Africa-Press – Ethiopia. TPLF fighters willfully killed scores of civilians, systematically committed large scale looting and destruction of public and private properties in towns and rural areas they captured in Amhara region, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission revealed in a report.
The Commission has on Saturday released an investigation report into human rights and international humanitarian law violations committed in areas of South Gondar and North Wollo Zones of Amhara region.
The Commission disclosed that the violations and abuses committed by TPLF fighters in South Gondar and North Wollo zones may amount to war crimes.
The report covers the period between July and August 28, 2021, the commission said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Conducted until September 5, 2021, the investigation mission held 128 interviews and 21 focus group discussions (FGDs) with survivors, victims, local civil administration and security officials, CSOs and humanitarian organizations.
The Commission found that at least 184 civilians had been killed and many suffered physical and psychological injuries as a result of the war.
“TPLF fighters willfully killed scores of civilians in towns and rural areas they captured; systematically committed large scale looting and destruction of public and private properties,” the investigation report uncovered.
TPLF fighters also fired artillery into urban areas; dug trenches in and fired heavy weapons from civilian homes and premises thereby exposing civilians to death, injury it stated.
The Commission also announced that it is undertaking investigation in more conflict affected areas of Amhara and Afar regions as well as underscoring the need for a separate investigation into numerous reports of sexual and gender-based violations in Amhara and Afar regions.
It is to be recalled that the joint investigation team (JIT) report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Office released on human rights violations in Tigray region some ten days ago.
The joint investigation report confirmed the fact that TPLF launched an attack on the Ethiopian National Defense Force and instigated the conflict in the region.
The report documents the harrowing suffering and pain that ordinary Ethiopians have endured since the onset of the conflict.
The findings of JIT report have clearly established the claim of genocide as false and utterly lacking of any factual basis.
The findings also concluded the often-repeated allegation that the Government used hunger as a ‘weapon of war’ is without merit.
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