May 24/2004

On May 24, 2002 soldiers of the ruling EPRDF opened fire on unarmed and peaceful civilian demonstrators in Locke, Awassa, Sidama, killing 46 and wounding 44 others. The march was called to protest the undue interference of the TPLF/EPRDF in the administration of the city and to demand for the denied regional statehood as per proclamation no.7/84.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi did try to impute the crime unto the shoulders of his cadres and minions but up to now no one has been charged for ordering or carrying out the killing. On the contrary, more than a thousand innocent Sidamas were detained at that time and subjected to torture, beatings and ill treatment. Sidamas are paying a heavy price for the political positions they have in opposition to the human rights violator regime of Meles Zenawi. The deliberately ethnic discriminatory, vindictive and repressive politics of the EPRDF has again been seen in the massacre of Anuaks in Gambella and the ongoing repression against Oromos and other Ethiopians.

SOCEPP calls on all peace loving members of the international community, human right institutions and Ethiopians in all walks of life to demand an impartial public inquiry into the killings of innocent civilians in Locke two years ago.

SOCEPP