Stop the genocide and crime against humanity on the people of Tigray

Tigray is besieged!

MEKETE TIGRAY UK 12th Nov 2020

A war against humanity is committed on the people of Tigray in Ethiopia, on 3 ^rd November 2020. The war is not against TPLF but a war against 6 million people of Tigray. The fire started now, but the hate has been smouldering for many years. Abiy Ahmed is committing genocide and crime against humanity on the people of Tigray.

The United Nations Diplomatic Conference of on the establishment of International Criminal Court in 1998 was held in Rome.

In accordance with 1998 Rome statute, Article 7- Crime Against Humanity is described as:

· a widespread or systematic attack directed against civilian population.

· with intention and knowledge to harm.

· the attack includes murder; violation of fundamental rules of international law; imprisonment; deprivation of liberty and more

· On Article 7(h) the crime is also “ persecution against identifiable group collectively on political, ethnic, cultural and religious grounds…”

While Rwanda and the world are bringing the perpetrators of Genocide 1994, Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia is starting one in Tigray/ Ethiopia.

Historical Background

The TPLF (Tigrayan People Liberation Front) is a name adopted during its formation of armed struggle in 1975 to fight the dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam a Military regime, who snatched power by force after toppling Emperor Haileselasie, in 1974. Mengistu was later overthrown in 1991.

· The TPLF and others who were fighting against the Marxist Mengistu, formed a coalition after deposing Mengistu in 1991. TPLF was one of the prominent key players of the five coalition fronts that became a government as EPRDF, (Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front). The EPRDF government registered a double-digit economic progress in Ethiopia until 2018.

· Ethiopia is the second populous country in Africa. Its estimated (110 million) people, over eighty ethnicities, four of them with most population; the two dominant one being the Oromo and the Amhara. EPRDF brought a Federal constitution that formed nine ethnic federal regions, now ten. The Federal constitution stipulates, the rights of regions for an autonomic rule and the right for self-determination.

· Late Meles Zenawi, ethnic Tigrayan, remained the Prime Minster till his death in 2012, Hailemariam Desalegne an ethnic Wolyita, became the Prime Minster. His time was challenged with so much unrest in Oromia and he stayed in power from 2012-2018. In March 2018, the EPRDF declared to reform itself. As a result, gave the Premiership to Abiy who was a member of the Oromo Party in the coalition. While the story is as above, the world perception remains different, narrating that TPLF was resentful group losing its dominance within EPRDF.

· The TPLF was one of the members of the EPRDF organisation who participated to appoint Abiy Ahmed in 2018. It was not contesting for premiership since late Prime Minister. The EPRDF coalition, appointed Abiy Ahmed to be a Prime Minster until the following National Election, in May 2020.

· Abiy brought peace for the people Eritrea and Ethiopia. One of the reasons he got the Nobel Prize 2019. Ethiopia and Eritrea were stuck in ‘no war no peace’ situation for eighteen years. Abiy broke the stalemate between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The borders between Tigray and Eritrea were open. However, before the euphoria subsided, the borders shortly shut for no explained reason. Nonetheless, a stronger personal relationship between Abiy Ahmed and the Eritrea’s President, remained. Recently, Abiy visited the Eritrean Military camps, while Esaias also was shown the Ethiopian Air Force.

· Abiy dissolved EPRDF with no election, created his own new party known as, Prosperity Party / PP. He postponed the 2020 election before the news of corona was even in the atmosphere. He used the Pandemic as a pretext, while the death toll in May 2020 was just seven people out of 110 million population.

· Abiy instigated so much hate between various ethnics; vigorously, ethnic tension towards Tigrayans. As soon as Abiy came to power, he supported ethnic Amhara’s, who falsely accused Tigray annexing a land of Amhara so, should return those contested lands.

· Ten thousand Tigrayans were expelled from Amhara region in 2018/19. He labelled Tigrayans as ‘day light Hyenas’ and claimed the 27yrs of EPRDF rule which he was part, as ‘twenty-seven dark years’

· Tigrayans who lived for generations in Gondar, Wollo, Gojam, had their business looted, burnt confiscated and evicted empty handed. Doctors were killed and stoned while at work. Tigrayans in some region were hunted like a fox, labelled as cactus, locust eaters, gypsies, arabs, and lot. Tigrigna speakers were accused of all serious crimes committed as it was put.

· Abiy wanted to blame and extend the election indefinitely. TPLF refused to accept his plot to overstay and challenged his hunger to rule by decree, with no constitutional mandate. Hence, TPLF condemned his abrogation to Ethiopia’s Federal constitution.

· The election in Tigray became the last straw for Abiy. Before the election he warned officially he would not allow election if not said in his own words, mothers will cry children will die.

· Tigray using its constitutional right, held a regional election. Four opposition parties including TPLF took part on 9 ^th September 2020. The TPLF was elected by the majority vote to govern Tigray. Abiy felt undermined, the fact that under all these pressure Tigray managed to keep peace, law, and order, exposed his incompetence. Abiy has no capacity to lead a complex and diverse country such as Ethiopia. His philosophy ‘Medemer’, an Amharic word, with literal meaning ‘Adding’, transpired divisive instead.

It is with all of these in mind why Abiy declared war to on Tigray.

Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia launched an air strike on Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray on 4 ^th November 2020 while Britain was observing the Remembrance Day. What started as unjust civil war last week, is now heading to be an international war, by Eritrea tangling itself in support of Abiy Ahmed.

1. Crime against humanity

is a systematic attack with deliberate intention to harm.

2. Article II: convention of crime on genocide means, it is an intent to destroy part or whole, ethnical, racial, national, religious group.

· We warned the international community that Genocide against Tigrayans was on the making since Abiy took power. Systematic psychological war demonising, dismissing from jobs or demoting and forced retirement was imposed on some. while name calling, blackmailing, humiliating, dehumanising, murdering, criminalising and ethnic profiling Tigrayans became a norm.

· Abiy allowed roads from Amhara region to Tigray to stay closed for over two years with intention to starve and intimidate.

· Fake documentaries were shown to blame TPLF previous officials, accusing them of fraud, corruption, money laundering, torturing prisoners, stealing etc.

· Two Tigrayans Defence Force Generals, one of them the Head of Ethiopian Defence, were assassinated inside the comfort of their home in 2019.

· Visitors and investors as well as journalists, were prevented from flying to Tigray

· In October last month, a Tigrayan long distance runner, was prevented from flying to Valencia to compete until Derartu Tulu the famous Oromo Athlete, rushed to intervene. With all that pressure, the Athlete won and set a new 5000 meters record.

3. Deliberately inflicting harm is crime against humanity

· Abiy prohibited international donor’s safety net budget to Tigray

· Restricted movements

· He restricted businesspeople their finances from Banks.

· Refused to spray to protect the locust swarm that devastated hundreds and thousands of acres of crop last month and still is. Yet he mocked how the ‘Desert Locusts understand the philosophy of Medemer, (his “adding theory’) when the swarm feel the sky. This will lead to forced starvation and famine which is a crime

· Therefore, the current declaration of war is a crime against humanity and an extension of systematic genocidal act.

· There are over 80 thousand Eritrean refugees in Tigray camps, and they run away from repression now facing another trauma

· These Eritreans also speak Tigrigna the main language in Tigray

· and Eritreans so they will be victims of this ethnic profiling

· The war has already counted a week. We have no idea when it will end.

· War is a serious breach to international law committed against civilians

The people of Tigray are encircled with no electric power, telephone line internet, no means of transport, Bank, petrol, food, medicine and medical facilities in this pandemic time. Tigray is besieged!

Sudan fears over 200,000 people might flee Ethiopia; there are already 8000 people who crossed the Border, Aljazeera reported. Similarly, news was reported last week, that a Colonel and 16 lieutenants sought exile in Djibouti, rejecting a war against its own citizens, however there is a claim that they have been deported against their wishes. This is a human right violation contrary to the 1951 Geneva Convention.

If the world has not learnt from the worst African genocide in Rwanda 1994, it hasn’t learnt much. This war is turning to humanitarian emergency unless stopped NOW!

MEKETE TIGRAY UK

Believes this is a war against humanity. Tigray is besieged and its people have nowhere to hide. The international community must put pressure on Abiy to stop the war now. Else, it can ignite another conflict in the Horn of Africa which will destabilise the whole continent with a far-reaching consequence to Mediterranean and beyond.

Mekete Tigray UK was set to help Covid emergency. It is a voluntary group of concerned Tigrayans. It is inclusive and voluntary with no political or religious affiliation .