Programs: Science and Policy
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AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program
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AAAS Human Rights Action Network
| Date: | 11 June 2001 |
| Case Number: | et0106_aau |
| Victims: | Mesfin Wolde Mariam; Berhanu Nega |
| Country: | Ethiopia |
| Subject: | Ethiopian academics released on bail |
| Issues: | Academic and scientific freedom; Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; Freedom of opinion and expression |
| Type of alert: | Update |
| Related alerts: | 22 May 2001; 24 May 2002; 14 December 2005; 15 July 2006; 15 July 2006; 15 August 2006 |
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FACTS OF THE CASE:
On 5 June 2001, Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam and Dr. Berhanu Nega were released from custody on bail. Ethiopian security forces arrested Professor Wolde Mariam and Dr. Nega on 8 May 2001, on charges of inciting university students to riot. The students at Addis Ababa University were protesting recent government actions that restrict academic freedom, increase government control on university campuses, and limit students' ability to participate in student unions and student government organizations. The peaceful protests broke down into riots. According to reports from human rights organizations, as police entered the university on 17 and 18 April, they fired live ammunition at hundreds of students and teacher and beat civilians with batons. Police shot or beat to death 41 individuals, mostly students and academics. The police detained about 2,500 students. Most have been released, but it is believed that several students suspected of having a leadership role may still be held incommunicado.
After spending four weeks in jail, a judge ordered that Professor Wolde Mariam and Dr. Nega should be released from police custody on bail. Bail was posted at $1200 for Professor Wolde Mariam and $700 for Dr. Nega. Both await a formal trial on charges of inciting the riots.
Both men admit to speaking with students during the protests. However, they state they are not guilty of inciting students to riot, but were informing students of their human and academic freedom rights.
Professor Wolde Mariam, 71, is a founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council. Dr. Nega, 43, an economist, is the president of the Ethiopian Economic Association, a non-governmental organization in Addis Ababa.
(Sources of information for this case include: Human Rights Watch, BBC, and the Washington Post)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
No action is requested at this time. Thanks to those that sent appeals.
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