Tigray, the Armenian Genocide and an Open Letter to Pres. Biden
Armenians and Ethiopia have a long history, one that goes back as far as the 13th century. Early in the 1900s, Armenians sought refuge and a safe haven from the massacres and persecution in the Ottoman Empire and emigrated to Ethiopia, an Orthodox Christian country. Many more followed after the Armenian Genocide in the 1920s.
Armenians significantly contributed to Ethiopian society over the last century, in particular in its capital of Addis Ababa from participating in government and owning businesses to working in various industries, including the fields of medicine, engineering, law and finance to being craftsmen and musicians. It is well known that 40 orphans of the Genocide were brought to Ethiopia in 1924 by Emperor Haile Selassie I to form a royal brass marching band. Leading the band was maestro Kevork Nalbandian who also happened to write the first Ethiopian national anthem. Following the 1974 revolution in Ethiopia which led to the fall of the monarchy and the installation of a Marxist government, many Armenians left the country.
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That is amazing and acceptable .
I hope #Jeo Biden will take action on #TigrayGenocide!
It is sad this platform is being used to spread twisted narratives from Tigray Liberation People’s Front (TPLF) cadres. Most of those narrated by Goitom are false or misrepresentations. Let me explain
1) Those massacred in Maikadra on Nov-6-10, 2020 were innocent ethnic Amharas of whom more than 1300 of them were killed. The massacre was conducted by Tigray youth group called Samri, Tigray militia and TPLF soldiers. Additionally the Tigray bandits are currently conducting cross border attacks against Amharas. (Evidence below
https://addisstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Maikadra-Preliminary-Findings-English-Final.pdf
https://www.gettyimages.de/detail/nachrichtenfoto/agere-getnet-yeshi-ademe-bekele-sara-tadilo-zewdu-and-nachrichtenfoto/1305910720
2) TPLF led an cruel dictatorship over Ethiopia for three decades. These dictatorship was characterized by genocide against Amharas, Somalis, Oromos and other Ethiopians. Billions of dollars were looted by TPLF. During their stay, they amassed money and diplomatic connection worldwide which they are currently using to spread false information.
https://www.ethioexplorer.com/the-crimes-of-the-tplf/
https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1390&context=jil
https://www.ena.et/en/?p=19336
3) What they call ‘Western Tigray’ is the ancestral land of Amhara Ethiopians. During beginning of 1990’s TPLF controlled Ethiopia and illegally annexed Amhara areas of Gondar and Wollo to Tigray in order to fulfil their long held dream of establishing ‘the great Tigray republic’ after they divided and looted the Ethiopia. TPLF instituted a poisonous ethnic federalism arrangement at which they categorized Amharas as the enemy of the state in the constitution they drafted. During the last 27 years, TPLF committed ethnic cleansing of Amharas. It conducted rapes and prohibited the use of Amharic in these areas. After struggle, those under occupation liberated the area. Amharas are in their original land. Tigray civilians are also living peacefully with Amharas in this area. What they call displaced are those who left the place by their interest during the height of the conflict. Most of them are returning. This is true story.
4) Amharas have been massacred for decades, they are also being massacred at a higher rate especially in Oromia and Benishangul region. Silent untold genocide against Amharas is happening. The real parallel of Armenian genocide is the continuous Amhara genocide.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/11/ethiopia-over-50-ethnic-amhara-killed-in-attack-on-village-by-armed-group/
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ethiopias-war-the-administration-will-not-mention
5) The one you used as source ‘Dr Goitom’ is a known Amhara hater. He is recorded saying hateful things like ‘I would rather see the desert of Sinai got developed than see Amharas get progress. You can see his daily posts of his facebook being filled by hateful details. Seeing his false characterization of Amhara forces give you additional evidence for his deep hate of innocent Amharas. For his visa purpose, he is convinced that spreading false information about Ethiopia and Amharas would grant him a positive progress.
6) Armenians were hosted and protected by Amhara Ethiopian kings like King Hailesillassie, King Menilik. Armenians and Amharas have a lot in common in the misery they passed or are passing through. We don’t expect an Armenian media host completely anti-Amhara and one sided view.
May peace prevail for Amhara, Ethiopia, Armenia and the whole world.
#StopAmharaGenocide #AmharaGenocide
#Ethiopia #ArmeniaGenocide #Armenia
What a outrageous article, full of lies regarding Ethiopia!
So-called ‘Western Tigray’ was seized by TPLF in the 1990’s from Begemder(Gondar province), they made up the 1994 census. TPLF killed and displaced Amharas from their homelands. Before the 1990’s, there was no Western Tigray, Tigray and Amharic speaking areas were divided by the Tekeze river.
Where was Armenian weekly when 2.5 million Amharas dissapeared from the census between 1994 & 2007? Where are your questions there?? Like the rest of the world covered up and ignored the Armenian genocide, the international community are trying to bury what has happend to the Amharas.
The West doesn’t want to admit that they helped TPLF, a genocidal regime stay in power. Because it exposes Western criminal policy in Africa.
Baseless aligations!
People like you are supporters of the genocide in Tigray.
During Armenian genocide Armenians couldn’t expect sympathy from the Othoman Turkey. Like wise Tigray people will never expect sympathy from like you.
Talking lies is in your genes.Thats why you lie a lot.TPLF never killed Amharas,infact TPLF created the so called Amhara region.There was no any area called Amhara before TPLF.You don’t have any evidence for your claims excpet lies from individuals like yours.
As an outside observer, I have trouble understanding the denialism of Amhara people. You really think BBC, Reuters, France24, CNN, DW, AlJazeera, NYTimes, Washington Post, UK Telegraph, Guardian among others are all just making it up? I come up with 2 explanations, either they hate the Tigrayan people with every fibre of their being (eg. Neamin Zeleke), or 2) the reports are so atrocious, would cause such great personal shame if you admit them to be true that you must disbelieve to retain any semblance of holding yourself in good regard (cognitive dissonance).
Thank you for the great summary! The horrific war crime committed by Abiy Ahmed and his partners are inhumane and too graphic beyond words. Its interesting how you articulately documented the various types of crime being committed in Tigray and how its genocidally identical with other countries
How could you not mention the suffering of the Palestinians dear?
You mentioned Armenians (I am Palestinian Armenian), you mentioned Rwanda, but what about Palestine?
I expected more from Armenianweekly.com
Jonny
The Armenial Weekly:why you involved yourself with Ethiopian internal Affair.before you post such kind of article you better investigate the fact on the ground on both side.There is such thing west Tigray.its previous name is Welkait and Tsegede.The last 27 years TPLF forceful annexed the area and included it to Tigray.It killed,oppressed,displaced and forceful TPLF soldier make pregnant the local Amhara girls and married women to have their ethnic kids.They have even changed the name of the area as well.It has been Amhara land for more than 1000 years.There is no 1.2 million people displaced from the area.The number is inflated only supporter of this Terrorist TPLF group supporters run to Sudan after killing more than 1000 Amhara peopla.Even Today more Tigray are lining peacefully on that area.No one forceful make leave the area.They can live there but the administration is returned to the original Amhara people.TPLF supporter are engaged in doing disinformation all over the place About Amhara.They know the truth.The sad thing is the world see only partial of the fact.
Sincerly
You are a typical supporter of the genocidal leader Abiy Ahmed Ali. All your aligations are false with out any ground. You are extremly happy by the suffering of Tigray people.
All international medias CNN, BBC, AP, Newyork times, Algezira and others are talking about what is happening in Tigray is devastating and a crsytal clear genocide.
Thank you Armenian Weekly for being voice for Tigray people.
Stop Genocide
Stop fascist Abiy Ahmed Ali’s and dictator Esayas Afewerik’s genocide and ethnic cleansing of Tigray.
The world needs to stop the genecid that is happening in Tigray
Please for the sake of humanity do something to stop this genecid!!!!
My parents had an Ethiopian instructor in an economics course once. He’d had to flee Ethiopia due to threats against his life.
The USA and its allies should take the necessary steps detailed in the open letter to the President before the catastrophic genocide in Tigray gets out of control. Justice delayed is justice denied.
A wonderful article, and truly insightful, full of facts. Bless Ztseat, Bless Armenian weekly!
This is the tip of the icebergs! there are hidden and untold devastating stories inside Tigray. Villages are indiscriminately shelled by Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers as well as allied “Hutu” militias from the neighboring Amhara regional government. Government and non-government companies have deliberately destroyed by both forces. Hospitals, clinics, and other health centers have vandalized and all medical types of equipment have taken whether to Eritrea or to Amhara. Gangraping is a daily routine for the invaders. In general, Tigray is under an active and full-scale genocidal war.
Thank you so much Armenian Weekly.
For us for Tigrians people like Armenians can feel what we are goinng through now.
The supporters of Abiy Ahmed and Isayas Afewerki are extremly thriled by what is happening in Tigray.
We have seen them celebrating while Tigray women and girls are being gang raped by Ethiopian and Eritrian solders everday. We have seen them celebrating while innocent civilians are being killed in mass. We have seen the celebrating while more than 52,000 Tigrian people are displaced from their home to our neigbor Sudan. We have seen them celebrating while more than 2 million Tigrain people are displaced internally. Above all we have seen them celebrating while 5.2 million Tigray population is under man made starvation by the Abiy Ahmed gov’t and Isays Afewerki.
In a netshell their strategy is to extrminate us. Despite of all these ups and downs Tigray Will Previal!
I hope president Baiden and his allies will act soon and stop the genocide.
Armenia Weekly hosting a known hate preacher is more than repulsive. This guy is a very hateful ultra-TPLF who was known for his Facebook posts in Amharic.
Thank you Dr. Goitom. You clearly put the facts on the ground.
I hope the president of the United states will use every capacity and mechanism in hand to swiftly stop the human catastroph in #Tigray. It is now 7th month since the #Eritrean army, #Ethiopian national defence forces, #Amhara militia, #Amhara special forces and #Amhara fano started the #TigrayGenocide. Thus far, ~150,000 civilian #Tigrayans already killed, murdered or massacred, nearly 70,000 #Tigrayans fled to Sudan and more than 20,000 females of all age gang raped, many are perishing in concentration camps, about 5.2 million people are in starvation. The international community still idly watching. The Armenia and Rwanda genocides repeating themselves in #Tigray, again. This is unacceptable!! We should learn from the past! The international community must swiftly stop #TigrayGenocide. The invaders from #Eritrea and #Amhara regional state must immediately leave Tigray.
Thank you armenianweekly.com
If this article is written by Armenians, I really wonder. It is a copy paste of TPLF’s cadre article.
It doesn not seem like that Armenia is towards Ethiopia, but against Ethiopia.
If you are towards Chirstianity, TPLF is totally against Ethiopian Ortodox Tewahido Church.
Thank you Armenia! For making the voice of Tigriyans about the atrocious killing, extermination and Ethnic cleansing of Tigriyans from western Tigray and the mass killings inside Tigray.
Thank you for being a voice to the people of Tigray who are at the edge of being exterminated by the Ethiopian, Eritrea and Amhara joint military forces. #TigrayGenocide
Abiy Ahmed, must go! He is a killer, lier.
President Biden is a man of his words. POTUS, during a speech he gave in April, recognized “that the events that began in 1915 were a deliberate effort to wipe out Armenians.” In Nov 2020, the Ethiopian government started a similar event in Tigray in the name of a “law enforcement operation.” We now know this campaign is anything but law enforcement. PM Abiy used the Ethiopian Army, the Ethnic Amhara militia, and conspired with the Eritrean Mercenary Army to conduct a Genocidal war in Tigray. The US Senate has passed S Res 97 concerning Ethiopia. We hope POTUS will speed up using the tools provided in this senate resolution to help bring the atrocities to an end. We thank Armenian weekly for supporting Tigray.
Thank you. Much appreciated. I have seen some “Ethiopian” trolls here who have tried to justify, deny, or deceive the world about the Tigray genocide from day 1. Their double deception is also amazing. They killed Tigryayans and then they act as the victims. Exactly they are acting in the same way as the Turkish who had tried to either deny or justify the Armenian Genocide.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful piece on the inhumane acts occurring against the people of Tigrai!! If anyone doesn’t understand the hatred against Tigrayans, one only needs to look at the comments section below this article and read all the hatred, vitriol, and lies written by Ethiopians against their fellow Ethiopians, Tigrayans. My heart especially hurts for the women/girls who have been violated as a result of this blind hatred. May the creator protect and bless the people of Tigrai!
You guys are propagating TPLF lies and deceptions, so much like the west media–which have been greatly benefiting from the crisis as TPLF has been financing all these falsehood campaigns against Ethiopia using the money that they robbed of the country for close to three decades. TPLF attacked the Ethiopian National Defense Force that has been protecting Tigray and the people of Tigray for decades. Shame on you in siding along with a terrorist group that is attacking Ethiopia, the country that gave you protection while escaping persecution in your own home country. Ethiopia shall overcome all these campaigns based on skewed and TPLF influenced media outlets.
Hey TPLF sympathizers, stop piggy backing your failed tribal agenda on the Armenian genocide. The Ethiopian people nor its governments has ever been against the people of Tigray. It is the TPLF and its sympathizers that took power through the institution of ethnic politics in Ethiopia. The people of Ethiopia have said enough is enough to the bantustanization of Ethiopia! Stop shedding the blood of the poor people of Tigray to gain power. Your time is up.
The international community should stop #TigrayGenocide project of #AbiyAhmedAli which brought 150 Massacre Sites, 10,000 women raped in 4 months, 70,000 refugees in Sudan, 160,000 children at risk of death due to famine, 90% harvest looted or destroyed, 80% livestock looted or killed 2.3 million #Tigrayan internally displaced and 5.2 million #Tigrayans on brink of Famine.
Was the article written by an Armenian or Tigrayan? Just curious.
As amhara whose family members were facing genocide because of the tigray expansionist nationalists dream to take control more fertile lands of gondar and wollo and declare independence of the greaer tigray I am very ashamed to see the armanians those my forefathers were helping and protecting preferred to stand in the wrong side of history with genociders who are responsible for genocide of 2.5 million amharas as of 2015 Ethiopian parliament recognised.
Call by its name tigray genocide and take action .
Thanks so much for being voice for the voiceless millions of Tigray People. What a great summary of all #TigrayGenocide Genocidal events with evidences frpm reliable sources such as UN, Human Rights Watch and World Peace Foundation!
An academic and well research article with ample evidence from international reliable sources! Great work. Kudos to the writer!