Ethiopia: Update to ETH36731.E of 19 April 2001 on the treatment of ethnic Amharas and of All-Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) members, leaders and activists

Since 19 April 2001, three reports relating to the treatment of ethnic Amharas were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate (Voice of the Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity 21 Apr. 2002; USCR 2002; Country Reports 2001, 4 Mar. 2002).

According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001:

Fighting between former drought victims from the Amhara region who had resettled in the East Wellega zone of the Oromia region and the Oromos in the Gida Kiremu district resulted in the death of one Oromo police officer and several Amharas. Although no statistics were available, press reports indicated that hundreds of deaths occurred as a result of ethnic strife during the year (ibid.).

In a similar report regarding land disputes between the Oromos and the Amharas, the U.S. Committee for Refugees claims that violent conflict between January and March 2001 resulted in 100 deaths and 10,000 displaced civilians who were "mostly" ethnic Amharas (2002).

In a separate incident relating to the Amharas, the opposition radio, Voice of the Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity, reported that Issa tribesmen from Djibouti, who had entered the area of Masaca in March 2002, attacked Afars and killed three ethnic Amharas (21 Apr. 2002). However, the report did not provide an explanation for the conflict (ibid.).

Regarding reports on the treatment of AAPO members, leaders and activists since 19 April 2001, a report was found relating to the disappearances or arrests of 31 AAPO members for alleged rioting and looting in Addis Ababa, in late April 2001 (Addis Tribune 4 May 2001). Two separate reports also refer to "an unknown number" of AAPO members held "incommunicado" (ANS 25 May 2001) and over 30 members of the AAPO being arbitrarily arrested by authorities following what was reportedly "a meeting to discuss human rights" that turned into violent riots during 17 and 18 April 2001 (AI 21 May 2001). Human Rights Watch (HRW) provides this report of the April events with regard to the AAPO:

Over four hundred AAPO members were arrested between April and June. According to the party, most of those taken into custody were candidates in local elections. The police claimed that the AAPO and EDP [Ethiopians' Democratic Party] members had "a clear role in the violence" and had been active in organizing "hooligans" to riot.

... Four prisoners were reported to have died, including AAPO member Gebrehana Wolde Medhin. Although the government claimed that he had died of tuberculosis, AAPO asserted that he had died as a result of severe beatings, noting that the family had never been informed that he was hospitalized and the body had not been returned to the family.

... Although the government released thirty-two of the AAPO detainees in July (two on bail), at least six remained in jail without charges as of early November 2001 (2002).

No additional information on the treatment of AAPO members, leaders and activists could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, additional information regarding the nomenclature of the AAPO may be of interest. According to the Indian Ocean Newsletter, the AAPO has changed its name to the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) in an effort to become more "interethnic" (6 Sept. 2002). However, former AAPO leaders are opposed to the change and want to preserve the AAPO in an effort to "defend the Amharas" (ibid.). The former leaders accuse the current leader Hailu Shawel of developing an "anti-Amhara attitude" and are considering court action to preserve the AAPO and its assets (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Addis Tribune. 4 May 2001. "AAPO Members Call for Extra-Ordinary City Council Meeting." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Africa News Service (ANS). 25 May 2001. "Ethiopians Hold Demonstration in Front of US Congress." (Global News Wire/NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 21 May 2001. "Ethiopia: Freedom of Expression and Association Under Attack." [Accessed 16 Sept. 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 16 Sept. 2002]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2002. Human Rights Watch World Report 2002: Ethiopia. [Accessed 16 Sept. 2002]

Indian Ocean Newsletter. 6 September 2002. "The Opposition Union for Never." (NEXIS)

United States Committee for Refugees (USCR). 2002. "Country Report: Ethiopia." [Accessed 16 Sept. 2002]

Voice of the Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity [in Amharic]. 21 April 2002. "Ethiopia: 'Fierce' Tribal Fighting Reportedly Claims 46 Lives in East." (Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Keesing's Record of World Events

NEXIS

Internet sites including:

Addis Tribune

Africa Confidential

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

BBC News Africa

East African Standard

Global IDP

Integrated Regional Information Network

Nazret.com

Prevent Genocide International

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

World News Connection (WNC)

Search engines including:

Google