Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Report on Ethiopia’s Wolkait Region: Biased and Tendentious

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 April 26, 2022

We, the undersigned, strongly protest against the joint report of Amnesty International (“AI”) and Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) issued recently accusing the Federal Government of Ethiopia, the Amhara Regional Government and the Amhara militia and Fano of committing human rights violations in what the report refers to as “Western Tigray.”  

As argued below, we affirm that the findings and recommendations of the report are fraught with inconsistencies and biases and lack methodological rigor and objectivity.

Flagrant Perpetuation of the TPLF Narrative of “Western Tigray”

Although the report acknowledges the fact that the so-called Western Tigray was known as Welkait –Tegede –Humera (collectively “Wolkait”) and was part of the Province of Begemeder (Gondar) before the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) annexed it, for its strategic attraction, to Tigray in 1991, it prefers to perpetuate the use of the misnomer so as to confer international and political legitimacy to TPLF’s claim to the territory. If that had not been its apparent purpose, there is no reason to prefer a newly minted name that does not exist in the lexicon of the local population or the history of the region. This fact, along with the report’s evocative title (“We will erase you from this land”), presages the heavily biased and tendentious nature of the report.

Biased and One-sided Reporting of Atrocities 

While the report is replete with numerous citations, it nowhere makes even as much as a passing mention of the animus toward Amharas the TPLF has harbored since its inception as a liberation movement in 1975 by openly declaring the Amhara people as its sworn enemy in its founding document. Notably, the report blithely ignores the atrocities the TPLF has committed while forcibly annexing Wolkait to Tigray in the mid-70s and during almost three decades of its brutal rule. Thanks to the work of a team of scientists in Gondar University, however, TPLF’s atrocities have recently come to light for the world to see. This team of scientists has reported that the remains of fifty-nine thousand Amhara victims have been discovered in several mass graves in Wolkait. Yet, the joint report does not reference the team’s report, nor have its authors bothered to consult the team about these findings. 

In rare instances, the report begrudgingly acknowledges that the TPLF security forces abused the rights of Amharas “over many years.” Yet, it makes absolutely no effort to describe in any detail the gravity of these abuses as it has done on behalf of members of the Tigray community residing in Wolkait. Because it does not take these abuses as seriously, it does not call for any accountability of TPLF officials in the same way that it has been quick to do so against Amhara officials currently administering the Wolkait region. Indeed, the report recommends the suspension of these officials pending investigations into their actions, in utter disregard of their right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

While the report is quick to call for the demobilization of Amhara security forces, there is no similar call for the demobilization of thousands of militia the TPLF has mobilized to wage war and wreak havoc in the Amhara and Afar regions. The TPLF and its militia have shown by their actions and public statements that they are still waiting in the wings to forcibly retake Wolkait and in the process to cause even more death, mayhem and destruction than they have already caused. We would like to note in this regard the atrocities the TPLF has continued to inflict on the inhabitants of the Afar region.

Intrusiveness and Violation of Ethiopia’s Sovereign Rights

The call by the report for the disarming and demobilization of Amhara security forces, such as the Fano and militia, is totally unacceptable, for it is a clear violation of Ethiopia’s sovereign right to organize its security forces in any manner it deems fit. As enunciated in the UN “Declaration on Principles of International Law”, one of these fundamental principles concerns the sanctity of non-intervention in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of another state. It is interesting, although not too surprising, that the report’s call for demobilization of the Fano and Amhara militia echoes the position declared by the US Secretary of State a year or so ago, suggesting that AI and HRW do seem to be acting in concert with the US Government. 

Further, the joint report’s recommendation that calls for a peacekeeping force to be deployed to the region strikes us as especially egregious as it appears to be intended to make it easier for the TPLF to gain direct access to its foreign backers – regional and international. Not only will such a move constitute a blatant violation of the country’s sovereignty but also has the potential to prolong rather than to defuse the tension in the region.

Flawed Research Methodology: 

Particularly unpersuasive and disconcerting about the report is that its findings and recommendations are based on an egregiously flawed research methodology. As the report itself makes clear, its findings are based on information and data largely gathered by sending “five separate research missions” to interview Tigrean refugees in the Sudan. In fact, many of these so-called refugees are the very same individuals who fled the country after participating in the gruesome Mai–Kadra massacre. We would be too credulous to believe that the very perpetrators of such a horrendous crime would come forward to tell the truth about their own involvement or what really happened in Wolkait. On the contrary, it is reasonable to assume that they would prevaricate or shade the truth in order to avoid their own accountability for the crime of mass murder they committed in Mai-Kadra. 

The report also indicates that the interviewees were informed of the purpose of the research with the “help of trusted interpreters.” Who are these trusted interpreters?  Knowing TPLF’s tried- and- true modus operandi, we should be forgiven for surmising that these “trusted interpreters” can be none other than TPLF operatives, activists and sympathizers who populate the Sudan, Washington, DC, and the World Health Organization. Indeed, these operatives have apparently also infiltrated AI and HRW themselves, as evidenced by the fact that Fisseha Tekle, the son-in-law of TPLF’s notorious Sebhat Nega, is Amnesty International’s “researcher for Ethiopia and Eritrea” and is currently promoting the report on their behalf. In his capacity as AI’s “researcher for Ethiopia and Eritrea”, Tekle has produced multiple video accounts about “mass extrajudicial executions” in Tigray.

It is also noteworthy, though not surprising, that Amhara and Kunama natives of the region were systematically shunned in the interview process. There is absolutely no justification for their exclusion other than that their testimony would cast doubt on the credibility of the story spun by the TPLF. Curiously, the report offers no explanation or justification for this exclusion, leaving us to surmise that the omission must have been deliberate. 

It is on the basis of self-serving interviews conducted in the Sudan and some in Tigray that the report accuses Amhara regional authorities of having engaged in a “coordinated” and “purposeful” policy of ethnic cleansing and other human rights violations. This conclusion is totally unconvincing, meritless and unfounded.  For one thing, many of those interviewees are those who fled the area to avoid apprehension and accountability for the heinous crimes they committed in Mai-Kadra. For another, those who relocated to Tigray did so on their own fearing retaliation and accountability for the many abuses “over many years” the natives of the area suffered under TPLF rule, rather than as a consequence of an official policy of “ethnic cleansing”. As such, the allegation of “a coordinated and purposeful policy” of ethnic cleansing cannot stand close scrutiny. (One point worthy of note here is the egregious fact that the report dismisses, as a legitimate response, the November 2020 Mai-Kadra Massacres against Amharas by TPLF’s youth league.)

Also unwarranted is the report’s negative aspersion on the regional authorities of Wolkait for undertaking to resettle “hundreds of Amharas from the Amhara region and [those returning] from the Sudan.” Finding fault with the actions of the regional authorities in this regard completely ignores the fact that many of these settlers are natives of the area who were forced to leave their homes and farms by the TPLF since the mid-70s. Righting a wrong that remained unrequited for so long does not deserve to be seen in a negative light. 

Perhaps, one of the strongest indicators of the sloppiness of the report is its assertion, citing the federal interim administration of Tigray, that 723,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Western Tigray had been registered in other parts of Tigray. However, according to a report of the Federal Demographic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency, conducted while the TPLF was in power, the projected total number of people in Western Tigray, including Amharas and other ethnic groups, for 2017 was only 410,662. This ridiculously inflated number, which cannot be justified by any known demographic principles, is indicative of the flawed and biased nature of the entire report. 

Questionable Timing of the Release of the Report

Finally, it is curious that the joint report became public at a time when both Houses of the US Congress appear to be busy considering essentially similar bills aimed at imposing sanctions on Ethiopia. Given how often the international system seems to do the bidding of the US Government and its allies, including human rights organizations, the timing of the report hardly seems to be a coincidence. It is noteworthy that the US Government took no time to endorse the report and to call for “independent investigations” into alleged violations of human rights in Ethiopia. Given the release of the joint report and consideration of the US sanctions bills are occurring at almost the same time, and when we recall the earlier effort of the US Government and its allies to employ the Human Right Council’s process to do essentially what the report calls for, we believe that the sanctions bills and the joint report have been meant to work in tandem to accomplish the same overriding purpose: to coerce Ethiopia to submit to their demands and thereby to revive the political life of a terrorist organization that the Ethiopian populace has overwhelmingly rejected. 

For all the foregoing reasons, we find the joint report of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch simply onesided, tendentious, bereft of methodological rigor, and, therefore, unacceptable.

Endorsed by:

1. Dr. Abdella Usman, USA
2. Dr. Abebech Demissie, Ottawa, Canada
3. W/O Abekyellesh Allene, Los Angeles, CA, USA
4. Dr. Abera Molla, Denver, USA
5. Dr. Abiy Tadesse, USA
6. Dr. Abraham Betre, M.D., California, USA
7. Dr. Adam Waksor, M.D., Atlanta, USA
8. Dr. Addisu Yilma, M.D., USA
9. Dr. Adane Kassa, Chicago, Illinois, USA
10. Mr. Aklilu Abraham Adeye, Chicago, Illinois, USA
11. Mr. Aklilu Tafesse, New York, USA
12. Dr. Aklog Birara, Maryland, USA
13. Prof. Alemante Gebre-Selassie, Virginia, USA
14. Dr. Amanuel Alemu Abajobir, Kenya
15. Dr. Amelework Kebede
16. Dr. Amir Ibrahim, Toronto, Canada
17. W/O Amsal Woreta, Maryland, USA
18. Mr. Amsalu Belay, Arizona, USA
19. Mr. Andy Groum, USA
20. Dr. Araya Amsalu, Ohio, USA
21. Ato Ashenafi Nebro, Florida, USA
22. Ato Assefa Adefris, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
23. Dr. Assegid Kebede, USA
24. Dr. Awgechew Teshome, Ottawa, Canada
25. M/s. Awlae Woldehanna, RN, Saskachewan, Canada
26. Lt. Ayal-Sew Dessye, Arlington, Virginia., USA
27. Dr. Bayabel Mengistu, Houston, Texas, USA
28. Professor Eng. Bantyehun Tezazu, Toronto, Canada
29. Dr. Beeletsega Yeneneh, Arizona, USA
30. Mr. Belen Gizachew, Portugal
31. Dr. Belete Alemu, M.D., California, USA
32. Eng. Behailu Assefa, San Francisco, USA
33. Dr. Benyam Gessesse, M.D., Philadelphia, USA
34. Dr. Berhane Gebre-Kidan, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
35. Dr. Berhanu Abegaz, Williamsburg, VA, USA
36. Mr. Berhanu Ayele Wurseno, CFGM, USA
37. Professor Berhanu Alemaw, Botswana
38. Professor Emeritus Berhanu Mengistu, USA
39. Dr. Berhanu Tadesse Taye, Virginia, USA
40. Ato Betru Gebregziabher, Texas, USA
41. Dr. Bisrat Aklilu, New York, USA
42. Associate prof. Bizu Gelaye, Boston, USA
43. Professor Damtew Teferra, South Africa
44. Dr. Dawit Mekonnen, USA
45. Eng. Dawit Tesfaye, Zurich, Switzerland
46. Engineer Dejene Eshete, Connecticut, USA
47. Professor Demel T. Fanta, Botswana
48. Dr. Demissie Gebre-Mariam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
49. Dr. Demissie Tadesse, New Zealand
50. Dr. Dereje Woreta, M.D., Maryland, USA
51. Dr. Desalegne Bayih, M.D., Sweden
52. Professor Desta Mebratu, South Africa
53. Professor Enawgaw Mehari, M.D., Nashville, USA
54. Dr. Efrem Alemayehu, M.D., Toronto, Canada
55. Dr. Elias Kassa Mamo, M.D., Maryland, USA
56. Mr. Ephrem Getahun Hailu, South Africa
57. Professor Eyualem Abebe, USA
58. Eng. Elleni Mengesha, Sweden
59. Dr. Endale Ketefo, Sweden
60. Dr. Erku Yimer, Chicago, USA
61. Dr. Fantahun Degneh, Germany
62. Dr Fassil Gebremariam, Florida, USA
63. Dr. Fasil Melaku Wubu, M. D., Maryland, USA
64. Dr. Fassil Tefera, M.D., New York, USA
65. Dr. Fekadu Folle, Maryland, USA
66. Dr. Fikre Germa, Toronto, Canada
67. Dr. Fikru Maru, M.D., Stockholm, Sweden
68. Dr. Fitsum Tariku, British Columbia, Canada
69. Ato Frework Ayalew, North Carolina, USA
70. Dr. Gabe Hamda, Washington, USA
71. Dr. Gebeyehu Ejigu, Phoenix, AZ, USA
72. Dr. Gebeyehu Teferi, M.D., Washington D.C., USA
73. Dr. Gebrehiwot Lebsekal, Vancouver, Canada
74. Professor Genene Mola, South Africa
75. W/O Genet Abebe Ejigu, RN, Phoenix, AZ, USA
76. Dr. Getachew Begashaw, Illinois, USA
77. Ato Getachew Dessye, Canada
78. Dr. Getachew Felleke, M.D., New York, USA
79. Dr. Getnet Asrat, Ottawa, Canada
80. Dr. Girma Aman, Kitchner, Canada
81. Dr. Girma Lulu, Calgary, Canada
82. Mr. Girma Mekonnen, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
83. Dr. Girma Molla, Australia
84. Dr. Girma Tezazu, M.D., Toronto, Canada
85. Dr. Guadie Sharew, Lesotho
86. Professor Gulelat Desse, Botswana
87. Dr. Haile Fenta, Canada
88. Engineer Hizkiel Eskender, Ohio, USA
89. Dr. Imiru Assefa, Michigan, USA
90. Dr. Kalkidan Belaye, M.D., Toronto, Canada
91. Professor Kassa Darge, Pennsylvania, USA
92. Assoc. Professor Kebede Begna, M.D., USA
93. Prof. Kebede Gessesse, Georgia, USA
94. Mr. Kidanemariam Jembere, South Africa
95. Dr. Kitaw Negash
96. Dr. Lulsegged Abebe, London, England
97. Dr. Liyew Desta, Sweden
98. Professor Makeda Semret, Montreal, Canada
99. Prof. Mamo Muchie, South Africa
100. M/s. Martha Gebreselassie, USA
101. Professor Mekibib Altaye, M.D., Ohio, USA
102. Dr. Mekdim Ayana, Eswatini
103. Dr. Mekonen Bayissie, Maryland, USA
104. Dr. Melaku Berhane, M.D, California, USA
105. Dr. Melaku Game, M.D., Canada
106. Professor Emeritus Melaku Lakew, Sweden
107. Dr. Melaku Teshome, USA
108. Dr. Mengistu Yemane, M.D., Tennessee, USA
109. Ato Menelik Andargie, Bay Area, CA, USA
110. Dr. Mesfin Seifu, M.D., Ohio, USA
111. Professor Messay Kebede, Ohio, USA
112. Dr. Mengiziem Emiru, M.D., USA
113. M/s. Meron Ahadu, USA
114. W/O Metassibia Mulugeta, Seattle, USA
115. Dr. Mezegebu Effa
116. Dr. Million Belay, Stockholm, Sweden
117. Dr. Minwiyelet Mussie, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
118. Dr. Moges Sisay, M.D., Indiana, USA
119. Professor Mulatu Fekadu, South Africa
120. Dr. Mulu Geletu, Toronto, Canada
121. Professor Mulugeta F. Dinbabo, South Africa
122. Dr. Mulugeta Yilma, Sweden
123. Prof. Muluneh Yitayew, Tucson, Arizona, USA
124. Professor Nega Debela, Ohio, USA
125. Mr. Negash Abdurahman, USA
126. Engineer Negesse Gutema, USA
127. Dr. Negussie Nega, Maryland, USA
128. Dr. Rahel Alemu, USA
129. Engineer Samson Engeda, California, USA 130. Mr. Samson Getu, Sweden
130. Dr. Samuel Tenaw, Durban, South Africa
131. Professor Seid Hassen, Kentucky, USA
132. Dr. Shiferaw Adilu, Alberta, Canada
133. Dr. Shiferaw Gessesse, Washington, D.C., USA
134. Dr. Solomon Afework, London, UK
135. Professor Solomon Aklilu, Ottawa, Canada
136. Dr. Solomon Basore, Calgary, Canada
137. Dr. Solomon Bokre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
138. Mr. Solomon Lema, USA
139. Professor Sissay Asefa, Michigan, USA
140. Dr. Solomon Gashaw, Minnesota, USA
141. Dr. Solomon Haile-Mariam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
142. Professor Solomon Harrar, Kentucky, USA
143. Dr. Solomon Kibret, USA
144. Professor Solomon Negash, Georgia, USA
145. Mr. Solomon Teffera, USA
146. Dr. Tadesse Desta, M.D., California, USA
147. Dr. Tariku Teshale, M.D., Sweden
148. Dr. Tegegnework Getu, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
149. Mr. Tekesteberhan Tefera, Minnesota, USA
150. Mr. Terefe Zeleke, USA
151. Dr. Tesema Meganasa, Addis Ababa. Ethiopia
152. Mr. Tesera Moges, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
153. Dr. Tesfalem Tegegn, South Africa
154. Dr. Tesfaye Biftu
155. Mr. Tesfaye Engida, Minnesota, USA
156. Professor Tesfaye Kidane, South Africa
157. Ato Teshome H. Tesema, Seattle, Washington, USA
158. Mr. Tewodros Teklearegay, Arizona, USA
159. Dr. Theodros Mengesha, M. D., Alabama, USA
160. Dr. Tihut Asfaw, M.D., Ottawa, Canada
161. Dr. Tikikil Mekuria, M.D., USA
162. Professor Tilahun Adera, Virginia, USA
163. Prof. Tilahun Eneyew, Los Angeles, CA, USA
164. Dr. Tsehaye Atlaw, London, England
165. Mr. Tsehaye Demeke, Tennessee, USA
166. Dr. Tsegaye Metz,M.D., Germany
167. Dr. Tsegaye Tegenu, Uppsala, Sweden
168. Dr. Umer Kssa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
169. M/S Wassy Tesfa, USA
170. Dr. Wessenu Abitew, Florida, USA
171. Dr. Wondimu Mekonnen, UK
172. Dr. Wondwossen Gebre, M.D., New York, USA
173. Professor Wondwossen Gebreyes, Ohio, USA
174. Dr. Worku Abera, Montreal, Canada
175. Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, Virginia, USA
176. Dr. Yared Hailemariam, M.D., Kentucky, USA
177. Dr. Yemisrach Hailemeskel, Toronto, Canada
178. Dr. Yeshimebet Retta, M.D., Virginia, USA
179. Engineer Yeshitila Mulugeta, California, USA
180. Dr. Yeshiwas Amsalu, M.D., Canada
181. Professor Yilma Gultneh, Springfield, VA, USA
182. Dr. Yilma Tekle-Mariam, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
183. Mr. Yilma Zerihun. Texas, USA
184. Dr. Yohanes Dawd, M.D., Atlanta, USA
185. Dr. Yohannes Negash, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
186. Professor Yohanes Tiruneh, San Diego, USA
187. Mr. Yonas Tafesse, Atlanta, GA, USA
188. Mr. Youm A. Fesseha, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
189. Dr. Zebaye Baye, USA
190. Mr, Zerfu Takele, Seattle, Washington, USA
191. Dr. Zergabachew Asfaw, New York, USA
192. Dr. Zewdu Lisanu, M.D., Kentucky, USA

Endorsing Organizations:

1. Adwa Great African Victory Association (AGAVA)
2. All Shewa Ethiopian People Multipurpose International Association
3. American-Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC)
4. Amhara Dimtse Serechit
5. Amhara Wellbeing and Development Organization
6. Bay Area Ethiopian Community Association, California, USA
7. Communities of Ethiopians in Finland
8. Ethio-Canadian Human Rights Association
9. Ethiopian-American Development Council (EADC)
10. Ethiopian Community Association in Atlanta
11. Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
12. Ethiopian Community Association in Milwaukee
13. Ethiopian Community Association of Minnesota
14. Ethiopian Community in Seattle
15. Ethiopian Dialogue Forum (EDF)
16. Ethiopians for Ethiopians
17. Ethiopians in Tennessee
18. Ethiopiawinnet: Council for the Defense of Citizen Rights
19. International Ethiopian Women’s Organization (IEWO)
20. Global Alliance for Justice – The Ethiopian Cause
21. Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians (GARE)
22. Global Amhara Coalition
23. Global Ethiopian Advocacy Nexus (GLEAN)
24. Global Ethiopian Scholars Initiative (GESI)
25. Gondar Hibret for Ethiopian Unity
26. New York/New Jersey Tri-State Hope for Ethiopia, Inc. (H4E)
27. Major Lemma Woldetsadik Memorial Foundation
28. Menelik Hall Foundation
29. Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES)
30. People To People, Inc. (P2P) 31. Radio Yenesew Ethiopia
31. Selassie Stand Up, Inc.
32. The Ethiopian Broadcast Group
33. Tibibir
34. United Ethiopians
35. Vision Ethiopia (VE)
36. Worldwide Ethiopian Civic Associations Network (WE-CAN)
    
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