Re: Stop Defence cooperation with the genocidal regime in Ethiopia and leverage your government's influence to defend human rights, democracy, and peace.
Dear Prime Minister,
We, as concerned members of the Federation of Amhara Associations in Europe, write to express our profound dismay and distress over the recent defence agreement signed between the United Kingdom and the current genocidal regime in Ethiopia.
It is with heavy hearts that we witness the UK government’s decision to engage in military cooperation with the Abiy government, despite the harrowing atrocities and devastation inflicted by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia.
The war between the Ethiopian regime and the TPLF has resulted in a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented magnitude, claiming an estimated six hundred thousand lives and causing widespread displacement and famine across the country. The impact of this prolonged conflict has reverberated throughout the Amhara region, with devastating consequences for its inhabitants.
The prospect of the UK aligning itself with a regime embroiled in such grievous human rights violations is deeply troubling and raises serious moral and ethical concerns. We fear that the intended military cooperation between the UK and the Abiy government will only serve to further exacerbate the existing tensions in the Horn of Africa, potentially leading to heightened regional instability and the escalation of violent conflicts.
Moreover, the intensified genocidal war waged by the Abiy government against the Amhara people, characterized by indiscriminate drone attacks on civilians, is a distressing reality that demands urgent attention and condemnation.
It is our fervent belief that the UK government, with its esteemed tradition of upholding human rights and promoting democratic values, should refrain from aligning itself with a regime that has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the welfare and rights of its own people. By extending military cooperation to the Abiy government, the UK risks complicity in the perpetuation of grave injustices and human suffering in Ethiopia.
We urge the UK government to reconsider its decision and to instead leverage its influence and diplomatic resources to advocate for peaceful and constructive resolutions to the crises in Ethiopia. By championing the principles of international law, human rights, and humanitarian intervention, the UK can play a pivotal role in fostering lasting peace, stability, and democracy in the region.
It is our sincere hope that the UK government will heed our concerns and take the necessary steps to uphold the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, and global solidarity.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Federation of Amhara Associations in Europe