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Ethiopia jails critics in crackdown after killings: activists
ADDIS ABABA, July 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Ethiopia is using last month’s
assassination of high-ranking officials as a pretext to arrest critics with
no apparent links to the attacks, international and domestic rights activists
said Wednesday.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who took office last year, has been praised for
releasing political prisoners and embarking on sweeping reforms to loosen
controls in long-authoritarian Ethiopia.
But activists fear after the killings, his government’s crackdown on
journalists, critics and opposition supporters represents a return to
repressive tactics used by past governments to stifle dissent.
“They’re resorting to violence,” journalist and former political prisoner
Eskinder Nega told a press conference in the capital Addis Ababa.
“They’re resorting to strong-arm tactics.”
Five officials, including the national army chief and the president of the
northern Amhara region, were killed in the June 22 attacks which the
government has described to a regional coup attempt.
Officials said the following week more than 250 “suspects” had been
arrested in connection with the killings.
– ‘Peaceful critics’ –
But Nega said Wednesday that “close to 1,000” had been arrested and most
were peaceful critics of Abiy’s government. AFP was unable to independently
verify this claim.
“We have prisoners of conscience now,” he said.
“The world should recognise that people are being locked up right now as
political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, and the world should give us
their support.”
A government spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Nega’s press conference was disrupted by half a dozen young men
brandishing Ethiopian flags who called him a liar and accused him of stoking
tensions among ethnic groups.
But Amnesty International researcher Fisseha Tekle also told AFP Wednesday
that the total number of those arrested was higher than the government has
reported.
“The government is affirming that they’ve arrested 250 related to the
coup, but much more have been arrested for their perceived political views
and activities,” he said.
On Tuesday, Amnesty and the Committee to Protect Journalists issued
statements warning of threats to the Ethiopian press.
Amnesty reported that two journalists had been arrested and charged under
controversial anti-terrorism legislation “which was used by previous
governments to bring trumped-up charges against its critics”.
Earlier this week, state-affiliated media quoted a defense ministry
official saying that the ministry would pursue legal complaints against
journalists suspected of defamation and spreading false information.
Since coming to power, Abiy has been praised for taking steps to improve
the government’s dismal human rights record, including closing a detention
facility known for torture. But analysts had warned authorities may revert to
more repressive tactics after the killings.
BSS/AFP/RY/20:32 hrs