Forces killed over 400 in protest crackdown – HRW

A human rights group says Ethiopian security forces have killed more than 400 people since November in a crackdown on protests in the country’s Oromia region. In a newly-released report, Human Rights Watch said soldiers have repeatedly fired live ammunition at Oromia protesters with little or no warning, or attempts to use non-lethal crowd-control measures.  […]

A human rights group says Ethiopian security forces have killed more than 400 people since November in a crackdown on protests in the country’s Oromia region.
In a newly-released report, Human Rights Watch said soldiers have repeatedly fired live ammunition at Oromia protesters with little or no warning, or attempts to use non-lethal crowd-control measures.  It says many of those killed have been students, including children under the age of 18 years.
The rights group also said police have arrested tens of thousands of people since the protests began, and that many remain in detention without charge and without access to lawyers or family members.
The protests were triggered by concerns about the government’s proposed expansion of Addis Ababa’s boundaries.  Demonstrators feared the plan would displace Oromia farmers.
There was no immediate response to the report from the Ethiopian government.