Forced Returns to Ethiopia could end with a human rights disaster.

Mari Seilskjær

Published Yesterday at. 9:49- 1031 views

Norwegian authorities are now beginning to send Ethiopians out of the country by force. Norway is the only European country that has signed an agreement forcibly returned to Ethiopia, and everything should be ready to perform the initial mailings. For ten days ago, a Ethiopian linked to an illegal opposition party arrested to be deported. After it was presented new information in the case, he was released and Immigration Tribunal will now consider the matter.

Forced Returns to Ethiopia could end with a human rights disaster. For some Ethiopians will probably return visit quite good, while others will be exposed if they returned. There is reason to fear that political dissidents and government critics sent back to torture or other serious abuse.

Many Ethiopians have lived in Norway and has been politically active here. Several of them have been granted protection in Norway over the past year, because Norwegian authorities acknowledge that many dissidents Ethiopians risk persecution. However, there are some people associated with illegal opposition parties have been denied. NOAS fear that these people risk serious abuse if they are returned.

Ethiopia is a very authoritarian regime, and the government commits extensive human rights violations against its own people. The Ethiopian regime spends considerable resources on monitoring and imprison its critics, whether it is about opposition politicians, journalists and civil activists. Civil society gagged, and Ethiopian government prohibits foreign organizations working on democracy and human rights. There are no independent media left, and Ethiopia in recent years has been the African country most journalists have fled.

Norwegian authorities concluded nevertheless a return agreement with Ethiopia last year. The deal provoked strong reactions. For example, the United Nations expressed concern about the consequences of forced returns. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights questioned whether Norway could ensure that the Ethiopian authorities held the absolute prohibition of torture.

Since no country has so far sent back opposing Ethiopians, no one knows the consequences of the political activity will get. There are several indications that the opposition Ethiopians can face severe sanctions upon return.

When NOAS visited Ethiopia last year, we were told by a representative of the Ethiopian authorities that the activity of illegal opposition parties will have consequences. Several other sources believed that people who are active in illegal fundraising abroad, risking serious abuse if they are returned.

Ethiopian authorities have enacted anti-terror laws which, according to international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch used to silence political opponents and journalists opinion. Ethiopian authorities have categorized several opposition parties as terrorist organizations. Assistance to, or mention of, these parties punished with years of jail.

Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, the Swedish journalists arrested in Ethiopia in 2011, was sentenced to severe penalties for supporting terrorism, but was later pardoned. During a visit to Norway earlier this year said that many of their fellow prisoners imprisoned because of oppositional activity or criticism of the government. They stressed that the Ethiopians who were exposed to the same charges as those, meetings far more serious reactions.

Ethiopian authorities monitor dissidents Ethiopians in Norway extensively. The Ethiopian regime has thus a good overview of who has taken part in opposition activities or uttered his authority critical as they have lived in Norway.

The human rights situation in Ethiopia is worsened in recent years. Freedom of the press in the country is gradually tightened, and the persecution of political opponents intensified. Attacks on opposition's of actors at different levels and in different parts of the country. Ethiopia experts stressed that there is considerable arbitrariness both what it takes to be imprisoned, and the reactions of persons subjected to in prison. It is not possible to predict exactly what the reactions against government critics and opposition politicians will be, and the imprisonment and torture can not be excluded.

According return agreement between Norway and Ethiopia, the Ethiopian authorities responsible for the returned - the same government that persecutes its critics. No UN agencies or independent organization to oversee the repatriation and reintegration.

Return agreement contains no guarantees that returned Ethiopians will not be subjected to harassment and abuse. Return agreements with Afghanistan and Iraq commits authorities there to "take the necessary measures to ensure that Afghans / Iraqis can return without fear of harassment, intimidation, persecution, discrimination, prosecution or penalties of any kind." A similar formulation is not in return agreement with Ethiopia, despite the fact that many Ethiopian asylum seekers just fleeing government persecution, and not a difficult security situation, as is the case for most Afghans and Iraqis.

It is highly uncertain what will happen to the Ethiopians sent back, especially those who have been involved in illegal political opposition. The fact that Norway still returning such person is a dangerous experiment. If there is a real risk of torture or other serious offenses, the Norwegian authorities obliged under international law to provide protection. To return opposing Ethiopians is to gamble with human lives.

Published Daily newspaper debate sides same day.