June 8, 2001

MORE STUDENTS FLEE, URGENT HELP NEEDED

 More students have fled to Kenya as the EPRDF government continues with its search and arrest campaign all over the country. Students Sisay Berhanu,Samson Mesfin, Getu Tekle Haimanot,Tedros Abera and Abraham Girma (all from the Addis Abeba University) have arrived in Nairobi, Kenya. Reliable reports indicate also that some more students have been intercepted by the EPRDF police as they tried to cross into Kenya.

 The students who now find themselves forced to face a difficult life as exiles are confronted by immediate hardships ranging from daily food up to lodging and other necessities. SOCEPP has been appealing for help to be sent to them urgent but the response has not been as expected. Those who feel the plight of the students can send their assistance direct to them and can do so by contacting SOCEPP for details. It is obviously not the time to procrastinate or play politics while the students are suffering and, both inside and outside the country, in need of urgent help. SOCEPP thanks those who have positively responded to its appeals and given direct and prompt assistance to the students. Other should follow their example.

SOCEPP