The decades-long suffering of the people of Sudan and our inability to end their suffering is a source of pain and anguish to me. Last month, I went to Abyei and several other towns in South Sudan. I saw the pain and suffering of the people. The residents of Abyei are still in displaced camps after the criminals in Khartoum burned the whole town to the ground. I am not just saying this; I saw it with my own eyes. And for those who have not seen that tragedy, here are some photos taken at the height of the torching of the town.
For the apologists of Bashir, of course nothing happened in the small town, it is all peaceful. Indeed, they even question about the atrocities being committed in Darfur. I say to these traitors, why not go and visit the refugee camps in Chad, Darfur, Abyei? How soon have we forgotten the killing fields in South Sudan. One of the major omissions in the CPA is the issue of accountability and justice. The criminals in Khartoum correctly calculated that if they can go free after the atrocities and genocide in the Nuba and South Sudan, why not do it in Darfur.
What is sad about this whole situation is that some of the leaders who were suppose to protect and look after the helpless civilian population, have become traitors and apologists for the same people who are killing and maiming the helpless. My friend and the visionary leader of Sudan, the late John Garang said it best: these people are too deformed to be reformed!
There is a Congolese saying: “No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.” My friends, be assured, no matter how long it takes, there will be justice. The many victims of this regime did not die for nothing.
We are gathered today to discuss about the prospects of a democratic election in Sudan. In fact, the signing of the CPA was intended to transform Sudan into a democratic country. What we have seen in the past several years is quite the opposite. A friend of my told me once, “we did not sign the CPA to go to bed with the NIF; but to kiss their ideology and brutality to death.”
Imagine organizing elections in Poland during World War II. Let us be honest, are we really asking the victims of this regime in the displaced camps in Darfur, in the refugee camps in Chad, in the displaced camps in Agok, to vote for the criminals in Khartoum, while still being brutalized. I guess it would have been ok to have had an election in Cambodia and Pol Pot as a presidential candidate? I am not opposed to a free and fair elections. But I question if this election can be free and fair and morally just while the victims of genocide still languish in displaced and refugee camps.
The victims of Darfur came from far away places, leaving the dead behind. Who are they voting for? These people are still facing untold suffering. In the past several weeks alone, how many times did the Bashir security forces went into the displaced camps? They were not there to protect or provide support. They went there to kill and maim.
Remember Rwanda in 1994 and Darfur today. Let me say a few words about the ongoing genocide in Darfur. As much as I give African governments credit for resolving a number of conflicts in the past decade, it is important to note that African governments, like other members of the international community did not prevent or bring a quick end to the suffering in Darfur or Rwanda. Fourteen years ago, innocent civilians in Rwanda were being butchered, maimed, raped, and hacked to death, while many turned a blind eye.
In 2004, when the U.S. Congress declared the atrocities Genocide, I was so elated and proud, believing that we were going to do something to save lives. I was so sure that this time around it was going to be different, assuming we learned from Rwanda. I must confess, I never thought I was going to succeed even getting the resolution passed in the House, let alone see our government declare Genocide.
What we did in 2004 was long overdue. But I must also state clearly that we failed. We declared Genocide and gave hope to the people of Darfur that it was going to be different. Instead, those that could have been saved are dead and those that are in the camps continue to suffer, irrespective of the declaration. We declared Genocide, but we continued to wine and dine the architects of the Genocide. I have been to Sudan many times and most recently last months, but never to Khartoum. Why? Because I do not recognize a government that is at war with its people. .
And what are the apologists of Bashir saying today about the International Criminal Court’s charges against Bashir? Well if you look at the African Union statement, instead of speaking out and defending the helpless, they have decided to support the killers. How unfortunate. There is an African proverb that goes like this: “Where there is no shame, there is no honor.” I guess our friends at the AU think they are protecting the helpless victims of genocide.
But I must say, President Museveni of Uganda was on target when he said: “You cannot stand up and say don’t touch Bashir because he is a president. Suppose he made those mistakes. If you take that position, you will be ignoring the right of the victims.” The SPLM also took a very courageous decision telling the criminals in Khartoum that they should cooperate with the ICC. Of course there are the other turncoats, who come in different colors now lobbying on behalf of Bashir. Some of them are here with us today.
Unfortunately, some of these traitors justify their preaching by alleging that the ICC process is dangerous to peace and that the CPA will collapse. Let us be honest. Is there peace in Sudan? Is the CPA being implemented? Have the 2.2 million displaced in Darfur returned home? And what peace agreement are we talking about? The Darfur Peace Agreement? Why not ask those who signed that agreement?
It is not just the AU trying to protect Bashir, who presided over the atrocities and genocide in Darfur, South Sudan, The Nuba, and The East, The Arab League is also pushing hard to protect one of their own. The government of Egypt is at the forefront on this. Yet, the same government is also engaged in killing refugees who are attempting to cross The Egyptian border into Israel. Since January an estimated 28 refugees were killed by Egyptian security forces, a number of them are from Darfur. And what did the Sudanese Refugee Commissioner said about these victims, these refugees are pursuing their “Zionist Agenda” and that they should be dealt with firmly.
I am a strong believer that there is no peace without justice. I am not ready to give up on justice. The victims deserve our support. Some Africans argue that the ICC is only targeting Africans. How ironic. The four cases that the ICC pursuing currently, three were brought by Africans themselves. The other one, Sudan, by the United Nations Security Council.
What is always forgotten in tragic situations like these are the victims. A fourteen year old high school student wrote an article for her student newspaper a couple of years ago about the tragedy in Darfur. She wrote: “The rich culture of Tine and the prospects of its growth are now buried below the feverish marigold sand that covers most of Western Sudan, along with the bones of the women, children, and men massacred that day.”
I am not ready to give up on justice and democracy in Sudan. I saw the Promised Land through the visions of my friends John Garang and Salva Kiir. We may not see it anytime soon, but I guarantee you the people of Sudan will fight to the end for justice and democracy. And I will be there with them.
The United States government has done a great deal to help achieve these goals. I must say, despite the election year debates, President Bush did the right thing when it comes to this issue. He has done more than any president to highlight the suffering of the people of Sudan and support the victims. If there is one policy that will not change in the next Administration, it is our government’s determination to fight for justice and democracy in Sudan.
Unfortunately, as time passes, Darfur will face the same fate as other tragedies did in the past: it will soon be forgotten and abandoned. Only the dedicated will remain to fight and to protect the helpless. Agreement or no agreement, we must continue to demand accountably. Those who committed these atrocities, are the same ones who gave a safe haven to Osama Bin Laden. Let me concluded with an Ethiopian proverb: “Restless feet may walk into a snake pit.” Let me say to Bashir, you are on the edge of a snake pit.
(The author is a Congressman, and Chairman, House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health he delivered this speech at a conference on Sudan’s elections in 2009 organized by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). on September 18, 2008)
Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – On September 15, U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Glenn Anders inaugurated a water system at a ceremony at the Kebridehar town high school. The water system serves the Korahe Zone in Somali Region. The water taps were installed by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Samaritian’s Purse. The Kebridehar town water system, which serves the school and the town’s approximately 10,000 residents, was rehabilitated by the International Rescue Committee as part of a water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions project funded by USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. In addition to rehabilitating the town water supply, the USAID-funded project is increasing access to safe drinking water in Korahe and Degehabur zones by rehabilitating non-functional boreholes and installing pumps and generators.
Ambassador Yamamoto and USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director Glenn Anders travelled to Somali Region on September 15-16, as part of a U.S. Government delegation that included the top official from the USAID Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, Michael Hess, and USAID Office of Food for Peace Director Jeff Borns. The group met with regional officials and USAID partners to assess the complex humanitarian situation and analyze the effectiveness of U.S. Government humanitarian assistance in affected areas.
ADDIS ABABA – The American people, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have supported child health services and strengthened the health care system through the Essential Services for Health in Ethiopia (ESHE) project. Over the past five years, the project has improved the lives of over 15 million Ethiopians through health initiatives at the community and national levels.
ESHE is coming to a close, the project shared lessons learned and highlighted the challenges and successes of project interventions at a meeting held September 17 at the Global Hotel. Participants included senior representatives from USAID, the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, Woreda Health Offices, and local non government and community based organizations.
Since November 2003, ESHE has helped improve child health services for communities in 101 woredas in the three most populated regions of Ethiopia: Amhara, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. The child health interventions of the project focused on improving immunization services, on promoting essential nutrition actions and on strengthening integrated approaches toward care of newborn and childhood illnesses.
For this, ESHE provided capacity building support to health workers and managers in the woredas, zones and regions, strengthened supervision and monitoring capabilities of those managers, helped intensify large scale community mobilization, and implemented strong behavior change communication aimed at improving community and household health practices. Since the project worked in very close collaboration with the Ethiopian Government’s Health Extension Program, its contribution to the mobilization of more than 50,000 voluntary community health workers in support of the prevention and promotion activities of the health extension workers was key to the overall success of the project.
In addition, ESHE celebrated with its Ministry of Health counterparts the progress that health care financing reform has achieved in Ethiopia. ESHE’s support to the establishment of a legal framework for health facilities to retain and utilize fees was instrumental in laying the foundation for regional level implementation of different components of health care financing. The surveys disseminated during the meeting showed how health facilities start devoting resources to improving their infrastructure, their information systems, their human resource capacity and their supplies in drugs and medicine.
During the meeting it was also announced that the achievements of this projects would be build upon by two newly awarded projects.
With half a million women dying in pregnancy or childbirth every year, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) have launched an initiative which could help cut mortality by about 75 per cent by training midwives in developing countries.
“By investing in midwives and universal access to reproductive health, millions of lives can be saved and we can reach Millennium Development Goal 5, to improve maternal health,” UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said in a news release today, referring to one of eight goals that seek to slash a host of social ills by 2015. Beyond the deaths millions more women suffer long-lasting harm due to lack of care.
An additional 334,000 midwives are needed, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO). The UNFPA-ICM programme will increase the number of births attended by professional midwifery providers and develop the foundations for a sustainable midwifery workforce in selected developing countries.
Its focus will be on training midwives, developing practice standards, and strengthening national midwifery associations. It is estimated that skilled attendance at delivery, backed up by emergency obstetric care, could reduce the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth by about 75 per cent.
Every year half a million women die in pregnancy or childbirth and 10 to 15 million women suffer serious or long-lasting illnesses or injuries. In addition, 3 million newborns die during the first week of life and another 3 million are stillborn. Many of these deaths and disabilities could be prevented if all births were attended by midwives.
The $9-million initiative will start in 11 of the hardest-hit countries with the highest levels of maternal deaths and disability and the lowest rates of births attended by skilled workers – Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia. It will then expand to include 30 countries and, if funding permits, even more.
The three-year project is funded by the Netherlands and Sweden and will be implemented by ICM and UNFPA offices in the selected countries.
“We need some strong advocates who can call on governments to invest in much needed midwives,” ICM President Bridget Lynch said. “But we also need to work with governments to ensure the scaling up and quality of midwifery services. They need to take ownership.”
I read your letter to Senator Russ Feingold, Representative Donald Payne and to all Members of Congress of the United States.
Let me examine the pertinent points contained in the letter, discarding the irrelevant, in order to build-up your case, with respect to the proposed Bill S 3457 by Senators Feingold and Leahy, and the earlier Bill HR 2003 that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Basically, your opposition to the Bill is based on the assumption that it will lead to the loss of sovereignty; hence Ethiopia will be a “protectorate” of the United States. Your assertion is farfetched.
The question is whose sovereignty? The people or the ruling elite? Which of the two? The people of Ethiopia do not have sovereignty throughout their history. Sovereignty is the prerogative of the ruling elite, in our case, Meles Zenawi, Sebhat Nega and Berket Simon, who are the sovereign power in the exercise of it. Virtually, sovereignty rests within the ruling circle domain.
Mr. Tecola, if the U.S. Senators genuinely stood on the side of the people, unlike the Executive branch of the U. S. government, what is the harm? The Bill will attempt to restrain and curb the tyranny and abuse of power by Meles and Company.
Have you forgotten the post-2005 election crackdown on the position and supporters by the regime? What lesson can be drawn from the consequences of that horrendous episode? In the uneven balance of power between the government and the opposition, as well as the uneven level of playing field and rule of the game, you said, “the problems Ethiopians have with the government of Meles Zenawi is the business of Ethiopians, and solving our problems and fighting our fights by ourselves,” than seeking external aid. Such a cursory remark is hallow and empty rhetoric. TPLF itself came to power with considerable external aid. It is sustained by external aid. And there are many examples in the world. Your TPLF supporters, including yourself paraded in the corridors of the U.S. Congress to influence the position of the U.S government against the Mengistu regime.
Let me be clear, that I have supported the 1974 popular revolution, but I was not a supporter, or sympathizer of the Mengistu regime, then, nor for EPLF/TPLF either. What is the difference between Tecola Hagos and AL Mariam and his associates? Infact, the latter is on the side of history.
Being self-righteous, you are of course; negative to examine the other side objectively. To be fair, one key aspect of a difference between the two regimes, — the constitution of Ethiopia under Mengistu was voted by the people in a referendum, while the constitution of Melse Zenawi was voted by hand picked members of the National Assembly, the people of Ethiopia. In the process, the people of Ethiopia were excluded. Now, Mr. Tecola, your concern in the guise of sovereignty, is the threatening sovereign power of the troika, Zenawi, Nega and Simon. Real sovereignty is the prerogative of the ruling elite of TPLF, not the people of Ethiopia.
Anther point, Why are you posturing as an Ethiopian super patriot? Or perhaps a true Tigrean patriot? Are you trying? To save Melese and Company, in order to preserve the Tigrean hegemony over the rest of the Ethiopian people? Your patriotism about greater Ethiopia, which it was historically is, a veil to conceal your narrow Tigrean nationalism. It amazing fashion, you sound jingoistic. Why all this fuss? Fundamentally, the passing of the Bill [if it pass], in the Senate will facilitate in establishing some of the eight points enunciated by the Coalition for Unity and Democracy [CUD], now Unity Justice and Democracy Party], and other leaders lead, to “an independent judiciary, the media, the Electoral Board and the role of the armed forces/ security, and other demands, will not undermine the interest of the Ethiopian people. On the contrary, it will lay down the groundwork for building democratic institutions, to insure liberty, democracy and the rule of lows. The people of Ethiopia seek freedom to choose their leaders. They want to think and assemble and to express their views freely. They must be free first to be imbued with sovereign rights that come with all the attributes of a sovereign nation. Unfortunately, they are not free now. It requires enormous sacrifice and struggle. You are indulging in fantasy and abstract theory that has no relevance to the people. The relevance of sovereignty is to the ruling circle, which are the beneficiary of it, mainly, Meles Zenawi, Sebhat Nega and Berket Simon.
The seventeen years of suppression and subjugation of the people is all there to see, coupled with poverty, disease and hunger. What should be clear to any impartial, reasonable and rational human being is, in the 21st century, the people of Ethiopia are not citizens. They are subjects of TPLF/EPRDF rule. It must also be clear, that there is a distinction between `state` and `nation`.
Mr. Tecola, why do you really care about the survival of Meles and Company? It seems that you want to circle the wagon with your Tigrean compatriot. That is your real concern. This phenomenon is a curse to be avoided, not only by the Tigreans, but all the different nationalities of Ethiopia. It is a manifestation of backwardness and reactionary outlook. You deliberately grouped the oppositions along with Ethiopia’s historic enemies, such us Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Syria etc… this is a misrepresentation and distortion, devoid of objective reality. What you are asking the opposition is to surrender to the Melse` rule. It is tantamount to that, and the message is clear.
The problem with you, as stated in your book, Democratization? Ethiopia [1991-1994] “My views are rather more inspirational, rendered from the heart than analytical.” I will add that your brain is subordinated to your heart; hence you are inconsistent, irrational, contradictory and arrogant. Sometimes, you have the tendency to jump into the river against the tide and vise versa, without principle and character of integrity. Do you remember what you wrote in your web site a few years ago, that Ethiopians are incapable of resolving their problems, and as result, they are killing each others? Thus, as an alternative, you have suggested a “bold vision”, [As you put it] that Ethiopia to be ruled by foreign nationals, specifically, American and British academics, including Bill Gate, one of the richest people in the world, for the transition period, until the Ethiopians matured with a democratic political culture. How does your “bold vision” Correspond with your concern for the loss of “sovereignty” and Ethiopia as a “protectorate” of the U.S.?
Remember also what you stated, in your book, “what is in existence at this moment in Ethiopia is the concentration of power in the hands of a tiny group of people, a government controlled and run at will by Meles Zenawi and his close associates with no meaningful accountability”, and further more you stated that “what remained in power since 1991 is an illegitimate power structure, a reestablishment of Feudalism and autocracy dressed in new symbols with the descendants of yesterdays Feudal warlords as the main actors in this sickening political tragedy”.
How about now? Have you detected a paradigm shift? Or is the pendulum swinging back for reconciliation with Melse, in anticipation of a reward to heal your wounded ego, pride and ambition? You have already indicated in your letter, that you “are urging and advice the Ethiopian government to seek new initiatives”, concerning the impending Bill as well as the Eritrea issue in the U.S. Senate. Along the way, you are also pushing a new idea that the “Ethiopian Ambassador in Washington D.C. has failed in his mission to protect the sovereignty and dignity of Ethiopia”. To be exact, you are seeking the removal of the Ambassador and the sovereignty and dignity of the elite in power.
Finally, you have forwarded another incredible suggestion that “AL Mariam and his associates, including Senator Feingold and Representative Payne to be prosecuted with criminal charges under the Ethiopian penal code for undermining the economic vital interest and sovereignty of Ethiopia”.
This is a strange and absurd suggestion, and it seems that you are mentally unstable. I suggest you need a clinical psychiatric evaluation.
Ethnic conflicts and ethnic based killings are becoming commonplace in Ethiopia. The sporadic nature of the attacks and the small number of causalities means that no major international media, international human rights organizations and other bodies of international community has done much to either publicize the situation or to put pressure on the Meles regime to stop the killings.
This week witnessed one of such attacks on Burji ethnic group. On September 17, 2008 well armed Guji warriors descended on Lemmo Kebele of Burji special woreda and carried out killing and looting of Burjis. As the result of the attack, the following individuals were killed: Daro Araro, Ado Chule, Ando Yayo, Bogale Dula, and Kojie Hirbo. Also four people including the following individuals were wounded: Gojie Hidde, Roba Yayo and Hirbo Sole. One of them is critically wounded.
The wounded were taken to Arbaminch Hospital instead of the Hospital in the nearby town of Hagermariam because the route from Burji to Hagremariam town, which was the main artery, is under siege from Guji warriors.
Besides, the town of Hagermariam itself was the scene of major attack against Burjis in August 2008. The Gujis attacked Burjis living in the town where individuals from various ethnic groups reside. The Gujis targeted the Burji enclave of the town, mainly Kebele, 02, 03, and 04.
At the time, the Gujis killed Mr. Bode simply because he is Burji. Then few days later, they tossed hand grenade on the top of the house where many Burji men, women and children were taking a refugee. That barbaric act was intended to maximize the carnage, but fortunately the grenade detonated outward without causing any human fatality. There after the targeted Burji group scrambled to leave the town for safety leaving behind all their belongings, properties and everything that they owned hanging only to their dear life.
Government Response Disappointing
The forces of Ethiopian government have failed to protect Burjis against the ongoing onslaught.
The attack against Burjis in the town of Hagermariam took place under the watchful eyes of 200 federal government armed forces.
Also, during the September 17, 2008 attack on the Lemmo Kebele, there were only 30 members of federal and state police in Burji.
Even after the conflict and on the eve of other major attack to occur against Burjis, the government is committed to send only 96 military personnel to contain the attacks against more than 50,000 Burjis.
Urgent Need of Assistance
The international humanitarian organizations have also turned blind eyes to the plight of the Burjis. So far, the victims of the attacks are not given any aid. Particularly, children and elderly are the most vulnerable victims of the aggression. The prevalent draught in the country as well as the Guji aggression has left thousands of Burjis in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
The situation looks grim to Burjis as the Gujis are preparing yet again to carry out another major assault. Reports indicate that another Guji attack is almost imminent.
The international community should hold the Meles dictatorship accountable. Besides, international humanitarian organization should interfere to assist the Burjis who are suffering from aggression and hunger.
(The writer of this press release can be reached at [email protected])
