The UN High Commission for Human Rights passed resolution (A/HRC/47/L.20/Rev.1 formulated by the EU on the situation of human rights in Tigray on the 37th Session of UNHRC once more in blind and irrational stance and with total ignorance of the reality on the ground in Tigray.
Despite the efforts underway by the Government of Ethiopia in investigating the possible violations of human rights in the event to restore the rule of law in Tigray and any possible violation of human rights by the members of the armed forces or any person, the resolution deliberately failed to appreciate or even mention how Ethiopia is working on restoring legal accountability in the region by organizing a special committee in cooperation with the UN High Commission for Human Rights, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and law enforcement bodies including the EDF, Office of the Attorney General, Federal Police, the UNHCR did not care to at least mention that it is involved in the entire process of enforcing legal accountability in Tigray.
Besides, it never mentioned the inhuman atrocities and massacre of 600 members of the Northern Command, massacre of more than 1200 innocent Ethiopians in Mycadra, Humera and other areas in Amhara Region. Despite vivid testimonials and reports on the savagery committed by TPLF, the resolution actually ignored the gross violations of human rights perpetrated by TPLF thus emboldening the terrorist force to continue violating human rights in Tigray.
Again while the leaders of international community of nations had unanimously lauded Ethiopian Government decision to withdraw from Tigray through a unilateral ceasefire to provide more access to food aid by the government and aid agencies and to ensure peaceful farming season in Tigray to avoid permanent shortage of food, TPLF used the occasion to prevent farmers from tilling their lands and is forcefully recruiting them into its bands of killers.
TPLF opened an offensive in the border areas with the Amhara Region by recruiting minors, elderly priests, mothers and their children to fight against the EDF and Amhara Special Forces in this restive region. If this is not a gross violation of human rights, what else could it be?
Incidentally, the resolution tabled by EU was adopted by a vote of 20 in favor, 14 against and 13 abstentions, I “the Council expresses grave concern at the reports of serious human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law allegedly committed by all parties in the Tigray region since the start of the conflict on 4 November 2020; and calls for the swift and verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the Tigray region.”
A major question is relevant here. Who started the conflict that the resolution mentions and why does the resolution keep on mentioning the withdrawal of the Eritrean Armed Forces while in reality they are back to their border area and are being attacked by TPLF which opened fire on territorial troops in Eretria? The resolution states further that.
. “The Council requests all parties to comply with obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect all civilians, including humanitarian personnel and civilian objects, and all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, and to take all steps required to allow and facilitate the full, safe, immediate and unimpeded access of humanitarian actors for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all persons in need, while respecting the humanitarian principles and applicable international law.”
Ethiopia is already cooperating with the WFP and other agencies in facilitating logistics and transport access to swift food delivery to Tigray and has allowed air transport of food with legal restrictions on airdropping food. The secretary General of the UN Antonio Gutierrez has officially appreciated the efforts made by Ethiopia and had credited Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his goodwill and humanitarian gesture.
Therefore, to what extent is the resolution relevant unless it is meant for venting the neocolonial mentality of the Major Powers of the world in their attempt to order around a sovereign country?
In fact the spread of the vote on the resolution speaks itself. Out of the total vote, 27 countries either opposed the resolution or remained in abstention. This clearly indicates that the resolution has been prepared to fulfil the political motive of those who sponsored it. It also shows the consistency of China and Russia in honoring the rights Ethiopia should enjoy in dealing with its own problems.
The international community is now aware of the fact that TPLF forces have continued to indiscriminately kill minors, young women and men as well as older persons whom they think have supported the Interim Government of Tigray. Is this not tantamount to the violation of human rights?
In response to the blindfolded resolution sponsored by the EU, The Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refutes the resolution as follows.
“The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia expresses its disappointment at the resolution by the European Union on the situation of human rights in Tigray adopted at the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
It is to be recalled that the Ethiopian Government has agreed to the deployment of the joint investigation team composed of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to inquire into human rights violations allegedly committed during the crisis in Tigray. The joint team has commenced its investigation in May this It year and is expected to finalize its work in August 2021. In addition, investigations are being expanded in scope by coordinating the efforts of the military justice system, regional law enforcement authorities and federal investigators and prosecutors.
Since the proposal was put forth by the European Union at the 47th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Government of Ethiopia has been appealing for the withdrawal of the resolution on the premise that first, it is premature, and second, it interferes with and undermines the integrity of the ongoing joint investigations. It has made its case clear before the Council, pleaded for the investigation to run its course and called on the august body to provide the necessary time and space for the investigations to be completed. All its efforts, however, were to no avail and, in its view, there is no moral nor legal ground to justify the untimely adoption of a politically motivated resolution. Constructive engagement, rather than a hasty decision by the Council, would have contributed to expeditiously bring the ongoing efforts to a successful conclusion. For these reasons, Ethiopia rejects this resolution.
Let it be known that those who were involved in committing crimes will be brought to justice
And punished to the full extent of the law.
The Government of Ethiopia once again reiterates its commitment to fulfill its national and international human rights obligations.”
In a Statement it issued on the situation of Eritrean Refugees Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs on July 14, 2021 stated that,
“The Ethiopian Government and its people have a longstanding reputation for hosting and protecting refugees. The government is working hard to ensure that refugees contribute to peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and the world at large upon their return to their countries of origin and to the world they live in. Currently, Ethiopia is home to more than 900,000 refugees, mainly from neighboring South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan.
In contravention to these facts, reports are emerging from different directions regarding attacks on Eritrean refugees in the Tigray region. To set the record straight, the attack began back in November 2020, as the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) forces targeted two of the refugee camps, namely Shimelba and Hitsats and seriously affected the refugee operation. As a result, the two camps were out of service, and the refugees were scattered to the surroundings.”
The UNHCR is well aware of this and no word from such a reputed global organization on violations of human rights of refugees whoever and wherever they are. If the UNHCR does not come out with a condemnation on this does human rights mean at all for this Commission?
While the US and other western countries remained silent on the attack that TPLF has opened on three fronts on the Amhara Region, the US administration lost no time to issue a press release immediately after the EDF have started to repulse the aggressive provocation of TPLF on the region. This clearly indicates that the US and other western countries are attempting to restore TPLF to power gain to enable it to form a totalitarian regime on Ethiopia.
Contrary to the desires of TPLF and its western allies, the entire conspiracy they have hatched and continued to hatch on Ethiopia is ever solidifying the unity among the peoples of Ethiopia in ascertaining the unity and territorial integrity of the country.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD JULY 21/2021
