Remembering December 13th: The Anuaks Massacre

Let us take this day of sorrow and make it a day of healing among all peace-loving Ethiopians

Anuak Council, a diaspora based advocacy group sent a letter to all Ethiopians to take December 13, where over four hundred innocent civilian Anuak were mascaraed by TPLF/EPRDF soliders,  a day of sorrow and make it a day of healing. The letter sent by representative to ECADF ( Ethiopian Current Affairs Discussion Forum), a diaspora opposition website that the tenth anniversary of the brutal massacre of 424 unarmed Anuak in Gambella, region of Ethiopia by Ethiopian National Defense Forces armed with guns and militia groups armed with machetes. Not just the families of the victims, but all Anuak, will forever remember that dark day that brought so many pains, tears and suffering.  Even after ten years, some widows, some fathers, some mothers and children are still waiting to bury their loved ones properly. Some day their bodies, which were buried in mass graves, will be exhumed and buried with proper respect by their families and loved ones. Some day a memorial of remembrance may be erected in Gambella in their honor, to remind people that behind every name on that memorial, is a human life, given as a precious gift from God, our Creator. Such memorials may be erected all over Ethiopia where innocent lives of Ethiopians have been taken. Some day, a large monument—a wall of shame—could be erected in Addis Ababa with the names of the Anuak and the names of all other people throughout Ethiopia who have lost their lives at the hands of the TPLF/EPRDF regime that devalues human life. The letter stated that on this Anuak Memorial Day, Anuak in Gambella cannot join with Anuak in the Diaspora in observing the day. It is prohibited by the TPLF/EPRDF regime. Instead, they will have to look forward to the day they will be able to join together in a service such as the ones being held in Minnesota, Kenya, South Sudan and in other cities where there are Anuak where they are free to remember the death of more than 1500 other Anuak who were killed in the next two years following the December massacre. Because public mourning is not allowed, those who want to remember family members, friends and community members who died, must quietly carry out some kind of observances within their homes and hearts. To read more click here.