“Such a Brutal Crackdown”

III. Violence by Protesters
The Ethiopian government has repeatedly characterized the protesters as violent and
stated that seven security officials have been killed during the protests as of mid-February
2016. In the 62 protest locations that Human Rights Watch investigated, scattered acts of
violence by protesters occurred at only a handful of sites.
Few details are available on the circumstances surrounding security officials’ deaths. 104
Some may be linked to an incident in Aji, near Shashemene, in mid-February 2016. The
incident started on February 12 when federal security forces fired on a bus after a wedding,
killing four people, provoking further protests in the area. Three days later, a clash
between federal security forces and armed men believed to be local police or militias
resulted in the deaths of seven security officers, according to the government. Witnesses
described an exchange of gunfire over several hours. In nearby Seraro woreda, three
detainees reported that the police largely abandoned their posts at the police station to go
and provide support to the security forces. Protesters then overran the police station, freed
several hundred detainees and apparently took some small arms. Similar jail breaks were
reported in Ambo and several other locations, though the exact circumstances are
unknown.
Human Rights Watch received credible information that during some protests the
protesters damaged and looted government buildings, including local woreda
administration offices and police stations in locations where government officials or
security forces had largely abandoned their posts, such as Dodola and Seraro woredas in
Arsi. Schools and health clinics were reportedly not touched. Human Rights Watch was not
able to corroborate government allegations that churches and other religious institutions
were destroyed. 105 Protesters have generally not damaged private businesses, except for
some foreign-owned farms and some properties owned or perceived to be owned by the
104 Mail and Guardian Africa, “Seven Ethiopian security forces killed, state buildings damaged, in restive Oromia region –
minister,” February 16, 2016, http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-02-2016-seven-ethiopian-security-forces-killed-statebuildings-damaged-in-restive-oromia-region-minister/
(accessed May 19, 2016).
105 For example, see VOA, “HRW: Killings and Detention in Ethiopia's Oromia Continue,” February 22, 2016,
http://www.voanews.com/content/killing-detention-oromia-human-rights-watch-report/3202181.html (accessed May 19,
2016 ).
“SUCH A BRUTAL CRACKDOWN” 46