For immediate release 8 September, 2016

Ethiopian Kiwis welcome support of New Zealand parliament

Ethiopian origin New Zealanders welcome a motion read in Parliament today that challenges the Ethiopian governments killing of civilians.

One hundred Ethiopian kiwis and supporters marched from Civic Square to Parliament to deliver the message of support for justice and human rights.

They were met at Parliament by Labour deputy leader Annette King who announced that she had tabled the motion for New Zealand to speak out.

King asked that “this House call on the Government of New Zealand to speak out at the Security Council of the United Nations on behalf of Ethiopian men, women, and children who are being killed, shot, burnt, and imprisoned by the Government of Ethiopia.”

Human Rights Watch have reported that more than 400 people, mostly from the Oromo ethnic group, have been killed in this year.

“We urge you all to be a voice for voiceless Ethiopians. We urge the New Zealand government and opposition parties to condemn and demand an immediate halt to the killings” said Nureddin Abdurahman of Oromo Community, one of the organisers for the march.

New Zealand currently holds the presidency of the Security Council. When New Zealand’s temporary place on the Security Council ends in December, Ethiopia is one of the countries that will replace it.

New Zealand is home to more than one-thousand five hundred Ethiopians, most of whom came to New Zealand under the refugee quota in the last 25 years.

ENDS

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