Ethiopia: Renewed protests underline need to investigate after dozens killed in stampede

11:28 PM October, 06 2016

Sudanese Online
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Fresh protests in Ethiopia since dozens of protesters were killed in a stampede at a religious festival on 2 October underline the need for the Ethiopian government to ensure a full investigation into how the protest was handled, said Amnesty International today.

Protests have broken out in the capital Addis Ababa, as well as in the Oromia and Amhara regions, since the deadly stampede at a large-scale traditional ceremony in the town of Bishoftu on Sunday. Protest groups blame the tragedy on security agents firing live bullets and tear gas into the massive crowd assembled in a confined space, a charge the government has denied.

“We have documented multiple complaints of police using excessive force, including lethal force, against largely peaceful protesters since demonstrations began in the Oromia region in November last year,” said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

“The law enforcement agencies must immediately end all unlawful use of force against protesters. The government, meanwhile, has an obligation to ensure prompt, thorough, impartial, transparent and effective investigations, particularly into deaths during protests. This should include what role government forces played in Bishoftu, as well as how Ethiopian security forces manage public protests in general.”

The government has put the death toll from the stampede at 52, while protest groups say the number is much higher. They also say that some of their colleagues died of gunshot wounds inflicted by the security forces.

“Given the contradictory accounts, it is critical that an investigation be held to unearth the truth and to identify law enforcement officers criminally responsible, and hold them to account in open and fair trials,” said Michelle Kagari

“In the meantime, the authorities must exercise restraint to prevent further bloodshed.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call Seif Magango in Nairobi on +254 788 343897 or +254 20 428 3020, or email [email protected]

Background

The Oromo protests began in opposition to the Addis Ababa Masterplan, which aimed to extend the administrative boundaries of the capital Addis Ababa into parts of Oromia, which many Oromo feared would lead to mass displacement of people from their homes. The masterplan was scrapped in January but the protests have continued.

For previous Amnesty International reporting on the government crackdown on Oromo protesters please see:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/08/ethiopia-doze...peaceful-protesters/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/12/ethiopia-anti...st-oromo-protesters/


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أبرز عناوين سودانيز اون لاين صباح اليوم الموافق 05 أكتوبر 2016

اخبار و بيانات


• ملخص المؤتمر الصحفى للحزب الشيوعي السوداني عن الوضع السيلسى الراهن
• بيان من قطاع الاطباء - الحزب الشيوعي السوداني بالعاصمة القومية ‎جريمة استخدام الأسلحة الكيميائية ف
• التحالف العربي من أجل السودان :بيان هام حول قرارات مجلس حقوق الإنسان وتمديد ولاية الخبير المستقل
• بيان من الإمام الصادق المهدي رئيس حزب الأمة القومي
• البشير :السودان يؤمن بأهمية وضرورة تضافر جهود كل دول الجوار لحل المشكلة في ليبيا
• قمة بين البشير والسيسي بالقاهرة اليوم
• جهاز المغتريين ينظم ندوة مؤشرات الهجرة السودانية وآفاق سوق العمل
• كشف عن بدء تنفيذ التوصيات قبل شهرين الأمين العام للحوار: شرق السودان عانى من التهميش ويستحق التمييز
• محكمة تستوضح الشرطة في هروب ضابط متهم بقضية مخدرات
• مؤتمر لتقييم أداء القوات السودانية التشادية بالخرطوم اليوم
• (أوتشا): (100) ألف لاجيء سوري بالسودان واستمرار تدفق اليمنيين
• مجلس الامن الدولي يوافق على اجراء تحقيق مستقل فى السودان بواسطة منظمة حظر الأسلحة الكيميائية
• ‏أزمة الكنيسة الانجيلية تتصعد في المدرسة الانجيلية بمدني‏

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