December 10/2008

WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The human rights situation in most of Africa and other parts of the world is deplorable despite the declared adherence by most countries to respect the articles in the Universal Declaration of human rights (1948). In Ethiopia, where a dictatorial regime cynically claims adherence to world human rights declarations and law the human rights situation is worse than deplorable.

 The world we live in  being a play ground for double standards and cruel real politic those who shout aloud against human rights violations in some countries (Zimbabwe for example) are the same ones aiding and abetting the human rights violators in Ethiopia. The regime of Meles Zenawi, on of the recipients of the biggest western aid to Africa, holds more than 35,000 political prisoners in dungeons and labor camps like Dedesa and Zwai, has muzzled the independent press, disappeared dozens, decreed a draconian press law, drafted a repressive law to hinder the activities of autonomous NGOs, dissolved autonomous civic bodies, committed massacres from Gambella to the Ogaden, killed hundreds of peaceful protesters, rigged the lat general election and imposed its rule by the force of arms and repression. By all standards and especially in relation to the Universal Declaration, the regime in Addis Ababa is one oft he worst human rights violators in Africa and the world.

SOCEPP does not accept double standards and strongly opposes those who consider that Ethiopia and Africa as a whole should be treated under a different human rights scale or consideration. The respect of human rights must be universal just as the rights but 60 years after the Declaration this truth is not yet obvious or accepted by all and this is why, political considerations aside, tyrants wiggle their way out of ostracism and condemnation. SOCEPP strongly condemns the repressive regime of Meles Zenawi and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners.

SOCEPP