Ethiopian Crisis: US 'gravely concerned' about reported atrocities in Tigray region
Washington, DC , US (PANA) - The United States has expressed grave concern over reported atrocities and the overall deteriorating situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia following fighting between the government and forces loyal to the former regional government led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
"We strongly condemn the killings, forced removals and displacements, sexual assaults, and other extremely serious human rights violations and abuses by several parties that multiple organizations have reported in Tigray," a statement issued by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday said.
The US said it was also deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis.
On 4 November, the Ethiopian military began operations in Tigray in response to what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described as attacks on federal forces and bases by forces affiliated with TPLF.
Mr Abiy said the fighting was over but the TPLF said fighting was continuing.
Human rights advocate, Amnesty International, said in a report released last Friday that Eritrean troops fighting in Tigray state "systematically killed hundreds of unarmed civilians" in the northern city of Axum on 28-29 November 2020, describing the killings as crimes against humanity.
Amnesty International said the Eritrean troops "opened fire on the streets, shooting everyone on sight and later conducted house-to-house raids in a massacre that may amount to a crime against humanity".
It said it spoke to 41 survivors and witnesses – including in-person interviews with recently arrived refugees in eastern Sudan and phone interviews with people in Axum – as well as 20 others with knowledge of the events.
Mr. Blinken said the United States had repeatedly engaged the Ethiopian government on "the importance of ending the violence, ensuring unhindered humanitarian access to Tigray, and allowing a full, independent, international investigation into all reports of human rights violations, abuses, and atrocities. Those responsible for them must be held accountable".
The statement said the United States acknowledged the 26 February statements from the Ethiopian Office of the prime minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promising unhindered humanitarian access, welcoming international support for investigations into human rights violations and abuses, and committing to full accountability.
"The international community needs to work collectively to ensure that these commitments are realised," Mr. Blinken said.
He stressed: "The immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and Amhara regional forces from Tigray are essential first steps. They should be accompanied by unilateral declarations of cessation of hostilities by all parties to the conflict and a commitment to permit unhindered delivery of assistance to those in Tigray."
"The United States is committed to working with the international community to achieve these goals. To that end, USAID (US Agency for International Development) will deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team to Ethiopia to continue delivering life-saving assistance."
Mr. Blinken asked international partners, especially the African Union and regional partners, to work with the US to address the crisis in Tigray, including through action at the United Nations and other relevant bodies.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, in its reaction to the report of Amnesty International, said the human rights watchdog should use appropriate sources in its report to uncover the truth regarding allegations related to the incidents in the city of Axum.
The state-owned Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted the ministry as saying the report raised serious issues that should be of great concern. However, it said the methodology employed in producing the report had its own limitations as it depended on scanty information gathered from refugees in eastern Sudan and phone interview with individuals in Axum.
"For instance, one of the sources cited in the report is found not to be a priest as he claimed but a deceptive person who lives in Boston, USA.
"Therefore, this kind of report based on such sources will not serve the purpose of justice but has the risk of further reinforcing the misinformation and propaganda by TPLF and its cohorts."
Ethiopia said some of the refugees who made it to eastern Sudan were former TPLF fighters who were engaged in intimidating refugees and propagating misinformation.
"That is why it would have been appropriate for Amnesty International to undertake the necessary field work by visiting the region and talking to the competent Ethiopian authorities to uncover the truth," the statement said.
The government said it was ready to collaborate with international human rights experts in accordance with the principle of complementarity which gave primacy to national human rights institutions and mechanisms.
"It is vitally important that other partners work with national institutions, including the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, to further strengthen their capacity in the promotion and protection of human rights in Ethiopia," the Ethiopian Foreign ministry said.
It said the security situation in Tigray was steadily improving, humanitarian actors and the media were now given unhindered access to the entire region and expedited issuance of clearance would be implemented accordingly.
-0- PANA MA/RA 28Feb2021
