Ethiopia turns its critics into untouchables

ZOE ALSOP AND NICK WADHAMS

Special to The Globe and Mail

July 27, 2007

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA -- Dressed in a black Adidas track suit and seated amid a comfortable clutter of term papers and political science tomes in his modest office at Addis Ababa University, Prof. Merera Gudina hardly looks like a menace. But, ever since he was elected to parliament two years ago, people have been avoiding him.

There was, for example, the time that local mechanics were too terrified to repair his car when it broke down on the way back from his mother's funeral east of Addis.

THEY ARE OUT

Breaking News

USA - (5:00 AM EST) KIL source announced Kinijit leaders have been released at last. The source said, thousands of people are at kality right now. When Kinijit leaders are being taken from Kaliti by mini-buses, people were flashing the V sign and the traditional 'Eleleta' was heard. The source assumed kinijit leaders have been taken to Sheraton Addis where press conference is taking place.

Ethiopia needs to take seriously democracy and human rights

Editorial, The Wall Street Journal

July 17, 2007 — Let’s play name-that-state. After the EU declared its 2005 elections flawed, this country’s troops killed 193 protestors and arrested 20,000 more. Last week, 42 of the accused were convicted of inciting violence to overthrow the state (down from an original charge of genocide and treason). Thirty-five were condemned to life in prison and forbidden to vote on Monday. Some of the accused were journalists, so their publishing houses were fined and closed.

Did you guess Ethiopia? Probably not, since this African state has often been held up as a pillar of good governance on a troubled continent. In just over a decade, Ethiopia went from military rule to a parliamentary system. But this democracy is on paper only.

The convictions are not an isolated incident, nor are the 42 defendants just any opposition figures. They include the elected mayor of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, a former Harvard scholar and a former U.N. envoy. They’ve been condemned to the same fate, life in prison, as ousted military strongman Mengistu Hailee Mariam, who is held responsible for the murder of 150,000 academics and university students in two decades in power.

Given the government’s recent record, it’s odd to say the least to see Prime Minister Meles Zenawi advise Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa in 2005 on the future of the continent. Or to hear that the Bush Administration considers Mr. Meles a "staunch ally" in the war on terror for searching out al Qaeda suspects during Ethiopia’s messy military intervention in neighboring Somalia and makes the country a priority recipient of U.S. assistance. (The world last year sent $1.6 billion.)

America needs to work with all kinds of regimes and military cooperation doesn’t always have to be tied to democratic progress. But if Ethiopia wants to become a real ally of the U.S., possibly playing host to the new African Command, it needs to take seriously democracy and human rights.

Human Rights in Ethiopia: Another Casualty of the "War on Terror"?

An Ethiopian court sentenced 35 opposition politicians and activists to life in prison on Monday, AP reports. The prosecution had asked for the death penalty against the defendants, who included Ethiopia's top opposition leaders.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment include the leader of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Hailu Shawel; Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa; former Harvard scholar Mesfin Woldemariam; and former U.N. special envoy and former Norfolk State University professor, Yacob Hailemariam.

Human rights groups condemned the trial as an attempt to silence government critics, and opposition leaders have claimed it was politically motivated.

Where is the U.S. State Department in all of this? Absent without leave. It seems that since Ethiopia is doing the State Department's bidding in Somalia, the U.S. is turning a blind eye to the Ethiopian government's crackdown on dissent. That's what some of the relatives of the prisoners believe. The Washington Post reported on June 12:

The prisoners' families and others have accused the U.S. government of softening criticism of Ethiopia's human rights record in light of the country's recent military intervention to oust a radical Islamic movement in Somalia. The U.S. government supported that intervention.

"The U.S. government will not pressure the government here because they have an interest in Somalia," said a relative of one of the prisoners, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being harassed by Ethiopian security forces. "It really is a big disappointment."

There is an effort underway in Congress to reform U.S. policy towards Ethiopia to put concern for human rights back on the table. H.R.2003, introduced by Representative Donald Payne, now has 77 sponsors. It would encourage democratic reforms in Ethiopia, beginning with the release of political prisoners. Human rights groups are pressing Congress to take action on the bill before the summer recess.

Unfortunately, the crackdown in Ethiopia hasn't received a lot of attention in the U.S. press. Your Representative needs to hear from you.
...
Take action here.

Breaking news: Court sentences CUD leaders to life imprisonment

Monday, July 16, 2007

Breaking news: Court sentences CUD leaders to life imprisonment

The Federal High Court today sentenced all CUD leaders who were convicted of outrage against the constitution to life imprisonment. The other nine who weren't in CUD leadership got sentences ranging form 1 year and six months to 18 years imprisonment.

The court also decided to take away the political rights of CUD leaders to elect and be elected. It decided that the judicial interdiction is absolute. It means the interdiction is applicable throughout their life time.

Ethiopians in Transformation: Becoming People of Action!

(Part I of a report on the Ethiopian movement for peace, justice and freedom in Europe)
July 14, 2007.
“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy
honors God.”
Proverbs 14:31
=====================
In May, I received an invitation from Ana Gomes, the EU Chief Election Observer of the 2005 Ethiopian
National Election to speak at the 13th Session of the African-Caribbean-Pacific- European Union (ACPEU)
Joint Parliamentarian Assembly that would be held in Wiesbaden, Germany, from June 25 to 28.
Ana Gomes told me that it would be a very strategic meeting where approximately 200 parliamentarians
from Africa, the Caribbean Islands, the Pacific Islands and from the European Union would be
represented. She invited me to speak to the group at a general session about human rights and injustice in
Ethiopia, what she believed would be an excellent opportunity because most of the participants would be
coming from Africa. She indicated that the Ethiopian Speaker of the House of Parliament, Tesohme Toga
would be there, along with some others from 179 countries, including the Ethiopian Ambassador to the
European Union, Berhane G. Kirstos.
She said that even though she could speak about the crisis of democracy and human rights problems in
Ethiopia herself, it would have more impact for someone else to address them as an Ethiopian. The
previous year, she explained, someone from Zimbabwe had addressed the assembly regarding the human
rights abuses in that country.
The main topics to be covered at the assembly would include the Millennium Development goals, good
governance, transparency and accountability in relation to the exploitation of natural resources in African,
Caribbean and Pacific countries and human rights and conflicts—such as in Darfur. Other topics would
include HIV, property eradication, the migration of the skilled workers from their respective native
countries and its impact on the country’s national development.
I told her I would come if we could find funding for the travel expenses. We then started searching for
funding. We had sent a letter and word out to the Ethiopian community, seeking funds for the European
trip. The letter was even posted on some of the major websites, such as Ethio-media, but the response was
very disappointing as it resulted in less than $600 being given. However, Ana kept calling and urging me
to come. After a number of Ethiopians in Europe had attempted to find funding without success and when
the meeting was only a few days away, it appeared there was no real prospect of going. In order to get to
the meeting on time, I would have to leave no later than June 23rd. However, by June 22nd, it was obvious
that there was no chance of going, but little did I know, God had a different plan!

Threatened Execution of Ethiopian Opposition Should be Opposed

Washington, D.C.

July 11, 2007

Efforts by the Ethiopian government to sentence 38 Ethiopian opposition activists to death are anathema to democracy and should be opposed by the United States and other democracies in the African Union and around the world, Freedom House said today.

The 38 politicians and activists were convicted last month of “breaching the constitution” during a period of unrest following disputed elections in 2005. They will be formally sentenced next week, and the prosecutor of the case has now called for their execution. Included among the 38 are leaders of the main opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, as well as several members of parliament and the mayor of Addis Ababa, Mr. Berhanu Negga.

“Any government that suggests sentencing its opposition leaders to death in response to legitimate demonstrations of dissent cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, call itself a democracy,” said Paula Schriefer, director of advocacy of Freedom House. “Ethiopia, the seat of the African Union, must demonstrate respect for the rule of law by allowing full freedom of expression and association for members of the political opposition, as well as other citizens.”

While Ethiopian leaders have presented the country as an emerging democracy in an otherwise tumultuous region, the government has been sharply criticized for its response to the protests following the 2005 elections. Scores of civilians aligned with the opposition were killed and thousands more were arrested. The U.S. government has been muted in its criticism of Ethiopia, however, and considers the country an ally in the war on terror.

“The U.S. government clearly needs allies Horn of Africa, but as with all alliances, there is room for criticism,” said Jennifer Windsor, executive director of Freedom House. “The Bush administration’s engagement with Ethiopia should enable it to persuade the Meles government to refrain from such a heinous act of retribution.”

In the 2007 version of Freedom in the World, Freedom House’s annual survey of political rights and civil liberties, Ethiopia was ranked Partly Free. The country received a rating of 5 (on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the lowest) for political rights and a 5 for civil liberties, and was given a downward trend arrow for the government’s repression of opposition protests.

The report also notes that freedom of association in Ethiopia is very limited, and most of the country’s NGOs are reluctant to advocate for policies that may bring them into conflict with the government. Similarly, the press environment is extremely restricted. Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press 2007 survey notes that “the broader political crackdown which began in November 2005 continued to have extremely negative implications for the media” in 2006.

Freedom House, an independent nongovernmental organization that supports the expression of freedom around the world, has monitored political rights and civil liberties in Ethiopia since 1972.

Ethiopians in the Ogaden Need Our Help—Let Us Stand United Against the Terrorism of Our People!

By Mr. Obang O. Metho / July 10, 2007 As most Ethiopians come out with outrage to the guilty verdict against the Opposition leaders and other political prisoners, we should come out with outrage to the killing going on in the Ogaden against our fellow Ethiopians living there.

Human Rights Watch and a few others in the international media, like Jeffrey Gettleman of the New York Times, have reported on the numbers of women and children being killed daily by the EPRDF-controlled military. Although the EPRDF Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyoum Mesfin, used the website Ethio-media—blocked within Ethiopia by his own administration—to berate Gettleman’s report as being outrageously false, we know differently! Lies, in the company of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, are nothing new for this regime!

In that article that appeared on the front page of the Times, Gettleman reported that in addition to women, children and elders being killed, any men—even elders and the young—are seen as a threat. As a result, numbers of them are being killed or arrested for only “looking suspicious.” Villages and homes are being burned and property is being destroyed. Their cattle—the main life support of these nomadic people—are being killed, creating certain suffering and hardship that has led to a humanitarian crisis where many other innocent Ethiopians will die. Now, many thousands are displaced, without food and basic necessities, and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces are preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching them.

Justifying their actions because of the recent attack on the Chinese oil workers by the ONLF, the EPRDF-controlled military, with all their weapons and equipment, are now intensifying their attacks on helpless, unarmed and vulnerable people. They seem not to care that they are merely targeting proxy victims rather than those in the ONLF. Do not think that such killing of innocent civilians was not going on preceding the attack on the Chinese. Instead, this aggression against the Ogadenis by the EPRDF has been going on for 17 years, but with much greater intensity in the last months and year since the invasion of Somalia and the discovery of oil and petroleum in their region.

It is not surprising that the ONLF resistance movement has taken more serious steps in an attempt to stop the destruction of their people. In fact, some might make the case that the ONLF is acting in self-defense against government forces that are destroying them in order to gain access to their natural resources. They are not alone. During the Meles regime, many insurgency and separatist groups have arisen in response to the brutal oppression by the current regime of the EPRDF.

We strongly condemn this widespread killing, rape, torture, arbitrary detention and destruction of property that the EPRDF-led military troops are perpetrating against Ethiopians in the Ogaden region of our country. It is beginning to look like an ethnic cleansing. We condemn any violence against civilians by any groups, but what is shocking is the hypocrisy of the EPRDF who condemns the ONLF while committing worse atrocities itself! They have asked the US State Department to add the ONLF to the list of terrorist international organizations. Does the same apply to them?
Some day they may be standing in International Criminal Court for charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Therefore, we ask, on what moral authority can the EPRDF stand in accusation of others over the same terrorism that they are ruthlessly perpetrating against Ethiopian citizens?

Remembering back to 2003 in the Gambella region, the situation is nearly identical to what happened to the Anuak. At that time, the human rights abuses against the Anuak started simultaneously with the oil drilling activities of the Chinese oil company, Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB). In a well-calculated plan, EPRDF-controlled military troops and militia groups massacred Anuak leaders who had spoken against being excluded from the oil development plans in their region. This followed many years of federal control over the affairs of the Gambella region.

Puzzled

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Puzzled

(by Ethio-Zagol)
Having read Sean McCormack's interview, I am asking linguistic wizards, analytical philosophers or even lawyers to tell me what the following really means:

We call on the Ethiopian government and High Court to take action in making a
final sentencing determination, which is consistent with the greater objectives
of bolstering the rule of law and promoting much-needed reconciliation.

Is there a possibility that punishment of "treasonous criminals" by death is consistent with the two objectives read together? If there is a theoretical possibility that the objectives of bolstering the rule of law and promoting reconciliation which is much needed- not necessary- read together are consistent with the punishment of "treasonous criminals" by death, I am wondering whether there is a possibility that the US may support, or at least not oppose, the decision of the high court, and then ultimately the Ethiopian government, if a death sentence is made?

Comment....Until Yammamoto can go in and out his office peacefully, the US will never be interested in justice or human rights in Ethiopia. In short, they are encouraging violence instead peaceful struggle.

Zenawi’s “Report to the House of People’s Representatives

An Analysis and Commentary
Alemayehu G. Mariam 7/2/2007

A Note of Full Disclosure to the Reader:

This analysis/commentary is written at the behest of numerous individuals and
organizations who wanted to hear my views on Zenawi’s recent speech presented in the
form of a “report” to his “House of People’s Representatives”1.
In the past, I have deferred to the commentary and scrutiny of independent local
media sources and opposition political groups for enlightenment on Zenawi’s
shenanigans. I reluctantly agreed to comment on this “report” now for two reasons. First,
since independent journalists and opposition leaders in Ethiopia -- that is, the voice of the
people -- remain muzzled in jails and prisons, I thought it my moral duty to “stand in” and
stand up for them, and let the world know that though they may be in the belly of Zenawi’s
dungeons, THEY ARE NEITHER ALONE NOR VOICELESS! WE ARE STANDING
BY THEM!
Second, I believe there will be wide-ranging conversation on freedom, democracy
and human rights within and without Ethiopia following the release of the prisoners of
conscience. I am acutely aware of the gamesmanship surrounding their release, and even if
they are not released, the GAME IS OVER for Zenawi. Beyond that, I believe it is
necessary to challenge Zenawi not only for his actions and omissions, but also for his ideas
and vision, if he indeed he has any, for Ethiopia. And so, here is my analysis and
commentary…
Zenawi’s Mantra: Peace, Development and Good Governance
The central themes in Zenawi’s report to the “House” consist of the trilogy of
clichés he has been tediously harping about for the last decade and half: peace,
development and good governance. The “report” is a self-graded, self-serving statement
intended to chronicle his achievements on these issues over the past year, and rationalize
the “government’s action plans” and “implementation of strategies for peace, development
and good governance.”
Let me say at the outset that this report-cum-speech is one of the most desultory and
confusing statements I have ever read by anyone purporting to be a political leader. The
“report” is full of platitudes about peace. It is unimaginative about development; and it
lacks fresh ideas about good governance.

PRESS LINK FOR MORE

ETHIOPIA-TREND AND CONFLICT MARCH-APRIL 2007

PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE FROM SWISS PEACE. AN ORGANIZATION MONITORING TROUBLED NATIONS LIKE ETHIOPIA. IT IS A GOOD ASSESSMENT TO READ FOR MOST WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA.

No negotiation with Kaliti prisoners" - Meles

Thursday, June 28, 2007

"No negotiation with Kaliti prisoners" - Meles

PM says prisoners will be sentenced

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says there has been no negotiation with the imprisoned CUD leaders. "Negotiation can only be made with two free persons. There can be no negotiation between an organ which has imprisoned the CUD members because they broke the law, and the prisoners on the respect for the rule of law, " Meles Zenawi said in Parliament today.
The Prime Minister was adamant that the issue of clemency can't be discussed in parliament before the court delivers its sentence on the prisoners as it affects the decision of the court.

EZ's view:
From Meles' statement, there is no possibility that the prisoners will be released before the sentencing which will either be a rigorous imprisonment or death. Last week, I wrote that the prisoners would be released this week unless Meles, the serial liar, backed down. He has done that again.

HR 2003 POSTPONED?????????????????????

THE OTHER SIDE

I can't believe that they have decided to postpone bill HR 2003!

According to sources, as soon as the remaining prisoners signed the negotiation statement, mediator Professor Ephrimim rushed to the United States for a meeting with the State Department, insisting that the bill be postponed in order to ensure the release of the prisoners.

This is truly amazing--Meles is holding his own people hostage while negotiating with the world's superpower. Even more remarkable--the US seems to be
actually negotiating with these tyrants (as if the prisoners themselves were American citizens)!

It makes no sense, and makes me wonder if the govn't had no intention of releasing the prisoners at all, intending to use the agreement as insurance in the face of future condemnation.


**I just received word that tomorrow's court session will be closed to the public and they will be meeting in chambers instead. Something very unsettling is going on here.
(I will post again when I get more information.)

Ethiopia rebels say govt kills 40 in air raids

NAIROBI, June 25 (Reuters) - Rebels in Ethiopia's remote eastern Somali region accused the government on Monday of using warplanes to bomb three villages, killing around 40 people, in an escalating offensive against the insurgents.

The government said it had the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) "on the run", but denied using planes during fighting in the poor and arid region on the border of Ethiopia and Somalia in the Horn of Africa.

An ONLF spokesman said as well as the victims of air raids, 57 more civilians had died in the past 10 days or so of battles.

"This is a big offensive, mostly targeting the population because they cannot beat us," Abdirahman Mahdi, an ONLF founder member and now its UK-based spokesman, told Reuters.

"We hear from our commanders that they carpet-bombed three villages -- Abaaqorow, Dar es Salaam, and Ayun -- with MiG jets last Thursday. About 40 civilians died. Another 57 died in other incidents."

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced a crackdown against the ONLF, one of several guerrilla groups fighting his government from remote corners of the vast nation.

The ONLF drew international attention with an April raid on a Chinese-run oil exploration field that killed 74 people.

That was one of the bloodiest attacks in a sporadic but long-running conflict between government forces and the ONLF, which seeks more autonomy for the underdeveloped region.

Jailed CUD Leaders 'to be freed'

A group of 38 Ethiopian opposition leaders Accused of links to violent election protests is to be freed, they have told their families.

They say they have signed a document to secure their release but it is not clear what this is.

Their friends and relatives went on Monday morning to the town of Kaliti where they are being held but were disappointed when they were not freed.

The 38 were convicted earlier this month but have not yet been sentenced.

They were originally charged with treason and genocide - charges which sparked international outrage.

Secret deal

KINIJIT CANADA PRESS RELEASE

KINIJIT CANADA PRESS RELEASE REGARDING THE SITUATION WITH KIL

READ RESOLUTION IN AMHARIC

BREAKING NEWS

Friday, June 22, 2007

Agreed!

CUD leaders in prison have finally agreed to sign the proposal sent by Meles last week. If Meles doesn't, as he usually does, back down from his own proposal, our heroes will be out of prison next week. There are additional lines in the proposal including that the partial acceptance of responsibility and admission of mistake have no legal consequences.
This is a political agreement. Meles has got his face-saving agreement, and the prisoners have in turn got his admission that the court was wrong. And more; their release from the rotten concentration camp called Kaliti. Still we don't know whether Meles who is a serial breaker of agreements will uphold this one.
(fingers crossed...or may be not)

Not yet...Prisoners haven't signed release papers

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Not yet...Prisoners haven't signed release papers

Stephanie McCrummen of WaPo wrote today that some of the prisoners have signed Meles' proposal. Read it here. The report isn't very accurate. I think the American officials in Addis whom she quoted and EPRDF are trying to spin this even before an agreement is reached. I hope all will be resolved today. Meles has come some way in this last round. Although the terms are still short of what we expect ideally, and although negotiating under duress is unjust, I think this one is can be accepted without compromising basic principles.

It is 4:50 in the afternoon here in Addis Ababa. The mediators are in Kaliti right now talking to the prisoners. Now that it it is broken, this is what has really happened so far.

Friday, 15 June

Meles sent a proposal to the prisoners outlining his intention to use his executive powers to release them. There were two main points in the proposal which differentiates in from his previous terms.
1. The terms "fault" and "guilt" were substituted by "mistake". The proposal states that the CUD leaders admit that they have committed mistakes after the election, and that they take partial responsibility to the consequences of the mistakes including the violence in October.
2. Meles says that he doesn't accept the "guilty" verdict by the court.

Caveat: The proposal is a "take it or leave it."

Monday, 18 June

Representatives of the prisoners debated about the proposal. Hailu Shawel(the chairman of the CUD) and Birtukan Mideksa(Vice chairwoman) rejected it. Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, Birhanu Nega and Muluneh Eyuel, Gizachew Shiferaw and Hailu Araya were just debating the pros and cons of the proposal without making their decision known.

Tuesday, 19 June

Hailu and Birtukan haven't changed their stance. The others said that once the two had decided civility, solidarity and the idea of practical public reason won't allow them to sign the document unless there is a consensus among the prisoners. The legal and political debates regarding signing the proposal continued.

Wednesday, 20 June

Hailu Shawel and Birtukan haven't changed their mind, and the others weren't willing to sign the paper. Late afternoon, the talks seems faltering. With the mediators except Ephrem Isaac giving up hope.

Today

The mediators are still there. The morning went the same as yesterday. But in the afternoon, all of the prisoners(not only the representatives) have met to debate on the issue.

Again, I believe this is an agreement our heroes can take. Meles' statement that he doesn't accept the guilty verdict of the court creates a false division between the executive and the judiciary. However, it is very valuable politically for the CUD leaders and the pro-democracy movement. This is just my opinion. It has nothing to do with the decicion of the leaders. I know they will decide what is best for the country as they usually do.

I don't like the way it is spinned by the US officials here though.
(more to come...)

Meles ready to sentence CUD leaders

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

last gasp mediation efforts have failed as the convicted CUD leaders rejected Meles' proposal that they be our before the sentencing by admitting that they have made mistakes. According to sources, Meles had said that his "compromise" proposal was a "take it or leave it."

The prisoners have decided to leave it and face the consequences. The crime they were convicted of carries death penalty or a mandatory rigorous imprisonment.

Stand up Ethiopians!

‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! … I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life…

…and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army…”

“I will put my spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it….’” From Ezekiel 37

Convictions in Ethiopia Trials Condemned by Amnesty International USA

New York) -- Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) condemns the recent convictions in Ethiopia of 38 opposition party members, journalists and a human rights defender on charges that could carry life in prison or the death penalty.

"We are deeply concerned about the fairness of political trials in Ethiopia and call on the government to immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience," said Lynn Fredriksson, advocacy director for Africa for AIUSA.

The defendants were convicted on June 11 after a 14 month trial by the Federal High Court of Ethiopia. The group included Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, founder and first president of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, who has been a "special focus" case for AIUSA. The individuals were arrested in November 2005 in connection with demonstrations against alleged election fraud. The demonstrations started peacefully but ended violently with soldiers and police killing 193 demonstrators.

Others include Dr. Berhanu Nega, elected Mayor of Addis Ababa and an economics professor, and Dr. Yacob Hailemariam, retired Norfolk State University law professor and former U.N. prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

The defendants refused to defend themselves insisting that their arrests, charges, detention and trials were politically motivated and that the trial was not likely to be fair. They were convicted on the basis of the prosecution evidence and prevented from making a statement in court after the prosecution case ended. The judge ruled that they had not submitted a defense and were guilty as charged, giving no reason for the sudden verdict. They were recalled to court for July 9.

The main count against the 38 individuals pertained to "outrages against the constitution." They could be sentenced to life in prison or given the death penalty when sentenced, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Ten co-defendants, including two civil society activists, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, chose to defend themselves through counsel; they are expected to start presenting their defense on June 18.

AIUSA has in the past criticized the arrests and detentions of these and other i

Ethiopia accepts to give a key town to Eritrea

CONGRATULATIONS MELES ZENAWI AND ALL TPLF SUPPORTERS

70.000 LIVES WERE PAID FOR THIS

June 15, 2007 (UNITED NATIONS) — After years of conflict and a tense border dispute, Ethiopia has accepted a U.N. commission’s ruling to turn over a disputed town to Eritrea.

The Ethiopian government gave its unconditional acceptance of the commission’s decision, announced five years ago, that it return the key town of Badme to Eritrea, in a letter last week to the U.N. Security Council.

"I believe it’s good news ... that was one of the bottlenecks in the situation," U.N. associate spokesman Yves Sorokobi said Thursday. "If they do agree, it should move the process forward a bit more quickly."

አስቸኳይ የስብስባ ጥሪ

ከቅንጅት ለስብአዊ መብትና ዲሞክራሲ ቶሮንቶ

በቶሮንቶና አካባቢው የምትኖሩ የቅንጅት አባላትና ደጋፊዎች በሙሉ

በቅንጅት መሪዎች ላይ ስለተወሰነው የፍርድ ሁኔታ እና በቅንጅት አለም አቀፍ አመራር ውስጥ የነበረው ችግር በመፈታቱ፤እንዴት ወደፊት በጋራ እንደምንሰራና፤ በሌሎችም አንገብጋቢ ጉዳዮች ላይ ለመነጋገር፤ አስቸኳይ ስብሰባ ጠርቷል

ቀን እሁድ ጁን 17፣ 2007

ቦታው፡ 427 BLOOR ST. WEST

ስዓት፤ 3pm ጀምሮ

የቅንጅት የህዝብ ተመርጮችና እንዲሁም የፖሌትካ እስርኞችን ከወያኔ እስር ለማስውጣት

ኢትዮጵያውያን ሁሉ በህብረት እንነሳ።

KINIJIT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY CALLS ALL ITS MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING

DATE: SUNDAY JUNE 17, 2007

PLACE 427 BLOOR ST WEST

TIME 3PM

AGENDA

THE VERDICT ON CUD LEADERS AND OTHER MATTERS.

KIL MEDIATION AND THE FUTURE PROSPECT

AND OTHER MATTERS.

The TPLF Court convicts four editors, three publishers

New York, June 11, 2007— TPLF'S High Court in Ethiopia, today convicted four editors and three publishers of now-defunct weeklies of anti-state charges linked to their coverage of the government’s handling of disputed parliamentary elections in 2005, according to local journalists.

Two of the editors were convicted of charges carrying life imprisonment or death.
The journalists were arrested after a massive government crackdown on the media and opposition groups in November 2005. The media was targeted for its coverage of how the government handled disputed elections the previous May. More than 190 people were killed when authorities crushed post-election protests contesting the ruling party’s victory.

The Committee to Protect Journalists last month named Ethiopia the world’s worst backslider on press freedom.

“We condemn this verdict which falls within the government’s pattern of judicial harassment to intimidate and silence the private press,” said Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director. “The severity of the sentences in these cases compounds our outrage. We call on the authorities to abandon criminal prosecutions of journalists.”

Those convicted worked for Amharic-language weeklies shuttered after the crackdown. Editors Andualem Ayle of Ethiop and Mesfin Tesfaye of Abay, who were convicted of “outrages against the constitutional order,” face possible execution or life in prison. Editor Wenakseged Zeleke of Asqual could get up to 10 years in prison on similar charges.

Deputy editor Dawit Fassil of Satanaw, who had been released on bail in April after 16 months in prison, was returned to Kality prison today on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. He faces up to three years in prison on charges of “inciting the public through false rumors.”

Great Patriots

When I learned of the expected news of the “conviction” of the Great Patriots in Zenawi’s kangaroo court this morning, my initial reaction was not disappointment or sadness. It was a deep and overwhelming sense of pride in the personal sacrifices and extraordinary courage shown by these Great Patriots for their country and people. As I thought about the Great Patriots, I began to imagine:

• the fortitude it took to say: “Zenawi, You can imprison our bodies and you can torture us, but you can never, NEVER, touch the Spirit of Kinijit.”
• the guts its took to say: “Zenawi, we are not afraid of your thugs and your goons, and your guns and tanks. We shall not be moved.”
• the virtuousness it took to say: “Zenawi, we will never give in to the dEvil, make a deal with the dEvil. No, we will always do the right thing, at any cost.”
• the audacity of hope it took to say: “Zenawi, we will languish in jail so that 75 million of our people will one day live FREE, and generations yet to come will one day experience the blessings of liberty.”
• the valor and heroism it took to stand face to face with the Overlord of Hell and say: “Begone to your Kingdom of Hell for there is no place for you in our paradise we call Ethiopia.”
• the courage it took to look The Beast in the eye and say: “Go take a hike!”

But soon I ran out of words. And so, I could only say: Oh! Great Patriots, ever was so much owed by so many to so few!

I have no words or phrases to sing you praises or express my deepest gratitude. I only thank God that I was born on the same piece of His good earth that you now stand to defend to the end. My cup runneth over!

And then I thought of Zenawi and his pathetic judicial crew on the stage of justice.

On that stage, open for the world to see, Zenawi made a travesty of justice. He perverted truth and glorified naked perjury. He dressed up falsehood in the garb of righteousness, and mocked the very idea of due process. He thumbed his nose at international law and the court of world opinion. He put on a theatre of the absurd, and what was on stage to see was only the monstrosity of his regime. .

THE TPLF'S COURT GUILTY VERDICT ON CUD LEADERS

The TPLF court in Ethiopia has found 38 senior opposition figures guilty of charges connected to mass protests after disputed elections two years ago.

The charges ranged from armed rebellion to "outrage against the constitution".

Sentencing is next month and they could face the death penalty, says the BBC's Elizabeth Blunt in Ethiopia.

Hundreds of thousands took part in demonstrations complaining of fraud and vote-rigging by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government in the 2005 polls.

The opposition leaders refuse to recognize the court and failed to present evidence in their defense.

Canadian begs for Ethiopian rescue

Asks Ottawa to step in to help end 6-month ordeal that's left him languishing in solitary confinement

Jun 08, 2007 04:30 AM

Debra Black
Staff Reporter

A Canadian citizen imprisoned in Ethiopia has made his first public plea to the federal government to rescue him from a "brutal and merciless regime" that he says threatened him with torture before videotaping an interrogation.

Former Torontonian Bashir Makhtal has asked his family and fellow Canadians for help in getting Ottawa to safeguard his rights as a citizen under illegal detention in Ethiopia without access to Canadian diplomats or a lawyer. His plea for help, in a letter received last week by a cousin, describes a six-month odyssey of detentions in three countries that has left him languishing in solitary confinement in a country he fled 30 years ago as child.

Makhtal was detained by Kenyan authorities in late December as he tried to cross the border from Somalia to be reunited with his wife in Nairobi. The Ethiopian-born Makhtal, who moved to East Africa in late 2001 after several years in Canada, was returning from a sales trip for his used clothing business.

Although he was travelling on his Canadian passport – he does not have travel documents from any other country – Kenyan authorities deported him to Somalia and he was then whisked to Ethiopia in January on a military flight, he says. In the letter to his Canadian cousin, Said Maktal, Bashir Makhtal asks that he be tried in a civilian court with the right to a lawyer and Canadian government representatives observing.

"My only hope and possible chance is the Canadian government," the letter says. "Without your strong involvement and presence in the court I will have no chance and will be like thousands of those who are lingering in the Ethiopian jails and detention centres because they don't have anybody to speak for them.

"I would like to repeat my humble and desperate request to the Canadian embassy in Addis (Ababa) and Canadian government to rescue me," the letter says.

Makhtal is among 41 prisoners from at least 17 countries that Ethiopia has admitted holding. Canadian Foreign Affairs officials say the Ethiopian government acknowledged on April 13 they have Makhtal, but Canadian officials have so far been denied access to him.

Foreign Affairs officials said they continue to push for the right to see him, but cannot explain why they have failed to gain access while other countries have been able to visit their citizens. Ottawa says it has been told its officials will get access to Makhtal once an Ethiopian investigation is completed.

Ethiopia has so far released a number of foreign prisoners including three Swedes, and a 24-year-old American, Amir Mohammed Meshal. Meshal, a U.S. citizen of Egyptian origin, was questioned by U.S. agents in Kenya, according to a report by Amnesty International. He was released and sent home to the United States without any charges last week.

According to Amnesty International, about 140 people were arrested by Kenyan authorities as the borders clamped down during the war in Somalia. Eighty-five were transferred back to Somalia and on to Ethiopia in January and February. Twenty-seven were released in Kenya or sent back to their countries and one was charged in Kenya.

The Ethiopian government has acknowledged it is holding 41 of those transferred to Somalia and Ethiopia. Four British nationals were sent back to Britain. Another 40 people remain unaccounted for, Amnesty International says.

The letter says that at the airport, just before Makhtal was deported from Kenya, he screamed out on the runway: "I'm a Canadian citizen and you have no right to deport me to Somalia with the Ethiopian army and my life is in danger if you do.

"I asked them to deport me to my country (Canada) instead."

According to Makhtal's letter, on Jan. 22 he was transferred from Somalia's Mogadishu airport, where he had been kept for two days, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has been detained there ever since at the Central Bureau of Investigation.

It is clear from the letter that both Kenya and Ethiopia violated Makhtal's rights under international law, human rights lawyer Lorne Waldman said.

"The time for quiet diplomacy has passed given what we now know," he said. "The Canadian government must make strong protests to Kenya and a firm protest to Ethiopia demanding it give Bashir access to a lawyer and due process."

In the letter, Makhtal says he was forced to record a videotaped statement on April 18, after almost three months of resisting, because his captors threatened "they will torture me if I don't give or tell what they want ... However, they didn't get what they want and ... I'm really terrified and worry about my future and my precious life."

Makhtal's grandfather was one of the founders of the Ogaden National Liberation Front, a group that wants independence for the region in eastern Ethiopia. Now, members of the Ogaden Somali community in Canada plan to press Makhtal's case in Ottawa, holding a demonstration next Monday in front of the Prime Minister's Office as well as the Ethiopian embassy and the Kenyan high commission.