REVEREND TESFAMARIAM BARAKI
26 Grant Circle NW
Washington, D.C. 20011
United States of America
ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY COMMISSION
Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, CBE QC
H.E. Prince Bola Adesumbo Ajibola
Professor W. Michael Reisman
Judge Stephen M. Schwebel
Sir Arthur Watts, KCMG QCPermanent Court of Arbitration
Peace Palace
2517 KJ, The Hague, The NetherlandsMarch 22, 2002
Dear Mr. President & Members of the Boundary Commission:
Re: The future of the people of Irob on the border of Eritrea & EthiopiaI am an American Catholic priest of Ethiopian Irob origin. For seventeen years I have served communities of Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees as well as other immigrants in the United States. I have served both Ethiopian and Eritrean communities, primarily in the Washington, D.C. area, regardless of their origin and to this day, maintain close personal and professional relationships with both Ethiopians and Eritreans. I visit my homeland occasionally and try to provide financial, religious, moral, and at times, psychological assistance to family members and others in Irobland.
I have closely followed the Ethiopian and Eritrean border war conflict since its inception in May 1998. I came back only a few days ago from my last visit where I witnessed their sad condition. A condition they find themselves in since Eritrean troops invaded their territory in June 1998 and committed unspeakable injury to them.
Following the cessation of hostilities and the signing of the Algiers Agreement in December 2000, both governments agreed to the establishment of a zone that would be monitored by United Nations peacekeepers. This arrangement has brought at least temporary peace to the region and has enabled the Irob people and all the others in the border region to begin reconstructing their lives.
Respected Commissioners, I must inform you that there is great fear among the people of Irob that the Commission does not fully understand their history, their lineage, their affinity as well as their national identity. There is even more fear that the people of Irob and their territory will be turned over to Eritrea by this Commission. As judges encumbered with the heavy and serious responsibility of deciding the fate of a people once and for all, I beg you to take your time to read the statement that I have attached. If you are in any way inclined to give to Eritrea Irobland or any portion of Irobland's territory, I beg you to reconsider your decision-to do so, at the very least until you visit the area and meet the people of Irobland yourselves. Even if it means having to postpone your decision for another month.
I appeal to your sense of justice and fairness to respect Irob's desire to live in freedom and remain within Ethiopia, where they have always lived, worked and practiced their religion without hindrance.
Respectfully,(Signed)Reverend Tesfamariam Baraki
An Irob-Ethiopian-American Cleric and
Catholic Chaplain at Howard University Hospital
Washington, D.CAttachment: statement on border demarcation
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]