Man Accuses Army of Torture

Ali Abdi
Nairob

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

Posted to the web 10 December 2007

Army personnel involved in a military operation in Moyale allegedly tortured a father of two and other people.

Mr Jaldesa Duba Halake, 27, has recorded a statement at the Moyale police station and is seeking compensation for alleged torture.

On Sunday, hundreds of Moyale residents held a demonstration to petition local DC, Mr Victor Okioma, and asked him to take action against the army personnel.

Halake claimed he was tortured for two weeks by the military that was hunting down Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) rebels in an operation that President Kibaki has since suspended.

He alleged that he was taken to the police in Moyale and the Ethiopian military was called to ascertain whether he was an OLF accomplice.

He was, however, found innocent.

"'It was after they (Kenya army) realised they had detained me wrongfully that they treated me at their clinic. I demand justice," Halake said, on the telephone.

He claimed the army used metal rods and burned his buttocks, back and legs.

Outgoing Moyale MP, Mr Wario Malla, who was among the protesters, said the operation was ill timed and the Government must investigate the torture claims.

The DC asked those who alleged to have been tortured to record statements with the police.

Kibaki halted the operation on Saturday following an appeal by PNU politicians, saying the exercise had negatively affected their campaigns in the district. Three weeks ago, the Government sent the army to the border after armed OLF members fled into Kenya. The move was, however, criticised by local leaders who alleged that Kenyans in the region had been harassed and tortured.