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Images: Submitted to Addis Standard by activists
By Etenesh Abera @EteneshAb
Addis Ababa, October 28, 2020 – The strong military presence in Bahir Dar, the capital of the regional state of Amhara, has prevented several people from gathering for a rally initially called by the opposition Amhara National Movement (NAMA) for today.
Despite the decision of the regional authorities to reject the demonstration, which was called to denounce repeated deadly attacks against civilian members of the Amhara community in various parts of the country, and the subsequent warning of the consequences, several residents of the city of Bahir Dar met this morning at places such as the Papyrus roundabout, but were met with a heavy presence from the federal army, regional police and the militia, according to two city residents who spoke with Addis Standard by phone.
Miseganaw, a city resident who asked to be cited by first name only, said: “We have been at the Papyrus roundabout since 6:30 am; As the number of participants increased, we began to chant our slogans out loud. When we switched to the road leading to Saint George, we encountered a heavy police presence and they forcibly dispersed us. ” According to him, the security forces, especially the members of the regional special police riot squad, used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Another eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation said that security forces arrested an unknown number of participants while trying to take the injured to various health centers in the city. Addis Standard attempts to reach the city police were in vain.
Today’s rally was convened by NAMA and was scheduled to take place in cities across the Amhara regional state with a follow-up rally convened on November 1 in Addis Ababa. However, it was rejected by the regional government whose head of the communication office, Gezachew Muleneh, said that the demonstration was not sanctioned by the regional state. He warned that the security forces, including the police, will take appropriate action on anyone who contravenes the statement.
Yesterday, the Addis Ababa police surrounded senior NaMA officials who were discussing the regional government’s announcement and the ways in which the demonstration could be carried out “by preventing our members from leaving the compound,” according to the statement released by the match. NaMA subsequently said that it would no longer take any responsibility for a possible rally to be held today, as its members were prohibited from coordinating the rally by traveling outside of the capital.
Amnesty International condemned the regional government’s decision to ban the demonstration as “illegal and unnecessary”.
“People have the right to protest to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. They should not be killed, injured or arrested simply for expressing their views, but should be able to count on the protection of the authorities to exercise their right to peaceful assembly, ”said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. HOW
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