Rights groups warns of killings, mass arrests in Ethiopia at vote fraud protests News
Rights groups warns of killings, mass arrests in Ethiopia at vote fraud protests

[JURIST] New York-based monitoring group Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] reported Wednesday that thousands of people have been arrested [press release] and some 36 killed across Ethiopia in skirmishes with police during election-related protests. HRW said that the deaths occured when "security forces responded to incidents of rock-throwing and looting by opening fire indiscriminately on large crowds of people". The group also claims supporters of opposition leaders in at least nine cities have been arrested. AP has more. The unrest follows growing reports of fraud [JURIST report] in the May 15 general elections. Ethiopian police have confirmed the arrests [AFP report], but government sources many detainees have already been released.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.