H.E. Ato Seyoum Mesfin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dear Mr. Foreign Minister:

Although Eritrean atrocities against civilian Ethiopian nationals in Eritrea have been running unabated since 1991, the heinous crimes have never received a better media coverage than the heart-wrenching story journalist Nitta Bhalla posted online under the headline of "Ethiopian refugees' tale of atrocities" (BBC: July 7).

Just a few lines excerpted from Ms. Bhalla's story datelined in the historic Ethiopian town of Adwa would help sum up the degree of Eritrea's brazen crimes against our people:

"Twenty-four-year-old Girma Wakajaka was a waitress living in the Eritrean town of Dekemahari, before she was taken to Damba (a concentration camp). She said the inmates were beaten frequently and abused: "There were these thorn plants and we were made to roll on these thorns. They would also pour water on the dirt and make us roll in the mud. There was no time when you didn't hear screams of pain. Some refugees were shot. They would come and take people in the middle of the night when they thought you were sleeping. You would hear shots being fired and you wondered who was being shot. My sister has disappeared and my brother is still there."

These crimes, certainly the tip of the iceberg, were being committed following the signing of the secession of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea on June 18, 2000. But did Eritrea abide by the salient points of the accord that call for the cessation of hostilies?

Eritrea is moving dangerously, and its inhuman acts are only matched by the tears of blood and the faces of anguish seen on those infirm mothers and fathers who were shoved across the mine-infested areas of the accursed land. Relating their horrowing stories to the media, it has been learned that the disgraced Eritrean regime has interned more than 10,000 Ethiopians aged between 18 and 40. What is the secret behind this? Are they planning to swap our civilian population for the release of their thousands of POWs? Or a slave labor that would develop Eritrea behind the UN-policed lines? Or for Eritrea to quench itself with the blood that has long been thirsty for? What is the mystery?

Indeed the mystery has even pushed the reluctant International Committee of the Red Cross to finally come to grips with the disturbing reality, and warn the international community that Ethiopians were going through unspeakable horrors under Eritrean authorities.

Dear Minister Seyoum:

Should this scenario have cropped up as the reward for Ethiopia's stupendous victory over Eritrea? Does our Government, which on a daily basis is co-operating to facilitate the deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission (as if there would be a panacea for all Eritrean ills), relegate the issue of the safety of its citizens in Eritrea and refrain from flexing its military muscle to stop the reign of terror? Or we are waiting for an action from the International Community that is known for its apathy to the crisis in Africa, much less in the Horn?

We are a group of Ethiopians living in different parts of the world, but united by a common cause of defending the honor of our people, Motherland, and the Ethiopian Government. We express our serious concern over those Ethiopians that have vanquished in the hands of Sha'ebia and the inaction of our Government to help secure the freedom and safety of our compatriots. We ask our government to secure the safety, freedom, and well-being of all Ethiopians in Eritrea before any foreign troops set their feet on the border and erect a Berlin Wall.

Sincerely,

Concerned Ethiopians