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Woyanne dismisses calls to investigate rights abuses

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

By James Butty | VOA

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission [that is set up by the {www:Woyanne} tribal junta to produce fake reports] says Meles Zenawi’s government has designed good governance programs aimed at respect and protection for human rights. Commissioner Kassa Gebrehiwot [a Woyanne cadre] reportedly said the commission has been striving to raise public awareness about human rights through the use of the mass media.

He spoke Monday in Addis Ababa during a seminar on the role of members of parliament in the respect and protection of human rights.

Meanwhile, Meles Zenawi’s government is denying allegations it committed human rights abuses against the Anuaks in the Gambella region of western Ethiopia and ethic Somalis in the Ogaden. In a letter, the organization “Genocide Watch” has asked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to investigate the alleged crimes which it said fit the definition of genocide.

Woindimu Asamnew, spokesman for the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington told VOA his government considers the allegations as lies.

“We don’t take seriously their allegations and fabrications. They are totally unfounded, fabricated lies,” he said.

In his letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Genocide Watch President Gregory Stanton said Ethiopian Prime Minister dictator {www:Meles Zenawi} and others in his government were probably aware that they too could one day be brought before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Asamnew said the Ethiopian government does not take such comments seriously. He also said there was no need for an independent outside investigation as was being requested by Genocide Watch.

“We don’t take this kind of idea seriously. We have a parliament; they do take care of these kinds of issues. There is no any need of inviting international body for this purpose because of unfounded allegations. An outside investigation is unnecessary and unacceptable,” Asamnew said.

Genocide Watch said the atrocities allegedly committed in Gambella against the Anuaks in 2005 fit the definitions of genocide and crimes against humanity. But Asamnew said the allegations are false.

“We have investigated the matter and taken corrective measures, otherwise this kind of exaggerated and unfounded lies are not taken seriously by our government,” he said.

He also denied Genocide Watch’s claims of a “culture of impunity” within the Ethiopian government.

“What I’m saying is that any individual can say whatever he wants, but alleging something and the realities on the ground are totally different matter,” Asamnew said.

4 thoughts on “Woyanne dismisses calls to investigate rights abuses”

  2. I think the time of reckoning is approaching very fast and it seems very imminent this time around.This is indeed a hot-button issue that all Ethiopians regardless of any political line or affiliation should exert and drum up the utmost influence to seek justice for all the massacre, extra-judiciary political incarceration and atrocities perpetrated by the regime up on innocent citizens. Justice should be served on the culprits not because we have a curious feeling of schadenfreude but because that is the only way that such heinous crimes would not be committed in the future.

    Those who have given orders to the indiscriminate massacre of University students and who have committed genocidal slaughters on the Anuaks in Gambella and ethnic Somalis in Ogaden should not get away with their heinous crimes. The blood of the 193 Ethiopians who were indiscriminately massacred by the despotic regime in the aftermath of the May 15, 2005 election is crying for justice and we should not let the villains thumb their noses on justice, the Ethiopian people and the international community for long. Justice is long overdue when it comes to Ethiopia.The crimes are not only allegations but they are brazen and well documented acts of human right violations committed in day light by the regime.

    There shouldn’t be any scintilla of reason why a regime that is confident about its human right records should prohibit internationally reputable organization ” Genocide Watch ” to carry out the alleged investigations in Ethiopia. The knee jerk reaction by the so called spokesperson of the regime Mr. Asamnew saying that the Ethiopian Government wouldn’t take such allegations very seriously is very ludicrious and farcical. Well, how would some one who is indicted of committing very flagrant crimes and is being hounded by justice would take it seriously? The victims and their loved ones who are denied of justice this long would take it seriously, Mr. Asamnnew

  3. what you wait from weyane. W = weshetam E = erebekentu Y = yemayreba A = atalay N = neftegna E = esesste new. getup standup for your right. LONGLIVE ETHIOPIA.

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