Jerusalem – Eight officers from the Ethiopian Army who were hosted by Israel for a three-month-long security course have vanished and become illegal aliens, the Ma’ariv daily reported Tuesday.
The eight were part of a delegation of 16 officers who arrived in Israel on August 3 to participate in a course on the advanced technology needed to operate special equipment.
Their arrival was coordinated with the Israel Foreign Ministry and the security establishment and they were issued with service passports, which are similar to diplomatic passports.
The delegation was due to have left Israel on Sunday night, but only half the 16 officers showed up at the rendezvous ready to leave for Ben Gurion Airport, a government source said.
The missing officers called a short time later and said they intended deserting the military, leaving Ethiopia and immigrating to Israel.
The Israel Interior Ministry, on being informed, declared the eight to be illegal aliens wanted by the immigration police.
By law the immigration police have to arrest the eight, bring them for a hearing before the Interior Ministry and deport them to Ethiopia with an order they cannot re-enter Israel for ten years.
Foreign relations advisor to the CUD leadership, Ato Isaac Kifle, was taken to the Central Investigation today and was told that he is under house arrest.
He was warned that if he makes any kind of communication with other CUD officials he will be shot.
Ato Isaac and other CUD officials were scheduled to meet with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Donald Yamamoto, today.
Ambassador Yamamoto is in Addis Ababa on a working visit.
Elsewhere, CUD Council member Ato Zeleke Alemu is arrested. CUD coordinator in Jimma, Ato Aychew Siraw, is also arrested on Sunday. His family said he is being tortured by the police.
1. Meles Zenawi – Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) chairman, TPLF Politburo chairman, Marxist-Leninist League of Tigray chairman, Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) chairman, and Prime Minister
2. Azeb Mesfin – (Meles Zenawi’s wife) – former head of Mega Enterprises (she ran the company into the ground), currently a member of parliament and chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee
3. Sebhat Nega – TPLF Politburo member, Meles Zenawi’s personal advisor, behind the scene controls the Endowment Fund For Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT), an NGO in name, but a TPLF business conglomerate in realty, controlling some of the largest industries in the country
4. Kidusan Nega (Sebhat Nega’s sister) – Mekele Mayor and TPLF Central Committee member
5. Tsegay Berhe (Kidusan Nega’s husband) – Tigray Killil president and TPLF Politburo member
6. Aberash Nega (Sebhat Nega’s sister) – ran for Addis Ababa City Council in May election (with her two cousins) but not elected.
7. Sebhat Nega’s sister is Eritrea’s defense minister Sebhat Ephrem’s wife
8. Arkebe Okubay (whose sister is the wife of TPLF Central Committee member Adis Alem Balema) – a member of the TPLF Politburo, an advisor to Meles Zenawi, and former Mayor of Addis Ababa
9. Berhane Gebre Kristos (brother of Arkebe Okubay’s wife Nigist Gebre Kristos) – TPLF Central Committee member, former Ambassador to the USA and current Ambassador to Brussels, Belgium
10. Tirufat Kidane Mariam (Abay Woldu’s wife) – Meles Zenawi’s justice and security chief, and TPLF Central Committee member.
11. Abay Woldu (Turufat Kidane Mariam’s husband) – a TPLF Politburo member
12. Mulugeta Alemseged – Meles Zenawi’s nearest family member, Meles Zenawi’s security chief and personal body guard
13. General Berhane Negas – Meles Zenawi’s palace security chief and the Godfather of Meles Zenawi’s daughter
Ato Beriso Negussie, Ato Eshetu Teklehaimanot and several other Ethiopians have been murdered in the town of Kore, about 60 km from Shashemene.
In Kore and the surrounding villages, over one hundred homes have been burned and many more have been looted by armed Muslim men. Muslim neighbors of the victims were not attacked.
Thousands of residents of Kore and near by villages are currently taking refuge in Shashemene.
The refugees are living in shelters under terrible condition. No humanitarian group have visited them so far.
The violence was incited by Meles Zenawi’s cadres.
“While the United States and British Ambassador each called upon both political parties to desist from further violence, it is quite clear from VOA dispatch that the unlawful and violent acts, including use of lethal force, random searches, indiscriminate beating and massive arrests by government security forces, are being committed by the government…” – U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, NY, Nov 22, 2005
World Organization Against Torture (Geneva)
PRESS RELEASE – November 17, 2005
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Ethiopia.
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), a member of the OMCT network, that 58 persons have been charged with treason. The 58 persons include leaders of the opposition party, journalists, as well as members of non-governmental organisations. OMCT does not yet have access to the complete list of names.
Furthermore, according to government sources, 8,000 people have been released, but they have not disclosed the total number of persons actually in detention.
The International Secretariat of OMCT remains gravely concerned by the situation
Brief reminder of the situation
OMCT was informed that a number of people were killed, wounded and arrested following street protests on 31st October 2005 in Addis Ababa. The conflict spread to towns such as Gondar, Bar Dar, Arbaminch town, Dessie, Nazareth and around.
According to the information received, almost all leaders of opposition parties have been arrested, some with their family members. Furthermore, about 18,000 youths, arrested in Addis Ababa, were taken to the Dedessa River in Wollega and are being held in an open field near the banks of the river. This is a harsh lowland infested with malaria and full of wild animals, including lions. The detainees have no shelter, food and drinking water is not easily available. There have been reports that a number of youths have been eaten by crocodiles from the river, and many have fallen ill. In addition, a truck with a trailer carrying youths arrested in Addis Ababa was overturned killing some detainees and injuring several others.
For a list (not exhaustive) of persons known to have been reportedly killed, injured and detained, please see urgent appeals Cases ETH 031105 and ETH 031105.1
Actions requested
Please write a letter to the authorities in Ethiopia urging them to immediately order the security forces to stop all human rights violations, and:
i. Immediately guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons;
ii. Order the immediate release of the above-mentioned persons in the absence of valid legal charges, and if such charges exist, to ensure that they are given prompt and fair trials, in which their procedural rights are guaranteed at all times;
iii. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iv. Ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
