Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the TPLF signed a ceasefire in Pretoria. Sadly, the humanitarian crisis has not improved. The prime minister has launched a new war in the Amhara region on top of an already raging war in the Oromo region. These two regions account for 61% of the nation's population and 87% of its food production.
Furthermore, in April 2024, Tigrayan forces opened a new war against Amhara forces, leading to the displacement of 50,000 people. TPLF is preparing to start another war on a second front. The international community has humanitarian and geostrategic reasons to intervene. In the past, its interventions have been focused on Tigray. Two factors explain this. First, the TPLF has a robust international public relations campaign, and second, TPLF's digital army terrorizes foreigners who oppose their narratives. The head of the Tigrayan government is on the record stating, “We don’t care (what their nationality is). We will hunt them down.”
Hunt they have done. Some of the hunted are Canadians. Today, two international witnesses are testifying confidentially to avoid the wrath of the digital terror group. TPLF has effectively silenced foreign experts. As a result, its narratives dominate international attention.
There is no question that the people of Tigray have suffered unimaginable atrocities; so have the people of Amhara and Afar. The international community must not become an arbiter of genocide claims and counterclaims. It must learn from Amnesty International.
In 2021, Amnesty International issued what it characterized as compelling evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their report was based on 41 survivors and 20 eyewitnesses. Two weeks later, a senior Amnesty International official admitted the evidence was false. When 61 witnesses repeat the same false story, it's obvious that the story was scripted and asserted to boost TPLF's genocide allegations.
This did not stop the New Lines Institute from referring to the proven false evidence 11 times.
Further, the report extensively used material compiled by TPLF's foreign advocates. Three such advocates were referred to in the genocide report a total of 124 times. Meanwhile, prominent foreign experts with differing views were completely shut out.
The New Lines Institute's report on genocide in Tigray is based on unverified information at best. At worst, it fails to pass the test of impartiality and ethical integrity. In the best of circumstances, its utility does not go beyond making a case for unfettered international investigations.
This committee can have an enormous positive impact on the lives of all Ethiopians by advocating for such investigations of an international investigation by credible and mandated UN agencies.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.