Ethiopia: The Continuing of Deaths and Displacements in Eastern Oromia

July 16, 2013

Public: for immediate Release

In a development relating to HRLHA URGENT ACTION, May 7, 2013, "Ethiopia: Loss of Lives and Displacement Due to Border Dispute in Eastern Ethiopia"

HRLHA has learnt that three innocent civilians have been killed and two others wounded in eastern Oromia’s Regional State, in Ethiopia in a violence that involved the Federal Government’s special force known as LIYYU POLICE.
According to HRLHA informants, the three dead victims of this most recent attack by the federal Liyyu Police/Special Police that took place in the early morning of July 7, 2013 in the Gaara-Wallo area in Qumbi District of Eastern Hararge Province in Eastern Ethiopia were:

1. Mr. Ibrahim Henno, 38,
2. Mr. Mahammed Musa, 26
3. Mr. Mohammed Yusuf , 27

The two wounded victims of this same violent action were Mr. Nuredin Ismael (age 25) and Mr. Ali Mohammed (age 27). HRLHA has confirmed that both Mr. Nuredin and Mr. Ali have since been being treated at the Hiwot Fana Hospital in the city of Harar. More shocking was that the bodies of the three dead victims were eaten by hyenas, because there was nobody around to pick and burry; as the whole village was deserted when the villagers were forced by the armed federal forces to leave the area. According to HRLHA correspondents and other sources, the forced eviction has been taking place in the name of alleged border dispute between the two neighbouring states of Oromia and Ogaden; although the Ogadenis have reiterated that they have not made a land claim along the border. The victims claim that the forced displacements that have been going on for over eight months were always accompanied by dispossessions, lootings, and confiscations of properties.

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa once again urges the Ethiopian Federal Government and the Regional Government of Oromia to discharge their responsibilities of ensuring the safety and stability of citizens by taking immediate actions of interference to bring the violence to end, and facilitate the return of the displaced Oromos back to their homes. It also calls upon all local, regional and international diplomatic and human rights organizations to impose necessary pressures on both the federal and regional governments so that they refrain from committing irresponsible actions against their own citizens for the purpose of political gains.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

• Please send appeals to the Ethiopian Government and its concerned officials as swiftly as possible, in English or Amharic, mentioning to refrain from committing irresponsible actions against their own citizens
  
  
• to bring to justice those members of “LIYYU POLICE” Police who committed crimes against innocent civilians

APPEALS TO:

• His Excellency: Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn – Prime Minister of Ethiopia
  P.O.Box – 1031 , Addis Ababa
  Telephone – +251 155 20 44; +251 111 32 41
  Fax – +251 155 20 30 , +251 1552020
  
  
• His Excellency Alemayehu Atomsa
  Oromiya National Regional State President Office
  Telephone – 0115510455
  
  
• Office of the Ministry of Justice
  PO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Fax: +251 11 5517775; +251 11 5520874 Email: ministry-justice@telecom.net.et

CC

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
  
  United Nations Office at Geneva 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Fax: + 41 22 917 9022 (particularly for urgent matters) E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
  
• African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (ACHPR)
  
  48 Kairaba Avenue, P.O.Box 673, Banjul, The Gambia.
  Tel: (220) 4392 962 , 4372070, 4377721 – 23 Fax: (220) 4390 764
  E-mail: achpr@achpr.org
  
  
• U.S. Department of State
  
  Tom Fcansky – Foreign Affairs Officer
  Email;-TOfcansky@aol.com>Washington, D.C. 20037
  Tel: +1-202-261-8009
  Fax: +1-202-261-8197
  
  
• Amnesty International – London
  
  Clairy Beston
  Telephone: +44-20-74135500
  Fax number: +44-20-79561157
  Email;- TGibson@amnesty.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
  
• Human Rights Watch
  
  Filix Horn/ Leslie Lefkow lefkowl@hrw.org; rawlenb@hrw.org
  Tel: +1-212-290-4700 , Fax:+1-212-736-1300 Email: hrwnyc@hrw.org