Ato Aschalew’s friends told ER associate in Addis Ababa today that the EPRDF cadres kidnapped him on June 24. His body was found three days later outside the town of Debre Sina, Wollo. He was killed with a gun shot to the head.

The EPRDF cadres have also burned the homes of several people in Debre Sina, Ambassel, and other rural towns whom they suspect as CUD supporters. As a result, thousands of people from these areas are now taking refuge in Dessie. The refugees say that they were chased out of their homes by angry EPRDF cadres.