According to Human Rights Watch World Report 1993, in spite of deep mutual distrust between the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), there was still hope that formation of the EPRDF could somehow ensure peace and the establishment of human rights (Dec. 1992, 10). However, this did not turn out to be the case.

Nevertheless, Human Rights Watch reports that the EPRDF transitional government has made significant progress toward respect for human rights than previous Ethiopian governments (Ibid.). However, both the EPRDF government and opponents like the OLF have been responsible for serious human rights abuses (Ibid.; Amnesty International Report 1993 1992, 127). For example, the government and the fronts both used intimidation tactics against their opponents and members of the All-Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) could not register their candidates in many constituencies during the June 1992 regional election (Human Rights Watch World Report 1993 1992, 11). The Amharas have been opposed to the EPRDF, particularly its plan to grant self-determination to all nationalities (Ibid.). Amnesty International reports that there have been clashes between the EPRDF and the OLF, and members of the OLF allegedly killed dozens of members of the Amhara minority in early 1992 (1992, 129) As well, armed militias of the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO) allegedly killed scores of Amhara civilians in June 1992 (Ibid.). Of the senior members of former President Mengistu's government and armed forces, 2000 were detained for allegedly violating human rights or committing criminal offences (Ibid., 127).

Human Rights Watch World Report 1993 notes that since the overthrow of President Mengistu in May 1991, there has been an outburst of rural violence against Amharas, with some of the worst violence being perpetrated by Oromos (Dec. 1992, 11-13). Oromo-Amhara relations historically have been very tense and OLF cadres incited violence against Amharas in December 1991 (Ibid.). Other acts of violence against Amharas occurred in Harerghe province in the eastern part of the country, and the OLF admitted that its supporters were responsible for the massacres (Ibid.). Although the sources consulted pointed out numerous attacks by the OLF and other fronts against Amharas, none linked the EPRDF directly to such attacks, although until June 1992 the OLF was part of the transitional government of the EPRDF (Amnesty International Report 1993 1992, 11). Additional and/or corroborative information on the requested subject could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa.

Amnesty International. 1993. Amnesty International Report 1992. New York: Amnesty International U.S.A.

Human Rights Watch. December 1992. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International. 1993. Amnesty International Report 1992. New York: Amnesty International U.S.A.

Human Rights Watch. December 1992. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.