Letter to Ben on his outrage on Coalition for HR 2003(Ethiomedia)

You see, Mr. Ben, Ethiopia needs principled friends, more so because of the hostile geophysical location in which she finds herself. Whether you like it or not, Congressman Donald Payne and Congressman Chris Smith are illustrious leaders who will be remembered for their sterling contribution to HR 2003. So the activists in the Coalition for HR 2003 are right to say that its approval marked the �Finest day for Ethiopia in US Congress�. The Ethiopian people would have greeted the news joyously out in the streets if the repressive regime would have allowed it. Then, the truth would have come out in the open as to which side enjoys the support of the majority � the vocal few in the Diaspora or the �silent majority� that you are blaming for its inaction. Against the vocal few....more

Congress Should Condition Military Aid to Ethiopia on Human Rights (Huffington Post)

Our government's support for abuses by the Ethiopian government has not received prominent media attention. But advocates for democracy and human rights in Ethiopia have been lobbying Congress. Now we have a chance to change course from a destructive policy in Africa based on the "global war on terror" towards a policy based on democracy and human rights....more

HR 2003 approved unanimously!(Ethiomedia)

All Ethiopians should take this opportunity to thank Congressmen Donald Payne, Chris Smith, Tom Lantos and Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer for their support in getting this legislation passed. When we needed their help, we called upon them . NOW IT IS TIME TO CALL AND SAY: “THANK YOU.”..more

Final action on H.R. 2003 scheduled for Oct. 2 (Ethiopianreview)

H.R. 2003 was referred to the floor on a special House procedure known as “suspension of the rules”. This procedure is used generally to act swiftly on relatively non-controversial legislation. The procedure is set forth in clause 1 of House Rule XV. When a bill or some other matter is considered “under suspension,” floor debate is limited, all floor amendments are prohibited, and a two-thirds vote is required for final passage. The equivalent calendar in the Senate is called the consent calendar...more

Gebrselassie sets marathon record (BBC)

Haile Gebrselassie broke the marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday, posting an official time of two hours, four minutes and 26 seconds....more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/27/AR2007092700082.html (Washinton Post)

Ethiopia boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites but decades of hunger, conflict and political instability have kept the country and its fabled palaces, obelisks and castles off the beaten track for most visitors to Africa.

Tourism represents a mere 2.5 percent of its gross national product -- something the government is keen to change....more

Ethiopia Legislation Moves Forward in US House of Representatives (VOA)

A key congressional committee has approved legislation supporting democracy and human rights in Ethiopia. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, where consideration by the House Foreign Affairs Committee was marked by some disagreement over how best to help bring about change in Ethiopia....more

-VP of Kinijit Birtukan Mideksa Speech - VIDEO

Open Letter to the Kinijit or CUDP LeadersAnuak Justice Council

September 22, 2007 - Dear Chairman Mr. Hailu Shawel and Executive Members of the Kinijit: I am calling on you Kinijit leaders to reconcile within Kinijit and then to reach out to others. I ask the Kinijit leaders to do this for the sake of those who lost their loved ones whose killers still walk free, for those begging on the streets, for the young child who is selling her body on the street because she has nothing to eat, for the sake of the Ethiopians who are burying their dead children because of water-born diseases, for the sake of the Ethiopian children who are raising their siblings because their parents have been taken away from HIV/AIDS. (pdf) read...

Winners don't falter at faulty moments (Ethiomedia)

This is the time for realizing the dreams of our people. This is the time for beefing up one�s organizational, material, human and financial capabilities. In fact, CUD should reach out to all concerned Ethiopian organizations and build up the ingredients for national reconciliation. It should do this to all, including the EPRDF, and invite participation in charting consensus on the future of Ethiopia.

The ENC urges all concerned, leaders, members or supporters inside and outside CUD to:

• Immediately cease directly or indirectly airing the differences within CUD.
• Set up an independent and ad-hoc committee that can mediate and recommend binding solutions to both It is time for all concerned, especially a popular opposition party, to work hard to build up national consensus to shape the future political directions of Ethiopia. CUD should realize that falling out over manageable internal administration and politics is bound to disillusion members and supporters. The public expects popular opposition parties to remain united, overcome controversies, and deliver firm leadership. No one has the stomach for yet another round of in-fighting, in yet another Ethiopian political movement. To allow division within the party by failing to compromise over internal differences is in nobody�s interest. Apart from causing public withdrawal from political engagement nationally, such behaviour presages the dangerous postponement of the date for realizing democracy in our country....more

Kinijit delegation issues a statement 9ethiopian Review0

Sep 22, 2007

The Kinijit delegation that is currently on a working visit in the U.S. has issued this statement today [Amharic, pdf]

To CUDP members, supporters, and to all concerned Ethiopians (Enset)

By Ephrem Madebo

As we all sadly heard, CUDP, the foremost Ethiopian opposition party seems to be in a deep trouble, as once were the Democrats and the Republicans here in the USA and the Bolsheviks in Russia almost a century ago. Political parties are not problem-prone; they have their high and low times. Today, CUDP is going through a series of internal corrections, a process that consumes time, affects human temper, and temporarily halts operations. However, when the outcome of the correction process settles, I am confident that CUDP shall shine again, not only for its members and supporters, but also for the entire opposition camp and for our country at large.

When the CUDP leaders went to jail we made a continuous local and international cry for their release, we won! Now the party finds itself in a jail of itself. If we need another victory, let’s constructively be engaged with CUDP leaders and behave in the same way we behaved when they were in jail. Let us learn from the American economy. When markets are in deep trouble, the first and the most reliable choice is to tell the government to take its hands off the economy and let the market correct itself. Here the logic is very simple i.e. self correction is efficient than government interference. But, this doesn’t mean the government would sit and watch the correction forever, it will interfere if the economy deteriorates further. Let us not aggravate the CUDP situation by acting like the government in the above analogy. Let us give a chance to CUDP leaders to solve their differences and stand as a single entity again. Mind you, I am not saying we need to keep quiet and wait for outcomes, we have the responsibility of being a constructive critique, but we should not by any means make an attempt to solve their problem in our own way, or be the devil’s advocate!

Source: Enset blog

Free At Last, Kinijit Leaders Continue in Ethiopia's Fight for Democracy (Pholslin)

The elections in May 2005 were supposed to be democratic. Independent newspapers set up shop and opposition parties campaigned openly, debating the ruling party on television. Millions showed up to vote. Yet on the day of the vote, the EPRDF claimed victory before half of the votes for parliamentary seats were counted. Then Meles Zenawi declared a state of emergency. Berhanu refused to give up his mayorship and other CUD members protested instead of taking Parliament seats, so the government threw them in jail....more

Ad hoc committee vs Kinijit delegation's visit to the US (Ethiomedia)

It should be noted here that the role of the Ad Hoc Committee members is strictly one of general coordination of the support groups so that they can work more effectively with the Delegation. Indeed, the Ad Hoc committee has spent countless hours interacting with the support groups for this purpose. However, it appears that some in the general public may have had the misimpression that the Ad Hoc Committee is a “road manager” for the Delegation. That view is wholly inaccurate. To be sure, it is the support groups that made it possible for the Delegation to visit the U.S. by making substantial commitment of money, time and energy. They are entirely responsible for the implementation of the Delegation’s itinerary. They deserve all of the credit....more

Somalia: Fresh Ethiopia forces deployed in Mogadishu (GaroweOnline)

t is not clear whether or not the fresh troops will replace comrades who have been serving in Somalia since last December. Unconfirmed reports said more troops from Ethiopia are preparing to deploy into southern Somalia.

There are no certain facts and figures for the number of Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia, particularly in Mogadishu where they are helping defend the interim government from insurgent attacks....more

Ethiopian Gov.Press statement In Response To United Nations Fact Finding Mission Report(relief Web)

19 September 2007 Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Addis Ababa. The United Nations humanitarian assessment mission conducted from 30 Augusl to 5 September 2007 in the Somali National Regional State of Ethiopia has submitted its report to the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Mission prepared its Report following its visit to Jijiga, Dhegehabur, Kebridhar, Code, Shekosh, Denan, and ten smaller villages. Based on this Report discussions were held between high officials of the Government of Ethiopia and leaders of the mission....more

O.N.L.F Statement In Response To United Nations Fact Finding Mission Report(ONLF)

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) shares the views of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission of the need for an "Independent Investigation" into human rights conditions in Ogaden....more

Ethiopian political dispute comes to United States (The Hill)

The CUD members were among a group of 38 who were pardoned in July after being imprisoned since November 2005. They had been arrested after months of unrest in Ethiopia that followed elections in May of that year.

A report written by the European Union called the election the “most competitive” Ethiopia had ever held, but said it was “marred by irregular practices, confusion and lack of transparency.” The report credited the government for allowing relatively unbiased campaign coverage in the weeks before the election but said support of Democratic institutions waned in the weeks following the disputed vote....more

United we stand, divided we fall!(Ethiomedia)

All of us want to hear a message about the end of the era of tyranny, and the beginning of the epoch of democracy in Ethiopia. We want to know how we can overcome artificially created divisions in our society, and strengthen our common bonds of family, culture, religion and tradition. We want democracy and human rights to reign supreme in Ethiopia so that we may pass on to the next generation a legacy of hope and harmony. These are the things that are on the minds of the good people of the Ethiopian Diaspora. And the Delegation is prepared to have a conversation with you....more

Somali opposition alliance begins fight against Ethiopia(AFP-Google)

ASMARA (AFP) — Somalia's new Islamist-dominated opposition alliance said Thursday its forces have launched a bid to oust Ethiopian troops from their country.

"The alliance is undertaking every effort to get rid of Ethiopia," said spokesman Zakariya Mahamud Abdi. "We plan to spread the resistance in Mogadishu, and we have already sent people inside Somalia. This is our job."

The Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) was formed last week in the Eritrean capital Asmara, vowing to drive Ethiopia out of Somalia and nominating Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as its chairman...more