Classes stop as Addis Ababa University students protest abuse

The student protest at Addis Ababa University is in its second day today after it was ignited yesterday by some students at Arat Kilo campus. The Students said they started chanting anti-university administration slogans when they learnt that the body of dead student was abused by the Menelik hospital autopsy department. The student passed away three days ago. His friends suspected that he was poisoned. According to sources, at least 200 students have fallen sick in the last two days as a result of food poisoning. The report is yet to be confirmed by the university's medical staff.
"We have stopped classes to protest the administration's disregard for our safety," a student told Ethio-Zagol Post. The presence of the Federal Police has angered the students even more. "They are over-reacting again. They are video tapping our protest. I suspect the administration is going to dismiss some students from the university as it has done several times in the past when students protest," another students said.
There is virtually no academic freedom and the right to free speech and protest at Addis Ababa University. Students and instructors claim that lack of freedom has worsened in the past couple of years under Professor Andreas Eshete's beleaguered administration.

Roha, EZ Post blogger, will continue writing about the university's problems here.