11 journalists, bloggers and activists were arrested by Ethiopian
security forces on 25th March 2018, including recently released political
prisoners.
Those arrested include journalists Eskinder Nega and
Temesgen Desalegn, Zone9 bloggers Mahlet Fantahun, Befekadu Hailu, blogger
Zelalem Workaggnhu and political activists Andualem Arage, Addisu Getinet,
Yidnekachewu Addis, Sintayehu Chekol, Tefera Tesfaye and Woynshet Molla.
The arrests follow the declaration of a national state of
emergency on 16th February by the Cabinet for a period of six months, after
Prime Minister and Chairman of the country's ruling coalition Hailemariam
Desalegn unexpectedly resigned.
All journalists and activists detained on March 25, are held
in a small, 3 by 8 meter room along with other 40 inmates. There are over 40
prisoners in a single room, unable to sleep properly. All of them have been
spending sleepless nights because there isn’t enough space to sleep, a serious
sanitation problem like unventilated room, filthy toilet which is very
disturbing even for the visitors let alone the prisoners.
These prisoners have been told by the commander of the
police station that the Command Post is the one who detained them and it is up
to it to release them.
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