The Ethiopian Govt Responsible for Inhuman Treatments Against Refugees & Asylum Seekers from Ethiopia Around the World – HRLHA

HRLHA Press Release

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa has been greatly saddened by the coldblooded killing of 30 Christian refugees and asylum seekers from Ethiopia in the past week in Libya by a group called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria/ISIS. The HRLHA is also highly concerned about thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from Ethiopia living in different parts of Yemen were victimized due to the political crises in Yemen, and hundreds have suffered in South Africa because of the unprecedented actions taken by a gang opposing refugees and asylum seekers in the country. The suppressive policy of the EPRDF/TPLF government has forced millions to flee their country in the past twenty-four years. The mass influx of citizens from Ethiopia into neighboring countries every year has been due to the EPRDF/TPLF policy of denying its citizens their socioeconomic and political rights. They have also fled out of fear of political persecution and detention. It has been repeatedly reported by human rights organizations, humanitarian and other non–governmental organizations that Ethiopia is producing a large number of refugees, estimated at over two hundred fifty thousand every year (Read ‘Migration in Ethiopia: History, Current Trends and Future Prospect‘).

In connection with the incident that took place in Libya, on April 22, 2015, tens of thousands of nationals marched on government-organized rallies against the killing of Christians from Ethiopia in Libya. However, with the demonstrators’ angry expressions were directed at the authorities, the police used tear gas against them, and hundreds of people were beaten on the street and arrested. On the 23rd and 24th of April 2015, others were picked up from their homes and taken to unknown destinations according to the HRLHA reporter in Addis Ababa.

The HRLHA calls upon the Ethiopian government to unconditionally release the detained citizens and allow those who have been injured during the clash with police to get medical treatment.

Recommendations:

1. The Ethiopian government must stop political suppression in the country and respect the human rights treaties it signed and ratified;

2. The Ethiopian government must provide the necessary lifesaving help to those Ethiopians stuck in crises in the asylum countries of Yemen, South Africa and others;

3. The EPRDF/TPLF government must release journalists, opposition political party members, and others held in Ethiopian prisons and respect their right to exercise their basic and fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of Ethiopia and international standard of human rights instruments.

– HRLHA