State of Emergency Inquiry Board (Tigray)
The State of Emergency Inquiry Board for the Tigray Region is an Ethiopian governmental body created to monitor, investigate and prevent human rights violations during the state of emergency of the Tigray War that started in late November 2020.[1][2]
Creation
The State of Emergency Inquiry Board was established under Article 93/6 of the 1995 Constitution of Ethiopia by the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR)[1] in November 2020 in the context of the state of emergency declared at the beginning of the Tigray War.[2]
Statutory role
Under Article 93/6, the Inquiry Board is obliged to (a) publish the names of anyone arrested under the state of emergency and the reasons for the arrest within a month; (b) investigate and prevent "inhumane" measures; (c) recommend corrective measures to the prime minister or cabinet; (d) "ensure prosecution" of people suspected of inhumane acts; (e) present its views to HoPR on any request to extend the state of emergency.[2][3] On 22 January 2021, the NGO Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) described the Inquiry Board's role as including human rights investigations during and after the war.[1]
Members
The Inquiry Board is chaired by Lemma Tesemma.[2] The other six members are Jembernesh Kinfe, Hawa Ali, Alebachew Lakew, Zerihun Petros, Askale Tilahun and Wendimu Gizaw. In November 2020, Lemma invited complaints about the implementation of the state of emergency to contact the Inquiry Board by telephone, postal mail, email, online social networks or in person at the Parliament.[4]
Actions
In early December 2020, after onsite visits, the Inquiry Board stated that crimes by the
On 12 December, the Inquiry Board stated that refugees returning from Sudan accused TPLF forces of bribing Sudanese security forces to assault civilians. The Board described the events as
References
- ^ a b c "Human Rights Situation in Tigray Region requires an immediate solution" (PDF). Ethiopian Human Rights Council. 2021-01-22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ a b c d "State of Emergency Inquiry Board Begins Work". Ethiopian News Agency. 2020-11-17. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ "Ethiopia - Constitution". University of Bern. 1995. Archived from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- Ethiopian Herald. Archivedfrom the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ "State of Emergency Inquiry Board Unveils Field Report". Ethiopian News Agency. 2020-12-10. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ Abiye, Yonas (2020-12-12). "Board accuses Sudanese forces of conspiring with TPLF to kill civilians". The Reporter. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.