Ethiopian fears after land battle
By Amber Henshaw
BBC News, Arero
The fighting has been between pastoralist clans
As sporadic clan killings continue in southern Ethiopia, where 90,000 people have fled their homes, local elders fear a flare-up of violence.
Last month, more than 100 people died in fierce clashes between the pastoralist Borena and the Guji clans. Villages and houses have been left deserted in the area, some 500km south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
The bitter dispute began three years ago when the government marked out a border between the two clans' zones. But this is the first time there have been serious clashes between them for about 15 years.
People were killed from both sides. The conflict area was vast and there are still dead bodies which have not been collected
Hundreds of those who fled have gone to the remote town of Arero to collect basic provisions like blankets and plastic sheeting from aid agencies.
"They fought us, they killed our people and they displaced us from our homes, they burnt our houses," says Ali Aden, an elder from the Gabre clan, which was caught up in the violence.
"We had to leave without anything - without even being able to pick up a stick. We have no clothes, we have no food. This sheet I am wearing was given to me yesterday."
Arero's chief administrator Jaatanni Taadhii has confirmed between 27,000 and 29,000 people have sought refuge in his area. "The greatest need is for food, shelter, clothes and medicine," he said.
No permission
The most recent violence erupted after a series of confrontations - but one key incident was when the Guji drove their cattle on to Borena land without asking permission, against clan tradition. The Borena claim the Guji are trying to expand their territory but the Guji insist there has been a misunderstanding.
"People were killed from both sides. The conflict area was vast and there are still dead bodies which have not been collected," says Guji elder Shiferow Henbi.
"We all feel very strongly about what has happened - two brothers killing each other. The Guji are Oromo, the Borena are Oromo - suddenly this conflict happened and we are all devastated about the conflict with our brothers."
Clan leaders say some villages have been burnt to the ground in the fighting and people I spoke to in the area say the killings are continuing despite the fact that elders have appealed for calm.
Traditionally, the elders resolve minor disputes over land and resources but say this one is unusual because of the level of violence. They say they need outside help from an independent third-party. The Ethiopian Red Cross says peace-building in the area is essential.
BBC News
June 30, 2006
June 29, 2006
AU rules out direct talks with Somali Islamists
By Barry Moody
June 29, 2006
BANJUL (Reuters) - The African Union will not mediate directly with Islamists controlling a large swathe of Somalia despite its determination to restore peace and central authority to the country, a senior official said on Thursday.
The situation in Somalia, where tension is rising between the newly powerful Islamists and a weak but internationally recognised interim government, is one of the major concerns of a summit of the AU's 53 members this weekend in Gambia.
But Said Djinnit, the organisation's Peace and Security
Commissioner, indicated its strategy would be based on throwing as much support as possible behind the government and not on dealing with the Islamic courts, who took the capital Mogadishu on June 5.
They now control a large part of central-southern Somalia and on Thursday said they would expand the authority of their sharia courts across the whole of the country -- a move likely to further augment tension with the government.
The interim government will be represented at the summit by President Abdullahi Yusuf but the Islamists appear not to have been invited.
Speaking on the fringes of an AU foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit, Djinnit told reporters the new situation in Somalia presented both challenges and opportunities for the AU.
But asked about negotiations with the Islamists, Djinnit said: "We are not aware of any other side for the time being apart from the transitional federal institutions."
He did, however, suggest the interim government should negotiate with the Islamic courts. "It is up to the institutions of Somalia and the government to engage in dialogue with whichever parties are relevant to forging peace and reconciliation in the country," he said.
MUTUAL SUSPICIONS
The government and the Islamists agreed at talks in Khartoum earlier this month to recognise each other and meet again on July 15 despite their mutual suspicions.
Asked if he thought tensions between the government and Islamists were dangerous for Somalia, Djinnit said: "Every situation has risks and threats but in every situation there are opportunities and we are working on the opportunities...
"The time has come for concrete actions in support of the transitional federal institutions of Somalia and the Transitional Federal Government."
The Islamist successes after they ejected U.S.-backed warlords from Mogadishu have alarmed Washington, which believes the courts harbour al Qaeda-linked extremists, and regional power Ethiopia which is close to President Yusuf and opposes an Islamic state on its border.
The Islamist leadership on Thursday also confirmed that Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a hardline cleric whom Washington has linked to al Qaeda, would be the overall leader of the Islamic courts organisation.
Somalia has been without central government since 1991, when the secular warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and carved up the capital and other areas into a series of anarchic private fiefdoms.
Somali Islamists condemn Ethiopia
 Sheikh Aweys has twice fought against Ethiopia |
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys called for talks on Ethiopia's Ogaden region, inhabited by ethnic Somalis.
Mr Aweys has been confirmed as the leader of the Islamists' council.
His accusation comes after Ethiopia tightened security along the Somali border, following the advance of Union of Islamic Courts.
Mr Aweys fought in the two countries' war for the region in the 1970s.
Ethiopia also played a key role in defeating his Islamist militia al-Itihaad al-Islamiya in the 1990s.
We have beefed up our defences all along the border to prevent any threat to our security that might emanate from the resurgent Jihadists in Mogadishu 
Meles Zenawi
Ethiopian prime minister
Mr Aweys is on a US list of people allegedly linked to terrorist groups and both the United States and Ethiopia have been alarmed by the Islamic courts capture of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and other towns.
He denies the charges but the US has said it will not deal with him.
At an African Union meeting in The Gambia, the weak interim government has asked for the AU's support.
Foreign Minister Abdullahi Sheekh Ismail also condemned said Mr Aweys could not be Somalia's leader.
"He's identified with international terrorist organisations," Mr Ismail told the BBC.
"He cannot be an image representing Somalia in any case. I think everybody knows that."
Arms embargo
In Mogadishu, Union of Islamic Courts chairman Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed confirmed that Mr Aweys was the leader of a new 91-member Shura or consultative council.
It is not clear whether Mr Ahmed or Mr Aweys is the Islamists' overall leader.
The US House of Representatives is due to discuss what it calls "The Expanding Crisis in the Horn of Africa" later on Thursday. 
Mr Aweys' latest comments are likely to further heighten tensions.
"Ethiopia mistreats the Somalis under their administration. The land was given to them by colonialists and we will seek justice to resolve the crisis that is dividing the two countries," Mr Aweys told the AFP news agency.
"We are ready to negotiate," he said.
The Islamists have accused Ethiopia of sending troops into Somalia in support of the weak interim government, based in Baidoa, 200km from Mogadishu.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi denies these accusations.
"We have beefed up our defences all along the border to prevent any threat to our security that might emanate from the resurgent Jihadists in Mogadishu," he said.
Ethiopia helped Somalia's now interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf, defeat al-Itihaad in the 1990s.
Last week, the Islamic courts and the largely toothless interim government agreed not to fight each other.
The recent advances of the Islamists have renewed fears of major conflict in Somalia, which has not had an effective national government for 15 years.
Meanwhile, the African Union is to ask the United Nations Security Council to partially lift its arms embargo on Somalia to allow for an African peacekeeping mission to go there.
Somalia's president is in favour of the deployment of peacekeepers, but the Islamists strongly oppose the move.
BBC News
Minister’ demands 20,000 USD for names and photos of protesters
June 27, 2006
TPLF’s strongman at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, ‘Minister’ Fisseha Asgedom, demanded $20,000 to compile a name list and photos of Ethiopians who attended a protest vigil in front of the White House to remember those killed in the November massacre, a shocking leaked document revealed.
In a letter he wrote to Seyoum Mesfin on December 9, 2005 (Hidar 30, 1998), Fisseha reported that the protesters were supporters of CUD’s “street violence.” According to him, what made the November vigil different from the others was that some of the participants were building homes and investing in Ethiopia as well as staff members of the Ethiopian embassy in Washington. Fisseha mentioned Ato Fassika Belete, Ato Mesfin Teferra and Ato Mersha Yoseph by name as regular attendees of protest rallies and vigils.
The ‘Minister’ also reported that the protesters condemned “our Prime Minister and other senior government officials”. He listed down a number of slogans chanted by the protesters including: “Meles is a terrorist, Meles is Ethiopian Bin Laden, Meles Zenawi is a murderous dictator, Meles got to go, Stop the massacre….”
Fisseha noted that it was difficult to get the full names of all the participants at the vigil. The most ludicrous part of the letter says: “We have already started work to have photo prints from the video we recorded.” However, he said that 20,000 USD was needed to have the job done and demanded that the cash to be sent through ‘colleagues’ who were coming to Washington assigned to do a similar job.
The amazing letter, which was sent with two video cassettes, one tape and a four-page list of names, went on to state that administrative measures were taken against some members of the embassy staff who participated in vigils and rallies. Fisseha also said that the matter was going “out of control” and demanded the ministry to give directions for a tougher measure against embassy staff members who were out of line.
The letter is one of the many documents leaked to the media recently that reveal how Ethiopian embassies are uselessly misused by the ruling party to spy on and undermine Ethiopian citizens who are opposed to tyranny.
“I have been amazed to learn that our embassies are wasting their time, energy and the poor taxpayers money writing garbage in the name of reports,” said Mesfin Birhanu.
The exiled lawyer underlined that it was illegal, corrupt and useless to spy on members of the opposition, be it in exile or at home. “The TPLF seems to have lost directions. They think that there are two main categories of citizens. Those who are TPLF members and supporters are the chosen ones committed to peace, development and democracy. Those who are opposed to tyranny are, in the little minds of the TPLF leaders, anti-peace, anti-development and anti-democracy.”
He said the ruling party needs to start facing the truth. “The Meles regime must start facing the reality. The conflict in Ethiopia is between those minorities who want to kill, maim, jail, rob and oppress with impunity and the majority that say enough is enough.”
Mesfin said that it was outrageous to demand 20,000 dollars on useless list of names and photos. “I heard that, some 200 Ethiopians took part in that particular vigil. It means it cost the Ethiopia taxpayer $100 per name and photo of an innocent citizen who has every right to protest against injustice. It must have been one the most profitable photo albums ever. That is outrageous and corrupt. The money should have been spent on feeding the hungry.”
Source: www.addisvoice.com/news/minister-demands.htm
Nine Ethiopian soldiers arrived in Eritrea opposing the racist policy of TPLF
Nine Ethiopian soldiers arrive here
By Staff
Jun 27, 2006, 17:13
Asmara, 27 June 2006 - Nine Ethiopian soldiers arrived in Eritrea this week opposing the racist policy of the TPLF regime.
The soldiers are: Taha Kasim Roba and Wendm Bekele Kumsa, both from the Oromo ethnic group; Hassen Mohammed Amin from the Somali ethnic group; Seid Abdu Siraj from the Amhara ethnic group; Abdelfetah Sherif Adem, from Debub Hizboch; Abrehalei Tewolde Gezahegn, Issak Hagereselam Gebreegziabher, Gidei Kahsai Gebremariam, and Kahsai Girmai Mehari, the four of them from the Tigray ethnic group.
Shabait.com
By Staff
Jun 27, 2006, 17:13
 |
The soldiers are: Taha Kasim Roba and Wendm Bekele Kumsa, both from the Oromo ethnic group; Hassen Mohammed Amin from the Somali ethnic group; Seid Abdu Siraj from the Amhara ethnic group; Abdelfetah Sherif Adem, from Debub Hizboch; Abrehalei Tewolde Gezahegn, Issak Hagereselam Gebreegziabher, Gidei Kahsai Gebremariam, and Kahsai Girmai Mehari, the four of them from the Tigray ethnic group.
Shabait.com
Ethiopia's HIV Carriers and the Consequences for the Ogaden Populace
The Ogaden Somali territory lies between Oromia, Afar land, Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia. Somali agro-pastoral people with a single language, culture, and socio-economic structure inhabit Ogaden.
The recent news that Ethiopia's chief of general staff is gravely ill with full blown Aids and is being treated in the USA is not a shock to those who know the promiscuity of Ethiopian army personnel led by Tigrian generals who see sex, both consensual and gang rape, as a form of subjugation. It is no secret in many parties of Ethiopia and Ogaden that militias deployed there see themselves as both judges and the juries.
These militias masquerading as army personnel, many of whom are infected with AIDS carryout gang rapes not only to intentionally spread the virus but also to instill unparalleled fear into the civilian population especially the nomads in Ogaden. These militias know full well that in Ogaden one would rather die in slow death rather than admit to having the Aids virus. The consequences of a single Aids infection in Ogaden are unimaginable.
Ogaden is a country where majority of its society neither reads nor writes in any language. Ogaden is also a land where the most basic of health infrastructures is non existent. Furthermore Ogaden is a place where, due to ignorance and misconceptions, it is taboo for one to admit having the most curable of diseases such as tuberculosis. Even when the signs of tuberculosis are evident, it not unexpected to encounter an Ogaden Somali who will always insist that he has a bad flu or cold.
Part of this denial is the result of the society's lack of medical knowledge which causes one to think that to admit to a disease is a sign of a major weakness. In this closed, illiterate society with the non-existent health infrastructure and under colonial rule, one can imagine how a single Aids infection may cause the demise and slow death of many members of the society.
Ogaden Online reporters in Ogaden have documented many gang rapes both women and children especially boys. To our knowledge none of the rape victims have come forward to seek medical attention. It is not highly unlikely that some of these gang rape victims have been infected with the Aids virus as Ethiopia and especially its army personnel have one of the highest Aids infection rates in the sub-Saharan Africa.
Ogaden Online editorial board sees Aids tragedy in the making in Ogaden. Even though we are not doctors, however we see and have documented all the signs of an Aids outbreak in Ogaden due to the regime in Addis Ababa's dictatorial and colonial tactics of deploying Aids infected militias in Ogaden. We would like the world community to come to the aid of the Ogaden populace.
The world health organization should carryout mass medical examinations in order to find out the true picture and impact of the Aids infected soldier’s sexual misconducts on the Ogaden citizenry. The world community should make it clear to Ethiopia's generals and the fascist but pretentious 'democrat' in Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi that the deliberate infection and spread of the Aids virus in Ogaden is to be considered as an indictable war crimes offence.
Ogaden Online
The recent news that Ethiopia's chief of general staff is gravely ill with full blown Aids and is being treated in the USA is not a shock to those who know the promiscuity of Ethiopian army personnel led by Tigrian generals who see sex, both consensual and gang rape, as a form of subjugation. It is no secret in many parties of Ethiopia and Ogaden that militias deployed there see themselves as both judges and the juries.
These militias masquerading as army personnel, many of whom are infected with AIDS carryout gang rapes not only to intentionally spread the virus but also to instill unparalleled fear into the civilian population especially the nomads in Ogaden. These militias know full well that in Ogaden one would rather die in slow death rather than admit to having the Aids virus. The consequences of a single Aids infection in Ogaden are unimaginable.
Ogaden is a country where majority of its society neither reads nor writes in any language. Ogaden is also a land where the most basic of health infrastructures is non existent. Furthermore Ogaden is a place where, due to ignorance and misconceptions, it is taboo for one to admit having the most curable of diseases such as tuberculosis. Even when the signs of tuberculosis are evident, it not unexpected to encounter an Ogaden Somali who will always insist that he has a bad flu or cold.
Part of this denial is the result of the society's lack of medical knowledge which causes one to think that to admit to a disease is a sign of a major weakness. In this closed, illiterate society with the non-existent health infrastructure and under colonial rule, one can imagine how a single Aids infection may cause the demise and slow death of many members of the society.
Ogaden Online reporters in Ogaden have documented many gang rapes both women and children especially boys. To our knowledge none of the rape victims have come forward to seek medical attention. It is not highly unlikely that some of these gang rape victims have been infected with the Aids virus as Ethiopia and especially its army personnel have one of the highest Aids infection rates in the sub-Saharan Africa.
Ogaden Online editorial board sees Aids tragedy in the making in Ogaden. Even though we are not doctors, however we see and have documented all the signs of an Aids outbreak in Ogaden due to the regime in Addis Ababa's dictatorial and colonial tactics of deploying Aids infected militias in Ogaden. We would like the world community to come to the aid of the Ogaden populace.
The world health organization should carryout mass medical examinations in order to find out the true picture and impact of the Aids infected soldier’s sexual misconducts on the Ogaden citizenry. The world community should make it clear to Ethiopia's generals and the fascist but pretentious 'democrat' in Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi that the deliberate infection and spread of the Aids virus in Ogaden is to be considered as an indictable war crimes offence.
Ogaden Online
Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005 HR 4423
Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)HR 4423 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4423
To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of security, human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2005
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of security, human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005'.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support the advancement of human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in concert with United States security interests, in order to better enable Ethiopia to play a leading role in participating with the United States and other countries in fostering stability, democracy, and economic development in Africa.
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Despite improvements in its human rights record, as noted by the Department of State in its 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia continues to violate the internationally-established rights of its citizens, including unlawful killings by security forces (including the June 2005 shootings by government security forces of more than 40 election demonstrators), arbitrary or politically-motivated arrests, long detentions without charge or trial and beatings and torture, with human rights violations increasing in the aftermath of the May 15, 2005, elections and subsequent protests of suspected election fraud.
(2) According to the 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Ethiopian judiciary has demonstrated encouraging signs of independence, but the justice system--from the police to the courts to the prisons--remains inadequate and does not effectively uphold the human and civil rights of the citizens of Ethiopia.
(3) According to the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report for 2004, Ethiopia generally provides for freedom of religion, although local authorities continue to infringe on this right.
(4) The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that Ethiopia continues to imprison journalists and the Government of Ethiopia continues to refuse to revise a repressive media bill that further endangers the right to free speech.
(5) Because literacy in Ethiopia is less than 50 percent, broadcasting is a key source of information for citizens, but the Ethiopian Government has delayed accepting licenses for private radio or television since a licensing law was passed in 1999, leaving the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service as a radio and television monopoly and infringing on freedom of information.
(b) Support for Human Rights Training- The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall revise the Agency's country plan for Ethiopia to provide support for capacity building for more effective independent human rights monitoring operations in Ethiopia and provide training for government officials on international human rights standards.
(c) Training for Police, Security, and Prison Personnel- The President, acting through the head of the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program of the Department of Justice, shall provide necessary training for Ethiopian police, security, and prison personnel in recognizing and maintaining international standards for arresting and interrogating suspects and otherwise handling prisoners and detainees.
(d) Training for Court System Personnel- The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall support programs directed at increasing the independence and competence of the Ethiopian judicial system, especially training for Ethiopian court personnel on handling suspects and defendants throughout the pre-trial and trial process in order to ensure their human and civil rights as defined by international accords.
(e) Free Media- The President, Secretary of State, and other relevant officials of the Government of the United States, shall encourage the Government of Ethiopia to abide by its own laws and ensure the open and transparent licensing of independent radio and television and use all available means to support the establishment of independent radio and television as means of broadening the access of average citizens to information.
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN ETHIOPIA.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front has held power through three improving general elections since the overthrow of the government of President Mengistu Hailemariam in 1991.
(2) Human Rights Watch has reported the harassment, detention, and even torture of critics of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, especially in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, ostensibly to silence political opponents.
(3) The European Union election observers in the May 15, 2005, elections accused the Government of Ethiopia of employing `hate speech' and listed acts of violence and intimidation in a letter to the National Electoral Board.
(4) The Government of Ethiopia on March 30, 2005, expelled three internationally respected United States nongovernmental organizations--the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems--that were promoting democratic development, ostensibly due to their failure to register for such activities.
(5) Complaints about the conduct of the May 15, 2005, elections were lodged by the main opposition coalition and the ruling party in 299 of Ethiopia's 547 constituencies, but more than 90 percent of opposition party filings were thrown out by the Ethiopian agency investigating electoral complaints, while only 10 percent of ruling party complaints have been found to be unsubstantiated.
(6) International election observers reported the turnout of millions of eligible voters in the May 15, 2005, elections, further confirming the desire of the citizens of Ethiopia to express their political will through the ballot.
(7) The Government of Ethiopia failed to meet its stated July 8, 2005, deadline for releasing full results of the May 15, 2005, elections and continues to refuse to release customary detailed results of balloting, creating ongoing uncertainty and suspicion about the validity of the election.
(b) Transparency of Election Results- Congress urges the Government of Ethiopia to allow and facilitate a transparent review of the May 15, 2005, election results and to support a legal review of those results that are credibly shown to be questionable.
(c) Readmittance of United States Democracy Organizations- Congress urges the Government of Ethiopia to readmit the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems which were expelled prior to the May 15, 2005, elections and expeditiously work out any legitimate issues involving their registration.
(d) Training of Political Parties and Civil Society Election Observers- In order to better ensure continued progress in the conduct of the electoral process in Ethiopia, the President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall revise the Agency's country plan for Ethiopia to provide support for training political parties on organization building and message development and for training political parties and civil society groups in election monitoring.
(e) Facilitation of Equitable Electoral Environment- As part of its support for democratization in Ethiopia, the President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide assistance to facilitate ongoing communication between political parties and the Government of Ethiopia through the National Electoral Board in order to address issues involving delimitation of constituencies, voter registration, party registration, candidate registration, and related matters to ensure the credibility of the next election in Ethiopia.
SEC. 5. SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the World Bank Institute's governance ratings for 2004, the rating of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is measurably worse than its last rating in 2002 in government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and control of corruption, which examine a government's capacity to formulate and implement economic policies.
(2) The 2005 Index of Economic Freedom ranks Ethiopia's economy as mostly unfree, largely due to a cumbersome bureaucracy that deters investment, a judicial system that does not offer sufficient protection of property rights, and a system of higher tariffs on imported products.
(3) The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service reports in its 2005 country commercial guide for Ethiopia that Ethiopia's continuing refusal to alter its policy of considering all land to be public property that can only be leased and not owned prevents financing of ventures in which land would be collateral for a loan and also makes investors vulnerable to smallholders claiming the right to use part of their land.
(4) Members of the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States have accused the Government of Ethiopia of failing to live up to promises of repatriation of property confiscated by the Mengistu government, and in some cases, allowing others to profit from these seized properties.
(5) According to Ethiopia's poverty reduction strategy paper, its per capita income is among the lowest of even least developed countries, and poverty is widespread, affecting nearly half the country's population in both urban and rural areas.
(6) Lack of water is a major reason for the cause of famine, but the dire situation in Ethiopia's agriculture sector is exacerbated by Ethiopian Government policies, including its refusal to allow private ownership of land, excessive taxation of farmers, and the high cost of fertilizer sold by companies affiliated with the Ethiopian Government.
(b) Economic Policy Assistance- Utilizing training and other technical assistance programs offered by the Department of the Treasury, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and the Department of Justice, the President shall assist the Government of Ethiopia in developing policies that will address key economic obstacles, including such areas as budgeting, taxation, debt management, bank supervision, and anti-money laundering, that inhibit private sector development and limit participation in donor programs such as the United States Millennium Challenge Account.
(c) Resource Policy Assistance- The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide assistance for sustainable development of Ethiopia's Nile and Awash River resources, including assistance to help Ethiopia with the technology necessary for the construction of dams, irrigation systems, and hydroelectric power that might prevent future famine.
(d) Financing for United States-Ethiopian Commercial Ventures- The President shall use all available financing programs to provide adequate financing of United States and Ethiopian commercial ventures, including programs of the United States Agency for International Development, the Small Business Administration (including the Export Express and Export Working Capital programs), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (including the Small Business Center and the Small and Medium Enterprise and Structural Finance programs), and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (including the Short-Term Africa Pilot Program).
SEC. 6. ENSURING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is an important United States partner in the Horn of Africa region, whose stability is vital to United States interests in East Africa and the Middle East.
(2) Ethiopia has been a strong United States ally in the fight against global terrorism by its participation in the coalition of the willing in Iraq.
(3) Ethiopia has a strong military, which has been involved in international peacekeeping operations since the Korean conflict in the 1950s.
(4) Two ethnically-based opposition groups--the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogadeni National Liberation Front--have been committed to waging an armed struggle against the Government of Ethiopia, but the incidence of actual armed attacks has been limited and sporadic.
(5) Historically a nation with a large Christian majority, Ethiopia has experienced significant growth in its Muslim population, and Christians and Muslims for the first time are nearly equal in numbers, which places this key East African nation on a religious fault line that will require proactive efforts to minimize conflict.
(b) Suspension of Joint Security Activities-
(1) SUSPENSION- The President shall suspend all joint security activities of the Government of the United States with the Government of Ethiopia, including activities through the U.S. East Africa Counterterrorism Initiative until such time as the certification described in paragraph (2) is made in accordance with such paragraph.
(2) CERTIFICATION- The certification described in this subsection is a certification by the President to Congress that the Government of Ethiopia is observing international standards of human rights and enforcing the principle of the rule of law, especially by conducting a credible investigation of the killing of civilian protesters by security forces, as well as trying or releasing detainees and granting access for detainees to their families, counsel, and the International Red Cross.
(c) Resolution of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Dispute-
(1) DECLARATION OF POLICY- Congress declares that the current stalemate in the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea has the potential to lead to conflict and must be addressed.
(2) PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE-
(A) PROHIBITION- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), funds available to any department of agency of the Government of the United States may not be made available for assistance for the central Governments of Ethiopia or Eritrea unless the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate that the central Government of Ethiopia or Eritrea, as the case may be, is taking steps to comply with the terms of the Algiers Agreements.
(B) EXCEPTION- Subparagraph (A) does not apply to assistance for democracy, rule of law, peacekeeping programs and activities, child survival and health, basic education, and agriculture programs.
(d) Democracy Enhancement-
(1) ASSISTANCE- United States technical assistance for democracy promotion in Ethiopia may be made available to the ruling party as well as opposition parties in Ethiopia.
(2) RESTRICTION-
(A) IN GENERAL- Non-essential United States assistance may not be made available to the Government of Ethiopia if the Government of Ethiopia acts to obstruct United States technical assistance for opposition parties in Ethiopia.
(B) DEFINITION- In this paragraph, the term `non-essential United States assistance' means assistance under any provision of law, other than humanitarian assistance, assistance under emergency food programs, assistance to combat HIV/AIDS, and other health care assistance, including assistance for fistula treatment, health service planning, training, delivery and reporting, post-partum hemorrhage, safe motherhood, and abandonment of harmful traditional practices.
(e) Support for OLF Reintegration- In light of recent reports that the Oromo Liberation Front in Ethiopia may be prepared to abandon its armed struggle and participate in the democratic process, it is the sense of Congress that the Government of the United States should encourage the Government of Ethiopia to take advantage of this opportunity to enter into discussions with the Oromo Liberation Front to bring them into full participation in the political and economic affairs of Ethiopia, including their legalization as a political party, and the Government of the United States should provide such assistance as is warranted and necessary to help achieve this goal.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit a report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including a description of a comprehensive plan to address the security, human rights, democratization, and economic freedom concerns that potentially threaten the stability of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
(b) Availability- Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4423
To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of security, human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2005
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To encourage and facilitate the consolidation of security, human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in Ethiopia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Ethiopia Consolidation Act of 2005'.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support the advancement of human rights, democracy, and economic freedom in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in concert with United States security interests, in order to better enable Ethiopia to play a leading role in participating with the United States and other countries in fostering stability, democracy, and economic development in Africa.
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Despite improvements in its human rights record, as noted by the Department of State in its 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia continues to violate the internationally-established rights of its citizens, including unlawful killings by security forces (including the June 2005 shootings by government security forces of more than 40 election demonstrators), arbitrary or politically-motivated arrests, long detentions without charge or trial and beatings and torture, with human rights violations increasing in the aftermath of the May 15, 2005, elections and subsequent protests of suspected election fraud.
(2) According to the 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the Ethiopian judiciary has demonstrated encouraging signs of independence, but the justice system--from the police to the courts to the prisons--remains inadequate and does not effectively uphold the human and civil rights of the citizens of Ethiopia.
(3) According to the Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report for 2004, Ethiopia generally provides for freedom of religion, although local authorities continue to infringe on this right.
(4) The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that Ethiopia continues to imprison journalists and the Government of Ethiopia continues to refuse to revise a repressive media bill that further endangers the right to free speech.
(5) Because literacy in Ethiopia is less than 50 percent, broadcasting is a key source of information for citizens, but the Ethiopian Government has delayed accepting licenses for private radio or television since a licensing law was passed in 1999, leaving the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service as a radio and television monopoly and infringing on freedom of information.
(b) Support for Human Rights Training- The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall revise the Agency's country plan for Ethiopia to provide support for capacity building for more effective independent human rights monitoring operations in Ethiopia and provide training for government officials on international human rights standards.
(c) Training for Police, Security, and Prison Personnel- The President, acting through the head of the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program of the Department of Justice, shall provide necessary training for Ethiopian police, security, and prison personnel in recognizing and maintaining international standards for arresting and interrogating suspects and otherwise handling prisoners and detainees.
(d) Training for Court System Personnel- The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall support programs directed at increasing the independence and competence of the Ethiopian judicial system, especially training for Ethiopian court personnel on handling suspects and defendants throughout the pre-trial and trial process in order to ensure their human and civil rights as defined by international accords.
(e) Free Media- The President, Secretary of State, and other relevant officials of the Government of the United States, shall encourage the Government of Ethiopia to abide by its own laws and ensure the open and transparent licensing of independent radio and television and use all available means to support the establishment of independent radio and television as means of broadening the access of average citizens to information.
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN ETHIOPIA.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front has held power through three improving general elections since the overthrow of the government of President Mengistu Hailemariam in 1991.
(2) Human Rights Watch has reported the harassment, detention, and even torture of critics of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, especially in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, ostensibly to silence political opponents.
(3) The European Union election observers in the May 15, 2005, elections accused the Government of Ethiopia of employing `hate speech' and listed acts of violence and intimidation in a letter to the National Electoral Board.
(4) The Government of Ethiopia on March 30, 2005, expelled three internationally respected United States nongovernmental organizations--the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems--that were promoting democratic development, ostensibly due to their failure to register for such activities.
(5) Complaints about the conduct of the May 15, 2005, elections were lodged by the main opposition coalition and the ruling party in 299 of Ethiopia's 547 constituencies, but more than 90 percent of opposition party filings were thrown out by the Ethiopian agency investigating electoral complaints, while only 10 percent of ruling party complaints have been found to be unsubstantiated.
(6) International election observers reported the turnout of millions of eligible voters in the May 15, 2005, elections, further confirming the desire of the citizens of Ethiopia to express their political will through the ballot.
(7) The Government of Ethiopia failed to meet its stated July 8, 2005, deadline for releasing full results of the May 15, 2005, elections and continues to refuse to release customary detailed results of balloting, creating ongoing uncertainty and suspicion about the validity of the election.
(b) Transparency of Election Results- Congress urges the Government of Ethiopia to allow and facilitate a transparent review of the May 15, 2005, election results and to support a legal review of those results that are credibly shown to be questionable.
(c) Readmittance of United States Democracy Organizations- Congress urges the Government of Ethiopia to readmit the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems which were expelled prior to the May 15, 2005, elections and expeditiously work out any legitimate issues involving their registration.
(d) Training of Political Parties and Civil Society Election Observers- In order to better ensure continued progress in the conduct of the electoral process in Ethiopia, the President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall revise the Agency's country plan for Ethiopia to provide support for training political parties on organization building and message development and for training political parties and civil society groups in election monitoring.
(e) Facilitation of Equitable Electoral Environment- As part of its support for democratization in Ethiopia, the President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide assistance to facilitate ongoing communication between political parties and the Government of Ethiopia through the National Electoral Board in order to address issues involving delimitation of constituencies, voter registration, party registration, candidate registration, and related matters to ensure the credibility of the next election in Ethiopia.
SEC. 5. SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the World Bank Institute's governance ratings for 2004, the rating of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is measurably worse than its last rating in 2002 in government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and control of corruption, which examine a government's capacity to formulate and implement economic policies.
(2) The 2005 Index of Economic Freedom ranks Ethiopia's economy as mostly unfree, largely due to a cumbersome bureaucracy that deters investment, a judicial system that does not offer sufficient protection of property rights, and a system of higher tariffs on imported products.
(3) The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service reports in its 2005 country commercial guide for Ethiopia that Ethiopia's continuing refusal to alter its policy of considering all land to be public property that can only be leased and not owned prevents financing of ventures in which land would be collateral for a loan and also makes investors vulnerable to smallholders claiming the right to use part of their land.
(4) Members of the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States have accused the Government of Ethiopia of failing to live up to promises of repatriation of property confiscated by the Mengistu government, and in some cases, allowing others to profit from these seized properties.
(5) According to Ethiopia's poverty reduction strategy paper, its per capita income is among the lowest of even least developed countries, and poverty is widespread, affecting nearly half the country's population in both urban and rural areas.
(6) Lack of water is a major reason for the cause of famine, but the dire situation in Ethiopia's agriculture sector is exacerbated by Ethiopian Government policies, including its refusal to allow private ownership of land, excessive taxation of farmers, and the high cost of fertilizer sold by companies affiliated with the Ethiopian Government.
(b) Economic Policy Assistance- Utilizing training and other technical assistance programs offered by the Department of the Treasury, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and the Department of Justice, the President shall assist the Government of Ethiopia in developing policies that will address key economic obstacles, including such areas as budgeting, taxation, debt management, bank supervision, and anti-money laundering, that inhibit private sector development and limit participation in donor programs such as the United States Millennium Challenge Account.
(c) Resource Policy Assistance- The President, acting through the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide assistance for sustainable development of Ethiopia's Nile and Awash River resources, including assistance to help Ethiopia with the technology necessary for the construction of dams, irrigation systems, and hydroelectric power that might prevent future famine.
(d) Financing for United States-Ethiopian Commercial Ventures- The President shall use all available financing programs to provide adequate financing of United States and Ethiopian commercial ventures, including programs of the United States Agency for International Development, the Small Business Administration (including the Export Express and Export Working Capital programs), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (including the Small Business Center and the Small and Medium Enterprise and Structural Finance programs), and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (including the Short-Term Africa Pilot Program).
SEC. 6. ENSURING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is an important United States partner in the Horn of Africa region, whose stability is vital to United States interests in East Africa and the Middle East.
(2) Ethiopia has been a strong United States ally in the fight against global terrorism by its participation in the coalition of the willing in Iraq.
(3) Ethiopia has a strong military, which has been involved in international peacekeeping operations since the Korean conflict in the 1950s.
(4) Two ethnically-based opposition groups--the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogadeni National Liberation Front--have been committed to waging an armed struggle against the Government of Ethiopia, but the incidence of actual armed attacks has been limited and sporadic.
(5) Historically a nation with a large Christian majority, Ethiopia has experienced significant growth in its Muslim population, and Christians and Muslims for the first time are nearly equal in numbers, which places this key East African nation on a religious fault line that will require proactive efforts to minimize conflict.
(b) Suspension of Joint Security Activities-
(1) SUSPENSION- The President shall suspend all joint security activities of the Government of the United States with the Government of Ethiopia, including activities through the U.S. East Africa Counterterrorism Initiative until such time as the certification described in paragraph (2) is made in accordance with such paragraph.
(2) CERTIFICATION- The certification described in this subsection is a certification by the President to Congress that the Government of Ethiopia is observing international standards of human rights and enforcing the principle of the rule of law, especially by conducting a credible investigation of the killing of civilian protesters by security forces, as well as trying or releasing detainees and granting access for detainees to their families, counsel, and the International Red Cross.
(c) Resolution of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Dispute-
(1) DECLARATION OF POLICY- Congress declares that the current stalemate in the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea has the potential to lead to conflict and must be addressed.
(2) PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE-
(A) PROHIBITION- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), funds available to any department of agency of the Government of the United States may not be made available for assistance for the central Governments of Ethiopia or Eritrea unless the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate that the central Government of Ethiopia or Eritrea, as the case may be, is taking steps to comply with the terms of the Algiers Agreements.
(B) EXCEPTION- Subparagraph (A) does not apply to assistance for democracy, rule of law, peacekeeping programs and activities, child survival and health, basic education, and agriculture programs.
(d) Democracy Enhancement-
(1) ASSISTANCE- United States technical assistance for democracy promotion in Ethiopia may be made available to the ruling party as well as opposition parties in Ethiopia.
(2) RESTRICTION-
(A) IN GENERAL- Non-essential United States assistance may not be made available to the Government of Ethiopia if the Government of Ethiopia acts to obstruct United States technical assistance for opposition parties in Ethiopia.
(B) DEFINITION- In this paragraph, the term `non-essential United States assistance' means assistance under any provision of law, other than humanitarian assistance, assistance under emergency food programs, assistance to combat HIV/AIDS, and other health care assistance, including assistance for fistula treatment, health service planning, training, delivery and reporting, post-partum hemorrhage, safe motherhood, and abandonment of harmful traditional practices.
(e) Support for OLF Reintegration- In light of recent reports that the Oromo Liberation Front in Ethiopia may be prepared to abandon its armed struggle and participate in the democratic process, it is the sense of Congress that the Government of the United States should encourage the Government of Ethiopia to take advantage of this opportunity to enter into discussions with the Oromo Liberation Front to bring them into full participation in the political and economic affairs of Ethiopia, including their legalization as a political party, and the Government of the United States should provide such assistance as is warranted and necessary to help achieve this goal.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit a report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, including a description of a comprehensive plan to address the security, human rights, democratization, and economic freedom concerns that potentially threaten the stability of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
(b) Availability- Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.
Ethiopia Human Rights Bill Advances
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A comprehensive bill authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to promote human rights and democracy in Ethiopia was approved today by the International Relations Committee.
Smith, who is the Chairman of the Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations Subcommittee said “freedom and human rights in Ethiopia have seriously deteriorated under President Meles Zenawi.”
According to Smith, more than a hundred elected officials, party activists, journalists and human rights defenders were “thrown into jail on trumped up charges.” He said, “Violence against dissidents has increased significantly and yet there have been no credible accounts for the slaughter of protestors in the streets of Addis last year.”
Smith was joined by Rep. Donald Payne, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee in presenting the Bill. The bipartisan legislation has 15 cosponsors.
The bill—the Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006 (HR 5680)—includes an authorization of $20 million over two years to assist political prisoners, indigenous Ethiopian human rights organizations, independent media, civil society and to promote legal training.
“We not only call on the Ethiopian government to unconditionally release all political prisoners, we establish a program to tangibly assist them.” Smith said.
“The people of Ethiopia deserve an independent, fair and transparent judiciary, another goal of this bill,” he said.
The legislation puts limitations on security assistance except for peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
HR 5680 also denies visas to anyone who was involved in the June and November 2005 killings of demonstrators.
“Nearly 40 political activists were shot to death by government forces in the capital city of Addis Ababa last June,” Smith said. “A similar demonstration in early November also resulted in the deaths of scores of protesters and bystanders at the hands of government forces. Seven policemen also were killed in the struggle,” he said.
“The bill is a comprehensive measure that provides funding and technical assistance to those who want democracy and want to positively change the circumstances that have limited progress in Ethiopia,” he said.
###
For Immediate Release: June 27, 2006Contact: Ryan Goodwin (202) 225-3765
Smith, who is the Chairman of the Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations Subcommittee said “freedom and human rights in Ethiopia have seriously deteriorated under President Meles Zenawi.”
According to Smith, more than a hundred elected officials, party activists, journalists and human rights defenders were “thrown into jail on trumped up charges.” He said, “Violence against dissidents has increased significantly and yet there have been no credible accounts for the slaughter of protestors in the streets of Addis last year.”
Smith was joined by Rep. Donald Payne, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee in presenting the Bill. The bipartisan legislation has 15 cosponsors.
The bill—the Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006 (HR 5680)—includes an authorization of $20 million over two years to assist political prisoners, indigenous Ethiopian human rights organizations, independent media, civil society and to promote legal training.
“We not only call on the Ethiopian government to unconditionally release all political prisoners, we establish a program to tangibly assist them.” Smith said.
“The people of Ethiopia deserve an independent, fair and transparent judiciary, another goal of this bill,” he said.
The legislation puts limitations on security assistance except for peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
HR 5680 also denies visas to anyone who was involved in the June and November 2005 killings of demonstrators.
“Nearly 40 political activists were shot to death by government forces in the capital city of Addis Ababa last June,” Smith said. “A similar demonstration in early November also resulted in the deaths of scores of protesters and bystanders at the hands of government forces. Seven policemen also were killed in the struggle,” he said.
“The bill is a comprehensive measure that provides funding and technical assistance to those who want democracy and want to positively change the circumstances that have limited progress in Ethiopia,” he said.
###
For Immediate Release: June 27, 2006Contact: Ryan Goodwin (202) 225-3765
Somali Islamists suggest talks with Ethiopia over territorial dispute
Wed Jun 28, 2006
MOGADISHU (AFP) - Powerful Somali Islamists have suggested talks with arch-foe Ethiopian to resolve a lingering territorial dispute thas has been a source of animosity between the two impoverished Horn of Africa nations.
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the supreme leader of Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts that controls swathes of southern Somalia including the capital Mogadishu, said Wednesday he was ready to "negotiate" with Ethiopia on the status of the contested Ogaden region.
"We are ready to negotiate," he told AFP by phone from central Somalia's Galgudud region, where he has been establishing Islamic tribunals.
Relations between the countries have been frosty since they fought in 1977-8 over the ownership of the barren Ogaden region in southeastern Ethiopia, which is largely inhabited by ethnic Somalis who claim that the land was handed over to Ethiopia by the former colonial powers.
"Ethiopia mistreats the Somalis under their administration. The land was given to them by colonialists and we will seek justice to resolve the crisis that is dividing the two countries," Aweys told AFP.
"The land taken by Ethiopia cannot be forgotten because it is attached to our blood and nationalists," he said, referring to troops and civilians who died during the 1977/78 war.
In the past Addis Ababa has accused factions in Somalia of fueling tension in the Ogaden region, a dry belt that is believed to be lying on large quantities of gas, but further exploration is needed to verify the exact amount and develop the fields.
On Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi accused arch-foe Eritrea and Somali Islamists of destabilizing the Horn of Africa and warned his country would defend itself against any threat.
Since the Islamists routed US-backed warlords early this month, Ethiopia has reinforced its defences along the border with Somalia and warned the Islamists against provocation.
Analysts have said that efforts to settle the border dispute faces challenges, notably because Addis Ababa is a key ally of Washington in its "war against terrorism" and the Somali Islamic supremo Aweys is a hardline cleric who has been designated a terrorist by the United States.
In addition, Ethiopia supports Somalia's largely powerless transitional government, which is at odds with the Islamists, they add.
Yahoo News
June 28, 2006
Ethiopia's Zenawi says Somalia 'a threat'
| Sheikh Aweys used to head an Islamic armed group |
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys was head of al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, a group accused of having links to al-Qaeda.
Ethiopia helped Somalia's now interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf, defeat al-Itihaad in the 1990s.
The United States has said it will not deal with Mr Aweys, because of "links to terrorism", a charge he denies.
Mr Meles says security along its border has been increased in case of "the resurgence of Jihadists in Mogadishu".
Last week, Mr Awey's Somali Supreme Islamic Courts Council and the interim government, which is largely toothless and based north of the capital in Baidoa, agreed not to fight each other.
The recent advances of the Islamists have renewed fears of major conflict in Somalia, which has not had an effective national government for 15 years.
Security
Mr Meles accused Ethiopia's long-time rival Eritrea of backing Mogadishu's Islamic courts, whose militia recently seized power of the capital from an alliance of warlords. Eritrea denies these accusations
If strictly following my religion and love for Islam makes me a terrorist, then I will accept the designation
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys 
And Mr Meles denies accusations that Ethiopia had sent troops into Somalia.
"We have beefed up our defences all along the border to prevent any threat to our security that might emanate from the resurgent Jihadists in Mogadishu," he said.
On Monday, Mr Aweys said he would only back a government based on Islamic law, but the BBC's Hassan Barise says his colleagues have offered assurances they do not want a Taleban-style state.
President Yusuf strongly opposes political Islam.
"Al-Itihaad has been involved in terrorist outrages in Addis Ababa," Reuters news agency quoted the Ethiopian leader as saying in reference to mysterious blasts in the last year in the Ethiopian capital.
"It is a terrorist organisation which has no qualms in planting bombs in hotels and so it would be absolutely prudent for us to take proper precautionary measures," he added.
'Troubled'
Meanwhile, the African Union is to ask the United Nations Security Council to partially lift its arms embargo on Somalia to allow for an African peacekeeping mission to go there.
The Islamic courts control much of southern Somalia
"Whilst we support the arms embargo, the peace support mission should not be affected by this embargo," South Africa's foreign minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said after a meeting of the AU's Peace and Security Council.
"The transitional government must be able to build its institutions like the police and so on," she said.
Somalia's president is in favour of the deployment of peacekeepers, but the Islamists strongly oppose the move.
The US has said it is willing to work with other leaders allied to Mr Aweys, but it fears that a Somalia run by Islamists could be used by international Islamic fighters.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US would be troubled if Mr Aweys' promotion was an indication of the direction the Somali Supreme Islamic Courts Council was heading in.
But Mr Aweys told the AFP news agency he had never killed anybody.
"I am not a terrorist. But if strictly following my religion and love for Islam makes me a terrorist, then I will accept the designation."
The US is widely believed to have backed the defeated Mogadishu warlords, as part of its war on terror.
It has neither confirmed nor denied the reports but says it will support those working to prevent "terrorists" from setting up in Somalia.
Ethiopia's reserves down 19.1%
Ethiopia's reserves down 19.1%
Posted Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s foreign currency reserves have dropped by 19.1 percent in the current fiscal year, said a finance ministry report.
The ministry of finance and economic development said that current reserves of $1.2bn could cover the country's imports of goods for three months.
The report said that the decrease was due to rising crude oil prices. Reserves grew by 4.2 percent in 2004 and 8.1 percent in 2005.
BiA Online
Posted Wed, 28 Jun 2006
Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s foreign currency reserves have dropped by 19.1 percent in the current fiscal year, said a finance ministry report.
The ministry of finance and economic development said that current reserves of $1.2bn could cover the country's imports of goods for three months.
The report said that the decrease was due to rising crude oil prices. Reserves grew by 4.2 percent in 2004 and 8.1 percent in 2005.
BiA Online
Disbelief at LRA war crime denial
|  |
International rights group Human Rights Watch expressed surprise at Mr Kony's claim but said he must defend himself at the International Criminal Court.
Thousands have died in a conflict in which the LRA targetted children.
Mr Kony told the BBC the LRA was not responsible for killings, maimings and abductions in northern Uganda.
Ugandan government spokesman Robert Kabushenga said Mr Kony's denial was "ridiculous". We have testimony of extensive atrocities by the LRA
Jemera Rone, HRW
"A lot of information, a lot of evidence has been given by people abducted into the LRA," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"Young children, people who were their commanders have all admitted publicly [to atrocities], and of course there are reports by journalists who have gone to areas where the LRA has been in and massacred."
Indictment
HRW East Africa co-ordinator Jemera Rone said Mr Kony's insistence on his innocence was "amazing".
"We have testimony of extensive atrocities by the LRA," Ms Rone told the BBC News website.
She emphasised however that Mr Kony must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by the ICC, which has indicted him for war crimes.
"I think it is a good thing that Joseph Kony has come out of the woodwork and tried to engage with the international community, and I hope he will avail himself of the opportunity to clear his name," Ms Rone said.
Mr Kony described himself in an interview with the BBC's Newnight programme as a "freedom fighter" and called for peace talks.
He said stories of LRA rebels cutting off people's ears or lips were Ugandan government propaganda. He also denied his group kidnapped children.
"This is not true. I cannot cut the ear of my brother, I cannot kill the eye of my brother. I cannot kill my brother, that is not true," he said.
Humanitarian crisis
But earlier this year, UN humanitarian affairs chief Jan Egeland decribed the LRA's activities as "terrorism of the worst kind anywhere in the world" and the conflict as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Former BBC correspondent in Uganda, Will Ross, says Joseph Kony may describe himself as a freedom fighter but the LRA has had no clear political agenda and freedom is the last thing that he has brought as his rebels have caused widespread suffering and fear.
The rebels, claiming to be guided by the Bible's Ten Commandments, have caused insecurity in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.
The LRA has kidnapped many thousands of children over the years. It turns the boys into fighters or porters and uses many of the girls as sex slaves.
The south Sudanese vice-president, Riek Machar, is trying to broker a new peace initiative.
The Ugandan government says it is willing to discuss peace, but will not talk to those indicted by the international court.
HRW's Ms Rone said legal proceedings against Mr Kony "should not mean there are no peace negotiations in northern Uganda - the two should be independent of each other."
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said that Mr Kony had until the end of July to end the war and said his safety would be guaranteed.
| |
World Cup Ghana vs Brazil
Brazil striker Ronaldo became the all-time World Cup scoring leader with 15 career goals, helping the defending champions defeat Ghana 3-0 Tuesday to capture a berth in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Ronaldo scored the historic goal with a spectacular solo effort in the fifth minute, racing past Ghana's defense for a pass from Kaka that set him up alone against Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingston.
The 29-year-old Real Madrid forward -- previously heavily criticized for being out of shape and lazy -- faked right using the popular Brazilian stepover move to switch left, leaving the goalkeeper sprawled behind him as he flicked the ball into the net ahead of defender John Pantsil.
"I hope they continue falling for my tricks up to the final," Ronaldo said.
Adriano scored in first-half injury time although the goal looked offside and Ze Roberto added another in the 84th minute of the second-round match as Brazil advanced to face either Spain or France on Saturday at Frankfurt.
Source: Spiegel Online
Somalia to put to death rapists
HARDLINE MOVE: The Islamists who are now in control of the capital said they will only support a government based on the Koran, and will stone to death five rapists AGENCIES , MOGADISHU AND NAIROBI, KENYA Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006,Page 6
Somalia's newly powerful Islamists said on Monday they will stone to death five rapists, in what some fear is the latest sign of a plan to install a hardline Islamic authority like Afghanistan's Taliban.
The punishments, like others carried out by the Islamists in their sharia courts in the capital Mogadishu and elsewhere, follow the naming of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys -- on a UN list of al-Qaeda associates -- to a top post over the weekend.
Aweys, a former army colonel who in the 1990s led militant Islamists in failed campaigns in Somalia but has denied any al-Qaeda links, was named head of the Council of Islamic Courts.
Aweys said he will only support a government based on the Koran.
"Somalia is a Muslim nation and its people are also Muslim, 100 percent. Therefore any government we agree on would be based on the holy Koran and the teachings of our Prophet Mohammed," Aweys said on Monday in a telephone interview.
The 71-year-old Aweys, speaking from his home in central Somalia, condemned any attempts to install a Western-style democracy and said he is under no obligation to abide by the wishes of the West.
"It is not compulsory for us to hate what the Westerners hate," he said.
"Our relationship with the US administration will depend on how the US treats us. If it treats us well, we will also treat them well. If it behaves badly, it will be responsible," the former military colonel said, without elaborating.
The US would have no contact with Aweys, but has made no decision about relations with the group as a whole, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
"Of course we are not going to work with somebody like that and of course we would be troubled if this is an indicator of the direction that this group would go in," McCormack said. "But again let's wait, let's see what the collective leadership of this group does."
The council is a parliament for the Islamists, whose well-trained militias seized Mogadishu from US-backed warlords on June 5 after months of fighting that killed at least 350.
The rapists were to be stoned to death in Jowhar, which the Islamists took in the last phase of a campaign that saw them seize a strategic swathe of Somalia from the coastal capital northwest nearly to the Ethiopian border.
"Five men who raped four women on June 22 will be stoned to death [Monday] in accordance with the Islamic Shariah. They have pleaded guilty to the crime and also have been identified by the victims," Siyad Mohamed, a militia leader linked to Islamic courts, told reporters by phone from Jowhar.
Mohamed later said the execution had been delayed as the courts looked to arrest a sixth suspect. He said it was not clear when the sentences would be carried out.
The Islamist victory dealt an embarrassing public setback to Washington's counter-terrorism campaign, as its support for the much-despised warlords gave the Islamists popular backing.
Source: Taipei Times
Somalia's newly powerful Islamists said on Monday they will stone to death five rapists, in what some fear is the latest sign of a plan to install a hardline Islamic authority like Afghanistan's Taliban.
The punishments, like others carried out by the Islamists in their sharia courts in the capital Mogadishu and elsewhere, follow the naming of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys -- on a UN list of al-Qaeda associates -- to a top post over the weekend.
Aweys, a former army colonel who in the 1990s led militant Islamists in failed campaigns in Somalia but has denied any al-Qaeda links, was named head of the Council of Islamic Courts.
Aweys said he will only support a government based on the Koran.
"Somalia is a Muslim nation and its people are also Muslim, 100 percent. Therefore any government we agree on would be based on the holy Koran and the teachings of our Prophet Mohammed," Aweys said on Monday in a telephone interview.
The 71-year-old Aweys, speaking from his home in central Somalia, condemned any attempts to install a Western-style democracy and said he is under no obligation to abide by the wishes of the West.
"It is not compulsory for us to hate what the Westerners hate," he said.
"Our relationship with the US administration will depend on how the US treats us. If it treats us well, we will also treat them well. If it behaves badly, it will be responsible," the former military colonel said, without elaborating.
The US would have no contact with Aweys, but has made no decision about relations with the group as a whole, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
"Of course we are not going to work with somebody like that and of course we would be troubled if this is an indicator of the direction that this group would go in," McCormack said. "But again let's wait, let's see what the collective leadership of this group does."
The council is a parliament for the Islamists, whose well-trained militias seized Mogadishu from US-backed warlords on June 5 after months of fighting that killed at least 350.
The rapists were to be stoned to death in Jowhar, which the Islamists took in the last phase of a campaign that saw them seize a strategic swathe of Somalia from the coastal capital northwest nearly to the Ethiopian border.
"Five men who raped four women on June 22 will be stoned to death [Monday] in accordance with the Islamic Shariah. They have pleaded guilty to the crime and also have been identified by the victims," Siyad Mohamed, a militia leader linked to Islamic courts, told reporters by phone from Jowhar.
Mohamed later said the execution had been delayed as the courts looked to arrest a sixth suspect. He said it was not clear when the sentences would be carried out.
The Islamist victory dealt an embarrassing public setback to Washington's counter-terrorism campaign, as its support for the much-despised warlords gave the Islamists popular backing.
Source: Taipei Times
June 27, 2006
Ethiopian PM: Somalia's Islamists a threat
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Members of the Islamic Courts Union sit on the back of a jeep mounted with a recoilless rifle Tuesday.
The United States calls the al-Itihaad al-Islamiya group a "terrorist" faction with links to al Qaeda.
"At the moment the new leadership ... is dominated by Al-Itihaad, an internationally recognised terrorist organization," Meles told a press conference.
The sharia courts appointed Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, named in a U.N. list of al Qaeda associates, to lead their governing council, raising fears they want to install Taliban-style rule.
Meles said the appointment of Aweys, who denies links to terrorism, confirmed that the Islamists were a dangerous group.
"Indeed the chairman of the new council they have established is a certain colonel who also happens to be the head of al-Itihaad," he said.
"Al-Itihaad has been involved in terrorist outrages in Addis Ababa. It is a terrorist organization which has no qualm in planting bombs in hotels, and so it would be absolutely prudent for us to take proper precautionary measures," Meles added.
Ethiopia has seen a series of mysterious blasts this year which it blames on various groups, including members of the opposition and separatists rebels.
The Islamists accused Addis Ababa of sending soldiers into Somalia earlier this month, after they moved inland towards the seat of Somalia's interim government.
Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf, a former warlord, is closely allied with Ethiopia, which was instrumental in his election after peace talks in Kenya in 2004.
But Meles said Ethiopia had not sent troops to Somalia nor violated a United Nations arms embargo on Somalia.
"We have not violated the arms embargo and we have not sent troops to Somalia. However we have beefed up our defenses along our border to prevent any threat to our security that might emanate from the resurgence of Jihadists in Mogadishu," he said.
In Somalia on Tuesday, witnesses said Islamists seized more territory near Mogadishu overnight, prompting accusations they had violated a cease-fire agreement.
In the first attack around Mogadishu since militia loyal to sharia courts took the capital from warlords this month, five people were killed when gunmen seized three checkpoints from a warlord.
Reuters
Ethiopia: UN study finds female-headed households in Southern Tigray destitute
27 June 2006 – More than any other group, households headed by women in Ethiopia’s Southern Tigray region, one of the poorest in the world, are “among the most destitute” and are far more likely to be landless and without access to plant resources than households led by men, according to a United Nations-backed study.
The study, supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was based on four months of field research in Southern Tigray and was conducted in conjunction with an FAO project aimed at improving food security and nutrition.
“Female-headed households, which constitute nearly 30 per cent of this region’s population, are among the most destitute,” said Patricia Howard, a research professor at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Being a member of a female-headed household in highland Ethiopia means having a 35 per cent chance of being destitute, compared with only an 8 per cent chance if one belongs to a male-headed household, according to the study.
It also found that female households are far more likely to be landless and they lack access to plant resources. In a region severely affected by soil erosion, deforestation and overgrazing, the FAO said that such access has been reduced not only because of cultural bias but also due to inadequate enclosing of common grazing lands and woodlots.
Since 2001, the broader FAO food security project has implemented a series of initiatives focusing on agriculture, health, education, water and sanitation, the agency said, highlighting also that female-headed households account for 80 per cent of all malnutrition cases in the project area, covering disadvantaged rural zones of Northern Shoa and Southern Tigray.
“The objective is to strengthen their access to assets such as land, water resources, skills, and technology – and also to improve their health, their diet and, ultimately, their social status,” said FAO expert Karel Callens.
The study, supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was based on four months of field research in Southern Tigray and was conducted in conjunction with an FAO project aimed at improving food security and nutrition.
“Female-headed households, which constitute nearly 30 per cent of this region’s population, are among the most destitute,” said Patricia Howard, a research professor at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Being a member of a female-headed household in highland Ethiopia means having a 35 per cent chance of being destitute, compared with only an 8 per cent chance if one belongs to a male-headed household, according to the study.
It also found that female households are far more likely to be landless and they lack access to plant resources. In a region severely affected by soil erosion, deforestation and overgrazing, the FAO said that such access has been reduced not only because of cultural bias but also due to inadequate enclosing of common grazing lands and woodlots.
Since 2001, the broader FAO food security project has implemented a series of initiatives focusing on agriculture, health, education, water and sanitation, the agency said, highlighting also that female-headed households account for 80 per cent of all malnutrition cases in the project area, covering disadvantaged rural zones of Northern Shoa and Southern Tigray.
“The objective is to strengthen their access to assets such as land, water resources, skills, and technology – and also to improve their health, their diet and, ultimately, their social status,” said FAO expert Karel Callens.
June 26, 2006
Has the G8 met its promises to Africa?
Has the G8 met its promises to Africa?
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The BBC is investigating how Africa is faring one year on from the promises of increased aid made at the G8 summit in Gleneagles.
BBC Developing World correspondent David Loyn asks if G8 countries are meeting their promises to boost aid and write off debts in Africa.
The Gleneagles G8 summit was unusual in requiring leaders to sign up to a series of specific measures.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair wanted to put the seal on his "year for Africa", not with vague offers of goodwill, but concrete measures.
When he launched his Commission for Africa report earlier that year he said that the radical and costly package of measures in it would now be British government policy.
A year on Britain remains committed, and even publishes a monthly account of "milestones" achieved, but much more remains to be done.
Fractured
World leaders gather as the G8 summit in Gleneagles ends 
Enlarge ImageEven before Gleneagles, the G8 countries had agreed to increase debt write-offs, and at the summit itself Mr Blair won the endorsement he wanted for major increases in aid, as well as a promise to make Aids treatment free and provide universal access to free primary education and health care.
But keeping the commitments - and the funding needed for them - has been harder than making them.
The coalition of support for the Gleneagles process fractured even before the ink was dry on the declaration.
At one end, Bob Geldof said: "On aid 10 out of 10, on debt eight out of 10."
At the other, Kumi Naidoo of the Global Campaign against Poverty, said: "The people have roared but the G8 has whispered."
The decision to phase in the aid increases by 2010 was "like waiting five years before responding to the tsunami", according to Mr Naidoo.
Since then, much of the attention from campaigners has been on whether the promised $50bn increase in aid for Africa was really new money, and whether it was right to count debt cancellation as part of the development budget - as has traditionally been done - or whether this is, in the words of Oxfam, "double counting".
Broken promises?
Now even those who were most enthusiastic about the progress made at Gleneagles are hardening their positions.
Bob Geldof's close ally in this, Bono, said after the latest pre-summit G8 Finance Ministers' meeting in St Petersburg that "last year's promises to Africa are already in danger of being broken".
He was speaking after a decision was delayed on funding for new research into vaccines for diseases that affect the poor.
It is in details like this that the hopes of Gleneagles will be lost if the funding does not come.
Apart from Britain, the other European G8 members - Germany, France and Italy - have not yet committed themselves to the funding they promised. Germany in particular, under Angela Merkel, is proving to be lukewarm.
In the US, President Bush is battling with Congress over keeping his promises. He requested a $3bn rise in his aid budget, but Congress has cut that by two-thirds.
Funding boost
The debt picture, though, looks much clearer.
Free health care in Zambia, better roads and more secure food supplies are all now more possible because many countries have access to funds that they were previously remitting to service their debt.
It will be easier for campaigners to say that it is not enough, but harder to make the case stick than the case for higher aid.
On the other big element that aimed to make a big difference - fairer trade rules - there is little progress.
Although the current round of world trade talks was supposed to be "the round for the developing world", it has now broken through several deadlines without agreement.
There is increasing concern among the poorest countries in the world that they may suffer from imposed liberalisation, rather than being able to trade their way out of poverty on their own terms.
A new proposal is due to emerge from the World Trade Organization in Geneva before the end of this month.BBC News
WITNESS - Is this Tuscany or Africa? The paradoxes of Asmara
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By Barry Moody
ASMARA (Reuters) - Stroll down a broad, palm-lined boulevard in blinding sunshine and take cappuccino at one of the crowded pavement tables of the Cafe Moderna, steps from the imposing spire of a large Roman Catholic church.
After chatting in Italian to an elderly gent in an immaculate dark suit and carrying a cane, wander off to an outside terrace and lunch on spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams).
A few hours later, drop into a peaceful gelateria with views over wooded hills for a delicious coffee ice cream.
A hill town in Tuscany? Or maybe the palms mark it as one of Sicily's cities?
Far from it. This is Asmara, capital of Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. No wonder a few days there can leave a former correspondent in Italy somewhat confused.
Many African countries are eager to throw off reminders of colonial rule but Eritrea seems to have a lingering affinity with Italy, most of whose citizens have long departed.
There are other vivid reminders in Asmara, often cited as the most beautiful capital on the continent.
They include the many pastel-coloured Modernist buildings, a gentler import than the rest of Benito Mussolini's harsh and hated fascist rule here.
The Albergo Roma has been lovingly restored with Italian marble and would look entirely at home in central Rome.
At sunset, elegant young women walk arm-in-arm down the boulevard as they join the passeggiata, the quintessential Italian evening stroll.
Whereas in Nairobi, where I live, Kenyans labour on heavy Chinese bicycles, Eritrean cyclists are the real deal. Dressed in Lycra on sleek racers, they look much like their counterparts on the country roads of Italy.
MONUMENT TO WAR
Despite power shortages which leave many streets in darkness at night, Asmara has almost no crime and you can wander the streets with virtual impunity.
The small daughter of a prominent Middle Eastern ambassador wandered up to the ice cream shop while this visitor was there, not a bodyguard in sight, after walking from her home.
Yet these images do not convey the full picture of a complex society whose paradoxes can leave visitors disoriented, a sensation perhaps compounded by the city's 2,300 metre (7,500 feet) altitude.
A much more authentic symbol is what appears from a distance to be a huge scrap metal dump on the outskirts of Asmara.
Get closer and you can see that this is not the usual mixture of smashed cars and domestic appliances but a rusting pile of trucks, anti-aircraft guns and even Soviet-built tanks.
The unusual monument symbolises the central event that conditions all Eritrean official thinking and attitudes to the outside world -- the 30-year independence war against its huge neighbour Ethiopia, which was finally won in 1991.
Most senior officials are former guerrillas filled with a steely pride and an unwavering belief in self-reliance built from victory against the giant regional power next door.
That attitude led them unflinchingly into a border war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000 in which 70,000 died on both sides.
Border tensions are still high and Eritrea remains highly militarised with a 300,000-strong army drawn from its population of 3.6 million.
Suspicions of foreign powers, nurtured through a long history of mistreatment, have been aggravated by what Eritrea sees as a new betrayal by the world -- failure to make Ethiopia comply with a 2002 border ruling following their conflict.
And Eritrea's many surprises don't end when you depart.
When I left on a chartered Eritrean Airlines plane with a Russian crew the flight was 19 hours late. Less surreal, perhaps, than arriving on a chartered Icelandic Airways flight with a French cabin crew picked up in Paris on the way.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.June 25, 2006
Oromo OLF says committed to peace and democracy in Ethiopia
Saturday 24 June 2006
June 23, 2006 (PARIS) — An Ethiopian rebel group affirmed here its commitment for Democracy and unity of the country accusing the ruling party of being neither for peace, freedom nor for the democracy.
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) representative in Europe Dr Shigut Geleta said last week in Paris that OLF is committed for unity an democracy in Ethiopia refuting accusations of being a separatist movement.
While speaking in a forum on the Horn of Africa organised by the French language Les Nouvelles d’Addis on Saturday 17 June, Geleta
“Ethiopia is not the only multi-nation state in the World. Oromos have been in contact with different nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, if the root cause of contradictions and conflict that prevail in Ethiopia is sequentially and properly solved through free, fair and democratic deliberations, rather than the barrel of gun [...] Oromo visionaries and the OLF leadership will play a key role to bring peace in the Horn of Africa by placing the hierarchy of Oromo identity in the world of multiple identities”.
He further said that the newly formed opposition alliance AFD is a good step in the right direction. “Today’s bold determination and vision of the leadership of member organisations of AFD to pool resources together and work hand in hand will be, no doubt, the light at the end of the tunnel for Horn of African peace in general and for Ethiopia in particular”.
(ST)
On the net : http://www.lesnouvelles.org/
Below the full text of Dr Geleta speech on “ 8 heuers Les Nouvelles d’ADDIS ” 17th of June 2006, Paris, France
Thank you Mr. Chairperson for the nice introduction. As the chairperson said, my name is Shigut Geleta, and I am the Head of Foreign Relations of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in Europe.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel greatly honoured and privileged to have been invited to this “8 heuers les Nouvelles d’Addis” meeting not only to participate but also to address such a distinguished audience of wide spectrum: from students, researchers, journalists, guest speakers, and of course readers and friends of “Les Nouvelles” on the topic given to me, namely: Oromia and Its Perspectives in the Present Situation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Speaking about perspective of Oromia and the Oromo people explicitly means to speak about the central issues of the Ethiopian empire. The Oromos that live in Oromia are geopoltically and socio-economically the main issue to measure Ethiopia’s progress and/or problems. Oromia State is the largest among the Regional States, and stretches from north west Sudan border to south east to Somalia, from north Tigray border to south up to Kenya, and in the west from Sudan border to the east up to Djibouti. The Oromos account for more than 40% of Ethiopia’s projected 78 million total population; 75% of its forest resources, a lion shares of imports and foreign exchange. Most of the main stable foods of Ethiopia such as wheat, barely, corn, oats, teff, sorghum, pulses and oil seeds are produced in Oromia, and Oromia is the largest producer of cattle, poultry, horse, mule, donkey, sheep, goat, and others. Blue Nile, the longest river in the world, and other rivers that benefit the Sudan, Egypt, Somalia and Kenya get most of their tributaries from rivers that originate and flow in Oromia. As many of might be aware of, any environmental malpractice on these shared water resources such as deforestation directly affects not only Ethiopian peoples but also the life of millions of peoples of the riparian states down the streams.
Addis Ababa/Finfinne, sometimes known as the capital city of Africa that serves as the seat of Ethiopian government and many international organisations like Economic commission for Africa (ECA), African Union (AU) and others is located in the heart of Oromoland. Among the nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, the Oromos occupy an important position not only geographically but also socio-economically. The Oromo democracy, the Gada system, has many resembles with several indigenous peoples like the Sidama, Gedewo and Konso. Afaan Oromoo, the oromo language, shares many words with most of south west nations and nationalities of Ethiopia such as the Konso, Sidama, Gidolee, Gatoo, Arboora, Gedewo, Gaamota, Semayii and Geleb. The same is true with Somali, Afar and Saho languages.
These are some of the few points why the Oromo issues should be central to any topic be it economy, politics, human rights, democracy or development in general. Regrettably, for the last one hundred plus years, Oromos have been under the subjugation of different systems of Ethiopian rulers or dictators. These dictators have some common characteristic. They all had/have ascended to power by force and rule by force from Menelik to Melese Zenawi. Since each systems have ethnic vanguard and beneficiaries, Oromos have been marginalized, oppressed, and have become second class citizens in their own country for more than a century now. Oromos voices have been silenced, their culture and language suppressed and their resources exploited to sustain the oppressing systems. Oromos haven’t got an opportunity to say yes or no in any war or peace making process. It is our latest fresh memory that Oromo peasants and youths were used as cannon fodder and mine sweepers during the Ethio-Eritrean war of 1998-2000.
Sustainable economic development and growth of domestic product need peace and democracy. Oromos have none of them. The absence of justice, equality and peace in Ethiopia has made Ethiopia as the prison house of nations and nationalities and one of the poorest countries in the world. Oromia that could have been the bread basket of Africa is in need of foreign food aid. Oromos who could have enjoyed liberty and justice from their egalitarian culture are chained and put to prison for demanding God given rights that are enshrined to all human beings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ethiopia was described by Ennrico Cerulli (1956) as a museum of peoples and the coincidence of class and ethnic fissures has long provided the primary nexus of conflict over Ethiopian state. Both national and international factors played a key role for such deep-rooted conflict and contradiction. History teaches us, the climax of contradiction results into revolution, and the Ethiopian revolution of 1974 was nothing but the explosion of the contradictions suppressed by force for many years. As I indicated above, the problem of nations and nationalities has been the critical issue for Oromos in particular because of the emperor’s desired goal of homogenised and centralized Ethiopia by making it mono culture, language and religion. The revolutionary event of 1974 was high-jacked by the military junta, the Derg, because there was no other organized political party in the country. As the Emperor had done, Mengistu, the chairman of the Derg, continued the pattern of extreme centralisation and denial of individual or collective rights of nations and nationalities. He replaced monarchical absolutism ideology by militaristic Marxism - Leninism to build the Ethiopian nation state. Centralization and homogenisation under the culture of one ethnic group severely suppressed the Oromos culturally, economically and politically and only perpetuated the systematic domination. The grievance of oppressed nationalities resulted in ethnic based liberation movements such as Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and with the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) that finally toppled the Military junta in 1991.
The OLF was born to address the brutal oppression, and socio-politico-economic exploitation and subjugation of the Oromo people by the Ethiopian political system. This necessity delivered a centralised and secular OLF in 1973/1974. The sacrifice of thousands of Oromo nationalists has resulted in the recognition of Oromo and Oromia as a unified polity in the Ethiopian political system in 1991. After the fall of Derg, the ethnic based federal system was introduced to Ethiopia during the Transition Government and later enshrined in the constitution. The TPLF had conducted election in June 1992 and 1994, May 1995, 2000 and 2005. By doing so, it claimed that it has transformed the Ethiopian state from authoritarian ethnically dominated empire and command economy to democratic society and free market economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The current rulers of Ethiopia also never seem to learn from history. In fact, the political culture of Ethiopia remains unchanged. As all dictators do, Prime Minster Meles banned all independent political parties and liberation movements during the first year into the Transition period. A few political parties have managed to participate in the election processes mentioned above under very harsh conditions. The Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has used various methods to manipulate the elections. The main methods have been closure of opposition offices, harassment, killings, arrest of candidates, refusal of endorsement of registrations of opposition organisations, last-minute shift in the election regulations regarding the number of candidates to be field, suspension of candidates by alleged cases of being “under police investigations” were a just a few of tactics the regime routinely uses.
As a result of such election mockery, the federal government of Ethiopia with bicameral parliament (legislative body), the executive body, judiciary, the army, security and police all are interwoven into one party, the TPLF led EPRDF party. The prime Minister, Foreign Minster, Security Minister, Army Chief of Staff, most military commanders and many other Federal employees are ethnic Tigres and come from the TPLF even though the total population of ethnic Tigres is about 6% of the population of Ethiopia.
Despite Ethiopia’s claim to follow free market economic policy, it is officially known that “Non-Governmental Organisations” (NGOs) such as Relief Society of Tigray (REST), Tigray Development Association (TDA) and Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray ( EFFORT) are controlled by TPLF and serve as the front organisations to channel national and international resources to the ruling party controlled business empires. Basically, the TPLF privatised (took ownership) public property nationalized during the Derg time in the name of free market economy. TPLF dictates politics, economy and security of peoples in Ethiopia. There is no doubt in fair and free competition, TPLF will never stand a chance to rob Ethiopian peoples vote and resources.
As far as free press is concerned, five Oromo magazines (Urji, Biftu, Gada, Madda Walaabuu and Odaa) were closed down when the government imprisoned their editors and publishers. Many of the Oromo journalists were exiled after their release, but Mr. Shiferaw Insermu and Mr. Dhabassaa Wakjira are currently languishing in prison. This is not unique to Oromos alone. There are also a number of Amharic and different language newspapers that are closed down by the regime.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is true that the Ethiopian state is federally structured and the country has a constitution resembling that of western European norm. Nevertheless, this constitution remained a paper document devoid of implementation. This fake federal structure has been manipulated by TPLF to divide and rule at home, and has given the impression of prevalence of democratic structure to the international community. The regime has pitted one ethnic group against the other allotting villages to adjacent ethnic group and has caused unnecessary blood-shed. Furthermore, the incumbent minority ruling party merely formulated and expressed the competing interest and ideas of the opponent parties on paper for its own survival on power and gain international support. A constitution that has become an instrument of oppression for the vast majority of the people is not worth the ink and the paper it is written on.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today after 15 years, we need not to enumerate the dictatorial nature of Ethiopian government. The International Observers of May 2005 National Election and the Ethiopian peoples are the witnesses what the regime is and how it has remained in power.
Ethiopia is at a cross-road and two important trends have been unfolding in the mean time. On one hand, lack of solution for pending political questions and on the other hand the underdeveloped economy have taken a collision course. Poverty, high unemployment, alarming population growth, rate of spread of HIV/AIDS, repressive measure of the government for any peaceful demonstration are hefty records of shame for the government. Since November 9, 2005 until this time there is widespread continuous people disobedience in Oromia where the government falsely portrayed itself as if it won the election in this regional zone. However it was in this region where it has used its armed wing for its flawed election. The government responded to peaceful demonstrations causing massive human rights violations such as extra judicial killings, harassment, disappearance, gang rape, detentions and etc..These brutal actions of the regime will never silence the Oromo national struggle but rather it will strengthen “Oromummaa” (Oromo identity).
This brut act is not only confined to Oromia but also makes in Ogadenia, Sidama, Anuwak, Amhara and others too. This continuous suppression of the regime and Ethiopian people’s rebellion heralds the end the road for the TPLF-led Ethiopian regime. To facilitate the end of a minority rule and to shorten the time suffering of Ethiopian people, after a long thorough discussion, liberation movements and political parties with their different pragmatic programs but representing different nations or political interest of the Ethiopian people recently (in May 2006) established Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD). As history instructs us it is the democratic vision of Pan Africanists like Kwame Nkurmah, Patrice Lumumba, Julius Nyerere, Amilcar Cabral and Nelson Mandela that led and speeded up de-colonisation process. Today’s bold determination and vision of the leadership of member organisations of AFD to pool resources together and work hand in hand will be, no doubt, the light at the end of the tunnel for Horn of African peace in general and for Ethiopia in particular. It is high time that freedom and democracy reign in all corners of Africa and Ethiopia should be an example not an obstacle. AFD has a noble goal that accommodates all those who stand for justice, equality, freedom and democracy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I sum up my speech I would like to say some words about the efforts the Oromo nation has been making for freedom and peace. Since 1900s, Oromos of all walks of life have been dying to restore their inalienable birthright for human dignity, freedom and equality. The OLF, as a vanguard organisation leading the Oromo people, has always showed its willingness and commitment to resolve the fundamental problems in Ethiopia peacefully and democratically. The following records are a few of the efforts made by the OLF to resolve the problem in the Ethiopian empire peacefully.After the fall of the Derg the OLF and almost all Oromo Liberation organisations participated in the 1991-1992 Transitional Government with the hope that the chronic problem of the empire and that of Oromo case would be resolved peacefully. While OLF is seriously working on Transitional Charter:
Mr. Gamahis Dhaaba (Zacharias Galata), Central Committee Member of OLF was murdered cold blooded in a TPLF office. On 25 March 1992, along the streets of Water town in Hararge region, Meles Zenaw’s army opened gunfire on peaceful Oromo demonstrators indiscriminately and killed 92 people and wounded over 300. Soon after that, Jatani Ali, a prominent Oromo politician,was murdered in Nairobi, Kenya. When the mechanism devised by the Charter was derailed by the TPLF/EPRDF, the OLF was forced to withdraw from Transitional Government of Ethiopia in the Mid-1992. Since then, the OLF has taken several initiatives to end the conflict peacefully. The OLF has sat for negotiation with the TPLF several times to resolve the Oromo issue, but all failed because the TPLF regime knows it has no public support and mandate to rule by force if equality, freedom and peace reign in the country. Just to give some chronological events:-
1.In 1993 OLF sat for negotiation with the help of eight European and North American Ambassadors. The Eritrea President with the ambassadors of Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and the US took the initiative.
At that time EPRDF was declaring to the world that it had captured 20,000 OLF fighters by mass arresting Oromo children, elders and women and refused to negotiate. 2.In 1993, OLF joined the Paris Peace Committee with a sincere commitment to salvage the situation. The TPLF/EPRDF beside its unwillingness to solve the conflict peacefully,
it rather aggravated the disagreement by arresting Mr. Ibsa Gutama, the OLF representative when he arrived in Addis Ababa/Finfinne from Europe to participate in the Peace and Reconciliation Conference due to take place from December 18-22,1993. The unsecured minority government intensified killing, assassinating and imprisoning Oromo civilians. 3.In 1994, OLF met at the Carter Peace Centre in Atlanta, Georgia under the chairmanship of theformer US President Jimmy Carter. Again, the Meles government was not willing to negotiate.
In March 2004, Abba Gada Boru Guyyoo, a Gada leader of Borona who was invited for a peace talk was murdered on his way back to his village by TPLF soldiers. Again, in September 2004, Mr. Darara Kafani, a successful businessman of over 65 years old was gunned down in broad day light by TPLF security forces. On 21 May 1995, Mr. Ali Yusuf, a business man who was one of the 12 member of the OLF’s seat in Transitional Government was assassinated in Addis Ababa/Finfinne by no one else but the brutal regime. 4. In 1996, in Nairobi, Kenya, through the Kenyan government another attempt was made for mediation. But the TPLF/EPDRF responded by :-
closing the Oromo Relief Association (ORA) in February 1996, and imprisoned all its workers and confiscated all the property of ORA. It also killed a well known Oromo singer Mr. Ebisa Adunyaa in August 1996 in Addis Ababa/Finfinne in his home. 5.In 1997, a former German Ambassador to Ethiopia, Dr. Horst Winkelman made his best to bring the TPLF leaders to the negotiation table but it was turned down by the Ethiopian regime.
Again, the TPLF/EPRDF arrested Oromo journalists and all members of Oromo Human Rights League in the country
6. In 1998, by the invitation of the US State department, in Washington, DC, another attempt was made for negotiation but failed since this government can not stay in power if peace, equality, freedom and democracy prevail in that country.
The TPLF government did not waste any time to instigate ethnic and tribal conflict between Guji Oromos and Gedeo in July 1998, and between Borana and Garba peoples in October 1998 that claimed the lives of many innocent civilians. 7. In 1999, again in Washington DC, under the sponsorship of Congressman Hennery Johnston, another effort was made to bring Mr. Meles to negotiation, but it did not materialize and bear no result.
8. On February 3, 2000, the OLF took extra miles to seek a peaceful settlement with the Ethiopian regime by issuing an “ Agenda for Peace to Resolve the Conflict in Ethiopia ”.
However, the TPLF regime did not miss a chance to show its true intention and goal. Just a few weeks later, it assassinated an OLF Executive Member, the Honourable Mr. Mulis Abba Gadaa. From 2000 until this very moment, many Oromo students have been killed, detained and many more have exiled in fear of immediate danger for their lives. In the same year, the regime moved the seat of Oromia Regional State from Addis Ababa/Finfinne to Adama. It detained the leaders and member of Mecha-Tulama self-help association, for no reason other than peacefully protesting the change of State government seat to Adama. Even though the government has recognized it was against the will of the people to do so and relocated the Oromia capital to Addis Ababa/Finfinne, the Mecha-Tulama leaders are still languishing in TPLF prison. 9. In September 2005, the OLF responded positively for Mr. Meles’s call for peace talk without any precondition. It was rather a public relation gimmick since at that time TPLF was cornered by International Observers and the opposition to accept defeat at the ballot. As usual, no follow up or any meaningful proposal was presented from Mr. Meles, and basically it has been OLF’s experience not to expect much from this regime.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace can only be attained when all stakeholders show willingness to resolve the conflict at hand and begin to negotiate in good faith. I have showed just a few examples to demonstrate that Meles regime is neither for peace, equality, freedom nor for democracy. It is an unstable, paranoid regime that relies on nothing but force and about 6% of the Ethiopian populace who belong to its ethnicity. On the other hand, the AFD, which OLF is a founding member, is calling all stakeholders including EPRDF for political dialogue to formulate a comprehensive solution for the problem the country is facing. The OLF firmly believes the problem in the country can be solved though peaceful and democratic deliberations if all agree not to use force. Unfortunately, TPLF is never late to use force and create more problem and mistrust among the Ethiopian people, the opposition and try to confuse the international community. I have no doubt that the TPLF will go to any length in fabricating anything to discredit the Alliance and its member organisations through all sorts of divide and conquer, intermediation and even by trying to make alliance to a member of AFD. AFD will not fall for old tricks.
Finally, one basic reality is that Oromos and Oromia are no more abstract to the World. They are part of the global world with name and location. No one should tamper with individual and group rights of the Oromos and other nationalities in Ethiopia except themselves. I also believe no one should forcefully separate nations that want to unite and live together, and at the same time no one should force any nations to live together if they freely express their will not to do so. Ethiopia is not the only multi-nation state in the World. Oromos have been in contact with different nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, if the root cause of contradictions and conflict that prevail in Ethiopia is sequentially and properly solved through free, fair and democratic deliberations, rather than the barrel of gun, I have no doubt that Oromo visionaries and the OLF leadership will play a key role to bring peace in the Horn of Africa by placing the hierarchy of Oromo identity in the world of multiple identities. To learn more we shouldn’t have to go very far; one of the neighbouring country adjacent to this meeting place (France), Belgium, is divided in to three ethnic based regional zones: Flandern (deutch speaking), Wallon (french speaking) and Brussels (multicultural centre) each zone is enjoying its multiple right and multiple identity in EU. We can also look at the recent vote in Montenegro where the populace expressed to try a solo journey than unity with Serbia. The future is doomed only for those who fear equality, democracy and freedom, and for those who uphold and condone injustice, inequality and dictatorship. I say freedom now, equality now, democracy now for all peoples of Ethiopia, and Freedom and Democracy for all !!!
Merci beaucoup, au revoir,
Nagaan Galatooma,
Thank you
Source: ST
June 23, 2006 (PARIS) — An Ethiopian rebel group affirmed here its commitment for Democracy and unity of the country accusing the ruling party of being neither for peace, freedom nor for the democracy.
The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) representative in Europe Dr Shigut Geleta said last week in Paris that OLF is committed for unity an democracy in Ethiopia refuting accusations of being a separatist movement.
While speaking in a forum on the Horn of Africa organised by the French language Les Nouvelles d’Addis on Saturday 17 June, Geleta
“Ethiopia is not the only multi-nation state in the World. Oromos have been in contact with different nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, if the root cause of contradictions and conflict that prevail in Ethiopia is sequentially and properly solved through free, fair and democratic deliberations, rather than the barrel of gun [...] Oromo visionaries and the OLF leadership will play a key role to bring peace in the Horn of Africa by placing the hierarchy of Oromo identity in the world of multiple identities”.
He further said that the newly formed opposition alliance AFD is a good step in the right direction. “Today’s bold determination and vision of the leadership of member organisations of AFD to pool resources together and work hand in hand will be, no doubt, the light at the end of the tunnel for Horn of African peace in general and for Ethiopia in particular”.
(ST)
On the net : http://www.lesnouvelles.org/
Below the full text of Dr Geleta speech on “ 8 heuers Les Nouvelles d’ADDIS ” 17th of June 2006, Paris, France
Thank you Mr. Chairperson for the nice introduction. As the chairperson said, my name is Shigut Geleta, and I am the Head of Foreign Relations of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in Europe.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel greatly honoured and privileged to have been invited to this “8 heuers les Nouvelles d’Addis” meeting not only to participate but also to address such a distinguished audience of wide spectrum: from students, researchers, journalists, guest speakers, and of course readers and friends of “Les Nouvelles” on the topic given to me, namely: Oromia and Its Perspectives in the Present Situation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Speaking about perspective of Oromia and the Oromo people explicitly means to speak about the central issues of the Ethiopian empire. The Oromos that live in Oromia are geopoltically and socio-economically the main issue to measure Ethiopia’s progress and/or problems. Oromia State is the largest among the Regional States, and stretches from north west Sudan border to south east to Somalia, from north Tigray border to south up to Kenya, and in the west from Sudan border to the east up to Djibouti. The Oromos account for more than 40% of Ethiopia’s projected 78 million total population; 75% of its forest resources, a lion shares of imports and foreign exchange. Most of the main stable foods of Ethiopia such as wheat, barely, corn, oats, teff, sorghum, pulses and oil seeds are produced in Oromia, and Oromia is the largest producer of cattle, poultry, horse, mule, donkey, sheep, goat, and others. Blue Nile, the longest river in the world, and other rivers that benefit the Sudan, Egypt, Somalia and Kenya get most of their tributaries from rivers that originate and flow in Oromia. As many of might be aware of, any environmental malpractice on these shared water resources such as deforestation directly affects not only Ethiopian peoples but also the life of millions of peoples of the riparian states down the streams.
Addis Ababa/Finfinne, sometimes known as the capital city of Africa that serves as the seat of Ethiopian government and many international organisations like Economic commission for Africa (ECA), African Union (AU) and others is located in the heart of Oromoland. Among the nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, the Oromos occupy an important position not only geographically but also socio-economically. The Oromo democracy, the Gada system, has many resembles with several indigenous peoples like the Sidama, Gedewo and Konso. Afaan Oromoo, the oromo language, shares many words with most of south west nations and nationalities of Ethiopia such as the Konso, Sidama, Gidolee, Gatoo, Arboora, Gedewo, Gaamota, Semayii and Geleb. The same is true with Somali, Afar and Saho languages.
These are some of the few points why the Oromo issues should be central to any topic be it economy, politics, human rights, democracy or development in general. Regrettably, for the last one hundred plus years, Oromos have been under the subjugation of different systems of Ethiopian rulers or dictators. These dictators have some common characteristic. They all had/have ascended to power by force and rule by force from Menelik to Melese Zenawi. Since each systems have ethnic vanguard and beneficiaries, Oromos have been marginalized, oppressed, and have become second class citizens in their own country for more than a century now. Oromos voices have been silenced, their culture and language suppressed and their resources exploited to sustain the oppressing systems. Oromos haven’t got an opportunity to say yes or no in any war or peace making process. It is our latest fresh memory that Oromo peasants and youths were used as cannon fodder and mine sweepers during the Ethio-Eritrean war of 1998-2000.
Sustainable economic development and growth of domestic product need peace and democracy. Oromos have none of them. The absence of justice, equality and peace in Ethiopia has made Ethiopia as the prison house of nations and nationalities and one of the poorest countries in the world. Oromia that could have been the bread basket of Africa is in need of foreign food aid. Oromos who could have enjoyed liberty and justice from their egalitarian culture are chained and put to prison for demanding God given rights that are enshrined to all human beings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ethiopia was described by Ennrico Cerulli (1956) as a museum of peoples and the coincidence of class and ethnic fissures has long provided the primary nexus of conflict over Ethiopian state. Both national and international factors played a key role for such deep-rooted conflict and contradiction. History teaches us, the climax of contradiction results into revolution, and the Ethiopian revolution of 1974 was nothing but the explosion of the contradictions suppressed by force for many years. As I indicated above, the problem of nations and nationalities has been the critical issue for Oromos in particular because of the emperor’s desired goal of homogenised and centralized Ethiopia by making it mono culture, language and religion. The revolutionary event of 1974 was high-jacked by the military junta, the Derg, because there was no other organized political party in the country. As the Emperor had done, Mengistu, the chairman of the Derg, continued the pattern of extreme centralisation and denial of individual or collective rights of nations and nationalities. He replaced monarchical absolutism ideology by militaristic Marxism - Leninism to build the Ethiopian nation state. Centralization and homogenisation under the culture of one ethnic group severely suppressed the Oromos culturally, economically and politically and only perpetuated the systematic domination. The grievance of oppressed nationalities resulted in ethnic based liberation movements such as Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and with the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) that finally toppled the Military junta in 1991.
The OLF was born to address the brutal oppression, and socio-politico-economic exploitation and subjugation of the Oromo people by the Ethiopian political system. This necessity delivered a centralised and secular OLF in 1973/1974. The sacrifice of thousands of Oromo nationalists has resulted in the recognition of Oromo and Oromia as a unified polity in the Ethiopian political system in 1991. After the fall of Derg, the ethnic based federal system was introduced to Ethiopia during the Transition Government and later enshrined in the constitution. The TPLF had conducted election in June 1992 and 1994, May 1995, 2000 and 2005. By doing so, it claimed that it has transformed the Ethiopian state from authoritarian ethnically dominated empire and command economy to democratic society and free market economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The current rulers of Ethiopia also never seem to learn from history. In fact, the political culture of Ethiopia remains unchanged. As all dictators do, Prime Minster Meles banned all independent political parties and liberation movements during the first year into the Transition period. A few political parties have managed to participate in the election processes mentioned above under very harsh conditions. The Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has used various methods to manipulate the elections. The main methods have been closure of opposition offices, harassment, killings, arrest of candidates, refusal of endorsement of registrations of opposition organisations, last-minute shift in the election regulations regarding the number of candidates to be field, suspension of candidates by alleged cases of being “under police investigations” were a just a few of tactics the regime routinely uses.
As a result of such election mockery, the federal government of Ethiopia with bicameral parliament (legislative body), the executive body, judiciary, the army, security and police all are interwoven into one party, the TPLF led EPRDF party. The prime Minister, Foreign Minster, Security Minister, Army Chief of Staff, most military commanders and many other Federal employees are ethnic Tigres and come from the TPLF even though the total population of ethnic Tigres is about 6% of the population of Ethiopia.
Despite Ethiopia’s claim to follow free market economic policy, it is officially known that “Non-Governmental Organisations” (NGOs) such as Relief Society of Tigray (REST), Tigray Development Association (TDA) and Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray ( EFFORT) are controlled by TPLF and serve as the front organisations to channel national and international resources to the ruling party controlled business empires. Basically, the TPLF privatised (took ownership) public property nationalized during the Derg time in the name of free market economy. TPLF dictates politics, economy and security of peoples in Ethiopia. There is no doubt in fair and free competition, TPLF will never stand a chance to rob Ethiopian peoples vote and resources.
As far as free press is concerned, five Oromo magazines (Urji, Biftu, Gada, Madda Walaabuu and Odaa) were closed down when the government imprisoned their editors and publishers. Many of the Oromo journalists were exiled after their release, but Mr. Shiferaw Insermu and Mr. Dhabassaa Wakjira are currently languishing in prison. This is not unique to Oromos alone. There are also a number of Amharic and different language newspapers that are closed down by the regime.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is true that the Ethiopian state is federally structured and the country has a constitution resembling that of western European norm. Nevertheless, this constitution remained a paper document devoid of implementation. This fake federal structure has been manipulated by TPLF to divide and rule at home, and has given the impression of prevalence of democratic structure to the international community. The regime has pitted one ethnic group against the other allotting villages to adjacent ethnic group and has caused unnecessary blood-shed. Furthermore, the incumbent minority ruling party merely formulated and expressed the competing interest and ideas of the opponent parties on paper for its own survival on power and gain international support. A constitution that has become an instrument of oppression for the vast majority of the people is not worth the ink and the paper it is written on.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today after 15 years, we need not to enumerate the dictatorial nature of Ethiopian government. The International Observers of May 2005 National Election and the Ethiopian peoples are the witnesses what the regime is and how it has remained in power.
Ethiopia is at a cross-road and two important trends have been unfolding in the mean time. On one hand, lack of solution for pending political questions and on the other hand the underdeveloped economy have taken a collision course. Poverty, high unemployment, alarming population growth, rate of spread of HIV/AIDS, repressive measure of the government for any peaceful demonstration are hefty records of shame for the government. Since November 9, 2005 until this time there is widespread continuous people disobedience in Oromia where the government falsely portrayed itself as if it won the election in this regional zone. However it was in this region where it has used its armed wing for its flawed election. The government responded to peaceful demonstrations causing massive human rights violations such as extra judicial killings, harassment, disappearance, gang rape, detentions and etc..These brutal actions of the regime will never silence the Oromo national struggle but rather it will strengthen “Oromummaa” (Oromo identity).
This brut act is not only confined to Oromia but also makes in Ogadenia, Sidama, Anuwak, Amhara and others too. This continuous suppression of the regime and Ethiopian people’s rebellion heralds the end the road for the TPLF-led Ethiopian regime. To facilitate the end of a minority rule and to shorten the time suffering of Ethiopian people, after a long thorough discussion, liberation movements and political parties with their different pragmatic programs but representing different nations or political interest of the Ethiopian people recently (in May 2006) established Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD). As history instructs us it is the democratic vision of Pan Africanists like Kwame Nkurmah, Patrice Lumumba, Julius Nyerere, Amilcar Cabral and Nelson Mandela that led and speeded up de-colonisation process. Today’s bold determination and vision of the leadership of member organisations of AFD to pool resources together and work hand in hand will be, no doubt, the light at the end of the tunnel for Horn of African peace in general and for Ethiopia in particular. It is high time that freedom and democracy reign in all corners of Africa and Ethiopia should be an example not an obstacle. AFD has a noble goal that accommodates all those who stand for justice, equality, freedom and democracy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I sum up my speech I would like to say some words about the efforts the Oromo nation has been making for freedom and peace. Since 1900s, Oromos of all walks of life have been dying to restore their inalienable birthright for human dignity, freedom and equality. The OLF, as a vanguard organisation leading the Oromo people, has always showed its willingness and commitment to resolve the fundamental problems in Ethiopia peacefully and democratically. The following records are a few of the efforts made by the OLF to resolve the problem in the Ethiopian empire peacefully.After the fall of the Derg the OLF and almost all Oromo Liberation organisations participated in the 1991-1992 Transitional Government with the hope that the chronic problem of the empire and that of Oromo case would be resolved peacefully. While OLF is seriously working on Transitional Charter:
Mr. Gamahis Dhaaba (Zacharias Galata), Central Committee Member of OLF was murdered cold blooded in a TPLF office. On 25 March 1992, along the streets of Water town in Hararge region, Meles Zenaw’s army opened gunfire on peaceful Oromo demonstrators indiscriminately and killed 92 people and wounded over 300. Soon after that, Jatani Ali, a prominent Oromo politician,was murdered in Nairobi, Kenya. When the mechanism devised by the Charter was derailed by the TPLF/EPRDF, the OLF was forced to withdraw from Transitional Government of Ethiopia in the Mid-1992. Since then, the OLF has taken several initiatives to end the conflict peacefully. The OLF has sat for negotiation with the TPLF several times to resolve the Oromo issue, but all failed because the TPLF regime knows it has no public support and mandate to rule by force if equality, freedom and peace reign in the country. Just to give some chronological events:-
1.In 1993 OLF sat for negotiation with the help of eight European and North American Ambassadors. The Eritrea President with the ambassadors of Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and the US took the initiative.
At that time EPRDF was declaring to the world that it had captured 20,000 OLF fighters by mass arresting Oromo children, elders and women and refused to negotiate. 2.In 1993, OLF joined the Paris Peace Committee with a sincere commitment to salvage the situation. The TPLF/EPRDF beside its unwillingness to solve the conflict peacefully,
it rather aggravated the disagreement by arresting Mr. Ibsa Gutama, the OLF representative when he arrived in Addis Ababa/Finfinne from Europe to participate in the Peace and Reconciliation Conference due to take place from December 18-22,1993. The unsecured minority government intensified killing, assassinating and imprisoning Oromo civilians. 3.In 1994, OLF met at the Carter Peace Centre in Atlanta, Georgia under the chairmanship of theformer US President Jimmy Carter. Again, the Meles government was not willing to negotiate.
In March 2004, Abba Gada Boru Guyyoo, a Gada leader of Borona who was invited for a peace talk was murdered on his way back to his village by TPLF soldiers. Again, in September 2004, Mr. Darara Kafani, a successful businessman of over 65 years old was gunned down in broad day light by TPLF security forces. On 21 May 1995, Mr. Ali Yusuf, a business man who was one of the 12 member of the OLF’s seat in Transitional Government was assassinated in Addis Ababa/Finfinne by no one else but the brutal regime. 4. In 1996, in Nairobi, Kenya, through the Kenyan government another attempt was made for mediation. But the TPLF/EPDRF responded by :-
closing the Oromo Relief Association (ORA) in February 1996, and imprisoned all its workers and confiscated all the property of ORA. It also killed a well known Oromo singer Mr. Ebisa Adunyaa in August 1996 in Addis Ababa/Finfinne in his home. 5.In 1997, a former German Ambassador to Ethiopia, Dr. Horst Winkelman made his best to bring the TPLF leaders to the negotiation table but it was turned down by the Ethiopian regime.
Again, the TPLF/EPRDF arrested Oromo journalists and all members of Oromo Human Rights League in the country
6. In 1998, by the invitation of the US State department, in Washington, DC, another attempt was made for negotiation but failed since this government can not stay in power if peace, equality, freedom and democracy prevail in that country.
The TPLF government did not waste any time to instigate ethnic and tribal conflict between Guji Oromos and Gedeo in July 1998, and between Borana and Garba peoples in October 1998 that claimed the lives of many innocent civilians. 7. In 1999, again in Washington DC, under the sponsorship of Congressman Hennery Johnston, another effort was made to bring Mr. Meles to negotiation, but it did not materialize and bear no result.
8. On February 3, 2000, the OLF took extra miles to seek a peaceful settlement with the Ethiopian regime by issuing an “ Agenda for Peace to Resolve the Conflict in Ethiopia ”.
However, the TPLF regime did not miss a chance to show its true intention and goal. Just a few weeks later, it assassinated an OLF Executive Member, the Honourable Mr. Mulis Abba Gadaa. From 2000 until this very moment, many Oromo students have been killed, detained and many more have exiled in fear of immediate danger for their lives. In the same year, the regime moved the seat of Oromia Regional State from Addis Ababa/Finfinne to Adama. It detained the leaders and member of Mecha-Tulama self-help association, for no reason other than peacefully protesting the change of State government seat to Adama. Even though the government has recognized it was against the will of the people to do so and relocated the Oromia capital to Addis Ababa/Finfinne, the Mecha-Tulama leaders are still languishing in TPLF prison. 9. In September 2005, the OLF responded positively for Mr. Meles’s call for peace talk without any precondition. It was rather a public relation gimmick since at that time TPLF was cornered by International Observers and the opposition to accept defeat at the ballot. As usual, no follow up or any meaningful proposal was presented from Mr. Meles, and basically it has been OLF’s experience not to expect much from this regime.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace can only be attained when all stakeholders show willingness to resolve the conflict at hand and begin to negotiate in good faith. I have showed just a few examples to demonstrate that Meles regime is neither for peace, equality, freedom nor for democracy. It is an unstable, paranoid regime that relies on nothing but force and about 6% of the Ethiopian populace who belong to its ethnicity. On the other hand, the AFD, which OLF is a founding member, is calling all stakeholders including EPRDF for political dialogue to formulate a comprehensive solution for the problem the country is facing. The OLF firmly believes the problem in the country can be solved though peaceful and democratic deliberations if all agree not to use force. Unfortunately, TPLF is never late to use force and create more problem and mistrust among the Ethiopian people, the opposition and try to confuse the international community. I have no doubt that the TPLF will go to any length in fabricating anything to discredit the Alliance and its member organisations through all sorts of divide and conquer, intermediation and even by trying to make alliance to a member of AFD. AFD will not fall for old tricks.
Finally, one basic reality is that Oromos and Oromia are no more abstract to the World. They are part of the global world with name and location. No one should tamper with individual and group rights of the Oromos and other nationalities in Ethiopia except themselves. I also believe no one should forcefully separate nations that want to unite and live together, and at the same time no one should force any nations to live together if they freely express their will not to do so. Ethiopia is not the only multi-nation state in the World. Oromos have been in contact with different nations and nationalities in Ethiopia, if the root cause of contradictions and conflict that prevail in Ethiopia is sequentially and properly solved through free, fair and democratic deliberations, rather than the barrel of gun, I have no doubt that Oromo visionaries and the OLF leadership will play a key role to bring peace in the Horn of Africa by placing the hierarchy of Oromo identity in the world of multiple identities. To learn more we shouldn’t have to go very far; one of the neighbouring country adjacent to this meeting place (France), Belgium, is divided in to three ethnic based regional zones: Flandern (deutch speaking), Wallon (french speaking) and Brussels (multicultural centre) each zone is enjoying its multiple right and multiple identity in EU. We can also look at the recent vote in Montenegro where the populace expressed to try a solo journey than unity with Serbia. The future is doomed only for those who fear equality, democracy and freedom, and for those who uphold and condone injustice, inequality and dictatorship. I say freedom now, equality now, democracy now for all peoples of Ethiopia, and Freedom and Democracy for all !!!
Merci beaucoup, au revoir,
Nagaan Galatooma,
Thank you
Source: ST
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