Tensions were already high ahead of the 2016 festival held every year at bishoftu, 40 kilometers southeast of addis ababa. Under secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights. This report details the ethiopian governments use of force in response to restive crowds at 2016s irreecha. Afr 254178 2016 when the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf took control of the capital, addis ababa on 28 may 1991, amnesty international hailed the day as a break with the past and an opportunity to put human rights protection at the top.
The state of emergency is serving as an excellent shield for the government to kill, arrest and detain whoever is involved in any antigovernment activities. Scores of people killed at festival nairobi the ethiopian government should allow an independent, international investigation to determine how scores of people were killed at the countrys irreecha festival on october 2, 2016, human rights watch said in. Human rights watch reports daily killings as ethiopian. Human rights watch publishes report on irreecha massacre. Oromia, home to the oromo people, is ethiopia s largest region. Protests and tragedy the annual irreechaa festival is a time of celebration and thanksgiving for the oromo people of ethiopia. Participants at the annual irreecha festival in late september celebrated peacefully, free of the violence that marred the event in 2016. The federal high court in january sentenced all muslim defendants to prison for terrorism for their roles in the 2012 killing of an imam. On the human rights abuses during the oromo protest, see such a brutal crackdown 2016 on ethiopias repressive media environment, see journalism is not a crime 2015 on the history of abuses in oromia, see suppressing dissent, human rights. Jan 12, 2017 calls on the government to restore rights, address grievances nairobi, january 12, 2017 ethiopia plunged into a human rights crisis in 2016, increasing restrictions on basic rights during a state of emergency and continuing a bloody crackdown against largely peaceful protesters, human rights watch said today in its world report 2017. According to the new yorkbased human rights watch, about 200 protesters have been killed in the latest government operation.
Ethiopias largest ethnic group marks thanksgiving festival. The following questions and answers are critical to understanding recent events in ethiopia. Read the full report and watch an explanatory video here. Ethiopia w as wracked by protests throughout much of 2016, a result of widespread and growing discontent with ethnic and political marginalization and repres sive rule by the eprdf. Whereas the 2016 department of state country report on human rights practices for ethiopia cited serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, killings, and torture committed by security forces, restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association, politically motivated trials, harassment, and intimidation of. On october 2, 2016 scores of people, possibly hundreds, died at the annual irreecha cultural festival of ethiopias ethnic oromo people, following a stampede triggered by security forces use of teargas and discharge of firearms in response to an increasingly restive crowd. Raw video dozens dead during stampede in ethiopia ap the associated press. A protest in ethiopia turned into a stampede that left at least 100 people drowned or crushed to death as police dispersed a crowd at an annual cultural festival of. According to a paper by the center for international human rights at northwestern university school of law, the cso law is the product of the ethiopian governments deep suspicion of civil society and has been frequently used to silence any organization that advocates for human rights in ethiopia. An assessment on the law and practice of womens rights. Ethiopia s rulers have redoubled a repressive policy that is failing. After a year of protests, time to address grave human rights concerns. Nairobi, september 192017 ethiopian government and security officials should act with restraint and take concrete steps to prevent injuries and deaths at this years irreecha festival on october 1, 2017, human rights watch said in a report and video released today. Skirting human rights violations amnesty international.
Responses are written by felix horne, senior ethiopia researcher at human rights watch. Dozens killed in ethiopia after police use tear gas on. Registration and licensing of religious groups fall under the mandate of the. By asebe regassa introduction it has become evident since recently that the oromo across religious, political and geographical boundaries have converged together in celebrating an annual ritualfestival called irreecha. Mammoth crowd expected at oromo irreecha celebration in ethiopia. Photos of ethiopias oromo irreecha festival in addis. This report details the ethiopian governments use of force in response to restive crowds at 2016 s irreecha.
The government put the death toll at 55, though human rights watch later said it could have been in the hundreds. Ethiopia 3 country reports on human rights practices for 2015 united states department of state bureau of democracy, human rights and labor on november 19, students in the oromia region began protesting in opposition to the expansion of the city of addis ababa into the surrounding region of oromia. Executive summary us department of state ethiopia is officially a federal republic. Many oromo interviewees told human rights watch that they believe the. Ethiopia protests continue over fatal bishoftu stampede at. Oromia, home to the oromo people, is ethiopias largest region. Human rights watch in its june 2008 report entitled collective punishment. Nearly one year on from the start of a wave of protests that has left at least 800 people dead at the hands of security forces, the ethiopian government must take concrete steps to address grave human rights concerns in the country, amnesty international said today. Human rights watch esat news september 19, 2017 the human rights watch said it found evidence that security forces of the regime not only triggered the stampede that caused many deaths but subsequently shot and killed some members of the crowd. Ethiopian government and security officials should act with restraint and take concrete steps to. The united states congress on tuesday passed a human rights centered resolution against the ethiopian government amongst others calling for the respect of human rights. Ethiopia spent much of 2017 under a state of emergency first imposed in october 2016 following a year of popular protests, renewed for four months in march, and lifted on august 4. Fuel on the fire security force response to the 2016. At a similar fete in 2016, dozens died during a stampede triggered by security forces use of tear gas and rubber bullets.
The 2016 irreecha festival was held following a year of protests against government policies. A deadly stampede broke out after ethiopian police reportedly fired tear gas to break up an ethnic oromo protest during a festival with several people killed south of the capital, addis ababa. Antigovernment protests are sweeping through ethiopia and turning deadly. State of emergency risks new abuses directive codifies vague, overbroad restrictions hrw, nairobi, 31 october 2016 an ethiopian government directive under a state of emergency contains overly broad and vague provisions that risk triggering a human rights crisis, human rights watch said today in a legal analysis. Mammoth crowd expected at oromo irreecha celebration in. Below is the summary of the report, published by hrw. Exercise restraint at upcoming festival human rights. For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 10oct16 world view ethiopia declares extraordinary sixmonth state of emergency thread of the generational dynamics forum. International inquiry needed into deaths at 2016 event hrw nairobi, september 192017 ethiopian government and security officials should act with restraint and take concrete steps to prevent injuries and deaths at this years irreecha festival on october 1, 2017, human rights watch said in a report and video. Dozens killed in ethiopia after police use tear gas on protest at festival.
Ethiopia amnesty international usa human rights organization. Oct 04, 2019 members of the oromo community, the largest ethnic group in ethiopia are trooping to the capital, addis ababa, to mark the annual irreecha festival, an ancient thanksgiving ceremony. Independent inquiry needed on irreecha, 8 october 2016, available at. Oct 10, 2019 the oromos considered to be the largest ethnic group in ethiopia about 34.
Ethiopia imposes state of emergency after more than 500. The report said, during the irreecha festival on 2nd of october 2016. Irreecha has already been a political flashpoint in recent years. Ethiopia imposed a state of emergency following months of protests that have claimed more than 500 lives, according to rights groups. Security force response to the 2016 irreecha cultural festival hrw. Ethiopia emerges from national mourning with more protests and internet shutdown. Country reports on human rights practices for 2016. The state of emergency as justification of human rights.
Ethiopias oromos mark thanksgiving festival in addis ababa for the first time in 150 years. Hiber radio on on the recent human rights council report mar 2016. Oct 08, 2016 on ethiopias general human rights situation, see 2016 world report on ethiopia. After a year of protests, time to address grave human rights concerns 9 november 2016, 10. Human rights watch denounces ethiopian governments human rights abuses photo courtesy of human rights watch human rights watchs ethiopia and eritrea researcher, mr. English analysis on ethiopia about protection and human rights.
In 2016, the use of tear gas and firearms by security forces sparked a stampede that killed dozens of people, some of whom drowned in a nearby lake. The chaos of last year is a major concern for rights groups and political watchers in the region. Several hundred ethiopianamerican demonstrators from around the u. The government of ethiopia acknowledged that more than 11,000 people have been arrested between the declaration of the state of emergency and november 2016. Oct 31, 2016 after months of violent antigovernment protests, ethiopia has released more than 2,000 held under state of emergency. This should allow the reader to gain insights both into the human. Scores of people killed at festival nairobi the ethiopian government should allow an independent, international investigation to determine how scores of people were killed at the countrys irreecha festival on october 2, 2016, human rights watch said in a questionandanswer document about the issue.
Security force response to the 2016 irreecha cultural festival. Oct 07, 2016 the ttplf knew or should have known of the virtual certainty of a stampede at the irreecha festival for several reasons. Mar 22, 2016 hiber radio on on the recent human rights council report mar 2016. The largely peaceful protests were frequently put down violently by the security forces. Sep 19, 2017 international inquiry needed into deaths at 2016 event hrw. Irreecha is the most important cultural festival of ethiopias 35 million ethnic oromos who gather to. The ethiopian human rights commissions ehrc investigation assigned blame to local officials and the oromo media network for the dozens of deaths at the october 2016 irreecha festival.
International inquiry needed into deaths at 2016 irreecha festival. Killings and arrests in response to ethiopias oromo protests ethiopia. Afr 2541782016 when the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf took control of the capital, addis ababa on 28 may 1991, amnesty international hailed the day as a break with the past and an opportunity to put human rights protection at the top. By elias meseret bishoftu, ethiopia dozens of people were crushed to death sunday in a stampede after police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse an antigovernment protest that grew out of a massive religious festival, witnesses said. Felix horne, addressed the us congress on 9 march 2017, shedding light on government abuses and human rights violations in ethiopia. Photos of ethiopias oromo irreecha festival in addis ababa. From thanksgiving ritual to strong symbol of oromo. Ethiopia s human rights abuses and political repression must be. After months of violent antigovernment protests, ethiopia has released. Locating politics in ethiopias irreecha ritual brill. Ethiopia s state of emergency bans nearly all speech that the. Oct 05, 2016 ethiopia emerges from national mourning with more protests and internet shutdown. Executive summary ethiopia is officially a federal republic.
Protests over economic conditions and widespread human rights abuses began last. Some died after falling into a deep open trench, others drowned in the nearby lake while fleeing security forces, and. In collaboration with the governmentsanctioned rights body ethiopian human rights commission ehrc, an inquiry committee of the eoc on august 8 reinstated 300 priests of the addis ababa diocese, who were suspended in 2016 by the diocesan leadership. Worlds third worst jailer of journalists detains notable critic after days of deadly protests in oromia and amhara. On october 2, 2016 scores of people, possibly hundreds, died at the annual irreecha cultural festival of ethiopia s ethnic oromo people, following a stampede triggered by security forces use of teargas and discharge of firearms in response to an increasingly restive crowd.
After the hardship of the winter months, the festival welcomes the spring. War crimes and crimes against humanity in the ogaden area of ethiopia s somali region, documented. Killings and arrests in response to ethiopia s oromo protests ethiopia. Members of the oromo community, the largest ethnic group in ethiopia are trooping to the capital, addis ababa, to mark the annual irreecha festival, an ancient thanksgiving ceremony. After irreechaa tragedy, the us must take action for human rights in ethiopia october 4, 2016 irreechaa holiday 2016. English news and press release on ethiopia about protection and human rights. Ethiopias state of emergency bans nearly all speech that the. The oromos considered to be the largest ethnic group in ethiopia about 34. Calls on the government to restore rights, address grievances nairobi, january 12, 2017 ethiopia plunged into a human rights crisis in 2016, increasing restrictions on basic rights during a state of emergency and continuing a bloody crackdown against largely peaceful protesters, human rights watch said today in its world report 2017.
Mar 05, 2017 country reports on human rights practices for 2016. The 2016 irreecha came after a yearlong protest by the oromos against systemic and structural inequalities at the heart of ethiopia s multinational federal experiment. Many oromo interviewees told human rights watch that they believe the heavyhanded security forces response at irreecha was an intentional and planned massacre, a narrative whose resonance only serves to increase tensions still further ahead of this years festival, which could be a flashpoint for further unrest. Historically, irreecha has been understood and practiced within the context of the oromo religion, waaqeffannaa a belief in one supernatural power called waaqagod. Ethiopia meets protests with bullets the washington post. Opposition and human rights groups said hundreds possibly died during the. The human rights watch analysis of the situation is informed by 15 interviews with people who witnessed and lived through the events of october 2, 2016, as well as hundreds of other interviews with people. The demonstrations had begun over ethnic and land rights in. Photos of ethiopia s oromo irreecha festival in addis ababa. The ruling ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf, a coalition of four ethnically based parties, controls the government. Any analysis of the rights of the oromo people to exercise its culture, religion, economy, governance, language and identity within the ethiopian state should be positioned within the historical trajectories that brought the birth of the modern ethiopian state, and the subsequent political, economic and cultural domination unfolded upon the subjugated peoples of the south, in which the oromo. Human rights watch has seen no evidence of that, but the perception, coupled with the past two years of brutality and unaddressed grievances, makes this years irreecha a potential flashpoint, human rights watch said.
Posts about human rights watch written by oromianeconomist. Ethiopias oromo people prepare to mark irreecha festival. Apr 08, 2020 whereas the 2016 department of state country report on human rights practices for ethiopia cited serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, killings, and torture committed by security forces, restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association, politically motivated trials, harassment, and intimidation of. When the ethiopian peoples revolutionary democratic front eprdf took control of the capital. Ethiopia 3 international religious freedom report for 2017 united states department of state bureau of democracy, human rights, and labor the soe, which was put in place in october 2016 and affected religious activities, was lifted on august 4.
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