Press Release
Ethiopia Uproots Entire Villages in the Gash-Setit Region

As the Ethiopian regime publicly pronounces its acceptance of the OAU Agreement on a ceasefire, it continues to perpetrate its acts of state vandalism and wanton destruction in the occupied areas.

In the last couple of days since Ethiopia occupied Tessenei, more than 15,000 villagers have been uprooted from their homelands in Awgaro, Aarekeb, Debro, Adi Bgidi, Augomo, Germen, Maishglen, Antore and Biko in the Gash-Setit region by the Ethiopian army, which has confiscated their cattle, looted other property and burned most of the villages. The Gash-Setit region is undisputed sovereign Eritrean territory.

Ethiopia's deplorable acts of evicting villagers from their homelands are designed to disrupt agricultural production during this crucial farming season. In the same vein, Ethiopia's reoccupation of Tessenei this week has no military significance other than preventing the return of the displaced population and the resumption of agricultural activities. Indeed, Ethiopia's Prime Minister alluded to this sinister objective during his briefing session to the diplomatic community in Addis Abeba yesterday when he stated that the temporary security zone which is entirely inside Eritrea will enable Ethiopian farmers to cultivate their lands. Addis Abeba's transparent design is to delay the redeployment of its troops from these areas until the onset of the rainy season in order to adversely affect Eritrea's agricultural production this year.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 16 June 2000