Abbay Media News
Yassin Ibrahim
The United Nations Human Rights Office spokeswoman in Geneva expressed concern on the death by shooting of epiphany celebrators in the Ethiopian city of Woldiya by government Security Forces. It was reported, spokeswoman Revina Shamdasani said, the security forces fired on the peaceful singing crowd. The angry residents blocked the main thoroughfares in protest to the massacre.
From the information obtained through sources in state media, civic society and from government press releases, the United Nations branch office in Addis Ababa has learned government security forces shot indiscriminately at the people of Wodiya City and killed peaceful citizens, the spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani explained.
The UN Human Right spokeswoman said, it’s regrettable the Ethiopian government murdered peaceful epiphany celebrants less than two weeks after the authorities declared they will release political prisoners and widen the political space. Mr. Gedu Andargachew, the Governor of the Amhara regional state, has confirmed the death and injury of Woldiya City residents at the hands of the members of Security forces and has said there will be a careful and thorough investigation of the killings, Mrs Shamdasani added. She urged the investigation to be conducted by independent body and expeditiously.
The government communication Minister Dr. Negere Lencho told reporters, security forces need to be trained on how to control their emotions and de escalate the situation. It is also advised and should be mandatory to refrain from taking lives and injuring civilians. On the other hand, people should bring up their grievances or demand answers in a peaceful manner, the minister told reporters.
The Authorities in Addis Ababa acknowledged its law enforcement agencies were shooting on peaceful residents of Woldiya celebrating the religious holiday known in Ethiopia as “Qana Zegelila” which is celebrated the day after Ethiopian Epiphany. While the government confirmed the death of 7 youth residents of Woldiya, it stopped short of explaining the very reasons that triggered the clash.
