Chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), Ato Abebe Workie, has been arrested, according to Ethiopian Review sources in Addis Ababa.
Ato Abebe is a renowned Ethiopian attorney and one of the founding members of EHRCO, along with Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam.
The reason for Ato Abebe’s arrest has not been made public yet.
Meanwhile, the Woyanne regime propaganda chief Bereket Simon and his assistant, Ermias Legesse, are on their way to Washington DC to meet with the Voice of America officials and lodge a complaint about VOA’s Amharic program, which they deem is too critical of the tribal junta in Ethiopia.
22 thoughts on “Ethiopian Human Rights Council chairman arrested”
The Derg tried to change the staff if not to stop the VOA Amharic broadcast before . Did not succeed. Netsanet Asfaw of TPLF tried it before. Did not succeed.
What makes this dude think that he can succeed? VOA is the only out let people in Ethiopia, have as a real news outlet and a source of hope, believe it or not.
Discouraging and sad to know the new US administration let’s Bashir’s allies and genocidal criminals enter USA.
Berket Simon should be arrested in the US. There are compelling evidences that he committed crime against humanity. The oppostions and activiest must stage protest plus he should be arrested
በጎንደር ከተማ አየር ማረፊያ አራት ወጣት የሁለተኛ ደረጃ ተማሪወች
ተማሪ በረከት ፋንታሁን የ11ኛ ክፍል ተማሪ
ተማሪ አበበ ወንድምአገኝ የ10ኛ ክፍል ተማሪ
ተማሪ ስንትየሁ ወርቅነህ የ10ኛ ክፍል ተማሪ
ተማሪ ዳዊት ተስፋየ የ8ኛ ክፍል ተማሪ
Human Rights Watch Letter to Ethiopian Minister of Federal Affairs
March 27, 2006
Related Materials: Ethiopia: Crackdown Spreads Beyond Capital
Hon. Siraj Fegeta
Minister of Federal Affairs
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Via Facsimile
Human Rights Watch has received reports of the extrajudicial execution of four youths in Gondar on February 6 (January 29, Ethiopian calendar) by members of the federal police. We urge you to investigate the incident and use your powers to ensure that the perpetrators are fully and fairly prosecuted.
The victims are Berket Fantahu (or Fantahun), 17 and a student in the 11th grade; Abebe Wondem-Agegn, 18 and in the 10th grade; Sentayhu Workneh, 18 and in the 10th grade; and Dawit Tesfaye, 19 and in the 8th grade.
According to reliable sources, the four youths were playing near Sentayhu’s house between 7 and 7:30 in the evening (1:00 to 1:30 Ethiopian time). Allegedly, a federal policeman named Alemu Dariba approached the youths and ordered them to raise their hands. He then marched them to a stream about thirty meters away, where they were forced to the ground. When on the ground, he shot them in the head, execution style. There are reports that he was not acting alone.
International human rights law requires that a government investigate allegations of serious human rights violations. According to the United Nations Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions (1989), “[t]here shall be thorough, prompt and impartial investigation of all suspected cases of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions…. A written report shall be made within a reasonable period of time on the methods and findings of such investigations. The report shall be made public immediately and shall include the scope of the inquiry, procedures and methods used to evaluate evidence as well as conclusions and recommendations based on findings of fact and on applicable law…. The Government shall, within a reasonable period of time, either reply to the report of the investigation, or indicate the steps to be taken in response to it.”
Human Rights Watch understands that federal policeman Alemu Dariba was arrested shortly after the crime. It is not clear whether he has been charged or remains in detention. We ask that the investigation into the killings be promptly, vigorously and widely pursued and that all those implicated in the killings be fully and fairly prosecuted.
Ensuring that police officers are held fully accountable for any crimes that they commit is necessary for the development and maintenance of a professional police force. We would appreciate learning the results of your investigations.
Very truly yours,
Jemera Rome
East Africa Coordinator
Cc:
Hon. Assefa Kesito, Minister of Justice
Gen. Workneh Gebeyehu, Commissioner of Federal Police
Ambassador Kassahun Ayele
These guys are thinking like they are in jungle. What a shame is to travel to block broadcasting in US. AYiiiiiiiiiiiiii Bereket……Bekt… neh leka
I really liked president Obama as a visionary president of the world. But what he said in Cairo about the leaders of other nations is very discouraging for people dreaming of democracy all over the world. He said we do not impose democracy on any country and let them do what ever they wished to their citizen, as far as I understood him. He gave green light for dictators all over the world. That is why the pathological lair of ethiopia, Berket Simon, takes front line to stop on USA land, the symbolic country of democracy, following Obama’s speeches. Does this guy dare to meet Obama? That is my puzzle.
DC Ethiopians must stage demonstration against ill motives of these people.
so what are ethiopians in washington DC waiting for when the murder master bereket simon and ermias legesse roving in washington? you must follow every footstep they make in DC Report to Taxi drivers at the airport to report their whereabouts including the hotel they stay in and get them arrested. Take pictures of those murdered on June 8, 2005. Please report this case to a lawyer for arrest warrant.
Tell this guys to improve their handling the human rights, instead of trying to dictate on the only independent media the Ethiopian people have to express what is going on in their country. They better be advised about their
“Deha Adeg” and “Worobela” behaviors
I think the Obama Administration, particularly, Hillary Clinton, has a good chance to tell these people what they are
Meles has arrested individuals to use them as bargaining chips, and is stocking the fighting in Somalia, to be listened to and accepted as a reliable ally of the West. The British have been instruments in this effort, and it should be made public for Ethiopians and to the New Administration.
Free Ato Abebe Workie !
We are so sad to read the arrest Ato Abebe Workie, Chairman of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO).
We demand the unconditional release of our Human Right advocate NOW!
Elias, Please make this a big headline news, the person deserves it, as to Meles’ daughter, please, always make it above so that more people see it and understand what its like to see Meles; daughter enjoying life while children of poor, loving Ethiopians are laying in the cemeteries murdered by her father,
Ato Abebe Worke are one of the most prominent attorneys in Ethiopia and a former Supreme Court Judge, His children are also becoming accomplished law professionals in the US, this honorable person loves his country so much that he even didn’t care to risk his life, his wealth accumulated through hard work and his family, now he is in prison, what’s the worst that could happen more, woyanne is moving freely without any considerable resistance to dictate the lives of Ethiopians, killing whoever they want to get rid off, arresting prominent people to demoralize the spirit of Ethiopians and torturing without opposition from any self proclaimed democracy advocates of the west. I have known Ato Abebe Worke and I am so sorry that he had to spend one night in their ridiculous prisons as any innocent Ethiopians of different walks of life shouldn’t spend a night in prisons where Meles and co. belong too.
God Bless Ethiopia
Woyane is accelerating its own downfall by isolating itself from the Ethiopian people. What concern me the most though is not how long dictator Meles will stay in power but how ready the opposition is to replace it. Guys, we must talk about it, NOW.
Folks:
Wayane have been waging an all out war against all Ethiopians for some 18 years while the Ethiopian opposition is being divided and devastated and living in the past, waiting for the biblical Mana to descend from above while the CUNNING WAYANE FOX is till keeping the war flourish by all means possible. Why should and why on earth cunning Wayane gives up such vast and exclusive sweet, naurishing and smiling heavenly life on this earth while the victimized Ethiopian majority keep sinking to the bottom of the horrifying dark drain or hell?
Wayane’s multidimensional battle for crowning injustice and exclusive power monopoly will only accelerate and the only solution is broadbased true unity within diversity and put up a determined, unbending, uncompromising struggle to bring about a broad based democratic society and justice for all!
Those who are waiting for Obama and the other fellows out there and expecting them doing their own business as well as your own buisnes, will keep waiting endlessely just like the second coming of Jesus or mana droping down from the heavens some time before doomsday.
Have Wayane been waiting the second coming of Our lord Jesus Christ or for the mystical Mana to drop from the heavens? rolled it shirt up its shirt sleeves cut trousers in halves and took the unpleasant pains of bleeding and uncompromisingly fire fighting to the finish and now enjoying the fruits its sacrifices and as such will NEVER EVER exchange its current political privillages even for the entire planet and the outer planets added on top of each other. :)
Folks:
Wayane have been waging an all out war against all Ethiopians for some 18 years while the Ethiopian opposition is being divided and devastated and living in the past, waiting for the biblical Mana to descend from above while the CUNNING WAYANE FOX is till keeping the war flourish by all means possible. Why should and why on earth cunning Wayane gives up such vast and exclusive sweet, naurishing and smiling heavenly life on this earth while the victimized Ethiopian majority keep sinking to the bottom of the horrifying dark drain or hell?
Wayane’s multidimensional battle for crowning injustice and exclusive power monopoly will only accelerate and the only solution is broadbased true unity within diversity and put up a determined, unbending, uncompromising struggle to bring about a broad based democratic society and justice for all!
Those who are waiting for Obama and the other fellows out there and expecting them doing their own business as well as your own buisnes, will keep waiting endlessely just like the second coming of Jesus or mana droping down from the heavens some time before doomsday.
Have Wayane been waiting the second coming of Our lord Jesus Christ or for the mystical Mana to drop from the heavens? rolled it shirt up its shirt sleeves cut trousers in halves and took the unpleasant pains of bleeding and uncompromisingly fire fighting to the finish and now enjoying the fruits its sacrifices and as such will NEVER EVER exchange its current political privillages even for the entire planet and the outer planets added on top of each other. :)
ER, I like the way you call the regime, tribal junta of Ethiopia. Please use this name more often.
I think this is the right time to fight these criminals. They should not be allowed to come in to the United States of America ( Washington DC).
I have another fitting description of this tribal junta as well it is called “ethno fascists”. what do you think?
We know that no body can bring freedom and democracy to our country, except we our selves.
Let we unite and organise to bring change in our country.
Stop talking and help pro-democracy organisations.
Long live Ethiopia
Dear Editor, Kindly update us on the status of Abebe Workie.
First and formost, VOA is financed directly by tax payers via the congress.
Of course weyane (Bereket) can be successful in curbing the VOA right to report the truth. The US law makers are seduced and manipulated by lobbyist. This is a fact attaested by anybody even a pea-head. Lobbying is a mega-billion dollar industry. There are over 100,000 lobbyists frequent the corridors of Capitol Hill. Lobbyists are interest group who pay their taxes and pay handsomely to the law makers too, by-passing the voters. It’s a legal bribery. A transparent Democracy in your face.
Lets take Starbucks for instance, Starbucks have over 10,500 outlets in USA alone. Lets say each starbuck outlet employs 10 americans or immigrants. That makes a total of 100,000 workforce who pay their taxes to the US government. The government of USA gets Billions of dollars a year in tax revenue from Starbucks alone.
And remember Weyane had facilitated for Starbuck to acquire a vast swath of land to grow coffee while a local coffee farmer in Ethiopia can’t even afford to send his children to school. Therefore one can confidently say that Ethiopian coffee is bailing out American economy.
What Meles would do is, he would say to the starbuck fat cats (lobbyist) to do something about curbing the VOA or change its staff members abd those fat cats would be rolling their fat slobs down town and into the corridor of shame in Capitol hill. Then Business as usual . Remember HR2003. When are you gonna wake up and smell your own coffee.
Well meles won’t dare confisicate those while starbucks farms in Ethiopia as the west would soon as a flash turn against him sending its pressure groups, Human Right Watch Amenesty, USAID, NED to publish dispatches about all his genocidal human right abuse. All the NGO who suck up for meles now will gang up against him. The US of America will become the US of Amnesia, totally forgetting it supported, abetted and financed meles’ brutal regime. Then Another Dictator will be groomed and recruited. The west won’t stop supporting The brutal Racist regime of Weyane until they find someone else who would serve as much or better than meles.
meles would have more chance of getting elected in US than in his native Adwa.
Wheather you like it or not, that is the way of life in the “Democratic” Ethiopia and “the Great” USA. Get used to it or fight against it. Period!!
Ato Abebe has a court date on Monday. He has yet to be charged with any wrong doing…He hopes to be released on bond and fight whatever charges is being orchestrated.