February 17, 2004

Following the still unexplained "disappearance" of the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Nairobi (Kenya), the administrator of the St. Medhane Alem Church in Khartoum has disappeared. Aba Melake Tsehaye Gebre Medhin has disappeared since January 14/2004 and there is up to now no report on his whereabouts.

Aba Mlekae's disappearance has alarmed the Ethiopian community in Khartoum because the priest had been at loggerheads with those church cadres/officials who had been appointed by the EPRDF in power in Addis Abeba. One such cadre mentioned for his anti Aba Melake stance is Miuuz Habte Sellasie. Aba Melake came into conflict with the EPRDF policies and the government appointees because he was attempting to end the divisive ethnic policies practiced by the government officials as regards the church. Five years ago, most of the believers had left the church decrying the ongoing ethnic discrimination practiced by the Tigrean church officials loyal to the EPRDF. Aba Melake was trying to bring back these believers into the church.

Two days before Aba Melake mysteriously disappeared there was a midnight attempt to break into the compound of the church.

In connection with the disappearance of Aba Melake, other officials of the church such as Mergieta Yohannes Melaku, Merigeta Tilhaun Ayana

Merigeta Fisha Zemene and deacon Gebre Kidan Asfaw had tried to explain the possible motives behind the action that "disappeared" Aba

Melake and their grievances against the EPRDF policies and the actions of its appointees within the church. They were expelled from the church, their tenure terminated and they were also picked up by the police on February 15 and interrogated. Close relations between the EPRDF and the Sudanese government has enabled the EPRDF to deploy its security squads inside the Sudan and many suspect that Aba Melake may very well be one of their latest victim. Sudan has also secretly and officially deported back to Ethiopia political exiles or any refugee sought by the EPRDF. One of these, Azanaw Demile of the EPRP, has disappeared under custody in Ethiopia since 1991.

Please write to the president of the Sudan (H.E. General Omar Beshir, President, People's Palace, P.O.Box 281,Khartoum, Sudan—fax 249 11 787676/783223) requesting his government's prompt move to end or explain the disappearance of Aba Melake.

SOCEPP