Anchor Media analysis. The full report on the civil disobedience of Gondar. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said Thursday that ongoing protests in the North Amhara region have resulted in numerous casualties.
The statement did not specify how many casualties have been suffered so far. At a press conference, the EHRC said it had confirmed deaths, injuries, property damage, and frequent closures on roads running between the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, and the city of Decy in the South Wolo Zone of the Amhara region.
The EHRC statement said it was monitoring human rights impacts of “law enforcement operations” conducted in parts of the Amhara region. Human rights groups also said they had confirmed gunfights between Ethiopian Defense Forces and local fighters in parts of the Amhara region, and that heavy weapons had been used in the attacks.
The EHRC statement went on to say that several members of the opposition party, several youths accused of organizing and coordinating the decision to reorganize the Special Forces, and others suspected of having ties to the Fano (Amhara National Self-Defense Force) said he observed several people in Recently arrested.
The committee recommended that the government ensure that arrests are lawful and respect basic human rights principles. Amhara, Ethiopia’s second most populous region, has been witnessing mass protests for more than a month sparked by complaints of systematic discrimination and violence against the Amhara people. Reports of widespread protests and civil disobedience have surfaced on social media across the Amhara region, despite a virtual blackout and press ban.
