Security and Justice for Tigreans (SJT) - ድሕንነትን ፍትሕን ንትግራዎት(ድፍት)

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

His Excellency António Guterres:

Secretary-General of the United Nations:

The United Nations Security Council and World Leaders:

December 17, 2020

Dear Madams/Sirs,

I am writing to implore you to utilize your position in the UN Security Council to take action against Ethiopian Airlines’ network, which is creating further instability in the country by violating the civic, political, economic and social rights of the Ethiopian people. Ethiopian Airlines’ network has been responsible for human rights violations during a month of conflict which is ongoing in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. An article published by The Telegraph on December 4th by Zecharias Zelalem confirms reports by employees of the airlines that “staff at Africa’s largest airline are being ethnically profiled and excluded from work because they come from a region embroiled in a civil war with the Ethiopian government”.

In a December 9th press conference in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, expressed her deep concerns of the “numerous reports of ethnic profiling of Tigrayans, including in Addis Ababa.” She continued to reveal, “...we have reports of dismissals from jobs – including in the civil service – harassment of Tigrayan journalists and hate speech against Tigrayans. Such discriminatory actions are deeply unjust but are also fostering divisiveness and sowing the seeds for further instability and conflict.” She calls on “the Government to take immediate measures to halt such discrimination."

I respectfully urge you to stand with Senator Ben Cardin and Senator Jim Risch of the United States of America by supporting the values set forth in the Global Magnitsky Act to uphold the preservation of human rights and peace - the very foundation of the UN Security Council. Our recommendation is for economic and financial sanctions to be imposed on Ethiopian Airlines’ network for their human rights offenses and participation in acts of public corruption and destabilizing activity in Ethiopia.

Thank you for your crucial consideration of these serious concerns and recommendations. I look forward to your response and actions.

Sincerely,

Concerned global citizen

References:

UN Charter: https://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/un-charter-full-text/

The African Union Charter: https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/7759-file-oau_charter_1963.pdf
UNHCR on Ethiopia/Tigray conflict: https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/ethiopia-tigray-emergency.html?query=ethiopia
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/12/world/africa/Ethiopia-Tigray-ethnic.html?searchResultPosition=1
The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/12/04/ethiopia-airlines-accused-ethnic-profiling-civil-war-tigray/