Ethiopian police killed 40 during poll protests – rights group

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, July 13, 2005 (AP) — Independent investigations have confirmed at least 40 people were killed and 74 others were shot and wounded by the police during last month’s protests against alleged electoral fraud in Ethiopia, a human rights group said Wednesday.

Ethiopian federal riot police point their weapons at protesting students in front of Addis Ababa’s Tegbareed Industrial Technology College near the capital’s Mexico Square June 7, 2005. (Reuters).

Seventeen people are still missing after the three days of protests that started June 6 as officials released provisional results of May’s parliamentary elections, said Adam Melaku, executive secretary of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council.

Hospital sources had earlier indicated that some 36 people were shot dead during the protests.

Police arrested and later released thousands of demonstrators. Police later killed a newly elected opposition leader in southern Ethiopia. Six policemen were arrested in connection with the politician’s death.

“We believe there could be more casualties, but these were the only ones we could definitely confirm,” Adam said. “We believe 17 people are still missing although we don’t know if they are dead or whether they are still being held.”

Accusation of vote-rigging and irregularities forced electoral authorities to delay releasing official results and investigate the complaints.

On July 8, officials released results for more than half the seats, showing the ruling party and opposition in a virtual tie. Results for the remaining seats, however, have been delayed as officials check claims of fraud.

The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and its smaller political allies have won 158 seats to 148 seats for the opposition coalitions in the 547-seat parliament.