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Letter of Appeal from the AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility

9 May 1998

Dr. Negaso Gidad'a
President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Office of the President
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Fax: 011 2511 55 07 22

Your Excellency:

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the largest organization of natural and social scientists in the United States, and the world's largest federation of scientific organizations, with 175,000 individual members and 296 affiliated groups. Our AAAS Committee on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility was formed in 1976 to protect the human rights of scientists and to deal with issues relating to scientific freedom worldwide.

On behalf of the Committee, we are writing to express our concern regarding Dr. Asrat Woldeyes, who is a former professor and dean of the medical faculty at Addis Ababa University, a pioneer of medical education in Ethiopia, an internationally renowned surgeon, and a prisoner of conscience. The Committee has received information from Dr. Asrat's family indicating that his health has deteriorated significantly. Dr. Asrat has reportedly lost vision in both eyes and is unable to move or speak well. He is also in constant pain. Family members have expressed fear that Dr. Asrat may not survive if he is not given permission to travel abroad for treatment for his high blood pressure and diabetes. We are also concerned that Tiku Ambesa Hospital, where Dr. Asrat is currently held, does not have adequate facilities to treat his serious condition. We urge you to release Dr. Asrat immediately and unconditionally on the grounds that he is a prisoner of conscience, so that he may obtain appropriate medical treatment.

It- is our understanding that Dr. Asrat is serving a five-and-a half-year prison sentence for allegedly inciting violence for political ends, despite his well-documented commitment to non-violent activity. We believe that the charges against him may be politically motivated.

We would like to point out that in 1997, AAAS passed a resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of scientists who are prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia, including Dr. Asrat. This year the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program honored Dr. Asrat at its annual science and human rights reception, held in conjunction with the AAAS Annual Meeting, which was attended by more than 5,000 scientists from around the world.

You are most likely aware that the continued detention of Dr. Asrat and the denial of access to adequate medical attention constitute serious violations of international human rights standards, including those enumerated in the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which Ethiopia is legally bound to uphold as a State Party. They include:

Under the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ratified by Ethiopia on 11 June 1993):

* Everyone has the right to freedom of expression (Article 19.2);

* Everyone has the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly (Articles 21 and 22); and

* Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person, and to freely take part in public affairs and political life (Articles 9 and 25).


Under the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ratified by Ethiopia on 11 June 1993):

* Everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (Article 12.1), and

* Everyone has the right to conditions which assure to all medical attention and service in the event of sickness (Article 12.2.D).


We encourage your government to abide by its international obligations under the international human rights covenants to which it is a State Party and to assure the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Asrat so that he may receive appropriate medical attention abroad.

We thank you for your attention to this important matter and request any information regarding Dr. Asrat's physical condition, as well as his legal status.

Sincerely,



Irving Lerch Mary Gray
Co-Chair Co-Chair
AAAS Committee on Scientific AAAS Committee on Scientific
Freedom and Responsibility Freedom and Responsibility

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