Independent human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty international, and the Anti-Torture
Committee of the United Nations have several times reported of
systematic persecution as well as use of violence and torture against
Ethiopian journalists, opposition political leaders and members as well
as anyone who are critical of the tyrannical regime. Amnesty
International, for instance, says in its press release issued on 28
August 2012 that it regularly received several information about the use
of torture in pre-trial and arbitrary detention.
However, despite
the fact that there are so many reports about the use of torture in
pre-trial and arbitrary detention in Ethiopia, none of them give clear
and detail information on the subject matter. So that the issue has
remained to be doughfull, for many people living abroad. Now, thanks to
WikiLeaks, a marvellous report that is said to be extraordinary has been
released. “INSIDE ETHIOPIA’S JAILS”, the report of Mr.
Donald Yamamoto,
the late ambassador of USA in Ethiopia, clearly shows what the
atrocious crime the tyrannical regime in Ethiopia commit against
journalists and political prisoners in its dark prisons and detention
centers. The report, which referenced different in-depth interviews with
victims, gives most explosive information on the subject matter.
Mr. Donald Yamamoto wrote
“INSIDE ETHIOPIA’S JAILS”
to the Washingtone government, while he was in charge of US mission in
Ethiopia. The report was intended to make the Washingtone aware of what
is happening in Ethiopia, and in turn to take an approperate measure
against the regime.
“INSIDE ETHIOPIA’S JAILS”
According
to the report, political and other prisoners in Ethiopia are subjected
to dis-speakable torture in detention centers in attempts by police and
security officials to elicit confessions before cases go to trial.
According to the report, the torture includes being blindfolded and hung
by the wrists for several hours, bound by chains and beaten, held in
solitary confinement for several days to weeks or months, subjected to
mental torture such as harassment and humiliation, forced to stand for
over 16 hours, and having heavy objects hung from one’s genitalia.
The
report also indicates that prohibiting detains from food, to taking
shower, and to change clothes are also another form of torture.
Regarding this the report says: “two political prisoners who were
arrested for “inciting violence” following the 2005 elections told him
that they had been given just one meal every two days, and had been
prohibited to take shower as well as change clothes.” The report further
indicates that prisoners are also subjected to mental torture.
The
report, which says such kinds of tortures are most common practice at
the dark prisons and detention centers, says that the government detains
prisoners for many years without any charge and trial. It further
indicates that prisoners are also held in such prisons despite having
been officially released by the courts.
According to the report,
some prisoners die having failed to resist the endless tortures while
others left the prisons with permanent physical injuries related to
their ears, heads, hands, legs, and genitals. In this regard, the report
says: “sources told the Embassy that three prisoners with whom they
were detained (
Tsegaye Ayele Yigzaw, Gedlu Ayele Hulu-Ante, and Argata Gobena Maru) died in jail as a result of the beatings and absence of medical treatment, and one pregnant woman (
Webit Lengamo) miscarried after being severely beaten.”
According
to the report, one opposition official told the Embassy that he had
spent one month and 18 days in a detention center named “Ma-ekelawi” in a
small, dark, 4×4 meter room with 12 other prisoners. He told to the
Embassy that medical treatment had not been available, and prisoners had
not been allowed any visitors. He also told to the Embassy that the
younger prisoners had been beaten most severely, and then denied medical
treatment.
According to the report, the opposition official
mentioned here above reported to the Embassy that some prisoners had
told him that they had been detained for several years without being
charged and without trial.
The report says: “for example, he spoke
with four people who were arrested in Hargeisa, Somaliland two years
ago and accused of being members of the
Oromo Liberation Front,
a banned insurgent movement. They have been held for two years without
trial, and their families do not know of their whereabouts. Also, he
spoke with one of four people who were arrested 14 years ago following
the assassination attempt against Egyptian President Mubarak and held
incommunicado without trial. Of the four, two have already died in
prison and the two others are in very bad condition.”
In addition,
the report indicates the presence of corruption around detention
centers. It states that the higher officials of the detention centers
force prisoners’ family members to pay bribes to speed up the
investigation process as well as to get prisoners released. For
instance, the report says: “one person told our source that her brother
was in jail and had to stay there until they could figure out to whom
they should pay the bribe. In another case a foreigner told our source
that he was asked for a USD 50 bribe from the investigator.”
Ma-ekelawi: The Dark Detention Centre
There
are so many darken detention centers in Ethiopia. Some of them are
known by the public whereas the others are hidden. Ma-ekelawi is one of
those detention centers known by the public.
Regarding this
detention center, the report states the following. “According to a
British national recently released from Ma-ekelawi, the jail is divided
into two sections, the “open” side and the “underground” side. In the
“open” side, there are 12 cells, six on each side of an open courtyard
about two meters wide. There are eight toilets and two showers, for an
average of 100 prisoners at a time. In the “underground” side, there are
two types of solitary confinement cells. One type of cell is reportedly
not physically uncomfortable, while the other type of cell is extremely
small and prisoners are forced to stand.”
The Paper Tigers
“No
one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. It is what the universal declaration of human
rights (UDHR), to which Ethiopia is a signatory, states under Article 5.
Article 9 of the declaration also stats: “no one shall be subjected to
arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.” Likewise, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) adapted in 1966 and the
African Charter on Human and People’s Right (ACHPR) incorporate similar
articles.
When we come to the constitution of Ethiopia, Article 17
and 18 of the constitution says: “no person may be subjected to
arbitrary arrest, and no person may be detained without a charge or
conviction against him; everyone has the right to protection against
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
However,
sadly, none of the legal documents are practically protecting
Ethiopians. Many Ethiopian are suffering from being subjected to torture
or inhuman treatment as well as arbitrary detention, particularly
journalists, opposition political leaders and anyone who are critical of
the regime. This is also clearly revealed by “INSIDE ETHIOPIA’S JAILS”.
መቸም
አገራችን ካለችበት ምስቅልቅል የምትወጣ መስሎን በትግሬ ነጻ አውጭ ግንባር የሚመራው ኢህአዲግ በጠመንጃ
ሃይል ስልጣን ከያዘበት ማግስት ጀምሮ “የዘመነ መሳፍንት” ጊዜ አስተሳሰቡን ትቶ አለም የደረሰበት ዲሞክራሲያዊና
መልካም አስተዳደር ደረጃ ላይ ባንደርስ እንኩዋ ጠጋ ብለን ለዘመናት ታፍኖና በችጋር ተቆራምዶ የኖረው ሕዝባችን
የሚሰማውን አየተነፈሰ የለፋበት ሳይቀነስብት እየተቁኣደሰ ለመኖር የሚችልበት ስርእት እንዲዘረጋ ያልወተወትነው
አልነበረም፡፡
