Political detention and killings in Ethiopia 2008 - 2010

Contents
2010: Opposition threatened, detained and branded illegal p. 2
Recent wave of arrests in Oromia Region: shootings p. 2
Tigray Arena party arrests and threats p. 3
Political persecution and killings in 2008 p. 4
Crackdown on Oromo, October/November: accusations of terrorism p. 4
Refoulement from Kenya: terrorist label p. 9
More killings and arrests: new silent torture p. 10
Political persecution and killings in 2009 p. 10
January: Killing, arrests, terrorism charges p. 10
February: Torture, rape, harassment, arrests, death by torture p. 11
March: Attempted assassination, killing, arrests p. 11
April: Terrorism charges and convictions , Birtukan Mideksa p. 12
Ginbot 7 arrests p. 12
May: Detention, killings, death from torture, CUD sentences p. 13
June: Beatings, Ginbot 7 charges, torture, tax evasion, terrorism p. 14
July: Anti-Terrorism Law p. 14
Human Rights League: Oromo political prisoners appeal p. 15
Torture methods p. 16
Prison conditions p. 16
Dozens of Oromo arrested: student tortured p. 17
August: Convictions, arrests, torture, harassment p. 18
September: Pre-trial detention, Medrek and other arrests, torture p. 18
October: UDJ members arrested, beaten, raped p. 20
Surveillance and intimidation in Dembi Dollo p. 20
November: Denial of food aid and food-for-work programme p. 20
Intense surveillance: Toronto Globe and Mail p. 20
December: Ginbot 7 death sentences p. 21
No level playing field for the 2010 election - Dr. Negasso Gidada p. 21
Appendices p. 26

REPORT 45 March 2010

romia
upport
roup
O
S
G

60 Westminster Rd, Malvern
Worcs, WR14 4ES, UK
Tel: 01684 573722
Email [email protected]
2
We also would like to bring to everyones attentions that all these extrajudicial
punishments and human rights violations are being inflicted on Oromo sons and
daughters, not because they committed any crime, but simply because they attempted
to exercise their fundamental human rights that are universally recognized.
Finally, we call up on all regional and international human rights and political
organizations to interfere, for the sake of human dignity, in the never-ending, but not
well-noticed, Ethiopian political problem that is threatening not only local but also
regional political stability.
Oromo political prisoners appeal, published by the Human Rights League of the Horn of
Africa, 25 July 2009 (p. 15).

2010: Opposition threatened, detained and branded illegal

Detention of political opposition figures has been continuing since the last national
election in 2005 and has accelerated in early 2010. Legal Ethiopian opposition parties
are complaining of harassment, intimidation and the detention and killing of their
members and supporters: this persecution is now officially sanctioned by the
government party and is backed by legislation.

Reuters reported on a press conference held by the main opposition coalition, Medrek
the Forum for Democratic Dialogue, on 17 February. Former Ethiopian President,
Negasso Gidada, exhibited a government party newsletter which called for the party
faithful to track opposition members, to follow, photograph and document their
movements, and to collect their literature so it could be used against opposition leaders
to accuse them and bring them to court.

The Anti-Terrorist Law which was passed in July 2009 (see p. 14) allows the
prosecution of government critics and their imprisonment for up to 20 years or life.

Recent wave of arrests in Oromia Region: shootings

In its first Press Release for 2010, the Toronto-based Human Rights League of the Horn
of Africa (HRLHA) reported in January that several hundred civilians in Oromia Region
had been arrested mid-month. The Hannover-based Oromo Human Rights and Relief
Organisation (Oromo Menschenrechts-und Hilfsorganisation, OMHRO, 20 January)
corroborated this report of widespread arrests and estimated that more than 500 had been
detained on 14 and 15 January in Hararge zone alone about 350 in Haromaya and the
others in Kombolcha, Deder, Karro, Dhangago and Qarsaa.

A 7
th
Grade school student, Caalaa, was shot dead by security forces in Qarsaa, and two
others, Tofiq and Abdujabbar Aliyi, were shot and wounded before being taken away
by security forces, according to the OMRHO report.

Arrests beginning on 14 January were also reported from Sigimo and Gatira in Illubabor,
from Horo Guduru in Wallega, Yabello and Liban in Borana, Dugdaa and Bishoftu in E.
Showa, Ambo in W. Showa and from Arsi and Bale zones.

Detainees were accused of involvement with the OLF and most were held
incommunicado in unknown locations. The Oromo Peoples Congress (OPC), a Medrek
coalition partner, reported that at least 157 of its members were among those arrested,
3
including regional representatives and central committee members Fikadu Tefera
(Wallega), Demelash Taddesse (Arsi) and Tolesa Bacho Jilcha (Showa). Twenty five of
the 157 members and supporters, mainly students and teachers, are named in Appendix 1.
Two other central committee members, Niguse Mekonnen Gammada and Abduljabbar
Bashir, were appointed to replace Demalesh Taddesse at the Arsi office but they too were
arrested and imprisoned.

The January OMRHO report, HRLHA (Urgent Action No. 8, January) and Advocacy for
Ethiopia (13 January) recorded the detention of three university students in Awassa,
(Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region - SNNPR) on 5 and 6 January.
Nagga Gezaw (2
nd
year civil engineering), Ms Jatani Wario (2
nd
year co-operative) and
Dhaba Girre (3
rd
year management) were taken from the campus by security forces to an
unknown destination and were later reported to be held in Maikelawi Central
Investigation Department (CID) in Addis Ababa. They had been involved in protests
about the contamination of local rivers and streams by gold mining activity at Lega
Denbi, Gujji/Borana zone of Oromia Region. HRLHA reported that other students had
probably been detained in addition to the three named.

In January, a representative of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM, a
Medrek coalition partner) in Nekemte, Wallega, was fined and sentenced to three months
detention, thus preventing his registering as an election candidate. Qinati Abdisa was
accused of illegally possessing a gun, which according to his family was placed in his
home by security forces (Fitih newspaper, 8 January).

OFDM leader, Bulcha Demeksa, said that seven other OFDM members had been recently
detained along with 297 Shakiso residents who were protesting against Midroc gold
mining company activities in their area.

Amharic weekly Sendek, 24 February, reported complaints from Medrek chairman and
Oromo Peoples Congress leader Merera Gudina that his party was unable to field
candidates in five woredas of Oromia Region because of government actions. Masked
men attacked and damaged a party vehicle, stole documents and beat representatives
travelling to E. Wallega to register candidates. Local government officials and security
forces were involved in the attacks. EDP chairman, Lidetu Ayelew also complained to
Sendek that registration of candidates was obstructed and that government cadres
intimidated, arrested and beat his partys candidates.

Tigray Arena party arrests and threats

According to information circulated by the Office of Analysis for Africa in the US State
Department on 14 February, the leader of the Arena opposition party in Tigray Region,
Gebru Asrat, accused security forces of detaining seven Tigrean farmers a few weeks
previously for travelling to Addis Ababa to complain to human rights organisations of
their being denied food aid for political reasons. They were returned to Tigray Region
after five days and threatened with long prison terms for speaking to foreigners and
betraying their country. An American journalist who travelled to Tigray to investigate
the issue of denial of food aid to political opponents was detained for two days and
threatened with deportation.


4
Political persecution and killings in 2008

Oromia Support Group (OSG) Report 44, August 2008, included information on the
release and pardon of many Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party members in
2007 and human rights lawyers Netsanet Demessie and Daniel Bekele in 2008. They were
arrested after the success of the CUD and other opposition parties in the 2005 national
election. The report also documented abuses associated with the 2008 local elections and
by-elections, the arrests of several hundred oppositon supporters and widespread
intimidation, which resulted in the loss of opposition gains made in 2005.

Since that report was written, information on the deaths in detention of two CUD
members was received. Gedlu Ayele died in Kaliti prison on 16 July 2008 and Ergata
Gobena died one month earlier (Addis Neger newspaper, 19 July). Former fellow
detainees reported that the men who died had been beaten in detention.

Founding member of the Unity for Democracy and Justice party (UDJ, a Medrek
coalition partner and one of the offshoots of the CUD), Dr Yacob Haile-Mariam, was
detained briefly and questioned on 16 June 2008 (Awramba Times 17 June). Fitih
newspaper reported that Ture Dio, a supporter of the All Ethiopia Unity Organisation
(AEUO), Hailu Shawels faction of the former CUD, was shot dead by security forces in
Dila Woreda, SNNPR, on 12 July 2008 and at least 40 others were detained in Walaita,
Gamo and Kambata areas of SNNPR on 19 July.

Goggle reported on 31 October 2008 that AEUO leaders were again intimidated and
detained in Walaita, SNNPR. Security forces broke into a local organisers hotel and
confiscated his National Election Board authorisation to move freely and his registration
certificate. Two UDJ party organisers were arrested in Metu, Illubabor, on 30 October,
according to the Goggle report.

Former judge, Ms Birtukan Mideksa, now 36, was elected chair of the UDJ and the party
attracted most of the former, successfully-elected CUD members who had been detained
in 2005. Birtukan was released in 2007 with most of the CUD detainees. However, after
refusing to retract her clarification of the pardoning process which she gave at a
conference in Sweden, Birtukan was again detained on 29 December and began her
renewed life sentence in solitary confinement. She remains a prisoner of conscience and a
focus of an Amnesty International campaign.

Crackdown on Oromo, October/November 2008: accusations of
terrorism

Politicians, university lecturers, businessmen, lawyers, other professional people and
students were arrested in October and November 2008 under the pretext of supporting the
Oromo Liberation Front. Detainees included student and political activists and teachers of
Oromo culture and language. Oromo who were successful in any sphere of activity and
who refused to join the government Oromo party, the OPDO, were targeted, as in similar
waves of detention of Oromo in 1997/8, 2002 and 2004.

OSG was informed about the detention of Wabe Haji Jarso, a lawyer working for the
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, on 31 October. His story was typical. A relative in the
USA wrote:
5
Ten Ethiopian federal security police went to Commercial Bank, where Wabe
was a lawyer, and forced him to accompany them to his home in Saris. At least
one other employee was also arrested from Commercial Bank. They spent 4
hours searching Wabess house, without permission from the court. They
confiscated all his photographs, several personal documents, a computer, DVDs,
and a scanner. After they searched his house, the police took Wabe to Maikelawi
Prison in Addis Ababa. His photograph was broadcast on the government run
Ethiopian Television along with several other detainees on November 6. . . . All
of those shown on Ethiopian Television were accused of being leaders of OLF
who they say are organizing terrorist activities against the present government of
Ethiopia. Wabe has no history of illegal activities in Ethiopia. However, he
refused to join the OPDO.

Medrek coalition partners, the OFDM and OPC, reported that at least 94, probably more
than 200, were detained in the two weeks following 30 October. Reports from HRLHA,
OMHRO, the Oromo Parliamentarians Council (based in Belgium and formed by exiled
Oromo members of Federal and Oromia Region parliaments), local press and individuals
reporting the detention of colleagues and family members enabled OSG to compile the
following list of 75 of the detainees:

Abdi Amade, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Abdi Botu, imprisoned in Miliqayeti, Daro Labu, W. Hararge.
Abdi Mumade, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Abdi Wallo, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Abdul Aziz, Qilee village, W. Hararge, taken to an unknown location on 11
November.
Abdurahman Mohammed, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Mr Abdusalam, Baroda town, Goro Gutu, W. Hararge, taken to an unknown location
on 11 November.
Mrs Aberash Yadeta
Ahmed Mohammed Aliyi, detained in Ginir, Bale.
Aliyi Faxira, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Mrs Asada Imana
Asafa Tefera Dibaba, poet, writer and lecturer in Oromo language studies, Addis
Ababa University.
Banti Bula
Bayisa Hussein (Hinsene), High School student, Ambo.
Bayisa Lata, 28, Addis Ababa University student.
Bekele Jirata, 66, General Secretary of the OFDM, an agricultural expert with a
Masters degree employed by Oromia Water Resources, was one of the first to be
arrested, on his way to his office on Thursday 30 October. Chairman of the
OFDM, Bulcha Demeksa, told Sudan Tribune on 5 November that Bekele had
been held for six days without charge and without being allowed to see his family
or a lawyer. Bulcha said at least 15 OFDM supporters were detained.
Bekele Negeri, businessman in Addis Ababa, held in Maikelawi CID
Belay Korme, pharmacist, Nekemte Hospital, Wallega.
Biratu Kabada, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Ms Bizunesh, student, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Bulti Jalata, OFDM member, Mana Sibu/Qiltu Kara, Wallega, also detained and
tortured in 2005, disabled from torture, property confiscated.
6
Chalsissa Abdissa
Mrs Chaaltu, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Mrs Chaltu Takala
Dastayo Dheressa Kaba, (Zegeyes brother, see below), 26, law graduate working in
Ambo W. Showa, was reportedly taken earlier, on 15 September, and held in
Maikelawi CID.
Dejene Dhaba, trader.
Dereje Borena, brother of Kebede Borena, below.
Desalegne Qanaii, lawyer representing political detainees, reported by HRLHA in
December to have been released.
Desta Kitil, businessman, brother of Eshetu Kitil, see below.
Mrs Diribe (Bontu) Ittana
Diribsa Legesse
Duri Mohammed Galchu, imprisoned in Miliqayeti, Daro Labu, W. Hararge.
Eshetu Kitil, 54, businessman and owner of the Hawi Hotel, Addis Ababa, held in
Maikelawi.
Fatiya Ahmed, wife of Harun Kabir Ibro below, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11
November.
Fikadu Jalqaba, university/college student.
Fikadu Nagari, teacher, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Mr Getachew, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Getahun Dhuguma, University student (a professor, according to www.afro-o.org),
detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Gudata Dabale, 48, High School Teacher and Director of Finance of the Macha-
Tulama Association (Oromo welfare and self-help organisation whose
members have been persecuted since its inception in the 1960s including
during the 1997/8, 2002 and 2004 arrests).
Hailu Dalassa Mirkana, 27, from Ambo, W. Showa, 3
rd
year law student at Haromaya
University, taken from campus 20 November to Kaliti prison and then Maikelawi.
Harun Kabir Ibro, husband of Fatiya Ahmed, above, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained
11 November, property confiscated.
Hussein Bultum, disappeared after being taken by security forces from his home in
Metahara, E. Showa, on 30 or 31 0ctober.
Imiru Gurmessa, 70, businessman.
Jara Ebissa, High School student, Ambo.
Mr Jaafari, Baroda town, Goro Gutu, W. Hararge, taken to an unknown location
on 11 November.
Mr Johar, Fero village, Babile, W. Hararge, taken to an unknown location on 11
November.
Kebebew Feyee
Kebede Borena, an accountant and manager of Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa.
Kebede Bulti, businessman.
Ms Lalisee Dhiphisaa, 33, a staff member for the recently closed Oromo program on
Ethiopian Television.
Mrs Lelise Wodajo, Ethiopian TV journalist, mother of three and wife of exiled TV
journalist Dhabasa Wakjira, who was himself detained from 2004 to 2007.
Mohammed Abdella Ahmad, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Mohammed Ali, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Mohammed Amma, Ordee village, Cinaqsan, W. Hararge, taken to an unknown
location on 11 November.
7
Mohammed Haji, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained
11 November.
Mohammed Hawash, Dire Dawa, Hararge,
detained 11 November.
Mohammed Sheeka, Dire Dawa, Hararge,
detained 11 November.
Mohammed Tamam, student, detained in
Nekemte, Wallega.
Namomsa Warqineh, school teacher, Bakejama,
detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Najash Awaday, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11
November.
Nagari Fayissa, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Negusie Dhaba
Obsa Waqe, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Qajela Abdata, OFDM member, Mendi, Wallega,
also imprisoned 1997-2003 and in 2005.
Qanate Barata, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Roba Gadafa, 27, statistician and employee of Hibret Insurance Company.
Sabit Abdurahman Ame, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Shiferaw Nagasso, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Shumi Dandana, High School student, Ambo.
Take Gamachu, student, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Taye Itana, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Mr Tofik, Dire Dawa, Hararge, detained 11 November.
Tokkon Mardasaa, OFDM member, Mana Sibu/Qiltu Kara, Wallega, also detained
and tortured in 2005, disabled from torture, property confiscated.
Mrs Urge Ababa, her husband Girma, their three year old child and her brother,
Dargu.
Wabe Haji Jarso, lawyer with Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (see above). Wabe had
previously been detained for a short period.
Warqina Dhinsa, school teacher, Dembi Dollo, detained in Nekemte, Wallega.
Zegeye Dheressa Kaba, 24, from Matakal, W. Oromia Region, 3
rd
year law student at
Bahar Dar University, taken on 7 November and reportedly held at Maikelawi
CID.
Zerihun Wadajo, father of four, famous Oromo singer, detained under the Derg and
detained, harassed and intimidated frequently since 1992. He was arrested on 14
November and held in Maikelawi CID.

Other staff members and students of Addis Ababa University were detained according to
HRHLA but their reporter was unable to ascertain their identities due to tight security on
the AAU campus. Staff of the Fincaa Sugar Factory and three human rights reporters for
the Ethiopian Human Rights Council in Nekemte (EHRCO), Wallega, were also among
those detained.

Amnesty International (AFR 25/01/2008, 14 November) reported that detentions had
occurred across Oromia Region and that most detainees were held incommunicado at
Maikelawi Central Investigation Department, known for torture and other ill-treatment of
political prisoners in the past.


Lelise Wodajo and two of
her three children
8
The Oromo Parliamentarians Council reported on 16 November that arrests were still
occurring across Oromia in Addis Ababa, Bedano, Burqa, Kurfa, Calle, Gurawan,
Metta, Gedo, Nekemte and Fincaa. They and OMHRO (17 November) also reported that
the following 13 civilians were killed by security forces in Sanbato district, Wollo zone:
Abba Adam
Adama Umer Kubi
Aliyi Muhe
Husuu Aliyi
Jaara Amadee
Mohammed Dina
Mohammed Usee Ali
Mussa Mohammed
Rahammad Abdulla
Saalih Buba
Umaru Ahmed Ali
Umer Buba Umaru
Usee Amada Usee

On 8 December, OMRHO reported more detentions in Golo Oda district of E. Harage.
Villagers of Gara Gaafa and Dimtu, in Cabi area, were taken to Burqa prison. They
included the top government security official in the area, Abdi Mahadi, and:
Ahmed Saido
Aliyi Mussa
Aliyi Tuke
Ibrahim Ahmed Kadir
Ibrahim Aliyi
Siraj Ahmed, student
Tajudin Sheik Ibrahim

An unknown number of those who were detained in the first two weeks of the crackdown,
including the three EHRCO activists in Nekemte, were released within a few weeks.
Others appeared repeatedly in court when hearings were adjourned at the request of the
police in order for more evidence to be collected. A police request on 24 November for a
third adjournment of two weeks was refused and 53 who appeared in court that day
returned to court one week later.

However, it was not until 15 December that sixteen of the 53 detainees were charged.
The sixteen included eleven of those named above Aberash Yadeta, Bayisa Hussein,
Bekele Jirata, Bekele Negeri, Dejene Dhaba, Dereje Borena, Eshetu Kitil, Kebede
Borena, Lelise Wodajo, Roba Gadafa and Wabe Haji Jarso. It is not clear from reports
whether three of the five others who were charged were detained during the October
crackdown or before:
Bogale Mossissa Legese, student
Haile Dalassa Hundisa, student (possibly the student named Hailu Dalassa Mirkana,
above)
Olana Jabessa Jaalu, graduate of Police College and a colonel in the police force.




9
Refoulement from Kenya: terrorist label

The most surprising inclusions in the 16 on the December 2008 charge sheets were the
two individuals who headed list Tesfahun Chemeda and Mesfin Abebe. These former
civil engineers were last heard of in Nairobi, where they were seeking protection with
UNHCR. They disappeared from Nairobi in 2007. Human rights defenders in Nairobi
believed that they had been abducted by Ethiopian security men and/or by Kenyan police
in cooperation with the Ethiopian embassy. Their location was not known to their families
for two years.

HRLHA reported that the 16, who were being held in Maikelawi CID, were charged with
at least 11 offences, described in a 38 page document, including causing deaths and
damage to properties by explosions in Addis Ababa, as part of their involvement in a
network of opposition groups named Network 123 or Hawi Bilisuma. According to
the Addis Ababa based Reporter, 17 December, the defendants were accused by the
Federal Court Prosecutor of belonging to OLF cells and raising funds for the organisation
since 2003. Other detainees, including singer Zerihun Wadajo, were charged with less
serious offences.

State-owned media pre-empted the court hearings. After warning of a crackdown on a
terrorist plot and appeals for public cooperation and vigilance one day earlier, on 5
November, Ethiopian Television paraded detainees on the screen and reported that
incriminating material, including weapons and a 7,000 page OLF document, were found
at the time of the arrests. Viewers were informed that the Joint Taskforce of the National
Intelligence Security Service and the Federal Police had detained OLF leaders who were
plotting terrorist attacks in the capital and recruiting and arming terrorists. Legal
opposition political parties, OFDM and OPC, were used as a front for these activities
according to the Joint Taskforce, and it called for these parties to expel members who
were engaged in dismantling the constitution.

The taskforce also announced that members of a militant Islamic group, with links to the
OLF, named Kawerj or Kaworja according to reports, had also been arrested for
plotting terrorist activities in the capital. The day after parading detainees on television,
state media reported the killing of a terrorist leader in Wallega, who had been
responsible for recent explosions in Addis Ababa.

Government spokesman, Bereket Simon, told Reuters (3 November 2008) that OFDM
General Secretary Bekele Jirata was working hand-in-glove with terrorists and it is
proven he had links with groups like the OLF. On 24 November, police told the Federal
First Instance Court that he was involved in organising and training terrorists.

At their court appearance on 24 November, during which journalists were forbidden to
take notes (Reporter, 26 November), defendants reported being denied access to their
families and that they had been beaten and taken from their cells at night and tortured
(Human Rights Watch, 27 November). Human Rights Watch called for the release of the
53 defendants because of the serious risk of torture.



10
More killings and arrests: new silent torture

Two Oromo in Saqata, W. Hararge, were shot dead by security forces on 1 December
2008, according to a news report from the OLF (15 December). They included an Oromo
elder, Ahmed Adam, aged 68. Both victims were accused of supporting the OLF.

HRLHA reported on 15 January 2009 that 22 Oromo had been detained, including Sileshi
Dagafa and Dechassa Merga Debelo, a 31 yr old university lecturer and Masters student
at Addis Ababa University. Dechassa was taken from his workplace at Rift Valley
University College in Gullale, Addis Ababa, on 25 December. No warrant was served.
Dechassa had previously been detained and tortured in 2004 when he was accused as an
undergraduate of coordinating Oromo student protest against the government. His place
of detention was initially kept from his family but they were informed he was being held
at the Third Police Station (Maikelawi CID) when he was later taken by security forces to
witness their search of his home.

Dechassa and Sileshi complained to the court that during detention they were interrogated
daily and kept standing for up to 16 hours overnight. At least some of the defendants,
including Dechassa, were eventually released on bail on 20 February.

The new silent torture was used on other political detainees. HRLHA reported that the
sixteen charged with OLF terrorist offences under the file of Tesfahun Chemeda and
Mesfin Abebe, including Bekele Jirata, complained in court of being tortured by being
made to stand for prolonged periods.

Political persecution and killings in 2009

January 2009: Killing, arrests, terrorism charges

HRLA reported on 15 January that businessman Abadir Jamal, 26, was shot dead by
security forces in Masal district, Hararge on 4 January. Two other men, Dasi Mohammed
and Abdi Maddi (a Somali from Wachalet) were shot and severely wounded in a separate
incident and taken to Imach hospital. Residents of Harar and Awaday began protesting in
the streets at the killing of Abadir Jamal and dozens were arrested.

In the same January press release, HRLHA reported that six farmers had been taken from
different parts of Wallega on and around 7 October and detained in solitary confinement
in Addis Ababa. The men, Gurricho Fida, Gaddafa Mosisa, Dame Qanno, Gammachu
Birrasa, Tariku Raaga amd Naga Berhanu had been held incommunicado, on alleged
political grounds 600 km from their families for over three months at the time of
reporting.

The private weekly Addis Admas (24 January) reported that 18 members of an Islamic
extremist group Aarji Worji, from Wollo, Wallega, Asosa, Silte and Jimma, under the
leadership of Mukrim Gedu, were charged at the Second Criminal Bench of the Federal
High Court on 21 January 2009. They were accused of arming 80 young men with
weapons and bombs and training them in military camps.
According to Reporter on 28 January, a delegation of UDJ members, led by Dr Yacob
Haile-Mariam, were arrested with about ten local party activists at Mersa, Amhara
11
Region, a few days previously. The group, which included local MP Birru Bermeja, were
arrested for holding a meeting without permission and held briefly at the police station.
On 27 January, Mesenazeria reported claims by UDJs deputy chairman, Dr Hailu Araya,
that the partys office had been closed in Boditi, SNNPR, by local government officials
and that the office guard had been beaten.

Senior figure of the All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP) and chairman for North Gondar,
Yared Girma, was detained with 67 others on 25 January, reported Andinet (1 February).
Local officials and police beat people in the compound of his house and took one to
prison during the previous evening, when he was not at home. All were charged with
inciting disturbances during Timket celebrations.

February 2009: Torture, rape, harassment, arrests, death by torture

Reuters reported that Bekele Jirata was released 4 February on bail of 5,000 Birr. He told
the private weekly Fitih (11 February) that he had been presented with no evidence
against him and that books taken from his home at the time of his arrest had been
returned. No other documents had been found at his home. He told the paper that on
several occasions during his detention, he had been forced to stand for 14-17 hours,
sometimes overnight.

On 20 February, the OLF released a list of 86 torture victims who had been detained for
up to 12 years in prisons and detention camps throughout Oromia Region. Details of
place, duration of detention and some of the injuries are given in Appendix 2. Four of the
nine named female detainees had been raped in detention.

Agence France Press (AFP) reported, 26 February, UDJ party claims that its members
were being threatened and arrested and that regional offices were being closed down and
vandalised by local government forces. AEUP activist Addeye Anjullo was arrested on 23
February when delivering leaflets in Sodo, Walaita (SNNPR), and held until released on
bail on 3 March (Jimma Times diaspora blog 28 August, reporting AEUP press release).

On an unspecified date in February, Hassen Ibrahim Tule, also known as Hassan Lakku,
57 yr-old businessman and father of seven, was tortured to death, according to HRLHA
(Press Release 16, May 2009). The merchant from Tortora Guda, Bedeno, E. Hararge,
was accused of involvement with the OLF. His car, tent, money and other possessions
were confiscated by security forces. He had been detained on many occasions since 1992
on suspicion of supporting the OLF.

March 2009: Attempted assassination, killing, arrests

Wondimu Ibssa, OPC Member of Parliament, escaped an assassination attempt in his
constituency, Dugda, Arsi, on 1 March (Goggle 13 March). Local police had not begun to
investigate the incident two weeks later.

On 3 March, high school student Wondimu Demena was shot dead and two other OPC
members injured when police opened fire during a disturbance at Gedo high school, W.
Showa (Addis Admas 7 March). Local MP, Dejene Tafa (OPC), said that the students
were complaining about racist literature brought to the school, and high fertiliser prices
12
and taxes imposed on farmers. OSG was informed separately that 25 teachers and
students were detained during the unrest, including:
Dinqa Kumisa (taken to hospital after beating)
Ababa Shifera, teacher
Biranu Dirriba, teacher
Rabuma Gutu, teacher
Tamiru Tunnee, teacher
Fiqadu Banja, teacher
Teferi, school employee

April 2009: Terrorism charges and convictions, Birtukan Mideksa

Bekele Jirata and another defendant who had been released on bail (see Crackdown on
Oromo, October/November, p. 4) appeared with the other 14 defendants at the Third
Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court on 14 April, only to be told that the hearing
was again adjourned because prosecution witnesses had not turned up. According to
private weekly Ethio-Channel (15 April), they were charged with recruiting for the OLF
in Kenya, running military training camps and, as were the Kawerj group, with planting
bombs in Addis Ababa (see Refoulement from Kenya: terrorist label, p. 9). Ethio-
Channel also reported that Zeleke Kibebew and Major Kembere were found guilty by the
Second Criminal Bench and sentenced to four years imprisonment for communicating
with the OLF. Nine other defendants were found guilty and sentenced in absentia. Four
others were found guilty on 15 April and given sentences of 12 years to life for terrorist
offences (Ethio-Channel 18 April).

After 15 weeks detention, UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa was granted permission to
receive visits from family and friends on 15 April by court order, but the condition of
solitary confinement was not lifted and the Federal Police Commission did not comply
with lifting the visitor restrictions for at least another month (Addis Admas 18 April and
30 May).

Ginbot 7 arrests

Following Dr Berhanu Negas formation of the Ginbot 7 group and his exortation for
followers to overthrow the Ethiopian government by any possible means, about 35 were
arrested on 24 April, amid claims that weapons, explosives, satellite and radio
communication equipment and military uniforms were found at their homes. The group is
named after the date of the 2005 national election (15 May) when CUD politician
Berhanu Nega was elected Mayor of Addis Ababa. He was detained alongside more than
100 CUD members and has lived as an academic in the USA since his pardon and release
in 2007. State Media and Voice of America radio (27 April), Sendek (29 April) and
Reporter (3 May) reported that the group consisted of a military wing, led by Brigadier-
General Terefe Mamo and staffed by members of the Ethiopian armed forces, and a
civilian wing, led by another former CUD detainee and now high-ranking UDJ official,
Melaku Tefera, and staffed by government and private organisation employees.

Members of the police, army and air force were among those arrested, including
Brigadier-General Asaminew Tsige, Colonel Fantahun Muhabe, Lieutenant Azeze, Major
Adamu Getinet, Major Sisay Aberra, Lt.-Colonel Demissew and Captain Mohammed
Jemal Abamecha. Tsige Habte-Mariam, the 80 yr-old father of exiled former CUD
13
politician Andargachew Tsige, was among the detainees. He is diabetic and recently had
heart surgery (Amnesty International Press Release, 5 May). A cousin of Berhanu Nega,
Getu Worku was also among those detained, according to Amnesty International.
Berhanu Negas parents home was surrounded by security forces and their phones
confiscated. Detainees also included former judge, Goshu Yirad Tsegaw, who, with
Birtukan Mideksa, had presided over the trial for corruption of former TPLF central
committee member, Siye Abraha (Addis Neger 9 May and 13 June).

On 2 May, AFP reported that 40 had been detained and Reporter 6 May wrote of the brief
detention of Ayne Tsige, the sister of Andargachew Tsige, and wife of Minister of
Capacity Building, Tefera Walwa. She had protested to police who were arresting her
elderly father.

Amnesty International wrote that the detainees were believed to be held at Maikelawi
CID.

May 2009: Detention, killings, death from torture, CUD sentences

Sileshi Belay, an OPC elected member for Horo Guduru in the Oromia Regional Council,
was detained for ten days in Shambu, Wallega (Mesenazeria 19 May). He had only been
released for a few weeks since his detention for three years on charges of inciting riots
after the 2005 election demonstrations.

Two AEUP members in Eastern Bellessa Woreda, Gezat and Shambel Admassu, were
killed by local security forces on 13 and 18 May respectively, according to the AEUP
(Jimma Times, Oromo diaspora blog, 28 August).

HRLHA (Press Release 16, May 2009) reported torture leading to the death of
Abdurashid Ibrahim Adam on 8 May. The 38 yr-old farmer was held in Burqaa Tirtiraa
prison in E. Hararge and subjected to repeated whipping and beating while suspended
upside down with arms and legs tied behind him, because of his suspected involvement
with the OLF. He was twice taken for medical treatment from the prison before he died.



Abdulrashid Ibrahim Adam

The private weekly Ethio-Channel reported on 10 May that the cases against 55 CUD
members, most of whom had been imprisoned along with the CUD leaders who were
pardoned and released in July 2007, had been finally decided at the Federal High Court
14
on 8 May. All but one were found guilty of attempting to overthrow the constitutional
system and sentenced to 3-18 years in prison.

June 2009: Beatings, Ginbot 7 charges, torture, tax evasion, terrorism

UDJ deputy chairman Dr Hailu Araya reported that party officials in S. Wollo, Amhara
Region, had been beaten and harassed by security forces. Five victims were named in the
Awramba Times report on 9 June.

The Federal Supreme Court named 46 defendants accused of intending to commit
terrorist offences on behalf of Ginbot 7 (Addis Neger 13 June). Six were indicted in
absentia, including Dr Berhanu Nega, four other former CUD leaders and former editors
of Netsanet and Addis Zena newspapers. The remaining 40 included seven Federal Police
Inspectors, Sergeants and Deputy Sergeants as well as the senior officers in the armed
forces named above (p.12).

Reuters, 15 June, reported claims by relatives that the Ginbot 7 defendants had been
tortured. One had to be treated in hospital for genital injuries, according to Ethiopian
Review, 16 June. The lawyer acting for Getu Worku requested an independent medical
report but was told that the prison doctor was sufficient. Brigadier-General Asaminew
Tsige asked the court why he and four others were being kept in solitary confinement at
Kaliti.

Ethiopian Human Rights Council chairman and former Supreme Court Judge, Abebe
Worke, Voice of America radio journalist, Meleskachew Ameha, and two others were
charged with evading duty on goods belonging to Addis Broadcasting plc., owned by
Berhanu Nega, and appeared in court on 15 June. Meleschew Ameha had had his
broadcasting license temporarily suspended earlier in the year because of government
criticism of VOA. Although released on bail, they may face prison sentences if found
guilty. (EthioGuardian.com 17 June, Addis Admass and VOA).

On 26 June, Reuters reported that three alleged OLF terrorists were arrested in Horo
Guduru, Wallega, for beating Chinese workers at the Neshie Dam construction project
and stealing office equipment and money. They were paraded on state television with
guns, communications equipment and bomb-making materials.

July 2009: Anti-Terrorism Law

The Ethiopian government passed the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation on 7 July. According
to Human Rights Watch (HRW), 30 June, the proclamation could be used to criminalize
acts of peaceful political dissent. Under the new law, a non-violent march that blocked
traffic could qualify as a terrorist act, subjecting protestors to 15 years to life in prison, or
possibly even the death penalty wrote the organisation. A group of two or more
individuals who engage in peaceful political protest could be deemed a terrorist
organization and membership deemed a crime, subject to 5-20 years rigorous
imprisonment. . . . Someone who advised, or even just offered water and food to a
political protester might find themselves charged with terrorism . . . [S]omeone who held
a sign used in a non-violent political protest that blocked traffic could arguably be found
guilty of possession of property used to commit a terrorist act.
15
HRW declared that the proclamation criminalizes speech ambiguously encouraging,
advancing, or in support of terrorist acts even if there is no direct incitement to
violence. [E]ven someone merely voicing support for such a demonstration without
participatingcould be subjected to a 10-20 year prison term. . . . even a mundane
newspaper article describing an Oromo student protest could be deemed encouragement
of terrorism. . . . A journalist interviewing an opposition politician or a supporter of an
armed opposition group could be deemed to be encouraging terrorism merely by
publicizing the views of the interviewee.

The proclamation gives the police and other security services almost unlimited power to
conduct body searches, and search or seize property based solely on the belief that
terrorist activity will be or has been committed. Security services may intercept any
form of communication, destroy property or restrict movement. The new law grants the
police the power to make arrests without a warrant, so long as the officer reasonably
suspects that the person is committing or has committed a terrorist act and sets new
evidentiary standards for terrorism cases . . . that are far more permissive than the rules
covering ordinary cases. Under these new rules, hearsay or indirect evidences can be
admitted in court without any limitation. Official intelligence reports can also be admitted
even if the report does not disclose the source or the method it was gathered. By
making intelligence reports admissible in court even if the sources and methods are not
disclosed, the law effectively allows evidence obtained under torture . . .

Human Rights League: Oromo political prisoners appeal

On 25 July 2009, HRLHA published a document compiled by Oromo political prisoners
enitled Oromo Political Prisoners Plight and Appeal. They wrote:

We, Oromo nationals from all walks of life - farmers, students, teachers, business
persons, entrepreneurs, government employees, engineers, medical doctors,
youths, elderly, men, women, children etc. brought from all over Oromia and
accused of being either members or supporters of the Oromo Liberation Front
(OLF) have been subjected to brutal tortures, ill treatments and very harsh
prison situations imposed by the TPLF/EPRDF government of Ethiopia.

The report concluded:

We would like to inform everyone that this report is not all inclusive. Firstly, it
does not reflect the whole reality of the current prison situations in most
Ethiopian political prisons. Secondly, it doesnt cover all, especially the secret
and the unofficial prisons and detention centres where most Ethiopian political
prisoners are held under the current regime. This is mainly due to lack of
communication and very tight control over the exchange and flow of information.
As a result, hundreds of political prisoners languishing in the same terrible
prison situations in different places (for example Bahir Transit prison here in the
capital, Mekele prison in Tigray) have not been included.

The document listed 110 prisoners who have been sentenced. Four, Sheik Ismael Muda,
Ali Jemal (Aba Magal) and Ararsa Abba Humna from Hararge, and Fiseha Birassa from
Wallega, have been sentenced to death and had already spent 16 years in detention by
July 2009. Eleven have been sentenced to life imprisonment, 40 to 10-18 years, 32 to 5-9
years and the remainder to 1-4 years in prison. Their names, place of birth, sentences and
time spent in prison are given in Appendix 3.
16
The prisoners appeal listed 140 detainees who were awaiting sentence by the courts.
These included the 16 who were charged on 15 December 2008, Mesfin Abebe and
Tesfahun Chemeda who were subject to refoulement from Kenya, 11 who were rounded
up in October 2008 and three others. A complete list of names, place of birth and duration
of pre-trial detention is given in Appendix 4. Of these awaiting sentence, 111 had been in
detention for one year or more, and 34 for two years or more by the time of the report in
July 2009.

The prisoners reported that children, siblings and families were being held together with
some of those listed in Appendix 4 as being held in pre-trial detention. Only those of the
following who are marked with an asterisk * are listed: Atsede Imana, 45 yrs old, from
Addis Ababa, held with her two children Dereje and Seena Mulissa; 70 yr-old Qanno
Shibo from W. Wallega, imprisoned with his son Dame Qanno; Tamiru Tafesse* from
W. Wallega, held with his 66 yr-old father Tafesse Dafissa; siblings Qajela* and Obsa
Banti* from W. Wallega; Jabeesa and Dastayew Deresse from Metekile; Sanbata and
Mekonnen Chimdessa; Tafari Birassa* and his sister Alamitu Birassa; Diribe* and her
brother Dagu Itana* from W. Wallega. Girma Ragassa* was imprisoned with his wife
Urge Imana and their three yr-old child Bontu. These are very few of the numerous
similar cases wrote the prisoners.

Torture methods

The prisoners report listed 29 among many other forms of torture practised upon them
by the Federal Police Crime and Forensic Investigation Main Division, National Security
and Intelligence Service, and Federal Police Anti-Terrorist Task Force. The full list,
given in Appendix 5, included prolonged shackling in painful positions; beating,
punching and whipping; suspension from pegs; beating of the soles of the feet and
sensitive areas such as shins and genitalia; mouths being stuffed with filthy material;
being forced to consume their own faeces and urine; suspension of weights from testicles
(resulting in castration in one case); being forced to exercise, often naked, until collapse;
walking over broken glass; sleep deprivation; needles being forced under fingernails;
evulsion of fingernails; insertion of objects into female genitalia; electric shocks; mock
execution with a pistol inserted into the mouth or being threatened with being pushed
from high points (usually Entoto Cliff); being hit on the head and threatened with
shooting while buried up to the neck; dry shaving of the head with glass or razor;
prolonged lying naked on cold concrete floors, and; being forced to observe themselves
being shot in the leg or hand.

At the end of the list, the prisoners wrote that any complaints about torture made by the
prisoners in court were followed by severe punishments/torture, worse than the ones he
or she complained about.

Prison conditions

The report contained details of the harsh conditions in Kaliti prison overcrowding, with
hundreds crammed into single, poorly ventilated rooms, exposed to lice, fleas and TB,
lack of sanitation, insufficient drinking and washing water, sleeping on cold concrete
floors, almost no access to medical care, and complaints against all these human rights
violations being severely punishable.

17
Dozens of Oromo arrested: student tortured

On 1 August, HRLHA reported (in Press Release 18) that dozens of Oromo had been
detained in a wave of arrests in the capital under the pretext of involvement with the OLF.
HRLHA named the following three who were detained on 23 July:
Taye Dandaa Arado, 5
th
year law student at Addis Ababa University
Bayisa Dhaba Lata, employee of Dukam Municipality (Southern suburb of
Addis Ababa)
Muse Ali, government employee
Another detainee, Zalaka Benya, was named later by the OLF (16 September).
Taye was an outstanding student who was due to graduate three days after his arrest and
had been offered a teaching post at the university. He had been detained with Macha-
Tulama Association members in early 2004 and had remained in detention for nearly
three years, until released in late 2006. He had been a key figure in the university Oromo
language society (the Afaan Oromo Club), was an active member of the Union of Oromo
Students at the university and had been involved with the graduation ceremony and the
Oromo Students Graduation Bulletin, which was not allowed to be published. He was
taken from in front of the main university campus by plain-clothed security officers and
held incommunicado with Bayisa and Muse at Maikelawi CID. Ethiomedia reported on 6
October that Taye had been tortured and that his place of detention was no longer known.



Taye Dandaa Arado
18
August 2009: Convictions, arrests, torture, harassment

The Federal High Court reached a verdict on 14 of the 46 Ginbot 7 suspects on 6 August
(Reuters, 8 August). One was acquitted and thirteen, including Dr Berhanu Nega, were
found guilty.

The OLF reported (OLF News, 13 August 2009) that civilians in W. Hararge, especially
in Daro Labu and Bookee districts, had been detained in reprisal for OLF activity in the
area. The administrator of Biliqa village, Kamal Adam, and Bayisa, an elder from Tayfee
village, were among those detained, alonside several farmers. The report also named
Sham Mohammed and Taju Abdalla among several detained and tortured in Dire Dawa,
E. Hararge.

On 18 August, the OLF reported detentions and torture in Xiyo, Digalu, Xijo and
Muneesa districts of Arsi, naming Abdalla Fiqire, Mr Samuel, Abdalla Qumbo, Abbe
Mohammed, Eliyas Kasaya, Mr Kadir, Qaalakiristosa Zamadu and a Mr Qancare and all
his family among those detained.

The OLF later reported (8 September) that Oromo in W. Showa had been arrested,
dismissed from their jobs and denied educational opportunities for refusing to join the
government Oromo party, the OPDO. Those detained in Jaldu district included Hailu
Gobana, Dejene Tolasa, Birhanu Milkeesa and Kabee Xaafa. No attempt had been made
to take these men to court two weeks later. The organisation also reported that three men,
Tasfaye Boka, Haile Fulasa and Zeena Bachaara, who had been sentenced to life
imprisonment in January 2009 for inciting student disturbances in 2005 were being
severely tortured in Ambo prison, W. Showa.

On 23 August, Capital reported that the UDJ presented a report to Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi which detailed abuses against party members. Its offices across the country had
been shut down by local security officers and some had been demolished. Senior party
members had been detained on fabricated charges, predominantly in SNNPR, Oromia
and Amhara Regions. One member was detained for posting a UDJ banner without
permission said the acting chair, Gizachew Shiferaw.

On 29 August, Ethio-Channel reported that 25 university students, teachers and farmers
were sentenced by the Federal High Court to 10-15 years in prison for suspected links
with the OLF, damaging government institutions and robbing millions of Birr from
Fincha sugar factory.

Former Ethiopian President and Medrek coalition partner, Dr Negasso Gidada, announced
to the press at the end of August that government cadres disrupted a political meeting
which he was addressing in Adama (Nazaret) in an organised disturbance.

September 2009: Pre-trial detention, Medrek and other arrests, torture

Bako Tibe Woreda (W. Showa) finance office employee, Mr Dabala, was arrested on 10
September and taken by security forces to an unknown location after his house had been
searched in vain for evidence linking him with the OLF (OLF News, 16 September).

19
HRLHA (Press Release 19, September 2009) reported that 73 detainees, most of whom
had been detained in Shinile, Dire Dawa, E. Hararge, for five years without charge or
trial, were finally brought to court in September. Their names were taken from the Dire
Dawa Prosecutor Generals charge sheet which was presented to the Federal High Court
in March 2009. According to HRLHAs informants, a number of prisoners had died in
detention before the court hearing, due to lack of food and medical care. They receive
only two glasses of water and three pieces of local bread each day. The survivors are aged
18-80 and include 9 women. All were charged with involvement with the OLF. Their
names and ages are listed in Appendix 6.

Reuters and AFP, reporting from Addis Ababa on 10 September, published claims by
Medrek coalition parties that they were being crippled by a campaign of arrests,
imprisonments and intimidation. The parties claimed that nearly 200 members had been
arrested over the preceeding three months. OFDM leader Bulcha Demeksa told reporters
Ruling party cadres throughout the country are jailing our potential candidates on false
charges. Nine men were convicted that day and sentenced for 10-17 years for financing
and buying weapons for the OLF. Bulcha Demeksa said The authorities plant documents
in potential politicians houses, trying to relate them to rebel groups like the OLF or the
ONLF. They are simply potential candidates.

Oromo singers Haacaaluu Hundasa and Ms Diribe Gada were arrested on 15 September
and were reportedly tortured in Maikelawi CID, according to Ethiomedia, 6 October.

OLF News reported on 29 September that family members Malkamu Ababa, Malkamu
Tarafa and Bayisa Tarafa, were taken from their home in Addis Ababa earlier in the
month and severely beaten in Maikelawi CID. Also mentioned in the report, in Fantalee
Woreda, E. Showa, Dalale and Abdi Mieeso were among several Oromo detained on 24
September and tortured, and at least 110 were detained in W. Hararge on 28 September.

GSF, aged 25, writing from exile on 25 January 2010, recounted a five year history of
persecution culminating in his last arrest in September 2009, before he fled the country.
He was first arrested and tortured in Ambo police station for two months at the beginning
of 2004, following student disturbances there. He was released on condition that he
stopped attending the high school, avoided contact with other students and teachers and
that he avoided all public meetings.
He went to Addis Ababa and joined the OFDM party. He was again arrested in November
2005. He remained in detention at Maikelawi, Karchale and then Kaliti until February
2009. During this period of more than three years he was shackled hand and foot for
prolonged periods, whipped with electric cable, beaten severely by fist, boot and gun and
accused of organising students on behalf of the OLF.
He successfully challenged a ten year prison sentence at the Federal Supreme Court to
obtain his release. He was shot at by security forces around his family home in Wallega in
June and again returned to Addis Ababa, where he was closely followed. He reported that
a four day detention in September 2009 was the worst. After severe torture he was taken
out at 1.00 a.m. to Entoto mount to the north of Addis Ababa and threatened with a pistol
inserted into his mouth to reveal OLF secrets (see Torture methods, Oromo political
prisoners appeal, p. 16). He was again released on conditions; of avoiding personal,
internet and telephone contact with anyone and of remaining within Addis Ababa. After
hearing from a friendly Federal Security insider that he was being targeted for
assassination, he fled the country at the end of 2009.
20
October 2009: UDJ members arrested, beaten, raped

The Amharic weekly Addis Admas (October 10) reported UDJ complaints of beating,
harassment and intimidation of its members in East and West Gojam zone of Amhara
Region. Deputy chairman Dr. Hailu Araya said that 21 members in Awenet Menz Kebele
and Denbecha in Jabi Tena Woreda were targeted by local officials who accused them of
illegal political activities following some of them attending a meeting in Addis Ababa.
Three weeks later, the paper stated that another 20 UDJ members had given accounts at a
meeting with western diplomats on 30 October of their being recently beaten and arrested
in SNNPR and Amhara Region. One lady from S. Gondar, Amhara Region, reported
being raped in detention three months previously.

Surveillance and intimidation in Dembi Dollo

Medrek coalition candidate, former Ethiopian President Dr Negasso Gidada
(Ethioforum.org, 13 October) wrote of the harassment and intimidation that he and his
supporters experienced when he visited his constituency in Dembi Dollo, Wallega, the
previous month. His article is reproduced in full on the next page. As well as cataloguing
reasons for the May 2010 national elections being unfair, he descibed in detail the
structure and activities of the pervasive Ethiopian security apparatus. Operating down to
the level of individual households, the security apparatus monitors any communication
between opposition supporters (see also Intense surveillance: Toronto Globe and Mail,
below). Meetings were disrupted and supporters followed and interrogated during and
after his visit. Seventy five supporters were detained for up to 48 hrs prior to his visit and
charged 100 Birr to be released on bail. They were warned that if they voted for the
opposition as they did in 2005 the government party cadres would not give in like then
but defend themselves even with guns.

November 2009: Denial of food aid and food-for-work programme

Reuters (3 November) carried a report from opposition parties claiming that nearly 450 of
their members had been jailed to prevent them standing as parliamentary candidates in the
May 2010 election. On 17 November, the news agency wrote that UK Minister for
International Development, Gareth Thomas, was investigating claims by the opposition
coalition that their supporters were being denied emergency food aid (needed by 6.2
million this year) and access to the food-for-work scheme, the long-running programme
helping another 7 million Ethiopians cope with food shortages.

Intense surveillance: Toronto Globe and Mail

Corroborating the account given by Negasso Gidada, the Toronto Globe and Mail (17
November) carried a report including interviews with him and with Bulcha Demeksa,
OFDM leader, and Siye Abraha, former Defence Minister and colleague of Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi, also standing as an independant with the Medrek coalition.
Negasso Gidada told the reporter People are so intimidated that they are afraid even to
speak to me on the phone. Campaigning is totally impossible. How can it be a fair
election? He described a meeting being broken up by dozens of thugs from the ruling
party, police prohibiting the use of a megaphone because of the lack of a permit and the
monitoring of his emails and phone calls.
21
Siye Abraha also claimed that he and his children were closely followed and that his
emails and phone calls were monitored. In restaurants, spies sit close to me, and you
cant ask them to leave he said There is no private life, no private property. And there is
nowhere you can complain. You can go to the police, but they will do nothing.

Campaign letters have to be hidden from security informants. Families are afraid to pass
the letters from one to another claimed Bulcha Demeksa. He continued If tomorrow I go
to my constituency and speak to people under a tree, the police will disrupt it.

The paper quoted a recent International Crisis Group report Thanks to Chinese electronic
monitoring-and-control software, the government is able to block most opposition
electronic communications when it desires.

December 2009: Ginbot 7 death sentences

Amnesty International (21 January 2010) appealed to the Ethiopian government to
rescind death sentences passed on five of the Ginbot 7 defendants. Only one of those
sentenced to death, Melaku Tefera, is detained in Ethiopia. The others, including Dr
Berhanu Nega, are in the USA or UK. Sentences were passed on 22 December 2009. Life
imprisonment was imposed on the 33 other Ginbot 7 defendants, including one woman.

No level playing field for the 2010 election - Dr. Negasso Gidada
Ethioforum.org 13 October 2009

Current Political Situation in Dembi Dollo Area
I visited Dembi Dollo, in Qelem Wallega Zone of Oromia Region from September 18-28,
2009. During my visit, I tried to gather as much information as possible on the current
political situation. I was unable to hold public meetings because the local administration
was unwilling to cooperate. I therefore tried to meet as many individuals as I could.
During the 10 days, I talked to over two dozen individuals, including cadres of the
OPDO/EPRDF, business leaders, community elders, government workers (teachers and
health workers), local qabale* officials, vacationing university students, church leaders,
private professionals, NGO employees and members and supporters of the OFDM.
This descriptive analysis summarizes and focuses on a few major issues. My general
conclusion is that the OPDO/EPRDF totally controls and dominates the local political
arena, and therefore, there could be no level playing field for the opposition in the Dembi
Dollo area. Unless the situation changes dramatically in the next few months, I do not
expect the 2010 election will be fair, free or democratic. The first step in correcting the
current situation is by appointing well trained election officers to different levels of the
election administration.
I. Strict Security Control and Surveillance
The OPDO/EPRDF which claims to have won the 2005 and 2008 elections seems
determined not to allow any other political organization which could compete against it in
the area. This goes as far as not welcoming individual visitors to the area. Visitors are
secretly followed and placed under surveillance to determine where they have been,
whom they have visited, and what they have said. The visitors would rarely be called for
22
interrogation or approached by the security people. It is the local people who had contact
with visitors that are summoned and grilled by security officials. In my case, my brother-
in-law, with whom I stayed, made a copy of the letter I brought with me from the
parliament and gave it to the security office. He also received telephone calls from the
Dembi Dollo and Naqamte* security offices. He was asked why I came, whether I came
for preparation for the coming election or for any other purpose.
About two months ago Professor Haweitu Simeso of the USAID visited Dembi Dollo
with colleagues from the Irish and Canadian embassies. The visiting group was followed
from the time it arrived in Naqamte. After the group returned, several security officials
interrogated leaders of the Dembi Dollo Bethel-Mekane Yesus Church who had spoken to
Haweitu and his colleagues. One of the church leaders was even summoned to the zonal
administrators office and asked detailed questions about the visitors from Addis. Three
weeks before I went to Dembi Dollo, Dr. Belaynesh (member of the OFDM and an MP)
was in Dembi Dollo. After she returned to Addis, all the people who went to her fathers
house to greet her and others she greeted on the streets in the town were arrested,
interrogated and held in custody for 24 to 48 hours. The houses of some of these
individuals were also searched. A building contractor who arrived in Dembi Dollo on
September 28 to inspect the construction of the new Bethel Church was also followed. He
left the next day fearing that he will be summoned to the security office. OPDO/EPRDF
in Dembi Dollo, besides using the police and security offices and personnel, also collects
information on each household through other means. One of these methods involves the
use of organizations or structures called shane, which in Oromo means the five. Five
households are grouped together under a leader who has the job of collecting information
on the five households every day and pass it on to a higher administrative organ called
Gare. There are 30 to 40 households in a Gare group which has a chairperson, a
secretary, a security chief and two other members. The security chief passes the
information he collected to his chief in the higher administrative organs in the Qabale,
who in turn informs the Woreda police and security office.
Each household is required to report on guests and visitors, the reasons for their visits,
their length of stay, what they said and did and activities they engaged in. The shane
leader knows if the members of the households have participated in development work,
if they have contributed to the several fund raising programs, if they have attended
Qabale meetings, whether they have registered for election, if they have voted and for
whom they have voted. The OPDO/EPRDF runs mass associations (women, youth and
micro-credit groups) and party cells (fathers, mothers and youth). The party cells in
the schools, health institutions and religious institutions also serve the same purpose.
II. Organizational Structures
Understanding how the OPDO/EPRDF itself and its Woreda administration are organized
is very important. There is the OPDO/EPRDF Qellem Wallega Zonal office in Dembi
Dollo. This office receives information and instruction from the regional office in Addis
Ababa. It passes messages to the lower structures and oversees the propaganda and
organizational activities of the party. This office has branches in every village, schools
and health institutions. These branches are subdivided into basic cells. The branches of
these cells are organized into supporter groups, candidate groups and full members
groups.
23
Additionally, the party has organized the people into youth, women and micro-credit
associations for tighter control and easy dissemination of its propaganda and to do party
activities. Dembi Dollo town is a special Woreda Town Administration. The
Administration is sub-divided into four large Ganda (villages). The town used to have
seven Qabales but was restructured just before the Qabale election in 2008. Each Qabale
has 15 in the Woreda Council. It is said that the OPDO/EPRDF presented the names of
pre-selected council members to the Qabale Council and had them endorsed. There is also
the Sayyo Rual Woreda (24 Qabales). The administration of Sayyo Woreda also has its
seat in Dembi Dollo town. These are all appointees of the party and are believed to be
strongly committed to it. The four Ganda (villages or some times called Kifle
Ketema) have each their own councils. A council has 300 members. The members were
elected in 2008. All the people I talked to confirmed to me that the party pre-selected
the candidates. The Qabale has its own cabinet and these are also party members. A
Qabale is further sub-divided into different zones. The zones are sub-divided into Gare.
There are up to 17 Gare in each zone.
III. Misuse of Public Property, Finance and Civil Servants
The partys propaganda and organization committees are located in the Zonal, Woreda
and Qabale Administration building. The party does not pay rent for the rooms it uses.
The committee members are party cadres but their monthly salaries and per diems are
paid by the administration from public treasury. Their secretaries, cleaners and
messengers also get their salary from public treasury. All civil servants are also members
of the party. Monthly contribution of the members to the party are collected by the
Woreda finance office at the time they pay the workers their monthly salaries. The party
officials use government office materials, supplies and equipment, including official
transport vehicles. The party uses town and qabale halls without paying rent. Meeting
halls in health and educational institutions are also used without any payment and at will.
This system is practiced from Zonal to Gare levels. But opposition to the
OPDO/EPRDF are not allowed to rent rooms for offices from private owners or rent
public halls in the town for meetings. Plasma televisions supposed to be used for school-
net and Woreda-net are used for dissemination of party propaganda.
IV. Dissemination of OPDO/EPRDF thoughts
All adults in the qabales and government employees are forced to participate in different
seminars and workshops. The same is true of all school children who are in high schools
and vocational training institutions. University students on vacation are also required to
participate in such programs. Lessons in Tarsimo (Strategy) and Bulchiinsa Gaarii
(Good Governance) are given to all residents (school children, college and university
students, and private and government employees). Workshops on BPR have been held
and each government employee is given Birr 25 for participation. The seminar for
university students lasted five days. The per diem for this seminar was supposed to be
Birr 35 per day for each participant for nine days. Every two weeks on Friday afternoon,
all government employees participate in study circles of the party and cell meetings
during work hours and in the public meeting rooms. No rent is paid for the use of the
rooms. Fund raising programs are organized once in a while for support of the party. It is
the administrations finance officers who deduct the pledged amount from employees and
transfer the money to the party.
24
V. Elections
During the 2005 election, I have witnessed that civil servants were deployed for two
weeks for election campaign for the OPDO/EPRDF and that government vehicles (cars
and motor cycles) were used for this purpose. OPDO/EPRDF members and cadres were
busy disrupting public meetings I called in the field. One of my observers was bribed with
Birr 200 and agreed to give the votes I received to my opponent (OPDO/EPRDF). In one
qabale, I was prevented from holding an election campaign meeting 500 meters away
from a market place. The qabale officials told me that my meeting will disturb their
market. My posters were removed from several places and leaflets I distributed were
collected and destroyed. I persistently appealed to the election officials to correct the
OPDO/EPRDF illegal activities or cancel it from the election in accordance with the
election law but no one heeded my appeals.
According to the people I talked to, the chief of an election office during the 2008
election was also a member of the OPDO/EPRDF. There is a rumor that the same person
is being appointed to the office by the OPDO/EPRDF for the 2010 election. The
OPDO/EPRDF appointed a supporter or a member to each polling station to stand by the
voters and tell the voters in which box they should put voting signs or signatures.
VI. Situation of the Opposition
The office of the OFDM has remained closed since 2005. Members and supporters were
beaten up and imprisoned several times. They were intimidated or bribed. During the
three weeks before my visit to Dembi Dollo, 60 people in Sayyo and 15 people in Dembi
Dollo were arrested and kept in police custody for up to 48 hours. They had to pay one
hundred Birr as bail before being released. They were reprimanded and warned for the
2010 election. They were told, Be careful! Dont support, or join or vote for the
opposition as you did in 2005. We shall not give in like then. We defend ourselves even
with guns. OFDM is equated with OLF while the CUD or the Qindomina as it is
called in Oromia, is equated with the Nafxagna*. The campaign against the UDJ as a
Nafxagna organization has already begun.
VII. Media
No private or independent newspapers exist in Dembi Dollo. Alternative news sources to
the Federal and Oromia public media are only VOA and Deutche Welle. The Oromia
information office and the OPDO send their press media to the area by bus. These are
picked up by a government employee and distributed to different institutions and offices.
All workers are forced to buy these news papers.
VIII. Conclusion
It is plain to anyone who has been to Dembi Dollo and surrounding areas that there is no
political level playing field. I can not imagine how the opposition can enter into an
election process under such conditions. If the ruling party is serious about having a
peaceful, fair and democratic election in 2010 it has much to do, including the release of
all political prisoners and putting a stop to new illegal arrests, intimidations, detentions
and bribing opposition member, immediate reopening of offices of the opposition,
providing immediate equal access to the public media, allowing public meetings
25
organized by the opposition to take place freely, amending the Election Law so that
neutral election officials can be appointed and making it possible for international
election observers free access to ensure fair elections, and putting into place control
mechanisms so that its supporters and members respect the constitution and the election
laws. It must also start repaying rent for offices and halls it has used for its party activities
over the past several years as well as for use of government office materials and
equipment, fuel, telephone and electricity, and return the money it took out of the public
treasury and paid as salaries to its members
*Qabale = Kebele; Nafxagna = Neftegna, a derogatory term, meaning rifle-carrier, used
in reference to Amhara landlords who were imposed on Oromo peasants after the
conquest of Oromia in the late 19
th
century.




Abbreviations & terms

AEUP All Ethiopia Unity Party (offshoot of CUD)
Arena Tigrean opposition party (Medrek member)
CUD Coalition for Unity and Democracy, former opposition party
EDUM Ethiopian Democratic Unity Movement (Medrek member)
EPRDF Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, umbrella
government party
ESDP Ethiopian Social Democratic Party (Medrek member)
Ginbot 7 Banned opposition movement
Maikelawi CID The Central or Special Investigation Department in Addis Ababa,
adjacent to the Third Police Station
Medrek Coalition of opposition parties
OFDM Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (Medrek member)
OLF Oromo Liberation Front, banned in 1992
OPC Oromo Peoples Congress (Medrek member)
OPDO Oromo Peoples Democratic Organisation, government Oromo
party
OSG Oromia Support Group
SDAF Somali Democratic Alliance Forces (Medrek member)
TPLF Tigrean Peoples Liberation Front, dominant party in EPRDF
UDJ Unity for Democracy and Justice (offshoot of CUD, Medrek
member)




The Oromia Support Group is a non-political organisation which attempts to raise
awareness of human rights abuses in Ethiopia. OSG has now reported 4,185 extra-judicial
killings, including deaths in custody, and 944 disappearances of civilians suspected of
supporting groups opposing the government. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have
been placed in illegal detention, where torture and rape are commonplace. Most of these
detainees are Oromo.
26
Appendix 1. Names of 25 of the 157 Oromo Peoples Congress members and
supporters who were arrested in mid-January 2010.

Name Place of arrest Occupation

Asfaw Tekle

Harato/Wallega

Student
Kenate Fayisaa Harato/Wallega Nurse
Tadala Kibirat Harato/Wallega Student
Irena Iticha Ambo MP, Oromia Region
Tadesse Irrensoo Ambo MP, Oromia Region
Abuu Gudata Dugdaa/East Showa Peasant
Ashe Gada Dugdaa/East Showa peasant
Bilisummaa Odaa Dugdaa/East Showa Student
Daraaraa Baqalaa Dugdaa/East Showa Teacher
Dhuga Miidhaqsoo Dugdaa/East Showa Teacher
Eshetu Dugdaa/East Showa -
Gabbisaa Dori Dugdaa/East Showa Finance officer
Ganate Qaqaboo Dugdaa/East Showa Peasant
Jirru Elemoo Dugdaa/East Showa Student
Ms Joorro Badhaasoo Dugdaa/East Showa Teacher
Qabeto Odaa Dugdaa/East Showa Peasant
Maaramaa Mulugeta Dugdaa/East Showa Teacher
Magarsa Bultoo Aqaaqi/East Showa Teacher
Tamirat Odaaa Nabee/East Showa Teacher
GamachuuBaqqalaa Bishoftu/East Showa Student
Bulbulaa Takaa Bishoftu/East Showa Student
Beekama Haromaya University Student (Computer Sciences)
Gaddisa Haromaya University Student (Computer Sciences)
Birhanu Abdiisaa Nekemte /Wallega Wallega University Student
Galgalu Getu Nekemte/Wallega Wallega University Student



Appendix 2. 86 Tortured detainees, reported by OLF, 20 February 2009

Name Place Yrs Injuries

Central Oromia Region
Abdalla Haji Ali Karchale 5
Abdulkadir Haji Wabe Asella 8
Abdulkadir Mohammed Jijjiga, Dire Dawa, Karchele 5 Facial and dental
injuries
Abdullahi Musa Ahmad Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 7
Abdulnasir Tibeso Sadu Bilate 3
Abdurazak Ahmad Hassan Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 11
Abera Yeshitila Feyisa Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 12
Abu Gemechu Badaso Asella 2
Alemayehu Geleta Shogo Karchele 6
Asefa Legesse Maikelawi, Shewa Robit, Kerchele 3 Left hand injured
Ms Deressa Roba Zeway 3 Hand amputated
27
Gezaign Bekele Addis Ababa 2 Fractures in right
hand
Hangatu Balcha Sankalle 2
Hussein Mohammed Ahmed Bilate 2
Dr. Jemal Mohammed Gemta Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 5
Kedir Ibrahim Ahmed Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 12
Khalif Zakir Musa Bedeno, Zeway, Karchele 9
Ms Lelise Roba Gelma Karchele 2 Left leg badly
injured
Mohd Abdurahiman Umer Hammarressa, Zeway 3
Muhammad Abdulla Ahmad Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 12
Omer Ibro H/Ahmed Zeway 8
Omer Sani Mohammed Zeway 3 Amputated left
hand
Ramadan Mohd Zeway, Shinille, Karchele, Maikelawi 5 Leg and back
injured
Rashid Sheikh Hisak Zeway 5
Rasimo Fite Yadete Zeway 9
Shamil Aliyi Mohammed Zeway, Karchele 8 Ribs broken
Sori Sinyor Deresa/Aresa Zeway 7 Paralyzed hand
Wendimu Feyisa Sida Zeway 5
Yesuf Abdi Ahmed Hammaressa, Zeway 3
Yusuf Ismael Dire Dawa, Maikelawi, Karchele 7
Yusuf Uso Mumad Shinille, Zeway, Karchele 7

East Oromia Region
Abadir Ashim Abdulahi Hurso 6
Abdalla Bekri Omer Asebe Teferi 4
Abdi Husen Ibrahim Goba 6
Abdo Adam Bati Dallo 2
Abdulkadir H/Mohammed Hassan Goba 3
Ahmad Nedi Aliyi Hurso, Harar, Dire Dawa 3 Back injury Ahmad
Yusuf Kombolcha, Hurso, Zeway, Karchele 10
Ahmad Yusuf Osman Harar 9
Ahmed Kamir Aliyi Goba 2
Anwar Umer Abdul-Shaker Goba 4
Araarsaa Lammi Qore, Dire Dawa 7 Left hand injured
Awal Mohammed Dube Goba 6
Beker Mama Bati Goba 3
Burka Kadir Harka Goba 5
Farhan Yusuf Musa Goba 5
Feyisa Omar Hassan Goba 5
Genemo Roba Sheko Agarfa 2
Hangatu Bati Imana Galamso 5
Hassan Aliyi Bati Goba 1
Ms Hayat Shamsudin Deder, Dire Dawa, Maikelawi 6 Raped and
tortured
Ibrahim Mohammed Ginnir 2
Ismail Baker Weday Dire Dawa 3
Jemal Hassen Hussein Dire Dawa 3
28
Jemal Idris Mohammed Asebe Teferi 2
Jeylan Kedir Bati Goba 5
Jeylan Taba Kamiso Hurso, Agarfa 4
Kassim Sheiko Lole Goba 4 Deafness
Ms Mariam Hamu Nure Goba 4 Hand injury
Mohammed Ahmed Omar Harar 3
Mohammed Dadi Tuke Dire Dawa 7
Mohammed Ismail Kabira Hurso 4
Mohammed Jundi Jijiga, Haromaya 2
Mohammed Mahmud Omer Gurawa 2
Mohammednur Adam Butta Goba 4
Ramadan Mohammed Dallo 2
Ms Safia Abdulrahman Harar 1
Shamsudin Ibro Machara, Gelamso 5 Neck and hand
injuries
Shamsudin Ibro Osman Harar 4
Sultan Mohammed Siraj Harar 4
Tofik Suleiman Ahmed Dire Dawa 5
Umar Ibro H/Ahmed Zeway, Dire Dawa, Hurso, Galamso 9
Wakoya Goshu Hurso 1 Hand and leg
injuries
Yibeltal Alemayehu Balata Harar 7
Ms Zeinaba Jemal Dire Dawa 1 Broken leg

South Oromia Region
Ms Annane Ittana Hidi Lola 2 months Raped
Ms Dhakki Sorsa Mega 8 months Raped and
beaten
Kuyu Obsa Betera Negele 2
Ms Loko Dullacha Yabello 2 Raped and
tortured
West Oromia Region
Alemayehu Idosa Ayana Shambu 2
Ifa Jiregna Tisa Didessa 8
Negewo Bullo Didessa 3
Yohannes Wakbulcho Didessa 2
Zakir Sharafudin Hussein Jimma 4
Zeleke Kenate Didessa 6 Leg injury

Tigray Region
Mohammed Yasin Mekele 3 Left leg injured
and mentally ill







29
Appendix 3. Sentenced Oromo prisoners, compiled by prisoners and reported by
HRLHA, 25 July 2009.

Name Place of Birth Penalty Duration in
prison (years)
Ali Jamal ( Aba
Magal)
Hararge Death 16
Ararsa Abba Humna Hararge Death 16
Fiseha Birassa West Wallega Death 16
Sheik Ismael Muda Hararge Death 16
Abdurreshid Abdullah Hararge Life imprisonment 9
Cherinet Yemaneh West Wallega Life imprisonment 8
Daniel Ayana West Wallega Life imprisonment 8
Dula Moti West Showa Life imprisonment 3
Mengistu Hordofa West Wallega Life imprisonment 8
Mesfin Etana West Wallega Life imprisonment 8
Mitiiku Tadefa West Wallega Life imprisonment 8
Mohammed Husseen Bale Life imprisonment 9
Said Hasseen Wollo Life imprisonment 1.6
Sherif Jundi Hararge Life imprisonment 9
Teshale Shiferaw East Wallega Life imprisonment 2
Ayantu/Bachu Tola West Wallega 18 years 2
Badhassa Tola West Wallega 18 years 2
Feyissa Alemayehu West Showa 18 years 3
Negassa Alemayehu West Showa 18 years 3
Abdulselam Anubeker Bale 17 years 3
Girma Shibiru East Showa 16 years 2
Talila Robale East Showa 16 years 2
Galata Kamiso West Wallega 15 years 3
Abdi Hussen Wollo 13 years 1.2
Adugna Magarssa West Showa 13 years 3
Shurube Amesso Sidama 13 years 2
Zenebe Mengesha East Showa 13 years 3
Awal Abba Bulgu Jimma 12 years 2.6
Gamada Qasim Bale 12 years 6
Indris Adem Wollo 12 years 1.2
Said Mohamod Wollo 12 years 1.2
Firanbon Mohamod Arsi 11 years 3
Abdi Ahimed Hararge 10 years 1.8
Abdissa Ifa West Showa 10 years 3
Abishu Tenshu East Showa 10 years 4
Adem Gariso Arsi 10 years 3
Adem Mohamod Hararge 10 years 3
Ahimed Kedir Bale 10 years 3
Alemu Belay West Showa 10 years 2
Ashenafi Adugna West Showa 10 years 3
Ashenafi Gari West Showa 10 years 4
Ayana Tesfaye Arsi 10 years 2.6
Chaluma Mengistu West Showa 10 years 3
Gadissa Ararssa East Wallega 10 years 2.6
Galiso Abbabor Jimma 10years 1.2
Gemechis Megarssa West Wallega 10 years 2.6
30
Jamal Abdelah Jimma 10 years 10 months
Kemal Abdellah Hararge 10 years 3.6
Mamush Tesfaye Arsi 10 years 3
Murad Ashim Hararge 10 years 2
Nuguse Hamu Arsi 10 years 3
Sangni Bakalcha West Showa 10 years 3
Sharif Ibrahim Jimma 10 years 1
Tadesse Fufa West Showa 10 years 3
Ziyad Hussen East Showa 10 years 4
Adugna Misgana East Wallega 8 years 2.6
Bahilu Belew West Showa 8 years 2.5
Abbas Hussien Bale 7 years 3
Abdissa Hirphasa West Showa 7 years 3
Abebe Fana West Showa 7 years 2.8
Abera Nedha West Showa 7 years 2.4
Biso Dhaaba West Showa 7 years 3
Getachew Yigezu West Showa 7 years 3
Mahmod Jamal Hararge 7 years 3
Shimelis Tefaye West Showa 7 years 2.4
Tarekegn Wagari East Wallega 7 years 3
Zerihun Kassa West Showa 7 years 2.4
Bigiga Gadissa West Showa 6 years 2.4
Bontu Shugi West Showa 6 years 3
Chala Robi West Showa 6 years 2
Dereje Kefana West Showa 6 years 3
Getu Kebebew West Showa 6 years 2
Mohamod Tusa Arsi 6 years 2.4
Tolassa Dabusha West Showa 6 years 2.5
Tujuba Legesse West Showa 6 years 2.5
Alemayehu Demisse East Showa 5 years 6 months
Bati Edossa West Showa 5 years 2.4
Bira Marga Arsi 5 years 2.4
Daniel Bulti West Wallega 5 years 2.4
Firehun Abebe East Wallega 5 years 3
Gabi Nabi Bale 5 years 2
Hiko Bukullo Arsi 5 years 2
Jamal Argo Bale 5 years 2
Nuredin Hussen Arsi 5 years 3
Ms Rukiyya Arsi 5 years 2.6
Ms Warite Hussen Arsi 5 years 2.6
Wariso Terefe Arsi 5 years 2.4
Adrselam Abbabor Jimma 4 years 1.2
Amin Hussen Wollo 4 years 2.6
Hussen Gesso Bale 4 years 2.4
Hussen Musa Arsi 4 years 3
Jamal Abdelah Borana 4 years 2.4
Jambere Tessema Finfinnee 4 years 1
Kidane Gurmessa Illubababor 4 years 3
Solomon Ligdi Illubabor 4 years 3
Zeleke Kebebew East Wallega 4 years 1
Ahimed Hussen Bale 3 years 2
Ashabir Siyum West Wallega 3 years 3 months
Dessalegn Deresse West Wallega 3 years 1
31
Mohamod Abba
Tamam
Jimma 3 years 2
Tesfaye Yaze West Showa 3 years 3
Abdo Abbamacha Jimma 2 years 1
Ashebir West Wallega 2 years 1
Ismael Usman Jimma 2 years 1.2
Mohammed Abbanaga Jimma 1 year 6 months
Reshid Abbzeneb Jimma 1 year 6 months
Tola Chaliwa Jimma 1 year 6 months
Yusuf Kemal Bale Not recorded 3

Appendix 4. Oromo prisoners awaiting sentence, compiled by prisoners and
reported by HRLHA, 25 July 2009.

Name Place of Birth Duration in
prison
Abara Daka West Wallega 1 year
Abdi Adem Yusuf Hararge 2 years
Abdi Mohammed Hararge 6 months
Abdi Shayi Hararge 6 months
Abdurahman Usher Hararge 6 months
Abdurahman Abba Macha Jimma 1 year
Abdureshed Bershir Hararge 6 months
Abdurahman Adem Hararge 2.5 years
Aberash Yadata Finfinnee* 1 year
Addisu Ashebir West Wallega 1.8 years
Addisu Getachew East Wallega 1.8 years
Ahimed Ibriham Hararge 6 months
Ahimed Usman Illubabor 1 year
Alamu Fikadu East Wallega 1.8 years
Ali Ahmed 2.4 years
Aliy Mume Hararge 6 months
Amanuel Getachew Duressa West Wallega 10 months
Ms Arare Borana East Wallega 1.8 years
Asham Adam Hararge 2 years
Assefa Mulata Garara Finfinnee* 1 year
Ayana Kadida West Wallega 1.8 years
Bakar Mohammed Hararge 6 monts
Bayisa Bacha West Showa 2.4 years
Bayissa Hussen West Showa 1 year
Bekele Negeri Finfinnee* 1 year
Belay Abera East Wallega 1.4 years
Berkeka Zewude North Showa 2.4 years
Birhanu Adugna West Showa 10 months
Birhanu Gebeyehu East Wallega 1.8 years
Bogale Mosisissa Southwest Showa 1 year
Chala Itana West Wallega 2.4 years
Ms Chaltu Tekele Abetu East Wallega 1 year
Daba Rafissa East Wallega 1.8 years
Dabala Magarsa West Wallega 1 year
Dabala Tafa North Showa 2.4 years
Dachasa Ararsa East Wallega 1 year
32
Daraje Imana East Wallega 1.4 years
Dagu Itana West Wallega 1 year
Dasta Jaldu East Wallega 1.8 years
Dawit Milkessa Jimma 1 year
Dejene Dhaba Finfinnee* 1 year
Desalegn Debelo East Wallega 1.8 years
Dilbetigil Sahilekalu Bale 6 months
Diriba Dheressa East Wallega 1.8 years
Diriba Feyissa North Showa 2.4 years
Ms Diribe Itana West Wallega 1 year
Ebbisa Nagawo West Wallega 1 year
Edossa Degefa West Wallega 2 years
Efrem Dhaaba West Wallega 1 year
Efrem Likissa West Wallega 2 years
Eshetu Asseefa Finfinnee* 2.4 years
Eshetu Kitil Finfinnee* 1 year
Etefa Dheressa North Showa 2.4 years
Faysil Amin Arsi 2.5 years
Fikadu Hunde North Showa 2.4 years
Firdissa Dheressa East Wallega 1.8 years
Firew Abebe East Wallega 2.4 years
Gamachis Abaya West Wallega 1 year
Gamula Birassa West Wallega 2 years
Garoma Jaldu East Wallega 1.8 years
Geleta Beza West Showa 10 months
Getachew Tolina West Wallega 1 year
Gezahagn Ragassa Finfinnee* 2.4 years
Girma Daba West Wallega 2 years
Girma Gabissa Wollo 2.4 years
Girma Ragassa West Wallega 1 year
Gutama Garoma East Wallega 1.8 years
Habtamu Fikadu West Wallega 1 year
Habtamu Dasse East Wallega 1.8 years
Hailu Delessa West Showa 1 year
Hassen Mohammed Wollo 6 months
Huseen Haji Beker Hararge 6 months
Hussein Haji Hararge 1.3 years
Hussein Mohammed Hararge 1 year
Hussen Mohammed Wollo 6 months
Hussen Abdellah Ahimed Hararge 6 months
Hussen Mohammed Sultan Wollo 1 year
Indale Nagari West Wallega 1 year
Jabir Mohammed Hararge 6 months
Jafar Mohammed Hararge 6 months
Jamal Abdallah Hararge 1.8 years
Jamal Mume Hararge 6 months
Jeylan Sali Arsi 2 years
Kebede Borana Finfinnee* 1 year
Kebede Girma West Showa 6 months
Keno Shibo West Wallega 1 year
Ms Lelise Wodajo Finfinnee* 1 year
Lelissa Choman East Wallega 1.8 years
Lelissa Iticha West Showa 2.4 years
33
Lelissa Nano West Wallega 1.3 years
Major Olani Jabessa Finfinnee* 1 year
Malkamu File East Wallega 1.8 years
Mangistu Waquma East Wallega 9 months
Matiwos kitessa West Wallega 1 year
Mesfin Abebe East Wallega 2 years
Messeret Tadesse Finfinnee* 2.4 years
Misgana Diribsa West Showa 2.4 years
Mohammed Ahimed Illubabor 1 year
Mohammed Ahimed Wollo 1 year
Mohammed Asehi Hararge 6 months
Mohammed Awal West Wallega 1.3 years
Mohammed Dadi Arsi 6 months
Mohammed Ibrahim Kedir Jimma 6 months
Mohammed Said Hararge 6 months
Moti Kumala West Showa 2.6 years
Najib Usman Jimma 1.2 year
Nimona Tilahun East Wallega 10 months
Obsa Banti West Wallega 2 years
Qajela Banti West Wallega 1.3 years
Roba Degefa North Showa 1 year
Sofian Adurahman Hararge 1.2 year
Solomon Buzune North Showa 2.4 years
Tadesse Belay Arsi 2.4 years
Tadesse Degeffa Finfinnee* 2.4 years
Tafa Dakisissa West Showa 2 years
Tafari Birassa West Showa 10 months
Tahir Haji Bale 6 months
Tamiru Hanbissa West Wallega 1 year
Tamiru Jimma North Showa 2.4 years
Tamiru Tafesse West Wallega 1 year
Tareesa Safara East Wallega 1.8 years
Tarekegn Desalegn East Wallega 1.8 years
Tariku Arega West Wallega 1 year
Tariku Qabata West Wallega 1.8 years
Teferi Beyene East Wallega 1.8 years
Temesgen Qansi East Wallega 1.8 years
Tesfa Amanu East Wallega 1.8 years
Tesfahun Chemeda East Wallega 2 years
Tesfaye Garedew West Showa 11 months
Tesfaye Negara East Wallega 10 months
Teshome Qabata West Showa 1 year
Toloba Sibu West Wallega 1 year
Tsegaye Getachew East Wallega 1 year
Umahar Tahir Jimma 1 year
Wabe Haji Finfinnee* 1 year
Wakoyya Ogo East Wallega 2.4 years
Waktola Tasissa West Wallega 1 year
Yadessa Sarbessa West Showa 1 year
Yohannes Leggesse Finfinnee* 6 months
Zelalem Geneti East Wallega 1.8 years

*Finfinnee is the Oromo name for Addis Ababa.
34
Appendix 5. Torture methods as listed by Oromo prisoners report, relayed by
HRLHA, 25 July 2009.

Blindfolding with black piece of cloth and tying tightly all over head and masking the
whole body;
Handcuffing and shackling legs for a long time;
While torturing, stuffing dirty clothes, prisoners own socks etc. into mouth to prevent
them from screaming for help, which is not available anyways;
Thrashing all over the body, especially around very sensitive extremities and limbs such
as on fingers, elbows, knees, and shin bones and on the head;
Threatening by pointing gun/piston into mouth and onto forehead in order to coerce into
false confession;
Punching/slapping faces, hitting eyes and ears causing damage and bleeding,
Tying hands up to a peg on ceiling/roof suspending;
Locking in an isolated dark, concrete-floored freezing room without sunlight, food and
fresh air;
Forcing to do highly physically demanding exercises for long hours, usually until the
person loses control of himself/herself, sometimes naked;
Forcing to walk on broken glasses and bottles with barefoot;
Prolonged solitary confinement, interrogation, and denial of court visit;
Sleep deprivation by forcing to stand for hours and sometimes for the whole night;
Poking needle into fingers under fingernails;
Extracting/pulling out fingernails by pliers;
Electronic shock all over the body, especially on fingers, legs, buttocks and ears;
Taking to cliffs/hillsides (usually to Entoto Cliff) and threatening the detainee at gun
point to push/throw them down from the top of the cliff;
Burying the whole body except the neck and hitting on head while threatening to shoot by
gun;
Shaving hair dry with broken bottles, glasses or razor;
Forcing to sit /lay naked on freezing concrete floor for long hours;
Forcing to drink or lick ones own blood after causing to bleed by beating;
Tying and suspending filled bottle on male testicles, likely to castrate (there is one case of
castration);
Inserting water bottle into female genitalia;
Beating (male detainees) on the testicles to castrate;
Loud music assaults on ears while standing erect, hands stretching up;
Forcing to eat ones own stools or drink own urine;
Shackling both hands and legs and forcing a thick stick between the arms and legs/knees,
body squeezed, then keeping the person in that position for long hours;
Beating on the sole of feet with sticks, wires and rubbers, causing wounds;
Poking on abdomen and rib bones with barrel/long metals and tip of knife;
Shooting on body extremities (legs and hands), that does not cause instant death, while
the detainee observes the assault.






35
Appendix 6. Detainees at Shinile, Dire Dawa, E. Hararge, attending court after 5
years detention. HRLHA Press Release 19, September 2009.

Name Age
Abdalla Mohammed Said alias Hamaa 37
Abdi Ahmed-nur Haso alias Burale 20
Abdi Ali Ahmed 30
Abdi Bashir Usmail 47
Abdi Haji Musaa Mohammed 44
Abdi Osman Adam 25
Ms Abdosh Mummie Jumoo alia Shabbo 34
Abdulahi Musa Hasan 31
Abdulhamid Mohammed Ali 47
Abdurahman Bale Jago 20
Abdurahman Hussein Jibril 28
Abdushaker Omer Elemo 25
Adnan Gushie Ahmed 45
Adunya Mohammed Jibro alias Duniya 22
Ahmed Sheik Yousuf 28
Ahmed Usmael Matako 45
Ahmeddin Ibrahim Hasan alias Daina 28
Ahmed-najash Sheik Abdulhamid 34
Ahmed-nur Urge Hussein 20
Aliyi Abdale Usman 45
Baker Kasim Kaye 45
Ms Chaltu Ibrahim Abdulqadir 80
Chala Muktar Mummei 30
Dursitu Abdala Ahmed 28
Ms Fatie Ammie Sadiko alias Fatish 18
Haji Taha Hasan Bule 44
Hasan Mohammed Ahmed 20
Ibrahim Abdula Wariye 55
Ibrahim Ahmed Abdo 22
Ibrahim Hussein Guracho alias Ibrahim Dheressa 20
Ibrahim Mohammed Jibril 50
Jafar Umar Abdulle 18
Jamal Adam Usman 20
Jamal Hamza Kiltu 38
Jamal Hussein Musa 30
Jamal Kadir Ahmed 28
Jamal Kadir Sani 42
Janna Mohammed Adas 24
Kadir Adam Tadacha 30
Kalif Mohammed Sheikh Said 40
Kamal Aliyi Ahmed 22
Ms Kimiya Amin Yousuf 50
Kokab Mohammed Yousuf 25
Mikael Abdulahi Mohammed 80
36
Moahmmed Umare Mumad 33
Mohammed Abdo Ahmed 26
Mohammed Ali Hussein alias Mohammed Gudda 50
Mohammed Aliyi Sagda 30
Mohammed Anjaba Abdulla alias Falmataa 30
Mohammed H/Ibrahim Abdulla 35
Mohammed Ibrahim Adam 28
Mohammed-nur Ahmed Bule 30
Muktar Abduljalil Ahmed 28
NureUsman Jilo alias Biitee Jiloo 56
Omer Mohammed Mahmoud 22
Ms Rabla Sharif Omer 18
Ms Rahma Mohammed Abdurahman 20
Said Adam Ali 66
Saliye Abdalla Mohammed 67
Ms Samira Mumie Abdulahi 30
Shakir Tuke Hasan 18
Sham Ibrahim Abdalla 20
Sharif Ali Mohammed 26
Sharif Omer Elemo 50
Sheik Kadir Tura Liye 65
Sheik Mohammed Ismael Ginno 42
Siraj Ahmed Musa 20
Taha Ahmed Abduro 23
Yousuf Challo Ahmed 56
Yousuf Dawud Yousuf 30
Ms Zahara Abdosh Ibrahim 45
Ms Zeynaba Matan Ahmed 18
Zubier Hussein Mohammed alias Lenjisaa Bokee 30