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Eritrea Respects UNMEE’s Complete Freedom of Movement in the TSZ
On 5 May 2001, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) issued a statement alleging restriction of its freedom of movement by Eritrea, referring to an “incident” on the road from Mendefera to Tserona.
In view of the seriousness of the report, the Commission did not deem it appropriate to respond at the time without fully ascertaining the facts on the ground.
The verification we have conducted, including discussions with senior UNMEE liaison officers, establish that no UNMEE vehicle try to use the said Mendefera to Tserona road on 3 May 2001. Hence, no such incident occurred on that road. Moreover, the said Mendefera to Tserona road is neither the main supply road nor the main access road to the TSZ, as claimed by UNMEE. UNMEE has, in fact, never used the Mendefera to Tserona road to access the TSZ.
The Commission is trying to verify if there were any such incident anywhere outside the Mendefera to Tserona road, particularly as the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) are fully aware that UNMEE is here to help and any problems that may arise are resolved through the normal channels.
There have been several exchanges between UNMEE and the Commission regarding EDF checkpoints outside the TSZ. Indeed, most (80%) of the protests that UNMEE had made were about checkpoints, well outside the TSZ, such as Durco, Tegiren and Kudo Felassi, extending as far as 65 kms from the border. On all these issues, the Commission has maintained that movement outside the TSZ and within restricted military zones requires observance of the necessary procedures, such as notification. Otherwise, UNMEE has no restriction on any supply and access routes throughout the country where it has been granted all the necessary bases, camps and facilities.
Although the Commission has not gone beyond diplomatic representation to UNMEE, there have been several incidents where UNMEE units have moved into military zones in parts of the country very distant from TSZ (Ala, Segeneiti, Abi Adi) without notification and refused to stop at checkpoints. The Commission has treated this as minor incidents. In all these cases, not a single warning shot has been fired.
UNMEE and Eritrea have enjoyed a cordial and cooperative relationship, as Eritrea has allowed UNMEE to have unrestricted movement within the TSZ in accordance with UNMEE’s mandate under the Algiers Peace Agreement. Moreover, Eritrea has always responded positively to UNMEE’s requests for access routes, both by air and land, to and from the TSZ as required by its mission.
Eritrea is committed to guarantee UNMEE’s complete freedom of movement within the TSZ, including access to it through its territory outside the TSZ as UNMEE’s mission requires for the fulfillment of its legitimate mandate. Eritrea will continue to facilitate UNMEE’s passage to and free movement within the TSZ. Correspondingly, Eritrea expects UNMEE to respect Eritrean authority outside the TSZ and respect Eritrean law and regulations.
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Joy and fear as displaced go home
Joy and fear as displaced go home
Visafric May 11
Mixed feelings of joy and anxiety written all over their faces, over five thousand Eritrean civilians displaced by the border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia today began their long awaited journey to their home villages in the Temporary Security Zone.
The returnees, all from Alba camp in the Tsorona area, are overjoyed at being able to finally go home. At the same time, they are afraid of what they'll find upon their return: massive destruction and the threat of landmines.
"Our return is a very symbolic return," says Mrs. Zaida, one of the returnees. "We have been living in caves and camps for the past two years, but now we are going home. We will celebrate our 10th independence anniversary in our own home."
The joy of going home is tempered with the fear of losing loved ones in a land mine accident. The returnees are aware of the danger landmines pose. But without information on where the landmines are, they are afraid of what will happen to them should they accidentally step on the landmines Ethiopia planted in their former homes. Ironically, Ethiopia has signed the international agreement banning landmines. But the Ethiopian government continues to plant landmines in violation of the agreement it signed.
"We know about the mines, but we hope and pray that they find and clear them before we lose our children," says 70 year old Mr. Mohamed expressing the fear that he and all the returnees have.
The villages that the war displaced are going to are inside the TSZ (the buffer zone between Eritrea and Ethiopia) and littered with mine fields.
"We are very much concerned regarding the safety of these people. There are still mines. People are still getting killed', says one Eritrean official. "Ethiopia has not yet given the mine fields map to the UN. If they do not tell them where they have planted the mines then we will have a lot of accidents and mine related deaths", he warns.
"The further you go inside the TSZ, the more villages you find with significant mine problems" says Mr. William Lawrence, Chief Operations Officer with Mine Action Coordination Centre. "Even with all the information we have on the mine fields, we are a long way from knowing 100 percent where all the mines are and where the most dangerous areas are," he adds.
Mr Lawrence says people should be very cautious about their movements within the TSZ. He adds that people are being injured or killed by landmines on a regular bases. "The war displaced people should only move to places where UNHCR and the government recommend they move to".
The advise is well and good, but the returnees have nowhere to go but to their villages. The returnees say the Ethiopians should be pressed into handing over information on where they planted landmines to expedite the clearing of landmines.
"People will be moving to and back in the TSZ. This is the place where they farm and live," explains an Eritrean official. "Our worry and concern is more people will be injured and even killed".
Today's returnees come from 13 villages in the security zone. The process of returning all the displaced to their home villages is expected to take five to six days. |
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UReligious Leaders to Be Helped By UN Mission
UN Integrated Regional Information Network (Nairobi)
May 11, 2001
Posted to the web May 11, 2001
Religious leaders from Ethiopia and Eritrea will be meeting community leaders and affected civilians in some of the towns near the disputed border from 19 to 21 May. The deputy spokeswoman for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Angela Walker, told IRIN that UNMEE would be assisting the meeting of church leaders by providing security and logistical support. She said about 50 people would be participating in the planned mission, which would start in Adigrat, Ethiopia, and move to Adi Keyih in Eritrea, Zela Ambesa (14.31N 39.23E) on the disputed border, and finish in Senafe, Eritrea. "We consider it a positive sign and a confidence building measure. It is a positive step in the peace-building process," she said.
Religious leaders from both countries decided on the peace mission after meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. "The healing process has to start now, the hostility and hatred that the war brought has to stop. We have to look into the future - a peaceful future," the Reverend Zerit Yohanes, the secretary of the Eritrean delegation, was quoted as saying.
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Horn buffer zone formally established
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This is one of my favorite images
This is my good friend Hal. I took this picture on his birthday. I think he likes to be in pictures. |
This is one of my favorite images
This is my good friend Hal. I took this picture on his birthday. I think he likes to be in pictures. |
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