|
 “The
pressing problems of the region are lack of good governance and
democracy, poverty, including food shortage and famine,
illiteracy, disease, lack of educational and technological
know-how The people of Ethiopia and Somalia are among the
poorest in the world; their resources are meager and the aid
they receive relatively very low.”
"We wish to
stop the processes that condemn our people to endless wars,
forced migration, impoverishment and dependency on handouts, and
that victimize especially the young and vulnerable to
traffickers or peddlers of religious fundamentalism and divisive
clan or tribal affiliations," the group said.
They also
called upon peace loving people everywhere to refrain from
contributing to this tension.
Full text
Tension
between Ethiopia and Somalia is not Necessary
We, the
undersigned concerned scholars and interested individuals of
Ethiopian origin, are extremely dismayed about the current
tension between Ethiopia and Somalia. We note that the tension
and possible armed conflict may produce calamitous repercussions
for people in the Horn of Africa. We see this as a challenge to
our socially rooted civil and community patterns and notions of
coexistence. We see it as an unfortunate and ill-conceived
extension of geopolitical crises that are taking place elsewhere
in which Ethiopia and Somalia have no roles or interests.
The ordinary
citizens of both Ethiopia and Somalia have had enough of wars
and their consequential impoverishment, displacement and lack of
prosperity. Unless all peace-loving people avert the war, a
crisis of huge magnitude would result both in the maiming and
loss of thousands of combatants as well as innocent lives. To
say the least, it will disrupt the well-being and livelihoods of
millions and millions of others.
The current feuds utilizing of religious, ethnic and clan
differences will deprive our societies of the cultural wealth in
diversity and life styles that have sustained their peaceful
coexistence. Losing such vital foundations and historical
legacies of peaceful coexistence across religious and linguistic
diversities is not in the interests of our societies. Although
we do not want to judge the situation from where we stand, it
would be the height of irresponsibility for leaders anywhere in
the region to use religion, clan membership and tribalism to
drive a wedge on the noble people of Ethiopia and Somalia.
Coming on top of the man-made and natural disasters that have
already affected all the countries and peoples in the Horn, the
consequences of destabilization will be even more intractable.
Vulnerable members of society will be further exposed to the
vagaries of displacement, poverty and disease, and the existing
processes of participatory development, prosperity and regional
peace will be stymied.
Whatever the origin of the current tension might be, amplifying
it and engaging in active conflict will not be in anybody’s
interest in the Horn of Africa. The pressing problems of the
region are lack of good governance and democracy, poverty,
including food shortage and famine, illiteracy, disease, and
lack of educational and technological know-how. The people of
Ethiopia and Somalia are among the poorest in the world; their
resources are meager and the aid they receive relatively very
low. It would be immoral and unconscionable to squander these on
enterprises that will only result in death and destruction of
the poor while advancing other people’s goals. All peace-loving
peoples of the region should choose political compromise and
accommodation toward a commonwealth of good neighborliness and a
mutual pursuit for political, cultural and economic cooperation.
As concerned scholars and individuals from Ethiopia, we are
committed to work for peace and not contribute to furthering the
inflammation of tensions with disastrous consequences. We will
do everything in our power to engage in constructive and
friendly dialogue with people from all of Ethiopia’s neighbors.
to seek solutions and alternative sustainable strategies for
progressive and peaceful outcomes. We wish to stop the processes
that condemn our people to endless wars, forced migration,
impoverishment and dependency on handouts, and that victimize
especially the young and vulnerable to traffickers or peddlers
of religious fundamentalism and divisive clan or tribal
affiliations.
The basic rights of people in Ethiopia, Somalia and elsewhere in
the Horn, as human beings, include the freedom to live normal
and productive lives; not to be victims of incessant war and
poverty.
We call on the political authorities in Ethiopia and Somalia to
assert this by all means, and to immediately relax the tensions
and avoid conflict. We call on peace loving people everywhere to
do what they can to refrain from contributing to this tension.
We call on all citizens of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and
Djibouti to refrain from participating in the looming armed
confrontation. We call on all progressive people from these
countries, including those in the Diaspora, to avert it by
joining hands to forge a dialogue on constructive and peaceful
engagement among all in the region.
Teshome Wagaw, Michigan, USA
Sisay Asefa, Michigan, USA
Teshome Tadesse, Michigan, USA
Erku Yimer, Illinois, USA
Tesfa Mekonnen, Ohio, USA
Tsehai Berhane-Selassie, Ireland
Abate Kassa, New York, USA
Imru Assefa, Michigan, USA
Seyoum Kifle, North Carolina, USA
Araya Amsalu, Indiana, USA
Demelash Dejene, Illinois, USA
Dadimos Haile, Belgium
Imru Zeleke, Maryland, USA
Mesfin Mekonnen, Washington, DC, USA
Abeba Fekade, Maryland, USA
Akalework Kebede, Michigan, USA
|
11:00 GMT
