MENGISTU HAILEMARIAM'S BEST FRIEND, ASSEFA CHABO, WROTE A LETTER TO KOFI ANNAN
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UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, KOFI ANNAN
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BEN'S NEWS PAGE
http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/news2001/Nov/Letter_To_Mr_Kofi_Annan.html
Open Letter to Secretary General of the United Nations
By: Assefa Chabo
January 30,2001
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General of the United Nations
New York, N.Y 10017
Dear Mr. Annan
I am writing to you regarding the so-called border conflict between Ethiopia
and Eritrea now pending before a Tribunal. As an Ethiopian as well as
peace-loving individual, I have a vested interest in the outcome of this case,
if at all their was/is one. Naturally, the preponderant majority of Ethiopians
have a vested interest in its outcome too. I earnestly feel that I have more
interest in my country than most. I may be forgiven for sounding too much of a
patriot. I am a patriot in the positive sense of the word. Though many others
sacrificed things of higher value, their lives, I too, have paid a price to
earn my patriotism. I have very nearly spent 11 years incarcerated in a dungeon
in the 80s. I was a member of parliament in the Transitional Government Of
Ethiopia in 1991. I very nearly lost my life for speaking out against bigotry
and for democracy in that capacity. That too is documented. Though it
eventually made no difference in the lives of my fellow countrymen and women, I
alone fought to include "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Of 1946" as
integral part of the Transitional Constitution of Ethiopia. That is, probably,
the only constitution in the world where the "Universal Declaration" was
incorporated in to as domestic legislation. Having survived the attempt on my
life, I left My Country on a tour of Europe and the USA. Half way through my
tour, the present government, led by Mr.Meles Zenawi, blew My Bridge Back Home
and ever since I am stranded here. I am not disillusioned and looking forward
to the day I will go back home. Dear Mr. Annan Whatever decisions the
Arbitrators might render, even if it favored Ethiopia in some ways, no
Ethiopian will ever accept it as binding and legitimate decion because: -
The present government, which is by a definition supposed to protect the
national interest, is in no position to do so. The Tigrean Peoples Liberation
Front (TPLF), which is the government in power, is prejudiced against Ethiopia.
And this is documented. In a book written by the TPLF 1979 entitled "The
Struggle Of the People of Eritrea, From Where to Where" wrote in no uncertain
terms that: -
Eritrea has never been a part of even Historical Ethiopia;
That the 1952 Federation is nothing more nothing less but a sham created by the
machination of Imperialism, specially American Imperialism
That Eritrea since Day One in history been Ethiopian colony; and;
Rightly deserves to be an Independent State. So it became! This very group, the
TPLF, presided over the dismantling of Ethiopia in 1991. That is done as per
their Text Book mentioned here above. And that is Prejudice in the worst
possible sense of the word. And if this is not Prejudice, then, I will never
know what the intrinsic and classic meaning of that word is and would be. It is
unfortunate that there is no English translation of this book. How much I
wanted you to read that book!! Sources close to TPLF tell me it was penned by
the present PM, Meles Zenawi.
The current government of Ethiopia, same group, the TPLF wrote to the UN and to
the then Secretary General stating that Eritrea be recognized as Independent
State post-haste. The then Secretary General of the UN was favorably disposed
to the idea and took extra effort to speedily facilitate the dismantling of the
country. His native land, Egypt, was opposed to the federation of Eritrea and
Ethiopia during The Four Power Paris meeting of 1946. In fact Egypt claimed
part of Eritrea as belonging to it.I am afraid, Sir; the current TPLF
government of Ethiopia is the only government in the world which unequivocally
demanded and got that part of its territory be cut-off. However heinous it may
sound, it came to pass!And, Sir, that is Prejudice in the worst possible
sense…
A senseless war was fought between Ethiopia and Eritrea. What were the
underlying causes for this war? We may Never fully understand. Like most things
in Ethiopia, it is obscured and shrouded in enigma. But one thing came out Laud
and Clear. The recent split within the top echelon of the TPLF into two equal
parts was due to differences in policy on Eritrea. I am not making up the
story. Both parties to the schism have in writing expressed that it is so. If
the very group who created Eritrea can split into two equal halves on the
question of Eritrea, then, the other half does not have the 'legitimacy' to
represent the interest of Ethiopia in the International Court. The only reason
that the group survived and 'functions' as Ethiopian government is because the
Meles Zenawi faction controlled the Guns. Period!!
Sir, There is unheard of unanimity of opinion among the majority of Ethiopian
at home and abroad on the so-called border issue. This can gauged by reading
any and all publication in Ethiopia and by Ethiopians abroad. They are 1001%
opposed to the proceedings in The Hague. The only people in support of it are
the Meles Zenawi clique and their publications. It is only fair, Sir, not to go
against the expressed overwhelming expression and opposition of a People. It
will only lead to another strife… another round of war..
Sir; Allow me to bring to your attion a forgotten point. It is a point
neglected by successive Ethiopian regimes. There is a valid Treaty of Addis
Ababa entered between the then ruler of Ethiopia, Emperor Menelik the II, and
Italy in 1906. This was immediately after the famous battle of Adwa in which
the invading Italian colonial army was routed and destroyed. The first victory
of black people over white colonialism. In that Treaty Italy agreed to restore
back to Ethiopia lands she took by force and named as Eritrea. That was Article
5 of the Addis Ababa Treaty. This has to happen should Italy vacate Eritrea
whatever the reasons behind it are. No Ethiopian Government has raised that
treaty as an issue. Never will I understand such a gross oversight! Had this
been raised in the 1946 Four Power Conference in Paris, the subsequent events
that led to Federation will never have arisen. The war and this dispute could
have been avoided. Now is the time to deal with it. I strongly submit to you
Sir; any disposition of this case by the present Arbitrators or by any other
body for that matter, will be Null and Void. I do not believe it will make any
difference even if it were favorable to Ethiopia, which I strongly doubt. A
ruling on this outstanding Treaty is Condion precedent before any other issue
pertaining to a border between Ethiopia and Eritrea is raised. Whatever
decision is reached now, it will be Null and Void to me. Null and Void to the
preponderant majority of Ethiopians. Null and Void Now!! Null and Void Forever!
Dear Mr. Annan I hope I made my point. I further hope that you will appreciate
the legitimate concern expressed therein. Believe me, this is not a political
letter. I may not like this government and looking for every opportunity to
expose it. This is beyond the realm of political bickering. It is a quest for
peace and tranquility in that part of the world. I hope you will intercede to
stop this looming miscarriage of justice that is expected to come out of The
Hague. If you do so, trust me, you will be doing a service to Humanity. You
will be averting further aggravation and bloodshed in that blood drenched part
of the world.
Thanking you
Assefa chabo
Cc: The International Court Of Justice
The Hague, The Netherlands
The Ethiopian Parliament
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia