Concern about the Senate Resolution on the War On Tigray
The United States government, which is the largest contributor to foreign aid in Ethiopia, has yet to meaningfully intervene to stop the wanton destruction and genocidal killings. As I am writing this message to you, majority of the 7–10 million people of Tigray are under siege and are kept hostages of Abiy Ahmed’s strategy of using hunger as a weapon. I am extremely distressed because of this destructive and ongoing war in Tigray—where daily drone attacks, airstrikes, artillery shelling on civilian targets and public infrastructures have become normal.
I am grateful to Senator James Risch and Senator Ben Cardin for introducing the resolution titled, “Calling on the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to cease all hostilities, protect the human rights of all Ethiopians, and pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.”
At this time, when the US State Department is lacking the necessary vigor in addressing the problem, the resolution is very crucial in minimizing the killings and deterring the looming ethnic cleansing and genocide. However, I have some concerns with the following contents. Some are naming or choice of word issues; and others are missing crucial events and decisions.
—The war is not between the Government of Ethiopia and Tigray People’s Liberation Front. But the war is an attempt to oust the duly elected regional government. The people of Tigray unanimously (99% of 2.7 million electorate) elected the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the September 2020 election conducted in Tigray regional state while Abiy Ahmed suspended Federal elections indefinitely.
—In this resolution National Regional Government of Tigray should be addressed by its proper name not as Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
—The Government of Ethiopia was prepared for this war for 2 ½ years despite the Ethiopian government’s claim the attack on the NC was a trigger for the war. It still is a claim not a fact as it is described in this resolution. Abiy Ahmed has confessed the meticulous planning of the war for over two years in a speech to the illegitimate HOF.
—The National Regional Government of Tigray president Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael stated during a press conference on November 3, 2020, that the Ethiopian Defense Forces (ENDF) had been put on high alert with troop buildup at the borders of the Tigray region and war was imminent.
—The involvement of the Eritrean army is not mentioned in the resolution. The US has already confirmed that the Eritrean army is involved in the war on Tigray and demanded immediate withdrawal of the army.
—The world is gambling with Isayas Afeworki, ruler of Eritrea--“North Korea of Africa,” to destabilize the horn of Africa. Already, the frictions witnessed between countries of the Horn are endangering a regional war and destabilization. Isayas should be told to leave Ethiopia immediately.
—The Amnesty International report was a speculative and the real victims of the Mai-Kadra victims are testifying horror stories to UNHCR, EU and international media that ethnic Tigrayans were targeted by Amhara militia known as “Fano.”
—Abiy Ahmed has rejected the African Union initiative to end the war. The US and the UN should not wait for any AU initiative to solve this war.
—Abiy Ahmed is delaying “unfettered humanitarian access.”
—Although it has become difficult to show the proof of the use of UAE drones in the war on Tigray because of the blockage, the US must know that the UAE is lending drones to the Ethiopian Government.
The crisis in Tigray is a genocide. involving war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Your resolution should address it as such.
Most of the Statute of the International Criminal Court listed under Article 8 are committed in Tigray.
The following are examples of some of the atrocities perpetrated on Tigrayans: wilful killing, rape, torture or inhuman treatment, willfully causing great suffering, extensive destruction, and unlawful deportation or transfer.
As a member of your constituent, I urge you to reach out to Senator James Risch and Senator Ben Cardin ask them to correct the aforementioned concerns and do everything in your power to stop the war on Tigray, Ethiopia; support the establishment of an unobstructed access to humanitarian aid to millions of people in Tigray; support an all-inclusive national dialogue to chart the path for a peaceful resolution of the war. More than anything else, support the deployment of a United Nations-led investigation panel into all atrocities and violations of international law, especially war crimes and crimes against humanity in Tigray.
If possible, I would also like to meet with your foreign policy director and discuss this matter further.
I am grateful to Senator James Risch and Senator Ben Cardin for introducing the resolution titled, “Calling on the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to cease all hostilities, protect the human rights of all Ethiopians, and pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.”
At this time, when the US State Department is lacking the necessary vigor in addressing the problem, the resolution is very crucial in minimizing the killings and deterring the looming ethnic cleansing and genocide. However, I have some concerns with the following contents. Some are naming or choice of word issues; and others are missing crucial events and decisions.
—The war is not between the Government of Ethiopia and Tigray People’s Liberation Front. But the war is an attempt to oust the duly elected regional government. The people of Tigray unanimously (99% of 2.7 million electorate) elected the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the September 2020 election conducted in Tigray regional state while Abiy Ahmed suspended Federal elections indefinitely.
—In this resolution National Regional Government of Tigray should be addressed by its proper name not as Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
—The Government of Ethiopia was prepared for this war for 2 ½ years despite the Ethiopian government’s claim the attack on the NC was a trigger for the war. It still is a claim not a fact as it is described in this resolution. Abiy Ahmed has confessed the meticulous planning of the war for over two years in a speech to the illegitimate HOF.
—The National Regional Government of Tigray president Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael stated during a press conference on November 3, 2020, that the Ethiopian Defense Forces (ENDF) had been put on high alert with troop buildup at the borders of the Tigray region and war was imminent.
—The involvement of the Eritrean army is not mentioned in the resolution. The US has already confirmed that the Eritrean army is involved in the war on Tigray and demanded immediate withdrawal of the army.
—The world is gambling with Isayas Afeworki, ruler of Eritrea--“North Korea of Africa,” to destabilize the horn of Africa. Already, the frictions witnessed between countries of the Horn are endangering a regional war and destabilization. Isayas should be told to leave Ethiopia immediately.
—The Amnesty International report was a speculative and the real victims of the Mai-Kadra victims are testifying horror stories to UNHCR, EU and international media that ethnic Tigrayans were targeted by Amhara militia known as “Fano.”
—Abiy Ahmed has rejected the African Union initiative to end the war. The US and the UN should not wait for any AU initiative to solve this war.
—Abiy Ahmed is delaying “unfettered humanitarian access.”
—Although it has become difficult to show the proof of the use of UAE drones in the war on Tigray because of the blockage, the US must know that the UAE is lending drones to the Ethiopian Government.
The crisis in Tigray is a genocide. involving war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Your resolution should address it as such.
Most of the Statute of the International Criminal Court listed under Article 8 are committed in Tigray.
The following are examples of some of the atrocities perpetrated on Tigrayans: wilful killing, rape, torture or inhuman treatment, willfully causing great suffering, extensive destruction, and unlawful deportation or transfer.
As a member of your constituent, I urge you to reach out to Senator James Risch and Senator Ben Cardin ask them to correct the aforementioned concerns and do everything in your power to stop the war on Tigray, Ethiopia; support the establishment of an unobstructed access to humanitarian aid to millions of people in Tigray; support an all-inclusive national dialogue to chart the path for a peaceful resolution of the war. More than anything else, support the deployment of a United Nations-led investigation panel into all atrocities and violations of international law, especially war crimes and crimes against humanity in Tigray.
If possible, I would also like to meet with your foreign policy director and discuss this matter further.
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