Dokument #1127204
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
Africa Report notes in its
November/December 1993 issue that many Amharas have flocked to the
All-Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) because they see it as
representing their interests (51). AAPO was also founded with the
intent of promoting the "unity of Ethiopia" (52). According to the
AAPO leadership, it seeks to resist by peaceful means the
"genocidal policy being pursued against the Amhara population"
(ibid.).
Concerning its relationship with the
government, The Washington Post states in its 18 February
1993 issue that there is still pronounced political conflict
between the government and Amharas and the government frequently
deals harshly with its political opponents. According to the
source, the Amharas resent their loss of power and prestige, while
the government links them with the former Mengistu regime (ibid.).
The government perceives the opposition parties as being
ethnically-based, narrowly focused and therefore prone to use
violence and inflammatory language rather than dialogue with the
government (ibid.). Although the government maintains that AAPO
will not be persecuted, it has nonetheless organized anti-AAPO
rallies and attacked it in the media (ibid.). Africa Report
also states that because of AAPO's mass following among Amharas,
the government now appears to be pursuing a campaign of systematic
harassment against AAPO leaders and activists (Nov.-Dec. 1993, 52).
For additional information, please refer to the attachment.
In 1992, The Daily Telegraph
reported that AAPO was still a legal opposition party in Ethiopia
(29 Apr. 1992). Africa Report corroborates this information
(Nov.-Dec. 1993, 52). Nonetheless, The Daily Telegraph notes
in its 29 April 1992 issue that the government denied exit visas to
members of AAPO to attend a meeting in Paris. In addition, it said
that democracy in Ethiopia was being undermined by government
crackdown on political dissent (ibid.). As a result, this action
was forcing some opposition parties to work in exile (ibid.).
The BBC reported in its 17 February 1994
summary that AAPO has refused to participate in the drafting of the
new Ethiopian constitution. Among other things, the party based its
refusal on what it perceived as the constitutional commissions's
lack of independence from the EPRDF (Ethiopian People's
Revolutionary Democratic Front) government. In a 26 January 1994
BBC report on the AAPO's anniversary meeting the chairperson,
Professor Asrat Woldeyes, stated that Amharas could rule
themselves. He said that Amharas did not need a government that
could not ensure the rule of law (ibid.). In another report of 30
December 1993, the BBC stated that an independent commission which
investigated the 4 January 1993 clashes between university students
and security forces linked AAPO to the disturbances. AAPO denied
the allegation (ibid.). The BBC also reported an opposition radio
claim that Amharas were being forced to condemn AAPO and to join
the EPRDF.
For additional information concerning AAPO
and its relationship with the government or its view of the future
Ethiopia, please refer to the attachments.
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.
Africa Report [New York].
November-December 1993. Vol. 38, No. 6. Makau Wa Mutua. "Ethiopia:
The Victorious Tigrayan People's Liberation Front...."
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 17
February 1994. "Amhara Organization Rejects Invitation From
Constitutional Commission." (NEXIS)
_____.26 January 1994. "Amhara
Organization Leader Says Amhara Can Rule Themselves." (NEXIS)
_____. 30 December 1993. "Investigating
Commission: Clashes Between Students, Security Forces Were
Planned." (NEXIS)
_____. 11 December 1993. "Opposition
Radio Claims EPRDF has Allocated 1m Birr to Recruit Agents."
(NEXIS)
The Daily Telegraph [London]. 29
April 1993. Scott Peterson. "Democracy in Ethiopia at Risk After
Crackdown." (NEXIS)
The Washington Post. 18 February
1993. Final Edition. Jennifer Parmelee. "Ethiopia's New Politics
Echo an Old War; Strident Claims, Ethnic Conflict Roil Government
Trying to Move Toward Democracy." (NEXIS)
Africa Report [New York].
November-December 1993. Vol. 38, No. 6. Makau Wa Mutua. "Ethiopia:
The Victorious Tigrayan People's Liberation Front...," pp.50-2.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 17
February 1994. "Amhara Organization Rejects Invitation From
Constitutional Commission." (NEXIS)
_____.26 January 1994. "Amhara
Organization Leader Says Amhara Can Rule Themselves." (NEXIS)
_____. 30 December 1993. "Investigating
Commission: Clashes Between Students, Security Forces Were
Planned." (NEXIS)
_____. 11 December 1993. "Opposition
Radio Claims EPRDF has Allocated 1m Birr to Recruit Agents."
(NEXIS)
_____. 2 August 1993. "Ethiopia:
All-Amhara People's Organization Request to Hold Rally Rejected."
(NEXIS)
_____. 31 July 1993. "Ethiopia:
Opposition Leader's Appeal For Bail to be Heard on 29th July."
(NEXIS)
_____. 13 February 1993. "Ethiopia:
All-Amhara People's Organization Says Documents and Property
Seized." (NEXIS)
_____. 1 February 1993. "Ethiopia:
All-Amhara People's Organization Denies that it Has Declared
War."
_____. 25 January 1993. "Ethiopia: AAPO
Vice-president is `Sacked'." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 February 1992. "Ethiopia:
Amhara Organization Holds Its First Meeting."
The Daily Telegraph [London]. 29
April 1993. Scott Peterson. "Democracy in Ethiopia at Risk After
Crackdown." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 2 February 1993. BC Cycle.
"Ethiopia: Opposition Denies Inciting Violence." (NEXIS)
_____. 31 January 1993. BC Cycle. "Big
Rally Underlines Ethiopia's Ethnic Worries." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 January 1993. BC Cycle.
"Ethiopian Minister Defends University Closure." (NEXIS)
The Washington Post. 18 February
1993. Final Edition. Jennifer Parmelee. "Ethiopia's New Politics
Echo an Old War; Strident Claims, Ethnic Conflict Roil Government
Trying to Move Toward Democracy." (NEXIS)