Lift Internet Shutdown, Avoid Force at Protests, Free Unjustly Held Politicians
By Laetitia Bader,
Director, Horn of Africa
Protests erupted in several towns across Ethiopia in response to the June 29 killing of Hachalu Hundessa, a popular Oromo singer whose songs captured the struggles and frustrations of the Oromo people during the 2014-2018 anti-government protest movement. Unidentified gunmen shot Hundessa dead in Addis Ababa, the capital. Hundessa’s uncle was also reportedly killed in Ambo today.
While police claim to have made arrests in connection with Hundessa’s killing, the government’s responses to the protesters risks enflaming long-simmering tensions. On Tuesday morning the government cut internet services across the country, which only amplified concerns that people are being silenced and that human rights abuses and communal violence, having rocked the country last year, are not being addressed.
The internet shutdown has also made it impossible to access information on those killed and injured in the protests. One witness told us: “There is no network. We don’t have any information flow … the government only tells people [they] are investigating, and so everyone is hypothesizing based on current affairs.”
Despite the blackout, credible reports of violence are emerging. A regional government spokesman said that three explosions shook the capital, Addis Ababa, the morning after Hundessa’s killing. Meanwhile, independent media reports suggest that more than 80 people have been killed in the Oromia region and a further 10 people were killed in Adama after a government building was set on fire.
An activist in Nekemte, western Oromia, told Human Rights Watch that three protesters were killed after Oromia police opened fire. A doctor in the town of Dire Dawa said that the hospital had received eight people with gunshot injuries after reportedly being fired at by security forces, and that two soldiers had also been shot and injured.
The government’s response took another worrying turn when authorities arrested political opposition leaders Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba of the Oromo Federalist Congress party, late Tuesday morning after a reported standoff with security forces over Hundessa’s funeral site. Jawar and Bekele were initially held incommunicado, but are now known to be held in Sostegna police station in Addis Ababa. While their families have now been allowed to bring them food and medicine, it is unclear if they have access to a lawyer. Bekele’s son and daughter were also arrested, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
The media has also reported that another prominent political opposition leader, Eskinder Nega, has also been detained.
Rather than restoring calm, the authorities’ internet shutdown, apparent excessive use of force, and arrest of political opposition figures could make a volatile situation even worse. The government should take prompt steps to reverse these actions or risk sliding deeper into crisis.
Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa in a still from the music video for his song, "Maalan Jira".
FULL REPORT here:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/01/eth ... rs-killing
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Re: Human Rights Watch : Ethiopia Cracks Down Following Popular Singer’s Killing
Looks like this independent, unbiased and well-researched report by Human Rights Watch has silenced the cadres.
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Re: Human Rights Watch : Ethiopia Cracks Down Following Popular Singer’s Killing
Eripoblican/Adwapoblican
You must be tigre-tigrayan you seem to love Anarchy and Radical Extremists it’s only tigres who enjoy seeing Ethiopia suffering
The Problem with Ethiopian Politics is the Radicals like OMN who are inciting hate speach violence and Choas across the country. Abiy Ahmed unfortunately has to shut down the internet across the nation. OMN the wife of TPLF is way to radical to be in Ethiopia they should pay for what they have done and become more moderate and stop using insult words like neftenia aka Christians/Amaras. TPLF should be next they must face punishment for inciting violence and hatred across Ethiopia. TPLF Radicals are the head of this big snake. Amharas will not dominate Ethiopia we plan to share it with Peaceful Moderate Oromos. The radicals must be destroyed for the well being of this poor country which isn’t even developed. Abiy Ahmed must try to cool tensions and arrest or kill anyone who is murdering innocent locals.
You must be tigre-tigrayan you seem to love Anarchy and Radical Extremists it’s only tigres who enjoy seeing Ethiopia suffering
The Problem with Ethiopian Politics is the Radicals like OMN who are inciting hate speach violence and Choas across the country. Abiy Ahmed unfortunately has to shut down the internet across the nation. OMN the wife of TPLF is way to radical to be in Ethiopia they should pay for what they have done and become more moderate and stop using insult words like neftenia aka Christians/Amaras. TPLF should be next they must face punishment for inciting violence and hatred across Ethiopia. TPLF Radicals are the head of this big snake. Amharas will not dominate Ethiopia we plan to share it with Peaceful Moderate Oromos. The radicals must be destroyed for the well being of this poor country which isn’t even developed. Abiy Ahmed must try to cool tensions and arrest or kill anyone who is murdering innocent locals.
Last edited by Noble Amhara on 02 Jul 2020, 02:28, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Human Rights Watch : Ethiopia Cracks Down Following Popular Singer’s Killing
Your Abiy Ahmed is a coward. The TPLF have been daring him to send troops to Tigray.
He just does not the courage to do it. He is good at harassing peaceful protesters.
He just does not the courage to do it. He is good at harassing peaceful protesters.
Noble Amhara wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 02:20The Problem with Ethiopian Politics is the Radicals like OMN who are inciting hate speach violence and Choas across the country. Abiy Ahmed unfortunately has to shut down the internet across the nation. OMN the wife of TPLF is way to radical to be in Ethiopia they should pay for what they have done and become more moderate and stop using insult words like neftenia aka Christians/Amaras. TPLF should be next they must face punishment for inciting violence and hatred across Ethiopia. TPLF Radicals are the head of this big snake. Amharas will not dominate Ethiopia we plan to share it with Peaceful Moderate Oromos. The radicals must be destroyed for the well being of this poor country which isn’t even developed. Abiy Ahmed must try to cool tensions and arrest or kill anyone who is murdering innocent locals.
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Re: Human Rights Watch : Ethiopia Cracks Down Following Popular Singer’s Killing
Adwapoblican
I don’t support Abiy Ahmed I am saying the extremists who incite hate and violence shouldn’t be in Ethiopia. Although Meles Zenawi was a Centralized Dictator and Tigrayan Supremacist. His development and peace in Ethiopia was good such as working with China to benefit Ethiopia. The reason why Abiy Ahmed hasn’t invaded TPLF is because he came to power through them he was a high school dropout and worked with TPLF Agents his whole life Abiy Ahmed must have inherited his cowardnes from his mother who his father left
I don’t support Abiy Ahmed I am saying the extremists who incite hate and violence shouldn’t be in Ethiopia. Although Meles Zenawi was a Centralized Dictator and Tigrayan Supremacist. His development and peace in Ethiopia was good such as working with China to benefit Ethiopia. The reason why Abiy Ahmed hasn’t invaded TPLF is because he came to power through them he was a high school dropout and worked with TPLF Agents his whole life Abiy Ahmed must have inherited his cowardnes from his mother who his father left
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Re: Human Rights Watch : Ethiopia Cracks Down Following Popular Singer’s Killing
Another problem with Abiy Ahmed is he came to power believing to be the seventh king.
This is 2020 and we are at the door of the fourth industrial revolution.
WHICH SANE PERSON WANTS TO BE LED BY A KING IN THIS ERA?
This is 2020 and we are at the door of the fourth industrial revolution.
WHICH SANE PERSON WANTS TO BE LED BY A KING IN THIS ERA?
Noble Amhara wrote: ↑02 Jul 2020, 02:35Adwapoblican
I don’t support Abiy Ahmed I am saying the extremists who incite hate and violence shouldn’t be in Ethiopia. Although Meles Zenawi was a Centralized Dictator and Tigrayan Supremacist. His development and peace in Ethiopia was good such as working with China to benefit Ethiopia. The reason why Abiy Ahmed hasn’t invaded TPLF is because he came to power through them he was a high school dropout and worked with TPLF Agents his whole life Abiy Ahmed must have inherited his cowardnes from his mother who his father left