Thousands Marched for Peace and the Rule of Law in the Horn of Africa in Washington, DC

On 13 February 2006, around 10,000 Eritrean-Americans marched from the White House to the Department of State in Washington, DC to urge the U.S. government to ensure the enforcement of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) "final and binding" decision to demarcate the border between the two countries. Carrying banners with the slogans "Demarcation Now!", "The Rule of Law Must be Respected", and "Eritrea wants Peace!", these peace march participants reaffirmed the EEBC's decision and role as the only just and legal option for peace and stability in the region. The participants passionately called on the U.S. government to uphold its legal and moral obligations as a witness and guarantor to the Algiers Peace Agreements, and make sure that Ethiopia abides by the EEBC's ruling without further delay or precondition. In a tremendous display of unity, they also advocated for the implementation of the EEBC's decision to avert further conflict in the Horn of Africa, a region of strategic importance to U.S. security and the global war against terrorism.

Eritrean-Americans of all ages, braved the weather and traveled from all over the East Coast, as well as the Midwest and West Coast, and were united in a spirit of enthusiasm and activism for this historic event. Eritrean-Canadians were also remarkably well-represented at the march. The youth in particular, helped to lead the masses in spirited chants and maintain the crowd's soaring energy and morale.

The peaceful and colorful march was joined by several high-profile American policy-makers and legal experts. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, affirmed that the U.S. government believes that the EEBC's decision should be upheld and that it will work to ensure that implementation happens soon. Ambassador Yamamoto also commented on the close relationship between Eritrea and the U.S. Mr. O. Thomas Johnson, Counsel for the State of Eritrea before the EEBC, confirmed that Eritrea has only demanded that the rule of law be respected in the demarcation process and defended the immutable importance of the EEBC's decision. In addition, Mr. Ron Phillips, former Senior Policy Advisor and Professional Staff Member of the House Armed Services Committee declared his pride to be a part of the peace march and emphasized that the U.S. government has an obligation to ensure that the EEBC's "final and binding" decision is implemented. Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Jim Moran (D-VA) also submitted statements in support of the peace march and the importance of the EEBC's "final and binding" decision.

Ambassador Yamamoto was also presented with 22,000 signatures of concerned Eritrean-Americans and Friends of Eritrea, as well as signatories from all over the world, adding their voices to the thousands who are calling on the U.S. government to ensure immediate enforcement of the EEBC's ruling. Furthermore, delegations of Eritrean-Americans also met with their respective Congressional representatives and their staff members to convey their concerns and demand that the U.S. government guarantee strict implementation of the EEBC's decision to demarcate the border.

Eritrean-North Americans stood together and spoke with one voice, demonstrating their solidarity with Eritrea and commitment to take action to fight for its people and interests. The peace march was a beautiful exhibition of pride and fervor and all who participated, whether in person or in signature, must be commended.

Eritrean-American Community
Washington, DC Peace March Organizing Committee

Eritreans take to the street to denounce UN Resolution

Meadna News
Monday, 12 December 2005, 21:48 GMT

Thousands of Eritreans in the UK gathered outside 10 Downing Street to protest against the latest UN Resolution and to mark the 5th anniversary of the signature of the Allergies Peace Agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The demonstration started at just after 2.00 pm and continued until 6.00 pm. The demonstration was loud, angry but non-violent. Some of the banners read "We deplore UN Resolution”, "Demarcation Now", “Peace not War” and “Final and Binding”,

The demonstrators expressed their frustration at the UN’s resolution failure to address the underlining cause of the present crises, which is Ethiopia’s refusal to accept a legally-binding border demarcation.
Representatives of the demonstrators delivered petition singed by thousands of people and held discussion regarding the resolution and Ethiopia’s refusal to accept the international ruling with an Official from the UK Foreign Office.

Following, Eritrea’s decision to ordered U.N. troops and civilians from Western countries to leave within 10 days, UN has sent two top officials to the region and European Union foreign ministers agreed to send an urgent EU diplomatic mission. An Eritrean demonstrator said: “Because of their failure to enforce the international ruling, years have been wasted and millions of people are still suffering. The so-called international community are only running around now to save themselves from embarrassment and I hope they realise that the only way to do it is to force Ethiopia to immediately accept and allow demarcation, which is what they should have done years ago.”

© Copyright www.meadna.com

Sanction needed against Ethiopia says The European Union Vice President of the Committee on Human Right

Meadna News

Speaking to thousands of Eritreans gathered in front of the European Parliament to protest Ethiopia’s refusal to accept an international ruling on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border, the European Union Vice President of the Committee on Human Right, Mr John Van Heck said; “Ethiopia should implement now the final and binding decision, if not we need sanction against Ethiopia.”

Referring to the Algiers agreement that provides for enforcement action in the event of violation by any of the countries, he said; “I am going to introduce a resolution this week urging the European Union Council and the Commission to impose the full range of political, diplomatic and economic methods on Ethiopia.”

It has been three and half years since the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) gave its final and binding verdict, but there has not been progress on the implementation of the decision, as Ethiopia continues to “obstruct” the demarcation of the boundary.

On May 14, 1998, Eritrea, asserting that a border dispute did not warrant an all out war, called for peace and expressed its commitment to resolve the border dispute through peaceful and legal means.

The Ethiopian government however rejected all proposals for a peaceful settlement of the dispute. Thus, a bloody war that lasted for two years was fought between the two countries. As a result, tens of thousands of people died and much material destruction was sustained.

Ethiopia is the fourth biggest arms spending country in the world. Between 1998 and 2005, Ethiopia has spent about €3 billion just on buying arms. (Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute - SIPRI) While the Ethiopian government spends this amount, the ordinary people of Ethiopia find themselves in a dire situation as a result of recurrent famine.

On December 12, 2000, a comprehensive peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia was signed in Algiers. The agreement called on both countries to 'permanently terminate military hostilities' between each other. The European Union, along with the UN, AU and the US was co-signatory and guarantor of the Algiers Peace Agreement.

The Peace Agreement, amongst other things, required the establishment of a neutral boundary commission to 'delimit and demarcate’ the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia and that the decision would be 'final and binding'.

On April 13, 2002, a neutral boundary commission, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC), reached its decision. In line with the decision, border demarcation was scheduled to take place in October 2003.

Unfortunately however …

On September 19, 2003, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr Meles Zenawi, in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, rejected the EEBC decision.

His letter represented a material breach of the Algiers Peace Agreement and in effect, signalled Ethiopia's formal rejection of peace with Eritrea.

On October 2, 2003, the UN Security Council, in a direct response to the Ethiopian Prime Minister's letter, reminded Ethiopia that it "had committed itself under the Algiers Agreement to accept the boundary decision as final and binding" and called upon the "government of Ethiopia to provide its full and prompt cooperation to the Boundary Commission."

However, the Ethiopian government still remains intransigent and maintains that the Peace Agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia is "null and void"

The UN Security Council has issued many resolutions since. In all, the UNSC has called on Ethiopia to unequivocally accept the EEBC decision. In its latest resolution issued on 13 September 2003 (Resolution 1622 - 2005), the Security Council called on Ethiopia "to accept fully the decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission and to enable, without preconditions, the Commission to demarcate the border completely and promptly."