Given gaps in approach and methodology, the joint OHCHR and EHRC investigations may not give an accurate picture of rights violations in Tigray.
Tigray Human Rights Forum (THRF), an organization that strives to promote human rights in Tigray and elsewhere, has been closely following developments surrounding the joint investigation by the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into human rights violations allegedly committed in the context of the Tigray war.
In advance, we would like to express our firm belief in the need for an independent, impartial, and credible investigation into all human rights abuses. This particularly holds true in cases of gross rights abuses which, according to various reports, have taken place in Tigray. We further note that such examination is a necessary first step towards holding perpetrators accountable, finding out the truth, laying the groundwork for future peaceful coexistence, and learning from the tragedy.
It is in recognition of this that investigations into human rights abuses need to be conducted in accordance with such important principles as doing no harm, independence, impartiality, transparency, objectivity, confidentiality, integrity, sound standard of proof, and consistency in applying a victim-centered approach, as also contained in the Office’s Guidance and Practice.
Sadly, however, we found that the joint investigation has failed to meet these standards. As a result, we feel that the impending final report of the investigation is unlikely to expose the gravity and depth of violations, ensure appropriate remedy to victims, and hold perpetrators to account. In fact, we are worried that it might be used to vindicate violations committed and further sustain grievances. Below, we identify two points around which we briefly highlight some of the reasons for our conclusions:
1. The involvement of the EHRC in the investigation on equal footing with the OHCHR casts serious doubt on the integrity of the overall investigation and its findings. This emanates from various factors, including the following.
A. There was no good reason, nor a precedent, to involve a national human rights organization in the investigation of such serious violations. We note that it was only due to the insistence of the Ethiopian government that the UN was forced it accept the arrangement. It is imperative in this regard to mention that the Tigray community, including the regional government, has been opposed to the involvement of the EHRC from early on.
B. The Commission does not have the experience in carrying out gross human rights and humanitarian norm violations such as the one at hand. In fact, a study by Amnesty International in 2019 concludes that the Commission is not fit to investigate right abuses unless it is overhauled, which did not happen.
C. The Commission is accountable to the House of People’s Representatives, an organ that designated the TPLF, also a subject of the investigation, a terrorist group. This directly raises questions of independence and impartiality.
D. Many of the reports the Commission released in the past months demonstrates apparent bias favoring the federal government. To mention but few:
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- The Commission presented the well-documented forced expulsion of Tigrayans from west Tigray as a voluntary movement of people to ‘their chosen destinations.’ For this, it cited an administrator who is installed by the Amhara regional government, which is still forcefully annexing the areas, as a source.
- It took the Commission four months to release a report on the well-documented massacre in Axum that Eritrean forces committed. Its report was, in fact, released a day after Prime Minister Abiy acknowledged that Eritrea is involved in the war for the first time, indicating the influence the government wields on the autonomy of the Commission.
- For comparison, the investigation on the Maikadra killings, which the Commission attributed to Tigrayan forces, was conducted and findings were issued within days of its commission. Based almost exclusively on the testimony of Amhara witnesses, the report was extensively used by the federal government to justify and rally support for the war.
- The Commission has also chosen to keep silent in the face of widely repeated massacres and other violations in Tigray, including the ongoing humanitarian blockade. The Commission, in contrast, was rather quick to condemn other, less serious rights violations committed in other places of Ethiopia. While it is important to investigate all forms of human rights violations irrespective of the identity of victims and perpetrators, one-sided reporting of the EHRC further reinforces questions on the impartiality of the investigation process.
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E. Most importantly, EHRC’s Commissioner, Dr. Daniel Bekele, has repeatedly revealed his partisanship in favor of the Ethiopian government in many of his statements. Among others:
- In spite of clear evidence showing otherwise, Dr. Bekele downplayed the scale of violations that took place in Tigray. He would state that “it is comforting to learn that the military operation did not result in as severe consequences as it was originally feared to be.” This was widely promoted by the federal government.
- In relation to the Maikadra investigation mentioned above, Dr. Bekele has accused Tigrayan refugees who fled to Sudan as responsible for the massacre, along similar lines to the statement of the government.
- The Commissioner also spoke highly of the Prime Minister’s administration and believes that there is a strong political will for reform. Such an assessment, we believe, has the power to skew the judgment of the Commissioner and influence the process. The fact that the belief was publicly declared further compromises the appearance of neutrality, which is important in human rights investigations.
- In discussing the gross violations in Tigray, the Commission further emphasized that ‘causalities are anticipated in conflicts.’ Also, the Commissioner, in line with the government narrative, stated that refugee repatriation is underway without any evidence.
2. Equally important, the way the investigation was conducted and a subsequent briefing strengthen our conclusion that the impending report is compromised. In this regard:
A. The terms of reference for the investigation have never been made public. This secrecy, which we feel is rather unprecedented, has enabled the investigation to continue without reasonable scrutiny. This is contrary to the principle of transparency. It has also deprived it of the visibility it deserves. Further, we believe that it has widened the mistrust on the process that many in the Tigrayan community have exhibited all along.
B. According to firsthand witnesses, the EHRC’s officers, interpreters, and supporting staff have insulted, discouraged, and interrogated witnesses during the investigation. The expulsion of Mr. Sonny Onyegbuna in the middle of the investigation process, we believe, also adds to the unwarranted interference that the Ethiopian government exhibited, which we fear may be exhibited in the final report as well.
C. As the High Commissioner confirmed during the enhanced interactive dialogue, the investigation covered a fraction of even the widely reported massacres and other violations in Tigray. Leaving out key massacre sites like the horrific Axum massacre, Edaga Berhe, Mariam Dengelat, Mahbere Dego, Togoga, Tembien, and other sites, we trust, will have a detrimental impact on the overall picture of the investigation. Drawing a conclusion with such little investigation, we feel, is unwarranted. Related to this, we are surprised the investigation has covered places such as Gondar and Bahirdar, which have not been as affected by the war and were not contemplated in the original scope of work.
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D. During the briefing, ‘sudden changes in the security situation and in the conflict dynamics’ was offered as an explanation as to why the investigation was cut short. However, it is not explained why it was not possible for the team to travel to areas under the control of the Government of Tigray after 28 June 2021 to continue its investigations under much more favorable local circumstances. The fact that the investigation was conducted solely in places under the control of the federal government strengthens the continued opposition and suspicion to the investigation by a range of Tigrayan stakeholders.
E. During the same event, a representative of the government of Ethiopia was given the opportunity to present his government’s account of the investigation. On the contrary, no similar possibility was given to a select of victims or representatives of victims. We feel that this goes contrary to a victim-centered investigation and could have the potential to skew the international community’s understanding on the matter.
For the above-mentioned reasons, we believe the investigation process raises more questions than answers when factoring in its overall methodology as well as the impartiality of the process. Given these limitations in approach and methodology, we are concerned that the end outcome of the report could end up ignoring victims and promoting impunity. To effectively address such limitations of far-reaching effect, we strongly recommend an inquiry by independent experts under the auspices of the United Nations. A wrong precedent must not be set by failing to address limitations.
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Main photo: Palais Wilson, headquarters of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland; August 2010; UN
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Tigray Human Rights Forum,
Whoever you are. Don’t worry. The rapes, looting and intentional starvation of Amhara and Afar civilians by the hands of Tigray Defense Force (aka Tigray’s army) that’s already being reported by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International haven’t convinced you. Regardless, you harping on EHRC is moot because the truth can never be hidden. Mind you, these people suffering under Tigray’s army’s invasion don’t even have the extensive network of $ bought contacts and PR firms in the west, the sort TPLF has setup over 30 years through stolen money from these very people. Still the truth came out, and will keep coming out.
Ethiopian people are eager to hear your next release of statement, as the evidence of crimes of Tigray’s military keep mounting up.
No doubt, there are many, many flagrants of human rights violations and crimes commited on both sides at this point and it is even could get worse by the day but I don,t think a partisan outfit of Tigrai Human Rights Forum can be substitut for EHRC as an honest broker and unbaised investigative body either . By the way, I could be mistaken but I never heard of Tigrai Human Rights Forum name over the last 27 years of the TPLF ‘s human rights abuses and reign of terror. It could have been. much helpfull and crédible now and then if there was one.