Appeal to the DPM Tamrat Layne of TGE, 1992

On Hidar 11, 1984 Ethiopian calendar (November 19, 1992?) two respected individuals submitted a letter of protest to the then Deputy Prime Minister Tamirat Layne voicing their opposition towards the annexation of Setit Humera, Welkayt, Tegede, and Telemt by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE). The writers Ato Dagnew W/Selassie and Ato Fetihaye Assegu acknowledged the historical ties between the people of Gondar and Tigray. However, they condemn the illegal act of annexing the districts to Tigary and express their dismay at forcing the native inhabitants to be second class citizens of Tigray.

This two Honorable men were brave enough to question the government of TPLF at a crucial juncture in the history of our nation. Their courage to stand up in defence of their people was and still is commendable. They accurately foresaw the implication of the annexation of the districts on our people on relations between the people of Gondar and Tigray. Had there been the willingness to listen and act upon the advice of these elders our people would not have fallen in today's situation of animosity between the people of Gondar and Tigray.

It is saddening that we do not have such great heroes who stand up and fight in defence of their people today. These two Great individuals had the guts to express their opposition and expose the human rights violations that were committed by the TPLF on the native inhabitants. At times when not a single international human rights organization or even our own Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC) reported the atrocities that were committed in these districts, Ato Dagnew and Ato Fithaye stood for us. It is heartbreaking to see these organizations continuing to give a blind-eye to what is happening in these districts. I wish that they extend their fact finding expertise to these and all such districts rather than just concentrating in Addis Ababa or just other major cities.

The real harassment and human rights violations take place in rural Ethiopia (note: this is not to say that cities are immune), where communication to the outer world is either limited or deliberately blocked by the TPLF/EPRDF regime. It is erroneous to assume that the indicated districts (Welkayt, Tegede, and Telemt) are in a good condition just because they are located in the Tigray regional administration. In fact it is there where the conditions are miserable and where gross human rights violation are silently taking place.

Click on "Read more" to view the Amharic pdf letter written by the two gentlemen.
Read more...