September 5, 2013
We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) are deeply disturbed by illegal and violent actions by the TPLF/EPRDF that prevented the Semayawi Party from carrying out its peaceful rally on Sunday, September 1. Despite receiving the go ahead from authorities to stage this lawful rally nearly two months ago, with no warning, federal police stormed and ransacked Semayawi [also known as the Blue Party] headquarters on Saturday, August 31, 2013.
After first cutting off all electricity to their office, the TPLF/EPRDF police officers forcibly took over the office of the Semayawi Party. Leaders and volunteers working on final preparations for the next day’s rally were beaten and kicked by authorities before being detained for a number of hours. After further harassment, interrogation and intimidation in detention, they were released, but the federal police maintained control of Semayawi headquarters until the next morning.
During that time, the federal police ransacked their office and confiscated and/or destroyed their computers, flyers, flags, T-shirts, banners, office documents and nearly all other Semayawi property; essentially making it impossible for the Semayawi party to move ahead with their plans for the rally.
Despite photographs and numerous corroborative testimonies by victims and witnesses of TPLF/EPRDF involvement in all of this, it is no surprise that the TPLF/EPRDF gave a very different account of what happened to the international media. When the Semayawi party requested a permit for the rally two months ago, they had allegedly been given a verbal okay, assuring party leaders they could proceed with planning; however, just this week, the TPLF/EPRDF reversed their authorization. Instead, the TPLF/EPRDF made plans to conduct their own rally, calling on the people to come out to applaud their government for its “religious tolerance” and to condemn and report religious extremists among them; particularly pointing fingers at Ethiopian Muslims who have been peacefully rallying for religious freedom for nearly two years, exasperating TPLF/EPRDF officials.