How Dessie fought back on Epiphany

By Our Contributor

February 3, 2006

DESSIE – At least 25 youths were detained on the second day of Ethiopian Epiphany on January 20th under allegations that they were singing songs condemning the dictator, Meles Zenawi, and his forces – the Federal Police – the latter being notorious for brutally dealing with the eight-month-old post-election crisis gripping the country.

The youths – who were part of a religious procession escorting St. Michael’s tabot (a replica of the Arc of Covenant) – were singing Amharic songs like: “Yileyal Zendro – Ye-Meles Nuro!” (Time will tell the fate of Meles Zenawi!) and “Sewbela Federal” (The cannibalistic police!).

“Three days later political leaflets urging students to boycott classes were distributed in Dessie town, and on Monday, student protests broke out at every school which was also surrounded by members of the police, special Agazi forces and members of the Defense Force,” a source said.

Most school demonstrations were broken up by the actions of a huge presence of the police and security forces who charged students with truncheons – leaving many students seriously injured.

The fiercest clash took place between the forces loyal to the anti-Ethiopia tyrant Meles Zenawi and students of Memhir Akale-Wold Preparatory School, one of the largest and most famous high schools in Dessie.

Most students were wearing the Ethiopian flag, and many were wounded as they clashed with police and their back-up forces. Members of the army and police were injured as were several students who responded gunfire shots by throwing rocks. A girl who was wearing a wristband of an Ethiopian flag was killed. “Police brutality did not spare even young students from elementary schools.”

The violence forced schools closed for one week.

(The news report was emailed from Dessie town by HM for Ethiomedia.)