TPLF Regime Intensifies Mass Arrest in Oromia, 7 Political Prisoners Executed

(OIN, June 6, 2000)

During the last two weeks alone, the minority regime of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has arrested close to 200 innocent civilians in Malka Jabdu and executed 7 political prisoners at Hammaressa detention center, according to a press release issued yesterday by Oromo Liberation Front National council. 

Malka Jabdu, a small village located about 6 miles west of Dire Dawa, is close to the place where a cargo train carrying military supplies on the Djibouti-Finfinnee railroad was blown up by landmine explosion nearly two weeks ago.

Mass arrest and arbitrary detention of innocent civilians has also intensified in and around Kombolcha and Haramayya towns.

According to the OLF press release, the Oromia regional administration has recently issued a statement declaring that “it will deal severely with those who are opposing the war with Eritrea.”  Since then, the TPLF regime has been busy expanding old prisons and building new ones all over Oromia, states the OLF press release. 

Meanwhile, the TPLF regime has started sentencing some Oromo political prisoners who have been in detention for over eight years.  Accordingly, of those detained in Zuway prison, Dr. Jamal and Mr. Adam Mustafa have each been given 17 years of imprisonment while Mr. Abdo Ibro and Mr. Mohammed Abdi were handed 15 and 14 years respectively.  They were not allowed legal representation during their "trial" and their request for appeal has been denied.   

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