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OSG Press Release No. 40 |
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The Oromia Support Group is a non-political organisation which attempts to raise awareness of human rights abuses in Ethiopia. OSG lobbies governments to withdraw support from the Ethiopian government until it abides by its constitution which guarantees human rights and self-determination for all peoples of Ethiopia. OSG has now reported 3,097 extra-judicial killings and 886 disappearances of civilians suspected of supporting groups opposing the government. Most of these have been Oromo people. Scores of thousands of civilians have been imprisoned. Torture and rape of prisoners is commonplace, especially in secret detention centres, whose existence is denied by the government. |
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Human Right Abuses in Ethiopia |
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Crackdown on Oromo students and teachers continues |
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Oromo students in secondary schools, colleges and universities across Oromia Region and in other areas, have protested against the dismissal of at least 380 Oromo students from Addis Ababa University (AAU). The frustration caused by discrimination against them and the move of the regional capital from Addis Ababa to Adama (Narareth) have also been important factors, as they were in the initial protests in Addis. Over the last four months, student demonstrations have resulted in the deaths of at least 11 students and the arrest, according to the Ethiopian Teachers Association, of over 7,000 students and teachers. The secondary and higher education of Oromo in Ethiopia has been severely disrupted, with consequences for generations to come.
Dismissals from AAU
Since the 10 February report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) which detailed the detention and torture of 494 Oromo students at Addis Ababa University (AAU) in January, more names of the students who were subsequently dismissed have been reported and more arrests have occurred.
The names of 349 of the 494 students who were detained at Kolfe Police Training Camp on 21 January, in addition to those of the eight who were initially detained, are listed in the 74th Special Report by EHRCO. They were forced to run bare-footed and crawl on their knees on coarse gravel before spending the night on bare concrete floors. According to a press release from Abraham Mosisa, president of the Oromo Studies Association (OSA), on 13 March, some of the female students were raped. Fifteen were named by EHRCO as having been kept by the CID at Maikelawi. Together with the original eight, these are presumably the 23 who were suspended in addition to the 315 released the next day. These were let out after being photographed and videoed. They were given one piece of bread in 24 hours. The 23 whose detention is acknowledged have been subject to repeated 14-day remands, requested by the police.
The Ethiopian government announced it had released 315 students on 22 January and that it had suspended them and the 23 detainees from the university. Hundreds of students were forbidden from returning to their dormitories to obtain their belongings. They were forced to beg and sleep on the streets. Their ID cards had been confiscated and the media had portrayed them as OLF sympathisers, so they were afraid to return to their home areas, even if they had the means to do so.
In addition to the 349 named by EHRCO, the following have also been suspended from the university, according to information sent to the Oromo Relief Association (ORA) office in London (released 7 February) and to a report from the students themselves on 14 February:
Ahmad Umar 3rd yr Amharic Arsi Aberra Desalegne Alemayehu Fekadu 4th yr English E. Showa Amin Abdulkarim 2nd yr Law Birhanu Makonta 4th yr Biology E. Wallega Daniel Daba 5th yr Pharmacy Dawit Oda 3rd yr Law Borana Gadisa Merga 4th yr SISA E. Wallega Gamachis Haile 4th yr Pharmacy E. Wallega Hassan Bulbuli 2nd yr History Hassen Bariso 3rd yr History Arsi Lelise Tadasa 3rd yr Business W. Wallega Mekonnen Lenjiso 3rd yr English Arsi Mekonnen Ifa Mesalach Tadasa 4th yr Pol. Sci. W. Wallega Milkessa Dandana 3rd yr SISA W. Showa Nesredin Tola 2nd yr Maths Sabata Fufa 2nd yr Geography Talila Bulbula 2nd yr Pre-Eng. W. Showa Taye Anda’a 3rd yr Law Takilu Bakala 2nd yr Physics Talila Bulbula 2nd yr Techno-Farm Tashoma Kabata Temesgen Wakjira Tesfaye Jamama 2nd yr Technology W. Showa Tesfaye Lata 2nd yr Technology W. Showa Teshale Gelana 2nd yr Economics Tolesa Aberra 2nd yr Pre-Eng. W. Wallega Wako Kabata 2nd yr Psychology Worku Benti 4th yr English W. Wallega Zerihun Ararsa
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Background
On 4 January, Oromo AAU students attempted to join other supporters of the Mecha Tulama Association, in demonstrating peacefully against the removal of the capital of Oromia Region from Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) to Adama (Nazareth). Students were prevented from leaving the campus by riot police, who beat them with clubs, causing many broken limbs, according to eye-witnesses. Mecha Tulama officials were beaten and temporarily detained. They claimed over 150 were injured.
Dagim Wenchif reported 6 January that 15 students in Zeway were arrested and the school closed. The same newspaper reported on 20 January that a student from Jimma University, Zerihun Digafe, had been arrested and held incommunicado for supporting the AAU students’ protest. In their message of 14 February, the AAU students complained of threats and attacks at the university. Their repeated requests for permission to hold an Oromo cultural party at the university were dismissed by the Cultural Centre, University Administration, University Police and government political cadres. They were angered when the government Oromo party, the OPDO, were allowed to stage a politically sponsored Oromo cultural show on 18 January. Their protests at the show were peaceful but were taken over by agents provocateurs who threw stones and damaged property. That day, eight students were seized from their dormitories by security men and taken to Maikelawi. The students protested peacefully about these detentions, outside the University President’s office on 21 January. Federal Police arrived and took about 500 students to Kolfe Police Training Camp.
Protest spreads
Mebrek reported at the end of January that the campus of Alemaya University was surrounded by special forces to prevent student unrest. Police were reportedly on guard at universities and colleges in Mekele, Adama and Ambo. Tomar reported Oromo university students at Bahar Dar to have gone on hunger strike. Two were arrested. Students protested in Awassa, Dilla and Jimma.
On 9 February, a student at Tikur Hinchine High School, 150 km west of Addis Ababa, (W. Showa) was killed during a demonstration, according to the Ethiopian News Agency (Reuters, 12 March).
The students in Addis Ababa (14 February) also reported five dismissed from Dilla University and imprisoned on 9 February: Kadama Abdissa 4th yr English Haile Isayas 3rd yr Physics Haile Mekonnen 4th yr (2nd yr according to other source) English Abay Gemeda (Tesfaye, according to a second source) 4th yr History Fekadu Mosisa 2nd yr English The following day, all Oromo students (about 300) boycotted the university and have remained out, at least until the end of April.
Oromo students at Mekele University in Tigray Region, wrote on 15 February to say they had been forcibly prevented from staging a demonstration and were being forced to quit their education because of harassment and discrimination.
Security forces were reported to have beaten and arrested 29 secondary school students in Ambo and other students in Guduru. ‘Many’ secondary school students in Caliya were said by one local informant to have been beaten and ‘thrown to prison’ on 27 February.
On 3 March, according to local informants, Dodola city was surrounded by security forces and 60 students taken to Dodola prison, including:
Jamal Aman 11th grade Mohammed Lote 10 Mohammed Jarso 11 Mootuma Hailu 9 Dibo Qute 11 Mohammed Wado 10 Madina Hebo 10 Zaytuna Hussein 10 Rabiya Girma 12 Tayiba Shafo 12 Furo Kire 10 Makiya Kaniso 10 Kadija Qubsa 12 Gishu Hussein 12
One of the informants concerning the detentions in Dodola also reported that parents were being detained for refusing to reveal where their sons and daughters had fled to, after being expelled from AAU.
On 4 March, peaceful demonstrations were staged by students in Ambo, Tikur Hinchini, Kachisi and Gudar, in W. Showa. Riot police entered the compounds, according to local sources, beating the students severely. Around 500 were detained. Local informants claim four students were killed that day.
The President of the Oromo Studies Association, based in the USA, and sources within Ethiopia reported that on Sunday 7 March security forces rounded up over 700 Oromo students at Jimma University. The students were protesting about the dismissal of students from AAU. The process was peaceful until police and security forces clubbed demonstrators and fired upon them from vehicles with mounted machine-guns, severely wounding many, including some female students. High School students in Chiro, Hararge, demonstrated on the same day.
On 12 March (15 March according to one report), the library and records office of Dajazamach Geresu Dhuki High School in Waliso, S.W. Showa, were destroyed in an explosion. One of OSG’s informants wrote on 17 March that government forces were quick to use the explosion as an excuse to arrest more Oromo and accuse them of supporting the OLF. Local informants say the explosion was due to a grenade thrown by a government security man.
Also on 12 March, student demonstrators were beaten and detained at Garba Guracha (N. Showa), Nekemte (Wallega), Hirna (W. Hararge), Waliso (SW. Showa) and Alemaya (E. Hararge).
Student Mohammed Yahiyan was detained along with his family on 12 March at the Addis Ketema Police Station. His mother reported to Lissane Hizb newspaper (25 March) that the other family members were released the same day. District 25 Police Station later told her that he was found dead and that she could retrieve his body from Menelik II Hospital in the capital.
In Ambo on 13 March, the secondary school principal and police tried to force students to return, but they and their families refused, demanding that all students who were detained without charge be released. The police then started beating students and residents. Student Gudata Lammi is reported by local informants to have lost his teeth and another student, Roba Bulo, was reported on 21 April to be still in hospital after severe beating.
Also on 13 March, students of Kofale Secondary School, Arsi, protested against the detentions. Over 50 were arrested, including three who were taken to an ‘unknown place’: Habib Gero, Chairman of the Oromo Language Council Hussein Ammu, Chairman of the Student Union Sirajak Jimma, member of Oromo Language Council. The three are alleged to have received US dollars from abroad.
Sometime around 13 March (10.7.96 Ethiopian calendar), the following students from Burayu, 20 km west of Addis Ababa, were taken to Holata Military Camp detention centre:
Gamachis Caali Abate Malaku Mezgebu Banti Zakarias Malaku Qabane Qano Asfahun Malaku Temesgen Tadassa Lalise Ina Hailu Dadi Diribachu Amante Desalegne Roro Caala Galaye Dereje Zewde Diku Bifta Masrash Hayo On 14/21 March (reports differ, due to Ethiopian calendar), in Dembi Dollo, Wallega, more than 100 demonstrating students from Qellem Secondary School were fired upon with live ammunition, beaten and detained. The TPLF soldiers who surrounded the school killed one female student, according to one report and shot more than one dead according to another. Many were taken to hospital with wounds due to shooting or beating.
Students at Nekemte, Wallega, and Waliso (S. Showa),demonstrated again on 15 March. About 50 were arrested in Nekemte and some beaten and wounded. Security forces broke into schools in Nekemte in order to beat students. Also on 15 March, students in Chiro (Asebe Teferi) and Hirna (W. Hararge) were detained, according to Tomar (16 March). The newspaper also reported that the body of a student from a Chiro preparatory school was found dead on the street. He had been severely beaten. The deputy director of the school was severely beaten and the leader of the student council, Tewfik Abdurahman, was arrested.
On 16 March, students of Medhane Alam High School in Harar (E. Hararge) and Bishoftu High School (Showa), demonstrated. In Alemaya University (E. Hararge), Oromo and Tigrean students clashed on the campus and several were wounded. Local sources claim the Tigrean students were armed with guns and hand grenades. Defence forces (reportedly over 500) took control of the Alemaya campus. ‘Students are not allowed to go out except to the dining room or toilet’ according to VOA Radio. A student who was interviewed claimed that Tigrean students were deliberately provoking Oromo students so that security forces could retaliate by shooting. Searches had discovered weapons, but only in the dormitories of Tigrean students, he said.
Students of Tullu Bollo High School (Hibret Firre School), 45 km south-west of Addis Ababa in S. Showa, demonstrated on 17 March; students of Burayu and Ambo High School (again) on 18 March and students of Holeta College, 45 km west of Addis Ababa, and Chalanko (E. Hararge) and Bako (E. Wallega) high schools demonstrated and boycotted classes. Fifteen were detained in Holeta and the college closed. VOA Radio reported on 17 March that a student in Tullu Bollo was shot and seriously wounded. One student interviewed by VOA Radio said he had seen two students fatally wounded by police in Ambo on 18 March.
Eighth grade student, Ahmed Kedir, in Chiro (Asebe Teferi, W.Hararge) died from injuries in police custody on 22 March, according to Ethop newspaper (24 March). He was one of many injured in Chiro that day. Student protests were also reported at Didessa (SW. Oromia), Galamso (W. Hararge), Wachu and Asebet. Some teachers and the deputy director of the school are reported to have been detained.
The Sun newspaper reported on 22 March that clashes between Tigrean and Oromo students at Adama Technical College had been ongoing for four weeks and had resulted in heavy casualties. The campus was controlled and no-one allowed in or out, the paper stated.
Seife Nebelbal paper reported on 26 March that student Abraham Adamu was critically ill in Menelik II Hospital after fighting with another student.
Students of Hinchini Secondary School (W. Showa) clashed with security forces when their demonstration was dispersed. A number of arrests were made. Student unrest was also reported in nearby Gindeberet Secondary School. (Asqual newspaper, 30 March)
A local informant wrote on 30 March that two students, Lema Anbese and Chala Tiko, were killed at Bishoftu.
Students demonstrated and boycotted the Teachers Training College in Adama (E. Showa) and Harato, Fincha’a, Shambu, Gimbi, Nekemte, Nejo, Dembi Dollo, Ayira and several other schools across Wallega zone of W. Oromia Region on 29 March and following days. Students in Dodola and Robe (Bale) also demonstrated. Many students were hurt by government forces and many were detained at these demonstrations. According to Dagim Wanchif newspaper, 30 March, Alemaya University expelled three and suspended two students around this time.
In South Oromia Region, students from Moyale, Hidi Lola, Mega, Yabello and Guji staged peaceful demonstrations from 28 to 31 March. At least 50 were detained and many are reported to have been beaten and severely wounded. Some of those detained are named toward the end of this document.
Arrests continued in Addis Ababa but few names were available to OSG. One informant wrote on 31 March that Mecha Tulama Association (MTA) Board Members, Leggese Doti and, retired civil servant, Dechassa Banti, had been detained in the capital. Seife Nebelbal newspaper reported (19 March) that armed men took Dechassa Banti from his home on 14 March and searched the premises next day without warrant. His location was not known. On 31 March, MTA President, Diribe Demessie, also named Board Member Shana’e Korma as being detained, as well as the other two members (Addis Zena 31 March). Their location had apparently been established but they were not being allowed visitors. On 1 April, one teacher, Birhanu Bayana, and the following students were detained from Adama (Nazareth) Teacher Training College:
Godana Biyo Bekama Dufera Shalama Hacalu Simale Ahmad Bayisa Bakana Abdi Yonas W/Mariam Kudama Asfaw Hangasu Alamayo Dame Alamayo Bayisa Wandimu Daba Urgessa Rafera Simbo Abdurahman Ca’o Isheetu Obsi
Chala Diriba, is also reported by another informant (21 May). Local informants reported also that over 20 students were taken from their residences at Adama Technical College to Kebele 18 Police Station at 10.00 a.m. on 1 April and detained there.
According to estimates by the Ethiopian Teachers Association and by the OLF, about 7,000 students were detained from January up to 24 March in Oromia Region.
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Teachers and others also targeted
The protests continued across Oromia Region as March ended, with demonstrations in Metu, Bedele, Gore, Kofale, Adaba, Robe and Asassa. The market as well as the school in Bedele was closed.
The government then started detaining teachers, claiming that they were instigating the protests. On April 2 (or 7), seven teachers, of which two are pregnant, were detained from Burayu High School, including: Mrs Alemitu Biru, 43, Elementary School teacher, single parent with five children and in ill health Mrs Martha Magarssa, 32, High School teacher, 7 months pregnant with three small children and in ill health. Boydo Fayissa, 51, Elementary School teacher. The three were kept in Holata prison under harsh conditions. The informant wrote ‘[t]here are also many children, students and other Oromo nationals imprisoned and I have seen them with my own eyes in this prison’.
Another bomb blast occurred at Atse Libina Dingil School, Bishoftu (Debre Zeit), E. Showa, on 6 April, according to Addis Zena (7 April). The school was closed. A female teacher and four (one report claimed 12) students were wounded and taken to Bishoftu Hospital. The next day, 7 April, the following were among 11 Oromo teachers and others to be detained without charge in Bishoftu: Dajane Dandana, Oromo language teacher, Model Secondary School Abdo Wariyo, Oromo language teacher, Central Bole Jnr High School Alamayo Tusa, Director, Central Bole Jnr High School Kabede Hurissa, teacher at Libina Dingil Secondary and Jnr High Schools Cala Begi, employee of Lume School District (Mojo) Hailu Taressa, Oromo language teacher, Central Jnr High (Kattaa) Buttule, teacher and wife of Alamayo Qubee – ‘taken in place of her husband, who could not be found’. In a separate report received on 25 April, Alamayo Qubee was reported as also detained.
On 8 April, students and residents of Kofale, Arsi, took to the streets again. Riot police from Shashamane, 50 km away, were sent in to disperse the protest.
Also on 8 April, the female dormitory of Ambo Agricultural College, W. Showa, was burnt down, by Tigrean students, according to one report, (Tigrean militias, according to others) and there followed ‘indiscriminate mass arrest of civilians’, including Ashebir Oncho, a teacher of the Oromo language who has been detained on many occasions ‘for no other reason than teaching Afaan Oromo [Oromo language] and asserting himself Oromo’. Amnesty International, in Urgent Action 148/04 (AFR 25/005/2004 – 19 April) reported that Ashebir Oncho was detained on 9 April, together with ‘around 60 people’. They were reportedly held incommunicado in a police detention centre in Ambo palace and Amnesty International feared they may be tortured. Teachers who are among the 60 detainees, according to Amnesty International, include: teachers at Gudar High School Abebe Chimdi, Dinsa Serbessa Mosissa Futasa Tesfaye Teressa teachers from Ambo Secondary School Merga Legesse Woldeyesus Mengesha Ashebir Oncho (see above)
The Urgent Action from Amnesty International reported that demonstrations by school and college students had occurred in many towns, including Jimma, Waliso, Bishoftu, Ziway, Dembi Dollo and Harar city, leading to the closure of most schools in Oromia Region. ‘Police used live ammunition in some incidents to disperse demonstrators, some of whom had reportedly thrown stones at police, and several students were killed or wounded’ they reported. Local informants claimed on 3 May that in Ambo one female student had died after being beaten by a TPLF soldier. The government claims that the demonstrations were orchestrated by the OLF.
‘Police commandos’ entered Ginchi on 10 April and conducted mass arrests according to Ethio News (15 April). Thirteen teachers, mostly from the secondary school, were among those arrested. Their homes were searched without warrant.
On 13 April, it was reported by Tomar that 14 students, mostly under 13 years, were arrested from Fugoleleha Junior Secondary School, Aledidu District, Illubabor. Four were released shortly after.
It was reported by Radio Free Oromia on 15 April that 800 civilian employees of the development NGO, Hunde, had been detained in E. Showa. Hunde has been allowed to continue despite being the only independently run Oromo development NGO. This is because it has remained strictly non-political and is known and respected among western NGOs in the capital.
Local informants reported on 21 April that at least 20 were detained from Ginci, a few kilometres toward the capital from Ambo and Gudar, on 10 April, including: Lama English teacher, Ginci Secondary School Banti Kana’a Oromo language teacher Bekele physics teacher Baca Magarsa Jnr High School teacher Abara Bitima driver Ilaala Milki businessman and students’ landlord Tarekegne Garbaba Director, Awash Gura Central Jnr High School Zarihun Garba Agricultural Office employee, Dandi district Jamal disabled Dandi Health Dept employee Bayisa Tolosa driver Aman Eba Health Worker Tafari Dirirsa visitor from other area Dereje Dirirsa visitor from other area.
On 22 April, 270 students and teachers at Moyale Secondary School (Borana) were arrested (Tomar, 27 April).
Dagim Wanchif (11 May) reported that 200, including many dismissed AAU students were being held in Karchale (Central) Prison in the capital. They give names and also name the following teachers being held in Maikelawi CID: Alemayehu Qube – teacher from Bishoftu (see above, 7 April) Kebede Hurisa – teacher from Libina Dingil (see above, 7 April) Bilisuma Alemayehu The following students were reported being held in Maikelawi: Alemayehu Gerba Bilisuma Debere Gerbaba Gadisa Itissa Ephrem Takele Itissa One local informant (21 May) also reported the following being held in Maikelawi: Bilisuma Dalasa Ebissa Melaku Abebe Abeshu Gamachis Wadajo Gesese Abetu The place of detention of Temesgen Dibaba is not known, the informant states.
Grenade explosions at AAU and Dilla on 29 April resulted in more arrests. One local informant reported 15 detained and another two sought followng the AAU explosion.
Seife Nebelbal reported on 14 May the arrest of several students and employees of Dilla College on 12 May. Also arrested were people in Dilla who had sheltered Oromo students following the grenade attack on 29 April.
‘Senior officials’ of Oromia Region told Tobia (April 29) that the prison population was increasing, with more detainees that any other region. There were over 3000 detained in Waliso and over 1800 in Dembi Dollo prisons, the newspaper reported.
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Mecha Tulama Association arrests
A correspondent reported on 18 May that the offices of the Mecha Tulama Association in Addis Ababa were taken over by government security men and that the telephone lines to the executive committee members had been disabled. Another informant reported the detention of the Chairman, Diribi Demissie, and Vice-chairman, Gamachu Fayera, of the Mecha Tulama Association on 18 May, the closure of the office and the confiscation of its contents. Amnesty International released an Urgent Action appeal (AFR 25/006/2004) on 21 May, naming the above two and MTA Treasurer, Sentayehu Workneh (who was detained on 20 May). The three prisoners of conscience are among 16 Oromo arrested on 18 and 20 May, believed to include university students. All are accused of having links with the OLF, which the government blames for a hand-grenade attack at AAU on 29 April, which killed one student.
Other Detentions
Detainees reported on 21 April and 30 March, and several dates in between, from local informants include,
from Yabello, Borana (S. Oromia Region):
Madhicha Arero Galmo Waqo Guyyoo Duubaa Taarii Garbichaa Mallicha Ukkaa Turale Waaqoo Utkennee Odaa Dambalaa Odaa Gumii Boruu Jirmaa Godaanaa Guyyoo Galgaloo Sintayehu Xunnee Mohammed Goduu Durbee Jiru Lammeessaa Roobaa Kabaa Sooraa Tukkee Xachee Huqqaa Mohaameed Kuulaa Husseein Alii Gammachuu Galmaa from Moyale, Borana:
Nuuraa Gaayyoolee Kadir Gaangee Jatanii Duubaa Danyachewu Kaasaa Qurii Jiloo Jataniii Liiban Waaqumaa Abarraa Ayyaanaa Tegenee Godaanaa Daalaachaa from Borana (town not specified): Boke Bilu Tujuba Gutama
from Jimma University (Illubabor, S. Oromia Region): Birhane Gonfa Addisalem Negasaa Hailu Lalissaa Abebe W/Mariyam Alemayehu Tufa Gurmesa Bare Kalbesa Kana Yigezu Wolde Badasa Fufa Adise Nagassa Girma Milki Abiti Ibsa/Hirpo Fayera Kabada Diresa Tilahun Danga Alemayehu Admasu
from Bishoftu High School: Dadi Galan Sisay Bulbula Tadale Abo Kafani Kumbi Kafani Mecha Hawi Bulbula Abdi Gari Shishigu Eshete Mangistu Alemu Dachu Dabasa Abdi Nagash Akililu Asfaw Berhanu Ketema Balda Abraham Demisu Debebe Abiyi Tadele Seid Wariyo Fikre Badada Mangistu Babsa Sisay Gabre Hayyi Dinagde Gutama Chala Saboka Debele Ashanafi Tolosa Talila Enadale Gazahagn Malka Urgecha Ayele Mamo (30 March report only)
from Ambo High School: Workineh Saboka Gadisa Reta Kabada Gonfa Tamiru Chalchisa Tafari Ararsa Asafa Marga Olani Kumala Jagama Badane Zalake Shibiru Duguma Chafe Reta Bekele(AAU student on his way home) Bekele Alemu Kumala Hirpasa Hailu Taka Tamiru Taka Badane Taye Tsegaye Tadessa Takala Dalassa Hailu Dalassa (critically ill) Ambese Biru Yitagazu Fufa Kasahun Gurmessa Mammush Tamiru Chalchissa (in Ambo hospital) Jagama Getachu (AAU student on his way home)
The school was described by one correspondent on 4 March as being ‘totally under control of the military’
from Gudar High School (W.Showa): Nagassa Galana Asafa Furgasa Motuma Chalchissa Takka (Girma Abara, from Ambo, was taken with these as he was on his way home from Jimma University)
from Gedo High School: Zarihun Hailu Tamasgen Damise Solomon Tasew
from Garba Guracha High School, N. Showa: Waltagi Lemma Birhanu Badasa Tadasa Garadaw Taferi Katama Seyum Tasfaye Ketema Amaha Getachew Fikadu Molla Bayisa Sanbata
from Harato High School (30 March report only):
Adugna Lamessa Abdi Merga Abdeta Sago Moti Temesgen Tadesse Zelalem Takele Dima Gemechu Bekele Ms Takelu Gebaba Ms Diribe Derqaba Bule Gamachu Mitiku Bekele Mimi Zeferi Meskele Mulugeta Adugna Jabessa Haso Teskere Jamal Hassen On 3 May informants wrote to OSG that the following students in Bale zone had been detained in April: Jamal Aman Nure Muhamed Lole Kadu Tayiba Shafo Sinbiru Makiya Kiniso Waabee Mohammed Jarso Furo Kiri Haso Zeituna Hussein Kute. They are reported to have been accused of being OLF informants. They and others in custody are reported to be being mistreated.
In the same report, the following students from Waliso High School were named as detained: Abiyu Wakamu Aberra Shalama Ayele Hailu Alemayehu Deressa Ayele Badada* Ashenafi Fayissa Aster Morada* Dejene Kabata* Elias Mulugeta Degefa Bekilu Gonfa Dandana* Kumsa Ayana* Mekonnen Lata* Mili Urgessa Magarsa Belama Mengistu Ifa (Fufa) * Mesfin Faji* Namarra Bogale Tamirat Mardasa Teshome Ebbisa Tesfaye Rafa Tolera Damasa (Hirpha) * Tamiru Kumara Teshale Borjasa Teferi Guta Mulatu Gebre Michael* Wandimu Bekele* Worku Bekele Waqgaari Irensa Yonas Lagasa
Shemlis Haile Michael and those marked * were reported on 30 March to have been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment ‘without debate or defence’.
Illubabor
Hussein Abdurahman Mulugeta Buli Mesfin Mengesha Duguma Abdissa Petros Mosissa
Other detained teachers
Chiro Nibirat Kadir Bekele Haile
Dembi Dollo Getahun Assefa Dereje Mekonnen Lencho Hordofa
Showa Zewdu Kana’a
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Detainees in Maikelawi CID, Addis Ababa
The original eight students detained on 18 January and 17 others taken on 21 January remain in detention in Maikelawi CID in Addis Ababa, as of 3 May. They are named:
Habtamu Jimma Bayana Taye Danda’a Eljoo Amin Abdulkarim Tasi Tamirat Gadissa Fita* Imiru Gamachu Kadida* Temesgen Kabada Goboto* Milkessa Dandana Kuma Terfessa Barsissa Naga’a* Million Diriba Lamessa* Getachu Gadissa Nagassa* Lalise Tadassa Gutuu Tolassa Dabala Totoba Worku Banti Gudina Desalegne Lagassa Ararso Mokonnen Leenjiso Ida’o Dawit Oddo Dube Belina Mengasha Kana’a* Mesalech Tadassa Tafara Gadissa Merga Labate Gamachis Haile Bobo Berhanu Mokonta Nono Alamayo Fakada Negussa Talila Bulbula Tullu Hassa Bariso Eljoo Merga Namo Atete
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Those marked * were the original eight detained on 18 January. |
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Abbreviations:AAU - Addis Ababa University AFP - Agence France Presse EPRDF - Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (government umbrella party) EHRCO - Ethiopian Human Rights Council ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross IRIN - Integrated Regional Information Network (UN news agency) MTA - Macha Tulama Association (Oromo self-help organisation) OLF - Oromo Liberation Front OPDO - Oromo Peoples Democratic Organisation (government Oromo Party) OSG - Oromia Support Group UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
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