Ethiopia : Extrajudicial killings by members of the PM Abiy Ahmed Ali government's security forces are still continuing in Amhara region
Ethiopia : Amara region:- The context of the armed conflict that continued for months and its negative human rights implications
Combatant forces should refrain from targeting civilian people and property, public services and infrastructure, and the government should create conditions for the continuation of social services.
It is recalled that the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (ESMECO/Commission) has urged in various statements to take immediate measures to help prevent harm to civilians, including finding a peaceful solution to the large-scale human rights violations caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Amhara region. The Commission continues to closely monitor the negative impact of the conflict on human rights and social movements. Based on this, he has been gathering information and evidence by talking to relevant government officials, people living in the conflict area, eyewitnesses, victims and victims' families.
Until the announcement of this statement, armed conflict occurred in many districts of the region, and from July 2015. Since then, all zones of the Amhara region have experienced armed conflict at different levels and times. Furthermore, these areas or districts have been controlled at one time by government security forces, at other times by a militant group (commonly known as Fano). The armed conflict is supported by heavy weapons and occasional air/drone strikes in some areas.
In the context of the conflict, civilians were killed and injured as a result of heavy weapons attacks, including air/drone weapons, and people were forced to flee their homes. For example, in North Showa Zone, Berehet District, Ilteh Bla City on October 5, 2016. that several civilians, including a one-year-seven-month-old baby, were killed and injured in a drone attack; October 8, 2016 in Debre Markos City. At least 8 civilians were killed in a drone attack, also in Denbana city on October 3, 2016. Local residents and eyewitnesses who spoke to the commission explained that civilians were killed and injured due to heavy weaponry.
It has been confirmed that in some areas, residents have been completely displaced from their villages after fleeing violence or conflict. In Menjar district, the residents of the highway have been killed since September 6, 2016. Since then, at least 3,000 people who have been displaced from their villages are sheltering in a school and an open field (under a tree) in Amora Bete Kebele, and an unknown number of others have been displaced to different areas, including Metehara and Awash. Although some support has been provided to the displaced by the community and a relief organization, it is understood that they are in a serious situation due to insufficient support. Following the displacement of the residents, their crops were destroyed, their properties were looted, the roofs and doors of their houses were removed, and recently, their houses have been demolished by forces from the neighboring region with construction equipment, according to the local residents and government officials who spoke to ISEMECO.
On September 4, 2016, the commission expressed the concern of extrajudicial killings in various parts of the region. It is to be remembered that he announced it in his statement. However, Isemeko is receiving reliable information that extrajudicial killings, especially by members of the government's security forces, are still continuing. In the areas where the conflict took place, among the many civilians arrested by the government security forces on the streets or from house to house, there is reliable information showing that extrajudicial killings were carried out for reasons such as " you support Fano, you give information to Fano, bring weapons, give information about the direction from which the gunshots were heard " and similar reasons. They have submitted it to the commission. As a demonstration in Bahir Dar City, Seventy-Mitt area on September 29 and 30, 2016. Several civilians, including three brothers, were killed in North Gojam Zone, Adet City on September 29, 2016. Other civilians, including 12 model students living in Filseta Debre Mariam, were killed in East Gojam Zone, Emmanuel City on October 3, 2016. At least 8 civilians are understood to have been killed in house-to-house raids. Also, in East Gojam Zone, Goncha Siso Nesse District, Gendewein City, in an area called Mota Ber on September 18, 2016. Residents who spoke to the commission explained that a person who was shot and wounded by his mother and sister was being taken to a medical facility in a Bajaj, when the government security forces stopped the Bajaj and disembarked all the passengers, they shot the four people including the driver of the Bajaj because " he was injured while fighting us " .
In Bahir Dar, Fnotesalam, Gondar and Woldia cities, some civilians who were injured in the armed conflict and those who were suspected of being members of the armed group were taken to an unknown place after their treatment was stopped and some of them returned to the medical facilities after a few days. Unable to confirm.
On the other hand, attacks, killings and arrests targeting civilian government officials at all levels were carried out by the armed forces. For example, September 28, 2016. Government officials, including the chairman of the Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Administration of the Amhara Regional Council, were killed by gunmen near Alember town while they were on their way from Bahir Dar to Debre Tabor. Prisoners and suspects escaped by attacking prisons and police stations in various parts of the region.
According to the monitoring done by the commission, especially the information received from the government institutions, the acts of rape in the context of the conflict are very serious and should be investigated and acted upon immediately. Based only on the number of victims who were able to reach various health facilities to get medical services, from July 2016. Since this statement was issued, at least 200 rape victims have been registered in health facilities; Among the victims are internally displaced women and health professionals.
In connection with the spread of the armed conflict, there has been damage to civilians, people and infrastructure, including looting of civilian people and civilian commercial and infrastructure facilities, destruction of rice crops. The fact that children are out of school and that educational institutions in some areas are being used for military service requires immediate attention. Professional associations and medical institutions have officially announced that due to the suspension of social services and medical facilities, residents, IDPs and refugees who have taken refuge in the Amhara region are exposed to aggravated human rights violations. For example, schools in South Gondar Wereta and Abnat were being used for military service/camps, Dejazmach Tesema Irgete Primary and Secondary School in Showa Robit City, Jehuha Primary School in Jehuha City and Bechna Belai Zeleq Preparatory School were used for military service until this statement was announced. It is stated that they have been used. Adet Hospital stopped providing services due to looting and damage, while Fnotesalam Hospital and Tbebe Gion Hospital in Bahir Dar were among the health facilities where services were suspended due to harassment, beatings and arrests of staff, patients and patients.
Due to the restriction of activities and curfews implemented in most areas of the Amhara region at various times, as well as the disruption of road transport connecting different districts due to the disruption or limited, due to the impact on commercial and social activities, the residents have been subjected to shortage of supply and price rise as well as related problems. Various production areas have stopped production, including the restriction on money transfer, and the suspension of salary payment in some institutions has led to social and economic crisis for the residents. In addition, it is known that many people are in urgent need of food aid, especially in North Gondar and Waghamra areas. Internet service has been suspended until the time of this announcement, except for specially authorized institutions in the region, including telephone service, especially in conflict areas. ISMECO Chief Commissioner Dr. Daniel Bekele said, "As the commission has repeatedly called for a lasting solution to the conflict, including giving priority to all peaceful options; Warring parties should not target civilian people and property, public services and infrastructure under any circumstances, and the situation of arrested members of the armed forces and other suspects should be dealt with only by legal means; In particular, the crime of rape and extrajudicial killings should be urgently investigated so that accountability can be confirmed and social services can be resumed as soon as possible. “To make sure that the displaced persons receive the necessary humanitarian assistance immediately; We are calling for the reason for their displacement to be resolved and for them to return to their villages permanently."
SOURCE : EHRC
