February 16/2001
ILLEGAL DETENTION/REPRESSION CONTINUES IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
The EPRDF government continues with its repression and human rights violation in many areas of Southern Ethiopia where the people have, during the last election and after, persisted to manifest and affirm their support to the Opposition organizations.
The organization,CAFPDE, has communicated the following 30 names of the members of SEPDC and CAFPDE, detained recently in the Wolaita zone. They are:
Tuga Tuma, Sata Abe,Yohannes Mekonen,Mesfin Mekonen,Darcho Belengo,Abaineh Darza,Menta Herbero,Hira Herbero, Dawit Genta,Asssefa Zana,Daniel Data,Berhanu Merid,Desalegn Kencha,teacher Welde Dana,Milkias Chinesho,Worku Berku,Yosef Kinfe, lt.Alka Enero,Meles Bunoro,Desta Getso,Mengistu Zenko,Abule Dewato,Balgu Wareko,Dema Wardilo,Shenko Dema,Dema Lolaso,Elias Goa,Tadeos Cherko,Cherko Erebo and Borena Babulo.
* Those detained in GEDEO ZONE Yirga Chefe and Siraro) are the following 21:
Demissie Kinisa, Demissie Wadare,Ayele Gemeda,Tsegaye Gemeda,Endale Moges,Yishak Mamo, Bogale Shalo, Bekele Nenik, Abera Mengesha,Shuferaw Gumi, Shiferaw Tiro, Biruk Weresa, Aleme Shenta, Tefera Nenko,Addis Jego,Alemu Nenko,Abraham Lejere, Kedir Walena,Aleme Gitore, Kabato Hajilolaso, and Tufa Winjela.
Those detained in KEATTO ZONE (Omo Valley district) were more than 33 but three of the following are still in dewtention since September-October 2000:
Abera Ashere,Yohannes Limora, Markos Detebo who is detained along with his wife and five children, and Yosef Handno.
* Those illegally detained since mid January(falsely charged and never brought before a court of law) in GAMO GOFA zone (Arba Minch district, Keshele peasant association) are:
Ashenafi Shuja,Tamene Lachore, Samuel Shambel,Ainalem Wana,Wendimu Workineh,Werkineh Walge,Girma Welde,Dama Dabale,Salo Seno,Begasha Bado,,Yohannes Toshe,Admasu Wenbera and Berhanu Dagne.
In addition. Numerous peasants have been fined relativelyt exorbitant amounts of Birr and numerous teachers and civil servants have been given job transfer notices. All this is used as punishment for political reason. Hundreds of supporters of opposition organizations are jailed on the cover charges of 'failing to pay debts incurred" (to buy fertilizers from the companies owned by the ruling front itself),"failing to pay taxes" etc....
* MURDER: Government armed personnel (namely Nas Dersa,Kalubab, Moqa Moges, Kifle T.Yesus, Beyin Bash,Mater Bedinbab and Kente Siquar) have stabbed and beaten to death in Keffa (Sheka) Ato WENDIMU BAYNA who was a member of the SEPDC.
The killing followed provocative declarations by government cadre teacher Getnet Abeba who told people that "if they kill members of the SEPDC and confiscate their lands the government will not arrest you." Police in Gesh district (Keffa zone) have also beaten to death Ato Meno Worku who had been detained on charges of "stealing the ox of the Kebelle chairman Ato Takele Tesema". The number of people killed, maimed, chased out of their villages and homes, chained by leg chains, beaten up, robbed, fined, and whose houses have been burnt and whose farms destroyed in the last months has passed many hundreds. Arbitrary action and trampling on the rule of law is becoming routine in Southern Ethiopia where the government army, police and cadres act more and more almost like an occupying force.
SOCEPP
