ESAT News (April 4, 2017)
Six people were killed in a shooting that broke out at the Waldiba monastery in northern Ethiopia.
A source who spoke to ESAT said the incident was sparked when militiamen from Tigray opened fire at the pilgrims from Amhara killing one person and injuring another. The militias from Tigray were reportedly preventing the pilgrims from Amhara from going into the Tigray side of the monastery.
The Amhara militiamen in retaliation killed five from the Tigray side. The source said fighting was still continuing at the time of the interview Tuesday morning.
The sacred Waldiba monastery has been targeted by the government for sugar development which has met with strong objection by the monks and the laity.
Thirty nine monks have been detained after they publicly protested plans by the government to use their monastery for sugar development.