Human Rights Abuses Committed Against Upper Executive Members and Members of All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP)

Ref. No. 001

Date July 7/2015 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN 

Addis Ababa 

Human Rights Abuses Committed Against Upper Executive Members and Members of All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) should be stopped! 

The General Assembly of AEUP, which is held in Addis Ababa, Head Office Starting from November 7- 9, 2014 elected the president, upper council committee member according to the party constitution, 483 AEUP members were present and participated freely by giving their votes at the same time, two of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) representatives were also present to watch the election Process. The election process was recorded by Addis TV, EBC and others. No comments were forwarded by NEBE representatives against the election procedures. After compiling the final Report of the General Assembly it was sent to NEBE. But NEBE refused to take the report. Instead of receiving and approving the General Assembly report NEBE tried to put pressure on new elected AEUP leaders of the legally established opposition political party. Moreover, NEBE ordered through the media AEUP to call the General Assembly within four days. Thanks to highly devoted AEUP members, the General Assembly successfully was conducted January 11, 2015 for the second time. In this connection, AEUP carried out the Assembly for the sake of be resolved peacefully and legally the tension between the two parties. As usual, during the Assembly period AEUP requested Representatives to be sent where the General Assembly is going on. Deliberately they did not appear to observe the Assembly. On January 29, 2015 Prof. Merga Bekana – Chairperson of NEBE announced that AEUP elected leaders are no more leaders of AEUP. The NEBE Chairperson automatically elected by his own wish Ato Abebaw Mehari President of AEUP. The real leaders of AEUP were forced to go out from the office by the collaborator of NEBE officials and the Federal Police Forces. 

Our imprisonment under rather challenging conditions we believe has not been in vain. We believe we have ignited a flame in the soul of the Ethiopian people which can never be extinguished what we have rekindled in the yearning for democracy, justice and human rights, of all men/women, but for so long denied to the Ethiopian people.

The flame we have rekindled has to be nurtured. We at the same AEUP will never flinch for a moment from doggedly pursuing the commitment we made to our people. In these efforts we will need the continued support of our International friends like you. We hold no grudges against our jailors or anybody else for that matter. Our only wish as always have been, together with our compatriots at the EPRDF, to devote our energy and rededicate ourselves to the cause of democracy, respects human rights and peace in our country beyond. Our journey may be long and our task hard. But paraphrasing Martin Luther King.

We are confident that the long arc of history will eventually bend towards justice in our country. However, conditions are not improving after election, but rather than worsening day after day. Consequently, the country is now in precarious conditions. So, AEUP requests Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) to follow up and try to investigate such as illegal detention, beating, torture and harassment committed against leaders and members of the AEUP and citizens are without guarantee of peace and, therefore, are forced to live in an intimidating and threatening atmosphere. It is thus, not difficult to estimate the seriousness of human rights, for the prevalence of Democracy and rule of Law. Lastly, AEUP demand EPRDF to release party members from Prison and to warrant an Institutional protection. We hope this information is helpful and would be happy to supply further detail when required. 

Ethiopia will prevail! Respectfully, LEGESE W/HANA AEUP, V/PUBLIC RELATION CC. The Embassy of the United States Of America, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The European Union, Delegation in Ethiopia,Addis Ababa International Committee of Red Cross, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Addis Ababa 

List of Leaders and Members who were beaten, detained and tortured:

1 Mamushet Amare (A.A) He was elected by the General Assembly, President of AEUP. While he was going to Addis Ababa University to take examination he was arrested and detained by the security forces with plainclothes May 15, 2015, Bole Sub- city near AMCHE illegally. They took his mobile phone, Laptop, passport, note book and documents without registering. The Security men completed its investigation on suspects by requesting Bole Sub- city Federal First Instance Court. Bole Sub-city Federal First Instance Court 2nd Criminal Bench released him freely. The security personnel refused to release and were taken to Addis Ababa Federal Police Commission, near Central Criminal Investigation. By changing the date, new charge prepared and took him to Arada 5th Criminal bench of the Federal First Instance Court. The Court looked into the case and found the defendant is not guilty and released him on bail. The Federal Commissioner of A.A Police refused to release and now the innocent Ethiopian is at A.A prison Administration, Qilinto branch. 

2 Zmene Mihiret (North Gonder, Maksegnet) Vice President and coordinator of the Northern Region. He was beaten by the security men in front of his family (wife and six years child). He was arrested and detained on January 18, 2015 at Qilinto branch. He was badly mistreated. 

3 Abraham Getu (A.A) He was elected AEUP Political Affairs Head. He was arrested 5th police station, Lideta Sub-city June 12, 2015 while on his way back to residence at 8:30 P.M in the evening. He was investigated by the police. The Security illegally Searched house and the place work, found nothing took his Bank Book and other documents. The Federal First Instance Court Lideta Sub-city warned the security forces to make the charge clear. The prosecutor without pending the charge he was taken to Addis Ababa Federal Police Commission, Arada Sub-city. He has been seriously mistreated while in A.A. Police Commission and had undergone suffering on head, legs, and elbows as a result mistreatment. He was unable to walk properly. For the third time appeared in Arada First Instance Court, but the judge commented that the charge is groundless and will take his open decision.decision. Unexpectedly the prosecutor appeared without defendant and cancelled the charge and automatically he was given to Central Criminal Investigation. For Police requested time for more investigation. Accordingly the court ordered that the detainees appear in court on July 17, 2015. His family has been banned from meeting and speaking to him but as only been allowed to bring food. In CCI he was severely beaten and forced to alone in the dark room. His families have been banned from meeting and speaking to him for the second time. He was detained more than three weeks without appearing in court. 

4 Eyasu Hussen Alamata He was elected AEUP Social Affairs Head. Detained November 2014 at Alamata branch.

5 Belay Dagnew, Molla Melese, Tigabu Mulat (Alamata) They are all members of AEUP. Belay and Molla are detained at Qilinto branch and Tigabu where about is unknown. 

6 Zemene Gete (A.A) Youths Social Affairs Head and detained April 2015. Now he is at Qilinto branch.

7 Tilahun Admasse, Sileshi Tigabe, Getnet Derso, Tilahun Abebe, Meles Setegn (North Gonder) All are members of AEUP. Meles Setegn detained at Kality branch, Getnet Derso at Qilinto and the rest are detained where about is unknown. 

8 Asrat Eshete (North Shoa) He was a member of AEUP. He was detained at Qilinto branch. 

9 Tesfaye Tariku, Lt. Getachew Mekonnen (Gojam) They are Zonal leaders. Detained at Qilinto on September 2014. 

10 Engineer Meles Sete (Gojam) He is a member of AEUP .Detained at Kality May 2013. 

11 Anagaw Tegene, Abay Zewdu, Engadaw wanew, Belayneh Sisay, Alebachew Mamo, Tagebe Alehegn, Yohannes Gedebu, Azmeraw Kefale, Tesfaye Asmare, Chillot Gobeze (Gojam) All are members of AEUP. Their families members reported that there were about are unknown.

12 Mesele Mengesha (A.A) Youths Agitation Committee Head. Detained January 2015, Qilinto branch. 

13 Moges Assefa (Dessie) AEUP member, detained June 2015. 

14 Zerihun Bere, Awake Mognhode, Amare Mesifin, Atersaw Aschalew, Agebaw Setegn, Workye Mesgana, Behongne Alene, Taferre Fantahun, Ferejie Mulu Detained at Qilinto branch.

15 Ashenafi Akalu, Dehnahun Meaza, Mindaye Tilahun, Anmut Yenewas (Gonder) Detained at Qilinto branch 

16 Belachew Aweke AWi Zone Detained at Bahir Dar branch.

17 Abebaw Ayalew (Gojjam) Detained at Bahir Dar branch, Birhanu Kasahun (Gojjam) unknown Tewodros Ayalew (Wollo) Zeway Endalk Melese (Wollo) Zeway Mandefro Akalnaw (Lalibela) Zeway Belachew Awoke (Gojjam) unknown Bechel Kere (Bahir) Dar Unknown