Ethiopia denies killing of two students in Oromia
Feb 21, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s police denied media reports on the killing of two students during a riot in Oromia state, the official ENA reported.
A news story filed by Voice of America (VOA), Deutsche Welle and Eritrean radio alleging that two students were killed during a riot that occurred in Gebre-guracha Comprehensive Secondary School in North Shoa Zone, Oromia State was far from the truth, the students who were reported to be dead disclosed.
According to a statement the Zonal Police on Tuesday, Diriba Bekele and Solomon, were reported to be dead by the stated media, said they are alive.
Diriba said he went to school to seat for his exam and he was there too when the unrest started but didn’t suffer any injury leave alone to be dead.
He said he was very sad that the stated media reported that he was dead.
Diriba said he was one of the students who were put under police custody now.
Solomon said on his part that no body was killed during the riot.
He said the dissemination of false news story by stated media put their credibility under question.
Corporal Dejene Dadi, an elder, said on his part that he was very sad over the report of the stated media.
He said he was surprised by the story disseminated by the media claiming this much person killed or that much injured when in fact they are thousands of kms away from Ethiopia and when I didn’t see anything at all while I was watching the riot standing at a point one meter away.
Corporal Dadi said he had seen before his eyes that the students, who were alleged to be dead, but who are alive, by going to the police station.
Police said there was an attempt to disturb the teaching-learning process in the area through the help of anti-peace forces since last May but has been contained through the collaborative work of the police and the society.
More than 1000 community leaders drawn from among Kukuyu, Degem, Worejarso and Kehadabu-abote woredas had endorsed a resolution on how to ensure the peace and security of the area following discussion.
(ST/ENA)