December 3, 2013For Immediate Release
The Global
Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia (GAFRESA) has
been formed recently in response to the killings, gang rape, torture and
other forms of crimes being committed against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia.
Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia (GAFRESA) has
been formed recently in response to the killings, gang rape, torture and
other forms of crimes being committed against Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia.
GAFRESA
was created at a time when Ethiopians across the globe have been
expressing outrage on such criminality and savage thuggery that has
affected the lives of tens of thousands of Ethiopians who have faced not
only such an appalling and inhuman mistreatment in the hands of Saudi security
forces and criminal vigilantes but also herded en masse in harsh
concentration camps in the scorching desert where food, water and
medical help is deliberately withheld and denied.
forces and criminal vigilantes but also herded en masse in harsh
concentration camps in the scorching desert where food, water and
medical help is deliberately withheld and denied.
Realizing the
fact that more organized and concerted efforts are needed to stop the
crimes and the ensuing humanitarian crisis, GAFRESA has started taking
steps to alleviate the suffering of our compatriots who are facing
horrific physical and mental abuse as well as deaths in the hands of
Saudi security
forces and unruly vigilantes. As a result of the robust response of
Ethiopians around the world, the international community has now been
well-informed of the situation. The Saudi authorities, including the
King, have also been made aware of not only the direct consequences of
committing such egregious crimes against innocent Ethiopians but also
the inevitable backlash that will permanently tarnish the image of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
forces and unruly vigilantes. As a result of the robust response of
Ethiopians around the world, the international community has now been
well-informed of the situation. The Saudi authorities, including the
King, have also been made aware of not only the direct consequences of
committing such egregious crimes against innocent Ethiopians but also
the inevitable backlash that will permanently tarnish the image of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In collaboration with activists and
concerned Ethiopians, GAFRESA has also taken the Ethiopian government to
task for failing to protect the rights, safety and security
of our citizens. It bears full responsibility for willfully or
negligently failing to take the necessary timely steps needed to protect
the victims from such degrading mistreatment, including the death of
several Ethiopians.
of our citizens. It bears full responsibility for willfully or
negligently failing to take the necessary timely steps needed to protect
the victims from such degrading mistreatment, including the death of
several Ethiopians.
Within a few days, GAFRESA has managed to
bring together a number of Ethiopian activists, journalists, scholars
and advocates for the rights of Ethiopians. It has also planned to
expand its base and reach out to all Ethiopians that are eager to work
earnestly to alleviate the suffering victims in Saudi Arabia and
elsewhere.
We have also realized that raising awareness of the
scale and depth of the crisis is not enough. GEFRESA has, therefore,
drawn short, medium, and long-term plans to tackle this daunting and
unfolding humanitarian crisis in the absence of a government that hardly
cares for the rights, safety and security of Ethiopian citizens.
of Ethiopian citizens.
The
founders and members of GAFERSA recently held an emergency meeting to
discuss the changing reality on the ground due to the swift deportations
being executed by the Saudi authorities in collaboration with the
tyrannical TPLF regime as well as creating an accountable and
transparent organizational structure.
The alliance has now formed a
permanent operation center in Washington DC to coordinate efforts more
effectively and efficiently. . Resource mobilization & relief aid,
foreign relation & advocacy, Legal defense, Public relations and
management & financial service units have been organized.
As of this Press Release has reached on the following decisions:
decisions:
1. To send
a delegation to Saudi Arabia and Yemen as soon as possible; for fact
finding and to make arrangements for delivery of immediate relief
assistance;
a delegation to Saudi Arabia and Yemen as soon as possible; for fact
finding and to make arrangements for delivery of immediate relief
assistance;
2. To send emergency aid to the victims via credible international organizations;
3. Calls upon Ethiopian Muslims across the globe to hold special prayers on Friday, December 6, 2013;
4. Calls upon Ethiopian Christians across the world to hold prayers and vigils on Sunday, December 8, 2013;
5.
Calls upon Ethiopians across the globe to hold a one-day hunger strike
or fasting on Tuesday, December 10, 2013( Human Rights Day) The
objective of such a measure is to protest the mistreatment, gang rape,
killings and abuses that our sisters and brothers are facing in faraway
places;
6. Urges religious leaders to lead and unify the
people during this difficult and trying time in Ethiopian history where
our brothers and sisters dispersed around the world have faced great
dangers, heart wrenching abuses, deaths and destruction;
7.
The Alliance also calls upon all Ethiopian community and grassroots
organizers around the world to work in tandem with GAFRESA to help it
fulfill its plans to make its base and leadership as diverse as possible
and mobilize the much needed help to our compatriots;
8.
The Alliance urges Ethiopian-Americans residing in the United States to
contact the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and make them aware of the
Humanitarian Crisis that is befalling Africans in Saudi Arabia;
The Alliance has also launched a website, www.defendethiopians.org , to serve as an information hub and gateway to donate money
to fund the effort. We encourage Ethiopians across the globe to make
donations through the PayPal account for fast, reliable and secure
to fund the effort. We encourage Ethiopians across the globe to make
donations through the PayPal account for fast, reliable and secure
service with global accessibility. In addition, the following bank account has also been set up.
bank account has also been set up.
Bank Name: Chase Bank
Branch Name: Frandor Branch-197
Address: 3118 E. Saginaw St.
: 3118 E. Saginaw St.
Lansing, Michigan 48912
Telephone: 517 351 0229
Fax: 517 351 6390
Account Number: 994431476
Swift Code: CHASUS33
Bank Routing Number: 072000326
For those who want to send a check, please make the check payable to:
Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians and mail to:
c/o ESAT USA
P.O. Box 11261
Alexandria, VA 22312
Contact information:
:
Tel. (877) RING-ETHIOPIA or (877)746 -4384
No comments:
Post a Comment