ethioguardian.com
By David Arnold The federal government of Ethiopia deported 15 American studentswho were teaching English in small, rural communities in eastern Harargheregion of Oromiya for several weeks. They had been volunteering in several communities not far from theOgaden and an off-limits region of Ethiopia where government forces arebattling Ogaden National Liberation Front rebel forces. The trip was organizedby Learning Enterprises International in Stanford, California. This was thethird year the project had been in operation.Police performed a synchronized dawn raid of homes in Haramaya,Awwadaay, Qobboo and Dadar on July 9, questioned them for the day, confiscatingtheir cell phones and cameras and taking them to Addis. According tosources, at various times police accused the students of taking photographs, ofasking questions about the disputed 2005 national elections and the coming 2010elections, and of being in the country with improper visas. Community residentsasking about the reason for the detentions were later told the students had theH1N1 virus. The students were detained for two days and were not allowed tocontact their families or the U.S. embassy. Embassy officials were unable tosee them until shortly before federal officials put them on a plane anddeported them on July 11.One of the students was held several extra days. Anembassy spokesman said they have raised serious concerns about the handling ofthis case with the Government of Ethiopia, specifically regarding the refusalby Ethiopian security forces to permit these American citizens to contact theembassy. The embassy will continue discussions with the Ethiopian Government onthe exact nature of the events. State Minister for Government Communications Shimelis Kemal toldVOA’s Eskinder Firew only that the students were involved in inappropriateactivity “contrary to their mission.” None were charged with any violations ofthe law.
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