adenet splash altb

Reminder to all concerned Ethiopians to get in touch with your Congressman/woman in regard to HR4423.
Congressman Smith plans to hold a hearing in March. It is essential that All Ethiopians write /call their Congressman/woman to express support for this legislation and to ask them to co-sponsor and vote for the Bill.
Click here to find your Congressman/woman

March 01: Judge adjourns trial of Ethiopia opposition leaders, journalists
"We have examined your request for a separate trial, based on the country's penal code that stipulates how charges should be pressed against a defendant and when a separate trial is appropriate. We have found that the charges are in line of the penal code," Adil ruled, rejecting an application by the trio to be tried separately.
"We did not accept your request for separate trial and we did not find any evidence that supports your claim that the charges are not clear and general, which makes it difficult for you to defend," Adil Added. Middle East Times

March 01: Ethiopia court opposes naming witnesses against opposition members
Federal Court Judge Adil Mohamed said he would reserve until later his final decision on witnesses in the politically charged case stemming from two deadly bouts of post-election violence.
"To make the names of some 360 witnesses which the prosecution plans to present against all the accused in the course of the trial would subject them to threats and harassment and would even endanger their lives," the judge said when answering the defence request. eitb24

March 01: Meles unveiled
When Legesse Zenawi (also known as Legesse Gebru, Legesse Zenawi, Gebru Zenawi, Wedi Gebru, though he prefers "Meles") swept into Addis Ababa in 1991, Ethiopians weary of the savagery of the Mengistu dictatorship and seventeen years of internecine war glimpsed the light at the end of their blood-spattered, famished tunnel. Meles, at the head of a guerrilla coalition, set about recasting the country according to a model that analysts describe as "linguistic" or "ethnic feudalism". Power, the justification went, would devolve from the centralised cadres of Mengistu Haile Mariam's Derg to federal and local councils.
This is, of course, exactly what a great many countries are up to in one way or another. But Meles's system goes rather beyond allowing pompous entrepreneurs to co-opt themselves onto the boards of local bee-keeping associations. The structure of the kebele, sub-regional governments in rural townships, is a legacy of the Derg's Soviet-style system. In the Oromia province, the claws of control sink even deeper: groups of six or so households are formed into gotts, which report to the umbrella garee, which in turn feeds information back to the kebele. A splendid idea, we might say – real local representation, devolution, communities wresting power from the bureaucratic octopus. Alas, the octopus is not so easily dispossessed, and the structure is routinely used by Meles's lackeys in the countryside to monitor and suppress dissent, ossify patronage and milk farmers of their labour.

Feb 26: TRIBUTE TO THE POET
By Wondmue Mokonnen
Laurete Tseaye G. Mehin
Ethiopia lost a great Son, Poet, Playwright and Theater Director yesterday February 25, 2005. Laureate Tsegage G. Mehin wa a great litreary figure and was just awarded the Union of Norwegian Authors "Freedom of _Expression Prize 2005" one of many awards for his outstanding efforts to promote freedom of _expression and tolence. He died of a kidney failure in New York City. We send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Tribute to the poet

Feb 25: The missing link?
courtesy of Ethiomedia
Any time soon those courageous CUD leaders will be sentenced by the criminal system of Meles. Prisoner Birtukan Mideksa even expects to pay the ultimate for standing up against injustice. If they were like most of us they would have pleaded guilty and maybe expect some clemency, but they are still fighting injustice knowing this can ultimately end their life. These people are unique in everything that makes them who they are. In their suffering they are trying to teach us there is no alternative for freedom and democracy, and it is only when we achieve these two that we will be able to feed our hungry, teach our young and take care of our old. They are showing us a life that does not fight injustice is not a life worth living. I know those of us who care are listening, but I am not sure we know how to fully embrace the torch for freedom and justice that they are asking us to take and deliver to our people in Ethiopia who are suffering under the yoke of a criminal dictatorship ethiomedia

Feb 25: Church service held for ex-NSU professor imprisoned in Ethiopia
In Norfolk on Friday, the Rev. David V. McGuire dedicated the half-hour prayer service "to Dr. Hailemariam and t others who are being so unjustly held. We ask God to listen to our prayers." The service attracted more than 40 people - friends, relatives, supporters and colleagues from NSU and other colleges. Fikru Helebo , a software developer, came from Richmond. "He didn't have to leave this country," Helebo said. "He could just live on a nice retirement, but he chose to go there and participate in the democratization process. I have a lot of respect for people who do that." Shumet Sishagne , an associate professor of history at Christopher Newport University, said his friend "listened to the call and responded to the challenge. I'm comforted by the knowledge that he is doing what he wanted to do." HamptonRoads

Fundraising Evening In Los Angeles
Join us and be counted at an eventful fundraising evening for KINIJIT’s struggle to bring Peace, Unity, Democracy, and Prosperity to all Ethiopians.

Date - February 25, 2006 at 6PM
Place - Hollywood Park Casino
3883 W Century Blvd, Inglewood, CA
Flyer

Feb 24: An appeal for a Consistent and Principled Position on the Repression in Ethiopia
Open Letter
In the light of the above, we, as Ethiopians and tax-paying residents and citizens in various European countries, are concerned that the goodwill and financial contributions of the European public may be providing a life support for the repressive regime and prolonging the plight of millions of Ethiopians. We hold the EU and the values it is founded on in such esteem that we do not want it to see it associated with, or being indifferent vis-à-vis one of the remaining murderous regimes in the world. We certainly wish to tell a better story to our children and grandchildren, who we believe, will be the bridges that would link the country and continent of their ancestors with Europe. Also at stake is the tremendous goodwill and credibility that the European Union has come to enjoy in recent months in the second most populous nation in Africa and among people who have dreamt of a partnership based on the values of democracy and respect for human rights. Further, what your excellencies may or may not do in the above respects can put the credibility of the EU, and indeed, democracy itself, at risk in the eyes of millions of people in Africa and elsewhere that happen to share the same as aspirations as the Ethiopians. kinijit-europe

Feb 24: Recommendations to the SEPDC Leadership
By Concerned Members and Supporters
The group has particularly been known for its continuing support of the SEPDC under the leadership of Dr. Beyene Petros and his colleagues. However, Dr. Beyene and the other members of the executive committee kept the letter hostage on procedural grounds, and the letter was not even presented to the SEPDC leadership (Central Committee). We are deeply disappointed that the letter continues to be held hostage, and at this stage we have no choice but to go public with our collective effort to salvage the Southern Ethiopian movement in the face of the misguided approach that the SEPDC leadership has adopted. Hereby we are releasing our second letter in its entirety. We wish to emphasize that we are forever committed to the advancement of the peoples of Southern Ethiopia and will continue to support their rightful participation in the struggle for democracy, justice and the rule of law. Enset

Feb 24: Lawyer Cites Perceived Bias in Ethiopian Treason Trial

Fitsum says the integrity of the judicial process has already been compromised: “The three judges are appointed by the government. If the defendants lose the case and appeal, they are appealing before the chief judge of the country, who is the chairman of the election board – against whom they were voicing their opinion. So, they don’t want to be part of a process where they do not get fair trial.” Fitsum also says he does not believe that the attendance of foreign observers at the trial would benefit the defendants. VOA News
listen to interview with Fitsum Acham-Yeleh

Feb 24: British reporter unwelcome in Addis Ababa
In January, Ethiopian authorities invited Gilmore to return to the country and suggested that he would be given access to top government officials to get their version of events, Observer Foreign Editor Tracy McVeigh said. Foreign journalists must get accreditation from Ethiopia's Information Ministry in addition to a visa, which Gilmore had obtained. "Here was a reporter seeking to cover the crisis in Ethiopia thoroughly and fairly—and the government's response was to thwart his efforts so that the alarming events in Ethiopia can stay hidden from the rest of world," said Ann Cooper, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. "This is all the more worrying in the context of the current crackdown on local journalists, at least 17 of whom are in jail for their work." CPJ

Full Letter(DOC)

Feb 23: Professor, a prisoner of conscience, in Ethiopian jail

In all, Ethiopia’s increasingly despotic regime — a Potemkin democracy designed to nab foreign aid dollars — has jailed some 131 opposition leaders, journalists and aid workers. Hailemariam left Virginia Beach for his native Ethiopia last year to try and spread the democratic values he’d come to cherish after decades in America. He won a seat in parliament in last May’s elections. But that country’s government instituted a brutal crackdown, stripped parliament of its power and threw the opposition in jail. Thousands of ordinary citizens who protested the move were arrested; at least 88 demonstrators have been killed. And now Hailemariam could face the death penalty. HamptonRoads

Feb 23: US BBG Condemns Ethiopian Charges against VOA Journalists

The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) today unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Ethiopian government’s charges against five Voice of America (VOA) Horn of Africa broadcasters as “a blatant attempt to criminalize freedom of the press” and calling upon that country’s government to drop the charges without delay. The BBG resolution further states, “The people of Ethiopia deserve unfettered access to accurate, balanced and comprehensive information. For the past 24 years, the Voice of America has provided them with precisely that, and will continue to do so.” VOA News

Feb 23: Ethiopian leader defends campaign against critics

Speaking softly and choosing his words carefully, Mr. Meles complained of being scolded by governments that do not have strong human rights records themselves. "Frankly, some of the requests of some of our partners are incompatible" with their actions, Mr. Meles said. "We don't agree with that, and we have told them so. But we have agreed to agree on the issues on which we agree and to disagree on the others." Washington Times

Feb 23: Defendants 40-69 response to the EPRDF's false charges

Undisputedly, this court has been engaged in flagrant violation of the constitution by denying citizens a right to bail, failed to free citizens detained absent probable cause or warrant, and denied defendantsâ€™ right to counsel. Accordingly, we have agreed that further participation in this illegitimate and unfair judicial proceeding will only give the court a semblance of legitimacy. In other words, we will not appear in this court and justify injustice. Notwithstanding our position regarding this court or the judiciary in general, we hereby respectfully demand the following from the court:
1. The immediate and unconditional dismissal of all the fabricated charges against us and order the prosecutor to issue a public apology to all defendants;
2. The immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including, publicly elected officials, journalists, students and others in detention without further delay; and,
3. The court on its own motion summons, or the attorney general charges the current Ethiopian top officials, the actual responsible parties, with genocide, treason, and abuse of power.
Read More (PDF)

Feb 23: Key Ethiopia treason trial starts

None of the accused answered questions, saying the trial was political. Some wore black t-shirts and put their hands over their mouths when asked to plead. BBC

Feb 22: Amenesty Internatioanl Calls for the Release of Ethiopian Prisioners of Conscience...on VOA

De Capua interview with Amnesty mp3 audio clip

De Capua interview with Amnesty ra audio clip

Feb 22: "Year of living dangerously" in Ethiopian capital

Fear has crept back into the wide boulevards of Ethiopia's capital since Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government unleashed a harsh crackdown on opposition members and arrested thousands following post-election violence. "It's the 'Year of Living Dangerously,'" said a Western embassy official, referring to the 1982 movie, starring Mel Gibson, about political turmoil in Indonesia. Even months after relative calm was restored, the kind of paranoia last felt under the oppressive Derg military dictatorship is gripping people, residents and expatriates say. ReliefWeb

Feb 22: Ethiopia: Prisoners of conscience prepare to face 'trial'

As international concerns regarding the human rights situation in Ethiopia escalate, Amnesty International called for the immediate and unconditional release of opposition leaders, human rights defenders and journalists who will face trial tomorrow on charges that include treason, violent conspiracy and "genocide". "These people are prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely on account of their non-violent opinions and activities," said Kolawole Olaniyan, Director of Amnesty International's Africa Programme. "It is unacceptable that they are now facing serious criminal charges that could lead to death sentences and possible execution." Amnesty International USA

Feb 21: Urgent Message from Kaliti Prison Amaharic PDF

Feb 21: Statement from CUD ( Amaharic PDF)

Feb 21: Ethiopia Campaigners to Plead Not Guilty

The two campaigners have not been shown the evidence upon which the charges against them are based. They therefore do not know the case they are expected to answer. ActionAid insists that the two men have played no part in organising violence, have done nothing illegal and should not have been charged. Common Dreams

Feb 20: Africa's 'New Generation' Likened to Old

"Clearly, all has gone very badly," said Patrick Smith, editor of Africa Confidential, a London-based journal. "These were the people that everyone was raving about," but now "there's a reversion to the same old instincts." The African leaders bristle at such criticism, insisting that they are not nearly as brutal and tight-fisted as their predecessors. Big Men such as Ethiopia's Mengistu Haile Mariam, Uganda's Idi Amin and Kenya's Daniel Arap Moi ruled through torture and oppression, crushing opposition and squandering their countries' wealth as millions suffered in poverty. The current leaders blame what they call the overbearing policies of international donors for many of their woes. In an interview, Ethiopia's Meles contended that his only fault was refusing to ride the "roller coaster" of Western opinion. "I have no regrets," he said. LA Times

Feb 20: Why Meles CAN NOT Weather the Political Storms
By T. Mesfin; courtesy of EMF

Domestically, support for the ruling group is at an all time low. The harsh crackdown against opposition forces has further exacerbated an already tense situation. It has also effectively closed the route to any negotiations. The TPLF has little legitimacy outside of its narrow base. All indications are that even if the Prime Minister's Tigrian ethnic base, which numbers less than 10 percent, is not solidly behind him. Party cadres whose survival and livelihood depend on the government and a few direct beneficiaries of the patronage system make up the regime's base of support. Economic activity in Addis Ababa, the preeminent per capital, has been at a standstill for almost year owing to election-related uncertainties. The service sector has been performing poorly. There is very little long term investment. The price of everyday commodities has increased dramatically, making life difficult even for the middle class. The price of teff, the staple grain, cooking oil, sugar, etc. have skyrocketed. ethioforum

Feb 20: Rebel group claims killing 25 Ethiopian soldiers

The army of the Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF) which is waging an armed struggle in Ethiopia, has announced that it scored shining victory over government soldiers in around Adi Geshu's” in northern Ethiopia on 14 February. sudantribune

Feb 19: RENEWED CALL for the Unconditional and Immediate Release of Ethiopia's Prisoners of Conscience
By the Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES) - Scandinavian Chapter
Today, in Ethiopia the democracy that has been an ideal and a distant dream has become real tangible, achievable and reachable. The struggle must be truly waged to consummate and fulfil the democratic imagination across the Ethiopian landscape as a way of self- empowering the people to solve all the thorny problems of the country that have defied solutions to date. Today we live at a time when the ordinary people have accelerated their own democratic history by making what used to be an ideal, real. Like all things important, the time after the May election has witnessed its own share of sacrifice, tears, blood, grief and sorrow. Those who have chosen to lie; steal and cheat to retain power against the intense dislike from the people have unleashed terror and cruelty on a large scale. Whatever they did has backfired on them as the grass roots democratic insurgency and the surging spirit of defiance to authoritarian rule is beyond their capacity to stop. This is time where the overriding democratic perspective has priority over all other considerations by all who have chosen to enter in one capacity or another Ethiopian political fray. All those who respect the people must also respect their vote to launch a democratic historical trajectory in the country. They should not tell us that the dictators who use repression are indispensable. What makes them so? Is it their response to kill when they fish and smell that they may be under threat from the people? Nothing is more important than making sure that the desire and aspiration to create a democratic society is not compromised. Whatever the sacrifice, all energy must concentrate to make sure that democracy take root and dictatorship is de-rooted in Ethiopian soil for good.

Feb 13: Watch the BBC's video report (the summit in South Africa)

Feb 13: Historical Retrogress or Historical Irony?
Elshaday Tobiyaw
If history is a lesson for us all, the ethnocentric Tigrean nationalists, the opposition and the Ethiopian people at large, that lesson must be uphold dearly by all the players. The only viable, sensible peaceful solution to the current political impasse in Ethiopia is for the incumbent to release all political prisoners and resuming political dialogue with all the stakeholders, as South Africa did. Without dialogue with the inclusion of all the stakeholders leading to national reconciliation, healing the wounds of the nation is hardly possible . Without accepting the principle `of one man one vote`, which is a basis for democratic governance, the problem persists to haunt us all. The South Africans looked to Ethiopia for support and inspiration during their struggle for national liberation, and we should look to them to do away with the malaise of ethnic dictatorship the consequences of which might be grave and regrettable. TPLF diehards are advised to come to their senses and accept the wish of the great majority of the Ethiopian people, which is the only guarantee to bring about lasting peace and stability in our beloved country, Ethiopia debteraw

Feb 13: Blair turns his back on friend who failed him
To both men’s evident distaste, Mr Blair found himself seated next to Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, at the final press conference of a weekend summit of “progressive” world leaders. Behind the icy diplomatic exchange, however, the body language told a different story. Whereas the other leaders’ chairs were placed in such a way that they almost rubbed shoulders, a large gap opened up behind the place names of the UK and Ethiopia. Times Online

Feb 12: CRISIS IN AFRICA
Gondar graduates help restore a continent's health
The picture dims further when you consider the status of the Ethiopian health-care system. A decade after the government released a new health-sector strategy in 1995, problems such as lack of facilities, out-of-date equipment and a dearth of well-trained health professionals still plague the medical system. Physical rehabilitation, an essential health-care component that helps keep the workforce healthy and productive, is almost nonexistent These new graduates are sorely needed. Every manual laborer (and most Ethiopians are) lives in fear of an injury that would make it impossible to keep the job and support a family. If an Ethiopian is lucky enough to be working, he or she will do almost anything to keep that job. This includes working while injured, which is more likely to produce permanent disability. Disability coverage, workers' compensation or private medical insurance are simply not available in Ethiopia. SFGate

Feb 12: UK PM targets Ethiopia at summit
The UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has said he wants to see Ethiopia resolve its internal problems and continue on a democratic path. BBC News

Feb 12: Human rights groups critic Ethiopian PM attendance to summit
The inclusion of Zenawi prompted criticism from human rights groups over his violent crackdown on opponents after elections. eitb24

Feb 11: Protect the Defenceless in Ethiopia
By Idris Shaankkore
The Ethiopian authorities are also engaged in a well-organized plan to draw sovereign neighboring nations to be complicit in the violations of international law. Factions of the Sudan's People"s Liberation Army (SPLA) based in the area have assisted the Ethiopian authorities in military operations, using helicopter gunships and jet fighters deployed from Kigile airfield in Sudan, against the civilian populations in the Western Wollega, Oromiya, and Gambella, near the Sudanese border. The Diaspora Community is mindful of the indiscriminate killings of Southerners and Easterners by Ethiopian authorities, including the documented crimes of genocide perpetrated against the Annuak in Gambella, and widely reported to the international community by notable international human rights organizations. Genocide Watch confirmed that the genocidal massacres of Anuak people in and around Gambella, Ethiopia in December 2003 was led and carried out by Ethiopian government forces in uniform. The United States Department of State also confirmed the crime of genocide perpetrated by Ethiopian authorities and protested these massacres at the highest level of the Ethiopian government. sudantribune

Feb 11: Ethiopia's May 2005 elections, It was not your normal election
By Yared Tib
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy - CUD, an umbrella organization of four Ethiopian political parties emerged in October 2004, to centralize efforts for the May 2005 national election. The hall mark of this movement was, it negated “diasporizing” Ethiopian politics, and also rejected politics based on ethnicity. Its appeal to Ethiopian Nationalism based on a new non-ethnic federal arrangement, its insistence on individual liberties, and its capability to draw not politicians but statesmen to its leadership electrified the citizenry, and awakened the nation. CUD brought rare individuals to the plate, like the 75 year-old human rights activist Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam; a female Veterinarian called Dr. Mulu; A Gurage business law professor from Norfolk who served as chief investigator for the International tribune for the genocide cases of Rwanda, Yakob Wolde Mariam; an Amhara Economics Professor who had written numerous studies on the Ethiopian economy, Dr. Befekadu Degfe; an Oromo female judge & lawyer who had the stamina to free a TPLF politburo member who was imprisoned on trumped-up charges, Bertukan Mideksa; an Oromo Muslim member of parliament who individually fought on the parliament platform for five years, Bedru Adem; a Gurage economist and entrepreneur who led with distinction the Ethiopian Economics Association for four years, Dr. Berhanu Nega; a Tigrayan educator and political scientist, Dr. Hailu Araaya; and above all the Amhara/Oromo wealthy Engineer and International Consultant, Hailu Shawel as its first President. All of them are in prison on trumped-up genocide/treason charges except Dr. Mulu. Their age, their professional distinction, their “wealth”, and their principles and vision, and above all their commitment placed them not as politicians who run for office, but as statesmen who had the interest of their nation at heart. It didn’t take long for the public to start seeing them as the “founding fathers” of 21st century Ethiopia, and realizing: “if these wise, old and rich indi! viduals are willing to perish in the fight for their freedom and liberty, what do I have to loose by joining them except ‘the chain of slavery’ that anchored me in poverty and hopelessness?” This was the question asked time and time again between October and May, and support was instantaneous. sudantribune

Feb 10: Unidentified force headed from Armacho to Gondar- courtesy of EMF

listen audio from army representative

Mele Zenawi has called his Cabinet (TPLF polite bureau) for an emergency meeting today after part of Gondar is reportedly fall under unknown military forces, EMF reporter said from Addis Ababa. According to the report, thousands of government soldiers including army officers have been defected to join the guerrilla rebel forces, which took arms against the repression by the Ethiopian tyrant.

According to the report, an unidentified force headed from Armacho to Gondar city of Fasiledes. They then attacked the Federal police together with the local police and the general public.

The raid operation began today at around 12.00 pm local time. The army has surrounded Gonder from outside and inside layer, according to the source. The Ethiopian patriotic forces claimed the operation but some report indicated that the movement is carried out by the army of Amhara National Democratic movement (ANDM), one of the affiliate of the ruling EPRDF.

Similar civil unrest is reported in Gojjam, Wolega, Ambo, Dessie, Harar and Arsi.

Addis Ababa is very tense. Meles' special forces armed with heavy machine guns patrolled Addis Ababa again especially at Bole airport and 4-killo areas.

College and high school students in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gojjam, Dessie, Jima, Ambo, Gimbi, Nekmt, Harar, Arsi and a number of other towns have boycotted schools demanding for the release of all political prisoners. Student's peaceful demonstration has been strongly repressed by an armed assault of the regime.

The military operation is carried out amid Meles' arrogant speech in the parliamentary session. During his report to Parliament last week, Meles Zenawi rejected international calls for the release of the jailed elected leaders.

Meles Zenawi was discussing with his TPLF members today about the way out of these uncontrolled crisis.

Feb 10: Lonely as a world leader, well join the club
At the summit meetings there will be talk of the general political situation in each member country, but the real focus will be on developing a common political agenda. According to a release put out by the foreign affairs department, the two main issues on the agenda are development in Africa and policy challenges for the 21st century, including economic growth, new security challenges and building cohesive societies. businessday

Feb 10: Let your voice be heard take a minute and VOTE for the voiceless in Ethiopia let the World know how we feel.

Feb 10: Ethiopians condemn Meles at Summit in South Africa b
By Ethiopian Community Association in South Africa
We members of the Ethiopian Community Association in South Africa and the support groups of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP, Kinjit) and United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF, Hibret) have learned from the media that The Progressive Governance Summit, alias the meeting of Social Democrats, will be held from February 11-12, in Didimala Game Reserve, Hammanskraal, North of Pretoria, South Africa.

Presidents and Prime Ministers of South Korea, Sweden, the UK, Hungary, Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Spain, Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic and Poland are expected to attend the Summit. We express our solidarity with the movement and salute all the dignitaries except for Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia!

Indeed, we are unable to understand how Meles Zenawi was able to become a member of such an important movement the first place! Meles has never been and shall never be a Social Democrat. He is a tyrant and a Charlatan who has brought an embarrassment not only to his country and Africa but also to your movement. He was and remains a sectarian, leading a minority regime that was able to cling to power through brute force, deceptive propaganda, apartheid type domestic politics and vote rigging. His fifteen years track record speaks for itself.

In recent months his Agazi Army (camouflaged as Federal Police), operating under his direct command, has been responsible for the killings of more than 80 people in Addis Ababa alone. Hence, it is indeed a profound offence, not only to 77 million Ethiopians but also to the supporters of your movement to see that the Summit List includes individuals like Meles.

Therefore, we call upon the leaders of the Social Democratic movement to study the naked truth about Meles and expel him from the network. We particularly would like to draw your attention to the December 15, 2005 resolution of the European Parliament, and urge you to support the call for the "immediate establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry, optimally under the United Nations, and consider targeted sanctions against [him] and members of the Ethiopian [his] Government."

Free all Political Prisoners!
Free CUDP (kinijit) leaders!
Meles is a tyrant; not a Social Democrat!
Ethiopian Community Association in South Africa
TEL: (027) 082 481 9541 or 083 669 6867 or 072 105 3164
P.O. Box 2834, Jhb 2000
Johannesburgh, South Africa

Feb 10: Aid, trade and Africa's struggle with Aids and corruption
The frequent failure of developed countries to live up to their promises on aid, trade and healthcare. But what about Africa's promises? In the past month you have also highlighted the huge sums squandered on luxury cars for Kenya's ministers while much of the country starves; the human rights record of Congo's president; repression in Ethiopia; Mugabe's brutality in Zimbabwe; and alleged genocide by Sudan in Darfur. Under the terms of the New Partnership for Africa, Africa's leaders have explicitly recognised their mutual obligations to improve governance, tackle corruption and respect human rights. We cannot keep excusing them from their part of the deal. guardian

Feb 10: Africa is Caught in a Web of Political 'Renewals' That Bring No Real Change
AFRICA INSIGHT: Every change of government in Africa, whether violent or peaceful, comes with the promise of a new beginning, of prosperity. That is why, despite a history of disappointment following such changes, the most recent being the case of Kenya, current events in Burundi and Mauritania are still considered to be harbingers of hope. allafrica

Feb 10: Ethiopian protest demonstrations in Europe and USA: Why are they morally imperative
The Ethiopian Diaspora is not asking Europe and America to take control of Ethiopia and democratize it. That is indeed out of the question. Ethiopians are protesting in Europe and America to demand the stopping of subsidizing repression by European and American powers in Ethiopia. Like subsidy in agriculture distorts the global agricultural market, subsidy that Europe and America provide to Mr. Zenawi distorts the process of democratization in Ethiopia. Once this subsidy is stopped, Mr. Zenawi will be obliged to enter into an earnest and all inclusive political dialogue with the Ethiopian opposition, including those who wage armed struggle against the regime such as Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and others. debteraw

Feb 10: Where is the OUTRAGE? The Inexplicable Silence of the AU to the Ethiopian crisis!!!
By the Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES)

1. The Key Provisions of Africa's Constitutive Act

The AU's Constitutive Act promised Africans new possibilities and hopes to unite Africa on key values of respect of human rights, democratic governance, rule of law and periodic submission by Governments to a peer review mechanism, promises to find African mechanisms for building enduring peace and stability, human security and the protection of basic freedoms of speech, press, association and assembly.

Gone were the days when a dictator having come through military means and chooses to terrorise a country by invoking respect for sovereignty. The AU Constuitive Act permits African intervention in other African states under the following conditions:

an unconstitutional take over of power through military coup de etat, mercenaries, armed dissidents
an incumbent refuses to hand over power after an election defeat
ignoring popular verdicts in elections
in the event of cases of genocide
in the event of internal stability, civil war with regional consequences
civil society has been recognised to participate formally in the AU framework
Governments will be subject to a peer review mechanism
Inclusion of the Diaspora

To the credit of the AU it has tried to take real measures by intervening and imposing sanctions on coup makers, and those who refuse to abide by popular election verdicts. What has emerged as an interesting fact is that sovereignty is no longer a barrier to AU interventions as in the OAU days. Under the guise of protecting sovereignty many crimes have been committed in Africa. The AU has thus added new duties and obligations to members. Formally AU has heralded a new orientation to the use and misuse of power against citizens.

Feb 09: List of TPLF Companies established between the years 1992-1997EC.

Feb 09: Timeline- Ethiopia's Election and Its Aftermath

Message from the Jailed Kinijit Leaderships in Ethiopia : EMF

The official translation of the Letter from the prisoners of conscience/ CUDP Leadership. Kinijit North America Public Relation Committee

Feb 09: Security Council Delays Ethiopia Decision
The United States hopes that Eritrea will ease the restrictions on peacekeepers if the border dispute is settled. Otherwise, the Security Council will have to decide whether to scale back the peacekeeping mission. "Obviously we hope that progress will be made and we won't have to face that eventuality," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Wednesday. "But one of the things we talked about in the council today was contingency planning for changing the configuration and deployment" of the mission. Chron

Feb 08: The Noose is Tightening Around Meles' Neck courtesy of ER
The noose is tightening around Meles' neck. Angry over his return from Brussels empty handed, today Meles called off negotiations on the political prisoners, saying that they must face justice for treason and genocide. Observers in Addis Ababa told Ethiopian Review that he never had any intention of releasing the prisoners when he hinted last week before he left for Brussels that they could be released on bail. It was a tactic to get concessions from the EU. In fact, more opposition party members are being arrested. The EU commissioners, who are tired of Meles' lies, insisted that he must release the thousands of opposition party members, journalists and students before they consider releasing the $375 million they withheld. Meanwhile, people continue to withdraw money from government banks. There is also a crisis atmosphere inside the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) as more information leaks out about the circumstances of the death of its president Gezahegn Yilma. According to close associates of Ato Gezahegn, Meles recently ordered the CBE to write off loans to TPLF-controlled companies, which was bitterely opposed by Ato Gezagegn and other bank officials... Meles is fast running out of money to pay for his expensive Federal Police, Agazi Forces, and highly paid army of spies. The United States is now the only country among the Western democracies that continues to provide moral and material support to the brutal dictatorship in Ethiopia. It's expected that the passing of new laws that are currently being debated in the U.S. Congress will prevent the State Department from continuing to lend a hand to Meles...

Feb 08: Ethiopia defiant on opposition detainees
Meles Zenawi, the prime minister, told parliament that releasing "these hardliners" would embolden them to think "whatever their action, they will not be held accountable". He said: "The government has made it abundantly clear that interfering with the judicial process for the release of hardliners is out of the question. The government has taken this unwavering position not because of stubbornness or for a lack of willingness to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation." Financial Times

Feb 08: Safeguarding Human Rights in Africa
Why should people in Africa die or live in fear for their leaders to stay in power when it is possible to devise a strategy to bring the dictator to justice. In today’s reality, it is possible to bring dictators to justice and to put an end to atrocities troubling our continent. All that Africa needs is the political will of the people of Africa, its visionary leaders and the international community to jointly act for the respect of human rights. The time has now come for Africa to stop this wide spread violation of human rights. The report of the African Union Human Rights Commission is an important step in the effort to free Africa of human rights violations. Of course, the history of human kind has shown that violations of human rights are the causes of war, civil unrest, liberation movements which result in huge loss of human lives. Africa cannot afford to shed the blood of innocent people any more. Africa has to act in unison in a civilized and responsible manner. The United Nations and the African Union have a big role to play. First and foremost, the leaders of Africa are the signatories of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, if their predecessors signed the documents; the present leaders have endorsed them. Hence, they can be held responsible for not respecting and implementing these declarations in their respective countries. africantribune

Feb 08: A steady first step forwardUS places guns before butter
Patrick said he was surprised the budget did not feature stronger support for democracy promotion and other political and institutional initiatives designed to strengthen states and make them more responsive to its citizens, particularly given the administration's recent rhetoric. "A main premise of Rice's transformational diplomacy is that the US needs to marshal all of its resources to advance democracy and good governance in weak and failing states," he said. "But it's not clear how this budget request addresses the challenge." Asia Times

Feb 07: A steady first step forward
Three big challenges lie ahead. The first is to complete the 2005 agenda - delivering the debt relief, the aid to build up public infrastructure, and securing a trade deal that decisively tips the balance in favour of developing countries. Blair has a list of milestones he wants to see achieved by the end of 2006: if they are, it would mean 3 million people receiving Aids treatment, 40 countries in an Education For All fast-track initiative, timetables in place to hit the $50bn aid target by 2010 and an African Union stand-by force able to deploy a contingent of 20,000. The second is to recognise that the onus is not just on the west but, crucially, on Africa as well to make good on its pledges. Downing Street sources frankly admit that it has been deeply disappointing to see a crackdown on dissidents in Ethiopia and an anti-democratic trend in Uganda, not least because it gives succour to those who argue that debt relief and aid are simply throwing good money after bad. guardian

Feb 07: Frazer tells Ethiopian opposition not to rely on US
Members of Ethiopia’s opposition parties stated that in a recent meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer they were told not to rely on the United States to change the current ruling government. Opposition leaders explained the existing situation in Ethiopia to the American diplomatic mission this past weekend, and raised their concerns about the US response to the government’s handling of the situation. According to opposition members, Ms. Frazer said if people “expect the United States to remove the government, they are wrong” to do so. What the US government will do, she told the meeting participants, is have a sustained discussion with the Ethiopian government to improve the situation. SSInformer

Feb 06: HEADLINES NEWS FROM ETHIOPIA
Amaharic (PDF)
Amaharic (PDF)
Amaharic (PDF)

Feb 06: Breaking News: Courtesy EthioMedia
After the June and October anti-EPRDF protests, it is common to see notices on every walls of Addis Ababa that ask a possible locator for their missing loved ones. One can see these notices on the doors and walls of almost all churches, privately owned and governmental buildings. Most of the missing ones are males starting from age 11-60. It is uncommon to see such notices before. Many associated it with the EPRDF mass detention and hiding the whereabouts of the detainees. Abyssinia Bank was crowded last Thursday, Friday and Saturday by customers who were asking for their provident fund payback. The bank clerks were busy at handling the large crowd. Bank officials were sad seeing refunding several millions in a few days. The same is observed in other private banks in the city. Many say it will have a big impact with the Banks performance. It is to be recalled that the government has the plan to change NGO employees provident fund to pension and take the money. Many other customers are rushing to collect their provident funds before seeing the government confiscated their money.

Feb 06: CALL TO EUROPE/WORLDWIDE VIGIL AT THE USA EMBASSIES
All Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia are invited on this day, to come out and speak up for the rights of the people and ask the Government of the United States to do more to help the Ethiopian people secure their basic democratic rights ethioforum

Feb 06: Meles Ready to Trade Prisoners for Aid
We are told the country's foreign exchange reserves are at an all time low. It's not clear whether the recent assassination of the President of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, the country's largest, is related to the financial debacle. A major goal of Mr. Zenawi's emergency trip to Brussels this weekend is to shore up the rapidly dwindling foreign exchange reserves. ethioforum

Feb 06: Does aid really help ordinary people?
Ten people from across the continent give their views on whether 12 months in the political spotlight have seen progress for the citizens of their countries . guardian

Feb 06: Letter to the Honorable Hiliary Benn, MP
Genocide in Ethiopia and Actions of Western Governments:
By Yegonchaw Trit debteraw

Feb 06: Press Release No. 23, Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES) - Scandinavian Chapter

Feb 06: Headline News from Ethiopia (Amaharic-PDF)

Feb 05: Sky-Rocketing Prices Embitter Nation
No-one can be sure of the results of this widespread panic. But if it is ever going to blow up in our faces, the recent price hikes of foodstuff and consumer goods will certainly have some role to play in exacerbating it. It has become evident that there have been considerable price increases in foodstuff in particular. Traders in Mercato have expressed their disappointment regarding the sky-rocketing price of foodstuff. W/rt Tinsaye, a retailer at Etsub shop in Mercato, said that almost all food items, especially cereals, have gone up in price at her shop. "For instance, retail price for lentil has increased by two birr and is now 8.50 a kilo. This is the highest the price had ever reached," Mathaba News

Feb 05: Procedure in Parliament: Lack of Trust Among EPRDF And Opposition MPs?
The outgoing parliament adopted new rules and procedures for parliamentary sessions taking into consideration the comparably bigger number of seats won by the opposition. One of these, which became a bone of contention between the government of Meles Zenawi and the opposition, is the bill which allows tabling agenda for discussion only by a party having at least a 51 percent seat in parliament. The other rules, which are hampering harmonious relationship between the House Speaker, EPRDF and its allies on the one hand and opposition candidates on the other, has to do with the rule which limits comments on a particular issue by an MP only to "directly relevant points." Opposition MPs have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the time allotted for them to speak, which they describe as insignificant. Mathaba News

Feb 05: UK hits back at Meles Zenawi
Mr Benn indicated that Britain would continue helping the "desperately poor people" rather than providing direct budgetary support to the government. "If we had stopped all aid as a result of the recent human rights abuses, it is not the government that would suffer, but poor people." He said that Britain stopped direct budgetary support as "it could be used for any purposes." According to Mr Benn, the United Kingdom is now considering different options to make sure that its funds reach the poor. He clearly stated earlier that British aid was conditional on principles of respect for human rights and international obligations, as well as commitment to fighting corruption and a will to reduce poverty. ANDnetwork

Feb 04: Ethiopia: Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment
Since 2 January, students in Addis Ababa schools have been holding rallies and boycotting classes and exams, in protest at the detention of CUD leaders and the contested election results. Police reportedly beat demonstrators, including children, and used live ammunition in some cases. Some of the protests led to damage to property and vehicles and attacks on police officers. These protests followed earlier demonstrations in schools and colleges in the Amhara Region in December 2005. Thousands of school students were arrested. Some have been released but several hundred are believed to be still held incommunicado without charge in undisclosed prisons and are at risk of torture or ill-treatment. amnesty

Feb 04: Repression continues in Ethiopia and Darfur
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have recently reported on these widespread abuses of human rights. Hundreds, if not thousands, are now being held in Ethiopian jails for questioning the regime. guardian

Feb 04: The Buzz
ETHIOPIA Thousands of Ethiopians filled Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, waving Ethiopian and American flags and denouncing Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government as "abusive to human rights." World Magazin

Feb 04: Head-to-head: Africa's food crisis
An official from the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), Nicholas Crawford, and Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, a pan-Africanist and Director of Justice Africa, debate what is causing Africa's deepening food crisis and what the solutions might be. BBC

Feb 04: Stop aid to Ethiopia
How many more people must die at the hands of the Ethiopian armed forces before our government decides that the Ethiopian government does not represent a legitimate vehicle for dispensing Irish taxpayersâ€™ money to the poorest of the poor in that country? sudantribune

Feb 03: An Expose of the Savage attack by the Agazi Force at Ayer Tena School...(AMHARIC PDF)

Feb 03: Vigil at the Woyyane Embassy in London

Feb 03: Earth to Bono? ... Come in Bono ... Earth to Bono?
What all the usual suspects are all defending is their own judgement and prestige in the end - acting bewildered about Meles's nature and even defending him are just sideshows. If they admit they should have known all along what every bit of evidence said about Meles and Ethiopia's Revolutionary Democracy - then they are faced with questions about their judgement and the billions they have already spent and want to spend on their holy missions to be super cool humanitarians in what are ultimately get rich quick schemes that have never worked.
Sorry Bono, if you want to help people, advocate that they have exactly the rights and opportunities that made the British rich and the Thai no longer poor. None of that can be found in one man of anyone's ideological fantasies - actually those always turn into nightmares. ethiopundit ...

Feb 03: Breaking News: Courtesy of Ethiopian Media Forum
EMF - Meles Zenawi arrives in Brussels on Friday. A meeting is arranged with Mr. Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development on Saturday 4 February 2006. Sources from Brussels said that the meeting was not pre-planed and Meles was not officially invited to Brussels. Meles Zenawi is said to have been desperate and very much frustrated since his government is running out of money. He is also very much worried to listen to the position of US official on the DC demonstration. Ethiopians in Europe have been lobbying the EU parliament and the Commission to press Meles stops atrocities and release all political prisoners. The EU has stuck on to the eight preconditions it put forward to get back on business as usual

Feb 03: African countries need strategies to combat drought
Advice is one thing Africa is not short of. If the hungry could eat words, Africa would not be starving. Advising Africa has become a major industry, with European and American consulting firms charging $500,000 for a year of an expert's time. These experts promote expensive farming methods that require high yield seeds, chemicals and heavy machinery. This has meant good business for overseas companies but has brought little benefit to Africa's rural poor. ippmedia

Feb 03: Forget charity, stop Africa arms sales- UN official: By Stephanie Nebehay
He accused the West of supplying the weapons fuelling African conflicts which leave civilians homeless -- and prey to war crimes, hunger, disease and rape -- while greedy companies exploit the oil and mineral wealth. "Guns are at the heart of the problem ... There is one slogan I would like to suggest for 2006: No Arms Sales to Africa. Zero. Not an embargo, not a sanction, a voluntary cessation of all arms sales to Africa," McNamara told a news briefing. AlertNet

Feb 03: UN warns E . Africa on bird flu
“Several countries in East and the Horn of Africa - Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania - all the way down to South Africa, are on the migratory path of wild birds from Asia and Europe that are suspected to carry the virus,” said Michel Yao, the WHO inter-country focal point for the Great Lakes and Central Africa. NewVision

Feb 02: Amharic Audio News, VOA--MUST LISTEN

Feb 02: Marchers oppose Ethiopian regime: By Keyonna Summers
"We are trying to get the attention of the U.S. government, who gives major assistance to the [Ethiopian] government," said Merchaw Senshaw, a member of the Ethiopiawinet National Movement. "If you are fighting for democracy in the Middle East, if you are fighting terrorists all over the world, then why not Ethiopia?" Washington Times

Feb 02: Headline News from Ethiopia (Amaharic-PDF)

Feb 02: Breaking News courttesy of Ethiopian media Fourm
Ethiopians are withdrawing their savings from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) today. Thousands are withdrawing their money from CBE due to widespread rumors that the ruling TPLF is robbing the bank and that millions of fake currencies are reportedly being printed by the Meles regime, EMF reporter from Addis Ababa said. Due to shortage of money, the CBE is unable to accept the request of all its clients, report added. Recent report indicated that Meles's thugs raided the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and looted 3 billion Birr, followed by the assassination of the Bank's president. Meanwhile, chaos continues today and severe uncertainty reigned on the country. Schools are still closed. A young girl is reportedly shot killed yesterday at Ayer-tena school in a students clash with police.

Feb 02: Thousands Of Ethiopians Demonstrate In Washington, DC
Listen to interview with Berhanu Mewa Secreatary of KINIJIT N.A.

Headline News from Ethiopia (Amaharic-PDF)

Feb 02: INTERVIEW-Eritrea says details still needed on border problem
Ethiopia and work out the details of taking possession of a disputed bordertown the two fought a war over, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Wednesday. AlertNet

Feb 02: Ethiopia's Meles rejects abuse accusations
Ethiopia's Information Ministry also ridiculed the Amnesty report, saying 86 students had been arrested "in compliance with the laws of our country" for throwing bombs, breaking property and disrupting classes. "The news disseminated by Amnesty International that thousands of students are detained in Ethiopia is misinforming and incredible," the ministry added in a statement. Reuters

Feb 01: Ethiopian court acquits 11 in corruption case
The Court said the prosecutor failed to produce evidence corroborating the charges against the 11 accused persons. This is after FOUR years nowhere else but in Ethiopia. M&C News

Feb 01: Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Says Democracy Must Come From Within Africa
Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer told the Voice of America today the United States will support democratic movements in Africa but "the responsibility is ultimately with the governments and the citizens of Africa itself, " adding that the U.S. "cannot impose democracy in any country VOA

Feb 01: Ethiopia denies Amnesty report of mass Oromo detentions
Ethiopia's information ministry said the report by the London-based human rights watchdog was "misinforming" and "incredible," but allowed that some 86 students, including Oromos who live in the southern Oromia region, had been detained. sudantribune

Feb 01: INTERVIEW-Ethiopia's Meles accuses donors of 'breach of trust'
I agree that there has been a breach of trust but I don't believe that breach of trust was committed by Ethiopia. It was the reverse," Meles said in an interview AlertNet

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