NOVEMBER 2000

ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION AND REPRESSION AGAINST AMHARAS

" Discrimnation between human beings on the ground of race, colour or ethnic origin is an offence to human dignity and shall be condemned as a denial of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as an obstacle to friendly and as a fact capable of disturbing peace and security among peoples." (UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Nov. 20/1963)

 SOCEPP has come to know that some foreign countries are denying Ethiopians asylum status by refusing to accept their assertion that "they have been (and that they are) persecuted by the EPRDF government because they are Amharas". The truth is that the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, which is a one-ethnic based one-ethnic dominated (that is to say Tigrean) government, persecutes Amharas as a people, as an ethnic group. Actually, the government practices ethnic discrimination as a matter of policy against all other non Tigrean groups (Oromos,etc...).

The EPRDF government is dominated by the Tigrean People's Liberation Front (TPLF) which waged armed struggle against the Mengistu regime and claimed its struggle was "ant-Amhara and anti-imperialist". The 1975 Manifesto of the TPLF made it clear that the front considered Amharas as oppressors (and enemies) and proposed the separation/secession of Tigrai as a solution. While the TPLF did amend this position as years went on the basic premise of its political program and vision (that is to say its anti-Amhara stand) did not change. Since the Amharas, along with the Oromos, make up 2/3 of the population, the minority regime of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has focused its repression against them. When it took power in 1991, the TPLF made it clear that it has ended "oppression by Amharas" and waged a concerted propaganda campaign against Amharas which led to government sanctioned massacres of innocent Amharas in the South and eastern parts of the country. The campaign of denigration against Amharas was relentless, hatred was stirred against them, passions aroused, alleged atrocities committed by allegedly Amhara kings were recalled and used to incite intense hatred against the Amharas. All this has been going on for years since 1991.

 Practically, this led to the Arbagugu massacres where thousands of Amharas in Arsi were killed as a result of the incitment by the government cadres. The massacre of Amharas in Arba Gugu (particlualrly in Abule, Amshira,Gebre Tekle,Ashe,Guna,Chole and Golelcha villages) was orchestrated and led by top government officials like Hassan Ali ( now exiled in the USA),Hussein Adem, Dima Gurmessa (real name Captain Welde Senbet Gurmessa) and Kuma Demeksa ( still a top government official). In Asebot, Bedeno, and other places too, Amharas were also killed en masse. To "protect Amharas", professor Asrat Woldeyes ( after being denied medical treatment for long while in prison he has also died) and others set up the All Amhara People's Organization. The openly anti-Amhara policy of the government led also to the purge of thousands of Amhara employees from the public administration, the police, the army, etc...

Ethnic discrimination is the political principle of the EPRDF government. The country has been divided into kilils (regions) on ethnic grounds. While there is the claim that such measures are designed to end inequalities, the last nine years have shown that discrimination is the rule, the Tigreans are favoured, Amharas and Oromos are considered as "enemies" of the government and discriminated against, etc... Amharas in Ethiopia are now victims of a State which has deliberately and willfully designated them as oppressors and dangerous enemies. The AAPO has been repressed relentlessly and though it is a legal opposition party this has not saved it or its followers from the repression. The so called Amhara region is discriminated against, neglected, land belonging to Amhara peasants have been arbitrarily confiscated by the government cadres, etc... In short, an Amhara in Ethiopia is a victim of ethnic discrimination and a likely target of repression. The Tigrean front in power exhibits a spirit of vengeance towards Amharas whom it had been accusing as "oppressors" (the Front referred to Ethiopia itself as an empire with a mere 100 years history concocted by Amharas) and since taking power has not hidden its enmity to the people it refers to as "neftegna", chauvinist, oppressor, etc.. The history and actual practice of the TPLF (which makes up the EPRDF) proves its anti-Amhara stance. The ruling group has in fact tried to mobilize other ethnic groups around it on an anti-Amhara platform though this has not succeeded all the way. Yet, innocent Amharas have been forced to flee to protect their lives. In all fields, political, economic, education, employment, health care, etc... there is an ongoing discrimination against Amharas as a people. Amharas are repressed mercilessly and with particular viciousness when they express dissident political views. Such is the reality in Ethiopia.

Hence, all exiles who claim political persecution because they are Amharas deserve the right of asylum and protection since they are indeed persecuted because of their ethnic origin. Discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin is illegal and a violation of rights but it is routine and a political policy practiced against Amharas by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

SOCEPP