Crime against humanity and genocide against the Anuak in Ethiopia

"The land is being given out irregularly and if care is not taken we will be slaves on our own land "
                                               Chief Awulae Attibrukusu III
                                                Source: BBC news

Many people in the world are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Anuak, a minority ethnic groups both in Ethiopia and the Sudan are much under time and financial pressure. As they prepare to celebrate the important birth of the Messiah, they also invest money and time to equip themselves with necessary items to allow them to remember innocent victims who perished and buried in mass graves, children and family members scattered across the continent, and thousands who are an accounted for since political, economic and social injustice against them. Important as remembering the tragedy of innocent civilians is the essence of reminding the world and Anuak generations how the consequence of prolong injustice in the society has destroyed the fabric of the society. The vital question perhaps would be how an attack by unidentified group could spark such outrageous crime against humanity.  For those who did not know the background and some important steps under the current regime and its predecessors, the following highlights could provide some essential information on the genesis of one of the forgotten crime against humanity in this the 21st century.

Let's remember the day, December 13, known as “Today is the day of killing Anyuaks”

The two international human rights instruments, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, stipulates clearly on provisions of crime against humanity and genocide. Though the purpose of this background paper has nothing to do with the theoretical aspect of crime against humanity and genocide, our purpose here is to draw constructive and important link between the international provisions and what many of our community and other world community do not appreciate as crime against humanity and genocide against one of the minority ethnic group in Ethiopia and the Sudan. The scale of injustice against the Anuak has long history since the incorporation of the Baro/Openo basin under the Ethiopian rule during the scramble for Africa. Conflict involving both the indigenous Anuak and the Ethiopian soldiers are recorded in history. Many young men were forcefully recruited into the army to fight unworthy wars in the north and the east.  

The current level of injustice has its historical development in the long history of the region. The economic and political negligent during the imperial rule was bedrock for the historical injustice that led to the recent outrageous crime against humanity. During this period of time until Haile Sellasie was disposed from power, the Gambella area has remained isolated and neglected of any important social, economic and political institutions. The negligent during the imperial rule has resulted in lack of educated men power in the region. The only secondary school in the region was the goodwill of the UNHCR to serve the Sudanese refuges that fled the first liberation war in early 1970s.

The situation had somehow improved during the military Junta but with some major obstacles that gave birth to the historical brought daylight indiscriminate massacre of innocent civilians. Thousands impoverished civilians from Ethiopian highland were resettled on Anuak lands. As a result demographic change in the region saw new political power entrusted in mainstream Ethiopians in support of government policies. While the majority settlers return to their homelands after the fall of military junta, very few moved to the Gambella town to get protection from the new government. The settlers were later on joined by other members of Ethiopian highland communities who came in search of economic advantage. The increased number of civilians from other parts of the country not only changed the demographic makeup the region, but it has also brought its own political disadvantage to indigenous peoples. Moreover, the new comers have been used to stir the tension between the two main indigenous people, the Anuak and the Nuer by the current regime. The following are some of additional episode of historical injustice against the Anuak community in their own homeland:

1. On different occasions the military junta had used the conflict between the Anuak and the Nuer ethnic groups in the region. In the early days of the Ethiopian revolution, the local military groups were dispatched to Jor district. They used brutal force to subdue the entire community members. During this period, innocent civilians were killed, family members displaced leading to catastrophic tragedy in the history of the Jor people. Again, in his search for political gain, the governor, Thwat Pal Chay while governor of Gog district went on his campaign to brutally massacre Olau people at Jor district and burn to the ground the entire village. Hundreds were left dead and many more made homeless in search of food, shelter, and protection from nowhere. The result was obvious; family members and children were exposed to nomadic intruders until today.
2. As many could recalled, the attack and massacre of innocent civilians at Pinyudo, Pokwo (Akado) and Itang villages by SPLA militia groups was also a part of prolong injustice against the innocent civilians. In this unspeakable displacement neither the Ethiopian government nor the humanitarian organizations were able to respond to the security and humanitarian needs of the civilians. The Anuak could only count on support of the Almighty God.
3. During his rule as a Party Secretary, Thwat Pal Chay, made an attempt to execute Anuak elites on the Ethiopian New Year. However, his attempt to carry out a similar tragedy equivalent to the killing of innocent civilians by the foreign nationals could not come materialized.
4. Another actual threat to the indigenous Anuak existence came into effect immediately after the current regime assumed power in 1991. During this period, a group of Anuak youth in Gambella town were surrounded and taken to the military barracks for execution. Among those who did not returned to their family and fallen victims of brutal policy of the TPLF include: Allen Abachene, Ojulu Lackjor, Gogi, Skumbo. The family members and the community at large are still devastated at the loss of young men and women who went missing in the Gambella town and between villages.
5. Conflict erupted in 1991 when faction of Riek Machar invaded Itang area before they matched to Bor town in south Sudan. During this conflict, many Anuak have fallen victims and villages burned to the ground. The response from the indigenous liberation organization was intense and decisive. With limited ammunitions and logistical support, the GPLM army engaged themselves with Riek Machar’s SSDF faction. They managed to liberate Itang and its surrounding villages from the foreign invaders. Nonetheless, the TPLF army which was not pleased with the victory of the GPLM, decided to withhold necessary logistical support. The result was another unexpected conflict between the GPLM and the TPLF army in the Gambella town. The conflict further escalated into the unwanted division within the GPLM leadership and military wing leading to death of the GPLM leader Agwa Alemo and other important GPLM military officials including Commander Omot Ojulu from Nyikuwo village. The TPLF army then decided to launch another lethal attack on the GPLM military camp at Abole causing massive destruction and lost of life. They further went on by attacking villagers at Okuna village and Dimma district.
6. The intention of the TPLF army further came to surface in 1994 when SSDF faction launched an attack on Gilo Anuak by burning down 20 villages. Thousands innocent men and women were made homeless and destitute. The TPLF government made no effort to respond to humanitarian need of the Gilo people, Jor district. The Anuak, however, made re-organisation to liberate villages under the foreign invaders with limited support from the government. 
7. With the support of the Ethiopian federal authority, the divide and rule policy was implemented among the Gambella indigenous populations. The Anuak society saw a rise of various forms of potential and actual conflicts with other ethnic groups in the region. While the Nuer are allowed to posses deadly and destructive weapons the Anuak were disarmed and denied access to any form of self defense. Other ethnic groups were allowed to carry on killing members of Anuak community without protection from the government. The attack on Itang, Pinykew and Gambella town were some of important chronology of long term destruction of Anuak society under the current government.
8. The Anuak society saw another unspeakable attack by the Nuer militia alleged to have been supported by Patriotic Front, a political party under Thwat Pal, in 2002. Anuak locals in Gambella town were not even safer with the presence of TPLF soldiers. Instead, Anuak community members were not enjoying movement rights like other community members in the Gambella town. Similarly, the conflict went too far to involve innocent civilians under the protection of UNHCR and the Ethiopian government. Anuak refugees from Sudan became victims without any protection from both parties. As a result, many Sudanese Anuak refuges drawn from Pinyudo refugee camp were detained for years by the Ethiopian government.
9. Another deadly conflict erupted between peaceful community members in 2002. Anuak community members who were assigned to work at Godare district have fallen victims of divide and rule policy of EPRDF/TPLF government. For the first time in history, the Anuak community was made to suffer at Godare district. Innocent civilians were burnt and skinned alive. The TPLF government which was behind the screen decided to imprison over 40 educated Anuak members including the State governor, Okello Nyigello. Some of them, including well known GPLM fighter, Adula Akwala, died in prison denied of access to medical care.   
10. A prolong and historical injustice against the innocent Anuak civilians had become a norm of life among the Gambella community. Prior to rampage on civilians in the Gambella town and its surroundings, it was already apparent that the Anuak were suffering wide range of abuses from other community members. The traders in the Gambella town had joined in the crime against humanity plan of the government. They were reported to openly making remarks in the market to insult Anuak individuals and community. Certain poisoned food items were made to be sold to members of the Anuak community with the intension to kill as many Anuaks as possible. The result was devastating with many innocent civilians poisoned and dying from such obvious action from business community. The recent food poisoning incident at Abobo district that left three dead and over 60 Anuak community hospitalized are part of long intention to eliminate the Anuak community members from their own homeland. 
11. The worst incident in Anuak history was seen in December 13, 2003. As many would know, the pretext for rampage against innocent civilians that begin on December 13, 2003 was an ambush and killing of eight officials of ARRA (administration for returnees and refugees affairs). The government without further investigation of the culprit decided to release its army to move from house to house to kill hundreds, displace thousands, destroyed property and scattered thousands family members across the continent. Within only three days, the campaign of terror headed by Gabreab Barnabas claimed hundreds lives and left many in fear for their lives and their loved ones. The army further unleashed Janjaweed type of military tactics against innocent farmers, on their own farms and villages, displaced thousands to the bush and to the neighboring countries. To-date, thousands are living under poor conditions in many refugee camps across the continent. Yet, the Meles regime continue to denied any involvement of his own army in the act of terror against the innocent and peace loving Anuak society.   

As the above evidences against the Anuaks people suggest, it seems that the political and economic injustice will continue unabated under subsequent Ethiopian authorities for generations to come. Thus, we would suggest the following direction for each individual among the Anuak community in Diaspora and at home to find “solution” for injustice against our own society. These include:

1. Option to join opposition political groups in Addis Ababa for those who think that Meles regime could be hosted through non-violence means of struggle;
2. Alternative to raise fund in order to return home and invest in any economic institution so that we can stop the current level economic war against our own community members. As many are aware, the economic war has been dominant instrument with innocent civilians poisoned without any option to change the market structure.
3. Alternative to keep hope alive for those who do not support the above options by reviving GPLF/M. This option as many would know require determination and sacrifice in order to remove the cloud of oppression against our people.

Finally, let us draw on apartheid regime experience in South Africa where a movie actor, Sarah Pina ignored imminent threat faced by black youth and the entire community. She [Sarah Pina] could not see the threat from the white South African police forces that were given rights to shot and kill. While the police force pushed the young riots, Sarah Pina leveled the black youth as trouble makers and continued her day to day business activities. When the white South African police arrived, she was the first target to be beaten losing all she had worked for in her life and finally burned alive.

The above example could similarly hit home very hard. Many officials in the Gambella region did not see any implication of the buildup evidences that led to December 13, 2003 in the history of the Anuak people. Some have chosen to stay at home to enjoy favor from the wolf. Yet it did not take long for the regime to kill his loyal and many of them went to prison, detained without trial, lost their jobs and family members. Even, the current loyal of the regime would soon or later reap the buildup of prolong injustice and crime against humanity of successive Ethiopian regimes.

The injustice against the Gambella indigenous people is experienced in every part of social and economic life. It is of known fact that the Gambella hospital had no important life saving materials such as medicine, blankets, glucose, etc. This important issue was raised during the meeting with high official Gambella delegations when they visit the US this year. The response was unconvincing. According to the team, the current problem in the health sector has something to do with the fact that they await for the new graduates who will start their medical practice in the coming four to five years. Could someone imagine that the new graduates will bring essential medical equipments from their respective colleges?  

The above medical example is also a part of prolong injustice and crime against humanity practiced by the successive Ethiopian governments against our people. The choice to sit and watch the current TPLF regime injustice policies against our people or fully get involved to stop the regime policies once for all is one’s choice. It is clear that every nation’s destiny is shaped by its own people. The Roman and British Empires had collapsed due to the might of its own oppressed people. Hence, do not doubt of our ability to make important change in our own society and end prolong injustice for now and generations to come.