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The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (ECHR) has deployed a monitoring mission to the Kaliti Correctional Center and Kilinto Prison to monitor the situation of the accused in the Jawar Mohammed et al case, who have been on strike for hunger since January 27, 2021, and other prisoners.
The Commission team visited these prisons on February 2, 2021 to investigate the current situation of prisoners on hunger strike and the treatment of Colonel Gemechu Ayana and Tilahun Yemi. The EHRC monitoring team also spoke with the prison administration of both facilities and inmates, according to the EHRC statement.
During the Commission’s visit to the Kaliti Correctional Center on February 2, 2021, Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, Hamza Adane (Borena) and Shemsedin Taha had been on hunger strike since January 27, 2021. The prisoners informed the ECHR that its purpose is “to protest the repression and violation by the government of the rights of the people and their party; ask for the harassment and mistreatment of Colonel Gemechu Ayana to cease and demand the mistreatment and imprisonment of visitors and relatives who attend their hearings and visit them in jail ”.
The administration of the Kaliti Correctional Institution, for its part, told EHRC that “most of the demands listed as reasons for the hunger strike are beyond the scope of the administration.” Adding that the administration does not mistreat the prisoners’ visitors, he explained that two of the hunger strikers are receiving close medical supervision because they have a prior health condition that requires regular medication. The Commission team was able to confirm the provision of such medical follow-up.
The EHRC also visited Colonel Gemechu Ayana and Tilahun Yemi, whose safety and security were said to be in danger in connection with a video filmed from inside the prison and circulated on social media. The two prisoners are in good health and have not suffered bodily injury. However, Colonel Gemechu Ayana expressed his consternation before the Commission at the harassment he has suffered when he was transferred to various detention areas (zones) on several occasions. He also said that he was transferred from the waiting area (area) in which he was previously “to another that puts his safety at risk.”
The prison administration says that prisoners are regularly transferred from one detention area (zone) to another and that there are other prisoners in the same area (zone) as Colonel Gemechu. During the visit, the Commission found an inmate who indicated that he had been transferred to the area (zone) for violating prison regulations.
The Kaliti Prison Administration was preparing to transfer Colonel Gemechu Ayana to another detention area following the recommendations of the EHRC in this regard, when the Federal High Court in a hearing on February 3, 2021 ordered that the prisoner be returned to Kilinto noting that the transfer of the prisoner to Kaliti did not follow due process. The Commission confirmed the transfer by visiting the detainee on February 4, 2021.
The EHRC has also investigated the treatment of Tilahun Yemi, detained on suspicion of murdering the musician Hachalu Hundessa. The detainee is in good health and has told the Commission that he has not been beaten or suffered any violation of rights in Kilinto. However, he informed the Commission that he was mistreated during his detention at a police station.
Regarding the prisoners at Kaliti Correctional Facility who are on hunger strike, EHRC Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele said that “very close supervision is required to avoid any serious threats to their health and life and that The reasonably justified demands of prisoners must be addressed. “He added that” during visits to prisons or attendance at court hearings, visitors must be treated appropriately. “
