(Mar 01, 2012, Care2)--More than 1.5 million residents of Ethiopia have begun or will begin relocating away from their ancestral lands in a program called villagization. Ethiopia has a long and controversial history with resettlement, as it was a major element of the Derg’s socialist agricultural policies.
By 1989, Derg’s villagization program had resettled more than 13 million people; international disapproval, degrading security and dwindling of resources caused the program to slow down.
Today, the government has resumed the program, stating that it is voluntary and justifying it by claiming that it’s necessary to centralize infrastructure by having the villages close to roads and available water supplies. Though this sounds like a valiant attempt to supply access to services quickly, research and testimonies from locals say otherwise.
One-way deal
The Oakland Institute’s field research shows that a vast majority of people in the targeted regions do not want to relocate, but have been threatened by local police. As reported by a recent Human Rights Watch report, the forced relocation of residents of Gambella has caused great hardship to tens of thousands — including rape, other violent acts, coercion and intimidation.
Furthermore, there is a disturbing parallel between land being vacated and the land being sold to investors for large-scale commercial agriculture. Despite the government’s claims that this is purely coincidental, Karuturi, one of the largest foreign landholders in Ethiopia, has stated publicly that the Gambella Regional government offered to move the village of Ilea for them.
Luckily, Karuturi chose not to pursue this venture. However, another company, Saudi Star, is now clearing forests that had been used by former residents who were forced to relocate to Pokedi as part of the villagization program. Read more from Care2 »
By 1989, Derg’s villagization program had resettled more than 13 million people; international disapproval, degrading security and dwindling of resources caused the program to slow down.
Today, the government has resumed the program, stating that it is voluntary and justifying it by claiming that it’s necessary to centralize infrastructure by having the villages close to roads and available water supplies. Though this sounds like a valiant attempt to supply access to services quickly, research and testimonies from locals say otherwise.
One-way deal
The Oakland Institute’s field research shows that a vast majority of people in the targeted regions do not want to relocate, but have been threatened by local police. As reported by a recent Human Rights Watch report, the forced relocation of residents of Gambella has caused great hardship to tens of thousands — including rape, other violent acts, coercion and intimidation.
Furthermore, there is a disturbing parallel between land being vacated and the land being sold to investors for large-scale commercial agriculture. Despite the government’s claims that this is purely coincidental, Karuturi, one of the largest foreign landholders in Ethiopia, has stated publicly that the Gambella Regional government offered to move the village of Ilea for them.
Luckily, Karuturi chose not to pursue this venture. However, another company, Saudi Star, is now clearing forests that had been used by former residents who were forced to relocate to Pokedi as part of the villagization program. Read more from Care2 »
No comments:
Post a Comment