We the Ethiopian Student Association International received the following statement from the Addis Ababa University students. On their behalf we are presenting the demands and a list of the events that led to the violent clash between the students and the Ethiopian Police Force. We the Ethiopian Students Association International are in full support of the studentÕs demands and also the implementation to insure the safety and the continuation of the education of the AAU students. We hope that you can assist as in dissemination this serious violation of human rights and the rights of our students. The following attached documents are as follows. 1) Statement from the Addis Ababa University Students 2) List of events 3) Photos Statement from Addis Ababa University Students This is to inform you that we, students of Addis Ababa University (AAU), are in grave danger. Some of the students, after being forced to leave the campus, took shelter in churches found in Addis Ababa, 'Kideste Mariam', 'St. Markos' etc. Since then, they have been seriously assaulted and have been taken to detention places. This all happened as a result of the offending response given from the Ministry of Education to the reaction of AAU students. Since there has been bias in reporting of the recent events, we want the world to hear our side of the story. The following are the issues we want to emphasize to all Ethiopians residing in foreign lands and the international community.

1. We, students of AAU, were seriously assaulted and threatened by the Police Force while waiting for the appearance of the Ministry of education, Mrs. Genet Zewdie on April 11, 2001. Mrs. Genet herself witnessed the brutality of the police. Because of the attack of the police on students on campus and in their dormitories more than 50 of them were seriously wounded and one female student has died. This move that was taken by the police is clearly in violation of the Federal Democratic Republic of EthiopiaÕs Constitution Articles 30 and 31. Now, therefore, we demand that the particular institution, which sent the police, forces to AAU campus to appear before the court for trial.
2. We want to inform Ethiopians and the international community that students were not responsible for public and private property destruction that occurred here in Addis Ababa on April 18, 2001. The delay of the ministry of education in responding to the demands of AAU students led to the senseless destruction. While the destruction was going on, most students were leaving the campus holding their luggage.
3. We want the safety of all students to be guaranteed before we can resume our education.
4. We want our early demands to be answered before going back to school.
5. We need our fellow students who are imprisoned to be freed.
6. We still need a date to be fixed for the campus police to leave and be replaced by civil guards. We also need our management problems to be solved.
7. We want to inform the world that other Universities and Colleges in Ethiopia have insisted that the demands of AAU students be answered. But due to the blackout by the government media their demands have not been heard.

Article 30 of the FDRE constitution

Article 31 of the FDRE constitution

News Clips

Ethiopian Government violently quashes protests in Addis Ababa

Chronology of events (complied from reports by BBC, Agence France Presse, Reuters, Daily Monitor, UN Integrated Regional Information Network, Pan Afracian News Agency, Addis Tribune, and Ethiopian News Agency-no reports seen to date on CNN or Associated Press):

1. Tuesday, April 10: Over 3,000 students at Addis Ababa University started boycotting classes to press several demands, including:
• The re-instatement of the student council
• The right to have council representatives nominated by students rather than university officials
• Resumption of publication of the banned student newspaper
• Representation on the university senate
• A say in the nomination of the university president and drafting of the university charter.
2. Wednesday, April 11: 
• While students were holding a peaceful demonstration, hundreds of police armed with rifles and batons invaded the campus, where they violently beat and shot at students. About 50 students were hospitalized, several with severe injures, includes head injuries and broken arms and legs. Other students were arrested. 
• Fleeing students were pursued to their dormitories, where pools of blood, broken batons, shattered glass, and bullet holes in the wall were later witnessed by BBCÕs Nital Bahalla, who photographed injured students and a wall and floor spattered with blood.
3. Monday, April 16: 
• A second round of talks involving student leaders and government officials reportedly deadlocked over the timing of the withdrawal of the armed police from campus. The Ministry of Education gave the students a deadline to return to classes by noon Wednesday or face permanent expulsion from the university.
4. Tuesday April 17: 
• In the midst of a peaceful rally by university and secondary school students outside Addis Ababa University campus, a group of about 100 protestors started throwing rocks and bottles at the police. Hundreds of riot police then trapped the protestors along a small road and charged at them from all directions.

Here is the eye-witness report of BBC's Nital Bhalla

At least two people had been killed by police gunfire by Tuesday evening, and many more wounded. On Tuesday evening, protestors set fire to eight cars parked at the Organization for National Examination.

• Long before the noon deadline fro students to return to their classes, sounds of automatic rifles and ambulance sirens were heard in various areas of the city. Cars and pedestrians fled from the directions the gunshots were being heard. 
• Two students were killed when police forced themselves into the Menelik II High School. One was severely batoned on the head and the other was hit by a rubber bullet on the head. Over 15 ambulances were witnessed coming in and out of the school compound to remove the many injured. 
• Students sought refuge in neighbouring churches and mosques. Hundreds were later rounded up by the police in spite of protesting clergy, forced into military trucks, and driven 20 miles away from the city to the Ethiopian Police College at Sendafa. 
• The Ethiopian government warned opposition political parties to Òrefrain from trying to Exploit the situation and promote anarchy in the city, Òand closed the university indefinitely. Local schools were closed until Monday.

• The streets were clam as police patrolled in armored vehicles. 
• Parents whose children had not returned home gathered at the mortuary gates. Families demanded to know the whereabouts of the arrested students. 
• The opposition Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), reported that one of their members, Tawfic Lale weshengo, was shot dead by security forces at this home, and that about 40 EDP members were arrested, including secretary gereral Lidetu Ayalew and executive member Tamirat Tarekegn. EDP President Admasu Gebyhew denied the arrested members had any role in the violence. ÒWe do not entertain violence as a means of political struggle,Ó he told Reuters. ÒWe are against the use of violence.Ó ÒUnless the government takes tough and appropriate actions, it has become difficult to maintain peace and security of the public,Ó the federal police said in a statement released to the press. The statement also said that Òthe so-called human rights organization have attempted to snatch weapons from the riot police.Ó State radio and television referred to demonstrators as Òhoodlums and lumpenÓ. 
• Amnesty International waned that Ethiopian security forces were using Òexcessive force against students and other demonstratorsÓ and said security forces had reportedly fired at demonstrators and were continuing to round up people. Hospitals could Òhardly cope with the number of those injuredÓ. 
• Solidarity protest have taken place at other universities and colleges throughout the country. The body of a dead student awas found in Mekele in northern Ethiopia, after he had taken part in peaceful protests there against police brutality at Addis Ababa University. 
• Among the US organizations that have expressed concern about the injured and arrested students are the New York Academy of Sciences, Ethiopia Student Association International, Stanford University Ethiopian Students Union, San Jose State University Ethiopian Students Association, UC Berkeley Ethiopian Students Association Alumni, Delaware State University Ethiopian Students Union, and UC Davis Ethiopian Students. Also see pictures and news reports at:
• http://addistribune.ethiopiaonline.net/
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1273000/1273793.stm
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1281000/1281791.stm
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/africa/newsid_1284000/1284608.stm
• http://allafrica.com/stories/200104190260.html