Ethiopia: Beatings, Arrests and Detentions at Addis Ababa University

HRLHA Urgent Action

January 05, 2013

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) would like to express its deep concern regarding the unknown situations of students of Addis Ababa/Fininne University, who were arrested and detained following the clash between two groups of students on the Arat kilo University Campus (College of Natural Science) on the 2nd of January, 2013.

 

According to information obtained by HRLHA through its correspondents, more than 100 (one hundred) students, the big majority of whom are Oromos, have been taken into custody after being dealt with heavy-handedly by government security forces. HRLHA has also learnt that a lot of Oromo students have received from minor to major life-threatening injuries; and, as a result, a lot have been admitted to hospitals. There is also unconfirmed report that a student namedGammachu Abdi has already died from the severe injuries inflicted on him by the security agents. HRLHA has managed to get the names of the following students from among those who have been arrested and detained: 

No	Name	Department & Year	Ethnic background
1	Abdisa Balachew Tafasa	Sivili Eng. 3rd	Oromoo
2	Abbabaa Gaddafa Baayisa	Biology 2nd	Oromoo
3	Gaaddisaa Taayisa Fufaa	Chemistry 1st	Oromoo
4	Lamma Chala Dumessa	Biology 1st	Oromoo
5	Dabalaa Idechaa Amsha	Geology 1st	Oromoo
6	Gaddisaa Abarra Abbabora	Geology 2nd	Oromoo
7	Tadele Tarekegn Lemma	Geology 3rd	Oromoo
8	Gari Tolina Wakjira	Geology 2nd	Oromoo
9	Ahimad Mustafa Fida	Physics 1st	Oromoo
10	Sanyi Daggafa Duresso	Maths 2nd	Oromoo
11	Bekele Abdisa Amus	E/Engineering 3rd	Oromoo
12	Husen Ahimad Abbabaa	Biology 1st	Oromoo
13	Abodulahi Eres Turi	Maths 1st	Oromoo
14	Yonas Dina Barkeessa	Chemistry 1st	Oromoo
15	Jammara balayi Gudeta	Hearth Sceince 2nd	Oromoo
16	Hirpha Tolera Irana	Physics 1st	Oromoo
17	Malaku Girma Anjaggo	Biology 1st	Oromoo
18	Lema Amana Dhina	Biology 1st	Oromoo
19	Tayib Tesso Wayessa	Biology 1st	Oromoo
20	Kafo Amida Abbusi	Biology 1st	Oromoo
21	Isayas Itana Anshu	Science 1st	Oromoo
22	Kanna Mokonin Galata	Comp.Science 1st	Oromoo
23	Abdata Gudeta Lamu	H/Science 3rd	Oromoo
24	Ayana Birhanu Bayane	Geology 3rd	Amhara
25	Abebe Ayale Asaffaa	Geology 1st	Oromo
26	Iftayom Kumsa Mulata	Geology 2nd	Oromo
27	Olana Tamasgen Aga	E/Eng.ng 3rd	Oromoo
28	Nanboni Tamiru Diriba	Geology 1st	Oromoo
29	Iyasuu Tamasgen Fatane	C/Eng.ng 3rd	Oromoo
30	Yoreson Yoregecha Chala	Accounting 1st	Oromoo
31	Anlayi Alemayehu Adimasu	Biology 2nd	Amhara
32	Igataa Gudina Aboma	C/Eng.ing	Oromo
33	Dibaba Birbesa  Gutema	Earth Science 2nd	Oromo
34	Desalegn Akkasa Kalbessa	Earth Science 2nd	Oromoo
35	Fikadu Warku Magarsa	Chemistry 3nd	Oromoo
36	Abbay Garemewu Gawawe	Chemistry 3nd	Amhara
37	Muluneh Gammachu Kamme	C/Eng.eng 3rd	Oromo
38	Yihenew Tasfaye Aseffa	Con.sience 3rd	Amhara
39	Indalehu Balay Shita	Maths 2nd	Amhara
40	Belete Mosisa Kadida	Biology 3rd	Oromo
41	Tajudin Abdulatif	Statics 2nd
42	Tadele Indashewu Hundesa	Earth Science 4th	Oromoo
43	Sisay Fayera Warqina	Maths 3rd	Oromoo
44	Kelay Wandim Teway	Maths 2nd	Tigre
45	Abdata Taye Mulata	Biology 1st	Oromo
46	Birhan Mokonin Alemu	Maths 2nd	Amhara
47	Taressa Nagasa Nagara	Chemestry 3rd	Oromo
48	Ahunalam Mokonin Dinqa	Statics 3rd	Oromo
49	Tamasgen Marilign Tawayi	Chemestry 2nd	Amhara
50	Lalisa Biqila Dheressaa	Maths 1nd	Oromo
51	Misgnawu Aweke G/Hiwot	Statics 2nd	Amhara
52	Amsalu Abdata Kabbadaa	Geology 1st	Oromo
53	Mamahu Mulugeta Kefalehu	Physics 2nd	Amhara
54	Mohamad Jafar Ahimad	Geology 3rd	Amhara
55	Yohanis Arega Amanu	Statics 2nd	Kibba
56	Tafari Shababi Mokonin	Statics 3rd	Amhara
57	Aman Bati Magarsa	Chemistry 2nd	Oromo
58	Mabiratu G/Mikael G/madin	Chemistry 3rd	Tigre
59	Camiro Abuti Anche	Geology 3rd	Kanbata
60	Takala Gone Fage	Geology 3rd	Kibba
61	Gaddisa Galisa Banee	Language 2nd	Oromo
62	Gudina DasalegnAmante	Biology 3rd	Oromo
63	Getaneh Azona Alamu	Nursing 1st	Amhara       Oromoo
64	Guddee Wakkane Huraa	Maths 2nd	Amhara
65	Birhanu Taye Molla	Physics 2nd	Oromo
66	Gutema Mokonin Wakessa	Geology 2nd	Oromo
67	Kabataa Fetene		Oromoo
68	Getachew Galata Warku	Maths 2nd	Oromo
69	Ramadan Tayib Gada	Biology	Oromoo
70	Mesert Tafarra		Oromo
71	Yaiqob Gadaa Dabalee	Chemistry 2nd	Tigray
72	Tariku Bulcha Hayle	Baiology 2nd	Oromo
75	Danile Reba Wagga	Biology 1st	Oromo
76	Abbabaa Tuuji Caalaa	Biology 2nd	Oromo
77	Abdata Abdissa Daga	Maths 2nd	Oromo
78	Dingata Lamu Jakaa	Maths 2nd	Oromo
79	Kaasaa Asrat	Biology 3rd	Amhara
80	Hadisha G/Mariyam		Tigre
81	Tseggawu Khasayi	Geology 3rd	Tigre
82	Geta Make Cana	Biology 3rd	Amhara
83	Warku Amare	Biology 3rd	Amhara
84	Mulugeta Casale	Geology 3rd	Amhara
85	Amagn Adamu	Maths 2nd	Amhara
86	Dajane Walde	Biology 2nd	Tigre
87	Ligaba Aseffa	Biology 3rd	Amhara
88	Dase Teshome	Physics 2nd	Amhara
89	Aschelahu	Chemistry 3rd	Amhara
90	Dereje Bitawu	Chemistry 3rd	Amhara
91	Getnet Ayanew	E/Eng.ng 3rd	Amhara
92	Aregawu Monyinet	Chemistry 3rd	Amhara
93	Desta W/Gieorgis	Comp. Science	Tigre
94	Uman G/Ananiya	Biology 2nd	Tigre
95	Yonas Taham	Statics 2nd	Tigre
96	W/Kros Khilu	Geology 1st	Tigre
97	Dirribsa Caalaa	Geology 1st	Oromo
98	Ebbisa Barki	Chemistry 2nd	Oromo
99	Asimamahu Mangistu	Biology 1st	Amhara

Different sources indicate that the clash between the two groups was triggered when some students of Tigre nationals posted posters containing derogatory messages that aimed at the Oromo people. It is recalled that the same incident took place exactly in the same manner a year ago at the Mizan-Teppi University in the south (HRLHA Urgent Action, April 11, 2011, a fierce Crackdown against University in the South-Western Ethiopia). The only difference is that the actions by the government forces in handling the current situation included students of other ethnic backgrounds including the Tigreans.

 

Although the interference of the government security forces was not far from expectations, the very harsh and violent actions that have resulted in life-threatening injuries and death are not acceptable by any standard. Given the violent way the students were dealt with, it is also very likely that they could be subjected to tortures.

 

So, HRLHA calls up on the Ethiopian government to unconditionally release the detained students; and allow necessary treatments for those who have been injured and/or wounded. We also call upon the Ethiopian government to investigate the clash and bring the culprits to justice so that they refrain from continued racist provocations that always aimed at the same nationality – the Oromos.