ADDIS ABABA- Ethiopian Heritages Trustees Association called on the general public to be vigilance in protecting the country’s heritages in the ongoing conflicts in the northern Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Heritages Trustees Association General Manager Mekoya Mamo told The Ethiopian Press Agency(EPA) that there are numerous external and internal forces which are seeking loopholesto loot the ancient Ethiopian heritages taking advantages over the war waged by the terrorist TPLF remnants.
“The Ethiopian government and every citizen should be closely watching the movement of some strangers as they would try to hide our precious heritage in support of the war provoked by the terrorist TPLF. Most of the religious and cultural heritages in Ethiopia are not found anywhere else in the world. In such event of a conflict, there will be robbers who will come to snatch these artefacts,” he said.
Therefore, he said, the conflict would create a more favourable environment for these individuals who are trying to extract the artefacts in various ways, adding that precautionary measures should be taken at all exits and entrances to the country.
This time around, some anti peace elements have been waiting for such an opportunityto destroy or take away country’s unique heritages registered by UNESCO. Besides, they are trying to hide the heritage that we will not replace for good.. A number of people have been arrested at the airport for trying to leave the country with Ethiopian ancient heritages portraying that they bought it from a souvenir store,” he stressed.
Therefore, every citizen should take the necessary precautions when they sees any suspicious activity, he underscored.
Accordingly, religious institutions and museums are the target areas of those groups and individuals.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
The Ethiopian Herald 26 August 2021
