Testimony by Yared Hailemariam Human Rights Defender (Ethiopia) to

Testimony by

Yared Hailemariam Human Rights Defender

(Ethiopia)to

Members of the Members of the Committees on Development, Committees on Development,

on Foreign Affairs and on Foreign Affairs and the Sub-Committee on Human the Sub-Committee on Human

Rights of the European Rights of the European ParliamentParliament

May 15, 2006May 15, 2006

May 15, 2006. Testimony by Yared Hailemariam to The Members Of The Committees of The European Parliament.

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The June 2005 MassacreThe June 2005 Massacre There is the list of 62 killed There is the list of 62 killed

innocent civilians;innocent civilians;- - Government reported that 26 were Government reported that 26 were

killed killed - - EHRCO reported that 42 were killed;EHRCO reported that 42 were killed;- - International HRO (AI) reported that International HRO (AI) reported that

36 36 were killed were killed More than 100 were wounded;More than 100 were wounded; At least 5,000 were detained for a At least 5,000 were detained for a

week without a court warrant and week without a court warrant and remain in detention without a day in remain in detention without a day in court;court;

Hundreds were abducted and for Hundreds were abducted and for some their whereabouts are still not some their whereabouts are still not known;known;

Hundreds were beaten and tortured.Hundreds were beaten and tortured.


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The November 2005 MassacreThe November 2005 Massacre There is the list of 70 killed innocent There is the list of 70 killed innocent

civilians;civilians;- Government reported that 35 were - Government reported that 35 were killed; killed; - EHRCO reported that 34 were killed;- EHRCO reported that 34 were killed;- International HRO (AI) reported that - International HRO (AI) reported that 42 42 were killed. were killed.

At least 200 were shot and wounded; At least 200 were shot and wounded; At least 10,000 were detained for a At least 10,000 were detained for a

month without a court warrant and month without a court warrant and released without a day in court;released without a day in court;

Thousands are still in various Thousands are still in various dentention camps like Shewarobit, dentention camps like Shewarobit, Ziway, Tateq, Sendafa, Kality, Dedesa Ziway, Tateq, Sendafa, Kality, Dedesa and other places;and other places;

Tens of thousands were abducted and Tens of thousands were abducted and for some of them their whereabouts for some of them their whereabouts are still not known;are still not known;

Hundreds were beaten and tortured.Hundreds were beaten and tortured.


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Mass Killing of Prisoners Mass Killing of Prisoners on November 2005on November 2005

There is the list of 60 killed There is the list of 60 killed prisoners at Kaliti Prison on prisoners at Kaliti Prison on November 2November 2ndnd 2005. These 2005. These prisoners were shot dead prisoners were shot dead by police force. by police force.

Government has reported Government has reported that seven (7) prisoners that seven (7) prisoners were killed while they were were killed while they were trying to escape. trying to escape.


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Pictures of those Pictures of those murdered in November murdered in November

20052005 They show the truth about power They show the truth about power

better than words can explain;better than words can explain; They show that the killers used They show that the killers used

heavy weapons and snipers;heavy weapons and snipers; They show that the killers were They show that the killers were

targeting the head and chests of the targeting the head and chests of the victims;victims;

They show that the killings were They show that the killings were intentional;intentional;

They show the degree of cruelty of They show the degree of cruelty of these acts of murder;these acts of murder;

They show the tyrannical rule They show the tyrannical rule currently exercised in Ethiopia.currently exercised in Ethiopia.

Therefore I have selected a number of Therefore I have selected a number of photos to demonstrate and show you photos to demonstrate and show you the pain and suffering of those the pain and suffering of those murdered by the Ethiopian murdered by the Ethiopian government’s military and police government’s military and police officers.officers.


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Killed in November 2005 in Addis Ababa.


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RemarksRemarks These pictures are not just numbers and These pictures are not just numbers and

images. That were fellow human beings, with images. That were fellow human beings, with dreams, loved ones and life plans. dreams, loved ones and life plans.

All these photographs were taken by the All these photographs were taken by the Federal and Addis Ababa Police Commissions’ Federal and Addis Ababa Police Commissions’ Evidence Collection and Documentation Evidence Collection and Documentation Department.Department.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank I would like to use this opportunity to thank those government officials who made a great those government officials who made a great contribution to this testimony and who contribution to this testimony and who proved dedication and deep concern for the proved dedication and deep concern for the protection of human rights by providing protection of human rights by providing these confidential documents which were these confidential documents which were hidden by the Ethiopian security force. I hidden by the Ethiopian security force. I would also like to commend these officers for would also like to commend these officers for their readiness to be physical witnesses on their readiness to be physical witnesses on the killings including the mass killing of the killings including the mass killing of prisoners at Kaliti Prison. prisoners at Kaliti Prison.

These government officers are also willing to These government officers are also willing to testify that the Ethiopian government had testify that the Ethiopian government had hidden some of the bodies of those who were hidden some of the bodies of those who were killed at its two hospitals in Addis Ababa killed at its two hospitals in Addis Ababa (Police Hospital and Torr Hailoch Hospital), (Police Hospital and Torr Hailoch Hospital), and finally buried most of the deceased and finally buried most of the deceased together in the same place without the together in the same place without the knowledge of their families or relatives.knowledge of their families or relatives.


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RecommendationsRecommendations To condemn the continued detention of political prisoners To condemn the continued detention of political prisoners

including leaders of the opposition party Coalition for including leaders of the opposition party Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists and human rights Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists and human rights activists and demand for their the immediate and activists and demand for their the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in the unconditional release of all political prisoners in the country.country.

To take all necessary measures including banning of all To take all necessary measures including banning of all your direct budget funds except humanitarian aid as the your direct budget funds except humanitarian aid as the United Kingdom has done before to ensure that the United Kingdom has done before to ensure that the Ethiopian government stops all acts of violence.Ethiopian government stops all acts of violence.

To establish an impartial and independent international To establish an impartial and independent international enquiry that investigates the killings of 190 civilians and enquiry that investigates the killings of 190 civilians and 7 police officers in the June and November 2005 7 police officers in the June and November 2005 incidents. incidents.

I owe this testimony to God, my county and people and I I owe this testimony to God, my county and people and I will tell the stories of those killed and other victims to the will tell the stories of those killed and other victims to the world until justice is done. I thrust you will help us with world until justice is done. I thrust you will help us with that. that.

Thank you very much again.Thank you very much again.

I call upon the European Parliament and members I call upon the European Parliament and members states of the European Union; states of the European Union;

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Testimony by Yared Hailemariam Human Rights Defender (Ethiopia) to

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