Ethioguardian-Blog

Ethiopia: Tigrean Nationalism: From Revolutionary Force to Weapon of Repression

2010-01-12T05:17:00.000-08:00

By Jawar Siraj Mohammed
Read PDF Here

Browse through any Ethiopian websites, and you will discover that almost every article or commentary says something about the Tigrean domination of the country. The cyber world is crammed with statistics, testimonies, conspiracy theories and condemnations. Some of the fervent cases brought forth include;

How Tigray disproportionally benefits under this regime,
How 95% of all important military and security posts have been occupied by ethnic
Tigreans,
Reports over the TPLF-owned giant conglomerate known by its acronym, EFFORT
Accounts of how the Tigrean-only Agazi commando force has been used to commit
heinous crimes,
The meteoric rise of Tigrean elites into the club of world millionaires,
And denunciations of the unacceptable monopolization of the church and mosque
leadership by rebels-turned-men-of-God.

Most of these allegations are true, while some are perhaps exaggerated. However, there is no doubt that they are indicative of the growing rift between Tigrean elites, who deny or defend their hegemonic and exclusive economic advantage, and their adversaries, who offer evidence after evidence to back up their complaints. Read the rest in PDF Here

I have been a keen observer of how the system actually functions under the shadow of the current regime. As I read arguments and analyses provided by different individuals and groups, I find a lack of revealing analysis of the true purpose behind the blatantly pro-Tigrean policies of the current regime. Therefore, in this article I will analyze the trategies, tactics and politics behind the transformation of the TPLF from a peasant revolutionary force into Africa's richest oligarchy.Read the rest in PDF Here

First encounter with a Tigrean Nationalist
Read the rest in PDF Here

My initial encounter with a Tigrean nationalist took place sometime in the mid-„90s, at a time when the fight between TPLF and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) was at its peak. A discussion between an older neighbor and a TPLF soldier called Manjus caught my attention. Manjus was passionately talking about how he joined TPLF. His story begins about ten years earlier, when the young Tigrean and his sister were attending high school in a town far away from their village. One day, they returned home for a mid-semester vacation and found their village virtually burned to the ground. The two students came home to discover a completely demolished house, dead parents and whatever property the peasant family owned gone. In a tragic incident, the two siblings lost everything. They had no hope, no family or means of support that could help them go back to school. To make matters worse, they were told that the Derg cadres were hunting for them. As they tried to cope with the sudden shock, anger, and despair, they were met by TPLF recruiters who came with a promise of a means for revenge towards those who slaughtered their parents and also bring peace, justice and democracy to their oppressed Tigrean people. The helpless mourners and enraged youngsters could not resist the offer, so they joined the freedom fighters. A few years later, Manjus lost his sister to the war shortly before TPLF controlled Finfinne. Soon things turned upside down. When Meles replaced Mengistu, Manjus‟ turn came to chase another rebel group and burn down many other villages, including Read the rest in PDF Here

Ethiopia: Eritrea: Eritrea says it killed 10 TPLF troops

2010-01-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

By Ethioguardian

ZALAM BESA: Eritrea's government has said its troops killed 10 TPLF, Ethiopia’s dictatorial regime ruling party, soldiers after they attacked Eritrean positions on New Year's day, something TPLF, also called Woyane, in Addis Ababa has denied.

A statement dated January 2 on the website, run by the Eritrean ministry of information, said: "In the early morning hours of January 1st 2010, TPLF soldiers launched successive attacks in the Zalam besa front and were swiftly driven back with 10 of their soldiers killed and two captured."

TPLF (Woyane) is Ethiopia’s dictatorial regime ruling party. Although TPLF (Woyane) claims TPLF to be a partner in a ruling coalition, the other parties that made up the EPRDF, the name of the coalition, does not have any impact in any decision making process. TPLF represents Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, which advocates the independence of Tigray, a province in the northern part of Ethiopia, since its foundation in the 1970’s. TPLF controls more than 90% of the Ethiopian army important positions and other governmental positions.

In Ethiopia, Bereket Simon, the TPLF government's head of information, accused the Eritrean government of trying to cover up an attack by Eritrean rebels in which 25 Eritrean government soldiers were killed.

"This new allegation that it killed TPLF (Woyane) soldiers is an attempt by the regime in Asmara to deflect its internal crisis by implicating Ethiopia," he told Reuters.

The Eritrean rebels in Ethiopia are trained and supported by the Ethiopian TPLF regime. TPLF also allows the settling of Eritrean rebels in Ethiopia, and gave them the chance to use Ethiopia as a base to attack Eritrea.

The two Horn of Africa neighbours have had long running hostilities and tensions simmer along their common border due to a dispute over the lines of the border.

The U.N. security council voted to slap sanctions against Eritrea last week on accusations of supporting and arming Somalia's hardline Islamist insurgents.

Some of the information was taken from Reuters

Ethiopia: US professor among 5 sentenced to die in Ethiopia

2009-12-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

By SAMSON HAILEYESUS (AP)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — An Ethiopian court sentenced five people to death — including an Ethiopian professor teaching at a U.S. university — and 33 to life in prison Tuesday for being members of a terror group and conspiring to assassinate government officials.

Those convicted have been accused of being members of the Ginbot 7 — May 15 in the Ethiopian calendar — which refers to Ethiopia's election day in 2005 when postelection violence killed close to 200 people.

Among those sentenced to death was Berhanu Nega, an exiled opposition leader who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005. Berhanu is currently an associate professor of economics at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

Three of the other five sentenced to death are also living in exile outside Ethiopia; one is in custody.

The prosecution asked the court to impose severe penalties because many of the accused were members of the army. Many of those convicted were expected to appeal.

All but two of the defendants in Ethiopian custody have proclaimed their innocence. Two defendants cooperated with the prosecution and were sentenced to 10 years.

Berhanu and more than 100 other opposition politicians were arrested after the 2005 election and put on trial for treason. Berhanu and others were pardoned and freed after 20 months, but the government last week revoked Berhanu's pardon.

According to a Bucknell University article on Berhanu, the economics professor was a leader in the democratic opposition in Ethiopia after returning there in the mid-1990s. In 2005, he become the first elected mayor in Ethiopia's history with 75 percent of the vote, but the ruling party declared victory in races throughout the country.

"Thus ended the Ethiopian democratic experiment that had started with such high hopes, leaving the country in the darkness of totalitarian rule," Berhanu said during a talk on campus last year.

Berhanu was jailed after the election and released after 20 months in July 2007. Since his release, he has urged the U.S. and other Western countries to back democratic movements in Ethiopia and withdraw support for dictatorships.

Opposition politicians have for months been pointing to signs of increased oppression in Ethiopia, notably the harassment and arrest of thousands of their candidates in 2008's local elections that they believe allowed the ruling party to sweep the elections.

Ethiopia: Ethiopia death sentences over assassination plot (BBC)

2009-12-22T05:11:00.001-08:00

BBC
An Ethiopian court has sentenced five people to death and 33 others to life in prison for planning to assassinate government officials.

Prosecutors had said the convicted were part of the Ginbot 7 (15 May) group led by Berhanu Nega, a US-based dissident.

He was among those sentenced to death, as was opposition leader Melaku Tefera.

Mr Melaku was present in the Addis Ababa courtroom with 27 other accused. Some of the defendants have said they were tortured into confessing.

Convicting the men in November, Judge Adem Ibrahim said the court had not been convinced of the torture allegations.

The authorities have said they found weapons, including land mines, at the men's homes when they were arrested in April.

Army officers sentenced

"The... five have committed grave offences and four of them have not learnt from their previous sentences," said Judge Adem passing down the sentences.

"Therefore, we have been been obliged to give the most severe sentences."

Relatives of the men broke down in the courtroom as the sentences were read out, says the BBC's correspondent in Addis Ababa, Uduak Amimo.

The death sentences were reserved for what the court called the political leaders of the plot while those sentenced to life imprisonment were active or former military officers, AFP news agency said.

Lawyers for the defence said they would appeal.

The authorities have long accused Mr Berhanu of spearheading opposition plots.

He was arrested after being elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005 and jailed for treason.

He was pardoned in 2007 and left for the United States, where he began teaching economics at a university.

Mr Berhanu denies engaging in armed struggle against the government.

Rights groups have expressed concern that the government is trying to silence dissent before Ethiopia holds its next national election in June 2010.

Ethiopia: EPRDF's kangaroo court court sentences 5 coup plotters to death, 33 life imprisonment

2009-12-22T04:46:00.000-08:00

By AFP

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – An Ethiopian kangaroo court on Tuesday sentenced five opposition leaders to death and 33 other people to life imprisonment for plotting to assassinate government officials, an AFP correspondent reported.

The Ethiopian government claimed in April it had uncovered a plot to kill government officials and sabotage infrastructure by a group called "Ginbot 7" allegedly led by the main opposition challenger in the disputed 2005 elections.

"The following five have committed grave offences and four of them have not learnt from their previous sentences," Judge Adam Ibrahim of the federal High Court said.

"Therefore we have been obliged to give the most severe sentences," he said.

Many of the accused were sentenced in absentia, including the alleged mastermind of the plot, US-exiled Berhanu Nega who served two years in prison after accusing Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's regime of stealing the 2005 polls.

Twenty-eight of those sentenced were present in the Addis Ababa courtroom, including Melaku Tefera, a senior opposition member who was among those sentenced to death.
The death sentences were handed down to the alleged political leaders of the plot while most of the 33 slapped with life in prison are active or retired army officers.

Death sentences are regularly pronounced in the east African nation -- the continent's second most populous -- but rarely carried out. The last execution is believed to have taken place in 2007.

The defendants' relatives and lawyers said they would appeal the sentences.

"I will appeal, I'm not satisfied with the decision. It's harsh, I hope it will be reversed after we appeal it," said Tidenekyalesh Tesfa, whose client Getu Worku was sentenced to life and had his property confiscated.

The relative of another army officer who was sentenced to life in jail struggled to hold back her tears after the sentences were pronounced.

"It's a pity. There is no justice in Ethiopia... the evidence was incomplete," she told AFP on condition of anonymity. "He served his country, he sacrificed his whole life for the military... but for what?"

The trial, one of the most high-profile in the country's recent history, comes against a tense political backdrop, ahead of general elections scheduled for May next year.

Rights groups have accused Meles' regime of instilling a climate of fear ahead of the polls.

"The spectre of the 2005 crackdown on the opposition and on the independent press is resurfacing in the run-up to the May 2010 general elections," the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said in a recent statement.

A senior US official also voiced concern last month at what he described as a "reduction in political space and the ability of opposition parties to operate."

Some 200 people died in violence that erupted following the disputed results of the 2005 elections.

Berhanu Nega's now-defunct opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy had won an unprecedented number of seats.

===================================================================================

Ethiopia death sentences over assassination plot (BBC)

An Ethiopian court has sentenced five people to death and 33 others to life in prison for planning to assassinate government officials.

Prosecutors had said the convicted were part of the Ginbot 7 (15 May) group led by Berhanu Nega, a US-based dissident.

He was among those sentenced to death, as was opposition leader Melaku Tefera.

Mr Melaku was present in the Addis Ababa courtroom with 27 other accused. Some of the defendants have said they were tortured into confessing.

Convicting the men in November, Judge Adem Ibrahim said the court had not been convinced of the torture allegations.

The authorities have said they found weapons, including land mines, at the men's homes when they were arrested in April.

Army officers sentenced

"The... five have committed grave offences and four of them have not learnt from their previous sentences," said Judge Adem passing down the sentences.

"Therefore, we have been been obliged to give the most severe sentences."

Relatives of the men broke down in the courtroom as the sentences were read out, says the BBC's correspondent in Addis Ababa, Uduak Amimo.

The death sentences were reserved for what the court called the political leaders of the plot while those sentenced to life imprisonment were active or former military officers, AFP news agency said.

Lawyers for the defence said they would appeal.

The authorities have long accused Mr Berhanu of spearheading opposition plots.

He was arrested after being elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005 and jailed for treason.

He was pardoned in 2007 and left for the United States, where he began teaching economics at a university.

Mr Berhanu denies engaging in armed struggle against the government.

Rights groups have expressed concern that the government is trying to silence dissent before Ethiopia holds its next national election in June 2010.

Ethiopia: USA and Vatican accuse the Ethiopian government of unequal power sharing

2009-12-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

By Ethioguardian

The United States of America today accused the Ethiopian government of favoring one ethnicity in appointing government positions. Mr. Douglas M. Griffiths, USA representative in the United Nations Human Rights Council, stated that: “Independent observers have noted…that most senior government positions are overwhelmingly represented by one ethnicity”, and recommended Ethiopia to examine and adjust the ethnic balance in government positions as the Ethiopian governments policy of Ethnic Federalism promotes. The Vatican also emphasized on the importance of a more equitable power sharing.

Over 50 countries forwarded questions and recommendations to the government of Ethiopia in the Universal Periodic Review, the human rights exam of the United Nations, held in Geneva today.

In response to the American criticism the Head of the Ethiopian delegation, H.E. Mr. Fisseha Yimer, Special Adviser to the Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, classified the accusation as “speculation”, “off the mark” and “wrong”. He promised the countries interested in this issue to come up with proof of the opposite.

Many participants asked questions about the infamous Charities and Societies Proclamation, The Mass Media Law and Anti terrorism Law, restrictive legislations, which are widely condemned by donors and international human rights groups.
In his introductory statement Mr. Yimer indicated that the Ethiopian population misunderstands international human rights norms, which makes it difficult for the government to implement international human rights standards in the Ethiopian society. This shows how the Ethiopian regime underestimates its own people. Knowing the amount of political prisoners, media repression and reports of violations of human rights at the moment, the Ethiopian delegation tried to cover up the dictatorial nature of the regime.

Answering questions from France on the 2005 election and its bloody aftermath, Mr. Yimer said that it was a past issue and that the outcome of the national inquiry was satisfactory. Many members of the opposition fled the country in 2005, including some members of the inquiry commission, after being harassed by Ethiopian government forces. Harassment on opposition and media freedom, raised by Australia, made Mr. Yimer laugh out loud and say: “There is no harassment!”.

Questions about the case of Birtukan Mideksa, the imprisoned leader of Ethiopia’s main opposition party, were completely ignored by the Ethiopian delegation.

Most of the countries asked access to detention centers and visits of special rapporteurs, individuals working on behalf of the United Nations who bear a specific mandate from the UN Human Rights Council, to investigate issues on arbitrary detention, extrajudicial executions, torture etcetera. In the past years, the Ethiopian government was requested to grant access to these special rapporteurs, requests which have not been granted so far. Mr.Yimer, the head of the delegation, answered saying this was not possible due to the limited capacity of the country.

The grave human rights violations committed by Ethiopian government military forces in the Somali region (Ogaden), described by Human Right Watch as genocide, were also raised by, mainly Western, countries. Mr.Yimer ignored answering these questions.
Unsurprisingly, countries benefiting from Ethiopia’s recourses, such as India and China, and most African countries, were mostly praising the Ethiopian regime for their achievements on the Millennium Development Goals and Social, Economic and Cultural Rights.

The Ethiopian delegation will present written answers to all the questions raised today, before the final report of the UPR will be adopted on Friday 11 december 2009.

Ethiopia: “Shame” agreement for 2010 EPRDF elections

2009-10-31T06:31:00.000-07:00

By Ethioguardian

The ruling party is paving the way for a 99 % election victory by excluding strong opposition parties, intimidating members of strong political movements, imprisoning charismatic opposition leaders and by embracing weak and/or sister organizations.

The Ethiopian ruling party (EPRDF), it sister political parties and the controversial Ethiopian businessman (Hailu Shawel) signed an agreement for the 2010 EPRDF election. The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), All Ethiopian Unity Organization (AEUO), the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) were the parties to the discussion.

The Electoral Code of Conduct agreement was signed excluding the leading opposition political parties UDJ, Medrek, Ginbot7, OLF and EPRP. MEDREK a forum for eight political parties, walked out of the negotiation saying the government set the negotiation on topics that are concerning the interests of the ruling party. Ginbot7 boycotted any political participation in the current system of government and started an all-inclusive political movement from exile.

The parties who signed the election campaign are sister organizations of the ruling party and a fading political movement led by Hailu Shawel. EDP, led by the long time EPRDF puppet, Lidetu Ayale, who infiltrated the opposition for long time and exposed in the 2005 election, lost its public support both inside the country and the Diaspora. The other EPRDF sister party led by Ayele Chamiso was awarded the name and sign of the popular opposition movement (CUD) by the ruling party court, hijacking the popularity of the opposition movement. The third party that signed the electoral code of conduct is led by the controversial business man, Hailu shawel, 76 and suffering from diabetics, is also a dying political figure and origination that does not have any political impact in the country. The ruling party is using the sister parties and weak opposition figures to create confusion among the public and the international community.

The charismatic leader of one of the excluded popular party (UDJ), Birtukan Mideksa, is languishing in EPRDF prison on fabricated charges. Berhanu Nega, a former leader of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and now a member of the Ginbot 7 said Ethiopia is not a conducive country for democracy. Nega said the 2010 election will most likely be similar to the 2008 local election when he said Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling party won 99 point nine percent of the vote.

The ruling party is paving the way for a 99 % election victory by excluding the strong opposition parties, intimidating members of strong political movements, imprisoning charismatic opposition leaders and by embracing weak and/or sister organizations.

Meles Zenawi, a rebel leader who took power in 1991, is running for another term in office, to be in the prime minister, the most important office in the Ethiopian government, for more than 20 years.
Ethiopians are dissatisfied with the performance of Zenawi’s regime. The ever-increasing living cost, drought, unnecessary war in Somalia, increasing ethnic conflicts, corruption, Genocidal acts on ethnic minority of Anuak and Ogaden region, media monopoly and other dictatorial actions of the regime have made Zenawi’s regime very unpopular. Zenawi’s EPRDF does not have any chance of winning the 2010 election without intimidation, creating confusion, and election fraud.

The controversial national elections will be held on 15 May 2010.

It should be recalled that zenawi’s EPRDF rigged the 2005 elections and took power by force killing hundreds of civilians, imprisoning thousands, silencing the media and jailing almost all opposition leaders.

Ethiopia:Dr Berhanu Nega New Year message

2009-09-13T09:14:00.002-07:00

Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy Chairman, Dr Berhanu Nega New Year message to the Ethiopian people.

Listen to audio
Real Player MP3 WMP
Video Here

Ethiopia: Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin Memorial Prize launched

2009-09-13T09:14:00.001-07:00

Addis Journal
ADDIS ABABA (Addis Journal) — A new prize named after the acclaimed Ethiopian playwright and poet Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin was launched in Addis at the National Theater on Monday, September 7. Established by the playwright’s family members and friends, the Institute of the Language Studies of Addis Ababa University Poet Laureate Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin Memorial Prize is intended to encourage literature and theater arts students to study hard, pursue senior honors and contribute to the art world.

The prize intended to be an annual event would be given to the best contribution by a student member. Berhanu Asfaw from the Department of Ethiopian Languages and Literature and Tegegnto Sinshaw from the Theaters Arts Department were winners of the first prize. Certificates were handed to the winners by Institute of Language Studies Dean, Dr. Gessese Tadesse and chair of the Theater Arts Department, Belayneh Abune, who both talked about the contribution and legacy of Tsegaye to each of their respective departments. Belayneh talked about Tsegaye’s contribution to the theater arts department
Dr. Gessese talked about the plan to broaden up the Memorial Prize through administrating trust funds that, among others, would provide scholarships to students. As way of remembering one of the country’s greatest poets and playwrights, a group of volunteers led by Dr. Heran Serke-Berhan had begun a permanent annual Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin Theater Festival. Involving Abate Mekuria who previously produced and directed ten of Tsegaye’s productions in Ethiopia and abroad, excerpts of the playwright’s works, Ha Hu Besedest Wer (ABC in Six Months), Inat Alem Tenu, “Othello” and “Theodros” were presented on the occasion as part of the festival celebrations. Abate who in his younger years studied at London’s Opera House has produced numerous stage plays, including “Kitet Wede Adwa Zemecha” which required the participation of 4,000 people. Audiences were thrilled with his re-productions of Tsegaye’s plays for which he spent no less than three months. His studio, Mekuaria Studio designed the settings and provided the costumes. It was highly successful. Tadesse Mesfin’s illustration for one of the plays was found and used for the occasion.
On the occasion it was also announced that four of Tsegaye’s plays, Theodros, Petros Yachin Seat, Zeray Be Rome Adeababy and Minilik (a historical play about King Menelik that was never staged) would be published by the Addis Ababa University Press shortly. The announcement was greeted warmly. Tsegaye was born in Boda, a village near Ambo, on 1934.He wrote his first play at Ambo Elementary School where one of his audiences were Emperor HaileSelassie. After doing high school at Wingate and college at the Addis Ababa Commercial College, he has studied theater at the Royal Court Theater in London and Comédie Française in Paris for two years. Exploring elements of power, justice, love, and death in his tragedies, Tsegaye achieved widespread and lasting recognition for his work.

Ethiopia:Media watchdog groups react to Ethiopia's efforts to stop NTV Report on Rebels

2009-09-13T09:13:00.001-07:00

By Mohamed Keita/Africa Research Associate
Ethiopia pushes Kenyan TV to drop report on rebels
Last week, the Ethiopian government tried to force private Kenyan broadcaster Nation Television (NTV) to drop a four-part exclusive report on separatist rebels in southern Ethiopia. NTV aired the first two parts of "Inside Rebel Territory: Rag-Tag Fighters of the Oromo Liberation Front," which led Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya to accuse the Nation Media Group of giving a platform to a terrorist organization, the daily Nation reported. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), whose Web site is among several authorities block in Ethiopia, is fighting for greater autonomy for the Oromos, the largest ethnic group in the south of the vast Horn of Africa nation.

"Clearly, officials at the Ethiopian Embassy did not want NTV to air this program. We repeatedly explained to them that this is not possible," Linus Kaikai, NTV's managing editor of broadcast news told me today. The Kenyan Foreign Affairs Ministry was also involved in attempting to get the station to drop the story, he said. "No demands have been agreed to," Kaikai added, saying that the final two parts will air tonight and Tuesday. The Ethiopian administration, whose leaders were once guerilla fighters allied with the OLF, has sought to censor international media outlets' coverage of rebel groups. In 2008, authorities accused Qatar-based satellite network Al-Jazeera of "direct and indirect assistance to terrorist organizations" after the station aired an exclusive report on the separatist Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), in southeastern Ethiopia. Al-Jazeera continued to air the program. In 2007, Ethiopian authorities detained three New York Times journalists for five days for reporting on the ONLF. Local independent journalists who have reported on rebel groups have landed in prison on various criminal charges, including publication or distribution of "false news likely to incite violence" or "membership in a terrorist organization." In one case, three journalists, Garuma Bekele, Tesfaye Deressa, and Solomon Nemera of the defunct Oromo-language weekly Urji, spent four years in prison over an article challenging official claims about the killing of three alleged OLF members by government forces. Numerous state-employed journalists perceived to have sympathies for the OLF have also been thrown into prison on spurious accusations, including former Ethiopian Television News Director Dhabessa Wakjira. On top of all that, Ethiopia recently enacted draconian anti-terror legislation, which criminalizes any reporting the government deems favorable to groups and causes it labels as "terrorist." In other words, reporting the activities or statements of such groups could be interpreted as glorifying or aiding their causes. An Ethiopian reporter, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisal, told me there was no public government reaction to the NTV controversy, and most local media did not report it. Another one said independent coverage of such stories was difficult without a public statement from the government. "You cannot initiate [such] stories if there's no government reaction, else you run the risk of being labeled as someone who's promoting their movement," he said.

Ethiopia:EPRDF deported 15 U.S. students

2009-09-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

ethioguardian.com

By David Arnold The federal government of Ethiopia deported 15 American studentswho were teaching English in small, rural communities in eastern Harargheregion of Oromiya for several weeks. They had been volunteering in several communities not far from theOgaden and an off-limits region of Ethiopia where government forces arebattling Ogaden National Liberation Front rebel forces. The trip was organizedby Learning Enterprises International in Stanford, California. This was thethird year the project had been in operation.

Police performed a synchronized dawn raid of homes in Haramaya,Awwadaay, Qobboo and Dadar on July 9, questioned them for the day, confiscatingtheir cell phones and cameras and taking them to Addis. According tosources, at various times police accused the students of taking photographs, ofasking questions about the disputed 2005 national elections and the coming 2010elections, and of being in the country with improper visas. Community residentsasking about the reason for the detentions were later told the students had theH1N1 virus. The students were detained for two days and were not allowed tocontact their families or the U.S. embassy. Embassy officials were unable tosee them until shortly before federal officials put them on a plane anddeported them on July 11.One of the students was held several extra days. Anembassy spokesman said they have raised serious concerns about the handling ofthis case with the Government of Ethiopia, specifically regarding the refusalby Ethiopian security forces to permit these American citizens to contact theembassy. The embassy will continue discussions with the Ethiopian Government onthe exact nature of the events. State Minister for Government Communications Shimelis Kemal toldVOA’s Eskinder Firew only that the students were involved in inappropriateactivity “contrary to their mission.” None were charged with any violations ofthe law.

Ethiopia:G7 press release

2009-08-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia: Woyane Kangaroo court convicts 13 in absentia over coup plot

2009-08-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

ADDIS ABABA - A U.S.-based university professor is among 13 men convicted in absentia by The woyane (TPLF) Kangaroo court for plotting to overthrow the illegitimate Ethiopian government, the state controlled news agency said on Friday.

Berhanu Nega, who is Ethiopian-born with U.S. nationality and teaches economics at Philadelphia's Bucknell University, was accused of masterminding a plan to topple Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

The Woeave (TPLF) News Agency said the Federal High Court had issued the guilty verdicts late on Thursday. Government officials did not immediately comment.* U.S.-based professor called the mastermind
* 32 to present defence case on Aug 26

The 13 are mostly based in the United States and Britain. Another 32 men in Ethiopia -- mainly former and current army personnel, including two generals -- have been charged. Three have been bailed and 29 are in custody.

The prosecution has presented its case and the defence will begin on August 26, relatives told Reuters.

Addis Ababa says the group had planned to kill senior government ministers and blow up power and telecommunications facilities to provoke protesters who would then march on government buildings and try to topple the government.

The arrests have worried rights groups, who say the Ethiopian government has become increasingly authoritarian.

Berhanu has publicly said he wants to overthrow the government but calls the accusations baseless.

Opposition parties say the charges have been trumped up in order to round up opponents ahead of a national election due next year.

Security forces killed about 200 protesters after a poll in 2005 when the opposition disputed the government's victory.

Berhanu was elected mayor of the capital Addis Ababa in that ballot, but was arrested along with other opposition leaders and accused of orchestrating the street protests.

He was pardoned in 2007 and went to the United States, where he set up his "May 15" opposition group, named after the date of the 2005 election. Most of the text was taken from

Ethiopia:The Dutch Minister of Foreign affairs answers questions regarding Birtukan Mideksa

2009-07-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

Ethioguardian

Editors Note:
The Editors of Ethioguardian are not aware of the fact that Birtukan was visited by a human rights organization, if you have any information about this please forward it to us.

Answers from Mr. Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Koenders, Minister of Development Cooperation on questions from MP’s Boekestijn, Irrgang, Peters, Voordewind and Haverkamp (VVD, SP, Groen Links, CU, CDA) regarding Ethiopian prisoner Birtukan Mideksa

Question 1
Do you know the report “Ethiopians stage first protest since the 2005 violence”, written by Barry Malone? 1)
Answer
Yes
Question 2
Have you already expressed your concerns about the solitary confinement of opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa to the Ethiopian government?
Answer
Some Dutch representatives, which include the Dutch ambassador in Addis Abeba and the human rights ambassador, have raised this issue during their meetings with their Ethiopian interlocutors. These concerns will also be expressed on relevant political level.

Question 3
Are you willing to use all your influence to have Birtukan Mideksa released?
Answer
Yes. The Netherlands are committed to Birtukan Mideksa’s release and to the discontinuance of her solitary confinement. This, among others, is carried out by the Dutch embassy in Ethiopia. The Dutch human rights ambassador visited Ethiopia from 9 until 14 June 2009. He has brought up political detentions and the case of Ms. Mideksa to all relevant interlocutors. He has urged her release, or at least the discontinuance of her solitary confinement. The human rights ambassador did not receive an official response to his request to visit Ms. Mideksa in prison. However, an employee of a human rights organization, which is, among others, sponsored by The Netherlands, visited her in prison shortly after the human rights ambassador’s visit to Ethiopia. A letter about the human rights ambassador’s visit will be sent to the Chamber separately.
Question 4
Will there be observers from the Dutch embassy at the process against Birtukan Mideksa?
Answer
As known Ms. Mideksa was one of the political leaders imprisoned in the period after the 2005 elections and sentenced for treason and other charges. Like the other political leaders she was finally pardoned and released in 2007. In December 2008 she was imprisoned again, according to the government for violating the pardon. Formally it is not possible to appeal against this decision. Her lawyers are still searching for possibilities to fight the decision in court. Until now her lawyers have successfully enforced the discontinuance of the solitary confinement. Nevertheless, until the end of last week, the prison authorities did not yet grant visits. This was a reason for the human rights ambassador to raise the issue. If there will be a process, the Dutch embassy -if it is allowed by the Ethiopian authorities- will definitely be present as an observer.

1) Reuters, 16 april 2009
• Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken
• Bezuidenhoutseweg 67
• Postbus 20061
• 2500 EB Den Haag
• Tel.: 070-3 486 486
• Fax: 070-3 484 848
• Internet:
Translation by Ethioguardian
Source : Dutch Ministry of Foreign affairs

Original Text (In Dutch)
Beantwoording vragen over de Ethiopische gevangene Birtukan Medeksa
03-07-2009 | Kamerstuk | Nederlands Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

Graag bieden wij u hierbij de antwoorden aan op de schriftelijke vragen gesteld door de leden Boekestijn, Irrgang, Peters, Voordewind en Haverkamp over de Ethiopische gevangene Birtukan Mideksa. Deze vragen werden ingezonden op 15 juni 2009 met kenmerk 2009Z11259.

De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken, De Minister voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking,

Drs. M.J.M. Verhagen, Drs. A.G. Koenders

Antwoorden van de heer Verhagen, Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken en de heer Koenders, Minister voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking op vragen van de leden Boekestijn, Irrgang, Peters, Voordewind en Haverkamp (VVD, SP, Groen Links, CU, CDA) over De Ethiopische gevangene Birtukan Mideksa.
Vraag 1
Heeft u kennisgenomen van het bericht “Ethiopians stage first protest since the 2005 violence”, geschreven door Barry Malone? 1)
Antwoord
Ja.
Vraag 2
Heeft u reeds uw zorgen over de eenzame opsluiting van de oppositieleider Birtukan Mideksa richting de Ethiopische regering geuit?
Antwoord
Deze kwestie is opgebracht door Nederlandse vertegenwoordigers bij hun Ethiopische gesprekspartners, onder meer door de Nederlandse ambassadeur in Addis Abeba en de mensenrechtenambassadeur. Ook op relevant politiek niveau zullen deze zorgen in contacten geuit worden.
Vraag 3
Bent u bereid al uw invloed aan te wenden om Birtukan Mideksa vrij te krijgen?
Antwoord
Ja. Nederland zet zich in voor de vrijlating en de opheffing van de eenzame opsluiting van Birtukan Mideksa. Dit gebeurt onder andere door de Nederlandse ambassade in Ethiopië. De Nederlandse mensenrechtenambassadeur bracht van 9 tot en met 13 juni jl. een bezoek aan Ethiopië en heeft politieke detenties en de zaak van mevrouw Mideksa eveneens bij alle relevante gesprekspartners aan de orde gesteld. Hij heeft aangedrongen op haar vrijlating dan toch tenminste het opheffen van de eenzame opsluiting van mevrouw Mideksa. Op het verzoek van de mensenrechtenambassadeur om mevrouw Mideksa in de gevangenis te bezoeken is geen officiële respons gekomen. Wel kon een medewerker van een onder meer door Nederland gesteunde mensenrechtenorganisatie haar in de gevangenis opzoeken vlak na het bezoek van de mensenrechtenambassadeur. Een brief over de reis van de mensenrechtenambassadeur gaat de Kamer separaat toe.
Vraag 4
Zijn er ook waarnemers van de Nederlandse ambassade aanwezig bij het proces tegen Birtukan Mideksa?
Antwoord
Zoals bekend was mevrouw Birtukan één van politieke leiders die in de periode na de verkiezingen van 2005 gevangen is gezet en uiteindelijk is veroordeeld voor o.a. hoogverraad. Evenals alle andere politieke leiders is zij uiteindelijk in 2007 vrijgelaten op basis van een pardonregeling. In december 2008 is zij opnieuw gevangengezet omdat zij volgens de regering de voorwaarden van het pardon heeft geschonden. Formeel is hiertegen geen beroep mogelijk. Haar advocaten onderzoeken nog op welke manier de beslissing van haar her-arrestatie via de rechter kan worden aangevochten. Tot nu toe hebben haar advocaten via de rechter met succes weten af te dwingen dat haar eenzame opsluiting moet worden opgeheven. Hieraan werd echter tot eind vorige week door de gevangenisautoriteiten nog geen gehoor gegeven. Reden voor de mensenrechtenambassadeur om dit punt op te brengen. Mocht het komen tot een proces, dan zal de Nederlandse ambassade – indien toegestaan door de Ethiopische autoriteiten - daarbij zeker als waarnemer aanwezig zijn.

Ethiopia:"US state department and right groups liars and ill-advised" EPRDF (Woyane)regime

2009-05-06T13:31:00.001-07:00

EthioGuardian, Ethiopia(06-05-2009): The tension and confusion in EPRDF camp is increasing everyday. The recent accessions are forwarded towards the American state department and right groups. EPRDF is aggressively attacking the American state department, Human Right Watch and Amnesty International. The state TV called all the human right reports baseless, far from truth, and intended to destroy the good image of the EPRDF regime and its good human right record. In some instances, the government tried to bring some vague evidences to prove its innocence. The state TV called these organizations liars, unwise and ill-advised.

According to Zenawi’s mouthpiece, the stateTV (ETV), all documentations and investigation reports of US state department, Amnesty international, HRW, including satellite images- confirmed by a U.S.-based science group, which proofed the destruction of villages in Ogaden region- are all fabricated lies to destroy EPRDF’s good image

EPRDF used to be a good allay of the former bush administration and received millions dollars in development aid. Despite all its poor human right records, the bush administration helped the dictatorial regime for long. The EPRDF regime went to Somalia to keep the Bush financial support flowing. This trend seems to come to an end. The recent accessions show the frustrations and nervousness of the shacking EPRDF government. With a new administration in America that is concerned about human right records, Zenawi knows that he can’t use the old technique of killing his own citizen and get more support. The very new technique is attacking the accuser, the American state department Human Right Watch and Amnesty International.
The economical crisis, the change in the American administration, the distrust in its military, the ever increasing public dissatisfaction, pushed the EPRDF regime to a level of madness. A week ago the government claimed to have arrested some coup plotters, denied any visits, and refused to give name and locations of the detainees. The next day it called them they were just desperados, who did not have a power to remove a government. When the EPRDF lost any attention from any of the western country or any other state, Zenawi used a non-existing Somali government to label the detainees and the alleged organization, Ginbot7, as terrorists, which showed its blind view and desperation.
The Zenawi regime is accused of genocide by genocide watch, violator of press freedom by independent free media organizations, and repressor of human right by almost all human right organizations. These increasing accusations are causing a lot of fracture in the EPRDF camp.

Ethiopia:Senior Ethiopia officers "plotted assassinations"

2009-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

"Senior Ethiopia officers "plotted assassinations"
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Senior military officers in Ethiopia, including a general, had plotted to assassinate top EPEDF officials, EPRDF (Weyane) Communications Minister Bereket Simon said Friday, adding that 40 people were under arrest.

"While six of the suspects were army officers on active duty, including one general, 34 of the suspects were ex-army men expelled from the army on grounds of misconduct," he told a press conference.

Bereket said the plotters belonged to the Ginbot 7 (May 15) opposition group, saying it was linked to the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) headed by Berhanu Nega, currently living in the United States.

He said the government believed that the "desperado" group was not planning to stage a coup, but intended "assassinating individuals, high ranking government officials and destroying some public facilities and utilities ... like telecom services and electricity utilities.

"The police have also found evidence implicating some ex-CUD members released on pardon. With the exception of some three or four of the desperado group who are still at large, the police have arrested almost all members of the conspiracy."

Berekt told AFP the government knew about the plot from its inception, adding, "If there had been laxity from the government, there would have been problems."

The mass arrests were reported on Sunday by state media, which said the National Security Taskforce had also found weapons including bombs, computers and communications equipment, military uniforms and documents.

The CUD won an unprecedented number of seats in the May 15, 2005 elections, which the European Union and other observers said fell short of international standards.

Around 200 people died in violence that erupted after the CUD accused the party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of rigging the ballot.

Berhanu, 51, currently a university professor in the United States, was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in the polls. He was subsequently jailed for two years along with other leaders of the CUD, and left the country after his release.

Ethiopia's next general election is scheduled to be held in June 2010.

In a statement on its website following the initial reports of arrests Ginbot 7 said it "has no desire to engage in a tit-for-tat with the dictators in Addis Ababa, nor the time to waste replying to baseless accusations by a regime that rules Ethiopia by the barrel of the gun."

"Ginbot 7 remains committed to work for the establishment of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Ethiopia. No amount of scurrilous accusations, threats or blackmail by the regime will deter us from pursuing the cause of democracy and freedom," it added.

Ethiopia:Dr. Berhanu denies leading alleged coup plot

2009-04-26T02:31:00.000-07:00

By MARK SCOLFORO, LEWISBURG, Pa. – An economics professor at a Pennsylvania university said Saturday he supports efforts to spread democracy in his native Ethiopia, but denied backing an alleged coup attempt there that led to the arrests of 35 people by the government.

“I’m very suspicious that there was an attempt at all,” said Berhanu Nega during an interview at his home outside of Lewisburg in north-central Pennsylvania. “This is not a government that has any credibility whatsoever in terms of telling the truth.”

He said he did not know who may have been arrested, and said it could have easily been some sort of overreaction.

“The government, every time, it panics,” he said. “It’s always treason, always acting against the government.”

Berhanu, 51, said he came to the U.S. as a young man in 1980, is married to an American citizen and has two sons. He is an associate professor of economics at nearby Bucknell University, a private liberal-arts school that enrolls about 3,400 undergraduates.

He previously taught at the university from 1990 until 1994, when he returned to Ethiopia to work at Addis Ababa University, according to a profile on the university’s Web site.

In 2005, he became the country’s first elected mayor when he won the mayoral race in Addis Ababa, the nation’s capital. But post-election violence over the election results led the Ethiopian government to shoot 193 protesters and to later jail Berhanu, other opposition leaders and thousands of supporters. Berhanu said the party was not responsible for the violent demonstrations.

The opposition leaders stood trial for nearly two years on charges of challenging the constitutional order — the charge was lessened from treason. The main clique of 38 opposition leaders pleaded guilty and were pardoned in 2007 after appealing to the government.

Berhanu and several other party leaders then left for the U.S., returning to the country in August 2007. He rejoined Bucknell as a visiting international scholar in economics in Spring 2008.

“It became very clear immediately after our release that they will not at all tolerate any opposition, meaningful opposition,” he said.

Berhanu also urged President Obama’s administration to “carefully revisit its policy toward Ethiopia.”

“It is just unseemly for any democratic government such as the United States to have any relationship with it,” he said.

___

Associated Press writer Anita Powell in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.

Ethiopia: EPRDF government claimed to have arrested 35 members of Ginbot7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy

2009-04-25T11:34:00.001-07:00

Ethioguardian(25-04-2009):An EPRDF government,Ethiopia’s ruling dictatorial regime, spokesman says police have arrested 35 members of Ginbot7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy.According to EPRDF spokesman Ermias Legesse, the group was arrested Friday with weapons, communication equipment, military uniforms and written plans. He says it calls itself the "May 15" or “Ginbot7” group after controversial 2005 elections held on that date.

In another news, Ginbot7, the accused group, dismissed this information saying baseless and far from truth. In a written press release, Ginbot7 said that, this kind of news is released to create confusion and frustration among the army and public. This is a tactic used by EPRDF to get out of the increasing criticisms from its own army and civil servants. In the same press release, Ginbt7 focused on the fact that it is a movement for Justice freedom and democracy with clear vision for Ethiopia’s future.

Ermias said Saturday the group was established by former opposition leader Berhanu Nega. Berhanu was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005 but arrested afterward with more than 100 other opposition politicians and tried for treason. He and the others were freed by a pardon in 2007.
He's now assistant professor of economics at Bucknell University in Lewisberg, Pa., the university's Web site says.
Some texts were taken from AP

Ethiopia: EPRDF government claimed to have arrested 35 members of Ginbot7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy

2009-04-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia:Mass graves found in ex-Weyane(EPRDF) bases

2009-04-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

Somalis have discovered the remains of dead bodies from former Ethiopian army bases and at a soccer stadium in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

At least 7 mass graves were exhumed on Monday at the vacated Mogadishu soccer stadium. The remains were allegedly of individuals who had gone missing a year ago and apparently later shot by Ethiopian troops during their occupation of Somalia, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Meanwhile, Somali men recovered dead bodies from 4 others graves in the Tawfiq district of northern Mogadishu. Witnesses said the graves contained between 20 and 31 corpses.

In another disclosure, local residents dug up dead bodies from 9 graves at former Ethiopian army bases in Mogadishu's northern Gupta and Yaaqshid districts.

Conflicts in Somalia intensified and unlawful killings of civilians increased after Ethiopian troops entered Somalia at the end of 2006 to help the 'Transitional Federal Government' fight armed opposition groups, some of whom issued from the Union of Islamic Courts, which was controlling the capital Mogadishu and other parts of the country in 2006.

Ethiopian troops withdrew at the end of 2008 and Abdullah Yusuf resigned as President of the TFG, and was replaced by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, then leader of the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia- Djibouti (ARS-Djibouti).

Thousands of Ethiopian protest in London

2009-04-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

Thousands of Ethiopian protest in LondonAbby Media coverage
Thousands Ethiopians protested during the G20 summit in London against the Ethiopian dictator on Thursday, 2 April 2009. The demonstration, for the first time, got large media coverage by all European media. Most media in Europe were highlighting the human rights abuses perpetrated by Meles Zenawi. The media coverages include: CNN-Video, VOA- Amharic, DW- Amharic.

Big Victory:

Tedla Asfaw - VOA of Addisu Abebe interviewed (April 2) Ato Wondimu Mekonen from London and two gentlemen from Switzerland and Sweden on phone while the condemnation of Meles Zenawi was heard on background by huge crowd of Ethiopians who came from all over Europe.

The rush by TPLF’s Aiga, Ben of “belly first” including www.nazret.com and stick to the one minute video clip of OLF and ONLF and try to ignore the video clip of BBC’s own four minutes video clip is disgusting and non professional, fake journalism.

The millions of Ethiopians back home got the truth through VOA and the TPLF’s TV can show the Gambella and Ogaden butcher dinning with the queen and cheering behind the scene for his financiers. Not hanging the photo of Meles with G20 leaders might be punishable by jail.

The truth of the matter is none of the G20 leaders dare to visit Ethiopia because Ethiopians never welcome those who sided with their tormentors. That was why George Bush never touch the soil of Ethiopia and why Tony Blair was not welcomed by Ethiopians.

There will not be any official visit of Ethiopia by Obama or other respected world leaders because they know very well that any government sponsored welcoming ceremony could easily turn to anti-Meles rally that will shame both the host and the guest.

A tyrant who is despised by his own people will never get any respect in foreign land and when the last day comes no one comes to his rescue either.

We thank you, the thousands who protested today and stand with the millions of Ethiopians.The flags you waved on London street were seen by all including the G20 leaders.

Ethiopia: Worldwide Rallies Held Demanding the Release of Political Prisoners In Ethiopia - January 14

2009-01-16T13:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.ethioguardian.com/news.php
:
- Pictures From Oslo (Norway)
- Pictures From Seattle (USA)
- Pictures From Frankfurt (Germany)
- Pictures From Dallas (USA)
- Pictures From London (England)
- Pictures From Brussels (Belgium)
- Pictures From Sweden
- Pictures From DC (USA)
- Pictures From Geneva (Switzerland)
- EU Resolution Demands Birtukan’s Immediate Release
- AUDIO: Extensive Report On Today's Worldwide Demonstrations
- Document Presented to US & EU authorities at Rally
- (2) Document Presented to US & EU authorities at Rally (English) - (Amharic)
-Ginbot 7 Radio on the Jan 14th Worldwide Rally

Ethiopia: Ethiopian Law Curbs Promotion of Rights, Critics Say

2009-01-06T09:16:00.001-08:00

Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Ethiopia’s parliament ratified a law that critics say will prevent groups from promoting human rights and democracy in the Horn of Africa country, strengthening the government’s hand to crack down on dissent.

The so-called “Proclamation for the Registration and Regulation of Charities and Societies” was passed today by a vote of 327 to 79 in Ethiopia’s parliament. The 547-member legislative body is dominated by members of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front, which has 481 seats.

Zenawi’s party, which has ruled Ethiopia since 1991, backed the law even after Western donors, domestic civil society organizations and members of Ethiopian opposition parties objected. They argue the legislation aims to quash dissent.

“This law goes far beyond any normal effort to regulate civil society,” said Leslie Lefkow, a researcher in the Africa division of New York-based Human Rights Watch. “It’s really an instrument of repression.”

Under the new plan, any charity that promotes ethnic gender and religious equality; human rights; democracy; or conflict resolution and receives more than 10 percent of its funding from overseas, will be banned. Organizations that advocate rights for children and the disabled or promote “the efficiency of the justice and law enforcement services” will also be outlawed unless they source more than 90 percent of their revenue inside Ethiopia.

Blanket Ban

Since nearly all non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, that work in these areas rely on foreign funding, the law is tantamount to a blanket ban, political activists said.

“Ninety-five percent of these organizations will not survive under this legislation,” said Lidetu Ayalew, an opposition member of parliament, during a debate on the law on Dec. 24.

Ethiopia’s government says the new law is needed to regulate the country’s more than 3,800 NGOs. It also argues that it’s the role of the state, rather than foreign-backed organizations, to protect human and democratic rights.

“We need social development,” said Berhanu Adelu, chief of Zenawi’s Cabinet, in a forum on the new law on Dec. 24. “We invite NGOs to do this work, but it is not their role to protect the rights of citizens. That is the role of government. It’s an internal issue.”

The government also disputes claims that the law is intended to silence critics or that groups will close as a result.

‘Clearly Specified Duty’

“No NGOs will be closed as a result of this,” Justice Minister Berhanu Hailu said in an interview on the sidelines of the forum on Dec. 24. “They just have to raise funds locally. This is not a closing of political space. We are not undermining civil society in Ethiopia, but their duty area is clearly specified.”

The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa said the law “appears to restrict civil society activities and international partners’ ability to support Ethiopia’s own development efforts.”

“We are concerned that this law may restrict U.S. government assistance to Ethiopia, particularly on promoting democracy and good governance, civic and human rights, conflict resolution and advocacy for society’s most vulnerable groups,” the embassy said in an e-mailed statement.

Amnesty International, the London-based human rights organization, said that while the government had provided assurances that the law was intended to regularize non- governmental activity, it appeared to have emerged out of state fears about political control.

‘Increased Repression’

Those fears “manifested as increased repression of civil society activity after the contested 2005 elections and continue to severely limit space for civil society as Ethiopia heads toward elections in 2010,” Amnesty said in an e-mail today.

Government opponents accused the state of rigging the May 2005 elections, sparking protests in Addis Ababa and other cities. A judicial inquiry after the election concluded that government security forces had killed 193 opposition supporters in the unrest.

In October and November of 2008, the government arrested 15 members of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement, an opposition party, on suspicion of belonging to a separatist group. Last month, Birtukan Mideksa, the country’s leading opposition politician, was arrested and jailed for life after a dispute with the government over a pardon agreement that had freed her in 2007.

Rights Monitor

Among the NGOs likely to be banned is the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, or EHRCO, a non-profit organization that has issued more than 140 reports detailing summary executions, disappearances and unlawful detentions of Ethiopians over the past 17 years.

More than a dozen of the group’s staff and members were arrested in the wake of Ethiopia’s disputed 2005 elections, during which EHRCO ran voter education programs, Yoseph Mulugeta, the group’s secretary-general, said in an interview

About 99 percent of the 1,500-member group’s 4 million birr ($400,000) annual budget comes from foreign sources, including the U.S. based National Endowment for Democracy, Canada’s overseas aid agency, and the embassies of European governments.

As a result of the law, many of the group’s 60 investigators and administrators across the country have been notified they’re likely to lose their jobs.

“Who watches when the government violates human rights?” Mulugeta said. “In many countries the government is the biggest violator of human rights. There needs to be independent watchers.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: January 6, 2009 10:34 EST

Ethiopia imposes aid agency curbs, BBC

2009-01-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.ethioguardian.com/news.php?extend.2291

Ethiopia's parliament has passed a controversial bill imposing tight restrictions on aid agencies.

Foreign agencies are prohibited from a number of areas including human rights, equality, conflict resolution and the rights of children. Local groups that receive more than 10% of their funding from abroad are also banned from working in these areas. Under discussion for months, the bill has already been considerably modified amid objections from aid organisations.

It's an attempt by the ruling party to banish all those it sees as a threat to its tight grip on powerTemesgen Zewdie, opposition MP

Parliament approved the legislation on Tuesday - Orthodox Christmas Eve - by 327 votes to 79, according to the AFP news agency, before members headed home for the holiday.

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says at the heart of the bill and causing the most fuss is a clause aimed at preventing foreign interference in issues which the government believes should be a purely Ethiopian affair.

She says some of the organisations affected, like the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, could be seen as political and have long been a thorn in the government's flesh.

But, she adds, if the law is rigorously applied it could also catch much less controversial groups which are doing valuable work but would never be able to fund their activities from purely local sources.

The bill bans international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from five sorts of activity:

• The advancement of human and democratic rights

• The promotion of equality between peoples, sexes or religions

• Campaigning for children's rights or the rights of the disabled

• Conflict resolution and reconciliation

• Work on criminal justice issues.

The bill's provisions imposing the same restrictions on Ethiopian NGOs which receive more than 10% of their funding from foreign sources will affect many agencies, according to our correspondent.

She says this is because a number of foreign donors prefer to channel their aid through the voluntary sector rather than giving it to the government.

A defence of the bill published by the ruling party described this attitude as a neo-liberalist concept which sees African governments as obstacles to development.

The government denies the bill is intended to restrict aid work.

"Civil organisations will be able to function without hindrances. They won't face restrictions as long as they respect the country's laws," government whip Hailemariam Desalegn said.

But opposition MP Temesgen Zewdie was quoted by AFP as telling MPs before the vote: "As far as we're concerned, it's an attempt by the ruling party to banish all those it sees as a threat to its tight grip on power."

The US government in particular has protested loudly to the Horn of Africa nation about the proposals, but to very little effect, says our correspondent.

Ethiopia is among the world's top aid recipients.

Ethiopia NGO Bill: 10% "still poisonous for government"

2009-01-04T07:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.ethioguardian.com/news.php?extend.2284

The bill seeks to prohibit foreign organisations and local charities from engaging in activities which promote human and democratic rights, promoting ethnic equality, conflict resolution and reconciliation, child rights and the right of the disabled people.

EPRDF/Weyane is planning a law to limit foreign funding for non-governmental organisations to less than 10 percent and lock out foreign organisations from funding pro-democracy activities.

The proposed law, which has been at the centre of a raging debate on whether parliament should move on to deprive the local economy extra earnings from foreign non-governmental organisations, is set to move to the amendment stage in parliament.

Ethiopia’s Justice Minister Berhan Hailu, who hosted local and foreign non-governmental organisations at a parliamentary-sanctioned debate on the proposed law on 25 December, said that the government would move to make it law.

The bill seeks to prohibit foreign organisations and local charities from engaging in activities which promote human and democratic rights, promoting ethnic equality, conflict resolution and reconciliation, child rights and the right of the disabled people.

The law does not provide avenues for direct government engagement in funding these key areas, which form the basis of most foreign-funded programmes across Africa.

The proposed law will also ban foreign NGOs from engaging in activities that seek to invest in the efficiency of the justice and law enforcement services.

Norway, Denmark and the Nordic states, seen among the world’s most generous donors, have recently concentrated their funding on justice reform, law and order.

These reforms specifically target the police and the court systems.

"It is our responsibility to consider ideas from all sides and provide parliament with adequate information to vote on," Ethiopian Parliamentarian Asmelash Weldeselasie, who chairs the powerful Legal and Administrative Affairs Committee, told the local media.

Ethiopian opposition politicians have shown their disapproval of the Bill on Registration and Regulation of Charities and Societies, designed to curb excessive foreign engagement in the NGO work across most of the sensitive areas, including democracy and justice.

Ethiopian NGOs have prevailed upon the country’s top political leaders, including Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, to stop the legislation of the Bill, on which debate has raged in parliament over the past month.

Parliament has been sizing up the bill through its key legislative committees over the past month and on Christmas Day, an official working day for the Ethiopian society - which is waiting to celebrate the Christmas on 7 January - called for a public hearing on the bill.

The bill has been examined by the Parliamentary Legal and Administrative Affairs committee as well as the Foreign Security and Social Affairs Committee, and it is awaiting final steps of passage in the House before it finally becomes law.

Ethiopian opposition politicians have urged the government to seek other measures of controlling foreign non-governmental organisations, gaining popularity as the civil society, which have become more radical than traditional opposition political parties.

The opposition said Ethiopians do not have enough money to contribute to local charities and that limiting their source of funding would cripple the economy.

However, the Justice Ministry insisted at the public hearing that the 10 percent foreign financing window already granted is "still poisonous" for the government.

"The 10 percent funding from foreign sources is still poisonous. But we decided to handle all the consequences," the Business Weekly, Fortune newspapers, quoted the Justice Minister saying in its latest edition on sale this week.

Ethiopia: Birtukan arrested and Prof. Mesfin severely beaten

2008-12-29T07:06:00.001-08:00

Ethiopia: Birtukan arrested and Prof. Mesfin severely beaten

Ethioguardian: The leader of UDJ (Andenet) Party, Judge Birtukan Midekisa, has been arrested today early in the moring around 8:20 Ethiopian local time. She was arrested this morning when she came out of Pastor Danile's office. As they took Birtukan, the EPRDF forces have severely beaten Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam, who was walking along with her. Until now, it is not known where Birtukan is held. The EPRDF forces are also rounding up other UDJ members and activists. Prof. Mesfin is taken to hospital because of the serious injuries. The Zenawi forces also arrested Birtukan's driver; they are also asking and trying to find the UDJ party structure to arrest other members of UDJ. The UDJ office was also searched without any court warrant.

On 23-12-2008, the Zenawi's EPRDF government asked Birtikan to distance herself from the speech she gave while she was on a work trip in Europe. On this meetings, Birtukan told Ethiopians that she signed more an agreement letter than a guilt acceptance letter before being released from the EPRDF prison last year. On 22 12-2008,her party ,UDJ, backed her position in a written statement. On 23-12-2008, Zenawi's government gave Birtukan three days to distance herself from her speech and accept the guilt apology.

In a letter written yesterday, Birtukan explained the content of her speech, her understanding about the whole negotiation and signing procedure. In her letter Birtukan also explained that she was granted a presidential pardon, which can not be taken back without any procedure.

Breakthrough of the Year 2008: Reprogramming Cells

2008-12-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

By inserting genes that turn back a cell's developmental clock, researchers are gaining insights into disease and the biology of how a cell decides its fate

This year, scientists achieved a long-sought feat of cellular alchemy. They took skin cells from patients suffering from a variety of diseases and reprogrammed them into stem cells. The transformed cells grow and divide in the laboratory, giving researchers new tools to study the cellular processes that underlie the patients' diseases. The achievement could also be an important step on a long path to treating diseases with a patient's own cells.

CREDIT: C. BICKEL/SCIENCE

The feat rests on a genetic trick, first developed in mice and described 2 years ago, in which scientists wipe out a cell's developmental "memory," causing it to return to its pristine embryonic state and then regrow into something else. In 2008, researchers achieved another milestone in cell reprogramming. In an elegant study in live mice, they prompted cells to make the leap directly from one mature cell into another--flouting the usual rule that development of cells is a one-way street. These and other advances in tweaking cells to assume new identities add up to make the now flourishing field of cellular reprogramming Science's Breakthrough of the Year.

CREDIT: LESTER V. BERGMAN/CORBIS

See
Web links
on reprogramming
cells

This year's breakthroughs have done much to wipe out memories of a major scandal that erupted 3 years ago, after scientists in South Korea fraudulently claimed to have used somatic cell nuclear transfer--the technique used to clone Dolly the sheep--to generate stem cells from patients suffering from type 1 diabetes, spinal cord injury, and a congenital immune disease. The debacle dealt the field a huge setback; patient-specific stem cells seemed like a distant prospect.

The new developments build on two previous breakthroughs. Ten years ago last month, scientists in Wisconsin announced that they had cultured human embryonic stem (hES) cells--cells with the potential to form any cell type in the body. That power, known as pluripotency, opened up a world of possibilities in developmental biology and medical research, but it came with baggage: Because isolating the cells typically destroys the embryo, the research sparked fierce debates over bioethics. In many countries, including the United States, political decisions limited the work scientists could do with hES cells.

In 2006, Japanese researchers reported that they had found a possible way around the practical and ethical questions surrounding hES cells. By introducing just four genes into mouse tail cells growing in a lab dish, they could produce cells that looked and acted very much like ES cells. They called these cells induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Last year, in a development recognized as the first runner-up in Science's 2007 Breakthrough of the Year issue, the same team and two others in the United States extended the reprogramming technique to human cells. That result opened the floodgates to new research.

Cells, made to order

For nearly a decade, stem cell biologists have sought a way to make long-lived cell lines from patients suffering from hard-to-study diseases. (Most adult cells do not survive culture conditions in the lab, so taking cells of interest directly from patients doesn't work.) This year, two groups achieved that goal. One team derived iPS cell lines from the skin cells of an 82-year-old woman suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), a degenerative disease that attacks the motor neurons, causing gradual paralysis. The scientists then directed the cells to form neurons and glia, the cells that are most affected by the disease (photos, below).

Just a week later, another group reported making patient-specific iPS cell lines for 10 different diseases (see table), among them muscular dystrophy, type 1 diabetes, and Down syndrome. Many of these diseases are difficult or impossible to study in animal models; the reprogrammed cells give scientists a new tool for studying the molecular underpinnings of disease. They may also prove useful in screens for potential drugs. Eventually, such techniques might allow scientists to correct genetic defects in the lab dish and then treat patients with their own repaired cells.

Another paper published this year suggests that the reprogramming exit ramp does not have to lead back to an embryonic state but can take a cell directly to a new mature fate. American researchers, working in mice, reprogrammed mature pancreas cells called exocrine cells into beta cells, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin and are destroyed by type 1 diabetes. The team injected a cocktail of three viruses into the pancreases of adult mice. The viruses primarily infected the exocrine cells, and each one carried a different gene known to play a role in beta cell development. Within days, the treated mice formed insulin-producing cells that looked and acted like bona fide beta cells.

The results are surprising because in living creatures, specialized cells almost never change course, changing, say, from a muscle cell into a lung cell. Such direct reprogramming, however, might be simpler and safer than using pluripotent cells to treat some diseases. The technique might also enable scientists to speed up the lab production of desired cell types, using defined factors to change one type of cultured cell directly into another.

Wanted: more breakthroughs
Although researchers made impressive progress in 2008, several more breakthroughs are needed before cellular reprogramming yields its first cure for disease. For reprogramming to be safe enough to use in cell therapy, researchers must find an efficient, reliable way to trigger it. They also want to understand exactly how the process works. Although dozens of labs have used the technique, what is happening inside the reprogrammed cell remains a mystery, and a combination of chance events seems to determine which rare cells end up being reprogrammed. A leading theory is that some of the reprogramming factors first help to loosen up the DNA in a cell's nucleus, making it easier to reactivate turned-off genes. Then the other factors help to set off a cascade of protein signals that give a cell its new identity (see the Review by Gurdon and Melton on p. 1811).

The original reprogramming recipe relies on viruses to insert the reprogramming genes into the infected cell's genome, altering the DNA permanently. Scientists are wary of that approach for a couple of reasons. First, the inserted DNA could interrupt existing genes--for example, those that guard against cancer, leaving the cells likely to form tumors. And although the inserted genes seem to turn off after reprogramming is finished, allowing the cell's own genes to take over, scientists worry that the inserted genes could be reactivated or could have other subtle effects on the cell.

For that reason, labs around the world are working on other ways to trigger reprogramming. This year, they made rapid progress. Several groups found that they could substitute chemicals for some of the inserted genes. Another found that adenoviruses could also do the trick, at least in mouse cells. Adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, do not insert themselves into the genome. The viruses express their genes long enough to reprogram the cells, but as the cells divide, the viruses are diluted down to undetectable levels, leaving reprogrammed cells with their original genomes unchanged. Researchers in Japan showed that rings of DNA called plasmids could also carry the required genes into the cell. The alternatives are much less efficient than the original recipe, however, and most have not yet worked in human cells, which are harder to reprogram than mouse cells.

CREDIT: DIMOS ET AL. (GROUP OF THREE)

To be useful, reprogramming also needs to become much more efficient. Most experiments have managed to reprogram fewer than one in 10,000 cells. In what seems to be a lucky break for the field, however, two groups showed this year that the skin cells called keratinocytes are particularly easy to reprogram. Researchers can reprogram roughly 1% of the keratinocytes they treat, and the process takes only 10 days instead of the several weeks that other cells require. Hair follicles (photo, above) are a rich source of keratinocytes, and researchers in California and Spain showed that they could efficiently derive personalized cell lines from cells taken from a single human hair plucked from the scalp--an even easier source of cells than cutting out a piece of skin.

CREDITS: C. BICKEL/SCIENCE; JERRY COOKE/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/GETTY IMAGES

Finally, reprogramming needs better quality control. This year, an American group took a major step in that direction by making cells in which the reprogramming genes could be turned on by the addition of the antibiotic doxycycline. They then used the reprogrammed cells to generate "second generation" iPS cells that are genetically identical--each contains the same viral inserts. These cells will allow scientists to study the process of reprogramming for the first time under standardized conditions and should help to reveal the biochemical processes that enable an adult cell to take an exit ramp from its one-way path of development.

A thorough understanding of reprogramming is not enough, however. Ten years after the discovery of human ES cells, scientists are still working on standardizing procedures for coaxing pluripotent cells to become mature tissue. It's a critical problem: Stray pluripotent cells used in therapies could trigger dangerous tumors. And even though scientists can easily prompt pluripotent cells to become beating heart cells in a lab dish, no one has yet perfected a way to get such cells to integrate into the body's tissues to replace or repair their diseased counterparts. But researchers are moving faster down the highway of discovery than many had expected or dared to hope.

Online Extras on Reprogramming Cells

Papers and Articles

I. Park et al., "Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells," Cell 134, 877-886 (2008)

P. Gadue and G. Cotsarelis, "Epidermal Cells Rev Up Reprogramming," Nature Biotechnology 26, 1243 (2008)

N. Maherali et al., "A High-Efficiency System for the Generation and Study of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells," Cell Stem Cell 3, 340-345 (2008)

J. Hanna et al., "Direct Reprogramming of Terminally Differentiated Mature B Lymphocytes to Pluripotency," Cell 133, 250-264 (2008)

A. Marson et al., "Wnt Signaling Promotes Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Pluripotency," Cell Stem Cell 3, 132-135 (2008)

M. Wernig et al., "A Drug-Inducible Transgenic System for Direct Reprogramming of Multiple Somatic Cell Types," Nature Biotechnology 26, 916-294 (2008)

R. Blelloch, "Short Cut to Cell Replacement," Nature 455, 604 (2008)

Q. Zhou1 et al., "In vivo Reprogramming of Adult Pancreatic Cxocrine Cells to β-Cells," Nature 455, 627 (2008)

T. S. Mikkelsen et al., "Dissecting Direct Reprogramming Through Integrative Genomic Analysis," Nature 454, 49-55 (2008)

D. Huangfu et al., "Induction of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Primary Human Fibroblasts with Only Oct4 and Sox2," Nature Biotechnology 26, 1269-1275 (2008)

T. Aasen, "Efficient and Rapid Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Keratinocytes," Nature Biotechnology 26, 1276-1284 (2008)

J. T. Dimos, et al., "Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated from Patients with ALS Can Be Differentiated into Motor Neurons," Science 321, 1218 (2008)

M. Wernig et al., "Neurons Derived from Reprogrammed Fibroblasts Functionally Integrate into the Fetal Brain and Improve Symptoms of Rats with Parkinson's Disease," Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 105, 5856-5861 (2008)

M. F. Pera, "A New Year and a New Era," Nature 451, 135 (2008)

J. B. Kim, "Pluripotent Stem Cells Induced from Adult Neural Stem Cells by Reprogramming with Two Factors," Nature 454, 646 (2008)

M. Stadtfeld et al., "Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated Without Viral Integration," Science 322, 945-949 (2008);; published online 25 September 2008 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1162494]

T. Aoi et al., "Generation of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Adult Mouse Liver and Stomach Cells," Science 321, 699 (2008); published online 12 February 2008 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1154884]

M. Nakagawa et al., "Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells without Myc from Mouse and Human Fibroblasts," Nature Biotechnology 26 101-106 (2008)

S. Yamanaka, "Strategies and New Developments in the Generation of Patient-Specific Pluripotent Stem Cells," Cell Stem Cell 1, 39-49 (2007)

K. Okita, et al., "Generation of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Without Viral Vectors," Science 322, 949 (2008); published online 8 October 2008 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1164270]

C. Holden, "Biologists Change One Cell Type Directly Into Another," Science 321, 1143(2008)

A. G. Bang and M. K. Carpenter, "Deconstructing Pluripotency," Science 320, 58-59 4 April 2008 320: 58-59 (2008)

C. Holden and G. Vogel, "A Seismic Shift for Stem Cell Research," Science 319, 560-563 (2008)

D. Normile, "Shinya Yamanaka: Modest Researcher, Results to Brag About," Science 319, 562 (2008)

C. Holden and G. Vogel, "Nuclear Transfer: Still on the Table," Science 319, 563 (2008)

Interesting Web Sites

International Society for Stem Cell Research
A rich resource on stem cells including a news archive and information for scientists and general readers.

NIH Stem Cell Information
Comprehensive resource about U.S. federal research policy and stem cells that includes links to news and funding opportunities.

Information on specific diseases:

ALS: http://www.alsa.org/
ADA-SCID: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/SCImm.html
Gaucher disease type III: http://www.gaucherdisease.org/
Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies: http://www.mda.org/disease/; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/md/md.htm
Down syndrome: http://www.ndss.org/
Parkinson's disease: http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=201&srcid=-2; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm
Juvenile diabetes mellitus: http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes.jsp; http://www.jdrf.org/
Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene=sbds
Huntington disease: http://www.hdsa.org/; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/huntington/huntington.htm
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/lesch_nyhan/lesch_nyhan.htm; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=leschnyhansyndrome

ETHIOPIA: Do they know it's (il)legal? clampdown on civil society?

2008-12-23T06:18:00.000-08:00

ETHIOPIA: Do they know it's (il)legal? clampdown on civil society?
DAKAR, 23 December 2008 (IRIN) - Is a proposed law to regulate charities in Ethiopia an attempt to regulate a sprawling sector and block foreign political interference or a clampdown on civil society?

A draft proclamation published and revised several times this year has been criticised by African and international rights groups. Ethiopian civil society groups allege some provisions are unconstitutional.

Critics argue the proposed rules, especially on foreign funding of Ethiopian NGOs, will deliberately stifle local human rights groups critical of the government and could disrupt aid operations implemented by local groups.

The government disagrees. Meles Tilahun, a whip in parliament, told IRIN: "The law is needed to create a conducive environment for NGOs and CSOs [civil society organisations] and provide a separate legal framework for them. It does not mean to shut them down."

The government has, however, commented that the charity sector has been used by "political activists" who are working on "other issues", not "catastrophes that required aid and assistance", according to a communiqué released in September 2008.

The law, the Proclamation for the Registration and Regulation of Charities and Societies, has been passed by Ethiopia's Council of Ministers but has not yet been presented to parliament, where pro-government MPs command an overwhelming majority. A hearing is expected on 24 and 25 December.

A donor official told IRIN: "There is currently no standard operating procedure for CSOs to work in Ethiopia and having a common set of rules and regulations is a good thing."

But attempts to revise the law seem to be running out of time. "We've been lobbying to get the bill changed before it is enacted but we've almost come to the end of the road," said the head of an international NGO in Addis Ababa, who asked not to be named.

The (draft) law

The law establishes an oversight agency, rules and supervision for the establishment of trusts and endowments, societies and charities. Rules governing fund-raising, membership and governance are detailed. Strong powers to investigate and oversee CSOs and tough penalties are set out.

Most controversially, the law restricts activity in human and democratic rights, gender or ethnic equality, conflict resolution, the strengthening of judicial practices or law enforcement. Only Ethiopian charities or societies having no more than 10 percent of their spending from "foreign sources" would be able to work in those areas.

However, several categories of organisation are exempted, according to a copy of the draft law on the NGO consortium Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) website:
"Religious organisations, international or foreign organisations operating in Ethiopia by virtue of an agreement with the government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; 'Edir', 'Ekub' [traditional cooperative schemes] and other similar cultural or religious associations; and societies governed by other laws."

The impact on international NGOs with government agreements may therefore be limited.

Objections

In November, a CRDA task force welcomed the concept of a legal framework for CSOs, but set out a number of objections to the draft: the definitions of charities and permitted activities; the lack of a right to judicial review or appeal and the requirement that CSOs must have branches in five regions; "discriminatory selection and privileging of mass-based organisations"; lack of recognition for self-regulation by the sector; a 30 percent restriction on administrative costs; too many board members nominated by the government; charities not exempt from taxes and duty; and requirement to register with the authorities within one year of the bill taking effect.

The CRDA-sponsored report also argues that the foreign funding provisions restrict the participation of the Ethiopian diaspora and the constitutional freedom of assembly.

The CRDA commentary is only one of several critiques published by Ethiopian civil society, including prominent groups such as the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, which is frequently critical of the government and heavily dependent on foreign funding.

Reactions

The US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleged the law represented "a complex web of arbitrary restrictions on the work civil society groups can engage in, onerous bureaucratic hurdles, draconian criminal penalties, and intrusive powers of surveillance" and urged parliament to reject the bill.

Amnesty International, the development committee of the European Parliament, and the civil society lobby group CIVICUS, also criticised the law, as did the US government.

"I am not aware of an NGO law elsewhere that is more restrictive,"
said Chris Albim-Lackay, senior researcher in HRW's Africa division. "It will render the activities of most international and local human rights organisations Illegal."

However, despite reservations, many NGOs and donors agreed that regulation was needed.

But ultimately the law could end up weakening Ethiopian civil society, some argue.

"Everyone respects sovereignty. But it depends what you define as national interest. We think it's healthy that people complain about the government and provoke citizens to complain because it leads to better outcomes for societies as a whole," the NGO representative said.

Other NGO laws

Ethiopia is not alone in coming under fire for its NGO law. In 2004, Zimbabwe passed a law banning domestic groups working on human rights and governance from receiving foreign funding, including Zimbabweans abroad. The law set up a government oversight mechanism that the US Bureau of Public Affairs called "highly intrusive and subject to political manipulation".

Russia's 2006 NGO law means the government can decline to register branches of foreign organisations where their "goals and objectives create a threat to the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity, national unity, unique character, cultural heritage and national interests of the Russian Federation".

And in the countries hosting western critics, there are restrictions too. In the UK, foreign NGOs must register under one of six categories: prevention or relief of poverty; advancement of education, religion; health or saving lives; citizenship and community development; human rights; conflict resolution or reconciliation, and can lobby for political or legal change only if it would further one of these goals.

The Ethiopian government has mentioned US law in its defence. In the USA, tax-exempt NGOs can lobby but "may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of their activities and may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates". However, "social welfare" tax-exempt organisations are not limited in this way.

Impact

Ethiopia receives more than US$1 billion of humanitarian and development aid every year, and reports indicate some 3,300 NGOs operate around the country.

"A significant number of programmes under the new law could be prohibited," a donor official told IRIN, referring to those focussing on strengthening the judicial system, conflict resolution, and democracy and governance. "If the law is implemented in black and white, some non-profits might have no future," an NGO head told IRIN.

International NGOs are concerned about the status of local non-profits that play a major role in implementing projects (and might fall foul of the 10 percent rule) and the "rights-based" discourse and advocacy element in NGO work. Some argue that over the past two decades NGO work has inevitably become more "political". Others have been reassured they will not have to leave or curtail their "classic humanitarian" operations and advocacy relating to food, health, education and water and sanitation.

"While regulation is needed, the law could have a 'chilling' effect on aid operations in Ethiopia, by creating an atmosphere of fear, distrust and potentially weakening innovation. That is where the law is quite threatening," a donor representative told IRIN.

Lobbying

Advocacy may have paid off in small ways.

There have been some improvements to the latest draft bill, issued in December, according to Catherine Shea, programme director with the US Center for Not-for-Profit Law, with the punishment of a prison sentence dropped for unregistered NGOs.

However, employees of charities that fail to keep proper accounts, or whose administration costs exceed 30 percent of overall programming costs, can still be imprisoned.

One aid official said the restrictions followed apparent meddling by NGOs after the 2005 elections - the move is designed to ensure outsiders do not interfere in 2010 elections.

The government's September commentary pointedly objected to aid operations being used by "political actors... which can sway votes in national elections".

Ethiopia: Disputed Ethiopia-Eritrea border town still stirs war fears

2008-12-23T03:54:00.001-08:00

By Emmanuel Gujon, AFP Writer | December 23, 2008
Every morning at dawn, groups of Ethiopian soldiers poke long metal-tipped poles into the soil on the dirt track linking Badme, a dusty border town, with civilization, looking for landmines.
Major Shale Taame says Eritreans sneak across the border to plant the landmines at night, and it falls to the border guards on the dawn shift to clear them up.

"It's a real danger and it is our duty to ensure the safety of the citizens," says the major.

Officials insist this is no idle fear-mongering, and point to the September 11th killing of three civilians, blown up when their jeep hit a landmine as Ethiopians celebrated their New Year.

But there are no landmines today, and the road can be opened to traffic, as it is every day at 7am, once the soldiers have made their checks.

Later, Badme dozes in the heat of the afternoon, the hot wind making a small whirlwind of the dust lifted by a herd of sheep picking at the dried brush.

An Ethiopian flag stretches above the village and its red earth main street, the sun beating down on the rows of corrugated iron rooftops.

This dust-blown settlement in Ethiopia's far north is an unlikely cause celebre. Yet it remains a symbol of the country's bitter border war with neighbouring Eritrea that cost a staggering 80 000 lives between 1998 and 2002, and of the continuing distrust between the two sides.

The international commission charged with tracing out a border handed Badme to Eritrea. Addis Ababa provisionally accepted the decision, on condition further negotiations would be opened to settle other disputed areas.

When Asmara protested, Ethiopia retained its grip on Badme, regardless of international decision.

"This place is an Ethiopian place since ancient times, so how could we give it to Eritrea?" asks Tilahun Gebremedhin, the local administrative leader.

"It is our land, and we'll never give it to them and we are ready to fight for it, to keep it," he adds.

The message is clear and because this zone is under close military surveillance, no one dares to say otherwise. Locals prefer to talk about the prevailing calm, but they also fear a reprise of the war that can only be prompted, goes the refrain, by Eritrea.

'The blood is the same on both sides of the border'

"We are not very afraid now because we have our army here to protect us. We are settled peacefully in our place and are trying to leave a normal life," says 45-year-old Letay Kidane, who runs a small shop in the main street.

It is the Eritrean government of Issaias Afeworki she distrusts, not the Eritrean people. "The blood is the same on both sides of the border," she says.

The military presence is overpowering, with army sources saying 15 000 men are stationed here. The hills around Badme are heavily fortified, ringed with trenches. Surveillance posts loom up every few kilometres of the main road, as well as checkpoints where each vehicle is meticulously searched.

The UN mission for Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) withdrew from the buffer zone on the border when its mandate ended in July.

"In some places now, the positions are so close that we can see each other," says Shale. "For example in Dida, since the blue helmets left, the Eritreans took over their position, but we don't attack, and they don't either. The Eritrean army doesn't have the capacity to attack us anymore," adds the major.

Before the war, the Badme district comprised 10 000 people, "but today, there are only 3 960", said Tilahun, noting that some people left after the withdrawal of the UN peacekeepers.

"When UNMEE was around there was no problems, but after they moved there is more risk, even if so far nothing has happened," he explains.

Former rebel and militia member Negussa Guebreselassie (65) admits to fearing "that it can all begin again". He says that in 1998, his wife was hit in the head by a bullet. "Today the bullet is still in her body," he said.

"It is my homeland, where else can I live," said 55-year-old Mamite Guebresarkan, surrounded by her five children. The trauma of the war is still palpable for this farmer.

"I'm afraid because they came at that time by surprise. Anytime they can come again, and kill us. So yes I'm afraid and I don't want the war to start again.

"At the time of the war I ran out. The Eritrean army came and destroyed the goods, killed the cattle, killed people, so many in this town, very dangerous times," she said.

At the end of the afternoon, in the dying heat of the day, the soldiers flock into the little town. Generators are fired up, and multicoloured fairy lights flicker on in the half a dozen bars where for a few Ethiopian birr they can have a beer and choose their company for the night. -- AFP

Ethiopia:EPRDF army 'killed villagers'

2008-12-23T03:53:00.000-08:00

Ethiopia's Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebel group has accused EPRDF government forces of killing about 50 people in an attack on a village. The ONLF said troops had rounded up the villagers, before gunning them down.

It said more than 50 other people were wounded in the attack in the village of Moohaya in the south-east. Ethiopia's government has not reacted so far.

The EPRDF military was accused of carrying out atrocities in the region by a rights group this year.

Human Rights Watch said in June the military had subjected civilians to executions, torture and rape in an attempt to put down the ONLF's rebellion.The government denied that allegation and has dismissed similar accounts as "rebel propaganda". The ONLF, founded in 1984, says it is fighting for the rights of the local Somali-speaking population.

Ethiopian clerics seek constitutional ban on homosexuality

2008-12-23T03:51:00.000-08:00

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Religious leaders in Ethiopia on Monday urged lawmakers to amend the country's constitution to ban homosexuality in a move they argue could further strengthen existing codes. At a meeting in the Ethiopian capital, nearly a dozen religious figures, including heads of Ethiopia's Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, adopted a resolution against homosexuality, which they termed as "the pinnacle of immorality."

Editors Note
Dear Clerics,
Homosexuals did not choose to be homosexual as heterosexuals did not choose to be heterosexual.
Homosexual orientation is as natural as heterosexual orientation, that sexual orientation is determined by a combination of yet unknown pre- and post-natal influences, and that it is dangerous and inappropriate to tell a homosexual that he or she could or should attempt to change his or her sexual orientation. If we see the history of these three churches, it is the church that is a "pinnacle of immorality".

They also blamed homosexuality for the rise in sexual attacks on children and young men.

"This is something very strange in Ethiopia, the land of the Bible that condemns this very strongly," said Abune Paolos, the patriarch of Ethiopia's Orthodox Church.

"For people to act in this manner they have to be dumb, stupid like animals," he told reporters. "We strongly condemn this behaviour. They (homosexuals) have to be disciplined and their acts discriminated, they have to be given a lesson."

Homosexuals can be jailed for a minimum of six months in Ethiopia, where hostility towards gays is high and sexual practices are very conservative.

But while homosexuality is illegal under the country's penal code, it is not mentioned in the constitution.

"We urge parliamentarians to... endorse a ban on homosexual activity in the constitution," the resolution read.

It also urged the government to establish more rehabilitation centres and to place strict controls on the distribution of pornographic materials.

The head of local NGO United for Life Ethiopia said homosexuality was not a human rights issue.

"Here we don't believe that it is and we don't believe that it is related to creation -- it has no biological base," head Sium Antonios said.

"It is unacceptable, it is immoral. Every religious leader said in one voice that it is the pinnacle of immorality," he added.

Editors Note
Dear Clerics,
Homosexuals did not choose to be homosexual as heterosexuals did not chose to be heterosexual.
Homosexual orientation is as natural as heterosexual orientation, that sexual orientation is determined by a combination of yet unknown pre- and post-natal influences, and that it is dangerous and inappropriate to tell a homosexual that he or she could or should attempt to change his or her sexual orientation. If we see the history of these three churches, it is the church that is a "pinnacle of immorality".

Do you think this words from the bible should also be included in a constitution
DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

Ethiopians are not confident about EPRDF Institutions

2008-01-30T07:57:00.000-08:00

Ethiopians are not confident about EPRDF InstitutionsMajority of Ethiopians dissatisfied with EPRDF institutions. Only religious organizations elicit the trust of a majority!

GALLUP POLL

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the Horn of Africa, democracy is rather scarce. But in 2005, Ethiopian voters went to the polls in the country's first multiparty parliamentary elections to pave the way for establishing democratic values. The opposition and the ruling party, however, claimed victory, thrusting the nation into political crisis and violence. After opposition leaders were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for "outrage against the constitution and incitement of armed rebellion" (although the government pardoned them last summer), Ethiopians' hope for a peaceful political transition was shattered. In 2006, Human Rights Watch reported that the government used "excessive force" to repress any political dissent over the election outcome and jailed Ethiopians arbitrarily.Further, before Gallup started polling in the country, the government launched a military operation in the Ogaden, Ethiopia's Somali region, to eliminate a separatist movement called the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). In the process, many Ethiopian civilians were killed. It is against this challenging backdrop that Gallup gauged Ethiopians' confidence in their country's institutions.The poll conducted in July 2007 reveals that relatively few Ethiopians express confidence in their country's social and political institutions. Religious organizations are the only national entities to garner trust from a majority of respondents (68%). The military rank a distant second, as 46% of Ethiopians express confidence in the armed forces. Further, fewer than 4 in 10 Ethiopians express confidence in the other national institutions tested in the poll. The national government garners trust from just 28% of Ethiopians, and the judiciary fares as poorly, eliciting confidence from about one-quarter of respondents. But participatory politics prompt the lowest levels of trust, as only 13% of Ethiopians have confidence in the honesty of elections.Across the sub-Saharan African region, respondents typically are most likely to express the greatest confidence in religious organizations followed by the military. Although the same pattern prevails in Ethiopia, respondents are less likely than most of their regional neighbors to express confidence in their national institutions. Ethiopians' level of trust in their national government, judiciary, and the honesty of elections is lower than the regional medians for sub-Saharan Africa by roughly 30 percentage points. Ethiopians' trust in religious organizations lags behind the regional median (82%) by 14 points. Furthermore, two social institutions prompt the greatest gaps in trust: Twenty-one percent of Ethiopians say they have confidence in the quality and integrity of their media, compared with a sub-Saharan median of 60%, and just 16% of Ethiopians have confidence in their country's healthcare system versus a regional median of 53%.In light of the allegations of fraud that followed the 2005 national elections and the civil unrest that ensued, Ethiopians' relatively low level of trust in the honesty of elections is, perhaps, to be expected. But it is the consistent gap in confidence between Ethiopians and other sub-Saharan Africans across all eight institutions that gives pause. According to Terrence Lyons, professor of conflict resolution at George Mason University, the poll findings suggest that stability in the country is fragile. Says Lyons, "the population has acquiesced to the ruling party, but it doesn't mean that [Ethiopians] agree with the government policies.

"Survey Methods

Results are based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, in Ethiopia conducted in July 2007. Poll data from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were collected in 2007. For Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Togo, the data were collected throughout 2006.For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

The TPLF Manifesto of February 1976 - The Republic of Greater Tigray

2008-01-14T13:49:00.001-08:00

By Dereje Tariku (Source: www.eppf.info) / January 13, 2008(First Post Date Unknown)
The Tigray People Liberation Front, TPLF had published their organization’s manifesto in February 1976, the booklet was printed in Sudan. The TPLF manifesto, clearly defined who a Tigryan is, the land that the TPLF considers as Tigray, and the final destination of the TPLF. The following comprises some important contents of the manifesto.
a) A Tigryan is defined as anybody that speaks the language of Tigrigna including those who live outside Tigray, the Kunamas, the Sahos, the Afar and the Taltal, the Agew, and the Welkait.b) The geographic boundaries of Tigray extend to the borders of the Sudan including the lands of Humera and Welkait from the region of Begemidir in Ethiopia, the land defined by Alewuha which extends down to the regions of Wollo and including Alamata, Ashengie, and Kobo, and Eritrean Kunama, the Saho and Afar lands including Assab.C) The final goal of the TPLF is to secede from Ethiopia as an independent “Republic of Greater Tigray” by liberating the lands and peoples of Tigray. This being the manifesto of TPLF in 1976, the question is how much of this program is implemented so far? The implementation of the manifesto had two important stages classified as a first stage of re-demarcating Ethiopian internal boundaries and a second stage of acquiring Tigryan lands from Eritrea and secede as an independent nation. Accordingly, the following important events took place:1) After TPLF succeeded in holding power in Ethiopia, they have been working hard to change the internal regional administrations of Ethiopia at large and of Tigray in particular. As a result, they have imposed dictation on the Ethiopian parliament and succeeded in redefining the borders of different nationalities within Ethiopia. The boundaries of Tigray were defined exactly according to what was registered in their manifesto. They did this by annexing the lands of Welkait Humera up to the borders of Sudan from Begemidir province and Wollo’s Raya including Ashengie Alamata and Kobo. In order to justify the demarcation, they had to give up something in return and the lands closer to the Taltal and Afar regions of Ethiopia in eastern Tigray were temporarily sacrificed until the second stage of the project takes place. This important re-demarcation of Ethiopian internal boundaries resulted in the successful completion of the first stage of forming “Greater Tigray” later to be converged into the “Republic of Tigray” after the second stage is completed.2) After completing the annexation of “Tigryan” lands from the provinces of Begemidir and Wollo, they moved ahead to compIete the annexation of portions of Eritrea to finalize the objectives of the manifesto in practice as the second stage of their project. Zalambessa is the closest one can get to the Eritrean Saho region and Adimurug in Bada. Obviously the temporarily sacrificed eastern Tigray region would now be simultaneously acquired in this second stage of the project since there would be no organized force that could stop the Weyanes inside Ethiopia. By claiming these lands and forcibly annexing them, the manifested “Democratic Republic of Tigray” would be practically reaIized and then of course cessation from Ethiopia would follow.3) AccompIishing the dream inside Ethiopia was easily performed by simply dictating terms in the parliament since TPLF administrates Ethiopia, while means to finish returning the port of Assab would be accomplished by the Ethiopian army, financed and supported by the Ethiopian economic and human resources. Patriotic Ethiopians are expected to side with TPLF in hope of probable return of Assab to Ethiopia, while the truth is that the port city, if recaptured, would not be Ethiopian but of the would be new nation of “Greater Tigray”. This is so because the second stage of the project would have been completed at this point, making it the right time for the TPLF to secede. If there is anything that might delay the declaration of the republic after this, it would have been the time required to consolidate their control of Eritrean portions by sheer force, further using and exploiting innocent and patriotic Ethiopian peoples expectations and support. This support would again be betrayed in the final stages of the creation of the republic.4) While the imaginary manifested program is completed this way, the economic ploy had another direction. This direction was focused at transporting capital and material as much as possible from the rest of Ethiopia to Tigray for future use when the “Republic” is established. This would require for TPLF staying in power in Ethiopia until the plan is well implemented. The implementation of this economic program is crystal clear for any body who has recently traveled to Tigray. The TPLF/Weyane regime has been heavily investing Ethiopian capital in Tigray such that the region and the city of Mekele are the fastest growing in the country. Mekele is infested with so many new buildings which have no immediate contribution to the Tigryan economy. These are empty high rises ready to be used in the future when the republic which would include Assab is fully established. Besides the fact that numerous buildings have been built in Tigray at the expense of the Ethiopian economy, the following are few indicatives to that effect as to how much has so far been done in last 15 years of their power.EconomicallyA) An international airport in Mekele with no immediate importance in terms of accommodating international guests and travelers since the city has yet to grow both financially and infrastructurally. Being this the fact, however, the erection of this new and expensive airport was based on two objectives. The short term objective is to help the TPLF’s war efforts against Eritrea by bombarding the same into submission without having to worry about air distance using the Ethiopian air force from Tigray. The long term objective was to move the entire Ethiopian air force to Mekele and convert it to the air force of the republic, and at the same time to use the international airport for civil aviation of the Republic of Greater Tigray after declaring independence from Ethiopia. Two more international airports have been completed in Tigray, again with no immediate importance in terms of accommodating international travelers.B) Three colleges in Mekele namely Engineering, Medical, and Business. These colleges are complete in terms of infrastructure for future use when the republic is established.C) The Cement, Textile, Electricity Dam, Marble, and Pharmaceutical factories in Tigray which costed hundreds of millions/billions of clean Ethiopian money. The port of Massawa was used to sneak materials inside Tigray in the name of “Ethiopian imported goods”, and used exclusively for Tigray without the knowledge of government offices in Addis Ababa.D) The multiple high rising office buildings empty for now but to be soon filled by the Weyane bureaucrats in independent Tigray.E) The luxury residential homes and spacious buildings such as those known by “Debri Hills” in the out skirts of Mekele for possible embassy offices and residence of diplomats.D) Refer to the extensive list of companies owned by TPLF with the majority having their head office in Tigray.Politically and StrategicallyThe above being few of the massive investment of Ethiopian economy in Tigray, their political and strategic plans were made to be effective when the group of top TPLF leaders moved their offices from Addis Abeba to Mekele. The movement coincided with the completion of the first stage of implementing the manifesto so they can closely monitor and design the implementation of the second stage of the project. In the process, they have been effectively preparing a “strong army” from within Tigray. The same TPLF group (the TPLF Coalition Committee) dictates terms on the entire Ethiopian issues. The central government of Ethiopia listens to the central committee of the TPLF residing in Tigray which has been working under the confusing philosophical banner of the “Marxist Leninist League of Tigray”. This group is instrumental in the process of completing the second stage and the frame work for the future government of the “Republic of Greater Tigray”.After controlling Assab and other planned lands at the expense of Ethiopian human and material resources, the TPLF group would only then complete the goals of their impractical manifesto fully. As easy as it seemed to them, they will finally move towards seceding from Ethiopia as an independent nation, leaving Ethiopia in confusion, uncertainty, and extreme danger of ethnic conflict, and Eritrea under a government that can be easily controlled by their authority. Some experts say they had planned to leave Ethiopia without a central government for Ethiopian major ethnic groups such as the Amharas and the Oromos to figure it out, and for them, gaining time to consolidate their “Republic”. At this point, the dream “the Republic of Greater Tigray” would have been put in practice and Tigray would secede from Ethiopia with Assab. In their plan Assab would be Tigryan and never Ethiopian.FinallyWe encourage all Ethiopians to prove the validity of the contents in this article by requesting the manifesto from other political organizations. This dangerous manifesto has been revealed by the TPLF leaders in February 1976 during the initial stages of the organization. It is important for every Ethiopian to be informed about this issue and also raise the level of awareness and know what exactly is going on in our beloved country. Insecure and completely disorganized Ethiopia would be the result of this crazy manifesto if implemented. Materially, the north eastern Ethiopia including the entire Afar and Taltal regions and the already taken portions of Wollo and Begemidir, and politically, a chaotic and uncertain future that can lead to any thing one can possibly imagine are the results of the TPLF/Weyane’s manifesto for Ethiopia. It is important to point the fact that the Tigryan people are as victims of this plot as any other Ethiopian. The responsibility of this mess is directed towards few fascist TPLF leaders who recklessly and selfishly betrayed their own people’s struggle of 17 years. They forgot the bitter struggle in the past and became the same type of chauvinists and oppressors they fought against in the past.[/html][Submitted by Eskeatnaf]

Ethiopia's 'own Darfur' as villagers flee violence - Independent

2007-10-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Ethiopia's 'own Darfur' as villagers flee violence - Independent Ethiopia's 'own Darfur' as villagers flee government-backed violence By Steve Bloomfield in Bosasso Early one June morning, in Kamuda, a village of 200 families in the remote Ogaden region in eastern Ethiopia, 180 soldiers announced their arrival by firing guns in the air. The village, they said, had been providing food and shelter for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist rebel group . As the villagers froze in horror, the soldiers plucked out seven young women, all aged between 15 and 18, and left. [ Read the rest... ]"

CUD leaders weakened themselves.

2007-10-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "CUD leaders weakened themselves. - Reuters Analysis ANALYSIS-Ethiopia opposition out of jail but in disarray By Katie Nguyen NAIROBI, Oct 17 (Reuters) - When Ethiopian opposition leader Hailu Shawel was freed from jail, hordes of relatives and supporters swarmed his gated mansion in Addis Ababa to raise a dram of whisky to his liberty. Such was the euphoria at his release -- and that of 37 other opposition figures -- after almost two years in a maximum security prison for allegedly inciting their followers to riot in protest at a disputed 2005 election. [ Read the rest... ]"

Kinijit (CUD) delegation to visit the United States starting Aug 20

2007-08-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Kinijit delegation to visit the United States starting Aug 20
(ER)A six-member high-level delegation of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit) headed by Ato Hailu Shawel will depart Ethiopia for the United States on August 20, according to Ethiopian Review sources.

The delegates include Ato Hailu Shawel (president), Wzr Bertukan Mideksa (vice president), Dr Hailu Araya (spokesperson), Dr Berhanu Nega (Mayor of Addis Ababa), Ato Gizachew Shiferraw (executive committee member), and Ato Brook Dawit (executive committee member).

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

EthioGuardian.com: News Mortar-Like' Explosion Kills One, Injures Three in Merkato

2007-08-06T01:07:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Mortar-Like' Explosion Kills One, Injures Three in Merkato
Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa), By Dagnachew Teklu
Submitted by Yohannes Mesfin
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - A minor explosion killed one person while injuring another three people in Merakto on Thursday, in what was seen as unusual incidence in the country.

[ Read the rest... ]

EthioGuardian.com: News Of Lies, Promised Joy, “Shimagles”, Pardons and Bananas

2007-08-06T01:06:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Of Lies, Promised Joy, “Shimagles”, Pardons and Bananas
Alemayehu G. Mariam

If they will stop telling lies about us, I will stop telling the truth about them.”

Note to the reader: The following analysis may appear be a bit long for the casual reader of internet literature. I am told that “people do not read long political analysis” (and perhaps even short ones as Prof. Ephraim Isaac has proven to us). But I have been overwhelmed, as many have been, by a systematic and clever disinformation campaign calculated to mislead and deceive us about recent events in Ethiopia. We must fight back lies with Truth, and I hope the reader will take the time to read and consider my defense of the Truth against an avalanche of lies and deception that have been unleashed against us recently. Read the PDF here"

ethioguardian.com: U.S.-Ethiopia: A Double-Edged Partnership

2007-07-31T10:05:00.001-07:00

"U.S.-Ethiopia: A Double-Edged Partnership
July 31, 2007
Prepared by: Stephanie Hanson
After Ethiopia’s December invasion of Somalia to vanquish Islamic militants, many observers labeled Addis Ababa a proxy of the United States, and a few even called it a “puppet” (Guardian). Both labels implied the United States was an unseemly ally. Now, after the Ethiopian government’s recent attempt to put dozens of opposition politicians to death and reports of military abuse of civilians (HRW), Washington may be starting to balk at its close relationship with Addis Ababa (AP).

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Meles is using chemical weapon against Somalis

2007-07-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Meles is using chemical weapon against Somalis
A U.N. report accused U.S., Ethiopia over Somalia

By Mark Turner at the United Nations and Barney Jopson in Kenya
Financial Times

Ethiopia is accused of killing civilians with white phosphorus bombs, the US navy of attacking suspected al-Qaeda operatives in Puntland, and Eritrea of delivering surface-to-air missiles to Islamist militia, in a startling new report on Somalia by UN arms monitors.

[ Read the rest... ]"

Prof. Al Mariam challenges Ephrem Issac

2007-07-30T03:43:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Prof. Al Mariam challenges Ephrem Issac
Ephrem Issac trying to save a dictator.
July 29, 2007--Professor Ephrem Issaac admits his lobbying business for tyrant Ethiopian regime against the bill HR 2003. Embarrassingly he said he did not read the document. Prof. Al Mariam challenges him, “How come an academics attack a document he did not read?” Addis Dimts Radio Host Abebe Belew interviewed both Professors on Saturday July 28, 2007 about H.R. 2003. Listen to the interview here (mp3) ... "

The released CUD leaders don’t have any parliamentary seats and their release is conditional, Meles Zenawi

2007-07-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "The released CUD leaders don’t have any parliamentary seats and their release is conditional, Meles Zenawi

Ethioguardian: In a press briefing today, Meles Zenawi told his journalists that CUD leaders are released with conditions. “The pardon is given with pre-conditions”. If these pre-conditions are not satisfied the court decision can be implemented. Regarding their future political involvement, Meles said that the released leaders don’t have parliamentary seat. Their election votes have expired. They can participate in the election next year.

Read/Post Comment: 0 | Trackbacks: "

Breaking news:Ethiopia pardons 38 opposition members

2007-07-20T07:39:00.001-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Breaking news:Ethiopia pardons 38 opposition members
The family members and supporters gathered outside Kalici Prison waved Ethiopian flags and also made victory signs. They then pursued the minibuses in other vehicles because it was not clear where the politicians and activists were being taken.
(AP) - Three minibuses left an Ethiopian prison Friday carrying 38 opposition politicians and activists pardoned by the government as dozens of family members and supporters outside the facility shouted in joy and whistled.

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News]"

They are released

2007-07-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "They are released
Three minibuses carrying the thirty eight prisoners came out of Kaliti prison, sped past the busy streets of Addis and headed to the houses of the prisoners. Birtukan Mideksa and Muluneh Eyuel showed kinijit's famous 'V' sign to the cheery and whistling people waiting for their release outside the gates of the prison. Some of the people were waving flags.
[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News]"

HR 2003,US Legislation on Ethiopia Democracy Moves Forward

2007-07-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "HR 2003,US Legislation on Ethiopia Democracy Moves Forward
By Dan Robinson
WASHINGTON DC - A U.S. congressional panel has approved legislation aimed at supporting democracy and human rights in Ethiopia, sending the bill to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. VOA's Dan Robinson has this report from Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers concerned about Ethiopia have faced the choice of taking steps to pressure the government in Addis Ababa, or waiting for Ethiopia's leaders to act on their own to improve the human rights and political atmosphere there.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

Breaking news:The president of Ethiopia will announce the release of the prisoners today

2007-07-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Breaking news:
EZBreaking news: The president of Ethiopia will announce the release of the prisoners today.
Kinijit leaders reaffirm their commitment to the eight principles
Incarcerated CUD leaders will make enforcement of the eight points they stipulated as pre-conditions to joining parliament their priority if and when they are released from prison, Kaliti sources informed EZ Post. The party set the eight preconditions as fundamental principles underpinning democracy in Ethiopia. 'These are our mantra. In or out, they are the guiding principles of our struggle,' one prisoner was quoted as saying.
The leaders are, however, concerned that Meles Zenawi's recent propaganda may be affecting their work by sewing confusion among the Ethiopian people. According to Kaliti sources, the state media here is showing part of a deal that is signed by the leaders. Meles Zenawi's denouncement of the court decision, his avowal to open political space, and his promise to release them before sentencing and other commitments haven't appeared in the document being displayed by the media. The leaders have asked the Ethiopian people to wait patiently until they provide what they say is 'the true spirit of the deal.'
......"

Former TPLF Members to Establish New Party

2007-07-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Former TPLF Members to Establish New Party
Submitted by Yohanne Mesfin Melaku
(Addisfortune)Former members of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) are on the verge of setting up a new political party with a platform of sustaining the supposedly lacking real democracy to Ethiopia and protecting the sovereignty of the country. Recovering the Port of Asseb also lies at the top of its agenda."

Eritrea arrests head of British Council

2007-07-11T06:23:00.001-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Eritrea arrests head of British Council
Xan Rice, east Africa correspondent
Wednesday July 11, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Eritrea has arrested the acting head of the British Council in the capital, Asmara, and refused a British diplomat permission to leave the country following a row over a satellite internet link.

The British Council employee, an Eritrean national, has been in jail for a week, and embassy staff are extremely concerned for his wellbeing. Eritrea, seen by many as Africa's most repressive state, regularly imprisons its citizens for lengthy periods in harsh conditions and without access to legal representation"

Ethiopia-backed PM cannot deflect Somalia abuses

2007-07-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

"Commentary: Ethiopia-backed PM cannot deflect Somalia abuses
Abdulkadir Abdirahman, Special to the Middle East Times
WASHINGTON -- For some, everything that could go wrong for Somalia has now come to pass. For others, considering how rapidly Mogadishu is turning into Baghdad, the worst - both for the country and the region - is yet to come. However, there is no disputing that, with each passing day, it is becoming more and more evident that Somalia's Ethiopian occupation is neither paving the road toward a reconciliation, nor forging a way forward.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

EthioGuardian.com: News

2007-07-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "CUDP (Kinijit) on BBC
CUDP (Kinijit) on BBC
BBC on Somalia

Prosecutor seeks death for 38 prisoners

2007-07-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Prosecutor seeks death for 38 prisoners
By Anita Powell, AP Writer
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Ethiopian prosecutors on Monday asked for the death penalty for 38 politicians and activists accused of inciting violence in an attempt to overthrow the government. The court is expected to issue a sentence on July 16. The accused, who have chosen not to defend themselves, did not speak during Monday's session but will have a chance to do so during next week's court session.

[ Read the rest... ]"

The disastrous TPLF meeting in Amsterdam.

2007-07-04T07:50:00.001-07:00

The disastrous TPLF meeting in Amsterdam.
The disastrous TPLF meeting in Amsterdam. Again a shameful day for EPRDF top ambassador. Ambassador Berhane G/Kirstos paid 300 euro per person per hour for the security to stop video recording and to intimidate participants.

The disastrous TPLF meeting in Amsterdam.

2007-07-04T07:48:00.001-07:00

The disastrous TPLF meeting in Amsterdam. Again a shameful day for EPRDF top ambassador.
Ambassador Berhane G/Kirstos paid 300 euro per person per hour for the security to stop video recording and to intimidate participants.
Amsterdam (ethioguardian.com and ethioforum.org, July, 1, 2007) -- Ethiopians in The Netherlands have taught a lesson to the TPLF embassy mission in Amsterdam on Sunday. Amb. Berhane accompanied by two diplomats who came all the way from Brussels couldn't tolerate the opposite views and left out in the middle of the meeting. He is finally brought back to the hall by the participants to listen to the crimes of TPLF from the crowd. [Watch video, secret tapping]

"The Embassy paid for it but we made use of It." one participant said after the meeting. "The mission lacked morally authority to speak about Democracy, human rights and development in front of Ethiopians. That is what I observed."

The meeting started with the observance of one minute silence to commemorate the victims in civilians who had been killed, maimed and jailed by the incumbent regime in Ethiopia. Everyone but Berhane G.Kirstos and his supporters stood up and prayed for a minute.

The most embarrassing part is that from 500 invited TPLF loyalists; only four have been shown up in the meeting. The meeting hall was filled with anti-woyyane Ethiopians who took control of the entire session.

"Today's meeting clearly confirms the collapse of the regime where it is deserted even by its own supporters." Dagne Taddese says. "Where are your tens of followers whom you gave land to build house over in Addis? Where are the so called investors?" A question Berhane and co. couldn't dare to respond.

The Ethiopians finally closed the meeting by themselves after Kefale Mammo, Mesfin Aman and Dr. Assefa Negash gave their speeches on the regime's ever worsening human rights abuses, corruption and economic crisis where they get audience's full attention. A very angry Berhane G.K. didn't even get a chance to say his final word. "We have finished our meeting." Said the crowd and ended the session.

Photo camera and video tapping was not allowed by the security guards, who were paid 300.00 euro each. But we are able to secretly film some part of the drama. [Here the hidden camera]

The thugs would have learned a lesson from their meeting last month in The Hague where they were humiliated in front of their supporters.

Rights group says EPRDF is punishing civilians

2007-07-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: A human rights group accused the Ethiopian army on Wednesday of burning homes and displacing thousands of civilians in a crackdown on rebels in the volatile east.

The report, by New York-based Human Rights Watch, cited witnesses who said the army burned villages and blocked humanitarian aid to the Ogaden, where ethnic Somali rebels have been fighting the government for more than a decade. The report also said troops were seen firing on fleeing civilians "in a few cases."

"Ethiopian troops are destroying villages and property, confiscating livestock and forcing civilians to relocate," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director of Human Rights Watch.

The government last month announced a crackdown on Ogaden National Liberation Front rebels, who attacked a Chinese-run oil exploration field in April, killing 74 people.

Bereket Simon, special adviser to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, denied the Human Rights Watch accusations.

"The facts on the ground are absolutely different from what they say," Bereket said.

He added that the army tries to ensure civilians are not harmed as Ethiopian forces chase out rebels.

"This is an army that does not target civilians," he said. "That is outside the constitutional mandate of the army and they are not going to do it."

Human Rights Watch also condemned the ONLF, saying civilians are trapped between warring parties.

"The Ethiopian government appears to be pursuing an illegal strategy of collective punishment of the civilian population, and the ONLF has targeted civilians for attack," Takirambudde said.

The ONLF is fighting to overthrow the government for what it says are human rights abuses in the eastern Ogaden region of Ethiopia and to establish greater autonomy.

On Tuesday, the ONLF claimed to have ambushed and killed 43 soldiers in the east on Tuesday, but a government spokesman denied any fighting took place.

Here we go again, the pathological liar Meles Zenawi brook his words again

2007-06-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

"Here we go again, the pathological liar Meles Zenawi brook his words again
'No negotiation, the prisoners will be sentenced ' - Meles

(Ethioguardian)Meles zenawi told his parliament today, there is no negotiation with the imprisoned CUD leaders. He siad, “Negotiation can only be made with two free persons. There can be no negotiation between an organ which has imprisoned the CUD members because they broke the law, and the prisoners on the respect for the rule of law”

The Prime Minister was adamant that the issue of clemency can't be discussed in parliament before the court delivers its sentence on the prisoners as it affects the decision of the court.

From his speech we have learned that, Meles Zenawi will lot release these leaders and soon. He is using his usual way of confusion and making a crackdown even after they are in prison. The only way to get these prisoners out of Meles Zenawi prison is by acting strongly with a coordinated manner. "
EthioGuardian.com: News:

Ethiopia says preparing for any Eritrean invasion

2007-06-28T03:50:00.001-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Ethiopia says preparing for any Eritrean invasion
ADDIS ABABA, June 28 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Thursday it was making military preparations for any invasion by arch-foe and neighbour Eritrea with whom it fought a devastating border war in 1998-2000.

'It is deemed necessary to make the necessary military preparation for deterring a possible Eritrean invasion and to repulse such an invasion should it occur,' Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told parliament in a ratcheting up of the long-hostile rhetoric between the Horn of Africa nations. Eritrea denies any plan to invade Ethiopia.

EthioGuardian.com: News

Somali, Ethiopian defections to Eritrea?

2007-06-28T03:50:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News: "Somali, Ethiopian defections to Eritrea?
Submitted by Bill Weinberg on Wed, 06/27/2007 - 02:52.
Eritrean state radio reports that fifty-three weyane (Ethiopian) soldiers, including officers, have defected to Eritrea over the last few months. The soldiers are said to include three lieutenants, a second lieutenant, a sergeant, four corporals and 14 lance-corporals, who all object to Ethiopia's Somalia intervention and the regime's ethnic favoritism. Eighteen of the defectors are said to be ethnic Oromo, 15 Tigrayans, 15 Amhara and the rest are from Gurage and southern Ethiopian peoples. The Ethiopian regime is dominated by members of the Tigray ethnic group. (Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, Asmara, in Tigrinya, via BBC Monitoring, June 11) Ethiopian state television, in turn, reports that a small guerilla group in the pay of sha'biyyah (Eritrea's ruling party) operating in Teru District in Ethiopia's northeastern Afar Region has surrendered peacefully to government forces. (Ethiopian TV, Addis Ababa, in Amharic, via BBC Monitoring, June 21)

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

Jailed Ethiopians 'to be freed' BBC

2007-06-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

"
(BBC) A group of 38 Ethiopian opposition leaders found guilty of links to violent election protests is to be freed, they have told their families. They say they have signed a document to secure their release but it is not clear what this is. Their friends and relatives went on Monday morning to the town of Kaliti where they are being held but were disappointed when they were not freed.

The 38 were convicted earlier this month but have not yet been sentenced. They were originally charged with treason and genocide - charges which sparked international outrage.

Secret deal

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Addis Ababa says the speculation is that the opposition leaders might apologise for their actions, or they might finally agree to take up the seats they won in parliament, something they have refused to do so far.
But the prisoners had all refused to tell their families exactly what they had signed, this being a condition of the deal they made.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

CUD leaders expected to be released next week !

2007-06-25T09:58:00.001-07:00

"CUD leaders expected to be released next week !

(EZ)CUD leaders in prison have finally agreed to sign the proposal sent by Meles last week. If Meles doesn't, as he usually does, back down from his own proposal, our heroes will be out of prison next week. There are additional lines in the proposal including that the partial acceptance of responsibility and admission of mistake have no legal consequences.
This is a political agreement. Meles has got his face-saving agreement, and the prisoners have in turn got his admission that the court was wrong. And more; their release from the rotten concentration camp called Kaliti. Still we don't know whether Meles who is a serial breaker of agreements will uphold this one.
(fingers crossed...or may be not)"
EthioGuardian.com: News:

Bereket Simon denied any agreement regarding the release of Kinijit leaders

2007-06-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

"Bereket Simon denied any agreement regarding the release of Kinijit leaders
AFP, June 25, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopian opposition leadersÂ convicted after violent protests in the wake of contested 2005 elections have admitted their “mistakes,” their lawyer said Sunday. The lawyer said the thirty-eight accused, convicted by the High Court on June 11 for violating the constitution and trying to launch a rebellion, had signed a document to accept responsibility for the violence — a move that could prompt their release.

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Ethiopian prisoners sign paper in bid for release

2007-06-21T09:05:00.001-07:00

"Ethiopian prisoners sign paper in bid for release
Breaking News, The Washington Post
Ethiopian prisoners sign paper in bid for release
By Stephanie McCrummen,
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- Ethiopian opposition leaders jailed in a brutal crackdown following 2005 elections have signed a document accepting partial responsibility for the violence in exchange for their release, senior U.S. and Ethiopian officials said.
Only some of the 38 political detainees, whom Amnesty International has called prisoners of conscience, have agreed to sign the document. Others, including the senior opposition leaders, have refused, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are involved in the discussions.

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Meles Zemnawi's latest proposal to Kality

2007-06-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

"Meles Zemnawi's latest proposal to Kality
EMF and EZ (21 June 2007) - Mediator’s latest effort for the release of prisoners of conscience has reportedly been failed as the courageous leaders refused to sign on a proposal written by Meles Zemnawi, which contains admitting mistakes. Source close to mediators said that the political prisoners would have been released this week if they confess guilty and sign on the paper.

“The latest proposal contains two points: one is to regret for the loss of lives and the other is to claim the damage created by the riots.” Sources said. The unjustly incarcerated prisoners have accepted the first point and vehemently rejected to take partial responsibilities on damages.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

Kaliti Prison: An eye-witness account

2007-06-21T09:04:00.001-07:00

"Kaliti Prison: An eye-witness account
By Fasil Yenealem
How can a video showing armed men shooting straight into the eyebrows of young bare handed Ethiopians’ be brought as evidence against innocent people, most of whom never pulled a trigger in their life, to convict them as guilty? Who owns the guns?
May God the Almighty be praised, for he has pulled me out of the jaws of the Ethiopian hyena, for he has allowed me to write this urgent call to rescue our dear leaders, journalists and civic society members who have been languishing for almost two years in unspeakable harsh prison conditions. I am not making this call because I am an important figure. I am making this call because I have a moral responsibility as an Ethiopian citizen and I have first hand information about the prison conditions these leaders are in.
I was one of the Kaliti “prisoners of conscience” until my release on April 7, 2007. I have experienced the challenges of passing each day in prison with no means of communication and enjoyment; the challenges of listening to the insults of the uncivilized watchmen pointing their guns at us 24/7; begging them to take us to the so called health center, seeing our family be ridiculed in front of us by the unruly guards during visiting hours; the difficulty of adapting to the temperature of the congested and corrugated iron cells, the stench of the toilets during the hot days; the difficulty to control our temper when hearing the voices of young Ethiopians arrested as ‘adegegna bozene’ (hooligans) begging to be executed rather than being tortured every day.

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Prof. Mesfin Speaks

2007-06-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

"Prof. Mesfin Speaks
Prof. Mesfin’s letter from kaliti on the Weyane Kangaroo court verdict (Amharic Pdf here)" go to EthioGuardian.com: News:

National and international response on the EPRDF Kangaroo court verdict

2007-06-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

"Donald Payne & Ana Gomes on the sham Verdict U.S. expressed concern about convictions of opposition leaders in Ethiopia
Alemayehu G. Mariam,Thank You, Great Patriots!
Washington Post,38 Are Convicted in Ethiopia After Political Crackdown
IFEX Communiqué
Reporters Without Borders,journalists face prison sentences or, in two cases, death penalty
EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK ON THE SHAME VERDICT
Reactions to Kangaroo court Ruling ETP... "
Read all EthioGuardian.com: News:

IFJ Condemns Conviction of Journalists, Publishing Houses in Ethiopia

2007-06-15T05:21:00.001-07:00

"IFJ Condemns Conviction of Journalists, Publishing Houses in Ethiopia
Media release 13 June 2007

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the conviction of four journalists and three publishing houses in Ethiopia on charges they attempted to “dismantle the constitutional system” after they published articles about the anti-government riots in November 2005 that came after elections in the country six months earlier.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Woyanne returns Badme to Eritrea

2007-06-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

"Source: AP

UNITED NATIONS — After years of conflict and a tense border dispute, the Woyanne regime in Ethiopia has accepted a U.N. commission’s ruling to turn over a disputed town to Eritrea.

The Woyanne dictatorship gave its unconditional acceptance of the commission’s decision, announced five years ago, that it return the key town of Badme to Eritrea, in a letter last week to the U.N. Security Council.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

EthioGuardian.com: Ethiopian regime strikes blow against democracy, human rights

2007-06-13T03:03:00.000-07:00

"Ethiopian regime strikes blow against democracy, human rights
Washington, DC – The decision by the Ethiopian regime of Meles Zenawi to convict 38 opposition leaders and journalists in a show trial of a variety of trumped up charges, including organizing rebellion against the government, defies international standards of justice and human rights. The defendants, who could be sentenced to death or long jail terms, were unjustly arrested and then convicted by a corrupt judicial system that takes its orders from the government. They are guilty of nothing more than attempting to peacefully protest or report on election improprieties, and call for the respect of fundamental human and democratic rights.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: Ethiopian regime strikes blow against democracy, human rights: "

EthioGuardian.com: Thank You, Great Patriots!

2007-06-13T02:57:00.001-07:00

"Thank You, Great Patriots!
Alemayehu G. Mariam
6/11/07
When I learned of the expected news of the “conviction” of the Great Patriots in Zenawi’s kangaroo court this morning, my initial reaction was not disappointment or sadness. It was a deep and overwhelming sense of pride in the personal sacrifices and extraordinary courage shown by these Great Patriots for their country and people.
As I thought about the Great Patriots, I began to imagine:

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: Thank You, Great Patriots!:]"

EthioGuardian.com: Donald Payne & Ana Gomes on the sham Verdict

2007-06-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

"Donald Payne & Ana Gomes on the sham Verdict
Donald Payne & Ana Gomes on the sham Verdict "
EthioGuardian.com: Donald Payne & Ana Gomes on the sham Verdict:

EthioGuardian.com: Four journalists face prison sentences or, in two cases, death penalty

2007-06-13T02:56:00.002-07:00

"Four journalists face prison sentences or, in two cases, death penalty
Press release

12 June 2007

ETHIOPIA

A federal high court verdict finding four journalists and three press groups guilty yesterday of trying to “overthrow constitutional rule” was condemned today by Reporters Without Borders as a serious retrograde development. Two of the four journalists face a possible death sentence or life imprisonment. They are part of a group of 38 opposition members who were convicted yesterday. Most had been in prison ever since a wave of arrests in November 2005.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: Four journalists face prison sentences or, in two cases, death penalty:]"

EthioGuardian.com: EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK

2007-06-13T02:56:00.001-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK: "EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK
EHAHRD-Net Index: ETHIO 015/003/2007 (Public)

12th June 2007

KAMPALA: EHAHRD-Net CONDEMNS CONVICTION OF EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS IN ETHIOPIA, CALLS FOR OBSERVANCE OF MEDIA FREEDOM

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) is deeply concerned about the continued infringement on media freedom by the Ethiopian Government, evidenced by the June 11 th conviction of four Editors and three Publishers of now defunct weeklies.

[ Read the rest... ]"

EthioGuardian.com: TWO EDITORS COULD FACE DEATH AFTER HIGH COURT CONVICTIONS

2007-06-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: TWO EDITORS COULD FACE DEATH AFTER HIGH COURT CONVICTIONS: "TWO EDITORS COULD FACE DEATH AFTER HIGH COURT CONVICTIONS
Four editors and three publishing houses in Ethiopia were found guilty on 11 June of links to deadly 2005 protests against alleged poll-rigging, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). Sentencing is next month and two of the editors could face the death penalty. The exiled Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA) is calling for urgent action from the international community to save their lives.

[ Read the rest... ]"

EthioGuardian.com: 38 Are Convicted in Ethiopia After Political Crackdown

2007-06-13T02:55:00.001-07:00

"38 Are Convicted in Ethiopia After Political Crackdown
By Stephanie McCrummen
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, June 12, 2007; Page A18

NAIROBI, June 11 -- An Ethiopian court found 38 prisoners guilty Monday of charges ranging from 'outrage against the constitution' to aggravated high treason in a trial the prisoners called a sham, and which international human rights groups have roundly condemned.

The convictions came even as U.S. officials had been negotiating for months behind the scenes for the prisoners' release.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: 38 Are Convicted in Ethiopia After Political Crackdown:]"

The reunification of Kinijit international

2007-06-13T02:55:00.000-07:00

"The reunification of Kinijit international
EMF (10 June 2007) - In response to the ultimatum issued by the incarcerated CUD leaders, former members of KIL have finally agreed to work together and solve problems with the spirit of Kinijit. Representatives of the two groups including Dr. Moges Gebremariam, Dr. Bezabeh Demisse and Shaleka Yoseph Yazew have signed on the document. Dr. Bezabeh Demissie, Major Admassu Melaku, Prof. Alemayehu and Dr. Solomon Alemu were observing the mediation. [ Read the agreement in Amharic - PDF] ...."EthioGuardian.com: News:

Another shameful day for Weyane Ambassador in The Hague, The Netherlands,

2007-06-13T02:54:00.002-07:00

"Ethioguardian News

A meeting organised by Weyane embassy cancelled after angry Ethiopians demanded their right to express their view.

Ethioguardian (10-07-2007, The Hague): A meeting that was organised by Ethiopian embassy and some EPRDF supporters in the Netherlands was cancelled yesterday due to protest from the participants. The organisers of the meeting invited some hand picked EPRDF supporters and others to symbolise the support of the Ethiopians in the Diaspora. The meeting was cancelled after the chair persons, deputy Ambassador Brook Kebede and EPRDF’s top diplomat first secretary Zenebe Kebede, tried to silence some Ethiopians who explained the actual picture of Ethiopia and Ethiopians presently. The chair person of the meeting, deputy Ambassador Brook Kebede, cancelled the meeting against the will of Ethiopians, who were expressing their view and forwarding their ideas. The participants also asked the chairperson to answer questions regarding human rights and the condition of political prisoners, which he resisted to accept and cancelled the meeting at that point. Video coming soon!

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

EPRDF convicts 39 opposition leaders facing death, life in jail

2007-06-13T02:54:00.001-07:00

"
06/12/2007

The trial has been widely condemned by international human rights groups as an attempt to silence Ethiopian government critics. The opposition leaders have claimed the trial is politically motivated.

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Biased Ethiopia court predictably convicted the victim’s heroes

2007-06-13T02:54:00.000-07:00

: "Biased Ethiopia court predictably convicted the victim’s heroes
June 12, 2007 12:10 AM

After a long trial of more than 100 opposition members, which Amnesty International labeled “prisoners of conscience,” the Ethiopian court has found 38 top opposition leaders guilty of charges related to the violent protests following the 2005 elections. According to

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News]"

U.S. expressed concern about convictions of opposition leaders in Ethiopia

2007-06-13T02:53:00.000-07:00

"U.S. expressed concern about convictions of opposition leaders in Ethiopia
2007-06-12 21:57:57 -

WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States expressed concern Tuesday that a court in Ethiopia, a key ally in East Africa, had convicted more than three dozen people including opposition leaders in connection with election violence.

Three top leaders of the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, were among those convicted after a trial that earned condemnation from human rights activists.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the U.S. was «quite surprised» and «very concerned.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

EU Decry Ethiopia Rights Abuse

2007-06-08T03:55:00.001-07:00

"EU Decry Ethiopia Rights Abuse
Africa News

A Committee of the European Parliament has strongly criticized what it called 'massive human rights violations' going on in Ethiopia since 2005. 'The human rights situation has been deteriorating in Ethiopia since 2005, with opposition members put in jail, while rights activists are awaiting trial,' the Committee’s chair, Josep Borrel, said at a parliamentary debate.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

Meles Zenawi not invited for G8

2007-06-08T03:55:00.000-07:00

"Meles Zenawi not invited for G8
NEPAD, represented by Meles Zenawi in G8
Meles Zenawi will in fact be for the G8 summit in Heiligendamm. He will be representing NEPAD. See here

If cooperation between Africa and the G8 on these issues is to be based on trust it is absolutely vital that the G8 states do not renege on the pledges they have already made to step up development assistance.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

Ethiopia PM in shock Somali trip

2007-06-08T03:49:00.001-07:00

"Ethiopia PM in shock Somali trip
(BBC)Ethiopia's prime minister has made a surprise visit to Somalia - the first since his troops helped to oust Islamists from the capital, Mogadishu. Meles Zenawi is holding talks with President Abdullahi Yusuf, said Somali government spokesman Abdi Haji Gobdon.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

COALITION FOR H.R.2003 makes a “Special Call” to Ethiopians Living in Northern Virginia, District of Columbia and Maryland.

2007-06-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

"COALITION FOR H.R.2003 makes a “Special Call” to Ethiopians Living in Northern Virginia, District of Columbia and Maryland.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COALITION FOR H.R.2003
URGES ATTENDANCE AT THE
JOINT SUMMIT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Special Call to Ethiopians Living in Northern Virginia,
District of Columbia and Maryland

A Historic Transatlantic Legislative Summit on Human Rights

On June 8, 2007, a historic summit will take place in the United States Congress. On the agenda are three of the most critical contemporary human rights issues facing the African continent today: Genocide in Darfur, Unraveling of Somalia and Gross and Sustained Human Rights Violations in Ethiopia.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

Escaping from EPRDF's hell

2007-06-06T01:57:00.000-07:00

"
Journalists start talking about Kaliti. You must listen this interview with journalists who have been released recently. (Fasil Yenealem, Dereje Habtewold and Nardos Meaza) [Tensae Radio ]
Read/ EthioGuardian.com: News: "

Meles charges 55 government opponents with rebellion

2007-06-06T01:56:00.001-07:00

"
Wed 6 Jun 2007, 6:02 GMT

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The Ethiopian government has charged 55 opposition members with trying to launch an armed rebellion, the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported on Tuesday.

The case is the latest to be brought against the opposition, and in particular members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), since 2005 parliamentary elections ended in violent protests that killed nearly 200 people.

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News]"

Ethiopia PM in shock Somali trip

2007-06-06T01:56:00.000-07:00

"
(BBC)Ethiopia's prime minister has made a surprise visit to Somalia - the first since his troops helped to oust Islamists from the capital, Mogadishu. Meles Zenawi is holding talks with President Abdullahi Yusuf, said Somali government spokesman Abdi Haji Gobdon.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News]"

EU condemns large-scale human rights violations in Ethiopia

2007-06-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

"EU condemns large-scale human rights violations in Ethiopia
Brussels (5 June 2007) -- The lack of democracy and the large-scale human rights violations in Ethiopia were condemned by MEPs on Tuesday at a hearing held by the EP’s Development Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee. The Ethiopian Government’s refusal to send a representative to speak to MEPs was also criticised.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

If Prince Alemayehu was alive today, he would have left the country…”

2007-06-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

"The false patriotism of a dying regime
Addis Voice / June 3, 2007
Well said Addis Voice, “If Prince Alemayehu was alive today, he would have left the country…”

The figurehead of the divisive regime, “President”Girma Woldegiorgis, has sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain demanding the return of Prince Alemayehu’s bones to Ethiopia for reburial. The Prince, the son of the unifier Emperor Theodros, died in 1879 at the age of 18 in Britain and was buried at Windsor Castle.
Read first Ethiopia wants the Queen to return royal bones

[ Read the rest...EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Ethiopia: Break the silence on Human Rights violations

2007-06-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News:

"Injustice on political prisoners

2007-06-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

(EZ)Suffering of the political prisoners is getting worse and worse. Journalist Eskinder Nega and CUD council member Andualem Arage are taken to Kerche where they are confined to a narrow 3x3 cell without light. They are allowed to have 30 minutes a day for sanitation. They aren't allowed to go to the toilet even when they are sick forcing them to use the cell for sanitation as well. Both of them weren't told why they are put in such disgusting cell. The court which heard the complaint of both on the Friday decided to have a two months recess without making a ruling on the complaint.

Required action:
Call or write to shimeles Kemal, the chief prosecutor and tell him to stop the injustice against the political prisoners. Leave a message in case you can't contact him. Be very polite in your communication. The objective is to make him feel what he is doing is inhumane and degrading.
Mobile phone no: 0911238410
Fixed Line: 0115515099/0115514750 / 0115159287
e-mail:shekemal@yahoo.com

EthioGuardian.com: News:

"Ethiopian rebel group launches a radio program EPPF

2007-06-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Ethiopian People Patriotic Front (EPPF) will officially launch a weekly radio program on June 7, 2007.

The radio program, Ye Arbegnoch Dimts, will be broadcast to Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa every Thursday from 7-8 PM local time.

Click here to read EPPF’s press release regarding the launching of its radio program.

Ye Arbegnoch Dimts can be heard on the following frequency:
• 15260 khz
• 19 meter band
• Short Wave (SW) transmission

For more info contact EPPF at: radio@eppf.info"
EthioGuardian.com: News:

Ethiopia wants the Queen to return royal bones

2007-06-03T04:09:00.000-07:00

By Andrew Heavens
Reuters
Sunday, June 3, 2007; 6:07 AM

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia has called on Queen Elizabeth to return the bones of an orphan prince buried at Windsor Castle after he was spirited from his homeland by British soldiers nearly 140 years ago.

Prince Alemayehu was just seven in 1868 when his father, Emperor Tewodros II, committed suicide after being defeated by British troops at the Battle of Magdala. The prince was placed on a ship to Britain and enrolled in boarding school.
[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: "]"

U.S. Destroyer Fires Missiles At Fighters In Somalia

2007-06-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

"U.S. Navy destroyer launched an attack on fighters in a remote corner of northeastern Somalia late Friday, according to a senior U.S. official, though details of the operation remained sketchy.
The bombardment was concentrated in and around the port town of Bargaal, the official said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information is classified.

News media in the Puntland region reported that the strikes destroyed farms, flattened hilltops and killed or injured an unknown number of villagers, but the accounts could not be independently confirmed.

It was too soon to say whether the strikes had hit their intended targets, said the U.S. official.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

"Serkalem Fasil wins 2007 'Courage in Journalism' Award

2007-06-02T09:45:00.001-07:00

Press Release - IWMF Announces 2007 Courage in Journalism Award Winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IWMF Announces 2007 Courage in Journalism Award Winners

Lydia Cacho of Mexico, Serkalem Fasil of Ethiopia, and the Iraqi Women Reporters of McClatchy’s Baghdad Bureau Win Courage in Journalism Awards from the International Women’s Media Foundation

Peta Thornycroft of Zimbabwe is Lifetime Achievement Winner

Washington, DC – A Mexican journalist who travels with guards because of ongoing threats to her life, a group of women reporters who every day risk their lives to cover the war in Iraq and an Ethiopian publisher who gave birth to a son while confined to a vermin-infested jail cell for her work are the recipients of this year’s International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Awards.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

"Serkalem Fasil wins 2007 'Courage in Journalism' Award

2007-06-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

"Ethiopia - Somalia - No peace, more terror

2007-06-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

Islamist terrorism in Addis Ababa and Nairobi now seems horribly likely'

From The Economist print edition

A violent Islamist threat is far from over

IN MARCH and April about 400,000 Somalis fled their capital, Mogadishu, as Ethiopian forces backing Somalia's transitional government razed whole districts in an attempt to destroy the country's remaining Islamist militants. That offensive came only months after the Ethiopians claimed to have defeated Somalia's ruling Union of Islamic Courts in a stunningly swift campaign at the end of last year. Despite Ethiopia's latest claims of success, the country is in as perilous a state as ever.

[ Read the rest... http://www.ethioguardian.com/news.php]"

"Ethiopia arrests 50 officials over graft

2007-06-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

ADDIS ABABA, May 31 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Thursday it had detained 50 government and company officials for graft in one of the east African nation's largest crackdowns.

Ethiopia has a relatively clean image by the continent's standards, managing to avoid the sort of major public corruption scandals plaguing neighbour Kenya for example.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News:]"

80 killed as Somalia fighting continues

2007-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

At least 80 people, including many civilians, have been killed in intensified fighting in Somalia over the past two days, according to hospital sources.Around 300 people have been wounded in the fighting - some of the fiercest Mogadishu has seen since the transitional government took over the capital in December.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: ]"

Roadside bomb targets Ethiopian forces in Somalia

2007-06-02T09:41:00.001-07:00

Roadside bomb targets Ethiopian forces in Somalia
Wed 30 May 2007, 8:19 GMT

By Guled Mohamed
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A roadside bomb blast tore through a convoy carrying Ethiopian troops in a central Somali town on Wednesday, seriously wounding five soldiers, a security source said.Baladwayne resident Osman Adan said he could see thick black smoke billowing from the scene of the explosion, which the security source said was caused by a remote-controlled landmine.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News: "]"

Press Ethiopia on border ruling, Eritrea urges world

2007-06-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

EthioGuardian.com: News:
May 31, 2007

NAIROBI -- Eritrean President Issaias Afewerki Wednesday urged the world to pressure arch-foe Ethiopia to accept a ruling of a boundary commission to resolve a tense border dispute. Issaias made the remarks in a meeting with a Norwegian delegation headed by minister of state for foreign affairs Raymond Johannson, the Eritrean information ministry said.

[ Read the rest... EthioGuardian.com: News]"