October 11, 1999
MURDER AND BEATINGS IN ADDIS ABEBA
The Government violates the right of the poor Reports reaching SOCEPP have now confirmed that government police shot dead one student and one peasant and wounded 30 more others in an unprovoked attack against poor dwellers of the Kara kebele (district) at Kotebe, Addis Abeba. The operation against the poor was part of the continuing attempt to destroy the dwellings deemed unworthy all over Addis Abeba. At Kara, old and young dwellers alike (including children and women) begged the police not to destroy their homes but the police ignored the pleas and instead chose to open fire on the poor. The melee continued for over half an hour and when it subsided two people were killed and more than 30 wounded. Many people were also beaten and three police truck full of people were rounded up and jailed. The brutal action of the police highlights the violations of the rights of the poor as the government takes over land and throws the poor people out of their houses. Much speculation and money is involved in the whole operation, little is done to respect the right of the poor to have proper dwelling. SOCEPP vigorously condemns the government policy which is throwing people out onto the streets and benefiting the government officials who appropriate land for their own benefits. In the particular case of the Kara district incident, SOCEPP calls on the government: á to immediately release all detained people; á to account for the murder of the student and the peasant; á to compensate the victims of the police brutality. In general, SOCEPP demands once again that the government stop the brutal actions against the poor and ceases the violations of rights that have now become routine. SOCEPP www.socepp.de
SOCEPP
