January 20/2001

 ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS VICTIMS NAMED

An informed source has now revealed the names of innocent people arbitrarily killed by the EPRDF. Most of the cited hail from the regions of Gondar and Beni Sahngul. Among those listed as summarily killed by the TPLF/EPRDF, we cite the following:

* Grazmatch Welde Yihune;

* Ato Merid G.Michael 

* Priest Belete Tesfaye

* Ato Ferede Zerai  

* Ato Gebre Medhin Zerfu

* Ato Ayalew Semeon

 * Ato Tebeje Bekele

 * Ato Mane Zenebe Zeleke

* Ato Nega Tebeje

* Ato Wagnew Memberu

* Ato Addis Abeba Tesfaye

*Ato Eshetu Mesfin

 * Ato Bayehu Lijalem

* Ato Abzana Yideg

* Ato Simatchew Alemu

* Ato Bahta Artibe

* " Getu Telele (executed in public)

 * " Welde Yihune (exeuted in public)

* " Kidane Mariam G.Igziabher (also executed in public)

 * Ato Mohamed Alene

* " Ibrahim Nasser

 * " Suleiman Anur

* " Soldier Asner Aleni

* Ato Abdof Daoud

 * " Mehadi Abdella

 * " Hamid Ahmed Abdella

 The same sources report that among those who have been illegally held by the ruling front for many many years figure Gebre Hiwot Gezahegn,Ayenew Mulu,Kassahun Sisay,Asres Gola, Negussie Kelemework,Shanko Belete,Tesfaye Tsegaye and Chalachew Tadesse. A recent report has also revealed that Ato WENDIMU BAYNA COMTIKAS , a resident of Aman town in Benchi Menji zone was beaten and stoned to death by the cadres of the Government in mid-November 2000.

 The killing is part of ongoing repression unleashed by the government in Southern Ethiopia to deny popular support to opposition organizations. Nasa Dereseo,student Kalubab,Moqa Moges,Kifle Teke Iyesus,Bayn Basha and Matter Badinbab are still detained in mizan prison while in Aleta,Sidamo zone, Girma Mekuria Tiro,Teshoem Dukam Dumara,Getachew Tinsae Deye,Dila Deye Dulete and Kebede Tinsae Deye, were all rounded up by the orders of the Cheko police chief and jailed without due process since December 14,2000. Moat of the detained are alleged to be sympathizers of members of the SEPDC and CAFPDE, legal opposition organizations. The cruelty of the government action in the Southern region has been reported by independent journalists and other concerned individuals. For example, Ato Gemaita Fandura was apprehended in mid October and still jailed (with leg chains) because he was accused of "not saluting the district chairman Ato Silhao Sidama". He is still detained in the Fasha police station. On the other hand, Ato Yetane Aylate has been ordered not to meet with anyone else and thus when his old mother Ropa Itaya starved to death in mid September 2000 no one could help him bury her (by orders of the ruling government's cadres) and he had to stay with the corpse in his hut for days. Innocent individuals have been beaten, fined, deprived of their cattle, denied communication with third persons, apprehended and beaten as the government cadres strive to deny the opposition any support or sympathy or just engage in plain robbery.

The human rights situation is fast deteriorating in many parts of Ethiopia as the government seems clearly determined to use force and violence to stamp out any dissent on the part of the population that definitely believes that its rights have been trampled by the government front.

SOCEPP