Shabait.com (Asmara)
11 June 2008
editorial
Asmara — Yesterday marked the 10th of June; ten years ago on this day the TPLF regime issued an order prohibiting any Eritrean to enter Ethiopia through any means of transportation.
Two days later on 12 June 1998, the regime officially declared that all Eritreans residing in Ethiopia as well as all Ethiopians of Eritrean descent will be collectively deported from the country. The following day, TPLF cadres embarked on a campaign of dragging Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean descent, including day-old infants, from their homes and putting them in prison camps while looting their belongings. The Eritrean people will never forget this brutal crime of ethnic-cleansing and crime against humanity, the brutality of which can only be compared to very few other similar incidents.
The primary objective of this crime on Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean descent was to create ethnic-based hostility between Eritreans and Ethiopians so as to further escalate the border dispute. Despite the crippling attacks inflicted on them by the Eritrean people's struggle, the Haile Selassie and Derg regimes never resorted to such brutal and malicious tactics. Indeed, only a backward clique whose mind is plagued with vindictiveness and hate can commit such an immoral and brutal crime over unarmed innocent civilians.
One of the main engineers of the crime against Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean descent is the TPLF official by the name of Abai Tsehaye. In an interview he conducted with the clique's radio on 7 June 1998, this official said "Eritreans want all Ethiopians, and particularly Tigrayans, to be their slaves so far they have monopolized the Ethiopian economy and have been thriving on the Ethiopian people's hard work." These remarks were meant to incite the Ethiopian people to join in the atrocities against the Eritrean people. In campaigning for ethnic hostility, TPLF leaders had hoped that the Ethiopian people would raise swords and axes against Eritreans. Fortunately however, the Ethiopian people possessed better sense.
In a statement he gave to the Christian Science Monitor, a Western Ambassador present in Addis Ababa at the time said that Ethiopia's atrocities against Eritrean families based only on ethnic origin is a disturbing development. "Every diplomat in Addis Ababa could write a book about these horrifying crimes," the Ambassador further added. The Ethiopian Ambassador to the US, Birhane Gebrekristos, denied the whole incident and said: "we have not deported a single adult, let alone small children." However, the crime of ethnic cleansing against tens of thousands of Eritrean women, children and the elderly, including those under treatment in hospitals, as well as the blatant looting of their belongings could not remain uncovered. Thus, realizing that they could no longer hide their crimes, the leader of the clique admitted their crimes on TV and said that Ethiopia has the right to deport any foreigner just for not liking the color of his/her eyes.
At the time when the TPLF clique was committing such crimes against Eritreans, the Eritrean National Assembly convened its annual meeting in June during in which it asserted that the Eritrean people's historic brotherly relationship with the Ethiopian people, in general, and the people of Tigray in particular, is not and cannot be compromised by temporary conflicts and tension. Moreover, the Government of Eritrea affirmed that it will not take counter measures on Ethiopians residing in Eritrea and that their right to live and work in Eritrea will be respected in accordance with the law.
These historical facts attest to the fact that the people and Government of Eritrea have been endeavoring to minimize the negative effects of the border conflict on their endeavors to promote peace, good-neighborly relations and regional cooperation. On the contrary, filled with hatred and vindictiveness, the TPLF regime irresponsibly sought to instigate hostility among the peoples to further escalate the border problem. However, the clique did not succeed in its wicked machinations and the Ethiopian people were not fooled! After surviving a brief period of acute suffering, the deported Eritreans not only resumed a normal life but also flourished in their own country amidst warm and welcoming fellow citizens and Government!
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2008 Shabait.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
It is really disturbing to read such distorted comments from one of the Woyane cliques'remnants trying to cover all the atrocities which was caused to our hardworking fellow eritreans residing in Ethiopia,1998.Woyanes jingoism was only concentrated in rulling Ethiopia in iron fist just to revange against the ruling amhara regimes.They first claimed that they wanted to creat a nation-Tigray,like Albania.These imbeciles never been out of the bushes and watched what was going on in in the Eastern Blocks especially Albania.They were told to rule Ethiopia by Shabia which they ultimately listened,but once they realised that they had the power and… [Read Full Text]
I am an Amharha brought up in Addis. During Mengistu time my mum was going to get murdered (Keyshiber) with our neighbour who origin from Eretria they both made a promise to look after each others kids if one is to die and the other to survive. During Meles time they were asked to leave Ethiopia and the Lady left their home to my mum to sell and send the money to them which happened after 7 years when we were able to establish contact. As a matter of fact I happen to bump into our neighbour's kid here in… [Read Full Text]
No wonder why this blind shaebia cadre is crying, perhaps he knows the truth. misleading your people is your political strategy and now you want to speak about your 'CONFUSED POLITICS'here.....Go hell. ask your people the truth. as an Ethiopian, peace will never prevail unless our port(Assab)is back to its home land ethiopia. __ stop crying and save your poor people___
The present Ethiopian government came to power in 1991 after defeating the regime of Col. Mengistu Hailemariam. The regime currently in power constituted members of the former rebel movement that fought for an indepndence of Tigray, a region with 3.5 million people in northern Ethiopia. To pave the way for an eventual independent Tigray it drew up a map incorporating territories of neighboring regions including Ertrea. Then with the help of the US and EU started a murederous war with Eritrea that claimed more than 150,000 lives and displaced over 2 million ppl. Members of regime have amassed huge sums… [Read Full Text]
It's so funny reading an article from shabiat.com the mouth piece of the shabia thugs in asmera.The deportation was the best thing Ethiopia did to ensure it's security,anyways these people need to go back to their FREE country,nobody wants them in Ethiopia,enstead of whining about the deportation these morons should understand how this all happened,why Ethiopia retaliated and taught them a lesson they will never forget after they invaded Badme(who's in control of Badme now?)EXACTLEY!!SO stop your crying and worry about the eritran refugees in northern Ethiopia who are fleeing in their thousands why?because eritrea is the land of the… [Read Full Text]
First of all, Ethiopia has a legitimate right to decide on any issues concerning foreigners, whom on their own interest denied their Ethiopianess. Those extremist Eritreans always cry the old song of deportation, denial of entry etc. But the truth is Ethiopia has deported only the suspected Shaebia cells and has a legitimate right at any time. All deportees were transported by bus after they settle their business in Ethiopia. They had a right to leave someone after their properties. Those who had īBank loans, the bank has lost its money even after selling their megre property.
Let me ask… [Read Full Text]