5. TESTIMONIES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE

The following testimonies were collected from survivors of massacres, rape victims, released detainees or victims’ close relatives. These testimonies are cited to illustrate the pattern of extrajudicial killings, rape, torture, disappearances, arbitrary detentions, pillage and ill-treatment. The real names of the victims or their relatives have been withheld in order to protect them and their families from reprisals.

I. TESTIMONY OF EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLING, RAPE, ABDUCTION, PILLAGE AND ILL-TREAMENT

<<Dulman>>  aged 46, housewife, mother of 6 children.

“It was Sunday moonlight night, when Tigrigna speaking soldiers came to our  village. We were sleeping peacefully. Suddenly, we were woken up by indiscriminate gun shots, and were forced to get out of our houses at gun point. The sick and elderly people were  dragged out of their beds, and taken by force to the centre of the village, where we were assembled and told not to talk to each other in Somali.”

“At day-break, the village was searched house to house. They took everything of value, and stripped us of our gold and wrist watches. Four men resisted, and were executed in front of us by shooting them at point-blank range.”

“I do not know whether they were looking for weapons or fighters, or both. But we knew later that they had been defeated in a battle....and we were victims of reprisals. About eight o’clock in the morning, they killed five goats, and started eating their raw meat in front of us.”

“They took with them 16 men, including my husband, our 15 years old son and the teacher of the village. To the best of my knowledge, a number of women were raped in the course of the operation, including me and my sister.”

“After two weeks, about 12 decomposed bodies were found in a bush far away from our village about  three days’ walk. Some of the corpses were cut into pieces, while others were burned beyond recognition. It was the most horrific thing I have seen in my life.”

“Since, that ill-fated night, I did not sleep well and I am suffering from awful, horrifying nightmares, and my children are traumatized as well. As a result of this ordeal three of my friends have gone mad because they had lost their husbands as well as their properties like me.”

II. TESTIMONY OF ARBITRARY DETENTION, TORTURE, RELIGIOUS AND             RACIAL PERSECUTION AND ILL-TREATMENT

 <<Dhibane>>, aged 55, religious scholar, father of 7 children.

“On 9 July 1996, there were mass arrests of Somalis after the assassination attempt on the EPRDF minister of Transport. I was on my way home after praying in the mosque. Four EPRDF soldiers stopped their car near to me and hurried to me. I was bearded  and holding a rosary in my hand. They asked me, what was my religion ? I told them, I am a Muslim. They started insulting me and my religion. I was hand-cuffed, blindfolded, forced into the car and taken to military barracks. After three days I was transferred to Maikelawi police investigation centre.”

“I was tied upside-down and was beaten indiscriminately until I lost consciousness. I was burned with cigarettes and forced to drink urine and dirty salty water, and was deprived of sleep and of food more than five days. I was held incommunicado more than three months. My relatives who came to visit me were turned back and were given false information.”

“During my detention, I was not allowed to practice or perform my religious duties. They put guns at my head and threatened to kill me if I did not confess that I am a member of a terrorist group. But I refused to make any confessions under threat and torture.”

“I believe that I was detained, tortured and persecuted like many other Somalis from the Ogaden and from Somalia proper because of my religious beliefs and race.”

“I was released on bail in April 1997, without being charged or tried. I did not ask any redress or compensation because in the eyes of the government what they did to me is very normal comparing to other atrocities committed by government police and security forces.”