“Such a Brutal Crackdown”

locations to deter protests. In some locations they were stationed outside of the
compound, while in others they were inside the school, including in the classroom. In
three locations where classes did resume, students and teachers described plainclothes
security officers sitting in on classes. One teacher described being threatened when he
resumed teaching in Arsi zone:
During the protest I was arrested and accused of inciting students. I was
released on the condition I would talk them out of protesting. If there were
any more protests, I would be killed. I signed a form that said this. Then
there were plainclothes officers in my classroom pretending to be students,
they don’t even speak Afan Oromo [the language of instruction] but their
presence stops everyone from saying anything. Each day students stop
coming or just disappear. Prior to the protests I had around 60 students,
now I have just 17. All the best students were arrested, and many are just
too afraid to show up. 99
National examinations were scheduled for late May 2016. Oromo students petitioned local
and federal government to have exams postponed because the ongoing disruption to
education would disadvantage Oromo students writing these exams. On May 29, Oromo
diaspora activists leaked the exams on social media. The federal government shortly
thereafter postponed the national examinations. 100
Conditions of Release and Restrictions on Movement
The timing and reasons for release sometimes seem as arbitrary as the arrest. In many
cases family members posted bail or bribed local security officials, and in some locations,
elders petitioned for the release of large groups of students. Former detainees described
various terms and conditions they were forced to agree to in order to secure their release.
Frequently they were told not to join future protests or they would be arrested, or “have
action taken against them.” None of the conditions were imposed through any judicial
process. In several cases, people who signed agreements with these conditions were then
99 Human Rights Watch interview with #111, location withheld, April 2016.
100 Allafrica, “Ethiopia: National Higher Education Entrance Exam Cancelled Due to Leakage,” May 30, 2016,
http://allafrica.com/stories/201605311273.html (accessed June 6, 2016).
“SUCH A BRUTAL CRACKDOWN” 44