Debre Abbay massacre
Coordinates: 13°49′15″N 38°07′31″E / 13.820816°N 38.125371°E
| Debre Abbay massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Tigray War | |
 Engifa elementary school near the massacre site | |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 502: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/Tigray Region" does not exist. Location of Debre Abbay in Tigray Region | |
| Location | Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Date | Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Target | Tigrayans |
Attack type | |
| Deaths | 40[1] to 200 civilians[2] |
| Perpetrators |  Ethiopian National Defence Force |
The Debre Abbay massacre was a mass extrajudicial killing that took place in Debre Abbay in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia during the Tigray War,[3][1] around 5–6 January 2021.[3][4][5] Part of the massacre was filmed in the village of May Harmaz (Tigrinya: ማይ ሃርማዝ) that belongs to tabiya Debre Abbay, woreda Tsimbla, Northwestern zone of Tigray. Later on, the killing spree affected also other villages of the tabiya.[6]
Massacre[edit]
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) killed dozens of civilians in Debre Abbay on 5–6 January 2021. A film of the victims, apparently made by a member of the perpetrators' group, and described by Tghat on 8 February as "extremely graphic", emerged on online social media in early February 2021,[7] showing 24 of the killed persons.[3] TGhat dated the event based on earlier reports.[5] The Telegraph later obtained a longer, four-minute version of the film, geolocated the event to Debre Abbay, and judged the film to be authentic.[1]
The soldiers laugh and joke as they wander around the dead bodies.[1]
The film showed a man lying on the ground who had apparently survived by feigning death. The cameraman making the film reacted by stating, "You should have finished off the survivors".[3][1]
In line with historical studies of massacres, including those committed during the Armenian genocide,[8][9] a massacre can be defined as a conflict incident in which at least five unarmed civilians were killed on the same day at the same location.
Typical massacres committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in the Tigray war are (1) revenge when they lose a battle; (2) to terrorise and extract information about whereabouts of TPLF leaders; (3) murder of suspected family members of TDF fighters;[10] and (4) terrorising the Tigray society as a whole such as in case of mass killings in churches.[11]
Perpetrators[edit]
The Telegraph interpreted the identity of the cameraman as an Ethiopian, speaking Amharic, with a southern or western accent.[1] Detailed photographs of the perpetrators emerged in May 2021.[12]
Victims[edit]
The Telegraph counted 40 civilian victims in the filmed part of the massacre, in the village of May Harmaz.[1] The “Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation” mentions 80 [4] to 200 victims,[2] of which 59 have been identified:[6] Victims include men of all age, shepherds, priests, goldsmith, farmers, Amhara immigrants who had integrated with the society, school director, and many farmers.
Victims in Debre Abay[edit]
- Alene Desta Takele (45)
- Aron TikuE (40)
- Birhanu (45)
- Desta Tajebe
- Eshete Mebrahtom (28)
- Girmay Alemseged (38)
- Hagos Goitom Hadis (10)
- Hiluf Birhane Seyoum (41)
- Maryihun Lijalem
- Priest Nigus Mesele Gezu (65)
- Tsegay Desta Takele (36)
Victim in Debre Abay, Adi Mezgebo[edit]
- Amare Mekonen Berhe (37)
Victim in Debre Abay, Etan Zere (ዕጣን ዘረ)[edit]
- Abrahaley Meles Kidane (35)
Victims in Debre Abay, Geza Dirar[edit]
- Dejen Hadis Gebrekidan (28)
- Gebreeyesus Gebrekidan Engida (67)
- Mebrahtom Milaw
- Meles Yemane
- Meresa Leul
- Murutsey Mebrahtom Tessema (28)
- Teklay Birhane
Victims in Debre Abay, Hiza’iti[edit]
- Alemneh Weldu (33)
- Tekle Weldu (36)
Victims in Debre Abay, Mai Harmaz[edit]
- Abraha Negasi Bahta (28)
- Aregih Gidey Mihrey (45)
- Atakilti Belete Welday (32)
- Awetehey Guush (29)
- Awetehey Measho (30)
- Ayalneh Mulaw Nigus (51)
- Berhe Mohammed Niguse (26)
- Berihu Abera (25)
- Berihu Kebede Amare (25)
- Daniel Tsegay Gidey (30)
- Gebre Belete Weldaly (35)
- Gebreleul Haile (32)
- Girmay (29)
- Gobezay (30)
- Hadush Mircha Gebrekidan (45)
- Kifle Haileselassie (24)
- Legesse Fikadu Abera (42)
- Lema Tsehaye (36)
- Maryihun (22)
- Measho Alemayo (41)
- Mebrahtom (26)
- Mebrahtom (25)
- Mebrahtom Tikabo (52)
- Milaw Birhane (48)
- Mulade Gebrehaweria (29)
- Muley Zemicheal (40)
- Munaye Tadesse Gebremichael (32)
- Teklay Hailu Gebretsadik (38)
- Tesfaayney Gizachew Wuneh (38)
- Tsaeday (27)
- Zenebe Legesse Meles (41)
Victims in Debre Abay, Mai Kuhli[edit]
- Guush Birhane (16)
- Tadele Measho (35)
Victims in Debre Abay, Segalu[edit]
- Asmamaw Abate (52)
- Yeshineh Adisu (70)
Victims in Debre Abay, Tabia Mizan[edit]
- Hadush Abuhey Wuneh (30)
- Milalem Gebremedhin Kidane (43)
Reactions[edit]
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission stated that it was studying the shorter version of the film and that it had "a team on the ground and [would] investigate the incident" if it judged the film to be authentic.[1] After months of denial by the Ethiopian authorities that massacres occurred in Tigray, a joint investigation by OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has been announced in March 2021.[13]
As of 19 February 2021[update], the press secretary of prime minister Abiy Ahmed had made no statement in response to enquiries by The Telegraph.[1]
The Ethiopian ambassador in London Teferi Melesse Desta said that the video of the Debre Abbay massacre had “been taken out of context” and that the Ethiopian Army “does the maximum to avoid civilian casualties and to protect citizens”.[14]
The “Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation”,[4] that documented this massacre received international media attention, particularly with regard its Annex A, that lists the massacres.[11][15][16][17]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Zelalem, Zecharias (2021-02-19). "'You should have finished off the survivors': Ethiopian army implicated in brutal war crime video". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-02-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Annys, S., Vanden Bempt, T., Negash, E., De Sloover, L., Ghekiere, R., Haegeman, K., Temmerman, D., Nyssen, J., 2021. Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation, version 2.1. Ghent (Belgium): Ghent University, Department of Geography Archived 2021-10-13 at Archive.today
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "A graphic footage of the Debre Abay massacre: What do we know about it?". Tghat. 2021-02-08. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-02-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Annys, S., Vanden Bempt, T., Negash, E., De Sloover, L., Nyssen, J., 2021. Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Massacres in Bora Selewa and Debre Abay". Tghat. 2021-01-12. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-02-09. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 TGHAT, A compilation of the verified list of civilian victims from different sources
- ↑ "Ethiopia Map". Nitter. 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
- ↑ Levene, Mark; Roberts, Penny (January 1, 1999). The Massacre in History. Berghahn Books. p. 90. ISBN 978-1-57181-934-5. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) Search this book on
- ↑ Melson, Robert (July 1982). "Theoretical Inquiry into the Armenian Massacres of 1894–1896". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 24 (3): 482–3. doi:10.1017/s0010417500010100.
- ↑ Tigray Defence Forces, a military structure that came into existence during the Tigray War, consisting of a merger of Special Forces of the Tigray Regional Government, defected soldiers of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, local militia, members of Tigrayan political parties (TPLF, National Congress of Great Tigray, Salsay Weyane Tigray, Tigray Independence Party, ...) and numerous youth who fled to the mountains.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The World radio (2 April 2021): Counting the victims in Tigray
- ↑ TGHAT, 12 May 2021 Killing for Pleasure: What the Phone of an Ethiopian Soldier in Tigray Reveals (Warning: Extremely Graphic Images)
- ↑ France24, 18 March 2021: UN rights chief agrees to joint Tigray probe
- ↑ France24, 10 March 2021: Ethiopia: video of Tigray massacre lifts lid on 'war without photos'
- ↑ EuroNews, 2 April 2021 – See film embedded in the news item: G7 'seriously concerned' about human rights violations in Ethiopia's Tigray region
- ↑ CBC, 2 April 2021: As It Happens: The Friday Edition (from 28:00 to 35:30) Tigray, Ethiopia Massacre
- ↑ The Guardian, 2 April 2021: Ethiopia: 1,900 people killed in massacres in Tigray identified
External links[edit]
- Twitter: author @tvbempt; hashtags #NeverForget #SayTheirNames #DebreAbay or #MaiHarmaz
- World Peace Foundation: Starving Tigray
- Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation
- TGHAT: A compilation of the verified list of civilian victims from different sources – search for Debre Abay (with one letter “b”)
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