TPLF's Witch-Hunt for Eritreans Goes International
Hidaat G. Ephrem
November 9, 1999 In a statement issued today, the TPLF led Government of Ethiopia, called upon Eritreans who live abroad to turn in Ethiopian passport and all travel documents in their possession to the nearest Ethiopian mission. It is to be remembered that there are over 2000 young Eritreans languishing in concentration camps across Ethiopia, so far eight have died at the hands of the Ethiopian security. In its policy of ethnic based deportations and in gross violations of human rights, Ethiopia deported over 64,000 innocent Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin in the last year alone, often through a tense war zone, to a no-man's land. Ethiopia's excuse for sending Eritreans to concentration camps and deportation is "for reasons of national security". However, the confiscation and auctioning of the deportee's hard earned wealth amounting in millions refutes such claims as "national security", and tells of a sinister act aimed at destruction. How children, women, disabled, the elderly and the sick have become the target of its policy, Ethiopia will be accountable, if not for the law it broke and the justice its victims deserve, at least in the eyes of history.

Today's statement is nothing more than further revelation of TPLF's deep desire to systematically destroy a whole population of a nation. One has to wonder, what kind hate must consume the Woyane's heart, and what fire must burn their soul to author such unimaginable and horrible acts against humanity. Indeed, it is a reflection of self-hate destruction projected onto others. Such unthinkable acts of horror by out-of-mind criminals doesn't stop by the will of the criminal, nor would it be limited to one group of victims. As long as the criminal is is free to act out, more horrific acts and more victims would follow. What ethnic background would be the next target? Would any foreign national be safe in the hands of Ethiopians? Would any of her citizens be safe? What law and justice is there in Ethiopia to save people from such unwarranted and brutal treatment? None! No one is safe in Ethiopia.

The international community has given a mere lip-service to the plight of the Eritreans who have been deported, imprisoned and killed at the hands of Ethiopia. More aid packages and development projects have poured into Ethiopia's doner dependent system. Naturally, Ethiopia would feel that it has gotten away, and could even can get away with more ugly policies and atrocities. In fact, Ethiopia may even feel superior in its distorted self-image.

So, today Ethiopia's despicable ethnic based witch-hunt for Eritreans have come to Europe, US, Canada and everywhere else in the world. Such Ethiopian policy is an insult and grave disrespect to the nations who have welcomed Ethiopian citizens into their country graciously. Ethiopia's ethnic based witch-hunt for Eritreans is no longer an issue between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Ethiopia has widened its base to include all countries to play a helping-host to such dehumanizing, terrorizing, and discriminatory policy.

How long can the international community tolerate such policy? How can the UN, OAU and US justify their quiet diplomacy under such circumstances? Ethiopia has gotten away with in-house murder, torture, imprisonment, confiscation of wealth and prosperity, and mass deportation of Eritreans. What will Ethiopia get away with next? An international stage for its acts against humanity!