Current information on the treatment of Amharas in Ethiopia that would update information provided in Response to Information Request ETH23456.E of 22 March 1996, could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

Regarding the AAPO, a political analyst, now working as a consultant with the United Nations Emergencies Unit in Ethiopia, provided the following information during a 16 February 1995 presentation to the Immigration and Refugee Board in Toronto.

The source stated that generally, family members of political and human rights activists, including members of the AAPO, are not subject to harassment by the government. Family members may feel that they are closely watched by the security forces, even if they are not approached by them. The presence of the security forces may heighten their stress, but activists are not pressured or targeted. There is no evidence to suggest that the government is systematically putting pressure on family members, or targeting family members of those detained.

Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

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.

Reference

Political analyst and consultant to the United Nations Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. 16 February 1996. Presentation made to the Immigration and Refugee Board in Toronto.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential. 1995-1996.

Africa Research Bulletin. 1995-1996.

DIRB Amnesty International Ethiopia Country File. 1995-1996.

DIRB Ethiopia Country File. 1995-1996.

Ethiopian Human Rights Council Reports. 1995.

Focus on Africa. 1996.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) daily reports. 1995-1996.

Horn of Africa Bulletin. 1995.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1996.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 1995-1996.

News from Africa Watch. 1995-1996.

On-line searches of media articles (NEXIS).

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