March 2, 2001

DJIBOUTI POLICE ON RAMPAGE AGAINST ETHIOPIANS

Under the cover of taking action against "illegal immigrants" from Ethiopia, the authorities in Djibouti have launched a virtual anti-Ethiopian campaign that SOCEPP has been denouncing over the past months. Three days ago, the police have re-launched the rounding up of Ethiopians in Djibouti town.

As reported earlier, the rounding up of Ethiopians in Djibouti is politically motivated and manifests an open ethnic bias. The campaign has been used by the police in Djibouti to rob and beat up Ethiopians, to rape women (the Djibouti police's notorious practice of raping Afar women in Djibouti has already been denounced by FRUD and other organizations) and to take illegal action against persons fingered by the EPRDF government as dangerous. Political refugees have been the targets of the so- called actions against illegal immigrants. Furthermore, dozens of Ethiopians languish in the infamous Gabode prison falsely accused of crimes while the real reason for their incarceration is political.

SOCEPP calls on the government of Djibouti to stop the illegal action against Ethiopians living in Djibouti and to halt the robbery and rape that is being committed by its police.

SOCEPP calls on the local UNHCR to break its Sphinx-like silence (if not to halt its alleged complicity) and to protect the Ethiopian refugees in Djibouti.

Write or fax your protest letters to:

1. H.E. Omar Gelleh, President of Djibouti B.P. 6 Djibouti. (fax no. 253-355049)

2. the UNHCR in Djibouti:djbdj@unhcr.ch

3. the High Commissioner of the UNHCR at: webmaster@unhcr.ch

SOCEPP