1993-
2006: WHERE ARE THE DISAPPEARED?
Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political
Prisoners (SOCEPP), 11 May 2006
May 1993—in Addis Ababa, the security forces arrested
Ms ABERASH BERTA, TESFAYE KEBEDE AND LEMMA MEKONEN, all three
members of the opposition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party/EPRP/.
They have disappeared since. The government of Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi has refused to give any account on their whereabouts.
There
is a justifiable fear as reports of the summary executions of
the above three have been heard from time to time. The same
reports have also been received concerning other EPRP detainees
(some since 1991) like Tsegaye Gebre Medhin, Wondu Sirak Desta,
Sitotaw Hussein, Abebe Ainekulu, Mot Baynor, Yishak Debretsion,
Hagos Bezabih,Azanaw Demile, Belete Amha and many others. For
some unknown reason, the plight of the above has not been commented
upon or mentioned by human rights bodies. In some cases, the
regime has denied holding some of the above though there are
credible witnesses who contradict this denial. It is obvious
that, barring double standards, the fate of the EPRP members
and leaders who have been disappeared should be of concern for
all those claiming to advocate the respect of human rights and
the release of all political prisoners.
Where
are Aberash Berta, Tesfaye kebede and Lemma Mekonen?
