April 29/2006

Fourth year university student Gadissa Hiirpassa has beaten to death by Kaliti prison warden and ruling Tigrean front member, Abraham. The student was beaten to death in the notorious kailiti prison where many political prisoners are being held.

The regime led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is holding more than 50,000 political prisoners in fetid prisons, "ghost" or secret prisons, in concentration camps like that of Dedesa,Zwai, Shoa Robit, etc… Conditions of detentions are harsh with dozens packed in narrow cells, little or no health care, malnutrition and mistreatment. Wardens and prison guards, in many cases originating from the ruling front's ethnic group, have been given free mandate to beat and torture prisoners. Sanitary conditions are deplorable and compounded by prison guards who use the same blood to dry-shave detainees thereby aggravating the risk of spreading AIDS. Most of the prisons and labor camps are beyond inspection by any local or international human rights bodies or observers. While prominent prisoners have had visits at Kaliti those held in the remote areas and in the hell holes in Tigrai have never been visited by any relative or human rights body. In these places, many have been tortured and beaten to death like student Gadissa at Kaliti prison.