APRIL 24/2001

ILLEGAL DETENTIONS AND DISAPPEARANCES

In connection with the students demonstrations in ADDIS ABABA (more than 40 killed and some 450 wounded), SOCEPP has received reports that the number of students and civilians being held by the government in Sendafa and other prisons camps has reached 2563.All are being held in bad conditions and are being subjected to physical abuse and psychological mistreatment. Relatives of 24 students have stated that their children have disappeared as of last Monday.

Another disappearance cited concerns journalist S eifu Mekonen of Mebrek newspaper who has not been seen since April 21.Menahile, the government is busily preparing false cases to criminally persecute political leaders whom it alleges of being behind the "violence of students" while the repression and the deaths are all the faults and acts of the government itself. SOCEPP condemns the ongoing violations of rights and demands the immediate release of all the detained.The government must also account on the fate of the disappeared.

SOCEPP