US Rights Report Lists Ethiopian Opposition Leader as Political Prisoner

The U.S. State Department's annual human rights reports says Ethiopia is holding several hundred political prisoners, including the leader of one of the country's largest opposition parties. Ethiopia has reacted strongly to past U.S. criticisms of its rights record.

The 2009 human rights report says Birtukan Mideksa, president of Ethiopia's opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party, was held in solitary confinement for the first six months of the year despite a court ruling that it violated her constitutional rights. The 61-page document says there were credible reports that Birtukan's mental health deteriorated significantly during the year.

Birtukan was among scores of political activists sentenced to life in prison following Ethiopia's disputed 2005 election, then later pardoned. She was jailed again in December, 2008 and ordered to serve out her life sentence after refusing to apologize for saying she had not requested the pardon.

The 35-year-old single mother was recently listed by the U.N. Human Rights Council as a victim of arbitrary detention, and by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. But at news conference late last year, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi staunchly defended her re-imprisonment, saying it was based on 'elementary notions of the rule of law'. Read Full Story≫

VOA Amharic Broadcasts Jammed in Ethiopia

International shortwave radio monitors have confirmed that VOA broadcasts in the Amharic language are being jammed. Amharic is the main official language and the language of commerce in Ethiopia.

VOA representatives in Ethiopia have been received complaints from listeners about noise drowning out its Amharic Service broadcasts. People trying to tune in can hear occasional snippets of the VOA broadcast covered by a loud crackle.

The static began February 22 on all five VOA shortwave frequencies aimed at East Africa in the 25 and 31-meter shortwave bands. Read Full Story≫

Millions donated by British public to help Ethiopian famine victims "was used by warlords to buy weapons"

By Lucy Ballinger
Last updated at 6:57 PM on 03rd March 2010

Millions of pounds raised by Live Aid was spent on weapons, it has been claimed. Money donated to buy food for Ethiopian famine victims was instead used by rebel leaders who used it to buy weapons. Sir Bob Geldof's Live Aid raised £40million for those starving in Ethiopia, along with other charities who also sent over aid. Read Full Story≫

Candlelight Vigil For Jailed Oppostion Leader, Birtukan Mideksa

- Re-imprisoned for life in December 2008,
- In the United Nations list of arbitrary detainees,
- Prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International,
- Become a symbol of democracy,
- Person of The Year by most Ethiopian Prvate Media

Date: Feb 28, 2010
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave

A leader who always uses democratic process to advance his undemocratic goals.

After nearly two decades in Ethiopia's leadership, Meles Zenawi has proven himself a master of democratic manipulation. He has been using the democratic process to advance undemocratic goals. To mention some of them, he divided the country by ethnicity; arbitrary arrest, killing, torture, imprisonment and harassment of opposition leaders, members and supporters; benefit one ethnicity over other Ethiopian people, incompetent to resolve countries critical problems such as poverty and HIV/AIDS.

Zenawis government was undemocratically elected in 2000; the results were heavily criticized by international observers and denounced by the opposition as fraudulent. The EPRDF also unlawfully elected in the 2005 election returning Zenawi to power. Both the opposition and observers from the European Union and elsewhere stated that the vote did not meet international standards for fair and free elections. Ethiopian police have massacred more than193 protesters.

Since the EPRDF/TPLF came to power in 1991, Ethiopia has conducted at least three “national and regional elections”. In all of these, the ruling party “won” by landslide mainly because it was running by itself and against itself. Because of the many obstacles that are in place, all these elections proved to be extremely restrictive and highly uncontested.

Zenawi, 54 years old, had been giving mixed signals for months that he might retire from office. However, because his party's members 'love him so much' and because they see him as 'irreplaceable', they have 'urged' him to stay in power longer. He is also determined to win 2010 and beyond by any means.

Ethiopian Government is likely to use the same poor tactic in 2010 election. They started their harmful activity by rearresting the prominent leader of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party, Birtukan Mideksa for the reason that she publicly challenged the conditions and terms of their release from prison. These moves by Ethiopian government was considered by many and Ethiopian political opposition parties as a way forward to block fair and free election and democratic process in the country.

Ethiopian Government wants to use the same old approach again and again. We want the world understand that Ethiopia government cannot rule us by portraying that Ethiopia is enjoying democracy while we do not have any. They can not falsely portraying their image as democrats.

CPJ urges Ethiopia's Zenawi to pursue press reforms

February 16, 2010
His Excellency Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Via facsimile: (251) 11 1552020

Mr. Prime Minister,
We are writing to draw your attention to conditions that undermine press freedom as guaranteed in Article 29 of the Ethiopian Constitution. We would welcome your leadership in furthering reform by working for the repeal of draconian provisions in recent antiterrorism and media legislation. We also call on your administration to abandon practices that obstruct the free flow of information, such as the ruling EPRDF’s absolute control of the government-subsidized and publicly funded national press, the government’s restrictive media regulation and licensing practices, and the state’s censorship of Internet content. Read Full Story≫

UDJ Chairperson Birtukan Mideksa is among those prisoners who are arbitrarily arrest

The United Nations Human Rights Council officially declared UDJ Chairperson Birtukan Mideksa is among those prisoners who are arbitrarily arrest

It is eighteen years now since EPRDF has been in power. Throughout these years, it has never ceased to preach about the rule of law and human rights. However, the preaching and the practice have never gone together. In fact, Ethiopia is known as one of the forefront countries where blatant violations of human rights are perpetrated. Although many examples could be cited, let us take Birtukan’s imprisonment as an example. She has been illegally imprisoned. We repeatedly notified the Addis Ababa City Administration of our wish to hold candle light vigils at the Meskel Square to commemorate our Chairperson’s illegal imprisonment. This is our right enshrined in the Constitution. But the City Administration has repeatedly denied us this right. Article 30 of the Constitution, guaranteeing citizens the right of assembly is repeatedly and blatantly violated. This clearly demonstrates that the EPRDF and one of its arms, the Addis Ababa City Administration, are making a mockery of the Constitution and the rule of law. The mockery does not stop here.
Read Full Story≫

Ethiopia: Events of 2009 - Human Right Watch

Ethiopia is on a deteriorating human rights trajectory as parliamentary elections approach in 2010.


These will be the first national elections since 2005, when post-election protests resulted in the deaths of at least 200 protesters, many of them victims of excessive use of force by the police. Broad patterns of government repression have prevented the emergence of organized opposition in most of the country. In December 2008 the government re-imprisoned opposition leader Birtukan Midekssa for life after she made remarks that allegedly violated the terms of an earlier pardon.

In 2009 the government passed two pieces of legislation that codify some of the worst aspects of the slide towards deeper repression and political intolerance. A civil society law passed in January is one of the most restrictive of its kind, and its provisions will make most independent human rights work impossible. A new counterterrorism law passed in July permits the government and security forces to prosecute political protesters and non-violent expressions of dissent as acts of terrorism. Read Full Story≫

Birtukan, Invictus! (Unconquered) - A Tribute - Alemayehu G. Mariam

Birtukan Midekssa condemned to life in prison by a vengeful dictator, but unconquered.

Birtukan thrown into the dungeon of wrath and tears, but defiant.
Birtukan beaten, bludgeoned and bloodied, but unbowed.
Birtukan mocked, ridiculed and disrespected, but gracious.
Birtukan denounced, vilified, strong-armed and manhandled, but unfazed.
Ethiopia under the crushing boots of soldiers of fortune.
Birtukan, Invictus!
Ethiopia, Invictus! Read Full Story≫

Is food a political weapon in Ethiopia?

Accusations about food aid are very emotive. Especially when they are made in Ethiopia — a country that saw more than 1 million of its people starve to death in the 1984 famine.


So everyone is tiptoeing carefully around recent allegations that food is being kept from the opposition.

A coalition of eight opposition parties called Medrek, or the Forum, accuses some officials of only allowing ruling party members to benefit from a long running food-for-work programme for more than seven million Read Full Story≫

Ethiopians chanted "ቡርቱካን ማንዴላ ልደቱ ሌባ " at Great Ethiopian Run

EthiopiaZare.com, a leading independent media based in Ethiopia, reports that several athletes participating in the 9th Great Ethiopian Run chanted slogans against Hailu Sahwel and Lidetu Ayalew and demanded the immediate release of Ethiopian political prisoner Birtukan Mideksa. Ethiopia Zare reports that many were heard chanting "ቡርቱካን ማንዴላ ልደቱ ሌባ " (Birtukan Mandela:Lidetu Thief)

Concern Over Aid To Ethiopia

The United States is committed to helping people in need all over the world, and it takes this mission very seriously. With billions of dollars spent on humanitarian, economic and other forms of assistance every year, the U.S. wants to be sure that the aid is properly and effectively distributed. So it is that U.S. officials are concerned about recent reports that the Ethiopian government may be politicizing humanitarian assistance ahead of next year's national elections.

Amid wide-spread food shortages caused by a long-running drought across much of East Africa, Ethiopia receives considerable aid from the U.S. and other nations. It is estimated that more than 6 million of the country's 80 million people rely on aid to survive, with another 7 million relying heavily on on the Productive Safety Net Program, a food-for-work program administered by the government and supported by foreign assistance. Read Full Story≫

Ethiopian government starves citizens

Pan-African Coalition Condemns Junta Induced Starvation in Ethiopia

Houston, Texas (October 24, 2009) – On this World Food Week, we condemn the Mass starvation taking place in Ethiopia, primarily due to the Communist led economic and political policy of the regime for the last 20 years. Many observers believe that 23 million people, or nearly more than one in four Ethiopians is in need of food aid, but the Ethiopian dictator denies the existence of such famine.

The regime’s economic and especially agricultural policies have been counterproductive, as excessive state control from land to small business has become a road block to economic development, and put millions of people at risk unless international agencies come to their rescue.

It is heartbreaking and unforgivable to see the agony of Ethiopian children and their helpless and starving parents. Despite the recent hype about the economy by the regime, the food situation is worse than during 1984 famine (Watch video).

What is surprising is, just last week; President Girma Woldeselassie gave an account of a robust GDP growth of 10.1%, one of the highest in the world and dismissed the presence of famine. The current famine is an indictment of a failed economic policy of the regime. Like Marie Antoinette of France, Meles has a problem admitting famine exists in Ethiopia.

The stark and intolerable starvation lies directly and squarely on the laps of Meles and his party, TPLF, which has ruled Ethiopia for nearly two decades with an iron hand by controlling every resource including land, telephone, Internet and every aspect of life in this rich but forsaken country. Yes, forsaken by its own leaders for thousands of years. Ethiopians have been deprived of their land and their political rights by various succeeding rulers. Of course, this regime pales to any other in its cruelty in denying basic human rights and stupidity in management of resources or basic knowledge of economics.

It has been obvious for the majority of Ethiopians that the current regime has been a disaster for the country economically and politically, but the U.S. government keeps this regime afloat out of the believe that it is a stabilizing force for the region despite its corrupt, anti-free market and oppressive system.

In order to stay in power the regime has done uncalculated damage through its Machiavellian gerrymandering of Ethiopia by tribes, putting at risk the unity of the country, long term peace and co-existence of the people. The creation of the clan system has irreparably planted the seed for Ethiopia’s disintegration and has already caused numerous ethnic clashes by pitting one tribe against another. Consequently, it has created a fertile foundation for future genocide.

Some American representatives have been beneficiaries of the government’s largess either through lobbyists, direct funneling of funds to their foundation or direct gifts thus forsaking the people of Ethiopia and their solemn duty to defend human rights, free market and democracy.

In order to end this unprecedented pain and agony of perpetual famine of the Ethiopian people, we demand an unconditional and immediate resignation of this illegal and dictatorial regime which is directly responsible for the current episode and cessation of all non-humanitarian aid until a transitional government is constituted to lead Ethiopia to a democratic and free market economy.

---
Contact: Dula Abdu, Media Relations

dula06@gmail.com, (713) 446-5222 (713) 446-5222

Guna, Owned by Ethiopian Ruling Party, Eyes Coffee-Export Share

By Jason McLure

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Guna Trading House Plc, owned by Ethiopia’s ruling party, said it plans to become one of the nation’s biggest coffee exporters, raising concern among industry observers that private industry may get crowded out.

The company began shipping the beans in July and aims to export at least 12,000 metric tons of coffee in the year through June, Mulualem Berhane, general manager of Guna, said in an interview on Oct. 22 in the capital, Addis Ababa.

“We are intending to export to Europe, the U.S. and China,” he said, adding that Guna is among at least four other companies owned by the state or Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling party intend to expand in the industry.

Ethiopia, where arabica coffee originated, is Africa’s biggest producer of the crop, which accounts for 26 percent of the nation’s export revenue. The Horn of Africa country shipped 133,993 tons of beans worth $375.8 million last year, according to Trade Ministry data. More ≫

A country you can never stop worrying about

Last Updated: Friday, October 9, 2009 | 11:06 AM ET
By Brian Stewart, special to CBC News
Ethiopia is one country that I can never stop worrying about. Nor can the world.

Each time that I have gone back over the past 25 years I am encouraged to see so much has changed since the great famine of 1984-85 that shocked the world and so moved us Canadians. Yet there is also much here that is alarmingly similar.

This time old friends — survivors of that earlier tragedy — are proud to show me the signs of progress in the northern province of Tigray, the very epicentre of a famine that killed over a million people.

In the countryside, small catchment dams have been built to trap rainwater and reforestation projects are underway; in the small provincial capital of Mekele, they can now show off a modern university, busy markets and a vibrant youth culture.

A boy eats raw chickpeas from the family plot in Ethiopia's drought-stricken Oromiya region in January 2009. (Ho New/Reuters) Still, for all these encouraging signs I know there remain two constants here.

First, Ethiopia cannot yet feed itself without help from the rest of the world; and second, the unpredictability of this help means the threat of severe food crisis, even famine, is never far away. More ≫

Author Defends ICG Report from Meles Zenawi's Attacks

By Tizita Belachew
Washington, D.C.
17/09/2009


Daniela Kroslak replied to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's recent dismissal of the International Conflict Group's "Ethiopia: Ethnic Federalism and Its Discontents," by pointing out that he thought it was important enough to read it.

In a press conference last week, the prime minister cited an Ethiopian proverb that suggested the report was not worthy of his time. In the press conference for Ethiopia's Amharic media, Meles questioned the motives of the funders of ICG and said the report, which was written by ICG's Nairobi office staff, was biased because it was written by an Eritrean.

Kroslak told VOA's Tizita Belachew for the Amharic service's Democracy feature that the Eritrean left the staff a year ago and was not an author of the report. She denied the Eritrean had any involvement in the report and said the organizations who fund ICG's work are listed on the ICG web site. Read Full Story≫

Ethiopia PM: ethnic violence claim is contemptible

* Meles says think-tank meddles in developing world

* Says opposition trying to discredit 2010 elections
By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's prime minister has denounced a think-tank report that warned his country could descend into ethnic violence ahead of its first national election since a 2005 poll triggered deadly street clashes.

In a study last week, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said there was a risk of conflict ahead of the ballot scheduled for May 2010 because of rising ethnic tensions and dissent.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi rejected that.

"Some people have too many billions of dollars to spend and they feel that dictating how developing countries manage their affairs is their God-given right," he said late on Wednesday.

"We have only contempt for the ICG."

The Horn of Africa nation's last elections four years ago were touted as its first truly democratic polls. But they ended in protests and bloodshed after the government declared victory and the opposition accused it of rigging the result.

Police and soldiers killed about 200 people who had taken to the streets to demonstrate. At the time, Meles accused the protesters of trying to topple his

More ≫

Ethiopia's ruling party tells Meles to stay on

09 Sep 2009 16:22:34 GMT
Source: Reuters
* PM told by party he can go after five years

* Opposition say Meles resignation request a sham

By Barry Malone

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's ruling party wants Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to remain its leader for another five years, making it likely the former rebel will run the Horn of Africa nation for some time to come.

"We have made a decision about all our frontline leaders, not just Prime Minister Meles Zenawi," Muktar Kedir, chief of headquarters for the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), told Reuters on Wednesday.

"They will all resign within five years. We will consider his request again then," he said after the EPRDF's annual congress this week.

Speculation has surrounded Meles' intentions since he began talking about resigning in 2008. But Meles has always insisted he needed permission from his party to step aside. More ≫

International Crisis Group Warns of Potential for 'Violent Eruption' in Ethiopia

By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa
07 September 2009

A new International Crisis Group report says Ethiopia is becoming an authoritarian one-party state, and warns that government policies there could lead to a violent eruption ahead of next year's elections. The report also faults the international community for downplaying Ethiopia's weak democracy.

The 40-page report by the International Crisis Group says that despite its democratic rhetoric, the government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is unwilling to give up power. Moreover, it says the government's cornerstone policy, known as "ethnic federalism," has heightened tensions and sparked growing discontent in Ethiopia, with potentially explosive consequences
More ≫

Ethiopian flag flies high at San Jose City Hall

Ethiopian Americans Council (EAC) | September 3, 2009

SAN JOSE - Pride will light up the face of every Ethiopian and Ethiopian American who comes to celebrate the fifth annual Ethiopian flag raising ceremony on September 8 in San Jose. The event will begin at 12:00 noon at the San Jose City Hall.
The event aims not only at celebrating Ethiopian New Year but also at stirring the patriotism within the hearts of Ethiopians, so they may never forget their roots, even when they are far away from their motherland.

Please join the San Jose City Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Council members at the unprecedented flag raising ceremony where the Ethiopia flag will fly over the new San Jose City Hall.

This special civic ceremony is an excellent exercise of patriotism and keeps tradition and respect for the homeland alive in the soul of every Ethiopian. So invite friends and family, dress in the green yellow and red of Ethiopia and come celebrate with us!

San Jose is the first city in the entire United States of America officially hosting the Ethiopian flag.


When: Tuesday Sep. 8th 2009
Time: 12:00 (Noon)
Place: 200 E Santa Clara Street Next to front water feature by the poles.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!

CONTACT

Ethiopian Americans Council (EAC)
P.O. Box 28597 San Jose, Ca 95159
e-mail: ethioamericans@gmail.com
www.eacouncil.org