PRESS RELEASE
Afar Human Right
The Afar people happen to inhabit in area with great strategic significance in the Horn of Africa. The Afar case has not been mentioned anywhere concerning human right violation, internal displacements and the livelihood related challenges they face due to board conflicts. Currently, the conflict with Somalia, Ogaden region and the tension with Eritrea have deteriorated the security situation and the Afar region is overwhelmed by combined forces intended to meet the war challenges. Every strategic corner of the Afar is occupied by huge armies, which harasses the Afar pastoralists indiscriminately. Thus, the Afar Human Right Organisation is a greatly concerned about the fate of the Afar pastoralist if another war erupts between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The Railway and the main highway pass from Ethiopia to neighboring countries through this region. Likewise, the roads that stretch from Makale to Abala, from Wukro to Barahle and to Dalol in the North are the case at hand. In the South, the roads from Batie to the main highway from Awash and Millie to Bore (to Assab in the past) and the newly constructed roads from Hara to Millie as well as the road from Sardo to the salt valley in Afdera in the north are vital for the security of Ethiopia. Today, all these areas are occupied by the TPLF army. The roads in the North were constructed due to Ethio-Eritrean conflicts in 1998-2000. The road from Millie to Harra too was constructed at this time to improve accessibility to Tigray region diverting the way from Batie and Dessie.
In the south, the road linking the towns of Awash and Millie running parallel to the Awash River was constructed at the mid 1970s and was intended to give access to plantation owners in the Awash Valley. The road crosses important grazing areas, water spots, and shrines of the Afar pastoralists. Consequently, the conflict between Afar pastoralists and the authorities was inevitable. Instead of resolving the problem by dialog with affected communities with pastoralist lifestyle, the Ethiopian regimes have stationed heavy army commandos to monitor and take action. Since 1970, thousands of peaceful pastoralists have been killed by the army while crossing the highway under the pretext of security problem. The Afars describe this road as the “road of terror”.
The situation deteriorated during the Derg as a result of civil war. The Afars were the first victim of the conflict between guerilla groups that sought to control the highway and the dergue army. Gradually however, the settlement of the army became part of widespread corruption through contraband smuggling from Djibouti and Somalia. Although the Afar of the region complained this blatant aggression of the armies the atrocities continued and no response ever has been received.
The human right violation continued after the fall of the Derg. Immediately after seizing power in Addis Ababa, the TPLF army invaded the region of Dubtie, Millie and Gawane in July and September 1991. Since then, the atrocities and human right violations has been exacerbated on the highway and its surroundings. To mention some, the Afar pastoralists that passed the road were captured and kept in a container by the armies for months without any trial. In another occasion the Afar pastoralists that passed the bridge of Awash Arba was killed and mutilated, and were thrown out in the bush. Afars were killed while praying on the roadside without any provocation. In a number of cases Afar pastoralists who were looking for their cattle were killed and left in the bush. All these incidents were reported but without any responses. The same happens in and around the old State Farms, newly constructed Dams, sugar cane plantation guarded by loyal TPLF armies in Awsa, Awash-fantale and Dulecha. Heavy armies are stationed on and around these roadsides which obstruct the Afar to use their grazing land, water spots and movements to market places. The Afars are told to evacuate ten kilometer on each side of the main roads that passes through the Afar region. In the north, the TPLF army carried out a number of raids and invasions to push the pastoralist from their traditional territories. Some of these areas bordered with Tigray region are still occupied by TPLF army.
The national army with intention to protect the security of all citizens has the obligation to respect the code of conduct of defense forces as well as the Geneva Convention part II article 13, which is related to the protection of civilians during conflict in hands of army from 1949. The question is whether the army considers the Afar pastoralists as its citizens that should be cared for? Therefore, the army shall take its responsibilities and should be accountable for all committed atrocities and on going human right violations. The involvement of the army in the region without any restriction resulted nothing more than state terror.
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For further enquire and support please contact “Afar Human right” [email protected]
We condemn atrocities and human right violations committed by the TPLF army against the Afar pastoralists!
We call upon all humanitarian organizations to investigate these atrocities committed!
Those committed the crimes be brought to Justice immediately!