October 23/2000

TRAMPLING ON THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE CONTINUES RELENTLESSLY

Expectations and hopes that the ruling EPRDF government may change from its repressive policies and tendencies once the war with Eritrea was over have all been dashed. The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has actually stepped up the repression on the civil society. We cite the following as examples:

 · The continued killing, jailing and harassment of people who support legal opposition organizations in Southern Ethiopia;

 · The relentless repression targeting Oromos in various parts of the country;

 · The repression against the free press highlighted with the arbitrary fining of the former editor of TOBIA, ( wrongly accused under articles 10/1, 10/2 and 20/1 of the arbitrary Press Law no 34/92,Taye Belatchew was detained for 77 days and now fined 10,000 Birr), and the continued incarceration of Tilahun Bekele (former editor in chief of FETASH and REMETS newspapers) who was freed by a court on October 12 (after being in detention since December 1997) but has been taken back to prison by the government police.

 · Stepped up tapping of telephones (including mobile ones) in Addis Abeba;

 · Increased recruitment of police informers and spies who report to the security and the so called information desk in the district and Kebelle offices and the use of the unemployed youth to spy on the people and to denounce potential dissidents. 

The repressive system continues without any possibility of change for the better.

SOCEPP