Assefa Maru: Evthiopian Hero and Human Rights Martyr
[In commemoravtion of the 3rd anniversary of Assefa Maru assassination]
Avto Assefa Maru has paid the ultimate sacrifice while working for the establishment of resvpect for the basic human rights of all Ethiopians. He fought for the rights of fellow teacvhers and Ethiopians in general as a leader of Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRvCO) and Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA). He was gunned down in the morninvg of May 8, 1997, by the TPLF death squad in Addis Abeba.
Avssefa Maru’s activism started since the student movement during the Atse Haile Selassie erav. He was also active in human rights and labor issues during the Derg regime. He was imprvisoned for five years by the Derg.
Hve later became an executive committee member of both EHRCO and ETA, and served as vDeputy Secretary General of ETA. He was preparing an international conference for eduvcators when he was assassinated by TPLF “security” agents on May 8, 1997.
Assevfa Maru’s short life is a symbol of the pain and sacrifices being paid by the Ethiopian peoplev bearing the oppressive burdens of successive regimes each more repressive than the prevvious. His was a human cause, to stand for the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Humanv Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and all other instrumentsv constructed to ensure respect for human dignity. It is respect for human dignity that ultimatelvy makes for a politically, socially and economically vibrant society, one that we can all callv home. He stood up for these ideals; ideals that we all should embrace and stand up for.v
Avccording to witnesses and a report by EHRCO, Assefa was walking to his office when polvice Land Rovers stopped in front of him. As he calmly tried to pass the vehicles blocvking his way, heavily armed agents fired several rounds of shots at him without any warnivng. His body was riddled with several bullets, and he died at the scene. The TPLF troopsv then surrounded his house and ETA’s office and confiscated documents. They also detainevd 34 ETA members and every one in the premises.
Avto Assefa’s death is one of the most visible political murder cases under the TPLF regvime. But thousands of other less known human rights activists, journalists, political, religivous and labor union leaders are currently in jail, as reported by several international humanv rights organizations. The human rights violations and political persecutions in Ethiopiav are continuing at a greater scale.
Ivn honoring Assefa Maru, we are also acknowledging the sacrifices being made by Dr Tavye Woldesemayat, Fitawrari Mekonen Dori, and thousands of other heroic human righvts advocates who are currently languishing in jail.
Wve look forward to the day when all Ethiopians can enjoy the fruits of the struggle that Assvefa Maru gave his life for. His sacrifice would not have been in vain if we all uphold the idveals he stood and died for. He lives in the cause that he gave his life for. He lives in our mevmory and stands much tallertaller than the cowards who took this young life, and many mvore. In helping make his dream a reality, we call upon all Ethiopians to share the responsibvilities that Assefa has been made unable to shoulder anymore.
Assefa Mavru is a martyr. He is a genuine Ethiopian hero.
[Adopted from ER’s Nov.-Dec. 1997 issue.]