Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic - Family member of detainees Ato Christian and Ato Yohannes say “their pain has worsened”
December 23, 2024
Close family members of House of Peoples’ Representatives member Ato Christian Tadele and Amhara Region council member Ato Yohannes Buayalew who are detained in Kality prison told BBC they have suffered from “severe pain.”
The family members who asked that their names not be mentioned said after the detainees underwent surgery “they faced continued bleeding”.
The two politicians underwent surgery over two weeks ago following “repeated appeals” according to their attorney Ato Solomon Gezahegne who spoke to BBC.
Following the surgery though the two individuals were advised to remain in hospital, family members of the detainees say “they rejected this and within hours they were loaded onto uncomfortable vehicles and returned to the prison.”
A close family member of Ato Christian said “the wound had not even dried and he was still bleeding. The doctors had warned bleeding could occur and if it did to bring them back.”
However after the surgery they were not taken to hospital.
Following their medical care, they were given pain killer medicine for bleeding recalls the family member, who told BBC, “the pain killer medicine they were given has run out. This is because they took it often to help with the pain.”
A family member of Ato Yohannes said, “yesterday we went with pain killer, but we were told we could not enter, when we asked why? They told us they were going to be moved. But up until yesterday they had told us they would not be moved. But yesterday, they suddenly told us we could not deliver food or medicine since they were going to moved.”
A family member of Ato Christian said similarly, “yesterday we went there with food and medicine but there was nobody to deliver it for us, so we returned.”
In a statement last week on Monday, December 16, 2024 (Tahasass 7, 2017 E.C.) the Federal Prison Commission issued a statement saying prisoners would be transported from Kality prison to a prison located in the Gelan area known as Aba Samuel.
After this, “in Addis Ababa, the Kality prison center, visitation of prisoners by family members and office services were suspended from December 17 to 22, 2024 (Tahasass 8 to 13, 2017 E.C.)” it said.
The commission in its statement had stated that the suspension of services which came into effect last Tuesday would be lifted and services would resume today, December 23 (Tahasass 14).
However, family members of Ato Christian and Ato Yohannes told BBC they were unable to deliver food and visit the detainees today.
BBC repeatedly tried to contact the Federal Prison Commission Public Relations executive Ato Geremew Ayalew to include his views however he did not respond to calls.
The prosecution formed charges against Ato Yohannes Buayalew and Ato Christian Tadele last week in the month of Megabit (between March 10 to April 8, 2024). In addition to the two parliament members, over 50 other individuals and politicians were included under the case file of Ato Yohannes Buayalew.
The individuals were detained in connection with the announcement of the state of emergency in the Amhara Region near the end of 2015 E.C. (August 2023) and were held for over six months before charges were brought against them.
The prosecution formed the charges citing criminal law and the anti-terrorism declaration.
The attorney of the suspects on their end presented a 12-page defense to the court against the charges last year in the month of Ginbot (between May 9 and June 7, 2024).
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