ECTV NEWS Blog

Interview With Meles Zenawi

2006-12-16T07:59:00.000-05:00

Interview With Meles Zenawi
Thursday, December 14, 2006; 12:26 PM

The Washington Post's Stephanie McCrummen sat down this week with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss rising tensions with Somalia's Islamic Courts, and the state of democracy inside the country.

On the issue of Somalia: Ethiopia is inching closer to war with the Islamic Courts, who have taken over large swaths the country, including its capital, and who have in the past called for creation of a "Greater Somalia," including portions of ethnically Somali Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. Diplomats estimate that Ethiopia has at least 8,000 troops in Somalia bolstering the fragile, but internationally recognized transitional government, a claim that Ethiopia has repeatedly denied.

Q: First, your reaction to the call by the Islamic Courts for Ethiopia to withdraw its forces in seven days?

A: They have issued an ultimatum. This does not come as a surprise to me. The declaration is based on falsehoods. It is true we have troops in Baidoa, the capital, who are there to train forces of the transitional federal government, who are an internationally recognized government and who have officially asked for support from Ethiopia. . . . Now, if the transitional government does not want our trainers, we'd be happy to withdraw them. . . . But on a more fundamental level it appears that this jihadist movement is hell-bent on controlling all of Somalia. That for them, the negotiations are a ploy used to facilitate their goal. They see Ethiopia as a stumbling block.

Q. There are analysts, diplomats and others who fear that limited conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, even a short conflict, would ultimately spawn terrorist attacks across the region in neighboring countries, that it would embolden the more radical elements within the courts. Do you share this analysis? What are your thoughts on the idea that even an African Union deployment might make matters worse in the long run?

A. This argument does fascinate me. It does surprise me that intelligent people in the 21st century could claim that if you respond to the terrorists with force, you spawn terrorism, but if you appease them, you somehow tame them. This argument, as I said, is very interesting, and very surprising. . . . This policy of feckleness in the face of threats, this beatification of this threat, is quite dangerous. . . . There is a group in the Islamic Movement in Mogadishu that is not interested in democratic secular government in Somalia, that is hell-bent on establishing a Taliban regime in Somalia. Now, you can facilitate the Talibanization of Somalia through dialogue. If that is the intention, it perhaps makes sense. But you cannot stop a group that has clearly demonstrated that it wants to Talibanize all of Somalia, that is prepared to use dialogue to facilitate its military takeover. For someone to say in the face of such facts and stark realities, that facing the challenge on its own terms is what creates the challenge in the first place, such arguments in my view are worse than fecklessness in the face of a challenge.

On Democracy: In May 2005, the Ethiopian government conducted what many observers considered the most open and competitive elections since Prime Minister Meles Zenawi took power in a 1991 coup. An estimated 90 percent of the country's 25 million registered voters took part. When the preliminary results were announced, however, opposition party members accused the government of fraud, and took to the streets to protest, prompting a recount that showed the opposition parties made significant gains, but did not win a majority. When the opposition took to the streets again in November, they clashed with government security forces who opened fire. A government investigation found that 197 people were killed, including six police officers. Thousands of opposition members were arrested, and more than 100 opposition leaders, journalists and relief workers remain in jail, many having been charged with treason.

Q. I wanted to ask you about how your thinking has changed since you arrived in 1991. How has your thinking changed on subject of democracy? And do you believe that Ethiopia needs a strong, viable, peaceful opposition in order to progress?

A. Of course everybody's thinking evolves over time. Only dead people cease learning, and I am not certified dead yet. So I am still learning. Over the years I've come to recognize that democratization in Ethiopia is not just a matter of choice. It's a matter of national survival. I am deeply convinced that we either democratize and have a good chance of surviving, or if we fail to do so, we disintegrate. That is a significant evolution in my thinking. I know more now than I did in the past about the process of democratization. I know more about the pitfalls. With regards to your second question, a peaceful, strong viable opposition is part of any vibrant democracy. And we wish to have a vibrant democracy, and therefore we wish to have a vibrant, strong, peaceful opposition that is fully committed to the constitution and to play by the rules.

Q. Given what you just said, do you have any regrets about what happened after the election last year? There are hundreds of opposition members still in jail, thousands arrested at the time -- 197, I believe, killed, according to the government's report. Given what you just said, do you have any regrets about what happened?

A.. Yes, well, it's very regrettable that the election which was described as a model, that it turned out that this process in the end was tarnished by the fact that many people died. I regret the deaths of these people. It was a completely unnecessary and tragic series of events. I do not regret the fact that we have detained political leaders of this insurrection.

Q. Insurrection?

A. Yes. We bent back a lot to prevent this. . . . They said that there were irregularities in the elections. . . . Our response has been okay, we have the processes. We have the national election board. . . . And if you don't accept the board you go to the courts. . . . So we bent back, and said we accept the process of review of the counting, which involved the opposition parties' representatives and foreign observers. . . . Having done it we were not able to prevent publicly declared -- openly and publicly declared -- exercise of overthrowing the duly constituted government by unconstitutional means. And the rule of law is the basis for any democracy. And without the rule of law in democracy, you have chaos. They were pushing the country towards chaos. And we had to enforce the rule of law. And they have had their day in court. That is as it should be. There are no regrets here.

Q. I've been talking to a lot of people, regular people here on the streets in Addis, and some are open, and talk. But a lot of people are afraid to talk. They are concerned about expressing their opinion. Why do you think that is? Do you think that's warranted? Why do you think there's such a fear among people here?

A. I don't think there is such fear. At least in expressing opinions contrary to government. . . . There might be fear with regards to those associated with groups intent in carrying out insurrection. And supporters of armed insurrection might be concerned to have their ideas known. It is illegal to be a member of an organization that is challenging the constitution by armed force. But other than that, I don't see any fear. But I also understand that the opposition wants to prove that this is a repressive regime.

Q. Do you have any plans to try for a third term?

A. My party? My party will try not only for a third term but for a tenth term.

Q. And you personally?

A. And me personally, I think I've had enough.

Starbucks in Ethiopian coffee beans imbroglio

2006-10-29T17:59:00.000-05:00

Starbucks in Ethiopian coffee beans imbroglio
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/335760574?ltl=1162023907
LONDON - British charity Oxfam has alleged that coffee king Starbucks is preventing Ethiopia from trademarking two of its three coffee beans thereby denying farmers some much-needed income. Oxfam says that Ethiopian farmers are being deprived of nearly 50 million pounds ($94 million).

The U.S. coffee shop giant has hampered Ethiopia from getting a trademark on two of its most popular beans, namely Sidamo and Harar. The charity said that if this had been allowed, then the poor African nation would have been able to control the use of the beans in the market globally, thus giving its farmers a decent means of livelihood.
The bid to trademark the two beans was blocked by U.S. National Coffee Association (NCA) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However Starbucks has denied these allegations. "We have not been involved in trying to block Ethiopia's attempts. We did not get the NCA involved -- in fact it was the other way around. They were the ones who contacted us on this," Dub Hay of the group told BBC radio.

But Oxfam has stood by its accusations saying that it is in fact Starbucks, which has instigated this action. "We have heard from a number of sources that actually Starbucks was involved in alerting the U.S. coffee association to block these applications," the charity's Jo Leadbetter told BBC, adding that the whole exercise stinks of corporate bullying."

Oxfam has demanded that Starbucks and other coffee giants sign voluntary licensing agreements that acknowledge Ethiopia's hold over the two beans regardless of whether trademark protection is granted or not.

Tadesse Maskela, who is the chief of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union in Ethiopia, said that coffee companies were being unfair to the country's farmers. "Coffee shops can sell Sidamo and Harar coffees for up to 14 pounds ($26.29) a pound (0.45 kg) because of the beans' specialty status," Maskela pointed out. "But Ethiopian coffee farmers only earn between 30p and 59p for their crop, barely enough to cover the cost of production."

ECTV NEWS FEED

U.S. military Task Force to support flood victims in Ethiopia CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

2006-08-20T06:43:00.000-04:00

U.S. military Task Force to support flood victims in Ethiopia CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

August 18, 2006
No. 26/06

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti � A convoy of American Naval Engineers (also known as �Seabees�) traveled from Camp Lemonier, Djibouti to Dire Dawa, Ethiopia today to provide humanitarian relief assistance to the population affected by the recent flooding that has killed hundreds and left thousands without homes.

Responding to an appeal from the Ethiopian government and the U.S. Charg� d�Affaires in Addis Ababa to work with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and nongovernmental organizations to provide emergency assistance in the flood-devastated region, the U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-5, from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) mobilized a team of 35 service members. This team is bringing with them 52 tents which will be erected to accommodate some of the estimated 6,000 people who lost their homes and who are now being housed in local schools in the area. The Seabees will also construct sanitation facilities. The value of this assistance is approximately 900,000 U.S. dollars.

Officials have said that the priorities for relief assistance at this time are shelter and sanitation. However, CJTF-HOA is poised to provide additional relief assistance at the request of the Ethiopian government. Civil Affairs medical teams are coordinating with local authorities and NGOs in the area to determine what medical assistance may be needed.

CONTACT: Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa Public Affairs,
(253) 358-997, cjtfhoapao@hoa.centcom.mil.
Visit CJTF-HOA online at http://www.hoa.centcom.mil/www.hoa.centcom.m

Ethiopian Patriarch urges new efforts for lasting African peace

2006-07-10T17:06:00.000-04:00

The head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Patriarch Abune Paulos, one of the presidents of the WCC, has spoken out forcefully in favour of peace and reconciliation in a region beset by conflicts.

"I appeal to all parties concerned to resort to dialogue as the means of resolving any conflicts in order to spare the people the pain and suffering they have been made to endure over the years. I strongly hope and pray that the conflicts in the Horn of Africa, especially between Ethiopia and Eritrea, will soon find a permanent peaceful solution," the patriarch stated during a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 30 June 2006.

Echoing the theme of the WCC’s 9th Assembly which took place in early 2006, the patriarch emphasized the role of the churches in social transformation. "The churches and the ecumenical movement need to pray and hope that God’s grace will transform us continuously. We, as believers in the one who came to bring life in all its fullness, are charged with the mission to build a transformed world and a new Africa where justice and peace will prevail," he said.

"I call upon all people of faith in both countries to work with the political leaders to accelerate the coming of lasting peace. Because, as we all know, war and violence destroy not only properties but also the dignity and lives of people made in the image of God," urged the church leader.

Patriarch Abune Paulos is head of the 38-million strong Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He was elected as one of the WCC's eight presidents by the 9th Assembly in February 2006.

http://www.oikoumene.org/

Ethiopia: U.S. Support for Ethiopian Opposition

2006-06-10T17:01:00.000-04:00

Daily Press Briefing
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 6, 2006

QUESTION Endale G. ECTV: Okay. I have just a couple of questions. Do you have any comments on last week there was an announcement on Ethiopian radio that you're going to be maybe directly or indirectly participating on the fundraising that is taking place here in Washington, D.C., for the opposition party? Has anyone is being invited from your Department?

MR. MCCORMACK: We'll check for you.

Taken Question
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 6, 2006
Question Taken at the June 6, 2006 Daily Press Briefing

Ethiopia: U.S. Support for Ethiopian Opposition

Question Endale G. ECTV: Is the United States Government involved in any fundraising for Ethiopian opposition groups in the United States? If so, how?

Answer: No. The United States Government does not fundraise for individual parties in other countries, nor do we do so for any political party, American or foreign.

2006/596

Released on June 6, 2006

Briefing by Ambassador John R. Miller, Ambassador-at-Large for International Slavery, on Release of the Sixth Annual Trafficking in Persons Report

2006-06-10T12:34:00.000-04:00

AMBASSADOR MILLER: Okay. Oh my gosh, there's so many people. Yes. Did I call on you before?

QUESTION Endale, ECTV: No, sir.

AMBASSADOR MILLER: Well, then go ahead.

QUESTION Endale, ECTV: Thank you, Ambassador. This question will be on the Horn of Africa. And I see several countries in the different tier list, which is like Sudan is on 3, Tier 3, and Kenya on Tier 2 Watch List and Ethiopia on Tier 2. And what's the certain story on Ethiopia? And also I don't see Eritrea on the Horn of Africa on your list. Do you have any information on that, too?

AMBASSADOR MILLER: You're saying you don't see Eritrea on the list?

QUESTION Endale, ECTV: Yeah. Sorry if I don't.

AMBASSADOR MILLER: No, you're right. It's not there. There are certain countries where we either didn't have sufficient information or the government wasn't in effective enough control for us to evaluate. There are still -- it gets smaller and smaller, that list. It used to be like there were 70 governments in this report and now we're up to 149, but there are still a few.

Now, your question --

QUESTION Endale, ECTV: On the experience in Ethiopia because I see on Tier 2.

AMBASSADOR MILLER: Yeah, your question was about Ethiopia. And of course, just to define Tier 2 again for you, Tier 2 means they do not meet the minimum standards but they were undertaking some significant efforts. And their law enforcement response to trafficking improved. They did adopt a new penal code. They have been working with local NGOs. There was some limited assistance to trafficking victims.

They need to do a lot more in increasing awareness. They're in the middle. But let me just wrap up by saying that when I mentioned the signs of progress and I mentioned, you know, the rise from 3,000 to 4,700 convictions and the shelters and the countries passing anti-trafficking laws, I left out one thing that's happened in the last year, and I think you know what it is. There has been a tremendous increase in stories in the news media. A tremendous increase. I don't know exactly, but anybody that watches TV or reads the papers knows this is true. I mean, there's one program after another. Even the dramas are incorporating this.

And I think this is in part responsible for starting to turn the corner. People, when they read about it, they're shocked. They say, "How can this be going on?" It doesn't matter what country. Somebody's, you know, middle class, educated, whatever. They think, "How can this be going on?" But once awareness starts, and it starts with the news media, then good things start to happen. They talk to their local police chiefs. They talk to their civic groups. They go to their churches or mosques. They talk to their parliamentary representatives. So I do think that that is also a factor and I thank you all for coming. And if you have questions later, I am going to be available for a few minutes and Mark Taylor, our report staff, and Eleanor Gaetan will be available also.

Thank you very much.

Endale G, ECTV

US Department of State Daily Press Briefing May 30, 2006 (QUESTION By: Endale Getahun, ECTV)

2006-05-31T19:52:00.000-04:00

Yes, sir.

Daily Press Briefing by,
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC

QUESTION By: Endale Getahun, ECTV
May 30, 2006

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: This weekend the Assistant Secretary of African Affairs Donald visited Ethiopia and do you have any outcomes in meeting with the Prime Minister Meles Zenawi?

MR. MCCORMACK: I don't. I'd be happy to check into it for you. This is Mr. Yamamoto?

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: After he's returned from Kigali or from Rwanda, he stopped over in Addis Ababa.

MR. MCCORMACK: Who is this, Mr. Yamamoto?

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: Yes, sir.

MR. MCCORMACK: Okay. We'll check for you.

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: And last week I asked you about Eritrea.

MR. MCCORMACK: The boundary commission?

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: Yes.

MR. MCCORMACK: I got something for you.

The Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission met twice -- has met twice since February 2006. At the most recent meeting, the witnesses supported -- this is the witnesses to the Algiers agreement -- witnesses supported a U.S. initiative to resume demarcation of the boundary and move toward normalized relations. Progress has been made on steps necessary to resume demarcation. The United States believes that demarcation of the boundary in accord with the delimitation decision of the EEBC is a critical step to ensuring stability and sustainable peace in the region.

The United States has encouraged parties to cooperate with the EEBC and resume demarcation. We have urged other governments to support this position and, as necessary, provide resources to support demarcation.

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: What was your response on the President Isaias Afewerki last week who was accusing the United States for taking side with Ethiopia on demarcation?

MR. MCCORMACK: No, we support the efforts right there -- that were underway for demarcation. You know, we're not a party to this. Certainly, we're part of the witnesses to the Algiers Accords, but our only interest is in seeing the boundary be demarcated in a way that is fair and equitable, and that the way to do that is through the third party of the EEBC. And we have encouraged the parties to take steps to get the demarcation back underway. And right now that's -- the focus of our discussions is for each of the groups to take those steps necessary to get it going again.

QUESTION Endale,ECTV: I'm sorry. Ethiopia is also accusing Eritrea for explosion in Addis Ababa now. So if both of them are competition, do you think this issue of -- on supporting for the terrorist activity in Ethiopia by -- like Ethiopian Government is accusing with the Eritrea saying that they send the OLF... to --

MR. MCCORMACK: I don't have any information to support that claim.

ECTV NEWS

Ethiopia: World Bank Group Approves Plan To Protect Basic Services, Improve Governance

2006-05-25T23:46:00.000-04:00

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2006 –The World Bank Group Board approved an interim country assistance strategy for Ethiopia, emphasizing improved governance and growth. The plan includes an immediate program to preserve the delivery of basic services to the population through grants to local governments.

The board decision follows a period of intensive consultation with Ethiopia’s international partners and with various actors within the country’s political economy. The plan comes at a critical time for Ethiopia: contested elections in 2005 were followed by public protests, mass arrests, and an increasingly polarized climate that created continuing risks for the country’s development agenda. The World Bank and other donors suspended direct budget support once the political impasse set in, but agreed to press for improved governance, including greater civic participation, while protecting critical services in health, education, agriculture and access to safe water.

The interim strategy, which covers the next fourteen months, carries clear expectations for performance at the country level. The Bank would assess Ethiopia’s progress on strengthening governance, and, if there are measurable improvements, would prepare a full three-year strategy envisioning scaled-up levels of assistance. However, if governance conditions deteriorate, the Bank would reduce aid over time.

“The program approved by the World Bank board, and supported by Britain and the other donors, reflects a determination to protect the country’s poorest citizens from unnecessary setbacks flowing from the contested elections and the ensuing period of political uncertainty,” said Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia and Sudan. “Ethiopia has registered real progress in providing services to the poor, and in advancing the Millennium Development Goals. Above all, we want to prevent a backsliding-- while stepping up the work on governance.”

A major component of the plan is the $215 million Protection of Basic Services Program to support local governments in providing the population essential services, while strengthening measures to ensure transparency and local accountability in the delivery of those services.

“Our agreements with the Government spell out some very specific results just in the next fourteen months,” Mr. Diwan noted. “For example, we’re committing to lower infant mortality to 115 per thousand from the current 127. For young children living in malaria-affected areas, we’re looking to make bednets available for 60%, up from 25% today. For the key childhood vaccinations, we aim to go from 40% to 60%.”

In earmarking local government grants for essential services in health, education, agriculture and water, the Protection of Basic Services Program requires strict reporting on how funds are allocated and spent. The plan applies four tests: fairness, to ensure that services are disbursed without partisan or political bias; sound fiduciary management, to guarantee that resources support the intended goals; “additionality,” to ensure that the Ethiopian government’s ongoing funding of basic services isn’t reduced; and accountability, so that citizens are fully informed and allowed to participate in decisions affecting their access to critical services. If performance falls short on the four tests, the Bank can halt disbursements until corrective measures are taken.

The larger interim strategy for Ethiopia carries several other programs to stimulate economic growth and strengthen governance. The plan calls for an expansion of access to electricity among Ethiopia’s rural population. Another component would fund irrigation programs to strengthen farm productivity, while a private sector program would support high-growth corridors as a means of bolstering Ethiopian enterprise. Funding for roads and capacity-building in financial services and agriculture are also included in the first year of the interim strategy. In the second year, the Bank would continue to address the significant infrastructure gap that holds back economic growth in much of the country. Other resources would support safety nets for food-insecure households, the fight against HIV-AIDS, and urban housing.

The United Kingdom is supporting the PBS project, and the Netherlands will also contribute. The European Commission, African Development Bank, Canada, Ireland, and Sweden are also considering contributions. The PBS project earmarks $20 million from the World Bank—and $67 million from all PBS partners combined—to help finance the acquisition of critical health commodities—including mosquito bed nets, vaccines, malaria drugs and contraceptives. The program also provides funds to improve local governments’ disclosure practices and to equip civil society organizations with skills to track government spending and to participate in decision-making.

In recent years, Ethiopia has posted a comparatively strong growth performance, while increasing the portion of the national budget dedicated to poverty-reduction spending. Though starting from a low base, the country had begun to show progress toward achieving some of the Millennium Development Goals— including strong gains in rates of school enrolment and lowering malnutrition. The PBS program is designed to avoid any reversal in these areas, while providing strong incentives for improved governance and participation.

###

For more information on the World Bank’s work in sub-Saharan Africa visit: http://www.worldbank.org/afr

For more information about World Bank’s activities in Ethiopia visit:

http://www.worldbank.org/et

New Ethiopian Ambassador Presents Credentials to President Bush

2006-05-17T21:49:00.000-04:00

Photo By http://www.scribeus.com

WASHINGTON, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 15, His Excellency Dr. Samuel Assefa, the newly appointed Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States, presented his credentials to President George W. Bush in a White House
ceremony.

Ambassador Assefa has most recently served as vice-president of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia's leading institution of higher education. Amember of Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Assefa earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and economics from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. After earning his doctorate in political science at Princeton University, Dr.
Assefa taught at Princeton, Williams College, and Rutgers University.

Upon presenting his credentials to President Bush, Ambassador Assefa said: "The United States and Ethiopia have enjoyed diplomatic relations for more than 100 years. This century of friendship and cooperation continues to the present day. Ethiopia faces many challenges but because of the moral, political, and cultural support our country receives from the United States, those challenges are much easier to overcome. Our two countries share a strong commitment to democratic governance, respect for the rule of law, and to seeking an end to terrorism in Africa and around the globe."

Dr. Assefa has long been convinced of the need for civil society to be actively involved in the search for solutions to both local and regional concerns. To further these goals he has worked with a variety of institutions such as, among others, the InterAfrica Group, the Center for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, the African initiative for a Democratic World Order, the Heinrich Boll Foundation, the Bonn International Centre for Conversion. Most recently, he has been a founding member of "Ethiopia Past and Future," an ad hoc group composed of ambassadors from leading donor countries and members of Ethiopian civil society that seeks to promote dialogue in the aftermath of the 2005 elections. Among his many civic engagements, Dr. Assefa is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development Commission.

Dr. Assefa's father was also a distinguished Ethiopian diplomat, serving as his country's Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 1961 to 1964 and again from 1970 to 1974.

A reproducible photograph of President Bush and Ambassador Assefa is available at Scribeus.com (photo)

For more information, visit Ethiopian Embassy

The protests here are calling on Secretary Rice - I don't know exactly what they're yelling at her, but do you know if she heard them? They're yelling

2006-05-13T20:24:00.000-04:00

addis bombs 4
Originally uploaded by aheavens.

Daily Press Briefing
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 16, 2006
Journalist Endale Getahun, ECTV NEWS asks a question to Sean McCormack,
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2006/66313.htm

QUESTION: ECTV, Thank you.

QUESTION: Wait. This guy's been waiting for the whole briefing.

QUESTION: ECTV, Yes, sir. Ethiopia, I guess. In the last couple weeks, as you know, there's in the capital city of Addis Ababa, the situation there. And I don't know if you have any information from the Embassy of United States, if you want to comment on that. Also if you have any request from Ethiopian Government regarding the terrorist activity. As you know, the government was accusing the OLF on planting some kind of explosion in Addis Ababa.

MR. MCCORMACK: Right. We -- you know, on the first of those, I don't have any update for you. There were some problems in terms of the governing authority for the city of Addis Ababa being able to do their job. I don't have an update for you on that matter.

As for the explosions, I think that we put something out on that. Let me see if I can try to get --

QUESTION: This was the nine explosions?

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah, it was last week.

QUESTION: Yes, total.

MR. MCCORMACK: We'll get it for you again.

QUESTION: The protests here are calling on Secretary Rice -- I don't know exactly what they're yelling at her, but do you know if she heard them? They're yelling -- they're saying she's letting Ethiopia down on democracy. Do you know if the Secretary has paid any attention to the demonstrations that have been out there the last two mornings?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, she certainly can see them from her window if she looks out the window. I don't know if she saw these particular set of protests. We -- you know, we are doing our part to encourage a healthy democracy in Ethiopia, but fundamentally it comes -- as it does in many other places around the world, it comes down to the leadership, both the government as well as the opposition, to work together on behalf of the Ethiopian people. There are differences, we know. There are questions. We know that. But there are mechanisms to resolve these questions. It requires -- it requires good faith and good will on all sides and what we call upon the leadership -- political leadership of Ethiopia to do is to work together on behalf of their country.

Thank you.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2006/66313.htm

Ethiopia's flowers grow into new forex earner

2006-05-06T21:58:00.000-04:00

Ethiopia's flowers grow into new forex earner

By Linda Muriuki and Arnold Temple

NAZRET, Ethiopia (Reuters) Inside Jobera Flowers' vast greenhouses, there are rows of rose buds ready for harvest and destined to brighten rooms in faraway Europe.

The Jobera farm, about 90 km (56 miles) south of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, is one of the most successful in a thriving industry that is helping to diversify the country's coffee-dependent economy.

The Horn of Africa country, which prides itself on being the birthplace of coffee, earns about $20 million annually from flowers, according to the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA).

It is still a paltry amount compared to the $334 million it earned last crop year from sales of coffee, its main export commodity. But given the rate of growth in the flower industry, it could soon catch up -- good news for an economy that has been ruled by fluctuating coffee prices for many years.

"Ethiopia will rank as the second or third (biggest exporter) in the world in the next two to three years, I think this will be the major supply for the whole world," said Mike Asres, owner of Jobera Flowers.

Despite having no experience in growing blossoms for sale, Asres decided to risk savings worth $3.1 million and took out a $2.4 million loan when a close friend told him Ethiopia's climate was ideal for the lucrative industry.

In 2000, after 25 years of a relatively comfortable life in the United States, he set up one of the first commercial flower farms in Ethiopia.

ROSY INCENTIVES

Like Asres, many local farmers are pouring their savings into flowers and foreign investors -- from the Netherlands, Germany, India and Israel -- are also buying up land for farms.

The government has sought to entice investors with incentives, including an improved investment code, five-year tax holiday, duty-free import of machinery, and by leasing land out at just $18 per hectare per year.

The plan appears to be working -- 70 new farms have sprung up in the last eight years, including Tsegaye Abebe's on the outskirts of the capital.

Just a year ago, Tsegaye took over the four-hectare (10-acre) piece of fallow land and planted beds of roses. Now, he has a thriving farm and he wants to quadruple its size in the next couple of years.

There is so much demand for his products that he rarely gets time off to spend with his two young daughters.

"When I come home late they are asleep, when I leave early they are asleep," he said.

Growing a flower business is not always a bed of roses as industry pioneer Asres found out.

There were no examples to learn from in Ethiopia, so he had to make expensive weekly educational trips to neighboring Kenya, which ships out more than 88 million tonnes of cut flowers worth about $264 million every year, and is the biggest cut flower supplier to the lucrative European market.

"When we started this farm, this was one of the first three rose farms in Ethiopia, it was very difficult for us because we didn't have any point of reference to learn from," Asres said as workers carted away hundreds of blooms in plastic pails.

Jobera, which is 6,500 meters (21,320 ft) above sea level, exported 36 million roses in 2005 and employs 1,200 workers. Most of them were unemployed before the farm opened.

According to EHPEA, Ethiopia ships out 70 tonnes of flowers every day but the volume is growing and exporters now have to charter daily flights to Europe in addition to using regular scheduled flights.

Ethiopia is keen to advertise that flights from its capital reach European auctioneers two hours earlier than those from Kenya, which means blossoms stay fresher longer.

"We are literally growing on a monthly basis," said Samson Sebehatu of the EHPEA. "We are negotiating with other operators on cargo capacity to take out more and more (flowers)."

"Opposition extremists" Intimidation to Impede Democratic Progress in Ethiopia Is Unacceptable

2006-05-04T23:30:00.000-04:00

Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 3, 2006

Intimidation to Impede Democratic Progress in Ethiopia Is Unacceptable

The United States is concerned by the increasing harassment and intimidation of opposition politicians and their supporters in Ethiopia. Opposition extremists as well as ruling party cadres and government officials have been responsible for these unacceptable actions.

The United States calls on all parties within and outside Ethiopia to respect the rights of their fellow citizens to express peacefully their opinions and to participate in the democratic process.

We reiterate the need for the release of political detainees and the guarantee of due process for those against whom charges remain. We urge the government and opposition groups to continue their constructive dialogue, which is the only way of reconciling Ethiopia’s political differences.

2006/455

Released on May 3, 2006

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi departed from Tokyo on Saturday morning for a seven-day visit to Ethiopia, Ghana and Sweden.

2006-04-29T01:48:00.000-04:00

TOKYO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi departed from Tokyo on Saturday morning for a seven-day visit to Ethiopia, Ghana and Sweden.

"Africa's stability has a great impact on world peace and development," Koizumi said to reporters before the trip, "...Sweden is an advanced welfare nation which experienced low birthrate and aging society earlier than Japan." He expressed the hope to learn from the Scandinavian country.

Koizumi is slated to meet his Ethiopian counterpart Meles Zenawi on Sunday, hold summit talks with the African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare on Monday and meet with Ghanaian President John Kufuor on Tuesday, according to Kyodo News.

Financial aids would be a topic between the African nations and the world's second largest economy. Through the visits, Tokyo hopes to strengthen ties and seek support for its ambition to win a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council, media reports said.

The Japanese premier would meet Thursday with Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson and King Carl XVI Gustaf before returning to Tokyo on Friday. Enditem

Five members of the U.S. Congress were arrested on Friday at a demonstration

2006-04-28T15:49:00.000-04:00

US Congress member, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas did not leave after police warnings, and were arrested at Sudan embassy protest, (Photo By Endale Getahun, ECTV April 28, 2006)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five members of the U.S. Congress were arrested on Friday at a demonstration held at the Sudan embassy to protest atrocities in that country's Darfur region, congressional aides said.

The lawmakers, all Democrats, were Reps. Tom Lantos of California, James McGovern and John Olver of Massachusetts, James Moran of Virginia, and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, aides to McGovern and Lantos said.

There were taken by van to a police station, aides said.

The aides said the lawmakers had been told they could not trespass on the embassy property. They made their statements off the property, then stood on the embassy steps.

The lawmakers did not leave after police warnings, and "were arrested one by one," Lantos' spokeswoman Lynne Weil said.
US Congress member, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas did not leave after police warnings, and were arrested at Sudan embassy protest, (Photo By Endale Getahun, ECTV April 28, 2006)
Spokesman Michael Mershon said he was on his way to the station to post $50 bond for McGovern's release.

Protests were being held this weekend to increase pressure to stop the violence in Darfur that the United States has called genocide.

Sudan is accused by United Nations and U.S. officials of arming marauding Arab militia, who have raped, pillaged, killed and driven into squalid camps some 2 million villagers. Sudan has denied the charge.
Negussie interview from hagerfikerradio.com (Photo By Endale Getahun, ECTV April 28, 2006)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louis Arbour holding discussions with Prime Minister Meles

2006-04-27T23:01:00.000-04:00

PM Meles: Ethiopia doing level best to put in place democratic order

Addis Ababa, 4/25/2006

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia has been doing its level best to put in place a democratic order in the country. While holding discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louis Arbour late on Tuesday, Prime Minister Meles said the government has given due attention for institutional capacity building in the efforts to build democracy in the country. Prime Minister Meles said there is an encouraging progress in the area of institutional capacity building efforts launched towards ensuring democracy and the respect of human rights, and added the progress made so far would further be strengthened. Meles said the support of the United Nations would have a paramount importance in the institutional capacity building efforts of the country. Commissioner Arbour on her part said the United Nations is desirous to assist in the efforts to build democracy and boost the capacity of institutions of democracy, according to a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The official said Prime Minister Meles and Commissioner Arbour have also exchanged views on various national and international issues. After the discussions Commissioner Arbour told journalists that she had very extensive and useful discussions with Prime Minister Meles. The UN Commissioner is on the first leg of her official visit to the Horn of Africa. She would also visit Kenya, Somalia, and other countries of the Horn.

Source: ENA

BLOCKING PROPERTY OF PERSONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONFLICT IN SUDAN'S DARFUR REGION (EXECUTIVE ORDER)

2006-04-27T19:51:00.000-04:00

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

(New Orleans, Louisiana)

For Immediate Release April 27, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER

- - - - - - -
BLOCKING PROPERTY OF PERSONS IN CONNECTION

WITH THE CONFLICT IN SUDAN'S DARFUR REGION

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)(IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)(NEA), section 5 of the United Nations Participation Act, as amended (22 U.S.C. 287c)(UNPA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States is posed by the persistence of violence in Sudan's Darfur region, particularly against civilians and including sexual violence against women and girls, and by the deterioration of the security situation and its negative impact on humanitarian assistance efforts, as noted by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 1591 of March 29, 2005, and, to deal with that threat, hereby expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997, with respect to the policies and actions of the Government of Sudan, and hereby order:

Section 1. (a) Except to the extent that sections 203(b) (1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)) may apply, or to the extent provided in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order, all property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including

any overseas branch, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in:

(i) the persons listed in the Annex to this order; and

(ii) any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of State:

(A) to have constituted a threat to the peace process in Darfur;

(B) to have constituted a threat to stability in Darfur and the region;

(C) to be responsible for conduct related to the conflict in Darfur that violates international law;

(D) to be responsible for heinous conduct with respect to human life or limb related to the conflict in Darfur;

(E) to have directly or indirectly supplied, sold, or transferred arms or any related materiel, or any assistance, advice, or training related to military activities to:

(1) the Government of Sudan;

(2) the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army;

(3) the Justice and Equality Movement;

(4) the Janjaweed; or

(5) any person (other than a person listed in subparagraph (E)(1) through (E)(4) above) operating in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur, or West Darfur that is a belligerent, a nongovernmental entity, or an individual;

(F) to be responsible for offensive military overflights in and over the Darfur region;

(G) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, materiel, or technological support

for, or goods or services in support of, the activities described in paragraph (a)(ii)(A) through (F) of this section or any person listed in or designated pursuant to this order; or

(H) to be owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person listed in or designated pursuant to this order.

(b) I hereby determine that, to the extent section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) may apply, the making of donations of the type of articles specified in such section by, to, or for the benefit of any person listed in or designated pursuant to this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 and expanded in this order, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) The prohibitions of paragraph (a) of this section include, but are not limited to, (i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person listed in or designated pursuant to this order, and (ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Sec. 2. (a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Sec. 3. For the purposes of this order:

(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;

(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;

(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States; and

(d) the term "arms or any related materiel" means arms or related materiel of all types, military aircraft, and equipment, but excludes:

(i) supplies and technical assistance, including training, intended solely for use in authorized monitoring, verification, or peace support operations, including such operations led by regional organizations;

(ii) supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian use, human rights monitoring use, or protective use, and related technical assistance, including training;

(iii) supplies of protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, for use by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media, and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel, for their personal use only;

(iv) assistance and supplies provided in support of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed January 9, 2005, by the Government of Sudan and the People's Liberation Movement/Army; and

(v) other movements of military equipment and supplies into the Darfur region by the United States or that are permitted by a rule or decision of the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury.

Sec. 4. For those persons listed in or designated pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer

funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render these measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that, for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13067 and expanded by this order, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order.

Sec. 5. The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA and UNPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these
functions to other officers and agencies of the United States

Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the

Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken. The Secretary of the Treasury shall ensure compliance with those provisions of section 401 of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641) applicable to the Department of the Treasury in relation to this order.

Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to submit the recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency expanded by this order, consistent with section 401(c) of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641(c)) and section 204(c) of the IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).

Sec. 7. The Secretary of the Treasury, after consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to determine, subsequent to the issuance of this order, that circumstances no

longer warrant the inclusion of a person in the Annex to this order and that the property and interests in property of that person are therefore no longer blocked pursuant to section 1 of this order.

Sec. 8. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.

Sec. 9. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 27, 2006.

GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 26, 2006.
ANNEX
Individuals
1. Gabril Abdul Kareem Badri [Colonel for the National Movement for Reform and Development (NMRD), born circa 1961]

2. Gaffar Mohmed El Hassan [Major General for the Sudan Armed Forces, born June 24, 1952]

3. Musa Hilal [Sheikh and Paramount Chief of the Jalul Tribe in North Darfur, born circa 1960]

4. Adam Yacub Shant [Commander for the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), born circa 1976]

Ambassadors’ Donors Group (ADG) urged reconciliation and dialogue among all those engaged in the democratic process.

2006-04-25T19:53:00.000-04:00

Addis Ababa, April 25, 2006 (ENA) - Ambassadors’ Donors Group (ADG) said as partners engaged in helping Ethiopia’s long-term development, it continues to support the peaceful democratic forces for the country and strengthening of the pluralistic multi-party system.
In its statement sent to the Ethiopian News Agency, the Group said We welcome the steps taken so far towards opening political space and encourage further efforts.

ADG urged reconciliation and dialogue among all those engaged in the democratic process. Tolerance of dissenting views is the hallmark of democracy. We deplore threats against those who are seeking to advance Ethiopian democracy, it said.

The Group welcomes and supports the evolution of democratic institutions, including a wide range of registered political parties to allow greater opposition participation in formal parliamentary work.

We encourage Ethiopia’s resident in the country and those abroad to fully support participation in democratic institutions trusting in those who have been elected to further the process of democratic reform, ADG said.

It further called for “a speedy, fair and transparent trial” for those detained CUD leaders and representatives of media and civil society orgnaizations.

ADG member countries are Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, the African development Bank, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the World Bank, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and UNDP.

(ENA)

Journalist Negussie Woldemariam is a free man

2006-04-19T17:50:00.000-04:00

Photo By Endale Getahun, ECTV 2002

Breaking News April 18, 2006 from

hagerfikerradio.com

Negussie Woldemariams hearing for his possession of a firearm without a license was heard and concluded today. Washington DC which boasts some of the toughest firearm laws in the nation was the venue for this hearing. A multitude of Negussies friends and family were on site to provide him with support. A group of former members of the Derg regime, EPRP and MEISON cadres were on hand anticipating watching Negussie being handcuffed and escorted into a waiting prison bus.
Photo By Endale Getahun, ECTV 2002

The charges Negussie was facing could have sent him to Prison for up to ten years. However the court recognizing the circumstances on why Negussie was carrying the weapon and also his clean record let Negussie walk out of the court house a free man. His sentence was probation. If it were not for the mandatory nature of the law Negussie would have walked out without any probation. All in all Negussies sentence is a "slap on his wrist". Considering what he could have faced to walk out with such a minor reprimand is indicative that the Judge understood what caused Negussie to be armed. The light sentence is more a sentence for those who wished him ill than for Negussie. The nightmare they wished on Negussie has become their nightmare.
Negussie is a free man despite the massive effort by some in Washington to convince the prosecutor to throw the books at Negussie.
It was commented that the faces of the DERG, EPRP & MEISON cadres was reflected by utter “Shock and Awe" when the judge handed down the sentence. Their defeat was manifested on their faces as they could not hide their disappointment! Congratulations Negussie!

A time for Commitment and a time for engagement, Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Vicki Huddleston (USA)

2006-04-16T07:53:00.000-04:00

Chargé d’Affaires
Amb. Vicki Huddleston
A time for Commitment and a time for engagement
The following is a transcript of remarks made by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Vicki J. Huddleston at a press conference with journalists on April 5, 2006, Addis Ababa.
"Thank you all for coming today. It is really kind of you and I apologize that it has taken us a while, me in particular, to get back with the local press and have a good conversation.
I think the reason that I really wanted to meet with you today is to tell you that I think that right now is an extremely important time. As you saw in the testimony of our Deputy Assistant Secretary Ambassador Don Yamamoto, he said that he believes that Ethiopia is at a crossroads. I think we all believe Ethiopia is at a crossroads, and because it is a crossroads, we believe that now it is time for commitment, and it is time for engagement. Engagement and commitment for sustained development, and for multi-party democracy.
That commitment means a commitment to all voices being heard in the Parliament, and full participation of the opposition in the Parliament; that means full commitment to institution building, which includes a more open Parliament, a discussion of Parliamentary rules, a review of the media; we are bringing in an international team under USAID auspices, at the request of the government to look at the draft press law, so I am sure that is of considerable interest to all of you, and to compare it with international standards and recommend how the press can become more responsible and more open, both of which are very important.
Also the process is now ongoing of reviewing the National Elections board (NEBE) in the expectation that it will be an improved Board that will ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in 2007. We also believe it is a time of commitment and engagement for the opposition to take control of the city of Addis Ababa. They were elected to this city, they need to lead this city. The city should be in the hands of those who were elected to lead it.
We believe this is a time when all parties, government and opposition, should commit to dialogue, to reconciliation, and to the improvement of human rights and respect for human rights. We believe this is a time in which there is an opportunity for the opposition CUD to once again have a political vehicle that will take it to the elections and give it effective representation in the Parliament and in the City Council, by forming the CUDP.
So there is a lot afoot, and a lot that is possible, if there is engagement, if there is commitment on all parties to participate fully in the democratic process, in the political process in Ethiopia.
A top priority of the United States Government remains the release of the CUD and civil society leaders who were imprisoned following the civil disobedience and the riots in November 2005. We will not forget them, we are extremely concerned about their situation. We have repeatedly talked to the government and called for their release. We have been told by the government that they will stand trial. Given that this is the position of the government, we strongly urge reduction of trial, a reduction of charges, the possibility of bail, and a speedy, fair, and transparent trial. We also urge that any persons in jail who have not been charged be released, and that the security forces take care to respect the rights of each individual and to never use excessive force in the detention of individuals or in their attempts to control demonstrations.
Now, is the time to put the past behind. We believe that the EPRDF won the elections; the Carter Center said that the elections were generally credible. We believe that the opposition, as Ambassador Yamamoto said, lost seats in the complaints process and should have had more seats in Parliament, but it did not win the majority. We believe that the opposition gained an enormous voice, first of all a voice and a right to run and to manage and to lead this great city where you have the African Union, and the United Nations resident, as well as many, many representatives of foreign countries; and the right to have a significant voice in a free parliament and in the direction of the nation.
Last night I was at a talk at which the World Bank Resident Representative here in Addis was speaking. He was asked whether or not it was true that Ethiopia is progressing economically. He said this was true. I think this is so important. This is why the country is at a crossroads. There is improvement in education, there is improvement in health, the birth rate is coming down, there is a real possibility that Ethiopia can become a true leader for Africa, if it dedicates itself as a united country, to eradicate poverty, to jump onto the tide of change that brings true democracy, respect for human rights, and sustained development.
I think back to one of my favorite Bible verses, a Psalm which was read at President Kennedy’s funeral which says that “there is a time to sow, and there is a time to reap, there is a time to mourn, and there’s a time to celebrate.” I think that for Ethiopia now, it is a time to move forward, it is a time of commitment, it is a time of engagement, a time of change, and I urge all parties in Ethiopia to take the example of Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned, but allowed the political process to move forward in his country. And when he came out, he united whites, blacks, and all colored in all parts of the South African nation. I hope this will occur in Ethiopia. Thank you."

Ethiopian Airlines Celebrates 60 Years

2006-04-15T01:29:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Airlines Celebrates 60 Years

By Endale Getahun, ECTV: (Washington, DC) Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s aviation pioneer, employing more than 4,700 people and carrying more than 1.5 million passengers a year to 45 destinations, was founded 60 years ago.

On April 8, 1946, when Ethiopian made its maiden international flight to Cairo, air travel was a luxury reserved for a select few and the flights themselves entailed a bumpy ride in World War II surplus C-47 - known in the passenger version as DC-3 - propeller planes. As befitted the historic occasion the Emperor and a large crowd of residents of Addis Ababa were at the airport to see the flight takeoff for Cairo at 8 a.m.

The service to Cairo was followed by weekly services to Djibouti and Aden, as well as a domestic flight to Jimma. As demand grew, Ethiopian bought four more Skytrains from the US government. The first planes were not comfortable for passengers traveling long distances because all seats were on the side of the fuselage with the central aisle left for cargo. To increase passenger comfort the airline bought three more Skytrains in 1947. The aircraft had 21 converted forward facing seats, which were among the first to wear the colorful Ethiopian Airlines livery, which remained in use until June 2003.

In the late 1940s, Ethiopian extended its route network to Nairobi, Port Sudan, Bombay and chartered flights to Jeddah. Slowly the web of domestic routes grew as more airstrips, which were usually covered with grass grew.

Ethiopian Airlines started long haul flights to Frankfurt in 1957. To support the long haul routes of Addis Ababa-Cairo-Athens-Frankfurt, three Douglas DC-6B Cloud Masters, with capacity of 71 passengers, were delivered in 1958. In 1960, the great year of African Independence, the route network continued to expand pioneering the first east-west flights across Africa to Monrovia with intermediate stops at Khartoum and Accra. The flight marked a milestone not only in the history of Ethiopian but also of African aviation. The airline steadily expanded its services throughout the continent and established the largest network.

The Airline inaugurated jest service on January 15, 1963, with flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi and subsequently on January 26, 1964, Ethiopian completed the first ever jet engine overhaul in Africa.

In 1979 Boeing 727s were bought to replace the aging Boeing 720s. In the 1980s the airline introduced several new aircraft to update its fleet. Wide-bodied Boeing 767s arrived at Addis Ababa on June 1, 1984.

Then come the roaring 1990s. The route network stretched from Europe (London, Frankfurt and Rome) to China (Beijing) and Thailand (Bangkok). The Middle East and Indian sub-continent were well represented, and the airline’s African route reached Senegal and Ivory Coast in the west, Cairo in the north, and Johannesburg and Durban in the south. Another giant leap was made in July 1998 when Ethiopian launched a twice-weekly service to Washington, its first destination in the Americas and flights to New York followed shortly. To support the route expansion, the airline embarked on a fleet enhancement program by ordering 6 Boeing 767-300 and four Boeing B737-700 New Generation aircraft.

Construction of a new Cargo Terminal started in November 2003. The new cargo terminal will accommodate four-cargo aircraft load at a time. Another big construction work, a brand new maintenance hangar, was started in December 2003.

On April 28, 2005 Ethiopian completed an agreement for the purchase of five Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets and purchase rights for five additional 787s, which was later converted to firm order. With the purchase order for ten B787 Dreamliners, Ethiopian became part of the launch team of the revolutionary airplane.

In March 2006, Ethiopian announced the beginning of e-ticketing service to Addis Ababa -Nairobi, Addis Ababa - Johannesburg and Addis Ababa - Frankfurt routes.

The introduction of e-ticketing, opening of new destinations, and the arrival of the B787 in 2008 will be the beginning of an era of unprecedented passenger comfort and technical performance.

Celebrating 60 years of service, Ethiopian Airlines is now on the threshold of a new era. As our 60th anniversary motto attests “dedication brought us this far and passion will take us even farther.”

Over 500,000 People Attend Rally for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

2006-04-11T02:54:00.000-04:00

BY Endale Getahun, ECTV

Washington, DC Event is Part of Largest Immigrant Mobilization in History of United States

Halfway through the largest immigrant mobilization in the history of the United States, the mall in the nation’s capital is overflowing with over 500,000 people calling for comprehensive immigration reform. Waving American flags and chanting “¡Si se puede!”, rally attendees from Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and other surrounding areas filled the Mall hours before the event began. The rally, organized by the National Capital Immigration Coalition (NCIC), is part of the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice. Millions of people are participating in this national day of action in events in 130 cities across the country. (See www.april10.org for more information about the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice.)

Senator Edward Kennedy was joined by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, Archdiocese of Washington, and Chief Billy Tayac, Hereditary Chief of the Piscataway Indian Nation, to begin the event. The MCs of the event were NCIC President Jaime Contreras, 82 District Director of SEIU Local 32BJ, and Doris Depaz, Lead Tenant Organizer, CASA of Maryland. Famed local deejay, Pedro Biaggi, El Zol (99.1), provided entertainment and music. There was an interfaith service which included Bishop Minerva Carcaño, United Methodist Council of Bishops, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Director of Outreach for the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, Rev. Kevin Turman, Senior Pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Detroit, and Rabbi Marc Schneier, President/Founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. A range of speakers included John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, Joe Hanson, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers, Gerry Hudson, Vice-President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Antonia Peña, Women Seeking Justice, Abdul Kamus, the African Resource Center, Deepa Iyer, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow, Ricardo Juarez, Mexicanos Sin Fronteras and student activists from high schools across the region.

24 contestants set for Miss Universe Ethiopia 2006

2006-04-08T08:05:00.000-04:00

Nineteen new faces and six former Miss Universe Ethiopia participants will adorn the stage at the National Theatre next Tuesday and Friday nights. According to the organizer, Mr. Andy Abulime, 150 young girls had shown interest to participate in this year's pageant.

The number came down to 24 after Abulime slimmed it down, selecting enough finalists to fit one of his major criteria, that is to show enough sign of professionalism. "There were girls contacting me to be registered after the 24 were already picked. Some registered at the very beginning but did not follow up or contacted the organization as needed," Andy said. This year Miss Universe has 24 faces set to compete for the Miss Universe title, or nine other smaller titles.

Twenty-four young contestants aged nineteen to twenty-six-year-old and heights from 1.65m to 1.86, this year witnessing the tallest contestant, are nominated to represent Ethiopia in one of the most viewed international pageant. Evening gowns and cultural shows originally planned to take place on different nights have merged to take place next Thursday.

The organization has figured a better way to survive in the business.
"It is always advised to have plan A then B in case things do not go the way they should. Our original plan was not met since confirmed dates had to be re-confirmed and adjusted at the National Theatre," he said.

The event is taking place for the third time this year. This year's striking difference, the organizer said, will be the stage management and production that tries to replica to the actual Miss Universe contest. Emphasizing the need for giving the girls similar experience they will have to take part in international podiums. Andy said the organization will work hard, particularly this year; to send as much girls, top ten finalists, to international pageants.

Miss Universe's Ethiopia pageant of this year will not see much of Ethiopian designers as last year's. With little time left to produce designer wear as planned, the girls will be wearing Premera Collections and konjo swim suits. National costumes will be brought by the contestants themselves. "It partly represents their personal interest," Andy said. "We have an open-door policy to let Beauty Industry work with us, but most are reluctant to do so. Designers contacted the organization a few weeks before the pageants. So we had to bring most of the collections, unlike last year, from abroad," he added.

The pageant did not have the promised amount of local sponsorship. The tourism authorities of Thailand, Emirates Airline and Victoria Secrets have promised to sponsor it. "We had different Ethiopian companies who showed interest and promised to sponsor it. I guess they changed their mind eventually," he said. The organization involves the contestants to carry on most activities believing that in addition to participating they can contribute by helping out in this new industry.

Fetiya Mohammed and Dina Fekadu, last year's Miss Nation and Miss Tourism respectively, the organizer said, are helping out a lot by assisting in different works. "We even have this year's new faces doing this and that to have a successful pageant," Andy said.

Last year's Miss Universe Ethiopia, Atitegeb Tesfaye, Mr. Abulime said, did not work up to his expectations. She, he believes, could have secured at least top 15 at the international contest. Even after the big pageant, Atitegeb, he said, did not act professional and did as she pleased. On Friday's final night, she will not be present to give away her crown as she should have.

The event expects an audience of between 600 and 800 since entrance fee has gone much lower to let the majority of the public have a pageant experience. The young ladies will present a fashion show a day after the selection at the Hilton for fund-raising dinner for Autism, will read books for children on Sunday at the 3rd Ethiopian Children's Book week and presentation show at the London Cafe.

By Tsedey Alemayehu

Markup Notice, The Honorable Christopher H. Smith on H.R. 4423 (Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005)

2006-04-06T20:16:00.000-04:00

Mark-Up Statement for H.R. 4423
Rep. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and
International Operations

Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV

April 6, 2006

Colleagues, it’s my pleasure this afternoon to mark up H.R.
4423, introduced as the Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005. Last
May, this Subcommittee held a hearing on the border dispute
between Ethiopia and Eritrea. As that hearing made quite clear,
the governments of both nations were in violation of international
human rights standards, even as the world was distracted by the
potential of a reignited war between these two neighbors.

Within weeks of that hearing, Ethiopia held what promised to
be a breakthrough election. The process had never been more
open. Opposition political parties had never had more freedom to
campaign, despite some continued government interference. A
greater percentage of voters turned out at the polls than ever before
in Ethiopian history. Preliminary returns indicated an exponential
increase in the number of seats won by the opposition candidates.

Unfortunately, the promise of the May 2005 elections ended
with the questionable counting of the ballots cast, delayed release
of election results and subsequently with gunfire. With election
results delayed weeks past the end of voting, citizens throughout
the country became concerned that their individual votes had been
discounted. Massive arrests of students led to demonstrations, and
in early June, nearly 40 political activists were shot to death by
government forces in the capital city of Addis Ababa.

I became concerned that the situation in Ethiopia, an ally of
the United States in the vital Horn of Africa region, could spiral
out of control. Therefore, my office began working with Human
Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam America to
develop legislation that sought to correct some of the problems that
led to the increasing human rights abuses and encourage Ethiopia
to pursue a more certain path to democratic elections, good
governance and economic development.

That summer, my staff and I visited Ethiopia to see for
ourselves what could be done to salvage a situation that continued
to deteriorate. We were disappointed with the reaction of Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi, who told us he had “proof” that opposition
leaders were guilty of treason and he could arrest them at any
point. Conversely, we saw proof that opposition officials were
being followed and harassed.

A flawed process of resolving election complaints, and onand-
off negotiations between the government and the opposition,
failed to resolve the increasingly bitter dispute over the election
and the delayed release of results. Meanwhile, mass arrests
continued, and the ban on demonstrations and the limitations on
free speech continued. In November, another demonstration
resulted in shooting deaths at the hands of government forces – this
time including innocent bystanders.

The intent of H.R. 4423 has always been to hold accountable
those who were involved in the shootings, as well as the
government that has failed to fully investigate or prosecute its
forces involved in two sets of shootings. Over the past few weeks,
we have been able to strengthen this bill, with the help of good
suggestions and input from colleagues on this Subcommittee and
our friends in the human rights community.

There is a requirement that all military cooperation not
connected with either counter-terrorism or peacekeeping be
suspended until the U.S. certifies that the government of Ethiopia
is respecting human rights and the rule of law. Although the
overwhelming amount of current military cooperation between our
nations would be exempted, this prohibition would prevent future
expansion of U.S.-Ethiopia military cooperation until the specified
conditions are met.

There also is a travel ban that prevents travel to America by
those government officials and forces involved in the shooting of
demonstrators, as well as those civilians determined to be involved
in the unfortunate deaths of seven police officers.

However, H.R. 4423 is not merely a punitive measure. It
provides technical assistance and other support to try to change the
circumstances that have limited Ethiopia’s progress and have led to
the tragic incidents of 2005.

In this regard: H.R. 4423 calls for the immediate and unconditional release
of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in
Ethiopia.

• It provides support for the work of both international and
domestic human rights agencies and urges the dispatch of the
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

• It provides human rights training for both domestic human
rights organizations and government agencies, so that both
sides are clear about what is called for in international human
rights agreements to which Ethiopia is a signatory, and so
that the rule of law can prevail in Ethiopia’s court system.

• It establishes technical assistance for court, police, security
and prison personnel so that those arrested and held in
custody can be treated in a humane way when their
incarceration is justified by the facts, and so that those who
peacefully demonstrate to express their political views can be
dealt with in a lawful manner.

• It establishes a Judicial Watch Network to enable the
Ethiopian judiciary to operate independently with monitoring
of actions that threaten that independence.

• It encourages the Government of Ethiopia to revise its laws
that currently unduly limit the right of journalists to freely
provide information, and establishes a program to strengthen
the private media in Ethiopia – a vital factor in any free
society.

• It provides technical assistance to enhance the democratic
operation of local, regional and national governments and to
promote reconciliation through peaceful political groups.

• It provides support and encouragement of efforts by the
Government of Ethiopia and the political opposition to work
together to ensure that future elections – including the
upcoming local elections – are conducted in an atmosphere
free of intimidation and harassment and that those elected to
office are allowed to exercise their duties as public officials
without undue limitations.

• It provides technical assistance on the appropriate and
effective use of resources, especially water resources, as well
as economic policy assistance on such issues as land
ownership to help build the Ethiopian economy so that it can
reduce the need for donor support.

• Finally, it provides financing for U.S.-Ethiopian commercial
ventures so that the Ethiopian private sector can create jobs
and help this nation reduce its high level of poverty.

I believe the amendment in the nature of a substitute I am
introducing today is a more comprehensive, effective piece of
legislation, and for that I thank my colleagues, especially our
ranking member, Mr. Payne, and Ambassador Watson for their
helpful interventions.

I’m sure they would agree that each day we delay in passing
this legislation is yet another day that political party officials,
human rights activists, journalists and even children remain behind
bars without a strong, legislative statement by our government.

This bill has 15 cosponsors – three of them among the
members of this Subcommittee: Mr. Royce, Mr. Tancredo and
Ambassador Watson. I thank them for their support for this
measure, and I ask for the support of the other members of this
body for H.R. 4423 as amended so that we can favorably report
this bill out of Subcommittee.
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THE AFRICAN UNION COMMEMORATE THE 12 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RWANDA GENOCIDE IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

2006-04-06T00:07:00.000-04:00

THE AFRICAN UNION COMMEMORATE THE 12 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RWANDA GENOCIDE

ADDIS ABABA, 3 rd April 2006.

The African Union Commission will be organizing on Friday, April 7 2006, starting from 10 a.m. in the morning, at the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, a ceremony to commemorate the 12 th Anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide.

The ceremony which will be chaired by Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner, Commissioner for Polical Affairs, has included in her programme of communications on “the social impact and the lessons learnt from genocide”, presented by a representant of the society civil of Rwanda and “the criminalizing and penalizing genocide – the experience of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (Representative of the Tribunal) and the GACACA Court (Representative of the GACACA Court).

The programme contains, also, the diffusion of documentary on the Genocide.

The programme of the commemoration day is herewith enclosed.

Journalists are invited to cover the opening of this event.More...

Letter to The Honorable Christopher H. Smith (from His Excellency Fesseha A. Tessema, Ethiopia�s acting ambassador to the United States)

2006-04-03T20:50:00.000-04:00

hr4423ectvamb1
Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV.

March 31, 2006

The Honorable Christopher Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Smith,

There are occasions, during the career of any diplomat, when one must express unpleasant truths for the benefit of the greater good. Today is one of those occasions, because I must express my displeasure at the way in which, in your capacity as chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations, you conducted the March 28 hearing entitled “Ethiopia’s Troubled Internal Situation.”

It was clear from the outset that the hearing was going to be unbalanced – this was apparent from the initial list of witnesses, which included unabashed opponents of the Ethiopian government and neither a detached academic or think-tank expert on the Horn of Africa nor a representative of my government.

I was obviously offended as I am sure many others were about your making jokes against the death of uniformed police officers. At minimum, we do expect respect for the dead despite the circumstances. After all the police officers were killed by rioters while on duty.

Prior to the hearing, we conveyed information to the subcommittee staff that at least two of the witnesses on the announced agenda lacked credibility. One was the member of the opposition, charged with serious crimes, including being instrumental in organizing the violent demonstrations last June, violence that was intended to undermine Ethiopia’s constitutional order. And another one was one who claims to represent an obscure “organization” that seems to have no one other than himself on its staff. It is hard to take seriously claims made by such an idiosyncratic entity.

At our insistence, you graciously permitted the Embassy to present both oral and written testimony, but only when there was little time available to prepare for the event. (Invitation was extended to us a day before the hearing whereas the other witnesses were listed about a week before the hearing). Still, because we felt it important that our perspective be presented forthrightly to you and the other members of the Subcommittee, we accepted your invitation

It has also been my expectation that oversight hearings are conducted with the same decorum as a court of law: respect shown to all participants, with appropriate solemnity on the part of observers. In every other proceeding of this sort that I have observed, when the audience becomes demonstrative (whether through cheers and applause or through boos and catcalls), it has been the responsibility of the chair to gavel the room to order. I was shocked that, when the hearing audience reacted audibly to the speakers, you not only chose not to call for order, you seemed to encourage the disorder among the crowd. This breach of protocol is not something one should have tolerated. Public policy is a serious matter, and it should not have been based upon the movement of the pointer on an applause meter.

While I expected to face some difficult questions, given the topic of the hearing, I was taken aback at the hostile, disrespectful and sometimes condescending tone of your own line of questions, your willful blindness to certain firmly established facts of the situation, and your refusal to acknowledge the shared political and moral values of Ethiopia and America.

Let me provide some concrete examples.

You asked, for instance, whether the Ethiopian media would report evenhandedly on the hearing, including both my testimony and your own remarks, or the remarks of other witnesses. When I stated I cannot predict what Ethiopian newspapers would write about the hearing, you sneered at my response, suggesting that the government controls the entire news media in my country. However this is not the case. As I stated in my remark, that there are over 80 private newspapers in Ethiopia, published in different
locations and in different languages. Some of them are critical against the Government and others not. Since I am not an editor of any of the newspapers, I can no more predict what Ethiopian newspapers will say about an event than you can predict what the Trenton Times or Washington Post will say about it.

I did, however, make the offer that your office could be provided with translations of some of the articles about the hearing that appear in non-English-medium newspapers with a view to helping you arrive at the right conclusion. With all due respect, it was
simply appalling to me when you cavalierly dismissed my explanation.

Even though I have clearly stated in my remarks as to the status of the elected parliamentarians in Ethiopia, you continued to imply that those elected to office in Ethiopia, but who refuse to take their seats, are jailed for such a decision. I know this is not the case; I testified to that effect; yet you continued to insist on your version of the facts. To be sure, there are some politicians who have been charged with serious crimes; some of these people were elected to public office. There are other people, who were elected by their constituents but who, for one reason or another, chose not to take their seats; these people, including over 120 elected members of the Addis Ababa City Council, have not been arrested or charged and are freely engaging in political activities and their personal business.
Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV
Particularly troubling to me was your demanding that certain questions be responded to immediately, on the spot, that would have been inappropriate for me to do so. Foremost among these was your asking me for a commitment regarding the special rapporteur for torture: as a diplomat abroad, I can speak only about past and current policies of my government. I came to the hearing to discuss and answer questions about the existing policies of my government. You posed a question regarding a hypothetical policy. A request to permit a special rapporteur to conduct investigations, regardless of the issue involved, must be submitted through established channels and procedures. Requesting a government commitment for access to special Rapporteur without going through the U.N. established procedure is inappropriate, to say the least. Because this issue has never been raised before, it was impossible and highly inappropriate for me to speculate as to what the policy of the Ethiopian government might be if a request were to be made officially. To be perfectly candid, since reports of possible torture are so nebulous, the objective reality of the situation does not qualify for the appointment of a special rapporteur to investigate such ectoplasm in Ethiopia.

Diplomats are neither expected nor authorized to make promises or commitments about future policy choices without specific instruction to do so. Your attempt to force a binary “yes/no” answer from me was calculated to embarrass me and the Embassy by
creating an impression of indecision and cowardice. Neither one should be inferred. What can be inferred was your own lack of respect for international standards of diplomatic protocol.

Similarly, you asked whether the Ethiopian government would permit organizations such as the International Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, and IFES to work again inside Ethiopia. I replied, truthfully, that if those organizations made application for a permit through the proper channels, they would be given full consideration. What you did not acknowledge in return was that our government has been in communication with these organizations since they left Ethiopia last year. Their situation is being addressed, even if it is not satisfactory to you.It was insensitive of you to compare Ethiopia’s current government to that of Romania under the brutal Nicolae Ceaucescu, especially after I had noted in my prepared statement the historical reality under which Ethiopia has had to operate since 1974. The Ethiopian people and leaders of today’s Ethiopian government, through their blood, sweat, toil, and tears, and against the odds, overthrew the Communist dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam, whose regime was as comparable to Ceaucescu’s as any on the African continent. Mengistu’s genocidal policies, used to oppress and repress our country’s peoples, are still a part of living memory for any Ethiopian older than college age. For you to make this comparison was an insult to those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and to those who today are working to make Ethiopia a better, more peaceful, more prosperous, and more democratic place.

Moreover, I was dismayed that you would use the recent terrorist bombings in Addis Ababa as some sort of evidence that the Ethiopian government is encouraging destabilization and social disorder. This convoluted reasoning boggles the mind, since these bombings are rather concrete evidence that violent elements in Ethiopian society, or external enemies of Ethiopia, are working actively to undermine the constitutional order. Your comments were precisely the opposite of what I would have expected from you, which would have been a flat condemnation of these terrorist acts and an expression of sympathy for the victims who were injured and killed.

When I finished my testimony, the panel that followed consisted of three people who are political opponents of the Ethiopian government and one who represented a reasonably detached organization, which has been outspoken in its criticism of U.S. government policy regarding the misuse of the death penalty and the torture of captured prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and other detention centers. When fanciful claims were made against Ethiopia’s leaders, you failed to ask for evidentiary support for these claims. When the CUD representative admitted his party’s goal of undermining and eliminating the current constitutional government of Ethiopia, you remained mute. If the purpose of hearings such as this is to ferret out the truth – to go “where the evidence leads,” as former U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh titled his memoir – then you missed the opportunity to pursue that purpose.
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Over the past several weeks, even after the introduction of the draft Bill, the Embassy staff has endeavored to be helpful to you and the subcommittee staff in providing constructive comments on the draft versions of HR 4423, pointing out errors of fact and interpretation in its text and attempting to find common ground that serves the interests of both the United States and Ethiopia in appropriate and positive fashions. If the bill was to pass, its rationale should be to help the Ethiopian people and enhance the democratization of the country. It is now very clear that you would like to see HR 4423, the Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2006, approved by the subcommittee and eventually become law even if it has adverse effects on the stability and development of the country. Therefore, if it does become law, that will be a sad adjunct to the friendship between Ethiopia and the United States.

At the end of the day, however, whether HR 4423 passes or fails is irrelevant to us. Ethiopia will continue to democratize at its own pace, in its own fashion, based on the particular needs of our country’s culture and society. Just for the record Mr. Chairman:

• The appropriate legal, institutional and policy frameworks required for the democratization process are in place
• The number of opposition parliamentary seats increased from 12 to 172.
• More than 77 political parties are registered and active in Ethiopia today
• 77 political parties and 575 independent candidates contested for seats in the Federal Parliament and State Councils
• The reform of the National Election Board, the media law and the parliamentary procedural rules is in progress
• Ethiopia is actively discharging its responsibility as a Fourth major troop contributor to international peace keeping operations
• Ethiopia is a staunch supporter and an active participant in the global war against terrorism

We are proud that in the 15 years since we overthrew the brutal Communist dictatorship that our democracy has developed well enough that a full third of the Members of Parliament represent parties other than the ruling party. We are proud that our judicial system is able to act independently and with integrity so that those accused of serious crimes including treason and conspiring to overthrow the constitutional order – can be assured of due process of law without interference from the executive and legislative branches of government or, for that matter, without the pressure of meddlesome foreign powers.

We are proud that, Ethiopia is moving on the right direction towards democratization. We indeed have been able to increase agricultural production and grow our economy at a record pace. All these improvements and accomplishments can and will continue regardless of whether HR 4423 becomes law or not.

I suspect, Chairman Smith, that you have seldom received a letter such as this from a witness whom you tried so hard to embarrass and to cow in the course of an “oversight” hearing. I was polite and respectful– not to put too fine a point on it – too diplomatic in our exchange at the hearing on Tuesday despite your hostile and disrespectful confrontation.. My temperament and the circumstances did not permit me to become argumentative or combative. One of the main reasons being a respect for the Subcommittee, its members and the office you hold. After two days of reflection, it seems proper to set the record straight on paper privately what I should have voiced in public.

It is my duty, as a representative of my government and my people, to state the truth and to know that you hear it. I have no responsibility for you listen to the truth, only to give you the opportunity to do so. It is up to you to decide whether you will use your ears and eyes and treat my words with the attention and deference they deserve.

Sincerely,

Fesseha A. Tessema
Ambassador
Charge d' Affairs

Open letter to The Honorable Christopher H. Smith

2006-04-01T22:08:00.000-05:00

The Honorable Christopher H. Smith
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Smith,

On March 28, 2006, I attended the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Relations hearing on “Ethiopia’s Troubled Internal Situation.” I have been following Ethiopian politics for twenty-five years, having first traveled there in 1982 and periodically returning in various professional capacities.

I think that it is important to state up front that I have a very different interpretation of recent Ethiopian history than you have expressed in various forums, particularly in terms of its transition to democracy and the events that occurred last year. I believe that the May 2005 elections were genuinely competitive, credible and of profound historical significance to the people of Ethiopia. Your statement comparing Ethiopia to Romania, the former Soviet Union and Vietnam was not only inaccurate but also offensive given the recent history. This election was a milestone event representing decades of struggle against tyranny on the part of the Ethiopian people to choose their leaders. The fact that an opposition party freely competed and won nearly 200 seats in the parliament speaks louder than the voices of those who wish to undermine the democratic process in a naked grab for power. I believe that the opposition candidates who took their seats in the new parliament demonstrated great courage and integrity in keeping their promise to the voters to represent their interests in the government. I also believe that it is up to the Ethiopian courts to judge the merits of the case against the CUD leadership currently in detention.

Congressman Smith, with all due respect, the reason I am writing this letter is not to convince you to change your views on the current situation in Ethiopia. Rather, I would like to express my shock and dismay over the conduct of the March 28th hearing. It is my understanding that the purpose of a congressional hearing is to weigh the evidence of all sides of an issue in order to arrive at an informed judgement. It was obvious that, given the list of witnesses providing testimony, the members of the committee had already made up their minds. Three of the four other witnesses were either directly or indirectly associated with the opposition party, the CUDP. The fourth witness was a representative of Amnesty International. Moreover, the committee had agreed only at the last minute to allow the testimony of Ethiopian Ambassador Fesseha Asghedom Tessema

Indeed, it is ironic, to say the least, that the very judicial system that Mr. Andargechew Tsege made mockery of in his testimony released him on bail following his detention on charges of instigating violence that led to the deaths of 36 Ethiopian civilians and 7 Ethiopian policemen. By posting bail, Mr. Andargechew Tsige promised the court that he would appear for his trial. Mr. Andargechew Tsige left the country on an Ethiopian passport out of Bole airport without interference from Ethiopian security personnel because there was no court order to deny him exit from the country. It was hypocritical for the committee to call as a witness a person who knowingly lied to the court. A congressional witness who has escaped from the due process of law is hardly credible. If Zacarias Moussaoui had fled to Ethiopia before his trial, would his testimony to the Ethiopian parliament on the human rights situation in the United States be considered credible to the committee?

Congressman Smith, let me remind you that instigating violence that led to the deaths of 43 people is a very serious charge. To characterize a demonstration where 7 policemen were killed (one policeman was nearly decapitated) as peaceful is simply not logical. Your expressed contempt for the rule of law and judicial process in Ethiopia contradicts the very mandate you are responsible for upholding as a Congressman of the United States. You’re a priori endorsement of the testimony given by Mr. Andargechew Tsege in the absence of due process of law in an Ethiopian court puzzles me.

Congressman Smith, you said in your opening statement, “friends don’t let friends commit human rights abuses.” As you recall, Amnesty International’s 2005 report on the United States claimed that the U.S. “held hundreds of detainees without charge or trial at the U.S. naval base In Guantanamo Bay,” “…thousands of people were detained during U.S. military and security operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and routinely denied access to their families and lawyers.” The report cites “allegations of torture”, “deaths in custody and ill-treatment by U.S. forces” as well as alleging that “the U.S. administration had sanctioned interrogation techniques that violated the U.N. Convention Against Torture.” The report goes on to say “in the USA, more than 40 people died after being struck by police tasers.”

Congressman Smith, do you agree with Amnesty International’s allegations against the United States? Will you agree on behalf of the Government of the United States to allow the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture unfettered access to the prison camps on Guantanamo Bay. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield has denied this request for four years. You asked the very same question of Ambassador Fisseha—twice—knowing full well that he does not have the authority to agree to a visit by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture and can only pass on the request to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

This is not to say that I believe it is a policy of the Ethiopian government to permit torture in its prisons. And I am certain that you are as much distressed as I am that our own government has admitted to torture and has tried to justify this policy in light of the war on terrorism. The point I am trying to make here is that the March 29th hearing was neither fair nor transparent in its objectives. It was clear from the outset that the committee had come to a decision to condemn the Government of Ethiopia before the hearing had even begun and without due diligence in weighing the evidence of both sides of a very complex problem.

Congressman Smith, again with all due respect to the office you hold in the United States Congress and your twenty-five years of service to this country, it was distressing to hear some of your remarks and observe your conduct towards the Ambassador of Ethiopia. As you are well aware, the hearing room was packed with members of the opposition party. Congressman Smith, you played to the audience and were rewarded by the applause and even laughter at the expense of the dignity of a great nation and, as you stated in your opening remarks, an important ally of the United States. Your comments about Prime Minister Meles were inappropriate and disrespectful. You made no effort at all to question the other witnesses on the evidence they have to support these serious allegations against the Government of Ethiopia—some patently ridiculous. I am certain that this was not your intention but your combativeness towards the Ambassador, raising questions about the veracity of his responses, and the ridicule directed towards him was a poor reflection on the United States Congress.

I am also certain that you will consider my criticism in the spirit in which it is intended. I have argued many times that Ethiopia’s political culture is based on the lowest common denominator of reasonable discourse. I have observed that unlike Americans, Ethiopians have a difficult time “agreeing to disagree.” Let us agree to disagree but only after having heard both sides.

I hope that you and the other members of the committee will consider delaying the markup of the proposed legislation in order to consider more fully the evidence of both sides on these most important issues facing a most important ally of the United States.

Respectfully,

Elias David
Arlington, Virginia

Hearing: Ethiopia’s Troubled Internal Situation VIDEO HR 4423

2006-03-30T23:01:00.000-05:00

Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV

March 28, 2006:
2:00 p.m., 2172 Rayburn
House Office Building

View Webcast Video

Hearing: Ethiopia’s Troubled
Internal Situation

Hearing Notice, PDF
The Honorable
Christopher H. Smith, The Honorable Donald Y. Yamamoto,
His Excellency Fesseha
A. Tessema, Mr. Andargachew Tsege,
Mr. Obang Metho, Ms. Lynn Fredricksson,
Meqdes Mesfin, M.D

View Webcast Video

Ethiopia "at Crossroads," Warns U.S. Official (HR 4423)

2006-03-29T00:06:00.000-05:00

Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV
28 March 2006

Ethiopia "at Crossroads," Warns U.S. Official

Deputy Assistant Secretary Yamamoto testifies to Congress

Ethiopia is "currently at a crossroads" -- it can continue to move forward or it can lapse into the sort of government that is best encountered in the history books, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Donald Yamamoto told the U.S. Congress March 28.

In testimony before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, Yamamoto said, "It is incumbent upon Prime Minister Meles, his government and the various elements of the multifaceted opposition to demonstrate to the world, but, more importantly, to Ethiopians, the sincerity of their professed commitment to democracy through their actions as well as their words."

Yamamoto was called to Capitol Hill to brief the subcommittee on Ethiopia just hours before departing for that country. The deputy assistant secretary called Ethiopia's May 15, 2005, election "historic" and said it "considerably enhanced the democratic consciousness of the people of Ethiopia."

He also told the lawmakers the 2005 election was "much improved over 2000, which had been a great improvement over the 1995 election."

The United States, he added, is "committed to ensuring that the 2010 elections build on the progress of the 2005 elections, in moving toward transparent elections, responsive government and greater power sharing."

That said, he said Ethiopia's post-2005 election problems highlight the need for capacity building and further reform. "Despite our belief that election results overall were generally credible, the United States was deeply concerned about the 31 seats that went to a re-vote on August 21," he told the lawmakers.

Yamamoto said the ruling party won all 31 seats in that re-vote, even among constituencies where the opposition had won a significant majority during the May 15 balloting.

Of even greater concern, he said, was the violence that erupted on June 8, 2005, and November 1, 2005, which led to the arrests of thousands of people after the elections and the detention of 128 Coalition for Unity and Democracy and civil society leaders.

Following is the text of Yamamoto's statement, as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

Testimony by Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Yamamoto
Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

"Ethiopia's Troubled Internal Situation"

Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV
House International Relations Committee
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations
Chairman Christopher H. Smith
March 28, 2006, 2:00 p.m.

INTRODUCTION

Chairman Smith, members of the subcommittee, I am honored to testify before you today on the internal political situation in Ethiopia. As Africa's second most populous nation, Ethiopia has an important part to play in enhancing the stability of East Africa.

The United States believes that democracy is the best form of government for stability -- in Africa and beyond. Free and transparent elections are the best vehicle for citizens to express their wishes and hold their governments accountable. Democracy should be anything but a zero sum game.

Over the last year, Ethiopians have been tempted by the twin promises of freedom and fairness. Expectations were high during last year's campaign season. This marked the first true multiparty election in Ethiopia's 3,000-year history. Results have been mixed, and hopes for progress have been chilled, as the government has clamped down on individuals' right to assemble and journalists' ability to report events. Meanwhile, several elected opposition officials refused to take their seats in Parliament and have been arrested and charged with capital offenses.

In calling for last May's election, Prime Minister Meles moved his country forward. However, the intolerance that followed in the wake of the results and the opposition's response show that the country has more work to do in progressing toward true, mature democracy.

HOPE FOR DEMOCRACY

Speaking at the Freer Gallery before the G-8 summit last June, President Bush remarked that "the whole world will benefit from prosperity and stability on the African continent. And the peoples of Africa deserve the peace and freedom and opportunity that are the natural rights of all mankind."

The Administration firmly believes in the primacy of democracy. So do the American people and this Congress. Democratic governments will naturally reflect the local cultures and traditions of voters, but this form of government is the single best way to account not only for the needs and wishes of large groups of people, but also for those holding minority viewpoints.

Liberty improves lives, and fair elections and personal liberty protections are universal values. Our goal is to encourage all governments to be responsive to their people and respectful of human dignity. The United States raises these points in the spirit of partnership.

There is every reason to believe that Ethiopians want responsive leadership, and the U.S. Government supports the efforts of students and activists to have their voices heard. As President Bush said in the same speech last June, "All who live in Africa can be certain, as you seize this moment of opportunity, America will be your partner and your friend."

A NEW CHAPTER

The May 15, 2005, elections were momentous and offered the people of Ethiopia the prospect of an important step toward democratic rule and responsive government. The pre-election assessment was impressive. Nearly 26 million people registered to vote, 48% of whom were women. In total, 85% of all eligible voters registered, marking a significant increase over the last election in 2000.

Elections for the lower house featured 1,847 candidates competing for 547 seats. Compared to 2000, this was an increase in participation greater than 80%. Election observers from the United States (U.S.) and European Union (EU) recognized the National Electoral Board for its excellent job registering voters and candidates, and preparing for the elections. Even the state-managed media coverage was considered fair, giving the opposition 56% of the airtime exposure, according to the EU report, while the ruling party received 44% of the coverage.

The opposition parties, much to their own surprise -- and the shock of the ruling party -- earned the keys to Addis Ababa's City Hall on election day. The ruling party acknowledged its loss in the capital, as well as losses in most of Ethiopia's other urban centers. The opposition managed to capture 170 seats, mostly in urban areas. This was significantly more than the meager 12 seats it won in 2000. This success is tempered only by the fact that most Ethiopians reside in rural areas.

The United States hailed the outcome of the May election as an affirmation of Ethiopia's political development. For the first time in their long history, Ethiopians had a democratic choice.

ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL TENSION

The great hope inspired by this election soon gave way to political turmoil. On election day and during the post-election period, there were reports of intimidation and harassment and that in some areas, ballot boxes had been improperly secured. From June 2-8, the opposition raised questions about the results for 299 seats. There was a general transportation strike in Addis Ababa June 6-8, and violence led to the deaths of three-dozen and the arrest of over 3,000 people.

The United States condemned the violence and cautioned that hate messages directed against other ethnic groups could further fracture the delicate ethnic balance within Ethiopia. The U.S. Ambassador in Addis Ababa, Ambassador Aurelia Brazeal, worked with her colleagues from the British, Austrian, EU, and other embassies to broker an agreement on June 10 between the opposition and ruling parties to enhance political engagement and resolve seats under dispute.

Since the departure of Ambassador Brazeal, our Charge, Ambassador Vicki Huddleston, and the U.S. Embassy staff have continued actively to reach out to opposition party leaders from the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), and Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM). U.S. Embassy staff is working to bridge the political divide separating the opposition parties and the ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The State Department has also engaged the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States, and the chief opposition leaders, Hailu Shawel, who heads the CUD, and Petros Beyene, head of the UEDF, who have been in the United States.

On numerous occasions, the Assistant Secretary sent me to Addis Ababa to work with the Ethiopian Government and opposition groups in support of U.S. Embassy efforts to encourage a reconciliation of differences between the opposition and the ruling parties, and to discuss ways to improve the political process with the Ethiopian government. We encouraged the opposition parties to take their seats in the Ethiopian Parliament and use their positions as parliamentarians to press for continued political reform and a greater voice for the opposition.

The opposition's stance evolved after May 15, 2005. Their unexpected political gains inspired the confidence to insist on more political control of the process, and they pressed for a review of the 299 seats they lost to the EPRDF. The Administration has encouraged dialogue between the government and opposition parties to resolve the dispute. U.S. government officials have repeatedly stressed that responsible discussions would help enhance confidence and bring about a peaceful resolution. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), which did a notable job in pre-election efforts, was overwhelmed by post-election tasks. The NEBE clearly requires significant assistance, as it works to build capacity and forge a constructive dialogue between the parties.

Under the existing NEBE process, the Complaints Review Boards (CRB) received 380 complaints of election irregularities and identified 178 cases for the Complaints Investigations Panels (CIP) to investigate. It was unclear why some cases were rejected. The European Union report on the elections asserted that over 90% of the CUD complaints were rejected as opposed to only 30% for the ruling party. It seems clear that the CRB/CIP process did not prove an adequate means for a fair resolution of all electoral disputes.

According to the Carter Center, which monitored the election process along with the European Union, in one-third of the investigations they observed, witnesses appeared frightened or intimidated, and there was credible evidence of intimidation and harassment including beatings and briberies. It is clear that the CRB/CIP is an ad hoc mechanism to review electoral complaints, rather than a reliable process for resolving the Parliamentary seat dispute. The Carter Center recommended that in this instance, and until the NEBE gains the maturity to resolve political disagreements, the opposition refer these cases to the High Court for adjudication.

We commend the work of the Carter Center and note the important work that the European Union carried out under difficult conditions. On the overall assessment of the elections, we agree with the final report, which noted that the elections had credibility and that the majority of the constituency results based on the May 15 polling and tabulation are credible and reflect competitive conditions. Our own assessments support this view.

Despite our belief that elections results overall were generally credible, the United States was deeply concerned about the 31 seats that went to a re-vote on August 21. The ruling party won all 31 seats, even among constituencies where the opposition had won a significant majority during May 15 balloting. Election observers noted that voters were perplexed as to why there was a re-vote and noted a dearth of information and increased presence of security forces at polling stations. Of even greater concern was the violence that erupted on June 8 and November 1, 2005, that led to the arrests of thousands of people after the elections and the detention of 128 CUD and civil society leaders. We objected strongly to the violence and the detentions both publicly through several press statements and privately to the government and the opposition.

Of particular concern to the United States are the early-November arrests of much of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) leadership, along with prominent members of civil society, journalists, editors, and publishers. After seven weeks in detention, the Ethiopian government charged 131 individuals with capital offenses of "outrages against the constitution and constitutional order," and, in several cases, "treason" and "attempted genocide." Charges were recently dropped against 18 of the defendants, including five American citizen staff members of Voice of America, who, with five others, were charged in absentia.

In addition to these leaders, Ethiopian authorities detained over 14,000 demonstrators, holding them for as much as nine weeks in detention camps far away from Addis Ababa. While public protests aimed at destabilizing the country are objectionable, there is no excuse for mass arrests and the use of lethal force against civilians who wish to express their opposition to their government.

GLIMMERS OF HOPE

The electoral process of May 15, 2005. was historic and considerably enhanced the democratic consciousness of the people of Ethiopia. It was a much-improved election over 2000, which had been a great improvement over the 1995 election. The United States is committed to ensuring that the 2010 elections build on the progress of the 2005 elections, in moving toward transparent elections, responsive government, and greater power sharing.

That said, the post-2005 election problems point to the need for capacity building and further reform. The Ethiopian government and opposition agree on that score. We are working to help both sides forge a common commitment to work collaboratively toward a shared goal of developing a more democratic political process. We recognize the need for capacity building to strengthen the electoral commission, foster international exchanges that broaden exposure to other political systems, enhance the open and transparent political process -- particularly with regard to Parliamentary procedures that ensure equal participation for opposition members, offer clear and detailed guidance regarding the electoral process, and encourage greater political debate and participation by members of the Ethiopian public.

Over the last year, we have encouraged the opposition parties to continue their political dialogue with the government about the necessity of reform. The Ethiopian citizens who have been detained without charge are of vital concern, and the Administration calls on the Government of Ethiopia to ensure a fair, transparent, and speedy trial for those charged, release of those who have not been charged, and protection of the human rights, health, and safety of all detainees while they remain in detention.

With the engagement of the EU and the Ethiopian government, the opposition and ruling parties have agreed to review parliamentary procedures, the capacity of the NEBE, media law, and the rule of law. The Ethiopian government has also agreed to reviews of domestic political institutions by outside experts from Germany, India, Great Britain, and Canada. The United States will review the media law, and we are working with the EU to encourage elected opposition officials to take their seats in Parliament, and many are. The United States has also engaged with the newly elected Addis Ababa City Counselors and NEBE to enable the opposition to take over City Hall.

We pressed the Ethiopian government to conduct an independent investigation of the violence and the arrests of thousands of civilians in 2005. The completed report from the commission appointed by Parliament is expected soon. We continue to urge the government to apply expeditiously and justly the procedures of the Ethiopian legal process to the cases of the remaining 111 detained CUD and civil society leaders. Resolution of the detention issue would fortify Ethiopia's developing democratic process.

The Administration is also working to ensure the return of the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and IFES, all of which were expelled before the May 15 election. These organizations can help with capacity building and political reform.

All of these actions have been undertaken in support of good governance and the primacy of democracy. We believe Ethiopia is heading in the right direction; in order to ensure positive momentum, the United States and the international community needs to work with Ethiopia to cultivate and nurture this process.

Photo By Endale Getahun ECTV
CONCLUSION

Ethiopia is currently at a crossroads; it can continue to move forward, or it can lapse into the sort of government that's best encountered in history books. It is incumbent upon Prime Minister Meles, his government, and the various elements of the multifaceted opposition to demonstrate to the world, but, more importantly, to Ethiopians, the sincerity of their professed commitment to democracy through their actions as well as their words. The United States has a role, as a partner and friend, to help Ethiopia's leaders to choose the right path to secure peace, stability, freedom, and democracy for the Ethiopian people.

Some interested groups, both within and beyond Ethiopian borders, seek to undermine what is best for the nation of Ethiopia, in favor of what they perceive to be the best for themselves. They cast stones at their adversaries, while engaging in the very acts they accuse their rivals of pursuing.

The challenge for the United States is to share with our Ethiopian partners -- the government, the opposition, civil society, and the broader public -- the lessons of America's own democratic experiment and impede the subversive effects of those who put their own objectives above those of the Ethiopian people. Through diplomatic persuasion, the United States has succeeded in bringing together the government and some opposition groups for dialogue to establish a more equitable political environment that includes respect for the rule of law. U.S. engagement has helped convince the vast majority of opposition Members of Parliament-elect to take their seats, so that they can challenge the political system from within to improve lasting institutions and make tomorrow better. The United States has supported efforts through which opposition members elected to the Addis Ababa city council sought to assume control of the capital city, in accordance with their electoral mandate.

The United States government remains hopeful that Ethiopia can achieve the democratic and development ideals that its people espouse. I am hopeful that Ethiopia's leaders will allow this to happen, and Ethiopia's friends in the United States stand by ready to help.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

EMIRATES COMMENCES OPERATIONS TO ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

2006-03-28T09:09:00.000-05:00

EMIRATES COMMENCES OPERATIONS TO ADDIS ABABA

Washington, DC, 28th March 2006 – Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines which is scheduled to launch eight new destinations to its global network in 2006, has started services to Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.

World Council of Churches (WCC) elects new presidents, (His Holiness Abune Paulos, Ethiopian Orthodox Church)

2006-03-24T23:37:00.000-05:00

Sunday March 26 With Hager Fiker Radio

http://www.aigaforum.com

Exclusive interview with the His Holiness Abune Paulos the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church will be aired on Sunday March 26. The Patriarch who earned his PHD from Princeton Seminary, highly regarded and respected institution in the same footing as the Harvard Divinity and Yale Divinity School, was the first ever Patriarch in Ethiopia to hold such a distinguished academic title.

Abune Paulos has presided over a remarkable period of the Church's history. Much urban property that had been taken from the church was returned, most notably the return of the campus and the library of Holy Trinity Theological College, and the College was reopened. He built a new Patriarchal office and residence complex at the site of the old one, and reformed the bureaucracy of the Patriarchate. He has also traveled widely, strengthening the ties of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church with other sister churches.Abune Paulos also took the initiative to the series of peace meetings between all Ethiopian and Eritrean religious leaders in 1998, 1999 and 2000 in an effort to bring peace between the two countries in response to a bitterly fought border war. Patriarch Abune Paulos and the Orthodox Church have also been extesively involved in the support of war-displaced and drought-hit Ethiopians, making the Church one of the major relief organizations in the country. In March of 2006, Abune Paulos was elected to serve as one of the presidents of the World Council of Churches, during it's summit in Brazil.

Assembly elects new presidents, central committee

A new body to lead the World Council of Churches (WCC) into the next decade was elected in Porto Alegre on Wednesday. Delegates at the WCC’s 9th Assembly also endorsed measures designed to strengthen youth participation in the organization’s decision-making.

The Assembly elected a 150-member central committee, which serves as the main decision-making body of the Council between assemblies. The Assembly also appointed presidents for each of the world regions and for the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches.

During the Assembly, the WCC leadership and many delegates urged the Council to find ways of strengthening youth participation and of involving young adults in the leadership and decision-making of the church fellowship. Proposals for a new representative body for youth will be discussed on the last day of the Assembly.

“I am pleased to report that the number of youth has increased to 22, representing 15% of the central committee,” said Bernice Powell-Jackson, moderator of the Assembly Nominations Committee, presenting the final slate of names for approval.

The new 150-person central committee counts 63 women and 6 indigenous persons. 97 members of the committee are ordained. The nominations committee worked with a pool of names put forward by the WCC’s 348 member churches. A 25-person executive committee, a moderator and two vice-moderators will be elected by the central committee later this week.

The role of the WCC presidents is to promote ecumenism and to interpret the work of the WCC, especially in their respective regions. The presidents are ex-officio members of central committee.

The eight WCC presidents are:
Africa: Rev. Prof. Dr Simon Dossou, Methodist Church in Benin
Asia: Rev. Dr Soritua Nababan, Protestant Christian Batak Church (HKBP)
Caribbean/Latin America: Rev. Dr Ofelia Ortega, Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba
Europe: Dr Mary Tanner, Church of England
North America: Rev. Dr Bernice Powell Jackson, United Church of Christ
Pacific: Mr John Taroanui Doom, Maòhi Protestant Church
Eastern Orthodox: Archbishop Dr Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
Oriental Orthodox: His Holiness Abune Paulos, Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Police apprehends illegal CD copiers,electronic appliances

2006-03-24T22:26:00.000-05:00

Addis ababa, March 24, 2006 (wic) - Police announced that it has apprehended suspects alleged to have been duplicating and selling several works of art violating the copy right law. Police has also put under control electronic appliances which the individuals were using.
Crime investigation Department head with Addis Ababa Police Commission, Commander Girma Kassa, told WIC yesterday that in a search conducted the day before, police has apprehended 10 suspects, 11 electronic appliances and more than 1,000 illegally duplicated CD, VCD, audio and video tapes in 13 houses.

According to Girma, the places where the works were being illegally duplicated included music shops, secretarial and photo copy services providers. He said the shops were engaged in illegal activities under the cover of the stated businesses.

Commander Girma said police caught the suspects red handed in Kirkos, Bole, Addis Ketema and Yeka sub-cities.

Commending the tip off given by the public towards preventing such illegal acts police has also called on the public to continue with its cooperation in the future.

East African nations appeal for global aid

2006-03-20T23:32:00.000-05:00

By Bogonko Bosire

Nairobi - East African leaders on Monday appealed for international help to combat a drought that is threatening millions of lives, but said they had the means to resolve long-running conflicts that keep the Horn of Africa locked in chronic poverty and instability.

Faced with dwindling funding, they pledged to continue mobilising resources to provide relief supplies to help 11 million people who face the threat of starvation due to a prolonged shortage of rain and massive crop failure.

"In this regard, we call upon the international community to be forthcoming with sufficient resources to assist our efforts," said a joint communique issued at the end of the seven-nation Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit.

The participants said competition for resources in the region, home to about 180-million people, had worsened conflicts that have claimed millions of lives and caused deep suffering in the last 50 years.

Despite deadly fighting in western Sudan, Somalia and northern Uganda and festering tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea over an unresolved border row, the leaders said that the region had the wherewithal to reverse the situation.

"The region has the capacity to uplift itself from misery," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told the summit, which was also celebrating the IGAD's 20th anniversary.

"Over-internationalising" regional conflicts "will not bring solutions," Museveni said, citing Burundi as an example where Ethiopia and South African peacekeepers helped restore peace.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, the new IGAD chairperson, called for a united front to battle the searing drought, the seventh to ravage East Africa since 1975.

"In order to address the challenges effectively, we need to detail our co-operation and develop concerted sub-regional approaches and strategies that will create and environment favourable for socio-economic development," Kibaki said.

The European Union (EU), a strong East African partner, urged the region to fight a vicious cycle of poverty and scale down instability, whose effects are felt across Europe.

"There are growing concerns back in Europe on the fallout of this chronic cycle of poverty and instability. We feel the consequences of large number of migrants and refugees and the risk of the spread of trafficking and terrorism in the region," EU Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel said.

Museveni called for insurance for people affected by famine and to enhance regional trade as a means to stave off the effects of the scorching drought.

"We need and we can work together to insure this area against these vicissitudes. Since there are insurance policies, why don't we have insurance policies against famine in Africa?" Museveni added, two weeks after UN announced the world's first-ever insurance cover for humanitarian emergencies in Ethiopia, in the event of extreme drought.

Michel told the region to help Sudan implement a January 2005 peace deal and press Somalis to seal a 15-year-old power vacuum, that has sparked fears of terrorism, piracy and arms smuggling, further destabilising neighbouring states.

"These processes are fragile and cannot be sustained without a strong regional strategy," Michel said.

The communique expressed "satisfaction" in the implementation of Sudan's north-south peace deal, but urged the international community promptly to deliver $4,5-billion that was pledged at the Oslo conference last year.

Sudan's President Omar el-Bashir pledged to restore peace in Darfur, where 300 000 people have died and two million others displaced, but rejected plans to deploy UN peacekeepers.

In addition, they called on the UN to lift an arms embargo on Somalia to enable a formation of a national force.

African leaders and Swedish Foreign Minister Annita Sode told Ethiopia and Eritrea to turn down their belligerent rhetoric and work towards a final resolution of the border row that has threatened to erupt into a full-scale war.

"We strongly believe that there is a window of opportunity to resolving the simmering tension," Kibaki said.

The summit was also attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Somalia's Abdullahi Yusuf, Djibouti's Ismail Omar Guelleh, Sudan's Omar el-Beshir while Eritrea was represented by Agriculture Minister Arefaine Berhe. - Sapa-AFP

You ain�t no true Ethiopian! PART I

2006-03-19T19:53:00.000-05:00

You ain�t no true Ethiopian! PART I

Aklilu Abreha
Mar 05, 2006

�And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you�ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.� John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address. Friday, January 20, 1961

For several years now, we have been witnessing a lot of people using the term �true Ethiopian� to differentiate individuals who fit a certain categorization. I feel like, lately, the term is excessively misused to exclude people with dissenting political views. How pathetic and childish. In this article, I like to discuss the criteria one is required to meet to be considered a legal Ethiopian citizen. Once that is established, further more, I like to discuss what I believe to be a universally accepted proof of an individual�s sincerity of citizenship, and consequently, demonstrate to you the people who really deserve to be called true Ethiopians.

According to Article 6 of the Constitution of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the eligibility to acquire Ethiopian Nationality is stipulated as follows:

1. Any person of either sex shall be an Ethiopian national where both or either parent is Ethiopian. 2. Foreign nationals may acquire Ethiopian nationality. 3. Particulars relating to nationality shall be determined by law.

For more information on our constitution, please point your browser to http://www.ethiopar.net/English/cnstiotn/consttn.htm. Therefore, from the constitutional and legal stand point, and a particular interest to me, is that one is considered an Ethiopian citizen provided that he is born from one or both parents of Ethiopian nationals.

I think all of us; including those individuals with whom we happen to disagree, more than satisfy this legal criterion. And, as the published autobiography of Prime Minister Meles shows, he was born in Ethiopia from Ethiopian parents, and as the result, Mr. Meles is a well qualified Ethiopian citizen. And further, if need be, we can also look at the published biography of his government advisors and other responsible officials and we would find out that all of them meet or exceed the requirement and can proudly claim Ethiopian citizenship.

But that is the easy part. In my view, and I am sure most of you agree that the most important criteria are the meeting of the proof of sincerity of citizenship. Just to elaborate, in our adapted country, the United States of America, the legal requirement for citizenship is equally straight forward just like that of Ethiopia�s. Because of one reason or another, several of us have taken advantage of it and have acquired American citizenship. But very few of us have bothered to prove our sincerity be it by participating in the American political process; by serving in public office; by volunteering to community services; by enlisting in the army; by making donations; by performing or volunteering in other communally beneficial duties. Unlike us, however, there are other immigrants who proved their sincerity to America. To name a few examples, you have Arnold Schwarzenegger, the current governor of California who was born in Austria; Henry Kissinger, the 56th Secretary of State of the United States who was born in Germany; Albert Einstein who was also born in Germany became a citizen of the United States in 1940, he made many contributions to peace, and to the war effort by hand writing his 1905 paper on special relativity and putting it up for auction. It raised six million dollars, the manuscript today being in the Library of Congress. American history is full of other naturalized Americans who proved their sincerity of their citizenship and had been disposed with a much greater social, scientific, economical, and governing responsibility.

The sincere contributions, as we would like to believe, are easily quantifiable. But it becomes tricky if one exclusively basis it on his/her own life experience, political view, and frame of reference. Generally speaking, however, one who practices love and affection to all his/her people all the time; one who extends a helping hand and performs random acts of generosity to his fellow citizens; one who wishes good-will to his country is considered a sincere and a true citizen. Otherwise, for bizarre and selfish reasons, when one is selective and pretentious in practicing love and affection; when one rarely, if ever, offers a helping hand when his/her people are in need; when one wishes ill to his country to achieve a political objective; when one engages in malevolent activities that gravely compromise the unity of his country and the safety of his fellow citizens, and when one, in a nutshell, significantly lacks sincerity, one become suspect of not being a true citizen. Unfortunately, in the mindset of some circles of contemporary Ethiopian politics, going against these generally accepted proofs of sincerity, some choose to bestow the honor and call �true Ethiopian� only individuals of their liking. Not only that, they use a different label to make others fell less deserving of the Ethiopian citizenship when they fell like, mind you, that the person subscribes to a differing political thought, and regardless of the individuals sincere effort to improve the living standard of fellow Ethiopian citizens.

To the people who consider them selves to be a �true Ethiopian� and other who are considered worthy of the honor, let us, in the famous words of President Kennedy, ask the question of what these

Johnny-come-lately �true Ethiopians� have done for their country. Besides constantly bickering about what the government has not done for them, have they themselves sent medical supplies when their people are sick? Have they themselves sent donations or food supplies when their people are starving? Have they contributed to help build a school or pay a teachers salary? Have they sent books or computers to help educate their people? Have they shipped seeds and other farm supplies to help Ethiopian farmers become self sufficient? The answer, to our utter disappointment, is most of the time no, no, and a resounding no to all.

A case in point is a relief agency booth I visited during one of the North America soccer tournament. I noticed this young white American lady standing in a booth next to several Ethiopian merchandize and food vendors. I wondered what she was selling and I approached her booth to find out. To my disappointment, I found out that she was collecting donations and she was giving out her organization�s mailing addresses to people willing to help Ethiopians affected by famine and other natural maladies. My disappointment was only because I expected an Ethiopian to be on task. I engaged her in conversation, and she informed me that she was extremely disappointed at the Ethiopian community. She said, the �love� the Ethiopians were publicly displaying was pretentious and lacked substance; she said the ever plenty flags those people at the stadium were wearing and carrying did not amount to more than a colored piece of cloth. Apparently, her disappointment was as the result of her non profit agency�s high expectation to collect huge sums of donations and to register thousands of mailing addresses of Ethiopians willing to help their counterparts at home. She was saddened, because very limited people stopped by to talk to her, and even fewer people made donations or gave out their mailing addresses. She asked me if all those Ethiopians understood the suffering of Ethiopians back home and if they knew the desperate situations. I had no answer for her. These are kind of people who we like to call �true Ethiopians?� People who sympathize and empathize but choose to spend tens or hundreds of dollars for an instant gratification but never donated ten dollars to help a fellow Ethiopian at home.

Individuals who love to shed crocodile tears, and say �I had wept then till I was drenched in my tears..... Can�t we spend ten years working on one or two of the big river basins, which can more than feed the whole country? Don�t tell me that need (sic) capital and technology. Everyone knows that. Better beg for the damn technology and capital and squeeze the country�s resources once and work on both sides of the hand (sic) for ten years than become perennial and shameless beggars. Make it a policy priority and any average economic planner can tell us how to do it. Countries have dug their way out of this kind of messes.� You like to read more on it, here is a link:http://64.233.179.104/

But now, we find these same individuals working against foreign financial aid, transfer of technology and peace, all of which, I may add, are necessary preconditions to alleviate the economic condition in Ethiopia. Let alone the higher calling of building a nation, some of you neither lend a financial support to your immediate families nor bother to go and visit your homeland. Even when you go to visit, you end up staying in a luxurious hotel far away from your family�s dilapidated residence. And you are not hesitant when you call yourselves �true Ethiopians.�

And then you have the other group of �true Ethiopians� who are never miss an occasion to donate money to political Parties. I was traumatized when I saw an opposition fund raising video last week where a certain individual paid $4,000.00 for a book. Apparently, rumor has it; the oppositions are raising funds to hire lawyers to lobby American Congressmen. I wondered if this generous individual knew the hard earned money is going to a lost cause. I do not want to a bearer of bad news, but I read that the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Human Rights removed the consideration called �the Ethiopia Consolidation Act� from the Human Rights and Democracy bill. The legislation was �temporarily withdrawn� because, as the news had it, Congressman Donald Payne felt it �requires more discussion�. I think this is politically correct code word to mean�eeehhhh�, well, you can probably give it your own interpretation. But here is a hint: Before the November off year election, the legislative priority for Congressman Payne is reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, childcare, retirement security, extending unemployment benefits to all of America's workers, the welfare of children, the state of American environment, and the health of the nation.

I looked at some photos taken at the fundraising gathering as well, and I noticed there were some fat cat (rich) Ethiopians at the meeting. And I was compelled to ask some questions like: how come these cats kept their hands glued in their pockets when this young and enthusiastic Ethiopian wasted, I venture to guess, what amounts to a third of her yearly income? Was it because the cats are not as committed to the cause? Or was it because they have been victims of fraudulent fundraising under similar circumstances? I think they should have been the highest bidder as they are better positioned to whether the aftermath of this kind of happy-go-lucky and swept-by-the-moment spending.

Be that as it may, but wonder with me for a moment: what if similar amounts of money were to be directed to help our people at home? Money like the sum of $4,000 ($34,720 Birr) would have purchased thousands of used college books, or more that 10 Desktop computers that could be shipped to the donator�s old high school? But, the problem is whenever you seek these generous individuals and ask them to give donation to improve the lives of Ethiopians, poof, they disappear, or if you are lucky to find them, they are quick to accuse you of conspiring with �Woyane� to destroy Ethiopia.

A case in point is what some Ethiopians continue to say about a well respected Ethiopian, and a member of the Rotary Club, who did a lot to Ethiopians through his membership, and who received world wide recognition and an award from world renowned individuals. They labeled him a �woyane.� And at the same time, these same individuals are angry when they obsessively quote to you statistics on how many industries, hospitals, and schools were built in Tigrai. They are distressed when they tell you there is a conspiracy in the making to deprive education to non-Tigrayan children designed to subjugate them to generations to come. They look horrified when they tell you there is a concerted effort to spread infectious disease and sicken Ethiopians to death. For argument sake, assuming there is such a conspiracy, if you ask how they plan to counteract it, they tell you by violently deposing the EPRDF government, not by helping build schools, and sending books and medicine. EPRDF started armed struggle 31 years ago and won after 17 years of violent and bitter struggle. How are you going to battle against it now that it is a government and has all resources necessary for war at its disposal? Even if defeat is possible, we must realize that we will subject our people for another 20 or 30 years of misery while we wage armed struggle.

My friends, our unwavering assumption of political leadership as �the solution� and our ruthless obsession to acquire it at any cost is completely misdirected. Political power is a means -not the means- to an end; it is a means to bring about better living conditions to all or a segment of a society; it is not an end in-and-of-it-self. But most of us Ethiopians waste valuable resources erroneously believing it to be an end, and mistakenly consider their selves to be true Ethiopians for working towards achieving it at the exclusion of other more important worthy causes. The superior criteria for us to meet and proudly claim to be a true Ethiopian nationality should be based on what we did for our country; what we are doing for our country; what we are planning to do for our country, the sum total of which, in the final analysis, improves the living standard of our fellow Ethiopians.

To that end, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and his government will run anyone for his money. They are more Ethiopians that anyone of us out here in the hinterland. Unless you are a �Mehal Sefari� and concerned only about exclusive development of Addis Ababa and environs at the expense of others, the EPRDF government�s policy to develop other urban and rural regions, to distribute wealth and to improve the lives of our people has bear fruits; it is encouraging and commendable. In previous administrations, and I quote ��Ethiopian Budget yearly outlay for the last forty or fifty years where almost hundred percent of Ethiopia�s wealth was expended. Over 95% of all investment in Ethiopia was invested in Addis Ababa and vicinity. Over 95% of all hospitals in Ethiopia are to be found in Addis Ababa. Almost all of the higher education institutions were concentrated in Addis Ababa. Over 90% of the budgetary expenditure was spent in Addis Ababa and vicinity.�

To be continued�.

I can be reached at dnasmara1@yahoo.com

Gondar Diaspora, it ain’t a sleeping giant no more. PART II

2006-03-19T19:48:00.000-05:00

Gondar Diaspora, it ain’t a sleeping giant no more.
PART II

By Aklilu Abreha

“Always remember: Others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win, unless you hate them. And then, you destroy yourself.”
President Richard Nixon, notorious for hating Jews and Blacks,
before his final and disgraceful resignation on August 9, 1974.

I hope you had time to do some reflection. Let us, please, continue our discussion on the current political drama in Ethiopian.

Our other problem is our uncompromising insistence to have a more perfect western like democratic political system overnight without. But some of us did not take the time to fully understanding its growing pains and its short comings. How many of us do follow the political issues, corruptions, and injustices in America on a daily basis? How many of us participate in electoral process to support or oppose initiatives and candidates, and to contribute funds to elections? The American political system we are trying to emulate went through long and arduous process. Even with all the money in the world, all its technological advancement, and somewhat conscious citizens (at least on domestic issues), the American system is still not perfect, not even close. To learn more on the American democracy lifecycle, I suggest you buy the “The Presidents” DVD set from www.historychannel.com. That will show you the oppressive and dictatorial nature of the former American leaders and their administration. Just to mention a few examples: as for corruption, last month, we had the Jack Abramoff’s scandal where a powerful lobbyist gave million of dollars to several government officials to gain influence. And we are waiting for some powerful politicians to be indicted. And, as for injustice, even as recently as 40 years ago, African Americans have to struggle for equal treatment and for voting rights. The struggle gave birth to organizations like the Black Panther party and the Nation of Islam both of which advocated a violent means to end “Jim Crow” and other discriminatory laws against Black Americans. Leaders like Malcolm X (Shabazz) came on to the stage and they advocated freedom by "any means necessary". But at the end, even Malcolm X changed his mind after traveling extensively and meeting diverse people.

Please let us not simply be obssessed with the western like democray and forget to appreciate the democratic roots taking palce in Ethiopia. How many of us follow up with information about Ethiopia from government outlets? How many of us watch the videos from Parliament sessions? How many of us really take time to read about news from all sides and scrutinize issues from different angles before passing judgement? I have asked some of you, and you do not even know the website addresses of our government and other pro-government mediums, but you have memorized opposition websites that are constantly preaching end-of-EPRDF and forceful Ethiopian unity propaganda. Now a days, it appears like one is not considered fashionista if one does not talk about the Ethiopian government killing and imprisoning children. Most of you talk about the shortcomings of the government you read on opposition websites, but when I asked you to back it up with evidence or asked you for reasons why the government did what it allegedly did, you just simply said, “It is all over the internet.” and “Oh I saw it on the internet.” The internet is a no-mans land, my brothers. Unlike Television and Radio which are unders strict supervision of the Federal Communication Commision (FCC), the Internet is neither controlled nor regulated. Anyone and everyone who has access to a computer can write and post anything. I should know; as I am one of those writers and internet users. As a matter of fact, all you need is $9.99/month to own your own domain name and host your own website, I am thinking to buy the rights for www.KebrarawGonderie.com or, may be, www.AintItGonderie.com, what do you think?

My brothers and sister, we need to be better informed using all available outlets so that we can become a well informed citizens, and most importantly not fall prey to ethnic preditors. Do not be afraid, in addition to opposition websites, navigate to www.waltainfo.com, www.ena.gov.et , www.aigaforum.com, and educate yourselves. That is what I did to be christened with the truth. While doing so, if you see any one who questions your desire to become well informed, who questions your loyalty to Ethiopia, and who suspects your motive as a “hodam Amara”, then they are neither your friend nor a friend of your people. They may have a hidden agenda of their own and want to indoctrinate and brainwash you with one sided propaganda. You think you are too smart to fall for it? Well my friend, listening only to one sided school of thought is not different than joining a cult. Remember the Davidian cult in Waco, Texas? For your information, a whole lot of otherwise smart Americans joined a religious cult founded by David Koresh. Before long, Mr. Koresh advised them to come and join him in his isolated camp in Waco, Texas. Once inside his isolated residence, he started preaching to them that he is the Jesus reincarnate. It did not take too long for all of them to believe his absurd claim, as there was no one around to counteract his claim. Finally, the government got involved as they had information about some children were being abused inside the camp. In the ensued confrontation between the Davidians and the US Federal Agents, all the Davidians chose to light fire and burn themselves to death with their savior David Koresh-the reincarnated “Jesus”- than be caught by the government. You see, consuming one sided information is dangerous to your health and to your life. The opposition is so determined not to let you hear a dissenting view, they still refuse to publish my articles. I wont stop sending them my articles, however.

Another lesson in American political system is the separation of the three branches of government. We need to respect the separate authorities all the time, and not only when it suits us. And we should always insist that there should not be overlapping of authority. For example, you see, George Bush does not have the authority to release a criminal from prison, because crime and punishment is under the courts jurisdiction, meaning it is the responsibility of the judiciary wing of government. After the legal system takes its course, George Bush is at liberty to pardon the convicted criminal, but not until the criminal had his day in court. That is how it is supposed to work. I personally like to see the CUD leaders get released on bail until they are convicted or exonerated. I am sure our development partners will be more than happy to provide our government with an electronic monitoring mechanism. Click that puppy on their ankle and you will know their whereabuts, and you can programme it to restrict their movement to a given radius as well. That is what I would do. But, you need to understand that that is why Prime Minister Meles says he does not have the authority to release the CUD leaders, or, wait, may be it is because he cannot find them as they have become spirits and flown up, up, and awaaaaay. Sorry, I just could not resist taking that shot.

If the opposition is constantly questioning the legality of our institutions, then it gives the incumbant governing party an excuse to violate the laws of the nation as well. You cannot violate laws yourself and expect the other party to operate with respect to the law. It has to be based on a mutual respect of the law. A case in point in our recent memory is what happened in Florida. Former presidential candidate Al Gore, while making his concession speech, said that he did not agree with the decision of the Supreme Court of United States which declared George W. winner of the 2000 Presidential election while the ballot were being counted. But he said, the legally authorised body, the translator and protector of the US constitution has made its decision and he has to accept and abide by it. And he departed after he wished good luck to Bush W. and blessed the nation. That is the beautiful and civilized American experience.
Going against the accepted rules of engagement, after NEB, our legally authorized body rendered its decision, the opposition elected not to respect and abide by it. I know it is too late, but can you imagine what would have happened and can you envision how bright the future would have looked in Ethiopia had the opposition delivered a similar concession speech to that of Al Gore?
My friends, it is hard to loose, but it's more important to accept defeat and continue the fight to win in the next round of elections, to prepare the precondition so that future alleged vote rigging is eliminated at best and minimized at the worst. To that end, among other things, the court has made a decision to allow domestic civic organizations to monitor elections, and it should help in that regard. And need to work with the government to make sure new NEB members do not have an overlapping responsibility of being a Justices in the Supreme Court and a chairman of the election board at the same time. And that process has already started. According to the speech deliver by the Prime Minister on his mid-year report to the parliament, the government has employed several experts from foreign countries to research and present election reforms and parliamentary procedures. Rightfully so, the opposition parliamentarians voiced their concern that they are not included and their opinion is not solicited. I think the honorable Parliamentarians are correct and they should be given a chance to contribute to the betterment of the process.

It may not be what you like to hear, my fellow Gonderie, but our vision for a full fledged democratic Ethiopia should be long term oriented. Because of the developed consciousness level of our urban society, the exposure and lifestyle of the Ethiopian Diaspora, and the recent and future technological advancement in our world, coupled with a little bit of luck, we will be fortunate if we get there within the next 10 to 25 years. But some of you want it right now, and I have heard some of you talking about the electorate not willing to wait that long. You claimed the electorate made a decision for elected officials not to join the “illegitimate” parliament. There several major issues with this approach and it exposed the opposition’s significant lack of experience in political leadership. To begin with, the decision should not have been presented to be decided on in public discussions. The other is that the opposition should have been completely clear on two issues. First of all, there is no way in hell you can be fully certain as who has won the election. Let alone in Ethiopia, we had a difficult time calling out a winner in the US twice, once in Florida in 2000 and again in Ohio in 2004. Second, as I said above, we need to respect our legal institutions and accept their decision. The legally authorized institution, NEB, has rendered a decision and declared EPRDF a winner, hook line and sinker, case closed.

The elected leaders are leaders not followers. They have better access to intelligence from diplomats, and they should anticipate their opposition’s (the current government) move. It is worth mentioning the honorable MP Lidetu Ayalew’s interview on VOA here. I encourage you to listen to it as I may not do him justice; the honorable Member of Parliament is very articulate. When asked as to explain on why he refused to put his signature on the CUD merger application, he clearly outlined what NEB would do the minute the document was signed. He said that the CUD leadership was being ambivalent; on one hand CUD is dismissing NEB as illegitimate body for declaring EPRDF as a winner, and on the other hand, the CUD leadership is sending a party merger application to NEB for approval and to gain a license. The honorable MP Ayalew continued that the minute NEB received the application, it will first ask the merging parties to surrender their previous license, as they should, and before issuing a new merger license, NEB would require of CUD to meet several precondition including accepting the legality of NEB, accepting NEBs decision of EPRDF as a wining party, and a promise to join parliament. These are all points the CUD leadership had refuse to agree on. At the end, Mr. Ayalew reasoned, all CUD member parties would be left out in the cold without their party licenses. He advised them to wait until the election impasse was settled and to proceed with the merger at a later date. They did not believe him, and Mr. Ayalew complained that the opposition party had no leadership, and he accused the CUD leadership as leaders being manipulated by EPRDF, as CUD leaders only reacted to the actions of EPRDF. He has a point, and it was my impression as well. EPRDF understood the childish and politically immature nature of the CUD leadership, and EPRDF played them like a violin. Well you know what label was thrown against Mr. Ayalew and the rest of the story. The notorious opposition website, which at one time called Berhanu Nega a sellout for hinting on joining parliament, had a field day with the honorable MP Ayalew.

The CUD leaders and followers do not take time to study the personality and capacity of the incumbent party leaders. Had they done that, they should have been able to explain to their electorate the risks of not joining parliament including an anticipation of loss of their parliamentary immunity; suffocating if not killing the infant democratic process; the possibility of making it impossible for other opposition parties to compete in the future. By the same token, by joining parliament, they should have explained that at least they themselves will gain legislation experience. Campaign rhetoric is one thing, but passing legislation and governing a country is a completely different story. Remember President Bush Sr. promising us “Read my lips, no more taxes.” Well, after two months of taking office, he imposed on us the largest tax increase in the history of America.

A courageous opposition leader could have even argued things would not get worse with EPRDF for the next five years. If any, things will most likely get better. The opposition could make a case that the government has already promised to revise and improve the implementation of its policy so that it can win the next election in Addis Ababa. In reality, EPRDF will review and change some of its policies for its own survival come the next round of elections. And EPRDF leaders are not getting any younger either. As hard as it is for the opposition to believe, EPRDF leaders are getting old and they may be thinking about a comfortable retirement. But who do they transfer it to, certainly not to CUD. Speaking of retirement, I wonder how much the government pays, because someone hinted that I am doing this to secure my retirement pension from the Ethiopian government. You have no idea the type of e-mails opposition members send me, anyway, rest assured, I am barely in my 40s, and according to the US retirement pension rules, I will become eligible at the age of 67. That means I have 27 working years ahead of me. I hope I did the math right this time around.

Here all I can say is that all of us do not even know what kind of family the opposition leaders have, but we rushed to entrust them with our lives and with our country’s future on account of their academic achievement. I have a confined academic background myself, but I know I am not qualified for that demanding level of responsibility. Have you looked around and asked how many Doctors are leading the most successful western democracies? In America, I can only remember one professor, the late Senator Moynihan of New York and one current MD, the current senate majority leader Senator Frist of Tennesse. Those are the only two I can come up with.

As for me, I prefer the “devil I know than ….” Oops; I almost called them angels. That would have bolstered their claim that they have become spirits. At least with EPRDF, I know what we are getting, but I get scared of the opposition until it proves itself that it is capable of governing by starting from local government and parliamentary legislation. Even in America, one would not dare to declare candidacy to become President until one has accumulated enough experience in lower level governance. Otherwise, the opposing party’s nominee will shred him to smithereens. Think about it, even in an Ethiopian Iquib setting, a new member is allowed to collect only the final draw, after he/she proved that he/she has enough income and gained the full trust of the rest of the Iquib members. And yet, we want to let these individuals we hardly know, whose “angelic” leader cannot even articulate a better economic plan than saying “I have my personal connection.” to lead our nation? A leader, in his futile attempt to insult the Prime Minister, who ended up insulting all of us Ethiopians by calling us “double faced”. This is one of the cases where you say thank God that the average American or European did not pay attention to African politics. If they did, all our motives and actions would have been second guessed by our bosses. This is a leader you want to lead our country, who, in his own words, has said he corroborated with Mengistu to save his own children while the rest of Ethiopian children were murdered in mass.

The opposition would have served us and themselves well had they taken over Addis Ababa. An opposition party winning and governing a capital city is the first in Africa, and certainly the first monumental historical achievement in Ethiopia. The opposition dismally failed to capitalize on it, and chose to engage in street violence and ethnic mongering. In their futile exercise to minimize the damage the opposition inflicted on our infant democracy, they claim that their decree is designed to only discriminate against EPRDF supporters and not Tigraians. Assuming that even this absurd claim is justifiable, how do they propose to identify EPRDF supporters? Are they going to stop everyone and ask for a membership IDs? It does not take a savant to figure out their hidden message. And some of their idiot followers are implementing the decree indiscriminately against anyone who appears to look like from Tigrai.

I will say it again: the opposition party CUD is overtly and covertly encouraging hate. I have yet to see a public apology for their decree. Instead, CUD continues to publish a copy of their decree on their website as it is being issued and approved by their satellite offices. I heared from close friends, that the husband and wife duo with the notorious and oxymoronic Andenet TV in Seattle continues to remind their listners, on a weekly basis, that the decree to discriminate is still in effect. As a matter of fact, please take note here; if you do not join their planned protest on Friday, Feb 10, you are subject to discrimination. All I have to say here is that the husband is a fellow Gonderie, and I reserve judgment and only say he should know better. On my follow up articles, I plan to provide some advice on how we can silence these preachers of hate who are using tax payer funded public channel to spread hate, violating the rules of conduct. All we need is a recording of their broadcast. The other and the latest decree came to us from the residents of Columbus, Ohio. I guess they call themselves “Ye Quret Qen Lijoch.” It is posted on CUD official website, if you like to have the honor.

Unless the opposition raucous mouth pieces are still living in their ivory towers, the ugly faces of hate and discrimination against anyone who is from Tigrai is out there graphically displayed for all to see in the virtual world. All you have to do is navigate to some CUD supporter discussion websites.

Here down on earth, on the other hand, and not to be graphic, I will give you two real world examples of hate: two weeks ago, I went to offer my condolences to a friend whose mother has just passed away in Ethiopia. When I got there, a friend who got there before I did told me that I missed a heated discussion where several people were bashing a Gondarie. Later that evening, I called the Gonderie (a close family) and asked her about the arguments at the Leqso bet. She appeared very upset and she told me that those people were hurling insults about people of Tigrai that she had to beg them to stop. Despite her insistence, they continued their Tigrai bashing and told her that, if it was not for speaking Amarigna, Gonder would have seceded from Ethiopia as well. Finally, even though she is a Gondar and Shoa descendant, she had to lie and tell them her mother is from Tigrai and beg them to stop insulting her parents. They believed her and they stopped.

Good job our sister. You are following your fathers and mothers footstep. Who among other Ethiopians knows our Tigraian people better than us Gonderies? If not us, then who will stand vanguard for our fellow Tigrai Ethiopians in their time of need and when they are unjustly prosecuted in the CUDs court of public opinion. Even the Semien Mountains did not stop us from becoming blood brothers. We know our people and we are willing to die with them, as we are well aware that when a Tigraian loves you and respects you, it is till death do us part and they will do the same for us.
You know, that reminds me about our loving parents. It was about five years ago, when quite a few of Eritreans from Gondar were being arrested and deported from Ethiopia, Gondere's tried to resisted their arrest. When the Eritreans were staying in camp waiting for their final departure, the people of Gondar supplied them with food and drink for about two weeks. On the day of their departure, Gondere's came out crying as if they lost an immediate family member. Gondar is always on the side of the persecuted, the weak and the helpless. Both Tigrai and Ethiopia are today are at a cross road. Tigrians will tell you and you can see for yourself that they gained nothing as a result of "woyane" being in power. They have rather become scapegoat by all sides. That is why today our sister and all other Gonderes, inside and outside of the country, are sympathetic to the Tigrian cause. To a Gondere what is popular is always the truth. The truth is always Ethiopian unity and love. To the Gonderie what is at stake today is Ethiopian unity and there is no Ethiopia without Tigrai. What the Gonderie did five years ago, standing on the side of Eritreans at that dreadfully moment is their reflection of Ethiopia's past, present, and future. The same reflection is what encouraged our sister and every other Gonderie to stand against the deluge of hate today. We do not have a hidden agenda here, it is just for Ethiopian unity, and the hate mongering opposition is wrong big time.

For the life of me, I am not sure who they consider Ethiopian anymore; if not Gondar and Tigrai, then who else? You see them wrapped, just like a Mexican burrito, with Ethiopian flag and screaming at the top of their lung. A minute later, they turn around and engage in denouncing the very Ethiopians who they claimed to love and protect.

The second example is a conversation I had with a friend, and he is an Amara and he is from Addis Ababa. He told me that his mother has had a poor neighbor and a friend from Tigrai for over 30 years. Some in the neighborhood are not only discriminating against the person from Tigrai, but they are also not in speaking terms with his mother as a result of his mother’s relationship with the person from Tigrai. How would you feel if the person being shunned by all the neighborhood and being discriminated against was a Gondarie? How would you feel if this was your grandmother, mother, or sister? Ask yourself, what would you do if your poor relative was in the same situation at no fault of her own, she may even have voted for Kinijit? You see, there are real people and explosive emotions with interpretation and implementation of the malicious CUD decree, no matter how you like to spin it. Is this the kind of Ethiopia we want? These are but only two examples of the mentality the CUD decree instilled in our people. These are only two example of how the decree is destroying lives and relationships that took centuries to build.

I will close part II for now. This is getting longer than I thought. May be I should write a book. As I said, I plan to discuss the alleged pillage of Gondar, boycotting Dashen Brewery and Pepsi, cronyism in our government, Tigraians holding all position of authority, and the annexation of Humera into Kilil one. And most importantly I will expand on strategies to meet the three objectives above outlined.

God bless our country and our people.
If need be, please contact me at dnasmara1@yahoo.com

Gondar Diaspora, it ain’t a sleeping giant no more. PART III

2006-03-19T18:51:00.000-05:00

Gondar Diaspora, it ain’t a sleeping giant no more.
PART III

By Aklilu Abreha

“‘Positive Christianity,’ which the Jewish people wanted, clashed with ‘Negative Christianity’ as Jesus himself represented it!... Friends, can we risk going
with our nation without forgiveness of sins ……which, when all is said and done,
clings in repentance and faith to Jesus as the Savior of sinners? I cannot and
you cannot and our nation cannot!

Rev. Martin Niemoller.
TIME Magazine Feb 21, 1928.
A one time supporter of Hitler and later who broke with the Nazis when Hitler came to power.

Here I come again. I apologize for a belated Part III as I have been a little busy with my employment related work. I hope you had a chance to do some reflection on yourself and others as it relates to issues I discussed on my previous Part I and Part II versions of this release. I know you have, because, I have received very encouraging feedback from my esteemed readers. Some, understandable, are upset and hurl insults at me. I guess for some, it is difficult to believe they are being challenged in America, something they considered to be the opposition’s turf. I personally would have preferred them to pick on my article and offer rebuttals. They did not. Not even a single person. They became rude and they are full of empty threats. They should know that we are the Highlanders (Semienegnoch) and we do not back down when confronted. A good Ethiopian saying goes: “LeMaTeGeDLeW BaLe DeMie NeW AtBeLeW” Or “AB ZeYTiQeTLo BeAL DeMeY AyTBeLo.” I told you I can speak Tigrigna.

I don’t know if it helps, but I want to say one thing here; I have witnessed some opposition supporters tend to threaten, yell and scream. First of all, this “Emama Ethiopia” you think you are protecting belongs to all of us equally. Not an inch more to anyone. For it to continue to exist, all of us have to reach a consensus and agree to live together despite our disagreements.

Out of all people, the opposition sympathizers should not be the ones threatening to harm and destroy their opponent. How can they accuse the government of alleged killing of opposition members when the opposition themselves are telling us they would do the same if they had the means to it carry out?

Speaking of yelling and screaming; I was watching the US Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer’s interview on Straight Talk Africa the other day. The host asked her about her recent meeting with Prime Minister Zenawi and proceeded to take calls from his listeners. An Ethiopian came on-line and started yelling at the top his tongue, he begged her “PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP US. GIVE THIS TYRANT ASSYLUM IN THE US. HE HAS GOT TO GO. HE IS DESTROYING ETHIOPIA.” She laughed at him and didn’t bother to honor him by responding to his yelling. The dear ambassador has a first hand knowledge that Ethiopia is not being destroyed. Not even close. You see, in an Ethiopian culture, when you yell and scream and threaten, people tend to fear you and they would do what you wanted them to do. But in an American culture, when you yell and scream and cry, Americans think you are crazy or you are a person with behavioral problems, even when you are telling the truth, they won’t give you the time of the day. Some opposition supporters may need to change their tactics; they need to cool down, be patient and be understanding of the other person’s opinion. There is no need to threaten and yell and scream. Otherwise you will be suspect of having a hidden agenda or, worse yet, they will send you to jail and force you to attend anger management classes.

Now, my brothers, without further ado, as I promised on my first and second release of this article, I will proceed to discuss the rest of the issues I raised. Namely: the alleged pillage of Gondar, boycotting businesses including Dashen Brewery and Pepsi, cronyism in our government including Tigraians holding all position of authority, and the annexation of Humera and environs into Kilil One. And most importantly, I will expan on strategies to meet the three objectives I outlined on Part I.

· Pillaging of Gondar
As for pillaging Gondar, to begin with, I do not think we have something to be pillaged. We are as poor as, if not poorer than, the other regions of Ethiopia. But I know there is a story that alleges TPLF stole the electric generator that used to light Gondar and took it to Tigrai. I say alleged because it is hearsay; no one has been able to show me evidence that they indeed transported it to Tigrai. However, let us, for argument sake, assume that TPLF did take it. Then a reasonable question becomes: did they leave Gondar in the dark or was there an alternative and better source of Energy available for Gondar? If the answer is the first, then shame on TPLF, and they should apologize to us. But I think the answer is most likely the latter. I have witnessed that there is a significant improvement in electric power availability in Gondar coming from Bahirdar. And I speculate that the generator was removed probably because there may have been another comparable size town in another part of Ethiopia, may be even in Tigrai, which desperately needed that generator.

Whatever the motive was is in the past, I think we should thank the government for doing away with that generator. Because that generator was expensive as it worked with fuel, it was unreliable as it broke down more often, and it made a deafening noise right smack in the middle of the city. Come to think of it, my hearing may had been affected by that generator’s noise as I passed in front of it for more than six years while I was attending Fasiledes High School. But as I said before, if you look at the present-day Gondar, the people are enjoying more electric power availability and less frequent power interruptions than ever before. And in less than three years of time, more electric power is on its way after the completion a 460MW and a 300MW hydro-electricity dams over the Beless and Tekezie rivers, respectively. The amount of power that will be generated is abundant that there is even a plan to sell some of it to the Sudan. All you have to do is listen to the Lead Engineer’s interview on VOA.

Moreover, the current government has opened new industries like Dashen Brewery and has invested million to make Gondar more attractive for business and to improve the lives of our people. Allow me to add a few more examples. First, to increase drinking water availability, the government has dug-in a huge water reservoir on Angereb Wonz. Gonderies use to suffer from acute shortage of drinking water so much so that even Aklilu Seyum of Police Orchestra wrote a song about it. Remember the song: WoTaTeWa KoReDa ANGeTuWa TeGoDa WuHa TeSheKiMa SeTeHeaDe ARaDa. But now, you do not see young girls carrying a pail full of water on their heads. During the Derg days, I am sure most of you remember very well how many “ENaT AGeR TeRi” bazaars and auctions (Chereta) we had to improve water availability in Gondar. Sadly, for 17 years no improvement materialized. Second, the newly opened Gondar University at a cost of over $700 million birr is a case in point. It is located close to Aba Samuel; you would not recognize that neighborhood if you were to see it now. There is even an American village with beautiful residential houses in that area. Third, do you remember we used to walk more than 15 km from Piazza all the way Air Marefia just to see a turbo prop planes land and take off? Now most residents of Gondar fly on a 50 passenger seat Fokker to Bahirdar and Addis through a modern terminal and on a smooth asphalt runway.

My brothers, why do we tend to conveniently overlook these four gigantic investments that minuscule that old and worthless electric generator issue? Please let us be considerate and fair and let us not wallow in a propaganda designed by our enemies to antagonize us. The current government has done so much for Gondar in short eight peaceful years (not 14 years) that it shames whatever the previous two administrations did for us in over 60 years. And there is more on the way if we chose, work, and live in peace and have stability. Let me leave you with two interesting facts: Gondar has the second largest number of Taxis next to Addis Ababa, our parents now go to Arada in a Taxi, and not the bumpy horse drawn carriages (Garies) any more. And Gondar now has an oil repository and the oil from Gondar is distributed to the rest of Ethiopia.

Having presented my argument, at this point, your honor, I rest my case. Do you think I should have been a lawyer? I know, you are probably saying Johnny Cochran, the famous American lawyer, is turning in his grave on this audacious remark. I wanted to though when I came to America. But I did not because I was afraid my command of English was not good enough.

· The Decree to Boycott Dashen Brewery and Pepsi.
This is one of the most distressful issues to me. Because I know our people do not deserve this kind of economic restriction. I am sure this is an issue not for amateur politicians or a confined savant such as my self. I leave it for an economist to better articulate the consequence of boycotting businesses and stopping foreign aid. But I will tell you this; I have had discussion with the General Manager of Dashen Brewery on this issue, and I am not at liberty to discuss everything as the company may loose its competitive advantage. But there is more than what meets the eye, as the investment is headed by a group of Ethiopian investors affiliated with non-governmental organizations. The ownership of the Brewery is more complex than what the opposition would like you to believe. Also, contrary to the oppositions claim, “Woyane” need not be in the Brewery business just to pillage. If they want to, they can do that in broad day light without going through the hardship of owning and operating a Brewery. After all, that is what the oppositions claimed, is it not? You have read about “TPLF” robbing three billion dollars from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, haven’t you? I am not kidding.

I have to tell you, I befriended the manager and I was amazed when I was afforded a personal tour of the Brewery by the dear manager himself. I don’t think there is anything like it in America (we say that about anything in Gondar!). The Brewery is so futuristic that it even has built in features and additional designs to protect the environment from pollution. I also admired the dedication of the employees to make the Brewery successful. Currently, the Brewery is going through major expansion at the cost of over 100 million birr, and the investment is expected to increase the Brewer’s capacity by 150%. When all is said and done, Dashen Brewery would produce about 50% percent of the total beer consumed in Ethiopia.

I believe, the presence of the Brewery has made Gondar more attractive as a business destination and has improved the standard of living of our people. Several other industries have sprung up around Dashen Brewery as well. A sesame filtering, a plastic factory, and others I cannot remember. Roads are maintained better and the new asphalt road from Gondar to Ayer Marefia and to Addis Abeba has been completed. Now it takes you less than ten hours to reach Addis Ababa, as opposed to more than 48 hours it used to take before. At the same time, several Gonderies have taken a Beer distributor agent license, including an agent in Humera, and they are making a more than comfortable living. Other Gonderies who own trucks have secured a contract and they are delivering Dashen Beer to local and surrounding areas. After the expansion project completes and with the increased production capacity, things can only get better. I didn’t have the money, but even I thought about buying a truck or an 18 wheeler and subcontracting with the Brewery. It would have been an excellent supporting income to me and it would have helped my family as well.

There are other business opportunities to the Diaspora as well, if needed. If you want, you may want to do a research and import Dashen Beer to USA. The beer is conveniently packaged just like American six-pack beer, which would make it a whole lot easier to sell at groceries and convenient stores. Think about it. The Manager has told me that they are ready to accept and consider application for exporting Dashen Beer to Europe and North America. Can you imagine something labeled “Made in Gondar, Ethiopia” being sold here? I cannot wait. Let me know if you need their e-mail address or visit http://www.beerme.com and search for Dashen or Gondar.

My fellow Gonderies, the Brewery is ours and it is improving the lives of our people and the image of our region. Do not let misguided propaganda hurt our people. Please help to make it more successful.

On a personal note, I have to say the Manager is a highly dedicated individual. He is neither a Gonderie nor a Tigrai. He is a proud Ethiopian. He himself researched and selected the Brewery site to be in Gondar. He himself travels to remote places to select, verify, and buy quality sand for making concrete which is used to hoist the humongous fermenting barrels. One of the only two master brewers in Ethiopia, he could have made a better living somewhere else like the capital city of Ethiopia, but he chose to contribute to the development of our region. We have to show him and his co-workers our appreciation. Here is mine: Thank you very much Dashen Brewery for all your hard work to make Gondar a better place.

Before I close the Dashen Brewery issues, I have to mention something I found to be funny. I have told you I was in Ethiopia during the May 2005 elections. I stayed a week in Addis Ababa before I went to Gondar. I made it a point to always order Dashen Beer wherever I went. Some customers looked at me funny when they saw me drinking Dashen. Then I went to Gondar, and when the opposition claimed about winning it all including Gondar, I heard some EPRDF supporters refused to patron Dashen Beer on account that it is Kinijit’s beer. And as for people who looked at me funny when I ordered it before, well, they started drinking Dashen like there is no tomorrow. And now that Kinijit has lost, they called for a boycott. You see what I mean?

As for boycott of Pepsi, I do not think this needs explanation. Who are we hurting? I hope you are not saying Sheik Alamoudi, because his wealth is estimated in billions that it will take several life times to shred it all. If he were to change all his wealth into one dollar bills, his money can go around the earth’s equator many times. My friends, the boycott will only hurt the employees of Pepsi in Gondar. This is a privately held company and there is no public financial statement for me to cite. But I heard that the factory in Gondar looses money on a yearly basis. And yet, Mr. Alamoudi not only keeps all his employees, but he also gives them pay increases every year. Compare that with an American business and think of what the owner would have done if his business operates in the red year in and year out. For sure, the American business man will lay off all his employees and move the operation to China.

· Cronyism in our government
You know, this is really amazing. I never thought I will ever say “our government.” And “Prime Minister Meles.” But here it is, it took me a long time to admit and accept the current and present reality in our country. And the first step to reconciliation is recognition and admission. That is what grief counselors advise you to do first and foremost. EPRDF has been in power for over 15 years, and Ethnic based Kilil and politics is here to stay. I no longer consider that anti-Ethiopian nor do I believe Ethiopia will be disintegrated as the result this policy. I guess, that is what it took to cast the demon out of all of us. I am more convinced now in light of what we are all witnessing right here among Ethiopian Diaspora. We have lived in relative peace and harmony for almost 15 years. We just need to work hard and engage peacefully to guarantee Ethiopia’s continuous existence.

Now, let me get back to the alleged favoritism of Tigrai and its people. I think this is mostly a perception. I can see you jumping, my brother, please wait, and let me explain. We know our brothers from the north are very resourceful. Even before EPRDF, all the rich people I knew in Gondar were either Eritrean or Tigraian. Just now, I tried to count all the rich people I knew from Ambajinie all the way down to Autobus Marefia. Except Ato Irkihun and Kasie Waleligne, and Ato Negatu, I could not come up with anyone else who is/was a rich Gondar Amara. Those of you who are old enough may remember what Basha Woldu, the Eritrean and former owner of Fasil Hotel, was alleged to have said about Gondar Amara. I don’t want to repeat the exact words here. But it was something to the effect that he said he will become filthy rich while we are still standing around and talking about other people. Well, he was right, he became extremely rich.
But now that same Fasil Hotel is owned or leased by a Gonderie. We are making progress.

I have to tell you another story I heard about the resourcefulness of Tegaru. There is an old (sorry) former EPRP member I know and respect. He mentioned to me that during his guerilla fighting days, whenever they ambushed and defeated a Derg convoy, his Ganta would carry whatever loot they could and retreated back to their established camp. This tactic was very limiting to their survival especially during the rainy season. He then told me that TPLF’s tactic was different. He said that not only TPLF took the loot, but also they either drove or dismantled the trucks and took them to the Sudan. They repaired and put the trucks back in service in the Sudan and managed to generate constant revenue for their organization. I thought, if anyone is planning to fight with TPLF, this is good information to share with them so that they do it differently next time around.

Another thing is that we have to keep in mind that the Tigrai Diaspora is very active and involved in the development of their region. They do not have a lot of baggage like us. I remember a while back, some of our friends from the Bay Area in California had a project to build additional ten classrooms for Fasiledes High School students. I got involved and tried to help. Guess what, some accused us of collaborating with “Woyane” and they refused to make contributions. And this was at a time when I myself was involved protesting against EPRDF. The project took longer than we anticipated but got completed at the cost of more than $100,000 US.

No doubt, there could be individuals who have fared better financially under this government. That goes for all ethnic and persuasion of Ethiopians. That is the case in any government. Even in America, we have companies like Halliburton, a Texas company which was under the executive leadership of the current Vice President Dick Cheney, winning billions of dollars worth contracts and allegedly embezzling billions more. You also have the energy companies like the bankrupt Enron of Huston. The executives of Enron and other energy companies were personal friends and major money contributors for Bush and Cheney campaigns. The energy companies helped the Bush administration to draft a corporate favorable policy and ended up making billion of dollars.

If our opposition party was to take power tomorrow, it would be the same thing except with different individuals becoming the beneficiaries. The “charismatic” opposition leader has already told you that he has “personal connections.” and he can “cook numbers” better as a result of his consulting experience.

My friends, the democratic thing to do is that if anyone has evidence of wrong doing, then we need to file a law suit and let the legal process take its course. It is tabloid journalism and inflammatory to engage in defamation and write internet articles claiming to know inside information about EPRDF leaders and their spouses wealth. Let alone the wealth of government officials, no one has access to my financial information unless I or the Federal government gives a written authorization. I do not think what we read on the internet is factual. I could have posted it for all you know.

I have to say, however, we all hear allegations that EPRDF is pillaging Ethiopia. I think the incumbent Party is also responsible for perpetuating this pillaging perception. The incumbent Party needs to clearly let the Ethiopian people know which businesses are owned by the government of Ethiopia and which businesses are owned by TPLF or members of EPRDF organizations. We know, when EPRDF took over, the good old Derg did not transfer to it money to cover budgetary expenses. In order to keep government working, at that transitional period, we also know that EPRDF made its own money available. So it is an established fact that EPRDF came with money and other assets of its own. But now that EPRDF is a government, a governing political Party owning business raises serious questions about conflict of interest. For lack of a better example, and based on my experience, in America when one is elected into public office or when one becomes a political appointee, one immediately releases all his financial ties to business including sale of his company stocks. The release of financial interest is sometimes voluntary to avoid perception of conflict of interest and other times it is legally obligated. And a governing party owning a business is never heard of in America, at least not that I know of. All I can say is that the sooner the government takes steps to resolve this issue, either perceived or real, the better for all of us.

And as for Tigrai people holding leadership position in Gondar, I would say they are Gonderies as well. Gonder is not only for Amaras. Tigrians are Ethiopians and the resident of the Kilil. They have the constitutional right to be elected and administer Gondar. If we do not want an individual to be in that position, and if we think another Gonderie or Amara can do better, then one needs to work with the system to get elected and become a viable alternative. If you believe ANDM is full of Tigrai and does not serve the interest of Amaras, then join the Party and make it more Amara.

Did you know, in the old days, the Democratic Party in America was the most conservative and racist party. Black Americans joined the Party and became members and changed it. Our other alternative is to form a different party, though it might be a bit harder to gain a license after the Kinijit debacle, and work in our region to be elected. That is what we need to do if we want the democratic process to continue, not to start armed struggle whenever we disagree or we do not like the elected individual.

Also, we have to remember that EPRDF recruited most of its members while they were engaged in armed struggle. That is how the Party’s leadership and membership got established. That was when confidence and trust among leaders and members got cemented. And after they won and started their administration, most of us have been shunning them personally and their Party membership communally. We did not give them a chance even if they wanted to transfer some of it to us. To the contrary, we rush to give “hodam Amara” and an “ashanguliet” label when one tries to work with the incumbent government. And yet we complain that “they” control it all. A governing Party makes a political appointment based on its political agenda. And the government appoints individuals who will support and work to implement the government’s agenda. That is how it works all around the world. We need to work with the current government to get appointed and we can help it to implement its policy better for Ethiopia and for our region .

· Annexation of Humera and environs to Killil One
This is an issue that I like to make my stand clear right of the bat: I do not agree with it and it was not fair. It went against the natural demarcation line, Tekeze River.

Having established that, I want to ask the following questions. The way I discuss issues is by asking questions. We need to look at the current situation in Ethiopia and ask questions:

1. Is this a burning issue that we have to start armed struggle right away?
I think not. Right now, the very survival of us as a people and as a country is on the balance. This is something we can negotiate peacefully at a later time.

2. Is the lost voting power to Killil Three so severe that we have to start armed struggle to annul the annexation?
Well, if the severe loss is the increase of the voting power, then if we make better use of it, Kilil Three has enough voting power. As a matter of fact, Killil One and Killil Three have so much in common when it comes to political interest and future of Ethiopia that we will vote as a bloc together and become a voting force to be reckoned with in Parliament.

3. Is the loss the amount of available arable land for our people in our region?
Last time I went to Gondar, I saw many people from Gondar and Tigrai engaged in commercial farming in those areas. As a matter of fact, all you need is a starting capital to get your own land and start farming. The local administration will give you a license and as much land as you need regardless of your Kilil of residence. I have heard of a Gonderie who went there from Texas and he is farming sesame and cotton worth millions of Birr. I met one of his chauffeurs and he gave me a detailed account of the situation in Humera. Furthermore, there is an abundant of arable land still left over for all of us. I always dream of the potential of the Armachiho area. When we were trekking to the Sudan, even at that time, I felt sorry when I saw all that fertile and arable land left to grow weed and grass for millenniums while our people are starving. All we need is peace and stability and technology, there is more than enough left over to feed all of Ethiopia. I am not just saying this, I think it was two weeks ago, I was watching Awode Ethiopia TV Program. There was a three week consecutive program about Gondar and development activities. Did you get a chance to watch it? I heard one expert from Ethiopia saying that only less than 15% of the Amara Kilil’s wealth and potential has been tapped so far. You see; that is what I meant when I say you need to listen and learn about the truth as it shall set you free. No sooner will you be saying, “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I am free at last.” We have more than 85% of our wealth waiting to be exploited. I say let us get to work.

In the future, if we still want, there is a way to annul the annexation through the democratic space. I think one of the solutions is to introduce an initiative and let the residents decide by casting their vote, sort of a referendum. If that is not practical, then the representatives in Parliament should ask for redistricting. It happens all the time in State legislations here in America. That is the democratic and peaceful approach. But I do not think we should start armed struggle over this nor do I think we should reject to work with the current government as the result of this issue.

My fellow brothers and sisters, I think I have discussed as much as I can to make my case to continue the peaceful struggle, to work with our government, and to defeat the vocal minority, extreme right wing, Taliban like opposition. As I keep telling everyone, some of the opposition party leaders have lain down an extreme and dangerous path. They are no longer competing or debating the merits of a government policy. The extreme right wing seems to be heading down on a path that goes against the basic principles of democracy that is best for all of us. These are difficult times for our generation and for our country, and we need to rise to the occasion. I tell you, the stakes are so high to sit idle. The very existence of which we are, including our country Ethiopia and the safety of our people are under unprecedented threat of demise. We need to step back, understand the gravity of the situation, and decide what we need to do next to avert the impending catastrophe that will be unleashed if CUD’s (Kinijit) strategy continues unabated. The opposition appears to be insulated from reality and is bent to label any and every descent as disloyal. Do not fall for it. Do not let the extreme right wing hijacks our future and our democratic aspirations.

Whoever is in power is not important to us as long as their policy encourages economic development of Ethiopia in general and our region in particular. Everything else is secondary. Even the people of Canada and America have their respective political problems, but since they are economically developed, and the vast majority of their population lives comfortably, the political issues have become secondary, and that is why most of their population pays little or no attention to it.

Even now, as I am sitting here on my desk and writing to you late at night, people are calling me and asking me if the news about starting armed struggle in Gondar is true. So many people have called their family in Gondar to verify the authenticity of the “news.” I assure you it is false, and it is a lie, and it is propaganda.

I have told you already on my very first article on Jan 2, 2006. This is the kind of malicious propaganda what got me involved in the first place. The opposition camp is bent to cause misery and suffering against Gondar when they can. And when they cannot, it seems like they are salivating at the thought of seeing us suffer. I ask them why not they say Menz has started armed struggle. Why not Merhabete? Why not Gojjam? Why not Wollo? Why do they always talk about Gondar and armed struggle? Do they have past grudges that they still want to avenge over us? Haven’t we paid them dearly already? Hasn’t Gondar suffered enough for them to rip the benefits? I leave the answer to you for now. I will revisit it at a later time.

They are broadcasting this armed struggle nonsense on their radio, what would they benefit if the government bombs the area and tells the world that it bombed it because there was an armed resistance to the constitutional order in Gondar? And who will suffer and who will benefit if that continues for years?

In conclusion, my fellow Gonderies, I suggest to us to first focus to work within our people and our region. Though it is impossible for me to claim to know all that is good for our region, I can confidently say that my thinking and feeling resonates with most of you. Following is a detailed strategy on how we will meet these immediate objectives:

1. Defeat the extremely right wing Diaspora
Our approach must be multi dimensional. We need to educate our people at home and Diaspora not to fall prey to the extreme hardliners. We need to deprive hater’s potential recruits.
I propose the following action to meet our goal:
· Eliminate or minimize their capability to preach discrimination and hate using tax payer supported mass mediums in America. Most of the public programming channels require participants not to engage in discriminatory broadcast. We need to notify the channel director and enlist the help of human rights organizations like ACLU to stop discriminatory broadcast by the extreme right wing. Our case is solid: these broadcasters are encouraging people to discriminate against us because of our political belief and doing it using a tax payer supported public channels. Make sure to have evidence, a recording or a print out of their discriminatory broadcast. This is a good enough ground to bar their program from public airwaves. If need be, we will hire civil rights lawyers.
· Call your family in Ethiopia and tell them to engage peacefully. Inform them that if the current violence continues, you may not be able to go home and visit them again nor be able to send them your financial support just like the Derg days. Ask them to patronize all businesses and befriend all people regardless of political persuasion or ethnic heredity.
· Seek out people who you think are brainwashed by the opposition apocalyptic prophecy. Most Ethiopians are hard-working and law abiding people. The only connection they have to Ethiopia and Ethiopian issues are the weekend public broadcast programs. Engage them in conversation and tell them the reality on the ground. We need not be afraid because our motives will be suspected and our patriotism questioned. We are as much Ethiopian as the next person.
· Lobby Senators and Congressmen. We will write letters and make contributions to their election campaign and we let them know there is another and better alternative. They need to listen to a differing point of view for them to make an informed decision.
· Work against the decree issued by CUD to discriminate against people and businesses. Go out and befriend people and shop at business establishments regardless of the owner’s political persuasion or ethnic background.

2. Support opposition and administration political parties
· Write to our government and ask them to be merciful and forgiving of our little brothers and sisters. As they may be conscripted and may not fully understand the consequences of their actions.
· Write to the opposition to stop making soldiers out of our little brothers and sisters. And ask the opposition to be forgiving as well and work with the government for peace and stability.
· Provide moral support to candidates and political organization who commit to work within the system. It will take a long time to bring about change peacefully. But it is all worth it at the end as the achievements are guaranteed to be long lasting. No end justifies putting our people at risk. They have gone through enough hardship already.
· Write and ask the current government to stay on course. We need to encourage our government to works with centrist and liberal political parties who are willing to work within the system. We need to emphasize to our government that making consensus and compromises should be part of the democratic political process and we need to develop it as a culture.
· Start to contribute to a fund to help political organizations. We have heard some opposition members are piloted by the right wing Diaspora as the result of their dependency on the financial support they received. We need to liberate them and help them become free thinkers.

3. Help improve the economic condition our region
We need to realize that we should not expect the government alone to alleviate the economic condition of our region. We ourselves need to contribute to the development activities.
· Start a fund to contribute to our regions development
· Come up with projects with immediate benefits. One project I have in mind is to teach our people computer programming. The government is laying the foundation for a fiber optic network. One such project just got underway to connect Metema and the Sudan. By the time the government project is completed, we can train our people and make our region ready to become the Hyderbad or Bangalore of Africa, just like the high tech off-shoring cities in India. It is easier than you think; I know how people have done it in India.
· All we need to have is 10,000 members contributing $100 a year. We can take on a million dollar project every year. It is as easy as 123.

My fellow Gonderies, the sleeping giant, please awaken. Though not surprising, there is unprovoked attacked against Gondar by the opposition. Though they understand Gondar Diaspora’s vast power, the opposition has nevertheless developed disdain towards it. Unlike Japan’s attack against America, if we do not work to stop the opposition’s malicious propaganda and out right despise, the violence against our people and our region will be devastating that we will never recover from it. The opposition is beating war drums for us. We should reject it unconditionally. I like us to beat wedding and celebration drums, I like Serkalem to show us the beautiful Gonderie Eskista, I like Tamagne Beyene to get back to what he does best and make us laugh with his hilarious jokes, I like Shambel Belayneh to play for us with his wonderful Masinko, I like to see my people eating Choma Sega, Drinking Tej, and watching their children grow. Do not procrastinate or be complacent. Let us prevent war and stop the suffering of our people. Let us get started to alleviate poverty and disease. Our people have suffered enough. All our elders are grown very old or have passed away. We are it. We are the promise keepers.

I have already made representatives available in each of the major cities in the US and Canada. Please send me your contact information, and they will contact you once I get your contact information. Until we start our own medium of discussion and communication, let us use my
e-mail address to communicate for now.

Send me your contact information to:
dnasmara1@yahoo.com

God bless our nation. May God help us and incapacitate our enemies.

Your loving brother “Aklilu Abereha.”

Ethiopian Culture & Fashion

2006-03-15T17:26:00.000-05:00

Ethiopian Culture & Fashion
Originally uploaded by ectv.

Ethiopian Culture & Fashion
Ethiopia has a history of more than 3000 years and is home to more than 70 ethnic groups. Ethiopian fashion designer Firkirte H. Miriam presents a dazzling collection of fashions from the fascinating cultures of Ethiopia.

http://www.kulcha.com.au/fiesta_kultura/ethiopia.html

May26ECTV

2006-03-13T22:25:00.000-05:00

May26
Originally uploaded by ectv.

May 26, 2005 Washington, DC
Ethiopians Protest...(Photo By Endale G)

Negussie Armed and Dangerous or Armed because of Danger?

2006-03-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

Photo By Endale Getahun 2002

Negussie Armed and Dangerous or Armed because of Danger?
YeNegussie Guadanoch
March 09, 2006

Hmbasha.com Commentary Page

This is the million dollar question. Is Negussie Woldemariam a dangerous psychotic criminally minded individual? Should the world be fearful of Negussie who is armed and dangerous? Or, is Negussie a man armed because the world is a dangerous place and he is scared of the dangers that seem to be shadowing him day and night. Is Negussie dangerous or is he in danger?
Photo By Endale Getahun 2002

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Regular session of EPRDF approves half-year performance report

2006-03-12T00:12:00.000-05:00

Regular session of EPRDF approves half-year performance report
Addis Ababa, March 11, 2006 (WIC)- The regular session of the Council of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) has concluded this evening by approving the half-year performance and postponing its 6th Conference which was due to be held this month.
Spokesperson of the EPRDF Office told WIC that the council approved the report after evaluating the half-year performance in the spheres of peace, development, good governance and building a democratic system.

Five Ethiopian Universities Networked

2006-03-11T00:38:00.000-05:00

An education and research network program connecting five universities in the country was launched Friday.

The Jimma, Mekelle, Arba Minch, Bahir Dar and Hawassa universities have already been interconnected, while work to bring the Gondar University into the network is nearing completion.

Education Minister, Dr. Sintayehu Woldemichael said during the launching of the network, the education and research network of the universities would enable to maintain quality of education, accelerate service, expand research and share experiences and ideas among academic institutions.

Dr. Sintayehu said the use of information and communication technologies has to be given priority in order to register rapid economic development.

Dr. Sintayehu said modern networking technology would contribute its share in brining about desired changes improving higher learning institutions.

The government has done a lot of work in expediting the use of information and communication technologies, he said, adding, undergraduate and postgraduate training would be launched in the field of ICTs in the near future.

The Minister said inter-connecting secondary schools in the country has been carried out earlier through Woreda net program.

The minister said there is no alternative to making use of technology in today's world.

He said the expansion of information and communication technologies would enable to provide efficient services to the community and the private sector.

Director General of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, Tesfaye Birru on his part said the networking of the universities would enable to register rapid economic development and appropriately utilize skilled manpower and educational inputs at hand.

Tesfaye said the universities would be able to undertake joint researches and make use of laboratories and libraries in common.

He said scholars in the universities would also be able to share experiences with their counterparts in other countries.

Scholars drawn from various universities and professionals attended the network launching ceremony, at which South African experts gave orientation on network communication.

Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, Ethiopian Poet Laureate, Dies at 69

2006-03-10T15:59:00.000-05:00

By JESSE McKINLEY
Published: March 9, 2006

Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, an acclaimed Ethiopian playwright who was also the country's poet laureate, died on Feb. 25 in Manhattan, where he had lived since 1998. He was 69.

Chester Higgins Jr., 2004
Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin
His death was announced by his family.

Born in the small mountain town of Boda, near Ambo, Mr. Tsegaye became one of his country's most prominent literary figures as well as an international emissary for its culture. Considered by some to be Ethiopia's greatest playwright, Mr. Tsegaye (pronounced say-GAY) wrote more than 30 plays, most in Amharic, Ethiopia's official language, and translated many Western works into Amharic, including those of Shakespeare, Brecht and Molière. (His native tongue was Oromifa, but he was also fluent in Amharic, several other African languages and English.)

He was even more prolific as a poet, publishing countless poems on topics from war (his father had fought for his country during the Italian occupation, 1936 to 1941) to peace. Steeped in the mythology of his region, he viewed the history of Ethiopia — an ancient kingdom with a tradition of independence from colonial powers — as symbolic of a continent's pride and potential.

"In order to bring about a better future, one must learn from the past," Mr. Tsegaye said in 1993 interview with The Ethiopian Review. "You cannot build a future based on hatred because hatred is the enemy of hope."

Ayele Bekerie, the director of undergraduate programs for African studies at Cornell University, called Mr. Tsegaye "a pioneering figure" who used "the medium of poetry to advance the idea of national unity among the diverse populations of Ethiopia," a nation that Mr. Tsegaye saw as too often splintered by coups, uprisings and famine.

"To him," Mr. Bekerie said, "the stability and unity of Ethiopia lay in its respect for different cultures."

From an early age, Mr. Tsegaye excelled at school and at 13, wrote his first play, which was staged at his school and seen by Emperor Haile Selassie, the final Ethiopian monarch. (Mr. Tsegaye was buried at the national cathedral in Addis Ababa, in the same compound as the emperor.) A scholarship student, he graduated from the Blackstone School of Law in Chicago in 1959. But dramatic ambitions soon impinged on his legal career, and by 1960, he had studied experimental theater at the Royal Court Theater in London and the Comédie-Française in Paris.

From 1961 to 1971, he was the artistic director of the Ethiopian National Theater, and in the late 1970's, he founded the department of theater at Addis Ababa University, the nation's largest. In 1964, his wrote "Oda Oak Oracle," a play steeped in Ethiopian legend but written in English; it had productions in Britain and the United States, and elsewhere around the world.

A decade later, as the national theater's general manager, he was arrested and held without formal charges after the country's military junta, the Derg, banned his writing. Over the years, other regimes would also forbid the production of Mr. Tsegaye's work (18 of his 33 plays were banned at one time or another), but he eventually saw his work mounted either at home or abroad. Mr. Tsegaye traveled, spreading the word of Ethiopia's ancient and modern culture through lectures, essays and international conferences.

In 1998, Mr. Tsegaye was forced to leave Ethiopia to receive treatment for kidney disease. He is survived by his wife, Woizero Lakech Bitew, of Manhattan; his daughters, Yodit, Mahlet and Adey; and his sons, Ayenew, Estifanos and Hailu.

Despite his poor health, he was active until his death.

In 2002, the newly formed African Union adopted one of his poems as its anthem.

"All sons and daughters of Africa, flesh of the sun and flesh of the sky," the anthem reads, "Let us make Africa the tree of life."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/arts/09tsegaye.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

ECTV VIDEO SHOW #8 12/05/2002

2006-03-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

ECTV Video #8
Video By Endale Getahun

E-Passport Testing to Begin at San Francisco International Airport

2006-03-03T21:50:00.000-05:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: Media Services, 202-298-5200

E-Passport Testing to Begin at San Francisco International Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. � A live test of e-Passports, that contain contactless chips with biographic and biometric information and the readers that are capable of reading these e-Passports, begins January 15, 2006 at Terminal G at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This test is a collaborative effort between the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore that will run through April 15, 2006.

�This test provides an important opportunity to work with our international partners to further the Department of Homeland Security�s efforts to put in place an e-Passport reader solution by the fall of this year,� said Jim Williams, director of US VISIT, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program.

Participants include citizens of Australia and New Zealand who have been issued the new e-Passports, Singapore Airlines crew and officials holding trial e-Passports and U.S. diplomatic and official e-Passport holders.

The test will assess the operational impact of using new equipment and software to read and verify the information embedded in the e Passports. Participants will present their e-Passports when arriving in the United States at SFO, at Changi Airport in Singapore or at Sydney Airport in Australia.

The e-Passport contains the holder�s biographic information and a biometric identifier, in this case a digital photograph, embedded in a contactless chip set in the passport. The inspection process for those participating does not change.

The e-Passports being tested are enabled with a security feature known as Basic Access Control (BAC), which helps prevent the unauthorized reading, or �skimming,� of information from e Passports.

This is the second live test conducted between the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The goal of the live test is to gather information that can support countries around the world in their development and implementation of e-Passports that comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. It will also provide valuable information on the capability of the reader technology.

�The results of the previous test, held at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Sydney Airport, indicated that further testing would be beneficial to our development of a fully operational system,� Williams said. �So we will conduct further testing to allow for the evaluation of new technologies.�

Biometrics included in a contactless chip provides a further means by which the identity of visitors may be verified, thus preventing entry by imposters and the use of fraudulent documents. Biometrics provide border officials with a critical tool in making admissibility decisions, thus enhancing homeland security.

A DHS priority, US-VISIT enhances the security of our citizens and visitors, facilitates legitimate travel and trade, ensures the integrity of our immigration system and protects personal privacy. To date, more than 46 million visitors to the United States have been processed through US-VISIT without adversely impacting wait times, and more than 990 criminals or immigration violators have been intercepted as a result of the use of biometrics.

For more information on US VISIT, or to learn more about entry procedures, please visit the US VISIT Web site at

http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit.

(BY Endale Getahun ECTV)

ECTV VIDEO SHOW#6 12/25/2005

2006-03-02T16:31:00.000-05:00

VIDEO BY Endale Getahun VIDEO BY Endale Getahun

H.R. 4423: Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005

2006-02-28T21:07:00.000-05:00

109th Congress
H.R. 4423: Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005

HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS --Feb 28, 2006..-- Africa, Global Human Rights and
International Operations Subcommittee holds a markup of H.R.3189, the
"Central Asia Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2005"; H.R.4423, the
Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005"; H.Con.Res.320, calling on the
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately and
unconditionally release Dr. Pham Hong Son and other political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience; and H.Res.578, concerning the Government of
Romania's ban on intercountry adoptions and the welfare of orphaned or
abandoned children in Romania. 2172 Rayburn
ECTV

Ethiopian Airlines to Establish a Consortium

2006-02-27T23:49:00.000-05:00

Ethiopian to Establish a Consortium

The Reporter (Addis Ababa)
NEWS
February 25, 2006
Posted to the web February 27, 2006

By Kaleyesus Bekele

The Ethiopian Airlines is to establish a consortium company with international hotel management companies that would take over the Ghion Hotels chain found in the historical route in northern Ethiopia.

Beyene G. Meskel, director general of the Privatization and Public Enterprises Supervising Agency, told The Reporter that Ethiopian and two international companies based in South Africa and the UK proposed to take over and manage the Ghion hotel chain in the historical towns in northern Ethiopia. Beyene said after evaluating the request the agency had instructed the companies to establish a consortium company and to come up with a proposal. "Ethiopian will have a stake in the consortium," he added. Beyene further said that the international companies had a long experience in managing hotels. "I don't want to disclose the names of the companies because the establishment of the consortium is not finalized."

Girma Wake, Ethiopian CEO, previously said that tourists were complaining about the poor services of the hotels in north Ethiopia. Girma said his company wanted to take over the hotels. "If we get the permission from the government we would bring an international company which has a commendable reputation in managing hotels. And we would render excellent service to customers," he added.

Mystery of the Nile

2006-02-26T20:15:00.000-05:00

Mystery of the Nile

MYSTERY OF THE NILE captures the epic story of the team that became the first ever to navigate the waters of the Blue Nile from source to sea. But how is it that this “last of the great firsts” took so long to finally be accomplished?

It hasn’t been for lack of trying. In fact, the Blue Nile has been an obsession that has driven many explorers – yet never with successful results. The massive Ethiopian rapids often stymied those without modern, world-class whitewater skills; the ever-shifting political situation often left explorers exposed to flying bullets, off-limits borders and insurmountable dangers; and numerous Blue Nile expeditions were spooked by the “terrible trio” of exploring: accidents, injuries and fatalities. ......

http://www.nilefilm.com/p_history.htm

Daily Press Briefings U.S. Department of State (Ethiopia)

2006-02-26T19:41:00.000-05:00

QUESTION: Adam, a group of more than 80 dissident figures in Ethiopia go on trial tomorrow, accused of some -- maybe some capital offenses. I wonder is this something, a trial, the United States will observe?

Daily Press Briefings

MR. ERELI: Oh, yeah. You can bet on it.

QUESTION: Okay. Okay. And Amnesty International says they should really all be released. Is that something you concur with?

MR. ERELI: Well, the United States, since the crackdown in November, I think has been very outspoken in its support for a democracy in Ethiopia, in its support for human rights and its support for the respect of the civil and political rights of the Ethiopian people. We've seen a number of developments which cause us concern. On the one hand, we've seen violent protests by the opposition which we've condemned in which we've said are wrong and shouldn't happen. On the other hand, we've seen actions by the government which are troubling and which we've called on the government to redress, particularly widespread arrests of students, violence against peaceful demonstrators, suppression of the rights of the free media, and specifically with regard to those arrests that we have said three things. One, if you're going to charge them, charge them and proceed to transparent application of justice. That includes giving them a right to counsel and access to lawyers and visits by their family.

Number two, if you're going to -- if you're not going to charge them, release them because there are a lot of people in jail without charge who have been there for a long time in difficult conditions. So if you're not going to charge them, release them.

And number three, respect the political rights and the human rights and civil rights of Ethiopians, particularly with regard to freedom of assembly, with regard to access to the media and with regard to freedom of the media.

So finally, with respect to the specific question about these 80, they fall into the first group. Okay, they've been charged. It's up to the Ethiopian justice to be applied. We call for the application of the rule of law fairly, transparently, with -- you know, with full consideration given to the needs and rights of those who are accused.

Ethiopia first at Winter Olympics

2006-02-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

Robel Teklemariam said he hopes his countrymen's long-distance records on the track will translate into success in the cross-country skiing events.

Teklemariam, who left Ethiopia as a child, says without the financial help of Ethiopians abroad, he would not have made it to February's games in Italy.

ፓርላማ የገቡ የቅንጅት አባላት የአመራሮቻቸው የዋስ መብት እንዲጠበቅ እንደሚታገሉ ገለፁ

2006-02-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

Photo By Endale Getahun
The Ethiopian News Headlines is recovering from a server failure and will be back on line shortly. In the mean time we invite you to visit our friends who continue to provide our news thru our RSS feed.

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ፓርላማ የገቡ የቅንጅት አባላት የአመራሮቻቸው የዋስ መብት እንዲጠበቅ እንደሚታገሉ ገለፁ

ፓርላማ የገቡ የቅንጅት ለአንድነትና ለዴሞክራሲ አባላት የታሰሩ የፓርቲው አመራር አባላትን የዋስ መብት ለማስጠበቅ እንደሚታገሉ ገለፁ። አባላቱ ከአፈ ጉባኤው ጋር የሚገናኙ ተጠሪዎቻቸውን ሰኞ እለት ባደረጉት ስብሰባ መርጠዋል።

የአባላቱ ተወካዮች አቶ ተመስገን ዘውዴ፣ አቶ አባይ አበበ፣ አቶ እንዳልካቸው ሞላ እና አቶ ሳምሶን ወ/ዮሐንስ ለጋዜጠኞች እንደገለጹት የቅንጅቱ አመራሮች በህገ መንግስቱ መሰረት የዋስትና መብታቸውን እንዲጠበቅላቸው እንደሚታገሉ ገልፀዋል።

ይህንንም ጥያቄያቸውን ለሚመለከተው የመንግስት ክፍል እንደሚያቀርቡ የገለፁት አባላቱ የድርጅቱን ህልውና ለመታደግ ህገመንግስቱና የአገሪቱ ሕጎች በሚፈቅዱት መሰረት እንደሚንቀሳቀሱ አስረድተዋል።

የቅንጅቱ አመራሮች ፓርላማ እንደማይገቡ ከዚህ ቀደም የገለጹ መሆናቸውን በመጥቀስ እናንተ ከድርጅታችሁ ውሳኔ ውጭ እንዴት ፓርላማ ልትገቡ ቻላችሁ በሚል ላቀረብንላቸው ጥያቄ «ቅንጅት አንድም ቀን ፓርላማ አልገባም ብሎ አያውቅም» በማለት አስተባብለዋል።

«ቅንጅት እንደ ድርጅት አሁንም አለ ለማለት ይቻላል?» በሚል ለቀረበላቸው ጥያቄም ጠ/ሚ/ር መለስም ሆነ ሌሎች የኢሕአዴግ ፓርቲ አባላት የመሰላቸውን መግለጫ ሊሰጡ ይችላሉ። ነገር ግን የአንድን ድርጅት ሕጋዊነት የሚገልፀው የህግ ስርዓቱ ነው ብለዋል።

የፓርላማ አባላቱ አያይዘውም ወደ ፓርላማው የገባነውም እንደ ቅንጅት ተመዝግበን ነው። በቀጣይም የድርጅቱን ፕሮግራም እናስፈፅማለን። ከቅንጅቱ ጋር ምንም ዓይነት ልዩነት የለንም» ብለዋል።

ከሪፖርተር ታኅሣሥ 12 ቀን 1998

ሰለ እዚህ ዜና ዋርካ ስር በአማርኛ ይወያዩ !

Africa's new guard looking like the discredited old one

2006-02-26T08:22:00.000-05:00

Africa's new guard looking like the discredited old one

Reformers stay in power by using the undemocratic ways of their predecessors

By EDMUND SANDERS
Los Angeles Times

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA - Like the elephants that roam the East African savannas, this region's Big Men once looked to be an endangered species.

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Some were toppled by coup d'etats, others by democratic revolutions or international pressure.

Their replacements, mostly young former guerrillas who spoke of sweeping reforms, were heralded by President Clinton and other Western leaders as the "new generation" of African statesmen.

International aid and investment began flooding into the region.

But to the disappointment of many, this new guard is beginning to parrot some of the undemocratic behavior of the dictators they replaced.

Resulting tensions with the West are threatening efforts to combat poverty and build strategic partners against terrorism.

Darlings no more

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, a one-time darling of the West, is being blamed for a bloody post-election crackdown last year in which police shot to death dozens of students and imprisoned thousands more protesters, including elected opposition leaders.

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who once declared that no African leader should serve more than 10 years, is entering his 20th.

And after ramming through a constitutional amendment, he was expected to win another five-year term in last week's election.

Not as brutal

Kenya's Mwai Kibaki swept into office in 2002 on a promise to wipe out corruption but is now embroiled in a contract scandal and cover-up.

"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 insist they are not 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 and squandered their countries' wealth.

The current leaders say they haven't changed course, blaming overbearing policies by international donors for their woes.

In an interview, Meles insisted that his only fault was refusing to ride the "roller coaster" of Western opinion. "I have no regrets," he said.

Meles took control of Ethiopia in 1991 when his rebel army toppled Mengistu's Marxist government. Meles now says he is "likely" to step down in 2010 after about 20 years in power.

Britain's international development chief last month redirected $88 million in financial assistance away from Meles' ruling party.

Opposition not tolerated

Uganda was once at the forefront of the so-called African "renaissance." Presidents Clinton and Bush each visited Museveni, praising his leadership in combating AIDS.

But when huge crowds welcomed opposition leader Kizza Besigye home from exile last fall, Museveni had him arrested for treason and rape.

Uganda's High Court was poised to release Besigye in November when a heavily armed intelligence commando force, dubbed "Black Mamba," stormed the court grounds.

Now, Uganda, which receives nearly half its funding from international donors, faces severe cuts.

Great Britain, Norway, Ireland and Netherlands have scaled back or diverted more than $50 million in aid.

Museveni complained about the "paternalistic arrangement of the so-called donor-beggar relationship" and declared he'd rather do without international funds.

MIDROC's revenue increases by 86 percent

2006-02-26T02:11:00.000-05:00

The MIDROC Technology Group on Tuesday announced that its eleven companies registered a 86 percent growth in annual revenue. Dr Arega Yirdaw, Chief Executive Officer, said that the investment groups' revenue, which was 373 million birr in 2002, increased to 693 million in 2005.

Dr Arega said the number of companies administered by the Chief Executive Bureau increased from five to eleven. The CEO said the number of employees which was 3,875 in 2002 reached 5,108 last year, adding that the employees were able to support some 20,000 family members.

"All our companies registered growth in revenue, profit, number of employees and kinds of production and services. Most of our companies have become profitable," Dr. Arega said.

"This would not have been realized if it was not for the dedication and support of our esteemed customers. The investment group, which celebrated customers day last Tuesday, awarded trophies to its major customers.

MIDROC Gold, ELFORA, KOSPI, MBI, HUDA Real Estate and Trans National Airways are among the list of companies under the MIDROC Technology Group. The group last Tuesday inaugurated a department store in Bisrate Gebreil locality in Addis Ababa. The store, run by Addis Home Depot, one of the eleven companies, sells building construction materials. Dr. Arega said the store was a one-stop shopping center where customers could buy all the necessary construction materials at reasonable prices.

He said the materials were produced by the MIDROC sister companies and other local manufacturers. He told the invited guests and members of the media that the Addis Home Depot would open other stores in Addis Ababa and in major regional towns. The company was established with an initial capital of 10 million birr two years ago.

Sheik Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, chairman and owner of MIDROC Ethiopia, the single largest investment group in Ethiopia, said that he and his colleagues always wanted to introduce modern trading systems in Ethiopia.

"We want to emulate the marketing strategies we saw in other countries. Our objective is not to snatch away the market share of the local traders. We want to work together with my countrymen," Sheik Al-Amoudi said. MIDROC Ethiopia, which owns over 30 companies, employees over 20,000 people. Al-Amoudi, the Ethio-Saudi business tycoon, has invested over 1.5 billion dollars in Ethiopia, it was learnt.

By Kaleyesus Bekele

TPLF's 31st anniversary celebrated

2006-02-26T01:31:00.000-05:00

Addis Ababa, 2/25/2006

The 31st anniversary of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) was celebrated in various kebeles of the Arada Sub-city here in the capital.

During the celebration which kebeles 06, 07 and 08 of the Sub-city organized on Saturday a text recounting the struggle TPLF in collaboration with ally parties waged since 1967 E.C for the cause of democracy was presented.

Public relations head of kebele 06, Simegn Kebede who read out the text said the ongoing development endeavors are the fruits of the struggle the people of Tigray waged amidst complicated problems.

She said TPLF in cooperation with all Ethiopians is deploying efforts to foster the ongoing democratization and development efforts.

Simegn called on the public to condemn the anti-peace efforts.

The head said the 31st TPLF anniversary is unique in that it is being celebrated in the aftermath of the May democratic elections.

The Amhara Nationals Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO) and the Southern Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM) pledged to stand on the side of TPLF as they said the cause of TPLF is instrumental to enable the country get rid of socio-economic and political problems.

Source: ENA

Some 396 farmers training centers readied in north Gonder Zone

2006-02-26T01:15:00.000-05:00

Gonder, 2/25/2006

The North Gonder zone agriculture and rural development department in Amhara State said preparations were underway to enable 396 farmers training centers go operational.

Natural resource development team leader with the department Abebe Alemu told ENA recently the farmers training centers constructed in 17 woredas of the zone with an outlay of 22 million Birr in participation with the government and the public diromg the past two years would be operational in the coming month.

Abebe said equipping the centers with necessary material, assigning development agents, as well as recruiting trainee farmers is currently underway.

He said the training centers have a plan to train some 10,000 farmers this year, adding that the training would be given based on the educational curriculum designed at the regional level.

The centers would offer training in the fields of modern crop production, animal husbandry, forestry, horticulture development, modern irrigation technology when they go operational, he said.

He said the training centers, constructed in nearby areas, would create conducive environment to conduct the training with out irregularities on the farming and social activities of the farmers.

The office indicated that some 600,000 family head farmers in the zone have been engaged in farming and integrated agriculture activities.

Source: ENA

Ethiopia, ADB sign 64.32 million USD grant agreement

2006-02-26T01:10:00.000-05:00

Addis Ababa, 2/25/2006

Ethiopia and the African Development Bank (ADB) signed a 64.32 million USD grant agreement here on Saturday to finance rural water supply and sanitation programs in Ethiopia.

As stipulated in the agreement, the grant will be used to finance activities that include, among others, provision of new and rehabilitation of existing water supply services, the construction of latrines for schools, health centers, rural water supply and sanitation as well as communal latrines in highly populated areas.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED), Sufian Ahmed and ADB President, Donald Kaberuka signed the agreement.

Sufian said on the occasion that ADB has shown partnership to Ethiopia in the implementation of development projects.

The Minister said the prevailing good relations between Ethiopia and the Bank would continue strengthened in the future.

Kaberuka on his part said the rural water supply and sanitation program will improve access to water and sanitation for about 2.5 million rural people.

The president said the focus on rural water supply and sanitation is appropriate, and reflects the commitment of both the government of Ethiopia and the Bank to poverty reduction.

The program is part of the Bank's Rural Water supply Initiative and will assist the government to meet the water and sanitation MDG, Kaberuka said.

Source: ENA

CUD leaders, others refuse to enter plea

2006-02-26T00:39:00.000-05:00

Leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists of the "free press" members of the civil society and others, who are facing charges of treason and genocide, among others, declined to enter a plea at their trial on Thursday.

Though most of the defendants refused to plead either guilty or not guilty and preferred to keep silent, the court, the Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court, took their silence as a plea for not guilty referring to the country's criminal procedure code.

Only Bedru Adem, CUD member and elected member of parliament, and three members of civil society, spoke out and pleaded not guilty. "I am a prisoner of conscience, not a criminal," Bedru said.

The attorney for the three members of the civil society said the charges against his clients were general and did not specify the time and place any of the commission of the crimes they were charged with.

The court decided to try in absentia 36 defendants who had been summoned by it as they had failed to appear on the trial data. These defendants are mainly based in USA and Europe and have recently issued statements reaffirming their rejection to be tried in an Ethiopian court.

The question of penal majority of one of the defendants, who had argued that he was not fit to stand trial since he was only 13, was settled in favor of the prosecutor. The court said the medical certificate certifying the teenager's real age was true, adding that it could look into the case.

By a Staff Reporter

Trade balance deficit increases to 25% of GDP

2006-02-26T00:36:00.000-05:00

The country's overall trade balance deficit has increased by 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and reached 25% of GDP in 2003/04. The previous year, it had registed a deficit of 21% of GDP. Both the export and import has grew, but the value of exports was offset by even larger growth in imports, which is the cause of a negative trade balance. The value of exports has grown by 7.6% of GDP whereas that of imports increased by 32.6%.

The fourth annual report on the Ethiopian economy, prepared by the Ethiopian Economic Association (EEA), was launched this week. According to Dr. Assefa Admassie, director of EEA, the export sector has shown an improvement and both the value of coffee and non-coffee exports grew by 35.8 and 21.8% respectively.

Dr. Assefa said that the overall performance of the macro economy, as measured by GDP growth, during the fiscal year 2003/04, was one of the better years mainly due to favourable weather conditions. But due to high population growth rate, the growth rate of GDP has not been high enough to improve the standard of living of the population. As a result, GDP per capita grew by only 8.7% during the year 2003/04.

Population grew by three percent, which makes the growth rate of GDP not to be high enough to improve the standard of living of the population. Due to this, 0.1% of general GDP was registered, which is too small for a change for an economy that is at a subsistence level.

In addition, due to the variability in the growth rates of GDP, the gains made in good years tend to be lost in bad years. For instance, the losses of personal income in agriculture registered in 2002/03 were offset by the gains in 2003/04. Due to such swings in agricultural output the net effect was an average reduction of 1.2% in agriculture per capita.

As indicated in the report, agriculture contributes the largest share to total outputs. But this sector is vulnerable to vagaries of nature which made no appreciation change to the economy. Accordingly, the industry, distributive services, and other services recorded growth rates of 6.9, 7.6 and 6.3% respectively.

Ethiopian Community Television

2006-01-27T12:41:00.000-05:00