(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is an International PEN press release on the occasion of the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, 15 November 1998: **New case and update to IFEX alerts as noted in text** International PEN’s Day of the Imprisoned Writer: 15 November 1998 Ethiopia Moti Biyya (pen name), Garuma Bekelle and Tesfaye Deressa Moti […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is an International PEN press release on the
occasion of the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, 15 November 1998:
**New case and update to IFEX alerts as noted in text**
International PEN’s Day of the Imprisoned Writer: 15 November 1998
Ethiopia
Moti Biyya (pen name), Garuma Bekelle and Tesfaye Deressa
Moti Biyya, Garuma Bekele and Tesfaye Deressa were arrested in October 1997
in a wave of arrests of Oromo journalists and political activists. It is
believed that their arrest is linked to their involvement as journalists in
the Oromo newspaper “Urji” and their activism as members of the Ethiopian
Human Rights League.
During the first ten months of their detention the three men were held in
solitary confinement in Makeelawi prison and were denied any visit from
their family. Some time around August they were transferred to Karchele
Central Prison and are now allowed family visit once a week.
Moti Biyya, Garuma Bekele and Tesfaye Deressa have now been imprisoned for
over a year without charge or trial. International PEN urges the Ethiopian
authorities to order their immediate and unconditional release if they are
not promptly charged with a
clearly recognizable criminal offence and brought to court. In the meantime
the organisation seeks assurance that they are humanely treated whilst in
detention.
Moti Biyya (pen name), Gamachu Malka Fufa (real name), is a “social
anthropologist interested in highlighting the Oromo identity and its
specificity. Through his books he is said to be providing Oromo society
historical background and coherence.” Moti Biyya has published two books –
one in 1995 under the title of “Oromyan Befereqa” (Oromia, the hidden
atrocities) which is a political analysis of the colonisation of Oromo
people by
successive Abyssinian groups, the other one published in 1997,
“Abyssinocracy or Democracy?” compares the situation of the Oromo minority
under the socialist government of Menghistu and the current government. Also
a journalist, Biyya used to write a weekly column both in the Oromo
newspaper “Urji” and in the Amharic newspaper “Sayife Nabaldal”. Moti Biyya
is aged 41, married and a father of two young children.
Garuma Bekele published various articles and studies on Oromo Culture and
Society. He published an historical novel, “One Day in Afaan Oromo” which
explains the social political and cultural problems Oromo have been
experiencing in East Africa between the
1950s and 1989. As a journalist he used to write mainly for “Urji”. Garuma
Bekele is 38 years old, married and has one child (updates IFEX alerts of 21
October 1998 and 13 November 1997).
Tesfaye Deressa is a song writer, poet and journalist. Deressa has published
various poems some of which have also been put to music and recorded as
songs. As a journalist he wrote mainly for the Oromo newspaper “Urji”.
Tesfaye Deressa is 39 years old,
married with no children (updates IFEX alerts of 21 October 1998 and 13
November 1997).
