#TigrayGenocide

What is Wrong with You

Wendy W. Blumberg

 

 

 

 

Tigray     of Northern Ethiopia
Ukraine     borders Russia

They have become the background of
My hours
Hours
That seep into my
Days
Hover over my
Nights

What is wrong with
You
Abiy Ahmed
Vladimir Putin

I have deposited you
On the scrolls of
Infamy
That haunt memories

From
Millennium to millennium

Your bombs   your tanks
Your soldiers
Willing to follow your
Commands
To destroy     Life
As every woman  man

And child
Once Lived it

What is wrong
With you
What cancer
Devours the essence of your
Humanity

-April 18, 2022

To the Honorable Ministers of the Hague

Wendy W. Blumberg

I write this letter to reiterate the deep feelings of my previous letter that the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, in his cruel treatment of the innocent men, women, and yes, children of Tigray in Ethiopia should be brought before your tribunal and accused of war crimes. He continues bombing many areas, including Mekelle, the capital of Tigray; he continues blocking access for humanitarian aid so that desperately needed food and medical supplies are unable to get through. It is a genocide, Ministers, that is being committed on the innocent people of Tigray who only chose to remain an independent entity in the northern region of Ethiopia.

Killings, rape, starvation, and repeated bombings. The Hague has the power to bring the instigator of Tigray’s plight before its tribunal and declare him guilty of committing war crimes against the innocent people of Tigray. The world has stood by over many decades as atrocities have been committed on too many innocent people in too many countries. I ask the Hague not to stand by as this situation in Tigray continues on and on. One man could stop it. He chooses not to.

Thank you, Ministers, for your attention.  Wendy Blumberg

 

#Abiy Ahmed is a War Criminal

Wendy W. Blumberg

To the Honorable Ministers of the Hague,

I write this letter to you with deep feelings of distress and anguish over the tragic situation in Tigray, the northern part of Ethiopia. The Prime Minster, Abiy Ahmed, is solely responsible for causing this. Tigray opted to remain independent, which led the Prime Minster to send in troops from Ethiopia and Eritrea. Many people, including children, were killed. Women were raped. There have been mutilations and assassinations. The capital city of Tigray, Mekele, was bombed. Banks have no funds. To be blunt, Ministers, it is as if Tigray itself was raped. Her people are suffering. They are starving. I feel heartsick.

Thirteen years ago, our daughter and son-in-law adopted a one year old baby girl from Ethiopia. She came from Tigray. A number of circumstances led to the discovery of our granddaughter’s birth mother. We have kept in close touch with her. As a result, we receive  first-hand knowledge of the horrific crimes perpetrated by the policies of Abiy Ahmed. It is because of this tragic situation heaped upon a peaceful Tigray that I am asking you to bring Abiy Ahmed before the tribunal of the Hague. He must be charged with war crimes for the utter brutality and misery the innocent people of Tigray are being subjected to. As I write this letter, children of Tigray are dying of starvation.

Thank you for “hearing” me.

Wendy Blumberg

Carlsbad, CA

 

#TigrayGenocide

Wendy W. Blumberg

September 21, 2021

Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield,

This letter is written with great admiration for your many years of outstanding service to our country. Your years of service in our country’s Foreign Service, and many other posts, important and vital ones, make President Biden’s choice of you as our Ambassador to the United States Mission to the United Nations, a brilliant choice. Your experience with so many countries of the world, especially now, with so much unrest, and with the added threat to our global environment from climate change, President Biden’s appointment of you, is especially important in these turbulent times, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.

But this letter also has another purpose. It is being written with a heavy heart, a heart filled with sadness, sadness for the people, the children of Tigray, the north of Ethiopia. Last November 4, 2020, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, started the war that enveloped Tigray. Tigray only wanted to remain independent. Because of this, Tigray’s people were surrounded by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops. Women were raped, people killed. Mekele was bombed. Access for aid—humanitarian help by aid organizations—was blocked. This is genocide, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. The people, the children of Tigray are starving. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. Just two years ago. Tragic.

Thirteen years ago, our daughter and son-in-law adopted a year old baby girl. She was born in the village of Wukro, Tigray. When our beloved granddaughter was six, our daughter started the search for our granddaughter’s birth mother. With the help of several connections across the globe, a young man was found who agreed to help in the search. He was successful. He found our granddaughter’s birth mother and half-sister, seven years older than our granddaughter. Through this happening, our daughter and the young man became close friends. He calls her Mom, she calls him Son. My husband and I are Nana and Papa. My husband and I help our daughter send funds to the young man, his wife, and two adorable young children, a little boy and a little girl. Also, the birth mother and sister. They all have become our African family. There is love and friendship between us.

And so, we are heartsick, worried. Terrified for their safety. And we are turning to you, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, and the United Nations to help the people of Tigray—bring a cease to the genocide. Allow the agencies of Humanitarian Aid to enter the country. Save Tigray.

Thank you, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.

Wendy Blumberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabrielle Tesfaye