AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Dr. Taye Woldesemayat, a political scientist and Chair of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, has been imprisoned since 30 May 1996. He is held with twenty others and is only allowed to see his lawyer sporadically and in the presence of guards. He was shackled for several months while being held in solitary confinement. He is being held on the fabricated charges of terrorism and conspiracy to assassinate government officials. As the accused leader of the conspiracy, Dr. Taye faces a possible life sentence.

Dr. Taye is the elected head of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, an independent union with 120,000 members now disbanded. He may have been targeted for repression because of his vocal opposition to governmental policies of ethnic divisiveness. He ardently opposed attempts to form separate unions for different ethnic groups. He also was among 42 professors fired from Addis Ababa University in April 1993 for writing a letter of protest against the government's violent reaction to a student demonstration.

While traveling in Europe as a representative of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, Dr. Taye received a letter from the Ethiopian government warning him not to return to Ethiopia. He was arrested at Bole International Airport upon his return in the presence of representatives from two international teachers' associations. Dr. Taye has appeared before the Federal First Instance Court, Second Criminal Division at least three times. The government's chief witness in the case against Dr. Taye is a paid government informant who has appeared at other political trials.

Dr. Taye is one of six defendants charged in the alleged conspiracy. Since May 1996, they have been held in Makelawi prison in overcrowded conditions without adequate food. Makelawi prison is notorious for the disappearance of prisoners. Government communiques reportedly assume their guilt, while the trial has been continuously postponed.

The arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of Dr. Taye, the denial of adequate food and private consultation with his lawyer constitute serious violations of international human rights standards, including basic protections provided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Ethiopian Constitution, and the Ethiopian Criminal Procedures Code.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted without objection by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948:

• The right to life, liberty, and security of person and to be free from arbitrary arrest or detention (Articles 3 and 9);
• the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal (Article 10);
• the right to freedom of opinion and expression (Article 19); and
• the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (Article 20).

The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted by the Organization of African Unity on 17 June 1981:

• Freedom from all forms of exploitation, including torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment (Article 5);
• The right to liberty and security of person, and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detainment (Article 6);
• the right to express and disseminate opinions (Article 9); and
• the right to free association.

The U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by the First United Nations Congress on 30 August 1955;

• Any prisoner shall be given all reasonable facilities for communicating with his family and friends, and for receiving visits from them and from his legal advisor (Articles 92 and 93).

The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE):

• All persons in custody, including sentenced prisoners, have the right to conditions which respect human dignity, and shall have the opportunity to communicate with and to be visited by their spouses or partners, relatives, and friends, lawyers and medical practitioners (Article 21).

The Ethiopian Criminal Procedures Code:

• Any person detained on arrest or remand shall be permitted forthwith to call and interview his advocate (Article 61).

(Sources of information on this case are Amnesty International, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, the Indian Ocean Newsletter, 15 June 1996, and the Free Dr. Taye Woldesemayat homepage at www.missouri.edu/~c513623/freetaye.html.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, telegrams, faxes, or airmail letters:

• expressing concern about the arrest and detention of Dr. Taye Woldesemayat;
• urging that he be released immediately; and
• urging that he receive humane treatment while in custody and be allowed access to family and legal representation.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Dr. Negaso Gidada
President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Et
Office of the President
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: 011 25 11 55 20 30
Salutation: Your Excellency

Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic
Prime Minister's Office
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: 011 25 11 55 07 22
Salutation: Your Excellency

Mr. Mahteme Solomon
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
P.O. Box 1370
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
011 25 11 55 07 22
Salutation: Dear Minister

Mr. Kuma Demeksa
President of Oromia
Oromia Regional State Council
P.O. Box 62298
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Salutation: Dear President

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program