PRESS RELEASE
Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development
In the past few weeks, conflicting reports are coming from Ethiopia. On one hand, the government released some political prisoners, mostly leaders and members of the CUD party and journalists. We had hoped that their release would lead to a more conciliatory gesture by the government by releasing all prisoner of conscious and starting dialogue with opposition groups. On the contrary, however, human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and credible newspapers such as the New York Time, the Washington Post and radio programs such as National Public radio have reported Ethiopian government’s atrocities in the Ogaden and Oromia regions.
In the Ogaden region, government soldiers raped women and girls. Elders and peaceful civilians are killed because of the allegation that they support the Ogaden Liberation Front. Properties are destroyed and food is being blocked from reaching the civilian population. Human rights organizations have also reported human rights abuses by the rebel group against civilians who support the government.
According to human rights organizations’ reports, the government’s crackdown in Oromia region, particularly in Horo Gudure, Wellaga, is worsening. People who are suspected of supporting the Oromo Liberation Front are brutalized. Mass arrest, extrajudicial killings and harassments of civilians are reported.
Both the Ogaden and the Oromo Liberation Fronts, along with other opposition political groups, have asked for peace and reconciliation conference that would include the ruling party. The oppositions’ call for all-inclusive peace and reconciliation conference has fallen on deaf ears. The government chose employing unrelenting force against civilians suspected of supporting these groups. Violence does not bring peace and development, but dialogue, tolerance and reconciliation would We appeal to all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to urge the Ethiopian government to stop its aggression against its own people. We urge the US government, the partner on war on terror, to pressure the government of Ethiopia to refrain from terrorizing its own citizens. Human dignity, fairness and respect for democratic values must remain the bases for friendship with America.
We appreciate the efforts of members of the US congress and human rights organizations that have raised their voices against the human rights violations in Ethiopia. We appeal to all people who believe in human dignity to raise their voices against the gross human rights abuses in Ethiopia. Your voice with ours will make a difference.
Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD)
5505 Connecticut Avenue, #259, Washington, DC 20015
www.ewpd.info * [email protected]