October 9, 2016
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailamariam Dessalegn has informed the public through the state run TV that a six month state of emergency has been declared as of October 8, 2016 because “the current situation in the country posed a threat against the people of Ethiopia”
Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn indicated in his emergency declaration that the Council of Ministers declared the state of emergency after they discussed the damage caused by protests across the country during the past week.
HRLHA reported in its “Ethiopia: The TPLF Hidden Agenda of Reducing the Oromo Population Must be Stopped” on April 17, 2016 that the Oromia regional State has fallen under the TPLF Security intelligence officer generals’ control when they removed the civil administration and declared unofficial martial law as of Febrary 26, 2016. The recent declaration is designed to legitimize the previuos military administration of TPLF government.
Background:
The protests in Oromia regional state, which have continued steadily since November 2015, escalated on October 2, 2016 after many Oromo people were killed by the Agazi force on the ground supported by helicopter gunships at the Irrecha Festival – which left reportedly at least 600 civilians dead and thousands wounded.
Therefore, the HRLHA respectfully demands that the International community including the UN Security Council take concrete actions by:
- Using its influence to put pressure on the Ethiopian government to respect international human rights, its own promised obligations, as well as domestic and International laws and refrain from its ethnic cleansing and respect the fundamental rights of Oromo Nation
- Passing a decision to intervene to stop the killings in Oromia using the mandate of the three pillars of the responsibility to protect, as stipulated in the Outcome Document of the 2005 United Nations World Summit (A/RES/60/1, para. 138-140) and formulated in the Secretary – General’s 2009 Report (A/63/677) on implementing the responsibility to protect :
- The State carries the primary responsibility for protecting populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, and their incitement;
- The international community has a responsibility to encourage and assist States in fulfilling this responsibility;
- The international community has a responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other means to protect populations from these crimes. If a State is manifestly failing to protect its populations, the international community must be prepared to take collective action to protect populations, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
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- UN Human Rights Council
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- Africa Union (AU)
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- African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North DistrictWestern Region P.O. Box 673 Banjul
The Gambia
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- The US Department of State Secretarate Secretary
His Excellency Mr. John Kerry
WASHINGTON, D.C. HEADQUARTERS
(202) 895-3500
OFMInfo@state.gov
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- UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP
Parliamentary
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
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Fax: 020 7219 5851
Email: hammondp@parliament.ukDepartmental
Street ,
London, SW1A 2AH
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Email: fcocorrespondence@fco.gov.uk
- Minister of Forenien Affairs (Canada)
His Excellency Stéphane Dion
Write to:
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Global Affairs Canada
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Ottawa, ON
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Email: Enquiry Service – On line form
Canada
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
Her Excellency Margot Wallström
Switchboard: +46 8 405 10 00
Street address: Rosenbad 4
Postal address: SE 103 33 Stockhol
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (Normway)
His Excellency BørgeBrende
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
E-mail: post@mfa.no
Phone: + 47 23 95 00 00
Address: 7. juniplassen 1, N-0032 Oslo
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