|
The Honorable Haile Mariam Desalegn Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Addis Ababa Ethiopia
30 March 2016
Your Excellency, I am writing on behalf of the people of Ethiopian Diaspora of Qemant origin residing in North America. We first of all thank you for your uncompromising position in defense of the rights of Qemants and other minorities of Ethiopia who had suffered and are still suffering from centuries of political exclusion and cultural oppression. We write this letter to appeal to you to consider the Qemant issue as your utmost priority and use the power of your office to ensure the peaceful resolution of outstanding issues in the negotiation process for Qemant self-rule, including the demarcation of a zonal boundary incorporating all areas of Qemant habitation. We are saddened by the death of dozens of our relatives and displacement of tens of thousands of others only because they had stood up to claim their rights for identity retention and administrative autonomy under the Ethiopian federal constitution. We are appalled to hear that local state employees and party officials have been implicated in this deadly conflict. We also remain deeply concerned with the uncompromising political rhetoric coming from the President of Amhara region Ato Gedu Andargachew and other officials which may spark another round of violence. As you know, the Amhara region officials have been slow to implement the decision of the House of Federation which granted the Qements’ right for self-rule. We therefore ask for your intervention to speed up the practical application of this decision. The continued political stalemate is eroding the social fabrics of Gondar society and affecting the welfare of the Qemant people. Ato Gedu Andargachew and other officials should also be advised to restrain themselves from pointing figures at the Qemant movement coordinating committee and the Qemant people for the current political stalemate. Under your leadership and of those past and current leaders of EPRDF, Ethiopia has progressed in socio-economic development and democratization of the political system that was once known for historical oppression of Ethiopia’s minorities. Ato Gedu Andargachew and other regional officials should realize that the Qemants’ quest for identity retention and administrative autonomy is the ultimate outcome of Ethiopia’s development. Ethiopia is now a changed society where a federal constitution protects minorities from the domination of majority ethnic groups. The Qemant people of the Diaspora appeal to you to use the power of your office to ensure 1) an immediate cessation of all threats and intimidation against the Qemant movement coordinating committee; 2) implementation of the decision of the House of Federation granting the Qemant people the right for identity retention and administrative autonomy; and 3) inclusion of all Qemant communities in a Qemant zone administration boundary (when it is demarcated); 4) an immediate release of the Qemant movement coordinating committee and advocators' from all the detention centers.
We also appeal to you to direct relevant agencies of your government to deliver aid to the thousands of Qemants whose livelihoods have been destroyed by anti-peace elements. Unless aid is provided, the current situation has potential to culminate into humanitarian crisis. The federal government should also provide support for displaced Qemants to rebuild their livelihoods including land, oxen and agricultural tools. We in the Qemant Diaspora are ready to make contributions to this end. Finally, your excellency, rest assured that we stand in unity with other Diaspora Ethiopians and the people of Ethiopia to support sustainable peace and development in our home land. We wish you continued success in the rest of your tenure as progressive and developmental prime minister, and you have our support. Long Live Ethiopia
Kement Diaspora in North America Copy: Ambassador Girma Birru, Ethiopian Ambassador to USA
|