December
16, 2003
Mr.
Colin Powell
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Mr. Powell,
RE: Killing of US Citizens in Gambella, Ethiopia by government troops
It has become apparent that Ethiopian government troops have been rounding
up and killing civilians in large numbers, mainly from the Anuak ethnic
group in Gambella, Ethiopia, a region bordering southern Sudan. Among
the dead is one United States citizens (Oriem Agda Akwai, Minneapolis
MN. The whereabouts of 1or 2 other United States citizens are unknown
(Okwa Omot, Washington DC, left Oct 4, 03, supposed to return to US Dec
8).
We are writing as individuals who are directors of a non-political,
non-religious, non-ethnic NGO based in Canada that presently conduct
water management programs in Gambella, Ethiopia. Our leadership is made
up of ex-patriate Gambellans and as such we have extensive contact with
various individuals in Gambella. The information contained in this letter
was obtained from a wide variety of sources within the region, and we
simply want to get the word out about what we hearing is happening in
the region. It is our understanding that the US Embassy in Ethiopia has
been made aware of the situation. Furthermore, we have discussed the
situation verbally with the Overseas Citizens Division, US Department
of State. We will be pleased to provide you with any assistance you may
require from us including regional contacts, at skobang@hotmail.com (306)955-7549.
The attack is apparently in response to an attack on a vehicle on December
12, 2003 near Itang, Gambella that resulted in 8 Ethiopian Highlanders
and 1 Anuak being killed. While it has subsequently been found out that
those carrying out the attack were in fact another ethnic group (as identified
by a survivor of the attack), this did not stop the Ethiopian military
from attacking a nearby Anuak village in revenge. This attack resulted
in casualties on both sides (believed to be 11 Ethiopian defense personnel
and 1 Anuak) and led to the Ethiopian military attacking civilian Anuak
in Gambella town in revenge for the deaths. This follows approximately
18 months of ethnic violence in the region between the Nuer and Anuak,
which resulted in the October 2002 imprisonment of senior regional government
officials who were imprisoned without charge (24 are presently in Addis
Ababa federal prison and 44 are in Gambella regional prison), the abolition
of the regional police force, an increased presence of Ethiopian troops,
and the removal of democratically-elected regional government leaders
followed by the installation of a federally appointed regional government
(ignoring the democratic process required under Ethiopian law). Conflicts
between the Anuak and federal government troops have steadily been on
the increase ever since as government troops exert their control on the
area and its people.
Reports from the region indicate that following the December
12th vehicle attack, Ethiopian government troops began approaching
those Anuak that
were previously identified as "troublemakers". This list of
Anuak has been well-publicized and is made up of those that are sympathetic
to the former regional government, those that hold positions in the present
regional government, and those that are outspoken against the federal
government's policies in the region. Of the Anuak on this list, some
were arrested with no charge, but the majority were shot and killed in
cold blood.
On December 13, 2003, following the first day of violence, 44 Anuak
civilians were buried in mass graves at the insistence of government
forces in Gambella town, 38 of which had died from bullets to the head
from point blank range. The American casualties were among those buried
there. Any attempt to document the massacre by regional government officials
or concerned citizens was met with beatings and intimidation. Killings
in the days since have continued (as of December 16, 2003, 151 Anuak
have been killed and buried, more than 200 are in hospital and many more
are missing and presumed dead), the military has blocked road access
to the region, the hospital is substantially over capacity, up to two
thirds of the Anuak homes in Gambella town have been burned to the ground,
and all flights have been cancelled.
The massacre of the Anuak continues by Ethiopian troops
with no end in sight. Reports from the Ethiopian Ministry of Defence
suggest that
the conflict is a land dispute between different ethnic groups (presumably
Oromio and Anuak) in Gambella. This quite simply is false-Ethiopian troops
are systematically annihilating the Anuak population, including Anuak
foreign nationals, and blaming others for the atrocities. Given the present
scale of the conflict, the reported movement of "rebel" troops,
the presence of the Oromio Liberation Front (OLF), and the region's close
proximity to the civil war in Sudan the need for immediate action is
imperative before the intensity of the conflict dramatically increases.
We urge the United States Department of State to strongly condemn this
unlawful and immoral act, and to urge the government of Ethiopia to ensure
that the conflict is halted and that the appropriate steps are taken
to punish those responsible for the atrocities. Furthermore, we request
the United States government to undertake an independent enquiry into
the conflict in Gambella, including but not limited to, the deaths of
United States citizens, and that the United States puts pressure onto
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to live up to its human rights
obligations as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and other international treaties.
Sincerely,
Obang
Cc: Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minster, Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia
Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada
Hillary Home, Amnesty International Canada
Amnesty International UK
African Human Rights Watch
UN Human Rights Commission