BY HAILE DEMEKE
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Embassy in U.K. dismissed the reports issued by the Independent Catholic News regarding massacre in Ethiopia.
The embassy said that the reports of a “massacre” at the St Mary Tsion Church in Askum, which houses the Ark of the Covenant, are unfounded and based on unverified reports from the Belgium-based NGO, European External Programme with Africa (EEPA) and rumors from malicious “international experts”.
Ethiopian Ambassador to U.K., Teferi Melesse Desta, said in statement that these very serious claims are the results of a sophisticated disinformation campaign orchestrated by disgruntled political groups bent on stoking instability and using religion as a weapon to sow confusion amongst the international community, in an effort to derail the on-going reforms taking place in my country.
The statement further said that to publish such claims without verification or evidence to corroborate them is both irresponsible and dangerous.
According to the statement, Ethiopia, a deeply religious society and a country of ancient civilizations with a culture of religious tolerance at their core, is synonymous with a strong tradition of hospitality and respect between its diverse peoples.
The Ambassador stated that the Ethiopian constitution guarantees freedom of worship, therefore, places of worship such as churches and mosques are protected by law and are considered part of Ethiopia’s rich millennia old cultural heritage.
“The thought of such atrocities happening in one of Ethiopia’s most ancient and sacred sites is unthinkable. To date, there has been no physical evidence of a “massacre” in Aksum.”
Given the current situation, he said that Ethiopia is at a critical crossroads in its efforts to build a more democratic and prosperous society : “ So I strongly encourage you to report impartially and robustly, given that misinformation and disinformation campaigns on the situation are rampant online.
We also urge the international community, the media, and the public not to fall victim to these campaigns, by remaining vigilant, interrogating sources, and exercising caution before publishing and sharing unverified reports.”
As to him, the government of Ethiopia is fully aware of the significance of the country’s ancient religious sites and remains fully committed to their protection, as well as the protection of civilians in the region.
The Ethiopian Herald February 2/2021
