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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Amnesty International Urgent Action Appeal regarding the arrest of members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA)

Also in the news: Mass arrests as meskel festival approaches,Ethiopian-Americans for HR5680 Peaceful Rally, Congressional toolkit by EACA, Global Competitiveness index and more of today’s top stories.


Picture from last year’s festivities. Learn more about Meskel holiday

Mass arrests as meskel festival approaches

(More...)

- In a related story: Thousands of Soldiers swarm the Meskel square as revolutionary spirit engulfs Addis (EZ)

Peaceful Rally

Ethiopian-Americans for HR5680 will hold a Peaceful Rally in front of Capitol Hill on Thursday, September 28, 2006. ALL ETHIOPIANS, ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS, AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA ARE INVITED TO FULFILL THEIR CIVIC DUTY OF SUPPORTING H.R. 5680 BY ATTENDING THIS PEACEFUL RALLY.THE RALLY IS SUPPORTED BY DIVERSE CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, AND IS INDEPENDENT OF ANY AND ALL POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.See flyer.

Congressional Toolkit

The ETHIOPIAN AMERICAN CIVIC ADVOCACY (EACA) believes that it is time for Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans to galvanize and enter the American political process in the most direct way possible: Sit face to face with congressional representatives or their staff and get them to commit to Ethiopia’s cause. With many Ethiopian Americans new to this type of activism, EACA has put together a toolkit on how to make meetings with a member of congress a success.

- Congressional Toolkit

Amnesty International Urgent Action Appeal September 26, 2006
Regarding the arrest of members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA)

Wasihun Melese and Anteneh Getnet, both members of the teachers' trade union, the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA), were arrested in the capital, Addis Ababa, on 23 September. They are being held incommunicado without charge and are at risk of torture, ill-treatment, or "disappearance".

Wasihun Melese was arrested at his home by police, who took him to the police Central Investigation Bureau (known as Maekelawi), where he is still detained. He is a teacher at Addis Ketema High School in Addis Ababa and a prominent activist in the Addis Ababa branch of the ETA. He is an elected member of the ETA's National Executive Committee. (More...)

Global Competitiveness index

Ethiopia has fallen four places from last year (to 122 out of 127 countries) and continues to fall in a number of important areas in the Global Competitiveness index released today.

New Film Depicts Coup Attempt Against Military Regime

In early October 2006, Abugida, a two hour-long Amharic movie, directed and produced by renowned Ethiopian actor Mulualem Tadesse, will be released at Alem Cinema.

Abugida is based on events that took place in Ethiopia during and after the May 1989 coup attempt, when high ranking generals and senior officers plotted to overthrow Mengistu Hailemariam.

The coup d'etat, which was immediately thwarted, resulted in officers involved in the plot being killed, others facing the same fate following the verdict reached at a special military tribunal and many more thrown in jail. One of the key pieces of evidence that surfaced following the coup attempt hinted that some of the officers involved in the plotting were actually being promoted. Instantly, the government, out of fear that those involved in the plot may further continue with their actions, launched a massive manhunt. (More...)

- Watch video of General Fenta Belay after he was arrested by government loyalists, May 1989

Today's Top Stories

-Mr. Obang O. Metho speech
-Europe vows to give AU $70m
-Rice disputes Clinton on terror claims
-Romania and Bulgaria to join EU
-Blair's emotional farewell
-Earth may be at warmest point in 1 million years
-Three-year-old buys pink convertible on Internet
-Alleged Hitler landscapes sell for $220,000