The Core of Human Rights violation Areas in Afar Region of Ethiopia
Press Release
Afar Human Rights
Afar Human Rights organization (AHRO) repeatedly discloses about human rights violations in Afar region, which is blocked for internal and external media. Many atrocities and human rights abuses have been committed against the Afar civilians in the Region, where most cases remain unrevealed and unreported.
Although the recent killing and abduction of foreign tourists near Erta Ale, put the Afar Region in focus for international media, the government retaliation and harassment on local civilian population in Zone 2 has gain little attention. There is an ongoing mass imprisonment in Zone 2 and many who are allegedly accused to sympathize with Afar oppositions have lost theirjobs.
The huge sugarcane plantations along the Awash Valley supported by two huge Dams (Kassam-Kabana and Tandaho) continue to displace the pastoralist community en mass from their homes. These huge multinational investments are guarded by TPLF-led government army army. Displacement for plantation left thousands of innocent civilians without pasture land, water spots and curtailed livestock movement. The Sugarcane plantations are regularly showered by prohibited pesticides that directly dumped into the Awash river that is thelife line of the majority of Afar people. This irresponsible chemical utilisation has shown to have both short- and long term adverse effect on health of the population. The water canals, bushes, and pastures are contaminated causing an environmental disaster the powerfully affects the ecosystem of the Awash Valley. As recent as this week a huge chemical dumping on the main Awash River made it impossible to approach the River, and those who are dependent on the river for drinking water are now without access to water. Due to this humans and livestock are getting sick from unidentified disease and there is no medical supply to alleviate the current disaster. Afar Human rights Organization has vowed its concern on this issue already in 2007.
Recently the displaced local communities of Doho went to Addis Ababa to file the case to the prime minster office, but returned empty handed. Nevertheless, anyone who questions the intention of the government projects in any form is regarded as sympathizing to opposition and become subject to sever punishment without due legal charges. As recent as two days Massa arrest including pregnant women, elderly and children committed in Aysaita and Dubti. The reason was that these people refused and opposed land grabbing in the localities of Dubtie and Aysaita. Other innocent civilians have been taken either to unknown prisons far away and kept for months without charges. Some are transported to prisons far way from their home. Still others are kept on bail of thousands of Birr which pastoralist families cannot afford and are subject to forced to house arrest on irregular bases. Therefore we call on:
- Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, The Red Cross and the Amnesty International to visit unjustly imprisoned civilian in Abaala, Aysaita and Adebtoli towns as soon as possible.
- International community to investigate the atrocities committed in Afar Region along the Awash Valley and other TPLF-affiliated investment areas;
- Investigate and help the displaced pastoralist civilians;
- Investigate the magnitude of environmental disaster and the use of chemicals the Awash Valley.
For further information please contact: ahro2006@hotmail.com
–Afar Human Rights
Firstly I want to thank the ayyaantuu media to publish this article for our affar Brothers.
Oromos, Somalis, and Affars are all of the same Cushitic/Hamatic race/Blood and we Oromos the big nation/brother have a moral obligation to liberate ourselves from this fascistic wayane regime and liberate Affar and Somalis also. This was our great leader Baro Tumsa’s strong belief which he embodied in us/his juniors. He also strongly supported the Eritrean independence and he even sent some Oromos to work in Asmara to give information about Ethiopian Air force bombing plan. I hope the EPLF brothers know about these men. By the way, General Demise Bulto was his/Baro’s brother in law/his wife’s brother. At that time, around late 1960s all Amhara settlers (even university students) used to say Eritrea is our head if it is cut/liberated Ethiopia will be a man without head. My personal principle up to now is Amhara can’t be democratic including so called DR Berhanu Nega who gave interview on his ginbot-7 radio before some months-(I heard him talking)-saying Menlik did good to occupy Oromo. This is madness. Fascist, butcher Menlik who killed millions of Oromos, Affars and Somalis is praised by this man. The funny thing is the foolish Oromos who are organized under him. Baro also supported both Eritreans and Ogadens to get their independence which will amputate that evil colonizer state of so called Ethiopia/Habesha and make it small.
IN 1960 when I was in Assab the Affar tribal leader Ragee Omar gave me a salt producing land in the region of Xioo and I visited the area with my driver Hagos/Eritrean. Rgee and many Affar people were very happy when for the First time I told them about our distant blood relationship. Let us work hard together and freedom will come soon Insha Allah. It is very sad that there are some Affars, Somalis and Oromos who are serving the wayanes for material benefit against their people. Shame on them.They will also pay the prise as collaborators of all nations in post-liberation era did.
I also made a very good friendship with Sultan Almerah when he was exiled in Jeddah Saudi Arabia and when I told him about our OLF PRINCIPLE OF FIGHTING FOR THE THREE HAMATIC RACES/Somali,Affar and Oromos he was very happy . AND I EVEN PROPOSED THE IDEA OF FORMING UNITED FRONT OF AFFAR,SOMAL and OROMO FRONT (UASOF) and proposed SULTAN ALIMERAH AS OUR LEADER. YOU KNOW WHAT SULTAN SAID TO HIS PEOPLE AND SOME ERITREANS who were at launch in his hotel “AFTER I HEARD THIS PROMISE ESPECIALLY FROM THE SON OF educated OROMO I DON’T MIND EVEN IF I DIE AFTER THIS, my people /Affars have big brother.
INSHA ALLAH We WILL LIBERATE OUR LAND AND PEOPLE AND LIVE in PEACE AND FREEDOM WITH OUR NEIGHBORING PEOPLE LIKE Eritreans, Sudanese and all oppressed people of the Horn except arrogant neftanys (Amhara and Tigraye Tigres).We have to account them and settle the 150 years genocidal crime they committed to our people. Don’t worry about the Tendaho and other project on Affar land, when we liberate our land from this twisted evil Wayane settlers/colonizers it will be your, Insha Allah.