Ethiopian Review
Dec 28, 2005

On Thursday December 22nd, police entered Felege Edget and Fasiludus schools in the early morning hours and waited for students to arrive. The unsuspected students gathered in their respective school compounds as usual before classes begin. The students were taken by surprise when a large number of troops emerged out of their hiding and charged towards them. The troops blocked all exits and started to savagely torture the students. They were beaten with large sticks and forced to kneel down on their knees and crawl on sharp rocks covered with blood. The troops broke the arms and legs of many of the students. The torture was so intense that some students fainted from massive blood loss and severe body injuries. There are reports that unknown number of students were murdered. Eye witnesses have seen military pick ups taking students to unknown locations. Residents of the city saw the incidents from a distance in great horror.

On Monday December 26th, the authorities announced that all schools are closed in Gonder for one week. The authorities have called for a mandatory parent meeting in all the Kebele associations to discuss the escalating unrest in the city. Authorities have started to warn parents that they will face severe consequences, including beating and imprisonment, unless they report any suspicious activity by children.