The Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) interviews with Dr. Gregory Stanton, the president of Genocide Watch
Dr. Gregory Stanton tells ESAT how Genocide Watch was established and how important genocide prevention is.
Click here to see Dr. Gregory Stanton speak on November 9, 2010 about Ethiopia. (Brought to you by Ethiopian Review)
Genocide Warning
In the remote western region of Gambella, tens of thousands of people have been forcibly relocated from their land. In 2010, the Ethiopian government initiated a villagisation program. The program intended to group scattered farming communities into small villages, with the aim of changing their lifestyles, and providing better access to food, education and health. However, the government’s plans are far from reaching these goals; the Ethiopian government has forcibly relocated approximately 70,000 people from their land with the intention to lease the land for foreign and domestic investment. There have been numerous reports of human rights violations. Many of the new villages where people are being relocated have inadequate food and lack healthcare and educational facilities. The Ethiopian government’s villagisation program has undermined the livelihoods of the people of Gambella. The government failure to provide food assistance has caused endemic hunger and cases of starvation. In addition, those who have resisted relocating are repeatedly assaulted and arbitrarily arrested. The Ethiopian government is planning on relocating 1.5 million people by 2013 from the following regions: Gambella, Afar, Somali, and Benishangul Ghumuz.
“My father was beaten for refusing to go along with some other elders,” one former villager told HRW. “He said, ‘I was born here – my children were born here – I am too old to move so I will stay.’ He was beaten by the army with sticks and the butt of a gun. He had to be taken to hospital. He died because of the beating – he just became weaker and weaker.”
In light of the recent report issued by Human Rights Watch, Genocide Watch is deeply concerned with the rising number of human rights violations in Ethiopia; as a result Genocide Watch is classifying the situation as a Genocide Alert.
The early signs which indicate, the occurrence of genocide in the near future are the following:
Forcibly relocating approximately 70,000 people from the western region of Gambella
The use of force and coercion
The deprivation of resources & the denial of rights
The targeting & exclusion of indigenous groups
The restriction on NGOs such as the Human Rights Council (HRCO )& the Ethiopian Women’s Lawyer Association
The absence of free media and lack of tolerance on dissents
Genocide Watch calls upon the international community to take action to prevent Genocide from happening. Please help us sign this petition:
In September 2008, Genocide Watch declared a Genocide Warning regarding the war that was being waged against small ethnic minority called Burji in a town of Hagre Mariam by an ethnic Oromo group called Guji. Since then the Guji Oromo have continued to wage protracted war against Burji in various localities, especially in towns and villages surrounding the city of Soyama, which is 60 Km west of the city of Hagremariam. Over the course of the last several months there have been heavy loss of lives and damage to Guji properties including destruction of crops and farm equipment.
In January 2009, there were reports of heavy fighting on three different fronts, namely Nadale/ Chuluse front and Gara and Tisho vicinities. News from Hagremariam stated that Guji Oromo warriers were advancing towards Soyama in great numbers. According to Genocide Watch sources, Guji/Oromo attacks on Buji began on January 22, 2009. The situation is and continues to be dire, and urgent action must be taken to avert further attacks.
21 February 2010 "The Anuak are being pushed off their land," by Obang Metho, Founder, The Anuak Justice Council; Executive Director, Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)
Genocide Watch is the Coordinator of the International Alliance to End Genocide P.O. Box 809, Washington, D.C. 20044 USA. Phone: 1-202-643-1405 E-mail:communications@genocidewatch.org