Ethiopia: Security and Justice for Tigreans in Ethiopia (STJE) – Genocide Intensifies in Tigray, Ethiopia – Alarming Developments (01.04.2021)

The brutal regimes in Ethiopia and Eritrea have started fresh indiscriminate aerial bombings and use of dirty bombs (phosphorus and cluster bombs) aimed at the rural civilian population. The brutality has no parallel in wars that have been seen elsewhere in several years. We call upon the United Nations Security Council, the US government, European Union, and the African Union to stop this war of extermination using all available possible means.

The war of annihilation is still going on without respite. According to some international observers and members of the current provisional administrator’s report, over 50 thousand unarmed youth, elders, women, and children have lost their lives in this war of attrition. People all over the world have been shocked by the brutality of the war on their television screens. Words simply cannot express the agony of women gang raped by Amhara militias, Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers.

We would like to bring to your attention the renewed pogrom by Amhara militias. The Federal Army assisted by the Eritrean brutal forces are forcing ethnic Tigrians from their villages and driving them to wilderness. According to Reuters News that has been able to write a story on the subject, about 200,000 Tigrayans have been forced to leave their homes in the last few weeks alone. This is in addition to the 60,000 refugees that are now sheltered in Sudan. Government affiliated sources indicate over 130 billion Birr (33 billion dollars) worth of properties have been destroyed.

Although the US government and European Union unequivocally called for the withdrawal of the Eritrean Army and the Amhara Militia from Tigray, these belligerent forces have defied the calls and intensified their attacks on the people and are instead moving more troops from Eritrea.

Thus, it has become apparent that the unelected government of Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and the brutal dictator of Eritrea must be personally held accountable for the crimes against humanity and genocide that they have unleashed on Tigray. It will be a grave mistake to allow any more time and expect the dictators to abide by the rules of the civilized world. The Biden administration through its Secretary of State and the special envoy including the European Union have asked the Abiy government to remove the Eritrean forces and the Amhara land grabbers from Tigray immediately and start a political dialogue to resolve their differences. So far, the Ethiopian and Eritrean dictators have refused to heed and implement any of the recommendations and what we see on the ground is the arrival of tens of thousands of Eritrean troops from Eritrea.

It is, therefore, imperative that that the following measures be taken immediately to stop the continuing tragedy:

1. Force the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Eritrean Army and the Amhara militia from Tigray. The withdrawal should be supervised and verified by independent observers.

2. Allow humanitarian access all over Tigray so that the over 4.5 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 legitimate government of Tigray and start a dialogue that involves all parties. The provisional administration in Tigray that was appointed recently by PM Abiy is crumbling and cannot reach 80% of Tigray.

5. The immediate release of 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 the investigation of all human rights violations to start immediately after the withdrawal of the Eritrean Army and Amhara militia by independent international team as these two forces cannot allow witnesses and victims to come forward and freely tell their stories without any fear and danger to their lives.

7. After the immediate withdrawal of the Eritrean and Amhara forces, immediately begin the safe passage and return of all the 2.2 million internally displaced people (scattered all over Tigray in squalid and congested conditions with high risk to COVI-19) to their ancestral lands, villages and towns before the rainy season comes with the assistance of the UN. This action will serve as a solution to the humanitarian disaster and robust precondition for the impartial UN-led human rights violations and war crimes investigation including for the healing process in Ethiopia.

Although, it is different in magnitude, purpose, and atrocity, the Abiy government has unleashed terror all over Ethiopia. Peace in Ethiopia demands that all political forces of the country indulge in constructive political dialogue for any prospect of peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia.

Respectfully,

Dr. Teka Neguse

SJTE Chairman

Tel: 443-537-3910, Email: sjte.info@gmail.com

Opinion: Abiy isn’t the saviour but the villain

On this day in 2018 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali took over power in Ethiopia. Now it has gone three years and his still unelected. He got appointed by the Council of Ministers as the Prime Minister, but his never been elected by universal suffrage. He postponed the elections last year in 2020 and has scheduled to hold it this year finally.

However, the term of his non-election is what will seal his fate and legacy. No, that is all his other actions and in-actions. The manner which his reign is filled with conflicts, propaganda and lazing everything with poison.

The Prime Minister came in with promise of reforms and peace. Nevertheless, the reforms have been shallow and a power consolidation of a kind. The PM has been more concerned with getting aligned in his image. Than initially getting dialogue, talks and general peace. He has either buried his enemies or detained them. The Prime Minister is serving the Republic in the worst way possible.

It is not only Tigray Region that is burning as a result of his ego. Oromia is the main leadership behind bars. In Ogaden the leadership is monitored and the citizens are starving. The Prime Minister have done damage everywhere and his not resolving anything.

He made peace with Eritrea and is now a close ally with Asmara. They are an axis who are willing to whatever it takes to destroy their common enemy in the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). They want to annihilate and end the former rulers, once and for all. The Tigrayan Defence Force (TDF) is now going against ENDF, EDF and Fano. That says it all after the conflict started in early November last year.

The Prime Minister still oversee and let government troops massacre people in other zones and regions. The PM has no reasons to stop people fighting in Afar Region or Benishangul-Gumuz Region. Even the Liyu Police extra judicial killings in Ogaden region. All of this is happening during his reign, but never ceasing.

The PM has used his power and his tenure to assault, destroy and get rid of his enemies. While thinking everyone wants to follow him and believes his words. A man who first discussed with his opponents to later detain them. That is why the next elections will be sham one. As everyone who is really challenging him is behind bars and his party will “win” with amazing numbers.

Abiy promised prosperity but currently only delivering destruction. There is nothing his really building. Except for his own ego, which is soon higher up than Mount Everest. Clearly his first book ‘Medemer’ and Nobel Peace Prize made it seems like he was going somewhere substantial. The peace agreement with Eritrea made it seem so as well. However, at home he has buried anyone and detained everyone else. That is what he does and he uses his office to control and silence anyone who could challenge or question him.

Even the men who helped him become Prime Minister have lost their relevance. The PM only cares about himself and the image his possesses. There is nothing he will not promise of greatness. If it is sending things into space, controlling the rain or speaking of peace. While his most consistent results is burying his own citizens and putting his opponents in prison.

He came in acting like the saviour and the man who change things. However, what he has done? Is using all his powers to take it all and stop anyone else come close to him. The PM will not let go now. We can expect more tragic endeavours and state sanctioned violence in the way of innocent citizens. As long as the state can import and have foreign currency to trade the goods to do so. The public is the future cannon-fodder and awaiting their turn. This PM doesn’t care and will use whatever narrative that he see fit.

The PM has now had three years in office. Still, he will not be remembered for peace, but for a brutal civil war. The PM will be remembered how he used all parts of the state to muffle his critics. The PM will be remembered for all the citizens who has fallen in his term. All the fatalities and murders done his watch. Especially, the extra judicial killings done by his orders. The PM will be remembered for all of this and no one will care about his Ministry for Peace. No, that Ministry is used for his war-effort and to white-wash his conflicts.

That is the saddest thing about this. The PM seemed like someone who would deliver hope and be different. However, his just another warlord and a emperor who lives by the gun and will die by the gun too. He will not die because he made peace. No, he will live with the wars he has created and pray to the almighty that he let him conquer. Because, if he loses … the enemies might bury him too. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association – OLLAA Condemns Recent Violence in Wollo and Wollega (01.04.2021)

Ethiopia: Special Envoy and Ambassador to the U.S. Fitsum Arega letter to Rep. Meeks & Rep. McCaul – Re: Your Letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Ethiopia (31.03.2021)

Ethiopia: Bayto Yiakl USA – Ambassador Dina Mufti’s Statement: Lies and Flour get lighter by the day (31.03.2021)

Ethiopia: Tigray – Law Enforcement Operation has displaced over 730,000 people

There been focus on the refugees of the war, which has crossed from the Tigray Region into Sudan since the start of the civil-war in early November 2020. Now, we are in the end of March and nearly into April 2021. The months has gone by and now the ripple effect is happening.

All the three armies aim at one region and one common enemy has born some results. Maybe not the outcome that was anticipated, as this was supposed to be short war and proclaimed in final stages in the end of November 2020. Which by all means is far from to this day. As there are reports that more trucks of Eritrean Defence Force have been fighting inside Tigray. As Amhara Paramilitary Group Fano has been used and so has Ethiopian National Defence Force. All of these armies have targeted Tigray Defence Force and Samri.

At this point, the devestation and the total damage of the conflict is uncertain. That is done deliberately as the state has kept people in the dark. The state have downplayed and debunked any reporting done. There been campaigns to undermine reports and later verify things partly. Just like the Eritrean Foreign Ministry does as well. They are working in tandem doing this work and shading the lights on the crisis, one report at the time. No matter what is written and by whatever media house… they will in the end dismiss it and call it “fake”. Even if all the things said in it is later verified by state authorities or quoted by state officials.

What these has never targeted is the stats that United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have delivered to the public. The numbers I am now dropping and the horrific reports are coming from their latest report called: “Humanitarian Bulletin

Ethiopia – Issue #4 15– 28 March 2021”. Published today on the 31st March 2021.

What it states is this:

Reports from the Regional Early Warning and Response Directorate and humanitarian partners on the ground reveal that the number of displaced people has steadily increased in the region. Currently, more than 140,000 people have been displaced from western Tigray to Shire and Adwa, bringing the cumulative number of displaced people in Tigray to more than 730,000 (according to the Regional Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs – BoLSA and the Early Warning Bureau). An assessment conducted by the ES/NFI Cluster and OCHA between 11-14 March in Shire, Aksum, and Adwa found a dire humanitarian situation in these areas” (OCHA, 31.03.2021).

We know the conflict has affected plenty when over 700,000 people have been directly touched and had to move. These is internally displaced within the region because of the massacres, open warfare, door-to-door raids and other atrocities happening. They are seeing armies invading their homes, villages and towns. Where the only reasonable choice is to flee and seek refugee somewhere else. Just like the ones who fled to Sudan and is in camps there.

The Law Enforcement Operation of Addis Ababa and Asmara is clearly not only hitting its intended enemies, but also causing a lot harm to bystanders. The conflict is creating a dangerous state and at such a level, which will take years to fix. The amount of people up-rooted and taken away from their homes is outrageous. It will take more than a quick fix to make up for the damage done in these months.

Abiy will be remembered for all this harm and hurt. It happened in his watch and he ordered it to happen together with his ally Afwerki. They are responsible as Heads of State and Warlords. These folks burned villages, extra-judicial killings and slaughtered citizens to prove a point. They did it annihilate TPLF. But is it worth scaring over 700,000 people away from their homesteads? How can leaders like this sleep at night?

When Abiy started the war in November 2020 he opened a Pandora’s box… and this is now one of the outcomes. We have no idea about how many who has died. We have now idea about how many soldiers, paramilitary or armed personnel on both sides who has lost their lives either. No idea about casualties in general. Neither, is there any sort of reporting on the starvation or the struggle to survive in the region either. Therefore, there is a lot of numbers missing.

But… the tally of IDPs says how reaching and what sort of impact it has. As people decide to leave their homes and find shelter elsewhere. That is not done with ease, but for fear of losing their lives if they stays. Therefore, by this alone. We know that this conflict is horrific and atrocities are occurs with the knowledge of the outside world. That is tragic, but sadly true. As we can only know what the eyes, witnesses and the bold reporters are telling. Which is limited and not it all. Therefore, this sort of Humanitarian Bulletin says more than any article would. It states what people are doing, as a last ditch resort to save themselves from the “hell” they used to call home. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromo Political Prisoners Defence Team – The officials of ABO Mr. Lemmi Benya and Mr. Dawit Abdata were arrested today after being released in court, they were returned (29.03.2021)

The general court of Oromia has arrested Mr. Lemma Benna and Dawit Abdata to free them from the bad situation, and they can go back to their house and break the order by force.
These political prisoners have announced that they have been arrested by the commander of the court, Mr. Gedu’s political attorney has been released by Oromia’s special force. Police brought them to his side, I gave a comment on the stone ′′ since I signed and brought them back to Mojo. Even though they asked ′′ let them be released there, since the court was taken to court without the order, these accusers were directed to the point of the ruling of their lawyers Mr. Gudane.
As Mr. Gudane said, the general court of Oromia was expected to respond today, the commissioner of Oromia police commission, Ararsa Mardasa has not been respected, the commission has been closed to the court order for the third time.

Ethiopia: Manifesto of the Ethiopian Multinational Federalists Support Force (EMFSF) – (22.03.2021)

Ethiopia: Oromo Political Prisoners Defence Team – Mr. Bekele Gerba’s betrayal of faith! (27.03.2021)

The 1th anti-terrorism and constitutional issues in the federal high court, March 13, 2013 Meee
—–
Honorable court, I wish I had done a short answer for the crime I have been accused of or not. But what I have not done, what I have said, what I said, what I haven’t done or what I have done, so I have to list my thoughts a little bit.
Most of the crimes against humanity in the case are my political positions that can’t make me sue.
Using 1. different medias to make nations conflict.
2. people in order to rise up against the government
3. Government says the time of power will end September 30
4. is the soul that was killing and killing Oromo people. When you wake up saying you shouldn’t be governed under the nef _ hachalu’s death, they say you are the cause of death and destruction of many people.
First of all, I am present to the crime that says you have made ethnicity conflict. I just want to express the number one accusation that we have made for nations and nationalities to live in equality and peace. Jawar Mohammed, I don’t want to repeat what he has raised, my political stand, faith and actions will not apply to this. I spent my childhood and followed my elementary school with my friends who were sitting at home and studying in our church. One of the reasons we forced us to go to the place to solve the problem between Oromo and Gumuz people. Since I believe that human beings are created equal and free in my religion, I have been given to learn their language and culture. In a country where some people don’t speak the language of the community in which they live forty and forty years ago, I have been able to cure the pains of Gedeo Zone in one year. I have been invited to have important political meetings when many nations celebrate their holiday. I am a follower of peaceful struggle of Martin Luther King who believes in democracy and discussion. Let’s learn from the famous civil rights activist Martin Luther King’s book to translate it to Amharic and Afan Oromo not by his color. I have never done anything that humiliates any ethnicity before or after I get into politics. No one can confirm this for me. But I don’t know there is a hate campaign that is missing by the name of this falsely.
The 2th crime says you have motivated the people on the government and I don’t deny that I have no good relations with the behavior of the government. The time is over from the military government Sangbaba. I am here for the third time before EPRDF holds power. In 2002 E. C During election campaign, I was teaching Addis Ababa University about land invasion and farmers in 2003 They called me from class and told me that I have been in Solo and took OLF’s military training. I have been released for four years in prison. If what I did then is considered to motivate the people of the government, I have done it.
Again in 2008 E. C. When the robbery of the land, Gidata, Adelaw, Adelaw and E-Democracy took place in jail again. I have really tried to motivate the people during a peaceful struggle. Since the party in power can’t stand the wave of the people, the change forces in the media came to court and supported the idea of the people, we are the terrorists, the people have no fault, we have made a mistake, we have stolen it, the people have started saying that they have come to the court to testify the ideas of the people and they have started saying ′′ we have done wrong, they have started to come to tell the leaders of the leaders of the ministers of the ministers. We have been sentenced to death because of the change that the party has made in its appointment and we are out of prison. When the change was made, the whole people had a great hope and I was one of those who thanked God. God heard our prayers and took it as a good people. When I hear the speech of the prime minister and others, I was very educated. From here I am invited to abroad to support this government in all the platforms I have been found. From Washington to New York, from Atlantic County to State departments, I have argued that the change group should be strengthened and supported to conduct a successful election. From one time on this group, after we found good leaders like this, it is not necessary for me to stay in opposition politics, so I have decided to just decide on my normal job. It was so innocent.
I didn’t expect that the change will end the Hadid so quickly. I didn’t think people would go to jail where they came from. I didn’t expect that all schools will be in central prison closed. I didn’t think that the youth who fought in front of a tank will be killed as an adventure on the media. I never thought the mother of Oromo will cry again. I didn’t think that the diaspora will teach him about struggle in this country while there was a scholar who lived in this country. How can I guess there will be a government armed forces who dance while burning farmer s’ houses?
How do I guess the ruling party will open our doors for the second time when the military fights for each other and our military will open like this? At least all our offices were closed before we were told that they are ‘ competitors ‘ and we didn’t think that we will be removed from the election. I didn’t expect that more than nine hundred government supporters and private media will be controlled by one ethnic group. I didn’t think that we will practice cruelty and corpse in an unusual manner. In general, truth and lies, everything has changed in this speed. (Power, wealth, knowledge, faith and institution) I can’t see the opposition that I can hear from the government. As a political party, we are going to organize and create peaceful demonstration by making such kind of government actions, informing the people, publicly revealing and criticizing. As a citizen and a political party these are not only my right but also my duty.
The crime that was presented to me on the 3th is saying ′′ the ruling party will end September 30 ′′ Our country has constitution. The constitution is our promise document. No one is going to be violated the way they want. It is written that it is intended to lead dictatorship leaders, the constitution can only stay in power for five years has no reason and meaning. But because the ruling party doesn’t want to resign, the government has postponed its time to make a meaning on the constitutional issue.
According to the constitution, most of the government’s time will end September (30) and after that the government should also advise other parties. I believe that the government that is in power continues illegally holding its power. This can’t make me laugh. I was the one who should have sued and should have sued.
In the 4th grade there is a crime that says ′′ the life of Oromo is killing the people, we shouldn’t be governed under the nef _ rule ′′ If there is anyone who says the system of the soul does not do this, this is not where we are, we will struggle to understand. Because of the killings and crimes committed by the soul _ of _ the _ war is enough to look at the works of professor Bahru Zewde, Richard Pankrest, Mohammed Hassen and Lapiso Gedelebon. It is good to see the difference between the difference between the two people and the Amharas.
A person with a soul is a leader who invaded the people of one area, killed the one who killed him, sitting on the ground by force and buying his language without his will. This is the system of the 19th century that has been implemented in Oromia and South of our country. Most of you may know the system of the soul _ of the soul only in history, you may read it or hear it from people. But I know it in action, I live it. I have seen a human being eating the red land where his people lived, being humiliated, underneath people but you are the one who came with the beard. I know when our ancestors bought their cattle from where they came from, I know when we went to carry the land of white shilling with my father. So what are those who didn’t fight this system? What causes you not to be willing to run under this kind of system? I still don’t want to be ruled under this kind of system.
As I mentioned above, Nef Tegnna and Amhara are different. For the paradise of the Lord.
In 1., where I was born, where I grew up and where my family lives, many Amhara farmers come to search for jobs every year. Like any other person, many will find their weaknesses and return to where they came from. Some will respect, some will marry, some will give birth. These land are not those who came to forcefully put their identity on the people of my country, so these are Amhara not soul.
2. I followed my higher education in Amhara region in Bahir Dar teachers college. My first friends are Amhara people. My colleagues were Amharas when I was at work. They are not those who haven’t caught, they are not displaced, they have never told us to buy you, they were not those who want to put their identity on others, they are not _ haters. After working, I have visited Amhara rural and cities. I have watched the lives of the people. Farmer’s lifestyle has no difference from where I was born. Saying this people is not only political ignorance but also sin.
3. I also have friends of this ethnic group who are administered by business. Is it the place where they run their business or they have worked with their weaknesses or they have rented it. They didn’t use anyone, they didn’t put their identity on anyone else. These are Amharas, not haters.
As a system of rural land is related to land, the war has been established in the rural land proclamation which was declared on 1967 Even though it is known that it has changed because of (mode of production) recently, it is known that they are not educated by thinking and covering their own identity by representing the country’s language, culture, religion and history in general. Counting the world as a shameful history has started wearing a t-shirt that says ′′ I am a child of life ′′
The modern mind  of  the  soul is reduced by many sectors and the campaign is held in government office, by the people who are victims of this thought, by government and private media, activists, human rights activists, associations, associations, by associations, by the authoritarians, scholars and the country It’s a mask.
Today the country’s politics is paid by two sides. One of the institutions I mentioned now wants to destroy the federalism and respecting the constitution by changing the previous system (one side language, culture and history) to destroy the rule of the other side. The first stop is trying to make the second round of the political field strong by expanding its campaign and making it out of the political field. For this false accusation he is heading to the destination. This is part of that strategy. And his objective is political too. So I have committed no crime.
Honorable court, if the attempt I made with my friends is considered a crime by our oppressors, I wouldn’t regret it if you were arrested forever to hide the body of Artist Hachalu Hundessa’s body and attend the funeral. Thank you so much.
—–
March 13, 2013 Meee
Bekele Gerba
Finfinee, Oromia, Ethiopia

Ethiopia: OLF/OLA High Command Statement (27.03.2021)