Nov 23, 1974 – The day the Derg massacred 60 Ethiopian officials

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – It was on November 23, 1974 that the military junta “The Derg” massacred 60 imprisoned Ethiopian government officials at Kerchele Prison.

The Derg seemed to get the support of the public initially with its peaceful slogan “Ethiopia Tikdem Yale Minim Dem” (Let Ethiopia progress, without any bloodshed). However, ten weeks into the “bloodless revolution”, the Derg unleashed its murderous campaign with the massacre of 60 government officials, who were never given the chance to prove their innocence of the crimes they were accused of.

** Summarily executed for allegedly committing the crime of “Gross Abuse of Power”:

Aklilu Habtewold (Tsehafe Tizaz, served as prime minister under H.I.M. Haile Selassie for 13 years and in other  high level positions for a total of 39 years).

H.H. Ras Asrate Kassa (member Crown Council, Senate President, Enderassie; served in various high level positions for over 34 years).

Endalkachew Mekonnen (prime minister; Lij; Ethiopian ambassador to the U.N., served in various high level positions for 23 years).

Ras Mesfin Seleshi (war veteran, Enderassie; served in various high level positons for over 54 years).

Ato Abebe Retta (Minister, linguist, scholar in history and religion, particularly the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; served in various capacities for 47 years).

Lt. Col. Tamirat Yegezu (Enderassie, Crown Council member; served in various capacities for 38 years).

Ato Akaleworq Habtewold (Minister, ambassador, served in various capacities for 39 years).

Dr. Tesfaye Gebre-Egzy (Minister).

Ato Mulatu Debebe (Minister; served in various capacities for 22 years).

Dejazmach Solomon Abraha (Enderassie; served in various capacities).

Dejazmach Legesse Bezu (Enderassie; served in various capacities for a total of 29 years).

Dejazmach Sahlu Defaye (Enderassie, veteran; served in various capacities for a total of  46 years).

Dejazmach Workneh Wolde Amanuel (Minister, Senator, Enderassie; served in various capacities for a total of 30 years).

Dejazmach Kifle Ergetu (Ambassador, diplomat, Senator).

Dejazmach Worku Enqoselassie (Enderassie; served in various capacities for a total of 26 years).

Dejazmach Aemeroselassie Abebe (Enderassie, civil servant; served in various capacities for 35 years).

Dejazmach Kebede Ali Wole (Enderassie military commander served in various capacities for 34 years)

Ato Nebeye Leul Kifle  (Minister, Crown special cabinet member; served for a total of 24 years).

Col. Solomon Kedir (Chief of security, minister; served in various capacities for 25 years).

Afenegus Abeje Debalq (Judge, Crown Counsellor, Senator; served in various capacities for 44 years).

Ato Yilma Aboye (Palace courtier, served in various capacities for 18 years).

Ato Tegen Yeteshaworq (Minister, editor Ethiopian Herald; served for 12 years).

Ato Solomon Gebremariam (Minister; served in various capacities for 31 years).

Ato Hailu Teklu (civil servant).

Blata Admassu Retta (Palace courtier).

Lij Hailu Desta (Ethiopian Red Cross President, served in various capacities for 26 years).

Fitewrari Amede Aberra (rancher, served in various capacities).

Fitewrari Demessie Alamerew (Enderassie).

Fitewrari Tadesse Enquselassie (Enderassie).

Lt. General Abiye Abebe (Minister, ambassador, Senate President).

Lt. General Kebde Gebre (Minister, Enderassie).

Lt. General Dressie Dubale (Commander, Ground Forces).

Lt. General Abebe Gemeda (Commander, Imperial Body Guard, Enderassie; served in various capacities for a total of 40 years).

Lt. General Yilma Shibeshi (Chief of national police; served in various capacities for 34 years).

Lt. General Haile Baykedagn (Chief of staff; served in various capacities for 32 years).

Lt. General Assefa Ayene (Minister, chief of staff; served in various capacities for a total of 38 years).

Lt. General Belete Abebe (Chief of staff, served in various capacities for a total of 40 years).

Lt. General Isayas Gebreselassie (Senator).

Lt. General Assefa Demissie (ADC H.I.M.).

Lt. General Debebe Hailemariam (war veteran, palace courtier, commander ground forces; served a total of 33 years).

Maj. General Seyoum Gedle Giorgis (served in various capacities in the military for a total of 31 years).

Maj. General Gashaw Kebede (served in the national police force and other capacities for a total of 33 years).

Maj. General Tafesse Lemma (Military attache, palace courtier; served total of 28 years).

Vice Admiral Iskinder Desta (Commander of the navy, modernized Ethiopia Navy, diplomat).

Brig. General Mulugetta Woldeyohannes (Chief of National Police; served in various capacities for 31 years).

Brig. General Girma Yohannes (served in national police force for 28 years).

Col. Yalem Zewd Tessema (Commander, Army Airborne).

Col. Tassew Mojo

Col. Yigezu Yimer

Major Berhanu Metcha

Capt. Molla Wakene

Summarily executed for for allegedly comitting the crime of “Plotting to Incite Civil War and Disrupt Popular Movement”

Cpt. Demessie Shiferaw.

Cpt. Belay Tsegaye (Army aviation heliopter pilot; served a total of 31 years).

Cpt. Woldeyohanes Zergaw.

Lance Cpl. Teklu Hailu (18 year-old and member of Army engineers; executed for opposing the idea of military government).

Pvt.  Bekele Woldegiorgis (served 22 years.

Summarily executed for allegedly committing the “Breach of Oath of Office and Attempt to Create Divisions in the Armed Forces” 

Lt. General Aman Michael Andom (chairman of Derg and Council of Ministers, Defense Minsiter and Chief of Statff of the Armed Forces).

Lt. Tesfaye Takele (24 years-old Army aviation pilot, Derg member).

Junior Aircraftsman Yohanes Fitiwi (Derg member).

Source: Wikipedia.org & Prof. Al Mariam