Eritrea-Ethiopia claims commission rules: report
ADDIS ABABA, Dec 20, 2004 (ENA) — The Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission has found Eritrea liable for persistent, widespread, and serious violations of international law for its mistreatment of Ethiopians in Eritrea during the war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ENA (Ethiopian News Agency) on Monday. It rejected most of the claims made by Eritrea.
The commission has determined that Eritrea committed frequent and serious violations of international law in its treatment of Ethiopian civilians in Eritrea during and following the two-year armed conflict initiated by Eritrea against Ethiopia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, referring to the “Civilians Claims Awards” the commission issued on Sunday 19 December concerning Eritrean government’s unlawful treatment of Ethiopian civilians and their property within Eritrea.
The commission particularly condemned Eritrea for serious violations of international law relating to Eritrean government’s “acts of violence and physical abuse” against Ethiopian detainees, including the use of “indiscriminate and excessive lethal force against detainees at Wi’a detention camp in July 2000, causing numerous deaths and serious injuries”.
The commission described, in paragraphs 109 and 111 of the Awards, “disturbing accounts of prisoners at Wi’a camp being tortured by being buried in pits in the hot sand, leading to severe burns and … death and… clear and compelling evidence of a serious incident on 11 July 2000 at the Wi’a camp in which many detainees were killed and injured at the hands of untrained and undisciplined Eritrean guards. An outbreak of shooting by guards killed at least 15 prisoners and wounded at least 16 more”.
According to the press release of the ministry, the commission also condemned Eritrea for its unlawful detention of Ethiopians at Hawashayt camp in western Eritrea during and after February 1999 without legal justification. Eritrea has been found liable for subjecting Ethiopians detained at Hawashayt camp to “inhumane treatment” and inadequate food, sanitary and health conditions.
In contrast with these findings of serious violations by Eritrea, the commission determined that Ethiopia was not liable for most of the violations alleged by Eritrea, the release said, adding [that] of particular note is the commission’s rejection of Eritrean government’s claims of mass expulsion of Eritreans from Ethiopia, which the commission said is “the heart of Eritrea’s case”.
The government of Ethiopia, the release said, appreciates the commission for its work in holding Eritrea accountable for its inhumane and unlawful abuse of Ethiopians in Eritrea during the conflict.