Local residents and human rights organisations say that Ethiopia's Federal
Police force has killed at least eight people in Kurkura area of Afar,
Eastern Ethiopia following the inter-clan conflict between the Afar and the
Somali people last week. The Afar People Party (APP) on its part says the
number of people killed amounts to twelve.
The local people near Awash Sebat Kilo have blocked transportation to
Djibouti port for 12 hours after the police took the actions.
Although the officials of Afar region travelled to the area to talk to the
people, the people responded saying that they do not represent them.
The blockade reportedly stopped after three officers of the Ethiopian
Defense Forces promised the people that the problems will be solved within
ten days.
A resident of the area told ESAT in a phone interview that she witnessed the
killing of eight people including an eighty-five years old elderly. She said
another pregnant woman who was crying for her killed son was severely
beaten. She said although the government has gone to Somalia to do
'peacekeeping', it has completely forgotten its own citizens here.
Gaas Ahmed, Chairman of the Afar Human Rights Organisation, said he has
gotten the list of the deceased. He said there is also a meeting now
underway in Dire Dawa to demarcate the borders of the two regional states.
Gaas said the Afar people have to fight for their rights. He asked all
parties and international human rights organisations to stand with the
people.
ESAT's efforts to speak to government officials regarding the issues has not
been successful.