Eritrea Calls for Respect of
International Law
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 23 April 1999
As the UN special envoy, Ambassador Sahnun, prepares to return to the region in pursuit
of a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the regime in Addis
Ababa is issuing a flurry of statements on the need not to "reward aggression".
The TPLF regime attempts to portray itself as a "victim of Eritrean
aggression" through the distortion of facts and omission of crucial events. It
argues that the border conflict has its origins in early May of 1998 when "Eritrea
suddenly attacked Ethiopia" in the Badme region; (even then the date is sometimes May
6 and at other times May 12).
The moral high ground that the TPLF regime is attempting to straddle can not be taken
seriously when one considers the true origins of the conflict and pattern of Ethiopian
aggression.
- Ethiopia refuses to talk about several events in the period prior to May 1998 in which
the TPLF regime consistently violated basic tenets of international law and a sacrosanct
principle of the OAU on the sanctity of colonial borders.
- In August 1997, TPLF forces made an illegal incursion into undisputed Eritrean territory
at Adi Murug in Bada. The regime then justified the incursion saying they were only
pursuing resistance forces but proceeded to dismantle the local Eritrean administration
and to forcibly establish Ethiopian "rule" over the area. President Isaias
wrote to Prime Minister Meles in response to those disturbing events in hopes of resolving
that aggression through bilateral talks. (He also suggested the formation of a Joint
Border Commission at very high levels to resolve the conflict amicably and bilaterally).
The invasion of Adi Murug is indeed aggression as underlined by Article 3 of the
United Nation's Definition of Aggression which reads as: "the invasion or attack by
the armed forces of a State of the territory of another State, or any military occupation,
however temporary, resulting from such invasion or attack...".
- As far back as June 1997, the TPLF has begun a wide-scale program in the Badme region to
re-establish borders on the ground through the placement of rock piles as markers.
The Ethiopian encroachment on the Eritrean border in the Badme region, however ridiculous
it may sound, was part of a systematic aggression and in stark violation of UN General
Assembly Declaration on the Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations
and Co-operation among States which reads: "every State shall refrain from any action
aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity
of any other State or country".
- In October 1997, the TPLF issued a new map which illegally incorporated large tracts of
sovereign and undisputed Eritrean land. The new administrative map of Tigray was
issued by the "Planning and Economic Development Bureau and had been approved by the
Central Mapping Authority in Addis Ababa". The TPLF asserted that the map
"defined the new boundaries of Tigray relative to other Administrative Zones in
Ethiopia as well as other neighbouring States." Ethiopia's unilateral revision
of Eritrea's established international borders was a flagrant transgression of the most
fundamental provisions of international law. The UN Charter states, in one of its
most basic tenets, that "the territorial integrity and political independence of the
State are inviolable." Ethiopia's acts on the ground and agenda on paper also
flout the most primary agreement between member States of the OAU which obliges nations to
uphold the sanctity of colonial borders.
- Ethiopia continued to use force to try and change facts on the ground in the subsequent
period. In January 1998, TPLF Forces attempted to repeat the events of Adi Murug in
Burie on the Assab road. This time, Eritrean forces were in place and the situation
was resolved by a stand-off between troops on the border. Again, both the intent and
the force behind the TPLF's actions was a blatant disregard for international law.
- Ethiopia's efforts to redraw the international boundary in Badme culminated in its
attack of 6 May 1998. On that day, about 60 Ethiopian army troops completely
encircled a group of ten Eritrean army officers who were present in the Badme area and
opened fire. Four were killed and three others wounded. This initial attack
led to further spiraling clashes in the subsequent days with both sides bringing in
reinforcements and a final showdown on May 12, 1998.
- On May 13th, the Ethiopian Parliament declared war on Eritrea. Ethiopia deployed
thousands of troops along the entire border in areas not even under any contention and
initiated attacks along these fronts. All this, ostensibly, in response to the
events in Badme. The TPLF's action showed a dangerous disregard for Article 1 of the
Declaration on the Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and
Co-operation among States.
- Ethiopia's air strikes against Asmara on June 5th was also aimed, at escalating the
conflict. This attack came in the middle of intensive efforts for peace and at a
time when many in the international community were hoping some avenues for a resolution of
the crisis were at hand. Ethiopia also refused, despite calls from the international
community, to hold direct negotiations with Eritrea which could have created a conducive
climate for the peace efforts underway.
- On February 6th, 1999, the TPLF regime launched an all out offensive on Eritrea in
violation of UNSC Resolutions and Operative paragraph 1 of the OAU Framework Agreement
calling for al immediate cessation of hostilities. In the subsequent weeks and despite the
massive losses that its military was sustaining, the government in Addis Ababa unleashed
further attacks on other fronts far from any disputed territory. The regime employed the
use of aircraft in violation of the moratorium on air strikes targeting civilian sites
which resulted in tens of civilian deaths.
Ethiopia has displayed a pattern of disregard for international law and accepted norms
of State behaviour. The aggrieved picture it seeks to portray and the banner of
righteousness it is waving at the world becomes satirical in the light of its aggressive
acts which caused the conflict. The TPLF cannot speak about international principles
unless it is willing to confess its blatant violation of them and come clean on the
actions it undertook to force a war of aggression on Eritrea.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 23 April 1999