On 7 March, politicians Batir Filae, Gada Gabisa, Bilisuma Ararsa and Oromo News Network (ONN) journalists Desu Dula and Wago Nole were arrested near Burayu, central Ethiopia, immediately after visiting Abdi Regassa, former Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) leader. A police officer stopped their car as they were returning from their visit, alleging that they had taken photos when they visited Abdi Regassa. When the police stopped them, the driver stopped the car abruptly, causing another car to hit them. The police charged and detained all five for causing the accident. In a court hearing on 31 March, the charge was dropped. However, all five remain in detention. All except Gada Gabisa have been denied access to their lawyer.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
PO Box 1031, Lorenzo Te’azaz Road
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email:
[email protected]
Dear Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,
On 7 March, Batir Filae, Gada Gabisa Bilisuma Ararsa, members of OLF, and Desu Dula and Wago Nole, Oromo News Network journalists, were arrested near Burayu, Ethiopia, immediately after visiting Abdi Regassa, former OLF head, who was also arrested and arbitrarily detained three days earlier. A police officer stopped their car, accusing them of taking photos when they spoke to Abdi Regassa. Because the car was stopped abruptly, another car hit them from behind.
The police charged all five for the traffic accident and for taking photos in a police station. They were detained in police stations around Burayu town. During a court hearing on 31 March, the prosecutor told the court that they had dropped the charges against them. The court ruled that they should be released immediately, except for Bilisuma Ararsa, the driver, who should be released on bail. Despite the order, the police did not release them, and continued to detain them on the grounds that they are suspected of holding counterfeit forms of identification. With the exception of Gada Gabisa, they have all been denied access to their lawyer. Both the OLF and the ONN have grown increasingly critical of the government, and these individuals are all active members of their associations. Amnesty International believes that they have been targeted solely for their political affiliations and/or journalistic work.
I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Batir Filae, Gada Gabisa Bilisuma Ararsa, Desu Dula and Wago Nole, as they have been detained arbitrarily solely for peacefully exercising their human rights including their rights to freedom of expression and association; and ensure that until they are released, they have unhindered access to their families and lawyers and that they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment.
Yours sincerely,
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
