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Ref.: OHRC/07/96
Date: August 7th, 1996
Summary of human rights abuses
1. Extrajudicial killings
2. Arbitrary detentions
3. Gang raping and child molestation
4. Looting and confiscation of personal property
5. Mining around water wells and caravan routes
6. Demolition of residences
7. Staging a campaign of terror directed to women
and children to depopulate the main towns in the Ogaden
8. Refusal and holding back the salaries of the
civil servants more than six months, and dismissal of more than
15 000 civil servants for their political affiliation in the
Ogaden.
In the last two months (June and July 1996),
the Ethiopian governments security and army forces rounded up
and detained hundreds of civilians in all main towns in the
Ogaden. The detainees were massed in military detention camps.
Extrajudicial executions, torture, rape and widespread looting
by the government forces were reported and confirmed by adequate
witnesses (survivors of the massacres, released detainees or
relatives).
In an attempt to restrict people’s movements,
and terrorize the civilian population, TPLF/EPRDF (Tigray People’s
Liberation Front / Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic
Front) forces indiscriminately mined areas where nomads congregate,
particularly water wells and caravan routes which lead to neighboring
countries, in order to stop trade movements and starve out the
ogadeni people.
The Ogaden Human Rights Committee fears for
the safety and well being of many people detained in different
towns in the Ogaden, and in Addis Ababa. The OHRC’s fear is
heightened by constant reports of executions, disappearances,
torture, or ill-treatment of the detainees to extract confessions
by government security and army forces.
The following cases are illustrative of the
above assertions: On 18 June 1996, the EPRDF militias killed
in a cold blood massacre five tribe chiefs in Hodayo. Their
names are:
1. Gahnug Yusuf Aare
killed
Clan elder Hodayo
2. Haybe Hirad
killed
Clan elder Hodayo
3.Mohamedaw Farah Ga’iye
killed
Clan elder Hodayo
4.Mohamed Abbi Hirsi
killed
Clan elder Hodayo
5.Abdi Mohamed Yare
killed
Clan elder Hoday
Few among the detainees in Addis-Ababa and
Dire Dawa (Diri Dhabo) -most of the are being held incommunicado
detention- are:
1.Ibrahim Adan Mohamoud
M. Parliament
2.Ali Bashe
M. Parliament
3.Abdirashid Ahmed
M. Parliament
4.Mohamed Akhi
Relief Org. Chairman
5.Riyaale Haamud
M. Parliament
released then redetained
6.Ibrahim & Bashir Abdulkadir
Businessmen
detained and looted then released
7. Mohamoud Moalin Farah
Businessman
detained and never seen again.
8.Hure Mohamed Ugaas
Civil Servant
9.Sheikh Nur Baruud
blind religious scholar
detained maltreated.
10.Dhuubane Ali
Civilian
detained and tortured.
The following three Mps and the businessman
were detained on 13 July’96, in Diri-dhabo then transferred
to an unknown destination:
11.Sheikh Abdinasir Sh. Adan
M. Parliament
12.Nur Gooni
M. Parliament
13.Khadar Moalin Ali
M. Parliament
14.Farah Sheikh Bihi
Businessman
15.Hassan Abdi
Civilian
killed in Dhagaxbuur
16.Abdulkadir Abdi
Civilian
detained in Godey
17.Dhiigshiil Ali
Businessman
detained in Addis-Ababa
18. Ahmed Makaahiil
M. Parliament
still in detention in Jigjiga
The EPDRF militias massacred eighteen civilians
in Dhanan region among them were the following:
19.Sirad Hussein
20. Bedal Wadsagaar
21. Abdi Muhumed
22. Mohamed Ibrahim
23. Abdi Fikir Ali
Qabri Bayah massacre clamed the lives of
eight prominent businessmen, among them were:
24. Ahmed Ali Muse
25. Abdisafar Osman Muhumed
26. Abdulwahid Abdullahi Farah
27. Hassan Kilaas
Ogaden Human Rights Committee has documented
more than forty rape cases since the beginning of this year
1996, including child molestation by the government forces and
demolition of more than three hundred houses owned by innocent
civilians.
Recommendations and appeals
The Ogaden Human Rights committee appeals
and recommends that:
1. International community take a prompt
action to stop the human sufferings and senseless carnages in
the Ogaden. The sooner the better.
2. United Nations appoint human rights observers
to monitor human rights abuses in the Ogaden.
3. The Ethiopian government allow all humanitarian
and relief organizations to operate in the Ogaden without restrictions
or impediment as well as international press.
Ogaden
Human Rights Committee
OGADEN ROMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
( OHRC )
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