The Struggle for Democracy in Ethiopia:

Illegal Ethiopians on way to an uncertain future back home, (Gulfnews)

While Ethiopians in the UAE are certainly not alone in falling victim to illegal agents, according to members of the community, it is the isolation of some of their compatriots scattered around the country, as well as a language barrier that have made them more vulnerable....more

Ethiopians in Washington and London welcome Kinijit leaders (Ethiopian Review)

Members of the Kinijit delegation that arrived in Washington are now resting in their hotel after spending some time greeting Kinijit representatives from several chapters. Ato Aklog Lemeneh, chairman of the Kinijit North America chapters and Ato Yilma Adamu, Kinijit DC Metro chapter chairman introduced the representatives to Wzt. Bertukan and the other members of the delegation. Then they posed for photos (will be posted shortly). Tonight the delegates are scheduled to attend a small dinner reception organized by members of the welcoming team Ato Tamagne Beyene, Dr Alemayehu Gebremariam, and Dr Solomon Alemu, in collaboration with Kinijit North America and Kinijit DC Metro. After holding a series of meetings with officials of Kinijit North America chapters throughout the week, the next major public appearance for the delegates will be a town hall meeting next weekend. It is expected to be the largest Ethiopian gathering ever in the Washington...morre

Millennium Festivities Expose Deep Rifts, ( Washington post)

"The people are still suffering from disease and dictatorship, there are still people in prison," said Zewdu, 32, a taxi driver. "Having that in mind, I wouldn't think of going and having a party."

The Washington region, the U.S. hub for Ethiopian immigrants, will attract thousands of Ethiopians from across the country for the nation's biggest millennium events. On deck is an explosion of concerts, lectures and celebrations that are meant to show off Ethiopia -- but that also lay bare the community's deep political cleavages...more

Ethiopia: Free Oromo prisoners - OFDM & ONC,(Africanpath)

However, Mr. Bulcha Demeksa gave the harshest condemnation of this problem saying “no one has ever seen these prisoners carrying a weapon, committing a crime or killing any one. But they were simply
suspected of being a member of the OLF.” Demanding that the government set a new policy, Bulcha said that almost half were imprisoned without due process of law and government regulations clarifying which group qualifies for what do not exist.

“There are around 30-35 million Oromos in Ethiopia. These people… how do they know OLF is an illegal or outlawed group? They are imprisoned for something they don’t even know. Has the Ethiopian government ever created a law that specifically indicates any of this? The government has never, in detail, publicized the definition of which group is an outlawed, or which stands for terrorism and it should make this list so that people know which organization is identified as a terrorist and why.”...more

Ethiopia Briefly Detained 4 US Soldiers, (Townhall)

Ethiopia earlier this year briefly detained what it said were four U.S. soldiers trying to contact a rebel group that has been fighting for greater autonomy for eastern Ethiopia, government officials said Friday.

Bereket Simon, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, declined to say when the soldiers were detained or give any further details.

Asked about the U.S. soldiers, he told The Associated Press: "Four soldiers, or some soldiers, were detained. They were trying to contact the ONLF (the Ogaden National Liberation Front). That was not permitted."...more

Tales of horror from Ogaden,(sundaytimes)

"Two of my brothers who were ONLF members were hanged from a tree," says Fardosa. "It’s worse than hell what is happening in Ethiopia." Osman Hassan Ahmed, a 27-year-old from the eastern Ogaden town of Werder arrived in Bosaso on September 1....more

Coptic millennium celebrations fall flat for some Ethiopians, (iht)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: As Ethiopia approaches its third millennium, the most popular joke in the capital city goes like this: How do you say "millennium" in Amharic?

The pun of an answer — "menem yellum," which means "there is nothing" — sums up how many in Ethiopia's largest city feel about the festivities for Ethiopia's third millennium, which begins after midnight Tuesday on Ethiopia's Coptic calendar.

With the calendar of events changing and security concerns in the capital reaching fever pitch, many ordinary Ethiopians feel the remaining celebrations — which include a concert with tickets that cost an average Ethiopian nearly two months' salary at 1,500 birr (nearly US$170) — are beyond their reach.

The Black Eyed Peas, a hip-hop act from Los Angeles, will perform Tuesday night at a brand new, US$20 million temporary exhibition hall built by Ethiopia's richest man, and the Hilton hotel will host a US$100-and-up gala.

"The millennium, it's nothing for me," said Mulugeta Demssie, 23, a taxi driver, who said he thought the concert should be free, or at least cheaper.

"Because I don't have money, I can't enjoy it."...more

Ethiopia: U.S. Donates Fund for Restoration of 130 Year Old House,(allafrica)

Founder and CEO of Addis Wubet, Mariam Senna Assefa Wossen, granddaughter of Emperor Haile Sellassie I said on her part that the restoration of Mohammed Ali house which she noted is featured on the World Monuments Watch List, forms part of Addis Wubet's pilot project for the Piazza District Mohammed Ali Shaikh Sharafally was an Indian born business tycoon of the 19th century owning a company going by the name of Mohammed Ali&Co., who established his head office in Harar in 1888....more

NTERVIEW-Ethiopian opposition leader takes fight abroad ,(Alternet)

"Most of the institutions that are necessary for democratic order don't seem to be operating right now," he said, adding that Ethiopia's judiciary, security forces, and election boards were all under control of Zenawi....more

Ethiopia: Horn of Dilemma, (Times)

War is not certain, of course. Despite Meles' saber-rattling speech to parliament in June, in an interview with Time he described times in the past when his party forced him to adopt a more aggressive line with Eritrea than he would have preferred. "There were a number of times when I found myself in a minority and implementing decisions I was uncomfortable with."...more

Somali opposition to discuss anti-Ethiopia military strategy, (MEtimes)

"There will be discussions about this issue [fighting Ethiopia]," said conference spokesman Zakariya Mahamud Abdi in response to reporters' questions.

"People who are specialists in the area of military operations will handle this issue - it will not be for Tom, Dick, and Harry." ...more

High attrition cripples Ethiopia's health sector, (Afrol)

Ethiopia is described as the worst African country affected by brain drain. In fact, the study revealed that currently there are more working Ethiopian doctors in the United States than in Ethiopia. Many Ethiopian doctors also left for Botswana, South Africa and the Middle East in search of good pay....more

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1659389,00.html

Secretary general of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit), Ato Muluneh Eyoel, gave a press conference to Ethiopian Review, Ethiopian Media Forum, Addis Dimts Radio and Netsenet LeEthiopia Radio yesterday. During the 1-hour press conference, Ato Muluneh discussed the scheduled working visits by Kinijit high-level delegations to the United States and other countries....more

From Ethiopia, with love, (Peacearchnews)

The Streifels describe their new daughter as a bright, cheerful and outgoing little fashion diva who changes her clothes five times a day (apparently she hasn’t realized the clothes in her closet are hers for keeps, so she’ll often try to wear them all at once)....more

UN team returns from Ethiopia's troubled Ogaden (Reuters)

The mission primarily assessed the food, water and health needs in the remote area, said Paul Hebert, head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia.

"Considering this was not an investigative mission, we gathered enough information to enable us to draw preliminary conclusions on the humanitarian situation in the region and on protection issues," Hebert told Reuters.

"The government facilitation was good," he said, adding that the mission would brief the Ethiopian authorities next week before reporting to donors and non-governmental organisations....more

Kinijit leaders arrive in Washington, DC on Sunday (Ethiomedia)

Kinijit Chairman Ato Hailu Shawul is not expected to arrive with the delegation. He has not received an entry visa from the U.S. Embassy as of the date of this press release. The Committee is informed and believes that even if Ato Hailu were to receive his visa at the present time, he will be unable to join the Delegation on a U.S. tour due to ongoing health care needs. The U.S.-bound Delegation fully supports Ato Hailu in his decision to attend to his immediate medical needs. The Delegation is hopeful that Ato Hailu will regain his health speedily and join them on the tour.....more

Somali opposition leaders unite against Ethiopia, (MEtimes)

The Islamist movement's other top leader, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, urged Ethiopia to pull its troops out of Somalia, and criticized its US ally in his opening speech.

"We hold this conference to establish a political organization that liberates the country, and ends the violence and chaotic situation," he said. ...more

Why Ethiopia's Millennium is seven years late, (BBC)

Ahmed Zakaria, professor of history at Addis Ababa University says the reason is that the Roman Church amended their calculation in 500 AD - adjusting it by seven or eight years...more

Ethiopia detains 107 people over the past 2 monthsv (USAtoday)

Bulcha told The Associated Press he suspected the detainees have been held on suspicion of belonging to the Oromo Liberation Front, which has been fighting for greater autonomy in southern Ethiopia. One of the detainees, he said, was a 63-year-old man.

The Oromo make up a third of Ethiopia's 77 million people, and have been the center of dissent against the ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front....more