Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development
Jan 25, 2007
We, members of the Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD) are extremely concerned about the current situation in Somalia and Ethiopia’s involvement. We strongly believe that this war was ill-conceived interference and will have dire consequences both for the peoples of Ethiopia and Somalia.
Since its establishment in 1991, EWPD has been consistently struggling to promote peace, respect for human rights, democracy and good governance in Ethiopia. It has been opposing any government policy designed to destabilize the countries in the region. For instance, EWPD strongly opposed to the 1998 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. It campaigned against the war by organizing candle light vigils in front of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Embassies. It appealed to both Ethiopian and Eritrean governments to stop the war without any conditions and resolve the conflict by peaceful means. Unfortunately, no amicable solution has been reached to date to solve the problem between Ethiopia and Eritrea. During that war, more than seventy thousand people died and several thousands were displaced in both countries.
At present, another cycle of war or violence with dreadful consequences has unfolded. The Ethiopian government interfered in Somalia’s conflict in support of the Transitional Government. It is our strongest conviction that no one will gain from this war. On the contrary, it is creating a situation whereby both countries and the region, as a whole could be destabilized.
The peoples of the two poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia and Somalia, will be pushed into a more devastating poverty that cannot be easily alleviated. The Somalia people are still suffering from a devastating clan war and lawlessness that has denied a stable central government after the fall of the dictator Said Barre, 15 years ago. The suffering of Somalia children and women has increased since the recent upsurge of fighting in the country. Thousands of women, children and the elderly are displaced. With the closure of Kenya’s borders and international aid agencies leaving the war-torn country innocent civilians particularly women and children are trapped with no humanitarian assistance.
The people of Ethiopia have suffered for over 30 years because of internal conflict, famine, and human rights abuses by successive governments. The Ethiopians, the young in particular are paying a heavy sacrifice. Currently, thousands of young Ethiopians and opposition party leaders are in prison because of their opposition to the government’s manipulations of the 2005 elections and its human rights abuses.
We therefore appeal to all peace loving people to demand that:
1) Ethiopia withdraws its forces form Somalia.
2) The people of Somalia must be encouraged and supported to resolve their internal problems through peaceful negotiation;
3) The international community such as the United Nation and African Union must be involved to help the situation in Somalia.
Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development
5505 Connecticut Avenue, # 259, Washington, DC 20015
United States of America
Email: EWPDA @Yahoo.com