April 20, 2000
THE POLITICAL USE OF THE FAMINE AND VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS
"The State Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take, individually and through international co-operation, the measures....which are needed." (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Art. 11/2)
The government of the EPRDF not only failed to take the necessary steps to prevent the famine but is actually using the tragedy for its own political purposes. Its refusal to reform the agrarian system, its discriminatory ethnic politics and the war it is waging on several fronts are justifiably considered to be the main factors which led to the turning of the drought situation into the devastating famine that is threatening 8 million people.
The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is dominated by the Tigrean front (TPLF) and is accused of discriminating against non-Tigreans. The government of Meles Zenawi is accused of using the famine situation for its own political purposes. To cite a few examples: · SOCEPP has learnt that families of those who are in exile and in the ranks of the opposition have been denied food aid (in many parts of Wello) and told instead "let your son send you food!". This practice has also been signaled in Northern Shoa, Gondar and some parts of the South. ·
The government distributes food to its supporters and refuses those whose political sympathies are allegedly with the legal or illegal opposition. This has been evidenced in many parts of Southern and Eastern Ethiopia.
· The government has hoarded enough grain in its own region (Tigrai) and instead of using this for emergency relief to the Ogaden and other hard hit places it is trying to haggle and sell this to donors (and amass profit in the process).
· Its choice of (relief aid) entry ports is not determined by the need to speedily and effectively bring help to the needy but by political considerations and motives.
· The government diverts the food aid to its own soldiers and to the grain silos in its own region (Tigrai).
STOP PLAYING POLITICS OVER THE LIVES OF THE FAMINE VICTIMS! STOP VIOLATING THE BASIC RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE !!
SOCEPP
