Debre Markos University says ESAT, other forces behind students’ protest

The administration of DebreMarkosUniversity has admitted that students of the University have been on a hunger strike. The protest began after students refused to accept thegovernment’s new “regulation on dressing, dinning, and worship”.

The students complain that they have been forced to stop practicing their faith and cut their religious strings from their necks.

In his discussion with the officials of the region, Deputy President of the University, Dr. Negusie Miteku, said that although there have been attempts to apply the regulation in the previous academic year; it has not been effected as the students have refused to accept it. The students also complain that the daily food allowance approved by the Council of Ministers is 12 birr, ‘which does not even buy a loaf of bread and tea in Debre Markos town.’

The Deputy President confirms that the students’ question has been correct and the students’ food budget is meagre. He said they have gone beyond the government’s allowance to subsidise the budget. Negusie admitted that there has also been a decrease in the gram of bread from 80 to 45 per the evaluations and criticisms of the government.  However, when students got the loaf of bread weighed they were found to be weighing between 25 to 30 grams.

Information found within the Ministry of Health indicates that at least 32 students have been sick due to lack of food during the start of the academic year.

The Deputy President argues “looking at the timing of ESAT’s reporting of the protests, it is possible to tell that the students’ protest is not just in relation to the new regulations but that ESAT and other forces are behind the protest”.

The windows of six buildings have been fully damaged and three ambulances have been destroyed due to the students’ protest.  Federal police officers have beaten many students.

The University officials accused the local residents for supporting the protesters. Residents told ESAT’s reporter that they have seen students lying on the ground due to hunger.

The residents say, the actions of the students, who have not received any response to their queries, have been insightful.