Ethiopia remembers victims of 1970s military regime 50 years later

On September 12, 1974, a Marxist-Leninist military junta known as the Derg overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, ending a monarchy that had lasted for 700 years. This regime, which ruled with extreme brutality until its fall in 1991, was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people, including many young rebels from the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP). Ermias Woldeamlak, who lost three brothers during this tumultuous period, recalls the horrors he witnessed as a teenager, including torture and executions. The Derg's rise to power was marked by a violent crackdown on dissent, particularly during the infamous “Red Terror” period from 1977 to 1979, which saw a significant escalation in state-sponsored violence. The regime targeted individuals associated with opposition groups, leading to widespread fear and suffering among the population. Despite the passage of time, the memories of these atrocities remain vivid for survivors like Ermias, who continues to seek justice for the victims. The exact number of those killed or tortured remains uncertain, but historians estimate that tens of thousands perished under the Derg's rule. Many of the regime's leaders, including Mengistu Haile Mariam, have evaded justice, with some even receiving life sentences instead of facing the death penalty. This lack of accountability has left many families without closure. Ermias advocates for a justice system similar to Rwanda's post-genocide trials, which addressed not only high-ranking officials but also lower-level perpetrators. He believes that without learning from the past, society risks repeating the same mistakes, emphasizing the need for comprehensive reparations and accountability for the victims' families.