Press Release
In its latest press release entitled "Eritrean Government Endangers Ethiopian
Citizens" (21 July 2000), the Government of Ethiopia has yet again engaged
itself in distortions and outright lies against the Government of Eritrea in
a futile attempt to camouflage its crimes against the people of Eritrea and
its callous disregard for the welfare of its own citizens. The truth about the
voluntary repatriation of Ethiopian citizens is as follows:
1. It is a matter of record that about 2,689 Ethiopians residing in Eritrea
had voluntarily requested to be repatriated to Ethiopia as soon as possible.
These had been assembled in Sheeb for immediate repatriation via Mereb. It is
also a matter of record that the appropriate arrangements have been made by
the Government of Eritrea and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
to repatriate Ethiopians "at the usual place (in the area of Kisad Ika)
on Friday (21.07)," as the note verbale from the ICRC confirms, when, in
spite of their previous concurrence, "the Ethiopian authorities refused"
(italics ICRC's) and reneged on their agreement.
2. The ICRC note also confirms that "it is worth to mention that the ICRC
was ready to carry out the repatriation planned for Friday according to schedule,
specially after some technical details were solved in a good collaboration with
the Eritrean authorities." It is therefore the height of immorality to
lie, as the Ethiopian Government Spokesperson is doing, that Eritrea was acting
"against the advise of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)."
3. By its own admission, the Ethiopian Government has sent some Eritreans and
Ethiopians of Eritrean origin at the same point across the Mereb river on 10
July. The condition of the river remained the same on 21 July as on 10 July.
No amount of prevarication can change that.
4. The Ethiopian Spokesperson's claim that "the ICRC has proposed that
the crossing point should be changed" is again as irresponsible as it is
a lie. In fact, the ICRC note to the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly
states that "The Ethiopian authorities mentioned that they are ready to
accept their citizens through an alternative routing, and proposed to use the
road Adi Key-Senafe-Adigrat. [and that] The Ethiopian authorities mentioned
tentatively the date of Saturday (22.07), for a repatriation ..."
5. The Ethiopian Government argues that repatriation should take place via Zalambessa,
which is on the Adi Qayih, etc. route, thus unwillingly admitting that the Adi
Qayih-Senafe etc. route was in fact its own proposal. Yet, it claims that that
route too could be dangerous because of possible mining of the area, notwithstanding
that this would contradict its preference for the Adi Qayih-Senafe etc. route
because of its abiding concerns for the safety of its citizens.
It then proposes that the repatriation be delayed until the demining of an area
which it is not certain contains mines. It is obvious that the whole purpose
of this confusion and obfuscation, as well as its accusation that Eritrea is
violating the rights of those awaiting repatriation eagerly in locations which
have frequently been visited by third parties including the ICRC, is to camouflage
its irresponsibility and callousness towards its citizens whom it is refusing
to welcome to their own country. If it cares for their well being, it should
facilitate early repatriation rather than play cruel politics with their lives.
6. The insinuation that the ICRC has supervised the illegal deportation of Eritreans
and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin is not only a fabrication but also a dangerous
attempt to make the ICRC an accomplice of Ethiopia's crimes. It is a matter
of public record, well known to the international community that, while Eritrea
had repatriated Ethiopians only through the participation and cooperation of
the ICRC, the Ethiopian Government has, in fact, been dumping Eritreans and
Ethiopians of Eritrean origin in war zones and dangerous areas and shooting
from behind. This criminal act has become all too obvious during the past two
years and no prevarication will whitewash the vile crimes it has committed against
the people of Eritrea. These crimes include the burning of villages and towns,
the looting and destruction of property and economic infrastructure, the rape
of underage girls and elderly women as well as the murder of children, women,
and the elderly, the destruction of churches and mosques, as well as the looting
of religious objects, the desecration of memorials to our martyrs and the destruction
of sacred burial places.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asmara, 24 July 2000