MINORITY RIGHTS PROTECTION IN THE AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE: THE CASE OF THE KEMANT PEOPLE IN NORTH GONDAR BY BELAY SHIBESHI AWOKE GRADUATE PROGRAMS FACULTY OF LAW, ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA JANUARY 2010 www.chilot.me GRADUATE PROGRAMS FACULTY OF LAW, ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY MINORITY RIGHTS PROTECTION IN THE AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE: THE CASE OF THE KEMANT PEOPLE IN NORTH GONDAR BY BELAY SHIBESHI AWOKE APPROVED BY BOARD OF EXAMINERS: _______________________________ _______________________ ADVISOR SIGNATURE/DATE _______________________________ ________________________ EXTERNAL EXAMINER SIGNATURE/DATE _______________________________ ________________________ INTERNAL EXAMINER SIGNATURE/DATE www.chilot.me MINORITY RIGHTS PROTECTION IN THE AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE: THE CASE OF THE KEMANT PEOPLE IN NORTH GONDAR BY BELAY SHIBESHI AWOKE ADVISOR TSEGAYE REGASSA A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAMS OF FACULTY OF LAW, ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF LAWS IN HUMAN RIGHTS (LL. M) ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA JANUARY 2010 www.chilot.me Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to those who have contributed a lot to this piece of work. In the first place , my gratitude goes to my advisor Ato Tsegaye Regassa, not only for his invaluable and constructive comments and suggestions throughout the work, but also for his willingness to be my advisor at a time when he was so busy advising so many students. In addition, he assisted me a lot by giving source materials relevant to the study. I thank him for all! Secondly, Dr. Salah Hammad deserves thanks for his financial contribution for the research, and Ato Getachew Assefa for making such arrangements. I owe a debt to the following persons who helped me by disseminating and collecting the questionnaires, and those who were willing to be interviewed during my field work in Gondar, Lay Armachiho and Chilga: Mersha Mengesha, Tesfahun Mulatu, Nega Gete, Mola Jember, Melkamu Sisay, Wombar Muluneh Mersha, Belay Sisay, Asrat Degif, Endeshaw Bogale, Kefyalem Mammo and Kassie Mengistu. Also, Dr.Misrak Mekonnen and Ato Abebe Arega, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, of the Amhara Regional Council deserve to be thanked for their willingness to be interviewed. Last but not least, I would like to say thank you my classmates Hiruy Wube and Endawoke Tsegaw for their positive comments and suggestions. i www.chilot.me Abstract Table of Contents TOPICS PAGES INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................2 1.3 Research Questions .........................................................................................................4 1.4 Objectives .......................................................................................................................5 1.5 Scope of the Research .....................................................................................................6 1.6 Significance of the study .................................................................................................6 1.7 Methodology ...................................................................................................................7 1.8 Organization of the Chapters ...........................................................................................8 CHAPTER ONE THE KEMANT: A DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH ..........................................9 1. The People ........................................................................................................................9 2. Geography/demography ....................................................................................................9 3. History of the Kemant ......................................................................................................11 4. Language ...........................................................................................................................15 5. Religion .............................................................................................................................16 6. Current situations ..............................................................................................................18 CHAPTER TWO MINORITIES RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND ETHIOPIAN CONSTITUTION ..................................................................................................................... 20 2.1 Types of Minorities and their Rights under International Law........................................20 2.1.1 Definition and Types of Minorities...........................................................................20 2.1.1.1 Definition .........................................................................................................20 2.1.1.2 Types of Minorities under International Human Rights Law.................22 A) Linguistic ...............................................................................................23 B) Religious ................................................................................................24 C) Ethnic/National ......................................................................................25 D) Indigenous .............................................................................................26 2.1.2 Minority Rights and Their Protection Mechanisms .........................................26 2.1.2.1Types of Minority Rights....................................................................26 A) Recognition (existence).....................................................................27 B) Language ..........................................................................................28 C) Religion .............................................................................................29 D) Culture...............................................................................................29 E) Political Participation ........................................................................29 F) Education ..........................................................................................30 2.1.2.2 Minority Rights and Self-Determination ...........................................30 A) Application of Self-Determination to Minority Protection .........30 B) Protection Mechanism of Minorities via Self-Determination ......35 I) Federalism..................................................................................35 ii www.chilot.me II) Autonomy .................................................................................36 III) Political Participation and Representation...............................36 IX) Affirmative Action Measures .................................................37 2.2 Minority Rights Regime in Ethiopia?..............................................................................38 2.2.1 Pre-1991Ethiopia ......................................................................................................39 2.2.2 Post-1991 Ethiopia................................................................................................40 2.2.2.1 The Transitional Government of Ethiopia ....................................................40 2.2.2.2 The FDRE Constitution of 1995...........................................................41 A) Formal Equality ..................................................................................41 B) Substantive Equality ...........................................................................44 CHAPTER THREE THE AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE CONSTITUTION, MINORITY RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF THE KEMANT ............................................46 3.1 The Law and the Practice in the Region ..........................................................................46 3.1.1 Internal Self-determination ......................................................................................46 3.1.1.1 Recognition....................................................................................................47 3.1.1.2 Language/Education ......................................................................................47 3.1.1.3 Religion..........................................................................................................48 3.1.1.4 Autonomy ......................................................................................................48 3.1.1.5 Participation and Representation ...................................................................48 3.1.1.6 Special Measures ...........................................................................................49 3.2 Grounds of Failure of Recognition of the Kemant ........................................................50 3.2.1 Inadequacy of the Law (procedural).......................................................................50 3.2.2 Practical Problems ..................................................................................................52 3.2.2.1 Lack of Political Willingness.........................................................................52 3.2.2.2 Lack of Affirmative Action ...........................................................................57 3.3