June 10, 2005

DENOUNCE THE CONTINUING REPRESSION IN ETHIOPIA

Police have gone from house to house in Addis Abeba to arrest dozens of members and supporters of the opposition organizations. Several opposition leaders have been out under house arrest or impeded from traveling abroad. The repression is in full swing.

Reliable reports have now affirmed that number of dead in last Wednesday's demonstration has gone up to 80. Reports of casualties are coming in from the rural towns too. The regime is using its special force called Agazi, an ethnic Tigrean force loyal to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, and the Federal police that has been put under the PM's command. The regime has also revoked the licenses of the local reporters of the Voice of America and of the Deutschewelle/German Radio/ in an effort to restrict the people's chance of getting news reports on what is happening in the country. Meanwhile, the media controlled by the regime continues to fan hatred and negative propaganda against the opposition. Worse still, the agents of the regime have been observed distributing tracts/leaflets calling on the people to hunt down and kill every Tigrean in an effort to pit the Tigreans against the other Ethiopians. This dangerous and underhanded act by the regime in place could lead to much bloodshed and ought to be denounced in no uncertain terms.

SOCEPP has come to learn that the regime has plans to stiffen the repression and to take repressive actions against the leaders of the opposition. Addis Abeba continues to be a dead city under a non- declared military/martial law. More repression is expected as the people face the regime and demand their rights. It is time to vigorously condemn the Meles regime that is committing massacres and violating the rights of the people. Time to end the double standard from which it, as an ally of Britain and the USA, has been benefiting.

SOCEPP