APRIL 19/2001

STOP THE VIOLENT REPRESSION AGAINST STUDENTS AND CIVILIANS

Following the Addis Abeba University students' demand for an end to the violation and restriction of academic freedom government police entered the university campus and beat up students (wounding some 50 seriously) and tried to break up any dissent by violent means. Subsequent student demonstrations by university and high school students have also led to violence on the part of the riot police and there are credible reports that more than 39 students and civilians have been kileld and close to 250 others seriously wounded.

The government has brought in more troops into the capital while in Makalle (Tigrai)where students are holdinga hunger strike one student,Sime Terefa,has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. The government security police are now busy arresting political leaders and dissidents in Addis Abeba and other places.

SOCEPP vigorously condemns the repression against the students and calls on the government to stop all such violent actions immediately. At the same time, those who ordered the violence and the murder of more than 39 people should be apprehended and charged for their criminal action.The students' demanded their rights and did not deserve to be slaughtered.

SOCEPP calls on all peace loving people to condemn the government led by Meles Zenawi, to call upon it to rerelase all the arrested, to stop the repres sion and to seek the path of dialogue and reconciliation to end the grave crisis that is shaking the whole country.

 SOCEPP expresses its soldiarity with the students and people struggling for their basic rights.

SOCEPP