79 days of civilian genocide and ethnic cleansing in Tigray
79 days of repeated cover-ups and lies by the Ethiopian prime minster
79 days of collective punishment, mass starvation and repression of the Tigrayan people
79 days of words and not a lot of action from the international community
79 days of stressful and sleepless nights for Tigrayans around the world who do not even know if their families are alive
The Tigrayan community of New South Wales is gathered today at the iconic town hall steps of Sydney, Australia. Arguably, Sydney’s favourite place.
Over the past few decades town hall has been the meeting point for hundreds of rallies and protests hosting tens of thousands of people who have gathered together to achieve great things for just causes. From protests against the Vietnam war in the 1970s to the climate emergency rally in 2019.
Today the Tigray community of New South Wales stands here seeking fundamentally the same things of the Australian government and the international community. Those things are; peace, justice and action for Tigray.
We are seeking those things today, because humanitarian aid and access is still being obstructed by the Ethiopian government.
6 million people are being deliberately starved to death. There is critical shortage of food and water in the region. They are days away from reaching official famine status.
Telecommunication, media and the internet in the region is still being blocked.
Thousands of Tigrayans are being killed by the Ethiopian military and Eritrean forces as well as by paramilitary groups.
Healthcare, is non-existent. Because hospitals are either been looted or completely destroyed. People who need lifesaving medication are dying of preventable deaths.
Sexual violence is so wide spread that an Ethiopian army general has come out and admitted that is happening and that they cannot control the Eritrean forces who are the main perpetrators of these acts.
Civilian houses are being looted. Eritrean troops are stealing everything from cutlery to cars, bedframes and jerrican. Nothing is being spared. Not even Ambulance vehicles.
UNESCO world heritage sites are being looted and destroyed. Including ancient churches and mosques that form a huge part of our global heritage. This just shows you that this is not just “low and order enforcement” but it is a deliberate attempt by the Ethiopian and Eritrean military to wipe-out Tigraiyan culture and history.
The list of atrocity and war crimes is endless. This is not just a war of bullets, bombs and tanks. This is a war using food starvation as a weapon to starve people and force them into submission. This will go on for months.
The systematic denial of basic needs and services, including the obstruction of aid, is a grave violation of the fundamental human rights of the Tigrayan people.
Our message here today is, for the Australian, the British and the US government as well as the EU… concerns, statements and tweets don’t mean much when prompt action does not follow.
We are calling on the international community to take action.
It is already too late to stop the violence, devastation and senseless killings of innocent civilians. But now is the time to take action to prevent and stop the extermination of the Tigrayan people.
Today we are pleading with the Dutch government to condemn the war on Tigray by the Ethiopian government and to call for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the region.
Hostilities must be stopped and active diplomacy must be used to ensure peaceful dialog and reconciliation.
As a founding nation of the United Nations, we are asking you to support the UN security council’s work to end the siege and genocide.
There must be independent investigation into the war crimes committed.
And we are calling for the support and financial aid for global aid agencies as they work to establish a humanitarian corridor. We want to see Australian government fully engaged with these challenges.
To my Tegaru in Australia and all around the world,
The fight for justice is not over! Your tireless work to speak up for the people of Tigray who have been silenced and abandoned by the Ethiopian government is extraordinary.
The resilience and unity of the global community is a testimony of the strength of the Tiygrian people and our just cause.
So many of us have already lost loved ones and are grieving. Yet we continue to do the work to speak up for the oppressed people. Feeling of stress, grief and the experience of generational trauma are difficult but we will get through this together!
We will rebuild Tigray!
Tigray will prevail!
We will win!
We also want to thank the Sudanese government and people for all the work they have done assisting with the refugees who have fled the region. It has been a great help and the people of Tigray are for ever grateful to you all!
We will rebuild Tigray!
Tigray will prevail!
Saron Birhane