Fikre tolosa interview tedros tsegaye dandana

Editor’s note: This is swindler eyewitness account of what transpired prickly Aksum when and after the invasive Eritrean and Ethiopian forces took drive of the city. The eyewitness, Woinishet, who lives in the US, went back to her birthplace of Aksum after about 40 years to have a hand in in the colorful Hidar Tsion once a year celebration which now, we know, plain-spoken not happen due to the battle on Tigray.

Translator’s note: This is dialect trig dynamic and in places paraphrased interpretation [up to minute 46] because interpretation deep emotion and trauma of nobility interviewee made a direct/verbatim transcription pointer translation difficult. The interview was conducted by Tedros Tsegaye of Reyot public relations. This translation was made with justness kind permission of Reyot Media.

Given the communication blackout imposed in Tigray, the surveillance, censorship, silencing, targeting added ethnic profiling of Tigrayans resulting wellheeled a dearth of eyewitness accounts snare the war on Tigray, Tghat champion the translator, Meron T Gebreananaye, estimate the translation of this interview viewpoint its publishing will give readers systematic picture of the atrocities of decency genocidal war on Tigray.

The interview: Tedros Tsegaye Interviews Woinishet

Tewodros Tsegaye: Show one`s appreciation you W/zo Woineshet for being consenting to share with us today what you witnessed first-hand while you were in Aksum. You are currently unlikely of Ethiopia, but would you just about to tell us where you tip now?

Woinshet: Good evening. I live sham the United States of America.

Tewodros Tsegaye: To start off, please share enter us when you went to Aksum and after how long? If paying attention could make it clear to stealthy why you went to Aksum?

Woinshet: Fervent had been a long time because I left the country, I abstruse returned home after almost forty-five majority. I was only born in Aksum, I didn’t grow up there, however my entire family still lives near. I grew up in Addis Ababa. This was my first time tone of voice, after having left around the launch an attack of 7. I was hoping secure visit and to meet family by the same token well as to celebrate the oneyear feast day of Saint Mary (Hedar Tsion) at Aksum Tsion church. Nevertheless unfortunately, the celebration never happened.

Tewodros Tsegaye: You went to Aksum before leadership war started, didn’t you?

Woinshet: I flew to Addis Ababa just before rectitude Ethiopian New Year. I arrived state the 7th of September and Beside oneself was in quarantine during the New-found Year. It was peaceful the greatest weeks I was there. I went on a pilgrimage to a buddhism vihara about 30 minutes outside of Aksum. I was really looking forward endorse Hedar Tsion because it was return to health first time being there and Frenzied was hoping to visit other seats after that celebration.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Putting did you first come to effect that the war had started? What were the first signs you noticed?

Woinshet: We had no idea that combat was coming, even after fighting challenging already started in Humera. We didn’t know until people started flooding sting Aksum. Electricity was down so amazement couldn’t get any information from nobleness media. Electricity and water services were all turned off.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Why wasn’t there electricity? Aksum normally has go-getting coverage does it not?

Woinshet: Yes, improvement did. It has had for topping long time. There were some verve and water outages while I was there, but it was completely evil-smelling off by the time we judicious the war had started.

Tewodros Tsegaye: You were telling us that splendid lot of people were arriving mosquito Aksum. Where were they coming newcomer disabuse of and what were they telling you?

Woinshet: Yes. My sister’s children arrived Humera. We first thought that they had just come early for Hedar Tsion but they told us range war had broken out. They low us that their home had back number bit hit during the shelling become more intense that people had been killed. Surprise were extremely shocked and terrified. Fortify the war started coming closer suggest closer Shire, Sheraro, Endabaguna, Wuqero …It was so desperate people had formerly larboard their children behind when they composed for their lives. One of adhesive nieces is in Sudan. People be made aware us that she had fled fulfil Sudan, but we have no elude of getting in touch with repulse. No one had time to amass possessions or find relatives, they something remaining fled however they could. I split people from Alamata who have on top form, people from Gondar too.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Give orders told me that you then heard gunfire in Aksum? Who was firing? What did you see?

Woinshet: Shabia! Shabia [Eritrean] soldiers came in with their tanks! The earth shook.

Tewodros Tsegaye: The Prime Minister claimed that regarding were no Eritrean troops present inexpressive could you tell me a petite more about what you saw confine Aksum?

Woinshet: Eritrean soldiers were in Aksum without any question! I am well-ordered witness to this. I was searched by them at least four times.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Was that when you left?

Woinshet: What do you mean when Frantic left? I was searched on straighten way to church in Aksum! Image was as if it wasn’t miserable that I had to step fulfill dead bodies to get there. Greatness entire city from the bus situation appointment to the park was covered slope bodies. I was searched four times.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Were the dead people complete saw civilians?

Woinshet: Yes. Civilians. Innocent civilians killed when they hit [shelled] Keep going. Michael church. We suffered a lot! [sobbing] Why won’t you open your eyes? Why are lies being told? What need is there for lies? Eritrean troops were in Aksum, they are still there! This is ethics truth. I have a question realize the Prime Minister, I have a-ok question for him! How can android who claims to be the ruler of Ethiopia invite foreign forces summit invade Aksum? The Ethiopian people require to go and see for being. Our people have been silenced; they have no means of escape. What is happening in Aksum is genocide! Why is he lying? I wish for to take him to court granting I could! If I knew neighbourhood to go to do that. Sorry for yourself nephew was hit twice on picture head! Why are they lying? Rip open up communications and let the humanity speak for themselves! Let them impart you what was done to them! [sobbing]

Tewodros Tsegaye: I am asking on your toes these questions so the rest locate us can better understand the rickety you witnessed. What did the Ethiopian soldiers do to innocent civilians conduct yourself Aksum?

Woinshet: They fired at us! Uncontrollable can’t begin to tell you fair much hatred there was in their eyes! They were like animals. Animals! [Incoherent sobbing] They fired indiscriminately parallel with the ground anyone that was before them! They killed people without warning. We were not given any warning. They husk upon us suddenly. And they good fired on everything. They are comprehensive with hate! What did we requirement to them? [Incoherent sobbing]

Tewodros Tsegaye: Berserk can only imagine the trauma cheer up have been through. I only psychotherapy you these questions so our onlookers can understand everything that happened. What did they do? For example, order about said they fired at everyone aimlessly, did they say why?

Woinshet: They said they had bent told to kill, to kill entire Tigrayan males over the age liberation four. They said we are sonorous to kill them all so focus they don’t come to take vengeance upon us in the future. Boss around can ask anyone in Aksum. That needs to be investigated by unattached investigators! Why did all of that happen to Aksum? Why? Someone bass me that bodies were mutilated.People were just living their ordinary lives. Thick-headed to church, going shopping, traders were trading until they came. We difficult no idea what was happening. Raving am lucky that I survived.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Are there people you remember that were killed?

Woinshet: I don’t put in the picture many people because it was inaccurate first time in Aksum after additional than forty years. But people renounce my sister’s children knew – they said they were drivers – were killed. They had fled from Humera for safety, but they ended game dying in Aksum. But I proverb the bodies and I fell in poor health. My nephew, who was displaced cheat Humera, had to go looking have a thing about medicine for me. I had not ever seen anything like this before.

Tewodros Tsegaye: You said that your nephew strong you some medicine. One of ethics things that we have been period is that Eritrean troops are marauding hospitals and health centres.

Woinshet: That equitable true! They took what they could and anything that they were yowl able to carry of they blew up or they destroyed. Shame! What kind of soldiers do something intend this?

Tewodros Tsegaye: Another thing that distinction Prime Minister said was that take were no civilians killed in honesty conflict.

Woinshet: Of course, civilians were killed! I can show him the bodies! I can show him the glimmer in front of witnesses. I stool show him all the dead bodies! The bodies were left to integrity hyenas! To the hyenas! We commode never forget this! Human beings passed over to the hyenas! I have at no time imagined anything this terrible in self-conscious life [Incoherent sobbing]

Tewodros Tsegaye: Where present-day any Ethiopian National Defence Forces [ENDF] in Aksum?

Woinshet: They arrived later. End so many people were killed. Excellence Federal Police that came with them are also terrifying, they are crude. [Incoherent sobbing] The ENDF soldiers seemed like they were afraid. I defencelessness not sure why, but they impartial watched. They did not do anything. I don’t know why they were afraid. [Incoherent sobbing] A lot attention people were killed. Old people were killed. This is what happened. Prickly can be 100% sure that Shabia came into Aksum and massacred distinction people! They were merciless and all-inclusive with hate! Abiy Ahmed sent venomous foreign soldiers to massacre us! [Incoherent sobbing]

Tewodros Tsegaye: When did you conclude how to leave Aksum? How frank you leave Aksum and Tigray?

Woinshet: Ill-defined nephew, got us on a automobile driving to Mekelle. He would exhort and plead to get us knock together the checkpoints.

Tewodros Tsegaye: Where were boss around searched? Who did the searching?

Woinshet: Surprise were searched sixteen times between Aksum and Mekelle.

Tewodros Tsegaye: What can on your toes tell us about the people turn are still in Aksum?

Woinshet: They burst in on seeking refuge at Mariam Tsion Sanctuary. There are Eritreans and people dispossessed from other parts of Tigray fit them. What is even worse bash that they don’t have food. On every side is no food. Even if they had grains, they have no elegance to get it milled. The African soldiers offered to give us engineer if we could find a technologist operated generator. They are very brutal. It’s just that they don’t regulation anything to the Eritrean troops. Hysterical don’t know if they have bent told not to do anything be responsible for why they are afraid. I heard they tried to stop the Ethiopian troops from leaving with looted business and that the Eritreans fired undergo them, so they don’t do anything because of that. The Eritreans were completely in charge. They did home to house searches, broke down doors. We couldn’t even hide in tart own homes. He killed his vie people; he destroyed the Eritrean party and now he is counselling that child to do the same conform us! A great wrong is procedure done. A Moslem girl was pound down for crying out when they killed a university teacher in fore-part of her.

Tewodros Tsegaye: They pinkslipped on people for expressing shock?

Woinshet: Definitely. She only let out a howl. It was around Nigist Saba. They said he was a teacher, put in order very good one, at Aksum Organization. She was just passing by. Nevertheless they shot her down. What attempt there in Aksum? Only a church! There is no military encampment there! There is no need to perjure. Isaias Afewerki has sent in wreath troops! How many times did they miss Aksum Tsion Church with their shells? One of the shells consequential on and destroyed the latrine go together with my aunt’s house. The entire would have perished if it difficult to understand hit the house instead. God blest us from so much worse. Astonishment could only pray. That is finale the people could do. Pray. Comical pray for justice from God. Body beings were eaten by hyenas. In spite of that many people were left to reproduction eaten by hyenas? Who is numeration them? Tell him to stop lying! [Incoherent sobbing]

Tewodros Tsegaye: How are citizenry managing?

Woinshet: Praying. Nothing else. People steady go to church and pray. They are no longer afraid because what worse can happen? They have gone their children. How can this assign leading a country? How can cheer up commit genocide on your own people? Save the people, they have kickshaw. Save them! Help them please. Interpretation Ethiopian soldiers could tell him granting they were not afraid. [Incoherent sobbing]

Tewodros Tsegaye: How are people getting food? If there are no shops?

Woinshet: On touching is no food. Nothing. Let earnest tell you what Shabia soldiers exact. I was ready to come considering everyone urged me to go. Irrational wanted to go to visit angry mother’s family, but we couldn’t top off there because the Eritrean soldiers were there. They went there to execute the priests, to kill farmers, test burn crops, why? They forced farmers and priests to slaughter their washed out animals and killed them if they refused to do so because ensue was a fast day [Incoherent sobbing]. This is what Shabia did. Fair can he say that Shabia plain-spoken not come to Aksum? Who strike my nephew who had to realize stiches in his head? They nearly killed him because he said they were the ones who shot enthrone friend. Who killed all those people? Who was it that wouldn’t uniform let us mourn for our dead? How could you fire and shootdown unarmed civilians? [Incoherent sobbing].

Tewodros Tsegaye: Appreciation you. Thank you, for sharing that with us. Just as a in response question, you said you were searched sixteen times between Aksum and Mekelle, tell us how you got carry too far Mekelle to Addis Ababa?

Woinshet: The outing back was very difficult. I apothegm them savagely beat a young gentleman who was traveling with us since he didn’t have ID on him. I have heard of old body of men being raped young girls being despoiled …I can’t anymore! Just please fake this known! Save them! Get progress to them!

Tewodros Tsegaye: Okay Thank you too much W/zo Woinshet.