Oromia Shall Be Free!

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Ethiopia: Worrisome Situations in Detention Centres



HRLHA – Urgent Action

May 24, 2014

For Immediate Release



While kidnappings and/or extra-judicial arrests and detentions have continued particularly around academic institutions in different parts of the regional state of Oromia in Ethiopia, disturbing and worrisome reports are coming out of detention centres where the Oromo students arrested in the past two weeks are being held.

According to HRLHA correspondents in Nakamte, Wollega Province in western Oromia, there have been cases of tortures of varying levels as well as detainees being taken away in the middle of the night to unknown destinations for unknown reasons. Fifty (50) detainees, including thirteen females, were taken away at one time alone; and their whereabouts were not known. In relation to tortures, the reports indicate that some of the detainees are isolated from others and held in separate rooms handcuffed and legs tied together with their hands on the their backs. There were ten students subjected to this particular situation, among whom were Std. Tesfaye Tuffa (male) and Std. Bontu Hailu (female). Although not confirmed at this point, there were also eight students who were screened out in order to be transferred to a detention or investigation office at the federal level; and these include:

1. Chalaa Fekaduu Gashe (high school student),

2. Chalaa Fekaduu Raajoo (high school student),

3. Nimoonaa Kebede (Wollega University 5th year law student),

4. Moi Bon Misganuu (Wollega University, student),

5. Abdii Gaddisaa (high school student),

6. Abel Dagim (high school student),

7. Qalbessa Getachew (high school student),

8. Mulgeta Gemechu (high school student),

9. Edosa Namara Dheressa, Civil Engineering, Wallaga University

In the meantime, reports indicate that kidnappings and/or extra-judicial arrests and detentions have continued in different parts of the regional state of Oromia, particularly in Hararge/Haromaya, West Showa, and West Wollega, all in relation to the protests that have been going on in the Regional State of Oromia in opposition to the newly introduced master plan to expand the Capital City of Addis 2




Ababa/Finfinne in all directions by displacing the local Oromo residents. The following are among the hundreds of the most recent cases of kidnappings, arrests and detentions:

1) Edosa Namara Deressa - Wollega University (Civil Engineering)

2) Walabuma Dabale -Adama University, West Showa,

3) Ebisa Dale -Adama University

4) Ganamo Kurke -Adama University

5) Liban Taressa - Adama University

6) Adam Godana -Adama University

7) Bodana (last name not obtained) - Adama University

Name of other detainees arrested May 15-17, 2014, Partial Detainees in Wallagga, May 16, 2014
N0	Name		Gender		Occupation		Place /Town
1	Robel Qanno		M		Worker		Mandii
2	Gammachis Hambisaa		M		Employee		Mandii,
3		Bokaa Hundeessaa		M		Mandii
4		Bacaa Kebede		M		Mandi
5	Fiqiru Wadajo		M		Businessman		Mandi
6	Eyob Kumara		M		Businessman		Mandi
7	Raji Abbaya		M		10		Mandi
8	Dabaloo Tolosaa		M		10		Mandi
9	Surra Chali		M		12		Mandi
10		Ebisaa Saqqata		12		Mandi
Haromaya University
1	Nimona Chali		M		Oromo language		Haromaya
2	Magarsaa Baqqalaa		M		Oromo language		Haromaya
3	Firayad		M		Teacher		Haromaya
4		Girmaa		M		Haromaya
West Shawa, Ambo
1		Getachew Qajela		M		Ambo Town