Dirriibii Damusee: “They floored me with leg sweep and severely beat me in front of my family”

Aug 14th, 2020 – Mr Damusee said, over the phone, “I was jailed multiple times during previous administrations. Once during the Derg, while  I was armed during my arrest, and five times during the EPRDF. However, I had never been beaten by security forces.

Last week security forces of the current government commanded me to lie down and beat me at my residence in front of my family. I am an old man, I could be their grandfather. They humiliated me.

Mr Damusee resides in Burayyu City, suburb of  the capital, Finfinne (Addis Ababa).

However, the Head of Burayyu city administration, Mr Dessalegn Siyoum, told the BBC that he is not aware of the incident. Mr Desalegn stated such an incident cannot happen in his  city.

“Members of the government’s security forces knocked on my door at 9:00PM  local time on Thursday August 6th, 2020,” said Mr Damusee.

“When we asked them who they were, they told us that they are the ‘police’. We replied that the police normally present themselves during the day, not at night, and we refused to let them in.”

Mr Demusee made a phone call to a nearby police station to enquire about the people at his door, and was told that the federal police were at his residence and was advised to resolve the issue with them. Mr Demuse said the security forces came armed with various military gears and were in several police and military uniforms.

Mr Desalegn, the head of the city administration of  Burayyu , once again stated that he is not aware of the phone call made by Mr Demusee to the police station.

“They floored me with my legs swept forcefully”

According to Mr Demusee, the security forces broke the door and forced themselves into his residence.

“They ordered me to kneel down. I complied. They searched me while I was on my knees. Then they searched my home, “ he recounts. “They then ordered me to leave the house,” Mr Demusee continues. “While I was walking out, one of them shoved me. Others floored me by kicking my legs. When I tried to get up on my feet, they beat me several times. I sustained a severe injury to my back. After they were done with me, they went back inside and searched my house. When they finally left, they took my brother, who lived with us for years.”

“I am not part of any political organization” 

According to Mr Demusee, the security forces came to his residence  because they suspected him of keeping “armed groups at my house and they came to look for the armed groups. They said my neighbors informed them that my compound has been full of armed groups.” He said “after searching the residence, they found no armed group. They took my cell phone with them when they  left. 

“We never thought we would see such violent acts  even in our dreams. I am not part of any political organization. I am the president of the Mecha and Tulama Association, a nonpolitical self-help association. My brother is always at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am at a loss as to why they came to my residence  in the first place.”

What is the government’s side to the story?

Even though the beating happened at Mr Demusee’s home in Burayyu, the head of the City Administration, Mr Siyoum claims that he has no knowledge of the incident. Mr. Seyoum said that he receives security reports of the city everyday but he has not been informed about the incident involving Mr Demusee. “I would be informed whenever security forces are deployed in the city. Such an incident cannot happen. No such report has reached my office. If this is accurate, we will investigate,” he said.

We tried to reach out to the office of the Federal Police, but without success. 

Mecha and Tulama Association, that Mr Demusee is leading as a president, reopened in 2019 after briefly shut down by the previous administration.

Translated by Dr. Feyera Hirpa

*This article was translated from BBC Afaan Oromoo: Dirribii Damusee: “Xarabaadhaan miila na jalaa butan, maatii koo duratti kuffisanii na dhaanan”