May 9, 2000

EPRDF & KENYA'S GOVERNMENT COLLIDE TO VIOLATE RIGHTS OF ETHIOPIANS

Kenyan soldiers, backed by helicopters, recently crossed into Ethiopian territory and killed 20 Ethiopians. Using the fight against armed cattle raiders from both countries as a pretext, the EPRDF and the Kenyan government have taken punitive measures against innocent civilians. Murder and kidnappings of politically suspect individuals have become common in the border regions. Exposing the critical situation that prevails in the border areas, Kenyan opposition politician Abdullahi Galgalo accused the Kenyan administration of colliding with "Ethiopian in committing atrocities against humanity" (Daily Nation, Monday April 24) and invited human rights organizations to Isiolo, Moyale and Marsabit districts to see "how the Ethiopian and Kenyan governments are killing us".

Mention is made in this connection to the murder of Sheikh Haji Hassan and businessman Gallo Walde, to the grenade attack on the house of Roba Dabasso in Moyale, and to the kidnapping of Bortuari Haji from Moyale. In all such incidents, the EPRDF and Kenyan officials collide and are directly implicated. The Kenyan government has also handed over refugees to the EPRDF and adopted a rough and inhuman stance vis a vis Ethiopians who flee into the North Horr region of Kenya to escape the devastating famine. Fleeing families have thus been beaten up, brutally herded and dumped back into Ethiopia by the Kenyan police. Marsabit 's District Commissioner, Mr. Joash Miyoma, defended the brutal action against Ethiopians and went on public to warn Kenyans of the region not to share their food with the Ethiopian refugees " as (giving them food) would encourage them to remain in the country and to lead to a food and security crisis.

" It is to be noted that in Ethiopia's Borena area, the water sources at Idilola,Teltele,etc.. have dried up and the deaths of thousands of the special Borena cattle is now accompanied by the deaths of scores of children. Many people accuse the EPRDF government of deliberately ignoring the plight of the Borena people who, as Oromos, are accused by the government of backing the anti-government Oromo Liberation Front. In fact, some sources allege that government cadres are behind the inter ethnic fighting between the local Borena and Somali people. Kenyan politician Abdullahi Galglao has accused the EPRDF government of sending its murder squads across the border to kill Ethiopian Borenas who live as refugees in Kenya.

SOCEPP