May 4, 2000

DETAINED MEMBER OF OPPOSITION GROUP FOUND MURDERED

 Ato ELIAS GAGAMO, a member of the opposition Southern Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Coalition (SEPDC), was arrested by government security forces on April 26,2000, as he attended a political meeting in Sidama Mandicho district (kebele), Soro area, Hadiya zone. His mutilated body bearing several knife wounds) has now been found thrown at a riverbank. His hands and feet were tied and his corpse had the signs of severe beatings and torture. The murder of Ato Elias Gagamo comes on top of several others shot or stabbed to death by government security forces and troops stationed in the area. In related news, it is to be noted that more than 7 trucks full of soldiers have arrived in the area by April 24 and the violations of rights in the area have increased.

In Bure Bursha district, government special police commanded by one Tewolde and Desta Amare (members of the ruling party) used violence on a peaceful gathering and as a consequence shot and wounded 12 years old student MEHARI ALEMAYEHU and 45 years old farmer MESELE BETEBO. In Konteb district, election candidate Tekeba Gebrewold was beaten by government cadres and hampered from putting up campaign posters while more than 300 people who were identified as supporters of opposition organizations were also denied relief food aid. In Haja district, government official Wondimu Biru deliberately run over a boy with his motorcycle and severely wounded him and was not even arrested. The gross violations of rights continue and are expected to intensify as the May election approaches and the government party (TPLF/EPRDF) openly and forcefully tries to crush the legal opposition.

SOCEPP