A Joint Press Release by Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT), National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) and Tigray Independence Party (TIP) regarding the joint report by EHRC and OHCHR

A joint report was issued last week on “the Joint Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Mission to investigate alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.“
While, the OHCHR general efforts to uphold universal human rights is appreciated; We the undersigned political parties based in Tigray, categorically reject in the strongest terms possible the so called, ’Joint Investigation Report’ by the OHCHR and EHRC on Tigray.

In an open letter written to Mrs. Mitchell Bachlet in March, 2021 we have expressed our concerns regarding the involvement of EHRC in the joint investigation as it has been already proved to be an accomplice to the Genocide committed in Tigray. We received a written response from OHCHR East Africa Regional Office assuring us the comprehensiveness and impartiality of the investigation process. Evidently, that was not the case. The so called , Joint Investigation Report lacks all qualities of a standard, comprehensive, versatile and credible investigation in to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Apart from the highly compromised methodologies implored, the investigation lacks independence and completeness. As the name of the investigation suggests the report tries to equalize the crimes between all the parties to the conflict.

We therefore call for all relevant bodies to disregard the report and the OHCRC to reconsider its attempt to dilute the Genocidal crimes committed against the people of Tigray. The report will only serve to tarnish the good reputation of the organization rather than contribute to uncovering the crimes committed.
As the saying goes, “You can’t look for your lost oxen along with the thief and expect to find it”.

Off note: any investigation, regarding the genocidal war in Tigray, conducted in partnership with EHRC is totally unacceptable – inflicting terrible pain on the people of Tigray.

Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT)
National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona)
Tigray Independence Party (TIP)
8, Nov 2021
Mekelle, Tigray