MARCH 1995-March 2000:

STATEMENT ON SOCEPP'S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

Established five years ago with the sincere concern to struggle against the violation of rights by the rulers of Ethiopia and to raise a voice against the tendency to "forget" those who are imprisoned or disappeared, SOCEPP has strived in the last five years to stand true to its principles and objectives. Many of you have stood besides it, helped and supported it and made its tasks lighter and its effect much more real.

SOCEPP thanks you and calls upon you all to continue supporting it. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. The EPRDF government routinely violates the rights of the people. Torture is rampant, denial of due process of law is policy. Arbitrary killings occur often. Ethnic discrimination is rife and ethnic conflicts are cynically fanned by the rulers and their minions. The prisons are full, underground hell- holes and secret ("ghost") prisons exist in all towns. Through it all, the government has refused to admit even the existence of one political prisoner, it has refused to heed the call for change, for an end to the repression.

 SOCEPP is pleased by the fact that it has continuously and consistently exposed the gross violations of rights by the government which, aided by others, has been trying to misrepresent the grim reality that prevails in Ethiopia. SOCEPP determined from the outset that it will focus on the forgotten, on the voiceless minorities, on the defenseless victims. The plight of children and women, of minority ethnic groups, of prisoners ignored by other human rights agencies, etc, have all been publicized by SOCEPP. This is a focus that will continue. Several attempts have been made to silence SOCEPP but not one has succeeded. Despite financial and material limitations, SOCEPP has continued to fulfill its objectives, to be a voice calling for the respect of the rights of the people.

 SOCEPP has told the truth and shamed the devil. Unfolding events show that the task of SOCEPP will be even more difficult as the government in place indicates no sign of change. Relentless repression is the order of the day, the slogan of the government. The killings promise to increase, the violations to intensify. More needs to be done. SOCEPP calls upon you all to stand by its side and to struggle for the respect of the human rights of the Ethiopian people. Nothing is as fatal as indifference. Let us all do our share to say to the victims of the repression that we feel their pain and wounds, and that we have kept the flame of hope alive.

SOCEPP