April 30/2001

 GOVERNMENT MUST ACCOUNT FOR THE MURDER OF AMARAS IN WELLEGA

More than 12,000 Ethiopians (deemed Amaras) were forced to flee from Eastern Wellega and scores murdered brutally in an ethnic carnage which has been attributed to be the responsibility of the EPRDF government. This same government has to account up to now as to who (aside from its general ethnic policy) is directly responsible for the brutal action.

 Melkamu Woubalem throat was slit and his tongue cut out. Asregdew Woubu was shot dead and then his corpse was speared in several places. Aba Belay Wale, an old man, was shot dead and his penis cut off. Gebeyaw Muluneh, Fettene Gebre,Ayal Adugna,Gashaw Ewnete,Gashaye Getu.Yibelte Mengistu,Yibelte Dires,Azeze Yibelte,Yigzaw Tamrat,Ashagre Gebeyehu, Melkamu Ashagre,Teshome Chekol,Demissie Yimer, Worku Gebeyehu, Asregdew Woubu, Tesfaye Alemayehu, Sete Workiye, Melkamu Woubalem, Woubu Monmuane,Mihret Iwnetu, Birara Tadesse, Destaw Abtew, Yitayew Mesfin, Kegne Gizaw and many others have been brutally murdered. Numerous houses have been torched and properties looted.

The government in place must account for the actions of its police and armed militia and for the consequences of its ethnic politics that has designated Amaras and others as enemies.

SOCEPP vigorously condemns the brutal action taken against Amaras in Eastern Wellega and demands that the EPRDF government accounts fully for the carnage.

SOCEPP