AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 1 and 2 November 2005, government forces arrested 3,000 to 4,000 members and suspected members of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) after demonstrations against the contested result of parliamentary elections. Among those arrested were Professor Emeritus of geography and former chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) Mesfin Woldemariam, 75, and economics Professor and Mayor-elect of Addis Ababa Berhanu Nega. In protest to their continued imprisonment and government charges of "violent conspiracy" and treason, detainees have begun a hunger strike, taking only liquids.

The arrest follow several months of protest and arrests related to the May 2005 parliamentary elections, the results of which were bitterly contested by opposition groups. Protests against the election results, called by CUD on 31 October, turned violent after riot police opened fire on the crowds, killing at least 42 demonstrators and injuring more than 200. Two police officers were reported killed in the ensuing violence. The government retaliated by arresting Professor Woldemariam, who had recently resigned as the chair of EHRCO to work full time for the CUD campaign, and Professor Nega, along with as many as 3,000 to 4,000 members and suspected members of the CUD, journalists and human rights defenders, including CUD President Hailu Shawel, 70, who was reportedly beaten by the police who arrested him.

Despite the authorities repeated claims that the CUD is planning ''a violent conspiracy'', and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi accusation of Hailu Shawel for treason, the CUD has affirmed its commitment to non-violent opposition and protest.

The authorities have not confirmed where any of those detained are being held. Some reports indicate that many of them may be held at the headquarters of the Central Investigation Bureau (Maikelawi) in Addis Ababa. None of the detainees are reported to have appeared in court within the 48 hour limit prescribed by the law. Professor Woldemariam has been experiencing severe back pain, and access to family members has been restricted. It is not clear if Professor Woldemariam was allowed to take painkilling medication with him. Following his arrest, police reportedly searched his home and took away a number of documents.

(Sources of information for this case include: Amnesty International, Network for Education and Academic Rights, Reuters Alertnet, Voice of America, Independent Online.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
• Article 21: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized.
• Article 9(2): Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his [or her] arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him [or her].
• Article 9(3): Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release. It shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial, at any other stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for execution of the judgement.
• Article 9(4): Anyone who is deprived of his [or her] liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his [or her] detention and order his [or her] release if the detention is not lawful.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 09: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
• Article 10: Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his [or her] rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him [or her].
• Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Expressing concern for the safety of Professors Mesfin Woldemariam and Berhanu Nega and the rest of the detainees, and requesting that all be treated humanely, given access to their lawyers and family and receive any medical attention they may require;
• Expressing particular concern for the health of Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, and calling for him to be transferred to a hospital immediately and given all necessary medical care; and
• Appealing for the immediate and unconditional release of Professors Mesfin Woldemariam and Berhanu Nega, and all those detained because of the peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression and political beliefs.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic
Prime Minister's Office
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Fax: 011 251 11 552020/ 552030
Salutation: Your Excellency

Assefa Kesito
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 1370
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Fax: 011 251 11 517775/ 520874
ministry-justice@telecom.net.et
Salutation: Dear Minister

Workneh Gebeyehu
Federal Commissioner of Police
Ministry of Federal Affairs
PO Box 5068
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Salutation: Dear Commissioner

COPIES SENT TO:

Seyoum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 393
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: 011 251 11 514300
mfa.addis@telecom.net.et
Salutation: Dear Minister

Kassahun Ayele
Ambassador to the U.S.
Embassy of Ethiopia
3506 International Dr NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 587 0195
info@ethiopianembassy.org

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Sarah Olmstead, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6787; email shrp@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program