Darfur in our backyard !!! -

DARFUR IN OUR BACKYARD

Tedla Asfaw

Dr.Paulose Milkiase on VOA Amharic (July 15) argued that there is an
inconsistency on international justice for those who committed crime
against humanity. He said persons who committed red terror under the
Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Hailemariam were not charged for the crime
in International Court. Regarding the charging of Beshir of Sudan for
genocide against the Darfur population by International Criminal Court
(ICC) yesterday he said such indictment will deter others from
committing such crime with impunity in future.


Dr. Paulose Milkiase is right to bring the red terror during Mengistu
Hailemariam, however, he should not forget the current human right
violations and killing committed by Melese Zenawi's security forces
in Ogaden among many regions in Ethiopia for some there are well
documented evidences to charge Melese Zenawi and his collaborators in
international criminal court.

Moreover, many reporters have reported the crime committed in Ogaden
and recently some humanitarian organizations are forced to leave the
region for lack of security. In fact many characterize the crime in
Ogaden as another "Darfur" and I wonder why Dr. Paulose Milkiase
overlook this crime while he brings our attention to the crime
committed by former dictator Mengistu Halilemariam's killing machine.


I hope Dr. Paulose Milkiase will speak on behalf of our Ogaden Somalis
like he clearly articulated the case of the Darfur women and
children who were murdered by the order of Beshir and his indictment
is surely one step forward to bring justice to Darfur. We should also
hold Melese Zenawi who is ordering the killing and rape of Ogaden
Somalis to the same standard Dr. Paulose argued in his short interview
on VOA today.