Ethiopian prisons crowded, luck facility-report

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

July 20, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The Ethiopian human rights commission (EHRCO) in its latest report said that prisons in Ethiopia are stuffed with inmates and are far from the minimum requirement of international standard.

In an assessment it made around 35 detention centers across the country, the commission said most prison cells are small-sized, window-less and crowded.

According to the report prisons in Ethiopia luck access to pure water, daily meal and health care facilities.

Inmates in towns of Hossaena, Shashemene, Welkaite, Awassa and Adama-tulu have to go to rivers to fetch water. It said adding most prisoners have to pay transport costs from their own pockets to go to hospitals when they get sick.

Some inmates have complained that water-boarding and torture is used as interrogation techniques.

Ethiopia has planned to build better prisons in major towns of the nation. It was learnt.

Currently some 81,000 inmates, of which 54% in the capital, Addis Ababa are being detained in 120 detention centers.

Budget increase and prompt judiciary system are suggested by the commission to cope up the over crowd and shortage of facility.

Most detention centers were found to provide primary level and vocational trainings and in some areas distance education.

(ST)