At least 800 people have died since the start of the Oromo protests in Ethiopia one year ago, according to Amnesty International. Thousands have been detained after the government imposed a state of emergency......See More
0 Comments
Sultan Hanfareh Ali Mirah Amnesty International
Nearly one year on from the start of a wave of protests that has left at least 800 people dead at the hands of security forces, the Ethiopian government must take concrete steps to address grave human rights concerns in the country, Amnesty International said today. The protests began in the central Oromia region on 12 November 2015, in opposition to the Addis Ababa Masterplan, a government plan to extend the capital Addis Ababa’s administrative control into parts of the Oromia. “A year after these deadly protests began, tensions in Ethiopia remain high and the human rights situation dire” Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes....See More BRUSSELS — It is now one year since persistent, sometimes violent anti-government protests started in Ethiopia's Oromia region. How much closer are the Oromos, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, to achieving their demands for more political freedom and economic inclusiveness? Opposition activists addressed members of the European Parliament this week in Brussels.
Olympic runner Feyisa Lilesa is the most famous supporter of the protests in his native Ethiopia. Feyisa, the silver medalist in this year's men's marathon in Rio, drew attention when he crossed his wrists at the finish line, a gesture to show solidarity with the protesters......See More BRUSSELS — It is now one year since persistent, sometimes violent anti-government protests started in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. How much closer are the Oromos, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, to achieving their demands for more political freedom and economic inclusiveness? Opposition activists addressed members of the European Parliament this week in Brussels.
Olympic runner Feyisa Lilesa is the most famous supporter of the protests in his native Ethiopia. Feyisa, the silver medalist in this year’s men’s marathon in Rio, drew attention when he crossed his wrists at the finish line, a gesture to show solidarity with the protesters. Feyisa, who now fears returning to Ethiopia, addressed members of the European Parliament one year after the start of the Oromo protests:......See More Ethiopia’s tourism revenue has taken a massive dip in the wake of anti-government protests that started a year ago. The Horn of Africa country is projected to lose about 400 million dollars from tourism in the current budget year.
According to the BBC’s correspondent in the country, millions of dollars was lost in tourism revenue. He refers to the tourism ministry’s disclosure that income from the sector had fallen by more than $7m (£5.5m) over the last quarter alone. A local media portal said the country had planned to generate 3 billion dollars from tourism this year but the current shortfall had forced the government to revise its targets.......See More Ethiopia’s State of Emergency Inquiry Board has released the names and reasons of arrest for over 11,000 people believed to have taken part in violent anti-government protests in parts of the country.
According to the state affiliated FANABroadcasting corporate, the Inquiry board said ‘‘11, 607 people had been detained following the violence occurred in various parts of the country. About 347 of the detainees were females.’‘ Persons detained were detained at different centers across the country, amongst others; Awash, Tolay, Ziway, Dilla, Yirgalem, Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa centers. Some of the reasons given for their arrest included creating and inciting violence, spreading terror and creating instability, burning private and public service institutions and destroying investments. The country declared a six-month state of emergency to curtail the widening protests which started a year ago. The government declared the curfew following a discussion by the Council of Ministers on the loss of lives and property damages occurring in the country. The government has since promised political reforms to include a wider group of citizens. A recent cabinet reshuffle by Prime minister Hailemariam Daselegn, saw key positions handed to Oromos – who are part of the minority, their region has been the center of protests. The government had weeks back reported the release of some 2000 people after they had been counseled, it is unclear whether that figure is part of the current statistic or otherwise. Earlier this week, the country lifted the directive which restricted diplomats from travelling beyond a-40 kilometers radius out of the capital, Addis Ababa without the permission of the command post. The restriction according to the authorities was in the interest of the diplomats. The Chairperson, Taddesse Hordofa, said that list of the detainees will be posted at zonal and woreda levels through the regional state where the prison centers are existed. The Inquiry Board has responsibility to make public names of individuals arrested in connection to the emergency law together with the reason for their arrest within one month. It also has power to inspect and follow up that no measures taken during the emergency period is inhumane and bring to justice individuals who take inhumane measures.......See More Ethiopia: News - Ethiopian Security Re-Arrest Rights Activist, Zone9 Blogger Befeqadu Hailu13/11/2016 Security member of the command post established to oversee Ethiopia's six-month State of Emergency have this morning re-arrested human rights activist and blogger Befeqadu Hailu, Addis Standard confirmed.
According to information, two security officers who have identified themselves as members of the command post have taken Befeqadu around 6:00 AM this morning. He is now detained at a police station known as 06 here in the capital Addis Abeba. Befeqadu is a member of Zone9 blogging collective and was one of seven bloggers (one in absentia) and three independent journalists arrested in April. Three months after their arrest all ten of them were charged with Ethiopia's infamous Anti-Terrorism Proclamation.......See More Addis Abeba Nov. 11/2016 – The Federal high Court 19th criminal bench has this morning adjourned the hearing involving prominent opposition figure Bekele Gerba and 21 co-defendants charged with him until Tuesday Nov. 15, 2016.
The case is adjourned because prosecutors have failed to bring to the court their witnesses. In addition five of the 22 defendants were not brought to the court. Prosecutors told the court that four of the five, Gelana Negera, Gemmechu Shanqo, Dereje Merga, and Firomsa Abdissa were either in Showa Robit, or Ziway, two notorious prison facilities located 200km north-east and 180km south-west of the capital Addis Abeba respectively. However, neither the prosecutors nor defense lawyers know the whereabouts of the fifth defendant, Chimsa Abdessa Jafero (Known also by his nick name Dejene Abdessa). There are growing fears on the safety of defendants after a fire ravaged the Qilinto prison, where they are held. An independent investigation by Ethiopia Human Rights Project revealed that 67 prisoners have died during the Qilinto fire in the first week of Sep this year. Out of the 67, 45 were killed by security officers on duty, according to the report. The government maintained 23 were killed, two of them by security forces while “trying to escape.” Many of the estimated 3, 000 inmates at the prison were relocated to several other prison facilities throughout the country. However, it is known that Bekele Gerba and the rest of his co-defendants are still held inside Qilinto......Read More Ethiopia’s prime minister, under pressure following almost a year of deadly protests, appeared to offer an olive branch to disgruntled protesters on November 1.
In a substantial cabinet reshuffle, Hailemariam Desalegn appointed 21 new cabinet ministers. Most notably, Desalegn gave prominent ministerial roles to two members of the Oromo ethnic group, which has been at the forefront of civil unrest against the government since November 2015.......See More |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
October 2022
Categories |