Under the disguise of security problems, ordinary people are subjected to arbitrary
imprisonment and harassment that may take months or years without proper legal procedure.
The huge land grabbing by foreign and Woyane affiliated investors has resulted in mass
displacement of thousands of civilian pastoralists. The Woyane army continue harassing and
terrorising the civilian citizens and forcefully the evacuation. Due to evacuation and the
illegal investments local conflicts has been intensified both within clans and with
neighbouring peoples. In Gawane, where this conflict is intense over 60 tribal elders from the
area were taken to prison and currently suffering without due legal process for more than four
months in Abaala town, situated 45 km East of Makale. In turn Makale is over thousand km
from Gawane and relatives are not able to visit the prisoners. Others from Gawane are
imprisoned in Adebtoli, over 100 km from their home. As late as 12 April, a 16 year old
young man was gunned downed and killed by the police allegedly suspected to escape from
the Adebtoli prison.
The situation is similar around Aysaita and Dubti, where ordinary people are imprisoned on
suspicion for fear of growing people’s discontent. Recently over 88 elders from Awsa were
summoned by Woyane leaders who warned the afar elders for not evacuating the Awash
Valley for large Sugar Cane plantations. The elders rejected this warning and due to their
protest more than 200 people are imprisoned.
Afar Human Rights Organisation condemn this state sponsored human rights violation and
appeal to the international community to investigate situation in Afar region.
P>
We call up on the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to visit the prisoners as soon
as possible!
We call up on Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Red Cross to help
the imprisoned who are kept without any condition!
For further information please contact: [email protected]
