Ethiopia lessons in repression: violations of academic problems, HRW
Ethiopia lessons in repression: violations of academic problems, HRW
Ethiopia lessons in repression: violations of academic problems, HRW
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Mussa Hufeen. He was released on 3,000 birr (U.S.$350) bail on January 26. He fled the country the follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
week after be<strong>in</strong>g warned <strong>of</strong> plans to rearrest him. 130<br />
Disturbances result<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>in</strong>flamed passions <strong>in</strong> response to the use <strong>of</strong> the word “galla” have been<br />
reported on campuses elsewhere <strong>in</strong> <strong>Ethiopia</strong> as well. Oromo students became angry when a student used the word<br />
“galla” at Mekele University <strong>in</strong> June 2002, but the situation was diffused when the adm<strong>in</strong>istration gave the<br />
student a stern warn<strong>in</strong>g. 131 In 2001, a student at Wanduganet Forestry College attacked an <strong>in</strong>structor who had<br />
called him “galla.” Three or four students were arrested for attack<strong>in</strong>g the teacher but were not charged. Oromo<br />
students appealed to state authorities and the m<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> education; Oromo students across the country, and the<br />
president <strong>of</strong> Dobu University (to which the forestry college is subord<strong>in</strong>ate) reportedly came to address the<br />
students’ concerns. 132 “All that over the mere quotation <strong>of</strong> a word,” said a pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> social sciences. “Some <strong>of</strong><br />
us prefer to avoid teach<strong>in</strong>g about that. It is hard to teach about anyth<strong>in</strong>g constructive!” 133<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> those <strong>in</strong>terviewed for this report said they were not surprised that the government believes that<br />
Oromo students might be act<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> support <strong>of</strong> the OLF, particularly <strong>in</strong> the wake <strong>of</strong> renewed OLF military activity<br />
<strong>in</strong> June 2002. 134 In the words <strong>of</strong> a European diplomat, “It is perfectly logical that the OLF is look<strong>in</strong>g for support<br />
among students. . . . But any Oromo critical <strong>of</strong> the government is labeled OLF, and then branded a terrorist or a<br />
security deta<strong>in</strong>ee. So he will get [a] closed-door court or no court at all.” 135<br />
The students say they are will<strong>in</strong>g to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to fight for their rights. One student who was arrested after<br />
the high school student protests lamented, “Look at the seventeen students arrested <strong>in</strong> [my home town]. Is it<br />
because they were question<strong>in</strong>g education policy or that produc<strong>in</strong>g productive Oromos would take us backward? I<br />
fear no educated Oromo will be able to lead Oromia. We are ready to be jailed, even killed rather than accept<br />
this. It is immoral.” 136<br />
Pattern <strong>of</strong> Excessive Force <strong>in</strong> Response to Political Protests<br />
Demonstrations on high school and university campuses mentioned above are just some <strong>of</strong> the civilian<br />
protests state and federal police have put down with lethal force and excessive brutality <strong>in</strong> recent years. Taken<br />
together, they reveal an alarm<strong>in</strong>g pattern <strong>of</strong> police brutality aga<strong>in</strong>st citizens express<strong>in</strong>g their political views. A<br />
retired police <strong>of</strong>ficer who served under the Emperor and the Derg, two regimes known for their brutality,<br />
expressed outrage at recent events. “It wasn’t like this when I was a police <strong>of</strong>ficer,” he said. “For example, there<br />
were massive student demonstrations some thirty-five years ago when students wanted the government to give<br />
land to the tillers <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> the feudalists. I was [part <strong>of</strong>] an emergency force then. We had tear gas, not<br />
bullets.” 137<br />
The follow<strong>in</strong>g observation made by EHRCO <strong>in</strong> January 2001 is even more relevant today:<br />
At different times <strong>in</strong> the past, misunderstand<strong>in</strong>gs between students and <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong> educational<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutions have been common. As <strong>of</strong> recent years, it has become customary for <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>of</strong><br />
educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions and government to try to resolve these misunderstand<strong>in</strong>gs by forc<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
terroriz<strong>in</strong>g the students. The use <strong>of</strong> force has repeatedly failed to lead to a peaceful settlement <strong>of</strong><br />
130 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview, Nairobi, July 12, 2002.<br />
131 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview with a Mekele pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Addis Ababa, July 18, 2002.<br />
132 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview, Addis Ababa, July 19, 2002.<br />
133 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview, Addis Ababa, July 23, 2002.<br />
134 See Nita Bhalla, “Fight<strong>in</strong>g on Ethio-Sudan Border,” BBC News, June 29, 2002.<br />
135 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview, Addis Ababa, July 25, 2002.<br />
136 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview, Addis Ababa, July 20, 2002.<br />
137 Human Rights Watch <strong>in</strong>terview, Addis Ababa, July 15, 2002. As noted above, student leader Tilahun Gizew was<br />
reportedly killed by police <strong>in</strong> 1969.<br />
Human Rights Watch<br />
27<br />
January 2003, Vol. 15,No. 2 (A)