After deadly clashes and violence in Ethiopia, over the killing of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, a popular musician belonging to the majority Oromo ethnic group, about 2000 people have been booked and charged against, the Ethiopian attorney general said.
166 people lost their lives amid massive nationwide protests that erupted after killing of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa in June. As of now, people continue to protests against the authorities.
More than 9,000 people were arrested in the wake of the violence, including some politicians from Oromiya, Ethiopia’s most populous province and the home of the deceased singer.
In a news conference Attorney General Gideon said, “Some the suspects and some of the accused complained that they are being charged for their political activity.”
He further added that they are being charged for their conduct that resulted in the death of hundreds of citizens.
He refused to give details on what charges the people are being detained and he did not agree to disclose information regarding possibilities of any prisoners being released without charge.
Gideon said the riots after the singer’s death had to be quashed.
“We have to distinguish between peaceful, lawful political mobilisation and the kind of rhetoric, the kind of ultranationalist militant violent political activism, that results in deaths and injury,” he said.
The nationwide protests had led to government-sanctioned internet blackouts disconnecting Ethiopia’s population of 102 million from the world.
Although the Prime Minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and an Oromo himself, Abiy Ahmed, introduced a broad package of political and economic reforms the unrests over the singer’s killing have been the deadliest since he took office.
Few Oromo figures say the Prime Minister has not done enough to work on the Oromo ethnic community’s grievances; longstanding exclusion from political power and decades of government repression.
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