March 21, 2000

REPRESSION INTENSIFIED AS GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RESPCT THE RULE OF LAW

The EPRDF government has not only arbitrarily closed all schools in Ambo (Addis Ketema,, Cheri, Geder and other schools) but it has refused to bring to justice the three police men who beat to death student Gete Driba Benti on March 9. The government has continued to detain more teachers and students in Ambo town and is trying to link the detained to "illegal opposition groups" in an effort to criminalize a simple student protest action linked to the forest fire that is ravaging Bale and Sidamo. 14 students and 6 teachers are still jailed in Ambo town.

The student who identified the three policemen who beat Gete to death has been arrested as a "trouble maker" and reportedly tortured. His family fear for his life as the government tries to cover up the killing and has officially stated that Gete was killed "by the students themselves." The repression has also been intensified in the Hadiya zone where scores of people have been jailed on trumped up charges due to a repression motivated by the government's desire to force people not to support EPRDF rival organizations for the coming May election.

Police in Hadiya killed two people and wounded two others in the latest outburst of wanton State violence in the area. 20 years old ERJABO WANORA was killed as he returned from church services and saw an ld woman being beaten and dragged by the police who were accusing her of not paying her debts. Erjabo cried in protest and the police fired a volley of bullets at him and killed him. Erjabo's peasant family were warned by the police not to reveal that he was killed by the police and many threatening armed soldiers were seen at his funeral service. A 70 years old man called GECHUCHE ERTEBBO was severely beaten by the police who cam to his home to detain him (for not paying debts owned to the government) and he died in the Hosana hospital. Desalegn Welde Gebre and Jenber Hade Demam are in the hospital after being shot and wounded.

The repression continues........

SOCEPP