Letter Amnesty International Secretary General, Dr Agnès Callamard
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To: Agnès Callamard
Secretary General
Amnesty International Easton Street, London WC1X ODW, UK
May 22, 2024
Subject: Urgent Action Needed: Address Violence Against Amhara People in Ethiopia
Dear Dr. Callamard,
We are writing to express grave concer about the ongoing violence targeting the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Reports indicate a relentless campaign of terror, invasion, and ethnic cleansing directed towards Amhara communities in various regions.
In recent months, documented incidents of indiscriminate killings targeting civilians have occurred in Wollo, Showa, Gojjam, Gondor, and other regions of Ethiopia. These acts culminated in a reported large scale violence against the Amhara population in Gondar between April 1 and 27, 2024.
An all-out military campaign coupled with other attacks against Amhara civilians has been ongoing for over a year.
The atrocities include attack on Debre Elias Church in June 2023, reportedly killing over 570 civilians (https://eclj.org/religious-freedom/un/ethiopie–5/0-victimes-dans-lattaque-dun-monastere-orthodoxe) and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Amhara people from their homes in Addis Abeba, Wollega and Metekel region. The use of drone strikes targeting civilians in various parts of the Amhara region, including a reported attack on a passenger truck in North Shewa on February 19, 2024, that killed at least 30 civilians further highlights the brutality of the regime’s war. The links included at the bottom list some of the heinous crimes carried out by Abiy Ahmed’s regime.
The human cost of this conflict is devastating. Families have been shattered, livelihoods destroyed, and many have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The inclusion of children among the victims underscores the gravity of the situation.
We urge Amnesty International to take immediate and decisive action now:
Publicly condemn the on going violence against the Amhara people
Dispatch an independent fact-finding mission to investigate these atrocities without any delay.
• Advocate for international pressure on the Ethiopian govemment to immediately cease human rights abuses and hold perpetrators accountable.
We believe that strong and coordinated international response is essential to prevent future bloodshed and ensure justice for the victims. Silence is not an option, nor is playing diplomatic games!
Immediate action is needed as the regime’s wanton violence against civilians is worsening by the day.
Your sincerely
Amhara Community in the UK
