January 21, 2001
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General, The United Nations
United Nations Plaza, Room S-3800
New York, NY 10017
Fax#: 212 963 2155
E-mail: [email protected]
Re: Forced repatriation of Ethiopian refugees from Sudan
Dear Secretary General:
I am writing this appeal to you on behalf of hundreds of defenseless
Ethiopians in the Sudan whose refugee status has recently have been
terminated. I plead with you to stop the UNHCR from forcing these
refugees, whose meager food and medical aid has already been cut off, to
go back to Ethiopia where they will face certain death or abuse by a
certified dictatorial regime.
The fact that the Ethiopian government is undemocratic and dictatorial
has been borne out by reports of not only such reputable international
organizations like Amnesty International, International Jurists, and PEN
but also by a new United States Department of State report (February
25/2000). Yet, despite all these facts and eye-witness reports of
murders, tortures and arrests of citizens for voicing a simple opposition
to repressive policies, the UNHCR chose to characterize the Ethiopian
regime as constitutional and peaceful. Yes, the regime adopted a
“national constitution” but it has never stopped its extra-judicial killings,
arrests and tortures. True, the government was “elected” into office,
but it is the same gang that came to power through the barrel of the gun
and keeps re-elected through the barrel of the gun. For your
information, in just the last two months, hundreds of Ethiopians have
been jailed, killed or exiled simply because they tried to participate in
a national “election” campaign which is proving to be a total sham. None
of these acts of the government are new to anyone familiar with the
Ethiopian situation.
For the sake of justice and humanity I appeal to you to resume the
economic aid the refugees used to be provided and to reverse the decision
to force them back to Ethiopia against their will.
Respectfully,
Gashu Habte
Spokesperson