H.E. KOFI ANNAN

SECRETARY GENERAL

UNITED NATIONS

NEW YORK.

RESPECTED SECRETARY GENERAL,

In the name of SOCEPP, a human rights organization established nine years ago, we bring to your attention the massacre perpetrated by the forces of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Gambella. More than 1100 Ethiopians of Anuak origin were massacred by the soldiers and militia of the ruling EPRDF and this fact has been reported by the UN itself, by the OMCT (Geneve), Genocide Watch and other international bodies. Ethiopian human right organizations and political forces have also exposed and denounced the massacre.

Not only does Prime Minister deny that the massacre has taken place but he is trying to reduce the number of casualties and to allege that "armed Anuaks massacred some 200 people" and more would have died had not the "federal security forces intervened to put a halt to the killings". To short circuit the call for an independent inquiry, PM Meles has set up a commission filled by his own loyalists, party members and appointees. The chairman of the commission is none other than the president of the Federal Supreme Court, Kemal Bedri, a leading member of the Harari League political group that is allied with the EPRDF.

Excellency, we have noted with interest the UN investigation into the killing of some 200 or so people in Abidjan in connection with a demonstration called by opposition parties. The Gambella massacre deserves such an action and this is why we call upon your Excellency to set up and send a UN inquiry commission to Gambella without any delay. Many other massacres committed by the EPRDF have passed without any meaningful international condemnation. We are hoping Gambella will not be treated with the usual silence.

Thanking you, we remain,

respectfully yours,

E.Nathaniel

SOCEPP

Berlin