EVN (September 6) — Three opposition political parties in Tigray have reported the arrest of their members who were agitating for a peaceful protest against the oppressive rule of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The peaceful protest, scheduled to take place in the regional capital Mekele on September 7 and 8, has now been overshadowed by concerns over the unlawful detention.
Salsai Weyane Tigray, Wudb Nesnet Tigray, and National Baito Abai Tigray had jointly called for the two-day peaceful demonstration to voice their grievances against TPLF’s decades-long dominance in the region. However, the arrest of these opposition members has cast a shadow over the event’s prospects.
Kibrom Berhe, a leader of the National Baito Abai Tigray party, along with several others, told VOA that the arrest was unlawful but could not stop the protest The arrests reportedly occurred as these individuals were engaged in efforts to mobilize the public for the planned protest. Three vehicles and megaphones used during the public agitation were confiscated.
Kibrom Berhe said, “Tigray needs radical change. Tigrai is under an oppressive rule.” He went on to emphasize that the people of Tigray would not be dissuaded from their pursuit of justice and freedom.
The conditions in which those arrested are being held have raised concerns. Reports indicate that they are being detained in various police stations under what has been described as “horrifying” conditions.
The regional interim administration and city police have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the arrests. The lack of official communication regarding the fate of the detained opposition leaders has fueled the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Meanwhile, the Mekele mayoral office has issued a letter to the protest organizers, stating that the demonstration falls during a holiday season, making it impossible for them to provide security for the event.
The TPLF’s prolonged political dominance in Tigray, which lasted for 27 years and extended to its rule over Ethiopia as a whole, has been characterized by accusations of widespread human rights abuses, including torture, forced disappearances, mass killings, and mass displacement. The TPLF’s recent attempt to regain power resulted in a two-year conflict responsible for the deaths of over 600,000 people, extensive destruction of property and the displacement of more than 5 million others.
