Justice in Ethiopia: Significant progress since the reform, yet tough task ahead

Recently, Maekelawi, the infamous police station that had been identified as the center of abuse and repression for a number of years has been opened for the first time to the public. This detention center stopped being operational last year soon after Prime Minister Abiy came to power.

Several political prisoners who were arrested for their perceived political views were detained here. The fate of those sent to Maekelawi, except for the more high-profile detainees, was largely unknown to the outside world. The detainees were obliged to endure incalculable sufferings at the center. “Opening up its gates and offering the public a glimpse of its brutal reality may help some former detainees deal with the trauma they endured,” stated the Human Rights Watch.

Auspiciously, since the national reform was introduced in 2018, the human rights landscape has been significantly improving in Ethiopia. As part of the reform, the nation lifted the state of emergency and released thousands of political prisoners from detention, including journalists and key opposition leaders about a year ago.

Moreover, the has been reforming repressive laws and introducing numerous other reforms, paving the way for improved respect for human rights. Lifting the ban on the opposition parts like Ginbot 7, Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) allowed all their members and other groups to return home and pursue their political ideologies peacefully.

Unlike the current circumstances, the nation had been experiencing widespread protests against government policies, and brutal security force repression before the introduction of the reform. The recurrent ethnic violence and internal displacement the state and national security forces could not manage put lives of millions at risk. The institutional and legal impediments for sustained political space were a great challenge to the nation as well.

Fortunately, as a result of the reform, the nation has made a considerable progress in improving the human rights in freedom of expression, ensuring justice and the like.

Besides releasing journalists who had been wrongfully detained or convicted on politically motivated charges, the federal attorney general’s office dropped all pending charges against bloggers, journalists and diaspora-based media organizations, including the Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), and Oromia Media Network (OMN), which had previously faced charges of violence inciting for criticizing the government. Both OMN and ESAT television stations reopened in Addis Ababa, following calls by Prime Minister Abiy for diaspora-based television stations to return.

Moreover, obstructions to access to more than 250 websites and the restriction on access to the internet and mobile applications were also lifted. And many repressive laws that used to silence dissent and restrict citizens’ meaningful engagement—including the Charities and Societies Proclamation, the Media Law, and the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation have also been revised.

There is flourishing hope across the nation for sustaining the reform and improving human rights handlings. In this regard, Premier Abiy’s determined leadership won international acclaim for its reform agenda and it continues enjoying strong support from foreign donors and most of its regional neighbors, due to its role as host of the African Union, its contributions to UN peacekeeping, regional counterterrorism efforts, and its unparalleled roles in ensuring peace and stability in the Horn.

For instance, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution encouraging Ethiopia’s government to increase respect for human rights, rule of law, and democracy. The US maintained its support for Ethiopia and announced that it supports the ongoing reform efforts.

Soon Prime Minister Abiy publically acknowledged the human rights abuses; his government took some measures to ensure accountability for past atrocities. Consequently, last November, 63 people were arrested, including former government and military officials, and business people associated with the government affiliated Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC). The officials from the former government and the military were suspected of human rights abuses while METEC officials were accused of corruption.

The arrests of former officials, security force personnel, and others implicated in rights violations and corruption would be proper progress, although some critics argue that there are still many people, including some who remain in government, who should be held accounted for past crimes. The arrest communicated a strong message that Abiy’s leadership shall no longer tolerate such abuses.

Under the current leadership, Ethiopia is moving forward a considerable distance from its culture of widespread torture. The Prime Minister soon came to office openly acknowledged that people were being tortured, and he has said his administration would have zero tolerance for torture in detention. The victims got chances to speak publicly the abuses they endured in the detention. This is a worthwhile positive move.

In connection to this, Human Rights Watch stated that though the country has accomplished a great deal in releasing the detainees from torture, it could not arrange psychological services to help the victims who are struggling with the trauma of past abuses.

Though some long-time survivors have described getting some treatment for their injuries in recent months in areas where such medical treatment is available, many torture survivors described stigma, the lack of psychosocial services to help them heal, and the lack of justice and accountability as they see their torturers walk free in their communities.

They continue to be traumatized both physically and psychologically, according to Human Rights Watch. This indicates that the nation has tough tasks ahead to foster justice and accountability.

The Ethiopian Herald September 10, 2019

 BY RUTH BENIAM

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