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HAN
Note:
 IGAD
Breaking News (HAN) November 15th, 2005.
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The Ethiopian Security Under Control the Violence Sparked in Addis Ababa
Djibouti (HAN)
November 15, 2005 - The Federal Police said it has put under
control the street violence sparked in Addis Ababa in a way that thwarted
the desire of leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) who
had projected the death of 10,000 to 15,000 people.
Presenting a report to 1st Extra-Ordinary Session of the House of Peoples
Representatives (HPR) convened in connection with the recent street
violence in Addis Ababa, Federal Police Commissioner, Workineh Gebeyehu
said the violence that erupted on November 1, 2005 in Addis Ababa was
unique as it was erupted at 55 places simultaneously.
The Commissioner expressed condolence over the death of civilians in the
riot and members of the Police who lost their lives while safeguarding the
constitutional order.
Based on previously offered trainings, Commissioner Workineh said the
Police have put the violence under control in a way that minimized
possible damages.
The Commissioner said a total of 35 civilians lost their lives in street
violence and riot called by the CUD in Addis Ababa city as well as in
Bahir Dar, Debre Tabor, Ambo, Tikur Enchini and Arba Minch towns.
Some 156 civilians have also received severe and light injuries, he added.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner said, seven members of the Police deployed to
control the street violence were killed, while 338 others received severe
and light injuries.
Commissioner Workineh said three Anbessa city buses, two Police vehicles
and one belonging to the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation were set
on fire during the riot in Addis Ababa.
Moreover, 153 vehicles were partially damaged and their windscreens were
broken, Commissioner Workineh said, adding three Kebele offices, one
Kebele recreation center as well as a city bus station office were fully
gutted down.
Two residential houses and three shops with their properties were also
gutted down, while a state-owned cheap wood factory was partially damaged
with fire, he added.
The Commissioner said 114 condominium houses built in Gullele sub city
were damaged by the rioters and their windows and doors were broken.
He said 101 helmets, 101 shields, 18 clubs and two Kalashnikovs used by
security forces during the riot were also damaged.
The Commissioner said the November 1, 2005 street violence was unique from
that of the previous violence in the way it was organized as it was
simultaneously erupted at 55 places in Addis Ababa city.
According to the Commissioner, the violence was well-organized and carried
out using modern communication technologies, particularly the mobile
phone.
Commissioner Workineh said the violence was simultaneously erupted at 55
places in a bid to disperse and weaken the capacity of the riot police.
The violence that targeted on security forces could only be organized by
forces that have experience in military related fields, the Commissioner
said.
According to Commissioner Workineh, investigations conducted on persons
arrested by police following the riot have enabled to confirm that many of
those who orchestrated and led the anti-constitutional street action were
ex-soldiers and military officers in the former regime.
He said these people, in addition to their military skill, had the
financial backing from the CUD to smuggle as well as prepare home-made
explosives which they used during the riot.
These people have also attempted to spread the violence to other regional
towns using local private media as well as the Amharic services of the
Voice of America (VOA) and the Deutche Welle, which, according to the
Commissioner, operate under the full control by the opposition forces.
The Commissioner said after security forces have managed to foil the
attempted insurrection in collaboration with the public, the stubborn
government in Eritrea had mobilized members of the Oromo Liberation Front
(OLF) to incite violence in some parts of Oromia.
Although OLF, with backing and guidance from the Eritrean government, had
attempted to instigate violence in Ambo town, the attempt has successfully
been put under control with the joint efforts of the government and the
public.
The Commissioner praised the collaboration of the people of the country in
the efforts to foil the attempted insurrection by forces of violence, and
expressed belief that such joint efforts would continue in the future.
The Commissioner expressed deep sympathy over the death of citizens as a
result of the riots, as well as those police members who lost their lives
in the line of duty to protect the constitutional order, and send
condolences to the respective bereaved families.
Police have been investigating the cases of several of the suspects who
were arrested for active involvement in the CUD-instigated violence, and
those suspects are held in custody at the Zeway and Dedesa Camps, the
Commissioner said.
He also disclosed that among the suspects who were taken to the Dedesa
Camp three persons have died of natural causes, while the remaining are in
good condition with all the necessary food, shelter and medical services
being provided to them.
The Commissioner said the government has provided budgetary support to
enable security forces get relevant training and other facilities that
would help minimize or avoid any casualty in their effort to foil violent
moves of anti-peace forces.
HAN
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