'Poison,' Politics, and the Press in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia's toxic political climate, Zenawi's government sweeps up jornalists and shuts down newspapers

The imprisoned journalists—several of whom were interviewed by CPJ with the government’s permission—said they were doing their jobs in criticizing the administration of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. “We’re not against this government,” Fassil Yenealem, the jailed publisher of Addis Zena, told CPJ. “It is through this government that we began to write. But when the government sees people starting to demand more democracy, freedom of expression, and development, they think it’s the fault of the press.” Read more

UN condemns Ethiopia over rights

Thousands were arrested and many were killed by the TPLF government forces following violent protests





United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has strongly criticised Ethiopia's human rights situation, calling it "worrying".

She added "It is worrying that at best we are in [a] state of stagnation, especially regarding political and civil rights which are in decline after months and years of hope," she told the AFP news agency. Read More

Testimony of an ex-TPLF official to the House Subcommittee on Africa

Global Human Rights and International Operations

Testimony by Andargachew Tesge
Member, Central Council
Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party

Professor Mesfin Woldemariam -- a human rights defender in TPLF's jail

Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, 75-year-old founder and former chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, has been detained since early November 2005, following opposition party demonstrations to protest peacefully against alleged fraud in Ethiopia’s May 2005 elections. A retired geography professor from Addis Ababa University, he is Ethiopia’s most prominent human rights defender. He recently spent a year at Harvard University.

Jailed along with Mesfin Woldemariam are many others, including leaders of the opposition political party Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists, and anti-poverty activists. These include Dr. Berhanu Negga, a professor of economics, Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, a former prosecutor in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Hailu Shawel, Bitukan Mideksa, Getachew Mengiste, Gizachew Shifferaw, Dr. Hailu Araya, Debebe Eshetu, Muluneh Eyual, Daniel Bekele, Natsanet Demissie, and Dr. Befekadu Degefe. Although the charges against the defendants include “treason” and “violent conspiracy,” Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience who have been jailed solely on account of their non-violent opinions and activities. Read more

Amnesty International April 06 --- Ethiopia: fear of Torture and unfair trial

URGENT ACTION
Ethipia: Torture/ possible prisoners of conscience/ fear of unfair trial

Torture/ possible prisoners of conscience/ fear of unfair trial

• Kifle Tigeneh (m), aged 67, elected member of parliament for Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), businessperson
• Solomon Aregawi (m), aged 20, journalist
• Admassu Abebe (m), aged 50
• Getachew Kebede (m), aged 58, elected member of Addis Ababa City Council for CUD, army captain
• Kifle Mekonnen (m), aged 60, elected member of Addis Ababa City Council for CUD
• Solomon Demissie (m), 70, elected member of Addis Ababa City Council for CUD
• Molla Alemayehu (m), aged 56
• Mulunesh Mammo (f), aged 39
• Natnael Mekonnen (m), aged 28
• Wassihun Alemu (m), aged 60
• And 23 others

Those named above are among 33 members or alleged members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) opposition political party who have been charged with offences including "outrages against the Constitution" and "genocide". The defendants could face an unfair trial, and if they are found guilty, they could face the death penalty.

Eight of those named above claim that they have been tortured in detention. The 33 were detained following demonstrations organized by the CUD in November 2005 against alleged election fraud. They were charged before the Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, on 20 March. No date has been set for their trial. Amnesty International is concerned that they may not receive a fair trial by an independent court according to recognized international standards.

Getachew Kebede, Kifle Mekonnen and Solomon Demissie (all three of whom are Addis Ababa City Council members-elect, representing the CUD), Admassu Abebe, Molla Alemayehu, Mulunesh Mammo, Natnael Mekonnen and Wassihun Alemu, all complained in court that they had been tortured while detained by police in the Central Investigation Bureau in Addis Ababa, and denied medical treatment for injuries sustained during torture.

Wassihun Alemu claimed that he had suffered hearing damage and a broken hand through torture. He also claimed that he had been denied food for several days, despite needing to eat regularly as he suffers from diabetes.

Getachew Kebede said he had been forced to sign a statement even though he could not read it because he was bleeding so heavily after being beaten. Another defendant said he had been given electric shocks. Some named the police officers who had allegedly tortured them. Read more

The killing fields of Ethiopia --- Donkoro Chaka: A "Deaf Bush" in Ethiopia

by Glenn Brigaldino
Wednesday, 05 April 2006
The rare glimpses at Ethiopia through the cracked lenses of mainstream media distort more than they inform about the political crisis in this country of over 75 million people. The blurred picture that comes to the distant minds in Europe and North America usually includes a long history of famine conditions and war with neighbouring Eritrea.

With the fall of the Mengistu dictatorship in 1991 and independence for Eritrea, cautious optimism emerged that Ethiopia may finally start to rebuild, heal and develop in peace and freedom. Hopes culminated in 2005 when the May 15 federal elections appeared to promise genuine democratic choice to Ethiopians. Today, nearly a year later, democracy and development have been stopped in their tracks. When election results indicated that the ruling regime of Meles Zenawi might have been voted out, the Prim minister unleashed his tightly controlled security and federal police forces on those who dared to protest against blatant manipulation of vote tallying and recounts.

First in June and again in November 2005, dozens of protesters, mainly in the capital Addis Abeba were shot to death. Tens of thousands of suspected sympathizers, even youngsters aged fourteen were hunted down and rounded up for deportation to various remote military centres and concentration camps. Abuse of detainees was widespread and continues for those still imprisoned. At the height of the detention wave in November last year, detention camp populations were quickly swelling, for example, a source on the ground in Ethiopia reported that:

• Birrsheleko in Gojam west Ethiopia more than 38,000 detained
• Dedessa in Wellega southwest Ethiopia more than 20,000 detained
• Denkorochaka in Wello north Ethiopia, number not known, but estimated in thousands
• Shewarobit in north Ethiopia estimated in thousands
• Ziway prison in south Ethiopia estimated in thousands
• Hurso camp in eastern Ethiopia estimated in thousands.

In addition there are many other detention camps throughout Ethiopia of which the exact locations and number of detainees is unknown. Read More