AN APPEAL TO CLARIFY U.S. POSITION IN ETHIO-ERITREA CONFLICT
In late April, we voiced our concerns regarding the inflammatory statements made by Mr. David Shinn, the U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia. With total disregard for official U.S. stand in this conflict, Mr. Shinn's anti-peace stance was unambiguous when he essentially gave Eritrea an ultimatum to either withdraw unilaterally or face continued war.
A few days later, the U.S. State Department released a refreshingly clear statement stating that the U.S. does not support any pre-conditions that will get in the way of an immediate cease fire. Then a few days after that, in spite of Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrean territories based on Ethiopia's unilateral map of October 1997, Mr. Shinn falsely portrayed Eritrea as the aggressor.
Why is the U.S. State Department not rectifying the mixed messages? As we understand it, Mr. Shinn could not have made his repeated pronouncements and still kept his job without the consent of his superiors. Given these contradictions, one would be justified to assume that the U.S. is saying something nice for public consumption while Mr. Shinn is encouraged to derail the peace process to the detriment of more than 60 million Ethiopians and Eritreans who continue to be victimized by this senseless war.
For the sake of lasting peace; for the sake of the hundreds of thousands already displaced, dispossessed and expelled; for the sake of those who have died needlessly so far; and in order to avert pending disaster that many believe will be even more devastating than what we have seen to date; we strongly appeal to you, Mr. President, to take decisive and immediate action to re-commit the U.S. for peace with a coherent message and matching deeds. Not to do so will only poison the atmosphere for peace at tremendous long term human and material cost to both Ethiopa and Eritrea.
Given Mr. Shinn's repeated and contradictory statements to official U.S. policy, we are not at all surprised by Ethiopia's continued violations of the air strikes moratorium personally negotiated by you. Ambassador Shinn's continued war-mongering is of extreme concern to us as it should be to all those who are tirelessly working, praying and hoping for peace. How much blood does the U.S. want to see before it has to reconcile its stated policy with what its ambassador seems to be working so hard to derail? Mr. President, with all due respect, we believe these conflicting messages cannot happen without active intention by people in your administration.
Mr. Shinn may think that he is doing Ethiopia a favor. But it is our strong belief that such statements do not serve the interests of peace and are extremely damaging to both Ethiopia and Eritrea. However, we also believe that there is still a great opportunity and some optimism - albeit diminishing - that the chances for peace are still good.
Once again, we appeal to you, Mr. President, to put an immediate stop to the contradictory messages and recommit the U.S. to peace with renewed vigor. The agony of Eritreans and Ethiopians is no less tragic than other conflicts in which the U.S. has taken a firm stand on. Africans are bleeding just the same. Mr. President, you have made a difference with the air strikes moratorium before. We urge you to do more for the sake of the more than 60 million Eritreans and Ethiopians who will have to live as neighbors forever. Leaders come and go but the good neighborliness of Eritreans and Ethiopians must never be compromised for petty politics. We hope and believe that you will take our humble plea to heart and act accordingly.
May 24, 1999