Ethiopian opposition claims rampant abuse (Aljazeera)

Opposition party says more than 150 of its members have suffered abuse at hands of Ethiopian security officials.

Negasso Gidada, the UDJ party chief, centre, has urged the government to stop abusing his party members [EPA]

An opposition party has accused the Ethiopian government of beating, abducting and illegally detaining more than 150 of its members during July and September this year.
In a 39-page report launched on Thursday, the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) detailed what it said were “gruesome rights violations” committed against its supporters and members.
“One hundred and fifty members and supporters of the party have been subjected to severe beatings, illegal detentions and abductions by the police and security officials,” Negasso Gidada, the party chairman, told reporters.
“We are asking the government to stop these human rights violations and take those responsible to justice,” said Negasso, who served as the country’s president from 1995 to 2001, before joining the opposition.
A government spokesman declined to comment saying it had yet to receive the report.
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said many former detainees – including politicians, journalists and alleged supporters of opposition groups – were slapped, kicked and beaten with sticks and gun butts during investigations at Addis Ababa’s Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector, known as Maekalawi.
Ethiopia intensified its clampdown on peaceful dissent after the disputed 2005 election, the New York-based watchdog said.
Stifling dissent
At the time, the polls ended in violence, killing abouot 200 people.
Opposition candidates won 174 seats, but many did not take them up, saying the vote was rigged.
In an interview with Reuters this month, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the government was not to blame for the opposition’s poor showing.
He has also accused some opposition party members of collaborating with rebel groups the government had previously labelled as terrorist organisations.
But UDJ’s leaders deny any links with the outlawed rebel groups, and warn the government that “stifling” dissent may encourage violence in the country.
“We are not requesting anything from the government side, we are requesting a level playing ground,” Girma Seifu, a senior UDJ official and the sole opposition politician in Ethiopia’s 547-seat parliament.
The Horn of Africa country has won international plaudits for delivering double-digit growth for much of the past decade, but rights groups often accuse the government of using state institutions to stifle dissent and silence political opposition.

[Breaking News} Swedish War Crimes Commission has launched preliminary investigation against Woyane Officials for their crimes in Kilil Somali (Ogaden)!

    
Nov 2,2013 Ogaden:- Suspected of serious crimes under international law and crimes against humanity
Stockholm 2 November
(Aftonbadet) – Swedish War Crimes Commission has launched a preliminary investigation against President of Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, Abdi Omar Muhamoud and his vice president, Abdullahi Werar. (Link)
The two representatives are suspected to have envolved serious crimes against humanity. The investigation is based on videos smuggled out by a defector from the Ogaden region who is now in Sweden.
The films show also light executions done to journalists, Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson. According to the information, it includes also evidence of crimes against humanity and testimonies of torture and murder.
Stellan Gärde, representative of the defector from the government, is hopeful that the case would proceed to a critical instance.
”It is very likely that they [Ogaden leaders] can fall the trap. What is unique about this material is that it is produced by the government itself”.
On Friday, International Public Prosecution Office in Stockholm will summarize decisions about whether or not the investigation will continue.
By Martin Aagård This is good news and what we expected from international community about the Woyane crimes and genocides in many parts of Ethiopia as well as in Kilil Somali (Ogaden).