Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights: Statement under Agenda Item 3b

Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
Working Groups on Minorities
12th Session, August 8- 11, 2006, Geneva Switzerland
Tarekegn Chimdi, Human Rights Defender
Agenda Item 3(b) On ConflictPrevention and Resolution

Thank you Distinguished chairperson, Members of the working group, Ladies and Gentlemen
Different sources has regularly reported that the Tigrean People's Liberation Front (TPLF), currently controlling the Ethiopian government, is the main cause of major conflicts between different national groups in the Horn of Africa. The Government deliberately instigated conflicts among neighboring nations and nationalities in order to cling to power by using an age old method of divide and rule. Since it came to power in 1991, numerous major inter-ethnic, intra-ethnic and cross-border conflicts have taken place particularly in Oromia, Ogaden, Gambela and others. This resulted in untold sufferings and destructions to the people of the horn of Africa during the last 15 years.
According to reports by humanitarian organisations, in 2004/2005 alone, Over 100 civilians were killed, hundreds of houses were burnt and over 100,000 people were internally displaced in Cheraro Doba, Miesso and other districts of West Hararge region and Karrayu Oromos and Afar. On January 19,2005, Government militias opened fire killing 11 Oromo civilians, wounding 18 others and some 12,000 people were displaced. In the incident over 500 houses were burnt, crop-fieids and grain depots of the residents of thirty Farmers Associations were put to fire. Similarly, in August 2004, 73 people were killed and more than 85,000 flee their homes from villages in Miesso.
In 2005, Government provoked conflict between the Gabra and the Guji, and between the Gabra and the Borena displaced over 40,000 people. Many remain displaced to date, and local authorities denied their right to emergency food distribution and other basic services and protection. Their situation was aggravated during current drought that costed human and animal lives. As recent as last month, more than 100 people were killed and 90,000 people were displaced in government provoked clashes between the Borena and the Guji Oromo clans. Most of these IDPs are currently living in deplorable conditions with no food, water and shelter and other social amenities.
According to Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2006 report, the EPRDF government has unleashed its special troops and its paramilitary forces against people in different localities in Oromia. In what increasingly bears genocidal characteristics, numerous ordinary people are being indiscriminately killed and wounded. Many are being tortured and intimidated. The burning of houses and property, and the confiscation of farm land and animals were commonly practiced. Terrified by such
atrocities, thousands of individuals and families have been forced to abandon their villages to save their lives.
Conflicts among localities and communities bordering Kenya and Somalia were provoked by the Ethiopian government in the aim of repelling rebels and squashing dissents. The government sources officially reported that Government militia and military conducted across the border raids in hot pursuit of either Somaii or Oromo rebels. In theses incidents government forces systematically harassed and intimidated communities it believes are harbouring the rebels.
As one of its mechanism of breeding conflicts, the TPLF government conducted malicious referendum over the Oromo localities in the regions of Borana, Bale, East and . west Hararge of Oromia at the end of 2004. Following the result of the referendum, government forces instigated and armed neighbouring nationalities against Ororrios that resulted in loss of human life and destruction of property. Despite repeated report by international humanitarian and civil societies in the Horn of Africa, no action was taken to alleviate these sufferings.
Mr Chairman please allow me to press for some recommendations to put an end to these sufferings of people in the Horn of Africa.
• Indigenous and traditional conflict resolution mechanisms (such as the Gadaasystem of the Oromo people) should be allowed to resolve clashes andmisunderstandings without Government interferences.
• The Ethiopian government should refrain from instigating conflict betweenvarious nations, ethnic groups within the Ethiopian empire and across the borderincursions into the neighbouring countries,
• The right to self-determination of the Oromo people and other subjugated nationsand nationalities should be respected and implemented.
Thank you very much for your due concern and attention

Source: www.ohchr.org