Further to my earlier report on the assault of Guji on Burji, the news reaching us state that as of now 5 Burji men have been killed, and three wounded in the clash on September 17, 2008. Sixteen homes have been burnt down and crops destroyed. A number of livestock were taken by the invading Guji forces. Considering the reported numbers of the invading army the casualties are light. We have no information of the casualties on the Guji side.
Apparently no active fighting has taken place since the first day of the conflict, but there are reports of further reinforcement of the Guji army. Three truck-loads of the Guji were seen heading out toward Burji Saturday morning, and are considered to be Guji reinforcement on the eastern front. So the situation is, as might be expected, very tense in Burji.
I would like to make it absolutely clear that I consider that the Guji are as much victims as the Burji are in this conflict –victims of a regime that has used communities against each other to sustain themselves in power! The Meles regime has used the Guji as a weapon of mass destruction against many ethnic groups in the region including the Boran, the Gabra, the Garri, the Sidama, the Koira, the Gideo and others. The regional administrative structures favor conflict between the neighboring tribes and conflicts are frequent. These conflicts are often based on claims of real estate, use of land and water resources. A lot of the meager resources, be it money, material or man-power are being used to fight or defend communities instead of using those resources for the benefit of all! For instance, the Burji spend a lot of their man-power resources scouting their territory for the possible invasion by the Guji , instead of using that man-power to plant and grow food. Consequently large tracks of land lay fallow for fear of being killed or crops being destroyed. There is shortage of food in the entire region because of such waste.
The Guji and the Burji could pool their resources for food production, trade, education and health matters! But such a corporation would be to the detriment of the current rulers of Ethiopia who would rather keep the population starved, poor, illiterate and sick! By giving hand-outs of food from foreign donation they get some pledge of loyalty in exchange, from perennially starving and grateful people! Such inter-ethnic conflicts are universal, and as I mentioned earlier, what is happening in the south of Ethiopia is only the tip of the iceberg! As we all know, like everything in life, Meles’s rule will come to an end one day! My biggest concern is what kind of society and country will he leave behind? Ethiopians will not just wake up one morning and embrace each other after his departure! The kind of distrust, internecine killings and destruction of property which prevailed over 17 years will not be forgotten easily, and all those who see themselves as victims today are waiting to pay back someday, and this is the most troubling prospect of all!
Unfortunately, the so-called opposition parties have failed even to acknowledge the magnitude of this problem, let alone trying to solve them! Political or civic leadership is about identifying ordinary people’s fears, concerns, and vulnerabilities and devising solutions! There is famine in Ethiopia today, famine created by the current regime to perpetuate its cynical grip on power! 15 million Ethiopians are starving or on the verge of starvation, and I have yet to hear about any effort by the Ethiopian opposition leaders to raise funds or make appeals for those people! Ethiopian communities are being turned against each other by the current regime for their own survival, yet I have never heard of any effort by the opposition parties coming together to prevent the disintegration of the fabric of our communities. Mutation of the political opposition parties abound, they multiply exponentially but one never hears of any action that benefits the society they are supposed to represent!
Being acutely conscious of the bad blood between the various political parties and within the parties, I and a number of others came up with the idea of a Solidarity movement which will allow setting aside political differences and address the problems facing our Motherland and our people. This was intended to be a grass-root movement where our communities in Ethiopia and around the world would put politics aside and address our problems with honesty, frankness and conviction. One of its main objectives was bringing together all ethnic groups, thereby breaking barriers which have been erected between them! While the idea was widely applauded and encouraged, to this day, I have not heard of anyone creating “My solidarity forum” to discuss anything – maybe there are, but none I am aware of!
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and how true! On Wednesday 17, 2008, after receiving the terrible news about the Guji-Burji conflict, I called on the one guy who has been begging for, preaching, and praying for SOLIDARITY for many months now – I called on Obang Metho for advice on what to do! As if he just heard of another Anuak massacre looming on the horizon, he flew into action! He called authorities of no less than 5 governments around the world; he called many organizations with concern about human rights. Most of these bodies called the Ethiopian authorities and were promised appropriate actions would be taken. Whether appropriate action is taken or not, I am touched by one Ethiopian who breathes and lives SOLIDARITY! He stood for Burji people just as he stood for the Anuak and I have no doubt he will stand for all Ethiopians!
Many of you contacted me wondering and agonizing about what to do, after hearing this sad news about Guji and Burji. My advice is – join Obang Metho in your Solidarity Movement for the New Ethiopia!
September 20, 2008
On August 11, 2008 I reported on the news reaching the US regarding the assault of the Guji ethnic group on the small Burji community in southern Ethiopia. Apparently, in spite of the disproportionately larger number of the Guji wielding modern weapons, including machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), the Burji were able to hold the Guji advance on Soyama.
However, the Burji community in Hagere-Mariam were not so lucky – the Burji ethnic cleansing there is complete! All members of the Burji community who can have run for their lives, those who perished are not well accounted for! The majority took refuge in Burji, others dispersed to areas such as Mega, Moyale, and Kenya, leaving their properties and livelihood behind!
Having cleansed Hagere-Mariam, with the help of hired army and most probably with some help from the government of Ethiopia, now the focus is on the homeland of the Burji! It has been reported over the last few days that a contingent of about 500-strong Guji army was advancing on Burji from south-eastern direction. As of Tuesday night reports reaching us suggest two more fronts of the Guji are advancing on Burji from north-east and north-west!
Fighting started on at least two fronts on September 17, 2008. Anticipating an overrun by an overwhelming enemy force, the Burji approached the local administration (the Government) for help but were told that they were on their own!
Given the forces arrayed against them – an ethnic entity determined to commit genocide against them and an administration which is indifferent to their plight, the Burji face the threat of being wiped out from the face of Ethiopia. Attempt is being made to urgently inform the international community about this looming catastrophe. Unfortunately, as I pass on this information there are many communities in similar situation in Ethiopia today.
As I said before, what is happening between the Guji and Burji today is a culmination of nearly two decades of misrule in Ethiopia, where old tribal conflicts were exploited by the current administration for its own survival!
I appeal, once again, for Ethiopians of conscience to come together and stand against the agents of Ethiopia’s destruction.
— Golto Aila is an Ethiopian medical doctor living in the United States. He frequently writes on violations of human rights in Ethiopia. [email protected]
