BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
The federal government carried out law enforcement operation months ago in the Tigray state following Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) clique’s attack against the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). The government also declared a six-month State of Emergency (SoE) over the state in accordance with article 93 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia “to prevent acts in the region that may lead the country to further unrest and instability.”
Following the declaration of state of emergency, Inquiry Board which has seven members from the House of Peoples’ Representatives was established to follow up the implementation of the decree.
The Ethiopian Herald had a short stay with Inquiry Board Chairperson, Lemma Tessema to discuss matters related to activities of the Board, the implementation of the decree, the ongoing humanitarian assistances to the needy following the law enforcement operation, and other related issues.
Excerpts:
What activities has the Board undertaken since its inception? What is your say on the implementation of the state of emergency in the state?
We began our activities by organizing our office with manpower and preparing plans and checklists. Competing preparations, we made our first round visit to Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dansha, Maikadra, and Humera.
During our visit to Gondar University Hospital, we have seen that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) wounded members and that of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) were being properly treated. We have also seen that residents of Gondar city, in collaboration with the city administration, were providing the internally displaced (IDPs) fellow citizens as a result of the operation with humanitarian assistances. The IDPs resided around Gondar city are families of the ENDF members and other civilians.
We have also observed that Dansha had been the scene of heavy fighting between the ENDF and the TPLF’s armed forces. Because of this, huge damage occurred. During our visit to Humera, we saw that residents had closed their homes and fled other areas because of the war. Residents of Humera told us the TPLF had been attacking them, especially ethnic Amharas.
They also told us that many residents had been killed by the TPLF before the ENDF took control of the area, and there are many mass graves in various parts of Humera.
We also went to Maikadra to have a look at the damage caused by the ethnic based attack which is very horrible to see and to hear. We understood that although others were killed, ethnic Amharas were the main targets of the massacre.
We saw many corpses lying on the ground, and a number of mass graves. It was difficult to pass through the area due to stink comes out the corpses. We had seen serious human rights abuses in the area, and this reality was witnessed by Maikadra residents.
Are there flaws you identified during the first round field observation that need to be promptly addressed?
As we visited various hospitals in the aforementioned areas, we noticed that there was a shortage of medicine. After consultation with the Women, Youth, and Social Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the Ministry of Health, medicine was delivered to these hospitals accordingly.
As we practically observed, Amhara regional state has been working hard to treat the wounded members of the ENDF and TPLF forces and provide them with the necessary supports. University of Gondar brought medicines that are not currently available in the country by establishing a rapport with Kenyan research institutes.
We also held discussions with House’s Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee and other standing committees regarding humanitarian assistances about the case of our citizens who fled to Sudan because of the law enforcement operation.
We tried our best to address the shortcomings we identified during our visit as soon as possible taking the matter to the concerned bodies.
Which areas did you visit during your second round field observation? What are your findings?
We visited hospitals in Shire Endasilasie, Mekelle, Adigrat, Mehoni, Alamata, Kobo, Woldiya, Mersa, and Dessie in our second round field observation to oversee the medical assistance provided to wounded members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and captives who are wounded during the military operation in Tigray region.
When we visited Shire Endasilasie, there was no telecommunication, electricity, water, and bank services around the area. Because of this, residents even who had a better life were forced to wait for assistances.
At that time, about 25,000 displaced persons dwelt around the city. Humanitarian assistance was being provided to the displaced persons, but it was not sufficient to quench needy thirst. We have reported to the concerned bodies that if the above services are not well expanded to revert the situation, the general population of the city and neighboring areas will be highly affected.
We held discussions with religious fathers, elders, officials of the Tigray region Interim Administration, and residents of the city. We also visited temporary medical centers around Shire Endasilasie. Hence, we observed that wounded members of the ENDF and TPLF armed force were being accurately treated.
In addition to visiting medical centers, we also visited the temporary detention centers of captured members of TPLF force [members of region’s special force and militia] during the law enforcement operation.
We also saw culprits who attacked the army and killed members of the army by driving Sino Truck over them. Interestingly, the detainees were arrested in a way that respects their human rights.
There are some allegations that members of the ENDF were attacking innocent civilians during the law enforcement. How does the Board describe this accusation?
As members of the Inquiry Board realized from their field observation in the region, it is completely wrong to say that members of the ENDF were attacking innocent civilians during the law enforcement operation. When we talked to the public in the areas we visited, we did not find anyone claiming being attacked by members of the Defense Forces.
If members of the ENDF wanted revenge, they could have taken action against members of the TPLF armed force that caused serious damage to them; by no means they army attacked civilians.
Even the culprits those who attacked the army and killed members of the army with truck were safely arrested. As the main objective is maintaining the rule of law in the country, ENDF has taken culprits to the federal police for trial instead of taking measures against them.
It has been repeatedly reported that several infrastructures have been destroyed in Tigray region. What did you see during your visit in this regard?
Houses, schools and hospitals and other organizations in the region were looted and destroyed. Infrastructures have also been severely damaged. That is why banking, telecommunication, electricity and other services have been interrupted in the region. Electric transformers were destroyed by weapons and telecom and electricity lines were severely damaged.
The TPLF forces totally damaged the Axum Airport. They even excavated the airport with a dozer. They looted all movable materials of the ENDF Northern Command Referral Hospital and destroyed it. We were told that about 45 patients in the intensive care unit of the hospital died due to lack of treatment.
Adigrat Hospital was also looted by the TPLF [junta] members. Many patients in various hospitals also died because of lack of medical treatment as hospitals were plundered.
What were the humanitarian assistances like during your visit?
At the time of our visit, the law enforcement operation was coming to an end. As the administrative structures of the TPLF junta were dissolved, we conducted discussion with the officials of the Tigray Region Interim Administration regarding the need for expanding its structure to lower level sooner to provide humanitarian assistances and perform other tasks.
The government was working to provide humanitarian assistances to the needy. There was no famine, except for the fear of starvation in the future taking the situation at hand into consideration.
Currently, the government in collaboration with different organizations is providing humanitarian assistances to the needy in the region. Accusations of the international community regarding the federal government’s law enforcement operation and the current situation of Tigray regional state are unsubstantiated and pretty groundless.
This week, we [members of the Inquiry Board] will have third round field observation in Tigray to evaluate the implementation of the decree and look at the humanitarian situation there.
What is the situation of the arrested TPLF leaders and military officers?
We visited the arrested TPLF officials and they told us that they are being treated in a humane manner. They are getting food, medical treatments, and other basic needs properly. With the exception of a few prisoners, most of them were brought to court within 48 hours.
Thank you very much!
Take it easy!
The Ethiopian Herald February 14/2021
