This site is dedicated to Poet Tsegaye Gerbremedhin (aka Debteraw) who is langusihing in the Woyane's prison since 1991.
Home
Poems
Articles
Photo Gallery
Audio and Video
Links
About Us
Contact Us

Comments on Ethiopia's Current Political Situation

 

I have no Enemy! Reality or denial?
By Getachew Reda

I am not referring to the Eritrean Jehovah Witnesses who defied the1993 Eritrea's referendum and declined participating in the military service claimed they do not have enemy base on their religion. These once I am talking about are Ethiopian peaceful opposition top leaders. Read More......

Democracy Activists Disappeared in Ethiopia since 1991
Voice of Concerned Ethiopians, Vol.1, No.1, 2008

IEWO Radio on our global cultural weaknesses


Statement from the Kinijit Support Forum in Atlanta (Amharic Pdf)

Thousands of Political Prisoners still Suffering
SOCEPP - December 27/2007The release of Danial Bekele and Netsanet Demissie after two years of illegal incarceration is welcome news but the regime should not be allowed to cover up the grim fact that there are still more than 35,000 political prisoners being held without any due process of law. Read more…


Sweden kinijit Support Group Press Release in Amharic

Somalia's New Reality: A Strategic Overview

Drafted By: Dr. Michael A. Weinstein

Events during the weeks following PINR's December 11 report on Somalia have confirmed its judgment that the country has settled into a chronic condition of statelessness characterized by devolution of the political community to clan-based solidarities, dispersion of power to local warlords and insurgent groups, and resultant multi-faceted conflicts. Read more…


Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of border attack

NAIROBI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of attacking its security forces this week, describing it as part of ongoing provocation along their disputed border
.
Read more...

 

Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners vindicated by court
Julie Middleton

26 December 2007 – Ethiopian activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie may face brief additional time behind bars, as the court today sentenced them to two years and six months in prison on charges of incitement, despite demands by the prosecution that they receive the maximum sentence of 10 years. Read More.....


Ethiopia: Prisoners of conscience unfairly convicted; face possible 10-year prison terms
ReliefWeb


Amnesty International today condemned the convictions of two human rights defenders in Ethiopia on charges of provoking and preparing "outrages against the Constitution", saying that the two men are prisoners of conscience arrested solely for their peaceful human rights work. Both have been held in prison since November 2005.
Read More.....

CALLL ME BY MY NAME: A commentary on EPRP's split, XXI

Wolde Tewolde, alias Obo Arada Shawl

December 23, 2007: On Friday morning, a day of freedom, I came across of an old friend by the name of Kebede Essatu, a poet and a revolutionary of a kind. I always tease him whenever I see him. He had sacrificed his education for the sake of EPRP and thereby for the sake of the Ethiopian Eway Revolution. This time he somewhat teased me about the split of EPRP leadership? According to rumors he said that EPRP leaders have split and have shared the Party’s asset. Or, he further asked me if there is a process of reconciliation as he came to read it on websites.
Read More.....


Treason,” “Attempted Genocide,” “trying to overthrow the government with unconstitutional means” does any of these sound familiar...?
A former Prosecutor, Alemayehu Zemedkun,  takes on the case of Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele

Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele are victims of TPLF/EPRDF government well orchestrated plan designed to send a chilling message to all Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) across Ethiopia that empowering seventy seven million Ethiopians to exercise their freedom of speech, respect for individual Human Rights, providing an understanding of basic given individual rights which are all essential for democratic aspiring institutions will ultimately result in consequences and severe repercussions. Their case is unprecedented given that both are not even members of any political parties. Read More.....

Meles Zenawi lies a
gain on Somalia
EPRP Statement

The Meles Zenawi diatribe against the UN and its agencies is not new as the tyrant has proved himself to be a determined liar. As he denies the catastrophic situation in Somalia, we remember that he had denied the massacre in Gambella ("fiction") and is still trying to pull the wool over our eyes to coevr the brutal repression in the Ogaden. Read More.....

Denounce the Ceding of Territory to Sudan

EPRP Statement

The EPRDF regime headed by Meles Zenawi has reportedly ceded fertile land in Western Ethiopia to the Sudan. People in Ethiopia have protested against the act but the rulers did not even present the issue to the rubberstamp parliament but have agreed to the infringement on the territorial integrity of Ethiopia to gain other advantages from the Sudan. Read More.....


Divide and Rule: Ethnic Federalism in Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia

By Berhanu G. Balcha

The option picked by the TPLF to solve the political predicament in the region marked by an egoistic option that serves the interests of the TPLF. Favouring the minority group against the majority group is the hallmark of TPL’s Machiavellian style politics and, above all, it is the political logic of the TPLF: a rule of the minority over the majority. By favouring the minority against the majority, the TPLF can get a total submission and loyalty from the minority. Because, the minority can clearly understand that without the TPLF’s favour it could not get a privileged and dominant position by subduing the majority. Of course, this is against theprinciples of the TPLF’s policy of ethnic entitlement and also in contrary with the ambiguous and ostentatious constitution. Read More.....

Jamming of Radios and Internet Blocking: Freedom ofCommunication Violated
SOCEPP

20 December 2007:The authorities in Ethiopia have jammed many radio stations broadcasting from abroad to Ethiopia and blocked Ethiopian web sites and blogs, altogether. Among the radios jammed using equipment brought from China we can cite the Amharic program of Deutschewelle and the opposition Finote Democracy Radio and among the popular web sites blocked by the regime it is possible to mention www.debteraw.com.
Read More....


Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners vindicated by court
Julie Middleton

26 December 2007 – Ethiopian activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie may face brief additional time behind bars, as the court today sentenced them to two years and six months in prison on charges of incitement, despite demands by the prosecution that they receive the maximum sentence of 10 years. Read More.....


Ethiopia: Prisoners of conscience unfairly convicted; face possible 10-year prison terms
ReliefWeb


Amnesty International today condemned the convictions of two human rights defenders in Ethiopia on charges of provoking and preparing "outrages against the Constitution", saying that the two men are prisoners of conscience arrested solely for their peaceful human rights work. Both have been held in prison since November 2005.
Read More.....

CALLL ME BY MY NAME: A commentary on EPRP's split, XXI

Wolde Tewolde, alias Obo Arada Shawl

December 23, 2007: On Friday morning, a day of freedom, I came across of an old friend by the name of Kebede Essatu, a poet and a revolutionary of a kind. I always tease him whenever I see him. He had sacrificed his education for the sake of EPRP and thereby for the sake of the Ethiopian Eway Revolution. This time he somewhat teased me about the split of EPRP leadership? According to rumors he said that EPRP leaders have split and have shared the Party’s asset. Or, he further asked me if there is a process of reconciliation as he came to read it on websites.
Read More.....


Treason,” “Attempted Genocide,” “trying to overthrow the government with unconstitutional means” does any of these sound familiar...?
A former Prosecutor, Alemayehu Zemedkun,  takes on the case of Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele

Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele are victims of TPLF/EPRDF government well orchestrated plan designed to send a chilling message to all Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) across Ethiopia that empowering seventy seven million Ethiopians to exercise their freedom of speech, respect for individual Human Rights, providing an understanding of basic given individual rights which are all essential for democratic aspiring institutions will ultimately result in consequences and severe repercussions. Their case is unprecedented given that both are not even members of any political parties. Read More.....

Meles Zenawi lies a
gain on Somalia
EPRP Statement

The Meles Zenawi diatribe against the UN and its agencies is not new as the tyrant has proved himself to be a determined liar. As he denies the catastrophic situation in Somalia, we remember that he had denied the massacre in Gambella ("fiction") and is still trying to pull the wool over our eyes to coevr the brutal repression in the Ogaden. Read More.....

Denounce the Ceding of Territory to Sudan

EPRP Statement

The EPRDF regime headed by Meles Zenawi has reportedly ceded fertile land in Western Ethiopia to the Sudan. People in Ethiopia have protested against the act but the rulers did not even present the issue to the rubberstamp parliament but have agreed to the infringement on the territorial integrity of Ethiopia to gain other advantages from the Sudan. Read More.....


Interview on Diaspora Paltalk Room with the victims' families of the June 2005 massacre by Agazee soldiers under the command of Meles Zenawi


Divide and Rule: Ethnic Federalism in Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia

By Berhanu G. Balcha

The option picked by the TPLF to solve the political predicament in the region marked by an egoistic option that serves the interests of the TPLF. Favouring the minority group against the majority group is the hallmark of TPL’s Machiavellian style politics and, above all, it is the political logic of the TPLF: a rule of the minority over the majority. By favouring the minority against the majority, the TPLF can get a total submission and loyalty from the minority. Because, the minority can clearly understand that without the TPLF’s favour it could not get a privileged and dominant position by subduing the majority. Of course, this is against the principles of the TPLF’s policy of ethnic entitlement and also in contrary with the ambiguous and ostentatious constitution. Read More.....

The Second Coming of Christ - the Final Judgement - the EPRP to be blamed by the Dawes?
By Selam Demeke

First of all, please allow me to express my sincere condolence to the families, friends and followers of our Late true Father, Like Tebebt Ayalew Tamiru. I will never forget his famous Book – ‘Mech Telemedena Ketekula Zimdina?’. I will never forget his relentless prayers and spiritual struggles against the puppets of the Woyanes from the Hierarchy of the Holy Synod. He set the highest moral standards and examples, for which he paid heavy sacrifices, even including his Pensions at his dying age. May Our Almighty God Rest His Sol in Heaven, in Peace! Read More.....

Prof. Al Mariam's response to statements made by Ethiopian "government" lobbyists DLA Piper

Dear Mr. Klein:
I write this letter to challenge recent statements that you have personally made in a radio interview, and other statements made by your firm on behalf of your client the “Government of Ethiopia”. In these statements you and your firm make certain factual assertions about political conditions in Ethiopia, and inaccurately characterize the legislative intent of H.R. 2003 (“Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007”. I believe a number of statements that you and your firm have made concerning political conditions in Ethiopia and H.R. 2003 are grossly inaccurate; and other statements reflect a reckless disregard for the truth. Read More.....

A Good Political Culture
Frew Anteneh

A good researcher of any kind first completes his experiment on paper and executes it to get a good result. If experienced enough, will be able to see or determine the result from they way it is planned. Good planning, good result, bad planning bad result. If enough care is not taken, the experimental work can be arrested in the middle due to a number of reasons. The same is with politics. Read More

Malaria will kill over 300,000 kids this year in Ethiopia
All Africa

Some 344,000 children under five will die of preventable causes including malaria in Ethiopia this year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday. Read More.....

Media Watchdog Criticizes Ethiopia's Press Freedom
VOA

A senior researcher at Reporters Without Borders, Vincent Brossel, said the Ethiopian government's inconsistent actions are destroying the credibility of the country's justice system, and that their release does not signify any move toward press freedom. Read More.....

OUR SONG

Sing the song
the eternal chant of our people
the funeral dirge.
A lamenting "kirar"
and a falsetto voice
the song of survival.
Read two poems from Hama Tuma's EATING AN AMERICAN AND OTHER POEMS (1995).....

THE GEMORAWS SHAME & Dr. TAYE WOLDE SEMAYAT. Etu Brutu?
By Yilma Begashaw

Julius Caesar had a very famous and loyal General called Brutus (like Gebriye of Theodros). During his last moment Caesar was hand-cuffed, tortured and bled. At this critical moment of his suffering and sighs, he saw his loyal army General approaching. He thought that the General was approaching to give him the usual comfort and protection. Instead, Brutus pulled out his majestic sword and pushed it into Caesar‘s heart. The totally surprised and dismayed Caesar uttered a last word before he fell on Brutus‘s shoulders - ‘Etu Brutu? - Meaning, ‘And you, too, Brutus? Read More.....

Woyane’s Mission of Manipulating Ethiopians of Wolqait and Tegede Origin Failed Miserably
Community Organizers, August 18, 2007

Two TPLF officials who called for a meeting on August 18, 2007 in Columbus , OH failed to reach their goal of dividing the people of Wolqait and Tegede. After an hour or so of diatribe and exaggerated statistical report on developments on the region, the participants took the advantage to maneuver the attention to the most dire and urgent issues of freedom and democracy in their homeland. Read More.....

Ethiopian government frees 32 opposition members from prison

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Ethiopia freed 32 opposition members Saturday who had been held without charges since a disputed 2005 election led to violent street protests, a senior official said. ... But global anti-poverty campaigner ActionAid said at least two activists, including one of its own staff, remained in prison facing charges of "outrage against the constitution." They were not released, the aid agency said, because they refused to sign a formal apology. "They ... continue to defend their case. They declined to join the others in an appeal for a pardon," ActionAid spokesman Julian Filochowski said in a statement, adding that they were "prisoners of conscience". Read More.....

The Phony OLF Lacks Distinguishing Between Truth & Falsehood
By Getachew Reda

As I explained to my readers in the past, OLF is not political, but criminal entity. For well over a
quarter of a century, the organization as a faculty for group of myth dreamers & mercenaries, it demands the dismemberment of the Oromo society, its human affairs with its God made fabrics and relations with the rest of their Ethiopian brothers and sisters. Read More.....

KINIJT Leaders expected to arrive in the U.S. on August 29, 2007
For immediate release, August 17, 2007

The Ad Hoc Coordinating Committee for Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) Leadership
Delegation Visit to the United States is pleased to announce the scheduled arrival in the U.S. of six top Kinijit leaders on August 29, 2007. Read More.....

The International Ethiopian Women's Organisation (IEWO) Radio, 12 August 2007

U.S. Policy in the Horn of Africa
James Swan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs

Volcano erupts in Ethiopia's Afar state, 2 missing

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A volcano has erupted in Ethiopia's remote Afar region, leaving two people missing and forcing hundreds to leave the area, the state news agency said on Wednesday. Read More.....

THE REPRESSION IN THE OGADEN MUST BE STOPPED
Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP), August 14/2007

The regime in Addis Ababa is benefitting from the diplomatic and political support of certain countries that have liked its role as a foot soldier in the so called "war on terror" and it has taken this opportunity to spread terror among the people in Ethiopia. One of the main targets of its wrath are the Ethiopian Somalis living in the Ogaden. Read More.....

The Farce of a Pardon
By Hama Tuma

Meles does not rival Bush in giving us gems of Bushism but he does, to his credit or discredit, try. Take his recent statement that the released CUD party leaders cannot regain the parliamentary seats they had won in the last election after “boycotting the parliament for two years”. Where were these alleged boycotters for the last two years? In the prison Kaliti where Meles had thrown them! How can they boycott when their very right to be free had been boycotted and they had to suffer in Kaliti? The tyrant enjoys such statements as his aversion to fact and decency has for long been known. We did cross the border but we never invaded Somalia was what he said at one time. We killed many peaceful demonstrators because our riot police had no training and rubber bullets, he had said at another time. He can declare the Sahara is a rice paddy and Fogera a mountain gorge. What we call in Ethiopia a man who has washed his eyes with salt and lies outright. The tendency to play out history as a farce maybe a symptom for some particular malady which, I admit, I do not know the name. No doubt though, it is a malady. Meles Zenawi is sick and that is no joke. Read More…..

US moves to shut Eritrean mission
BBC

The United States has ordered the closure of Eritrea's consulate in California, in a sign of worsening diplomatic relations. US embassy officials in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, say the decision is due to a string of restrictions imposed on its embassy. In response, Eritrea has accused the US of an unjust and unfriendly policy. Relations between the two countries soured after US-backed Ethiopia entered Somalia to fight Islamist forces. The BBC's Peter Martell in Asmara says the closure will affect the Eritrean government's attempt to collect a 2% income tax on Eritrean expatriates in California - an important source of income. This row is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat measures the countries have imposed on each other. These include Eritrean demands to inspect confidential diplomatic bags against international conventions, as well as imposing visa restrictions - claims rejected by Eritrea.

Let us celebrate The Ethiopian Millennium in the Sprit of Love and Unity!
CCEM Press Release, August 13, 2007

As the countdown to the Ethiopian millennium approaches, representatives of Ethiopian civic and political organizations as well as those from the Business community in the Washington DC area are organizing one of the most festive and reflective celebrations to mark this important historic event from September 7 to 12, 2007. Read More.....

War crimes 'rampant' in Somalia
BBC

All sides have committed war crimes in Somalia's conflict this year, according to lobby group Human Rights Watch. It says the worst abuses have been by Ethiopian soldiers, who are supporting the government against insurgents. Ethiopians have often indiscriminately attacked civilian areas and looted hospitals, its report says. Read More.....

CALL ME BY MY NAME:
A commentary

Wolde Tewolde alias Obo Arada Shawl, August 13, 2007

In 1986, a group of Ethiopian graduate students were enrolled at the University of Virginia Tech. On the first week of college day, we attended a conference on “Futuristic” seminars. The futurists explained at length on countries that would progress and regress. In the end they enumerated those countries without future. Ethiopia was listed as a futureless country. At that moment all my Ethiopian colleagues left the conference, as they were upset. I stayed not only until the question and answer session but also even after the conference has formally closed. I had to get a real explanation for their prediction. Having talked to some of them, I found out it was based on shallow reasoning and scientifically or statistically untenable.
Read More.....

Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam: Do your justice!
By Obang Ujilu

(Note from the Editor: We publish the above article for discussion sake and invite the professor and others to reply)

Watch website on HR2003

Note to the Editor: EACA would like to strongly encourage you to urge your readers to go to the website of Washington Watch and vote in favour of HR2003. Such tallies are examined not only by "regular" interested individuals, but also by staffers in Congress engaged on or interested in public opinion about this bill. Currently, the tally is 72% in favour of HR2003 and 28% in opposition to it. By encouraging your readers to go to the site and vote, we can dramatically increase the in-favour tally and demonstrate to visitors of Washington Watch across America that there is tremendous citizen support behind the bill. The website is: http://washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_2003.html

Leakey calls Lucy skeleton tour 'prostitution'
The Associated Press, August 10, 2007

NAIROBI, Kenya: Ethiopia's dispatching of the Lucy skeleton on a six-year-tour of the United States is akin to prostituting the fragile, 3.2 million year-old fossil, paleontologist Richard Leakey said. The Lucy skeleton — one of the world's most famous fossils — was quietly flown out of Ethiopia earlier this week for the U.S. tour. Leakey, one of the world's best-known fossil hunters, is not the first to criticize what some see as a gamble with an irreplaceable relic. The U.S. Smithsonian Institution also has objected to the tour, and the secretive manner in which the remains were sent abroad has raised eyebrows in Ethiopia, where the public has seen the real Lucy fossil only twice. "It's a form of prostitution, it's gross exploitation of the ancestors of humanity and it should not be permitted," Leakey told The Associated Press in an interview Friday at his Nairobi office. Read More.....

EDITORIAL: Time Overdue for the Release of Debteraw and His Comrades

There are reports that the Meles regime may release some 13,000 prisoners for the New Year and of these some may very well be long time held political prisoners. It is proper to call for the release of Debteraw and his comrades held since 1991. Proper also to call for the release of the thousands in Dedesa, Zwai, Bir Sheleko, in secret prisons in Tigrai and other regions. Read More.....

Listen to the IEWO Radio Programme for 05 August 2007

Scientists warn that hominid 'Lucy' is too fragile for six-year US tour
By David Usborne

Palaeontologists in Ethiopia and in the United States were expressing alarm yesterday following confirmation that the fossilised bones of the world's famous hominid, "Lucy", were on their way from Addis Ababa to a museum in Texas for a six-year tour of American cities. Read More.....

Famous Fossil Lucy Leaves Ethiopia
By ANITA POWELL, Associated Press Writer

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - After 3.2 million years in East Africa, one of the world's most famous set of fossils was quietly flown out of Ethiopia overnight for a U.S. tour that some experts say is a dangerous gamble with an irreplaceable relic. Although the fossil known as Lucy had been expected to leave the Ethiopian Natural History Museum this month, some in the nation's capital were surprised the departure took place under cover of darkness with no fanfare Sunday. Read More.....

SOCEPP Objects to illegal execution of Major Tsehaye W. Sellasie

August 6, 2007: The regime of Meles Zenawi has executed Major Tsehaye Wolde Sellasie who had been convicted of shooting to death the former security chief Kinfe Gebre Medhin in 2001. The trial of the Major was neither fair nor proper and SOCEPP had objected to this in time. Read More.....

Ethiopia executes spy boss killer
BBC

A major in the Ethiopian army has been executed for murdering the head of the intelligence and security services six years ago, the authorities say. Read More.....

Of Lies, Promised Joy, “Shimagles”, Pardons and Bananas
Prof. Alemayehu G. Mariam 8/6/2007

“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 More.....

CALL ME BY MY NAME: A debate with Debteraw, XV
Wolde Tewolde alias Obo Arada Shawl, August 3, 2007


Debteraw Team in its Web Page has launched a second step – posting -the pictures of the leaders of struggle who not only reject the TPLF’s way of governance but also defy death to save Ethiopia and Ethiopians. How many of us do we know about this leadership and followership? What kind of Azmatches/zematches were they? What were their personal background, their common cause, their common bond and their political experiences? It is high time to know them closely. Hurray – Bravo – Congratulations to Debteraw’s team. Read More.....

We are all the Losers: Looking at the Effects of the Ethiopia–Eritrea Border Dispute
By Maru Gubena

(This paper was written in early 2000, and was published in Ethiopian Review Magazine and other Ethiopian newsletters at that time. Although the text is almost a decade old, the issues analyzed are still current and fresh. Read More....)


Verdict On Ethiopian Campaigners Fixed For October
ActionAid UK

Judges trying the case of two anti-poverty campaigners in Ethiopia yesterday (Thursday 2 August) adjourned the trial until 8 October, when the court will give judgement. Read more.....

VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS OF BETTE ISRAELIS—RAMPANT RACISM CONDEMNED
SOCEPP - AUGUST 2/2007

A recent example of the rampant racism and violations of rights to which Bette Israeli (”Ethiopian Jews”) are subjected comes from Petah Tikvah where some 80 recent immigrants from Ethiopia have been denied the right to go to schools. Outwardly, the reason given is that the Ethiopians have not finished their ”conversion process” while the real reason seems to be their their skin color. Read more.....

Four more Ethiopian journalists sentenced;
SomaliNet

New York, August 2, 2007—Ethiopia’s High Court handed down heavy prison sentences to four journalists jailed in connection with their coverage of deadly post-election unrest in 2005, after the journalists waived their defense and pleaded guilty in anticipation of a pardon, according to local sources. All of them worked for now-defunct Amharic-language weeklies. Read more.....

It won’t be Far to Hear Mr. Yamamoto Repeating Mr. Cohen’s Regret for Supporting the TPLF/EPRDF?
By Getachew Reda

At the end, after all, there were skillful Diplomats before you who meddled in the affairs of Ethiopia in 1991. They all regret to support Meles Zenawi, and it will not be far that you too will be heard on CNN and VOA addressing your regret for supporting Zenawi as others did it before you. Read more.....

ETA UNDER ATTACK
Wondimu Mekonnen

There is a disturbing news development in the premises of the Ethiopian Teachers Association, in Addis Ababa, this morning, 02 August 2007. Read more ....

The Accidental Men!
Entangled by a web of bureaucratic and legal complexity, the released opposition leaders can hardly claim a right over the name CUDP. Temesgen Zewde and Ayle Chamiso hold the key to it
Addis Fortune

Although the newly formed CUDP had initially 11 names submitted to the Board as founding members, a belated involvement by senior Western diplomats in Addis Abeba persuaded Ayele to include what was then known as "the parliamentary group". Indeed, at a meeting held inside the United States (US) Embassy here, and chaired by its former Charge de Affair, Vicky Huddleston, a new list of 10, comprising people such as Temesegen Zewdie, was added to the application submitted to the Board. Read More.....

A new book by Porfessor Tesfatsion Medhanie: “Towards Confederation in the Horn of Africa: Focus on Ethiopia and Eritrea"
(This brief review is by KENTIBAW)

Back in 1986, Professor Tesfatsion wrote a book called ‘Eritrea—Dynamics of a National Question” with a drawing on the cover of an AK-47 turned upside down or the muzzle to the ground. This incensed one self appointed Eritrean fanatic called Meles Zenawi so much that he wrote a 300 pages (plus) paper in defense of what he affirmed as the colonial Eritrean question. Ye Eritrea hizb tigil keyet wedet of Meles was a shallow and vitriolic political tract/diatribe which did little to reduce from the scholarly book of Professor Tesfatsion Medhanie. Read More......

A New Battle in Congress: Lobbyists v Human Rights
Scott A. Morgan, August 1, 2007

The fact that this attempt at a backroom deal could backfire. The Congress has an even lower approval rating then the President. If this occurs then who knows how much the average citizen will trust their Member of Congress. The Ethiopian Diaspora here in the United States are organizing an effort to bring this bill to the floor so it can be voted on. Maybe Americans themselves should join this effort so that people can be heard and not the lobbyists. Isn't that supposed to happen in the House anyway? Read More.....

 

Ethiopia Expels Red Cross From East
Associated Press


Ethiopia on Tuesday gave the Red Cross one week to leave the Ogaden region in the country's volatile east, accusing the aid group of talking to rebels operating in the area. Read More.....


Ethiopian Socio-Cultural Rules Require Fundamental Change: A Case from my Bag of Childhood Memories
By Maru Gubena

Here, for the purpose of clarity, I have chosen to address just a single aspect among the many cultural patterns of Ethiopian’s socio-cultural norms: the negative use of the adjective “woregna.” I consider this to be an enemy for a great part of Ethiopian society – an impediment to the development of free mindsets. With the intention of producing a readable text, this true story drawn from the bag of my childhood memories will be employed to illustrate the central, complex issues – issues that have lacked the required attention. Read More.....

Engineer Hailu Shawel to address audience in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego (KIC Press Release)

Zenawi takes more political prisoners hostage in H. R. 2003 mark-up battle

The Coalition for H.R. 2003 has just learned that H.R. 2003 will be up for consideration during the September session of the House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Tom Lantos in a press release today following the Committee meeting declared: .... Read More.....

U.S.-Ethiopia: A Double-Edged Partnership
By Stephanie Hanson, July 31, 2007

Ethiopia receives nearly half a billion dollars in U.S. aid each year as well as military assistance. Yet the Ethiopian government has shown little inclination to improve a dismal record on human rights, as well as a history of unresponsiveness to international pressure on its domestic policies. Read More.....

URGENT! DAY 2 CAMPAIGN FOR HR 2003: FAX/Call Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer
July 31, 2007

Washington – The Coalition for H.R. 2003 is pleased to announce to all pro-democracy supporters, the fax and telephone call campaign to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has proved exceptionally effective.

The Coalition for H.R. 2003, once again, respectfully calls upon all pro-democracy Ethiopians, Ethiopian Americans and friends of Ethiopia worldwide to IMMEDIATELY start faxing letter to the US House of Representatives Majority Leader’s Washington, DC office and follow-up with a telephone call. Fax your letters, DO NOT MAIL. It takes 2 weeks to deliver a letter to congress because of security inspections. Office telephone and fax numbers are listed below. Copy and paste, and modify the letter below to fit your special situation. Read More & Act Now.....

UPDATE: ACTION ALERT
The Coalition for H.R. 2003, July 30, 2007

Congratulations to supporters of H.R.2003 for a successful first day campaign. The Coalition has been advised the fax and telephone of the House Speaker's office have been jammed all day today. The campaign will continue until the Honorable House Speaker Pelosi decides to speak out on why she decided to interfere with a human rights bill.

When calling House Speaker Pelosi's office: Please communicate your displeasure in her interference with the MarkUp of H.R.203. Please ask the Speaker's office, "I would like an explanation on why Speaker Pelosi does not want H.R.2003 to be calendared for MarkUP at the Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow, July 31, 2007". Please use the following information to contact:

House Speaker Pelosi at her Washington, DC office: Telephone # 202-225-4965, Fax# 202-225-8259

District office for House Speaker Pelosi: Tel# 415-556-4862, Fax# 415-861-1670

July 29 Finote Radio Interview with Prof. Al Mariam

The Shameless so called "Professors"
Yilma Begashaw

The fate of Ethiopia is not in the hands of the US Congress. Paid internal agents such as our so called Professors and external lobbyists in New York can never, and should never damage our spirits and our resilience for a protracted struggle for democracy, peace and prosperity. These cheap servants may extend the life of the tyrants for a further couple of days. But its end is approaching fast. Let us join hands and make it even faster, with the help of our Mighty. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW OUR ENEMIES. Read More.....

ETHIOPIANS MUST DECLARE A NEW ERA OF DEMOCRACY IN THE UPCOMING MILLENNIUM
By Bizualem Beza

URGENT! FAX letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi
The Coalition for H.R. 2003, July 29, 2007

Washington – The Coalition for H.R. 2003 calls upon all pro-democracy Ethiopians, Ethiopian Americans and friends of Ethiopia worldwide to IMMEDIATELY fax letter to the US House of Representatives Speaker’s Washington, DC office and follow-up with a telephone call starting July 30, 2007, Monday, 9 AM Eastern Standard Time. Fax your letters, DO NOT MAIL. It takes 2 weeks to deliver a letter to congress because of security inspections. Read More.....

LANTOS DIRECTED NOT TO MARK UP H.R. 2003! ZENAWI BUYS SPEAKER PELOSI, MAJORITY LEADER HOYER
EPHREM ISAAC LOBBIES HARD AGAINST H.R. 2003

The Coalition for HR 2003 has learned that Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Tom Lantos was directed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Maryland) not to mark-up H.R. 2003 on July 31, 2007. The reasons for the directive are not clear. ... The Coalition has further learned that Ephrem Isaac, who has recently been masquerading as a “shimagle”, has been engaged in intense lobbying efforts against H.R. 2003 in Congress. He was observed visiting various congressional offices today chaperoned and accompanied by Congressman Gary Ackerman of New York. The Coalition is investigating information that Isaac is mobilizing powerful Jewish leaders and groups in the United States against H.R. 2003.

The Coalition respectfully notifies Ethiopian Americans in California and Maryland, particularly in the congressional districts of Pelosi and Hoyer, to prepare for vigorous and intense advocacy in the coming days.
Read More....

Zenawi Cranks up Lobbying Machines to Defeat H.R. 2003 in Foreign Affiars Committee
Mark-up Vote for H.R. 2003 Scheduled for July 31, 2007

The Coalition for HR 2003 is informed and believes that the House Foreign Affairs Committee will calendar H.R. 2003 for mark-up on Tuesday, July 31, 2007. We expect the bill will receive full support by committee members and recommended for passage by the Full House.

SPECIAL ALERT: DLA Piper - Zenawi has engaged his lobbying army of DLA Piper to defeat the bill. They are making calls and paying visits to members asking them not to support and vote for the bill. DLA Piper has fully engaged their top guns to defeat the bill. See Ken Silverstein’s article in the recent issue of Harper’s Magazine, entitled Lobbying firms blocking action against Ethiopia's tyrant”.

Shimagles - We are also very much aware that some individuals who have lately been representing themselves as “shimagles” are indeed leading a secret lobbying campaign against the bill. We are fully aware of their efforts, and if they want to continue on their present course, we insist that they register as lobbyists for a foreign government under the Foreign Agents Registration Act , 22 U.S.C. § 611 (c) (1). Read More & Act Now.....

Letter from Engineer Hailu Shawel, CUD President // KIC Press Release

US, Ethiopia accused over Somalia
By Mark Turner at the United Nations and Barney Jopson in Kenya

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 More.....

Letter to Ato Siye Abraha
From Tedla Asfaw

I am waiting the second part of Ato Siye's interview with Germany Amharic radio this coming Friday and it will be appropriate to ask some questions..... Read More.....

Announcement of a meeting in Washington DC organised by Gasha for Ethiopia and the International Tigrean Democratic Association on 11 August 2007. For more detailed information…...

Listen to the latest programme of the IEWO Radio

It is No Longer my Way of the Highway: Build from Traditional Mediation a Strategy of Comprehensive Reconciliation
NES Commentary no.8

The problem of the ONLF, OLF, EPRP and others can also fall under this method of traditional mediation. If it can be seen as the alternative or as an integral part of other methods of conflict resolution, it would be promoted, supported and fully resourced by all who genuinely wish to help solve problems and not aggravate it endlessly and problematically. The Government should use the success with CUDP to invite all these forces into the process of traditional mediation and engage with them rather than forcing them to fight it with non-peaceful methods. Read More and post your comments.....

Urgent Press Release
Coalition for H.R.2003

There is a concerted effort being waged by supporters of the Zenawi regime to kill H.R.2003. We have to make a final push to get H.R.2003 marked up on July 31 which is the last markup date before Congres goes out on recess. Read more.....

Released CUD leaders issue statement (Amharic PDF)

Bipartisan Duo of Ex-Congressional Heavyweights Blocking Action Against Ethiopia
Harper's Magazine

But two congressmen-turned-lobbyists–former House Majority Leaders Richard Armey, the Republican from Texas, and Missouri Democrat Richard Gephardt–are working hard to block full congressional action against the Zenawi regime. The duo work with the firm of DLA Piper, which federal disclosure records show is being paid at least $50,000 per month by the Ethiopian government for “strategic advice and counsel.” Read More.....

Stop Massive Arrest and Deportation of Ethiopians
Unity for the Best of Ethiopia, PR

ENC PR on the release of Prisoners of Conscience: Let us set an agenda reflecting the Ethiopian spirit together
The Ethiopian National Congress

CALL ME BY MY NAME: A debate with Debteraw, XIV
Wolde Tewolde alias Obo Arada Shawl

Why celebrate the Millennium?
Why celebrate the Amnesty for Kinjit’s leadership?
Why not celebrate the Negotiation Process? Read More.....


Kinijit Sacramento Support Chapter
( Press Release)


What next for Ethiopia's freed leaders?
By Elizabeth Blunt

But now they have to start thinking about the future and where they, and their organisation, go from here. Read More.....

Forcible return/Fear of torture/Arbitrary detention of several hundred Ethiopian and Eritrean nationals in Sudan
Amnesty International

Hundreds of Ethiopian and Eritrean nationals have been arrested since the beginning of July, and are at risk of being forcibly returned to their countries of origin. Many of the Ethiopian and all the Eritrean nationals would be at risk of immediate arrest, torture and indefinite detention without charge or trial if forcibly returned. Read More.....

Police Say Atlanta Man Killed Family, Self
nbc5i

Police said a man shot and killed three relatives and wounded two others before killing himself Monday morning at his home in southwest Atlanta. .... Neighbors said that the family was from Ethiopia and had lived in the house about 12 years. The shooting happened about 7 a.m. in a house about half a mile east of Interstate 75 and near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Read More..... // Scene Of Killings

KIC press release (Amharic pdf)

REPEAL THE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THE FREE PRESS
SOCEPP - JULY 21/2007

The hue and cry over the so called "pardon" of some 38 political prisoners hides behind it the issue of the restrictions and fines imposed upon the free press. Ethiop, Menelik etc.. and other publishing houses have been fined huge sums and the court has ordered the disolution of these publishing companies. There is nothing said up to now that these draconian measures have been rescinded. Read more.....

Press releases from Congressman Tom Lantos, Chairman, of Foreign Affairs Committee and Congressman Donald Payne, Chairman of Subcommittee on Africa.

PART II-The Dubious Path of the Resistance:
Can the Ethiopian Diaspora Contribute to Future Political Stability and the Development of Democratic Institutions in Ethiopia?

By Dr. Maru Gubena

This article is part two of my contribution entitl