My personal thanks to the patriots who defended the rights of our marines in Yemen
By Getachew Reda (San Jose, California)
April 13, 2004

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Ethiopian former Marines have massively suffered for the last 13 years in Yemen from lack of cooperation by the representatives of the UNHCR in that country. The proud Marines were caged in an ordeal for many years, with no one to turn things around to complain about their discourteous hosts. They have undergone plenty of mind and physical challenges. The host country supposed to be friendly and courteous turned against our Marines. As the result, its unfriendly police spilled the Ethiopian blood in Yemen. A sinful act and very shocking news!

Our Marines never received a well-deserved attention and respect as legal refugees either from the UNHCR or the Yemeni authorities. However, lately, reports of the plight of our Marines spread across the Internet, covered by opposition radios, VOA and others – which has resulted in some positive developments All along, our marines have been saying: “Our demand is justifiable and we are asking Justice to be served,” to use the exact word of Lieutenant Tesfaye NeTere (the spokesperson for the Marines in Sanaa). Indeed, the compatriots were asking to achieve no more than what any refugee in any part of the world would ask - the right to a decent living.

Of course one can argue these folks are not separately mistreated worse than the other Ethiopian refugees who are suffering throughout the Middle east and elsewhere. But the Ethiopian refugees in Sanaa (Yemen) were uniquely exposed to enormous abuse with their families - childen and women included - with the full knowledge of the UNHCR representatives in Sanaa (Yemen), which I suspect is the work and contribution of the Ethiopian regime, and other anti-Ethiopian elements. The Ethiopian Embassy (TPLF/EPRDF Embassy) never raised its voice over our Marines in Sanaa when the Marines and their families were clubbed and loaded onto trucks, and thrown behind bars.

1 - the former marines with their families have been deprived of their fundamental human rights for the last 13 years. This means they had no right to decent living, nor any future as human beings.

2 - their rights to exercise their religion and burial places has been grossly violated.

3 - Their appeal to the local and UNHCR headquarters by the refugee themselves and by us (Ethiopians in the Diaspora) for many years to find a solution to their agony was ignored until their recent peaceful demonstration which ended at its 38 days (days of hunger, cold and illness) in front of the Sanaa (Yemen) UNHCR office led to their arrest.

4 - The Yemeni security police in Sanaa arrested more than 92 men and 79 women mothers with children.

5 - the police used clubs to beat each peaceful demonstrator. There were those left in the state of coma from excessive beatings. One of them was “Tesfaye Bekele” who was beaten severely that he was in a coma, and then thrown into jail.

6 - such inhuman acts against the former Ethiopian Marines by the Yemeni police were carried out reportedly upon the request and approval of the UNHCR representatives in Sanaa. 8 - The UNHCR representative in Sanaa (Yemen) accused our former Marines of being “terrorist”! Such accusation should outrage any decent humanbeing. It is indeed saddening to hear from a representative who should know better. A UNHCR representative who is employed under a United Nation banner and making his living to serve no other than “these Refugees” has clearly used his authority to abuse our people!

Thus, his pleas to the Yemeni security police to arrest the peaceful demonstrators. Now who would be responsible for the physical injuries and psychological traumas inflicted upon the defenseless refugees? Time would tell!

Special thanks with admirations!

The Ethiopian Refugees' In Yemen Advocate Group USA and also W/Gelila and Lt. Tesfaye Netere, both members of the refugees in Sanaa!

Using this opportunity, I'd like to thank Mr. Young (a senior UNHCR official from in New York) whom I had a great privilege to talk to years back, and he did help my family to break the red tape of the UNHCR officials here in the US, and the hurdles I faced from some staff members of the American Embassy in “Addis Ababa” in those dark years. If it were not for Mr. Young, my wife would not have lived today due to medical conditions.

Special thanks also to Commander Assefa Seifu, brother Neamin Zeleke, the friends at "Ethiomedia.com", W/o YeharrerWork Gashaw (God Bless you sister!), Captain Alita Sew, Ato Mirchaw Sinishaw from Ethiopiawinet radio (a wonderful patriot!) and also VOA, and all the patriots of EDDN, Ethiocyber (Warka?) and other Internet communities, and many, many zealous patriots everywhere - for putting your relentless effort for the release of our heroes (the former Ethiopian marines) from Yemen prison. That is what Ethiopiawinet is all about!