ShiBire Desalegn
She
helped escape several AAU students from torture by helping them
jump from the trucks that were taking them to Sendafa. She didn't
have any weapon. But that didn't stop the EPRDF troops from shooting
her to death.
A high
caliber bullet pierced through her neck.
Because
of ShiBire's actions, some AAU students escaped torture. But because
of the action and inaction of others, thousands went through unspeakable
brutality in the hands of the EPRDF security forces under the
direct orders of Meles Zenawi. Thirty days later, Meles Zenawi
was standing next to President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair
at the G8 meeting in Scotland, looking proud of his barbaric actions.
Ethiopian
Review spoke with ShiBire's mother, Wzr. Ayelech Birkneh. She
is devastated by her daughter's sudden death. As the bread winner
of the family, the 21-year old ShiBire was supporting her mother
and six teenage siblings. The father passed away, leaving only
a 50 birr monthly pension.
ShiBire
could not continue her education, because there was nobody else
to support the family. Her income was not enough to support the
whole family even though she worked hard. The only choice she
had to generate enough income was to go to a foreign country looking
for a job.
People
in ShiBire's neighborhood appreciate what she did and died for.
They think she is a heroine and a role model. They talk about
her with a great deal of pride. She stood up for the students
who only demanded respect for the people's vote. She paid the
ultimate sacrifice trying to save others.
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If
you wish to support the families of ShiBire Desalegn and the other
heroic pro-democracy demonstrators who were gunned down on June
8, please join the
ShiBire
e-mail discussion group.
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A young heroine pays the ultimate sacrifice
July
26, 2005
Ethiopianreview.com
Her
name is ShiBire Desalegn. She is the first person to be killed
when Meles Zenawi unleashed his forces following a peaceful protest
by Addis Ababa University (AAU) students on June 6. She was shot
and killed by EPRDF troops as she and her friends tried to block
the road in Kotebe that leads to the Sendafa torture camp. |