May 9, 2001

PRISONERS TRANSFER FROM ADDIS ABEBA REPORTED

 The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has refused to reveal the whereabouts of the more than 160 members of the legal opposition organizations (AAPO, EDP, etc) jailed in connection with the student protests of last April.

Reports reaching from SOCEPP now reveal that the security forces have transferred from prisons in Addis Abeba to other places. No reason has been given for the transfer. While the number of prisoners thus affected is not precisely known,

SOCEPP has received the following names:

1. Br.General Kassa Welde Semayat--detained for more than ten years and now taken to Makalle,Tigrai.

2. Br. General Wassihun Negatu: detained 10 years, now taken to Makalle;

3. Br. General Araya Zerihun: same as above;

4. Colonel Alamrew Zemene :same as above;

5. Colonel Sereke :same as above;

6. Major getachew Gedamu:detained 10 years,transferred to Hararghe;

7. Ato Tadesse Taye: detained 10 years,taken now to Dessie,Wello;

8. Br.General Tilahun Demissie: detained 10 years, taken to Makalle.

It is to be noted that the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has several secret/ghost prisons in almost all major towns, runs concentration camp type prisons in Zwai,Shoa Robit and other places. Prison conditions are very inhumane, especially for political prisoners.

The government has refused to account for the very many disappeared and most of the prisons are off limits for international observers. In Zwai, for example, hundreds of people accused of being supporters of the OLF arelaguishing in terrible conditions while many (such as Shemsedin Mohamed,Ibrahim Mohamed,Anno Mitte,Huleka Nedi,Major Getahun from Dembi Dolo, Roaaf Mohamed, Merkeb Paba,Jibril Hassan,Mehamer Mume, Abdela Guracho,etc..) have died or been killed while in detention.

 SOCEPP continues to call on international prison observers and the Red Cross to visit the official and ghost prisons in Ethiopia.

SOCEPP