Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Ethiopia violence is ‘internal affair’: Egypt - Daily News Egypt

Ethiopia violence is ‘internal affair’: Egypt - Daily News Egypt: "Ethiopia violence is ‘internal affair’: Egypt
HRW cited 75 deaths after military forces fired at demonstrations

Daily News Egypt 15 hours ago 0 Comments
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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid told reporters Monday that the current unrest in Ethiopia is an “internal issue”, adding that Egypt hopes for “continuing stability in the country”.

Abu Zaid added in a statement that “Ethiopia is an important African country”, whose stability and safety will benefit the continent.

Last week, 75 protesters were killed in Ethiopia after police fired on them, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

“Police and military forces have fired on demonstrations, killing at least 75 protesters and wounding many others, according to activists,” HRW said in a statement.

Protests took place in the cities of Haramaya, Jarso, Walliso and Robe.

Ethiopian security forces also arrested protesters, according to witnesses.

Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo, are protesting against plans to build on their lands as part of the government’s Integrated Regional Development Plan, which aims to expand the Ethiopian capital’s jurisdiction to Oromia.

Addressing the population explosion in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian government sees the building of infrastructure that links the city to other neighbouring cities as a way to alleviate some of the pressure on public resources in the Ethiopian capital."



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Sunday, December 20, 2015

Scores dead in Ethiopian protest crackdown, says rights group | News | DW.COM | 19.12.2015

Activists in Berlin have protested the Ethiopian government's response to the Oromo protestshttp://www.dw.com/en/scores-dead-in-ethiopian-protest-crackdown-says-rights-group/a-18929680Scores dead in Ethiopian protest crackdown, says rights group | News | DW.COM | 19.12.2015: "Scores dead in Ethiopian protest crackdown, says rights group
A human rights watchdog has reported that 75 people have been killed protesting a government project in the Oromia region. The government has described the protesters as "terrorists," prompting international concern.

Fatal clashes in Ethiopia
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Saturday that at least 75 people had been killed in recent weeks while protesting an urban renewal plan in the Oromo region surrounding the capital, Addis Ababa.
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Outcry as Oromo protests in Ethiopia turn violent
Opposition groups say security forces have killed several people during weeks of protests over a government re-zoning plan. Members of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group view the plan as an infringement on their rights.
"Police and military forces have fired on demonstrations, killing at least 75 protesters and wounding many others, according to activists," the human rights watchdog said in a statement.
In November, students peacefully demonstrated against government plans to take over territory in several towns across the region.
However, the unrest was met with a severe response, including government forces using firearms against protesters.
'Dangerous escalation'
"The Ethiopian government's response to the Oromo protests has resulted in scores dead and a rapidly rising risk of greater bloodshed," said HRW's Deputy Africa Director Leslie Lefkow.
"The government's labeling of largely peaceful protesters as 'terrorists' and deploying military forces is a very dangerous escalation of this volatile situation," Lefkow added.
Government spokesman Getachew Reda said the "peaceful demonstrations" that began in November escalated into violence, blaming the protesters for "terrorizing the civilians."
He said only five people had died, dismissing the higher toll reported by activists.
Oromo opposition leader Bekele has announced his support for peaceful protests, according to DPA news agency.
"Grievances have accumulated over the years. Over the evictions, but also over the lack of democracy in this country, the human rights abuses and the level of poverty," Gerba said in a statement.

Activists in Berlin have protested the Ethiopian government's response to the Oromo protests
International outcry
The US State Department on Saturday expressed concern over the crackdown, urging the government to allow "peaceful protests."
"The United States is deeply concerned by the recent clashes in the Oromia region of Ethiopia that reportedly have resulted in the deaths of numerous protesters," the State Department said in a statement."



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Thursday, December 17, 2015

Ethiopia: Amnesty warns against 'brutal crackdown' on protesters - BBC News



Ethiopian immigrants from the Oromo region in Djibouti on 5 December 2010Image copyrightAFP
Image captionMany Oromo people flee Ethiopia to take refuge in neighbouring states
Anti-terror rhetoric by Ethiopia's government could escalate into a brutal crackdown on protesters, human rights group Amnesty International has warned.Ethiopia: Amnesty warns against 'brutal crackdown' on protesters - BBC News: "Ethiopia: Amnesty warns against 'brutal crackdown' on protesters
16 December 2015
From the section Africa
Image copyrightAFP
Image caption
Many Oromo people flee Ethiopia to take refuge in neighbouring states
Anti-terror rhetoric by Ethiopia's government could escalate into a brutal crackdown on protesters, human rights group Amnesty International has warned.
A plan to expand the capital's administrative control into the Oromia region has sparked deadly protests.
The government has accused Oromo protestors of links with terrorist groups and trying to topple the state.
Amnesty says the claims aim to justify repression of those protesting against feared land seizures.
The Oromo make up Ethiopia's biggest ethnic group, at about 27 million people.
Oromia is the country's largest region, surrounding the capital Addis Ababa.

Authorities say five people have died in protests so far, but opposition parties and human rights groups say the number is closer to 40.
Protesters also say they fear cultural persecution if what has been dubbed a "master plan" to integrate parts of Oromia into Addis Ababa go ahead.
'Chilling'
Some have also raised the prospect that they will be forcibly evicted and their land taken amid the rapid expansion of the capital.
"The suggestion that these Oromo - protesting against a real threat to their livelihoods - are aligned to terrorists will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression for rights activists," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty's Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
In April last year the same plan sparked months of student protests.
The government said at the time that 17 people had died in the violence, but human rights groups said that the number was much higher."



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