A/HRC/32/36/Add.3 Observations Responses to communications 74. The Special Rapporteur regrets that, to date, no reply has been received to his communications. He recalls that responses to his communications are an important part of the cooperation of the Government of Ethiopia with his mandate, and urges the authorities to comply with Human Rights Council resolutions on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. These resolutions call on States to cooperate fully with and assist him in the performance of his mandate and to respond promptly to his communications. 75. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his deepest concern regarding the violent repression of peaceful protests against the “Addis Ababa Integrated Development Master Plan” in the Oromia region since mid-November 2015, which has reportedly led to the killing of hundreds of people and numerous injured protesters, as well as the lack of investigation against the use of violence by the police and security forces, and the alleged arrest, detention and disappearances of several protesters labelled as “terrorists” (ETH 5/2015). He urges the authorities to undertake a thorough and independent investigation into these cases, hold the perpetrators accountable, and provide remedies to the victims and families of victims. He notes with great concern the report of Human Rights Watch issued on 15 June 2016 according to which “Ethiopian security forces have killed more than 400 protesters and others, and arrested tens of thousands more during widespread protests in the Oromia region since November 2015” (https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/06/15/ethiopiaprotest-crackdown-killed-hundreds). 76. Further concern is expressed at the charges brought against Messrs. Okwoy, Astin and Hojole, which appear to be directly linked to their legitimate and peaceful work in defense of human rights and to their peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and to freedom of peaceful assembly and association (ETH 4/2015). 77. The Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to inform him at the earliest of the results of the investigations undertaken into the killings that occurred during the protests. He emphasizes that the right to life should be guaranteed by States to all individuals under all circumstances and at all times, including in the context of the exercise of the rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly, as prescribed by article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He further urges the Government to provide legal grounds for the arrest and detention of the three aforementioned human rights defenders. 78. The Special Rapporteur recalls that Ethiopia has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on 11 June 1993, which enshrines the rights to freedom of expression and opinion and freedom of peaceful assembly and association as set forth respectively in articles 19, 21 and 22 of the Covenant. He reminds again to the authorities of Ethiopia that protestors seek to convey opinions and, very often, challenge norms, and insists that while the State does not have to agree with the opinions and criticisms expressed by people who embrace different convictions or beliefs. The State has a positive obligation to ensure a conducive environment for the free exercise of these rights enshrined in the Covenant, in particular, for civil society activists to operate freely and without fear (A/HRC/20/27, paragraph 63). 79. More generally, the Special Rapporteur wishes to refer to the joint report on the proper management of assemblies he prepared with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (A/HRC/31/66), which is highly relevant to the situation in the country. 15