Mekelle, Tigray, October 17, 2024
In a press briefing and urgent letter to the Bureau of Justice, the Bureau of Security, and the Police Commission of Tigray, the Tigray Independence Party has raised serious concerns about escalating violence, including killings, kidnappings, arrests, and beatings of its leaders and members. The letter calls for immediate investigations into these atrocities, allegedly carried out by both civilian and armed cadres aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The leader of the Tigray Independence Party, Dejene M. Abraha briefed media outlet in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray that that party members have faced systematic intimidation, particularly in the Northwest Zone, including Shire Endaslasse town, and the Central Zone, including Abyi Adi town. Despite repeated pleas for intervention, the violence has intensified, targeting both the leadership and grassroots supporters, the party said.
The letter highlights a disturbing trend of human rights abuses, where party members and supporters have been subjected to inhumane treatment, including severe beatings, torture, and even murder. The party called for a thorough investigation and demands that those responsible for these brutal actions be held accountable. “The atrocities committed against the leadership, members, and supporters of our party must stop,” the letter stated, urging the authorities to ensure justice is served.
Tigray Independence Party, which advocates for the sovereignty and self-determination of Tigray, has faced mounting challenges in its efforts to organize and mobilize within the region, due to what it describes as oppressive actions by the TPLF regime.
The press release included a list of 19 Tigray Independence Party members who have been attacked, assaulted, and intimidated, with one member tragically murdered. Gebreyohannes Hailu, a member from Asgede Woreda, Simret Locality, May Qewait Village, was detained and beaten for a week early January 2024 before being released on the night of January 14, 2024. Shortly after his release, he was abducted from his home by unidentified gunmen. His body was discovered in a river the following week.
Tigray Independence Party has specifically requested that the Tigray Interim Regional Administration take swift action to address the deteriorating security situation. In particular, it urged these officials to investigate the deaths and kidnappings of their party members and bring justice to the victims’ families.
When asked whether TIP has taken the case to court, the Party Chairman of the Tigray Independence Party told UMD Media that the Justice Bureau has instructed the police to investigate the incidents and pursue charges.
The Tigray Independence Party’s press release on the escalating violence against its members comes amid concerns that the internal power struggle between the two TPLF factions, led by Debretsion Gebremichael and Getachew Reda, could destabilize Tigray’s political landscape, further complicating the region’s fragile path to peace and democracy.
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