OIN, May 12, 2001

The Government of Ethiopia, dominated by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), has escalated its violent suppression of peaceful student protests accross the country. Following the killing of an Oromo student, Sime Tarfa, in Mekele the TPLF government forces brutally crushed university student protests in which over 40 people were killed and over 250 people were injured in Finfine (Addis Ababa). Such violence has now spilled over to several cities and towns. The government has blocked telephone lines to these cities to prevent the news from reaching western media.

Gida Kiramu

In Gida Kiramu of Eastern Wollega, family members joined protesting students in demanding that the government explain the killing of Sime Tarfa in Mekele, in the hometown of TPLF. In the Gida-Kiramu region the public joined the student protesters at the burial service of Sime Tarfa and demanded that the government bring the case to criminal inquiry. The Gida-Kiramu public warned the government that they are not going to pay tax until their right and the right of the children is respected and justice is done for killing of Sime Tarfa. Suspecting that the public and students might join the mass protest in the city of Nekemt, the capital of eastern Wollega and surrounding areas are under military surveillance.

Adama (Nazreth)

In Adama also known as Nazreth the government forces killed 22 people and arrested over hundred students. In an attempt to control the mass unrest the TPLF government killed 22 students. Among them 16 students died on the spot while six students died later in hospital. Among the hundreds of arrested students were children under the age of 15 years. Since then the city of Adama has been under military supervision. Last year, in the same city where a protest against the government for deliberately burning natural forests of Oromia took place, 9 students were excluded from pursuing further studies in college. The TPLF government also fired three Oromo teachers from their jobs in the college. Among them:

1. Bahiru Bayyisa
2. Sileshi Dabbabba
3. Zakkariyas

Assala

In Arsi region, mass protests are still going on in Assela, Shashemene, Kofale, and other small towns. As a result, the city of Assela is monitored by helicopters and over three hundred military forces arrived from Awasa to control and monitor the city of Shashemene. To divert the attention of public protesters against the government, the TPLF forces burned an Orthodox Church in Arsi. The TPLF force deliberately burned an Orthodox Church to create a misunderstanding and suspecting between the people.

Gindaberet Kachisi:

In Kachisi town located about 180 Km from Finfine (Addis Abeba) 5 student protesters are killed many others are wounded and arrested. The name of students who are killed:

1. Hunduma Dheressa (Male)
2. Damelesh Daksissa (Female)
3. Masresha Doboch (Male)
4. Dhaba Kidanemariam (Male)
5. Tolera Mossissa (Male)

The teachers who are arrested:

1. Ayalaa Nagaraa
2. Tadassa Dhuguma
3. Waquma Bucuqa
4. Alemu Marga
5. Kumsa Milkessa
6. Gonfa Goshu
7. Tadalla

The nearby Ambo City where the student movement started last year against the government for burning the natural tropical forests and where the Government killed several of them is currently under military supervision.

Popular unrest continues in other parts of the country.