BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/05/2005

Ethiopians rallied for the fair treatment of the Eight Ethiopian Pilots in Belarus

Ambassador of Belarus and UNHCR Regional Rep in the USA asked for the fair treatment for the Eight Ethiopian Air force Pilots in Belarus .

July 27, 2005

Concerned Ethiopians in Washington DC held a demonstration on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 to ask for a fair treatment for the eight Air force pilots in Belarus in accordance with international conventions. Undeterred by a scorching heat wave , more than two hundred Ethiopians gathered in front of the Belarus Embassy located on 1619 New Hampshire Ave in DC. For over two hours, the demonstrators held placards and chanted slogans which requested the Government of Belarus to respect International refugee Law , to treat the pilots in accordance with international refugee law, respect the Ethiopian Pilot's right to seek asylum, not to endanger the life of the Air force Pilots in Belarus.

During the Demonstration, representatives of the organizers-- Lt. Ayalsew Dessie , Neamin Zeleke , Lt Abera and Senior Technician Aklilu Atnafu from the former Air force Association in Washington DC -- spoke to the second Secretary of the Belarus Embassy about the condition of the pilots and handed him a letter addressed to His Excellency Mikhail Khvostov , the Ambassador of Belarus to the US and Mexico. The petition letter expressed the deep concern of Ethiopians in the Diaspora over the fate the eight Ethiopian Pilots in Belarus and further asks for their fair and proper treatment.

The demonstration attracted media coverage from Radio Free Europe , whose story was transmitted in Byelorussia language. The VOA gave coverage for the demonstration on its Wednesday program transmitted to Ethiopia. Later , the protesters marched towards the UNHCR USA headquarter located on 1775 K street to express their concern about the fate of he eight pilots in Belarus. Representative of the demonstrators went inside the head office and held a discussion with Mr. Kolude Doherty, UNHCR Regional Representative in the USA, who spared few minutes of his time. Mr. Doherty took a letter written on behalf of the pilots and addressed to the UNHCR's High Commissioner.

He also assured the Ethiopians present that their concern will go UNHCR officials at its Geneva head quarter tasked in handling refugee cases in Eastern Europe . He added that the UNHCR will do its utmost and in accordance to its mandate and International conventions with regard to the rights of political refugees.

As well known , the Meles dictatorial regime has very strong economic and military ties with Belarus, worth over hundred million dollars. It is also known that the Meles Regime has been pressuring the Government of Belarus , through its notorious Ambassador in Moscow, for the forceful return of the eight pilots who sought asylum in that country after the massacre of unarmed protesters in Addis Ababa last month. In a sort of prelude towards that end Last Friday, a letter written by the Interior Ministry to the Air Force pilots has made it clear that the Air force pilots do not have a "basis for political asylum" by quoting certain articles of the country's legal system. In the letter of asylum rejection , the Ministry has made it known that the eight pilots have only a month to appeal to Belarus court for a consideration of their asylum case . This measure has caused anxiety and uncertainty of their fate.

Just few weeks ago, the Djibouti government, in total disregard and vi olation of international conventions, deported the two Air force pilots who fled to Djibouti . Confirmed reports have disclosed that the two pilots, Cap Behailu Gebere and Lt. Abiyot Manguday, were severely tortured and unable to walk when they made their first appearance at a military court somewhere in the Air Force Base near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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His Excellency Mikhail Khvostov
Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus
to the United States of America and Mexico
Embassy of Belarus
1619 New Hampshire Avenue, N. W.
Washington, DC 20009

Dear Mr. Ambassador,

We, members of the Ethiopian community in the United States are increasingly concerned about the safety and welfare of the eight Air force pilot trainees in Belarus. These trainees are persons who chose to leave Ethiopia rather than serve under the order of the current Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, who ordered the military to participate in the violent suppression of a political protest, held by unarmed civilians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in June of 2005. After the May 15, 2005 election there was a protest against what Ethiopians saw as a rigged and fraudulent election.

During the protest which started in the first few days of June of 2005 the regime used Special Forces of the military to unleash a bloody massacre which took the lives of more than 40 Ethiopians and ended inflicting light and severe wounds on hundreds of others. Several thousands opposition members and supporters throughout Ethiopia were thrown into prison. It was at this critical and bloody period that the Air force pilots decided to seek asylum instead of being instruments of such a repressive regime. One of the pilots in Belarus has affirmed their reason for seeking asylum when he denounced the massacre of unarmed protesters by the regime's militarily forces. During the same interview with the Voice of America Amharic Service aired to Ethiopia, he further called upon members of the armed forces not to shoot their own people. It is such and other protest actions of the pilot trainees in Belarus which gives them more than enough ground to seek asylum because of profound fear of facing torture and possible execution after a court martial in Ethiopia.

Furthermore, as you may be aware, in violation of the international conventions for the protection of refugees, the government of Djibouti very recently deported similarly situated two Ethiopian airmen who sought asylum in that country in June when they flew their helicopter to Djibouti. The two pilots fled to Djibouti because they refused to be an instrument of the massacre of unarmed protesters by the government forces in June. According to credible and reliable sources, the two Ethiopian Air force pilots who were deported by the Djibouti were tortured and may face execution. Deeply concerned with the fate of the eight airmen in Belarus over the last few weeks, we have contacted the Embassy of Belarus here in Washington D.C. through various means, and have made our concern known to some of your diplomatic staff. We consider Belarus an old friend and ally of the Ethiopian people.

We sincerely hope that as a member of the European Council and also of a member of the international community and signatory of the 1951 United Nations Convention and other instruments of International Law, the government of Belarus will abide by its obligations.

We urge you, Mr. Ambassador, to encourage your government to extend its full cooperation to the UNHCR to resolve this matter in conformity with international refugee law. There is a risk that these pilots/trainees may be returned to Ethiopia against their will. Mr. Ambassador, the Convention prohibits the expulsion or return of a refugee to a country where his or her life or freedom may be threatened for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or holding a particular political opinion.

These pilots who sought protection in your country have a credible fear of returning. The current Ethiopian government has a history of persecuting those civilians and members of the military who refuse to comply with its order of violently suppressing dissent.

We hope that the brotherly respect we have long felt for Belarus and its people as well as our shared respect for international commitments and obligations will lead to a resolution that offers these pilots the safety and protection to which they are entitled due to the grave and life endangering situation they will be facing if they are to return to Ethiopia.

Respectfully,

Members of the Ethiopian Community and Former Members of the Ethiopian Air force in Greater Washington Metro.

July 26, 2005

Source:

http://www.nazret.com/php/uploadnews/search.php?misc=search&subaction=showfull&id=1122494834&archive=&cnshow=news&ucat=3&start_from=&misc=search