April 12, 2002
Ethiopians held
demonstration in
The Hague
Today, Ethiopians from
Sweden, Germany, the
Netherlands and other
European countries
gathered in The Hague
and held demonstration
protesting the Border
Commission’s decision,
which is based on the
December 2000 Algiers Agreement between the dictatorial regimes of Meles Zenawi and Issayas Afeworki.
The Border Commission’s hearing has been kept totally hidden from the people of Ethiopia at the request of both regimes, even though the Commission’s ruling will impact the territorial integrity of Ethiopia.
The ruling by the Border Commission in The Hague is expected to make Ethiopia, a country of 67 million people, landlocked, and deprive some Ethiopians–such as Afars and Irobs–of their Ethiopian citizenship.
The demonstrators in The Hague protested that the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi doesn’t represent Ethiopia, let alone take part in a secret deal that will affect Ethiopia’s territorial integrity.
The demonstrators started their march at Maliezeld Park in the center of The Hague, and arrived at the American embassy where they delivered a statement to the embassy officials.
After delivering the statement, a delegation composed of Dr Guenet Seyoum, Chief Spokesperson of Ethiopian Democratic Action League (TEGBAR); Ato Dawi Ibrahim, the exiled President of the Confederation of Ethiopian Workers Association; Ato Kefyalew Mamo, prominent journalist and representative of the Ethiopian Community Association in Amsterdam; Ato Hailu from Holland, and Ato Mekonnen from Sweden held a brief discussion with representatives of the American Embassy.
Today’s demonstration in The Hague was one of the largest ever byEthiopians in the Netherlands.
The Border Commission will announce its ruling tomorrow, April 13.
-end
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