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HRW, ONLF hail Illey’s arrest, urge prosecution of all accomplices

Storyline:National News
Immediate former Somali state president Abdi Illey seen in this picture (centre in a gray coat) is escorted to a police car August 27,, 2018. Photo: ETV

The campaign body Human Rights Watch has hailed the arrest of immediate former president of Somali state in Ethiopia Abdi Illey terming it ‘a start to justice’ a day after Illey was picked by Federal police in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Illey who has been accused of war crimes and grave human rights violations was stripped of immunity by the state assembly early in the week paving way for his prosecution.

“Hopefully, today’s arrest of Abdi Illey is a start to justice for victims of serious crimes in Ethiopia’s Somali region,” HRW Africa Division Associate Director Maria Burnett said in a statement Monday.

READ ALSO: Probe Abdi Illey for war crimes-Human Rights Watch

Burnett also noted other officials who ‘supported the abuses including crimes against humanity and war crimes, should also be held to account’.

“The federal authorities should ensure that prosecutions are transparent, rigorous and fair and that victims and witnesses can testify without fear of reprisals,” said Burnett.

Meanwhile the separatist group ONLF also echoed HRW’s call urging for the prosecution of all those who worked with Illey in perpetrating human rights violations over the years.

“His arrest should be followed by the rapid arrest of top TPLF generals and security officials such as Samore Younis and Abraham Wolde, including other security and military officials implicated in the destruction, and widespread horrors and abuses in the region,” ONLF said.

Human  Rights Watch has document ted cases of human rights violations including torture by Illey’s administration through the infamous Jail  Ogaden which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described as like ‘scenes from a horror movie’.

HRW last week called for  independent probe into  Illey for war crimes.