The Woyanne police, ordered by Aba Gebremedhin (formerly Aba Paulos), savagely attacked Christmas gathering at the Meskel Square today. Many are wounded and hundreds have been rounded up and taken to jail.
The gathering was organized by Mahibere Kidusan and other Ethiopian Orthodox Christian groups. They had permission to organize the event, which had been announced on radio and TV. So it is not clear why Aba Gebremedhin called the gathering “illegal” and sent the notorious Federal Police to disperse the people, mostly young worshipers.
Tens of thousands of people had started to gather at 2:00 PM (local time) when suddenly the fascist Woyanne police surrounded Meskel Square and told the crowed to disperse. The police also started to dismantle the stage. An argument ensued with the organizers. Then without any provocation, the police started to savagely attacking everyone in sight. Many people run to St. Estifanos Church to hide, but the guards were ordered to seal the Church’s gate.
A bewildered eyewitness who managed to escape attack and arrest by entering St. Estifanos Church before the guards closed it told Ethiopian Review that the crowed had been peaceful and there was no need for such a violent reaction from the police.