Rwanda: Communique du Conseil des Ministres (19.04.2021)

Ethiopia: Open letter from Tigray National Political Parties Forum [Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT), National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) and Tigray Independence Party (TIP)] – Call for an internationally monitored immediate withdrawal of Eritrean invading forces from Tigray (19.04.2021)

Your Excellency,
The people of Tigray have been appealing to the international community to live up to its commitments and uphold international laws. Tigrayan national political parties forum has been asking the international community to make sure the invading Eritrean forces withdraw and hold them accountable for the war crimes and human rights abuses they committed over the past six months in Tigray. While the evidence of Eritrean army’s active involvement in the genocidal war against the people of Tigray, alongside the Ethiopian Federal forces, Amhara militia and other foreign forces was abundant, to the dismay of many the international community’s response was not strong enough to persuade the invaders to abide by the long standing covenants of the UN.
The war has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, left millions of civilians displaced; over 6.5 million Tigrayans requiring immediate humanitarian assistance, tens of thousands of women are subjected to sexual abuses on the continuing genocidal war.
Excellency,
Beyond upholding international laws, the presence of Eritrean invading forces in Tigray is an obstacle for any international, bilateral or multilateral peace initiatives in the region. Furthermore; it has been demonstrated that it is unrealistic to deliver humanitarian aid to the millions of internally displaced and the general population in need of immediate sustenance support in the presence of the aggressors. The reconstruction of Tigray is also impossible while occupational forces are on the ground and continuing to deliberately inflict maximum damage to public and private institutions. Therefore, we believe, the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Eritrean army from Tigray should be the beginning of any peace process, successful delivery of humanitarian aid and commencement of rehabilitation activities.
In a blatant disregard and disdain to the international community’s call for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray, the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments had been persistently denying the involvement and presence of Eritrean forces. We have now learned, the Eritrean government has officially admitted its rouge troops had had crossed the Ethio-Eritrean international boarder; and now the Eritrean government has declared it has agreed with Ethiopia at the highest levels to embark on the
Although we have been demanding as such; unfortunately, it’s very difficult for us to accept the gesture made by the Eritrean government. A similar promise was made by Ethiopian prime minister on March 26/2021; only for Eritrean troops to flood Tigray in tens of thousands and continue their systematic killings after the announcement. The recent shootings in the town of Adwa and its vicinity are good cases in this point.
A classified document of the Eritrean government about the performance of Eritrean troops in the war, leaked by Eritrean opposition forces, also show that the Eritrean government is determined to boost its presence and its genocidal acts in Tigray rather than contemplating to withdraw its forces. As we write this letter, heavy fighting is underway across Tigray, amid land transport blockade and communication blackout in most parts of the region. In addition, it has become a common scene to watch Eritrean troops in Ethiopian military uniforms. Given the recent developments, past records of broken promises and general behavior of the Eritrean and Ethiopian government, we strongly believe that it will be naivety to take their words for granted.
We, therefore, call upon the international community, particularly the UNSC to
1. Ensure the Eritrean government stops the theatre and comply with the international community’s demands to immediately withdraw its forces from Tigray
2. Ensure all Eritrean troops make an internationally monitored immediate withdrawal; and
3. Ensure a deep, independent and international investigation of the egregious war crimes and crimes against humanity committed and make sure the perpetrators are not allowed to go with impunity.
Finally, now that we all got our proof of Eritrean army’s heavy presence in Tigray; allowing the ill oriented Eritrean troops to stay more days will be a permit for more war crimes to be committed, more women and girls to be sexually abused and more people to die of starvation. It is our best hope, that the international community specifically the UNSC will take all the appropriate actions necessary to avert a looming human disaster in Tigray and firmly stand to defend humanity.
Regards,
CC /
United Nations
UN Web TV
Council of the European Union
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs
European Commission
Permanent and non-permanent representatives of UNSC member states

Ethiopia: Security and Justice for Tigreans in Ethiopia (STJE) – Open Letter to President Biden – Urgent Call to End the Genocidal War in Tigray, Ethiopia (18.04.2021)

April 18, 2021

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Re: Open Letter to President Biden – Urgent Call to End the Genocidal War in Tigray, Ethiopia

Dear President Joseph R. Biden,

It is with enormous respect that we, the Security and Justice for Tigrayans in Ethiopia, write to you today to urge you to act with utmost urgency to end the genocide and ethnic cleansing in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The anguish and suffering the people of Tigray are facing is so great that it requires the leader of the free world to bring it to a full stop. We believe this challenge offers a test for the United States as it stands in defense of its democratic and human rights values and a true measure of its success in sharing these values with the world.

There cannot be a higher calling for you Mr. President as the leader of the free world committed to the protection of human rights around the world than to save the extermination of a minority ethnic group by its own government working in partnership with invading foreign armies and militias. This is a rare and historical challenge that threatens the complete destruction of Tigray and the annihilation of its people and requires a swift action to stop. If left unattended, Tigray may not be the only region to bear the brunt of the damage; other regions of Ethiopia and the entire Horn of Africa may also be destabilized.

The atrocities perpetrated on the people of Tigray are abhorrent and too many to count. These widespread atrocities and war crimes including indiscriminate bombing and massacre of civilians, rape of girls and women, burning of crops and looting of livestock, and total economic destruction have been widely reported and documented by some of the most reputable international media such as the New York Times and CNN, the US government, the UN, Amnesty International and many others.

A multi award-winning CNN Senior International correspondent, Nima Elbagir, in her March 18, 2021 interview with 4 News, described the crimes being committed as “…very, very Intentional” adding “it is not a rape about the tragic consequences of war but…it is a rape as a weapon of war”. She continued to say”…this is about erasing Tigray and Tigrayan identity and bloodline which is one of the hallmarks of genocide”.

And with regards to PM Abiy Ahmed, In her interview with Democracy Now on December 3, 2020, Elbagir says, “..for him to have won a Nobel Peace Prize for something that has enabled him to wage a war on an entire region, on 6 million people, is just — it’s appalling. It’s appalling to think about.” The devastation the world is witnessing in Tigray today was not triggered by a simple act of the local government in Tigray but rather it was a result of a well-rehearsed plan that involved military cooperation and preparation for over 2 years premeditated by Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afwerki to destroy Tigray and subjugate its peace-loving people. The ruthless dictator of Eritrea and his immature student of Ethiopia are carrying out this operation to achieve their dream of conquering the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea zone.

Dear Mr. President,

The war crimes in Tigray have been compared chillingly to that of the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo and the Rwandan genocide by many international observers and media. As you know, while the US took a decisive action to stop the atrocities in Kosovo, it unfortunately did not act in the case of the Rwandan genocide. Former President Bill Clinton said his inaction in Rwanda was his biggest regret of his presidency. The salient question now is how is the Tigray genocide different? On April 25, 2019, you said, “America is an idea. An idea that is stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant. It gives hope to the most desperate people on earth, it guarantees that everyone is treated with dignity and gives hate no safe harbor. It instills in every person in this country the belief that no matter where you start in life, there is nothing you can’t achieve if you work at it. That’s what we believe.”  These are the hopeful words from your speech you delivered a year ago that our people want to see translated into deeds. Will the misery of the poor people in Tigray end anytime soon? And why is the US not taking actions strong enough to end the war?

The people of Tigray and indeed the rest of the world recognize that the US has significant leverage over Ethiopia and Eritrea, and it is not entirely clear why there is hesitancy to act to stop this genocide. The US can stop the war via several measures including diplomacy and a show of force targeting military installations of the Eritrean ruthless dictator.

If the US is waiting for Eritrean troops to leave on their own accord, we like to assure you this will not happen. We realize PM Abiy Ahmed announced about 10 days ago that Eritrea will withdraw its forces from Tigray, but this has not taken place despite his deceitful announcement two days ago that they have started “evacuating from border areas”. To the contrary, credible reports indicate that tens of thousands of new Eritrean soldiers arrived in Tigray on the same day the Prime Minister promised withdrawal in defiance of the demands by the international community. Reports also indicate that in an attempt to deceive the world, Eritrean troops are simply changing their uniforms to Ethiopian uniforms so that they remain in Tigray and continue their atrocities. The Prime Minister has been lying about a number of significant issues and he cannot be trusted.

As Tigrayan-Ethiopians who understand the tyrannical aspirations of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his mentor dictator Isaias Afwerki, we believe the only definitive solution to end the genocidal war on Tigray is through meaningful Kosovo-like intervention. Thus, Mr. President, we urge you to act now before it is too late.

Dear Mr. President,

As if the atrocities, the premeditated hunger and the destructions perpetrated in Tigray so far are not enough, a most recently leaked 27-page confidential document from the Government of Eritrea titled “The Military Campaign in Tigray has Failed to Achieve the Desired Goals” was sent to the Eritrean commanders in Tigray. This document orders the Eritrean military in Tigray to swiftly act on aggrandizing the indiscriminate killings of the youth and the complete destruction of properties. It calls for mercilessly annihilate the Tigrayan youth and disperse the remaining ones into various concentration camps. This renewed order to intensify the atrocities in Tigray shows that the situation in Tigray is going to deteriorate further and would become completely out of control. In the face of such reality in Tigray, the US and the international community not only have the legal responsibility to act urgently under the UN Resolutions 2417 (2018) and 1247 (2018) but also they have the moral and ethical obligation to stop this genocide

Despite all the evidence of human rights violations and the US, EU, G7, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia’s latest demands for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara militia forces from Tigray, the Ethiopian government is still allowing the increased presence of the Eritrean forces dressed in Ethiopian military uniforms while integrating the Amhara militia that committed war crimes, rape, genocide, and ethnic cleansing in west Tigray into the national army. The move by the Ethiopian government to integrate a genocidal Amhara militia into the national army rings alarm bells as this is to hide crimes from investigation and further commit additional crimes all over Tigray and beyond. Thus, we at the SJTE ask you take the lead for the USA and its allies to take all necessary measures at your disposal including an immediate military action under “Operation Freedom” to save humanity in Tigray under UN Resolution 1247 (2018) including, but not limited to:

  1. Force the immediate, unconditional and verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean Army and the Amhara militia from Tigray without which no humanitarian aid and peace is possible.
  2. Allow humanitarian access all over Tigray so that the over 5 million people who need food aid can be reached without any blockage or interference of the Eritrean and Ethiopian armies.
  3. Stop the indiscriminate shelling and bombing of civilians by imposing “No Fly Zone” all over Tigray for the protection of the civilian populations in rural and urban areas.
  4. Reinstate the democratically elected legitimate government of Tigray and start a dialogue that involves all stakeholders in Ethiopia.
  5. Release all political prisoners in Ethiopia including military personnel and UN peacekeepers of Tigray origin (about 22,000) and more than 90,000 civilians who have been fired from their jobs and detained all over Ethiopia in military camps and prisons.
  6. Recommend for the investigation of all human rights violations and war crimes to be conducted by an independent international team after the immediate withdrawal of the Eritrean Army and Amhara militia.
  7. Enforce the safe passage and return of the 2.2 million internally displaced people (IDP) to their ancestral lands, villages and towns before the rainy season starts in June 2021 with the assistance of the UN.

Respectfully,
SECURITY AND JUSTICE FOR TIGREANS IN ETHIOPIA (SJTE)

Opinion: NUP is now following FDC’s Post-Election Programming

The National Unity Platform (NUP) after the January 2021 elections have the majority of the opposition in the 11th Parliament. Just the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) had in recent elections. Both the FDC and NUP have claimed the elections been rigged and righteously so. Still, they are playing the political games and taking positions in Parliament after. Therefore, their stance of the rigged elections falls flat when you buy into “positions” within the same political sphere.

If the NUP wants to be different then the FDC. Why are you playing into the same fold as them? There is only a name-change and the leader of the Party. The rest is more of the same. The same with Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine planning a tour across the Republic. That is no differences to all the different campaigns Dr. Kizza Besigye have launched over the years. That is all fine, but this isn’t creating something new. This is continuing the same charade and politicking that is lacking.

A glass is either half-full or half-empty. The glass either is soon running empty or have the ability to fill it with more water. That depends on how you look at it. For me, I want to be consistent. If I was against Winnie Kiiza standing as the Leader of Opposition in 2016. There will be wrong of the NUP to have Mathias Mpuuga or anyone else in the 11th Parliament as the ‘LoP’.

That is because both parties have flagged the same case and similar actions after the elections. They have stand the same ground and with similar principals. Therefore, the NUP is going into the same trap as the FDC. They are getting compromised by the ideals of a shadow government and perks of office in the 11th Parliament.

The NUP is supposed to challenge the NRM and General Museveni. However, if they go into the Parliament with this and take those titles. They are getting a cash-grab and getting compromised by becoming “high ranking” officials, instead of fighting the good fight. These are getting incorporated in the political sphere of the dictator. The man they are supposed to fight and get rid of in the first place.

They are going down the same rabbit hole and will caught in the same election cycle without any sort of proper avenue as a shelter for dissidents. To play second fiddle with the dictator and be within his rule will eat you alive. The Parliament will not shelter or ensure the safeguard of these values, but instead be a place for a quick pay-check and instant prospects of becoming a crony.

The NUP should have learned from the past, but now they are doing the same thing. There is no difference between the compromises of Muntu and the NUP selling out here. The radical NUP is becoming as mediocre as the Muntu faction of FDC, which became the ANT. Therefore, if you don’t like it. Check the track-record and see how it went.

Bobi Wine should know better and this gambit will trade-off his resilience. The NUP will become a “red” FDC instead of being its own entity. They will become the new established opposition, instead of being a possible successor to the NRM. The gamble and offering of the January 2021 polls for a cheap bargain of positions within the 11th Parliament. That is no different than what the “blue” did after the 2016 elections.

And I had no kind words for the Kiiza/Muntu actions post-2016 elections and I have no favours for Bobi Wine too. If he uses the same methods and moving post-2021 elections. Then the sacrifices and the costs to run was sold for a few silver coins. That is selling your political capital for cheap and short-sighted titles. The NUP deserves better, just like the FDC deserved as well. They are better than this, but greed can always overcome a ideological pathway. That has happened to others and now its the NUP’s turn to eat of the public plate. Peace.

United Democratic Movement – Youth Vanguard (UDMYV): Tito Mboweni must stop being a Pilchard Chef (19.04.2021)

Burma: The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society – Denonoucement and condemnation of recognition afforded to the junta by ASEAN (19.04.2021)

Opinion: The “Owners” League

The establishment of the European Super League (ESL) is practically the “Owners” League. This is made by and made for the owners of these clubs. The owners of these Football Clubs see the profit and possible incentives to control the licensing and merchandise directly. Not being part of the European Football bodies or governing associations. This is taking direct control of their investments and finding ways of getting a possible cash-cow.

The Super League is the European answer to the American Money-Ball. Where they have “World Series”, NBA and all the other leagues where Franchises and Owners of Teams are automatically part of the leagues. These are not made by national associations and by league structures that makes it possible for the underdog to get to the top. Because, the leagues are pre-fixed and has the Major League Teams already secured play.

The same will be with the Super League. Where the Founding Teams and such will have a favourable spot. These clubs will be there and never get relegated. These clubs with their massive wealth will sign of their own rules and together not care about for instance the “Financial Fair Play” or other measures to make the game more interesting.

With this sort of game-play and league. There will not be possible to see Burnley or Sheffield United beat Manchester United or Tottenham. No, they will not be able to participate or even try to play other second tier teams in the other leagues. They are practically shut out of the competition and the league is a narrow joint venture between the capital strong clubs of Europe.

The ESL is just made for the owners and not for the supporters. This is not intended on making it better for fans or making the sport more competitive. There is already Champions League and Euro League under the UEFA umbrella. Where the European Club Association has a say and is a vital member of. Therefore, ESL is playing around this and trying to be challenger to this.

What the ESL is losing out of is the direct competitions and the growth of the national leagues itself. If La Liga, Premier League or Serie A wasn’t competitive and interesting the supporters would ditch that too. However, the race for the titles and the race for the European titles as well have fuelled the interests for years. The ESL wants to cash out of that without putting the work down.

These clubs wouldn’t be interesting or as big as they are, if they didn’t participate or being part of the bigger picture. So, if they go along with this one and plays this one out. They are outplaying themselves too. You cannot grow naturally on your own. The competition will be pointless and mediocre with time. Especially, if the fans ditches things or boycotts it. As they feel betrayed by the owners and the financial backers of this. The owners wants quick money and control. They don’t want to be playing to rules of the game or the governing bodies of it. No, they want to the dough and wants to eat quickly.

That is what happens when you mix a lot of rich billionaires, oligarchs and hedge-fund investors taking control of Football Clubs. These are only calculating profits and possible returns. They are all in for their ends and doesn’t care about the love of the sport. These has invested to get money and earn money on buying the clubs. That is why they are doubling down on it and preparing for the ESL.

The ESL is the “Owners” League. It isn’t made for the supporters, but as a incentive to make it more profitable and cash-in money quickly. However, that can also only happen if the supporters actually follows and does participate in this. Nevertheless, supporters and fans are already outraged.

We know that will matter, but they are not taking that in. As the money is to big to care about few screaming out and being mad. They need to see the bottom-line and if the money goes from red to black. When they do that… then they are earning money and they don’t care what the older fans cared about. Peace.

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National Unity Platform (NUP): Statement (19.04.2021)

Burma: Justice for Myanmar – Shangri-La Asia is financing crimes against humanity in Myanmar – Urgent action needed against the company to end business with illegal military junta (19.04.2021)