​   Aklog Birara (Dr)

“The dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers. Humanity cannot forget its dreamers; it cannot let their ideals fade and die; it lives in them; it knows them as the realities which it shall one day see and know.”

             ​​James Allen, As A Man Thinketh

“We are all Ethiopians when we are alive and buried in Ethiopia when we pass.”

                               Abiy Ahmed Ali

Part I of IV

I am writing this Op-Ed series to the attention of the international community, especially, the government and people of the United States that I admire, the Ethiopian Diaspora, Ethiopian websites, and journalists to demand immediate halt regarding the horrific slaughters, ethnic cleansing and genocideof Amhara.

Deliberate, planned and systematically executed defamation, degradation, disempowerment, killing, ethnic cleansing, genocide and impoverishment of Amhara spans more than 40 years. Today, this is executed by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), Oromo Liberation Front–Shane (OLF), Oromo regional administration and the Addis Ababa city administration under the watch of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

I also call on Ethiopian young people who care deeply about their future to rise-up and defend human rights, human dignity, the rule of law and demand accountability.

The silence of the international community, including the UN, the African Union, the European Union, the US Congress, human rights organizations, and the like is deafening.

I find it tragic that Ethiopian political, social, spiritual elites have literally stopped listening to one another and caring for one another. It is that bad. It is also clear to me that Ethiopian sovereignty is at risk. It is foreign powers that dictate policy.

It saddens me that Ethiopians are incapable of reaching common ground by acknowledging and resolving their own (our own) problems. This reality degrades Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It emboldens tribal supremacy and tyranny under the guise of prosperity.

Ethiopians pay greater attention to the outside world, especially to American and European officials. On March 20, 2023, US Secretary of State who had paid an official visit to Ethiopia and met with Prime Minister Abiy just days ago issued the following statement under the title “War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia.”

I agree with the broad press statement. “Ethiopia is now emerging from two years of a brutal conflict in the north, during which all parties committed atrocities. With the November 2, 2022, cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA) in place, the fighting has stopped, human rights abuses in northern Ethiopia are significantly down, Eritrean forces are leaving, and the Ethiopian government is taking the first step towards transitional justice.  However, the suffering that was wrought upon civilians in northern Ethiopia must be acknowledged.”

I have argued several times in my earlier commentaries that there must be accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing. You cannot heal without holding all perpetrators of crimes of war, crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and the like accountable. You cannot achieve transitional justice unless you are inclusive, even handed, fair, and just.

Secretary Blinken announced to the entire world America’s conclusions and positions targeting three groups: a) war crimes by all combatants including TPLF b) crimes against humanity by Ethiopian and Eritrean Defense Forces as well as by Amhara forces and c) crimes against humanity by Amhara forces.

“After careful review of the law and the facts, I have determined that members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces, and Amhara forces committed war crimes during the conflict in northern Ethiopia.”

The US Department of State made a significant, material, and deliberate differentiation among combatants for the purpose of accountability. ENDF, EDF and Amhara are identified in both war crimes and crimes against humanity and Amhara forces in all three.  

“Members of the Ethiopians Defense Forces (ENDF), Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), and Amhara forces (Fano, special forces and militia) also committed crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and persecution.” This is not all.

“Members of the Amhara forces also committed the crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer and committed ethnic cleansing in western Tigray.”

The singling out of Amhara

Amhara are corned from within by the TPLF, Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) Oromo Liberation Front (OLF-Shane), Oromo regional administration, Addis Ababa city Administration and behind them the Ethiopian state and government. Amhara—victims of recurrent targeted killings—are, at the same time accused of crimes of war and crimes against humanity from without. This is a multipronged assault of Amhara.  

Absolving TPLF from crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, rapes, and ethnic cleansing of Amhara; and instead placing criminality on Amhara emboldens TPLF even further. It also sends a chilling signal to OLA and the Oromo Prosperity Party that killing, ethnic cleansing, displacing and impoverishing Amhara are acceptable norms and practices under international human rights laws and conventions. This is tragic.

I should like to ask, “On what basis did Secretary Blinken arrive at his sweeping conclusion that targets Amhara, the victims, and exposes Amhara for more danger, including loss of its ancestral lands?” This is simply outrageous and unfair.

The US Department of State knows fully that it is the TPLF and not Amhara forces, ENDF, or EDF that initiated the war, invaded the Afar and Amhara regions, launched rocket attacks against Eritrea and major cities in the Amhara region, slaughtered innocent civilians including more than 1,500 Amhara civilians in Mai Kadra, occupied Amhara land, raped thousands of Afar and Amhara girls, killed animals, destroyed most of the economic and social infrastructure in the Afar and Amhara regions, displaced and impoverished hundreds millionsof Afar and Amhara.

It is the TPLF that hijacked an estimated 400 UN food supply vehicles, diverted foods from the needy and let Tigreans starve.When Tigreans fled in search of safety and foods, it is Amhara families who shared the little they had. All these and more are left out deliberately to appease and please a former trusted US ally, TPLF, that has friends in prominent positions within the US administration.

The bottom line is that the press statement frees or absolves TPLF from crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide. Further, the implication is that it is Amhara and not TPLF that committed horrific atrocities long before TPLF took power, after it ruled Ethiopia with an iron fist for 30 years and after it initiated the catastrophic war that must be held accountable for crimes against humanity and for ethnic cleansing. This reversal of justice by the US Department of State undermines human rights laws and degrades the meaning of justice. It certainly diminishes American government status as an impartial and honest broker.

The TPLF had annexed Wolkait, Tegede, Telemt and Raya usingforce. In the process, it killed thousands of Amhara, forced thousands more to flee, degraded Amhara identity in occupied territories. TPL used its political power and designated occupied lands as Western Tigray. Secretary Blinken bought into this false TPLF narrative and reached at the wrong conclusion. The slaughter of Amhara is well documented by Gondar University that dug several mass graves and using forensics.

While I agree with the conclusion of war crimes and the call for accountability of all involved, the assertion that Amhara forces, and not TPLF are accountability for crimes against humanity is outrageous, patently biased, unfair, and unjust. It is therefore unacceptable.

Fair minded Ethiopians and the international community must reject this pro-TPLF and anti-Amhara policy position. For this reason, I urge the government of the United States to retract itsunwarranted verdict. Only then would the following statements “Formally recognizing the atrocities committed by all parties is an essential step to achieving a sustainable peace: and “Those most responsible for atrocities, including those in positions of command, must be held accountable” would have ownership, authenticity, and credibility.

Accountability must be impartial, fair, and inclusive.

I also find it disheartening why the United States is not forthcoming regarding accountability of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), Oromo Liberation Front-Shane led for crimes against humanity in Oromia and Northern Shoa that is still on going.

Ethiopia deserves transitional justice that addresses all victims. Dismissing the plight of Amhara is not in the long-term national security interest of the USA, the Horn, or the rest of Africa.

America’s Press statement “War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia” is a clarion call that one cannot dismiss lightly. Because human rights violations are widespread, deep and continue unabetted. Continued slaughter of Amhara endangers Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s disturbing situation  

Ethiopia is in deep, deep, deep trouble. It is not a lucky country. It moves from one crisis to another, from one set of ethnicity-based state capture to another, from one form of tyrannical rule to another, from one civil conflict to another, from one form of state induced corruption to another etc. if you think the country’s Prosperity Party is transforming Ethiopian society for the better; think again. Ethiopia’s ethnic-federal system and governancehave failed to serve the hopes and aspirations of the Ethiopian people.

For this reason, Ethiopian society needs to arrive at common ground. It desperately needs an overarching unity of purpose. It desperately needs a new generation of dreamers, idealists and visionaries who can extricate Ethiopian society, especially succeeding generations from toxic tribalism, hate, lies, deaths, greed, selfishness, exclusionary tendencies, fear of the other person, abject poverty, and corruption.

I admit, my generation has failed Ethiopia. Is the current generation any better? Will the next generation be much better? I do not know the answer. However, I know Ethiopia’s ethnicity-based educational and development models deepen the country’s problems.

I believe focusing on the future by positive upbringing, education, training, mentoring/coaching, similar interventions at an early age as well as by modeling behaviors in guiding, managing, and administering society that young Ethiopians witness as manifested in their leaders at all levels of government will go a long way in restoring and sustaining our common humanity. Perpetuating the same failed propaganda does not do it. The right thing to do is to stop the carnage now.

Managing Ethiopia’s complex, polarized, morally and spiritually broken and corrupted society is a team sport. I am always guided by the wise African social capital formation model of “It takes a village to raise a child.” If you pull the society apart based on ethnic differentiation, the village cannot pull its social capital assets together. The Oromo Prosperity Party is tearing the fabric of Ethiopia apart.

By the same token and at a societal level, it takes cooperation, commitment for one another’s welfare and wellbeing, a sense of shared purpose and destiny, commitment to accountability for results, outcomes, failures, and achievements, and most of all,dedication to the principle of strengthening mutual trust –the foundation of teamwork-in transforming an entire society for the better is critical at this trying time. I believe dreamers are guided by these lofty goals.

You cannot pursue these goals by slaughtering Amhara, by injecting a culture of fear, hate, recuring lies and empty promises, opaque agendas, punishing the weak, displacing and ethnically cleansing those you do not like, jailing those who challenge the broken system or proselytizing to young people that the mystical Nirvana will occur soon under another form of tribal supremacy.

Flawed education and flawed outcomes

It is hard for me to imagine that, in the first quarter of the 21stcentury, ethno-nationalists, ethnic- supremacists, extremists and tribalists (Amhara, Oromo and Tigrean especially), many with doctorate degrees from Western institutions continue to pursue ideals and ideologies that degrade our common humanity,history. They do these by deconstructing or degrading the flagships of Ethiopian identity (Adwa, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), by making Addis Ababa “irrelevant” and by degrading Ethiopianism. If “we are all Ethiopians when we are alive” as declared by Abiy Ahmed, why are Amhara singled out for extermination? Why does he and the Prosperity Party he founded allow Oromo ethno-nationalists to“de-construct” an ancient country with a glorious and distinct past?

Teaching the current and coming generations of Ethiopians there is nothing wrong with the current situation in troubled Ethiopia and permitting destructive forces to undo a promising country is obscene and dumb.

The irony I find unconscionable is that the government thar manages the affairs of the Ethiopian state sponsors a summit of the African Union (AU), holds forums on Pan-Africanism while at the same time eviscerating (gutting) Ethiopianism—Adwa, EOTC, Ethiopian’s national flag and the rest. Adwa is an outcome of a sophisticated case study in teamwork that occurred long before teamwork became fashionable at Harvard and Oxford.

If you ask any foreign researcher or scholar the cardinal question “Does ethnic federalism advance teamwork, enhance a common purpose and shared destiny, ensure lasting peace, stability, human security, territorial integrity and sovereignty in Ethiopia?” the answer is not at all. It does the exact opposite. This is the reason why ethnic federalism must be overhauled and a new constitution adopted.

I commend Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for publishing his third book in five years. I know something about writing. Writing a book is not an easy task, especially when, at the same time, you are running the second most populous country in Africa, one with multiple problems. Is writing a book priority currently?  Maybe yes, maybe no. I look at it from the multitude of socioeconomic and political problems Ethiopian society is facing today.

I plan to diagnose and assess Ethiopia’s multitude of problems under the watch of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and the Oromo dominated Prosperity Party in the coming weeks.

To conclude Part I, I suggest the following immediate action steps:

It is time for Ethiopians who care most about the matter to consolidate evidence and lodge formal legal complaints to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Article 6 on genocide and Article 7 on crimes against humanity of the Rome Statute of the ICC provide underpin this recommendation.

Part II of IV will follow next week.

March 22,2023

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]]> yeDallasRadio@@gmail.com (YeDallas Radio ) https://www.yedallasradio.com/2023/03/11/can-ethiopians-save-ethiopia-from-itself-aklog-birara-dr/ Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:04:46 +0000 http://www.yedallasradio.com/?p=251 Can Ethiopians Save Ethiopia from Iteslf

-the Ethiopian state is ethnically polarized, repressive, murderous, and corrupt—

Aklog Birara (Dr)

“I am sick and tired of hearing about deaths and constant lies” in Ethiopia.

Human rights and social activist Obang Meto

“Please let me live. I shall no longer claim to be an Amhara or Christian.”                        An Amhara girl in Wellega, Oromia

“He (Abiy Ahmad) intentionally closed his eyes to the TPLF’s maneuver to keep its modern weaponry and its professional defense forces. It seems that Abiy and the TPLF have silently agreed that the handing over of old weapons and the disbanding of TPLF recruits is enough to fool Ethiopians into believing that the TPLF has disarmed. “

Kenyan Journalist Leo Okere, “Abiy Ahmad’s Machinations for Amharafrei,” February 22, 2023

“ Neglect by the Ethiopian government, Ethiopia’s neighbors, global powers, and the African Union (where, at the recent AU summit, while talking about finding ‘African solutions to African problems, Ahmed shamefully failed to mention the Amhara’s plight/problem), which has also been deafeningly silent, in public at least, arms the gunmen; encourages mobs to slash and burn homes; gives no value to the lives of those men women and children being attacked, and thereby grants license to the terrorists to continue. Stand up, stand up all who are aware of this horror in our midst and demand that the Ethiopian government acts to stop the carnage.”

Journalist Graham Peebles, “Ethiopia: the agony of tribal nationalism,” March 10, 2023, in Counter Punch

The level of shamelessness may differ from regime to regime. In my lifetime, the Ethiopian state and government have always been repressive. It is unlikely this political condition will change any time soon unless Ethiopian political and social elites abandon tribal nationalism altogether and chart a new course.

The purpose of this commentary is to persuade the international community, especially the government of the United States whose Secretary of State, Anton Blinken will soon be heading to Ethiopia, the European Union, specialized UN agencies, the African Union and Commission, human rights organizations as well as ordinary people across the globe to call for accountability of Ethiopia’s federal government leadership before things get even far worse.

Regardless of the American motive behind, pouring more aid to save a repressive, tribally oriented, incompetent, dysfunctional and corrupt regime may send the wrong signals in the same manner it did when the USA channeled tens of billions to the TPLF regime. Remember thieves of state and the phenomenon still fresh in the minds of millions of Ethiopians that the TPLF received $30 billion from the USA, enriched a few, diverted billions and kept Tigray poor and food aid dependent to this day.

Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party that replaced the TPLF and that runs the state and government—is unabashedly dominated by the Oromo Prosperity Party and behind it the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organization (OPDO) as well as the Liberation Army they command—are on the verge of rewriting Ethiopia’s history and dismantling the fabric of Ethiopian society with clear intent of homogenizing it.

This incontestable and perceptible merger of party, state, and government, the complete collapse or subordination of Ethiopia’s opposition parties under the watch of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed make human rights abuses including ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity such as genocide, internal displacement of millions, the suffering from hunger of 22 million Ethiopians, the bulldozing of hundreds of homes in Addis Ababa, ethnicity-based nepotism, theft, graft and corruption possible.

The void in institutional checks and balances and the dearth of independent labor unions, civil society and professional organizations compound Ethiopia’s deep rooted institutional and structural problems.

It is time for the international community including donors to acknowledge that the Ethiopian state and government are no longer impartial actors. They are part and parcel of the core institutional and structural hurdles Ethiopians deal with every day.

In his study “State Repression and Political Order,” distinguished political scientist Christian Davenport, 2013, summarizes the essence of state and government sponsored repression this way. “State repression includes harassment, surveillance/spying, bans, arrests, torture, and mass killing by government agents and/or affiliates within their territorial jurisdiction.” Why do state and government authorities sponsor repression?

I recall the euphoria that swept Ethiopian society and spread like wildfire around the globe when Reuters reported on August 14, 2018 “As forgiveness sweeps Ethiopia, some wonder about justice”. This refers to the refreshing speech that make me an Abiy fan.

What happened then after Prime Minister acceded power in April 2018 underpins and contrasts the tectonic changes that took place after the honeymoon.

1. Abiy declared publicly that Ethiopians had suffered from “state terrorism” for which he asked forgiveness; and released thousands of political prisoners reversing decades of state and government sponsored security abuses under the TPLF.

2. No single individual or group knew how many political prisoners were maimed, lynched, flogged, or tortured. No one was held accountable for torture and other human rights abuses.

Most were jailed by the TPLF dominated EPRDF state and government because they demanded fair treatment, freedom, justice, and the chance to live and work in any part of Ethiopia without fear.

3. Ethiopia’s state of emergency was lifted.
4. Ethiopia made peace with Eritrea.

5. Abiy declared that he will liberalize the Ethiopian economy by opening it up for foreign competition.

6. Whether intentional, foresight or negligence, Abiy did not announce plans to investigate human rights abuses and redress horrible actions committed by TPLF security or its defense forces commandeered by top Tigrean military officers.

It is public policy akin to saying saying to the international community that the Ethiopian government shall “forgive and move on. In his inaugural address, Abiy retorted “I call on us all to forgive each other from our hearts. To close the chapters from yesterday, and to forge ahead to the next bright future through national consensus,”

Without justice, the “next bright future” is delusional, crafty, jaded, sinister, and irresponsible.

Simply put, justice was left aside then as it is left alone today after 5 years of another ethno-nationalist supremacy and dominance of the Ethiopian state and government this time headed by what one Ethiopian expert opined is “Ethiopia’s trojan horse.” It is not up to me to figure what that means.

The point I wish to emphasize is this. Once you deny political prisoners justice in a court of law by holding those who committed human rights violations, crimes against humanity and the like, you tend to believe that your model of “forgive and move on” is the right one for the state and government to follow. One political prisoner who benefited from the release by the name of Kefyalew Tefera, who was shot and wounded by TPLF security and whose legs were amputated while in prison put the matter starkly to Reuters. “I am still a prisoner. I left half my body in there, I have no legs, I don’t consider myself free.”

This attribution is shared widely today. Ethiopia’s judicial system is broken. It is an understatement to state that it is far worse today than it has ever been. Because there is no justice at all. At the time ex-political prisoner Kefyalew complained about the lack of justice, one of Ethiopia’s highly acclaimed human rights lawyers, Wondimu Ibssa, who represented hundreds of political prisoners then and still represents many, said.

“A lot of work needs to be done because the judiciary has been disgraced.” I share his description of Ethiopia’s justice system as “a mockery of justice” that regional authorities also mimic.

The state and government of Ethiopia cannot possibly protect victims if authorities operate above the law. It is sheer madness and fantasy to claim love, togetherness, unity, peace, and reconciliation while ethnicity and religion-based atrocities are tolerated, condoned, or encouraged by the Ethiopian state and government.

Why not learn from the past?

By paying lip service, ignoring persistent crimes against humanity, pumping tens of billions of aids without accountability in the West, especially the European Union, the USA and specialized UN agencies emboldened TPLF dominated EPRDF. It did more harm than good over three decades of brutal rule. Ethiopia is still poor and dependent,

Similarly, the international community, the AU, the Ethiopian people including the Diaspora let their guards down, provided critical public relations, public diplomacy, material and technical support to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who acceded power and promised the prospect of Ethiopianism over repugnant tribalism, civil and democratic rights over state sponsored repression, an inclusive, just, democratic and prosperous Ethiopia outlawing theft, graft, tribal nepotism and corruption and introducing a competitive and open market economy that will boost employment and make goods such as foods and services available and affordable to millions.

Behind this façade rapid and bold institutional and structural reform over the past five years is an astutely crafted machination and transformation of the Ethiopian state and government into a “newly minted Ethiopia” characterized by Oromo political, social, cultural, and economic elite governance.

While the West led by the government of the United States focuses primarily on the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine, horrific and repulsive crimes against humanity including ethnic cleansing, genocide, beatings and maiming, lynching, expulsions from homes in Addis Ababa as well as unprecedented ethnicity based displacements are taking place throughout Ethiopia. Displacement of an estimated one million Amhara and increasingly minorities such as Gurage, Guji, Hamer and others are taking place, making the second most populous country, home of the African Union and more than 100 embassies and consulates lawless.

Internal displacement causes huger. Hunger causes deaths. Targeted deaths constitute a form of genocide with intent to downsize the targeted ethnic group, in this case Amhara.

The strangulation of Addis Ababa

The Oromo Prosperity Party– blend of the OLF/OPDO/OLF liberation army as well as the Prosperity Party dominated Addis Ababa municipal government—

• Ban and restrict mostly Amhara from moving into Addis Ababa and demolish and or bulldoze homes occupied by Amhara and Gurage.
• Restrict the free flow of foods into Addis Ababa from the Amhara region.
• Deny access to water to citizens of Addis Ababa by demanding they pay exorbitant prices to the Oromia regional government.
• Shift investment capital from Addis Ababa to the Sheger Megacity Project that will cost hundreds of billions of Birr.
• Propagate innuendos and misleading allegation that Addis Ababa, a city of close to 6 million Ethiopians who hail from diverse ethnic groups serves as a hub of Amhara hegemony and center of influence.

The claim of Amhara hegemony, strangulating the city of Addis Ababa and forcing the submission of millions of Ethiopians for the benefit of Oromo tribal political actors is sheer madness. The city is a hub of international diplomacy, the center of Ethiopia’s industry and serves as a beehive of activity.

Consequently, Addis Ababa is critical for the welfare of all Ethiopians and for the continuation of Ethiopia as the world knows it.

What do I suggest then?

1. The Government of the United States, members of the EU, UN specialized agencies, the African Union, IGAD, human rights groups and the rest have a moral obligation to leverage their resources and institutions and urge the federal government of Ethiopia to assume responsibility and stop the carnage that is taking place in Ethiopia under the watch of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party.

2. I share the concern and debate reported by Foreign Policy on March 9, 2023, that the Biden Administration in general and President Joe Biden in particular administration “have not done enough to acknowledge or hold Ethiopia accountable for atrocities, ethnic cleansing, and possible war crimes it committed during a devastating two-year war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group in the country’s northern Tigray region. That war cost hundreds of thousands of lives and destabilized Africa’s second-most-populous country.”

That is not all, President Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cannot afford to ignore targeted ethnic cleansing, genocide and massive displacement of Amhara, Gurage, Guji and other minorities in Wellega, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, Northern Shoa and the City of Addis Ababa.

3. While I fully understand motivating factor of US national security interests in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, it will be prudent for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit the Afar, Amhara regions as well as the hub of massive displacement, in the city of Debre Berhan where thousands of Ethiopians suffer in makeshift camps and where hundreds of children are on the verge of starvation.

4. I also agree that “Mass killing never stays buried. Everyone in the victim community and the atrocity-prevention community will remember which U.S. policymakers made this call to ignore its own information and move forward with these economic packages.”

US Secretary of State Blinken can avert or at least mitigate US reputational risk by demanding cessation of atrocities and human rights abuses not just in Tigray but also in Oromia and the city of Addis Ababa, where Amhara are banned by Oromo authorities with the consent of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister from entering Addis Ababa.

5. There is no doubt that Ethiopian macroeconomic conditions are teetering and that the economy is on the verge of collapse. Food prices are beyond reach for ordinary Ethiopians. More than 22 million Ethiopians go hungry each day. Drought victims in the Somali, Afar and Southern (some parts) regions are in immediate need of emergency food assistance that only the United States possesses the means to alleviate. It therefore seems to me that USAID must channel its largesse to affected communities including the millions in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions.

6. In this instance I agree with “Officials in the other camp, including U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) chief Samantha Power, who argue in internal policy debates that the administration needs to extract more commitments from the Ethiopian government on human rights and accountability for war crimes and other atrocities before agreeing to fully open access to economic and trade lifelines”.

Finally, I urge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to go back and embrace his promissory start and make history.

“I call on us all to forgive each other from our hearts. To close the chapters from yesterday, and to forge ahead to the next bright future through national consensus,” March 10, 2023

Children in makeshift camps in the City of Debre Berhan

Children deserve education not human degradation (next page)

April 26, 2022

We, the undersigned, strongly protest against the joint report of Amnesty International (“AI”) and Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) issued recently accusing the Federal Government of Ethiopia, the Amhara Regional Government and the Amhara militia and Fano of committing human rights violations in what the report refers to as “Western Tigray.”

As argued below, we affirm that the findings and recommendations of the report are fraught with inconsistencies and biases and lack methodological rigor and objectivity.

Flagrant Perpetuation of the TPLF Narrative of “Western Tigray”

Although the report acknowledges the fact that the so-called Western Tigray was known as Welkait –Tegede –Humera (collectively “Wolkait”) and was part of the Province of Begemeder (Gondar) before the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) annexed it, for its strategic attraction, to Tigray in 1991, it prefers to perpetuate the use of the misnomer so as to confer international and political legitimacy to TPLF’s claim to the territory. If that had not been its apparent purpose, there is no reason to prefer a newly minted name that does not exist in the lexicon of the local population or the history of the region. This fact, along with the report’s evocative title (“We will erase you from this land”), presages the heavily biased and tendentious nature of the report.

Biased and One-sided Reporting of Atrocities

While the report is replete with numerous citations, it nowhere makes even as much as a passing mention of the animus toward Amharas the TPLF has harbored since its inception as a liberation movement in 1975 by openly declaring the Amhara people as its sworn enemy in its founding document. Notably, the report blithely ignores the atrocities the TPLF has committed while forcibly annexing Wolkait to Tigray in the mid-70s and during almost three decades of its brutal rule. Thanks to the work of a team of scientists in Gondar University, however, TPLF’s atrocities have recently come to light for the world to see. This team of scientists has reported that the remains of fifty-nine thousand Amhara victims have been discovered in several mass graves in Wolkait. Yet, the joint report does not reference the team’s report, nor have its authors bothered to consult the team about these findings.

In rare instances, the report begrudgingly acknowledges that the TPLF security forces abused the rights of Amharas “over many years.” Yet, it makes absolutely no effort to describe in any detail the gravity of these abuses as it has done on behalf of members of the Tigray community residing in Wolkait. Because it does not take these abuses as seriously, it does not call for any accountability of TPLF officials in the same way that it has been quick to do so against Amhara officials currently administering the Wolkait region. Indeed, the report recommends the suspension of these officials pending investigations into their actions, in utter disregard of their right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

While the report is quick to call for the demobilization of Amhara security forces, there is no similar call for the demobilization of thousands of militia the TPLF has mobilized to wage war and wreak havoc in the Amhara and Afar regions. The TPLF and its militia have shown by their actions and public statements that they are still waiting in the wings to forcibly retake Wolkait and in the process to cause even more death, mayhem and destruction than they have already caused. We would like to note in this regard the atrocities the TPLF has continued to inflict on the inhabitants of the Afar region.

Intrusiveness and Violation of Ethiopia’s Sovereign Rights

The call by the report for the disarming and demobilization of Amhara security forces, such as the Fano and militia, is totally unacceptable, for it is a clear violation of Ethiopia’s sovereign right to organize its security forces in any manner it deems fit. As enunciated in the UN “Declaration on Principles of International Law”, one of these fundamental principles concerns the sanctity of non-intervention in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of another state. It is interesting, although not too surprising, that the report’s call for demobilization of the Fano and Amhara militia echoes the position declared by the US Secretary of State a year or so ago, suggesting that AI and HRW do seem to be acting in concert with the US Government.

Further, the joint report’s recommendation that calls for a peacekeeping force to be deployed to the region strikes us as especially egregious as it appears to be intended to make it easier for the TPLF to gain direct access to its foreign backers – regional and international. Not only will such a move constitute a blatant violation of the country’s sovereignty but also has the potential to prolong rather than to defuse the tension in the region.

Flawed Research Methodology:

Particularly unpersuasive and disconcerting about the report is that its findings and recommendations are based on an egregiously flawed research methodology. As the report itself makes clear, its findings are based on information and data largely gathered by sending “five separate research missions” to interview Tigrean refugees in the Sudan. In fact, many of these so-called refugees are the very same individuals who fled the country after participating in the gruesome Mai-Kadra massacre. We would be too credulous to believe that the very perpetrators of such a horrendous crime would come forward to tell the truth about their own involvement or what really happened in Wolkait. On the contrary, it is reasonable to assume that they would prevaricate or shade the truth in order to avoid their own accountability for the crime of mass murder they committed in Mai-Kadra.

The report also indicates that the interviewees were informed of the purpose of the research with the “help of trusted interpreters.” Who are these trusted interpreters? Knowing TPLF’s tried- and- true modus operandi, we should be forgiven for surmising that these “trusted interpreters” can be none other than TPLF operatives, activists and sympathizers who populate the Sudan, Washington, DC, and the World Health Organization. Indeed, these operatives have apparently also infiltrated AI and HRW themselves, as evidenced by the fact that Fisseha Tekle, the son-in-law of TPLF’s notorious Sebhat Nega, is Amnesty International’s “researcher for Ethiopia and Eritrea” and is currently promoting the report on their behalf. In his capacity as AI’s “researcher for Ethiopia and Eritrea”, Tekle has produced multiple video accounts about “mass extrajudicial executions” in Tigray.

It is also noteworthy, though not surprising, that Amhara and Kunama natives of the region were systematically shunned in the interview process. There is absolutely no justification for their exclusion other than that their testimony would cast doubt on the credibility of the story spun by the TPLF. Curiously, the report offers no explanation or justification for this exclusion, leaving us to surmise that the omission must have been deliberate.

It is on the basis of self-serving interviews conducted in the Sudan and some in Tigray that the report accuses Amhara regional authorities of having engaged in a “coordinated” and “purposeful” policy of ethnic cleansing and other human rights violations. This conclusion is totally unconvincing, meritless and unfounded. For one thing, many of those interviewees are those who fled the area to avoid apprehension and accountability for the heinous crimes they committed in Mai-Kadra. For another, those who relocated to Tigray did so on their own fearing retaliation and accountability for the many abuses “over many years” the natives of the area suffered under TPLF rule, rather than as a consequence of an official policy of “ethnic cleansing”. As such, the allegation of “a coordinated and purposeful policy” of ethnic cleansing cannot stand close scrutiny. (One point worthy of note here is the egregious fact that the report dismisses, as a legitimate response, the November 2020 Mai-Kadra Massacres against Amharas by TPLF’s youth league.)

Also unwarranted is the report’s negative aspersion on the regional authorities of Wolkait for undertaking to resettle “hundreds of Amharas from the Amhara region and [those returning] from the Sudan.” Finding fault with the actions of the regional authorities in this regard completely ignores the fact that many of these settlers are natives of the area who were forced to leave their homes and farms by the TPLF since the mid-70s. Righting a wrong that remained unrequited for so long does not deserve to be seen in a negative light.

Perhaps, one of the strongest indicators of the sloppiness of the report is its assertion, citing the federal interim administration of Tigray, that 723,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Western Tigray had been registered in other parts of Tigray. However, according to a report of the Federal Demographic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency, conducted while the TPLF was in power, the projected total number of people in Western Tigray, including Amharas and other ethnic groups, for 2017 was only 410,662. This ridiculously inflated number, which cannot be justified by any known demographic principles, is indicative of the flawed and biased nature of the entire report.

Questionable Timing of the Release of the Report

Finally, it is curious that the joint report became public at a time when both Houses of the US Congress appear to be busy considering essentially similar bills aimed at imposing sanctions on Ethiopia. Given how often the international system seems to do the bidding of the US Government and its allies, including human rights organizations, the timing of the report hardly seems to be a coincidence. It is noteworthy that the US Government took no time to endorse the report and to call for “independent investigations” into alleged violations of human rights in Ethiopia. Given the release of the joint report and consideration of the US sanctions bills are occurring at almost the same time, and when we recall the earlier effort of the US Government and its allies to employ the Human Right Council’s process to do essentially what the report calls for, we believe that the sanctions bills and the joint report have been meant to work in tandem to accomplish the same overriding purpose: to coerce Ethiopia to submit to their demands and thereby to revive the political life of a terrorist organization that the Ethiopian populace has overwhelmingly rejected.

For all the foregoing reasons, we find the joint report of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch simply one- sided, tendentious, bereft of methodological rigor, and, therefore, unacceptable.

Endorsed by:

1. Dr. Abdella Usman, USA
2. Dr. Abebech Demissie, Ottawa, Canada
3. W/O Abekyellesh Allene, Los Angeles, CA, USA
4. Dr. Abera Molla, Denver, USA
5. Dr. Abiy Tadesse, USA
6. Dr. Abraham Betre, M.D., California, USA
7. Dr. Adam Waksor, M.D., Atlanta, USA
8. Dr. Addisu Yilma, M.D., USA
9. Dr. Adane Kassa, Chicago, Illinois, USA
10. Mr. Aklilu Abraham Adeye, Chicago, Illinois, USA
11. Mr. Aklilu Tafesse, New York, USA
12. Dr. Aklog Birara, Maryland, USA
13. Prof. Alemante Gebre-Selassie, Virginia, USA
14. Dr. Amanuel Alemu Abajobir, Kenya
15. Dr. Amelework Kebede
16. Dr. Amir Ibrahim, Toronto, Canada
17. W/O Amsal Woreta, Maryland, USA
18. Mr. Amsalu Belay, Arizona, USA
19. Mr. Andy Groum, USA
20. Dr. Araya Amsalu, Ohio, USA
21. Ato Ashenafi Nebro, Florida, USA
22. Ato Assefa Adefris, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
23. Dr. Assegid Kebede, USA
24. Dr. Awgechew Teshome, Ottawa, Canada
25. M/s. Awlae Woldehanna, RN, Saskachewan, Canada
26. Lt. Ayal-Sew Dessye, Arlington, Virginia., USA
27. Dr. Bayabel Mengistu, Houston, Texas, USA
28. Professor Eng. Bantyehun Tezazu, Toronto, Canada
29. Dr. Beeletsega Yeneneh, Arizona, USA
30. Mr. Belen Gizachew, Portugal
31. Dr. Belete Alemu, M.D., California, USA
32. Eng. Behailu Assefa, San Francisco, USA
33. Dr. Benyam Gessesse, M.D., Philadelphia, USA
34. Dr. Berhane Gebre-Kidan, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
35. Dr. Berhanu Abegaz, Williamsburg, VA, USA
36. Mr. Berhanu Ayele Wurseno, CFGM, USA
37. Professor Berhanu Alemaw, Botswana
38. Professor Emeritus Berhanu Mengistu, USA

39. Dr. Berhanu Tadesse Taye, Virginia, USA

40. Ato Betru Gebregziabher, Texas, USA

41. Dr. Bisrat Aklilu, New York, USA
42. Associate prof. Bizu Gelaye, Boston, USA

43. Professor Damtew Teferra, South Africa

44. Dr. Dawit Mekonnen, USA
45. Eng. Dawit Tesfaye, Zurich, Switzerland

46. Engineer Dejene Eshete, Connecticut, USA

47. Professor Demel T. Fanta, Botswana
48. Dr. Demissie Gebre-Mariam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

49. Dr. Demissie Tadesse, New Zealand
50. Dr. Dereje Woreta, M.D., Maryland, USA
51. Dr. Desalegne Bayih, M.D., Sweden
52. Professor Desta Mebratu, South Africa
53. Professor Enawgaw Mehari, M.D., Nashville, USA

54. Dr. Efrem Alemayehu, M.D., Toronto, Canada
55. Dr. Elias Kassa Mamo, M.D., Maryland, USA
56. Mr. Ephrem Getahun Hailu, South Africa
57. Professor Eyualem Abebe, USA
58. Eng. Elleni Mengesha, Sweden
59. Dr. Endale Ketefo, Sweden
60. Dr. Erku Yimer, Chicago, USA
61. Dr. Fantahun Degneh, Germany
62. Dr Fassil Gebremariam, Florida, USA
63. Dr. Fasil Melaku Wubu, M. D., Maryland, USA
64. Dr. Fassil Tefera, M.D., New York, USA
65. Dr. Fekadu Folle, Maryland, USA
66. Dr. Fikre Germa, Toronto, Canada
67. Dr. Fikru Maru, M.D., Stockholm, Sweden
68. Dr. Fitsum Tariku, British Columbia, Canada
69. Ato Frework Ayalew, North Carolina, USA
70. Dr. Gabe Hamda, Washington, USA
71. Dr. Gebeyehu Ejigu, Phoenix, AZ, USA
72. Dr. Gebeyehu Teferi, M.D., Washington D.C., USA

73. Dr. Gebrehiwot Lebsekal, Vancouver, Canada

74. Professor Genene Mola, South Africa
75. W/O Genet Abebe Ejigu, RN, Phoenix, AZ, USA

76. Dr. Getachew Begashaw, Illinois, USA
77. Ato Getachew Dessye, Canada
78. Dr. Getachew Felleke, M.D., New York, USA
79. Dr. Getnet Asrat, Ottawa, Canada
80. Dr. Girma Aman, Kitchner, Canada
81. Dr. Girma Lulu, Calgary, Canada
82. Mr. Girma Mekonnen, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
83. Dr. Girma Molla, Australia
84. Dr. Girma Tezazu, M.D., Toronto, Canada

85. Dr. Guadie Sharew, Lesotho

86. Professor Gulelat Desse, Botswana
87. Dr. Haile Fenta, Canada
88. Engineer Hizkiel Eskender, Ohio, USA
89. Dr. Imiru Assefa, Michigan, USA
90. Dr. Kalkidan Belaye, M.D., Toronto, Canada

91. Professor Kassa Darge, Pennsylvania, USA

92. Assoc. Professor Kebede Begna, M.D., USA

93. Prof. Kebede Gessesse, Georgia, USA
94. Mr. Kidanemariam Jembere, South Africa
95. Dr. Kitaw Negash
96. Dr. Lulsegged Abebe, London, England
97. Dr. Liyew Desta, Sweden
98. Professor Makeda Semret, Montreal, Canada

99. Prof. Mamo Muchie, South Africa
100. M/s. Martha Gebreselassie, USA
101. Professor Mekibib Altaye, M.D., Ohio, USA

102. Dr. Mekdim Ayana, Eswatini
103. Dr. Mekonen Bayissie, Maryland, USA
104. Dr. Melaku Berhane, M.D, California, USA

105. Dr. Melaku Game, M.D., Canada
106. Professor Emeritus Melaku Lakew, Sweden

107. Dr. Melaku Teshome, USA
108. Dr. Mengistu Yemane, M.D., Tennessee, USA 109. Ato Menelik Andargie, Bay Area, CA, USA

110. Dr. Mesfin Seifu, M.D., Ohio, USA
111. Professor Messay Kebede, Ohio, USA
112. Dr. Mengiziem Emiru, M.D., USA
113. M/s. Meron Ahadu, USA
114. W/O Metassibia Mulugeta, Seattle, USA
115. Dr. Mezegebu Effa
116. Dr. Million Belay, Stockholm, Sweden
117. Dr. Minwiyelet Mussie, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

118. Dr. Moges Sisay, M.D., Indiana, USA
119. Professor Mulatu Fekadu, South Africa
120. Dr. Mulu Geletu, Toronto, Canada
121. Professor Mulugeta F. Dinbabo, South Africa

122. Dr. Mulugeta Yilma, Sweden
123. Prof. Muluneh Yitayew, Tucson, Arizona, USA

124. Professor Nega Debela, Ohio, USA
125. Mr. Negash Abdurahman, USA
126. Engineer Negesse Gutema, USA
127. Dr. Negussie Nega, Maryland, USA
128. Dr. Rahel Alemu, USA
129. Engineer Samson Engeda, California, USA
130. Mr. Samson Getu, Sweden

131. Dr. Samuel Tenaw, Durban, South Africa
132. Professor Seid Hassen, Kentucky, USA
133. Dr. Shiferaw Adilu, Alberta, Canada
134. Dr. Shiferaw Gessesse, Washington, D.C., USA

135. Dr. Solomon Afework, London, UK
136. Professor Solomon Aklilu, Ottawa, Canada
137. Dr. Solomon Basore, Calgary, Canada
138. Dr. Solomon Bokre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
139. Mr. Solomon Lema, USA
140. Professor Sissay Asefa, Michigan, USA
141. Dr. Solomon Gashaw, Minnesota, USA
142. Dr. Solomon Haile-Mariam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

143. Professor Solomon Harrar, Kentucky, USA
144. Dr. Solomon Kibret, USA
145. Professor Solomon Negash, Georgia, USA
146. Mr. Solomon Teffera, USA
147. Dr. Tadesse Desta, M.D., California, USA
148. Dr. Tariku Teshale, M.D., Sweden
149. Dr. Tegegnework Getu, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
150. Mr. Tekesteberhan Tefera, Minnesota, USA
151. Mr. Terefe Zeleke, USA
152. Dr. Tesema Meganasa, Addis Ababa. Ethiopia
153. Mr. Tesera Moges, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
154. Dr. Tesfalem Tegegn, South Africa
155. Dr. Tesfaye Biftu
156. Mr. Tesfaye Engida, Minnesota, USA
157. Professor Tesfaye Kidane, South Africa
158. Ato Teshome H. Tesema, Seattle, Washington, USA

159. Mr. Tewodros Teklearegay, Arizona, USA
160. Dr. Theodros Mengesha, M. D., Alabama, USA
161. Dr. Tihut Asfaw, M.D., Ottawa, Canada
162. Dr. Tikikil Mekuria, M.D., USA
163. Professor Tilahun Adera, Virginia, USA
164. Prof. Tilahun Eneyew, Los Angeles, CA, USA
165. Dr. Tsehaye Atlaw, London, England
166. Mr. Tsehaye Demeke, Tennessee, USA
167. Dr. Tsegaye Metz,M.D., Germany
168. Dr. Tsegaye Tegenu, Uppsala, Sweden
169. Dr. Umer Kssa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
170. M/S Wassy Tesfa, USA
171. Dr. Wessenu Abitew, Florida, USA
172. Dr. Wondimu Mekonnen, UK
173. Dr. Wondwossen Gebre, M.D., New York, USA
174. Professor Wondwossen Gebreyes, Ohio, USA
175. Dr. Worku Abera, Montreal, Canada

176. Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, Virginia, USA
177. Dr. Yared Hailemariam, M.D., Kentucky, USA
178. Dr. Yemisrach Hailemeskel, Toronto, Canada
179. Dr. Yeshimebet Retta, M.D., Virginia, USA
180. Engineer Yeshitila Mulugeta, California, USA
181. Dr. Yeshiwas Amsalu, M.D., Canada
182. Professor Yilma Gultneh, Springfield, VA, USA
183. Dr. Yilma Tekle-Mariam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
184. Mr. Yilma Zerihun. Texas, USA
185. Dr. Yohanes Dawd, M.D., Atlanta, USA
186. Dr. Yohannes Negash, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
187. Professor Yohanes Tiruneh, San Diego, USA
188. Mr. Yonas Tafesse, Atlanta, GA, USA
189. Mr. Youm A. Fesseha, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

190. Dr. Zebaye Baye, USA
191. Mr, Zerfu Takele, Seattle, Washington, USA
192. Dr. Zergabachew Asfaw, New York, USA
193. Dr. Zewdu Lisanu, M.D., Kentucky, USA

Endorsing Organizations:
1. Adwa Great African Victory Association (AGAVA)
2. All Shewa Ethiopian People Multipurpose International Association
3. American-Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC)
4. Amhara Dimtse Serechit
5. AmharaWellbeingandDevelopmentOrganization
6. Bay Area Ethiopian Community Association, California, USA
7. Communities of Ethiopians in Finland
8. Ethio-Canadian Human Rights Association
9. Ethiopian-American Development Council (EADC)
10. EthiopianCommunityAssociationinAtlanta
11. Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
12. Ethiopian Community Association in Milwaukee
13. Ethiopian Community Association of Minnesota
14. Ethiopian Community in Seattle
15. Ethiopian Dialogue Forum (EDF)
16. Ethiopians for Ethiopians
17. Ethiopians in Tennessee
18. Ethiopiawinnet: Council for the Defense of Citizen Rights
19. International Ethiopian Women’s Organization (IEWO)
20. Global Alliance for Justice – The Ethiopian Cause
21. Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians (GARE)
22. Global Amhara Coalition
23. Global Ethiopian Advocacy Nexus (GLEAN)

24. Global Ethiopian Scholars Initiative (GESI)
25. Gondar Hibret for Ethiopian Unity
26. New York/New Jersey Tri-State Hope for Ethiopia, Inc. (H4E)
27. Major Lemma Woldetsadik Memorial Foundation
28. Menelik Hall Foundation
29. Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES)
30. People To People, Inc. (P2P)
31. RadioYenesewEthiopia
32. Selassie Stand Up, Inc.
33. TheEthiopianBroadcastGroup
34. Tibibir
35. UnitedEthiopians
36. VisionEthiopia(VE)
37. Worldwide Ethiopian Civic Associations Network (WE-CAN