Isael Ze Etiel
The Amhara people have endured a long history of suffering under various Ethiopian regimes, often viewed as a ruling class. The arrival of the new Prime Minister did not deviate from this pattern; he too considered the Amhara as enemies of his government and a threat to his power. Since Abiy’s ascension to power, large-scale killings of Amharas have occurred in the Oromia and Benishangul regions. The Abiy regime has chosen to remain silent and blame the victims.
Peaceful demonstrations organized by the Amhara people across the region, seeking government action against the perpetrators, were met with threats of further violence. When the people continued to voice their concerns, the government ignored or dismissed their pleas silently. The killing of Amharas continued unabated; their voices went unheard across the country. Their lives were disregarded, reduced to mere numbers.
Beyond the killings, the Amhara have faced systematic ethnic profiling and violence. Their homes have been demolished and burned, their belongings looted, and their bank accounts frozen by the government. Ethnic Amharas have been fired from their jobs simply for being Amhara, and the Abiy regime has committed numerous crimes against them. When Amhara farmers requested fertilizer for their land, government bodies and affiliated activists dismissed their pleas as “የጅራፍ ፖለቲካ“ (“The Politics of the Whip”). Following a demonstration by the farmers, youth took to the streets chanting “በቃ” (“Enough”) in protest of the killings. Yet, their voices remained unheard.
During their last demonstration, the people chanted “ሰልፉችን ካልተሰማ ሰይፋችንን እናነሳለን“ (“If our march is not heard, we will raise our swords”). The Abiy government’s strategic targeting of the Amhara stems from its unwillingness to address their concerns. Following this demonstration, armed struggle, led by a military unit called “FANO”, erupted across the Amhara region. What began as guerrilla warfare and small groups has grown into various military units throughout the region.
This resistance is a people’s movement, enjoying widespread support among the Amhara, because it is fundamentally about “Amhara existence against genocide.”
The writer of this article fled the country due to his advocacy for voiceless, innocent people who were killed and blocked from reaching Addis Ababa, the capital city, because of their identity. He was unable to work and live as an Amhara in the country, facing numerous abuses at different times. The government intelligence and security services warned him, sending threats that they would send him to hell where other Amharas reside. They labeled him a Mossad spy because of his struggle, not only within the country but also by addressing the international community to amplify the voices of Amhara genocide victims. The government accused him of producing shadow reports for foreign countries and organizations. He was detained, arrested, and interrogated multiple times, subjected to psychological pressure, and his family members were targeted – tactics employed against numerous journalists, politicians, and activists to silence dissent. They also alleged he was a Mossad agent due to his Amhara identity.
The international community must understand that the Amhara struggle is for survival. Amharas are left with no choice but to seek peaceful coexistence in every part of the country. However, the regime’s army continues to commit war crimes on a daily basis – arresting, killing, and abducting Amharas – because being Amhara has become criminalized throughout the country. Faced with this persecution, the Amhara people have no choice but to defend themselves. The world must act to stop this madness orchestrated by Abiy’s regime, which has destabilizing consequences for the entire region.
Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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