APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has released a report suggesting that a wide range of human rights abuses in the Amhara region included extrajudicial killings.
The pro-government human right group said on Saturday that it spoke to residents, victims, families of victims and eyewitnesses as part of its investigation of reported rights abuses.
While confirming that armed struggles spread to districts in many areas of the Amhara region, it said the human cost of civilians is worsening.
The commission indicated in its statement that there have been killings ( between August 25 and September 5) in Debre Markos, Adet, Merawi, Debre Tabor, Delgi, Majete, Shewa Robit and Antshokia – including surrounding rural localities.
The rights group said civilians were killed within the context of the ongoing conflict [between the Ethiopian Defense Force and ‘Fano’ combatants]. The commission said that it has confirmed from residents and family members that civilians were killed while in their own residence and during farming activity – among other cases.
From the report, residential areas and social service providing organizations were deliberately targeted by artillery shelling.
EHRC described the level of extrajudicial killing in the Amhara region as “worrisome.”
Merto Lemariam, Adet, Jiga, Debre Markos, Merawi, Majete, Shewarobit and Antsokia are among the places where the Ethiopian Defense Force carried out extrajudicial killings.
It also said that an arbitrary arrest has happened in Amhara and Oromia regions as well as Addis Ababa City. However, the commission did not disclose the total number of people arrested by authorities with no power to do so. The number of people killed so far, including through extrajudicial killing, is unspecified.
MG/as/APA