TRANSLATION

Affedavit
					June 14, 2004	

My Name is Roman Gebremariam. I am an Ethiopian citizen. I live in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. I am married and have two children, namely Robel Haddis and Alemtsehay Haddis. I am writing this affidavit in support of my son's application for asylum in the US.

My family has faced persecution in Ethiopia on the basis of ethnic identity. My husband was deported to Eritrea by the Ethiopian government in December 1998 because of his Eritrean Ethnic heritage. Moreover, my son Robel was harassed by the Ethiopian government from time to time. 
He was dismissed from his job at the Ethiopian Security, Immigration and Refugee Affairs Authority simply because he has Eritrean blood on his father's side. 
Then he was harassed by his colleagues at the Ethiopian Airlines by his own co-workers and government agents again  because of his ethnic heritage. 
He was at last arrested by government security agents at Woreda 17 Police station and subjected to mistreatment and torchure. He was wrongfully 
accused of being Eritrean government agent and suffered mistreatment and torchure.  I visited him from time to time when he was languishing in government custody. 
He was released due to the effort of my brother Amaha Gebremariam. Since he couldn't live peacefully even after he was released, my son was forced to flee his country. 
Moreover, after my son left the country, government agents began to harass my daughter.Fearing for her safety, she fled to Yemen.

I swear and affirm with my signature that the affidavit I have given above is true to the best of my knowledge and recollection.
Sincerely,
Roman G/ Mariam
[Signed]


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I certify that I am fluent in both the Amharic and English languages and that I am competent to translate this document. I have translated 
the attached document completely and accurately from Amharic to English to the best of my abilities on july 20, 2004

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