Dokument #1323126
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
Specific information on the Dahnanet
Security Forces could not be found among the sources consulted by
the DIRB. However, some sources mention a security service
responsible for political detentions called "Hezbi Dehaninet" or
"Hizb Dehninet," which is translated as "People's Protectors" or
"Public Security organization" (Africa Watch 30 Apr. 1991, 6; AI 30
May 1991, 23; ibid. 1986, 46). Additional information is not
provided by these sources; however, all three documents are
available at Regional Documentation Centres.
A professor of political science,
specializing in Ethiopia and Eritrea at the University of Missouri
in Rolla, stated in a 18 September 1996 telephone interview that
the word "dahnanet" or "dahninet" can be translated into English as
"safety" or "security" or "welfare" depending on the context of
usage. The professor did not know of a specific unit called the
Dahnanet Security Forces, but speculated that it was a term that
encompassed the political security apparatus of the Mengistu
regime. In a 1991 Africa Watch report, reference is made to the
fact that anyone in the army who questions army activities "is
picked up by the 'welfare' people," which according to the report,
refers to the security service in the army (Sept. 1991, 146).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of
additional sources consulted in researching this Information
Request.
References
Africa Watch. September 1991. Evil Days:
30 Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia. New York: Human Rights
Watch.
_____. 30 April 1991. Ethiopia: Human
Rights Crisis as Central Power Crumbles: Killings, Detentions,
Forcible Conscription and Obstruction of Relief. New York: Human
Rights Watch.
Amnesty International. 30 May 1991.
"Ethiopia: End of an Era of Brutal Repression(A New Chance for
Human Rights." (AI Index: AFR 25/05/91). London: Amnesty
International.
_____. 1986. Amnesty International
Report 1986. New York: Amnesty International USA.
Professor of political science
specializing in Ethiopia and Eritrea, University of Missouri-Rolla,
Rolla, Mo. 18 September 1996. Telephone interview.
Africa Watch. September 1991. Evil Days:
30 Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia. New York: Human Rights
Watch, p. 146.
_____. 30 April 1991. Ethiopia: Human
Rights Crisis as Central Power Crumbles: Killings, Detentions,
Forcible Conscription and Obstruction of Relief. New York: Human
Rights Watch, p. 6.
Amnesty International. 30 May 1991.
"Ethiopia: End of an Era of Brutal Repression(A New Chance for
Human Rights." (AI Index: AFR 25/05/91). London: Amnesty
International, p. 23.
_____. 1986. Amnesty International
Report 1986. New York: Amnesty International USA, p. 46.
Amnesty International Report.
1975-1992.
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices. 1975-1991.
DIRB Ethiopia Amnesty International
Country File. 1983-1991.
Ethiopia: From Bullets to the Ballot
Box. 1994.
Ethiopia: Political Imprisonment and
Torture. 1986.
Evil Days: 30 Years of War and Famine in
Ethiopia. 1991.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service
(FBIS) Daily Reports.
Human Rights Watch Global Report on
Prisons. 1993.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1990
& 1992.
News from Africa Watch. Various
reports.
Red Tears: War, Famine and Revolution in
Ethiopia. 1989.
On-line searches of media reports
(NEXIS).
Four oral sources consulted did not
provide information on the requested subject.