Menu
24/03/2005
Ethiopian army branded ‘murderers and rapists’
The Ethiopian military has committed widespread murder, rape and torture against the Anuak population since December 2003, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released today.
In ‘Targeting the Anuak: Human Rights Violations and Crimes against Humanity in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region’, HRW said that the abuses detailed in the report could amount to crimes against humanity.
It says some 400 Anuak people were killed after an alleged ambush by Anuak gunmen on a government vehicle.
Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, Africa Division, Peter Takirambudde, said: “The Ethiopian government must address its responsibility for the horrific crimes that the army has committed against Anuak civilians in Gambella. While serious abuses have continued, the government has focused only on prosecuting a handful of soldiers involved in the December 2003 massacre.”
In the massacre, the military launched a series of attacks on Anuak villages that destroyed over 1000 homes and left several dozen villagers dead.
Several Anuak villagers who have reported abuses to the regional authorities told HRW that officials said there was nothing they could do to control the military, and urged them to keep quiet for their own safety. Others complained to the military authorities about rapes committed by soldiers, only to be advised that the best way to prevent such abuses was to tell women not to walk the roads alone.
HRW has called for an independent investigation into the human rights violations in Gambella from December 2003 to the present day.
(CD/SP)
In ‘Targeting the Anuak: Human Rights Violations and Crimes against Humanity in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region’, HRW said that the abuses detailed in the report could amount to crimes against humanity.
It says some 400 Anuak people were killed after an alleged ambush by Anuak gunmen on a government vehicle.
Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, Africa Division, Peter Takirambudde, said: “The Ethiopian government must address its responsibility for the horrific crimes that the army has committed against Anuak civilians in Gambella. While serious abuses have continued, the government has focused only on prosecuting a handful of soldiers involved in the December 2003 massacre.”
In the massacre, the military launched a series of attacks on Anuak villages that destroyed over 1000 homes and left several dozen villagers dead.
Several Anuak villagers who have reported abuses to the regional authorities told HRW that officials said there was nothing they could do to control the military, and urged them to keep quiet for their own safety. Others complained to the military authorities about rapes committed by soldiers, only to be advised that the best way to prevent such abuses was to tell women not to walk the roads alone.
HRW has called for an independent investigation into the human rights violations in Gambella from December 2003 to the present day.
(CD/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
16 September 2010
NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing
As the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford vowed to reshape the region's justice system to fit the needs of the people of Northern Ireland, human rights commissions across the UK have backed a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing
As the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford vowed to reshape the region's justice system to fit the needs of the people of Northern Ireland, human rights commissions across the UK have backed a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
23 November 2011
Quality Of Elderly Care Breaching Human Rights
An inquiry into the treatment of the elderly by the 'home care' system has found the quality of care was in breach of human rights.
Quality Of Elderly Care Breaching Human Rights
An inquiry into the treatment of the elderly by the 'home care' system has found the quality of care was in breach of human rights.
12 August 2004
Groundbreaking research into human cloning gets go-ahead
The first licence to create human embryonic stem cells for cloning has been awarded to a research team based in Newcastle. Under the terms of the one-year licence granted to Newcastle Centre for Life, stem cells created using a technique called therapeutic cloning can only be used for research purposes only.
Groundbreaking research into human cloning gets go-ahead
The first licence to create human embryonic stem cells for cloning has been awarded to a research team based in Newcastle. Under the terms of the one-year licence granted to Newcastle Centre for Life, stem cells created using a technique called therapeutic cloning can only be used for research purposes only.
11 June 2012
Liberty Calls For Inquest In Soldiers Death
Human rights group Liberty have called for a judicial review into the inquest of a soldier who hanged herself after alleging two colleagues had raped her. 30-year-old Cpl Anne-Marie Ellement, from Bournemouth, was serving as a military policewoman when she died at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire in October.
Liberty Calls For Inquest In Soldiers Death
Human rights group Liberty have called for a judicial review into the inquest of a soldier who hanged herself after alleging two colleagues had raped her. 30-year-old Cpl Anne-Marie Ellement, from Bournemouth, was serving as a military policewoman when she died at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire in October.
30 June 2010
No Human Rights' Protection For Troops
Human rights protection does not apply to British troops involved in conflict - that's according to the Supreme Court that has ruled that UK soldiers are not protected by human rights laws on the battlefield.
No Human Rights' Protection For Troops
Human rights protection does not apply to British troops involved in conflict - that's according to the Supreme Court that has ruled that UK soldiers are not protected by human rights laws on the battlefield.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
