From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Wed Dec 16 2009 - 09:19:14 EST
Remembering the Anuak Massacre of December 2003
December 16th, 2009 |
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/11822
On December 13-15, 2009, it will be six years since the massacre of 424
Anuak in Gambella, Ethiopia followed by nearly two more years of widespread
extrajudicial killings, rape, torture, imprisonment, disappearances and
destruction. By the end of this time, another 1500 Anuak from this very tiny
ethnic group, numbering less than 100,000 worldwide and less than .01% of
the Ethiopian population, were killed.
In April of 2009, Genocide Watch president, Dr. Gregory Stanton, defined
this ethnically-based targeting of the Anuak as genocide and crimes against
humanity in his referral of the "case of Ethiopia" to the UN High
Commissioner of Human Rights.
Wondering what thoughts were on the minds of the Anuak in Gambella at this
anniversary of their darkest of days or what changes they might have seen
during these years, we in the Anuak Justice Council contacted some of the
Anuak to ask this question. One Anuak man said:
Thank you for asking me what has changed in the six years. The answer is not
a lot. We still do not know where the bones of our people are, not one
single killer has been brought to justice and we still are not free.
As some might remember, the genocide was linked to gaining access to oil on
Anuak land. Drilling for that oil began almost simultaneously to the
massacre. There was a prepared list of those to be targeted for death by
Meles' Ethiopian National Defense Forces. Those who were on that list were
mostly those who had been the most outspoken opponents to the TPLF
government control of every aspect and benefit of this effort, in violation
of the Ethiopian constitution which provided regional involvement in such
endeavors. International laws also protected the land rights of indigenous
people.
The two wells that were drilled proved to be dry; however, the memory of the
horror and the impact of the great loss of beloved family and community
members continue to be felt throughout the Anuak community in Ethiopia and
worldwide. Another Anuak man commented in his interview:
To some who are outside Gambella, today [December 13th] is the day of
remembering, but for those of us here, every day is a 'remembering day;'
weremember by not seeing our neighbors, by seeing someone who lost her
husband or her son, by seeing a child without a father or by seeing a
demolished home, burned down six years ago, butstill not rebuilt. The list
could go on and on. That is the reason that to us, each day is a day of
remembrance."
For now, in Gambella, there will be no commemorative services, public
recognition of the past, acknowledgment by the government of what they have
done or new efforts to hold offenders accountable.
One Anuak woman explains a very different - and difficult - reality for
Anuak:
The horror of December 13th is part of our daily life-like a dark cloud
hanging over us that has never left. What makes it worse is that the killers
are still around us. For example, the chief of police who ordered the
killing of the Anuak in 2003, Haile Selassie Tadesse, has been promoted to a
higher position. He is now the information desk officer for the regional
governor, Omot Obang Olam. (Governor Omot is the one who allegedly compiled
the list of Anuak to be targeted for death. Last
year, he was denied entrance into Canada based on his complicity in
committing crimes against humanity.) How can we say there is a change with
this kind of thing going on around us?"
Instead, life in Gambella is expected to go on as if nothing ever happened.
The government, who authorized the targeting of the Anuak and continues to
give both impunity and rewards to the perpetrators, isstill in power and
they "dislike" any "remembering." It is "not good" for their public image.
Instead they promote propaganda regarding progress in the country that the
people of Gambella have yet to see.
One Anuak man commented on this:
The government in Addis can preach with their rhetoric that there is peace,
development, democracy, the rule of law, good government andjustice , but
the truth is opposite from what they are saying. As it is said in the Bible,
the truth can set you free. It is a light that can never be hidden.
The unhidden truth being revealed right now are the new government plans to
again attempt to exploit the significant natural resources and related
economic opportunity in the region. The Meles government has leased a large
tract of some of the most fertile land in the region to Mohammed Al Amoudi,
an Ethiopian/Saudi Arabian billionaire, who has, according to reports,
already been "given" a choice parcel
for next to nothing. He is negotiating for more land, saying he wants some
500,000 hectares in Gambella and in the neighboring Benishangul-Gumuz region
and in the Amhara region. Al Amoudi has also procured the gold mining rights
to extract gold from indigenous Anuak land, a source of income for the Anuak
for many years. They will now be totally left out of any of the benefits.
Meles is also making more bargain land deals with India, Saudi Arabia, China
and others from 35-year to up to 99-year leases. It is very clear that the
TPLF-dominated government does not want the people, but only our resources.
As indigenous agricultural land is confiscated, much of the food produced on
these
lands will be directed to other countries or the local people may end up
buying food grown on their land, at inflated prices, from foreigners and
made into slave laborers.
This is going on all over the country. In Gambella, it has raised an uproar
of outrage among the Anuak.
One Anuak man interviewed said:
To make the matter worse, Meles is still planning more "indirect" killings
that could result in even more lives being lost than were lost in 2003.
Meles is now giving away our land to foreigners. This land is covered with
virgin forests. The forests to us are our food, our shelter, our nails, our
roof, our walls and our medication. The land is not just "nobody's land" as
Meles claims, it is our life! Without this forest, we could have never
existed as a people. Meles is really going to the hard extreme and I do not
think we will accept it without resisting."
Another Anuak man stated:
The central government has been bribed by foreign investors and now the
regional governor, Omot Obang Olam, is being bribed to give away this land.
The Anuak elders are warning him not to gamble with our lives; meaning that
our land is our life. These dirty business deals, conducted without
consulting the people, are very dangerous. This Anuak land was given to us
not by us begging for it or bribing someone, but because God gave it to us.
Without it, there is no us. I hope the Meles regime and Omot Obang Olam will
listen."
A young Anuak man added his comments:
In the Abobo area of Gambell, Al Amoudi has already cleared the land of the
forests and still plans to transport some 300 tractors, bulldozers, or other
large equipment to the area for further clearing of the land. The Anuak
people who live there are already being forced from their land. No one knows
who will take responsibility for these displaced people or where they should
go. There seems to be no plan for them and they may end up not having any
land to farm. The Anuak land is being given away to the Chinese, the
Indians, the Saudi Arabians and the "so-called Ethiopian" al Amoudi."
"If they continue with the plan as is, and destroy the forests, even a
billion dollars or one hundred years will not restore them. Knowing that,
some of us would choose to be cleared away with our forests. The indigenous
people will lose their livelihood. We are not against feeding the Ethiopian
people or in investing in their future, but investing in outsiders and
feeding outsiders with the food from our land when Ethiopian people are
starving does not make sense. It would never be tolerated even in those
countries now wanting our land. If it is unacceptable for Ethiopians to go
to China or India or Saudi Arabia and clear their land without consulting
the people, it is unacceptable here. We are human too and we care about the
future of our children like everyone else. We would rather remain the way we
are or the way our ancestors were instead of losing our livelihood for the
greedy few. My message to the investors is, listen to the owners of the land
or you will pay the consequences."
The Anuak will not ignore this attempt to defraud them of their land because
the land is who they are. This land-grabbing is in violation of
international law and their right to it is protected. This is a very
sensitive issue and the Anuak and other Ethiopians throughout the world, are
watching, waiting and preparing for what will come next.
In the meantime, on this anniversary of our pain, the Anuak will remember in
silence, quietly meeting together or visiting the graves of those who died;
that is, if their loved one's body was ever recovered for many were buried
in a mass grave; and some, simply disappeared. Many Anuak who ran to refugee
camps in neighboring countries, will remember from there and Anuak in the
Diaspora will hold
commemorative services.
Since 2003, the Ethiopian government has only become more abusive,
repressive and openly dictatorial as they continue to imprison, torture and
kill people all across the country; as they close off any political space in
anticipation of rigging the next election and as they deny Ethiopians every
basic civil right. It is a morally bankrupt regime that will not willingly
give up power unless the victims of their crimes, from
every region of the country, rise up together to demand their freedom.
An Anuak woman eloquently spoke of her hope that Ethiopians would work
together. She stated:
What gives us hope and encouragement is when we hear that you in the
Diaspora are working together with other Ethiopians. Let everybody work
together to create that Ethiopia that will hold us together. As we remember
this December 13th, let us remember December 13ths of other Ethiopians that
have taken place all over Ethiopia.
As we remember the Anuak who have lost their family members or others who
are locked up in prison, let us also remember all Ethiopians whose name or
tribe we may not know, but who are part of us because we are all victims of
this inhumane government. All of these prisoners are the warriors of
justice, committed to bringing justice throughout Ethiopian land. I am
confident that God will free these people from their cells so they will be
able to rejoin their families. I am also confident that if we
stand together, justice will pour over Ethiopia."
Can we find justice for these and the many other precious lives lost at the
hands of a government who has forgotten their role as protectors of the
people? As one of the interviewees stated:
This regime is one of the most hated regimes in Ethiopian history because
they kill the people like they are nothing and with no remorse. As a result,
even though the people may not talk about it, within themselves they are
unified by the terror and horror inflicted on them and others by this
government."
The testimonies given here are just a few, but if we were to go throughout
Ethiopia, we would find testimonies like these in every region and among
every ethnic group. If these kinds of testimonies cannot unify us as one,
what will?
In conclusion, at the time of their crisis six years ago, the Anuak were
alone, but today, they are reaching out for the hands of others. This is the
time to reach back and clasp hands together-mourning together under one tent
covering all of Ethiopia.
May God remind us that whoever is being killed or tortured anywhere in
Ethiopia is a cause for our mourning. May God help us see a bigger picture
of our shared humanity rather than the ethnicity that Meles uses to incite
us to destroy each other. May God open the eyes of Ethiopians to know that
whenever the blood of an Ethiopian is spilled, it is the blood of our
brother or our sister.
December 13th is a tragic day, but do not forget, God is able to make all
things-even those that are horribly evil - work together for good, according
to His purposes. He can use all of us who are genuinely determined and
committed to work together for something greater beyond only ourselves.
Could the loss of these precious lives create the foundation for a better
future for our children and grandchildren? Yes, but only if we are
transformed as people who are willing to define our destiny.
Could God bring about the compassion in each of us towards every ethnic
group that might lift the pain from the shoulders of those suffering all
over the country? Yes, if we soften our hearts.
The final question for us today is if we the people of Ethiopia are willing
to become those "watchmen" who call on the LORD day and night, never being
silent until God helps us bring justice, freedom, integrity and goodness to
Ethiopia?
As the Anuak, the people of Gambella and all other peace-loving Ethiopians
remember this day, let us give God "no rest" until He establishes a "New
Ethiopia" in our hearts, in our minds and in our land.
(Anuak Justice Council. For information: advocacy@anuakjustice.org)