JIT Proves Wrong Allegations, Counter Allegations by Int`l Media on Refugees in Ethiopia: RRS

Addis Ababa November 5/2021 (ENA) All the allegations and counter allegations by the international media and some actors have been proven wrong by the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report on refugees, according to Refugee and Returnee Service.

It is to be recalled that the joint investigation team (JIT) report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the UN Human Rights Office on human rights violations in Tigray region has been released on Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with ENA Refugee and Returnee Service Director General Tesfahun Gobezay said all the allegations and counter allegations by the international media and some actors have been proven wrong by JIT report.

Ethiopia is cherished for having golden track record of receiving and welcoming those who are in need of asylum, he said.

“We have a long standing history that Ethiopia was the pioneer and front runner in terms of giving asylum for refugees who fled from their home countries due to security problems or violence,” he affirmed

This is well documented throughout Ethiopia’s ancient history starting from the first century A.D until 1951 convention, Tesfahun indicated.

Regarding the recent report of JIT, Gobezay said “We welcome the joint investigation team`s findings and we want to assure that we will continue investigating on some of the most serious allegations or the most serious charges that are described in the report.”

“We also understand that the protection of refugees is our mandate our duty and these refugees came to Ethiopia seeking the protection of this country. So, we want reaffirm our commitment to upholding our responsibility in giving the protection that they need,” he assured.

Citing that the finding is in line with their report he said “We also welcome the report`s findings because they are in line with what we are saying for a longer time. First the report has singlehandedly outlined the perpetrators of the wrong doing on the refugees."

From start to end the finding shows how the Tigryan forces were attacking and shelling the refugee camps and also killing refugees, he said.

Accordingly, the refugees fled the conflict and they were running for humanitarian and security reasons.

Tesfahun stated that this has also been captured in the report but there is also an element of forceful returnees that is mentioned in the report. He said “So, we want to ascertain that we will look into the matter more deeply”.

“We really take our responsibilities seriously, so all the allegations and counter allegations by the international media have been proven wrong by this report and also not only by this report but also by other recent reports issued by human rights watch and Reuters findings,” the Director General pointed out.  

However, he said “we have some issues in the report that should be corrected for example, the refugee figures used in the report is not correct”.

The expressions stated as ‘both parties and the conflict parties’ are misleading as the perpetrator clearly stated in the report, he noted.