“It is a Grave Where a Person is Buried Alive” Experiences of Oromo Political Prisoners under the Criminal Justice System of Ethiopia during the EPRDF

Abstract

This study aims to narrate Oromo political prisoners‟ lived experiences of imprisonment under the criminaljustice system of Ethiopia during the Ethiopian People‟s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) regime. Itmainly focuses on a political prisoner's narration about the system's handling practices. The experiences ofother prisoners obtained from different sources were also analyzed to supplement the narration. Using aphenomenological research approach, primary data were generated through in-depth interviews with thepolitical prisoner from Borana who spent nine years in prison during the EPRDF ruling system. Moreover, areview of secondary materials such as related literature and media sources was employed, and the data werethematically analyzed. The findings showed that the treatment of Oromo political prisoners in the criminaljustice system during the EPRDF was unjust and the handling practices were excessively inhuman. The systemwas oppressive and served as an instrument of oppression for the ruling party, not as a justice institution fightingcrime to ensure societal order. Also, the findings revealed that, apart from punishment, the Ethiopian prisonprocesses and practices do not take principles of justice and due process models of criminal handling intoaccount. The study concluded that there were challenges to due process of law and extreme violations of humanrights in the system. Finally, the study recommends that the criminal justice system should consider justice anddue process of law in handling political prisoners. Moreover, the criminal justice system should have forensicsocial workers who provide social services, promote the improvement of social justice, and strive to minimizeinjustice in the system.