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Omna Tigray

18 Feb, 10 tweets, 4 min read

A Genocide starts with words, ostracizing & marginalization.

For centuries, Tigrayans + other ethnic *minorities (*socially, politically + economically) in Ethiopia have endured racism, cultural destruction, political + economic oppression, land grab + state-sponsored violence.

This has happened generationally.

This conflict isn’t merely against a political party — it is against the Tigrayan people. It is collective punishment based off centuries of systemic oppression.

Menelik II strategically gave away northern Tigrayan territories as a bargaining tool to the Italians. He also gave parts of western Tigrayan territories to Begemeder.

Haile Selassie banned modern education after the 1st Woyane rebellion & blocked aid resulting in famines.

The Derg also blocked aid to Tigray during the 1984-85 famine in #Ethiopia, targeting civilians in hopes of eliminating any political opposition from the Tigrinya-speaking population. Around 1.2 million people died in the country.

Tigrayans have held pride in their history and identity that goes back to the Aksum civilization.

However, there have been persistent efforts to degrade Tigrayan identity and history. Anti-Tigrayanism has been veiled in anti-TPLFism over the past 3 decades.

Since unelected PM Abiy Ahmed was appointed, a relentless propaganda campaign was launched against the TPLF, equating them with Tigray and people of Tigray.

Ahmed managed to inflict collective punishment against Tigrayans all over Ethiopia without any pushback.

@flyethiopian

There are reports of widespread ethnic profiling of Tigrayans in positions of power, as many Tigrayans were branded as TPLF members and supporters. For example, several Tigrayan employees at @flyethiopian have been placed on leave.

Racism against Tigrayans has culminated in the ongoing genocide occurring in Tigray, as the region is closed off with numerous reports of war crimes against civilians and a looming famine as hunger is being used as a weapon of war.

Anti-Tigrayan racism must be stopped. The gruesome + brutal deaths of Tigrayans have been encouraged + celebrated by Ethiopian gov officials + civilians in country & abroad. We must acknowledge the existence of racism + speak out against hate speech + racism against Tigrayans.

Listen to Tigrayans, amplify their voices + their platforms, join their movements. Learn more via the resources below.

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More from @OmnaTigray

Omna Tigray

@OmnaTigray

8 Jul

Tigrayan nonprofits and community-based organizations within the global diaspora collectively condemn the Ethiopian federal government's illegitimate temporary ceasefire and framing of this action as a humanitarian gesture.

omnatigray.org/tigrayan-nonpr…

The Ethiopian government's history of deceptiveness, continued use of weaponized starvation, apparent mobilization of fighter jets, and lack of a withdrawal of Amhara and Eritrean forces proves the federal government is still an active threat to Tigray.

Ethiopia is guilty of long denying humanitarian aid to Tigrayans and is now using their forced retreat from the capital under the false pretext of genuine concern for the safety of Tigrayans. This ceasefire is a ploy to save their reputation while regrouping for another attack.

Read 4 tweets

Omna Tigray

@OmnaTigray

7 Jul

@Refugees

For months, we have been raising the alarm on UNHCR’s lack of action in protecting + providing aid for Tigrayan refugees. We’ve heard reports of human trafficking, refugees eating once a day + lack of support for shelter destroyed by flooding. @Refugees

thenewhumanitarian.org/2021/07/07/exc…

@Refugees

“The alleged lack of services [by @Refugees] has left camp residents at risk of trafficking, armed recruitment, and sexual violence, which describes the situation as at a stage where “the safety, security and dignity of refugees is at severe risk, + lives may be lost.”

@Refugees

An aid official described efforts to protect refugees as “really, really, really dire”.

“Faced with homelessness after recent storms, the official said, women, especially single mothers, have resorted to sex work to obtain shelter or earn cash.” @Refugees @endrapeinwar @UN_Women

Read 4 tweets

Omna Tigray

@OmnaTigray

7 Jul

New campaign: #TigrayCantWait

Amidst the communication blackout + genocidal man-made famine, we are calling for:

- Public services to resume
- An end to the mass arrests of Tigrayans across Ethiopia
- Humanitarian aid to be delivered via an air bridge

omnatigray.org/tigraycantwait/

Tigray is currently under siege.

Following the military defeat of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, the Ethiopian federal government is working with Amhara and Eritrean forces to continue waging genocide on Tigrayan civilians in Tigray and across Ethiopia. #TigrayCantWait

Tigrayans in Ethiopia continue to lose their jobs, have their homes raided + face harassment due to their ethnicity.

In areas of Tigray not controlled by TDF, Tigrayans continue to be rounded up + moved to concentration camps in undisclosed locations, or to be massacred.

Read 9 tweets

Omna Tigray

@OmnaTigray

6 Jul

1.4M+ children in Tigray have not been to school for over a year as Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Amhara forces have used educational institutions as a base for military operations.

These forces have also looted books, computers + other resources and destroyed these institutions.

Educational institutions are considered “soft targets” since they are easy to attack and there is the potential for forces to inflict mass casualties.

Targeting children by destroying educational institutions thereby destroys the hope, ambitions + future of an entire community.

Almost 5,000 Tigrayan children have been separated from their parents and are facing challenges in obtaining basic needs such as food, sanitation, shelter, and education.

The Ministry of Education estimates that up to 25% of schools in the region are damaged.

Read 8 tweets

Omna Tigray

@OmnaTigray

29 Jun

In the past 24 hrs, Tigray Defense Forces took back Mekelle + the elected Govt of Tigray has been re-instated. Civilian targeting increases after invading forces face huge losses in the war.

Join us as we call for action to protect the people of Tigray.

omnatigray.org/all-eyes-on-ti…

Civilians are not targets.

The Ethiopian and Eritrean armies, along with Amhara militias have consistently brutally targeted civilians as part of their strategy during the ongoing genocidal war on Tigray. #CiviliansAreNotTargets

Tigrayan civilians are being directly attacked by Ethiopian, Eritrean and Amhara forces via:

- Retaliatory massacres
- Extrajudicial killings
- Indiscriminate shelling
- Weaponized rape
- Murdering aid workers to prevent medical and food support
- Use of illegal chemical weapons

Read 11 tweets

Omna Tigray

@OmnaTigray

28 Jun

Thread: Today, the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) have captured back a number of cities, including Mekelle, the capital city of #Tigray. The elected Government of Tigray has also now been re-instated.

We remain optimistic about a quicker end to this genocidal war, yet also extremely worried about the people of Tigray who continue to be targets after heavy losses by invading forces.

Although the Ethiopian National Defense Forces have retreated back to Addis Ababa, Eritrean and Amhara forces remain in #Tigray and continue to commit human rights violations.

Read 5 tweets

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