“Such a Brutal Crackdown”

TPLF-led EFFORT group of companies, including buses owned by Salem Bus Line (or Sky
Bus Transport System). 106
Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that in some places students responded to security
force aggression by throwing stones. In two of these locations, there were reports that
students threw stones prior to live ammunition being used. In two other locations,
witnesses said that protesters threw stones only after soldiers started firing live
ammunition. In Mendi, three people separately suggested that there were agents
provocateurs among them who were throwing stones at private businesses. One said:
There were agents in our protest throwing stones. They are known to be
working for the local government in the intelligence services. They were
throwing stones at a Tigrayan-owned hotel. We did not want this, we all
wanted the protests to be peaceful. So we grabbed them and handed them
to police but police would not take them and arrested us instead. I spent
three weeks in detention as a result. 107
In addition to protests, demonstrators engaged in nonviolent resistance: blocking roads,
boycotting classes, and refusing to pay taxes. Some participants told Human Rights Watch
that they also blocked roads to prevent the movement of security forces and disrupt trade.
Students told Human Rights Watch about their internal discussions and decisions to keep
the protests non-violent. A student from West Hararghe said:
We knew the government was trying to show us [protesters] as violent. We
heard there was some violence elsewhere, but in our area we were
determined that the protests must be completely peaceful. We were told
even when they shoot and arrest, we must show the world that Oromos will
not turn to violence. 108
106 Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT).
107 Human Rights Watch interview with #93, location withheld, April 2016.
108 Human Rights Watch interview with #99, location withheld, April 2016.
47 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JUNE 2016