Ethiopia: Violent protests killed 100, UN calls for probe
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Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration over what they say is
unfair distribution of wealth in the country at Meskel Square in Addis
Ababa, August 6, 2016 (Reuters Photo)
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
August 11, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Continued Anti-government protests in
Ethiopia’s Oromiya and Amhara regions are claiming more lives.
Sources reveled that at least 100 people including members of the
security forces have been killed since the weekend after the protests
turned violent leading to clashs.
Protesters in the two regions say the government has become
increasingly repressive and their political and economic rights have
been marginalization.
Protesters also demanded the release of opposition activists.
Opposition activists say the police and security forces have
systematically used excessive force.
Eye witness told Sudan Tribune that security forces fired live bullets
during the regional protests.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the deadly
protests which continue to take place in a number of towns in the
southern Oromyia and northern Amhara region where the country’s
largest and second largest ethnic group respectively belong.
"The Secretary-General is concerned by media reports claiming that
excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces resulted in dozens
of deaths of protesters in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia
last weekend” said Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN
Secretary-General.
Ban underscores that security forces must at all times operate in line
with international human rights norms and standards and urges the
Ethiopian authorities to ensure full accountability in case of any
human rights violations.
He stressed the importance of ensuring the protection of the right to
peaceful assembly, the right to freedom of expression and opinion and
the right to life and integrity of the person, taking the necessary
lawful measures when dealing with demonstrations
The UN rights body has also urged the Ethiopian government to allow an
independent investigation to probe the killings of the protesters.
“The use of live ammunition against protesters in Oromia and Amhara of
course would be a very serious concern for us” Zeid Raad Al Hussein,
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told Reuters.
The commissioner also called on the Ethiopian government to give
access to international observers in the affected areas to establish
what really had happened on ground.
There were also similar weekend protests in the capital, Addis Ababa’s
Maskal Square however the protests turned violent after security
arrived to disperse them.
Scores of protesters were injured after beaten up by the police.
The Ethiopian prime Minister said the weekend protests in the capital
were illegal and warned his government would take measures against
those trying to incite violence.
Speaking on a dialogue forum of Aljazeera, the Stream, yesterday
Ethiopia communication Minister Getachew Reda, said that protesters
are trying to destabilizing the country under the cover of the right
to peaceful demonstration.
He said that protesters were organized by some rejectionist elements
from Diaspora and his government is only trying to hold them in check.
“There is nothing wrong with people expressing whatever concerns they
have in a peaceful manner. What the government is concerned about is
those who are aimed at dismantling the state structure and creating
the kind of instability that will help them drive their own agendas
and impose it on this country” he added.
The minister said government is having an extensive dialogue with the
people of Oromia, Amhara and the people of the entire country who have
issues need to be addressed.
(ST)
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12 August 04:24, by Hardlinner
AU should approve intervention forces to protect the lives of
innocent ahmaras and oromiya people being prosecuted by government
forces. It is their dual right to voice their concern peaceful with
out being intimidated or kill by security personnels.
repondre message
12 August 10:02, by Freedom Fighter
Mass killing of Oromiya and Amhara is clearly a genocide against
ethnic minorities, which is a shame on Ethiopia and African continent
as well.
South Sudan government should re-asses Ethiopian suitability to
participate in the alleged IGAD protection/intervention force.
Ethiopian government action this, is very alarming and serve as a
clear red flag for South Sudan
Freedom Fighter
repondre message
12 August 10:13, by Padiet Deng Alony
let Haile mariam taste it, is only peaceful demonstration and u
are trembling. is time for South Sudan goverment to support Oromo
Liberation Front OLF like haile mariam supporting South Sudan rebel.
repondre message
12 August 12:48, by Southern Boy
That is good to Hailmariam to test because he supporting our
rebel, were is AU and IGAD with intervention forces? we when to go
with our forces so we gona help the innocents people of Oromiya and
Amhara, South Sudan oyee we are ready to go to Ethiopia for protection
of civilian, I mr Southern i am ready with my coy with orders from my
chief of general staff,
repondre message
12 August 13:02, by Southern Boy
ok Sudan and Uganda reject the proposal of IGAD and AU troops to
South Sudan and Rwanda also it will do the same, what is faked Hali
mariam and Uruu kanyata force will do here in Juba as Hali Mariam have
his own problem now in his country, Uruu will get his problem too, in
Africa here what white people doing is game playing every once will
get his own problem not South Sudan alone, God with South
repondre message
12 August 13:09, by Southern Boy
TO Hali Mariam hahahahahahahahah ahahahahaha Ethiopia problem Oyee
and Ethiopia problem Oyee thank hahaha
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