October 8, 1999
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TIGRAI?
Reports reaching SOCEPP indicate wide spread violations of human rights aretaking place in Tigrai region. "Home base" of the dominant force of theEPRDF, that is to say the Tigrean People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Tigraihas been virtually sealed off for human rights investigators. No humanrights agency has been allowed to visit the prison and secret underground jails.
The reports indicate that the EPRDF government has continued to forcefullyround up youngsters for the army and the militia. In cases, where theyoungsters have fled away from Tigrai, their parents have been arrested andsent to prison. This violation has been reported from many areas of Tigrai.
At the same time, SOCEPP has also learnt that wounded soldiers and militia mebers continue to be denied adequate medical care and many, like those inthe valleys of Adi Dairo, have died. There is an alleged discrimination based on ethnic origin. Furthermore, parents who continue to demand information on the fate of their soldier or militia sons and daughters have been denied any information or explanation.
SOCEPP demands the immediate cessation of the pressganging going on in Tigrai and calls on the EPRDF government to release the elder men and women who are imprisoned because their offspring's have fled. The EPRDF government mustAlso inform the worried parents of soldiers if their children are alive or dead.They have the right to know.
SOCEPP
