GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE – THE ETHIOPIAN CAUSE
H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed
Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Your Excellency,
Subject: Justice for Ethiopia for the War Crimes perpetrated by Italy with the Vatican’s Complicit Support.
The Global Alliance for Justice – The Ethiopian Cause presents its compliments for Your Excellency’s outstanding efforts for the achievement of democracy and respect of human rights in Ethiopia and a peaceful brotherly integrated coexistence throughout the Horn of Africa.
We also admire Your Excellency’s contribution to the strengthening of Ethiopia’s historic achievements including the honor of His Imperial Majesty (HIM) Haile Sellasie I’s role in the establishment of the OAU and African liberation as a whole. Hence, we applaud the forthcoming installation of the commemorative statue for HIM at the headquarters of the African Union.
Taking into account Your Excellency’s admirable successes and the world’s recognition of your progressive and global perspective, we hereby resubmit, most respectfully, our appeal during your recent official visit to Europe. The attempt was made through the Ethiopian embassies in Italy and Switzerland, requesting fervently Your Excellency’s intercession on behalf of the objective of achieving the justice required by Ethiopia. The issue concerns the Fascist Italian war crimes committed with the Vatican’s complicit support. It is our hope that Your Excellency has raised the issues of the Italian Government’s remuneration and restitution required for Ethiopia, and the need for the Vatican’s apology to the Ethiopian people for its complicity with the Fascist Italian war crimes in Ethiopia.
Our appeal relates to Italy’s war crimes on Ethiopia during the 1936-41 poison gas- backed invasion. Our claim is based on the fact that, so far, the Italian Government has not taken the appropriate action to remunerate Ethiopia duly with the restorative justice and due consideration that the country deserves. In fact, the issue has been muted after Italy has provided a mere US$25 million for the construction of the Koka Dam in 1947, and the more recent return of the Aksum obelisk. We are certain that this is completely inadequate for the heinous war crimes committed by the fascist regime.
It should be noted that the Italian Government has decided to remunerate Libya with $5 billion for the massacre of 30,000 people. It should also be noted that the Armenian people are claiming a $3 Trillion remuneration for the one million massacre they suffered by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.
It is well known that in Ethiopia, the Fascist Italians perpetrated the massacre of one million Ethiopians, of whom 30,000 were murdered within only three days i.e. February 19-21, 1937. The murder spree includes 2,000 monks and parishioners, who were executed in cold blood at the Debre Libanos monastery. Moreover, 525,000 homes and 2,000 churches as well as 14
million animals were destroyed. Huge quantities of Ethiopian properties and manuscripts were also looted by the Fascist Italians. Most sadly, Ethiopia’s educated manpower was systematically decimated. Mussolini was determined to conquer Ethiopia “with or without Ethiopians” as suggested by his commander in Ethiopia, Rodolfo Graziani.
To add insult to injury, a mausoleum was recently established to honor the Fascist criminal, Rudolfo Graziani at an Italian town called Affile. It is encouraging to note that an Italian court has adopted a verdict for its removal, although the decision is subject to an appeal.
We should also recall that although the Vatican has apologized to the Jews, the Latin American people and the people of Rwanda and has recognized the Ottoman Empire’s genocide against the Armenian people. It is painful, however, to know that it has yet to apologize to the Ethiopian people. It should also be noted that over 500 historic manuscripts looted from Ethiopia are currently in the custody of the Vatican library.
We would like to bring to Your Excellency’s attention that our Alliance has also previously submitted its letters of appeal to the Italian Government, the Vatican, the European Parliament, the African Union, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Association of Ethiopian Patriots, the Governments of USA and UK, etc. Among the many positive achievements we have, with the assistance of the Almighty, been able to achieve are the commemorations of Yekatit 12 by some 30 cities throughout the world including the one in Rome by Italian supporters, the signing of the petition on our website by 6,400 global
supporters so far calling on the Vatican to apologize to the Ethiopian people, the verdict obtained regarding Rodolfo Graziani by Italian and Ethiopian supporters, enhancing awareness
about the Fascist Italian war crimes with the support of certain media such as VOA, DWelle, ESAT, etc., encouraging responses by the EU Parliament and Cardinal Berhaneyesus, etc.
Our Alliance respectfully submits this appeal to Your Excellency. GAJEC implores Your Excellency to take up the need for justice with the Italian Government as well as the apology required from the Vatican , so that the Ethiopian people finally achieve the remuneration and justice they deserve.
Finally, we thank Your Excellency for your outstanding leadership.
With the assurances of our highest respect.
Respectfully yours
Ermias Sahle Selassie, Prince, Chairman
Dr. Aklilu Habte, Member
Dr. Getatchew Haile, Member
Dr. Girma Abebe, Member
Dr. Astair Mengesha, Member
Dr. Mikael Wossen, Member
Dr. Jon Levy, Member
Dr. Steve Delamarter, Member
Mr. Nicola DeMarco, Member
Kidane Alemayehu, Executive Director
CC:His Holiness Pope Francis I
H.E. Mr. Giuseppe Conte
Prime Minister of Italy
The African Union (AU)
The European Union (EU)
UNESCO
Genocide International
EOTC
Assocn. Of Eth Patriots
International Eth Studies
info@globalallianceforethiopia.org
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