E/CN.4/1995/34 page 51 264. The following persons were arrested along with eight other members of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) by government troops in Godey: Hassan Jirreh Kalinle, former President of the Regional Assembly of Region Five (the Ogaden) and ONLF member; Ahmed Ali Dahir, former Vice-President of the Regional Assembly and ONLF representative; Shukri Yasin, mayor of Godey; Abdillahi Kalaas; and Hassan Mohamed Fara. Hassan Jirrih Kalinle and Ahmed Ali Dahir were reportedly transferred to Addis Ababa where they were being held incommunicado (20 May 1994). 265. Omar Mohamed Soyaan, Hassan Mohamed Issaq, Abdi Sheikh Omar, Bedel Abdi, Abdifatar Sheikh Mahamoud, Osman Abdi Hassan and Gabon Kenadid, reportedly members of the ONLF, were arrested by soldiers in May 1994 and detained in Kebri Dahar. Mirad Leli Sigale, mayor of Godey, who was arrested with them, was allegedly killed in detention a few days after the arrest. Fears were expressed for the safety of those persons still detained (26 August 1994). 266. The following persons were among hundreds arrested at a demonstration at the Central High Court in Addis Ababa on 20 September 1994: Yodit (Judith) Imru, former ambassador and sister of former Prime Minister Ras Michael Imru; Hirut (Ruth) Imru and Mammie Imru, sisters of Ras Michael Imru; Amarech Mengistu, United Nations employee (Economic Commission for Africa); Almas Haile-Mariam, official of the All-Amhara People’s Organization (AAPO); Beletshachew Girma, the wife of a former AAPO official; Telela Kebede, a popular female singer; Fitwari Mammo Beshie; Fitwari Gebre-Hiwot Wolde-Hawariat, a former prisoner aged 70; Abate Agide, former ambassador; and Firesew Feleke, official of the opposition National Democratic Union and former prisoner. The demonstration was said to have been convened in support of Professor Asrat Woldeyes, Chairman of the AAPO who was serving a prison sentence and was on trial for another charge. The detainees were reportedly being held incommunicado in Sendafa Police College near Addis Ababa and had not been taken to court within the legally prescribed 48-hour period (26 September 1994). 267. On 12 December 1994 the Government replied that the above-named persons had been released on bail after a brief detention for participation in an illegal demonstration. 268. Lemma Sidamo, acting Vice-Chairman of the Sidama Liberation Movement (SLM), was arrested by soldiers at his home in Addis Ababa on 22 September 1994 and was not taken to court within the prescribed 48-hour time-limit. It was reported that he may have been taken to Awassa, the capital of the Sidama region (4 October 1994). 269. Merid Abebe, Chairman of the opposition Omo People’s Democratic Union (OPDU), was arrested in Addis Ababa on 18 October 1994 and taken in custody to Jinka, the Omo region’s capital. He was reportedly accused by the authorities of activities against the Transitional Charter, but the specific reasons for his arrests were unknown. Merid Abebe; Girma Bekelle, OPDU Vice-Chairman and an agriculture official; Dagne Belachaw; and Wessenu Gebeyehu, an Ethiopian Red Cross employee, were among 17 OPDU members arrested in Jinka in the last four weeks and detained without charge or trial. Some were allegedly tortured or ill-treated (21 October 1994).