Unlike other nationals who would come from distant lands for the same reason as the Eritreans, the latter enjoyed a distinct advantage.=20 Historically, the two people are kith and kin sharing language, culture, and history. Today, various estimates put the number of ethnic Eritreans in Ethiopia at approximately a hundred thousand. 

As events unfolded following World War II, the Eritrean people wanted to be masters of their own destiny, and aspired to become as an independent and free nation as all the other colonies of Africa. Sadly, events conspired to obviate this dream. Eritreans had to fight against the Italians, the British, and finally against Ethiopia - all within a few decades. The history of Eritrea is thus marked by struggle and sacrifice because they wanted to be left alone and free. Finally, after thiry years of revolutionary war, they threw the yoke of Ethiopian occupation and became independent in 1991. In this, they were allied with various Ethiopian forces to overthrow their common enemy - the brutal dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam. The Eritrean people crowned their national achievement through a referendum, which international observers adjudicated to be free and fair. Over 98% of the populace voted for independence. Eritrea came of Age. It joined the community of nations as an independent state. At the time, the large Eritrean population living in Ethiopia were asked to choose their citizenship. Since most had lived there for generations, they took Ethiopian citizenship. 

Now, seven years later Ethiopia and Eritrea are locked in a border dispute. In June this conflict deteriorated into a full=3Dscale war. At present, the two armies are dug in across their common borders. The purpose here is not to discuss who is to be blamed for that. Suffice it to say, a border dispute, no matter where and whom it involves, can and should be settled only peacefully and through arbitration. Only the party that advocates such a view, and proposes concrete and constructive steps to this end can be said to be on the right. 

What makes this dispute incomprehensible is Ethiopia's decision to expand the conflict with its neighbor to another gruesome dimension - the expulsion of ethnic Eritreans en masse. Thousands are kidnapped from their homes, often in the dead of night. Without the slightest benefit of legal proceedings, and often without the knowledge of their families, they are being dropped at various inhospitable and dangerous border crossings and told to walk across. The sight of such bus convoys throughout Ethiopia hauling Eritrean deportees has become a common sight. Their property, estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars, is being confiscated. Among these deportees are found the very young and the very old. Many are ill and infirm. Detention camps are set up throughout the breadth and width of the country where young Eritrean men and women are kept in appaling conditions - reminiscent of bygone historical events. What is their crime? Absolutely nothing, but being ethnic Eritreans. 

In a recent interview, the Ethiopian leader was asked by journalists why Ethiopi resorts to such acts of brutality towards defneseless civillians. He simply srugged by retorting: "Whether Eritrean, Japanese, etc., Ethiopia has the right to expel anyone, even so much as if it doesn't like the color of his eyes." His blunt and shocking answer provides a glimpse to the thinking of the perpetrators of this ethnic cleansing. 

Back to my own family's story. My mother is now a widow and over 80 years of age. She is blind in one eye. She has lived all her adult life in Ethiopia. Because of her advance age and physical frailty, she had to leave the house my father had built over 55 years ago and moved in with my oldest sister, Dehab. Now, her most important part of the day is to walk each day to the nearby Medhane Alem (Savior of the World)Coptic Church for the morning mass. Thank God she doesn't even have to cross the street. A little over six months ago, Dehab was diagnosed with bone cancer. After three months of hospitalization, she is now terminal. It has been close to five months since she was able to sit up in bed. She is under medication and often heavily sedated. 

The one person who had given constant care to my mother and sister was my "thirty-something' niece - a youn, energentic, and successful business woman. Her name is Nebiat. Nebiat was born and grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - the country her grandfather came to over six decades earlier.=20 She hardly speaks her native language and had never been to Eritrea. On July 12, Ethiopian security men came to the house at 2:00a.m. and dragged her away. She pleaded with them that there was no one else to look after her mother and grandmother - all to no avail. Two weeks later, Nebiat was dumped at the Ethiopian-Eritrean border along with other 26 bus-load of ethnic Eritreans and was simply ordered to tredge across a four mile long divide. She arrived with nothing but the clothes on her back. 

On July 20, my elderly mother and invalid sister, now alone and scared, were notified by the same secuity people that they should be prepared for deportation as well. No further explanation was given, except that it was an order from above that had to be carried out. it is supposed to take place any day now. This is, without a doubt, a death sentence and the height of human cruelty. Treking on the bus convoys which the government organizes takes anywhere from seven to ten days over the roughest terrain imaginable with insufficient food and water. Even the young and the most virile find this grueling journey an ordeal. For my aged and infirm mother and a terminally ill and immobile sister, this is a certain death - Damocle's sword, so to speak. They won't be able to make it even outside of the city. 

As all my immediate family members living in Ethiopia and holding Ethiopian citizenship are now in constant danger I not help but feel a sense of helplessness. I came to the United States from Ethiopia where I was born and raised. I was a mere teen ager then. I am glad and thankful for the good education that I have received here . God has blessed me with much more than either my background or circumstances can account for. =20 

Tonight we as a family will read a portion of a book together as we have ritually done since my children's infancy. When we finally go to be in our comfortable home here in Cincinnati, Ohio, my children and I will have no fear of some "security people" knocking at our door. And while we will go to bed feeling safe and secure, we shall nevertheless face tomorrow with anxiety for the families we have left behind, families whose tomorrows are being shattered; victims of ethnic hatred of the worst kind. Sixty years of a family's collective toil and sweat is counted for nought. 

But this is not something new in human history. In the very immediate memory, the Rwandans have lived through it. So have the Bosnians. Every continent, every race of people, and every generation has experienced it to one degree or another. And just as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, for the ethnic Eritreans sho must endure this inhumane treatment this too shall pass. 

I now know the fate of my mother and sister is in God's hand. As I am writing this article, Senator Mike DeWine and Congressman Steve Chabot have taken up the cause of these two helpless women. I am thankful for their untiring efforts. My pastor, Rev. Graves of Springdale Church of the Nazarene and our church family there are in a prayer vigil. Members of the close knit Eritrean Community Association of Greater Cincinnati have also been huddling together as they share stories of similar atrocities being against committed against their loved ones in Ethiopia. How misery loves company! Each Sunday a small but=20 brave group of Eritrean and Ethiopian Christians come together at the Salvation Army on Center Hill Road to pray for peace, search their own hearts, and reflect. These are trying days. May God shine his mercy on the evil that is stalking this ancient land.