Afar People’s Party, Press release
We
are very much saddened and shocked by inhuman and barbaric act of
terror on innocent Ethiopians committed by ISIS in Libya. First of all,
we would like to express our deeply felt condolences to all the families
affected by this barbaric terrorist action. The evil act of ISIS
represents neither the faith of Islam that the Afar People practice and
the Allah we worship nor the human values that we share with entire
human race. Slaying innocent Ethiopians who left their beloved ones and
country to seek a better future can’t be justified by any religious
motivation or political ideology. It is simply a cruel and barbaric act
of terror that every human being should denounce and prevent from
happening again.
Our Ethiopian compatriots are facing the traps of xenophobia in South
Africa, exposed to war crimes in Yemen, inhuman treatment and
deportation in Saud Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East; and now a
raw slaughter in Libya.
The root causes for amassed exodus and our national degradation are
emanating from an increasing social- and economic inequality and
violation of human rights and dignity. It is merely the outcome of
cumulative dysfunctional policies of the current EPRDF/TPLF regime that
outplayed the legal framework of its own constitution. About 64% of
Ethiopia’s population is under the ages of 24 year.
The increasing youth
unemployment rate, the shrinking democratic space in the country, and
losing the hope on future are the main driving factors for youth to
leave their country for unknown future. In contrast, the regime is
bragging over the double digit economic growth; while suffocating
non-economic requirements for economic growth and human development such
as independent public institutions, the rights of civil society
organization, human rights and freedom of expression and others aspects
of accountabilities related to biased policy implementations.
The current biased policy which is based on ruling in the interest
few elites with rampant corruption and promoting political and economic
exclusion of the majority cannot be considered as sustainable
development. Those who praise what is going on in Ethiopia as democratic
improvement should revisit their sources as well as should be held
accountable for prolonging the agony of the Ethiopian people.
The coming 2015 election is nothing more than a showcase for
international political consumption. However, in reality is about to
consolidate more economic- and political power; narrowing the political
space and crashing the political opposition groups. Thus a chance for
national reconciliation, inclusive political dialog and public
participation on future direction of our country seems to be utterly
unlikely.
- The APP, condemns not only the terrorists outside our
country but also state run terrorism carried out in Ethiopia which
contributes to the suffering of our people inside and outside by the
negligence and bigotry of the ruling party.
- We believe that our destiny and our better future is in our
hands and we need to unify our struggle more than ever to fight
injustice until our social values and our national dignity is restored.
- We call on all international community to take the case of
Ethiopia seriously, before an intensified civil war and collapse. The
conflict and collapse of Ethiopia undoubtedly will cause a huge turmoil
internally and beyond its borders.
Afar People’s Party
