As Sidama referendum for a separate ethnic based statehood is happening on Wednesday November 20, rights group express concern for the security of minority ethnic groups in the region, among other issues.
borkena
November 19, 2019
Amnesty International is calling for Ethiopian government ahead of Sidama referendum, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, to “take all steps” to ensure deadly violence like the one that happened in July 2019 in the region is not happening again.
The organization’s Deputy Director for East Africa, Seif Magango, has called on the Ethiopian government not to use excessive force,guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protect the rights of ethnic minorities in Sidama region are protected.
As many as 170 people were killed when Election Board of Ethiopia disclosed in July of this year that the date for Sidama referendum were postponed. Ejeto, youth groups of radical Sidama ethnic nationalists, are believed to be behind the massacre.
Amnesty International’s statement issued on November 19,2019 reads as follows :
Ethiopia: Authorities must prevent violence and protect rights during Sidama referendum
Spokespersons available to take media interviews
Ahead of tomorrow’s referendum on a separate state for Ethiopia’s Sidama ethnic group, Amnesty International called on the Ethiopian authorities to take all steps to ensure there is no repeat of the deadly violence that broke out when the referendum was postponed in July.
“The Ethiopian authorities must take all appropriate measures to ensure a peaceful vote, including preventing excessive use of force by the security forces. They must guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and ensure that the rights of members of minority ethnic groups in Sidama are fully protected,” said Seif Magango, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
“The referendum comes at an especially tense time when violence based on ethnic differences is breaking out all over the country and people are being killed simply for expressing their opinions.”
No official death toll has been published from the clashes in July when protests broke out following the postponement of the plebiscite, but Sidama activist groups put the figure at almost 170.
Campaigners are calling for a separate state for the Sidama ethnic group, which is currently part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region. The Ethiopian constitution requires the government to organize a referendum for any ethnic group that requests a separate state.
Public Document
For more info or to arrange an interview please contact Amnesty Press Office:
+44 20 7413 5566
email: press@amnesty.org
twitter: @amnestypress
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The Demise of the Ethiopian people like Somalia is under way. The people of Ethiopia North, South, East, West need to wake up and stop following ANY political parties who have been brainwashed by the Giant NESAWCHI is not about for ethnicity/ religion, it is about eliminating Ethiopians one against another period. Tplf is the wing of Shabia that is latched on Tigrayan, it will rather eliminate Tigrayans than tplf itself. So Tigrayans need to hold hand in hand with Amara now! The same goes Oromos, the same goes Debubs. By pass these evil politicians who pretend Ehadeg is not NOT! It is just another phase with spice addition of Oromo domination but not Oromo ethnic groups say, but NESAWCHI Giant working against the people of the region. Abay Wenz, Afar is in the process of being taken over.
Tiru weray,
Ende afe ayhun eskahun lalkut, ewnet Team Lemman ewent yadirgachew, ende endetereterkut ayhun. Ityopian dil kasgebut ene Team Lemma tselote niw. Jawar betam degafi liyabej yichilal wich ager, selezih, Diasporaw baschequail Jawaren ayn enditalibet madreg yene team lemma sayhon, ye Diasporaw sira niw. Ahun min eyaderege keman gar Jawar endemigenagn, bedenb meketatel niw. Sera lemadreg eyetenkesakese niw Jawar. Diasporaw metegnat yelebetim.
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ye ityopia ayer mengedin meri Tewelde bafatagn yiwegede! yalgebagn, endenezih aynetu Hewahatochin eske zare dires siltan lemin endemiyezu aygebam. Ye ityopia ayer mengedin sim lemastefat eyetesera niw, bewist ityopian ayer menged Hewahatoch Wetew ye Jawar buchiloch gebtewal alu. Tewelde yiwta baschquai yiwegede!