Government Neglect and the Rights of Citizens:

The HVA Case at the United Nations

[Editors Note:  At the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations� Human Rights Commission Sixtieth Session, the Ethiopian Government was contacted to respond on the issue of pollution and the effect of chemical residue (florid) affecting Ethiopians at [Wonji, Metehara] sugar processing plants. It is the responsibility of the current Ethiopian Government to preserve and promote the wellness of its citizens. Rather than spending tremendous resources in hosting international conferences and building airports and buying expensive cars et cetera the Government of Meles Zenawi should have concentrated on such serious matters that had affected the lives of tens of thousands of Ethiopians. It is a shame that such government leaders, as well as opposition leaders are fighting tooth and nail on political power matter and hardly ever mention the far more horrendous hardship in the day-to-day lives of most Ethiopians. The Report of the Human Rights Commission was brought to our attention by W/o Almaz Mequanint.]

The excerpt below is taken from the Report submitted by the Special Reporter, Fatima-Zohra Ouhach-Vesely at the Commission on Human Rights, Sixtieth Session. The problem of chemical pollution in Ethiopia [Wonji and Metehara] started with the concession awarded to a joint effort with HVA International during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. The Military Government of Mengistu Hailemariam inherited the problem with its nationalization policy. The EPRDF as the successor government in turn inherited the same problem. None of the Ethiopian governments has addressed the problem of health and fair compensation to the victims of such devastation of health and broken lives. We call upon the Government of Meles Zenawi for full accounting on this issue. 

Economic and Social Council [General Distribution]

E/CN.4/2004/46/Add.1

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41. Case 2004/78 - Netherlands/Ethiopia: The Special Reporter received a communication alleging industrial pollution caused by the sugar industry in the Wonji, Wonji/Shoa and Metahara areas in Ethiopia, which were established by the Dutch-owned

company HVA International in 1954, 1960 and 1968 respectively. HVA International terminated its activities in the area in 1974-1975. According to the information received, the communities - which were reportedly poor and underdeveloped - were allegedly exposed to toxins emitted from the factories. The drinking water in the area was heavily polluted by the hazardous wastes generated from the discharge by the factory and by excess fluoride, and the air was polluted from the smoke and dust coming out of the factory. The affected communities are allegedly still suffering the consequences. It is furthermore alleged that two defluoridation plants were installed in the factory village where the Dutch families lived. In another report referred to the Special Reporter about defluoridation programmes of drinking water supplies, alleges that HVA International, who were running the three sugar factories in Wonji, Wonji/Shoa and Metehara, was withholding information since 1957 about the excess concentration of fluoride in the drinking water.

42. Letters were addressed to the Governments of the Netherlands and Ethiopia concerning these allegations. The Government of the Netherlands replied to the Special Reporter by forwarding copies of correspondence between HVA and an individual alleging violations in the nature described above. In the correspondence HVA states inter alia that the current company, HVA International NV, has no juridical link with the former HVA and its interests in Ethiopia and responds to the author out of a possible moral obligation, as it may be the only party that might give some answers to the questions raised. During the time of nationalization by the then Ethiopian Government in 1975/1976 the Ethiopian Government claimed a large amount as compensation for the fluoride problem and at the same time accepted responsibility for all future claims. When the effects of fluoride became known in the 1970s HVA instantly took measures by creating separate water distribution points where special bone-filters were used to produce low-fluoride water. Everybody, without exception, could collect water and information was widely spread around the estate. The whole fluoride matter was taken extremely seriously, as HVA had always taken great care in securing the health of all employees of these estates. Except for the consequences of fluoride, no other illnesses of a serious nature are known.

Furthermore HVA disputes the allegation that white and black people were segregated. To minimize the dust problem proper roads were constructed using molasses. The air pollution from sugar factories is very limited compared to other industries like steel, chemicals, etc. Anti-pollution measures were taken as was common practice and valid for Western European plants in those days. Again no sign of serious illnesses as a result of pollution from smoke or dust have ever been reported. While HVA International NV is not aware of asbestos being used for houses, asbestos was applied for heat insulation in the factory. This never created problems as the asbestos stayed in place and could not spread dust particles. HVA International concludes its correspondence with the author of the communication by advising individuals concerned by the fluoride problem to contact the Ethiopian Government which nationalized the whole Ethiopian Sugar Industry and all of HVA�s assets in 1975.

43. No reply has been forthcoming from the Ethiopian Government.

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