August 27/2003

Reports from Djibouti affirm that Ethiopian refugees are being subjected to a brutal campaign of police repression disguised as rounding up of illegal immigrants. What is actully taking place is an illegal police action of brutality, robbery and rape-- all of which is directed against Ethiopian refugees. Sadly enough, the local UNHCR officials, often accused of being in league with the local authorities and the EPRDF in Ethiopia, have not mounted a vigorous protest action to come to the aid of the defenseless refugees.

More than 1500 Ethiopian refugees have been rouded up and many of them deported. Dissidents and political exiles face grave dangers for their lives when deported back to Ethiopia as previous such cases have amply demonstrated. The action by the government of Djibouti seems motivated by political calculations linked to the present cool relations between it and the EPRDF in Addis Abeba. The so called rounding up gives the chance to the local police to brutalize Ethiopian refugees, to vandalize trade establishments, to rob properties, to rape women and all this has also been witnessed before. The refugees have little or no protection and the present claim by the Djibouti regime that it is acting out of security concern (American troops are stationed in Djibouti now) is a scapegaot excuse for its violation of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

Ethiopian refugees in the region, from the Sudan to Yemen to Kenya and Djibouti, are facing grave dangers to their lives and welfare as govermments violate their rights for political motives. The government in Ethiopia is also behind most of the illegal acts perpetrated against refugees. In this resepct, the inactivity or ineffectiveness of the UNHCR must be highlighted and the call to the High Commissioner to redress the situation should be launched again.

Stop the repression against Ethiopian refugees in Djibouti!!

Call on th UNHCR to do its duty!!

SOCEPP