June 19, 2001

 MORE STUDENTS, JOURNALISTS FLEE AND REPRESSION INTENSIFIES

Reports reaching SOCEPP affirm that more students have arrived in Kenya fleeing from the repression unleashed by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi all over the country. Among the latest students to arrive are Andualem Girma, Seyoum Tamenut, Tsehainesh Mamo, Chernet Abera, Rizik,Demetrios and Andinet.

Journalist Abera Wagi Weldemariam ,who was the editor of the Ma'ebel newspaper, has also fled to Nairobi. He had been jailed previously.

The UNHCR in Nairobi is being criticized for not taking due care of the cases of the students (the majority of whom are facing transfer to the arid and malaria infested Garrisa district where security for those opposed to the EPRDF is not assured). SOCEPP has, on the other hand, expressed its appreciation to the Ethiopian in North America who have sent monetary assistance to the needy students.

Repression inside the country, specially in the southern zone of Hadiya, is intensifying as the government (1) punishes those who had voted for the opposition and (2)the government tried to cow the people into submission. Numerous people have beaten brutally (one farmer from Budawa district, Desta Walebo, has gone insane as a result and is chained and still imprisoned), others killed, and many imprisoned. 19 teachers in Hosanna and 8 others in Kosoro district are the latest examples of teachers and others being arbitrarily detained. Soldiers have been moved in greater numbers to the whole area and arbitrary acts on their part are being registered daily as the government refuses to heed the cry for justice on the part of the people.

SOCEPP