BY YESUF ENDRIS
The last reform period has been caught between sweeping positive changes and trying challenges. As the government continues to engaging in reforming the political and democratic landscapes, grave human right violations have also been perpetrated against civilians risking the possible recoiling of the registered progress. Human right violations including massacre have continued in various areas by insurgents mainly. The killings and displacement of civilian have indeed angered the whole community urging security forces and government officials to work relentlessly to protect civilians.
In the past times, human right violations were reportedly committed by the then-government structure. Many were killed either in prisons or in demonstrations. These days, civilians are increasingly coming under attack by insurgents and anti-peace elements though there are reports that some government officials, who are unhappy with the ongoing national reforms, are also engaged in the violence and killings through either providing protection or financing the insurgents. And, human right groups are warning that the ongoing atrocities if goes unpunished will do more harm to the country.
Violations against a certain group of society amounts to genocide since the committed crimes within the last couple of years have been carried out by “widespread or systematic attacks,” reported Ethiopian Human Rights Commission lately. According to the report of the Commission, the crimes committed in recent years have been carried out by large number of perpetuators, mostly by organized attackers who moved place to place to kill civilians on basis on their identity.
“Given the repeated pattern of atrocity crimes in the country, Ethiopia needs to design and implement a comprehensive national strategy for prevention of atrocity and crimes with the aim of addressing the root causes of problem,” said Daniel Bekele, Ethiopian Human Rights Commissioner.
Metekel, Beinshnagul Gumuz , Wollega, Ormia state and Konso located in South Nation Nationalities and Peoples state are the areas that are seeing civilian causalities repeatedly. The killings in the areas and the failure to ensure human rights protection is leading to nationwide outcry and grievance among the society as the government has vowed to strengthen security measures against perpetrators of the brutal crimes.
Numbers of international and local civil societies have also indicated that there are alarmed by the recent incidents of mass killings and fear that the trend could continue if the government is unable to stop the continuing crimes.
Reports from government and civil societies also have revealed that bandits and political instigated groups are committing organized crimes against humanity. Lately, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission expressed its fear over the current situations particularly in Metekel Zone following the recent killings of dozens of civilians.
Ethiopian Human Rights Council on its part has disclosed that atrocities particularly in Metekel Zone and in some parts of Oromia states are going worse. As to the Council, witnesses from Metekel have said that they have seen scores of dead bodies and civilians killed in latest attacks. The council also has called for immediate response from the government before humanitarian crisis worsens.
Besides, the council has called for coordination among human right activists, scholars, media and respected elders to urge the government to take measures against perpetuators.
Political parties also have revealed their grievance on the continuing crimes against civilians. Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice Ezema is one of them. The party described the situation in Metekel, West Oromia and Tigray states as concerning and that thousands or more still face life-threatening conditions.
Of late, party told a press conference that humanitarian assistances should be provided to affected communities through cooperation of local residents and the government.
Concerning the Tigray situation, Ezema also called for an independent investigation in to reports of killings lootings, raping of women. “We are calling for swift response from the concerning government institutions to elaborate on the situation and to take urgent measure,” said the Party’s report.
On the other hand, the party has also disclosed that the attack in Metekel is centered on identity and continuous attacking is being taken place. The party also said that the government lacks attention in preserving human lives thus crimes are not still halted.
Many human right violations are being reported particularly from Tigray Region, Metekel and West Oromia; thus we are urging the government to scale up measures against violators, added the report
Prof. Tsigie Gebre-Mariam, President of Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, Non-Governmental organization that engages in researching and organizing discussions on various national issues, has also said that the government has to be committed in taking measures against perpetuators as many of civilians are being killed and displaced. Talking journalists about the current situations, he said that the government is taking much time in patience with perpetuators and there should be a limit thus measures should be extended in parallel with humanitarian assistances for displaced people.
“Repeated attacks have continued, humanitarian assistances are still insufficient. So, the government in collaboration with all bodies working in the country or abroad should avail the much-needed assistance to affected communities. In this regard, the Academy, we are committed to contribute our responsibility,” he said adding, “Humanitarian crisis is becoming quotidian event thus the government should take extensive measures on those who involve directly or serve as architects in crimes being committed in many parts of Ethiopia.”
Many of crimes were politically instigated and were supported by misinformation by the Media’s misinformation, he said. Accordingly, the media should be active in fighting misinformation in the wake of integrating the society. As to him, the organization is intensively researching the cause roots of such conflicts to back government institutions in their effort to dry up the sources of the crimes.
Regarding the identities of the attacks, the government has also previously said that the mastermind of these killings and atrocities was TPLF clique and its Trojan horses .
Following the recent incidents, the government is vowing to take stiff and swift measure against attackers in the violence-ridden areas by deploying security forces. Command post has been installed by the Prime Minister and the federal government has taken Metekel Zone security administrations following accusations against some government officials for engaging in attacks.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the command post in Metekel also has continued taking measures and a number of militias have been killed following the latest attacks. Quoting Brigade General Alemayehu Wolde, member of the Integrated Command Post, the Ethiopian News Agency that a new restrictions have been put in place by the command post as crimes grows more.
Also recently, Oromia Regional State Police Commissioner, Ararsa Merdasa told the Ethiopian Press Agency that more than 1100 militias of OLF Shene members have been killed while it [the Police Commission] took measures against 1000 police officers who conspired with the groups.
The Ethiopian Heraled 17 January
