Document - Ethiopia: Further information on Fear for safety and health concern and new concern: death in custody.\n\n

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 25/018/2001

26 July 2001

Further information on UA 99/01 (AFR 25/006/2001, 18 April 2001) and follow-ups (AFR 25/007/2001, 20 April 2001; AFR 25/008/2001, 27 April 2001; AFR 25/010/2001, 10 May 2001; AFR 25/015/2001, 14 June 2001;AFR 25/016/2001, 27 June 2001) - Fear for safety and health concern and new concern: death in custody

ETHIOPIA Lidetu Ayalew, (m), EDP Secretary General

Tadiwos Tantu, (m), EDP Central Committee member

Daniel Demissie, (m), EDP member
Sebsibie Yimer, (m), EDP member

Students of Addis Ababa University

Civilian demonstrators in Addis Ababa, including students from secondary schools

New names: Seyefu Eurga, (m), EDP member
Dagnachew Meshesh, (m), EDP member
Begegu Germu, (m), EDP member
Daniel Admasu, (m), EDP member
Adamu Tessema, (m), EDP supporter
Shiferaw Bedane, (m), EDP supporter
Yirgalem Drida, (m), EDP supporter

Muche Berihun, (m), AAPO member

Michael Berhanu, (m), AAPO member

Alemayehu Mesele, (m), AAPO member
Mamushet Getachew, (m), AAPO member
Tedla Zegeye, (m), AAPO member
Girumsew Terefe, (m), AAPO member

Died in custody: Gebrehana Wolde Medhin, (m), AAPO member

Four members of the opposition Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), arrested on 24 June have been released on bail of 5,000 birr (US$652.00) each. Lidetu Ayalew was released on 13 July. The court ordered the release on bail of Tadiwos Tantu, Daniel Demissie and Sebsibie Yimer on 13 July but they had to remain in detention because they could not raise bail until 23 July. None of them have been charged. Over ninety other EDP members have been released without charge over the past few weeks. However, four members and three supporters are still detained without charge. They are Seyefu Eurga, Dagnachew Meshesh,Begegu Germu, Daniel Admasu, Adamu Tessema, Shiferaw Bedane and Yirgalem Drida.

A number of members of the All Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) detained without charge have also been released over the past few weeks. Six of them however are still detained without charge. They are Muche Berihun, Michael Berhanu,Alemayehu Mesele,Mamushet Getachew,Tedla Zegeye and Girumsew Terefe. According to police reports another AAPO member detained, Gebrehana Wolde Medhin died in custody in July. The official reason given by the police for his death was tuberculosis, however, AAPO reportedly claim that he died following torture. A number of students and other demonstrators are allegedly also still detained without charge.

All had initially been detained in April 2001, after violent clashes between police and demonstrators on 17 and 18 April in Addis Ababa, leaving at least 31 dead and many more injured. Some were later released and subsequently rearrested (see original UA and previous updates). Those in detention are being held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and Amnesty International remains concerned for their well-being.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible in English or in your own language:
- welcoming the releases of some EDP and AAPO members and urging the authorities to either charge those EDP and AAPO members and supporters still detained with a recognizable criminal offence, or release them;
- urging the authorities to carry out a thorough, independent, impartial and public investigation into the death in custody of Gebrehana Wolde Medhin;
- expressing serious concern that reportedly scores of students are still detained incommunicado, and urging the authorities to reveal where they are being held, and why;
- calling on the authorities to allow all those still in custody immediate access to lawyers of their own choice, their families, and adequate medical care.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency
Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
PO Box 1031, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 1 552020
Salutation: Your Excellency

Commissioner of Police
Office of the Commissioner of Police
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 21321, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 1 550278
Salutation: Dear Sir

Mr Werede-Wold Wolde
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 1 550278
Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

General Manager, Public Security
Office of the Prime Minister
PO Box 1031, Addis
Fax: + 251 1 552020
Salutation: Dear Sir

Ms Genet Zewdie
Minister of Education
Ministry of Education
PO Box 1367, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: moe@telecom.net.et
Salutation: Dear Minister

and to diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 6 September 2001.

Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom