US House of Reps Raises Alarm Over Human Rights Violations In Ethiopia

Posted by Eric Ojo African News, East/Central Africa, Latest Headlines, World News Friday, March 12th, 2021

By ERIC OJO

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Chair of the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, Karen Bass has expressed her worry over alleged cases of human rights violation in the Tigray region of Ethopia.

Bass said there has been an escalation of ethnic violence in the country where extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, looting of property, mass executions, and impeded humanitarian access in the Tigray region has continued

“I am very concerned by the allegations of human rights violations and atrocities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Reportedly, thousands of civilians have been killed, raped, or assaulted due to the escalated dispute between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)”, she said.

She also explained that she met met with Ethiopian government officials and strongly urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and an independent investigation by the international community.

“TPLF forces and the Ethiopian Military Forces must cease the violence and commit to a national dialogue. The crisis will only worsen if urgent measures are not taken.

“I am preparing to introduce a resolution with my colleagues which recognizes and condemns the targeted ethnic and religious violence and destruction of property; the excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces against peaceful protesters; the arrest and detention of journalists and peaceful protesters who exercised their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression; and hate speech and disinformation that fuel ethnic and political violence, propagated by individuals and organized groups based in Ethiopia and in the diaspora”, she stressed.