{"id":19817,"date":"2013-01-11T12:12:04","date_gmt":"2013-01-11T11:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presstv.ir\/detail\/2013\/01\/11\/282971\/uk-funds-shady-ethiopian-police\/"},"modified":"2013-01-11T12:12:04","modified_gmt":"2013-01-11T11:12:04","slug":"uk-funds-shady-ethiopian-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/uk-funds-shady-ethiopian-police\/","title":{"rendered":"UK funds shady Ethiopian police"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Britain is funding millions of pounds in foreign aid into training an Ethiopian paramilitary force, accused of human rights abuses, including rape and torture, as well as summary executions.<\/p>\n

Based on a Department for International Development document seen by The Guardian<\/em>, the \u00a313 million to \u00a315 million funding for training the militia in the Somali region of Ogaden, which lies within Ethiopia, is excused by the British government as a \u201cpeace-building\u201d plan.<\/p>\n

The Ethiopian government is leading a counter-insurgency campaign in Ogaden by its \u201cspecial police\u201d or the \u201cLiyu police.\u201d<\/p>\n

The force was deployed to the area after federal security institutions halted operations there due to protests to the Ethiopian army\u2019s conduct by rights groups including the Human Rights Watch.<\/p>\n

This comes as the disclosed document shows the British government is training the force in the knowledge of its record.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman rights abuses committed by the special police are believed to be more widespread and severe than those committed during the military campaign,\u201d the document said.<\/p>\n

In a report in May 2012, the Human Rights Watch revealed the \u201cspecial police\u201d have been behind at least ten summary executions.<\/p>\n

This comes as another rights group Amnesty International has also raised serious concerns about Britain training the force.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been repeated allegations against the Liyu police of extrajudicial killings, rape, torture and other violations including destruction of villages,\u201d Amnesty International’s Ethiopia researcher, Claire Beston said.<\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s links to the force follows repeated reports of London\u2019s assistance to foreign agencies, widely accused of major human rights abuses and torture, including in the Muammar Gaddafi-led Libya.<\/p>\n

AMR\/HSN\/HE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

Britain is funding millions of pounds in foreign aid into training an Ethiopian paramilitary force, accused of human rights abuses, including rape and torture, as well as summary executions.<\/p>\n

Based on a Department for International Development document seen by The Guardian<\/em>, the £13 million to £15 million funding for training the militia in the Somali region of Ogaden, which lies within Ethiopia, is excused by the British government as a “peace-building” plan.<\/p>\n

The Ethiopian government is leading a counter-insurgency campaign in Ogaden by its “special police” or the “Liyu police.”<\/p>\n

The force was deployed to the area after federal security institutions halted operations there due to protests to the Ethiopian army’s conduct by rights groups including the Human Rights Watch.<\/p>\n

This comes as the disclosed document shows the British government is training the force in the knowledge of its record.<\/p>\n

“Human rights abuses committed by the special police are believed to be more widespread and severe than those committed during the military campaign,” the document said.<\/p>\n

In a report in May 2012, the Human Rights Watch revealed the “special police” have been behind at least ten summary executions.<\/p>\n

This comes as another rights group Amnesty International has also raised serious concerns about Britain training the force.<\/p>\n

“There have been repeated allegations against the Liyu police of extrajudicial killings, rape, torture and other violations including destruction of villages,” Amnesty International’s Ethiopia researcher, Claire Beston said.<\/p>\n

Britain’s links to the force follows repeated reports of London’s assistance to foreign agencies, widely accused of major human rights abuses and torture, including in the Muammar Gaddafi-led Libya.<\/p>\n

AMR\/HSN\/HE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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