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By Abulla Agwa - I was shocked and it was unbelievable to hear big lies from Mr Omot Obang Olom, the outgoing chief of Gambella Regional State that the Anyuak refugees in Kenya and South Sudan are there to look for Jobs and better ways of lives. In addition he maintained that everything is fine in Gambella Regional State and no one was forced to leave his/her land and Villagisation program is being done on voluntary bases. Mr Omot Obang Olom made these statements during interview with the Voice of America, Amharic Service recently.

Mr Omot Obang Olom has problem to understand the definition of refugee. It is good to go back to the definition of refugees to find out why people become refugees. According to the 1951 UN Convention and Protocol of 1967, a refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they (refugees) cannot return home or is afraid to do so.

The Anyuak refugees in Kenya and South Sudan are not job-seekers and they are not after better lives. They fled their country due the following reasons: genocide committed against Anyuak on 13 December 2003, ongoing violation of human and democratic rights, current economic genocide/land grabbing and forced EPRDF’s villagisation program. The atrocities, killings and persecutions committed against Anyuaks in Gambella Regional State satisfy the 1951 UN Convention and Protocol of 1967 to guarantee refugee status to the Anyuaks.  Also these qualify the Anyuaks to be genuine refugees in both countries: Kenya and South Sudan. 

 Refugee camps are not places for job seekers and United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees does not have mandate to recognise or accept job seekers as refugees. Therefore it is big lies to hear from Omot Obang Olom that Anyuak who fled to Kenyan and South Sudan due to persecution and intimidation are job seekers. There is strong evidence to show that Mr Omot Obang Olom is behind all atrocities and persecutions committed against Anyuaks and he is responsible for thousand of Anyuaks who are suffering in both countries: Kenya and South Sudan.

It is argued that there are no abundant jobs opportunities in Kenyan and South Sudan and still many citizens in both countries are jobless. Therefore, even a child cannot suggest that Anyuaks went/go to Kenya or South Sudan to look for jobs and better lives. The World is convinced that Anyuak refugees should be protected because they are genuine   refugees but not job-seeker as mentioned by Mr Omot Obang Olom.

Also Mr Omot Obang Olom revealed that the so called Villagisation program is being done on ‘voluntary bases’.  This statement is far from truth and it contradicts the reality in Gambella. Firsthand sources from Gambella Regional State shows that in all stages of Villagisation program indigenous people were/ are not involved but they were/are forced to move to new villages/ concentration camps against their will. Moreover, the indigenous people were/ are not given choice to make their own decision whether to go to the new villages or stay where they were/ are. This top down villagisation program was/is not done voluntarily. It is a day dream strategy to eliminate indigenous people from Gambella Regional State.    

The EPRDF defence force and security personnel forced indigenous people through gun-point to the new villages to give way to foreign investors. The HRW report under title “Waiting Here for Death”: Displacement and “Villagisation” in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region confirmed that soldiers forced villagers to build their own tukuls (traditional huts) and villagers were threatened or assaulted for resting or talking during the building process. In addition on 29/01/2012 the Anyuwaa Radio Service interviewed Mr Mango one of the victims of forced villagisation program who is not in refugee camp. Mr Mango testifies that he was forced by gun-point and left everything behind to new villages where there were not basic services. Therefore is this volunteer Villagisation program?

Also, Mr Omot Obang Olom mentioned that an Ethiopian Constitution guaranteed all citizens to leave their country and come back as they wish.  I would like to comment on this misleading statement. If this is true I argue that why Mr Obang Oluch and Mr Obang Ognom were arrested, taken to Addis Ababa for trial and sentenced for life imprisonment? These are innocent people who were in Kenyan refugee camp but after they came back they were arrested without any wrong doing and sentenced for life imprisonment. This is only one example but there are many Anyuaks who are suffering in Gambella and Abobo prisons under similar case. I am wondering which Constitutional Rights did Mr Omot Obang Olom, the Chief of Gambella Regional State, talked about. Leave alone returnees to live peaceful life in Gambella, even those indigenous people who remained in Gambella don’t have peace of mind.

 The current political-economy and socio-ecology of Gambella Regional State is not only difficult for human being but also for birds and animals. For instance, birds and animals are running away from Gambella Regional State to neighbouring countries for safety due to deforestation and economic genocide. Their habitats were/are destroyed by Karuturi and Saudi Star.

Do as I say force Villagisation program is intended to give way for foreign investors. The indigenous people of Gambella were/ are not consulted and involved in decision making process in all stages of villagisation program. Those who were forced to leave their land and moved to concentration camps did not receive any compensation. The concentration camps don’t have adequate resources such as basic health, education and clean water as promised by the Regional State. Psychological indigenous people are traumatized, depressed and stressed in concentration camps with no options but waiting for death under miserable and destitute horrible life.

Finally, we call upon international community, donors and Democratic Countries to distance them from this economic genocide and stand with the people of Gambella in this critical life and death situation. The indigenous people of Gambella have decided to defend ancestral land from greedy and self-motivated foreign and national investors. This is the right time for foreign investors such as Karuturi and Saudi Star and national investors to review their contract and pull-out peacefully from Gambella Regional State. As mentioned by Tedla Asfaw in January 19, 2012 in his article under title “Declare War on Foreign Land Grabbers!” he urged that the Blood Harvest should stop. Otherwise the national and international investors should face consequences and carry their own cross like late Getachew Ankore, the secret security of EPRDF and right hand of Mr Omot Obang Olom, who was gun down by unknown people in Gambella town on 2/02/2012.