camp in East Sudan are terrifyingly real.

The refugees from Eritrea thought they were buying a simple cross-border ride to freedom via Sudan to a safe country. Instead they were being led to locked compounds to be chained and shackled, beaten with iron rods and subjected to electric shock. Instead the women were dragged into the forest and raped systematically. Read more…

Preventing Genocide in Ethiopia

By Kallacha W. Kune, A Torture survivor from Oromiyaa

February 15, 2012 (Ayyaantuu.com) – I have the moral obligation to bring the Ethiopian crisis to your attention because Maryland University has recently released a report that Ethiopia is on a high risk of genocide, instability, and politicide. World Genocide Watch, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and many human rights groups have also repeatedly warned the international community about the severe human rights abuses in Ethiopia. The Oromo Studies Association and Oromo Women’s Association have also written a letter of concern to President Obama and major Western countries and the UN High Commission for Human Rights and the World Genocide Watch, etc.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) also advised donor countries to take governance problems more seriously but the international community never paid attention to their advance warnings about the Ethiopian crisis. Synopsis of a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) dated September 4, 2009, Ethiopia: Ethnic Federalism and its Discontents, may help to understand how this minority group has created an ultra-big government to control the state and people by the funds it obtains from donor nations, the IMF and the World Bank. Read more…

Ethiopia: Future of last remaining human rights monitoring NGO in the balance

Joint Press Statement

On February 3, 2012, the Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia will hear a petition by the Human Rights Council (HRCO), Ethiopia’s oldest human rights organization, to admit an appeal against the freezing of its bank accounts. Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project and Human Rights Watch express deep concern at the obstacles and restrictions to which HRCO and other human rights organizations in Ethiopia are now subjected, as illustrated by this case. The decision of the Supreme Court will be of great significance for the future of HRCO’s vital work and for the wider promotion and protection of human rights in Ethiopia. Read more…

Ethiopia-Oromia: 23 Law Major Students Withdrew from the Addis Ababa University Law School

January 15, 2012 (Ayyaantuu) The campaign to close Guantanamo, to release those detainees that are not guilty, and to make those that are guilty accountable for committing the act of terrorism was made by an advocacy group called Witness Against Torture.

Torture Survivors were invited on a panel discussion held at the American University – School of Law on January 12, 2012 in Washington, D.C. The panel was led by the U.N. Special Rapporteaur on Torture, Professor Juan Mendez, and Mrs. Frida Berrigan from Witness Against Torture, and a representative from the American University- School of Law.

Both Professor Mendez and Mrs. Berrigan emphasized that confident governments never torture. Only the desperate  ones do. Both of them condemned torture as evil. The intention of torture is to break the spirit of a person by inflicting the ultimate pain and suffering on the victim Read more…

Somaliland: End Forced Return of Refugees

Authorities Deport 15 Refugees, 5 Asylum Seekers to Ethiopia
Jan 4, 2012 (HRW) – The Somaliland authorities should cease forcibly returning refugees and asylum seekers to possible persecution in Ethiopia, Human Rights Watch said today. On December 28, authorities returned 20 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers in violation of the fundamental international refugee law prohibition against “refoulement,” the forcible return of anyone to persecution or to a place where their life or freedom is threatened.

The Interior Ministry confirmed the deportations at a January 1 news conference. Shortly before they were deported, an international humanitarian worker met the group on December 28, at the immigration office in Wajale, on the border with Ethiopia. Read more…

Citizen Diplomacy – “Talking to the American People”

Torture Survivors as Ambassadors – Year 2009-12

In a letter written to President Barack Obama on June 27, 2009, the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) – International members said, “We gather annually at the end of June on occasion of the U.N. International Day in Support of Victims of Torture for a 24 hour Vigil of solidarity with our sisters and brothers who are currently suffering torture in more than 150 countries around the world… We gathered to protest the military aid the U.S. administration had given to governments involved in torture. It was most distressing that after 9/11, the Bush administration, in betrayal of America’s most cherished principles, began to endorse torture as a tool in the war against terrorism…” Read more…

Ethiopia: Swedish journalists must be released immediately and unconditionally

December 22, 2011 (Amnesty) – Two Swedish journalists found guilty by an Ethiopian court were convicted on the basis of their legitimate journalistic work and must be released immediately and unconditionally, Amnesty International has said.

Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were found guilty on charges of ‘Supporting Terrorism’ and ‘Violation of the Territorial or Political Sovereignty’ of the country through illegal entry with the intent to commit a number of prohibited acts.

The men will be sentenced on 27 December. The prosecutor has asked for 18 years imprisonment.

“There is nothing to suggest that the two men entered Ethiopia with any intention other than conducting their legitimate work as journalists. The government chooses to interpret meeting with a terrorist organisation as support of that group and therefore a terrorist act,” said Claire Beston, Amnesty International’s Ethiopia researcher. Read more…

Ethiopia: At the Very Top of Human Rights Black List

It has already been a well known fact that the TPLF regime is at the very top of human rights black lists. A researcher from Princeton University recently obtained a report that shows the lists of Torture Survivors from the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) – International. According to this report, Ethiopia’s TPLF regime is leading the world in torturing suspected members of dissidents and members of opposition parties.

In the year 2010/11, Ethiopia contributed about 48% to the total survivors of torture. This report exposes the severe human rights abuses in that country.

It is obvious that this report only gives a clue to the severe human rights abuses in Ethiopia because the bulk of survivors are within the country since many of them cannot afford to travel abroad. Due to visa restrictions, some survivors who can afford to leave the country are forced to live under fear of persecution. Those who preferred to leave the country by every means are suffering in various refugee camps throughout the world.

Due to fear of repercussions to their families, many survivors preferred not to speak about the barbaric torture they have endured. Members of TASSC International say that the report only indicates those countries that practice torture. They said that, “We know many torture survivors that live in the U.S. but who preferred not to speak for several reasons.”

Those who had the courage to talk had managed to tame and shame those who were saying the TPLF is “broad minded, liberal, our ally” and so on.

Jaalataa Bilisummaa

Oromia-Ethiopia: The Rarely Implemented Commitments – HRLHA on the Occasion of the Human Rights Day 2011

Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) Press Release – December 10, 2011

63 Years with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Today, we are celebrating the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). We have learnt from history that the evolution of the essence of human rights stretches back more than 2500 years, when men and women fought and died for basic human freedoms. Beginning from those days, the idea of human rights was perceived differently by different nations until it was recognized as a universal notion of “International Human Rights,” which belongs to all human beings by the virtue of being born as humans.

The next step taken towards affirming the idea of human rights was to define human rights as a common purpose for all human beings without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. After a debate of more than two centuries, the essence of “human rights” was fully recognized as a universal issue when the United Nations Organization (UNO) officially came into existence in 1945, following the end of the Second World War, in order to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime brought untold sorrow to humankind. The principles of the UN Charter were based on the fundamental human rights, human dignity, and worth of human persons, in the equal rights of men and women, and of nations. Read more…

Gadhafi son Seif al-Islam seized in southern Libya

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Moammar Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam — the only wanted member of the ousted ruling family to remain at large — was captured Saturday as he traveled with aides in a convoy in Libya’s southern desert, Libyan officials said. Thunderous celebratory gunfire shook the Libyan capital as the news spread.

A spokesman for the Libyan fighters who captured him said Seif al-Islam, who has been charged by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, was detained about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of the town of Obari with two aides as he was trying to flee to neighboring Niger. But the country’s acting justice minister later said the convoy’s destination was not confirmed. Read more…

Ethiopia accused of denying visits to terrorism suspects

12/10/2011

The leadership member of Medrek [Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum, coalition of six opposition parties, popularly known as Medrek], Dr Negaso Gidada, has told The Reporter that Medrek was yet to receive a response to a letter it had written to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi asking for an end to the government’s harassment of citizens on the pretext of charges of terrorism. Medrek has been complaining over the arrest of a number of its members on charges of terrorism, describing the arrests as politically motivated, and sent a letter asking the government to stop the trend but it has not received a reply from the government. Read more…

Ethiopia – Persistent Perpetrations to Maintain Grip on Power

Urgent Action,

October 7, 2011

HRLHA is highly concerned about the stability and wellbeing of the elderly, the very young, and those who were made homeless following the violent and bloody clash between Oromos and the Gumuz ethnic group (for the second time in three years) from September 22 to September 26, 2011; once again causing death, displacements, and destructions of homes and other properties. According to local sources, the Gumuzs were well armed by the government; whereas the Oromos were unarmed; the reason being political mistrust on the side of the Oromos. As a result, dozens have died and dozens of others have been injured from the Oromos. The dead include: Mr. Maatabuu Xiixaa (a family head and father of fifteen children), Mr. Nigaatuu Dabbis (a family head and father of fourteen children), Mr. Abdannaa Darajjee (a family head and father of seven children), Mr. Fiqaaduu Hundumaa (a family head and father of six children), Mr. Tafarii Adimaasuu (a family head and father of five children), Mr. Dassaalee Ittafaa (a family head and father of four children), and Magarsaa Guddaataa (a grade twelve student). On the other hand, Mr. Gabbisaa Kasasaa, Mr. Asaffaa Gabbisaa (in Nekemt Hospital under intensive care), Mr. Abbabaa Malataa (in Nekmt Hospital under intensive care)  Mr. Abdiisaa Abbabaa (in Nekemt Hospital under intensive care), Mr. Fiqiruu Dhaabaa, and Mr. Yaaragaal were among the severely injured casualties of the clash.  Read more…

The right to be free until proven guilty should be respected: Forum

Negadras – Amharic weekly (September 23) reported that Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Forum) asked government to respect the right of prisoners to be free until proven guilty. In an interview with Negadras Dr. Moga Frisa, Forum chairman criticizes state owned Medias saying that the Medias are disseminating baseless propaganda against arrested party members. Read more…

Endless Crackdowns and the Threat to Democratization in Ethiopia – HRLHA

HRLHA – Urgent Action and Appeal

September 2011

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its deep concern regarding the safety and well-being of the victims of the most recent crackdowns against the independent media and political organizations.

The TPLF/EPRDF-led Ethiopian Government has arrested and imprisoned Journalist Eskinder Nega and four Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) political party leaders alleging that they were preparing for committing “terrorist acts” through their links with the Ginbot 7 opposition political party, which the government labels as a terrorist. Read more…