Commission ‘forced to abandon’ Meki investigation into Bate murder after collecting witness testimonies implicating security forces

Addis Ababa – A letter from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to the Oromia Regional State government, including President Shimelis Abdissa, revealed that the Commission was “forced to give up” its investigations in the eastern town of Meki from Showa, Oromia region, three days ago. after his team of investigators began collecting testimonies from local witnesses that showed a trail of activities implicating government security forces in the murder of Bate Urgessa, a political official of the opposition Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

The EHRC letter, written on April 17 and seen by Addis Ababa Standard, is addressed to the office of the president of the Oromia regional state, the office of the regional police commission, the office of the regional attorney general and the regional administration and security office. The two-page letter confirmed that Bate was killed in the town of Meki and stated that “as soon as the information was received,” on April 10, the EHRC deployed “expert investigators who were working nearby” to gather information and evidence.

Based on information and evidence collected by his team, the Commission revealed that it “understood” that on April 9, Bate left his room key at the check-in of Abhem Pension, where he was staying, at approximately 5 :00 pm local time, indicating that he would return after dinner.

After Bate left the Guest House, at approximately 5:30 pm on the same day, a vehicle stopped at the same Guest House premises and four security personnel “armed with weapons”, dressed in security uniforms commonly called ‘Ranger’ and a military “red hat”. “dismounted from the vehicle with “two officials” who appeared to be accompanied by security personnel. A total of six people rented rooms in the same Guesthouse, the letter states.

Unlike other days, around 5:45 p.m. on the same day, the city’s security forces began “preventing the movement of three-wheeled vehicles (Bajajs) and pedestrians.”

That same night, at a location outside the city where Bate’s lifeless body was found, a double-cab truck painted in camouflage “accelerated and left the main road” and stopped without turning off its lights around 12: 00. midnight, according to EHRC accounts collected from eyewitnesses. Four men dressed in ‘Ranger’ uniforms, red hats and armed with guns exited the vehicle, dragged one person from the back of the vehicle, shot him repeatedly and drove away, the letter reveals. On the morning of April 10, Bate’s body was found with his hand “tied behind his back and shot in the head, chest and abdomen.”

The EHRC team continued its investigation and on April 11 attempted to contact the same witnesses the team previously spoke to to ask additional questions, but “learned that the witnesses had been arrested by police.” Police said they had detained the witnesses “for their safety.” However, the Commission was prevented from speaking to witnesses.

The EHRC letter further stated that although the Commission made “great efforts to ensure the safety of our witnesses” during the investigation process, the police not only arrested the same witnesses that the Commission’s investigators spoke to, but also when the Commission team moved around the city. of Meki to carry out the investigation, “unidentified people and vehicles followed the investigation experts and interrupted the movement…”. In addition, police also detained Bate’s relatives who were cooperating with the EHRC investigation.

“Therefore, to ensure the safety of investigative experts, witnesses and people involved in the investigation, the Commission was “forced to abandon” the evidence collection work it was carrying out in the city on April 12. .

The EHRC letter called on regional authorities to provide the necessary cooperation for their work as prescribed by law to ensure that “obstacles are not created in their investigations”. He also requested to immediately visit and meet with detained witnesses who cooperated in providing information to the Commission, as well as adequate follow-up to prevent human rights abuses of the victim’s family members and other suspects who are in police custody.

The Commission informed the Oromia CCd regional authorities in the letter that it was “ready to hold consultations” with relevant officials to address the challenges within ten working days before officially publishing the report on the investigation findings and its recommendations. .

Asked about Addis Ababa Standard To comment on any progress since the letter was sent, EHRC declined and said it would “not comment on ongoing investigations,” indicating that despite the setback, the Commission may proceed to publish its preliminary findings on the circumstances. surrounding Bate’s murder.

Addis Ababa Standard was the first to report, citing a family member who spoke on condition of anonymity, that Bate was taken from his hotel room around midnight by people who “looked like government security forces.”

However, a statement issued the same day by the Oromia regional government accused “some political entities” of trying to take advantage of the opportunity to compensate for their “political losses” by holding the government responsible for the murder and threatening any reports that implicate anyone. “for the murder until security forces investigate and announce it to the public.”

The OLF has condemned the “brutal murder” of Bate, describing him as an “eloquent, selfless and brave Oromo soul.” He also called on “all human rights organizations and peace-loving individuals to immediately undertake a neutral and impartial investigation.”

Several countries, including the United States and the EU, made similar calls for an investigation into the murder.

Among the calls was a statement issued by U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The murder of Bate Urgessa on Tuesday night was shocking and disturbing. “I offer my deepest condolences to the family for their loss and urge the Ethiopian authorities to allow a credible and neutral international body to conduct a thorough investigation into Bate’s death,” Senator Cardin said.

Bate Urgessa, an outspoken politician, was released from prison on 100,000 birr bail after being detained for two weeks on charges of “conspiring with two armed groups, OLA-Shene and the Fano militia, to incite unrest in the capital.” He was detained by security forces along with French journalist Antoine Galindo while conducting an interview at the Skylight hotel in Addis Ababa on February 22.

Previously, he spent years in and out of detention on several occasions. During one of his last incarcerations, he encountered a serious health problem while in police custody which led to his release.

Bate spoke of a harrowing experience during his detention in several informal detention centers in towns such as Mojo, near his hometown, Awash Melkasa, Gelan, Sebeta and Burayu, all in the Oromia region. AS

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