The decision of the Boundary
Commission defining the international boundary between Ethiopia and Eritrea
has just been announced on April 13, 2002. It confirms what most Ethiopians
always suspected and knew: the longstanding scheme of Meles to hand over
Ethiopian people and territory to Eritrea
On the basis of this new demarcation vital population
centers, resourceful areas, centers of Ethiopia's civilization have been
cunningly given to Eritrea under the disguise of international treaty. The
boundary demarcation document is the ultimate expression of Meles treason
against the Ethiopian State and people. The Ethiopian people have already
rejected this treaty long before it was announced.
The Meles administration
continues to misinform and mislead the Ethiopian people. His government's
announcement has deceptively kept silent on the area it has handed over to
Eritrea while mentioning areas that have remained within Ethiopia, areas that
left no room for dispute. The areas given to Eritrea are on all fronts,
namely:
A. The Western front i.e. Badme front
B. The Central front i.e. the Agame (Zalambesa -Irob)
front
C. The Eastern front, the entire Red Sea coast
and Afar front, i.e. popularly called Assab front.
For the purpose of this statement however, we will focus on the areas
handed over to Eritrea on the Agame front, the Gulomakeda - Irob districts
whose capitals are Zalambesa and Alitena, respectively. The following is a
partial list of areas that are clearly handed over to Eritrea:
a) Sebeya and
Medereba district: the entire area to the north
of the stream that dissects the two districts is handed over to Eritrea.
These two districts are fertile and densely populated. Moreover theses
are some of the ancient centers of civilization. Sebeya
is associated with the reign and birth of Queen Makeda ,
popularly called Queen Sheba.
b) Arketirke,
the district in which the town of Zalambesa is located: the entire
Arketirke is handed over to Eritrea. The town of Zalambesa is chiseled
to the west, east, and north left out as an isolated wedge while its economic
and population hinterland is surgically removed and handed over to Eritrea.
Further to the north and west of Zalambesa, Tesne the
high plateau that overlooks the Eritrea plains, Matso
and Semaz villages are given to Eritrea. Moreover
other villages as Mikuyam, Gere, Ligat, Hotsa are
also given to Eritrea. Further east on the same line, many
Irob villages as Kareda, Koora, Quolo-Mishela,Gamado,
etc., too have been ceded.
c) Northern
Irob: Most of Idalgeda (Adgadi'are) is given to Eritrea. While the
actual northern border of Idalgeda is close to
Senafe, according to the present demarcation, however, Awda,
Meketa, AdoNago, Hiera are placed within Eritrea amongst other several
localities . These villages are some of the most populated and fertile
areas. Some of the oldest orthodox churches are also located in Idalgeda.
We would like to reiterate that the above listing
of localities handed over to Eritrea on the Agame front is only partial. The
actual area ceded is much larger than what could be read from the map.
In a strange way, thanks to the information included
in the decision, the Meles government has been exposed naked lying to the
Ethiopian people and to the surprised commissioners. On the one hand, it
claimed the areas of Gun Guna, Monoxeito, Tsorena and Fort Cadoma were part of
Ethiopian territories according to the map it presented to the commission but
making a "pleading" statement in writing that these areas belonged
to Eritrea. If any one has still any doubt that this is a government with
best interest and intentions for Ethiopia, they have to read that report again
(See Chapter 4 no. 4.69 and 4.70, page
50).
The Ethiopian people and the inhabitants of the
Zalambesa - Irob region have vehemently rejected the boundary demarcation
treaty from the outset. For Ethiopians, this treaty remains an act of
incomprehensible treason. However, no act of treason will change the
territorial integrity and the citizenship of Ethiopian communities. It is only
a matter of time.
Ad hoc Committee of Zalambesa-Irob Region
Zalambesa_irob@yahoo.com