ETHIOPIA-KENYA: Hundreds of students cross into Kenya

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ADDIS ABABA, 30 Apr 2004 (IRIN) - Hundreds of Ethiopian students have crossed into Kenya to escape what they claim is government harassment, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The students have set up camp in the compound of a Kenyan police station, it said.

UNHCR said in a statement released from its headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday that the students arrived over the last few days in the border town of Moyale. "A UNHCR team that flew into Moyale last week interviewed a cross section of the students. Some claimed that they had been singled out by government security agents and fled after the army reportedly intervened to halt a demonstration at their school," UNHCR added.

However, the Ethiopian information minister, Bereket Simon, told IRIN on Thursday that some the students were already returning home. "This is not a big problem. Most of them who have crossed the border are discussing the situation among themselves and the leaders of the community," he said.

Bereket added: "There will be no problems if they return, and as far as we know they have done nothing wrong. We think this situation will resolve itself. What is important for now is they return to their education in a disciplined manner as the exams are coming up."

The students are mainly Oromos, who constitute the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia - about 30 million of the 70 million population. Most are teenagers, but the youngest is eight years old and the oldest 24, UNHCR said. The group includes about 20 girls. "Ethiopian ethnic Oromos frequently seek asylum in neighbouring countries and abroad," the statement noted.

In March, the government and Addis Ababa University authorities were criticised over a mass roundup of Oromo students alleged to have been inciting trouble. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council condemned what it described as heavy-handed treatment of the students by security forces.

UNHCR said after the arrival of several dozen Oromo students last week an "influx has quickly gathered pace". It added that it was working with Kenyan officials and Ethiopian government representatives to "try to reach an acceptable solution".

"The best solution would be for the students to return home safely, without fear of arrests or any other punitive measure and, above all, to be able to resume their studies. If they fail to reach a solution, the students will be interviewed more closely to determine their refugee status," it said. "Those found to meet the criteria for refugee status and protection will most likely be transferred to one of the two refugee camps in Kenya."

[ENDS]