ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
P.O.B. 2432; Tel. (251-1) 51 44 89; TeleFax: (251-1) 51 45 39;
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: sewr @padisnet.gn.apc.org
VIOLENCE DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS
Special Report No. 13
May 2, 1997
The official media has reported that the explosions in Addis
Ababa at Tigray Hotel and Blue Tops Restaurant on April 12, 1997
and at Tana Department Store on April 12 had resulted in the
injury of several persons and damage to property. According to
these reports, one person died and 34 others were wounded due to
the explosion at Tigray Hotel, 8 foreigners were injured at the
Blue Tops Restaurant and 33 Ethiopians suffered injuries due to
the explosion at the Tana Department Store. The same government
media have also disclosed that another explosion occurred at
Mekonnen Bar in Dire Dawa on April 26 and injured 11 persons.
Part of the damage to property was also shown on ETV. The
previous year, too, there were explosions at Ghion Hotel in Addis
Ababa on January 18, 1996, at Ras Hotel in Dire Dawa on January
28 and at Wabi Shebelle Hotel in Addis Ababa on August 5, 1997.
According to the official media, the explosion at Ghion Hotel
claimed 4 lives and injured 4 others; the Ras Hotel explosion
claimed one life and injured one other person; the Wabi Shebelle
Hotel explosion claimed 2 lives and injured 10 persons.
It is very regrettable that the assailants have chosen as
their targets for attack hotels, bars and department stores. The
victims were innocent persons who were either pursuing their
livelihoods by working at these places, or people who have gone
to these places to entertain themselves or to dine, or guests
staying at the hotels. The department stores are also shopping
centres. It was property belonging to the public or members of
the public that was destroyed. One can recall that similar
attacks with explosives were launched against Addis Ababa
Municipality and Wabi Shebelle Hotel at the time of the Derg
regime, too.
Such acts of terrorism generally occur when it becomes
impossible to hold a roundtable dialogue, when some individuals
and groups which claim an interest in national affairs are denied
a forum for imparting their views and aspirations to the public
and hence feel marginalized, and when they loose hope in peaceful
struggle. In our country, there is no tradition of open
discussions and dialogues between opposition groups and the
government. What one repeatedly hears from those who hold the
highest public office is: let he who wants to raise arms in
rebellion dare to do so!
At present the EPRDF controls all the major aspects of
political and public life. The opposition groups with a vested
interest in Ethiopian affairs have been marginalized from the
political scene. The activities of some of these groups have been
restricted to Addis Ababa, where they have what remains of their
offices. Those that set up branch offices outside Addis Ababa in
1992 and 1993 have been driven out of the provinces, and they
cannot operate even in Addis Ababa without the permission of the
EPRDF.
Let alone the political opposition groups, even civil
organisations cannot fully exercise their legal rights. For
instance, the Ethiopian Teachers Association has been forced to
give up all its branch offices outside Addis Ababa. The
Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions, too, has been prevented
from conducting its normal functions by uncalled for government
intervention. The leaders of the Confederation were barred by the
police from using their offices. Their appeals to the court to
stop the government’s undue interference was made to drag on for
over two years and before the court could make a final ruling, a
new confederation was set up with the support of the government.
The law provides that it is not necessary to get permission
from the government in order to stage a peaceful demonstration or
to hold a public political meeting. All that is required is for
the organiser(s) to inform the appropriate government office
about the event 48 hours in advance. In practice, however, it is
impossible to stage a demonstration or hold a political meeting
in accordance with the provisions of the law. As has been
repeatedly demonstrated, one is obliged to secure first a
permission from the concerned office. It is enough to recall here
the recent experience of Addis Ababa University students who
tried to stage a peaceful demonstration. Although the students
informed the office 48 hours in advance their intention to stage
a demonstration, they were detained and tortured on the pretext
that they were not given permission to do so. Such violations of
legally recognised rights deny legal platforms for peaceful
opposition and create a situation that breeds violence.
The ethnic politics which is nurtured and promoted by the
EPRDF also appears to be creating xenophobia. The material and
moral support directly or indirectly extended by the West to
EPRDF’s ethnic politics is giving rise to a dangerous attitude in
which foreigners from the West are summarily regarded as being
responsible for the problems prevailing in Ethiopia.
Nevertheless, however bleak the situation may be, the abandonment
of peaceful struggle and a resort to violence is utterly
insupportable. Violence destroys the lives and property of
innocent people. It can also lead to vengeance and the unleashing
of terror and unnecessary suffering against the people. It is
with sadness that we recall that the Derg’s “Red
Terror” was a vindictive response to such acts of violence.
EHRCO is opposed to all acts of violence perpetrated by any
party. EHRCO also strongly condemns the above-mentioned attacks
with explosions which have caused injuries to innocent victims.
It urges the attackers to refrain from such acts of terrorism.
EHRCO calls on both the government and its opponents to resolve
their differences through roundtable talks.
EHRCO also calls on all those who are committed to the
establishment of a democratic system, peace, and respect for
human rights and the rule of law to condemn these acts of
violence, and to press the government and its opponents to
resolve any outstanding problems through dialogue.
CC:
Council of People’s Representatives
P. O. Box 80001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251-1) 55 30 00
His Excellency Dr. Negasso Gidada
President of the FDRE
P. O. Box 1031, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: (251-1) 55 20 30
His Excellency Ato Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the FDRE
P. O. Box 1031, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: (251-1) 55 20 30
His Excellency Ato Mahteme Solomon
Minister of Justice
P. O. Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: (251-1) 55 07 22
His Excellency Ato Kemal Bedri
President of the Supreme Court
P. O. Box 6166, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: (251-1) 55 07 28