Mr. Oromo Jireenya Gutuu’s life was cut short on August 8, 2021 at Naqamtee Town by government security agents. According to the Kello Midea Report, Mr Oromo had gone to Naqamte Hospital that morning to visit a friend who was sick. He was shot by government security agents around eleven in the morning as he left the hospital.
Mr. Oromo was born in Horro Guduru, Wallaga Zone. Friends and neighbours described him as a selfless man, who always stood for the rights of others. The circumstances surrounding his death have shocked many in the local community.
Prohibition of Arbitrary Killings by Law Enforcement Officials
“Disappearances” and extrajudicial executions are not only acts of extreme cruelty, violating the laws of the countries where they are perpetrated; they also violate international standards on human rights. The Universal Declaration states that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” and that no one shall be subjected to torture or to arbitrary arrest or detention.
In 1966, the UN adopted the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These two key instruments elaborate on many of the rights contained in the Universal Declaration. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights reiterates the right to life, liberty and security of person and prohibits, in particular, the arbitrary deprivation of life – a characteristic of the killings described in this report.
An important international standard on the use of force in law enforcement was established by the UN General Assembly in 1978 when it adopted the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials. Article 3 of the Code sets forth two important principles:
- Force should be used “only when strictly necessary,” The official commentary included in the Code states that the use of force should be “exceptional,” that force should be used only “as is reasonably necessary under the circumstances” and that it should be used for only two purposes, “the prevention of crime” and “effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders.”
- The force used should be proportional to the objectives (it should be used only “to the extent required” for the performance of law enforcement officials’ duty). The Commentary acknowledges the “principle of proportionality” laid down in national laws and says that the Code should not be taken to authorize the use of force which is “disproportionate to the legitimate objective to be achieved.”
Conclusion
The execution of Mr. Oromo by Ethiopian Security Agents is in violation of the right to life and access to justice granted under the Ethiopian Constitution and other major international Human Rights treaties.
