MARCH 15/2004

The arbitrary and discriminatory expulsion of students from the Addis Abeba University (the expelled are all Oromos) has sparked off more student protests all over the country. The government has intensified the repression and detained hundreds of students. Twenty six students in Jimma alone are to be tried.

The repression is directed against students in Addis Abeba, Debre Zeit (Bishoftu), Nazreth (Adama), Jimma, Ambo etc who protested against the arbitrary expulsion of students from the Addis Abeba University. The student unrest was initially provoked by the transfer of the capital of Oromia region from Addis Abeba to Nazreth, a measure that many, including the students, have opposed. The right to demonstrate peacefully is supposed to be recognized but over the years the EPRDF has repressed violently student and other demonstrations. More than 70 students were killed in Addis Abeba a few years back.

It is no secret that Ethiopia is governed by a ruling group that officially proclaimed ethnic politics as its guideline and as a consequence the Oromos are discriminated against and often repressed. The violence against the students is part of this discriminatory policy.

The ruling EPRDF should stop its repressive action against students and also end its ethnic politics which is wreaking havoc all over Ethiopia.

SOCEPP