CRY FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
IN THE IROBLAND 
From Irob-Descendants In Northern America
20 June 2002 

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY COMMISSION 
Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, CBE QC, President  
H.E. Prince Bola Adesumbo Ajibola 
Professor W. Michael Reisman  
Judge Stephen M. Schwebel 
Sir Arthur Watts, KCMG QC
Permanent Court of Arbitration 
Peace Palace 
2517 KJ, The Hague, The Netherlands
Dear Mr. President and Members of the Commission:

Re: An Urgent Appeal To Rectify The Boundary Decision Of 13 April 2002 That Is Detrimental To Irobland And Its People  

We, the Irob descendants residing in the Northern America, on behalf of the Irob people in the Irob wereda (region), Northeastern Ethiopia, and the Irobs in the Diaspora, urge the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the State of Eritrea to urgently consider this appeal. We urge the two parties, Ethiopia and Eritrea, to immediately begin the process of healing. We further urge the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the European Union, and the United States to facilitate this process. Demarcation without reconciliation will not bring the badly needed peace between the two peoples. 

One people, a distinct ethnic minority, who have been Ethiopian citizens for hundreds of years and who have a strong and passionate attachment to their land, have been divided into two nations in the name of political compromise. Despite the Irob people’s repeated requests and pleas, in one stroke of a pen, on 13 April 2002, the people of Irob and Irobland were cut into two.  

In the weeks and months following the Boundary Commission's decision, our citizens in Irob wereda, as well as those in the neighboring wereda of Gulomekheda, have witnessed increased international presence in that section. What an irony! Despite the Irob people’s repeated requests and pleas, as far as we are aware, the members of the Boundary Commission did not even visit Irobland and its surrounding areas prior to their decision to split the citizens into two!

As a matter of fact, the Commission has awarded Eritrea the following Irob villages and hamlets which have always been Ethiopian sovereign territories:

  1. Villages and hamlets in the Western region: Agarali-Boho, Dire, Ingal, Kora, Kulolmishela, Tinkeito, etc.
  2. Villages and hamlets in the Northern region: Aburta, Adagena, Ado-Nago Aftih, Angara, Awda Ayeeha, Dalawot, Denay, Engurale, Gabihar, Gafanat, Hahayti, Haidle, Hambokale, Herra, Kafna, Maichia, Makata, Miblahakale, Mugullay, Sabatit, Serecle, Yunga, etc.

We need not list the countless wars that have erupted and the bloodshed that has ensued in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and other sub-continents as a result of one group of people divided by international borders. History has shown us that this phenomenon brings bitterness between nations, which ultimately results in drawn-out wars that not only bring death and suffering to millions of people, but also threaten regional peace. We appeal to all the relevant parties to prevent this from occurring in the Horn of Africa. Irobland should not be the land that brings about this havoc.

How can this error be rectified? 

  1. As a guiding principle, we believe it is human to make mistakes. However, the greatness of humanity is judged by its willingness to recognize its mistakes and to correct them.
  1. Accordingly, the members of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission need to comprehend the grave error that they committed and may therefore rectify their ruling at time of demarcation. We hope that the members, will, at the very least, visit the villages and consult the people on whose destiny they will decide. The members must assure - without taking into account whether this would result in “victory” or “loss” to the governments of Ethiopia or Eritrea - that the people of Irob continue to inhabit their sacred native-land. We urge the Commission to reexamine and rectify the ruling that would fragment the Irob minority.
  1. The governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea must be ready and willing to undo the frightening decision of 13 April 2002. After all, only they know the disastrous effect of war on their innocent citizens who were recently victims of a bloody war. While the Boundary Commission’s work during the demarcation phase is extremely crucial in finding a solution to this tragedy in making, only the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea have the power to rectify the decision of 13 April 2002. We should not forget that in a few years, there will not be an Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission to speak of. Only the two nations and their peoples will remain. We appeal for cool heads to prevail in both governments. We ask that the leaders in both governments see beyond the rancor and bitterness that they have towards each other. We implore that they have the foresight to predict where the current process is heading and to care for the peoples that they lead. In so doing, we urge them to avoid war at all cost. Nothing in our appeal is a call for saber-rattling by either of the two governments or other interest groups. Our call is one prompted by love, justice, and peace for the innocent people of Irob and others in the border areas.
  1. We respectfully request that the UN, OAU, EU, and the USA assist the two countries in reaching a lasting resolution to the burning issue of Irobland. We ask that they become proactive peacemakers by making their good offices available to the two nations. We urge the United States to use its power to facilitate this negotiation because we are convinced that tension in the Horn of Africa is anathema to its declared national security interests.
  1. We are prepared to meet with any of the parties to discuss these issues and to assist in providing necessary information regarding Irobland.
FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE DEMARCATION OF THE BOUDARY SHOULD NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE COMMISSION, THE GOVERNMENTS OF ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA, AND ALSO, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE ONLY EXISTING SUPER POWER, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ADDRESS AND RECTIFY THE ISSUES OF OUR APPEAL IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT DELAY. 

We, the Irob-descendants in North America, hereby collectively place our names, cities and countries of residence, as well as our telephone numbers (in lieu of our signatures) in support of the above petition. 

  1. Abba Tesfamariam Baraki, Rev.  Washington, DC USA 
  2. Abby Hagos    Dallas, TX  USA 
  3. Abeba Lemlem    Columbus, OH USA 
  4. Abeba Sebhat    Arlington, VA  USA 
  5. Abraha Fessuh    Alexandria, VA USA 
  6. Abraha Hailu    Gahanna, OH  USA 
  7. Abraha Tesfay    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  8. Abrehet Welde    Silver Spring, MD USA 

  9. Absady Hailesellasie   Seattle, WA  USA 

  10. Akberet Gebray    Indianapolis, IN USA 

  11. Akeza Beyene    Denver, CO  USA 

  12. Almaz Abebe    Dallas, TX  USA 

  13. Almaz Hailesellasie   Vancouver, BC CA 

  14. Amleset Hagos    Columbus, OH USA 

  15. Aregay Gebremariam   Silver Spring, MD USA 

  16. Asfaha Hailu    Seattle, WA  USA 

  17. Berhane Hawku    Denver, CO  USA 

  18. Berhe Giday    Columbus, OH USA 
  19. Bisrat Birru    Pittsburgh, PA USA 
  20. Daniel A. Negusse    Winnipeg, MB   CA 
  21. Desta Hagos    Columbus, OH USA 
  22. Desta Hawku    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  23. Hailu Woldu, Atlanta, GA, USA
  24. Dori Misghina    Denver, CO  USA 
  25. Edom Hailu    Dallas, TX  USA  
  26. Endrias Hawku    Denver, CO  USA 
  27. Eyasu Sebhat    Arlington, VA  USA 
  28. Ezra Seyoum    Alexandria, VA USA 
  29. Fesseha Hagos    Takoma Park, MD USA 
  30. Fesseha Kahssay    Columbus, OH USA 
  31. Fesseha Mengesha   Arlington, VA  USA 
  32. Gaim Adoumar    Denver, CO  USA   
  33. Gaim Medhin    Takomna Park, MD USA 
  34. Gebrekidan Seyoum   Houston, TX  USA 
  35. Genet Beru    Pittsburgh, PA USA 
  36. Giday Adoumar    Denver, CO  USA 
  37. Gidena Gebray    Gaithersburg, MD USA 
  38. Girmay Kahsay    Columbus, OH USA 
  39. Girmay Tesfagiorgis   Silver Spring, MD USA 
  40. Hagos Gebray    Denver, CO  USA 
  41. Hagos Sebhat    Arlington, VA  USA 
  42. Hagos Weldegiorgis   Silver Spring, MD USA 
  43. Hagos Yohannes    Denver, CO  USA 
  44. Hailemariam Fessuh   Washington, DC USA  
  45. Hamere Seyoum    Blue Bell, PA  USA 
  46. Hanna Tesfat    Denver, CO  USA 
  47. Helmon Gebremichael   Columbus, OH USA 
  48. Hibret Girmay    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  49. Hirut Hagos    Denver, CO  USA 
  50. Hiwet Tesfamariam   New York, NY  USA 
  51. Isayas Gebray    Houston, TX  USA 
  52. Kassech Debessay    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  53. Kebede Gebray    Houston, TX  USA 
  54. Kidane Teklehaimanot   Denver, CO  USA 
  55. Kifle Seyoum    Freemont, CA  USA 
  56. Kihishen Adoumar   Denver, CO  USA 
  57. Lemlem Gebray    Gaithersburg, MD USA 
  58. Letteberhan Giday   Arlington, VA  USA 
  59. Lettemariam Tesfat   Washington, DC USA 
  60. Letteselasie Giday    Rockville, MD  USA 
  61. Lula Gethers    Gahanna, OH  USA 
  62. Maezu Lemlem    Gahanna, OH  USA 
  63. Markos Seyoum    Blue Bell, PA  USA 
  64. Mebrahtu Teklehaimanot   Denver, CO  USA  
  65. Mekria Membere    Houston, TX  USA 
  66. Mesfin Hailesellasie   Denver, CO  USA 
  67. Membere Gebray    Houston, TX  USA  
  68. Mesgina Kahssay    Columbus, OH USA 
  69. Mesgina Tesfat    Indianapolis, IN USA 
  70. Metasebia Woldemariam, Ph.D.  Concord, NH  USA 
  71. Mezgebe Gebray    Houston, TX  USA 
  72. Micahel Hagos    Dallas, TX  USA 
  73. Michael Danne, M.D.   Columbus, HO USA 
  74. Mikre-Michael Ayele, J.D.  Arlington, VA  USA 
  75. Mulugeta Birru, Ph.D.   Pittsburgh, PA USA 
  76. Nazareth Aregay    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  77. Negga Ayele    Houston, TX  USA 
  78. Negisti Fessuh    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  79. Neguse Hailu    Denver, CO  USA 
  80. Netsanet Bessrat    Alexandria, VA USA 
  81. Oqbazgi Meles    Joppa, MD  USA 
  82. Roman Hawku    Denver, CO  USA 
  83. Romeseghed Woldemariam  Washington, DC USA 
  84. Rufael Yohannes    Washington, DC USA 
  85. Ruth Seyoum    Alexandria, VA USA 
  86. Samson Woldemariam, J.D.  Alexandria, VA USA 
  87. Seble Seyoum    Los Angeles, CA USA 
  88. Selam Tesfat    Indianapolis, IN USA 
  89. Selomon Fessuh    Houston, TX  USA 
  90. Selomon Gabriel    Gahanna, OH  USA 
  91. Selomon Medhaniye   Toronto, ON  CA 
  92. Senayet Beyene    Denver, CO  USA 
  93. Seyoum Berhe    Arlington, VA  USA 
  94. Sheweet Yohannes    Washington, DC USA 
  95. Silas Danne    Columbus, OH USA 
  96. Solome Bessrat    Chicago, IL  USA 
  97. Tabotu Sebhat    Arlington, VA  USA 
  98. Tarek Tesemma    Amarello, TX  USA  
  99. Tereza Bessrat    Washington, DC USA 
  100. Tesfagiorgis Hagos   Indianapolis, IN USA 
  101. Tesfa-Lidet Bessrat   Washington, DC USA 
  102. Tesfamariam Weldu   Washington, DC USA 
  103. Tesfay Giday    Columbus, OH USA 
  104. Tesfay Medhin    Denver, CO  USA 
  105. Tewelde Fessuh    Toronto, ON  CA 
  106. Tewodros Yohannes   Arlington, VA   USA 
  107. Tihesh Giday    Toronto, ON  CA 
  108. Tizita Ayele    New York, NY  USA 
  109. Tsedale Hailesellasie   Denver, CO  USA 
  110. Tsegay Beru, J.D.    Pittsburgh, PA USA 
  111. Tsigereda Seyoum    Alexandria, VA USA 
  112. Woldegebriel Medhin   Columbus OH  USA 
  113. Yeshashework Hailu   Gahanna, OH  USA 
  114. Yesheika Gebray    Houston, TX  USA 
  115. Yeshi Gebremeskel   Denver, CO  USA 
  116. Yodit Fitigu    Alexandria, VA USA 
  117. Yohannes hagos    Washington, DC USA 
  118. Yonas Hawku    Denver, CO  USA 
  119. Zekarias Gebray    Denver, CO  USA 
  120. Zemariam Seyoum   Los Angeles, CA USA
  121. Zeramariam Seyoum   Blue Bell, PA  USA 
  122. Zewde Tekle    Silver Spring, MD USA 
  123. Zewdu Beru    Pittsburgh, PA USA  

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