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Date: 20 August 2003
Victim:  Alemayehu Teferra
Country: Ethiopia
Subject: Dr. Alemayehu Teferra Released from Prison
Case Number: et9315_tef
Type of alert: New
15 April 1997
Issues: Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; Freedom
of opinion and expression

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 9 June 2003, Dr. Alemayehu Teferra, a civil engineer and
former president of Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, was
released from prison.  He credits his release to the
international attention to his case. 

Ethiopia’s Federal High Court charged Dr. Alemayehu in
March 1997 for engaging in “aggravated genocide” through
anti-revolutionary activities committed under the
government of President Mengistu Haile-Mariam in 1977-78. 
During this period, commonly referred to as the “Red
Terror” campaign, tens of thousands of people were killed,
tortured or disappeared. Dr. Alemayehu was the chairman of
a local urban-dwellers association during the Red Terror
campaign, but he denies committing any atrocities.  The
government had also absolved him of any crimes in 1991. 
However, he was arrested in 1993 when the government stated
that it had new evidence implicating Dr. Alemayehu in the
atrocities of the late 1970s. Despite testimony from other
individuals that Dr. Alemayehu was innocent, he remained in
jail without being formally changed until 1997.  For the
remaining six years, his case lingered in the Federal High
Court allegedly due to a lack of magistrates to hear the
case.

Many human rights organizations believe that his arrest was
related to Dr. Alemayehu’s criticism of the government
following a brutal repression of students protesting a
planned referendum on Eritrean independence on the Addis
Ababa University campus.  After the crackdown on the
protestors, the government sent armed security agents to
the campus.  Dr. Alemayehu requested the immediate
withdrawal of these forces.  He was fired from his position
of University President shortly thereafter and was arrested
four months later.

The AAAS Science and Human Rights Program honored Dr.
Alemayehu during its yearly reception at the 1998 AAAS
Annual Meeting.  The reception honors a scientist, who,
through action and example, has promoted human rights,
usually at great personal risk.  In a letter to the Program
Dr. Alemayehu wrote, “I am grateful for the honour you have
bestowed upon me in recognizing my efforts to uphold the
independence of the academia. For which I paid a price. 
The plaque you have given me will be among my few
memorabilia that I value highly.”  

(Source of information for this case is a personal letter
from Dr. Alemayehu Teferra dated 7 July 2003 from Addis
Ababa Ethiopia.)


RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHT STANDARDS:

RECOMMENDED ACTION:





Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you
may receive, or direct any questions you may have to
Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program,
1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel.
202-326-6797; email vbaxter@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.

PLEASE NOTE: You may view the digitally signed version of
the AAASHRAN alert on the World Wide Web at:

http://shr.aaas.org/aaashran/alert.php?a_id=257


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