32 suspected of organizing protests in Kucha fired ESAT News August 22, 2013

32 suspected of organizing protests in Kucha fired ESAT News August 22, 2013

Thirty-two people that were suspected of organizing the opposition and protests in Kucha Woreda, Selam Ber town, Gamogofa Zone of Southern Ethiopia, have been fired from their jobs. Among whom are 2 prosecutors, 2 judges, 1 court registrar and a police officer. Eight others have left their jobs and fled to other regions. Sixteen more people have been arrested in the past weeks alone. Over 40 people, who include people that were detained since last month, had appeared in Court yesterday and were given another appointment to August 30, 2013. Worried that the tensions might turn into violence, 60 elders of the Woreda have travelled to Addis Abeba to speak to Federal government officials yesterday. A month ago, some elders that had travelled to Addis Abeba on a similar mission have been detained. Masebo Madalcho, investor and prominent elder of the area, has been detained three days ago. Over 160 Bajaj motorcycles, suspected of serving as information conduits between the districts, are still seized by the police. ESAT has learnt that the elders that travelled to Addis Abeba will warn the Federal government officials that the local community will take its own measures unless the government stops evicting civil servants and detaining people, which the government will be responsible for. The Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) had called on the government to immediately find solutions to the “rights and identity” questions of the residents of Kucha Woreda. ESAT’s attempt to speak to Ethiopian government officials on the issue was unsuccessful.