Name
of Detainee:- Fekadu Mirakana (Released after 5 months of
detention)
Reason of
detention and Time of interrogation-Journalist Fekadu Mirakana was in jail for the last four plus
months because police has suspected him participating on the wide spread Oromo
protest and whistling information to Oromia Media Network (OMN) and Oromia
Liberation Front (OLF) about the ongoing public protest against Addis Ababa and
Oromia special zone integrated master plan. Fakadu has been jailed in completed
dark rooms In “Maekelawi” detention center. He was not allowed to be visited by
his spouses and friends.
Education- Fekadu Mirakana was born in 1986 in Ambo town. He has
completed his formal education form Grade 1-9th in
Ambo. Then he went to Adama to complete 10th –
12th grade. He has Bachelor of Arts from Wollega University in Journalism and
communication. While he was in university he has served as a vice-president for Oromo Culture and Language Development Center.
When he was
in Elementary school he has been jailed because he was accused of organizing
students for protest. He was tortured at the police station and has been in
Ambo hospital for two weeks after the torture. He had also reportedly suffered
of Hematuria at the hospital. After his medical treatment government securities
have warned him to leave the city otherwise they vowed not to spare him. As a
result of this intimidation he was forced to leave the city and went Adama to
continue his education.
Career- Fekadu has served Oromia Radio and Television in
different responsibilities as a trained professional journalist. He was also
working as a News Anchor and Senior Reporter. He has been reporting repeatedly
on the problems of lack of Good Governance and state of corruption in the
region. Journalist Fakadu Mirkana has been working in Oromia Radio and
Televison Organization starting from 2011 till the day he was arrested.
Current situation- Journalist Fekadu Mirkana was jailed in Addis which is
very far from his parents’ home in Adama. Even though the pretrial court has
offered to the Police demanded four consecutive periods each constitute 28 days
for further investigation the Federal police asked for one more week extension
then they released him with no official charges against him.
Source: Ethiopian Human Right Project
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