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Eviction of Amharas from Southern Region

Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD)

Urgent Press Release on the Eviction of Amharas from Southern Region of Ethiopia

April 7, 2012

The Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD) is outraged and dismayed by the eviction of ethnic Amhara farmers from Gura Ferda, southern region of Ethiopia. This is gross human rights violation. According to media reports, letters were handed out to the head of each Amhara family household “to go back to their region because they have participated in illegal land transactions and endangered the environment with bad farm practices.” The letters are signed by regional President Ato Shifferaw Shegute.

Following the orders, armed tugs started roving the Gura Ferda communities violently evicting Amhara residents. Those who did not comply were beaten and stabbed. So far, at least one man has lost his life as a result of severe beating. Children were expelled from schools and mothers with newly born babies were thrown out of their homes. The Amhara communities of Gura Ferda were not given time to sell their properties or orderly pack their movable goods. They were forced to abandon their hard-earned properties and livestock.

Over 20 thousand households, a total of 78 thousand men, women and children, were affected by this illegal order. As a result, hundreds of families are forced to move to Addis Ababa and beyond by foot, lorry and any form of transportation they get. These victims of ethnic cleansing have faced violence, displacement and family separation.

Thus far, the Federal government of Ethiopia has not commented on these human rights abuses and some local officials have even denied the situation.

Forcible relocation of people is against international human rights law. The EPRDF’s ethnic policy, that has created ethnic problems in the country, has to bear responsibility for what is currently unfolding in the Southern region of Ethiopia. EWPD is strongly opposed to forced displacement of people because of ethnic background and land grabs. For the last twenty years, we have been appealing to the international community to take note of and react to the misguided ethnic policies of the Ethiopian government. Recent tragic history of Rwanda and Kosovo are still fresh in our collective memory.

We call upon all humanitarian and human rights organizations to pressure the Ethiopian government to stop abusing the rights of its own citizens. The US Department of State should urge the Ethiopian government to interfere and stop the violent eviction of Amharas from the Southern region of Ethiopia. Ethiopians must have the right to live wherever they want in their own country.

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PRESS RELEASEMARCH 8, 2011

On this International Women’s Day, March 8^th, we would like to focus on the plight of Ethiopian women who are working in the Middle Eastern Arab countries.

The political and economic situations in Ethiopia have been the root causes for Ethiopian women and men leaving their country. We understand that in a global economy of the 21century, people migrate in search of economic opportunities or political freedom. Our concern, however, is the deplorable working conditions of Ethiopian women in the Middle Eastern Arab countries.

It is reported that Ethiopian women who are working in the Middle Eastern Arab countries are facing untold hardship and suffering under their employers. Most of the Ethiopian women are working as housemaids and are treated inhumanly by their employers. Many reported that their female employers beat them or their men employers sexually assault them. In few incidents, Ethiopian women are thrown through windows and some died and others became severely disabled. Some women reported that their female employers dumped hot water on their faces. Many became mentally ill due to the tremendous hardship they faced and they are sent back to their country. In some cases, Ethiopian women committed suicide.

Due to the economic hardships in Ethiopia, Ethiopian parents borrow money to send their daughters and sons to Arab countries so they can work and send money home. Most families pay whatever it is required by “employment agencies” that facilitate the trips for their daughters. Some parents sell their meager possessions to send their daughters abroad. However, for many of them who left their country for better opportunities, life has been a nightmare.

With the current political uprising engulfing North Africa and the Middle Eastern Arab countries, the fate of Ethiopian women workers in these countries is even more dangerous. A case in point is the situation of Ethiopian workers in Libya. Hundreds of them are stranded in Libya unable to repatriate to their country. Men are beaten for suspect of being mercenaries and women are sexually assaulted.

On this International Women’s Day, We are appealing to humanitarian and human rights organizations to be aware of the cruel and inhuman conditions of Ethiopian women workers in many Middle Eastern Arab countries. Countries that import human labor must be urged to respect the basic human rights of their foreign workers.

The dubious “employment agencies” that send young Ethiopian women to inhumane working conditions should be held accountable by Ethiopian government.