Ethiopia: Anuak face crimes against humanity, says torture organisation

PRESS RELEASE

Ethiopia and Sudan: "From today forward there will be no Anuak"
The attempted elimination of the Anuak people

For the attention of the Press
Geneva, April 13th, 2004

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has received
information from reliable sources concerning of ongoing crimes
against humanity and acts of genocide being perpetrated by the
Ethiopian Armed Forces and "highlander" militias against the Anuak
(or Anywaa) indigenous ethnic group, which comprises around 100'000
persons, in rural areas of Gambella, Ethiopia.

Since December 2003, there have been numerous reports of attacks
leading to massacres of civilians, mass rapes, forced disappearances,
torture, illegal arrests and detentions, burning of homes and crops,
and the forced displacement of thousands of persons. These acts have
caused a humanitarian crisis which may lead to a significant number
of additional casualties if steps are not taken immediately by the
Government of Ethiopia and the international community.

Reports indicate that during the period between the 13th and 15th of
December, 2003, 424 Anuak were killed by Ethiopian Government troops
in uniform along with local people from highland areas, in Abobo,
Itang, Gog and Gambella town in the Gambella region. The pretext for
these massacres is reported to have been an attack on a van carrying
eight UN and Ethiopian Government refugee officials on December 13th,
2003, which was blamed, without conclusive evidence, on members of
the Anuak ethnic group.

It is alleged that the troops used this incident to incite the
highlanders to commit violence. They also led attacks on Anuak
civilians in Gambella and the surrounding areas. The killings were
reportedly ordered by the commander of the Ethiopian Army in
Gambella, Nagu Beyene, with the authorization of Government official
Dr. Gebrehab Barnabas. Mr. Omot Obang Olom, an Anuak Government
official is reported to have drawn up lists of individuals within the
community to be targeted. Soldiers, using automatic weapons and hand
grenades, reportedly targeted the Anuak population, summarily
executing civilians, burning houses and looting property. During this
three-day period, 424 people were reported to have been killed, with
over 200 wounded and approximately 85 people remain unaccounted for.
Victims who had been beaten or shot by Government forces were then
reportedly set upon by highlanders, who mutilated and dismembered the
bodies, while chanting slogans such as "From today forward there will
be no Anuak," "There will be no Anuak land" and "Today is the day of
killing Anuaks."

Genocide Watch has compiled a list of the 424 people killed, which
can be found at:
www.genocidewatch.org/EthiopiaANUAKSMASSACREDGAMBELLAREGIONDEC13-
15.htm

Recent reports allege that killings and other acts of ethnic
cleansing are continuing and it has been estimated that as of March
31st 2004, the total number of persons killed had reached 1'137.
Reports indicate that entire villages have been burnt to the ground,
sometimes with the occupants still in their homes, and that the
Anuak's crops have also been destroyed. Many villagers have been
forced to flee, and thousands have travelled to a refugee camp in
Pochalla, Southern Sudan. Reports also indicate that this destruction
is widespread, with hundreds of homes and crop-fields having been set
ablaze, leaving thousands of persons without shelter or food. There
are serious concerns that, due to the upcoming rainy season, these
persons will be exposed to disease and starvation unless immediate
humanitarian action is taken. Most recent information received by
OMCT indicates that around 5'000 Ethiopian troops have been engaged
in fighting against Anuak farmers at Tedo village since April 10th,
2004, and have burned down all of the village's houses and crops.
There are concerns that they may now be moving towards Pochalla
refugee camp in Southern Sudan in order to attack the camp's
refugees.

Our sources estimate that between 5'000 and 9'000 persons are taking
refuge in the Pochalla camp. 75 percent of the refugees are
reportedly under the age of 20, with 12 percent under the age of ten.
The camp is
facing grave shortages of food and water and diseases, including
cholera, have reportedly broken out. Since the refugees first started
arriving five months ago, there have only been two food drops by the
World Food
Programme: one on January 28th and another on March 12th. On each of
these occasions, the food has not been close to meeting the camp's
requirements. The UNHCR has allegedly resisted setting up a more
permanent camp in Pochalla, on the basis that the refugees should
soon be able to return home. However, our sources indicate that
continuing violence, the amount of destruction of Anuak homes, the
confiscation or
destruction of their property and the burning of their fields and
granaries leaves little prospect for them being able to survive in
the near future should they return. Furthermore, their overall health
is so poor that they
lack the physical stamina necessary to travel.

Certain groups are being specifically targeted: Anuak women and girls
have been systematically raped. A regional police officer recorded
138 cases of women who were raped in Gambella town in December 2003,
before being ordered to stop recording cases. Schools have reportedly
been emptied of schoolgirls, who have then been gang-raped. In one
case in Pinyudo, assailants allegedly shouted "we are going to kill
your men
and the next generation of Anuaks will be produced by us." Educated
men are being subjected to selective, politically-motivated extra-
judicial executions. Several hundred persons, including community
leaders have
been arbitrarily arrested, many of whom are being detained
incommunicado and allegedly been subjected to torture.

OMCT expresses its grave concern at the widespread and targeted
killing of civilians, mass rapes, burning of homes and crops and
other acts mentioned above. The massive targeting of a specific
ethnic group, with
the clear intent of destroying a part or the entirety of the group,
bears all the hallmarks of acts of genocide and crimes against
humanity.

The Ethiopian authorities must immediately halt all operations
against the Anuak and withdraw all defence forces from the region.
They should furthermore launch independent and impartial
investigations in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Immediate access to the region by international monitoring groups and
humanitarian assistance must also be guaranteed. Finally, OMCT would
also like to urge the international community to react with all speed
to provide the refugees and other war-affected Anuaks with adequate
food, shelter and medication, both within the Gambella region and the
Pochalla refugee camp, in order to avert a humanitarian catastrophe
and to provide international protection for civilians if necessary.

For more information contact OMCT at: [email protected] or + 41 22 809 49
39

Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
8 rue du Vieux-Billard
Case postale 21
CH-1211 Geneve 8
Suisse/Switzerland
Tel. : 0041 22 809 49 39
Fax : 0041 22 809 49 29
E-mail : [email protected]
http://www.omct.org