NOVEMBER 30/2001

VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN JINKA TOWN EPRDF

 police have beaten up scores of students and teachers in Jinka town and jailed dozens after violently breaking up a peaceful student demonstration by the students in this town within the Southern region. The students were trying to protest against the ethnic discrimination practiced by the authorities in terms of employment and enrolment in the schools. Several students have been injured/wounded.

 The police have also jailed ten local leaders of the SEPDC, an opposition organization which ahs been the target of official repression for quite sometime now.

 It is to be noted that the EPRDF officially pursues an ethnic politics that has often and justifiably been condemned as divisive and discriminatory. In all fields, ranging from education to health services and development projects the ruling Tigrean front (TPLF) has been accused of discrimination and favoritism. In many areas, cadres of the EPRDF have also been accused of provoking ethnic conflicts. In Ethiopia, the right to demonstrate peacefully is curtailed in practice and the authorities have consistently repressed student demonstrators and killed dozens of students in Addis Abeba, Ambo, Lekemti, Jimma,etc....

 The students, teachers and SEPDC cadres jailed in Jinka must be immediately released and the EPRDF must end its system of discrimnation.

SOCEPP