

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – Statement by OLLAA on Reaction of Various Parties to the Release of Political Prisoners (01.08.2022)





Today, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UN HRC), European Union Envoys and United States Special Envoys has both asked the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) to open up for the UN HRC Investigation into the atrocities, which has happened in the Tigray since the “Law Enforcement Operation” was launched in November 2020.
Even as the photos are coming with the Special Envoys in Mekelle in the Tigray region. I doubt that UN HRC and the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) will get total access and freely operate within the Tigray region. They will most likely followed, told where to go and barely get to dig deep. The Tigray region is besieged and there is also a total blockade of internet and communications in general.
The Addis Ababa regime of the Prosperity Party have blocked other investigations and journalists from uncovering the actions of the state. This with the blockade of humanitarian aid and need of basic equipment. So, when a government does that to region months on end. Why would it expose it and show it sinister actions? We know the Ethiopian government wants to keep their citizens and the world in the dark. About the grim actions made by state sponsored violence and bureaucratic hurdles it has put on the population of Tigray.
So, the statements from the UN HRC and EU/US Special Envoys is important, but I don’t think it would get far…
“The Commission’s experts – Ms. Kaari Betty Murungi – Chair (Kenya), Mr. Steven Ratner (USA), and Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka) – met with government officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, and other senior officials. They also met with members of the National Dialogue Commission and Inter-Ministerial Task Force, members of the Ethiopia National Human Rights Commission, members of civil society, diplomats, and UN agencies and staff in Ethiopia to discuss the current human rights situation in the country. During its meetings with government officials, the Commission discussed modalities for cooperation, including its interpretation of its mandate, and reiterated its requests for access to areas relevant for its investigation. The Commission hopes that the government will provide it with unhindered access without delay, so that it may visit sites and speak freely and privately with survivors, witnesses, and other persons of interest” (UN Human Rights Council – ‘Members of Human Rights Body Conclude First Mission to Ethiopia’ 02.08.2022, Reliefweb.int).
“Accountability is a key foundation for reconciliation. In this vein, the Envoys urged cooperation with, and access to the conflict areas for, the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) to enable them to conduct a credible investigation” (European Union External Affairs – ‘Ethiopia: EU and US Special Envoys Visit to Mekelle, Tigray’ 02.08.2022, eeas.europe.eu).
The statements here is fine and dandy. Nevertheless…
This is all up to the authorities, the bureaucracy and the regime in Addis Ababa. They have to open up and allow access to the investigators. The Prosperity Party have to give them way and let them do as they please. So, that these UN Experts can asses and investigate the matter properly. However, the rulers and the regime in Addis Ababa isn’t open and a government that cares about transparency at this point. That’s why journalists are easily arrested and media houses suspended. The government can easily crush and silence critical voices. They would most likely get reports and stories, which the state want to “mute” or “kill”. Because, it counters the messaging of the government itself. The Prime Minister and his cronies cannot have that and that would humiliate them. As they only came there in the name of “law and order”. Peace.















