MASS KILLINGS IN THE OGADEN:

 

DAILY ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS BY THE ETHIOPIAN ARMED FORCES

 

 

 

A REPORT PREPARED

 

BY

 

THE OGADEN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

 

(OHRC)

 

 

 
 
FEBRUARY 20TH, 2006.                                                                                      GODEY, OGADENIA

 

 

Contents

 

 TOC \o \h \z Abbreviations. 3

MASS KILLINGS IN THE OGADEN:. PAGEREF _Toc128031815 \h 5

DAILY ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS BY THE ETHIOPIAN ARMED FORCES.. PAGEREF _Toc128031816 \h 5

RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPEALS.. PAGEREF _Toc128031817 \h 7

BACKGROUND.. PAGEREF _Toc128031818 \h 9

i.    Extrajudicial Executions. 11

Qabridaharre Massacre. 11

Farmadow Massacre. 12

Shilaabo Massacre. 12

Madax-Maroodi Massacre. 13

Karin- Bilcille Massacre. 13

ii.    Forced Disappearances. 14

iii.    Crime of Rape. 15

iv.    Torture and ill- Treatment 17

q      Persecution of Somalis from the Ogaden in Hargeisa. 18

Ø    Torture Methods. 19

v.    Illegal Imprisonment 20

vi.    Other Human Rights Abuses. 22

q      DISPLACING AND STARVING OUT OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION   22

a.    August 2005 Elections.. 24

b.    Drought and Food Shortage.. 26

ANNEXES... 28

CLASSIFIED LISTS OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES    28

I.     Summary Executions. 28

Il. Disappearances. 32

III.Detention, Torture, III- Treatment and Looting.. 33


 

 

Abbreviations

 

                                                     

Dergue              Provisional Military Administrative Council, the former

                         military communist regime of Mengistu

DEVW              Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women

DPPC                Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission

EPRDF             Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, the

                           ruling party

ERRC               Ethiopian Relief and Rehabilitation Commission

ICESCR           International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

ICCPR             International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

ICRC                International Committee of the Red Cross

OHRC              Ogaden Human Rights Committee

ONLF               Ogaden National Liberation Front

OWDA             Ogaden Women's Democratic Association

SMRTP            Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners

SPDP                Somali People’s Democratic Party - Regional Pro-EPRDF Party

TPLF                Tigray People's Liberation Front, the dominant party in

                           the EPRDF ruling coalition

TRS                   Tigray Relief Society

UDHR               Universal Declaration of Human Rights

*                         Indicates the concerned person


 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC)

 

 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC) is an independent, voluntary, non-political non-profit making organisation, founded on June 13th 1995, in Godey, Ogadenia, to monitor and promote the observance of internationally accepted human rights standards in the Ogaden. It investigates all allegations of human rights abuses, and when it is satisfied that the claim is authentic, documents it.

 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee prepares reports, press releases and appeals to publicise human rights violations in the Ogaden by the Ethiopian government. It campaigns for the improvement and respect of basic human rights by educating the people and putting the spotlight on the Ethiopian human rights record in the Ogaden.

 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee is supported by contributions from its members. It accepts unconditional funds from private individuals and foundations.

 

The Organisation is based in Godey, Ogadenia, and has branches throughout the Ogaden.

 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee has associate members in Switzerland, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, USA, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.

 

For enquiries and contributions all correspondence and donations should be channelled through international co-ordination offices of the Ogaden Human Rights Committee in Europe and North America.

Switzerland

Tel: 41 79 4682 342

The Netherlands

Tel: 31 61 348 1507

Canada

Tel: 613 7367 647

USA

Tel: 612 721 6470

Fax: 612 721 6442

E-mail:ohrc@ogadenrights.org

www.ogadenrights.org


 

Ogaden Human Rights Committee

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 20th, 2006                        Executive Summary      OHRC/AR/06

Since 1995, the Ogaden Human Rights Committee has been closely monitoring the human rights situation in the Ogaden. The OHRC issued several reports, press releases and urgent appeals about the unacceptable gross human rights violations in the Ogaden Region by the Ethiopian government.

Since, OHRC’s last report, Ogaden: Downtrodden and Disenfranchised People, January 22nd 2004, the human rights situation in the region did not improve but it has deteriorated dramatically as detailed in this report.

This Report is based on a painstaking field research carried out by Ogaden Human Rights Committee’s researchers throughout the Ogaden.

The report documents human rights violations in the Ogaden, including illegal imprisonment without charge or trial, enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial executions, abduction, forced labour, hostage-taking, abusive dismissals, ethnic discrimination and religious persecution carried out by the Ethiopian government. The OHRC has documented so far: 2036 extrajudicial killings; 2940 disappearance cases; 1870 rape and child molestation cases; 15332 cases of unlawful private property confiscation; and demolition of 9484 houses owned by innocent civilians. These violations took place between the years 1992 and 2005, in rural areas as well as urban areas. To the best of the Ogaden Human Rights Committee’s knowledge, no one has been charged for this horrendous crime.

Victims of human rights abuses and their relatives have been warned not to speak of their experiences to anyone, especially to the International Humanitarian Organisations, which operate in some parts of the region, or else they would be severely punished. So, the victims and their relatives are too afraid to tell their ordeal.

However, many victims and their families gave their testimonies on condition that their real names should not be used, while others who are not in danger accepted their real names to be used. Some of their graphic accounts of misery, fear and brutalities are included in this report.

The report begins with appeals and recommendations to the international community, donor countries and United Nations as well as individuals, local human rights and humanitarian organizations for urgent action to stop immediately human rights violations in the Ogaden by the Ethiopian government.

 The report gives a historical background overview of mass killings, which have taken place in the Ogaden region since the Ethiopian occupation, more than a century ago. Those massacres have taken place in different localities at various times in urban areas as well as rural areas. The latest massacres and other atrocities took place in 2005, in Qabridaharre, Foolxeex, Farmadow, Gurdumi, Madax-Maroodi, Karin-Bilcille…etc

As the case is with all OHRC’s reports, this report provides a detailed documentation of the specific human rights violations that the Somali population in the Ogaden are subjected to on a daily basis.

The human suffering of the Somalis from the Ogaden in Hargeisa Central Jail, northwest Somalia (Somaliland) is also mentioned in the report.

Last year’s Ethiopian elections, which were marred by massive irregularities and the looming famine in the Ogaden are also included in the report.

The OHRC welcomes wholeheartedly, UK government’s decision to withhold direct budget support to the Ethiopian government, and calls upon the international community and donor countries to take similar actions in order to force the Ethiopian government to honour its commitments to internationally accepted human rights principles.

The international community should take note that the human rights violations presented in detail in this report and the previous reports are flagrant violations of rights and freedoms guaranteed by International Human Rights Treaties, acceded to or ratified by Ethiopia.

 Finally, the report presents annexes of a detailed listing of the victims of human rights violations, which the Ogaden Human Rights Committee have been able to compile, along with the dates and names of the places where the violations took place.

 

 

 

 

MASS KILLINGS IN THE OGADEN:

 DAILY ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS BY THE ETHIOPIAN ARMED FORCES

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPEALS

 

Although prestigious international and national human rights organizations, have issued several reports about well-documented human rights violations in the Ogaden and elsewhere in Ethiopia by the current Ethiopian government, the international community has remained tight‑lipped about those violations for the last fourteen years. Nevertheless, the Ogaden Human Rights Committee has not given up hope of the international community's help to force Ethiopia to honour its commitments to internationally accepted human rights principles. Hence, the OHRC requests and recommends the following:

 

To: the International Community, Donor Countries and United Nations:

 

§        The international community publicly censure Ethiopia over its human rights record in the Ogaden.

§        United Nations Security Council form an independent inquiry commission to investigate recent massacres and atrocities in QABRIDAHARRE, FOOLXEEX, FARMADOW, GURDUMI …etc

§        The United Nations appoint a Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Ogaden.

§        The Ethiopian government should be held responsible for infamous mass killings; disappearances, rape, arbitrary arrests, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and perpetrators of those atrocities should be brought before an international tribunal.

§        The international community intervene to stop human sufferings and senseless carnage in the Ogaden. The sooner the better.

§        United Nations Security Council freeze all foreign bank accounts belonging to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his entourage.

§        United Nations Security Council impose visa and travel restrictions on Ethiopian government officials.

§        The international community refrain from aiding and supporting the Ethiopian government as long as it violates human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Somali people in the Ogaden.

§        The Ethiopian government allow all humanitarian and relief organizations to operate in the Ogaden without restrictions as well as national and international human rights organizations and the international press.

§        The international donor community help the Somali people in the Ogaden generously and directly through international NGOs in order to assure the reach of the food aid to the victims of the famine.

 

TO: INDIVIDUALS, LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND

  HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS

                                           

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee requests individuals, local human rights and humanitarian organizations to support its efforts to promote and improve the human rights cause in the Ogaden, and recommends the following:

 

Please write to your Foreign Ministry:

Ø     Asking that your government exerts pressure on Ethiopia to improve its human rights record in the Ogaden.

Ø     Urging that all political prisoners be either immediately and unconditionally released or charged with recognized criminal offences, and given fair trials; and be given unrestricted and regular access to their family members and to, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (name some or all from those in this report or in other OHRC’s reports, which you can get in OHRC’s web site www.ogadenrights.org).

Ø     Expressing concern at the disappearance of a large number of suspected government opponents in the notorious military detention camps throughout the Ogaden and asking their whereabouts (name some or all from those in this report or in other OHRC’s reports, which you can get in OHRC’s web site www.ogadenrights.org).

Ø     Asking your government to support the Ogaden Human Rights Committee's efforts to appoint a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights as well as sending a fact‑finding mission to the Ogaden in order to stop and prevent more human rights violations in that country.

 

Please copy your letter to diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your country as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The address is:

 

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Palais des Nations

1211 Geneva 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Injustices and human rights abuses inflicted upon the Somali people in the Ogaden date back to the Ethiopian occupation of the first part of the Ogaden more than a century ago.

 

Successive Ethiopian governments including the current EPRDF government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi treat the Somalis as a negligible minority, who have no rights whatsoever in their own country.

In the past Ethiopian governments transferred thousands of Ethiopian settlers into the Ogaden in an attempt to change the demographic nature of the region, eliminate the Somali national identity and to transform the Ogaden into a region of Ethiopia, in which indigenous Somalis will be an insignificant minority.

When the transformation and assimilation policies failed the Ethiopian governments adopted a policy of intimidation and physical elimination, which resulted in enormous human suffering which has no parallel in the world.

In 1948, when the British government ceded illegally a great part of the Ogaden to Ethiopia, the Ethiopian occupation forces killed in a cold-blood massacre more than one hundred people, who were protesting peacefully against the hand over of Jigjiga area to Ethiopia.

In 1960s, the Ethiopian Imperial Army razed to the ground many Somali towns, among them were, Aisha’a Dhagahbour, Qalaafo and Danood killing hundreds of defenceless civilians.

In 1974, when the military junta overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie's theocratic rule, the new Dergue communist military junta enforced more oppressive policies in the Ogaden. Summary executions, arbitrary detentions and dispossessing the people of their properties were commonplace.

 

On February 22nd 1994, a cold-blood massacre took place in the town of Wardheer, where Ethiopian government forces killed more than 81 unarmed civilians.

In December 1997, the Ethiopian army razed to the ground the villages of Weerare, Laan-jaleelo, Xero-bilcir, Garaan, Lix-irdood, Samo and Masaarre, killing many defenceless civilians. The government troops looted at gunpoint, 6 000 head of camels and 20 000 head of sheep and cattle owned by innocent nomads.

Killing fields in the Ogaden are increasing by the day the latest atrocities took place in Qabridaharre, Farmadow, Shilaabo, Madax-Maroodi, Karin-Bilcille and Fooljeex.

The Ethiopian government has been violating the basic human rights of the Somali people in the Ogaden repeatedly and persistently. The Somalis are considered and treated as aliens in their own country. They have no constitutional rights whatsoever.

The Ethiopian Constitution provides that all sovereign power resides in the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, and that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land (Articles 8‑9). Chapter 3 provides that fundamental rights and liberties expressed therein shall be interpreted in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international human rights covenants, humanitarian conventions and with the principles of other relevant international instruments which Ethiopia has accepted or ratified.

Ethiopia under the TPLF/EPRDF government has accepted or ratified several international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Convention on the Prevention and the Puni­shment of the crime of Genocide, Convention on the Right of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Slavery Convention of 1926 as amended, Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, the 1977 Additional Protocols I and II of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and lately the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The Ethiopian Constitution states that ratified treaties automatically become national law (Article 9.4).

Nevertheless, the aforementioned, international human rights treaties were not translated into action by the Ethiopian government, which has no respect whatsoever for its international obligations and commitments.

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC), which monitored closely the human rights situation in the Ogaden, for the last eleven years, confirms the deterioration of the human rights situation in the region on a daily basis.

Therefore, the OHRC believes that the Ethiopian government's accession to the treaties was merely intended to mislead the international community, in order to avoid internation­al public censure over its human rights record, and also to get more aid from donor countries, which demand the improvement of human rights situation in the Third World Countries which receive their aid.

In the Ogaden, summary executions, torture of detainees to death, gang raping of women, child molestation, arbitrary detentions without charge or trial, looting and illegal confiscation of property are commonplace, and are daily practiced by Ethiopian armed and security forces with impunity.

 

To illustrate the above-mentioned assertions, some cases are detailed in the following pages, while other cases are listed and attached. For further details, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

                                     i.            Extrajudicial Executions

 

Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) proclaims the right to life, liberty and security of person. Under Geneva Conventions of August 1949 and Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions, in case of armed conflict not of an international character, principles of humanity must be safeguarded in all situations. Acts prohibited in all circumstances include: murder, torture, corporal punishment, mutilation, outrages upon personal dignity, hostage-taking, collective punishment, executions without regular trial and cruel and degrading treatment. Furthermore, article 51 (1,2,6) of protocol 1, protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 states that "The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against dangers arising from military operations. The civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited. Attacks against the civilian population or civilians by way of reprisals are prohibited. "

 

Nevertheless, contrary to the spirit and the letter of the International Human Rights Instruments ratified by Ethiopia, the Ethiopian armed and security forces have carried out systematically extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions throughout the Ogaden with impunity. These extrajudicial killings have been confirmed by adequate witnesses and documented by OHRC. The following cases are illustrative of the above assertions:

 

Qabridaharre Massacre

 

Principle 9 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms By Law Enforcement Officials specifies that, "Intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when unavoidable in order to protect life". In Qabridaharre, on 15th November 2005, members of Ethiopian armed forces, who were in pursuit of escaped ONLF and non-ONLF prisoners opened fire indiscriminately on innocent civilians who were not involved in the jailbreak. According to reliable sources and eyewitnesses’ accounts, inmates at Birgaydhka barracks detention camp, staged peaceful demonstrations in protest against prison conditions and to draw authorities’ attention to their other legitimate grievances. The protesters were suppressed brutally. The presumed leaders of the protesters had been tortured severely and denied medical treatment for their injuries while others were physically eliminated. The prisoners were demanding among other things, medical care, regular family visits, to be treated humanely and better living conditions.

 

 An ex-inmate told OHRC, “Out of desperation we decided to escape from our jailers otherwise our fate would have been like that of our colleagues who were tortured and executed in front of us.”

 

Qabridaharre massacre claimed the lives of more than 20 people some of them bled to death when Ethiopian government troops fired upon rescuers who were trying to take them to safety in order to nurse their wounds. Their dead bodies were on display for two days and denied proper burial.45 other people were wounded and 12 others are missing. Among the people who died were: Abdullahi Ahmed Aqib, Abdullahi Gani Ali, Abdiaziz Muhumed, Abdullahi Ahmed Mohamed, Yusuf Mohamed Adan, Asad Mohamed Abdullahi, Bashi Mohamed Hassan, Mohamed Mohamed, Abdirahman Hared Alaki, Geesh Olad, Anwar Sheikh, Arab Garwah, Amin Mohamed Abdullahi, Siyad Irgah, Bashi Hassan, Rage Moalim, Abdi Wali.

 

Many people are nursing their wounded relatives clandestinely, while others did not declare their missing relatives to the Ethiopian Authorities in fear of retribution. So, the victims and their relatives are too afraid to tell their ordeal.

 

An elder, who spoke on condition of anonymity said,” Ethiopian forces reacted cruelly by using life ammunition and hand grenades against defenceless civilian population and their residences.”

 

As of this writing the Ethiopian government did not set up any inquiry commission to investigate into the massacre, which is not the first massacre committed by its forces since the arrival of the EPRDF government in Ethiopia 1991.

 

Farmadow Massacre

 

In Farmadow, Ethiopian armed forces carried out a cold-blooded massacre killing seven innocent civilians and wounding fifteen others On October 26th 2005. The names of the dead are: Abide Aided Adair, Ahmed-Wail Mohamed Betel, Abide Hay be Ali, Mohamed Seabee, Wail Omar Gabled, Anise Abide Sofa Made and Burial Abide Rabbi. No reason was given for their brutal murder.

 

Shilaabo Massacre

 

On June 29th 2005, in Shilaabo, Ethiopian armed forces killed six people and wounded many others when they opened fire on a group of civilians listening to BBC Somali Service in a teashop for no apparent reason except that they were listening to an interview with an ONLF member. Among killed were: Ali Adan dhorre, Hurre Ali Barre, Hassan Faqid Dhuhul and Sahardid Abdi Ali Horor. Ms Jamila Aden, the owner of the teashop was seriously wounded.

 

Madax-Maroodi Massacre

 

On March 15th 2005, Ethiopian government forces killed Mohamed Bedel Gani, Mohamed Dahir and Abdirashid Abdullahi all pastoralists from Madax-Maroodi. No justification has been given for their murder.

 

Karin- Bilcille Massacre

 

On November 30th 2004, in Karin-Bilcille, Qabridaharre district, Ethiopian armed forces killed a group of pastoralists tending their camels in the area. Karin-Bilcille massacre claimed the lives of the following innocent civilians: Ahmed Nur, Ali Gurey, Mahad Ali Abshir, Wa’adi Guhad Adan.

 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee condemns the killing of innocent civilians in Qabridaharre, Farmadow, Shilaabo, Madax-Maroodi and Karin-Bilcille massacres and asks for independent, transparent and thorough investigation into the circumstances, which led to those human tragedies.

 

On April 07th 2004, in Golhabreed, Dhuxun district, Ethiopian government forces killed Mahamad Hussein Jamac also known as Indhayare and Fadumo Arab Shaafi, who was a pregnant mother. Ahmed Mahamad Abdullahi a year-old baby boy was also wounded.

 

Ethiopian armed forces opened fire indiscriminately at a civilian truck, which was travelling between Wardheer and Qabridaharre killing10 civilians and wounding 17 others, on June 16th 2004. No reason was given for the carnage.

 

Occasionally, ONLF vigilantes execute summarily individuals accused of being “Dabaqoodhis”, a term used by the ONLF frequently to designate collaborators with Ethiopian armed forces in the Ogaden.

                     

In December 2004, in Qorraxay, members of ONLF fighters killed Shukri Makhtal Haybe. According to his family and friends he was an innocent civilian with no political affiliation. No reason was given for his murder.

 

In September 2004, Members of Ethiopian armed forces gunned down Abdirahman Sheikh Khalif, Mayor of Jeerin, in public. They claimed that members of ONLF fighters were seen in the area.

 

On March 23rd 2005, in Yucub, Ethiopian government forces killed Abdiwahab Moallim Ahmed and wounded seriously Osman Ali, on 30th March 2005.

 

On May 18th 2005, members of Ethiopian armed forces opened fire on a civilian convoy travelling between Shaygoosh and Birqod. A hail of bullets fired upon him, instantly killed Dr. Ahmed Gurey Abib and two other civilians were wounded. Dr.Ahmed was a well-known practitioner in Qabridaharre. No reason has been given for his murder.

 

In August 2005, in Dhagaxbuur, militia loyal to Ethiopian security forces killed Mohamed Nuur Abdi in broad daylight because his cousin was running against ruling party’s candidate in the elections.

 

On October 29th 2005, in Barida, Dhuxun district, Ethiopian armed forces killed Bashir Abdi Abbi and his son. Bashir was a teashop owner in Barida who has refused to pay extortion money.

 (See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99 and Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

                                   ii.            Forced Disappearances

According to Principles on Detention or Imprisonment, principle 12 and 16 (1); SMR rules 7, 44(3) and 92; Declaration on Enforced Disappearance, Article 10(2 and 3); principles on Summary Executions, principle 6; a record of every arrest must be made and shall include: the reason for arrest; the time of the arrest; the transferred to place of custody; the time of appearance before a judicial authority; the identity of officers involved; precise information on the place of custody; and details of interrogation. Furthermore, the UN Decla­ration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances requires the authorities to take effective action to prevent disappearances, including holding persons in officially recognized places of detention, and making infor­mation concerning the place of detention and all transfers known to families, lawyers ... (Article 10(1+2), and ensuring releases of detainees under circum­stances that permit verification of their release and conditions (Article 11).

 

A large number of people have disappeared after being abducted by members of Ethiopian armed and security forces, while others disappeared from notorious military detention camps, or were transferred to secret detention centres in Harar or Addis Ababa. The fate and whereabouts of those people remain unknown to their relatives.

 

Many suspected ONLF sympathizers have been disappeared in detention without leaving a trace. In many cases they are presumed dead.

 

In Boodhley, Ethiopian armed forces detained illegally, Abdi Ibrahim, Jefad Farah Abdi, Mohamed Abdi Dahir, Siraje Abdi Shafe’a and Yusuf Mohamed, on January 17th 2005. They were transferred to Shaygoosh military barracks, and have never been seen again.

 

On February 10th 2005, in Barmiilka, members of Ethiopian government forces looted private properties, and then took with them at gunpoint Fathi Mohamed Khalif and Omar Moallim Sahardid. Since then their whereabouts are unknown to their families.

 

In Dusmo, Ahmed Dolal Duale, Dayin Ahmed Gabane, H. Farah Mursal and Nassir Adan Dhari were detained by Ethiopian armed forces on March5th 2004. They were accused of supporting and sympathising with the ONLF and were transferred to Awaare military barracks, where they were subjected to extensive torture, and subsequently disappeared.

 

On May 1st 2004, in Ananu, Awaare district, Ethiopian armed forces abducted Arrablow Mohamed Hassan and Barre Mohamed Mohamoud two nomads who were watering their camels. Since their abduction their families and relatives have no knowledge about their whereabouts.

 

Militia loyal to Mr.Reyale Kahin detained Khalif Abdullahi Omar in Burao, Northwest Somalia, on June 10th 2004. He was accused of being a member of the ONLF and was subjected to extensive torture. His whereabouts are unknown to his family.

(See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99 and Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

                                iii.            Crime of Rape

Women and children are the most vulnerable groups to suffer abuse and violence in the Ogaden. Many women were detained, tortured, raped, maltreated for being activists of the Ogaden Women’s Democratic Association or relatives of ONLF members. A number of children, were detained, tortured or molested by Ethiopian security forces as well.

 

 Article 1 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women ( DEVW) states that: For the purposes of this Declaration, the term « violence against women » means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

In article 2 it states that : Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not limited to the following:

a)   Physical, sexual and psychological violence ocurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation ;

b)   phsical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general

      community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimid­-

      ation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in

      women and forced prostitution;

c)   physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the

      State, wherever it occurs.

The Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1974. The Declaration states that all forms of repression and cruel and inhuman treatment of women and chil­dren — including imprisonment, torture, shooting, mass arrests, collective punishment and destruction of dwellings and forcible eviction — committed by belli­gerents in the course of military operations or in occupied territories are to be considered criminal.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, in Sub‑article (l and 4) of Article 38 states that:” State Parties undertake to respect and ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts, which are relevant to the child. In accordance with their obligations under internation­al humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts, State Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of child­ren who are affected by an armed conflict."

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee is alarmed at the massive rise in rape victims and the number of women who contracted HIV/AIDS virus after being raped by members of Ethiopian armed forces.

 

In Golhabreed, Dhuxun district, members of Ethiopian government forces beaten up and gang- raped Hafsa Takhal Hussein and Asili Ahmed Adan, on April 07th 2004.

 

On June 06th 2004, in Hadhaawe, Godey Region, members of Ethiopian armed forces gang-raped Wadiya Mohamed Aidid a teenage girl, who passed away after the crime.

 

 In Fiiq, Ethiopian soldiers gang-raped Saredo Emar Ibrahim, a thirteen-years – old girl. Her genitals were severely damaged then she was transferred to Harar Hospital for treatment.

 

In September 2004, in Xamaro, an Ethiopian soldier attempted to rape Ubax Mohamed Khalif. When she managed to escape from him, he threw a hand-grenade at her. She suffered serious injuries caused by the bomb shrapnel.

A number of women are being held in the Ethiopian military barracks throughout the Ogaden as comfort women (sex slaves) against their will. Many cases of forced marriages have been reported as well.

Many women and young girls raped by Ethiopian armed forces in the Ogaden fled their homeland and took refuge in neighbouring countries, namely Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia. The victims can no longer lead a normal life in their country because of the rape stigma.

The victims and their families have been warned not to speak of their bitter experiences to anyone, or else they would be severely punished. To the best of the Ogaden Human Rights Committee’s knowledge, no one has been charged for this horrendous crime.

(See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99 and Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

                                iv.            Torture and ill- Treatment

Article 2 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment states that "Each State party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture. An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture."

Common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 prohibits torture during internal armed conflict. States are also required to bring those responsible for torture to justice and to give redress and compensation to those who have been tortured.

In the Ogaden, there is neither arrest nor interrogation without torture. Usually, Ethiopian armed and security forces systematically torture suspected ONLF members to extract confessions or information about ONLF. A number of people were tortured to death. The OHRC has examined a large number of torture survivors; some of them were disabled, while others bore scars of torture on their bodies.

 Ethiopian security forces detained Khalif .X.Y, a civilian without political affiliation, in Baabile, and then transferred to prison in Jigjiga, in 2005. He was accused of sympathizing with “anti-peace elements”, a term Ethiopian authorities frequently use to designate members of ONLF fighters. Every night he was taken out of his prison cell at gunpoint, blindfolded and tied up for interrogation under torture. During his detention he underwent severe physical and psychological torture in the form of indiscriminate beating with heavy sticks, electric wires, guns butts and threats of shooting him to death by charging guns in front of him and aiming at his head.

He was released after three months of detention without formal charge or trial after his family paid the requested extortion money.

 

" As I told you I was subjected to extensive torture. You can see badly healed scars covering all my body. Now I cannot lead a normal life because I lost one hand and one leg as a result of torture and lack of medical care,” he said to Ogaden Human Rights Committee’s researcher.

 

 Abdi Dayib Abdi, a pastoralist, was detained, on 20th September 2005, in Gurdumi. He was transferred to military barracks, where members of Ethiopian armed forces tied him upside-down and beat him indiscriminately by gun butts and heavy sticks. He was denied medical treatment.

 

On October 20th 2005, Ethiopian armed forces detained and beaten up a group of nomads tending their camels, in Kuus-cawl, Fiiq district. When they released them they shot at them and gravely wounded, Hassan Sheikh Omar, Hussein Sheikh Bashir, Shafi Mohamed Wiyil and Halimo Abdi Hussein.

 

On December 09th 2005, in Garbo, Ethiopian forces detained and severely tortured Addawe Ga’iye. He has been beaten indiscriminately by iron bar and scars are covered all over his body. Hassan Askar Muhumed was also detained and tortured. His two hands were broken as a result of the torture.

 

q       Persecution of Somalis from the Ogaden in Hargeisa

On November 30th 2003, 75 Somalis from the Ogaden were arrested and their properties confiscated, in Hargeisa, Northwest Somalia.  Several weeks later most of the detainees were released after they paid extortion money.

However, the remaining detainees were accused of ONLF sympathy and membership and were transferred to Hargeisa Central Jail. They were subjected to extensive torture and maltreatment in the jail during interrogation to extract confessions and information about the ONLF. Many of them are bearing scars of torture on their bodies.

On September 02nd 2005, 28 detainees have been brought before the Hargeisa High Court, which examined their case and acquitted them ordering their immediate release for lack of evidence. However, the Police and the Public Prosecutor, in defiance of the court order, returned them to their prison cells. The following two detainees passed away in custody.

 

Hiis Muse Jama was subjected to extensive physical and psychological torture in Hargeisa Central Jail. He was denied medical treatment and passed away in his cell in September 2005.

 

On December 30th 2005, Ahmed Mohamoud Hussein died in Hargeisa Central Jail. The cause of his death was torture, maltreatment and lack of medical attention. Four other inmates are in a critical condition and are being denied medical treatment.

The OHRC, which called for them to be either charged with recognizable criminal offences and given fair trials or released unconditionally, welcomes Hargeisa High Court’s ruling and asks their unconditional and immediate release.

To the best of OHRC’s knowledge, the detainees were traders, labourers, residents and visitors, who were not, involved in any illegal activities, and have no political affiliation whatsoever.

(See Ogaden: Downtrodden Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04, Self-Republic of Somaliland: Seeks recognition and favour through detentions, torture, confiscation of property and forced repatriation of Somalis, Ref: OHRC/12/03 and Self -declared Republic of Somaliland: Persecution, intimidation, detentions and torture of Somalis from the Ogaden unabated ref: OHRC/2PR/05). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

Ø     Torture Methods

 

Torture methods employed against detainees by the Ethiopian armed and security forces in the Ogaden are numerous, few among them are:

 

·    An indiscriminate beating with gun butts and barrels, heavy sticks or iron bars.

·    Gang raping of women and child molestation.

·    Beatings on the soles of the feet, joints, ankles, shinbone and the testicles.

·    Knocking detainee’s head into detention walls.

·    Victims are burned with cigarettes.

·    Deprivation of sleep and food.

·    Death threats, with charged guns pointed at the head.

·    Suffocation of detainees by burying them alive, which causes death in many cases.

·    Forcing detainees to drink urine or salty water.

·    Suspending from the roof upside‑down.

·    Denial of sanitary visits.

·    Victims are left for extended periods, in prostrate position under the burning sun with their hands and legs tied together behind the back.

 

(See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99 and Ogaden: Downtrodden Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04 and Self -declared Republic of Somaliland: Persecution, intimidation, detentions and torture of Somalis from the Ogaden unabated ref: OHRC/2PR/05). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

                                   v.            Illegal Imprisonment

 

Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states, “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.”

In article 10 it states, “"Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him."

Nevertheless, hundreds of children, women, businessmen, students, pastoralists, politicians and religious scholars have been detained, by Ethiopian armed forces, because of their ethnic, language, religion, or political opinion. No one was ever brought before a public hearing. These abuses took place unchecked in the towns as well as in the rural areas.

Ethiopian government’s policy of keeping political prisoners in detention indefinitely without charges or trial has not changed. However, Ethiopian armed and security forces periodically round up as many people as possible for ransom and when the extortion money is paid, the detainees are released. So, there are many individuals who were detained several times and then released.

 

On January 24th 2006, in Jigjiga, Ethiopian security forces and the local police collected a number of citizens from their residences in the dead of night. And then they were transferred to Garabcase military barracks and Jigjiga Police Centre. They are being held in incommunicado. They were detained on suspected sympathy with ONLF. But no charges had been laid formally against them and no trial date has been set. They include: Abdi Mohamed Ahmed, Abdul Sh.Badri, Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, Mohamuud Somali, Mukhtar Olad, Nimo Ahmed Mohamed, Qadiri Sh.Badri, Mrs. Qasad Mohamed Nur, Tamman Abdi Moallim. Mrs. Qasad who was detained with her daughter Nimo is a prominent women’s rights activist. She had been detained several times before on suspicion of supporting the "anti‑peace elements", a term Ethiopian authorities frequently use to designate members of ONLF.

 

On January 30th 2005, in Qoriile, Ethiopian armed forces detained illegally Afyare Qaraw Osman, Arab Moallim Bihi, Bashir Sugule Ali, Hassan Gahnug Yusuf, Khadar Haji Tahlil, Sayid Hudle Khalif, Sugule Abdi Abshir and Yoye Yusuf Aar all nomads. No reason was given for their arbitrary detention.

 

On 15th –28th February 2005, members of Ethiopian armed forces collected a number of civilians from their residences in Wardheer and environs, under the pretext of supporting ONLF. They were detained, beaten up and tortured. They include Abdi Farah Ga’od, Abdi Haybe Omar, Abdi Said Salad, Abdi-duh Sheikh Hirsi, Abdinassir Sheikh Mohamed, Ahmed Nur Sheikh Mohamoud, Ali Hussein Ahmed, Ali Kayd Abdirahman, Ali Kayd Ismail, Ali Shafad, Amina Osman Ege, Arab Matan Ali, Arrabey afi Ibrahim, Deq Hassan Yassin, Ege Ahmed Farey, Farah Dahir Ali Nur, Farhan Yusuf Abdi, Mohamed Ali Kilin, Sofe abdi Awl. No charges had been laid formally against them and no trial date has been set.

 

In Shaygoosh, on February 23rd 2005, for no apparent reason Ethiopian armed forces detained illegally and tortured Abdi-Shun Mohamed, Abdulqadir Moalin Bashir, Ali Abdullahi Yare, Ardo Mohamoud Harago, Dakharre Faragod, Farah Ali, Farah Mohamoud, Fiqane Ali, Hirane Muhumed Yassin, Hussein Shankaron, Mohamed Dagaweyne Aw Ahmed, Shun Ibrahim Shuriye, Suber Ali, Taman Adan Arab andYarowe Mohamed Abdi all civilian with no political affiliation.

                                                                                               

On February 27th 2005, in Dhagaxbuur, Ethiopian security forces detained Ayan Mohamed Yusuf for suspected membership of Ogaden women’s Democratic Association.

 

On March 07th 2005, in shilaabo, Ethiopian security forces detained illegally Shamis Mohamed Madle. No reason was given for her detention.

 

In Dhagaxbuur, Ethiopian security forces detained Sheikh Abdi Qalinle the Imam of Dhagaxbuur Mosque, on 20th March 2005. No justification was given for his detention.

 

On September 23rd 2005, Ethiopian security forces detained Ms Ibado Dahir Weyd, in Qabridaharre for suspected sympathy for ONLF. She came from Australia to visit her family.

 

On December 18th 2005, in Waafduug, Ethiopian armed forces detained Abdullahi Abdi Omar and confiscated his lorry. Abdi-yare Sirad was also detained with him.

 

 (See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99 and Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

                                vi.            Other Human Rights Abuses

 

Article 17(2) of the UDHR prohibits arbitrary deprivation of private property. Article 17 of the ICCPR calls for the prohibition of arbitrary or unlawful interference with an individual’s privacy, family, home or correspondence, and unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation. That no one is to be held in slavery; that slavery and slave trade are to be prohibited; and that no one is to be held in servitude or required to perform forced or compulsory labour (art.8). It lays down measures to protect the rights of children (art.24). It provides that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law (art.26). It also calls for protection of the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (art.27)

 

On March 27th 2005, in Yucub, Ethiopian troops confiscated two lorries carrying 200 head of sheep owned by traders, from Yucub area.

 

On March 29th 2005, Ethiopian troops confiscated 80 head of oxen owned by businessmen from Arrabey, in Doollo area.

 

In March 2005, in Caado, Ethiopian forces looted 90 head of oxen, which were on their way to market for sale. In Yucub, they confiscated all properties belonging to Makhtal Adan Hirsi, who is a businessman. They looted cash belonging to Abdi Hukun Mohamoud, Ali Sa’a, Shire Bihi and Ibrahim Abdi Bihi as well. They also detained Omar Saleban Amin, an eighty-year- old, clan elder.

 

q       DISPLACING AND STARVING OUT OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION

Article 54 -Protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population -of the protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 states that "Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited. It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works, for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motives."

However, Ethiopian armed forces closed the border between the Ogaden and Somalia, confiscated lorries and foodstuffs and indiscriminately mined areas which civilians frequent, particularly around water wells and caravan routes, which lead to neighbouring countries, in order to stop trade movements and starve out the civilian population. They also depopulated and razed entirely to the ground many villages and hamlets.

On November 20th 2005, Ethiopian armed forces razed to the ground the village of Fooljeex, which situates 44km east of Qabridaharre. Before torching the residences they looted personal properties and burned all what they could not take with them including village’s barns, which contained more than 6000 Quintals of sorghum and maize.

The homeless and helpless residents of Fooljeex took refuge in Qabridaharre town and other surrounding villages.

Ex-Fooljeex resident who preferred not to be named told OHRC, “ We are destitute. We lost all our belongings in Fooljeex and have no where to go.” “There is no crime parallel to what Ethiopian armed forces did to us,” he concluded.

As of this writing the motives behind the torching of Fooljeex and displacing of its residents are unknown.

 

On November 29th 2005, Ethiopian government forces evacuated all residents of Barraajisle. Displaced residents take refuge in Qabridaharre and environs. Ethiopian commander in Qabridaharre declared his government’s intention to torch the following villages: Galadiid, Farmadow, Geerigo’an, Gabagabo, Dalaad and Jiica.

 

On February 25th 2005, in Yucub, Ethiopian forces forcibly evicted residents from their homes in a quarter nearby their barracks. No compensation was given to the individuals who lost their homes.

 

The practice of taking family members or close relatives of government political opponents as hostages, and holding them under torture until the suspected activist reports himself to the security forces is widely employed by the Ethiopian security forces in the Ogaden.

 

The Ogaden Human Rights Committee has evidence that family members and relatives of political prisoners have been harassed and intimidated constantly by the Ethiopian security forces.

 

The Ethiopian government uses forced labour to build its military in the Ogaden. Many teenagers were abducted to work in military construction projects or transport ammunition and provisions on their backs in the rainy season or when there is fear of landmines.

 

Article 23 of the UDHR provides, inter alia, that:"Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an exist­ence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection."

 

Nevertheless, there is a clear pattern of discrimination and segregation against Somalis, in terms of education, health care, employment and economic development.

 

Public posts in the Ogaden have been purged of anyone whose views were judged critical or hostile to the government policies, and replaced by pro-government elements. Such a policy of targeting one group for their political opinion, and depriving others of their basic rights, has obviously caused widespread and deep resentment throughout the region.

 

In October 2003, 150 teachers were dismissed for their political views, ethnic and tribal background.

 

On March 25th 2005, a number of regional officials and employees were abusively dismissed.

 

Between 20.09.2003 and 30.11.2004, the Ethiopian government abusively dismissed more than 2896 civil servants in the Somali Region to be replaced by non-Somalis.

 

On November 29th 2004, names of 1300 individuals, who may be dismissed, were appeared on an official notice board in Jigjiga, and later on they were dismissed without justification.

 (See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99 and Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

a.    August 2005 Elections

 

Article 25 of the International Covenant On Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that: “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

 

a)     To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

b)     To vote and be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

c)     To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.”

 

Article 1 of the Ethiopian Constitution states that:

1.      "Every citizen has the right and the opportunity, without any discrimination based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion:

d)     To take part in the conduct of public affairs directly or through freely chosen representatives.

e)     To vote and to be elected to any office at all levels of government. Elections shall be universal suffrage and secret ballot in order to ensure the free expression of the will of the electorate.

f)      Any Ethiopian citizen who has reached the age of eighteen shall have the legal right to vote.

g)     Participation in political parties, labour unions, trade organizations, employer and professional associations shall be free and accessible to those who meet the general and special requirements of the organization.

h)     Elections to positions of responsibility within the organizations referred to under sub-article 2 of this article shall be conducted in accordance with free and democratic procedures. The provisions of sub-articles 2 and 3 of this article shall apply to civic organizations which significantly affect the public interest.”

Normally, in a democratic process, candidates enjoy major support from their constituencies. In the Ogaden, usually, a committee composed of EPRDF officials, military and security officers select candidates of Somali People’s Democratic Party (SPDP), which is a pro-government party in the region. Other candidates face serious problems. Any one who does not enjoy the backing of the security forces in his constituency might be refused to present himself as an independent candidate.

 

Ethiopians cast their votes on May 15th 2005, to elect their representatives for the House of the People’s representatives and Regional Parliaments. But elections were postponed in the Ogaden until August 21st 2005, because of logistical and security problems as usual.

 

On the Election Day, August 21st 2005, the Ethiopian government used its military barracks as polling centres. There were neither independent observers nor appropriate electoral system. Independent candidates reported widespread vote rigging and irregularities in all levels. No elections took place in the rural areas.

 

 An ex-independent candidate in Jigjiga, summed up election irregularities in the following points:

a)     Ballot papers were on sale in the market before and during the Election Day.

b)     Voters were registered several times in some areas while there was not any voter registration in many areas.

c)     The ballot boxes were stuffed by prepared ballot papers.

d)     Our representatives were intimidated, beaten up and arrested to make easier the election rigging.”

 

“ The worst of all was the ballot paper itself which was written in Amharic, a language which is not spoken in our country. The elections were neither free nor fair in all standards,” he concluded.

 

According to the international observers’ report last year’s Ethiopian elections including the Ogaden did not meet internationally recognized standards.

 

In November 2005, Ethiopian Police and Security Forces killed at least 46 people in post-election political unrest, in Addis Ababa.

 

(See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99, Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04 and Ogaden: Traditional Leaders’ Peace Initiative and the upcoming Elections ref:  OHRC/1PR/05). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

b.    Drought and Food Shortage

 

For the last twelve years, the rainy seasons failed or there was not enough rainfall in the Ogaden. Water is scarce and dear. Whenever there is scarcity of water, the pastoralists move with their animals in search for pasture and water beside water holes, ponds and reservoirs. Many water reservoirs and tankers owned by individuals were confiscated by the Ethiopian armed forces. The owners of these reservoirs and tankers were denied the use of their water and property for their families and thirsty animals.

 

In 2000, the Ogaden region was hit by the worst drought in a decade. The prolonged drought caused a mass starvation and breakout of epidemics related to malnutrition and bad sanitation. In the worst drought-stricken areas, thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of animals starved to death. The Ethiopian government, which was in war with Eritrea, did nothing to save the lives of the drought victims and their animals, which are the main source of the livelihood for millions of the Ogaden people. (See Press Release: Ogaden: Dozens of People and Thousands of Animals Starve to Death on a Daily Basis Amid International Lack of Attention ref: OHRC/05/00).

 

Once again the Somali people in the Ogaden are on the brink of starvation. According to international NGOs reports and eyewitness accounts more than 1.5 million people are facing severe food shortages.

 

 In the most drought-affected areas such as Afdheer, Godey, Liibaan and parts of Qorraxey the people are running out of food and their animals are getting weaker by the day as well. The outbreak of measles and other epidemics related to malnutrition and bad sanitation were also reported.

 

In 2000, the international donor community has helped the victims of the drought generously. But as is usual with Ethiopian government, the aid donated by the international community to the victims of the drought through the Ethiopian Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (ERRC), renamed as the Disaster Prevention and preparedness Commission (DPPC), which is in effect run by the Tigray Relief Society (TRS), never reached its intended beneficiaries in the Ogaden, because the Ethiopian government has misused it by diverting it to the army.

 

Therefore, the Ogaden Human Rights Committee appeals to the international community to help the Ogaden people directly through international NGOs in order to assure the reach of the food aid to the victims of the famine; otherwise the relief will end up in military barracks as usual.

 

(See Mass Killings, Torture and Disappearances in the Ogaden ref: OHRC/08/96, Ogaden: No Rights, No Democracy ref: OHRC/08/97, Ogaden: An Endless Human Tragedy ref: OHRC/12/98, Ogaden: Graveyard of Rights ref: OHRC/10/99, Ogaden: Down trodden and Disenfranchised People ref: OHRC/D15/04 and Ogaden: Traditional Leaders’ Peace Initiative and the upcoming Elections ref:  OHRC/1PR/05). For further details and names, please refer to the attached lists at the end of the report.

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEXES

 

CLASSIFIED LISTS OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

 

            I.      Summary Executions

 

Article 3 of the UDHR provides that: « Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. » However, many civilians were extrajudicially killed or tortured to death by Ethiopian Security and armed forces without due process of law.

 

On 5th January 2006, Mohamed Abdirahman an inmate in Jigjiga prison was taken out of his prison cell in the evening and then was gunned down by his jailers.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

1

Mohamed Abdirahman

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

 

In Waafdhuug, On January 16th 2005, Ethiopian forces killed Hassan Moallim Qorane. No reason was given for his murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

2

Hassan Moallim Qorane

Male

Waafdhuug

Civilian

 

On April 19th 2005, Ethiopian armed forces killed Khadar Abdullahi Mohamed and Ahmed Sheikh Barkhadle. No reason has been given for their murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

3

Khadar Abdullahi Mohamed

Male

Fiiq

Civilian

4

Ahmed Sheikh Barkhadle

Male

Fiiq

Civilain

 

 The following individuals are some of Qabridaharre civilians who were massacred by Ethiopian Government forces on 15th November 2005. Some of them bled to death when Ethiopian government troops fired upon rescuers who were trying to take them to safety in order to nurse their wounds. Their dead bodies were displayed for three days and denied proper burial.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

5

Abdullahi Ahmed Aqib

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

6

Abdullahi Gani Ali

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

7

Abdiaziz Muhumed

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

8

Abdullahi Ahmed Mohamed

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

9

Yusuf Mohamed Adan

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

10

Asad Mohamed Abdullahi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

11

Bashi Mohamed Hassan

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

12

Mohamed Mohamed

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

13

Abdirahman Hared Alaki

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

14

Geesh Olad

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

15

Anwar Sheikh

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

16

Arab Garwah

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

17

Amin Mohamed Abdullahi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

18

Siyad Irgah

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

19

Bashi Hassan

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

20

Rage Moalim

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

21

Abdi Wali

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

 

On December 10th 2005, Ethiopian troops shot to death Sheikh Bashir Ismail, Religious Scholar, and five other civilians in Garloogubey. No reason was given for their murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

22

Sheikh Bashir Ismail

Male

Garloogubey

Religious Scholar

 

On March 19th 2004, in Goray, Ethiopian armed forces executed a number of civilians without due process. Among the death were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

23

Abdi Farah

Male

Goray

Civilian

24

Abdirashid Ahmed Nur

Male

Goray

Civilian

25

Habib Abbase Aw Shafea

Male

Goray

Civilian

26

Hashi Mahamad Warmoge

Male

Goray

Civilian

27

Hassan Dahir Moalim Gurey

Male

Goray

Civilian

 

On April 15th 2004, members of the Ethiopian armed forces killed him, in Boodhlay near Dhagaxbuur. No reason has been given for his murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

28

Abdi Elmi

Male

Boodhlay

Civilian

 

On April 20th 2004, in Geerigo’an, members of Ethiopian armed forces shot them to death. No reason was given for their murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

29

Abdi Abdullahi Mahad

Male

Geerigo’an

Civilian

30

Abdi Duale Haybe

Male

Geerigo’an

Civilian

 

On June 06th 2004, in Hadhaawe, Godey Region, members of Ethiopian armed forces gang-raped the following teenage girl, who passed away after the crime.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

31

Wadiya Mahamed Aidiid

Female

Hadhaawe

Civilian

 

On July 21st 2004, in Galaalshe, members of Ethiopian Armed forces killed him as an act of revenge for their death in a fight with ONLF.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

32

Abdinur Osman Yusuf

Male

Galaalshe

Civilian

 

On 03rd August 2004, in Laab, Godey Region, members of Ethiopian armed forces killed the following elder. No reason was given for his murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

33

Dahir Adan Hirsi

Male

Laab

Elder

 

On August 10th 2004, in Wardheer and Fiiq area, members of Ethiopian armed forces killed the following individuals.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

34

Abdi Muhumed Gab

Male

Fiiq

Civilian

35

Abdikarim Bedel

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

36

Abdirahman Sheikh Khalif

Male

Fiiq

Civilian

37

Mahamoud Shil

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

38

Sahra Suufi

Female

Wardheer

Civilian

 

On 25th August 2004, in Godey area, members of Ethiopian armed forces killed Mukhtar Adan Deer.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

39

Mukhtar Adan Deer

Male

Godey

Civilian

 

On 28th August 2004, Qudhac Dhabab near Farmadow, members of Ethiopian armed forces killed him. No reason was given for his murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

40

Abdi Bedel

Male

Qudhac Dhabab

Civilian

 

 

 

 

 

On August 29th 2004, in Lahelow, members of Ethiopian armed forces shot to death the following individuals.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

41

Abdi Geele

Male

Lahelow

Civilian

42

Abdikarim Muse

Male

Lahelow

Civilian

43

Adawe Mahamed

Male

Lahelow

Civilian

44

Olow Quresh

Male

Lahelow

Civilian

 

On August 31st 2004, in CEEL BERDE, Southwest Somalia, Ethiopian armed forces killed Abdi Weli Hared Yarow and shukri Omar.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

45

Abdi Weli Hared

Male

Ceel-Berde

Civilian

46

Shukri Omar

Male

Ceel-Berde

Civilian

 

On October 06th 2004, in Geerigo’an, members of Ethiopian armed forces killed him. No reason was given his murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

47

Ibrahim Ahmed Barkhadle

Male

Geerigo’an

Civilian

 

On 04th October 2004, members Ethiopian armed forces killed him in Toonceeleey. No reason was given for her murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

48

Sulekh Mahamed Hayd

Female

Toonceeleey

Civilian

 

On 30th November 2004, Ethiopian armed forces committed a cool blood massacre in Karin-Bilcille, Qabridaharre district. The massacre claimed the lives of the following innocent civilians.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

49

Ahmed Nur

Male

Karin-Bilcille

Civilian

50

Ali Gurey

Male

Karin-Bilcille

Civilian

51

Mahad Ali Abshir

Male

Karin-Bilcille

Civilian

52

Wadi Guhad Adan

Male

Karin-Bilcille

Civilian

 

On December 07th 2004, Mawlid Sh. Abdi Gas was shot to death, in Wargaadsan. No reason was given for his murder.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

53

Mawlid Sh. Abdi Gas

Male

Wargaadsan

Nomad

 

Il. Disappearances

 

The following lists contain the names of individuals, who were detained by government security forces in various places at various times, and then disappeared from detention camps or transferred to secret detention centres. Their fate and whereabouts remain unknown to their relatives.

 

On November 15th 2005, during Qabridaharre massacre he disappeared and presumed dead.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

54

Shamsudin Bashir

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

 

On January 17th 2005, they were detained illegally, in Boodhley then transferred to Shaygoosh, and have never been seen again.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

55

Abdi Ibrahim

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

56

Jefad Farah Abdi

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

57

Mohamed Abdi Dahir

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

58

Siraje Abdi Shafe’a

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

59

Yusuf Mohamed

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

 

On February 10th 2005, in Barmiilka, Ethiopian Government forces looted private properties, and then took with them Fathi and Omar. Their whereabouts are unknown to their families.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

60

Fathi Mohamed Khalif

Male

Barmiilka

Civilian

61

Omar Moallin Sahardid

Male

Barmiilka

Civilian

 

On March 5th 2004, they were detained in Dusmo and then transferred to Awaare military barracks. They were subjected to extensive torture, and subsequently disappeared.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

62

Ahmed Dolal Duale

Male

Awaare

Civilian

63

Dayin Ahmed Gabane

Male

Awaare

Civilian

64

H. Farah Mursal

Male

Awaare

Civilian

65

Nassir Adan Dhari

Male

Awaare

Civilian

 

On March 09th 2004, members of Ethiopian armed forces abducted at gun point Ahmed Mahamed Fatule from his house in Wardheer. Mr. Ahmed was a teacher. His whereabouts is unknown to his family and relatives.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

66

Ahmed Mohamed Fatule

Male

Wardheer

Teacher

 

On May 1st 2004, in Ananu, Awaare district, Ethiopian armed forces abducted the following two nomads. Since their abduction their families and relatives have no knowledge about their whereabouts.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

67

Arrablow Mahamed Hassan Burale

Male

Ananu

Civilian

68

Barre Mahamad Mahamoud

Male

Ananu

Civilian

 

On November 23rd 2004, in Jigjiga, the following prisoners in Jigjiga military barracks disappeared form their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

69

Abdi Kafi Ali

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

70

Bashir Khalif

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

 

 

III.Detention, Torture, III- Treatment and Looting

 

Arbitrary detentions without charge or trial, torture of detainees to death, confiscation of property, pillage and looting at gunpoint are commonplace, and are daily practiced by the Ethiopian government forces in the Ogaden with impunity.

On January 26th 2006, the following individuals who are some of the wounded in Qabridaharre massacre of November 15th 2005 were transferred to prison in Jigjiga.They are being held in incommunicado in Jeel Ogaden and Jigjiga jail. According to their relatives they are denied medical care and family visits.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

71

Abdirahman Yusuf

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

72

Abdullahi Dhame

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

73

Ahmed Bedel

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

74

Ahmed Mohamed Dahir

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

75

Ali Dahir Guul

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

76

Farah Ali

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

77

Farah Mohamed Barre

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

78

Farah Sayid Isaq

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

79

Faysal Mohamed

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

80

Hashim Abdi Ganey

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

81

Hassan Hadi Dur

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

82

Irshad Aqil Ahmed

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

83

Mohamed Ali Raage

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

84

Mohamed Raage

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

85

Raage Mohamed ahmed

Male

Jigjiga

ONLF member

 

 On January 24th 2006, in Jigjiga, Ethiopian security forces and the local police collected a number of citizens from their residences in the dead of night. And then they were transferred to Garabcase military barracks and Jigjiga Police Centre. They are being held in incommunicado. They were detained on suspected sympathy with ONLF. But no charges had been laid formally against them and no trial date has been set. Among detainees are:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

86

Abdi Mohamed Ahmed

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

87

Abdul Sh. Badri

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

88

Mohamed Hassan Ahmed

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

89

Mohamuud Somali

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

90

Mukhtar Olad

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

91

Nimo Ahmed Mohamed

Female

Jigjiga

Civilian

92

Qadiri Sh. Badri

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

93

Qasad Mohamed Nur

Female

Jigjiga

Civilian

94

Tamman Abdi Moallim

Female

Jigjiga

Civilian

On January 15th 2006, in Wijiwaaji, members of Ethiopian armed forces who were earlier defeated in an engagement with the ONLF fighters rounded up a large number of defenceless civilians. The detainees were indiscriminately beaten by gun butts and iron bars and many of them sustained serious injuries. Among the detainees are teenagers, women and elderly people.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

95

Abdi Ahmed Gure

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

96

Abdi Madobe

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

97

Abdullahi Abdi Ilmi

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

98

Ahmed Abdiqani Khalif

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

99

Ahmed Abdullahi Qodah

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

100

Ahmed Ali Farah

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

101

Ahmed Dayib Di’in

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

102

Ahmed Hadi Abdiqani

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

103

Ahmed Hassan Dhakhtar

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

104

Ahmed Ibrahim Abdinur

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

105

Ahmed Omar Hayir

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

106

Amiin Ahmed Hadi

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

107

Amina Abdi Qani

Female

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

108

Bisharo Dalaq Ahmed

Female

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

109

Hirte Hassan Dhakhtar

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

110

Hussein Abdi Gade

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

111

Kadi Yusuf Omar

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

112

Mawlid Sahal

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

113

Mohamed Abdi Gade

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

114

Mohamed Kahin Suleyman

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

115

Nasteho Dalaq Ahmed

Female

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

116

Sa’ad Mohamoud Yusuf

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

117

Sheikh Mohamed Mursal

Male

Wijiwaaji

Religious Scholar

118

Shukri Soyan

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

119

So’a Mohamoud Idan

Female

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

120

Sulekh Hassan Dhakhtar

Female

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

121

Tamam Osman Sulub

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

122

Tamam Osman Weli

Male

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

123

Tusmo Mohamed

Female

Wijiwaaji

Civilian

124

Waydar Mohamud Adan

Male

Wijiwaaji

Wijiwaaji DC

 

On January 30th 2005, in Qoriile, they were illegally detained. No reason has been given for their illegal detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

125

Afyare Qaraw Osman

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

126

Arab Moallim Bihi

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

127

Bashir Sugule Ali

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

128

Hassan Gahnug Yusuf

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

129

Khadar Haji Tahlil

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

130

Sayid Hudle Khalif

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

131

Sugule Abdi Abshir

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

132

Yoye Yusuf Aar

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

 

On February 05th 2005, Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured the following individuals, in Shilaabo and Yucub.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

133

Hassan Ahmed nuh

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

134

Hassan Nuur Dhi’is

Male

Yucub

Civilian

135

Humbuli Nuriye

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

136

Jeel Qambi Shaa’iye

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

137

Nafyar Duulane Dahir

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

138

Serar Tahlil Muse

Male

Yucub

Civilian

139

Siyad Ahmed Jirow

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

140

Ugas Hassan Aw abdi

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

 

On 15th –28th February 2005, members of Ethiopian armed forces collected them from their residences in Wardheer and environs, under the pretext of supporting ONLF. They were detained, beaten up and tortured.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

141

Abdi Farah Ga’od

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

142

Abdi Haybe Omar

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

143

Abdi Said Salad

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

144

Abdi-duh Sheikh Hirsi

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

145

Abdinassir Sheikh Mohamed

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

146

Ahmed Nur Sheikh Mohamoud

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

147

Ali Hussein Ahmed

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

148

Ali Kayd Abdirahman

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

149

Ali Kayd Ismail

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

150

Ali Shafad

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

151

Amina Osman Ege

Female

Wardheer

Civilian

152

Arab Matan Ali

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

153

Arrabey afi Ibrahim

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

154

Deq Hassan Yassin

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

155

Ege Ahmed Farey

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

156

Farah Dahir Ali Nur

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

157

Farhan Yusuf Abdi

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

158

Mohamed Ali Kilin

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

159

Sofe Abdi Awl

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

 

On February 23rd 2005, in Shaygoosh, they were detained and tortured by Ethiopian armed forces for no apparent reason.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

160

Abdi-Shun Mohamed

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

161

Abdulqadir Moalin Bashir

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

162

Ali Abdullahi Yare

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

163

Ardo Mohamoud Harago

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

164

Dakharre Faragod

Female

Shaygoosh

Civilian

165

Farah Ali

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

167

Farah Mohamoud

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

168

Fiqane Ali

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

169

Hirane Muhumed Yassin

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilain

170

Hussein Shankaron

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

171

Mohamed Dagaweyne Aw Ahmed

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

172

Shun Ibrahim Shuriye

Female

Shaygoosh

Civilian

173

Suber Ali

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

174

Taman Adan Arab

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

175

Yarowe Mohamed Abdi

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

 

On February 22nd 2005, in Dig, they were detained on suspicion of supporting the ONLF.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

176

Adan Olob

Male

Dig

Mayor of Dig

177

Anas Abdi Shafi

Male

Dig

Civilian

178

Dahir Omar Marshale

Male

Dig

Civilian

179

Deq Diriye Hussein

Male

Dig

Civilian

180

Ganbeyse Bashir

Male

Dig

Secretary

181

Mohamed Adan Omar

Male

Dig

Civilian

182

Mohamed Hussein

Male

Dig

Civilian

183

Sanweyne Abdi Khalif

Male

Dig

Civilian

184

Sigaale Mohamoud Diriye

Male

Dig

Clan elder

 

On March 08th 2005, a group of civilians were detained illegally in Dhagaxmadow. Among them were the following individuals.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

185

Abdullahi Rashid Sh. Muhumed

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

186

Ahmed Hassan Mohamed

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

187

Hinda Abdi Basho

Female

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

188

Mawlid Abdullahi Mohamed

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

189

Mohamed Fathi Abdi

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

190

Mohamoud Mahad Guhad

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

191

Mukhtar Ahmed Abdi

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

192

Omar Wali Abdi

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

193

Shafi Hassan Goni

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

194

Sheikh Abdirahman

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Religious scholar

195

Sheikh Mukhtar Moalim

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Religious scholar

 

On March 18th 2005, in Dhanaan, they were detained, torture and their property looted by Ethiopian armed forces.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

196

Ardo Abdullahi Omar

Female

Dhanaan

Civilian

197

Hassan Rage Nur

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

198

Na’ib Hussein

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

199

Rish Saxane

Female

Dhanaan

Civilian

200

Shukri Dolal Omar

Female

Dhanaan

Civilian

 

On March 20th 2005, they were illegally detained in Dhagaxmadow. No reason was given for their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

201

Fathi Abdi Bakayr

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

202

Ilka-Case Mohamoud

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

203

Sheikh Mukhtar Sh. Hassan

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Religious Scholar

 

On March 22nd 2005, in Sagag, members of Ethiopian armed forces detained, tortured and looted their properties.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

204

Abdirizak Gadsan

Male

Sagag

Civilian

205

Ahmed Arbe

Male

Sagag

Civilian

206

Ali Sheikh Ahmed

Male

Sagag

Civilian

207

Mukhtar Abdi Arbe

Male

Sagag

Civilian

208

Mukhtar Sheikh Ibrahim

Male

Sagag

Civilian

209

Sheikh Ibrahim Hassan

Male

Sagag

Religious Scholar

 

On March 22nd 2005, Ethiopian troops illegally detained the following individuals in Daratoole and then transferred them to military barracks in Wardheer, where they were extensively tortured.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

210

Abdi Dhi’o

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

211

Emar Aw Da’oud

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

212

Fadumo Mohamed

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

213

Farah Ali Barkhadle

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

214

Ga’iye Wadi Hashi

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

215

Hassan Xayd

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

216

Mohamed Abdi

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

217

Mohamed Hassan Hirsi

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

218

Mohamed Magan Dalmar

Male

Daratoole

Civilian

 

On March 22nd 2005, in Wardheer, Ethiopian armed forces detained them after they refused to pay extortion money.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

219

Abdi Farah Mohamoud

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

220

Abdikarim Sirad

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

221

Abdullahi Hussein Budul

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

222

Abdullahi Iliro

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

223

Ahmed Jama Waranle

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

224

Halimo Sheikh Abdi

Female

Wardheer

Civilian

225

Nado Hassan Barre

Female

Wardheer

Civilian

 

On March 23rd 2005, the following individuals were detained in Sagag. No reason was given for their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

226

Halimo Ismail Gohe

Female

Sagag

Civilian

227

Muhumed Abdi Harbi

Male

Sagag

Civilian

228

Mukhtar Abdi Harbi

Male

Sagag

Civilian

 

On April 08th 2005, members of Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured them, in Banyare, in Iimey region.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

229

Abdi Jawab Ahmed

Male

Banyare

Civilian

230

Ahmed-Iid Hassan Hussein

Male

Banyare

Civilian

231

Bedel Mule’a Lag

Male

Banyare

Civilian

232

Hire Abdi Jawab

Male

Banyare

Civilian

233

Mohamed Qorane Mule’a

Male

Banyare

Civilian

234

Ruman Bedel Mule’a

Female

Banyare

Civilian

235

Shire Abdi Sheikh

Male

Banyare

Civilian

236

Wali Sufi Garad

Male

Banyare

Civilian

 

On September 12th 2005, they were detained, in Hargeisa, northwest Somalia, for their tribal affiliation.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

237

Abdullahi Abdi Hassan

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

238

Abdullahi Ismail Ibrahim

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

239

Farah Nadif Aydid

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

240

Hassan Mohamoud Mohamed

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

241

Mohamed Mohamoud Ibrahim

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

242

Shugri Abdi Omar

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

243

Shugri Omar Abdi

Male

Hargeisa

Civilian

 

On September 18th 2005, in Iimey, Ethiopian armed forces looted their properties and illegally detained them in military detention camp.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

244

Dirane Abdi

Male

Iimey

Civilian

245

Kamdi Haybe

Male

Iimey

Civilian

246

Qortolow Duhule

Male

Iimey

Civilian

247

Shugri Mahad Abole

Male

Iimey

Civilian

248

Siraje Mohamed

Male

Iimey

Civilian

 

On October 17th 2005, they nomads detained and tortured by Ethiopian armed forces, in Farmadow.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

249

Ahmed Sulub Mohamoud

Male

Farmadow

Civilian

250

Ali Moalim Abdullahi

Male

Farmadow

Civilian

251

Anwar Abdi Ilmi

Male

Farmadow

Civilian

 

On October 18th 2005, in Yoocaale, they were detained and tortured for suspected membership and sympathy for ONLF.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

252

Abdi Jama Yusuf

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

253

Abdiwahid Mohamoud Good

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

254

Ahmed Yassin Sheikh Abdi

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

255

Ahmed-Barre Muhumed Yusuf

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

256

Harir Jama Guhad

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

257

Hassan Omar Ahmed

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

258

Mohamoud Ahmed Said

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

259

Nur Muse Ahmed

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

260

Omar Mohamed Fodadde

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

261

Seyli’I Ibrahim Gab

Male

Yoocaale

Civilian

 

Ethiopian security forces detained him in Baabile, in October 2005. He was transferred to Jigjiga prison where he was subjected to extensive torture. He was accused of sympathizing with “anti-peace elements”, a term Ethiopian authorities frequently use to designate members of ONLF fighters.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

262

Siraje Hirsi Khalif

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

 

The following list contains the names of some of the wounded people in Qabridaharre massacre, which took place in November 15th 2005. The wounded people were saved and looked after by the townsfolk.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

263

Abdi Ahmed Yusuf

Male

Qabridaharre

ONLF member

264

Abdullahi Ahmed Hussein

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

265

Ahmed Barre Hussein

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

266

Ahmed Mohamed Dahir

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

267

Ali Dahir Gure

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

268

Farah Abdi

Male

Qabridaharre

ONLF member

269

Farah Abdi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

270

Farah Mohamed Barre

Male

Qabridaharre

ONLF member

271

Faysal Hussein

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

272

Hashi Abdi Gurey

Male

Qabridaharre

ONLF member

273

Hussein Mahdi Duh

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

274

Irshad Aqil

Male

Qabridaharre

ONLF member

275

Mohamed Ahmed Hussein

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

276

Mohamed Ali Raage

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

277

Mohamed Mahdi Raage

Male

Qabridaharre

ONLF member

 

On December 10th 2005, the following individuals were among a group of civilians detained illegally in Waafdhuug, and then transferred to military barracks in Yucub. Ms Kiin* was cruelly tortured.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

278

Baroud Wayrah

Male

Waafdhuug

Civilian

279

Kiin Haybe*

Female

Waafdhuug

Civilian

280

Sheikh Muhumed Mohamed

Male

Waafdhuug

Religious Scholar

 

In January 2004, Ethiopian Authorities detained many youngsters, who refused to be conscripted forcibly to fight in Ethio-Eritrean front. The youngsters were detained in different localities. Among them were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

281

Abdi Moalin Adan

Male

Iimey

Civilian

282

Abdulkadir Aw Bidar

Male

Laab

Civilian

283

Abdulkadir Omar Mahamad

Male

Laab

Civilian

284

Abdullahi Bashir Mahamoud

Male

Laab

Civilian

285

Ahmed Abdulkadir

Male

Laab

Civilian

286

Ahmed Moalin Adan

Male

Iimey

Civilian

287

Alale Mahad Farah

Male

Iimey

Civilian

288

Bashir Mahamad Sh. Abdi

Male

Laab

Civilian

289

Bashir Muhumad Hassan

Male

Laab

Civilian

290

Farah Abdi Muhumad

Male

Iimey

Civilian

291

Hassan aided Adan

Male

Laab

Civilian

292

Ibrahim Omar Muhumad

Male

Laab

Civilian

293

Mahamed Miftaah

Male

Laab

Civilian

294

Mahamed Sheikh Abdi

Male

Iimey

Civilian

295

Muhumad Moalin Adan

Male

Iimey

Civilian

296

Nur Abdullahi Budul

Male

Iimey

Civilian

297

Shukri Gambella

Male

Iimey

Civilian

298

Weli Nur Haji

Male

Iimey

Civilian

299

Yusuf Sheikh Hassan

Male

Laab

Civilian

 

 Women and children are the most vulnerable groups to suffer abuse and violence in the Ogaden. Many women were detained, tortured, maltreated or raped in the last fourteen years. In January 2004, Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured the following women for being activists of the Ogaden Women’s Democratic Association.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

300

Amina Sheikh Suldan

Female

Laab

Civilian

301

Asli Hassan Aidiid

Female

Laab

Civilian

302

Asturan Dahir

Female

Laab

Civilian

303

Fadumo Ibrahim Abdi

Female

Laab

Civilian

304

Fadumo Mahamed Aw Ali

Female

Laab

Civilian

305

Fadumo Maki Adan

Female

Laab

Civilian

306

Foos Abdi Yahye

Female

Laab

Civilian

307

Hamid Abdi Omar

Female

Laab

Civilian

308

Maryam Sharif Hussein

Female

Laab

Civilian

309

Masar Abdi Baroud

Female

Laab

Civilian

310

Ruqiya Bashir Kilas

Female

Laab

Civilian

 

Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured them, in February 2004, in Godey and Garbo.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

311

Abdiqani Abdi Aw Mahamad

Male

Godey

Civilian

312

Ahmed Mahamed Suudi

Male

Garbo

Civilian

313

Mahamad Aw Deeq

Male

Godey

Civilian

314

Mahamad Suudi

Male

Garbo

Civilian

315

Miyir Adan

Male

Garbo

Civilian

316

Moalin Ibrahim Dhirif

Male

Godey

Civilian

317

Moalin Omar

Male

Godey

Civilian

318

Sadiq Abdullahi

Male

Godey

Civilian

319

Sheikh Abdi Hussein

Male

Garbo

Civilian

320

Yassin Sheikh Abdi Hussein

Male

Garbo

Civilian

 

Ethiopian armed forces illegally detained and then released them after each of them paid 500,000 SH.SO as extortion money, in February 2004.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

321

Barre Mahamad Omar

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

322

Hassan Hashi Garad

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

323

Mahamed Dhegweyne

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

324

Qabbaase Ceelaabe

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

325

Qaybdiid Abdullahi Raage

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

 

On March 10th 2004, they were detained in Ceelxaar because they refused to collaborate with Ethiopian forces in the Ogaden.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

326

Abdinasser Mahamad Abdi

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

327

AbdinurMahamoud Shafad

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

328

Abdullahi Abdi Dhi’is

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

329

Abdullahi Hashi

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

330

Arab Ismail Olad

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

331

Bashir Mahamad Shafad

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

332

Dahir Mahamad Khayr

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

333

Khalif Mahamad Layli

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

334

Mahad Mahamoud Khayr

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

335

Mahamad Abdi Gure

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

336

Mahamad Aidiid Yusuf

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

337

Mahamoud Abdi Fiin

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

338

Qorane Mahamoud Khayr

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

339

Shukri Ahmed Abdi

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

340

Sirad Abdi Jubole

Male

Ceelxaar

Civilian

 

On March 08th 2004, the following individuals were detained in Sagaga. Abdullahi Moallim* is suffering from mental illness.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

341

Abdi Abdullahi

Male

Sagag

Civilian

342

Abdullahi Moallim Khayr*

Male

Sagag

Civilian

343

Dayib Sheikh Hassan

Male

Sagag

Civilian

345

Hirsi Hassan Ahmed

Male

Sagag

Civilian

346

Mahamad Hareed

Male

Sagag

Civilian

 

On March 09th 2004, in Yucub and Caado, the following individuals were illegally detained for extortion and each of them was fined 500 Ethiopian Birr.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

347

Aafi Moallin Yusuf

Male

Caado

Civilian

348

Muna Mahamad Ibrahim

Female

Yucub

Civilian

349

Muse Shakaal Haji

Male

Yucub

Civilian

350

Ruqiya Jilalow

Female

Yucub

Civilian

 

On March 12th 2004, many civilians were arbitrarily detained in Dhagaxbuur. Among them were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

351

Hafsa Mahamad Shafad

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

352

Halimo Muhumad Said

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

353

Mukhtar Abdullahi Isse

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

 

On March 25th 2004, in Godey and Qabridaharre, the following citizens were detained. No justification was given for their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

354

Ahmed Ali Tarawali

Male

Godey

Civilian

355

Arab Ahmed

Male

Godey

Civilian

356

Arab Gama’diid

Male

Godey

Civilian

357

Dakhare Gama’diid

Male

Godey

Civilian

358

Mahamed Hirmooge

Male

Godey

Civilian

359

Muhubo Yusuf Baynah

Female

Qabridaharre

Civilian

360

Ruqiya Hassan Khalif

Female

Godey

Civilian

361

Sawda Hashi Qalonbi

Female

Qabridaharre

Civilian

 

On April 02nd 2004, the following businessmen were detained in Sagag area. No reason was given for their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

362

Abdi Irad

Male

Sagag

Businessman

363

Mahamad Hassan Qeex

Male

Sagag

Businessman

364

Sharif Bedel

Male

Sagag

Businessman

 

On April 07th 2004, many civilians were detained in different localities. Among detainees were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

365

Ayan Arab Wali

Female

Godey

Civilian

366

Bisharo Hussein Fod

Female

Iimey

Civilian

367

Budul Mahamad Farah

Male

Godey

Civilian

368

Faseeh Atab Olad

Female

Iimey

Civilian

369

Halimo Adan Abdiwahid

Female

Godey

Civilian

370

Inshar Qaban Dhi’s

Male

Godey

Civilian

371

Mahamad Abdi Weyrah

Male

Godey

Civilian

372

Mahamad Qaban Dhi’s

Male

Godey

Civilian

373

Miyir Burale Hussein

Male

Godey

Civilian

374

Mukhtar Mahamoud Farah

Male

Godey

Civilian

375

Sahra Ebyan Ahmed

Female

Iimey

Civilian

376

Sahra Mahamad Qase

Female

Iimey

Civilian

377

Suldan Negeyle Omar

Male

Godey

Civilian

378

Wadi Miyir Hussein

Male

Godey

Civilian

 

On April 12th 2004, in Toonceeley, members of Ethiopian armed forces detained the following three businesswomen. Their properties were also confiscated.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

379

Ardo Faysal Ibrahim

Female

Toonceeley

Businesswoman

380

Hindis Ibrahim Nur

Female

Toonceeley

Businesswoman

381

Shukri Abdi Yusuf

Female

Toonceeley

Businesswoman

 

 On April 15th 2004, in Sibi area, the following herdsmen were detained and crippled by tortured.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

382

Abdi Aw Hassan

Male

Sibi

Herdsman

383

Mahamad Sheikh Hassan

Male

Sibi

Herdsman

 

On April 18th 2004, many civilians in Dhuxun and Garbo area were robbed, raped, detained and tortured by the Ethiopian security forces. Among them were the following individuals.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

384

Abdirahman Sufi Shafi

Male

Dhuxun

Civilian

385

Ahmad Good Osman

Male

Garbo

Civilian

386

Amina Khalif

Female

Dhuxun

Civilian

387

Fadumo Sheikh Mahamad

Female

Dhuxun

Civilian

388

Fatxi Sh. Osman

Female

Dhuxun

Civilian

389

Haji Mahamad Aw Dueye

Male

Garbo

Civilian

390

Hanafi Guddi

Male

Garbo

Civilian

391

Hassan Osman

Male

Garbo

Civilian

392

Inshar Sufi Shafi

Male

Dhuxun

Civilian

393

Mahamad Ibrahim

Male

Dhuxun

Civilian

394

Mahamad Khalif

Male

Dhuxun

Civilian

395

Mustafe Bedel Abdi

Male

Dhuxun

Civilian

396

Soran Mahamad Zakariye

Male

Dhuxun

Civilian

397

Zaynab R. Sheikh Mahamad

Female

Dhuxun

Civilian

 

On May 2nd 2004, Ethiopian armed forces detained and crippled her by torture.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

398

Ardo Faysal Ibrahim

Female

Caado

Housewife

 

On May 16th 2004, in Dhagaxmadow, Ethiopian armed forces detained illegally a group of civilians. Among detainees were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

399

Ahmed Tajir Hussein

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Trader

400

Ardo Abdullahi

Female

Dhagaxmadow

Housewife

401

Haddi Sayid Yusuf

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

402

Hassan Sharif Badal

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

403

Hussein Sheikh Sagal

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Trader

404

Idiris Abdi

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

405

Mahamed Bashir Aw Abdi

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

406

Mahamed Xayi Abdinur

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

407

Mahamoud Mahamed

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

408

Nasri Abdi Sheikh

Female

Dhagaxmadow

Housewife

409

Nimo Sharif Abdi

Female

Dhagaxmadow

Housewife

410

Omar Dalote

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

411

Shukri Bashir Aw Abdi

Male

Dhagaxmadow

Civilian

 

On June 05th 2004, they were illegally detained, in Qabridaharre.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

412

Abdi Budul Bihi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

413

Deeq Bihi Hashi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

414

Hirsi Fidiq Ogle

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

 

On June 06th 2004, in Dusmo, Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured them on suspicion of supporting the ONLF.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

415

Ahmed Dolal

Male

Dusmo

Civilian

416

Amina Mahamed

Female

Dusmo

Civilian

417

Burale Shafea

Male

Dusmo

Civilian

418

Deh Mahamed Gohe

Male

Dusmo

Civilian

419

Ibrahim Mahad Sharif

Male

Dusmo

Civilian

420

Labasul Adan

Male

Dusmo

Civilian

 

In February and May 2004, in Dhagaxbuur, Ethiopian security forces detained the following two brothers on suspected sympathy and membership of the ONLF. They were extensively tortured.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

421

Habib Hashi Ali

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Student

422

Mohamed Hashi Ali

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Shop owner

                     

On July 15th 2004, in Cayuun, Ethiopian armed forces illegally detained them. No apparent reason was given for their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

423

Bisharo Aqil Bile

Female

Cayuun

Civilian

424

Fadumo Abdullahi Siyad

Female

Cayuun

Civilian

425

Sawda Sharif Hussein

Female

Cayuun

Civilian

 

On July 24th 2004, in Dhagaxbuur, Ethiopian security forces detained illegally a group of civilians. Among the detainees were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

426

Halimo Mahamed Isse

Female

Dhagaxbuur

Housewife

427

Mahad Haybe Dhagole

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

428

Qurash Abdi Siyad

Female

Dhagaxbuur

Housewife

429

Sawda Hassan Yusuf

Female

Dhagaxbuur

Housewife

430

Shukri Hassan Yusuf

Female

Dhagaxbuur

Housewife

 

On August 15th 2004, they were detained, in Yucub.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

431

Bidiye Olad Farah

Male

Yucub

Civilian

432

Bilad Sheikh Dahir

Female

Yucub

Housewife

 

On August 17th 2004, the following citizens were detained illegally in Gunagado.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

433

Adan Amari Sheikh Ahmed

Male

Gunagado

Civilian

434

Amari Sheikh Ahmed

Male

Gunagado

Civilian

435

Sheikh Abdi Aw Omar

Male

Gunagado

Religious Scholar

 

On August 20th 2004, they were illegally detained by Ethiopian armed forces, in Qabridaharre.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

436

Abdi Ali Sed

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

437

Abdi Serar

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

438

Ahmed Sol

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

439

Bashir Hassan Bihi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

440

Farah Nur Haddi

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

441

Haybe Kilas Hussein

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

442

Mahamoud H. Omar Tube

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

443

Tube Abdullahi Muhumed

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilian

 

On August 23rd 2004, in Galadiid, Ethiopian armed forces arrested and then transferred them to military barracks, where they were subjected to extensive torture.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

444

Deq Abdi Mahad

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

445

Deq Ali Barre

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

446

Hassan Khalif Ahmed

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

447

Hussein Mahamed Hared

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

448

Mahamed Ali Mahdi

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

449

Muhumed Omar Hudle

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

450

Nur Abdiqani

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

451

Sheikh Mahamed Sahal

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

452

Yusuf Hared Ali

Male

Galadiid

Civilian

 

On August 25th 2004, in Godey area, members of Ethiopian armed forces crippled them by torture after their arrest.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

453

Abdi Jama

Male

Godey

Civilian

454

Bahiya Ilmooge

Female

Godey

Housewife

455

Saynab Abdullahi Hassan

Female

Godey

Housewife

456

Yusuf Ali Nur

Male

Godey

Civilian

 

On August 26th 2004, Ethiopian armed and security forces rounded up a number of civilians in different localities and then transferred them to military barracks. Among detainees were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

457

Abdullahi Ahmed Gurey

Male

Caado

Civilian

458

Abib Abdullahi Adan

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

459

Adan Deg Omar

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

460

Bashir Mahamed

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

461

Bashir Sheikh Ahmed

Male

Caado

Civilian

462

Di’is Hassan Dahir

Male

Caado

Civilian

463

Duale Mahamed Gani

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

464

Gagab Aw Adan

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

465

Hassan Burale

Male

Caado

Civilian

466

Hassan Muhumed

Male

Caado

Civilian

467

Ibrahim Maqiq

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

468

Mahamed Ali Bedel

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

469

Mahamed Ismail Abdi

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

470

Muhumed Matan

Male

Wardheer

Civilian

471

Muhumed Sheikh Bihi

Male

Caado

Civilian

472

Shukri Abdullahi Bedel

Male

Gurdumi

Civilian

473

Tube Hassan

Male

Caado

Civilian

 

On August 28th 2004, they were detained in Shaygoosh.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

474

Mahamed Arab Dhere

Male

Shaygoosh

Civilian

475

Safi Arab Dhere

Female

Shaygoosh

Housewife

 

On August 30th 2004, in Shilaabo, Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured the following individuals on suspicion of supporting the ONLF.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

476

Hussein Abdullahi

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

477

Lede Elmi

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

478

Qorane Abdule Jama

Male

Shilaabo

Civilian

 

On September 1st 2004, in Dhanaan, members of Ethiopian armed forces detained them. No reason was given for their detention.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

479

Liban Hassan Bedel

Male

Dhanaan

Civilian

480

Sheikh Mahamed Hassan Bedel

Male

Dhanaan

Religious Scholar

 

On September 02nd 2004, in Garbo, Ethiopian armed forces raided a religious seminary, where they looted and beaten up the students. After the raid they took with them the following individuals:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

481

Abdi Ahmed Ali

Male

Garbo

Student

482

Abdi Muhumed Hayd

Male

Garbo

Student

483

Abdinur Sheikh Hashim

Male

Garbo

Student

484

Abdullahi Sheikh Hashim

Male

Garbo

Student

485

Ahmed Sheikh Hashim

Male

Garbo

Student

486

Ali Sheikh Abdi

Male

Garbo

Student

487

Fadumo Sheikh Adan

Female

Garbo

Housewife

488

Hashim Sayid Nur

Male

Garbo

Religious Scholar

489

Ibrahim Abdulkair

Male

Garbo

Student

490

Kaldeq Sheikh Basir

Male

Garbo

Student

491

Mahbub Ibrahim

Male

Garbo

Student

492

Moalim Abdi

Male

Garbo

Teacher

493

Shafi Sheikh Hashim

Male

Garbo

Student

494

Sufi Barre

Male

Garbo

Student

 

On October 15th 2004, in Dhagaxbuur, Ethiopian armed forces detained illegally the following individuals.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

495

Abdi Dhere Hassan

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

496

Ahmed Mahamed Dahir

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

497

Hashi Hassan Nur

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilian

 

On October 22nd 2004, in Jigjiga, Ethiopian armed and security forces detained a number of civilians. No reason was given for their illegal detention. Among them were:

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

498

Abdi Hassan Godane

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

499

Abdi Ismail Duhul

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

500

Abdi Mahamed Yusuf

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

501

Abdi Nur Hared

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

502

Abdi Sheikh Abdullahi

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

503

Abdisalam Farah Hassan

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

504

Abdullahi Mahamed Daoud

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

505

Ahmed sharif Muse

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

506

Ali Omar Guled

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

507

Deq Layli

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

508

Suldan Mahdi Qadid

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

509

Hamud Muse Bahar

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

510

Khadar Abdi

Male

Jijiga

Civilian

511

Khadar Hassan Ahmed

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

512

Mahamed Shakib Abdi

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

513

Mahdi Yassin Yusuf

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

514

Suad Sharif Mahamed

Female

Jigjiga

Civilian

 

On October 24th 2004, in Bulaale, Dhagaxbuur Region, Ethiopian armed forces arrested the following elders and then transferred them to Dhagaxbuur military barracks. They were reportedly maltreated.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

515

Abdullahi Adaysane

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

516

Abdullahi Maygag

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

517

Hassan Aqil

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

518

Kayd Abdi Dub

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

519

Mahamed Qaman

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

520

Mahamoud Adan

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

521

Yusuf Mahamed Hussein

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Elder

 

On November 10th 2004, in Baka, Ethiopian armed forces detained the following civilians on suspicion of being ONLF supporters. 

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

522

Abdi Farah Mahamed

Male

Baka

Civilian

523

Ahmed Siyad

Male

Baka

Civilian

524

Hassan Ali Dama

Male

Baka

Civilian

525

Hassan Mahamed Abdi

Male

Baka

Civilian

526

Mahamed Ibrahim

Male

Baka

Civilian

 

On November 27th 2004, in Qoriile, Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured the following civilians.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

527

Ali Burale

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

528

Deg Ali Abbi

Male

Qoriile

Civilian

529

Ido Sheikh Abdi

Female

Qoriile

Civilian

530

Ramla Hassan rage

Female

Qoriile

Civilian

 

On November 28th 2004, in East Iimey, Ethiopian armed forces detained and tortured them.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

531

Abdirahman Bashir Adan

Male

Iimey

Civilian

532

Dega-adde Hassan Mahamuud

Male

Iimey

Civilian

533

Dhool Sudi

Female

Iimey

Civilian

 

In November 2004, in Iimey and Jigjiga, they were detained for no apparent reason.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

534

Abdirahman Bashir Adan

Male

Iimey

Civilian

535

Abdirahman Kahin

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

536

Ahmed Salal Sh. Mohamed

Male

Jigjiga

Civilian

537

Dhool Sudi

Female

Iimey

Civilian

538

Hassan Mahamuud

Male

Iimey

Civilian

 

On December 08th 2004, in Dig, the following individuals were detained and tortured by members of Ethiopian armed forces.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

539

Ali Ibrahim Ahmed

Male

Dig

Nomad

540

Dahir Arab Hassan

Male

Dig

Nomad

541

Gahayr Yusuf Sugule

Male

Dig

Nomad

 

The following individuals were detained in different localities, at various times, and are in detention without charge or trial more than four years.

 

No

Name

Gender

Place

Occupation

542

Abdi Abdi Rabe

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

543

Abdi Moalim Ahmed

Male

Gunagado

Civilain

544

Abdi Mohamed Abdi

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

545

Abdiaziz Abdullahi Ahmed

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

546

Abdifatah Ahmed Barkhadle

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

547

Abdifatah Hassan Mohamed

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

548

Abdikafi Sheikh Ismail

Male

Yoocaale

Civilain

549

Abdiqasim Abdi

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

550

Abdirahman Ali Hashi

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

551

Abdisalam Sharif Abdullahi

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

552

Abdullahi Dahir Adan

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

553

Abdullahi Osman Mohamed

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

554

Ahmed Mohamed Gure

Male

Yoocaale

Civilain

555

Ahmed Nur Ali

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

556

Ahmed Sheikh Bashir

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

557

Ali Dalmar Nur

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

558

Amina Sharif Mohamed

Female

Dhagaxbuur

OWDA activist

559

Anwar Harir Ahmed

Male

Baka

Civilain

560

Asad Hukun Mumin

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

561

Bashir Abdi Khalif

Male

Yoocaale

Civilain

562

Bisharo Wa’adi Shaqlane

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

563

Deq Hirsi Gole

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

564

Diriye Ali Omar

Male

Baabile

Civilain

565

Fowsia Mohamed Qani

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

566

Hassan Wa’adi Adan

Male

Ananu

Civilain

567

Hure Abdi Adar

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

568

Ibrahim Moalim Khalif

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

569

Kifah Mohamed Sulub

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

570

Masal Haybe Abdi

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

571

Mohamed Abdi Fetin

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

572

Mohamed Ahmed Adan

Male

Harshin

Civilain

573

Mohamed Dahir Addani

Male

Harshin

Civilain

574

Mohamed Rabi Abdullahi

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

575

Mohamed Sigale

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

576

Mohamed Sugle Mohamed

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

577

Mohamud Sharif Mohamed

Male

Harshin

Civilain

578

Mohamuud Askar Hirsi

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

579

Muhumed Abdi

Male

Ananu

Civilain

580

Muhumed Ismail Guudcadde

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

581

Nadis Mohamed Badal

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

582

Ni’mo Mohamed Dol

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

583

Rashid Iid Muhumed

Male

Garbo

Civilain

584

Run Abdi Omos

Femlae

Jigjiga

Civilain

585

Ruqiya Hassan Rabi

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

586

Safi Abdi Muhumed

Female

Dhagaxbuur

OWDA activist

587

Shafi Ahmed

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

588

Sheikh Mohamed Hussien

Male

Jigjiga

Civilain

589

Siyad Abdullahi Farah

Male

Qabridaharre

Civilain

590

Siyad Ahmed Samatar

Male

Dhagaxbuur

Civilain

591

Taman Mohamed Sulub

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

592

Udbi Hassan Wali

Female

Qabridaharre

OWDA activist

 

 

For enquiries and contributions all correspondence and donations should be channelled through international co-ordination offices of the Ogaden Human Rights Committee in Europe and North America.

 

Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC)

Sous-Bellevue 26

2900 Porrentruy

Switzerland

Tel: 41 79 4682 342

 

Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC)

P.O.Box 649

7400 AP Deventer

The Netherlands

Tel: 31 61 348 1507

 

Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC)

2660 Southvale Crs

Unit 338

Ottawa, ON

K1B 4W5

Canada

Tel: 613 7367 647

 

Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC)

2912 E Lake St

Suite 8

Minneapolis, MN, 55407

Tel: 612 721 6470

Fax: 612 721 6442

E-mail: ohrc@ogadenrights.org

www.ogadenrights.org