1,000 signatures reached
To: Voice of America Horn Service
Unbalanced Report by VOA Tigrigna Service
On the 2nd of January, 2021 Voice of America Tigrigna radio service gave a big chunk of it’s coverage to spread unfounded and malicious attacks on the people and leadership of Eritrea as well as other Ethiopian ethnic groups. On this segment, Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia who happen to be an apologist of the now eliminated terrorist clique TPLF; was invited by VOA Tigrigna radio without inviting anyone to challenge and expose his lies; neither from Ethiopia nor Eritrea. As Voice of America claims to stand for fair and balanced source of news and it clearly puts on it’s mission statement as; “VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.” Yet the event on the 2nd of January 2021 showed the complete contrary.
Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia was given a platform by Voice of America not only to spread his lies but also mobilize Tigraian youth of Ethiopia and incite violence by fabricating unfounded sources. The fact on the ground and the people in Tigrai, including the new mayor of Mekele (Tigrai region's capital city) have quashed the lies of looting and existence of Eritreans in Tigrai. On January 1st, 2021 VOA Amharic radio program Yonatan Zebdewos presented about the massacre of 'Mai Kadra' by TPLF. The interviewed children clearly spoke about how they are fearing for their lives and left traumatized by the horrible ordeal. But next day on the 2nd of January, VOA Tigrigna service invited Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia and failed to confront him about the crimes and ignored what was broadcasted the previous day. This is a deliberate disregard by VOA Tigrigna service to the crimes of TPLF on the peaceful citizens of Ethiopia.
Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia was given a platform by Voice of America not only to spread his lies but also mobilize Tigraian youth of Ethiopia and incite violence by fabricating unfounded sources. The fact on the ground and the people in Tigrai, including the new mayor of Mekele (Tigrai region's capital city) have quashed the lies of looting and existence of Eritreans in Tigrai. On January 1st, 2021 VOA Amharic radio program Yonatan Zebdewos presented about the massacre of 'Mai Kadra' by TPLF. The interviewed children clearly spoke about how they are fearing for their lives and left traumatized by the horrible ordeal. But next day on the 2nd of January, VOA Tigrigna service invited Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia and failed to confront him about the crimes and ignored what was broadcasted the previous day. This is a deliberate disregard by VOA Tigrigna service to the crimes of TPLF on the peaceful citizens of Ethiopia.
Why is this important?
As Eritrean Americans, we are demanding an apology from VOA Horn of Africa service for spreading hate directed at Eritreans and Ethiopians. Also conduct an independent investigation as to why this amateur mistake was made by VOA a renowned international news broadcaster. The current administrators of Ethiopia, particularly the Tigrai region of Ethiopia should be invited to expose the true situation in Tigrai including Mekele. We are demanding that VOA follows the right guidelines of spreading the factual information in regards to the current situation.
How it will be delivered
Will email the signatures.