Hundreds of children, farmers detained in Mera’wi, Northern Ethiopia

At least 300 farmers, children, women and youth that have that opposed government’s plan of extracting underground water for floriculture in the Western Gojjam Zone of Mecha Woreda and Enashenefalen Kebele of Chboche area, have been detained Mera’wi city and Durbete prisons.

Members of the Federal Police have used excessive and brute force on farmers that have damaged the extracting machines. The area is still surrounded by police and many youth have been fled the area.

Semachew Minchel, Chairman of the opposition AEUP branch, said although the people have voiced their opposition at an earlier date, the government went on with its project discarding the people’s protest.

Semachew said he visited priso ns and the condition of the prisoners was lamentable.

It is to be recalled that ESAT had reported that several farmers had been arrested in the area on a similar case.