Who is responsible and irresponsible in this matter ? Is the AU Office in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and Midrand South Africa? survivalinternational.org We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. Violent land grabs in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley are forcibly evicting tribes and preventing them from producing food. This is leaving thousands of people hungry and ‘waiting to die’ – experts are predicting a humanitarian crisis if the evictions arent stopped now. Rape, beatings, torture, and arbitrary arrests - these intimidation tactics have reportedly been used against those who resist resettlement. Tribal lands are being cleared to make way for vast cotton, palm oil and sugar cane fields. Cattle are being confiscated, food stores destroyed, and communities ordered to abandon their homes and move into designated resettlement areas. Did you know that your tax money may be supporting these atrocities? Ethiopia is one of the biggest recipients of American aid, but the US Agency for International Development (USAID) claims there are no reports of widespread or systematic human rights abuses in the area. Congress disagrees, and has now taken action with the 2014 spending bill by demanding that aid to Ethiopia must not be used to fund forced evictions and resettlement. You can use this text to send an email to Mr. Weller at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) : ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Mr. Weller, I am extremely concerned that the Ethiopian government is forcibly resettling thousands of self-sufficient tribal people, including the Mursi, Kwegu and Bodi. Many are being left with no land, cattle herds or livelihood. Unable to sustain themselves they say they are now just ‘waiting to die’. The government justifies this plan, in a country renowned for famine, by claiming it will give the tribes ‘a modern life’. The beneficiaries of this ‘development’ are being arrested, beaten and raped and their grain stores are being destroyed in an effort to force them to give up their lands, livelihoods and ways of life. Tax payers money must not be used to assist the Ethiopian government in creating this humanitarian catastrophe. I urge you to make your countrys aid to Ethiopia conditional on putting an end to these devastating resettlement policies and the accompanying human rights violations. Please act now - If Ethiopia’s top donors take a stand against these devastating plans, the Ethiopian government will be sure to listen. Sincerely, ** If you have five minutes, please write your own message. This is much more powerful. ------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:06:34 +0000