“Such a Brutal Crackdown”

Summary Killings and Use of Lethal Force During Protests
Human Rights Watch documented 27 killings by security forces in the 62 protest locations
we investigated. We received additional vague or uncorroborated information from dozens
of other sources about cases of killings. There are also reports of approximately 400
killings from other sources that have investigated, including the nongovernmental Human
Rights Council Ethiopia (HRCO), Ethiopia Human Rights Project (EHRP) and other
independent activists and investigators. Specific details on killings are provided in Annex
1.
Under international human rights law, law enforcement officials may use only such force
as is necessary and proportionate to maintain public order, and may only intentionally use
lethal force if strictly necessary to protect human life or in self-defense. 38 Although some
protesters reportedly threw stones at police and destroyed property in some locations,
such acts of criminal damage do not justify intentional use of lethal force. International
standards also require that governments ensure arbitrary or abusive use of force and
firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offense. 39
Four high school students from Arsi who were interviewed separately described the killing
of a 17-year-old fellow student. Waysira, 17, said:
We heard a Grade 6 student was killed in [neighboring village]. To show our
solidarity we decided to protest. When the different classes came together
and started marching toward the government office, security forces moved
toward us. They threw teargas, and then we heard the sound of gunfire. My
friend [name withheld] was shot in the chest, I saw him go down and
bleeding. We ran away and I never looked back. His mother told me later he
had been killed. 40
38 Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, Eighth United Nations Congress on the
Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, 27 August to 7 September 1990, U.N. Doc.
A/CONF.144/28/Rev.1 at 112 (1990), rule 9. http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/i2bpuff.htm (accessed June 8, 2016).
39 Ibid, rule 7.
40 Human Rights Watch interview with #69, location withheld, April 2016.
“SUCH A BRUTAL CRACKDOWN” 24