“If you’re not outraged, then you’re not paying attention,” read one of the signs at the demarcation protest at the Civic Center in San Francisco.

About 2,500 people marched at City Hall on Feb. 13, according to Ruth Negash of the Mobilizing Committee. The protest was against the United Nations and the United States not enforcing the law of the Algiers Peace Agreement of 2000 which called for the demarcation of the border between Eritrea and Ethiopa.

Eritrea supporters want the U.N. and the U.S. to step in and enforce the law, but neither has yet to do so.

“Our main focus is to get Eritrea borders demarcated,” said Co-Chair of Demarcation Rally Committee Araia G. Ephrem. “Both countries signed the Peace Agreement, so both should abide the demarcation.”

For about six years, Eritrea and Ethiopia have been disputing over the border that separates the two countries. The U.N. issued the Algiers Peace Agreement after a two-year bloody border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1998. The Agreement contained a series of laws that both countries would have to abide by to bring peace to the African Horn and keep the border disputes to a minimal, according to news reports.

The laws consist of both parties completely following and implementing the provisions which called for an end to the violence and the establishment of borderlines.

Ethiopia has not obeyed the law and will not give up territory that was awarded to Eritrea from the independent Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) in a final and binding decision on April 13, 2002.

Eritreans and their supporters marched proudly around the Civic Center, yelling and chanting encouragements and demands. The protest began in front of City Hall and continued on to the Phillip Burton Federal Courthouse where protesters began chanting into megaphones.

“What do you want?” yelled protesters. “Demarcation.” When do you want it? Now.”

They marched down Golden Gate Avenue, stopping traffic. They continued on Hyde Street to hear what the speakers had to say.

“Our message to the U.N. is you betrayed us twice and we won’t have it happen again,” said Ambessager Berhane of Eritrea American Committee on behalf of the Southern California region.

“We are Eritrean before Americans, so be proud of where you came from,” said Sesen Ghebremedhin, a 19-year-old student at Merritt College in Oakland.

SF State students also took part in the protest.

“It was nice seeing my people get all together for their country and seeing small children praising our country,” said Meriam Gebregiorges, 21, health education junior. “We want people to understand the history and to learn that we are, are own country.”

“I think it was a beginning step for us because it’s the first time we had a demonstration in the western region,” said Ginbar Ketma, 21, urban studies major. “It’s been six years, and we just want to move on, but we can’t until the border is demarcated.”

Eritreans from all over the West Coast joined their fellow countrymen to voice their opinions about the situation. People from Arizona, Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland and Las Vegas were in attendance.

“They (U.N.) need to be fair, do their job and get out,” said Negash, who also served as the keynote speaker. “Eritrea side is keeping our word and borders and respecting the law, but Ethiopia is just breaking the law and going across the border, killing my people.”

Negash wishes the U.N. or the U.S. would just enforce the law and sanction the Ethiopia for breaking the agreement of the law, like they have done with other countries.

“Our land is a strategic position for other governments,” she said. “That’s why it’s a stalemate. We just want this to end, so we can go on with our lives. “

The march ended where it began, in front of City Hall.