December 13th and Anuak genocide

Today December 13th, 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the Anuak genocide that began with the brutal massacre of 424 Anuak leaders and young students in less than three days, but continued for another two years. Up to 1,500 more were killed, many more atrocities were committed and the limited infrastructure of the region was significantly destroyed. Today we clearly understand that the TPLF/EPRDF’s intent was to take over control of the land, water, oil and natural resources from the Anuak and other indigenous people in the region—the Nuer, the Majanger, the Opo and the Komi. Even the words chanted by the militia groups and Ethiopian military troops as they marched through Gambella town looking for Anuak on their list to kill next gave evidence of what they wanted. They chanted, “Today there will be no more Anuak land.” The Anuak were simply “impediments” to gaining access to the land. In Gambella today, the pace of land grabs has become astronomical as land and rights to water and natural resources are being given away to TPLF cronies and foreign multinational companies for next to nothing for decades while the local people are being forced from their homes. As the Anuak commemorate the darkest of days in their memory, they are not alone as countless other Ethiopians and justice loving people beyond the borders of Ethiopia remember this day with them, but tragically, many precious members of our greater Ethiopian family have faced or are facing their own December 13ths. Right now, the Gamo people of the South are being victimized by this regime. So are others in the south as well as the people of the Ogaden, Afar, Oromia, Benishangul, Amhara, Tigray and within Addis Ababa. We are a family at risk and as we remember the Anuak today, we must not forget our fellow brothers and sisters who are also struggling. When the TPLF/EPRDF singled out the Anuak in 2003, they believed that they could easily trample on this tiny, marginalized and unknown people without any consequence. They were wrong. The TPLF/EPRDF wanted to single this one group out as a tribe that they could dehumanize and destroy and that no one would care; making the Anuak all the more isolated and alienated from the mainstream. Instead, it led to the formation of the Anuak Justice Council with its commitment to reach out to other Ethiopians to stop the never-ending cycle of tribal conflicts and revenge; believing this was the only way to bring sustainable freedom and justice to all. May God heal our land from the blood, death and sorrow that has wounded our souls. May God make our own hearts fertile soil for healthy growth so we can look at each other as part of our precious Ethiopian family. Long live this beautiful, ancient land of Ethiopia we call our sweet home.