ON july 1, 2004, from 4:34-4:41 pm National Public Radio nationally aired a focused feature on the situation in Southwestern Ethiopia, the Gambella region, where the indigenous Anuak people have been under attack by the government of Ethiopia troops since (recent violence) December 13, 2003. The reporter was Megan Williams, and she traveled to Ethiopia and the report included statemenst from people in Gambella.

As you might recall, I traveled to southeastern Sudan in January to interview Anuak survivors and refugees fleeing acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed by government troops Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Defense Forces (EPRDF) and colluding "highlander" militias.

The facts of the report I produced for Genocide Watch and Survivor's Rights International -- "TODAY IS THE DAY OF KILLING ANUAKS" -- have been verified by others.

Today's NPR report focused public attention on the Anuak (victims) people as killers, murderers, bandits and "tribal" people who once "went naked and ate rats." It is complete nonsense, and instead of calling the Ethiopian government and the EPRDF (military) to account for the murder of over 1100 Anuak men, women and children, and teh rape of hundreds of Anuak women and girls, and the forced displacement of some 8000 (minimum) refugees into Sudan, the NPR story suggests that the Ethiopian government has taken the legitimate steps it needs to take to deal with the Anuak "problem." There is no mistaking the focus, and what isn't said outright is inferred by innuendo and suggestion; this is not a story produced out of ignorance, but out of malicious intent to disinform.

Further, it seems that the reporter had contacted Anuak reporesenttives previously, and was privy to the relevant information needed to insure a balanced, informative and truthful story. It was a solid follow-on to the previous nonsense produced by the New York Times.

This is a flagrant example of the propaganda intent of National Public Radio.

keith harmon snow