http://amediaagency.com/deaths-and-detentions-in-ethiopia-as-protests-flare/
6 August 2016
Deaths and detentions in Ethiopia as protests flare
At least six people have been reported killed over two days of
protests in Ethiopia while dozens were arrested in the capital, Addis
Ababa.
A source told Al Jazeera that four people were killed on Saturday in
the northern Gondar region, in addition to two people killed in the
area on Friday. Located 700km north of Addis Ababa, Gondar is a region
dominated by the ethnic Amharas.
Ethiopian authorities would not confirm the death toll.
The reported deaths come as dozens of ethnic Oromo protesters were
arrested in Addis Ababa on Saturday.
At least 500 Oromo people – protesting against alleged economic
inequality and discrimination – gathered amid a heavy police presence
on the capital’s main Meskel Square.
The protesters, who shouted slogans such as “we want our freedom” and
“free our political prisoners”, were dispersed by police using batons.
Dozens were arrested.
READ MORE: The ‘Ethiopia rising’ narrative and the Oromo protests
A Reuters news agency video of the confrontation showed unarmed
protesters being beaten and kicked by police officers, as protesters
ran to evade arrest.
Prime Minister Haile Mariam Dessalegn on Friday announced a ban on
demonstrations, which “threaten national unity” and called on police
to use all means at their disposal to prevent them.
The rally was organised by opposition groups from the Oromo,
Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group, who have held protests for months
against what they say is government discrimination. They have been
joined recently by ethnic Amharas, and protests have been reported in
other parts of the country.
The Oromo and Amhara together make up some 80 percent of Ethiopia’s
population and claim they suffer discrimination in favour of ethnic
Tigrayans, who they say occupy the key jobs in the government and
security forces.
Ethiopian authorities told the AFP news agency that at least a dozen
people have been killed in clashes with police over territorial
disputes in recent weeks.
Local people told AFP there had been rallies and clashes with police
in the city of Ambo and Nemekte, in the Oromo region, as well as a
calls for protests in Baher Dar in the Amhara region.
Received on Sun Aug 07 2016 - 09:36:57 EDT