EXTERNALAI Index: AFR 04/04/96

2 December 1996

Further information (3) on UA 211/96 (AFR 04/01/96, 23 August 1996) and follow-ups AFR 04/02/96, 17 September and AFR 04/03/96, 22 October) - Fear for safety / Refoulement / "Disappearance"

ETHIOPIA / DJIBOUTIGirmay Moges Newaye-Mariam

Muyhadin Muftah

Hussein Ahmed Aydrus

Yusuf Hersi Ollow

Elmi Ahmed

Abdiqadir Dahir

Abdikarim Hussein Hassan

Ahmed Mohamed

Abdullahi Haliye

Abdullahi Qaji

Amnesty International has received reports that Abdullahi Haliye is suffering from torture injuries, including leg fractures, for which he is not being allowed medical treatment. He is reportedly detained in the military headquarters in Addis Ababa. Hussein Ahmed Aydrus is also reportedly suffering from torture injuries, unable to stand or walk, and is being denied medical treatment. His whereabouts in detention in Addis Ababa are not known.

None of the Somali detainees who were returned from Djibouti and Somaliland has been taken to court or charged, and all are still detained in secret and incommunicado.

Girmay Moges Newaye-Mariam is still detained without charge in Mekelle prison. He is permanently kept in handcuffs.

Muhyadin Muftah is still "disappeared" since he was forcibly returned from Djibouti on 23 August 1996.

Amnesty International has received a response from Somaliland President Mohamed Ibrahim Egal strongly criticising the organization's interventions on behalf of the three Ethiopian Somalis forcibly returned from Somaliland. Amnesty International's Secretary General will reply and no further action in this regard is requested from UA participants.

No reply has been received from the Djibouti government, although the government has reportedly affirmed future adherence to the principle of non-refoulement of refugees. No further action on this is requested from UA participants.

Thank you for your interventions - we request further appeals as below to the Ethiopian authorities.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/airmail letters in English or your own language:

- expressing concern at reports that Abdullahi Haliye, Hussein Ahmed Aydrus and possibly others of the Somali detainees who were returned to Ethiopia by the Somaliland and Djibouti authorities have been tortured and are being denied medical treatment;

- asking for a public statement on the whereabouts of these "disappeared" detainees and of Muhyadin Muftah;

- calling for assurances that they will be treated humanely and urging that they are given immediate access to their families, legal counsel and medical doctors of their choice and urging that they either be taken to court and charged with recognizable criminal offences without further delay or released.

APPEALS TO:

President

His Excellency Dr Negaso Gidada

President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Office of the President

P O Box 1031, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Telegrams: President Negaso, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Faxes: +2511 552 030

Salutation: Your Excellency

Prime Minister

His Excellency Meles Zenawi

Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Office

P O Box 1031, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Telegrams: Prime Minister Meles, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Faxes: +2511 552 030

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice

Mr Mahteme Solomon

Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice

P O Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Telegrams: Justice Minister, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Faxes: +2511 550 722 / 514 300

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 13 January 1997.