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Saturday, 06 February 2021 10:45

US Secretary of State urges PM Abiy to allow “immediate, full, and unhindered humanitarian access” to Tigray

Written by Martin Plaut

FEBRUARY 6, 2021 MARTIN PLAUT ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Ethiopia bilateral relationship. Secretary Blinken expressed our grave concern about the humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region and urged immediate, full, and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life. The Secretary also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ethiopia’s reform agenda and our support for upcoming national elections, regional peace and security, democracy and human rights, justice and accountability, and economic prosperity for all Ethiopians.

Saturday, 06 February 2021 10:40

Human Rights Concern-Eritrea calls for all Eritrean military forces to leave Tigray immediately

Written by Eritrea Hub

FEBRUARY 5, 2021 ERITREA HUB ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY

5 February 2021

Ethiopian and Eritrean officials have repeatedly denied that Eritrean forces are operating in Tigray. However, these denials are contradicted by eyewitness accounts. So conspicuous are the Eritrean military in Tigray that Eritrean soldiers have even attended meetings in which humanitarian workers negotiated access to Tigray with Ethiopian authorities.

Human Rights Concern-Eritrea (HRCE) has been consistently reporting that many thousands of troops from the Eritrean mechanised divisions, infantry, and a commando unit have been participating in the Tigray war since November 2020.

Eritrean forces have been accused of committing crimes in Tigray. Laetitia Bader, the Horn of Africa Director at Human Rights Watch said, “We are investigating credible reports of a whole range of abuses by the Eritrean forces in central Tigray, including extrajudicial executions of civilians, widespread looting and damage of public and private property, including hospitals.” She also called for “immediate international scrutiny, and a U.N. led investigation”. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief, also said, “We receive consistent reports of ethnic-targeted violence, killings, looting, rapes, forceful return of refugees and possible war crimes.”

The Treatment of Eritrean refugees in the camps in Tigray by Eritrean military has already been fully reported by HRCE. Eritrean soldiers have committed many crimes in at least two of the camps, including the deliberate murders in Shimelba refugee camp of four unarmed refugees in one instance and eight unarmed civilians in another. There is evidence of the forced removal of thousands of Eritrean refugees at gunpoint from Shimelba and Hitsats camps, with horrific forced marches for days on end to Sheraro. There the refugees were forcibly loaded into trucks which took them, against their will, back to the very country they had fled. This behaviour by the Eritrean military is directly in contravention of all international codes and legal requirements on the treatment of refugees, which in particular forbid the refoulement of refugees to their country of origin. It is understood that both Shimelba and Hitsats refugee camps have been deliberately burned to the ground, thereby destroying the only homes the refugees had, along with all their belongings.

It should be noted that the unelected leader of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, and the permanent officers and commanders in charge of the Eritrean military forces are primarily responsible for these atrocities. The great majority of the ranks are conscripts forced into the armed forces largely against their wills and drafted in large numbers to Tigray to be used as “expendable” troops. They are largely untrained and unable to disobey orders, on pain of death or torture. Witnesses report large numbers of these conscripted soldiers (male and female) are under the age of 20. It is reported that many have died in the fighting. These young conscripts are as much the victims of crimes and injustice as the Tigrayans and the refugees.

The Eritrean military is using the communications blackout to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity against defenceless Tigrayan civilians and Eritrean refugees, killing and executing with impunity. HRCE condemns the alleged widespread looting, sexual violence, killing of civilians, destruction of property, crops and factories in Tigray by the Eritrean military forces, and objects most vehemently to the military’s deportation of tens of thousands of refugees at gunpoint against their will to the very country they fled from in danger of their lives.

HRCE calls on the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments to heed the call from the US State Department and ensure that all Eritrean military forces leave Tigray at once.

HRCE requests an independent investigation into events in Tigray since November 2020.

HRCE calls on the government of Ethiopia to ensure full protection for the Mai Aini and Adi-Harush refugee camps, and to guarantee that no Eritrean military personnel are allowed to enter them.

The UN Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights in Eritrea has already found evidence of crimes against humanity committed by the Eritrean authorities within Eritrea since 1991. Major crimes against humanity are now being committed by Eritrean forces in Tigray.

HRCE calls on the International Criminal Court to initiate investigations into these heinous crimes immediately. Justice requires that the governing regime in Eritrea, and President Afewerki in particular, face the consequences for the crimes that have been unleashed in Eritrea and Tigray.

HRCE calls upon all members of the United Nations to note the demand by the USA and to make urgent representations to the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to put an end to the “major violations of international law” being committed in Tigray by the Ethiopian Federal forces, Eritrean military and allied militias. It is a matter of life and death.

Member countries of the United Nations must speak out now against these crimes before many more thousands of civilians are killed and more Eritrean refugees are forcibly deported.

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Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+44 (0) 7958 005 637

www.hrc-eritrea.org

Friday, 05 February 2021 23:58

መብርሂ ብዛዕባዛ ጽሕፍቲ ሓው ግርማይ የማነ

Written by harnnet.org

ክቡር ሓው ግርማይ የማነ፡ ቅድሚ ኩሉ ሰላምታና ይብጻሕካ፡ ርእሰ-ዓንቀጽና ስለ ዘንበብካ ከኣ ነመስግነካ። እቲ “ጣልቃ ህግደፍን ሳዕቤናቱን” ንዘርእስቱ እውናዊ ርእሰ-ዓንቀጽ ሰዲህኤ መሰረት ጌርካ ዝጸሓፍካዮ ብዙሕ ምስኡ ዘይዛመድን ብቐጥታ ንሰልፍና ዘይምልከት ዝተወሰኾን ስለ ዝኾነ፡ ንነፍሲ ወከፍ ምሉእ ሓሳብ ዘይኮነ ኣብ ዝተወሰኑ ኣድላይ ዝበልናዮም ነጥብታት ጥራይ መብርሂ ክንህብ ኢና። ንእሽቶይ ዝበሃል መእረምታ ስለ ዘየለ ከኣ እቲ ጽሑፍ ናይ “ጉጅለ ሰዲህኤ” ዘይኮነ ብቤት ጽሕፈት ዜና ሰዲህኤ ዝተሰናድአ “ርእሰ-ዓንቀጽ ሰዲህኤ” እዩ። ቅድሚ ናብ ካልእ ምስጋርና ብቅንዕና ሓቀኛ መዛናይ ክትከውን ድልዊ እንተደኣኮንካ ግዜ ወሲድካ ነቲ ኣብ መርበብ ሓበሬታ harnnet.org ክትረኽቦ እትኽእል ፖለቲካዊ መደብ ዕዮና እንተተወኪስካዮ ክሕግዘካ ይኽእል እዩ።

ሰዲህኤ ካብ ኤርትራ ወጻኢ ኣብ ኩሉ ኩርነዓት ዓለም ውዳበታት ዘለዎ፡ ብኣካልኳ ኣብ ኤርትራ ብቃልዕ እንተዘየለ ብኣተሓሳስባ ግና ባህጊ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ዘንጸባርቕን ንሓድነት መሬትን ህዝብን ኤርትራ ዝቃለስን ሰልፊ እዩ። ኣብ ኤርትራ ዘይምህላውና ምኽንያቱ ከምዘይትስሕቶ ርግጸኛታት’ኳ እንተኾና ኣብ ሃገርና ሓሳብካ ናይ ምግላጽን ምውዳብን ብዙሕነት ዘይጸውርን ብቅዋምን ግዝኣተ-ሕግን ዘይምራሕን ብሓደ ጉጀለ ዝተገበተ ባይታ ስለ ዘሎ ጥራይ እዩ። ንዕላማ ቃልስና ብዝምልከት “ሰ.ዲ.ህ.ኤ. ምልካዊ ስርዓትን ንሱ ዘተኣታተዎ ኣዕናዊ ሳዕቤናትን ኣልጊስካ ኣብ እትምስረት ደሞክራስያዊት ኤርትራ ልዕልና ሕጊ ዝሰፈና ንመሰልን ክብርታትን ኩሎም ዜጋታታ ብማዕረ ንምርግጋጽ ምንጪ ስልጣን ናይቲ ዝቐውም መንግስቲ፡ ህዝቢ ምዃኑ ይኣምን። ኣብ ቅድሚ ህዝቢ ተሓታቲ ዝዀነ፡ ኣብዝሓ ሰልፍታታን ሰላማዊ ውድድርን ዘፍቅድ፣ ንመሰረታዊ ሰብኣውን ዲሞክራስያውን መሰላት ዜጋታት ዘኽብርን ዝጣበቕን፤ ስርዓተ-መንግስቲ ብምርጫ ህዝቢ ክውሰን ከም ዘለዎ ይኣምን።” ዝብል ርኢቶን ንዘለዎ መደብ ዕዮና እንተ ኣንቢብካ መወከሲ ሓሳብ ክትረክብ ኢኻ።

ከምቲ እጽበዮ ዝበልካዮ፥ ኤርትራ ከምዚ ዘላቶ ምቕጻላ ዘይኮነስ ብዙሓት ሰልፍታትን ውድባት ዝወዳደራላ ሃገር ከም እትኸውን ዝጠቐስካዮ “ኣነስ ዘይከምዚኣ እየ ደልየ፡ ዘይከምዚኣየ” ዘብል እዩ እሞ “ኣፍካ መዓር ይምላእ።” ዘይ ሰልፊ ዲሞክራሲ ህዝቢ ኤርትራስ ምእንታኡ እዩ ዝቃለስ ዘሎ። ኣብቲ ውድድር ዝሳተፋ ሰልፍታትን ውድባትን ዝቕየዳሉ ሕግን ስርዓትን ምህላው እውን ዝፈላልየና ኣይመስለናን። እቲ መቐየዲ ሕግን ስርዓትን ግና ሓደ ከም ህግደፍ ዝኣመሰለ ኤርትራዊ ጉጅለ ንበሎ ሰልፊ ወይ ውድብ፡ ዓንተር ኣባጓይላ ኮይኑ “ንስኻ በዚ እቶ በዚ’ባ ውጻእ” ዝብለሉ ከም ዘይከውን ነስተውዕል። እቲ ምስ ሃገርካ ዝጐበጠ ምስላፍ ዝበልካዮ ብሩህኳ እንተዘይኮነ ነቲ ማእከል ጌርካ ርኢቶ ዝሃብካሉ ሰዲህኤ ከም ዘይምልከቶ ግና ከነነጽረልካ ንፈቱ። ምናልባት ንኹሉ ህዝባዊ ግንባር ንዲሞክራስን ፍትሕን ዘዝመተረሉ እሺ ኢሉ ዘይኮለሰ ኢልካ ትኸስስ እንተሊኻ ግና ጌጋ እዩ። ሰዲህኤ ንኤርትራን ህዝባን ኣየኽብሮምን እዩ ዝብል ስግኣት እንተልዩካ እውን ቅኑዕ ሚዛን ኣይኮነን። ንህዝብን መንግስትን ፈላሊኻ ኣብ ክንዲ ምርኣይ፡ ነቲ ጉጅለ ክትረክብ ኢልካ፡ ክብሪ ሃገርካን ረብሓ ህዝብኻን ኣሕሊፍካ ዘይምሃብ ዝበልካዮ ሰዲህኤ ኣጥቢቑ ካብ ዝጥንቀቐሎም ጉዳያት ሓደ እዩ። ንህግደፍ ካብ ወቐሳን ተቓውሞን ምእንቲ ከተድሕኖ ምስ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ኣልጊብካ ምርኣዩ ከኣ ፈጺሙ ግጉይ እዩ። ኮታ ንህዝቢ ከተኽብር ክትብል ነቲ ህዝቢ ዝብድልን ዝገዝእን ዘሎ ጨፍላቒ ጉጅለ ምጽብባቕ ከኣ ተቐባልነት የብሉን።

ግቡእን መሰልን ዜጋታት ፈላሊኻ ብዛዕባ ዘይምርኣይ ዝበልካዮ ሕራይ ቅኑዕ’ዩ። ካብዚ ነቒልካ፡ ነቲ ብኢደወነኑ፡ ሕድሪ ህዝቢ ጠሊሙ፡ ብዘይምርጫ ኣብ ስልጣን ዝተኾደጨ ህግደፍ ዘውጸኦ ኣዋጅ ርዒምካ 2% ምኽፋልን ዘይኽፋልን ከም ዜጋ ክትረኽቦ ዝግበኣካ መሰል ዘኽልእ ጌርካ ትወስዶ እንተሊኻ ግና ፈጺሙ ግጉይ እዩ። ምኽንያቱ ዜጋታት ሃገሮም ከልምዑ፡ ቅድም ቀዳድም ኣብ ሃገሮም ኰለ-መዳያዊ መሰሎም፡ እንተላይ ናይ እምነት፡ ምዝራብ፡ ምውዳብን ሓሳብካ ምግላጽን ናጻ መሰሎም ክረጋገጽ ናይ ግድን እዩ። ደሓር ህግደፍ ጉባአ ካብ ዝገብር 27 ዓመታት ዝሓለፎን ትካላቱ ለሚሱ ኣብ ኢድ ሓደ ሰብኣይ ዝወደቐን “ውድብ እዩ። ናይ ኣባላቱ ወርሓዊ ድዩ ዓመታዊ ውጽኢት ኣባልነት እሞ ከኣ ሕጊ ብዝፈቕዶ ከኽፍል ይኽእል። ካብዚ ሓሊፉ፡ ን2% ምስ ዜግነታዊ መሰል ምርካብን ዘይምርካብን ከተዛምዶ ፈጺሙ ግጉይን እንቃወሞን እዩ። ኣብዚ እዋንዚ እቲ ኣባል ህግዲፍ እየ ዝብውን ብዛዕባዚ እንተዝሕተት፡ መብዛሕትኡ “ገዲፈዮ ኣለኹ” ከም ዝብል ርግጸኛታት ኢና።

ሕገ መንግስቲ ኣብ መንጐ መንግስትን ህዝብን ናይ ሓቢርካ ምንባር ውዕል መሰረታዊ ሰነድ እዩ። ኩሉ ሕግታትን ነቲ ሕግታት ዘተግብራ ትካላት ከኣ በዚ እየን ዝቕረጻ። ብኩራት ናይዚ ሕገ-መንግስቲ ከኣ መሰረት ናይቲ ዝምድና መንግስትን ህዝብን ዝቕየደሉ ልዕልና ሕጊ ዝድምሰሰሉ እምበር ንምስምስ ኢልካ ዝጥቀስ ንኡስ ጉዳይ ኣይኮነን። ምስ ኢትዮጵያ ዝተገብረ ስምምዕ ከኣ ዘይትካላዊ፡ ዘይግሉጽን ኤርትራ እንትረብሖ ዘየነጸረን እዩ፡ ኢልና ኢና እንነቕፎን ንቃወሞን እምበር፡ እቲ ካብ ጐረቤት ምንጻል ዘምጸኦ ኣሉታዊ ሳዕቤንስ ቅድሚ ወዛሕዛሕ ኣቶ ኢሳያስ ኣፈወርቂ ምስ ዶ/ር ኣብይ ኣሕመድ ጀሚርና፣ ንህዝቢ ብዘርብሕ ኣገባባ ክዕወት ዘእወናሉን ህያው ክኸውን ዝተቓለስናሉን ኢና።

ምስ ጐረባብቲ ሃገራት ዘሰሓሕብ ጉዳይ ዶብ ክለዓል እንከሎ ስቕ ኢልና ንርኣዮ ዝብል እምነት የብልናን። እንተኾነ ቅድሚ ዘሊልካ ናብ ውግእ ምእታው ፖለቲካውን ሕጋውን መስርሕ ክቕድም ኣለዎ ኢና እንብል። ደሓር ብግብሪ ዝረኣናዮ ከኣ እቲ ምስ የመን ኮነ ምስ ኢትዮጵያ ዝተኻየደ ኣብ መወዳእታ ብውግእ ዘይኮነ ኣብ ኣህጉራዊ መጋባእያ እዩ ተዛዚሙ። ብዘይውግእ ናብዚ ዝተዛዘመሉ ኣገባብ ምብጻሕ ይከኣል ከም ዝነበረ ከኣ ንኣምን። ኣብቲ ዝተኻየደ ውግኣት ምስ ጐረባብቲ ኤርትራ ጻሕታሪት ከምዝነበረት ብመንጐኛታት ተረጋጊጹን ካሕሳ ክትከፍል ከም ዝተበየና ዝሕባእ ኣይኮነን። ደሓር ከምቲ “ባዕላ መምጽኢት ደርፊ፣ ባዕላ መጥፊእት ደርፊ” ዝበሃል፡ ቅድሚ ወያነ ወያነ ምባል ብመሰረቱኸ ንባድመ መን ድዩ ንወያነ ኣረኪብዋ ኢልካ ምግንዛብ እውን ኣድላይ እዩ።

ከምቲ ኣቐዲሙ ዝተገልጸ፡ ናይ ሰዲህኤ ኣብ ኢትዮጵያን ካልኦት ሃገራትን ምህላው ኣብ ኤርትራ ካብ ናይ ህግደፍ ዝተፈልየ ኣተሓሳስባ ዝጸውር ባይታ ስለ ዘየለ እዩ። ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ኮነ ኣብ ካልእ ሃገር ኮይንካ ክትቃለስ እንከለኻ ዝራኸበካ መንግስታዊ ኣካል ከም ዝህሉ ፍሉጥ እዩ። ሰንዓ ፎረም ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ከኣ ካብዚ ዝተፈልየ ግደ ኣይነበሮን። ንልኡላውነት ኤርትራ ዝቃወም ከኣ ኣይነበረን። “መሲልካ ንገሮ ንክመስሎ” እንድዩ ዝበሃል፡ ከምዚ በዓል ጉንበት ሸውዓተ፡ ኦነግ፡ ደምሓት፡ ኣርበኞች ግንባር ዝበሃሉ ኢትዮጵያዊ ናይ ተቓውሞ ውድባት እሞ ከኣ ንናጽነት ኤርትራ ዘይቕበሉ ክነሶም ኣብ ኤርትራ ኮይኖም ዝቃለስዎ ዝነበሩ ዝመሳሰል ጌርካ ዘይውሰድ እዩ። ደሓር ተቓወምቲ ውድባት ኤርትራ ኣበይ ኮይነን ይቃለሳ ዝመርጻን ዝውስናን ባዕላተን እምበር፡ ህግደፍ ኣይኮነን ዝውስነለን። ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ምህላው ንህግደፍ ሓላል ንካለኦት ውድባት ኤርትራ ከኣ ሓራም ዝኾነሉ ምኽንያት ከኣ ፈጺሙ የለን። ኣበይ ንሃሉ ኣበይ፡ ኤርትራዊ ክብሪ ምሕላው ዝብል እንተኮይኑ ምስ ዝህልወና ምናልባታት ምሳኻ የሰማምዓና እዩ።

ሰዲህኤ ንሓይልታት ምክልኻል ድርብ ሃገርን ህዝብን ናይ ምክልኻል ሓላፍነት ከም ዘለዎ ደኣ ደጋጊሙ የዘኻኽሮ እምበር ከም ዘይነዋርዶስ ነዚ ኣብቲ ንምረሓሉ ፖለቲካዊ መደብ ዕዮና “ሓይልታት ምክልኻልን ጸጥታን፡ ንሃገራዊ ቅዋምን ልዑላውነት ሃገርን ህዝብ ን፣ ከምኡ'ውን፡ ብመሰረት ቅዋምን ሕጊ ምርጫን፡ ብህዝቢ ንዝተመርጸ መንግስቲ ዝከላኸል፡ ድርዕን ዋልታን ሃገርን ህዝብን ምዃኑ እምነት ሰዲህኤ እዩ። በዚ መሰረት ንረብሓታት ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ዝከላኸልን ዘገልግልን፡ ንብረት ህዝብን መንግስትን ዝሕሉ፣ ኣፍራዪ፡ ፖሊቲካዊ ሻርነት ዘይብሉ ሃገራዊ ሰራዊት ንምቛምን ንምምዕባሉን ብተወፋይነት ክሰርሕ እዩ” ዝበል ሰፊሩ ኣሎ ። እዚ እምነትና ግና ኣብ ሃገራት ጣልቃ ብዘይምትእትታውን ናይ ወጻኢ ወተሃደራዊ መደበራት ኣብ ሃገርና ዘይምፍቃድን ብዝብል እዩ ዝቃነ። ካብዚ ነቒልና ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ ኣብ ጉዳይ ኢትይዕጵያ ኣብ ትግራይ ይዋጋእ ምህላዉን በዓል ሕቡራት ኤምረት ኣብ መሬት ኤርትራ ወተሃደራዊ መደበራት ምኽፋተንን ዘይምድጋፍና ከም ንሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ ምውራድን ምንእኣስን ጌርካ ዝውሰደሉ ምኽንያት የለን።

ናትና ኣቐሚጥና ደገደገ ምምዕዳው ደኣ ኣየምሕረልናን ይኸውን እምበር፡ ሓያላት ሃገራት ዘዘሊለን ዝፈጥረኦ ተጽዕኖታት ምጽብጻብ ዘጸግም ኣይኮነን። ቀያድን ናይ መወድእታን ውሳነ ዶብ ኤርትራን ኢትዮጵያን ይተግበር ዝብል ድምጺ ዝያዳና ብንጹር እሞ ከኣ ኣብ ኩሉ መድረኻት ዘቃለሐ ኣሎ ኣይንብልን። ህግደፍ ነዚ ዛዕባዚ ከም ምቛሰዪ ዝወስዶ እምበር ብዕቱብ ክሕዞ ከም ዘይጸንሐ ክንዕዘቦ ዝጸናሕና እዩ። ንምዝኽኻርካ ዝኣክል እንተዘይኮይኑ፡ እቲ ኣቶ ኢሳያስ ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ እና ክገይሽ ከስመዖ ዝጸንሐ ናይ ግድን እንተዘይኮይኑ ምድጋሙ ዘጸግም ገልበጥበጥ ሸለል ክትብሎ እንተዘይደሊኻ ትዝክሮ ኢኻ ዝብል እምነት ኣለና። ብዝኾነ ኣብ ጉዳይ ኣተገባብራ ውሳነ ዶብ ኤርትራን ኢትዮጵያን ኣብ ብዙሕ ኣጋጣምታት ቃልና ከነስመዓሉ ካብ ዝጸናሕና “መንግስቲ ኢትዮጵያ፡ ናጽነትን ሉኣላውነትን ኤርትራ ክረጋገጽ ኣብ ናይ 1993 ረፈረንዱም ዝወሰዶ መርገጺ፡ ብትግባረ ውሳነ ኣህጉራዊ ኮሚሽን ዶብ ክደግሞ፡ ብምስረታ ጽቡቕ ጉርብትናዊ ዝምድናን ሓድሕዳዊ ምክብባርን ኣብ መንጎ ክልቲአን ኣሓት ሃገራት ክዛዝሞን ይጽውዕ።” ዝብል ብደረጃ ጉባአ ዝጸደቐ ሚዛና ክሕግዘካ ይኽእል እዩ ዝብል እምነት ኣለና።

እዛ “ኣብ መደምደምታ ብሓቂ ተሓለቕቲ ሃገር እንተድኣ ኮይና ኣብ’ቲ እንፈላለየሉ ክንፈላለ ኣብ’ቲ ክንፈላለየሉ ዘይግባእ ሃገራዊ ሉዕላውነትናን ህዝባዊ ሰራዊትናን ብሓባር ደው ክንብል ይግባእ።” እትብል ምሉእ ሓሳብካ ከም ዘላቶ ወሲድናያ ኣለና። እዚ ክንብል ከለና ግን፡ ሰራዊት ንኽብሩን ክብሪ ህዝቡን፡ ኣንጻር ምልኪ ስርዓት ኢሳያስ ከቕንዕ ናይ ወትሩ ጽዋዒትና እዩ።

Friday, 05 February 2021 18:53

ሉዕላውነት ሃገርና ይከበር ክብሪ ህዝባዊ ሰራዊትና ይተዓቀብ

Written by ግርማይ የማነ

ኣብ መርበብ ሓበሬታ ንሓርነት ብጉጅለ ሰዲህኤ ዝቀረበ ርእሰ ኣንቀጽ “ጣልቃ ህግደፍን ሳዕቤናቱን” ብዝብል ኣርእስቲ ዝቀረበ ጹሑፍ ምርኩስ ብምግባር እዚ ዝስዕብ ርእይቶይ ከቅርብ እፈቱ። ብመጀመርታ ሰዲህኤ ( EPDP ) መን እዩ? ናይ መወዳእታ ዕላምኡ’ኸ እንታይ እዩ? ከም ውዳቤ ኣብ ስደትን ኣብ ሃዋህውን ተንጠልጢሉ ዝነብር ድዩ? ኣብ ውሽጢ ኤርትራ ከም ፖለቲካዊ ተወዳዳሪ ሓይሊ ኮይኑ ንክቕጽል እንታይ ባይታ ከጣጥሕ ነይርዎን ኣለዎን ዝብሉ ኣገደስቲ ኩርናዕ ኣምር ናይ ቃልሲ ከቀምጡ ምተገበኦም።

ኤርትራ በዚ ሕጂ ሒዛቶ ዘላ መልክዕ ኣማራርሓ ንነዊሕ እዋን ክትቅጽል ኢያ ዝብል እምነት የብለይን። ነጻ መድረኽ ንብዙሓት ሰልፍታት ወይ ውድባት ዘፍቅድ፣ ቅዋም ተግባራዊ ክኸውን ዓቢ ትጽቢት ኣሎኒ። ህ.ግ.ደ.ፍ ኣብ’ዚ ሕብረ-ሰልፋዊ ስርዓት ናብ ሓዲሽ መድረኽ ከሰጋግሮን ንካልኦት ተቃወምቲ ዘይኮናስ ተወዳደርቲ ፓርትታት ከሳትፍ ትጽቢት ይግበረሉ። እተን ዝመጻ ተወዳደርቲ ፓርቲት ካበይ እየን ክመጻ? ሓደ ካብ ውሽጢ ኤርትራ ዝማዕበላ ክኾና ይኽእላ፣ ካልእ ድማ ናይ ደገን ናይ ውሽጥን ውህደት ጌሮም ኣብ ከም’ዚ መድረኽ ክሳተፉ ይኽእሉ እዮም ዝብል ግምት ኣሎኒ።

እዚ ብደገ ዝመጽ ውዳቤ ኣብ ከም’ዚ ሃገራዊ መድረኽ ንክሳተፍ ስለዝደለየ ብፍኑው ክሳተፍ ይኽእል እዩ ዝብል ግምት ግን የብለይን። መበጋሲ መምዘኒ ተሳታፍነት ውልቀ-ሰብ ይኹን ውድብ ኣብ ምክልኻልን ምኽባርን ሉዕላውነት እንታይ ግደ ነይርዎን ኣለዎን ኣገዳስን ወሳንን እዩ። ሃገራዊ ዕርቕን ምትርጓም ቅዋምን ምጅማር ሕብረ-ሰልፋዊ ስርዓታት ኣብ ገምጋም ሃገራዊ ድሕነት ክምርኮስ ኣለዎ። ንሓደ ስርዓት ስለዝጸላእካዮ ኣንጻር ሃገራዊ ምኽባር ሉዕላውነት ሃገር ደው ምባል ወይ ድማ ንዝጸላእካዮ ስርዓት ምስ ሉዕላዊ መሬትካ ዝጎበጠ ኮንካ ከተውድቆ ምፍታን ብገበን ዘሕትትን መሰላትካን ዝእግድን እዩ።

ካልእይ ምስ መሰል ጉቡእ ተኣሳሲሩ እዩ ዝኸይድ። ዝኾነ ዜጋ ጉቡኣቱ እንተድኣ ዘየማልእ ኮይኑ መሰል ክሓትት ኣይክእልን እዩ። ሃገር ክትህሉን ካብ ጸላእታ ክትከላኸልን ቁጠባኣ ክዕምብብን ኣበርክቶ ዜጋታታ ኣገዳስን ጉቡእን እዩ። መንግስቲ ኤርትራ ካብ መጀመርታ ነጻነት ኣትሒዙ ንዳግመ ህንጻ ሃገር ዝሕግዝ ናይ ክልተ ካብ ሚእቲ ግብሪ ነፍሲ ወከፍ ዜጋ ከተግብር ኣዋጅ ኣውጺኡ እዩ። ጉቡኡ ዘይገበረ ዜጋ ድማ ሃገር ኣላትኒ፣ ኣብ ዓደይ ተመሊሰ ኣብ ፖለቲካ ሃገር ክሳተፍ እየ ኢሉ ዝሓስብ ዕሽነት ጥራሕ እዩ። ስለ’ዚ መሰልና ምስ ጉቡኣትና ስለዝተኣሳሰር ነፍሲ ወከፍ ዜጋ መጀመርታ ጉቡኡ ክገብር ኣለዎ።

ሰዲህኤ ከም’ቲ ኣብ መእተዊ ጽሑፍኩም ገሊጽክምዎ ዘለኹም “ናይ ኩሉ ዝምድና መንቀሊ ረብሓ ስለዝኸውን ናይ ቀረባ ይኹን ናይ ርሑቕ መዛምድቲ ክትመርጽ እንከለኻ በዚ መልክዕ ምርኣይ እዩ..” ዝብል፣ መሰረት ዝምድና መንግስቲ ኤርትራን ኢትዮጵያን ካልኦት ሃገራትን ንኤርትራን ነተን ምስኣ ዝዛመዳ ሃገራት ኣብ ናይ ሓባር ረብሓ ዝተመስረተ እዩ። እቲ ስግንጢር ኣተሓሳስባ ናይ ኩሎም ተቃወምቲ ዝብሉ ጉጅለታት ንህልው ወድዓዊ ኩነታት ብምኽሓድ ምስምስ ቅዋም ብምግባር ንዝኾነ ጽቡቅ ነገር ዘይምቅባል ከም ዕላማ ክሳብ ሕጂ ይቅጽል ኣሎ።

ኣብ ጹሑፍኩም “ጉጅለ ህ.ግ.ደ.ፍ ቅድሚ ሕጂ ምስ ኩለን ጎረባብቲ ሃገራት ናብ ውግእ ዝኣተወሉ ካብ ዝጸንሐ ምክንያታት እቲ ቀንዲ ኣብ “ኣነ በይነይ እየ ክጥቀም” ዝተመርኮሰ ናይ “ደው በልለይ ክብለጸልካ” ፖሊሲኡ እዩ።”.. እዚ ዘረባስ ምስ ምንታይ ይቁጸር። ካብ ኩናት ምስ ጎሮባብቲ ብጀካ ዕንወት እንታይ ትረብሓሉ ነገር ኣሎ??

ንኣብነት ምስ ሱዳን ዝነበረ ምስሕሓብ ኩሉ ዓለም ዝፈልጦ ዲሒሩ እውን መንግስቲ ኣሜሪካ ኣብ ልዕሊ ሱዳን ዝወሰዶ ከቢድ ሱጉምቲ ነቲ ናይ ኤርትራ መርገጽ ዝድርዕ እዩ ነይሩ። ንሱ ድማ እቲ ብእስላማዊ ጂሃድ ዝፍለጥ ናይ ጡሩፋት ምንቅስቃስ ኣብ ውሽጢ ኤርትራ ኣትዩ፣ ሞሮካውያንን ኣልጀርያውያንን ሱዑዳውያንን ጠርኒፉ ኣብ ልዕሊ ሰላማዊ ኤርትራዊ ዝካየድ ዝነበረ ቅትለትን ዕንወትን ብዓቢኡ ድማ ነዚ”ክርስትያናዊ መንግስቲ” ክንግምጥል ኢና ኢሎም ዝኣወጅዎ ኩናት ንምምካት እዩ ነይሩ።

ካልኣይ መንግስቲ የመን ድማ መንግስቲ ኤርትራ ሓዲሽ መንግስቲ እዩ፣ ዓቕሚ የብሉን ኢሉ ስለዝገምገመ ኣማሓዲርዎ ዘይፈልጥ ሉዕላዊ መሬት ኤርትራ ስለዝጎበጡ፣ኤርትራ ንልዑላውነታ ንምሕላው ስለዝመከተት እንታይ ፉሉይ ረብሓ ካብ የመን ክትረክብን ቅድሚኡ ኣብ ምንታይ ረብሓታት እሞ ተራኺበን ፍሉይ ረብሓ ክትረክብ።

ሳልሳይ ስርዓት ወያነ’ውን ከም እዚ ናይ ሕጂ ሕማሙ ንልዑላውነት ኤርትራ ካብ ገጽ ምድሪ ንምጥፋእ ብዶብ ኣሳቢቡ ዝወልዖ ኩናት ንኤርትራ እንታይ የርብሓ።

ራብዓይ ጁቡቲ’ውን ተመሳሳሊ ከምቲ ናይ የመን ኤርትራ በቲ ምስ ኢትዮጵያ ዝነበራ ኩናት ተዳኺማ ኣላ፣ ካብ ሕብረተሰብ ዓለም ተነጺላ ኣላ ኢሎም ስለዝገምገሙ ሉዕላዊ መሬትና ጎቢጦም፣ ኤርትራ ንዝመጻ ወራር ስለዝመከተት ቅድሚኡ ኣብ ምንታይ ረብሓ ተራኺበን እዩ ፍሉይ ረብሓ ዝህልዋ። ብፍላይ ምስ ሱዳንን የመንን ጁቡቲን ብዙሕ ዝርኤ ቁጠባዊ ዝምድና ኣይነበረናን፣ ኣብ ምንታይ ኢያ ኤርትራ ክትብለጸሎም?

እቲ ዘሕፍር ምሕረት ዘይግበሮ ናይ’ዚ ጉጅለ ኣብ’ዚ ኩሉኣብ ልዕሊ ኤርትራ ዝተኻየደ ጎቦጣ ኣብ ናይ “ሰንዓ ፎርም” ምስ ካልኦት ጉጅለታት ብሓባር ብምስታፍ ሃገራዊ ክሕደት ፈጺሞም እዮም።

ሕጂ’ውን ኤርትራ ኣብ ናይ ኢትዮጵያ ውሽጣዊ ጉዳይ ኣትያ እንዳበሉም ንእትነዝሕዎ ፕሮፖጋንዳን ህዝባዊ ሰራዊት ንምውራድ እትነዝሕዎ ዘለኹም፣ ጭፍራ ወያነ ን22 ዓመታት ሉዕላዊ መሬትና ጎቢጡም ምስ ዓለምለኻውያን ጎይቶቶም ተሓባቢሮም ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ሃገሩ ገዲፉ ንክስደድ፣ ቁጠባኣ ንክሩኽመሽ ዘይተኣደነ ጻዕሪ ክገብሩ ጸኒሖም ከይኣኽሎም ሕጂ ካብ ናይ ኢትዮጵያ ሰራዊት ሰሜን እዝ ዘይተኣደነ ዕጥቅን ስንቅን ዘሚቶም ናብ ኤርትራ እዮም ወሪሮም። ሕልሚ ዓባይ ትግራይን ኣፍደገ ባሕሪ ንምርካብን ምስ ገለ ዎይጦታት ብስም ይኣክልን ማሕበራትን ብስም ትግራይ ትግሪኚ ተማሻጢሮም ኤርትራና ነበረት ያ ነበረት ንምግባር እዮም እዚ ናይ ሕጂ ኩናት ወሊዖሞ። ኤርትራ ሃገራዊ ድሕነታትን ሉዕላውነታን ድሕነት ጎራባብቲ ሃገራትን ከተውሕስ መሰላን ጉቡኣን እዩ። ሕጂ ኣንቱም ውድባትን ውልቀሰባቲና እንዳበልኩም ዕላማ ወያነን መሳርሒ ወያነን ክትኮኑ እትደልዩ ታሪኽ ክሓተኩም እዩ። ዝምድና ኤርትራን ጎረባብታን ኣብ ዘይሻራነትን ሓድሕዳዊ ምክብባርን ምትሕግጋዝ ዝተመስረተ እዩ።

ጉጅለ ሰዲህኤ ካብ ናይ ጡሩፋት ኢትዮጵያውያን ሉዕላውነት ኤርትራ ዘይኣምኑ ኢሎሞ ኢልኩም ትህውትቱ ጌጋኹም ኣሚንኩም ክትእረሙ ንድሕነት ሃገርኩም ክትሰርሑ ምሓሸኩም።

ኣሜርካ ይኹን ውድብ ሕቡራት ሃገራት ሕጂ ብዛዕባ ህላኣዌ ኤርትራ ኣብ ትግራይ ይዛረቡ ኣለዉ? ንልዕሊ 22 ዓመት መሬትና ተጎቢጡ ህዝብና እንዳተሳቀየ ኣበይ ነይሮም። ስለምንታይ ነቲ ባዕሎም ዘውሓስዎ ስምምዕ ኣልጀርስ ዘየተግበርዎን ስርዓት ወያነ ካብ ሉዕላዊ መሬትና ክወጽእ ዘይሓበርዎ? ኤርትራ ሉዕላውነታ ክትሕሉን ክትከላኸልን መሰላ እዩ። ትግራይ ሃገር ኣይኮነትን፣ ትግራይ ሓንቲ ኣካል ናይ ኢትዮጵያ እያ። እንተድኣ መንግስቲ ኤርትራ ተጋግዩ ኮይኑ እቲ ሕጋዊ መንግስቲ እዩ ንኤርትራ ክሕብርን ክኸስስን ዘለዎ። ብዝተረፈ ኤርትራን ኢትዮጵያን ንረብሓ ክልቲኤን ሃገራትን ከባቢናን ሰላም ርግኣትን ንምውሓስ ብሓባር ምስራሐን ቁዱስ ዕላማ እዩ።

ኣብ’ዚ ዝኾነ ሰብ ክበርሃሉ ዘለዎ መንግስቲ ኣሜርካን ኤሮጳውያንን ኣሽሓት ኪሎሜተራት ከይዶም ንረብሓናን ንሃገራዊ ስግኣትናን ክንከላኸል እንዳበሉ ኣብ ጉዳይ ዒራቕን ኣፍጋኒስታንን ሶርያን ኣትዮም ኩናት ከካይዱ ይርከቡ ኣለዉ። ሕጊ ዓለም ንዖዖም ሓላል ንዓና ኣብ ገዛና ንዝመጸና ጸላኢ ምክልኻል ከመይ ጌሩ ሓራም ይኸውን?

እዚ ጽሑፍ መንቀሊኡ ሰዲህኤ ይኹን እምበር ንዝኾነ ተቃዋማይ እየ ባሃሊ ዝምልኸት እዩ። ዝኾነ ካብ ናይ መንግስቲ ኤርትራ ወይ ህግደፍ ፉሉይ ርእይቶ ዘለዎ ቅድም ቀዳድም ድልውነት ንምክልኻል ሃገሩን ክብሪ ህዝባዊ ሰራዊትን ከረጋግጽን ንሃገራዊ ረብሓ ድሉው ምዃኑ ብተግባር ከመስክር ኣለዎ። በዚ ኣጋጣሚ ኣብ’ዚ ሃገርና ሉዕላውነታ ዓቂባ እትምርሸሉ ዘላ በዳሂ እዋን ኣምባሳደር ዓንደብርሃን ወልደገርጊስ ዘርኣዮ ሓላፍነትን ሃገራውነትን ዝዓብለሎ መርገጹ ከየመስገንክዎ ክሓልፍ ኣይደልን። ካልኦት እውን ኣሰሩ ክስዕቡ እላቦ።

ብኣንጻር ናይ’ዚ ድማ ሙሁራትን ተጋደልቲ ነይርና በሃልቲ ኣብ ክንዲ ንሉዕላውነት ሃገሮም ዝምክቱን ንህዝባዊ ሰራዊትናን ዝከላኸሉን ብጽልኢ ተላዕጢጦም ከም ናይ ዒራቕ ሸለባውያን ኣብ ታንኪ ናይ ኣሜርካ ተወጢሖም ዝኣተዉ እዚኦም እውን ኣብ ታንክታት ወያነ ተወጢሖም ብድሕሪ ማዕጾ ንሃገሮም ክምለሱ ፈቲኖም ዘይሰለጦም ኣብ ክንዲ ብዝገበርዎ ገበን ይቅረታ ምሕታት ኣብ ሓሶትን ጸለመን ተዋፊሮምይርከቡ። እቲ ዝገብርዎ ዘለዉ ከም’ቲ ካብ ጳጳስ ንላዕሊ ካቶሊክ ምዃን ዝብሃል እዞም ሰባት ልዕሊ ተጋሩ ተሓለቕቲ ትግራይ ክኾኑ ዘገርም እዩ።

ኣብ መደምደምታ ብሓቂ ተሓለቕቲ ሃገር እንተድኣ ኮይና ኣብ’ቲ እንፈላለየሉ ክንፈላለ ኣብ’ቲ ክንፈላለየሉ ዘይግባእ ሃገራዊ ሉዕላውነትናን ህዝባዊ ሰራዊትናን ብሓባር ደው ክንብል ይግባእ።

ዓወት ንሓፋሽ!!

ግርማይ የማነ

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Thursday, 04 February 2021 21:51

Radio Dimtsi Harnnet Kassel 04.02.2021

Written by Dimtsi Harnnet

Published in Radio

بيان ختامى لمؤتمر حزب الشعب الديمقراطى الأرترى بشمال اميركا

Written by EPDP Information Office

تكلل مؤتمر حزب الشعب الديمقراطى الأرترى بشمال اميركا الذى انعقد بتأريخ 16 من شهر يناير لعام 2021 تحت شعار "بوحدتنا الداخلية وتضحياتنا الجسيمة سوف نتخطى كل المراحل الحرجة" بنجاح بالغ. بعد نقاشات جادة للأجندات التى تتعلق بحزبنا, وطننا والقرن الأفريقى والتى تم اعدادها من قبل اللجنة التحضيرية سجل مؤتمرنا الأقليمى القرارات والتوصيات التالية.

1- الأجتهاد من اجل توسيع عضوية الحزب وخاصة التحرك النشط وسط الشبيبة الأرترية حتى يضاعفون من مشاركتهم النضالى. لن يتحقق النصر بدون تنظيم والألترام فعليه نطالب شعبنا ان ينظم نفسه للتصعيد من نضالاته ويقصر عمر النظام الديكتاتورى حتى يتمكن ان ينتقل للنظام العادل والديمقراطى.

2- من اجل تعزيز امكانيات الحزب المادية دعى المؤتمر للتواصل الحثيث مع كل من افراد شعبنا, الأصدقاء والأشقاء للحصول على الدعم المادى بالأضافة الى البحث وتحريك اعضاء الحزب الذين لهم الخبرة والمعرفة ثم توظيفهم لأخذ المبادرة للعمل بدراسة استثمار الرأسمال.

3- بعد تحديد مهام التوعية ونشر المعلومات المفيدة من خلال استخدام تقنية التواصل الأجتماعي المعاصر لتوجيه مشاريع الأعلام والدعاية, طالب المؤتمر كل الأعضاء ان ينشطو فى هذا المجال وانطلاقا من ذالك وضع برامج خاضعة للتنفيذ على مستوى الفروع والأعضاء.

4- وضع برامج مساعدة التي تمكن القيادة وقواعد الحزب لكي تبلور اهداف نضالاتنا من خلال الكتابات في مواقع التواصل الأجتماعية واجراء المقابلات المستمرة والتي تهدف لتصعيد نشاطاتنا الديبلوماسية في جميع الحقول للمؤسسات الدولية. قد وصى المؤتمر ان يوطد الحزب علاقات متينة مع كل القوى الأقليمية الداعية للعدالة والديمقراطية حتى ينعم اقليمنا بالسلام, الأستقرار والمصلحة المشتركة. وايضا قرر المؤتمر توطيد علاقاتنا مع المؤسسات الحكومية والمنظمات الأنسانية والخيرية على مستوى شمال اميريكا.

5- ادراكا مننا للمخاطر الجمة التى تخيم سماء بلادنا وشعبنا بخلق اوضاع مذرية على مستوى الوطن والأقليم وانطلاقا من سياسات الحزب التى صادق عليها المجلس المركزى, يدين المؤتمر الحرب التي تم تأجيجها من قبل الديكتاتور اسياس افورق بالتعاون مع رئيس وزراء اثيوبية الدكتور ابي احمد والتي نجم عنها حالة الأبادة والعزل لشعب تقراى وطالب بتوقف الحرب العبثى الذى لا ثمار له ولا طائل منه الا الدمار والخسائر داعيا بذالك ان تحل القضاية الخلافية عبر الحوار وفوق الطاولة المستديرة.

6- نعارض تصرفات الديكتاتور اسياس اللا مسؤلة التي تجعل من شعبنا ضحية للهلاك والعزاب بزجه فى اتون الحرب لا تعنيه ونعزز من مقاومتنا بالأشتراك مع طالبى العدالة ان تتوقف الحرب عاجلا ويتم جلاء الجيش الأرترى من تلك المناطق خارج حدودنا الوطنى.

7- ندعو المؤسسات الأنسانية والحكومية الدولية بأن تتدخل فورا فى ازالة الأنتهاكات وايقاف البطش والمعانات التى يتعرض لها اللاجؤن الأرتريون الذين يعيشون تحت رعاية المنظمات الأنسانية الدولية فى اقليم تقراى وتحترم سلامتهم وحقهم القانونى فى الحماية.

8- من اجل تعزيز النضال المشترك المثمر والأسراع بتقصير عمر النظام الديكتاتوري المتقطرس أكد المؤتمر العمل مع كل القوات السياسية والمجتمعات المدنية التى تتحرك فى المهجر وعلى رأسها حركة كفاية بتمتين التحالف والتعاون الدؤب على مستوى شمال اميركا.

9- نداء المؤتمر الأقليمى لقوات الدفاع الأترية: بالأمس وكما هو جلي فى سجلات التأريخ, يعلم الشعب الأرترى بأنك دفعت ثمنا باهظا بخوض المعارك المتتالية من اجل الأستقلال وضمان السيادة الوطنية. لكي يبقى في سدة السلطة فقط, غامر اسياس في الفترة السابقة بتأجيج حروب طاحنة مما جعلك ان تدفع ثمنا غاليا وراح ضحيتها الأشبال من ابناء الشعب الأرتري الذين لآ يفهمون عواقبها ولآ زرة من مصلحة لهم فيها تاركا بذالك بصمات الحزن والخسائر البالغة. واليوم نشاهد الديكتاتور اسياس افورق ينفذ على العلن تلك الشروط المسبقة التي تلفظ بها بقوله "لن نكون مكتوفي ألأيادي في الشأن الأثيوبي" ثم تدخل في الشأن الأثيوبي بشكل سافر بالرغم من محاولة نفيه بالقول "لم اتدخل" مورطا بذالك الألاف من جيش الدفاع الأرتري بالدخول في اقليم تقراي والقيام بعملية التدمير والخسائر. وهذه الحقيقة تأكدها الحكومات وشعوبها وايضا تطالبه بدورها ان يخرج في اسرع فرصة ممكنة. ولم يكن سرا انه يتربص لكى يتدخل في الحرب التي اندلعت بين اثيوبية والسودان. اذن, ينبه حزب الشعب الديمقراطي الأرتري بشمال اميركا من قاعة مؤتمره لقوات الدفاع الأرترية الموقرة ان تعي تماما بأن عواقب هذه الحروب المستمرة التي تنغمس فيها لن تكون مضرة لها فقط فحسب وبل انها سوف تأتي بالحسرة لشعبنا وتترك ارث مشين للأجيال الأرترية القادمة. في حالة استمرارك للتدخل في حروب لا تعنيك اصلا, لا تنسى بأنك تفتح الباب على مصراعيه حتى تكون ارتريا مسرحا للحروب والدمار.

عاشت الأستقلال والسيادة الوطنية دوما!!

الحقوق الأنسانية والديمقراطية للشعب الأرترى المقهور!!

المجد والخلود لشهداء وطننا الأبرار!!

مؤتمر حزب الشعب الديمقراطى الأرترى بأقليم شمال اميركا.

16 من يناير لعام 2021

Thursday, 04 February 2021 20:09

U.N. warns Tigray conflict could spark broader destablization in Ethiopia

Written by Eritrea Hub

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region could trigger broader destablization in the country, U.N. aid chief Mark Lowcock told the Security Council on Wednesday as he warned that a dire humanitarian situation in the north was set to worsen.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray have not received help and the United Nations has been unable to completely assess the situation because it does not have full and unimpeded access, according to Lowcock’s notes for the closed virtual briefing of the 15-member Security Council.

He said there were reports of increasing insecurity elsewhere, which could be due to a vacuum created by the redeployment of Ethiopian troops to Tigray, and that the United Nations was concerned about the potential for broader national and regional destablization.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered air strikes and a ground offensive against Tigray’s former ruling party – the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – after regional forces attacked federal army bases in the region on Nov. 4.

The TPLF withdrew from the regional capital, Mekelle, and major cities, but low-level fighting has continued.

In the region of more than five million people, thousands of people are believed to have died and 950,000 have fled their homes since fighting began.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “seriously concerned” over the situation in Tigray, a U.N. spokesman said late on Tuesday.

Lowcock said Abiy’s government controls between 60% and 80% of the territory in Tigray, but does not have full command of the ethnic Amhara and Eritrean forces also operating in the region.

Dozens of witnesses say Eritrean troops are in Tigray to support Ethiopian forces, though both countries deny that.

The United Nations has received reports that police are operating at a fraction of their previous capacity and Lowcock said he could confidently say that if protection and aid were not quickly increased then the humanitarian situation would deteriorate.

He said there were troubling accusations of sexual and gender-based violence.

Several senior U.N. officials recently visited Ethiopia to push for greater access to Tigray. Lowcock said he was hopeful there would be concrete progress in coming days to allow aid to be scaled up.

Source: AFP

Wednesday, 03 February 2021 22:21

ስደት መግለጺ ተቓውሞ እንተዘይኮይኑ!

Written by ኣድሓኖም በርሀ

ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ኣንጻር ግፍዒ ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ዘለዎ ግንዛበን ስምዒትን ብዝተፈላለዩ ኣገባባት ክገልጽ ከም ዝጸንሐን ክሳብቲ ዝምነዮ ራህዋ ዝረክብ ተቓውሞኡ ከም ዝቕጽልን ፍሉጥ እዩ። ዝተፈላለዩ ከም ናይ በርሊን ማንፌስቶ፡ ተበግሶ ጉጅለ 15፡ ምንቅስቓስ ወዲ ዓልን ተቓውሞ ኣኽርያን ዝኣመሰሉ ምስቲ ብውዱብ ኣገባብ ዝካየድ ዘሎ ናይ ለውጢ ቃልሲ ተደሚሮም መግለጺ ናይቲ መላእ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ኣንጻር ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ዘለዎ ተቓውሞ መግለጺ እምበር፡ ናይ ዝተወሰኑ ኣካላት ተበግሶ ጥራይ ጌርካ ዝውሰዱ ኣይኮኑን። ብዓብይኡ ከኣ ናይቶም ኣብ ዝሓለፈ መግዛእታዊ ዓመታት ህግደፍ ብዝተፈላለየ መንገድታት ነቲ ስርዓት ራሕሪሖም ክስደዱ ዝጸንሑ መንእሰያት ስጉምቲ እውን ዓብይ መርኣያ ተቓውሞ ኣብ ልዕሊ ጉጅለ ህግደፍ እዩ።

“ህዝቢ ኤርትራ ስለምንታይ ኣንጻር ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ይስለፍ?” ዝብል ሕቶ ኣይኮነንዶ ብኣና በቶም ግዳይ ንኸውን ዘለና ኤርትራውያን ብብዙሓት ዘይኤርትራውያን ወገናት እውን ዝተመለሰ እዩ። ስለዚ ኣብ ኤርትራ ሕገመንግታዊ ስርዓት ስለ ዘየለ፡ ልዕልና ሕጊ ብምብኳሩ፡ ሰብኣውን ዲሞክራስያውን መሰል ዜጋታት ፈጺሙ ስለ ዘይክብር፡ ገደብ ዘይብሉ ግዱድ ዕስክርናን ህዝባዊ ምርጫ ኣይካየድን…….. ወዘተ እንዳበልና፡ ዝርዝር ምቕራብ ኣየድልየናን እዩ። እዞም ጸገማትን ብኩራታትን ኣብ ኤርትራ ኣብቲ መበቆሎም እንተዘይተፈቲሖም፡ ጠንጢካዮም ናብ ስደት ብምምራሕ ዝውገዱ ኣይኮኑን። እዚ ማለት ግና ስደት መሰረታዊ መፍትሒ ደኣ ኣይኹን እምበር ሓደ ካብ ናይ ተቓውሞ መግለጽታት ምዃኑስ ዝዝንጋዕ ኣይኮነን።

ኣብ ኤርትራ ዘሎ ጸገም ብመሰረቱ ብቃልሲ እንተዘይተፈቲሑ ገዲፍካዮ እንተተሰደድካ እውን ደድሕሬኻ እዩ ዝስዕብ። ኣብ ጉዕዞ ናብ ስደት እቲ ኣብ ባሕርን ምድረበዳን፡ ፈቐዶ መደበር ስደተኛታትን ኣብተን መዕቆቢ ክፈቕዳ ዝሕተታ ሃገራት፡ ዘጋጥም ጸገማትን ክሳብ ክንደይ መሪር ምዃኑ ንኤርትራዊ ከም ሓድሽ ዝንገሮ ኣይኮነን። እዚ ከኣ ዘቤታዊ ጸገም እንተሃደምካሉ እውን ደድሕሬኻ ከይዱ ከም ዝጐድኣካ መረጋገጺ እዩ። ስለዚ ከምቲ ስደት ደድሕሬኻ ዝስዕብ፡ እቲ ኣንጻር ጠንቂ ስደት ዝግበር ቃልሲ እውን ኣብ ዝሃለኻ እንተሃለኻ ክዝንጋዕ ዘይግበኦ እዩ። ምናልባት ገለ ወገናት ኣብ ስደቶም ብውልቆም ጽቡቕ ዕድል ኣጋጢምዎም ነገራዊ ዕግበት እንተረኺቦም፡ ስደቶም መሰረታዊ መፍትሒ ዘምጸኣሎም ይመስሎም ይኸውን። ብግብሪ ግና እቲ ኣብ ስደት ኮይንካ ብዝርከብ ነገራዊ ራህዋ ዘይሓዊ ስንብራት ኣብ ቦታኡ ከም ዘሎ ዘይምርሳዕ ኣገዳሲ እዩ። እዚ ማለት ናይ መላእ ህዝቢ ኤርትራ መስረታዊ ሕቶ ዝምልስ ዘተኣማምን መፍትሒ ክሳብ ዘይተረጋገጸ ብውልቂ ዝርከብ ዕግበት መሰረታዊ ክኸውን ከምዘይክእልን እዩ።

ኣብዚ እዋንዚ ብሰንክቲ ወጽዓ ህግደፍ ዝደረኾ ግዱድ ስደት፡ ኤርትራውያን ዘይተዘርእዋ ሃገር የለን። ጉዕዞ ናብ ዝስደት ብጣማጣማ ካብ ኤርትራ ነቒልካ ብቐጥታ ኣብቲ ዝሓለንካዮ ዝብጻሕ ዘይኮነ፡ ክሰግሮ ዝግበኦ መድረኻት ኣለዎ። ብመንጽርዚ መብዛሕትኦም ኤርትራውያን ቅድም ናብተን ምስ ኤርትራ ብመሬት ዝራኸባን ከዕቁበኦም ፈቓደኛታት ዝኾናን ጐረባብቲ ሃገራት እዮም ዝኣትዉ። ሱዳንን ኢትዮጵያን ከኣ መባእታዊ ምዕረፊ ኣብ ምዃን ቕድሚት ዝስረዓ እየን። ምእንቲ እዚ ኢና ከኣ ሱዳንን ኢትዮጵያን ስለቲ ንኤርትራውያን ስደተኛታት መባእታዊ መጽለሊ ምሃበን ከነምስግነን ዝጸንሕናን እዚ ልግሰን ቀጻሊ ንክኸውን እንምሕጸነንን። እዘን ሃገራት ክንድቲ ናብ ሃገርና ዝቐረባ ብምዃነን ስደተኛታት ክበጽሕወን ቀሊል ዝኸውን፡ ጸይቂ ኣእዳው ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ብቐሊሉ ዘረኻኽበለን ምዃኑ ከኣ ሓደጋ ኣለወን። ኣብዘን ሃገራት ዘይምርግጋእ ከጋጥም እንከሎ፡ ኣብኣተን ዝተዓቖቡ ኤርትራውያን ስደተኛታት ተሃሰይቲ እዮም። ካብዘን ሃገራት በብግዜኡ ክጭወዩን ክቕንጸሉን ዝጸንሑ ኤርትራውያን ከኣ ናይዚ ኣብነት እዮም። ተመኩሮ ሓርበኛታት ወልደማርያም ባህልቢ፡ ተኽለብርሃን ገብርጻድቕ፡ መሓመድ ዓሊ ኢብራሂምን፡ ገብረብርሃን ዘርአ፡ ዘካርያስ ንጉሰን ካለኦትን ናይቲ ግዳይ ኣብነት እዮም። ኣብዚ እዋንዚ ብሰንክቲ ኣብ ትግራይ ዝካየድ ዘሎ እሞ ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ ዝተሳተፈሉ ውግእ ኣብ ልዕሊ ህይወት ኤርትራውያን ስደተኛታት ክሳብ ሎሚ ወሪዱ ዘሎ ግፍዕን በደልን ሓደ ካብ ኣሉታዊ ሳዕቤናቱ እዩ።

ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ ኣብቲ ኣብ ትግራይ ዝካየድ ዘሎ ውግእ ካብ ተሳተፈ፡ ኣብ ልዕሊ እቶም ኣብ ትግራይ ዝርከባ መደበር ስደተኛታት፡ ሽመልባ፡ ሕንጻጽ፡ ማይዓይንን ዓዲ ሓርሽን ተዓቚቦም ዝጸንሑ ኤርትራውያን ጸገም ከም ዘጋጥም ርዱእ ነይሩ። እነሆ ከኣ እቲ ነዞም ስደተኛታት ዘጋጥሞምን ጌና ሎሚ እውን ዘይተፈትሐን ስእነት ማሕበራዊ ኣገልግሎት፡ ሕጽረት ቀረባትን ምስኣን ናይ ህልውና ውሕስነትን ኣጋጢምዎም። ኮሚሽነር ላዕለዋይ ኮሚሽን ጉዳይ ስደተኛታት ሕቡራት ሃገራት ፍሊፖ ግራንዲ፡ ኣብዚ ቀረባ መዓልታት ኣብ ትግራይ ከይዶም፡ መደበራት ሽመልባን ሕንጻጽን ከም ዝዓነዋን ብሰንክዚ ምምዝባል ክሳብ 20, ሺሕ ስደተኛታት ሃለዋቶም ከም ዝጠፈአን ምስክርነቶም ሂቦም። ካብዞም ሃለዋቶም ዝጠፈአ ስደተኛታት ብዙሓት ካብቲ መደበራት ብሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ፡ ብሓይሊ ተወሲዶም ኣብ ብዙሕ ከባብታት ኣውራጃ ጋሽ ተኣሲሮም ከም ዘለዉ ብቤተሰቦም ከይተረፈ ተረጋጊጹ ኣሎ። ካብቲ መደበራት ክሃድሙ እንከለዉ ደሃዮም ዝጠፈአን ግጭት ምስተፈጥረ ዝሞቱን ከም ዘለዉ እውን ናይ ዓይኒ መሰኻክር ኣረጋጊጸምዎ እዮም። እዚ ናይ ህግደፍ ሃስያ ኣብተን መደበር ስደተኛታት ጥራይ ከይተደረተ ኣብ ልዕሊ’ቶም ብላዕለዋይ ኮምሽን ጉዳይ ስደተኛታት ተፈቒድሎም ኣብ ኣዲስ ኣበባን ካለኦት ከተማታት ኢትዮጵያን ተጣይሶ ዝነበሩ ኤርትራውያን ስደተኛታት እውን ሓደጋ የንጸላሉ ኣሎ።

ላዕለዋይ ኮሚሽን ጉዳይ ስደተኛታት ሕቡራት ሃገራት ወሲኽካ፡ ብዙሓት ዓለም ለኻዊ ሰብኣዊ ትካላት ብጉዳይ ኤርትራውያን ስደተኛታት ኣብ ኢትዮጵያ ሻቕለቶም ይገልጹ ኣለዉ። ንሕና ኤርትራውያን ከኣ ነዞም ምእንቲ ዜጋታትና ዘእውዩ ዘለው እንዳኣመስገና ተጽዕኖኦም ክዛይድ እንዳጸዋዕና ግደና ክንገብር ድልዋት ክንከውን ግቡእና እዩ። ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ሓንሳብ ካብቲ ንቡር ሰብኣዊ መስመር ስለ ዝወጸ፡ ነዚ ዓለም ለኻዊ ምሕጽንታ ኣይክሰምዖን እዩ። ስለዚ ኣብ ልዕሊኡ ኣዝዩ ዘሕምሞ ስጉምቲ ክሳብ ዝውሰድ ምሕጽንታና ክቕጽል ናይ ግድን እዩ። መንግስቲ ኢትዮጵያ ናይዞም ኣብ ሃገሩ ዘለዉ ኤርትራውያን ስደተኛታት ድሕነት ናይ ምሕላው ሓላፍነት ከም ዘለዎ ደጊምና ነዘኻኽሮ። እንተኾነ ኣብዚ እዋንዚ ደገፍ ጉጅለ ህግደፍ ኣዝዩ የድልዮ ስለ ዘሎ፡ ንከየኾርዮ ክብል ንስደተኛታትና ኣሕሊፉ ከይህቦም ዘየስግእ ኣይኮነን። እምበኣር እዚ ህልዊ ኩነታት ካብ ዘመሓላልፎ መልእኽቲ ሓደ ፡ ስደት መግለጺ ተቓውሞ እንተዘይኮይኑ መሰረታዊ መፍትሒ ከምዘየምጽእ እዩ እሞ ነዚ ኣብ ግምት ኣእቲና ቃልስና ነሕይል።

Wednesday, 03 February 2021 13:21

UN Security Council to discuss Tigray aid access

Written by Martin Plaut

FEBRUARY 3, 2021 MARTIN PLAUT ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY, UN, UNHCR

Source: What’s in the Blue

Ethiopia (Tigray): Council Members to Discuss the Humanitarian Situation

Tomorrow (3 February) Council members are expected to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia under “any other business”, a standing item in closed consultations. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock is expected to brief. The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was initiated at the request of Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and the US.

This will be the third time that Council members have discussed Ethiopia since the crisis erupted in the Tigray region on 4 November 2020. All of the meetings have been held under “any other business”. Council members previously discussed the conflict under “any other business” on 24 November and on 14 December 2020. During the 24 November session, members emphasised the importance of de-escalating the conflict, expressed concern about the impact of the fighting on civilians, and underscored their support for regional engagement to resolve the conflict. The 14 December meeting focused on the humanitarian situation and featured a briefing by Wafaa Saeed, OCHA’s Deputy Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, who called on the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law.

While Council members have met on Tigray, they have yet to take concrete action in the form of a Council product that conveys clear messages or makes requests of the parties. To date, some members have been reluctant for the Council to pursue an outcome on this issue, which is not currently on the formal agenda. At time of writing, it did not appear that a product would be adopted tomorrow.

In tomorrow’s meeting, Lowcock may emphasise the importance of permitting unfettered and safe humanitarian access to the region, protecting civilians, and restoring basic services to those in need. He may refer to shortages of food, medicine, and clean water in the conflict-affected areas, and highlight the dire humanitarian conditions facing those displaced by the fighting.

There may also be discussion about the challenges confronting Eritrean refugees in Tigray.

On 1 February, at the conclusion of his recent trip to Ethiopia, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that he met refugees who “spoke of infiltration of armed actors in the camps, of killings, abductions and also some forced return to Eritrea at the hands of Eritrean forces present in the areas”.

Reports of sexual violence in the Tigray conflict may also be raised in the discussion; in this regard, in a 21 January statement, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten said she was “greatly concerned by serious allegations of sexual violence in…Tigray…including a high number of alleged rapes in the capital, Mekelle”. She also referred to “disturbing reports of individuals allegedly forced to rape members of their own family, under threats of imminent violence” and reports of women being “forced by military elements to have sex in exchange for basic commodities”.

Council members are likely to want an update on the implementation of the December agreement between the UN and Ethiopia permitting humanitarian workers to work in areas in Tigray under government control. Some members may express concern about impediments to the delivery of humanitarian aid. In this respect, there may be interest in possible ways to improve clearance procedures allowing UN actors and non-governmental organisations to conduct their operations in such areas.

During his visit, Grandi discussed this issue with senior Ethiopian officials, stating that it is important “to have an access management system, a clearance management system, that is fast, that is efficient and as close to the field operations as possible”. Members might also be interested in how humanitarian workers can best be protected in the conflict, and they may want OCHA’s analysis of areas where humanitarian access may be difficult because of legitimate security concerns.

All Council members have been concerned about the conflict in Tigray and recognise the importance of humanitarian access to the region. In spite of this widespread concern, there is not a unified position in the Council on the most appropriate way to respond. African members have tended to emphasise the importance of regional engagement in finding a solution to the crisis. While the AU has engaged with the Ethiopian government, one challenge has been that the government views the conflict as an internal law enforcement operation rather than a civil war, rejecting calls for mediation.

“Any other business”—the format of tomorrow’s meeting (and the 24 November and 14 December meetings) on Tigray—is one way that members have traditionally kept abreast of developments in situations not on the Council’s agenda. “Any other business” is also generally conducive to discreet discussions of more sensitive matters, as there is no public record of “any other business” topics. These are not considered formal meetings of the Security Council, however.

Tuesday, 02 February 2021 22:49

Tigray: Opposition parties blame Ethiopian troops and Eritrean forces for 52,000 civilian deaths

Written by Eritrea Hub

A Joint Press Release by Tigray Independence Party (TIP), Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET), and National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) on the Current Situation in Tigray

It has been almost three months since the unelected Ethiopian government officially declared a total war against the people of Tigray. This war is a war to deny people's constitutional right to self-government and self-determination as it is imposed on Tigray because Tigray defied the decision to postpone the sixth round election. This war, ostensibly declared in the name of ‘law enforcement’, deployed not only the Ethiopian defense force in its full capacity but also the ill-oriented Eritrean army in full capacity, regional state special police forces, Amhara militia, mercenaries from Somalia/Moqadisho and a technological support of non-African actors.

Since the start of this ominous war, more than 52,000 innocent civilians; including children, women, youth, elders and religious fathers; have been slaughtered indiscriminately. Towns and villages have been demolished by a blind artillery shelling, our health and educational facilities have been looted and destroyed and, to the surprise of any sane mind, our religious institutions have also been attacked and their sacred possessions plundered.

Extra-judicial killings and gang rapes have become every day practices of the aggressors. The rape that these forces are committing is so egregious that it includes forcing at gun point a father to do it on his daughter. Moreover, in fear of these abominable horrors of the invading forces, more than 3 million people have left their homes and become internally displaced with in Tigray, while around 150,000 have migrated to other parts of Ethiopia, although they couldn't escape ethnic profiling there too. Moreover, tens of thousands have fled to Sudan to escape from the atrocities in their homeland. The government and people of Sudan had always been a friend in need to the people of Tigray and we express our deepest gratitude for continuing to be one.

At this moment, more than 6.5 million people, including the internally displaced, are in need of urgent humanitarian aid. In fact, we have started to witness death of innocent civilians due to hunger even by the admission of ‘officials’ of the so-called provisional ‘government’ in Tigray. It should be noted that this hunger is man-made as we are aware that more than 4.8 million livestock have been butchered and raided, crops in fields have been burned and almost everything that the invading forces found in a Tigrayan home is looted and what is left of that is burned.

The Ethiopian government is using hunger as a weapon to subdue Tigray since it has been obstructing international efforts for humanitarian assistance. Keeping Tigray detached from the world by blocking internet and telephone communication is part of the strategy to obstruct helping the people of Tigray. Therefore, unless an urgent intervention is made by the international community to make food and medicine available to our people within days, we are afraid the looming humanitarian disaster of biblical proportion will become a gruesome reality in Tigray and humanity will be left to rue that.

We, therefore, call up on the international community for action

to ensure an immediate withdrawal of the invading Eritrean army.
to ensure an immediate withdrawal of the aggressor Ethiopian army, Amhara militia and regional special police forces from Tigray land.
to ensure a secure access and direct humanitarian assistance in Tigray.
to ensure an unrestricted access to the international media to get to Tigray and cover what is happening.
to ensure a deep, independent and international investigation of the egregious war crimes and crimes against humanity that are committed by all forces that wreaked havoc in Tigray and make the perpetrators accountable.
to press the Ethiopian government to stop the ongoing war in Tigray and start a dialogue process aiming at resolving the political problems in Tigray and Ethiopia.

Tigray will prevail!!

Tigray Independence Party (TIP)

Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET)

National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona)

February 2021, Mekelle-Tigray

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Tuesday, 02 February 2021 19:16

CONCLUDING STATEMENT OF EPDP NORTH AMERICA REGIONAL CONGRESS

Written by EPDP NA Information Office

The congress was held on January 16, 2021 under the slogan that goes: “ Through our internal unity and dedication we will confront any obstacles and win.“ Following the agenda prepared by the preparatory committee, the congress discussed beneficiary issues to our party, our country and the Horn region in general after which the regional congress passed the following resolutions and recommendations:

1. Work hard to increase party membership specially targeting young females and males.

2. The congress called upon our people to organize and elevate its struggle because without being organized we cannot replace the dictatorship with a just and democratic system.

3. Strengthen our party’s financial standing by meeting and convincing Eritreans and friends of Eritrea to offer assistance. In addition, the regional congress suggested to jump start a well planned capital investment whose feasibility to be primarily studied by members with necessary skills.

4. Congress underscored that raising the awareness of our members reflected in our party project is better achieved through the modern media tools in which all party members ought to participate. Based on that the regional congress organized a work project that is to be discharged at the level of branches and individual members.

5. The North America congress have put together a facilitating program to enable us boost our diplomatic activities with international institutions, familiarize the goals of our party through Broadcast and written media. Congress also encouraged the party to establish relations with countries in our region (East Africa) to promote peace and stability. Moreover, the regional congress showed its resolve to conduct communications with government institutions and none profit organization in Nort America level. Considering the current dangerous situation triggered by the prime minister of Ethiopia and the Eritrean dictator, congress followed the foot-steps of the EPDP central committee’s decision and likewise condemned the brutality of the war lords over the people of Tigray and demanded the hostilities to stop immediately and called the parties to solve their differences on the negotiating table.

6. The unprovoked cross border conflict with Tigray led by the Eritrean dictator exposed our people to yet another uncalled for tragedy and so the congress called for swift secession of the hostilities and the trigger happy dictator to take his forces out of Tigray. Consequently, congress encouraged to reinforce our resistance against the enemy along with other justice seekers.

7. Concerning the tragic violations perpetrated on the Eritrean refugees living in camps in Tigray under the auspices of UNHR and Ethiopia, the regional congress again called upon international human rights organizations, relevant UN organs and governments to redress the damage done and return some semblance of dignity to the victimized refugees. Going forward, the congress stressed the necessity of co-operating with the diaspora opposition and the civic movements. More importantly the North America congress recommended that joining hands with Yiakl movement and intensifying the struggle against the brute in Eritrea will essentially hasten his demise or downfall.

8. A call of the North America congress to the Eritrean defense forces: we recognize and the Eritrean people knows the hefty price you paid time and again in order to secure sovereignty and the independence of your country. We know too that in the past the dictator gambled with your lives by engaging you into wars unknown to you for the sole reason of protracting his time in power regardless of our people’s loss and pain. As is always the case even now you have been pushed into a bloody war in Tigray where you are causing and sustaining untold death and distraction in Tigray. As you may know this war doesn’t bear any benefits for you and for your country other than simply being sacrificial lambs for Isaias’ sinister agenda of interfering in Ethiopian hostilities. Therefore, the congress is urging you straight from where it is convening to never again be pushed into unjust wars that serve no good purpose for Eritrea.

Long live our national independence and sovereignty!

Justice and democracy for our people!

Eternal glory for our martyrs!

EPDP regional congress of North America.

January 16, 2021

Tuesday, 02 February 2021 11:22

Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael’s Statement, 30 January 2021

Written by Martin Plaut

JANUARY 31, 2021MARTIN PLAUTETHIOPIA, TIGRAY

Let me first express my utmost respect and sincerest appreciation to you, the people of Tigray, as I speak to you directly from the heart of our embattled Tigray while in the middle of defending it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As our people defend their safety and security to ensure their right to self-determination, we are faced with the ominous threat of the fascist forces of Abiy Ahmed, who are determined to collectively punish and subjugate the people of Tigray for simply exercising their constitutional right to hold democratic elections. As a result of this, a genocidal war has been waged upon the People of Tigray to illegally appropriate by force your identity and your basic right to existence.

The invaders have drawn on the combined forces of four countries and special forces of various Ethiopian regional states and descended upon Tigray, resulting in an uneven balance of power: one battalion of our Tigray Defence forces to one Division of the enemy invader forces. Despite this imbalance, the Tigray Defence forces have registered significant victories. Our successful operation on the Northern Command allowed us to minimize the debilitating attack planned by the invading enemy forces. Although they had planned on killing and humiliating the people, destroying the infrastructure, and looting their property, they failed to understand and thereby miscalculated that they can never rob or destroy the deeply entrenched psychological makeup of the people of Tigray. Now, with an even stronger commitment, we will rebuild Tigray again. They can never take us back to the stone ages as they had intended. “We get our armament from the enemies and our food supply from our people” This is the motto we always held high and, in this struggle, we continue to do so.

The bitter loss of our martyrs and heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their very lives only makes us more determined to keep on fighting. These brave men and women of the TPLF, who gave their lives while fighting against the illegal invasion of enemy forces, have for 46 years continued to pay the price for the continuation of the peoples’ struggle. That is a blessing. There are leaders, and there are rulers. Tigray has the former while the latter are in charge of Ethiopia.

To all the people of Tigray:

Our enemies are committing the worst atrocities such as looting, destroying essential infrastructure, including health institutions and medical supplies, water facilities, telecom and power establishments, and much more. The fascist forces of Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afeworki are mercilessly slaughtering your children, bombing the institutions you worked hard for 30 years to build and destroying our historical religious sites. Nevertheless, this will not defeat us. It will only motivate us to fight harder.

To our most valued farmers:

I call upon you to send your children, as you have so gallantly done in the past, to join the struggle against the invading enemy forces.

To our people in the towns and villages in enemy territory:

You are facing daily horrors, including starvation, the merciless killings of your children, displacement, destruction of property and possessions, including the deliberate setting on fire of precious crops and animal feed. Despite facing such extreme challenges at these enemies’ hands, you continue to resist and support our struggle bravely. You have proven to the enemies that no matter the cost, you will never forcibly submit to the invading forces

To our Tigray Defence forces:

I say move on with our struggle for a just cause. I do not doubt as to its outcome. You will be victorious!

To the youth of Tigray:

Darkness has descended upon you. The invading enemy is killing you, forcing you to flee from your homes, depriving you of your fundamental right to self-development and education. Yet, you continue to resist employing courageous and systematic movements. You are awe-inspiring. I call upon you all to join the struggle.

To the Women of Tigray:

The enemies are committing unspeakable atrocities upon you; too gruesome to imagine, too painful to recount. Mothers and daughters are being raped side by side. Unbearable! All your resources are looted and destroyed. With time, the enemy’s opportunities are increased, resulting in more atrocities befalling on you. I call upon you to send your sons and daughters to join the struggle.

To the Tigrayan diaspora:

Your contribution to the struggle on behalf of your people is immensely appreciated. Furthermore, your clear understanding of this invasion’s true nature as a genocidal one has resulted in you taking on the role of ‘Ambassadors’ of your people and raising awareness among the international community, fundraising, and becoming the voices for the silenced people of Tigray. I urge you to take on your historic responsibility to consolidate your efforts and continue the struggle.

To the international community:

It is imperative that you fully grasp the magnitude of the atrocities being committed by the Ethiopian and Eritrean aggressors as well as other foreign powers. They are attacking the people of Tigray to exterminate them with bullets and weaponized hunger. The international community must recognize its responsibility and exercise its maximum efforts to bring these criminal aggressors Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afeworki [committing grave crimes against humanity] to an international court.

Our ancestors defeated their enemies not with heavy artillery but with a decision not to give their fundamental human rights away. Furthermore, they fought with a strong commitment. We, too, are ready to defend our territorial integrity with our foundational beliefs of resistance and unity. We will continue to be united and stay strong to defeat Tigray’s invaders until our right to self-determination is secured.

In the past few days, our enemies have once again launched a sizeable offensive. But we will continue to thwart it and remove them from our land.

Victory for Tigray! Tigray Will Prevail!

Tuesday, 02 February 2021 11:15

UN Says 20,000 Refugees Missing After Ethiopian Camps Destroyed

Written by Eritrea Hub

Eritrean forces assumed control of Hitsats in early January and forced those remaining in the camp to evacuate, refugees said. “They threatened to kill us and people were afraid,” said one refugee now in Addis Ababa, who asked that his name not be used.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Thousands of people, many travelling by foot with no water and only leaves for food, have survived attacks and hardship to reach two camps in southern Tigray where the UN has regained access.

Eritrean refugees queue during a distribution of items organised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
Nearly 100,000 refugees from Eritrea, an oppressive, authoritarian nation bordering Ethiopia to the north, were registered in four camps in Tigray when fighting erupted in November between Abiy's government and the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). (Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

1 Feb 2021

After surviving gun battles, attempted abductions, attacks by angry militiamen and days-long treks to safety with nothing to eat but moringa leaves, Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.

Nearly 100,000 refugees from Eritrea, bordering Ethiopia to the north, were registered in four camps in Tigray when fighting erupted in November between Abiy’s government and the regional ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Two of those camps, Hitsats and Shimelba, were caught up in hostilities and remain inaccessible to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and its Ethiopian counterpart, the Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA).

The information vacuum has spurred dire speculation over the refugees’ fate.

The UN has sounded the alarm over reported targeted killings and abductions by Eritrean soldiers, whose role in the conflict is widely documented but officially denied by Addis Ababa and Asmara.

The US State Department last week cited “credible reports” of looting and sexual violence in the camps.

Mai Aini, one of two camps in southern Tigray where the UN has regained access, is now home to hundreds of refugees from Hitsats.

“Most of the people, if you search this camp, they’ll start crying when they talk about what happened,” said Girmay, who like other refugees insisted on using only one name, fearing reprisals.

“Our friends could be alive or dead. We don’t know.”

‘They came and killed’

Once fighting reached Hitsats in late November, pro-TPLF militiamen targeted refugees in reprisal killings after suffering battlefield setbacks against Eritrean troops, several refugees told AFP news agency. On one morning the militiamen shot dead nine young Eritrean men outside a church, they said.

Pro-TPLF forces based themselves out of Hitsats for weeks, forbidding hungry residents from going out in search of food and shooting dead several who tried, anyway.

“At first we couldn’t believe it because they speak the same language as us,” Girmay said of the pro-TPLF forces. “Before we are friends … Suddenly they came and killed.”

Eritrean soldiers also committed abuses, the refugees said, arresting dozens of people, likely more, and whisking them to an unknown destination.

“The Eritrean soldiers caught some people and started asking them questions. I’ve counted 26 or 27,” one refugee said. “The next day they took them somewhere else. We don’t know where they are.”

Ethiopia’s government is investigating abuses and will try to account for all of Hitsats’s pre-conflict population, which it estimates at about 11,000, said Tesfahun Gobezay, ARRA’s executive director.

“With regard to Eritrean soldiers taking Eritrean refugees, we don’t have any solid evidence yet,” Tesfahun told AFP.

‘How can I feel safe?’

Eritrean forces assumed control of Hitsats in early January and forced those remaining in the camp to evacuate, refugees said.

“They threatened to kill us and people were afraid,” said one refugee now in Addis Ababa, who asked that his name not be used.

Roughly 3,000 refugees from Hitsats and the other inaccessible northern camp, Shimelba, have since reached the two camps in southern Tigray, many travelling by foot with no water and only leaves for food.

In Mai Aini, some new arrivals complained of poor access to clean water and of not having a place to sleep.

But their biggest concern, shared by some longtime residents, was for their security, with several worrying that pro-TPLF militias could attack the camp despite an extensive federal military presence nearby.

“How can I feel safe here?” said Natnael, who has lived in Mai Aini since he was a boy. “There are many militias around the camp.”

ARRA’s Tesfahun said progress had been made in re-establishing basic services in the southern camps.

He also said the camps were safe, though he added that “security is more of a feeling than reality, so they may feel that they are still insecure even if the reality shows otherwise”.

It remains to be seen what has become of the two camps in northern Tigray that are still out of contact.

Satellite imagery shows widespread damage to both, suggesting a campaign to destroy them, the British-based investigations firm DX Open Network said.

“There are clear and consistent patterns across both camps over a two-month period demonstrating that these refugee camps were systematically targeted despite their protected humanitarian status,” it said in a statement.

Well before the conflict, Abiy’s government made no secret of its goal to get rid of the northern camps and relocate the refugees.

Tesfahun said the plan had been “sabotaged” by the TPLF, but that it was now “resuming”.

A family Eritrean refugees stand inside their house at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Eritrean refugees socialise inside a house at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

An Eritrean refugee woman seats with a child at the door of a house at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

An Eritrean refugee woman looks on during distribution of items organised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Ethiopian Army soldiers stand as a pick-up truck with militia men passes by at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Eritrean refugees walks carrying items during a distribution of items organised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

A general view of the Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Tuesday, 02 February 2021 11:12

UN Says 20,000 Refugees Missing After Ethiopian Camps Destroyed

Written by Martin Plaut

FEBRUARY 1, 2021 MARTIN PLAUT ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY

By Samuel Gebre

February 1, 2021,

Source: Bloomberg

As many as 20,000 refugees are missing after two camps in Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region were smashed, the United Nations said.

The refugees, most of whom are from neighboring Eritrea, fled from the Hitsats and Shimelba shelters which were destroyed in fighting that erupted in Tigray in November. In January, satellite images showed the destruction of two refugee camps sheltering thousands of Eritreans in the region.null

About 3,000 people made it to another camp in Mai-Aini, which the United Nations has access to, according to Filippo Grandi, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees. Many refugees “were caught in crossfire, abducted and forced to return to Eritrea under duress by Eritrean forces,” Grandi said, citing testimony presented to him at a visit to the camp while on a four-day trip for meetings with officials in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian federal troops entered Tigray in response to an alleged attack on Nov. 4 and toppled a dissident ruling party that’s set itself in opposition to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since he came to power in April 2018. Though the government announced victory on Nov. 28, the region’s leader has vowed to continue with the conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands, killed thousands and threatened to destabilize the Horn of Africa.

The situation in Tigray is extremely grave and urgent support is necessary to prevent the situation worsening, Grandi said. “Our main priority is to gain access to deliver aid and protection.”

Communications in the region remain impeded by a government shutdown of telecommunications networks. Relief agencies including the International Committee of the Red Cross have said they’re unable to access areas outside major towns and rural areas to deliver humanitarian aid.

The U.S. has called for an investigation into reports of looting, sexual violence and assaults in refugee camps as experts warned the window of opportunity to gather evidence is quickly closing.