3.3 Members of opposition parties/political activists
3.3.9 Position of members of opposition parties
Ethiopia's constitution and legislation prohibit arbitrary arrests and detention and enable everybody to challenge the legality of his or her arrest.632 Most sources agree that after Abiy Ahmed took office, there was more room for political dialogue and political voices other than those of the ruling party. As mentioned above, Abiy invited illegal opposition parties abroad to return to Ethiopia and rejoin the political spectrum (see section 1.1.1).
The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in its August 2020 report that political opposition had been given much more leeway since April 2018. Opposition parties reportedly had more freedom to unite and organise party activities,
especially in the capital Addis Ababa. The Ministry was of the opinion that people in Ethiopia could speak out openly against the ruling party.633 However, Amnesty International stated that while there was a significant opening of political space after Abiy took office, since June 2019 the human rights organisation had seen an
increase in unlawful impediments to and violations of the rights of, amongst others, critical journalists and members of opposition parties.634 Furthermore, contrary to what the constitution guarantees, the Ethiopian authorities had arbitrarily arrested individuals, including activists, journalists and members of the opposition.635
629 Confidential source, 8 October 2020.
630 Confidential source, 8 October 2020.
631 Ethiopia Insight, Ethiopian prosecutors charge Jawar with training terror group in Egypt, 25 September 2020.
632 Constitution of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Part One, Articles 17 & 19, 8 December 1994.
633 DFAT, Country Information Report ETHIOPIA, page 29, 12 August 2020.
634 AI, Beyond Law Enforcement, Human Rights Violations by Ethiopian Security Forces in Amhara and Oromia, 29 May 2020.
635 USDoS, Ethiopia 2019 Human Rights Report, page 6, 11 March 2020.
Page 77 of 105
According to confidential sources, the current government is showing increasing hostility to dissenters, especially members of the OLF and those associated with that party, and is becoming increasingly authoritarian.636
Regional differences
Some confidential sources believe that the situation in the capital is better than in other regions of Ethiopia. In the SRS, the situation is said to be better than in other regions and the ruling party and the main opposition party, the ONLF, are reportedly working together in relative peace (see also sections 3.2.4 and 3.2.5). However, Somali radio station Radio Risala reported in late January 2021 that ONLF offices running the election campaign had been closed in more than ten villages.637 Another confidential source says the situation in the SRS is somewhat better than in the other regions, but believes that Afar is the only region where the opposition and the Prosperity Party are working closely together.638 Several sources believe that the opposition parties in Oromia, particularly the OFC and the OLF, are experiencing the most repression from the authorities. This is because these parties pose the greatest threat to the current government, according to the sources (see also sections 1.2, 3.2.4 and 3.2.5).639 Tigray was de facto its own state. The TPLF had changed from being the ruling party to the (federal) opposition party but had increasingly withdrawn into its own state. Since the conflict between the TPLF and the federal government and the capture of Mekelle by federal troops in late November 2020, this situation has changed (see also section 1.1.2.1).
E-ZEMA, which confidential sources say is on good terms with the Prosperity Party and, like TAND, can freely move in Addis Ababa.640 However, the party said that it was unable to open offices in parts of Oromia due to security concerns and
opposition from local government officials.641 A confidential source has also heard stories of oppression and intimidation of this party by local authorities in certain parts of Ethiopia, but believes the PP does not see E-ZEMA as a threat. 642 After the outbreak of the conflict with Tigray in early November 2020, E-ZEMA leader Berhanu Nega expressed his support for Abiy, saying that the TPLF was the cause of the conflict.643 Some political parties, including OLF, NaMA, TAND and OFC, stated during the reporting period of this country of origin information report that they could not open offices in certain parts of the country due to threats, intimidation and attacks on their members.644 Balderas was impeded from organising public
gatherings in 2019.645 It was also mentioned earlier in this section that ONLF offices in the SRS were closed by the authorities at the end of January 2021.
In an article in early 2020, Ethiopia Insight wrote that the OLF was not engaging in any political activity in the zones in Oromia that were under the control of a command post.646
Impediments and arrests
636 Confidential source, 30 September 2020; confidential source, 8 October 2020.
637 BBC Monitoring, Ethiopia's Somali region closes former rebel group offices, 27 January 2021; confidential source, 17 September 2020; confidential source, 23 September 2020.
638 Confidential source, 21 September 2020.
639 Confidential source, 23 September 2020; confidential source, 30 September 2020; confidential source, 8 October 2020.
640 Confidential source, 21 September 2020; confidential source, 17 August 2020.
641 USDoS, Ethiopia 2019 Human Rights Report, page 21, 11 March 2020.
642 Confidential source, 21 September 2020.
643 BBC Sounds, Berhanu Nega on the Tigray conflict, 24 November 2020.
644 USDoS , Ethiopia 2019 Human Rights Report, page 14, 11 March 2020.
645 USDoS , Ethiopia 2019 Human Rights Report, page 15, 11 March 2020.
646 Ethiopia Insight, Amid blackout, western Oromia plunges deeper into chaos and confusion, 14 February 2020.
A confidential source believes that if people pursue peaceful opposition, they do not need to be concerned about repercussions from the government.647 This claim is contradicted by another confidential source who believes that the arrest of
opposition member Lidetu Ayalewu, who is said to be opposing the government by peaceful means, is a sign that the current government is becoming increasingly repressive.648 Several incidents have been reported in which members, supporters and leaders of political parties have been prevented from holding meetings, demonstrations and press conferences. For example, police have stopped Balderas Council leader Eskinder Nega from holding press conferences and demonstrations in Addis Ababa. Several organisers were reportedly arrested at a demonstration planned by the party in October 2019.649 According to various sources, TAND can function freely in Addis Ababa while, although it has its origins in Tigray, it has no freedom of movement in Tigray because the TPLF sees it as a threat.650
The USDoS report on the human rights situation in 2019 stated that the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (HRCO) had expressed concerns about the arrests of members of NaMa, OFC and E-ZEMA and of journalists and civilians.651 After the killings in Bahir Dar (the capital of the Amhara region) and Addis Ababa at the end of June 2019, NaMA claimed that more than 500 members of the party had been arrested (see section 1.8.3 for more context). Members of other regional parties are said to have been arrested as a result of the events in Amhara.652 On this point, one confidential source says that members of this party had close ties with the ‘coup plotters’ and therefore thinks it is logical that the government arrested so many people.653 Another confidential source believes the party has moderated its rhetoric after the events of June 2019 and has become less ‘radical’.654
After the murder of Hachalu in late June 2020, OFC leaders Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba were arrested for their alleged involvement in the riots that followed the murder. Non-Oromo politicians such as Lidetu Ayalewu were also arrested after the riots. Some confidential sources question the charges against the politicians and believe they have been arrested for their criticism of the government and the fact that they have large followings.655 One confidential source wonders how Lidetu could have been charged with inciting Oromo youth given that he himself is Amhara.656 At the end of the reporting period for this country of origin information report, a regional court in Oromia ordered that Lidetu should be released on bail.657
647 Confidential source, 15 September 2020.
648 Confidential source, 17 September 2020.
649 AI, Beyond Law Enforcement, Human Rights Violations by Ethiopian Security Forces in Amhara and Oromia, 29 May 2020; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2020 – Ethiopia’ (section E.1), 4 March 2020.
650 Confidential source, 15 September 2020; confidential source, 21 September 2020; Ezega News, Dr Aregawi Berhe Says He Was Attacked and Detained in Mekelle, 2 July 2020.
651 USDoS, Ethiopia 2019 Human Rights Report, page 4, 11 March 2020.
652 USDoS, Ethiopia 2019 Human Rights Report, page 8, 11 March 2020; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2020 – Ethiopia, paragraph B1, 4 March 2020
653 Confidential source, 17 August 2020.
654 Confidential source, 23 September 2020.
655 Confidential source, 21 October 2020; confidential source, 30 September 2020; Anadolu Agency, Ethiopian opposition figure held despite bail, 24 September 2020.
656 Confidential source, 21 September 2020.
657 BBC Monitoring (Addis Standard Website: Twitter), Ethiopia frees opposition leader held over ethnic clashes, 11 December 2020.
Page 79 of 105