The freezing of private bank accounts of Oromo political prisoners by the Ethiopian government exposed the families of prisoners to acute economic problems*
Aug 14th, 2020 – Following the assassination of popular Oromo singer and human rights activist Haacaaluu Hundeessaa on June 29th of 2020, the Ethiopian regime has undertaken unprecedented crack down on opposition political party leaders including Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba and journalists. Today, the families of these prisoners complained that their private bank accounts have been frozen by the government.
The wife of Mr. Gerba, Mrs. Haannaa disclosed to BBC Afaan Oromoo that the freezing of their bank account has exposed their family to financial stress. Mrs. Taaddelech Margaa, the wife of one of the jailed OMN journalists, Mallasa Dirribsaa, disclosed that she was told that her family’s account was frozen during her visit to the bank to withdraw money for rent.
“I have no involvement in political or criminal activity, and my husband who is in custody, is not convicted of any crime other than working as a journalist in one of the private TV stations.” She asks, “what have we done to deserve and receive such harsh treatment by the government? I have two toddlers and the imprisonment of my husband has already brought huge suffering to our family.”
Mrs. Taaddelech is a teacher in a local kindergarten, but due to the corona pandemic, the kindergartens are closed and she only earns 50% of her normal salary. She claims that the freezing of their account has severed the problem.
The private bank accounts of two of Mr. Bekele Gerba’s adult children were also frozen by the regime. In a similar development, the bank accounts of the elder sister and brother of another popular political prisoner, Jawar Mohammed, including the accounts of six other people related to him have also been frozen. Jawar Mohammed’s sister, Raadiyaa told BBC Afaan Oromoo that she was told by Awash International Bank and Oromia International Banks on the phone that her accounts were frozen for reasons related to her brother’s arrest. BBC Afaan Oromoo has asked one of the lawyers representing the prisoners, Mr. Ibsaa Gammadaa, whether there was a court order for the freezing of those accounts, and he said that to his knowledge there was no court order.
Translated to English by Dr. Daniel Elias
*This article was translated from BBC Afaan Oromoo: Maallaqni baankiitti jalaa ugguramuun maatii namoota hidhamanii ‘rakkoof saaxile’
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