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Interview of AEUP-Kinijit Vice President Ato Abayneh Birhanu on VOA Nov 5, 2008
Listen to clip of VOA interview with AEUP-Kinijit Vice President Ato Abayneh Birhanu following the US Presidential Election event on Nov 4, 2008.



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Meles regime using the cover of inattention to sneak on Ethiopia’s democratic opposition. By Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Council Foreign Relations - Nov 5, 2008 While we here in America watch a peaceful change of government take place in the US the Meles regime is using the time to violently suppress top members of the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP)! Just this past week: AEUP vice-chairman Dr Tadiwos Tantu had police in the town of Sodo enter hiss hotel room and confiscated his documents; Ato Ali Mirah Yayu also of the AEUP, was arrested in Assayita Zone. ..... Ato Temasgn Assefa, Ato Negus Assefa, and Ato Yehyred Assefa (three brothers) were shot dead by police in the Eastern part of Gojam, Dejene District in front of their mother. .... Full Text

Ethiopia - Washington Update
By Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Council Foreign Relations - Oct 28, 2008 While the Ethiopian-American community appreciates the sacrifices Sen. McCain has made for his country, and his ongoing support for human rights around the world, Ethiopian-American members of the Kinijit have decided to support Obama’s campaign. Sen. Obama has met with Ethiopian-Americans to express his support for legislation supporting human rights and democracy in Ethiopia. His Senate staff has also expressed interest in working to change U.S. policy to Ethiopia. Full Text

Press Release of Kinijit North America Support Groups General Assembly - Press Release of the resolution passed by Kinijit North America Support Groups General Assembly called by AEUP Vice President, the honorable Ato Abayneh Birhanu. The General Assembly was held in Washington DC on October 17 & 18, 2008 Click for Amharic PDF

Ethiopia Defends Proposal to Criminalize Many Foreign NGO Activities By Peter Heinlein, Addis Ababa, 13 October 2008 Ethiopia's government is coming in for fierce criticism over a draft law before parliament that would prohibit or criminalize many activities of foreign charities and NGOs. VOA's Peter Heinlein in Addis Ababa reports the bill is almost certain to pass easily in a legislature overwhelmingly controlled by Ethiopia's ruling party. VOA Text | Listen VOA

Ethiopia: Draft Law Threatens Civil Society - Donor Governments Should Condemn Assault on Rights (New York, October 13, 2008), Source: HR Watch – Ethiopia’s parliament should reject a draft law that would criminalize human rights activity and seriously undermine civil society groups, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch | AFP

Andenet Party Recent Falsified Public Satetment Exposed - Source: Google Ethiopia
Click for: Google Ethio Page1 | Google Ethio Page2

Ethiopia - Washington Update
By Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Foreign Relations - Oct 10, 2008 I have recently been in direct contact with members and staff of the United States Senate; amongst them Senators Leahy, Feingold, and Obama in helping us to amend and improve S 3457 (formerly H.R. 2003). The amendment that we seek should include several items ... Meetings also took place with the US State Dept. I was accompanied in these visits in Washington by Ato Abayneh Birhanu, Vice President AEUP. I first met at the State department with The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), State’s people responsible for Human rights. Then Ato Abayneh Birhanu and I met with the African Affairs section. Our agenda included .... Full Text

Audio: Interview with AEUP (former Kinijit) Youth Representatives Week of September 22, 2008 Listen Audio

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Quotes & Challenges on Meles Zenawi's recent Interview published in The Ethiopian Herald
Meles on Development & Progress: In the coming hundred years Ethiopia should be categorized not only under middle-income countries but should join the group of developed nations. The country will be among middle-income states within the next 20 to 30 years.
Recent Published Facts from Int Sources:
Ethiopia Still Practices a Monopoly
Ethiopia Slips in Doing Business Rank

Meles on Somalia: International organizations including the African Union (AU) as well as the people of Somalia had wholeheartedly supported our intervention in Somalia.
Our army had two major missions in Somalia. The first one was to deal with extremist groups there, who cause clear and present danger to Ethiopia and overtly declared a holy war (Jihad) against our country. This mission of our army was accomplished within few weeks. "First we had to foil the Jihad launched against Ethiopia. We accomplished this within three weeks."
Recent Published Facts from Int Sources:
Red Cross - Somalia World's Worst Humanitarian Crises
Islamist militant threat paralyses Mogadishu airport

Meles On Agriculture/Drought & Famine: The farmers are achieving a major attitudinal change and are convinced that they can move fast from a hand-to-mouth production to a higher standard of living. Apart from attitudinal change, the farmers made significant improvement in terms of development-oriented political economy. It is now the successful farmers who are molding and guiding the attitude of the public in rural localities.
There is shortage of rain in some areas like Konso in the South and some localities of East Amhara and Tigray regional states. However, in most parts of the country there is adequate distribution of rainfall. Given the current distribution of rain, we believe that there will be an increase in agricultural production.
Recent Published Facts from Int Sources:
UN launches $460 million appeal to feed Ethiopia
Horn of Africa Alert 19 Sep 2008
UN: Ethiopia downplaying food crisis
UN official sounds famine alarm in Horn of Africa

Meles On Good Governace: We are saying there is favorable condition in rural areas for good governance because the people there are actively participating in an organized manner in development efforts and good governance activities as well. In fact, the interest of the urban people to involve in good governance endeavors is encouraging. Even the people of Addis Ababa, who had various reservations against EPRDF previously, practically proved that they were willing to be part of the solutions to the problems of good governance.
Recent Published Fact from Int Sources:
CPJ/IFEX: Ethiopian judge detains editor over pop singer case

Meles On The New Information & Press Law: This law has been formulated based on best international experiences and practices. All concerned bodies and stakeholders have deliberated at length on the draft law before it was endorsed and enacted.
Recent Published Fact from Int Sources:
CPJ: Ethiopian press bill flawed, needs revision

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UN official sounds famine alarm in Horn of Africa
The situation is most critical Ethiopia with 12.1 million affected, signficant majority of the 17 million total in East Africa and with potential to become more catastrophic. UNITED NATIONS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The United Nations estimates that nearly 17 million people -- 3 million of them children -- are in urgent need of food and other aid across the Horn of Africa. "This number could even rise as the drought deepens and the hunger season continues," Holmes said. "What we need essentially is more funds, and more funds now, otherwise the situation is going to become even more catastrophic than it is today." 'NOT THE END OF THE STORY' The estimated total need for the 17 million hungry for the rest of this year is $1.4 billion. Half of that has been raised, he said, but there remains a shortfall of $716 million. Full Text

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Click for : Addis Neger Page1

Ethiopia - Washington Update
By Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Council Foreign Relations - Sep 15, 2008 Supporters of democracy and human rights in Ethiopia achieved a major milestone this week with the introduction in the Senate of S. 3457, the `Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia Act of 2008.' Regardless of whether the bill is enacted, its introduction shines a spotlight on the Meles regime’s inequities, raises awareness among American politicians and the media about the situation in Ethiopia, and creates a platform for future American policy. Full Text

Ethiopia - Washington Update
By Mesfin Mekonen, Kinijit International Council Foreign Relations - Sep 11, 2008 A BILL To reaffirm United States objectives in Ethiopia and encourage critical democratic and humanitarian principles and practices, and for other purposes. – S 3457 This is another absolutely indispensable step in our progress to bring attention to the needs of Ethiopians! The bill makes clear the intent of the congress of the United States to affect reform in Ethiopia. It calls for every concerned Ethiopian to respond! We thank you Senators Feingold, Leahy and others for moving forward the Bill to support for Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia. Full Text