Ethiopia: Stop Using Anti-Terror Law to Stifle Peaceful Dissent

Diplomats Should Systematically Monitor Terrorism Trials

November 21, 2011

For more HRW reporting on Ethiopia

The anti-terror law itself is a huge problem. The international community, especially the European Union, United States, and United Kingdom, should ask the Ethiopian government hard questions about why it is using this law to crack down on peaceful independent voices.

Rona Peligal, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch

(Nairobi) – The Ethiopian government should cease using its overly broad anti-terrorism law against journalists and peaceful political activists, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said today.

On November 23, 2011, the trial of 24 people charged with terrorism offenses on November 10 will continue. Those charged include six journalists and two members of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party. Sixteen of the 24 are being tried in absentia. Several other terrorism trials of journalists and opposition activists are ongoing.

“The Ethiopian government is exploiting its vaguely worded anti-terror law to crush peaceful dissent,” said Rona Peligal, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

The Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009 includes an overbroad and vague definition of terrorist acts and a definition of “encouragement of terrorism” that makes the publication of statements “likely to be understood as encouraging terrorist acts” punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. These provisions mean that critics of government such as journalists and political opponents could be charged for encouraging terrorism, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said.

The organizations urged the Ethiopian government to facilitate systematic monitoring of the trials by the diplomatic community. The times and locations of hearings have been altered at the last minute at least twice during the ongoing trials. The government should ensure that key information, including location and time of hearings, is available to the public.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also urged diplomats stationed in Ethiopia to carry out systematic monitoring of the ongoing terrorism trials and the trials of members of the Oromo political opposition arrested during 2011. This is particularly important in the absence of independent human rights organizations, which the Ethiopian government has effectively banned. While diplomatic representatives have attended several remand hearings and trial sessions of terrorism cases, none were apparently present at the November 10 confirmation of charges hearing, following a last-minute change of location, nor at the subsequent hearing on November 15.

Ethiopia’s foreign partners closely followed a series of trials from 2005 to 2007, in which treason charges were brought following contested elections. The Council of the European Union appointed a full-time trial observer, although the findings of its report were never made public. EU embassy staff monitored these trials on a rotating basis, and a US embassy staff member was also present.

“Diplomats’ systematic monitoring of these trials is essential,” said Michelle Kagari, deputy director for Africa at Amnesty International. “Without the presence of local civil society, diplomats can play a vital role in witnessing whether or not the suspects’ right to a fair trial is respected.”

None of the defendants detained and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation during 2011 had access to a lawyer during the pre-trial period. Three of those charged have complained in court of mistreatment in detention.

Public comments by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the government spokesman, Shimeles Kemal, have undermined the defendants’ presumption of innocence, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said. Their comments might also exert political pressure on the courts in a country where the judiciary lacks independence.

Since June 2011, the Ethiopian government has charged at least 33 people under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009.

In addition, in 2011, at least 98 members of the two main Oromo political opposition parties, the Oromo Federal Democratic Movement (OFDM) and the Oromo People’s Congress (OPC), have been arrested and charged under the Criminal Code on the basis of alleged involvement with the Oromo Liberation Front, a banned rebel group.

Seven of the people charged on November 10 had previously been charged during the trials that followed the 2005 elections. All had been given presidential pardon. Three of the seven are among the defendants who are now in custody, two others fled the country after their earlier release, and two were already living in exile when they were charged in the earlier cases.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have long called for the anti-terrorism law to be amended to bring it into line with Ethiopia’s domestic and international legal obligations.

“The anti-terror law itself is a huge problem,” Peligal said. “The international community, especially the European Union, United States, and United Kingdom, should ask the Ethiopian government hard questions about why it is using this law to crack down on peaceful independent voices.”

  PRESS RELEASE

 We, members of Unity for Human Rights and Democracy Toronto are shocked to hear of the death of Yenesew Gebre, a 29-nine year old Ethiopian teacher from southwest Ethiopia who set himself on fire on Friday, November 11, and died on Monday November 14 in the town of Dawro, Waka, Southern Ethiopia, after confronting government officials at a public meeting.

It gives heartbreaking testimony to the unbearable pain he and others have suffered under the brutal and oppressive rule of the Tigrean Peoples Liberation Front under the leadership of Meles Zenawi for the past 20 years. We strongly believe every life is a God-given gift and one life lost is one too many. As advocates of a peaceful struggle for democracy and justice, this stands for upholding the human and civil rights of all people regardless of ethnicity or other differences. When one Ethiopian is hurt, we are all hurt.

Mr. Yenesew Gebre is not just some unknown Ethiopian; he is one of us and has a name. He is the son, brother, uncle, best friend, teacher or valued colleague of others who also have names. We are sure his absence in this world will be deeply grieved by all of them and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. He is part of our greater Ethiopian family and together, we mourn the loss of his life. He is one of the many Ethiopians who have been deprived of his life.

The Canadian government has spent hundreds of millions of Canadian tax payers’ money supporting the regime in Ethiopia.  Particularly, in the past decade millions of dollars were spent to revitalize the justice system in Ethiopia, which today is in total collapse. The regime of Meles Zenawi, uses the justice system as a tool to intimidate political opponents. Political motivated trials in the past also indicate that, the judiciary in Ethiopia is neither independent nor impartial. In the last twenty years no person accused of an offence in relation to his political activities has received a favourable ruling. Simply put, the justice system is manipulated controlled and directed by the regime.

According to Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) sources, Yenesew was very angry at the injustice the people were subjected at the hands of ruling party officials. It also appears that Yenesew had been fired from his teaching position due to his political views and unswerving stand against human rights violations, tyranny and oppression. As Canadians it hurts us a lot to see our government supporting and more, sending Canadian Tax payer’s money to a dictator that does not respect basic Human rights.

We, members of Unity for Human Rights and Democracy, demand Canada review, more clearly stop its financial support to the regime of Mr.Mels Zenaw, and raise the issue of an immediate political reform in Ethiopia.

Our condolence goes to the family and friends to Yenesew Gebre.

Yousuf Omer

President

November 18, 2011

The Regime of Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia is incarcerating opposition party leaders, and Democracy activist, using the draconian anti-terrorist law

The Honorable John Baird

Minister of Foreign Affairs

125 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0G2

September, 17, 2011

Dear Minister Baird

Re: The Regime of Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia is incarcerating opposition party leaders, and Democracy activist, using the draconian anti-terrorist law. The latest Victims are Legendary Ethiopian Film actor/comedian Debebe Eshetu, Journalist Eskender Nega. 

We, members of Unity for Human Rights and Democracy Toronto, would like to bring to your attention the recent unjust imprisonment of leading political figures and journalist in Ethiopia under a false pretext of terrorism. The detained include two Swedish journalists and three local journalists, three prominent leaders of the largest opposition alliance “Mederk,” the famous actor, director a human right activist and alumni of York University Debebe Eshetu, Journalist Eskender Nega, Mr. Bekele Gerba, Mr. Olbana Lelisa, Mr. Amdualem Arageie and 29 other members of opposition parties. It should be recalled as you are very aware with the case of Mr. Bashir Makthal which he is still languishing in prison.

The draconian anti-terrorist law, under which Mr Eshetu and others are held, has been proclaimed since 2009. This law was opposed by the international and local human right organizations including the government of Canada. The legislation purposely employs wide vague and misleading definitions of terrorist and terrorism and is tailored to be used against any person the government targets for any other cause. For instance the legislation criminalized “thinking of supporting” an organization which the regime deems terrorist. Save as this instance, thinking unaccompanied by any manifest action has never been used as a sole element of a criminal offence in any other jurisdiction. The nature of the law and its recent application therefore strongly indicate that, the law is lest related to terrorism and is mainly aimed at suppression of decent.

Before the recent crackdown and following the proclamation of the draconian legislation the regime has organized seminars for all levels of the judiciary. During these seminars, judges were told in no uncertain terms, that the anti-terrorist law is to be enforced stringently with no lenience shown to any one accused under it. Similarly political motivated trials in the past also indicate that, the judiciary in Ethiopia is neither independent nor impartial. In the last twenty years no person accused of an offence in relation to his political activities has received a favorable ruling. Simply put, the justice system is manipulated controlled and directed by the regime.

These and many other particulars hence constrained us to conclude, Mr Eshetu and others will not be tried on facts and laws but have already been convicted by the regime and trials will only serve to give an air of legality  to the sham process. Considering the above facts and circumstances and Canada’s unwavering support for democratic reforms and rule of law in Ethiopia we implore upon you and your good office to consider taking the following majors.

To express your concern to the regime of Mr. Meles Zenawi, officials and their diplomatic missions here in Canada.

To denounce the illegal detentions and inhuman treatment of prisoners and request their   unconditional release.

To condition, Canada’s assistance on a meaningful democratic reforms that includes the opposition parties, and make a serious consideration withholding the assistance if the regime refuses to address these flagrant injustices.

Sincerely,

Yousuf Omer

President

ADDIS ABABA - Security men on Wednesday arrested prominent Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega and opposition party leader Andualem Aragie. They were both taken to Makelawi Prison in handcuffs at different times in the afternoon, witnessed said.Eskinder and Andualem were earlier around 8:30 am seen conversing over coffee with two other UDJ members at a cafeteria near the opposition party's headquarters, a UDJ press release reported.

Acclaimed as a widely read journalist whose weekly columns appear on Ethiomedia.com on Fridays, Eskinder has been writing articles critical of the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi whose high-handed rule has often been denounced by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, among others. Andualem, a young, charismatic opposition leader whose oratorical skills shot him to prominence in the run-up to the overwhelmingly-rigged 2010 elections, had served nearly two years in prison following the ill-fated 2005 elections in which security forces killed at least 193 protesters.
Eskinder Nega, whose courage and unbending spirit is the envy of every opposition leader who would like to beat brutal thugs hands down, was also a prison inmate during the 2005 nationwide crackdown that led to the shutting down of the independent press, including three newspapers that Eskinder used to edit. He was held in solitary confinement for several months, and bears a dislocated shoulder due to torture. He is the husband of award-winning journalist Serkalem Fassil.
The government has targetted prominent journalists and opposition leaders as a pre-emptive strike at what observers say fears of public unrest due to an economic crisis compounded by an inflation that has soared over 40 percent in recent weeks.
Earlier last week, police arrested Debebe Eshetu, a veteran actor and opposition activist, and charged him under a new anti-terror law for having alleged ties to Ginbot Sebat, an opposition group outlawed in Ethiopia. Two opposition party officials and two journalists were also arrested under the anti-terror law, which human rights groups say is a smokescreen the government uses to crush dissent.

Toronto Declaration of Unity of Purpose Organizers | May 9, 2011

Unity Is Power!
Regardless of our differences in language, culture or religion, all the panelists agree the power of unity. All also see the need for a united front against Meles’s tyranny and total economic domination of Ethiopia. The panellists saw the need for putting a stop to the Woyane-driven genocide being committed in places such as the Ogaden and Oromia. Furthermore, the panelists emphasized the need for a united front against Western indifference to what the Meles regime is doing in Ethiopia.

Agreed on the need to acknowledge the past, but also the need to forgive and move forward for the sake of Ethiopia's Unity.

In order to build unity within the disparate communities in Ethiopia, the panelists believe that the unity must be based on the restoration of the inalienable right for all Ethiopians to decide their own destiny.
The panelists believe that such unity could be achieved based on trust amongst the disparate communities. Such unity must also be enhanced through constant communication amongst the groups in order to guard against mistrust and suspicious that the Meles regime would certainly create. Finally the panelists emphasize the need for pooling resources to achieve the common objectives.
While the panelists were buoyed by the large crowd that attended in today’s gathering, they believe that our differences should be viewed as strength instead of a liability that Meles’s administration has made it and exploited it to its advantage.
Sincerely,
Alo Aydahis, Jawar Mohamed, Mohamed Hassan, Abebe Belew, and Obang Metho
May 7, 2011 Toronto, Canada

ቶሮንቶ በበቃ ተጠመቀች፤ ከተለያዩ ማህበረሰብ የተወጣጡ ኢትዮጵያዊያን የተሳካ ስብሰባ አካሄዱ

በተክለሚካኤል አበበ

ቅዳሜ ሜይ 7 ቀን በካናዳ የንግድ ከተማ፡ ቶሮንቶ ከተለያዩ ማህበረሰብ የተወጣጡ ኢትዮጵያዊያን ተናጋሪዎችና ተሳታፊዎች የነበሩበት የተሳካ የበቃ ንቅናቄ ስብሰባ ተካሄደ። ተጋባዥ እንግዶቹም አብሮ የመስራትና የጋራ ዓላማን የሚያሳይ የአቋም መግለጫ አወጡ። በዚህ ስብሰባ ላይ በመቶዎች የሚቆጠሩ የኦጋዴን የአፋርና የኦሮሞ ብሄረሰብ አባላትና ሌሎች ኢትዮጵያዊያንም የተገኙ ሲሆን፡ በመጨረሻም፡ ኢትዮጵያ አንድ ነች፡ አንድነታችን ግን በተለያዩ ማህበረሰቦች የተገነባ አንድነት ነው፡ እንዲሁም በዚህች ኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ የሰውነት የተፈጥሮ መብታችንን አስቀድሞ ማስከበር ከምንም በላይ ቅድሚያ የሚሰጠው ነገር ነው ሲሉ የአቋም መግለጫ አውጥተዋል።

በስብሰባው የመጀመሪያው ተናጋሪ የነበሩት፡ ከታላቁ የአፋር ብሄረሰብ የወጡት አቶ አሎ አይደሂስ፡ ሕወሀት/ኢህአዴግ በማሳ ውስጥ እንደበቀልና፡ እህሎቹን እንደሚያቀጭጭ አንድ አላስፈላጊ ዛፍ ነው ሲሉ መስለውት፡ አንድ ላይ አይቀመጡም፡ አይወያዩም፡ ብሎ ያስቀመጠን ተቃዋሚዎች ዛሬ ግን ባንድ ላይ መሰብሰባችን እጅግ እንዳስደሰታቸውና ወደፊትም መቀጠል እንዳለባቸው ተናግረዋል። በመጨረሻም ይህ ዛፍ መርዘኛ ስለሆነና እህሎቹን ስላቀጨጫቸው ከስሩ ለመነቀልና በአገራችን ፍትህና ርትእ ለማስፈን አብረን መስራት እንዳለብን አሳስበው ንግራቸውን ደምድመዋል።
ሁለተኛው ተናጋሪ ከኦጋዴን ማህበረሰብ የወጡት አቶ መሀመድ ሀሰን፡ እድሜ ልካችንን በማይረቡ ነገሮች ስንጨቃጨቅ ከምንኖር ይልቅ፡ የቋንቋ አንድነት፡ የሀይማኖት አንድነት፡ የአስተሳሰብ አንድነት፡ ሰይሆን የ“የምክንያት ወይንም የአላማ አንድነት (Unity of Purpose)” አንድነት ፈጥረን፡ አገራችንን እያጠፋ ያለውን ስርአት ማስወገድ አለብን ብለዋል። ሕወሀት/ኢህአዴግ ላለፉት አመታት በተለይም በኦጋዴን አካባቢ ከፍተኛ የሆነ እልቂት ሲፈጽም ገና ለገና ተገንጣይ ቡድኖች ናቸው ብሎ በማሰብና በመፍራት፡ በውጭ የምንገኝ ኢትዮጵያዊያን በሙሉ በኦጋዴን የተፈጸመውን የዘር ማጥፋት ወንጀል ተቃውመን በአንድነት አለመውጣታችን እጅግ እንደጎዳን ገልጸው፡ አሁንም ወያኔ ለምእራባዊያን የሚሸጠውን የፈጠራ ፖለቲካ ተባብረን ካልደመሰስነው በስተቀር፡ ርስ በርሳችን ስንባላ ያቺ የምንወዳት አገር ልትጠፋ እንደምንችል አሳስቦ፡ የጋራ ዓላማ ይዘን እንድንንቀሳቀስ አሳስቧል።
ሶስተኛ ተናጋሪ የሆነው አቶ አበበ በለውም፡ አሁን የስራ ጊዜ ነው፡ ጠላቶቻችን እያንዳንዱን ሰዓት አፈናም ይሁን ዝርፊያ በስራ ያሳልፉታል፡ እኛ ግን እስካሁን ከወሬ ደረጃ እንዳላለፍን ገልጾ፡ ኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ ያንዱ ብሄር ችግር የዚያ ብሄር ብቻ ሳይሆን የሁሉም ኢትዮጵያዊ እንደሆነ በማሳሰብ የአብሮ መስራትን አስፈላጊነት ገልጿል።
አራተኛው ተናጋሪ ወጣት ጃዋር መሀመድ ሲሆን፡ ወጣት ጃዋር፡ በኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ ዴሞክራሲን በማስፈን፡ የመፈረካከስ አደጋን ለማቆም ህዝቡና ተቃዋሚ ፖለቲከኞች ማድረግ ስለሚገባቸው ነገሮች ተናግሯል። ጃዋር፡ አሁን ባለው ሁኔታ ተቃዋሚ ፖለቲከኞች ህዝቡን ቀድመው መሄድና ማስተባበር ካልቻሉ፡ ህዝቡ ራሱ ቀድሞ በመተባበርና አብሮ በመስራት፡ በኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ የፍትህና ስርአት ለውጥ እንዲመጣ፡ እንዲተጋ አሳስቧል። አሁን ባለው ሁኔታ ፖለቲከኞች ደጋፊ እናጣለን በሚል ፍራቻ የተነሳ ተፈራርተውና ተራርቀው እንደሚገኙ ገልጾ፡ ነገር ግን በመተማመንና በመተባበር ለመስራት፡ የአንድነትም ይሁን የነጻነት አራማጆች፡ ጽንፈኛነታቸውን ትተው ወደመሀል በመምጣት ነገሮችን አስታርቀው የመሄድ ባህል እንዲያዳብሩ ግድ እንደሚል ተናግሯል።
በመጨረሻም አቶ ኦባንግ ከራሱም ልምድና ከአገራችን ወቅታዊ ሁኔታ አንጻር ሰፊ ማብራሪያ አሰምቶ፡ ሁላችንም ነጻ ካልወጣን አንዳችንም ነጻ እንደማንወጣ፡ ከብሄራችንም በፊት ሰውነታችን መቅደም እንዳበት አሳስቦ የአብሮ መስራትን አስፈላጊነት አበክሮ ገልጿል። አቶ ኦባንግ ጠላታችን ይሄ ብሄር ወይንማ ያኛው ብሄር ሳይሆን፡ ስርአት እንደሆነ ገልጾ፡ ያንን ስርአት ለመጣል እንድንታገል አደራ ብሏል።
በመጨረሻም “አንድነት ሀይል ነው” በሚል መፈክር የተጀመረው ስብሰባ፡ አምስቱም ተናጋሪዎች በጋራ ባወጡት “አንድነት ሀይል ነው” እንዲሁም መለያየት በቃ መግለጫ ተጠናቋል። በዚህ ስብሰባ ላይ ከታየው የህዝብ ስብጥር በተጨማሪ፡ የስብሰባው አስተባባሪና የመድረክ መሪ አወያይዋ፡ ወይዘሮ ፋሲካ ወልደሰንበት አስደናቂና አስደሳች የአወያይ ሚና ተጫውታለች። ተመሳሳይ ስብሰባና የበቃ እንቅስቃሴ በሚቀጥለው ሳምንትም የሚቀጥል ሲሆን፡ ዶ/ር ወንድሙ መኮንን፡ ዶ/ር ቡሻ ታአና አቶ መስፍን ተፈራ ንግግር በቶሮንቶ እንደሚያደርጉ ታውቋል።
 

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST TPLF MEEETING IN TORONTO

TORONTO: Ethiopians from all ethnic groups stand together in confronting the Woyanne junta.

TORONTO: Ethiopians from all ethnic groups stand together in confronting the Woyanne junta.

New Year Message

December 30, 2010

Dear Ethiopian compatriots all over the world:  

On Behalf of our members, I’m sending this New Year's message to wish a happy New Year to all.

As you all know, 2010, like all other previous years was a year of sadness for most Ethiopians. The violation of human rights continued unabated, we witnessed a sham and shameful election, the environmental degradation and land grab accelerated with a lightening speed. The Health and Education system of our people has collapsed beyond repair, and the social interaction among Ethiopians is jeopardized immensely. Yes, the release of prominent Ethiopian politician Ms. Birtukan Midekssa was a victory for all human rights activists and to all those who become voice for the voiceless.

Today more than any other time in the history of our Ethiopia, the existence of our beloved motherland is in question. Now more than ever, we should continue the struggle for Respect of Human Rights and democracy, hand and glove together as one people, regardless of our ethnic, religious and political differences.

I pray and wish the year 2011, to bring Unity, Peace and Democracy to our country and people.   

Yousuf Omer 

Unity for Human Rights and Democracy

Toronto Canada   

HAPPY NEW YEAR

አንድነቶች በቅርቡ አንድ ሊኾኑ ይችላሉ

ሰንደቅ ጋዜጣ ታማኝ ምንጮቼ ነገሩኝ ብሎ እንደጻፈው አንድነት ፓርቲ ውስጥ የተፈጠሩት አንጃዎች 99 በመቶ የእርቅ ስምምነት ላይ ደርሰዋል፡፡ በቅርቡም የእርቀ ሰላም ጠቅላላ ጉባኤ ተጠርቶ እንደ አዲስ አመራር ይመረጣል፡፡ በዚህ የእርቅ ጉባኤ ዶክተር ነጋሶ ጊዳዳ፣ አቶ ስየ አብረሃ እና አቶ አንዷለም አራጌ  እንደማንኛውም አባል በመራጭነትና በተመራጭነት መሳተፍ እንደሚችሉ መግባባት ላይ እንደተደረሰ ጋዜጣው ዘግቧል፡፡ ሁኔታው እንደታሰበለት ከሄደ ህክምናቸውን በደቡብ አፍሪካ አጠናቀው ወደ አገርቤት የተመለሱትን የፓርቲውን መሥራች ወ/ት ብርቱካን ሚደቅሳን ወደ ፖለቲካ ለመመለስ ምቹ ኹኔታን እንደሚፈጥር ጋዜጣው ያለውን ግምት ገልጧል፡፡

Ethiopian Donors May Further Probe Allegations That Government Misused Aid

Major donors to Ethiopia may renew a probe into claims the government has used aid to silence the opposition after Human Rights Watch called on them to investigate its allegations further.
In an October report, New York-based Human Rights Watch said the government used “donor-supported programs” to control political opponents by denying them access to land, credit, fertilizers, food aid and other resources. In an e-mailed statement on Dec. 17, the group called on donors to investigate the claims themselves.
The Development Assistance Group Ethiopia, which is based in Addis Ababa and made up of 26 donors, met recently to discuss the allegations, Sandra Baldwin, deputy director of the U.K. Department for International Development Ethiopia, said by phone on Dec. 18. Baldwin didn’t rule out field research to investigate specific claims of abuse.
The donor group “has been actively discussing the additional work to follow up on the earlier” report into the abuse allegations, Ken Ohashi, the World Bank’s country director for Ethiopia, said in an e-mailed response to questions. A government spokesman was not immediately available to comment.
The group said in an October statement it didn’t “concur with the conclusions” of Human Rights Watch’s report that alleged widespread, systematic abuse of development aid.
“Our study did not generate any evidence of systematic or widespread distortion,” said the donor group, which includes the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the U.S.
Human Rights Watch says the Horn of Africa nation, which has been ruled by former rebels since 1991, is one of the world’s largest recipients of foreign aid, getting about $3.3 billion annually from 2004 through 2008.
In May elections, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and its allies won 545 out of 547 parliamentary seats. A European Union observation mission said the poll “did not meet certain international commitments.” The government has rejected criticism and said the process was free and fair.
To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net

Ethiopia’s Spiritual warrior and Communicative Rationalist: Thinking of Birtukan Mideksa

By Teodros Kiros
Gone are the days of life in the beauty of darkness and the cruelty of solitude.
During those days, I imagined her, pensive, still and determined to live; I imagined her behind rusty prison rails thinking about the millions of Ethiopians gazing at stars and praying to the transcendent; I imagined her drinking water and breathing air and thanking the loving God for keeping her alive; I imagined her extending her contagious smile to the prison guards who kept their eyes on her; I imagined her taking notes in her heart for a future masterpiece that she will present to the Ethiopian people.
I cannot stop imagining her now, now that she is in the sunlight of freedom wrapped by the adoring hands of the Ethiopian public, most particularly the members of her generation.
Birukan, the queen of justice, as I called her, when she was in prison, is now the queen of silent justice outside of prison.
I now imagine her in the company of her loving mother and joyous daughter drinking from the fountain of freedom; I imagine her waking to the sound of trees, the music of birds and the voices of the millions of Ethiopians who secretly adore her; I imagine millions of Ethiopian women admiring her defiance and her intelligence; I imagine all those parents who will one day name their children after Birtukan, the eloquent tribune of deliberative democracy.
When the dawn of genuine freedom reins in Ethiopia, Birtukan will use her spirituality, always mediated through that embracing smile, which takes in the hearts of the Ethiopian public, yearning for freedom, to guide the Ethiopian nation through the sheer force of loving-kindness. This spirituality will work in concert with her fine legal mind, and be articulated via communicative rationality and emerge as the leader of a people’s party, which I would like to call, Ethiopianity.

How honored I would be if the Transcendent would preserve me to work for Birtukan Mideska, as the new voice of Ethiopianity and the leader of the people’s party, Ethiopianity.
Teodros Kiros
Professor of Philosophy and English (Liberal Arts)
Berklee College of Music

በቶሮንቶ የሠማዕታት ቀን ተከከበረ

Ethiopia: Donor Aid Supports Repression

(London) - The Ethiopian government is using development aid to suppress political dissent by conditioning access to essential government programs on support for the ruling party, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch urged foreign donors to ensure that their aid is used in an accountable and transparent manner and does not support political repression.
The 105-page report, "Development without Freedom: How Aid Underwrites Repression in Ethiopia," documents the ways in which the Ethiopian government uses donor-supported resources and aid as a tool to consolidate the power of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
"The Ethiopian government is routinely using access to aid as a weapon to control people and crush dissent," said Rona Peligal, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "If you don't play the ruling party's game, you get shut out. Yet foreign donors are rewarding this behavior with ever-larger sums of development aid."

Ethiopia is one of the world's largest recipients of development aid, more than US$3 billion in 2008 alone. The World Bank and donor nations provide direct support to district governments in Ethiopia for basic services such as health, education, agriculture, and water, and support a "food-for-work" program for some of the country's poorest people. The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany are the largest bilateral donors.

Local officials routinely deny government support to opposition supporters and civil society activists, including rural residents in desperate need of food aid. Foreign aid-funded "capacity-building" programs to improve skills that would aid the country's development are used by the government to indoctrinate school children in party ideology, intimidate teachers, and purge the civil service of people with independent political views.
Political repression was particularly pronounced during the period leading up to parliamentary elections in May 2010, in which the ruling party won 99.6 percent of the seats.

Despite government restrictions that make independent research difficult, Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 200 people in 53 villages across three regions of the country during a six-month investigation in 2009. The problems Human Rights Watch found were widespread: residents reported discrimination in many locations. 
Farmers described being denied access to agricultural assistance, micro-loans, seeds, and fertilizers because they did not support the ruling party. As one farmer in Amhara region told Human Rights Watch, "[Village] leaders have publicly declared that they will single out opposition members, and those identified as such will be denied ‘privileges.' By that they mean that access to fertilizers, ‘safety net' and even emergency aid will be denied."
Rural villagers reported that many families of opposition members were barred from participation in the food-for-work or "safety net" program, which supports 7 million of Ethiopia's most vulnerable citizens. Scores of opposition members who were denied services by local officials throughout the country reported the same response from ruling party and government officials when they complained: "Ask your own party for help."

Human Rights Watch also documented how high school students, teachers, and civil servants were forced to attend indoctrination sessions on ruling party ideology as part of the capacity-building program funded by foreign governments. Attendees at training sessions reported that they were intimidated and threatened if they did not join the ruling party. Superiors told teachers that ruling party membership was a condition for promotion and training opportunities. Education, especially schools and teacher training, is also heavily supported by donor funds.

"By dominating government at all levels, the ruling party controls all the aid programs," Peligal said. "Without effective, independent monitoring, international aid will continue to be abused to consolidate a repressive single-party state."
In 2005, the World Bank and other donors suspended direct budget support to the Ethiopian government following a post-election crackdown on demonstrators that left 200 people dead, 30,000 detained, and dozens of opposition leaders in jail. At the time, donors expressed fears of "political capture" of donor funds by the ruling party.
Yet aid was soon resumed under a new program, "Protection of Basic Services," that channeled money directly to district governments. These district governments, like the federal administration, are under ruling party control, yet are harder to monitor and more directly involved in day-to-day repression of the population.

During this period the Ethiopian government has steadily closed political space, harassed independent journalists and civil society activists into silence or exile, and violated the rights to freedom of association and expression. A new law on civil society activity, passed in 2009, bars nongovernmental organizations from working on issues related to human rights, good governance, and conflict resolution if they receive more than 10 percent of their funding from foreign sources.
"The few independent organizations that monitored human rights have been eviscerated by government harassment and a pernicious new civil society law," Peligal said. "But these groups are badly needed to ensure aid is not misused."
As Ethiopia's human rights situation has worsened, donors have ramped up assistance. Between 2004 and 2008, international development aid to Ethiopia doubled. According to Ethiopian government data, the country is making strong progress on reducing poverty, and donors are pleased to support Ethiopia's progress toward the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Yet the price of that progress has been high.

When Human Rights Watch presented its findings to donor officials, many privately acknowledged the worsening human rights situation and the ruling party's growing authoritarian rule. Donor officials from a dozen Western government agencies told Human Rights Watch that they were aware of allegations that donor-supported programs were being used for political repression, but they had no way of knowing the extent of such abuse. In Ethiopia, most monitoring of donor programs is a joint effort alongside Ethiopian government officials.
Yet few donors have been willing to raise their concerns publicly over the possible misuse of their taxpayers' funds. In a desk study and an official response to Human Rights Watch, the donor consortium Development Assistance Group stated that their monitoring mechanisms showed that their programs were working well and that aid was not being "distorted." But no donors have carried out credible, independent investigations into the problem.
Human Rights Watch called on donor country legislatures and audit institutions to examine development aid to Ethiopia to ensure that it is not supporting political repression.

"In their eagerness to show progress in Ethiopia, aid officials are shutting their eyes to the repression lurking behind the official statistics," Peligal said. "Donors who finance the Ethiopian state need to wake up to the fact that some of their aid is contributing to human rights abuses."
Background
Led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the ruling party is a coalition of ethnic-based groups that came to power in 1991 after ousting the military government of Mengistu Haile Mariam. The government passed a new constitution in 1994 that incorporated fundamental human rights standards, but in practice many of these freedoms have been increasingly restricted during its 19 years in power.
Although the ruling party introduced multiparty elections soon after it came to power in 1991, opposition political parties have faced serious obstruction to their efforts to establish offices, organize, and campaign in national and local elections.
Eight-five percent of Ethiopia's population live in rural areas and, each year, 10 to 20 percent rely on international food relief to survive. Foreign development assistance to Ethiopia has steadily increased since the 1990s, with a temporary plateau during the two-year border war with Eritrea (1998-2000). Ethiopia is now the largest recipient of World Bank funds and foreign aid in Africa.
In 2008, total aid was US$3.3 billion. Of that, the United States contributes around $800 million, much of it in humanitarian and food aid; the European Union contributes $400 million; and the United Kingdom provides $300 million. Ethiopia is widely considered to be making good progress toward some of the UN Millennium Development Goals on reducing poverty, but much of the data originates with the government and is not independently verified.

Canada Welcomes Release of Birtukan Mideksa

(No. 326 - October 6, 2010 - 7:45 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement welcoming the release of Ethiopian opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa:

“Canada is pleased that the Government of Ethiopia has pardoned and released Birtukan Mideksa. We see this as a positive step toward greater political freedom in Ethiopia.
“Ethiopia is a richly diverse country, and this is best reflected through a vibrant political dialogue. Ms. Birtukan’s voice—and that of other political leaders—is important to Ethiopia’s democratic development. Her release is welcome, and we look forward to the Ethiopian government’s efforts to build upon this constructive measure.”
Ms. Birtukan was imprisoned following Ethiopia’s post-election violence in 2005. Although she received a pardon and was released in 2008, she was subsequently reimprisoned.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Melissa Lantsman
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874

HOOOOOOORAY Birtukan Mideksa has been freed from prison around 5 AM local time .

 Addis Neger Online has confirmed that the jailed opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa has been freed from  prison around 5 AM local time .
-Eye witnesses told Addis Neger online that Birtukan is not seen in her family’s house at Fernsay Legasion. However, the house is decorated with small Ethiopian flags and a big poster. The colorful plastic poster depicts a big picture of Birtukan with Amharic and English welcoming statements. The statements read; “enkuan lebetish abekash” and “welcome to home”.  Birtukan’s only daughter, Halley Mideksa, wore a cultural dress, which is mostly dressed during such occasions. Her mother, Almaz Gebregzihaber, is preparing fasting food for guests. Residents of the area stopover at Birtukan’s home and congratulate her mom. Journalists and supporters are waiting for Birtukan outside of the compound.
  CONGRATULATION TO BIRTUKAN HER FAMILY AND TO ALL SUPPORTERS WHO STRUGGLED FOR HER RELEASE.................................WE DID IT AGAIN THIS IS THE RESULT OF OUR STRUGGLE
 OCTOBER 6, 2010

Ana Gomes urges Zuma to help free Birtukan

Press Release                             September 29, 2010

(Brussels) MEP Ana GOMES (S&D, PT) asked President Jacob Zuma of South Africa today, during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, to help liberate Birtukan Mideksa, a young woman leader of the main opposition party in her country, Ethiopia, who has been jailed for life and whom Amnesty International considers to be a “prisoner of conscience”.

The South African Head of State admitted to not knowing the case in particular, but assured the European Parliament that “if she was jailed unfairly, South Africa would certainly be willing to use its influence” and press for her release.

Ana Gomes asked President Zuma and South Africa to show solidarity towards Ms. Mideksa, who the people of Ethiopia consider the “Ethiopian Nelson Mandela”. The Portuguese Socialist MEP evoked Nelson Mandela and his inspiring fight for freedom, stating that “he is not just a hero of South Africans, he is a hero for Mankind”, and recalled how world solidarity was important to return Nelson Mandela to freedom. “Will South Africa now show solidarity to get the release of this brave, young African woman imprisoned for life in Ethiopia, the country that hosts the headquarters of the African Union?”, directed Ana Gomes to President Zuma.

Together with MEP Marita ULVSKOG (S&D, SE), Ana Gomes proposed Birtukan Mideksa for the Sakharov Prize 2010. During the last plenary session in Strasbourg, the nomination of the Ethiopian political prisoner won the endorsement of the Socialists & Democrats Group for the European Parliament’s prestigious Human Rights annual award.