BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
Over the past two years, the news of deaths and displacements of citizens and destruction of property has recurrently been heard in various parts of the country, particularly in Benishangul-Gumuz.
The federal government has repeatedly stated that these crimes are principally orchestrated by groups those who were ousted from power by the public protest and whose benefits have been deprived, particularly groups who do not want peace in Ethiopia and want to achieve their ill-intended mission in one way or another.
Following the national reform, it has become common to hear the news of conflicts among citizens, deaths and displacements of citizens, and property damage across the country especially in Metekel zone of Benishangul Gumuz, in different parts of Oromia regional state, as well as in SNNP regional state like in Konso, Sheka and Gura Ferda, and in the Qimant of Amhara regional state. Many civilians in Benishangul Gumuz, Oromia, and SNNP were massively killed by ‘anti-peace’ groups.’
According to the report of state media institutions and human right organizations, many innocent citizens lost their lives due to the attack in different parts of the Metekel zonal administration, Benishangul Gumuz regional state, at different times and they were buried in mass graves. Apart from those killed in the massacre, dozens are said to be in hospital getting medical attention for serious injuries. And also, thousands of citizens who have been living in Metekel zone for many years are displaced due to the attack.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission also reported that the massacres were ethnic based. It was also revealed that ethnic Amhara peoples were the main target of the repeated attacks.
As reported by state media, anti-peace forces that are said to be involved in the massacre are killed and an unspecified number of firearms had been captured. Senior government officials from the region are also arrested in connection with the massacre. They are believed to have facilitated the attack directly or indirectly.
A task force, which is led by Lieutenant General Asrat Denero and is accountable to the Prime Minister, is established.
Regarding the issue, Prime Minister Dr.
Abiy Ahmed along with Peace Minister Muferiat Kamil, Army Chief General Birhanu Jula, President of Benishangul Gumuz Ashadli Hassen, and other officials held talks with Metekel zone residents, on 22 December 2020.
After hot discussion, the House of Peoples’ Representatives, in its 6th year 7th regular meeting, ordered to Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee, as well as Legal, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee to investigate the matter and come up with a resolution.
Last Thursday, the two aforementioned standing committees presented a resolution to the House of Peoples’ Representatives that proposes various solutions to stop the killings and displacements of citizens and property damages in Metekel zone.
The House approved the resolution by majority vote. The resolution recommends the executive bodies to extend the State of Emergency (SoE), which was declared over the Tigray regional state by the federal government to protect constitutional order, into Metekel zonal administration, Benishangul-Gumuz regional state.
It was learnt that the resolution proposes to broaden the scope of the aforementioned SoE into Metekel zone if it is not possible to control and stop the problem in the zonal administration under the normal law.
Presenting the resolution to the House, Dr. Negeri Lencho, Chairperson of Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee stated that article 3 (2) of the SoE stipulates that the scope of implementation of the proclamation may be broaden or narrowed as the scale of the problem grew.
According to him, it is possible to strengthen government’s law enforcement activities throughout the country without having to declare another State of Emergency to solve the problem.
In addition to enforcing the law, the activities of supporting the victims and rehabilitating internally displaced persons must be intensified, he said, adding that it is important to establish an independent group of members of the House to monitor the process, report any damage to the House, and report any developments in connection with the issue.
As stated in the resolution, in addition to other causes, hatred politics that have been preached for many years by politicians have contributed to the current crisis around the country. “So, the government needs to work to maintain the long-aged co-existence of citizens.” The government also has to focus on creating public awareness activities by organizing people-to-people discussion forums, it was revealed.
In a related issue, it is to be recalled that, last December, the House of Peoples’ Representatives, in its 6th year 6th regular meeting, invited Peace Minister Muferiat Kamil and Defense Minister Dr. Kene’a Yadeta for hearing and to answer queries of the Members of the Parliament (MPs) regarding the aforementioned issue.
During the meeting, MPs repeatedly asked, “Why these problems could not be solved properly?” Adding that, “What is the Ministry of Peace doing in terms of preventing conflicts beforehand and to resolving conflicts without causing great calamity?
Addressing the queries of Members of the Parliament, Muferiat Kamil, Peace Minister, stated that her Ministry is carrying out large-scale missions by itself and by coordinating its sector institutions. And also, it is working by categorizing its missions into systemic and contemporary and by focusing on them.
She further noted that the Ministry has also formulated the appropriate strategy to carry out its mission of ensuring sustainable peace and stability in the country.
According to her, the Ministry of Peace is working with the participation of various stakeholders as the missions given to it are wide and has many actors.
She said, “We believe that building strong security institutions is very important to achieve sustainable peace.” Adding, “The Ministry is working to reorganize and transform the security institutions to sustainably address key and fundamental issues.” As to her, efforts are being made to alleviate the current problems in the country and to ensure the security of citizens and respect the rule of law.
She also reported that the seven sector institutions of the Ministry of Peace are currently under reform. Especially, the reorganization of the National Information and Security Service (NISS), Information Network Security Agency (INSA), and Financial Intelligence Center has already been completed and efforts have been made to equip them with technology.
As to her, the Ethiopian police did not have a clear philosophy to be guided since its establishment in 1941 in a modern way. “Much work has been done to bring the police closer to the hearts of the people by adjusting police training and deployments in line with the aforementioned approaches,” she indicated.
She also stated that in addition to organizational reforms, the ministry is also working to make the security institutions free from party affiliation and narrowed thinking, and being patriots and true protectors of the country and its people.
The Ethiopian Herald January 24/2021
