Continued Violence in Academic Institutions

HRLHA – Press Release

 January 20, 2012

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) is highly concerned about the never ending incidences of government-sponsored violence in academic institutions and workplaces in Ethiopian in general and in the regional state of Oromia in particular. A very recent case in point is the entering of armed government security forces into the campus of Wollega University in Nakamte, Oromia, and opening fire onto students standing in front of their dormitories. In this violence which occurred on the 7^th of January, 2012, two students, namely Lenjissa Ragassa and Fayissa Mosissa were taken to Naqamte Hospital with bullet wound on the leg and a serious injury on the head respectively. At the same time, the armed security agents who drove into the University compound in a track with plate number OROMIA 0065 apprehended about 15 and took them to yet unknown destination. The whereabouts and the situations of those students are not known. According to HRLHA correspondents, the violent action against the students was a response to a mere demand by the students for improvements in the students’ meal.

Prior to that three students of this same Wollega University (namely Katama Sorii, Boggala Gonfa, and Caala) have been expelled from the University for allegedly instigating violence on the campus. HRLHA,. January 2012