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Ref.: OHRC/06/96
Date:July
17th, 1996
EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, ARBITRARY DETENTIONS
AND
WIDESPREAD LOOTING IN THE OGADEN
Since
7 June 1996, when Ogaden National Liberation Front "ONLF"
and Oromo Liberation Front "OLF", released their joint
statement to coordinate their actions against the Ethiopian
government, the human rights situation in the Ogaden has systematically
deteriorated.
In
the wake of the ONLF-OLF statement, the Ethiopian government
forces stepped up human rights violations in the Ogaden by committing
unspeakable atrocities in different localities for example;
they killed 50 civilians in Qabri-Daharre area and eight others
in Hodayo. Some of the victims were found burned, shot and hacked
to death. Among them were children, women and elders.
On
Monday, 8 July 1996, unidentified gunmen attempted to assassinate
the minister of transport and telecommunications Dr. Abdulmajid
Hussein, who belongs to the pro-government Ethiopian Somali
Democratic League. The government dominated media put the blame
on assailants of ethnic Somalis, but nobody knows the real identity
or the ethnic group of the assailants, and their motives. Surely,
the government blamed ethnic Somalis to justify her gross human
rights violations in the Ogaden.
After
the assassination attempt has been reported, the Ethiopian government
reacted indiscrimately and unlawfully by detaining anyone who
looks like a Somali, and taking the finger-prints and photographs
of the detainees forcibly. Some of the detainees were released
later, but more than 300 others are being held in incommunicado
detention. Among them MPs and businessmen whose premisses were
looted by security forces. In Addis Ababa, ethnic Somalis are
scared and keeping low profile.
In
the Ogaden, EPRDF militias rounded up and detained hundreds
of civilians in all main towns in the area. The detainees were
massed in military detention camps. Extrajudicial executions,
torture, rape and widespread looting by the government forces
were reported and confirmed by adequate witnesses.
The
Ogaden Human Rights Committee fears for the safety and well-being
of many people detained since 9 July '96 in different towns
in the Ogaden and in Addis Ababa. This fear is heightened by
reports of the execution, torture or ill-treatment of the detainees
by government security and army forces.
RECOMMENDATIONS
:
The
Ogaden Human Rights Committee recommends that :
1.
The International Community take a prompt action to stop
the human tragedy unfolding in the Ogaden.
2.
The urgency of the presence of permanent human rights
monitor(s) from the United Nations in the Ogaden.
3.
The Ethiopian government bring to justice perpetrators
of the extrajudicial executions and other atrocities.
4.
The Ethiopian government release immediately all detainees
compensate and restore all looted, destroyed and confiscated
personal property by the security and army forces.
OGADEN
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
(OHRC)
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