NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Turmoil in Beni Shangoull-Gumuz leads to Federal Parliament Member arrest, and firing regional vice president.

The regional state of Beni-shangoul-Gumuz is located in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. Beni- shangoul became part of  Ethiopia in 1898. The Capital city is Asossa. Beni-shangoul population is estimated to be 4000000, more than the half of this population has been deprived of their land to live in Sudan.

   The aim of this article is to draw international communities attention to several incidents of human rights violations committed by Tigray minority led government against the people of Beni shangoull-Gumuz. Over hundreds people have been detained and remain detained without charges in Asossa, Menge, Chagne, military prisons. We urge international NGO’s to investigate and put pressure on Tigray led government to stop executing civilians for no reason.

The region of Beni Shangoull-Gumuz has resisted previous dictator Mangisto through all possible methods to establish democracy. The revolution against Mangisto dictatorship has contributed in establishing a democratic government in Ethiopia. Since The formation of regional government in Beni shangoull in 1991, still people lack security, blaming the government for being short of peace, security, justice, development, social services and stability. The political situation has never been predictable and effective in the region. The conspiracy and self-interest of the TPLF (Tigray people liberation Front) has played a significant role in creating turmoil and atrocities in BellashangoullState. This region did not experience any kind of stability and prosperity due to TPLF elite interference in the regional affair. The TPLF intentionally caused divisions among ethnic groups in Bella-shangoull in order to exploit the resources of the region for the development of Tigray. The government’s political predicament in this region affected the development program. The Bela Shangoull region is a simple example of the TPLF policy failure in Ethiopia.

Recently TPLF defence forces waged war in the region, committing various types of crimes against innocent civilians and politicians. The Tigray elite forces has deprived of Beni shangoul-Gumuz people from their own regional affairs. They have violated the most basic human rights, treating the people in this region as if they are less than human, undeserving respect and dignity. We   urge international community to limit the unrestricted power of the TPLF elite government in order to ease the life of this region’s people. The government has committed crimes against humanity in beni shangoul-Gumuz region, many people have been killed, tortured, houses burned, properties confiscated, innocent civilian imprisoned, many are beaten day after day [more]


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Ethiopian Apartheid Government Brutality and Savageness in Benishangul

This is a genuine report regarding human rights abuse, infringements and genocide in the BenishangulState. The government of the Prime Minister Meles Zinawi has been punishing the people collectively in unprecedented brutality. The cruel, savage, racist and totalitarian government of EPRDF has committed massacre in the BenishangoulState.

Imprisonment of the Deputy Mayor: -

 In attempts to put an end to the resistance of the indigenous people in BenishangulState, the Neo-Apartheid EPRDF government arrested and expelled all Administration Staffs, schools closed, university students imprisoned and killed leading to a chaos in the State. The government continuously discriminates against Benishangul people in all aspect of life; it continues injustice treatment that resulted in displacing the people of their land, territories and resources. The interference of the TPLF (Tigrian People Liberation Front) security personnel in the regional affairs caused disaster, this led to limit the powerless State government in exercising their rights to develop and maintain their political affairs.

On 16th June the government arrested Assosa deputy Mayor Mr. Abudlraheem Mohammed Alshafi and Abdu Mohammed Ali without explanation. The government accused the population of the State and promised everyone the same fate. Mr. Alshafi was appointed to act in the position of the Benishangul State Vice President without his consent. This happened immediately after the arrest of the State Vice President Mr. Sabile Albakhit, but he refused to accept the appointment, which made the Government to act aggressively against him. Mr. Alshafi discovered that he has been selected to act as a traitor against Benishangul interest to the benefit of the discriminative and invading power the Meles Zenawi regime. The government wanted to apply the old policy of divide and rule. Since the imprisonment of the elected Vice President Mr. Sabil Albakhit in May there was no one appointed to act in this position. This type of intimidation will not serve Ethiopia’s purposes; instead it has broadened differences ground between the EPRDF/TPLF and its supporters and the indigenous people of Benishangul.

On 17th of June, 2008, the frustration of the Tigray ethnic minority led government made them take action of arrest against the drivers of past-imprisoned officials. This act of mass imprisonment in the State proves the difficulties the government experiences in the State.

19.06.2008
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Ethiopian Genocide Crimes in Benishangul Villages:

Today, It is 10:48 PM Saturday night 21.06.2008; we have been informed by our incredible sources that the Ethiopian government security forces and military forces cooperatively and deliberately attacked villages. They confirmed that the military committed genocides in various villages of Benishangoull, hundreds were killed, displaced, disappeared, and those arrested were tortured to death.  

The collective punishment became the systematic mechanism the ethno-centric government of Ethiopia under Meles Zenawi, uses to control the Benishangul People. The people of Benishagul are experiencing intentionally planned abuses and savage killings. These acts violates the human rights convention, and genocide declaration. The sources have confirmed that 97 innocent civilians villagers were killed. This launched genocide operations on defenceless and innocent civilians of Benishangul aimed to displace the people of Benishangul. The compatriots of Benishangul villages are the most unfortunate people on the earth. Many of these villages endeavour to see the government implement any kind of development program; instead, the government has waged unexpected military operation that led to a massive killing of civilians in the region, and inciting other ethnic groups against Benishangul people.  Here is a list where savage killings took place at the hands of the Ethiopian government by districts/village:

Andulu, Tumad , Mange, Bariyah  Councils

65 people killed

Tumad Mukwar village

7 people killed

 Famesere and Abadi Council

28 civilian were killed

We urge the international communities to be aware of the Benishangul forgotten genocide of recent past. The government is carrying experiments of killing on Benishangul people. The world needs to intervene and act immediately now before it is too late.  The condition of the State is in turmoil, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawe is leading a campaign to exterminate the people of Benishangul, it is a new Kosovo, Bosnia and Rwanda disasters; it’s a deliberate genocide, this is unprecedented savage and brutal attack on inocent civilians. The international communities have moral responsibilities to protect the people of this State. The Benishangul people are being exterminated daily and will be extinct if the international community does not step in and pressure this unprecedented ethno-centric and brutal government who does not use any discretion with its military power.  The military-Agazi forces is carrying a campaign that aims to:

  1. Exterminate the people massively in the State
  2. Extensive implantation of new settlers in the region since 1975
  3. Extrajudicial and killing
  4. Imprisonment and tortures 
  5. Selection of person who are willing to betray the Benishangul
  6. Discrimination against Benishangul people
  7. Forced assimilation and destruction of the Benishangul culture

21.06.2008

 

 

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

THE EPRDF/ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT HAS WAGED GENOCIDE AGAINST THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE OF BENISHANGUL.....WON’T YOU PLEASE HELP US RAISE AWARENESS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE?!?!

BENISHANGUL HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION

 

INTERVIEW: IBRAHIM YOUSUF, CHAIRMAN
courtesy of: Ethiopiawinet Betegbar Internet Radio