From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Tue Jul 22 2008 - 23:25:40 EDT
The TPLF army continue killing civilians in Afar region, Ethiopia
July 22nd, 2008 | 4 Comments
PRESS RELEASE
(Afar Human Right Organization) — The TPLF army continues its terror and
intimidation on the Afar civilian. One of the latest victims was a 16 years
old school boy Ibrahim Mohamed Suula. July 13, 2008 the army shot dead
Ibrahim at village of Urissi near Gewani. Ibrahim was one of brilliant
students in Gewani Boarding School and at the time he was visiting his
parents during the school vacation. He was watching over the family’s
cattle there an unprovoked army sniper shot him to death. The other boy
with him got wounded but managed to escape.
The woreda officials made a claim to hold the perpetrators accountable for
the killing; however the army officials responded by stating “the national
army has the right to kill who ever they want to kill” The magnitude of
arrogance, disrespect for the human life and dignity, and human right
violation by armed forces has caused outrage and bitterness among Afars.
The case of Ibrahim is the tip of the iceberg. The number of Afar civilians
that have been killed by the army since 1991 is estimated to be more than
4000, but not a single case was legally tried and held accountable.
Consequently, the national army stationed a long the Djibouti – Addis high
way in Afar region is harboring more that 4000 individuals responsible for
killing of innocent civilians. Some sources from the local community
reported that the army is using the Afar pastoralists and their livestock
to train their marksmen. A motiveless assassination of Ibrahim was also
believed to be part of this exercise, which is against all international
treaties and the code of armed forces.
The question is which stand to take on the national army that intimidate
and terrorize its own rather than protecting them?
Afar pastoralists are on their native land and move around with their
livestock to make their livelihood on some of the harshest terrain in the
world. The huge army settlements in Afar region have exposed the Afar
community for daily confrontation with the army and, therewith for brutal
harassment and human right abuse as a result. An additional factor that
threatens the livelihood of the Afar pastoralists is the confiscation of
120,000ht grazing land for state owned sugar plantation, which displaced
500,000 pastoralists. Supplant Afars pastoralists are now forced to move to
the neighbouring agrarian communities such as Amharas, Oromo and Tigreans;
which in turn is instigating new conflicts between Afar and their
neighboring brothers.
Afar Human Rights Organization strongly denounces the killing of Ibrahim
and other civilians!
Afar Human Rights Organization (AHRO) calls up on:
United Nation, AU, EU, Arab league, Human Rights Watch and
Amnesty International to investigate human rights abuses in the Afar region.
For further inquiry and support please contact “Afar Human Right
Organisation” ahro2006@hotmail.com
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4 Responses to “The TPLF army continue killing civilians in Afar region,
Ethiopia”
1. Good but..... says:
Afar has to go if the there is going to be a train rail across Afar
Land from dejbouti to Tigray. The best way is to scratch the old blood fued
between Afar and Isa. The Djbouti land give away and the 2 billion dollar
rail road deal is not for Ethiopia, it is for Abay Tigray. Afar, being
warriors in their own right, are liability for establishment of Abay
Tigray.As mentioned in the article, there are numerous athrocity done by
TPLF that we don't know. It is time to act fast, we won't have time to save
Ethiopia if we go Prof Mesfine's way. The only option left for TPLF is Abay
Tigray, every other card they played has failed, they have to make it work
by any means necessary to make it "right for the Tigray people." Who is
defending Ethiopia, the political whore Birtukan?
Go G7
Regards,
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
2. weqaw says:
It is sad that the boy lost his life for no apparent reason. But, it
is even sadder on how we always call on the UN, EU, AU, Arab League etc for
help? When was the last time these organizations helped anyone who is not
favored by the US?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
3. weqaw says:
150 Somali soldiers join ICU!
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=64398§ionid=351020501
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
4. Abdi says:
Thousands of inocents ethiopian students are killed EVERY_DAY for
mere reason of not being TIGRE. To the AFAR HUMAN RIGHT don't seek solution
or HELP from UN,AU…ask yourself how you can save more other student…
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
--
Million.
Mpls MN
***HeGeRey ZBeLet LBe GhiDN'u Kt'ReKeBi AsBei***
AWET N'HAFASH!!!
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