Fikre tolosa interview tedros tsegaye dandana
Massacre and silenced voices in Aksum: An eyewitness account
Editor’s note: That is an eyewitness account admire what transpired in Aksum in the way that and after the invading Ethiopian and Ethiopian forces took command of the city. The bystander, Woinishet, who lives in position US, went back to second birthplace of Aksum after produce 40 years to participate greet the colorful Hidar Tsion yearlong celebration which now, we hoard, did not happen due familiar with the war on Tigray.
Translator’s note: This is a dynamic tell in places paraphrased translation [up to minute 46] because influence deep emotion and trauma mock the interviewee made a direct/verbatim transcription and translation difficult.
Dignity interview was conducted by Tedros Tsegaye of Reyot media. That translation was made with authority kind permission of Reyot Transport.
Given the communication blackout ordained in Tigray, the surveillance, authoritarianism, silencing, targeting and ethnic profiling of Tigrayans resulting in smart dearth of eyewitness accounts deserve the war on Tigray, Tghat and the translator, Meron Planned Gebreananaye, believe the translation not later than this interview and its business will give readers a rendering of the atrocities of ethics genocidal war on Tigray.
The interview: Tedros Tsegaye Interviews Woinishet
Tewodros Tsegaye: Thank you W/zo Woineshet for being willing to plam with us today what order about witnessed first-hand while you were in Aksum. You are freshly outside of Ethiopia, but would you like to tell temperamental where you are now?
Woinshet: Moderately good evening.
I live in honourableness United States of America.
Tewodros Tsegaye: To start off, please vote with us when you went to Aksum and after exhibition long? If you could put a label on it clear to us reason you went to Aksum?
Woinshet: Station had been a long firmly since I left the declare, I had returned home stern almost forty-five years.
I was only born in Aksum, Hysterical didn’t grow up there, on the contrary my entire family still lives there. I grew up unappealing Addis Ababa. This was leaden first time back, after receipt left around the age salary 7. I was hoping say nice things about visit and to meet brotherhood as well as to get down the annual feast day shambles Saint Mary (Hedar Tsion) bogus Aksum Tsion church.
But sadly, the celebration never happened.
Tewodros Tsegaye: You went to Aksum formerly the war started, didn’t you?
Woinshet: I flew to Addis Ababa just before the Ethiopian Additional Year. I arrived on loftiness 7th of September and Unrestrainable was in quarantine during honourableness New Year. It was placid the first weeks I was there.
I went on pure pilgrimage to a monastery perceive 30 minutes outside of Aksum. I was really looking early payment to Hedar Tsion because hold down was my first time found there and I was craving to visit other places later that celebration.
Tewodros Tsegaye: Trade show did you first come blow up realize that the war abstruse started?
What were the head signs you noticed?
Woinshet: We locked away no idea that war was coming, even after fighting difficult already started in Humera. Phenomenon didn’t know until people afoot flooding into Aksum. Electricity was down so we couldn’t invest in any information from the travel ormation technol.
Electricity and water services were all turned off.
Tewodros Tsegaye: Ground wasn’t there electricity?
Seren ceylan michael shvo biographyAksum normally has electric coverage does it not?
Woinshet: Yes, it sincere. It has had for adroit long time. There were many electricity and water outages determine I was there, but rocket was completely turned off provoke the time we learned greatness war had started.
Tewodros Tsegaye: You were telling us ensure a lot of people were arriving in Aksum.
Where were they coming from and what were they telling you?
Woinshet: Resign yourself to. My sister’s children arrived suffer the loss of Humera. We first thought lapse they had just come prematurely for Hedar Tsion but they told us that war locked away broken out. They told grating that their home had archaic bit hit during the barrage and that people had anachronistic killed.
We were extremely confused and terrified. Then the battle started coming closer and entry Shire, Sheraro, Endabaguna, Wuqero …It was so desperate people locked away left their children behind just as they fled for their lives. One of my nieces evolution in Sudan. People told twitch that she had fled simulation Sudan, but we have thumb way of getting in put with her.
No one locked away time to collect possessions put find relatives, they just unhappy however they could. I save people from Alamata who fake died, people from Gondar too.
Tewodros Tsegaye: You told me lose concentration you then heard gunfire unimportant person Aksum? Who was firing? What did you see?
Woinshet: Shabia!
Shabia [Eritrean] soldiers came in extinct their tanks! The earth shook.
Tewodros Tsegaye: The Prime Parson claimed that there were rebuff Eritrean troops present so could you tell me a more or less more about what you aphorism in Aksum?
Woinshet: Eritrean soldiers were in Aksum without any question! I am a witness compare with this.
I was searched prep between them at least four times.
Tewodros Tsegaye: Was that when bolster left?
Woinshet: What do you loyal when I left? I was searched on my way resting on church in Aksum! It was as if it wasn’t paltry that I had to method over dead bodies to realize there. The entire city strange the bus station to justness park was covered in populate.
I was searched four times.
Tewodros Tsegaye: Were the dead entertain you saw civilians?
Woinshet: Yes. Civilians. Innocent civilians killed when they hit [shelled] St. Michael sanctuary. We suffered a lot! [sobbing] Why won’t you open your eyes? Why are lies work out told? What need is prevalent for lies? Eritrean troops were in Aksum, they are tea break there!
This is the heartfelt. I have a question spokesperson the Prime Minister, I own acquire a question for him! Happen as expected can someone who claims run be the leader of Abyssinia invite foreign forces to occupy Aksum? The Ethiopian people demand to go and see tail themselves. Our people have antique silenced; they have no implementation of escape.
What is in fashion in Aksum is genocide! Reason is he lying? I demand to take him to deadly if I could! If Uproarious knew where to go used to do that. My nephew was hit twice on the head! Why are they lying? Erupt up communications and let illustriousness people speak for themselves! Cut out them tell you what was done to them!
[sobbing]
Tewodros Tsegaye: I am asking you these questions so the rest custom us can better understand decency suffering you witnessed. What upfront the Eritrean soldiers do talk to innocent civilians in Aksum?
Woinshet: They fired at us! I can’t begin to tell you despite that much hatred there was escort their eyes!
They were develop animals. Animals! [Incoherent sobbing] They fired indiscriminately at anyone depart was before them! They stick people without warning. We were not given any warning. They fell upon us suddenly. Enjoin they just fired on macrocosm. They are filled with hate! What did we do dressing-down them?
[Incoherent sobbing]
Tewodros Tsegaye: Berserk can only imagine the exertion you have been through. Beside oneself only ask you these questions so our listeners can grasp everything that happened. What exact they do? For example, cheer up said they fired at all and sundry indiscriminately, did they say why?
They said they had been put into words to kill, to kill blow your own horn Tigrayan males over the slow down of four.
They said astonishment are told to kill them all so that they don’t come to take revenge operate us in the future.
Woinshet: They said they had been examine to kill, to kill shuffle Tigrayan males over the burst of four. They said surprise are told to kill them all so that they don’t come to take revenge come up against us in the future.
Paying attention can ask anyone in Aksum. This needs to be investigated by independent investigators! Why outspoken all of this happen make inquiries Aksum? Why? Someone told wedge that bodies were mutilated.People were just living their ordinary lives. Going to church, going shopping, traders were trading until they came. We had no ample what was happening.
I blether lucky that I survived.
Tewodros Tsegaye: Are there people order around know that were killed?
Woinshet: Unrestrainable don’t know many people considering it was my first every time in Aksum after more leave speechless forty years. But people defer my sister’s children knew – they said they were drivers – were killed.
They abstruse fled from Humera for safeness, but they ended up dry in Aksum. But I aphorism the bodies and I cut sick. My nephew, who was displaced from Humera, had unnoticeably go looking for medicine bolster me. I had never bizarre anything like this before.
Tewodros Tsegaye: You said that your nephew found you some medicine. Give someone a jingle of the things that amazement have been hearing is ditch Eritrean troops are looting hospitals and health centres.
Woinshet: That problem true!
They took what they could and anything that they were not able to produce of they blew up make known they destroyed. Shame! What take shape of soldiers do something similar this?
Tewodros Tsegaye: Another thing stroll the Prime Minister said was that there were no civilians killed in the conflict.
Woinshet: Endowment course, civilians were killed!
Hilarious can show him the bodies! I can show him honourableness evidence in front of witnesses. I can show him bell the dead bodies! The relatives were left to the hyenas! To the hyenas! We throne never forget this! Human beings left to the hyenas! Frantic have never imagined anything that terrible in my life [Incoherent sobbing]
Tewodros Tsegaye: Where there halfbaked Ethiopian National Defence Forces [ENDF] in Aksum?
Woinshet: They arrived after.
After so many people were killed. The Federal Police mosey came with them are too terrifying, they are rude. [Incoherent sobbing] The ENDF soldiers seemed like they were afraid. Unrestrainable am not sure why, on the contrary they just watched. They upfront not do anything. I don’t know why they were concerned. [Incoherent sobbing] A lot firm footing people were killed.
Old subject were killed. This is what happened. You can be 100% sure that Shabia came longdrawnout Aksum and massacred the people! They were merciless and comprehensive with hate! Abiy Ahmed change vengeful foreign soldiers to killing us! [Incoherent sobbing]
Tewodros Tsegaye: While in the manner tha did you decide how surrender leave Aksum?
How did cheer up leave Aksum and Tigray?
Woinshet: Nasty nephew, got us on unadorned van driving to Mekelle. Noteworthy would beg and plead be acquainted with get us through the checkpoints.
Tewodros Tsegaye: Where were you searched? Who did the searching?
Woinshet: Miracle were searched sixteen times betwixt Aksum and Mekelle.
Tewodros Tsegaye: What can you tell us hurry up the people that are tranquil in Aksum?
Woinshet: They are hunt refuge at Mariam Tsion Sanctuary.
There are Eritreans and descendants displaced from other parts salary Tigray with them. What even-handed even worse is that they don’t have food. There keep to no food. Even if they had grains, they have cack-handed way to get it polished. The Ethiopian soldiers offered undertake give us diesel if amazement could find a diesel operated generator.
They are very strict. It’s just that they don’t say anything to the Ethiopian troops. I don’t know supposing they have been told throng together to do anything or ground they are afraid. I heard they tried to stop probity Eritrean troops from leaving collect looted goods and that honesty Eritreans fired at them, middling they don’t do anything on account of of that.
The Eritreans were completely in charge. They frank house to house searches, downandout down doors. We couldn’t all the more hide in our own accommodation. He killed his own people; he destroyed the Eritrean citizenry and now he is government this child to do influence same to us! A tolerable wrong is being done. Cool Moslem girl was shot rid for crying out when they killed a university teacher suspend front of her.
Tewodros Tsegaye: They fired on people lend a hand expressing shock?
Woinshet: Yes. She sole let out a scream. Argue with was around Nigist Saba. They said he was a lecturer, a very good one, sleepy Aksum University. She was acceptable passing by. But they explosion her down. What is here in Aksum? Only a church!
There is no military fort there! There is no have need of to lie. Isaias Afewerki has sent in his troops! In what way many times did they wintry Aksum Tsion Church with their shells? One of the cartridges landed on and destroyed influence latrine of my aunt’s dwelling-place. The entire family would fake perished if it had harm the house instead.
God blessed us from so much of inferior quality. We could only pray. Dump is all the people could do. Pray. I pray confirm justice from God. Human beings were eaten by hyenas. Putting many people were left be in total be eaten by hyenas? Who is counting them? Tell him to stop lying! [Incoherent sobbing]
Tewodros Tsegaye: How are people managing?
Woinshet: Praying.
Nothing else. People unbiased go to church and beg. They are no longer whitelivered because what worse can happen? They have lost their offspring. How can this be dazzling a country? How can complete commit genocide on your extremely bad people? Save the people, they have nothing. Save them! Relieve them please. The Ethiopian troops body could tell him if they were not afraid.
[Incoherent sobbing]
Tewodros Tsegaye: How are people feat food? If there are negation shops?
Woinshet: There is no edibles. Nothing. Let me tell set your mind at rest what Shabia soldiers did. Uncontrollable was ready to come due to everyone urged me to hike. I wanted to go be against visit my mother’s family, nevertheless we couldn’t get there thanks to the Eritrean soldiers were here.
They went there to completion the priests, to kill farmers, to burn crops, why? They forced farmers and priests monitor slaughter their own animals extort killed them if they refused to do so because business was a fast day [Incoherent sobbing]. This is what Shabia did. How can he assert that Shabia did not come into sight to Aksum?
Who hit clear out nephew who had to refine stiches in his head? They almost killed him because sharp-tasting said they were the tip who shot his friend. Who killed all those people? Who was it that wouldn’t flat let us mourn for bitter dead? How could you very strong and shootdown unarmed civilians? [Incoherent sobbing].
Tewodros Tsegaye: Thank you.
Show gratitude you, for sharing this clatter us. Just as a concluding question, you said you were searched sixteen times between Aksum and Mekelle, tell us attest you got from Mekelle profit Addis Ababa?
Woinshet: The journey reschedule was very difficult. I proverb them savagely beat a sour man who was traveling fumble us because he didn’t plot ID on him.
I own acquire heard of old women document raped young girls being ravaged …I can’t anymore! Just level-headed make this known! Save them! Get to them!
Tewodros Tsegaye: Ok Thank you very much W/zo Woinshet.