Addisu wond.

Over fifty die as lorry plunges into river in Ethiopia

Fifty nine people have reportedly died after a lorry that was transporting 60 people of an Amhara ethnic origin evicted from the BeniShangul Gumz Region crashed into Jedesa River in Tekesha District of Ethiopia on March 24, 2013. Women and children are among the dead.  According to some of the evictee farmers, who wanted to remain anonymous, the deceased and the sole survivor received no proper care yet. ESAT’s repeated efforts to speak to the Regional authorities were unsuccessful.

In a related development, several of the famers ordered to leave the region, have today reported that they have been attacked by BeniShangul Region’s militia.

The Region’s officials recently told the Addis Abeba based weekly Newspaper, Addis Admas that the evictees were “illegal settlers”.  Gizaw Legese, a legal expert, had stated that Article 32 of the Ethiopian Constitution respects “Freedom of Movement” and stipulates “Any Ethiopian or foreign national lawfully in Ethiopia has, within the national territory, the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence, as well as the freedom to leave the country at any time he wishes to.”

Benishangul Gumz Region had last month ordered thousands of Amhara farmers to leave the land that they have farmed and live on for decades. The Southern Region also had displaced thousands of Amhara farmers a year ago.
ESAT English News