The Torture Chronicles of Ethiopian Patriot

Habtamu Ayalew (in His Own Words)

Posted in Al Mariam's Commentaries By almariam On April 3, 2017

Authors Note: Following is my

translation of the Amharic interview given by Habtamu Ayalew to the Voice of
America (VOA), Amharic Program on March 15, 2017 and broadcast on the same
day and on March 18 on Democracy in Action program. Translation of speech or
text often presents some technical problems. Some of them are lexical-semantic;
others are grammatical and syntactic. Even more difficult to translate are
rhetorical ones involving metaphors and figures of speech. I have aimed for
accuracy and meaning in this translation of Habtamus words. I have also
confirmed with Habtamu and made necessary clarifications to certain statements
he made in the interview to ensure the translation accurately represents his
intended sense and meaning. Any errors and inaccuracies in translation are
exclusively mine. (Full audio of Amharic interview is available HERE.)

This translation and commentary herein have two purposes. First and foremost,
my effort here is aimed at helping Habtamu Ayalew communicate his story and
harrowing experiences of torture, humiliation, degradation and all manners of
abuse he suffered at the hands of the Thugtatorship of the Tigrean Peoples
Liberation Front (T-TPLF) to international English-speaking and reading audience.
I hasten to add that Habtamus story of personal (and family) suffering is neither
unique nor personal. Habtamu speaks, and speaks convincingly and powerfully on
behalf of the tens of thousands of political prisoners held by the T-TPLF whose
names are known only to their families (if the families are lucky enough not to be
told the usual T-TPLF lie, No such person is held in this prison.) and God. I
discuss the second reason for my effort here in the Post Script following the
translated text of the interview below.

Among the thousands of torture victims in the hands of the T-TPLF today
include: Journalists Eskinder Nega, Temesgen Desalegn, Woubshet Taye, Anania
Sorri (recently released) and political leaders Dr. Merra Gudina, Andualem Aragie,
Bekele Gerba and so many others. A partial list of T-TPLF political prisoners and
torture victims with long prison sentences is available HERE.

Who is Ethiopian Patriot Habtamu Ayalew?

Ethiopian Patriot Habtamu Ayalew

Much can be said of the young, brilliant and dynamic Ethiopia opposition leader
Habtamu Ayalew. Suffice it to present his biography as stated concisely
by Amnesty International:
Habtamu Ayalew, the former spokesman for the opposition Andenet (Unity) party was
arrested on July 8, 2014 and charged with terrorism for allegedly collaborating with the
opposition Ginbot 7, which the Ethiopian government has designated a terrorist group. He
was detained at the notorious Maekelawi and Qilinto Prisons, where he was subjected to
torture and other ill-treatment through denial of access to toilet facilities, a situation that led
to him to develop excruciatingly painful hemorrhoids.

Habtamu is one of the few T-TPLF prison torture victims to ever leave Ethiopia
alive. He barely managed to survive and tell the harrowing accounts of the horrific
torture chambers of the T-TPLFs notorious Maekelawi and Qilinto Prisons. (For a
comprehensive report on the infamous torture chambers of Maekelawi Prison, see
Human Rights Watch report, They Want a Confession]. In August 2016, a
massive fire broke out at Qilinto Prison, a few kilometers south of the capital,
where hundreds of political prisoners are held, killing dozens of prisoners.
According to a report in Addis Standard, an eyewitness stated that he saw armed
prison guards shooting indiscriminately at prisoners [in Qilinto Prison] [as] most of
them were running frantically to extinguish the fire. Similarly, 0n November 3,
2005, during an alleged disturbance in Kality prison, another prison a few
kilometers south of the capital, which lasted 15 minutes, prison guards fired more
than 1500 bullets into inmate housing units leaving 17 dead, and 53 severely
wounded.)

Voice of America, Amharic Program interview of Habtamu Ayalew first (part 1)

broadcast on March 15, 2017 and (part 2) and on March 18 on Democracy in
Action program.

Segment introduction by VOA Amharic Program radio journalist Alula

Kebede: As we noted earlier in the introduction of this broadcast [of Democracy
in Action Program], our guest today is Mr. Habtamu Ayalew. He is the former
spokesperson for Andenet (Unity) Party. We will be discussing his 2 years in prison
in Ethiopia awaiting trial accused of terrorism and listen to his story of the
inhumane treatment, suffering and extreme abuse he suffered during his
imprisonment and the present health impact of his abuse in prison. He also
explains how the inhumane treatment in prison and during interrogation has
resulted in the deaths of many prisoners and caused extreme health
consequences for others who survived.

The program producer and presenter [interviewer] Solomon Kifle requests

parental cooperation in keeping children away from listening to this broadcast
because of the extremely shocking revelations in the interview.

PART I OF INTERVIEW AIRED ON MARCH 15, 2017

Solomon Kifle: Begins with Mr. Habtamus account of how his abuse in
prison began.

Habtamu: So in Ethiopia, it has become a badge of citizenship, a sign of the

[civically] aware citizen, the distinctive character of the innocent citizen, to be
arbitrarily jailed and killed [by the T-TPLF]. For the longest time, from the
beginning of EPRDF [Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front] rule
[the shell front organization for the T-TPLF], it is well known that being jailed has
become a badge of citizenship. For me, since I was held at Maekelawi Prison [July
2014] that notorious and ugly place even to the present day, I was subjected to
extremely inhumane treatment and abuse which has wounded not only my body
but also my conscience [soul]. (For a comprehensive report on the infamous
torture chambers of Maekelawi Prions see Human Rights Watch report, The Want
a Confession].)

Solomon Kifle: Was there a time when you were held alone in solitary
confinement? For instance, in total darkness?
Habtamu: Well, at Maekelawi, there are eight holding areas [cell blocks] for
prisoners. There are empty basements [under the holding areas] that are
extremely cold. And the person the interrogators select to put in there, they first
douse him with water and lock him up in the extreme cold. The cold inflicts
extreme injury to your body. Among these awful rooms [cells], there are two that
are regarded as extremely horrible. They are particularly considered to be
extremely horrible compared to the others. One is No. 7 and the second is No. 8.
No. 8 has four separate rooms [cells] to hold one person each. It is so small that
you can only stand. There is no room to stretch your hands or legs. It is so narrow,
except for sleeping on your back, there is no space to turn to one side or the
other. [Habtamu told me the cells in no. 8 were like a coffin.] These are
extremely hard dark rooms. I was held in cell no. 7. It is a cell where there are
between 13-15 prisoners held piled up on each other. The two walls of the cell are
next to the latrine that smelled awful. I was in that extremely awful cell for all four
months at Maekelawi. The basement of cell no. 7 is flooded [a water tanker] with
water [as Habtamu told me the water reaches the ceiling of the basement when
flooded and wets the floor and the prisoners mattresses and mats in cell no. 7.]
On the left and on the right of cell no. 7 and 8 are latrines. On one side is a latrine
called Tawla and on the other side is a latrine called Siberia, both of which
share the basement that is flooded with water to torture prisoners. (For a
description of Tawla, Siberia and Sheraton cell blocks, click on link HERE.)
During the whole time I was there, I remember quite a number of prisoners who
were placed in the cold basements for up to 15 days. After prisoners are held in
the flooded cold basement for a period of time, they were taken away. I and five
others were held in cell no. 7 during the 4 months I was held [at Maekalawi].
 Aerial view of Maekelawi prison compound in Addis Ababa

Solomon Kifle: There are reports that prisoners have problems accessing
toilet facilities. Could you explain to me how many times you and the
other prisoners were allowed to use the toilet facilities?

Habtamu: Well, when I was at Maekelawi for four months, we were allowed to
use the latrines twice a day, once in the morning and evening. It starts at 6 am. It
does not matter if there are 5 prisoners or 10 in one cell. They are allowed a total
of only 10 minutes for all of them. There are only three latrines at the prison. In 10
minutes, for instance, in a cell where there are 10 prisoners, each person has one
minute, and by chance at most 2 minutes each. So by 6 am, whether nature calls
or not, whether you want to use the latrine or not, since there is no chance at all
to go to the latrine until 6 pm, the only choice we have is to hurriedly try and
relieve ourselves regardless. Other than that, from 6 am to 6 pm, the doors of our
cells are locked. There are no windows. No natural light comes in. It is very cold as
ice. You sit there covered with whatever clothing you have. Unless you are taken
out for interrogation, beaten and returned to the cell, you dont get out of your
cell [all day]. And when they take you out, you are taken through an underground
access. So there is no chance for you to see sunlight. If you have to urinate during
the day, you use a one-liter water bottle that is called Highland in Ethiopia and
you urinate in it. If it fills up, there is no place to dump it out. So you try to urinate
as little as possible each time so the water bottle does not fill up quickly. So you
have to hold your urine all day and that puts your bladder and kidneys out of
action. A lot of time, we faced such abuse. For me, after a certain period of time
without talking about the beatings I was subjected to because I was denied
the chance to use the latrine, I would collect my excrement in a grocery bag [in
my cell]. I would urinate very sparingly in the water bottle. That was all I could use
[for toilet services]. That is how I managed during my time at [Maekelawi]. Such
was the fate of all prisoners there with me.

Solomon: Let me return to the issue of interrogation, Mr. Habtamu. In

your view, could you tell me what you consider to be extremely brutal
torture techniques that were used? If you could tell me about 2 or 3 of
them?
Habtamu: Quite awful. Among the most extreme forms of torture [practiced at
Maekelawi], something that is impossible to believe, is where a human being
[prisoners] is crucified like Jesus Christ. They have crosses [with foot pads and
loops at cross ends Habtamu told me] where they hang prisoners. When a
prisoner returns from interrogation, the first question we asked was, Were you
hanged on the cross? And the prisoner would answer, Today I was hanged, or
today I was not hanged. That is what he would tell us.

On the cross, the prisoner is stretched arm to arm tied on the cross. As the
prisoner hangs, they tie a 2 liter plastic bottle of water to his penis and let it
dangle. That causes extreme pain. Because of this, there are many individuals,
whose penis has been destroyed. It is out of respect for human decency and their
privacy that I have difficulty giving out their names in public. But because it is
vitally important, and because it is valuable evidence, I can give their identities,
addresses and names to any investigative agency to contact them at any time. I
am ready to do that. If there is anyone who wants to meet these people in person,
the individuals who suffered these injuries, I am ready to provide information.

It is shocking to the conscience to punish a man in such a way.

[Another technique they use is] the interrogator sits on his chair. The prisoners
hands are handcuffed, both his hands and legs are handcuffed, and on his penis
they tie [a bottle of water] with cord and pull him to and fro towards the
interrogator as they whip him with sticks and electric cables. He is asked, Tell us,
with whom have you been in contact?

As a result of this, there are many who are no longer able to walk. There were
prisoners whose penises were swollen to the extreme and were unable to close
their legs. They spent all night crying out in pain.

The interrogators also used a torture technique that makes a prisoner lose all
consciousness. They did this to me. They placed a small extremely cold object in
the center of my head. They suddenly hit me sharply with the object on my head.
At that point, you lose all consciousness and you have no idea what has happened
to you. When you regain consciousness after a few minutes or hours, you ask
yourself, What happened to me? You dont know what happened. You dont
know if you were unconscious for minutes or hours. You dont know what they did
to you. You dont know if you talked or did not talk. This is harrowing. You have no
understanding what happened to you. If later you get a chance to get medical
treatment, if you can recover from your injury, you may be able to understand
what happened to you. But there were many prisoners who did not survive and
died.

Another technique is they use their fingers to poke you on your kidneys. They
force you to urinate on yourself. Especially when they first take you into custody,
the faces of those [arresting you] are covered; and they [cover your face] and
take you to an unknown secret prison. In the secret prison, the arrested person is
tied to a chair and the interrogators relieve themselves [urinate and defecate] on
him; they relieve themselves on him. So that they do not smell the urine and
excrement, they cover their noses with cloth and mask. Then they conduct
torture. They also write whatever they want and force the detainee to agree and
sign a confession. After that, they bring him over to Maekelawi.

Among those who were tortured in this way to make a confession, I can mention
individuals like Abebe Ourgessa. Among those who suffered such abuse, I can
mention Lengisa Alemayheu. Among those who faced such extreme torture, I can
mention those from Gonder such as Angaw Tegne, Agbaw Setegn, Engedaw
Wegnew, Abay Zewdu and others like them. They all suffered such torture, we can
all remember them.

I remember there were also Air Force officers who suffered similar torture.

These are among some of the most extreme and severe torture techniques used
[at Maekelawi]. But there are many other torture techniques they used I cannot
talk about because they are extremely difficult [vile] for me to talk about them as
an Ethiopian. Human decency prevents me from talking about them. I cannot
mention the other [utterly degrading] torture techniques because they are so, so
inhuman [bestial]. They are beyond all human compassion. They are things that
are, as an Ethiopian of religious faith, as a Muslim or Christian, or just as an
ordinary Ethiopian, I cannot speak about those shameful and degrading torture
techniques that are committed in there [Maekelawi].

Those of us held in the torture chambers [at Maekelaw], those of us who suffered
so much, we all agree on one thing. This regime has inflicted extreme suffering
on our bodies and our consciences. And when we consider it, their beatings, their
humiliations and insults have crushed our bones. They have been extremely
damaging to our consciences.

The [Ethiopian] society in which we live, to free this Ethiopia they [T-TPLF] rule
today, to make her free, all [Ethiopians] from every corner of Ethiopia, from every
part of the country, without limitation, must remember what [the great traditions
and honor] we got from our forefathers. Today, [the rulers of Ethiopia] call us
their children [children of those oppressors]. That we suffer [for the greatness of
all our forefathers today] is indeed tragic. The grievous abuses [this regime] that
have been committed will always be remembered in Ethiopian history, even after
this regime is long gone.

Solomon: Our heartfelt thanks for the explanation you gave me.
Habtamu: I thank you also.
END OF PART I OF INTERVIEW
Part II of Interview aired on March
18, 2017
Solomon: We ended the first part of the interview with a discussion of
the extreme interrogation techniques used in [Maekelawi] prison and
the damage resulting to prisoners health. [Solomon recaps highlights
from the first interview.] In the next segment, Mr. Habtamu discussed in
detail the extreme torture techniques he said were used on prisoners.

Habtamu: Without getting into the details of the torture techniques I said I could
not talk about because of human decency, I will tell you about Berhanu Degu.
[Berhanu] was a co-defendant with us on the 9th charge. (See April 2016 U.S.
Human Rights Report for a list of defendants held with Habatamu.) Berhanu came
before the court and clearly explained the situation [the torture that was taking
place at Maekelawi]. To those prisoners who came from Gonder, the interrogators
would mention the social group [ethnic affiliation] of the prisoners. As they
tortured us, they said, We have done things [torture] to you. We have taken not
only your belts but also your pants [taken your manhood].
I was tortured not as an individual but because I belong to a particular ethnic
group. I was told I represented not just myself but my ethnic group. I was told,
You came from this ethnic group. Thats why you are being tortured. I will not
mention their other evil deeds they have done because it is not helpful. Even
though I could say a lot about that.

Berhanu was told mockingly, You, the Gurage engaged in struggle [freedom
fighter], as he was being tortured. As I was being beaten, I was told, We have
forced the Amhara to remove his pants. When they were torturing prisoners from
Gonder and Gojam, they were saying these things to us. They did it to create
great hatred in us. The things [they said and did] tested our mental capacity
extremely. They bragged to us, We [Tigreans] are like this. They named the
places of their birth [in Tigray] as [they tortured us]. They were trying to put us all
into a bitter collective hatred. I could not believe [my ears] when they said as
they tortured us, This is what it means to be Tigrean. [When you hear this] you
question if there are people who are evil, born to torture others. When they
commit such cruel acts on you, there is nothing more you expect to see beyond
this.

Qilinto Prison compound

Berhanu also suffered in this way. When he once urinated on the floor from the
extreme beating, they forced him to get down to the floor and lick his urine on the
floor like an animal. He appeared in court and told the judges this story.

They pulled out the finger nails of Abebe Kase using pincers, completely pulled
out all of his toenails and inflicted such suffering on him. It was something that
made me question in what time [century] I am living in. These were extremely
shocking abuses.
There are others I mentioned earlier, about which I wont talk about because of
human decency. But the torture which inflicted bodily injuries and injuries to the
conscience were all very extreme.

Those of us held in the torture chambers, those of us who suffered so much, we

agree on one thing. This regime has inflicted extreme suffering on our bodies and
our consciences. And when we consider it, their beatings, their humiliations and
insults have crushed our bones. They have been extremely damaging to our
consciences.

Solomon: Mr. Habtamu, You endured a very extreme situation. How did
you come to America? Your wife and daughter are with you?

Habtamu: That is correct. I began suffering extreme illness after I got into
Maekelawi as I told you earlier. After I was denied the ten-minute morning and
evening toilet allowance in such an extreme way, I suffered rupture and swelling
of my [hemorrhoids] veins and bled a great deal. Due to the [hemorrhoids]
swelling, I could not move at all. One of my legs was injured during torture
committed on me. I got to the point where I could not even step on my leg. Even
when I was going to court, I was being assisted. While in prison, after all this
illness, I was taken to Zewditu Hospital 2 or 3 times.
Whenever I went to the hospital, they took blood samples to do blood tests. When
I return for my results in the next appointment with prison escort, they say they
have lost my test results. Nobody there takes responsibility. I tried like this 3 or 4
times. After that, I figured out that I was never going to get medical care. I
informed the court of my situation. For the last time the court ordered and said I
have a critical emergency condition and I should be admitted immediately. I have
that court order in hand. But the prison officials were not willing to let me be
admitted to hospital for care. As a result, I did not get medical care.

My situation worsened and when I got out of prison, I had developed third level
hemorrhoids. My veins in my legs had been extremely damaged. I had stones in
both kidneys. I had stones in my bladder too. I was in extreme pain and suffering.
After I got out, I tried to get medical care in the country but I was told the stage of
my hemorrhoids could not be treated in the country. Tragically, I was given pain
killers for four months. I was given extreme doses of a highly addictive drug [pain
medication]. The [drug I was taking] most that is allowed to be given to a patient
is 2 ampules [single dose prepackaged medication] at a time. I was given 16
ampules overdose [at a time] injection during the four months.

The conclusion of the doctors in the country, those I saw in private and others I
consulted, was that they all told me the next stage for my hemorrhoids was that it
would turn into cancer. They said my situation is terminal.
In the end, the people of Ethiopia and the Ethiopians living abroad, begging [the T-
TPLF] on my behalf, international organizations begging for me, made it possible
[for me to leave the country]. The Ethiopian government was not willing to let me
get medical care. Finally, when the government was convinced that I was terminal
and unlikely to live long, the court case against me was ended. Then I asked the
U.S. Embassy for a visa to go to the U.S. for medical care. Ethiopians in America
raised money for my medical expenses. The American Embassy gave my wife a
visa to come along and help care for me. Since we had no one to take care of our
daughter, she also came with us.

Even after we found a way out [of the country], after their immigration office
stamped our exit visas, we were sitting in the waiting area [at the airport]. The
same security members who never tire of torturing people came to where I was
sitting with my wife and daughter and surrounded us. They took me to a separate
room. They rummaged through my bags and took whatever documents they
wanted. They took video cassettes that were in my luggage from the aircraft
cargo hold. In an incredible way, they asked me, How did you manage to get a
visa? Who gave you the visa? I showed them the visa. Its signed by the border
control authorities. I told them that is how I got it. I told them I did not get it from
the sky. I told them I was waiting for my flight to depart. In this way, they abused
me extremely to a point where I was forced to question [in my mind] if Ethiopia is
mine. They abused me extremely so that I will never turn my face to my country.
They did such things to me. That is how I left my country in general.

Solomon: This way or that way, there may be some who say you were
allowed to leave the country to get medical care abroad. That itself
shows the good will and nature of the government. What do you say to
that?

Habtamu: To such people, I give them a short answer. Prof. Asrat Weldeyes
[Ethiopias foremost surgeon and founder and leader of the All-Amhara Peoples
Organization] stood up because he believed the [T-TPLF] government had isolated
and deemed Amhara people as the enemy. They [T-TPLF] declared Amhara as
the enemy in their Manifesto. They declared they are going to destroy [commit
genocide on] the Amharas. Because Prof. Asrat said Amharas must organize and
defend themselves, because of this position, he became a political prisoner and
subjected to extreme torture and abuse. When they determined his medical
condition was terminal and he was not going to live much longer, they gave him
permission to leave the country for medical care. But by that time everything was
hopeless for Prof. Asrat. The Professor did not survive and in fact died as a result
of his torture.
Therefore, my release has nothing to do with the goodness of the government.
They let me go because they were convinced I was terminal and was going to die
from my illness. But it was not the evil they designed for me that prevailed but
the good things designed for me by the Creator. God was with me, the God of
Ethiopia was with me. God, having heard the tearful prayers of the Ethiopian
people, the tearful prayers of everyone in their own faiths, God willing, for the
sake of this little girl who has never seen a happy day in her life from the time she
was a baby to be consoled, it is God who willed that my life be spared. So the one
I thank are the Ethiopian people who cried out to God, and the One I believe in
wholeheartedly, the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, [Egziabher] Jesus Christ, for
saving me. I have no reasons to thank the Ethiopian government.

Solomon: How is your health now? We have heard that you underwent
surgery and it was successful. We offer you our congratulations at this
opportunity.

Habtamu: Thank you very much. I had third stage hemorrhoids. I was treated at
Georgetown University Hospital colorectal center in Washington, D.C. It went very
well. The university doctors said I was their first experience ever to see what
extensively damaged hemorrhoids could do. It is registered as a first experience
of such kind ]for their medical records]. Many of my veins are damaged. The
surgeon in the presence of many Ethiopians said what I just told you. At the
University hospital, this is the first time such extreme hemorrhoid condition has
ever been treated. This was the first time they saw what such extensive damage
to veins and the body. This shows how extreme my situation was. Like the
Georgetown doctors, the Ethiopian doctors who helped me also told me how
extreme my situation was. It was extreme. The [Georgetown] doctors used the
best technique in the world and were able to successfully treat me. I am now
recovering from the surgery. For the damage that was done to my leg,
Georgetown Hospital referred me to George Washington hospital. My leg
treatment will continue there. My kidney treatment will also continue at George
Washington Hospital. I am waiting for an appointment. My health situation now,
may God be praised, is very good. To all those people everywhere who
contributed to help me regain my health, I would like to thank them at this
opportunity.

Solomon: Lastly, I would like to raise one question. After you went
through this situation, in the future do you have any desire to return to
your country and continue the struggle?

Habtamu: For me, I take [pride] in Ethiopia as a country and a people for their
honor and greatness. I believe I will make the ultimate sacrifice. To help in the
Ethiopian struggle, I will do whatever additional sacrifice is required of me. I am
ready to pay the price. The Ethiopian situation, the party politics in which I
struggled, is all getting worse and getting into a more dangerous situation.
Regardless, I will make whatever contributions I can. When I say contributions,
exactly what kind of contributions will be determined by my health situation. I can
decide that after I get well. If there is a possibility for me to participate in the
struggle, I am ready to participate. But going back to my country like Dr. Merara
[Gudina, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress opposition party], to fall into
their [T-TPLF] hands and be imprisoned and allow them to commit other torture on
me is not an appropriate political decision. Regardless, it is not a good reason for
me to stay out of my country just because they will do this [jail and torture]. [I am
not sure] what kind of service must I give for my country, but I am sure I will do
everything I can. The political situation I observe now does not allow for that. I
realize the peaceful struggle is in extreme danger. The negotiations that are
said to be going on now [with opposition parties] is what that shows [the extreme
danger posed to peaceful change].

Solomon: Mr. Habtamu, thank you for the extensive explanation you
gave me.
Habtamu: I also thank you.

===================

T-TPLF torture victim chronicles, to be continued.

Post Script
For other documented stories of torture at Meakelwi, see Addis Standards,
Tales from Chambers of Torture and My Experience of the Ethiopian
Investigation Centre: Maekelawi by Caalaa Hayiluu Abaataa. For an anonymous
torture and abuse report (in Amharic) by Maekelawi police officials who had moral
objections to torture, click HERE.

The second reason for my effort here is to make good on my promise to provide
civic education to my readers who may not be familiar with the applicable laws
and legal principles on human rights matters in general. I believe Ethiopians suffer
from two tyrannies: 1) the tyranny of ignorant tyrants and 2) the tyranny of
ignorance. In T-TPLFs 2017 State of Emergency Ethiopia, War is peace.
Ignorance is strength. Slavery is freedom. It has been said that, Ignorance has
always been the weapon of tyrants; enlightenment the salvation of the free.
Nowhere is ignoro-tyranny practiced with wanton impunity and reckless
abandon than in Ethiopia. The tyranny of ignorance strikes a double whammy on
Ethiopians.
In order to meaningfully defend human rights and the victims of torture, one must
have basic familiarity and understanding of applicable international laws and
conventions. This is imperative particularly on the issue of torture. With my
commentaries, I hope to empower my readers so that they can participate and
help in the struggle for Ethiopian bust also African and global human rights,
not just to be academically informed and lulled into passivity. The struggle for
human rights is a relentless ideological struggle between the forces of freedom
and the gangsters of tyranny fought in the hearts and minds of each and every
citizen. It is a struggle waged with the weapons of law and morality. It is
fundamentally different from an armed struggle. As human rights warriors, we
fight our battles armed to the teeth with the law, national and international law.
We fight the villainous and wicked abusers of human rights in every legal and
political forum, including the kangaroo and monkey courts of the T-TPLF.

Torture is a crime under customary international law (international customary

practice accepted as law) and treaties and conventions. The universal prohibition
against torture is what is generally referred to as jus cogens (compelling law)
in international law from which no derogation (violation) is permitted under any
circumstances.

The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment (commonly known as the U.N. Convention against Torture) is a
treaty specifically designed to prevent torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman, or
degrading treatment or punishment around the world. The Convention requires
states to take effective measures to prevent torture in any territory under their
jurisdiction, and forbids states to transport people to any country where there is
reason to believe they will be tortured.
Ethiopia adopted the Convention Against Torture by accession on March 14, 1994.

Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) prohibits
All forms of exploitation and degradation of man, particularly slavery, slave trade,
torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment and treatment.
Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
commands, No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2002) classifies
torture as one of the seven recognized crimes against humanity.

A special notice to those who have committed torture in Ethiopia or anywhere in

the world and plan to come to the U.S. and retire comfortably enjoying their stolen
loot. 18 U.S.C. sec. 2340 (a) provides: Whoever outside the United States
commits or attempts to commit torture shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both, and if death results to any person
from conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall be punished by death or
imprisoned for any term of years or for life. There is jurisdiction over the activity
prohibited in subsection (a) if (2) the alleged offender is present in the
United States, irrespective of the nationality of the victim or alleged
offender. T-TPLF torturers should also learn from the case of Kefelgn Alemu
Worku, the torturer from Ethiopia who was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison
in 2014.

For my readers in the United States, I ask them to finger every single torturer
from Ethiopia, who is currently living in the United States. It is as easy as
contacting any field office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
or any U.S. Attorneys office.

On the application of the Convention Against Torture in the U.S., a report by the
Congressional Research Service is quite useful.

I tell my readers throughout the world that the only way we can help victims of
torture and human rights abuses like Habtamu Ayalew is by preparing ourselves
to wage the struggle in the town halls and in the International Criminal Court and
everywhere in between.

They say knowledge is power; I say actionable knowledge truth-based, evidence-

based, fact-based is power. Knowledge of the truth sets the individual and
society free!