ESAT News (January 11, 2016)
News reaching ESAT from Arba Minch town, a key town in southern Ethiopia say government security forces were rounding up several number of the youth in the town for being suspected members and supporters of opposition political parties.
Sources told ESAT that security forces have stripped and whipped Yosef Yishak and Endashaw Wondyifraw among others for allegedly having connections with Patriotic Ginbot 7, an armed group opposing the minority regime in Addis Ababa. The two were detained twice last year and released on a 2000 birr bail.
The sources also revealed Yosef and Endashaw were whipped naked at the town’s prison and later taken to undisclosed location. Some residents suspect they were taken to Addis Ababa or the notorious Kaliti prison.
There have been several reports of harassment and detention against people in the town for allegedly being sympathizers, supporters and members of opposition political parties.