Urgent Call for Action to End Targeted Violence and Protect the Amhara People, Ethiopia
The Issue
To: United Nations Human Rights Watch
From: Amhara Association in Raleigh and Surrounding Areas, NC, USA
We, the Amhara Association in Raleigh and surrounding areas, urgently call for immediate action to address the severe and escalating violence against the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Under the government led by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, the Amhara population is facing widespread and devastating attacks, including both intentional and unintentional killings.
Recent reports detail horrific abuses by Ethiopian military forces:
Intentional and Unintentional Killings: Numerous incidents have been reported where government military forces have intentionally targeted Amhara civilians—farmers, students, merchants, teachers, and health workers. Additionally, indiscriminate use of heavy weapons in civilian areas has resulted in unintentional killings, leading to significant loss of life and suffering.
Sexual Violence: There have been alarming reports of deliberate sexual violence, including the rape of girls and women by military forces. This heinous act of violence exacerbates the trauma and suffering of affected individuals and communities.
Targeting of Injured youths: Military forces have been reported to take injured youths who are admitted to healthcare institutions from hospitals and clinics. These individuals, already suffering from severe injuries, have been killed or further abused after being forcibly removed from medical care. This practice is a grave violation of human rights and medical neutrality.
Destruction of Educational and Medical Facilities: Schools and vocational training centers have been destroyed or repurposed for military use, disrupting education and healthcare services. Military forces have also robbed and vandalized medical supplies and equipment, further impeding essential healthcare delivery.
Robbery and Theft: Essential equipment, including computers and other public-use supplies from educational institutions, has been stolen. The theft of medical supplies has compounded the crisis, depriving those needing critical care.
Abduction and Extortion: Civilians have been abducted by military forces, with ransoms ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of ETB Birr demanded their release. While some abducted individuals may not be immediately killed, many face death or further abuse after abduction and extortion. This extortion is a grave human rights violation and adds to the suffering of affected families.
Destruction of Property: Homes and properties have been intentionally burned and damaged, resulting in extensive loss of livelihood and displacement of families, including:
Homes: Many families have lost their homes, resulting in significant displacement and loss of livelihood.
Schools and Educational Facilities: Schools and vocational training centers have been destroyed or repurposed for military use, severely disrupting education.
Healthcare Institutions: Health centers and hospitals have been damaged or repurposed, impeding essential medical services.
Farmers’ Cattle and Harvest: Livestock and crops belonging to farmers have been destroyed, impacting food security and livelihoods.
Local Unions and Community Centers: Local unions and community centers have been targeted, disrupting social and economic activities.
In light of these urgent and severe issues, we demand the following:
Immediate Cessation of Military Operations: Military actions targeting civilians in the Amhara region must be immediately halted, and military forces must be withdrawn to their designated camps.
Protection of Human Rights: Ensure the protection of the basic human rights of all Amhara people.
Independent Investigations: Conduct independent investigations into the reported human rights abuses, including killings, sexual violence, targeting of injured individuals, destruction, and extortion, with accountability for those responsible.
Humanitarian Aid: Provision of humanitarian aid to those affected by violence and displacement.
We call on the United nation human rights watch to:
Schedule an Emergency Meeting: Address the Amhara region's ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Demand a Halt to Military Actions: Ensure that military actions against civilians are stopped immediately and that humanitarian assistance is delivered without obstruction.
Support Independent Investigations: Facilitate and support independent investigations into reported abuses and extortion.
We also urge the international community, including governments, human rights organizations, and activists, to:
Amplify Calls for Action: Support these demands and advocate for justice and protection of human rights.
Please help us by sharing this petition and raising awareness about the dire situation the Amhara people face.
Sincerely,
Amhara Association in Raleigh and Surrounding Areas, NC, USA
Drone strikes killed several civilians and burnt the Ambulance. (Images taken from Human rights watch websites)
References for further reading
1. Human rights watch reports regarding “Military Executes Dozens in Amhara Region”. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/04/ethiopia-military-executes-dozens-amhara-region
3. Immediate Action Needed: Ethiopian Government Forces Escalate Human Rights Abuses on Amhara People, Civilians Suffer Severely. https://www.eastafricanreview.com/2024/06/15/immediate-action-needed-ethiopian-government-forces-escalate-human-rights-abuses-on-amhara-people-civilians-suffer-severely/
4. Attacks on Medical Care in Ethiopia’s Amhara Conflict “If the Soldier Dies, It’s on You” https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/07/03/if-soldier-dies-its-you/attacks-medical-care-ethiopias-amhara-conflict
5. Ethiopian Human rights commission calls for investigation into violations committed under state of emergency in Amhara (https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/40314/ ).
6. Reports on targeting civilians are found here https://p.dw.com/p/4cp2x ,
7. Government forces committed extrajudicial killings https://www.voaafrica.com/a/ethiopia-rights-body-accuses-government-of-extrajudicial-killings-/7336625.html
8. Government army committed war crimes in Amhara regions https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/4/ethiopias-army-accused-of-committing-war-crimes-in-amhara-region
9. Sexual violence in Amhara regions https://addisstandard.com/news-rights-commission-reveals-disturbing-sexual-violence-in-amhara-conflict-more-than-200-cases-of-rape-exposed/
10. militarized conflict in Amhara region causes over 15 billion birr in damage. https://addisstandard.com/news-recent-militarized-conflict-in-amhara-region-causes-over-15-billion-birr-in-damage/
79
The Issue
To: United Nations Human Rights Watch
From: Amhara Association in Raleigh and Surrounding Areas, NC, USA
We, the Amhara Association in Raleigh and surrounding areas, urgently call for immediate action to address the severe and escalating violence against the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Under the government led by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, the Amhara population is facing widespread and devastating attacks, including both intentional and unintentional killings.
Recent reports detail horrific abuses by Ethiopian military forces:
Intentional and Unintentional Killings: Numerous incidents have been reported where government military forces have intentionally targeted Amhara civilians—farmers, students, merchants, teachers, and health workers. Additionally, indiscriminate use of heavy weapons in civilian areas has resulted in unintentional killings, leading to significant loss of life and suffering.
Sexual Violence: There have been alarming reports of deliberate sexual violence, including the rape of girls and women by military forces. This heinous act of violence exacerbates the trauma and suffering of affected individuals and communities.
Targeting of Injured youths: Military forces have been reported to take injured youths who are admitted to healthcare institutions from hospitals and clinics. These individuals, already suffering from severe injuries, have been killed or further abused after being forcibly removed from medical care. This practice is a grave violation of human rights and medical neutrality.
Destruction of Educational and Medical Facilities: Schools and vocational training centers have been destroyed or repurposed for military use, disrupting education and healthcare services. Military forces have also robbed and vandalized medical supplies and equipment, further impeding essential healthcare delivery.
Robbery and Theft: Essential equipment, including computers and other public-use supplies from educational institutions, has been stolen. The theft of medical supplies has compounded the crisis, depriving those needing critical care.
Abduction and Extortion: Civilians have been abducted by military forces, with ransoms ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of ETB Birr demanded their release. While some abducted individuals may not be immediately killed, many face death or further abuse after abduction and extortion. This extortion is a grave human rights violation and adds to the suffering of affected families.
Destruction of Property: Homes and properties have been intentionally burned and damaged, resulting in extensive loss of livelihood and displacement of families, including:
Homes: Many families have lost their homes, resulting in significant displacement and loss of livelihood.
Schools and Educational Facilities: Schools and vocational training centers have been destroyed or repurposed for military use, severely disrupting education.
Healthcare Institutions: Health centers and hospitals have been damaged or repurposed, impeding essential medical services.
Farmers’ Cattle and Harvest: Livestock and crops belonging to farmers have been destroyed, impacting food security and livelihoods.
Local Unions and Community Centers: Local unions and community centers have been targeted, disrupting social and economic activities.
In light of these urgent and severe issues, we demand the following:
Immediate Cessation of Military Operations: Military actions targeting civilians in the Amhara region must be immediately halted, and military forces must be withdrawn to their designated camps.
Protection of Human Rights: Ensure the protection of the basic human rights of all Amhara people.
Independent Investigations: Conduct independent investigations into the reported human rights abuses, including killings, sexual violence, targeting of injured individuals, destruction, and extortion, with accountability for those responsible.
Humanitarian Aid: Provision of humanitarian aid to those affected by violence and displacement.
We call on the United nation human rights watch to:
Schedule an Emergency Meeting: Address the Amhara region's ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Demand a Halt to Military Actions: Ensure that military actions against civilians are stopped immediately and that humanitarian assistance is delivered without obstruction.
Support Independent Investigations: Facilitate and support independent investigations into reported abuses and extortion.
We also urge the international community, including governments, human rights organizations, and activists, to:
Amplify Calls for Action: Support these demands and advocate for justice and protection of human rights.
Please help us by sharing this petition and raising awareness about the dire situation the Amhara people face.
Sincerely,
Amhara Association in Raleigh and Surrounding Areas, NC, USA
Drone strikes killed several civilians and burnt the Ambulance. (Images taken from Human rights watch websites)
References for further reading
1. Human rights watch reports regarding “Military Executes Dozens in Amhara Region”. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/04/ethiopia-military-executes-dozens-amhara-region
3. Immediate Action Needed: Ethiopian Government Forces Escalate Human Rights Abuses on Amhara People, Civilians Suffer Severely. https://www.eastafricanreview.com/2024/06/15/immediate-action-needed-ethiopian-government-forces-escalate-human-rights-abuses-on-amhara-people-civilians-suffer-severely/
4. Attacks on Medical Care in Ethiopia’s Amhara Conflict “If the Soldier Dies, It’s on You” https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/07/03/if-soldier-dies-its-you/attacks-medical-care-ethiopias-amhara-conflict
5. Ethiopian Human rights commission calls for investigation into violations committed under state of emergency in Amhara (https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/40314/ ).
6. Reports on targeting civilians are found here https://p.dw.com/p/4cp2x ,
7. Government forces committed extrajudicial killings https://www.voaafrica.com/a/ethiopia-rights-body-accuses-government-of-extrajudicial-killings-/7336625.html
8. Government army committed war crimes in Amhara regions https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/4/ethiopias-army-accused-of-committing-war-crimes-in-amhara-region
9. Sexual violence in Amhara regions https://addisstandard.com/news-rights-commission-reveals-disturbing-sexual-violence-in-amhara-conflict-more-than-200-cases-of-rape-exposed/
10. militarized conflict in Amhara region causes over 15 billion birr in damage. https://addisstandard.com/news-recent-militarized-conflict-in-amhara-region-causes-over-15-billion-birr-in-damage/
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Petition created on September 13, 2024