UNMEE 'S Imagination Is Contrary To Irob Reality
Irob Community In North America
P.O.Box 5533
Arlingon, VA 22205
We, the Irob Community in North America, have been time and again, dumbfounded by the hideous news coming from the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) regarding the Irobland. What is going on? The Irob question is becoming increasingly disturbing.
Few months ago we were shocked to see a map drawn by the Eritrean government in 1999, after it invading the Ethiopian territories on the UNMEE website. The map incorporates Zalambessa, parts of the Irobland and some other areas in the region that have been undisputed Ethiopian territories for centuries into Eritrea. Few weeks ago, again, somewhere between the UNMEE complaint to the Ethiopian government and the Ethiopian government's response to it, we discovered that two core villages in Irobland (Auda and Makata) were on controversy during their dealings about the so called Temporary Security Zone (TSZ).
Once again on 18th of April, when UNMEE announced that it has set up TSZ, it voiced its "regrets that Ethiopia had not communicated to the UN Mission the full nature of its redeployment plans in the Irob area". What does the Irob area have to do with the TSZ, which had been agreed upon to be on the Eritrean side of the border? Is there some dealings going on behind close doors about the Irobland and people? We have a strong suspicion that the UN has been acting as one-sided Eritrean supporter. While the Eritrean and UN duo have been against us for some time now, what is most disturbing and have left us wonder is the Ethiopian government's role in this matter. Why is the Ethiopian government not stating in black and white that the Irobland is inside the sovereign Ethiopian State and that it has nothing to do with the so-called TSZ? This, together with the issuance of the improper map on the UNMEE Website, which had not been clearly denounced by the Ethiopian government, perturbs those of us who are natives of the Irobland.
Why didn't the Ethiopian government unequivocally denounce the map if it didn't approve its issuance? And why did it not put in a clear and unambiguous language that Auda and Makata are Ethiopian sovereign territories, instead of using "administered by" and the like nebulous terminology? Why all this silence as if the Ethiopian government is predisposed to compromise on its own territories and sovereignty? Are all of these incidentals, or something occult going on behind close doors regarding the fate of the Irob people and land? Nobody should wonder if we are troubled about all these tidings. Auda, Makata or any part of Irobland has always been an integral part of Ethiopia and nobody has the right to question this reality. It is the Ethiopian government's responsibility to stand firm in defense of its territories whenever questions that can challenge the territorial integrity of the nation transpire.
If the Ethiopian government or international powers involved have any problem of knowing the boundaries, the Irob people know better than anybody else their land and can be helpful and must be consulted. In fact, no settlement of any kind should be made without full participation of the local population. The Irob people know what is theirs, and there should not be dispute as to where these places and people belong. We have been Ethiopians for centuries and we will remain so despite any decision that may be imposed upon us. Awda, Makata and the rest of Irob have nothing to do with Eritrea. They have always been and will remain to be an integral part of Ethiopia. Nevertheless, the identity of our people and the sovereignty of our country be it on Irob front or anywhere in Ethiopia, should not be decided arbitrarily by whoever happens to be on power at any given moment, but by full participation of the inhabitants concerned. If any of the traditional Ethiopian territories are compromised in any manner there will never be peace in the region. If the players are, at all, interested in peace and fair settlement of the conflict, they must consult with the people in question.
After so much sacrifice, both in human and material terms, has been paid to liberate Ethiopian sovereign territories including the Irobland, Irobs all over the world are saddened to learn that our land and people are now tossed out for negotiation with Eritrean authorities. Considering the clarity and historical background of the Irob people and land, we are convinced that this debate should have never taken place. Nevertheless, we find ourselves in this dilemma repeatedly, and the short-lived elation of liberation has evaporated before the blood of our martyrs dried on the land of our ancestors. It is a miscarriage of justice, and an open war on a minority population. The irresponsible steps that seem to have been taken during the agreement on the political map, which have jeopardized the identity of the Irob people and the integrity of Ethiopia are disappointing, to say the least. We would like to remind our country people that it is puzzling to witness a nation that has defeated an enemy in such a decisive manner now finds itself in such a weak position, to the point of loosing its own sovereignty.
The Ethiopian people must demand a clear and unmistakable position of our government in regards to the boundary issues. We are convinced that even one single stone shall never be given away to any foreign nation; we shall fight with all our soul to never let that from happening. Transparency is the best defense against belligerent governments such as the one in Eritrea. We demand to know how and why the decision to put huge parts of our land and people was ever put on negotiation in the first place. Every twist and turn the Eritrean government made has passed without appropriate response from our own government and this in turn gives more reason for unnecessary suspicion of the Ethiopian people, and ground for the arrogant Eritrean government to claim what has never and shall never be theirs. The need to develop open communication with the people in the area is more crucial at this moment than ever. It is the people and not just the government that will make and break the peace.
We are dismayed by the deaf ear we have been receiving, from both our government and the UNMEE, in regards to the border of our area. We are competent and knowledgeable of our land and people to argue in front of any one who is willing to listen to reason and historical facts.
- We ask the Ethiopian government to state unconditionally and unequivocally the legitimacy and right of the Irob people's Ethiopianess. This unquestionable and unalienable birthright is not negotiable. Hence, we, as a people, must not be shut out of this critical decision-making process in regard to our own destiny. We believe that we can play a constructive role in building a lasting peace. The principle of Self Determination recognized by the UN must be respected.
- We ask the Irob people and Irob friends the world over, to stand firm in telling the UNMEE, USA and all those involved in this matter that our identity and our land cannot be decided by someone else.
- We ask the Ethiopian people to take a good look at what seems to be happening, and to take a nationalist determination to assure the integrity of our land and people by joining us in our endeavor to defend our identity.
- We ask you, the Ethiopian defense forces, to prove to the government in Asmara that you mean business and that you would never allow the on again, off again game of claiming what is not theirs. We would like to remind you that you are children of those who washed foreign agents' feet so not to allow our dust from being taken on their hills; let alone huge parts of our land including the inhabitants.
- We ask the UN and world powers involved in the Ethio-Eritrean conflict to ascertain the aspirations of the area inhabitants and make them full participants of the peace process.
- We urge the UNMEE to stop being partial and to urge the Eritrean leaders that they cannot continue to claim land and people that never belonged to them. A true and lasting peace cannot be achieved by simply twisting a nation's arm to put its interest on the table. As we have repeatedly stated, we shall never allow anyone to make us who we are not.
Without taking in consideration the historical and juridical status of the affected people and their national aspirations; without identifying who was the invader and who was the victim; in short without being fair, no resolution can be "milestone" and no step can be "penultimate" step.
World_Wide_Irobs@aol.com
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]