Ethiopian Politics Blog

Events leading up to Ginbot 20 and after

2009-06-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

NY-TIMES archive From 18 years ago

^{Major General Fanta Belay (L) and General Amha Desta (R)
both killed after Mengistu coup attempt}

Mengistu tells of Execution of Coup Figures...

9 generals executed, Mengistu
regaining control...

Ethiopia Base and 2 Towns Fall to Rebels...

As Rebels Surge, addis Fears Fate...

U.S. Urges Americans to leave Ethiopia...

^{Tamirat Layne (L) Berket Simon (C) Meles Zenawi (R)}

Mengistu Flees to Zim; Officials want U.S. Help...

Rebels Storm Capital Addis...

New Ethiopia Affirms Right to Secede...

Eritreans Voting on Independence...

EP's Olympic Site

2008-08-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

Starting August 8, 2008 - August 24, 2008 follow the latest on Ethiopia's Olympic athletes here at www.ethiopolitics.com/Olympics2008

Ethiopia - bizarre news of the day

2008-02-14T04:56:00.001-08:00

The EPRDF (Ethiopian Govt.) has assembled a team of people with a task to edit and change wikipedia entries regarding Ethiopia. The first target was Amnesty International. The EPRDF introduced an entry about Amnesty international's involvement in helping the "extremist" private media in Ethiopia in Wikipedia.(...More from EZ)

Ethiopia - A Moment With...Haile Gerima

2008-02-13T20:23:00.000-08:00

What struggles do independent filmmakers face in bringing projects to fruition? Filmmaker Haile Gerima talks about these issues and his film 'Sankofa,' a widely acclaimed movie about slavery. He also describes the influence of his Ethiopian heritage on his work.

Ethiopians die in Somali port blast

2008-02-13T20:19:00.000-08:00

An explosion killed at least 20 people and wounded a hundred more in a northern Somali port where immigrants often try to cross to Yemen.

Ethiopia - HR2003 revisited

2008-02-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

An American law professor, teaching at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education’s Mekelle University in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, had her contract terminated last week by university officials.

The administration claims “incompetence” was the reason for her termination. But Professor Abigail Salisbury claims that her public voicing of alternative views on the U.S. House of Representative’s Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (HR2003) got her fired.

After failing to convince the university’s academic commission that her contract should not be terminated, Professor Salisbury is planning to depart Ethiopia. The firing quickly followed an article she published in “The Jurist,” the online University of Pittsburgh law review journal, in which she described candidly her participation in a Mekelle University Law Faculty forum on HR 2003.

Taking one stance, Professor Salisbury writes, “Listening to the Ethiopians talk about the bill’s various points during the discussion forum, I… wonder[ed] if America hadn’t done something foolish…by asserting its right to determine the domestic affairs of a foreign nation.” She also points out that the factual findings section of HR2003 must be updated to reflect current human rights progress in Ethiopia.

But based on the passionate testimonies of her own international human rights law students at Mekelle, conveyed to her within mid-term essays she assigned, Salisbury reached an alternative conclusion – that HR2003 should be seen as an attempt by American foreign policy makers not to threaten Ethiopian sovereignty, but to improve the lives of poor Ethiopians who are truly suffering under a government with a firm grip on freedom of speech.

“I had been very careful in wording my assignment. I asked the students to select a human rights issue in Ethiopia…and find another country dealing with that same situation. They were required to then compare the actions of the two nations,” Salisbury writes. According to her, a number of students wrote that they would never give their real opinions to an Ethiopian professor, for fear of “being turned in to the government and punished.”

According to Professor Salisbury, the terms of her contract make it clear that in the case of premature termination, she should receive three months’ pay. Claiming they have an alternative interpretation, University officials have decided not to honor this clause. But Salisbury is more disappointed by the failure of the university’s professors and officials to honor freedom of speech. “The dean [of Mekelle Law School] told me never to be afraid to write anything,” the young American law professor recalled for SSI.

HR2003 was passed in October 2007 by the US House of Representatives and is now being debated by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It proposes to withdraw “nonessential” assistance from Ethiopia until the federal government meets human rights obligations outlined in the Act.

Ethiopia - IT IS ALL ABOUT US AND OUR FUTURE

2008-02-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, I remember listening a story on Deutche Weille (German Radio). The story was about a German who once visited Ethiopia. He traveled to two neighboring villages which were not in good terms.When he arrived in the first village he received a warm welcome. Elders showed him an excellent Ethiopian hospitality.(More...)

2008-02-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

...New Obama Video

ETHIOPIA - National Bank bought Fake Gold

2008-02-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

Five senior executives from the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and three chemists from the Ethiopian Geological Survey were arrested last week for their alleged involvement in a gold fraud scandal.(VIDEO and more)

Making exceptions for Ethiopia

2008-01-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Western policy towards Africa is ill-informed and inconsistent. That’s the message of Ethiopia’s prime minister, Meles Zenawi, in his interview in the Guardian last week. And there’s some truth in what he says. But Meles should be careful what he wishes for.(More...)

Ethiopia - GOSSIP

2008-01-29T16:10:00.000-08:00

To the delight of many Addis Abebans - the latest summit of heads of state from member countries of the Africa Union (AU) will draw a record high number of delegates, according to estimates. There are a few who put the number as high as 6,000 delegates. Addis is about to see the largest crowd in AU's history.(More..)

Ethiopia - 2 Soldiers Killed In Somali's Capital

2008-01-29T05:54:00.000-08:00

Islamic militants firing rockets and mortars clashed with Somali troops and their Ethiopian allies in fighting that killed at least 17 civilians and two Ethiopian soldiers in the capital, witnesses said Tuesday.(More...)

Ethiopia: speaking truth to power

2008-01-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

"The ball is in your court. I only pray you be fair. You talk about 'multi-party democracy.' I believe there would never be any meaningful opposition party in this country as long as you are in power. It wouldn't exist because you make sure it wouldn't exist. So far you have been successful."

_______________________

2008-01-25T07:23:00.001-08:00

Ethiopia: JPMorgan Chase urged to reject loan for dam

2008-01-24T15:33:00.000-08:00

JPMorgan Chase has come under pressure to refuse to provide a loan for the controversial Gilgel Gibe III hydropower dam in Ethiopia.

Three NGOs – Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale in Italy, Les Amis de la Terre in France and International Rivers in the US – have written to the US bank to urge it to refuse a $400 million commercial loan request from the Ethiopian government in connection with the project, which they say would violate the bank’s environmental policy.

The 1,870MW dam is already under construction by Italian firm Salini, at an estimated cost of €1.4 billion ($2.1 billion), and would be the third stage in a project to dam the Gilgel Gibe River for hydropower. The Italian export credit agency SACE has refused to guarantee the project.(More...)

Ethiopia: Kinijit VP Birtukan weighs in on NEB's decision

2008-01-22T06:22:00.000-08:00

After the National Electoral Board (NEB) decided in favor of Ayele Chamiso and awarded the party’s name, ‘CUDP’ to his group, Birtukan’s group, which is forming a union with parliamentarians led by Temesgen Zewdie (MP), is considering forming a new party and obtaining a new name, Birtukan Mediksa told Capital.

“We are discussing the option of forming a new political party so that we can obtain legal status. It is one possibility but the door to further struggle to obtain our party’s name is not a dead option yet,” said Birtukan, “whatever we decide, one thing remains, we will keep the program and policies of the CUD.”(More...)

__________________________________

2008-01-09T06:45:00.001-08:00

--Police arrests students in Arba Minch University (Reporter)
--AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION UPDATE: DANIEL BEKELE & NETSANET DEMISSIE
--Somali parliament approves partial new cabinet
--Ethiopian to launch Khat "wine"
--H.R. Stands for Human Rights: Let's Stand Up for H.R. 2003 in 2008
--RSF: Letter to Prime Minister on government’s refusal to licence two new newspapers
--71% of Ethiopian immigrants report feeling like outsiders
--Saudi billionaire in talks to buy Ethiopian agency
--Three journalists detained by security forces across Somalia
--Somalia: President, Separatist Somaliland Leader Board Same Plane

2008-01-03T06:17:00.001-08:00

Somali interim leader collapses

Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has fallen ill and been flown to neighbouring Ethiopia for treatment. A BBC correspondent says Mr Yusuf, 72, collapsed on Friday morning in the seat of government, Baidoa.(More...)

_________________________

_________________________

PEACEFUL RALLY: ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA IN OKLAHOMA FOR H.R. 2003

DATE: TUESDAY, January 22, 2008
TIME: 11:00 AM
ADDRESS:1900 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Invited Guest Speakers: Senator Andrew Rice and Professor Ted Vestal

Senator James Inhofe Refuses to Meet with Supporters of Ethiopian Human Rights Bill

On November 13 and November 20, 2007, peaceful protests were held in front of Senator James Inhofe's Oklahoma City district office objecting to the Senator's strong opposition to H.R. 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007" H.R. 2003, is a bi-partisan human rights bill that passed unanimously from the U.S. House of Representatives on October 2, 2007.(More...)

CPJ: Ethiopia blocks freed journalists from launching newspapers
New York, January 2, 2008— Three Ethiopian journalists told CPJ the government denied them applications to launch new newspapers on Tuesday. All the journalists spent 17 months in prison following the country’s 2005 elections. The newspapers were slated to become the country’s first independent political publications since authorities banned eight local papers and forced at least a dozen others to close after the 2005 deadly post-election unrest.

Award-winning publisher Serkalem Fasil, her husband, columnist Eskinder Nega and publisher Sisay Agena fulfilled all legal requirements and submitted applications for Lualawi and Habesha—two current affairs Amharic-language weeklies—since mid-September. By comparison, newly launched current affairs weekly Addis Neger cleared its registration with the ministry within one hour in October, according to owner and editor Mesfin Negash, who was never jailed.

Ethiopia’s 1992 press law stipulates that a new newspaper is considered registered if the government fails to issue an official letter of certification within 30 days, but the document is required to obtain a mandatory commercial license, according to CPJ research.

Ethiopian Information Minister Berhanu Hailu and ministry spokesman Zemedkun Tekle did not return CPJ’s calls for comment today. Another ministry official, Fantahun Asres, head of Press Licensing, declined to comment on the matter to CPJ on Monday, but informed the journalists by phone on Tuesday that their applications had been denied, according to Nega.

“Despite public assurances in July that it would allow former prisoners to resume their work, the Ethiopian government instead is using bureaucratic tactics to deny independent journalists an outlet,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “We call on the government to remove such obstacles and allow our colleagues the right to publish newspapers.”

Fasil and Agena, the former owners of four banned newspapers, had their former publishing companies fined and dissolved in July 2007, three months after Ethiopia’s High Court acquitted them of anti-state charges. Authorities subsequently withdrew an appeal to reinstate the charges in October, according to local journalists.

Ethiopia’s ministry of information is mandated to “facilitate conditions for the expansion of the country’s media both in variety and in numbers,” according to the press law, but independent media outlets remain scarce, according to CPJ research. Last October, authorities allowed two independently owned media outlets to open: private commercial station Sheger Radio and current affairs weekly Addis Neger, although both operated under intense self-censorship, according to local journalists.

PEACEFUL RALLY CALLED BY ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA IN OKLAHOMA

2008-01-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release
Contact Person: Ato Muluneh Zeleke
Phone: 405-314-4560
January 3, 2008
SAVE THE DATE

FOR H.R. 2003

DATE: TUESDAY, January 22, 2008
TIME: 11:00 AM
ADDRESS: 1900 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Invited Guest Speakers: Senator Andrew Rice and Professor Ted Vestal

Senator James Inhofe Refuses to Meet with Supporters of Ethiopian Human Rights Bill

On November 13 and November 20, 2007, peaceful protests were held in front of Senator James Inhofe's Oklahoma City district office objecting to the Senator's strong opposition to H.R. 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007" H.R. 2003, is a bi-partisan human rights bill that passed unanimously from the U.S. House of Representatives on October 2, 2007.

Senator Inhofe has publicly admitted that he maintains a close personal friendship with Ethiopia's Dictator Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his wife. As Senator Inhofe's Oklahoma constituents who are concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Ethiopia, we requested Senator Inhofe meet with individuals and/or organizations that support H.R.2003, during his visit to Ethiopia.
http://www.ethiomedia.com/ace/protesters_address_senator_inhofe.html

A list containing the names of individuals and organizations who were victims of human rights abuses was given to Senator Inhofe’s district office in Oklahoma City in the presence of state Senator Constance N. Johnson (D-Oklahoma City).

Unfortunately, before meeting with any of the victims of human right abuse, Senator Inhofe chose to attack the Human Rights bill immediately upon arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in late November 2007: http://ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2007/Nov/29Nov07/44031.html

Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R.2003 invite fellow Oklahomans to join us in front of Senator Inhofe’s Oklahoma City office to protest Senator Inhofe’s refusal to meet with victims of human rights abuses in Ethiopia. We want to know why Senator Inhofe chooses to support a distant dictator and is UNWILLING to listen to us, his constituents?

A CALL TO ALL ETHIOPIANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA WORLDWIDE

We respectfully request that all Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia Worldwide to call/fax Senator James Inhofe’s offices and ask him WHY HE REFUSED TO MEET WITH VICTIMS OF GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DURING HIS RECENT 6-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ETHIOPIA???

Washington, DC Office: (202) 224-4721 (tel); ( 202 ) 228-0380 (fax)
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3602
Oklahoma City, OK Office: (405) 608-4381 (tel); (405) 608-4120 (fax)

Ethiopia leaves key Somali town

2007-12-27T06:32:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
___________________

Ethiopia leaves key Somali town

Ethiopian troops have withdrawn from a key town in central Somalia.
Islamist insurgents say they now control Guriel, where Ethiopia had a big military base to secure the road linking the two countries.(More...)

Ethiopia cracks down on rebels

The Ethiopian army has inflicted losses on rebel fighters in the restive Ogaden region where the government is cracking down on insurgents, Colonel Tsegaye Gebretensae said in a statement today.(More...)

UNMEE expresses concern about firing incident between Eritrea and Ethiopia

On 26 December, 2007 at 3:30 hours, the Indian Battalion (Indbatt) Post and UN Military Observer Team Site located at Tsorena inside the Temporary Security Zone, Eritrea, heard firing sounds in the general direction of Gergera, southeast of Tsorena in the border area.

A Welcome Home and A Look Forward
Meron Wondwosen , cousin of Daniel Bekele

The guilty verdict followed by a two and a half year sentence rendered against my cousin Daniel Bekele and his partner Netsanet Demissie is not a victory for the military junta's court system. Nor is it evidence that the "justice" system with its abundant delays, draconian laws, sick judges and arbitrary detention rules actually functions. No. If there is a victory to be claimed, then it belongs to those who persevered against all adversity and defended Daniel and Netsanet.(More...)

Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of border attack

Firing on Eritrea-Ethiopia border sparks UN concern

Ethiopia government praises Burundi deployment in Somalia

Ethiopia activists get 2 1/2 years but to walk free

Two human rights activists received a two-and-a-half year jail sentence on Wednesday for inciting post-election violence in 2005, but will walk free within days as they have already served their prison time.(More...)

Also see: Press Release from CIVICUS & GCAP

Ethiopia: Prisoners of conscience unfairly convicted; face possible 10-year prison terms

Amnesty International

(A Supporter signs petition demanding the release of Human rights defenders and antipoverty activists, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, currently jailed by the government of Ethiopia)

Amnesty International today condemned the convictions of two human rights defenders in Ethiopia on charges of provoking and preparing "outrages against the Constitution", saying that the two men are prisoners of conscience arrested solely for their peaceful human rights work. Both have been held in prison since November 2005.(More...)

Ethiopian govt. convicts activists

An Ethiopian court has convicted two rights activists of inciting an uprising against the government. Judge Mohammed Aminsani, said on Monday: "Despite the lack of evidence proving their involvement in leadership and participation during the unrest, no evidence could be found to refute accusations of incitement."(More...)

Ethiopia activists found guilty BBC News
Activists convicted in Ethiopia UPI
Ethiopian Court Convicts Anti-Poverty Campaigners OneWorld.net

Monkey Trial in Kangaroo Kourt: Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demessie in the “Lions’ Den”

Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam

It is often said that truth is stranger than fiction. The grotesque prosecution of Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie is much stranger than the grim and chilling fictional story of Joseph K., in Franz Kafka’s The Trial.(More...)

One of the Most Important Bills of the Decade - A Bill with Global Ramification

Ethiopia: Draft Parties Registration Law Raises Controversy

Ethiopia’s opposition party denounces Sudan border demarcation

10 Most Underreported Humanitarian Stories Of 2007

Heavy fighting rocks Somali capital

Burundi peacekeepers arrive in Somalia: AU

__________________________

CIVICUS & GCAP Press Release

2007-12-26T20:00:00.000-08:00

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation & Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)

MEDIA ADVISORY
12/26/07

26 December 2007 – Ethiopian activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie may face brief additional time behind bars, as the court today sentenced them to two years and six months in prison on charges of incitement, despite demands by the prosecution that they receive the maximum sentence of 10 years.

"While we welcome the fact that Daniel and Netsanet may soon be reunited with their friends, families and colleagues in civil society, we are perplexed and dismayed by the additional sentence. Everyday they have spent and possibly will spend in prison is a deep injustice. They are true heroes of Ethiopia, true heroes of Africa and for everyone around the world who supports democracy, justice and the fight against poverty ," said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) who was present at the sentencing this morning.

Daniel and Netsanet, coordinators of GCAP in Ethiopia, were today sentenced to two years and six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa for provocation and preparing incitement in the aftermath of the May 2005 elections. On Monday, they were acquitted of conspiracy to overthrow the constitutional order, but were found guilty on the lesser charge. CIVICUS and GCAP anticipate that they will soon be released, given the two years and two months they have already spent behind bars, as well as their good behaviour and their willingness to cooperate with the court.

Before sentencing them this morning, the judges read a statement recognising their contributions to peace, democracy and the rule of law in Ethiopia. The presiding judge dissented from the verdict and has consistently maintained they are innocent of the charges, finding their actions to be fully within the constitution.

"The judges' statement today read more like a citation for the Nobel Peace Prize than justification for even a single day they have spent in prison ," said Kumi Naidoo.

Since Daniel and Netsanet's arrest in November 2005, civil society organisations in Ethiopia have come under increasing scrutiny, and many have been forced into silence on controversial issues for fear of meeting the same fate as Daniel and Netsanet.

Speaking from Ethiopian Federal court, Kumi Naidoo said, " This case has significance beyond the travesty of justice against Daniel and Netsanet. Their continued detention has had a chilling effect on civil society in Ethiopia. It is extremely important that the judges stated none of their actions were against the constitution and were in fact legitimate civil society activities. We hope that this vindication will enable civil society to fully exercise its role, including advocacy for human rights, democracy, peace and the eradication of poverty ."

Aside from their work with GCAP, Daniel is also head of the policy department at ActionAid International Ethiopia. Netsanet is also the founder of local human rights group Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.

At the start of the trial in May 2006, 131 opposition politicians, journalists, civil society leaders and organisations stood accused of a range of charges from genocide to treason. They were among thousands who were detained following protests accusing the government of rigging the 15 May 2005 parliamentary elections. Many of the accused were acquitted during the course of the trial. Others were convicted but pardoned in July and August 2007 – all of whom signed a confession, admitting use of "unconstitutional means to change the constitutionally established government functions" following the 2005 elections.

Although they were asked to sign a similar statement, Daniel and Netsanet declined. They argued that their activities in 2005 were entirely legal and did not serve to undermine, but rather to protect and promote Ethiopia's constitutional order.

Recognised as Amnesty International prisoners of conscience, Daniel and Netsanet were consistently denied bail, even after seven attempts, including an appeal to the Supreme Court.

ENDS

For more information or interviews, please contact:

Ciara O'Sullivan, GCAP – in the UK: +44 776 724 6880, ciara_os@hotmail.com

Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS - in Ethiopia: +251 911 926 295

Julie Middleton, CIVICUS – in South Africa: +27 403 6040 juliejmiddle@gmail.com

For more information on CIVICUS: www.civicus.org

For more information on GCAP: www.whiteband.org

A Welcome Home and A Look Forward

2007-12-26T08:01:00.000-08:00

Meron Wondwosen

"That justice is a blind goddess is a thing to which we [Ethiopians] are wise. Her bandage hides two festering sores that once perhaps were eyes." Langston Hughes

To speak of justice in Ethiopia is to speak of a farce. To expect justice is to imagine a fairy godmother. To wish for that elusive pot of gold. At the end of our rainbow there isn't a green creature with promises of riches but rather a cruel and merciless dictator whose iron fists rule over Ethiopia.

The guilty verdict followed by a two and a half year sentence rendered against my cousin Daniel Bekele and his partner Netsanet Demissie is not a victory for the military junta's court system. Nor is it evidence that the "justice" system with its abundant delays, draconian laws, sick judges and arbitrary detention rules actually functions. No. If there is a victory to be claimed, then it belongs to those who persevered against all adversity and defended Daniel and Netsanet. Victory, bittersweet as it may be, belongs to Daniel and Netsanet. Its hard to imagine what is on the minds of these courageous men who lost more than two years of their lives in the depressing, barbed wire existence that is Kality prison. What is irrefutable is that they exemplify dignity to the highest degree. They had nothing—no wealth, no political aspirations—nothing at all except their dignity and their principles. And in the tradition of many African women and men before them, they stuck to truth—come hell or Meles Zenawi's kangaroo court.

The ordeal of these two men has always had larger implications. The struggle for their freedom has been about the right of all Ethiopians to live without fear that our houses will be raided, our newspapers and radios silenced, our young men arrested en masse and our courageous women, incarcerated and some forced to give birth in prison.

Through this trial, the rest of the world began to see, some albeit begrudgingly, the rampant human rights violations committed by the current regime. During the span of this trial, Somalia was invaded by Zenawi's army and is currently mired in a humanitarian crisis; Ogaden burned as fellow Ethiopians were slaughtered under the Prime Minister's orders; Finally Ethiopia's integrity was compromised as the dictator allowed the CIA to operate its extraordinary rendition (read: torture) programs on our soil. As for the economy, well, measured on any index, the country lags behind and is an utter development disaster.

So it is in the midst of the continuing struggle for the liberation of Ethiopia that we welcome Daniel and Netsanet back into our arms and into the community of people all over the world who worked every single day since November 2005 to free them.

Eighty million Ethiopians suffer daily under a ruthless dictatorship. Let us rise and speak on their behalf as we did for Daniel and Netsanet. While we won this battle, the war rages on. The work is not done until we have freed Ethiopia from the clutches of this brutal cabal.

A La Luta Continua!

Meron Wondwosen is an attorney, human rights activist and cousin of prisoner of conscience Daniel Bekele.

Divide and Rule: Ethnic Federalism in Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia

2007-12-21T07:36:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
___________________

NETSANET DEMESIE AND DANIEL BEKELE – MEN OF THE YEAR (Girma Kassa)

Divide and Rule: Ethnic Federalism in Benishangul Gumuz Region of Ethiopia

Berhanu G. Balcha, NES-Scandinavian Chapter

Since 1991 the political power in the regional state has been characterized by unpredictability and ineffectiveness. Though immaturity in political leadership could be cited as a cause, other factors such as inter-ethnic as well as intra-ethnic rivalries, and the intriguing and self-serving role of the TPLF have played a significant role in creating turmoil and unpredictability in the regional state political structure.(More...)

Ethiopia, UN accuse each other on Somalia - VIDEO

UN 'not exaggerating crisis in Somalia'

The United Nations has rejected Ethiopian claims that it is exaggerating the severity of the crisis in Somalia. The UN says fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government forces in the capital, Mogadishu, has forced 600,000 people to flee the capital. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says that is just hype.(More...)

Eritrean opposition urges overthrow of government

Somalia: Hawiye elders welcome UN position

Ethiopia PM attacks UN on Somalia

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has accused the UN of playing a damaging role in the Somali crisis. "The situation there - as hard as it is - it could do with less hype and exaggeration," he told the BBC. (More...)

YOUNG ETHIOPIANS FIGHTING BACK
New generation steps up battle for equality in wake of school segregation incident

Recounting how officials in this central-Israel city stonewalled complaints this month about the segregation of four Ethiopian schoolgirls, Daniel Uoria paused to answer his cell phone. It was an adviser to the deputy mayor.(More...)

Ethiopian immigrants protest plans to halt Falash Mura aliyah

(Picture-reuters) Ethiopian immigrants hold a demonstration outside the office of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem December 18, 2007. Some 1,000 Israelis of Ethiopian descent took part in a demonstration on Tuesday calling on the Israeli government to grant permission for their relatives living in Ethiopia to immigrate.(More...)

--French journalist held in Somalia said to be "fine"
--Rebels say killed 215 Ethiopian troops but government denies
--As people flee Somalia and Ethiopia, 56 dead are found on the shores of Yemen
--Somalian cabinet dissolved after 2 weeks
--VOA: interview with Dr. Hailu Araya and Eng. Hailu Shawl on current developments within Kinijit (Part I)
--VOA: interview with Dr. Hailu Araya and Eng. Hailu Shawl on current developments within Kinijit (Part II)
--Ethiopian roses cast shadow over coffee

_______________________

GCAP, CIVICUS: Bring Ethiopian campaigners home for the holidays

2007-12-12T12:06:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
___________________

-Somalia descends into Africa's worst crisis (McClatchy)
-HRW's Letter to US Secretary of Defense on Somalia
-Somali Islamists Said to Be Regrouping
-At least 17 killed in Somalia attacks

Bring Ethiopian campaigners home for the holidays

For Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, This could be their third holiday season behind bars and away from their loved ones. Join GCAP and CIVICUS by:

1) sending a message of hope to Daniel and Netsanet and their families;
2) sending a letter of appeal to the Ethiopian authorities, urging them to bring Daniel and Netsanet home for the holidays.
3) sending a greeting card by post to Daniel and Netsanet, via the Ministry of Justice (MORE...)

REMEMBERING DECEMBER 13TH: ANUAK JUSTICE COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE

Our World: Condi's African holiday

...THE CONFLICTS in the Horn of Africa have regional and global dimensions. Regionally, Egypt has played a central role in sponsoring and fomenting conflicts. Egypt's meddling advances its interest of preventing the African nations from mounting a unified challenge to Egypt's colonial legacy of extraordinary rights to the waters of the Nile River which flows through all countries of the region.(More...)

12 December 2007: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION UPDATE

11 December 2007: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION

PINR Analysis: ''Somalia Completes its Devolutionary Cycle''

As a political community, Somalia has disintegrated. The country has now reached the limit of its devolutionary cycle, which began in December 2006, when Ethiopia mounted a military intervention that ousted the Islamic Courts Council (I.C.C.) from control over most of southern and central Somalia.(More...)

Rights Group Accuses Sudan of Deporting Eritrean Refugees

(Audio Report)

An Eritrean human rights group is accusing the governments of Sudan and Eritrea of working together to round up and deport Eritreans who have sought refuge from Eritrea's authoritarian government. Nick Wadhams has the story from Nairobi.(More...)

EHRCO: Press Release on the Occasion of the International Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December to honor and commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on this date in 1948. This year on Human Rights Day, the United Nations launches a year-long campaign in the lead up to the 60th anniversary of the UDHR under the theme ‘Dignity and Justice for all of us’.(More...)

PM Olmert promises to fight racism in Israel

The Israeli prime minister opened Sunday's Cabinet meeting with grave remarks in response to a newspaper expose last week about a religious school in Petah Tikva at which girls of Ethiopian descent are segregated from their peers.(More...)

Somali Islamists seize town from government troops

Masked fighters occupied a key business district and residential neighborhood in the Somali capital Saturday, saying they had forced Ethiopian troops to withdraw and urging locals to return home.(More...)

UK, Australian aid staff ordered out of Ogaden

Australian and a Briton working for Save the Children UK have been ordered out of Ethiopia's troubled Ogaden region, aid sources said on Friday. "They have been working in Ogaden on business visas, but were then refused additional work permits and asked to leave," said an aid worker in Addis Ababa, who asked not to be named.(More...)

Press Release: ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS and FRIENDS of ETHIOPIA in OKLAHOMA for H.R. 2003

December 7, 2007

...The vast majority of Ethiopian-Americans who support the bill have been asking us; his constituents, how Senator Inhofe can, in clear conscience, oppose the bill after refusing to meet with the gross human rights abuses victims to whom H.R. 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007” is directed to?(More...)

Somalia's leader leaves hospital

Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has been discharged from hospital in Kenya after three days' treatment for respiratory problems. A frail-looking Mr Yusuf, 72, who had a liver transplant 13 years ago, said he would now be travelling to London for a routine check-up.(More...)

Ethiopian-American wins Guardian First Book Award

A novel that tackles fraught questions of identity, dislocation and loneliness through the life of an Ethiopian émigré in the US has taken this year's Guardian First Book Award. Dinaw Mengestu's Children of the Revolution tells the story of a man who fled to America to escape the violence of Ethiopia's communist revolution.(More...)

Rice tells Ethiopia to ease tensions with Eritrea

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Ethiopia on Wednesday to avoid acts that would raise tensions with Eritrea but got new promises from Africa's Great Lakes nations to end fighting in eastern Congo.(More...)

Reporters Without Borders names Eritrean Seyoum Tsehaye journalist of 2007

An Eritrean who has never been allowed a family visit or a lawyer and has never been charged during six years of imprisonment was named "Journalist of the Year" by Reporters Without Borders on Wednesday.(More...)

Somali Leader Reportedly Has Bronchitis

Somalia's president is suffering from bronchitis and is using an oxygen mask, an official said Wednesday as the African leader spent a second day in the hospital in Kenya.(More...)

Rice's visit to Ethiopia puts focus on ally accused of human rights abuses

McClatchy Newspapers

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Ethiopia this week puts a spotlight on the tight but troubled relationship between the United States and the volatile Horn of Africa nation.

Rice's arrival Wednesday comes as Ethiopian troops are bogged down against Islamist-led insurgents in Somalia and face a growing outcry over alleged human rights abuses against Muslims in the restive Ogaden region — two conflicts that experts believe could serve as a rallying cry for Islamic fundamentalists.(More...)

CPJ asks Rice to discuss Ethiopian press freedom

CPJ's letter to Secretary Rice

Dear Secretary Rice:

In advance of your meeting with Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa , the Committee to Protect Journalists would like to draw your attention to our concerns regarding press freedom conditions there.

You may know that 15 Ethiopian journalists were recently released from prison, but this development belies the country’s sustained record of contempt for independent media, which manifests itself in a variety of legal and administrative restraints. The 15 jailed journalists were sentenced on trumped-up charges such as genocide in connection with the media’s coverage of Ethopia’s 2005 post-election unrest.(More...)

BBC: SOMALI LEADER RUSHED TO HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION - Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf has been taken to hospital in the Kenyan capital, the BBC has learnt. His condition is said to be "serious".(More...)

Also see: Somali gov't denies president in serious condition

U.S. DEBATING SHIFT OF SUPPORT IN SOMALI CONFLICT

The escalating conflict in Somalia is generating debate inside the Bush administration over whether the United States should continue to back the shaky transitional government in Mogadishu or shift support to Somaliland.(More...)

Ethiopian govt. says world disinterest in Somalia peace

Ethiopia has warned that the world's disinterest in sending peacekeepers to Somalia was dampening hopes of achieving peace in the country.(More...)

PETITION FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET (Family and Friends)

PRESS RELEASE ON SENATOR INHOFE’S ETHIOPIA VISIT
(Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R.2003)

...Senator Inhofe, despite his 6-day stay in Ethiopia, chose to meet with only 2 individuals (20 minutes each) out of the 28 he was requested to meet by us, his constituents, in order to enable him to reach an informed decision on H.R. 2003.(More...)

EU Annual Report on Human Rights 2007: ETHIOPIA

The EU has called on the government (Ethiopia) to stop the harassment of the opposition and civil society organizations, and to carry out a permanent and inclusive dialogue with the opposition to implement democratic provisions in practice.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-'Humanitarian crisis' facing Ethiopia, says UN
-UN Should Press Ethiopia and Somali (human rights watch)
-Five killed in Mogadishu violence
-Somali PM unveils new cabinet
-US official Gates in Djibouti to discuss Africa operations

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

-Sudanese President Pardons British Teacher
-CHAVEZ DEFEATED OVER PROPOSED REFORMS
-Monitors say Russian vote unfair
-Sharif's candidacy papers rejected
-Israel Releases 429 Palestinian Captives
-Dinosaur mummy tells secrets

___________________

Ethiopia: Observers dismayed at further delay in trial of Daniel and Netsanet

2007-11-30T05:27:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top Stories
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

___________________

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA DEADLINE EXPIRES TODAY
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Public Statement
(On Danile and Netsanet's case)
___________________

(Click on picture to act on behalf of Daniel and Netsanet)

[CIVICUS - Whiteband] Ethiopian anti-poverty activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie will remain in prison for at least another 24 days, as Judges in Ethiopia's High Court today delayed their verdict for the third time in two months, postponing it until 24 December.

"We are deeply dismayed by the court's decision to delay the verdict yet again. These numerous postponements are unacceptable and infringe the rights of these innocent civil society leaders to a fair and swift trial. But we will not be deterred - we and others around the world will continue to insist on their immediate and unconditional release ," said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS and Co-Chair of GCAP.

After 25 months in prison, Daniel and Netsanet, both coordinators of the Global Call to Action against Poverty in Ethiopia , are the last two accused in the high profile Ethiopian treason trial that originally charged 131 politicians, journalists, organisations and civil society leaders in the wake of the country's May 2005 parliamentary elections. They were due to hear their verdict this morning in Addis Ababa, on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the government, specifically, "outrage against the constitution and constitutional order," which carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.

In delaying the verdict, the court announced that one of the judges is ill and must be replaced. The postponement is allegedly to allow the replacement judge to familiarise himself with the case.

___________________

Dr. Yacob Hailemariam to speak at Norfolk, December 5, 2007
(Event sponsored by Tidewater Peace Alliance and Amnesty International)

Dr. Berhanu Nega to speak at an Upcoming Conference - Linking Human Rights and Development: A strategy for Africa (December 6, 2007) (Sponsored by Amnesty International)
___________________

US department of state
Released on November 29, 2007

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Travel to Ethiopia Next Week

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Secretary will attend a meeting with leaders from the African Great Lakes states to discuss issues of regional peace and security on December 5. She also will hold bilateral meetings with the Government of Ethiopia.
Also see: Rice to visit Ethiopia in rare Africa trip
___________________

Dueling Dictators: Newsweek

Newsweek - If there were an award for the most pointless war of the last 25 years, Ethiopia and Eritrea's 1998-2000 border battle might well take the prize.(More...)

___________________

ETHIOPIAN GOVT. FORCING UNTRAINED CIVILIANS TO FIGHT REBELS, REFUGEES SAY
McClatchy Newspapers

Ethiopian soldiers have forcibly drafted hundreds of civilians to fight separatist rebels in the desolate, predominantly Muslim Ogaden region in a shadowy military campaign supported by the Bush administration, according to more than a dozen refugees and former recruits who've fled to neighboring Kenya.(More...)
___________________

Today's Top Stories

-Revenge drives young Somali militant
-Ten more killed in north Mogadishu fighting
-Kenya arrests 12 suspected Ethiopian rebels
-Ethiopia, Eritrea tread a thin line
-Atrocities alleged in eastern Ethiopia
-Meles denies rights abuses in Ogaden
-Ethiopia: UN Humanitarian Chief Concludes Visit
-Somali PM works to put cabinet together
-Call to attack Uganda peacekeepers divides insurgency

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Kasparov Warns of ‘Chaos’ in Russia - Released from jail after serving a five-day sentence for leading an opposition march, Garry Kasparov, the former chess champion, warned today that Russia was heading toward chaos under President Vladimir V. Putin.(More...)

-New Ebola Strain Blamed for Killing 16 in Uganda
-Sudan protesters: Execute teacher
-Musharraf Is Sworn In as a Civilian President
-Australia's new prime minister names his own cabinet
-Power Grab or Reform? Venezuelans Debate Vote

___________________

ETHIOPIAN ACTIVISTS IN COURT NOVEMBER 30TH AGAIN TO HEAR VERDICT IN TREASON TRIAL

2007-11-29T05:07:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

29-11-07– Anti-poverty activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie who have faced several court delays to date, are scheduled to hear the verdict on treason related charges tomorrow FrIday, November 30th. If found guilty, they could face life imprisonment or death sentences.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS and Chair of Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP). “Sadly, these two activists are being tried for their commitment to bettering the lives of the people of Ethiopia. We all stand in solidarity with them” he added.

Daniel and Netsanet, both coordinators of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia, are the last two accused in the high profile Ethiopian treason trial that originally charged 131 politicians, journalists, organisations and civil society leaders. They have been detained since November 2005, on allegations of conspiracy to overthrow the government, specifically, “outrage against the constitution and constitutional order.”

Originally scheduled to give the verdict on October 8th, the High Court in Addis Ababa delayed it until November 22nd when again they delayed on the grounds one of the judges was ill in hospital.

-ENDS-

For more information or interviews, please contact:
Julie Middleton, Programme Communications Associate, Civil Society Watch, CIVICUS Tel: 27 11 833-5959, ext. 123 Julie.middleton@civicus.org

Ciara O’Sullivan, GCAP Media Coordinator at Tel: +34 679 594 809, ciara.osullivan@civicus.org

For more information on CIVICUS: www.civicus.org

For more information on GCAP Stand Up and Speak Out on 17 October: www.whiteband.org

Ethiopia: Top stories of the day

2007-11-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

______________

PETITION FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET
(Family and Friends)

THE CASE OF ETHIOPIAN SOCIETY AND HR 2003
(EAC)
______________

"“I think it is crucial that Senator Inhofe communicate with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia about the strength and feelings of his constituents in Oklahoma. " - Oklahoma State Senator Connie N. Johnson

(L)Senator Connie N. Johnson (R)Oklahoma Representative Jabar Shumate

______________

Governor Henry Signs
African-American Centennial Plaza
Bill At Ceremonial Event
______________

-Eritrea-Ethiopia border deadline looms amid war fears
-Obang addresses students, faculty at Bethel University
-Starbucks opening farm support center in Ethiopia
-Somali media restrictions "ridiculous" - watchdog
-Somalia offensive after attacks
-Ethiopia bogged down in Somalia Meles Admits
-Canadian Sec. of State Commemorates Ethiopian Millennium

John Holmes, the U.N.'s humanitarian chief, right, greet residents of Kebridehar in the eastern Ethiopian region of Ogaden, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. John Holmes, urged officials to allow freedom of movement and more aid agencies in the eastern Ethiopian region of Ogaden, where a low-level insurgency has escalated.(More...)

Also see:
-U.N. says "deep international concern" at Ogaden conflict

______________

Ethiopia bogged down in Somalia Meles Admits

2007-11-27T05:53:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

___________________

Also:
- Today's Top Stories
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
___________________

THE CASE OF ETHIOPIAN SOCIETY AND HR 2003 (EAC)
PETITION FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET (Family and Friends)
___________________

Ethiopia bogged down in Somalia: Meles
BBC

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has acknowledged that his troops cannot withdraw from the conflict in Somalia. Mr Meles said he had expected to withdraw his soldiers earlier in the year, after Islamists had been driven out of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.(More...)

Also see:
Ethiopia Upgrades Military Budget Due To Eritrea Threat-Meles
Ethiopia to maintain crackdown on Ogaden rebels: PM

Today's Top Stories

-U.N. envoy arrives in volatile Ethiopian region
-VOA Amharic, Oromo Shows Jammed (VOA)
-Somali journalists banned from covering insurgents
-Desperate Somalia (Washington Post Editorial)
-AUDIO - Experts examine the Somalia crisis (PBS)

Keepers of the Lost Ark?
Smithsonian magazine

Through the centuries, Ethiopians have claimed that the ark rests in a chapel in the small town of Aksum, in their country's northern highlands. It arrived nearly 3,000 years ago, they say, and has been guarded by a succession of virgin monks who, once anointed, are forbidden to set foot outside the chapel grounds until they die.(More...)

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Musharraf to quit army 'this week'
-Leaders attend Mideast Conference
-Oprah to campaign for Obama
-Violence worsens in Paris
-Airbus $30bil. deal With China
-U.N. index names best country to live in

___________________

Ethiopia: Top stories of the day

2007-11-26T06:18:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

______________

PETITION SITE CREATED
FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET
(Family and Friends)
______________

African nations agree to $1bn Indian satellite project

A critical mass of countries are signing on to a plan for India to invest $1bn in the Pan-African e-Network satellite project, a joint initiative with the Africa Union aimed at developing the region’s ICT infrastructure.(More...)

Haile receives Inspirational Award

Legendary Ethiopian long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie holds his 'Inspirational Award', Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in Monaco, during the World Athlete of the Year awards.(More...)

Somalia Swears In New Prime Minister

Somalia's parliament has sworn in Nur Hassan Hussein as the new prime minister of the war-torn nation. Mr. Hussein took the oath of office early Saturday in the southern town of Baidoa, where the parliament meets. He promised to perform his duties honestly.(More...)

Also see: New prime minister willing
to talk with insurgents

-Ethiopian army pays tribute to soldiers that died in Somalia
-VOA Amharic, Oromo Shows Jammed (VOA)
-New electoral board similar to old one say opposition
-LIFE AND DEATH IN MOGADISHU - VIDEO
-German Official: Human Rights Get Too Little Attention
-HR 2003 benefits all and sundry (ethiomedia)
-US pledges 25 mln dollars for restive Ethiopian region
-Somalia President Says He Wants More Control
-Multiplex cinema opens in Addis
-China in Africa: Developing ties
-Obscure athletes scoop Great Ethiopia Run

______________________________

Protesters Ask Senator Inhofe to Be Fair (text and Video)

2007-11-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for HR 2003 Ask Senator Inhofe to Be Fair(text and Video)

Ethiopia: Verdict on Daniel and Netsanet Put Off Again

2007-11-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

The verdict in the case of Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, which was expected today, has been postponed again because a judge is in hospital.

The last evidence in the case was presented in Ethiopia's Federal High Court on 2 August. The two prisoners have been waiting since then to hear their verdict, first while the court completed its annual recess, and then for a further six weeks after the judges said that they needed extra time to consider all the evidence.(More...)

Also:
-PETITION SITE CREATED FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET (Family and Friends)
-Background Notes on trial of Netsanet and Daniel

Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of having "declared war"

2007-11-21T11:47:00.000-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top Stories
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
_________________________

-WAITING FOR JUSTICE: Qaliti Qalkidan on Daniel and Netsanet
-Frontline issues an appeal on behalf of Daniel and Netsanet
_________________________

Eritrea said on Wednesday arch-foe Ethiopia had "long since declared war" on Asmara by refusing to implement a five-year-old border ruling marking their shared frontier.

Analysts and diplomats fear heightened tensions on the Horn of Africa rivals' frontier could erupt into a new conflict seven years after they fought a war that killed some 70,000 people.(More...)

_________________________

Verdict to be passed on Ethiopian activists this Thursday
Background Notes on trial of Netsanet and Daniel
PETITION SITE CREATED FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET (Family and Friends)
_________________________

Today's Top Stories

-Ethiopia urges quick deployment of peacekeepers
-Ethiopia: Govt. denies reports of Ogaden attacks
-UN Chief to visit Ethiopia (OCHA)
-Letter to US senate committee on armed services (Keif Schleifer)
-Great Ethiopian Run Set For Sunday
-Dashen Bank to launch MasterCard
-'One million' homeless in Somalia
-Kenya repatriates refugees to Mogadishu amid protests
-Researchers, think tank key to Africa’s development
-Jolie's adopted girl conceived during rape: mother

Legend to become fact? - A major archeological find has been unearthed in Ethiopia. About 20 days ago, The Tigray Tourism Bureau, came upon an unspecified number of clay tablets with inscriptions in Sabean- the semitic lingua franca of the Sabean and later Aksumite empires and the tongue of the Queen of Sheba. The find in due time is expected to add more corroboration of the Ethiopic origins of Makeda – more famed as the Queen of Sheba – a woman who remains a hotly contested item of possession between Ethiopian and Yemenite peoples.(More...)

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Obama ahead in new Iowa poll

A new Washington Post/ABC News poll of likely Democratic caucus-goers has Barack Obama leading the primary field with 30 percent, compared with Clinton at 26 percent and John Edwards at 22 percent.(More...)

-Musharraf in Talks on Exiled Rival
-French strikes escalate, economic toll mounts-
-Olmert hopes for peace deal with Palestinians in 2008
-Cambodia genocide tribunal opens
-UN HIV estimates reduced to 33m

_________________________

Ethiopia: US senator to visit country, second week of protest planned asking for support on rights bill

2007-11-19T05:34:00.000-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top STORIES^Updated
____________________________________

-Verdict to be passed on Ethiopian activists this Thursday
-Background Notes on trial of Netsanet and Daniel
-PETITION SITE CREATED FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET (Family and Friends)
____________________________________

Second Week Peaceful Demonstration in Front of Senator Inhofe's Office in Oklahoma City

Senator Inhofe will be going to Ethiopia in a couple of weeks, the peaceful demonstrators will request Sentor Inhofe visit the families of the massacred people in June and November 2005. The protestors will also request that Senator Inhofe visit Daniel Bekele and Nesanet, the human rights defenders who are still languishing in jail. The protesters will request that Senator Inhofe give equal time to the opposition. Last but not least, the protesters will request Senator Inhofe give full support to H.R.2003.(More...)

Family members of a refugee from Ogaden region in Ethiopia sit on the ground in Dadaab, northeastern Kenya, November 16, 2007. The effect of the Ogaden crisis is being felt in neighbouring Kenya, where more Ogadenis than usual have been trickling into the three massive Dadaab camps.(More...)

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

-Ethiopia: army claims killing Ogaden rebels
-Ethiopia 'bombs' Ogaden villages (BBC)
-Ethiopia's refugees recount horrors of conflict (Reuters)
-Somali orders country's oldest rights group shut down
-The long search for a Somali PM
-Islamist insurgency grows in Somalia
-U.S. Embassy Donates Books to Educational Institutions
-Bekele finds happiness after tragedy

____________________________________

Ethiopia: army claims killing around 100 Ogaden rebels

2007-11-18T07:47:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top STORIES^Updated
_________________________

Second Week Peaceful Demonstration in Front of Senator Inhofe's Office in Oklahoma City

-AUDIO-VOA ON CUD's U.S. DELEGATION FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
_________________________

-PROTESTERS WANT US INHOFE TO SUPPORT RIGHTS BILL (AP)
-PETITION SITE CREATED FOR DANIEL AND NETSANET (Family and Friends)
-REMEMBER, THE ETHIOPIAN MARTYRS OF JUNE AND NOVEMBER, 2005 FOREVER! (Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam)
_________________________

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Ethiopian officers on Friday claimed their forces had killed some 100 rebels in the Ogaden region over the past month where its forces are cracking down on insurgents, state media reported.

Government troops had also captured hundreds of rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) fighters, state-owned Ethiopian television reported. They had been regrouping in the Lander area of southeast Ogaden. The army operation started on October 17.

"Around 100 terrorists from the ONLF have been killed after regrouping in the Lander area," the television quoted Colonel Gebregziabher Beyene, an army field commander as saying.(More...)

_________________________

ABUJA DECLARATION: LAUNCH OF FEDERATION OF AFRICAN JOURNALISTS
THE COUNTRIES THAT SHAME AFRICA (Declaration Adopted at the African Journalists Congress)
New Federation of Journalists Launches with Scathing Attack on “Countries that Shame Africa”

_________________________

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

NPR: Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan

[AUDIO] - Bill Fletcher discusses escalating violence in Somalia, rising political tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the latest on the North-South dispute in Sudan. Fletcher is the senior scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies.[NPR - AUDIO]

Maid abuse under scrutiny

(Picture - An Ethiopian maid hangs washed clothes as she stands on a balcony in Beirut, Lebanon Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. AP Photo) Thousands of foreign domestic workers in the Arab world face abuse at the hands of their employers.(More...)

-Ugandan peacekeepers attacked in Somalia
-EU CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN SOMALIA
-ETHIOPIA: COUNTRY BOTTOM AT UN TRADE AND DEV'T INDEX
-ETHIOPIA LAST IN AFRICA CELL PHONE USE
-FUGITIVE SOMALI ISLAMIST URGES JIHAD ON AU TROOPS
-INT. COMMUNITY TURNING A BLIND EYE: FORMER SPOKESPERSON
-STATEMENT FROM DR. YACOB HAILEMARIAM (CUD External Affairs)
-US AFRICA COMMAND WILL AID SECURITY: GENERAL
-GEBRSELASSIE HEADING FOR HISTORIC MARATHON TRIPLE
-ETHIOPIAN ADOPTION AGENCY BACKS ANGELINA JOLIE

Rasta roots explored in rare US (Smithsonian) exhibition

An unprecedented year-long exhibition at the prestigious Smithsonian Institute aims to demystify the mystique of Rastafarism exploring the roots of what has become a global emerging religion.

Rastafarism, with its resistance to colonialism, racism, is a philosophy, a religion and a way of life, which is growing in international populariy. The movement believes that Ethiopia is the Biblical promised land.(More...)

_________________________

Second Week Peaceful Demonstration in Front of Senator Inhofe's Office in Oklahoma City

2007-11-16T12:47:00.001-08:00

Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R.2003

Second Week Peaceful Demonstration in Front of Senator Inhofe's Office in Oklahoma City on Tuesdy November 20, 2007

Senator Inhofe will be going to Ethiopia in a couple of weeks, the peaceful demonstrators will request Sentor Inhofe visit the families of the massacred people in June and November 2005. The protestors will also request that Senator Inhofe visit Daniel Bekele and Nesanet, the human rights defenders who are still languishing in jail. The protesters will request that Senator Inhofe give equal time to the opposition. Last but not least, the protesters will request Senator Inhofe give full support to H.R.2003.

ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS and FRIENDS of ETHIOPIA in OKLAHOMA For H.R. 2003

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2007
WEEK-TWO OF PEACEFUL PROTEST AT SENATOR INHOFE’ S
OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICE

Contact Person:
Mr. Muluneh Zeleke, (Spokesperson)
Phone: 405-314-4560
ALL MEDIA INVITED!

In front of Senator Inhofe’s Oklahoma City office located at:
1900 NW Expressway Suite 1210
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
TIME: 11:00 AM
Purpose:

1)On-going campaign to create awareness among constituents of Senator Inhofe about H.R. 2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007”
2)As constituents, to continue to petition Senator James Inhofe, to give his full support to the Democracy and Human Rights Bill: HR 2003.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – “I was sorry to learn of your opposition to H.R.2003, the “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007.” I know you have a strong personal tie to Ethiopia and that you have been charmed by the personable Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (as have I). I believe, however, that H.R.2003 is sound legislation in holding the feet of the ruling TPLF to the fire to live up to its rhetoric about what you refer to as a positive democratization process… I hope you will reconsider your position on H.R.2003 and join your colleagues in the House of Representatives in striving to promote democracy and human rights in Ethiopia. By not standing in the way of Senate concurrence in this significant foreign policy initiative, you will be serving your constituents well. Please let me know if I can provide you with any additional information about the current situation in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.”
- Open letter from OSU Professor Ted Vestal (author of “Ethiopia, A Post-Cold War Africa State”) to Sen. James Inhofe, November 13, 2007
-
“…in Ethiopia, in reality it (HR 2003) focuses only on shortcomings while blatantly ignoring the unprecedented progress the country has made…While I agree that the violence and intimidation that took place in the country after the 2005 election was an unnecessary use of excessive force, the Government of Ethiopia has taken significant steps to regain a democratic process that is fair and respectful of human rights…I believe the bill takes the wrong approach by placing demands on a friend and ally that has made obvious advancements in democracy and human rights.
I hope when it comes to this side, if it does come in this form, that we will be able to resoundingly defeat it. I look forward to being in Ethiopia in about 3 weeks. I will certainly hope that I don't have to go over there after having something like this pass the Senate.”- Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), U.S. Senate, October 17, 2007

“…and has visited the nation four times. He’s very involved in the country and knows the leadership of that country very well. He’s not just doing this from Washington, D.C. He’s actually been there and seen it and knows the issues of that country."- Mr. John Collison, Senator James Inhofe’s District Director,
Associated Press, November 13, 2007

Ethiopian-Americans and Friends of Ethiopia in Oklahoma for H.R.2003 invite fellow Oklahomans, who support Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia to join the on-going effort to engage Senator Inhofe, by participating in the peaceful rally. If you are unable to attend the peaceful protest, please hand deliver this press release, fax and/or call Senator Inhofe and ask him to give his full support to HR 2003.

Washington, DC Office: (202) 224-4721 (tel); ( 202 ) 228-0380 (fax)
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3602
Oklahoma City, OK Office: (405) 608-4381 (tel); (405) 608-4120 (fax)

2007-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE FROM ETHIOPIAN-AMERICANS AND FRIENDS OF ETHIOPIA FOR H.R.2003 IN OKLAHOMA

(Picture - OKLAHOMANS at the Pro-H.R.2003 demonstration, Nov. 13, 2007)

Ethiopians demonstrate outside Oklahoma office of Senator Inhofe (Associated Press)

2007-11-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES^Updated!
- International News^Updated!
- VIDEO OF THE DAY (CNN’s new documentary on athlete Haile Gebrselassie)
__________________

Senator Inhofe on not currently having a hold on HR 2003:
Inhofe, Press Office

"I do not currently have a hold on the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 as it is still being considered in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has not yet been reported in its final form." - U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.)

EXTREMELY URGENT ACTION ALERT IN SUPPORT OF H.R 2003 (The Coalition for H.R.2003)
__________________

(Nov 13, 2007 - demonstration outside the Oklahoma City office of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - About 75 protestors attended a demonstration outside the Oklahoma City office of U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, saying he is blocking consideration of a bill that addresses human rights in Ethiopia. But a spokesman for Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, says the senator has not placed a hold on the bill, which has not yet reached the Senate floor.

The spokesman, John Collison, says he planned to meet with the protest leaders on Tuesday afternoon. During the peaceful protest, held across the street from 1 of Oklahoma City's major shopping malls, many demonstrators held U.S. flags, while others held the red, yellow and green flag of Ethiopia.

The bill, which passed in the U.S. House, decries Ethiopia's recent human rights record and opens the door for sanctions.
__________________

ETP – A Brief Commentary

If, God forbid, another senseless war starts between Ethiopia and Eritrea; it is very dangerous and unwise to assume, as some have, that military victory for the government of Eritrea over its Ethiopian counterpart will bring about democracy. It is as absurd as soliciting a demon to perform an exorcism. Not only would it not work; but it will most definitely lead to severe setbacks.

President Isaias, one of the world’s nastiest dictators, is awfully interested in becoming a super power in that region. Hence, there is no foreseeable scenario in which a militarily victorious Eritrean government, which doesn’t even pretend to care for the civil liberties of its own citizens, could work for the establishment of a strong and democratic Ethiopia.

Also see:
-SPEECH BY DR. BERHANU NEGA ON
ETHIOPIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY

__________________

AUDIO - VOA REPORTS ON THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE BY "ARENA TIGRAY FOR DEMOCRACY AND SOVEREIGNTY"

KINIJIT VANCOUVER TOWN HALL MEETING: [Pictures] - [Video]

ETHIOPIAN TROOPS IN SOMALIA WELL OVER 50,000 : MILITARY ANALYSTS
VOA - Military analysts say Ethiopia sent as many as 2,000 fresh troops to Somalia in the past week, to bolster a force estimated to be in excess of 50,000.[Listen to the AUDIO report]

__________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Ethiopia backed Somali govt. cracking down on media
-UN ENVOY SAYS SOMALI WAR CRIME SUSPECTS SHOULD FACE ICC
-NPR: Thousands Flee Violence in Mogadishu-AUDIO
-Somalia's War Flares Up Again
-GEBRU'S PARTY INTENDS TO REGAIN ASSAB LEGALLY
-AI: Human rights defenders face possible life imprisonment
-Democracy or Sovereignty? (Professor Solomon Terfa)
-Clan Leader Hiding After Ethio-Backed Crackdown - AUDIO
-Assassins Target Somali Journalists (Washington Post)
-Ethiopian-Somali forces hunt out arms (AFP)
-Children die in Somalia violence (CNN)

International News

-Obama's Superb Speech Could Catapult His Bid
-Hamas rounds up Fatah activists
-Pakistan opposition speaks out despite crackdown - VIDEO
-Ex-pilots, military officers call for new UFO probe

VIDEO OF THE DAY

CNN’s new documentary on athlete Haile Gebrselassie

Click here for - PART 2 of CNN’s documentary
Click here for - PART 3 of CNN’s documentary

__________________

ETHIOPIA: PRESS RELEASE, FORMER PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE/JOURNALISTS

2007-11-09T07:32:00.001-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- International News

(Serkalem Fasil, baby son Nafkot, born June 2006, while she was in
prison and husband Eskinder Nega who was detained separately
holding a copy of their newspaper Menelik, which was shut down when they were arrested - Amnesty International photo)

[PRESS RELEASE FROM FORMER PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE/JOURNALISTS: ADDIS ABEBA]
TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES

SOMALIA PEACEKEEPERS 'NOT VIABLE': UN HEAD (The idea of deploying UN peacekeeping troops to Somalia is "neither realistic nor viable", the UN head has said)

US URGES RESTRAINT TO AVERT NEW ERITREA-ETHIOPIA WAR (The United States on Friday urged Eritrea and Ethiopia to pull back troops from key border areas and use "maximum restraint" to avert a new war)

--AUDIO REPORT: VOA on the vigil for Daniel, Netsanet
--AUDIO REPORT: DW on the vigil for Daniel, Netsanet
--DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF SEN. INHOFE'S OFFICE OKLAHOMA
--Military build-up continues on Ethio-Eritrea border
--Corpses litter Mogadishu after overnight battle
--DEAD ETHIOPIANS DRAGGED IN MOGADISHU - AGAIN! (AFP)

Crowd drags corpse, echoing 1993 brutality (CNN)
Insurgents drag dead Ethiopians in streets (Reuters)
PICTURE-REUTERS (Warning: graphic Pic.)
Somalis drag Ethiopian soldier's body (Associated Press)
Bodies dragged through Mogadishu (BBC)
Ethiopian soldier dragged in streets (SA)

--ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SPECIAL REPORT (English)
--AUDIO –Dr. Befekadu Degife on the kinijit crisis (VOA)
--AI Urgent Action (5 Ethiopians at risk of torture)
--FREED JOURNALIST DONATES PRIZE TO AMNESTY
--ETHIOPIA'S REVISED ELECTION LAW (Many are already referring to it as the “Kangaroo Election Law”; judge for yourself)
--Relief agencies bolster operations in the Ogaden
--AFRICOM Commander Rejects Militarization Charge

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

-Merkel, Bush to focus on Iran in talks at Texas ranch
-Bhutto under house arrest in Pakistan
-Faint hope for Myanmar as Suu Kyi meets her party
-US Senate Confirms Mukasey as Attorney General
-Georgian parliament approves state of emergency

____________________________

ETHIOPIA: FREED JOURNALIST DONATES PRIZE TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

2007-11-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- International News

___________________

^New!ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 103RD SPECIAL REPORT (English)

^New!AUDIO – Interview with Kinijit executive committee member and head of finance Dr. Befekadu Degife on the kinijit crisis (VOA)

^New!AI Urgent Action (5 Ethiopians from the Ogaden region forcibly returned from Somaliand to Ethiopia, now believed to be incommunicado detention and at risk of torture)

^New!ETHIOPIA'S REVISED ELECTION LAW (Many are already referring to it as the “Kangaroo Election Law”; read and judge for yourself)
___________________

(Serkalem Fasil, baby son Nafkot, born June 2006, while she was in
prison and husband Eskinder Nega who was detained separately
holding a copy of their newspaper Menelik, which was shut down when they were arrested - Amnesty International photo)

(Amnesty International) - A former prisoner of conscience has thanked Amnesty International (AI) by donating a journalism award to the organization. Serkalem Fasil was freed from an Ethiopian jail in April, following extensive campaigning by human rights NGOs including AI. Her ordeal was recognized when she picked up a Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women’s Media Foundation.

She has decided to give the prize money to AI and the Committee to Protect Journalists. AI Secretary General Irene Khan paid tribute to her courage in the face of grave human rights abuses.

"I am extremely touched by this strong and brave gesture of support for global human rights by a former prisoner of conscience who is still at risk. As requested, we will be allocating this unusual and selfless donation to our international work," said Ms Khan.(More...)

TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES

-Border Tensions Raise New International Alert - AUDIO^New!
-Ethiopian theology students HUNGER STRIKE over politics and Beyonce's visit with patriarch^New!
-UN to open office in Ethiopia's troubled Ogaden^New!
-Rebels Threatens to Step up Attacks on Ethiopians - AUDIO^New!
-Ethiopia: govt. says wants talks, not war with Eritrea
-Ethiopia, Eritrea Fighting Could start Within Weeks: Report
-New Eritrea-Ethiopia war fears: BBC
-ETHIOPIA SENDING MORE TROOPS INTO SOMALIA (Reuters)
Ethiopia deploys more troops to Somali capital (AFP)
-Large blasts target Ethiopian troop convoy
-Succession Poses Challenge for Yusuf, Ethiopia - AUDIO
-Ethiopian rebels claim killing of more than 270 troops
-Ethiopia: Malnutrition in Ethiopia Still Alarming
-KINIJIT CANADA UPDATE: Report

-UN cleared to start relief work in rebel Ethiopian region
-PM Meles Addresses 4th Federalism Conference (ENA)

___________________

Ethiopians in Kenya under attack: Audio report (VOA)
Kinijit youth conference at Arlington, VA - Audio (VOA)
Obang Metho: Speech at the Little Ethiopia Annual Festival
___________________

CRISIS GROUP: ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA - STOPPING THE SLIDE TO WAR (The International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, with some 145 staff members on five continents.)
___________________

International News

-Police and Bhutto supporters clash
-Sarkozy aims to win back American hearts
-Iran's nuclear program "irreversible": president
-Giuliani, McCain pick up key conservative backing
-Nazi prosecutors still hunt death head doctor

___________________

Agence France Presse: Slain Ethiopian troops paraded in Mogadishu streets

2007-11-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
____________________

Pictures - Arival of Ato Debebe Eshetu in Toronto (Kinijit Canada)
____________________

(Agence France Presse) - Masked Islamist insurgents on pick-up trucks paraded what they said were the bodies of three Ethiopian soldiers in the streets of Mogadishu Friday, an AFP correspondent reported.

The show of defiance by the Shabab, the radical armed wing of the main Somali Islamist movement, came as a four-day lull was shattered by renewed fighting in the capital's southern neighbourhoods.(MORE...)

Also see:
-Gunbattles in Mogadishu leave at least 6 dead (Associated press)
-Five Ethiopian soldiers dead in a fierce combat (Shabelle)
-Heavy battles in Somali capital (BBC)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-NOV. 1ST, 2005 - REMEMBERING EVENTS OF THAT DAY (ETP)
-Ethiopians in north want no repeat of border war (Reuters)
-Dr. Berhanu Nega's Chicago Public Radio Interview- [AUDIO]
-Somalia: Failed state, failed leader (The Economist)
-'Coffee condoms' appeal to java-crazy Ethiopians (CNN)

LIFETIME PRESIDENCIES FAR FROM OVER IN AFRICA
(Financial Gazette)

(L to R - King Mswati III of Swaziland, Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso; African leaders whose incumbencies have lasted between 16 to 21 years)

ARENA TIGRAY FOR DEMOCRACY AND SOVEREIGNTY
AUDIO - Interview with founder Berhanu Berhe
AUDIO - Interview with founder Gebru Asrat

____________________

Ethiopia, Eritrea edging toward conflict - refugees watching with trepidation

2007-10-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Ethiopia and the Newly released Econ. Competitiveness index*
- Today's Top Stories^Updated!
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
____________________

Life presidencies are far from over in Africa (Financial Gazette)
____________________

-AMNESTY: Ethiopians, Eritreans at risk of torture
-AMNESTY: Atanaw Wasie, aged 74, 14 other Ethiopian refugees
-LETTER TO PRIME MINSTER MELES ZENAWI (Sileshi Tesema, a colleague of Daniel and Netsanet, prisoners of conscience)
____________________

Ex- TPLF members have formed a new party (Arena Tigray for Democracy and Sovereignty); which yesterday received license to operate in Ethiopia.

(VOA)
- AUDIO - Interview with founder Berhanu Berhe
- AUDIO - Interview with founder Gebru Asrat
____________________

[CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO REPORT] - When Fitsum Berihu fled into Ethiopia, he risked death by hyenas, snipers and land mines. Two years later the 35-year-old Eritrean vividly recalls the fear he felt as he made his way through a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone and across the trenches and artillery lines of some of the tens of thousands of soldiers dug in on both sides of the divide.

Even worse than all that, though, was leaving behind his 72-year-old mother and two siblings. "I never told my family I was crossing the border," he says. "I never said goodbye." Berihu still doesn't know what happened to his family after he defected from the Eritrean Army. There are no phone or mail links between the neighbors, and he has had no way of keeping in touch.

So today he waits and hopes, one of more than 15,000 Eritreans stuck behind barbed wire and chain-link fencing at the Shimelba refugee camp in a remote corner of northern Ethiopia. It's a part of the world that is growing increasingly tense as the two countries seem to be gearing up to fight their second war in less than a decade. On Nov. 27 an international commission set up to resolve the long-running border dispute between the two nations is set to dissolve.(More...)

Also see:
-Eritrea says Ethiopia plotting to invade
-Ethiopia denies plot to attack Eritrea

____________________

ETHIOPIA 123rd IN ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS

The United States tops the overall ranking in The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008. Switzerland is in second position followed by Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Singapore, respectively.

At the bottom of the list were countries primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Chad.(See List)

Also See:
Website: The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008
US recaptures 'competition crown' (BBC)
US on Top in Economic Competitiveness (AP)
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-ETH. Govt. MEDIA SAYS REBELS KILL 23 ERITREAN TROOPS
-A brittle Western ally in the Horn of Africa
-U.S. BILL TO BAR INTERNET FIRMS FROM WORKING WITH ABUSIVE NATIONS
-Exiled Somali Islamist leader backs insurgents
-Ethiopia FM in Somalia to discuss political crisis
-Humanitarian disaster imminent in the Ogaden: Report
-Ethiopia, US Behind Somali PM Resignation
-Ethiopia: Azmari Bet: Taboo! Taboo!
-Ethiopia's 'Jerusalem' Major Draw for Pilgrims - VIDEO

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-MONKS MARCH IN MYANMAR - AGAIN!
-Obama, Edwards go after Clinton during debate
-Accused Madrid bomb mastermind acquitted -
-Bomb on Russian Bus Kills at Least 8
-Doctors test hot sauce for pain relief
-Be thin to cut cancer, study says

____________________

Ethiopia, US Behind Somali PM Resignation: Analyst

2007-10-30T07:46:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top Stories
- Somalia's President Names New Premier
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
____________________

Ken Menkhaus, Somali expert and professor of political science at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina.

“This was a long time in coming and what finally prompted the resignation was unquestionably Ethiopian pressure. This was Ethiopia’s game. They were making the decision as to who would stay and who would go in the TFG.

They were trying to manage the long running split between President Abdullahi Yusef and Prime Minister Gedi. And in the end I think they came to understand that Gedi had to be replaced,” he says.

[AUDIO REPORT]

Asked whether United States pressure played any role in the resignation, Menkhaus says, “I suspect there was. In Nairobi, the donor community in general has for quite some time reached the conclusion that the primary obstacle to negotiations toward a more inclusive Transitional Federal Government was Gedi himself. And for an obvious reason. Gedi stood an excellent chance of losing his job if power were shared with the opposition.”(More...)

____________________

Also see:
-VOA REPORT: Delegation's final Public Meeting - AUDIO
-ETN REPORT: Delegation's final Public Meeting - VIDEO
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Weekend fighting drove 36000 from Somali capital-UN
-Reports of killed Ethiopian soldiers begin to filter through
-Foundation Honors Journalists (U.S. Department of State)
-VIDEO - JOURNALISTS AND PRESS FREEDOM IN ETHIOPIA
-Red Cross repatriates 885 from Ethiopia and Eritrea
-Haile ‘Focused’ On Setting New World Benchmark In Dubai

SOMALIA'S PRESIDENT NAMES NEW PREMIER

Somalia's president named a caretaker prime minister on Tuesday, a day after the outgoing premier lost a power struggle in the government and resigned. Officials said Salim Aliyow Ibrow (Seen here), will temporarily replace Ali Mohamed Gedi.(More...)

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

THE DEMOCRATIC TARGET IN TUESDAY’S DEBATE

In an interview last week, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois telegraphed his intention to sharpen his distinctions with Mrs. Clinton. At the same time, though, he said he had no plans to “kneecap the front-runner.”(More...)

-Thinktank accuses Saudi regime over hate literature
-Bomber Strikes Within a Mile of Musharraf
-Russia to file Arctic claim to U.N. this year
-AIDS virus invaded U.S. from Haiti: study

_____________________

Mogadishu Erupts as Reports of killed Ethiopian soldiers begin to filter through

2007-10-29T09:08:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Prime minister Ghedi quits - SOMALIA
- Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of plotting to invade, Ethiopia denies
- Egypt Announces Nuke Power Plants Plans*
- INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
____________________

-VIDEO - JOURNALISTS AND PRESS FREEDOM IN ETHIOPIA
-VOA REPORT: Sunday's Kinijit Public Meeting - AUDIO
-ETN REPORT: Sunday's Kinijit Public Meeting - VIDEO
____________________

(Hundreds of Somalis take part in angry protest against Ethiopian troops as the Somali capital sank further into violence.Sunday, October 28, 2007.(AFP/Mustafa Abdi)
MOGADISHU: Hundreds of protesters demanding the departure of government-allied Ethiopian troops burned tires and threw stones Sunday in the Somali capital as some of the worst violence in months continued for a second day.

Ethiopian troops fired toward protesters after several hundred Somalis — many of them women and children — took to the streets shouting anti-Ethiopian slogans, erecting burning barricades and tossing rocks, witnesses said.(More...)

Also see:
-Somali insurgents kill 3 Ethiopia soldiers
-Seven Ethiopian soldiers killed: Shabelle
-Ethiopian troops fire on protesters - witness
-Street battles rage in Mogadishu

____________________

SOMALIA: Prime minister quits; violence rocks Mogadishu

Ali Mohamed Gedi has resigned as Somalia's prime minister after an ongoing power struggle between him and the country's president Abdullahi Yusuf Hassan. "He handed in his letter this morning and the president has officially accepted his resignation," minister of information Madobe Nuunow Mohamed told IRIN.(More...)

Also see:
Ethiopian Govt. reaction on Ghedi's resignation -
Profile: Ali Mohamed Ghedi -
____________________

Eritrea says Ethiopia plotting to invade before the November deadline

Signing ceremony for the peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea in Algiers, Algeria on December 12, 2000. Seated left to right are President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. (UN Photo)

Eritrea accused arch-foe Ethiopia on Saturday of plotting to invade the Red Sea state ahead of a late-November deadline to mark their disputed border on maps.

In an online statement on Saturday, the Asmara government said its security agents had uncovered a plot by Addis Ababa. "Intelligence agencies ... say that (Ethiopia) is intending to launch an invasion against Eritrea in the first week of November 2007 with the blessing of the U.S. Administration," the statement said.(More...)

Also see:
-Ethiopia denies plot to attack Eritrea
-Ethiopia-Eritrea Trade Blame on Boundary Dispute - AUDIO
-War brews on the new frontier
____________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

_____________________

Egypt Announces Nuke Power Plants Plans

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday announced plans to build several nuclear power plants, joining several Arab countries in the Middle East that recently have broadcast their own atomic energy ambitions.

Mubarak said in a speech broadcast live on national television that the decision to build these nuclear power stations was to diversify Egypt's energy resources and preserve the country's oil and gas reserves for coming generations.(More...)
_____________________

-Argentina's first lady sweeps to presidency
-PHOTOS: Female Leaders Around the World
-French Held Over Darfur 'Adoptions'
-Olmert Says He Has Prostate Cancer
-Alleged Blackmail Plot Against British Royal

_____________________

Ethiopia's Serkalem: I Will continue to speak out even if I pay with My life

2007-10-24T06:46:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Panel discussion on the Kinijit Crisis (VOA)
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- San Diego's Inferno: Relief Ahead?

____________________

^* ETHIOPIAN AMERICAN CIVIC ADVOCACY (EACA): LETTER TO SENATOR JIM INHOFE

^* OBANG ON SENATOR INHOFE’S SPEECH
____________________

Note: Readers are encouraged to FAX senator Inhofe's office demanding an apology for his offensive remarks about Ethiopia/Africa.

-Sample letter to fax to Sen. Inhofe’s office
-Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam's letter to Senator Inhofe
____________________

LISTEN TO AUDIO REPORT ON THE AWARD CEREMONY AND SERKALEM’S SPEECH (VOA)
(Picture - Serkalem (Center) did not come to New York to receive her courage award. In a video taped message, she said that despite widespread fear in her country, she would continue to speak out - even if she pays with her life.)
AP - Six women who risked their lives reporting in Iraq, a Mexican reporter who faced death threats for her reporting on pedophiles, and an Ethiopian journalist who was charged with treason received awards for courage Tuesday from the International Women's Media Foundation.

Ethiopian reporter and former publisher Serkalem Fasil, 27, was one of 14 journalists who were arrested and charged with treason for publishing articles critical of the government's conduct in May 2005 parliamentary elections.

On the day of her arrest, Fasil, who was two months pregnant, was severely beaten by police. She was freed in April, but the government brought new charges against her three months later, and her case is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court next month.

Fasil did not come to New York. In a video, she said that despite widespread fear in the country, she would continue to speak out _ even if she pays with her life.

Mexican Lydia Cacho, 44, a correspondent for CIMAC news agency, said Mexico is the second-most dangerous place for journalists in the world, only after Iraq. But she said in her acceptance speech that she "will not be silenced."

The foundation presented its lifetime achievement award to freelance journalist Peta Thornycroft, 62, who in the face of a media crackdown in Zimbabwe renounced her British citizenship and became a Zimbabwe citizen so she could continue reporting from the country.

The Washington-based International Women's Media Foundation was launched in 1990 with a mission to strengthen the role of women in the news media worldwide.

Also see:
-Journalists from Iraq, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mexico Honored
-Female Journalists Honored for Courage
-Journalists Honored in New York

____________________

AUDIO – VOA Panel discussion on the Kinijit Crisis

Engineer Seyoum Gebeyehu
Professor Berhanu Abegaz
Dr. Berhanu Mengistu
____________________

ETHIOPIA RE-ERECTS ANCIENT AXUM OBELISK

Ethiopia started re-erecting its famed Axum obelisk 30 months after it returned to the country from Italy where it stayed for 70 years, a UN expert said Wednesday. The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which is overseeing the operation, said preliminary work to restore the 1,700-year-old obelisk on its original site has been completed.(More...)
____________________

AUDIO - SIYE ABRAHA VOA INTERVIEW (PART 2)
AUDIO - Dr. BERHANU NEGA VOA INTERVIEW (PART 2)
VIDEO - BIRTUKAN MIDEKSA MINNEAPOLIS SPEECH
AUDIO - SIYE ABRAHA VOA INTERVIEW (PART 1)
AUDIO - Dr. BERHANU NEGA VOA INTERVIEW (PART 1)
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Ethiopia Faces New Millennium, Uncertain of Future - VIDEO
-Ethiopia PM in opposition warning
-Congressman Smith's Speech on Ethiopia
-N.J. lawmaker battles Ethiopia (govt.)
-ONLF says killed another 250 on 2nd day of fighting
-PM Meles rejects rebel claims of deadly attacks
-Bending truth about history (Prof. Mammo Muchie)
-Ethiopian dissidents receive warm welcome
-Ethiopian opposition leader in US to return home
-PAP receives petitions from Kinjit S.A
-Mesfin on H.R. 2003
-ASYLUM FOR ERITREAN GOSPEL SINGER
-Beyonce in Ethiopia - VIDEO
-MOZAMBIQUE EX-PRES. WINS AFRICA GOVERNANCE PRIZE

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

SAN DIEGO'S INFERNO: RELIEF AHEAD?

TIME - Relief may be in sight for one of the most challenging wildfires in southern California's history. The flames are still burning out of control in the San Diego area, where more than 500,000, perhaps as many as 950,000, have been evacuated and hundreds of home destroyed. But the hot desert winds that fueled the flames began to ease Tuesday night, giving hope that the quick westerly progress of the fire would finally slow. (More...)

____________________

Stephen Colbert Moves Ahead of Richardson, Closes in on Biden, in National Poll

He's been "in" the race for less than a week, and already faux-pundit Stephen Colbert has surged ahead of longtime candidate Gov. Bill Richardson in one national poll gauging the race for the Democratic nod for president. And watch out Joe Biden!(More...)

Also see:
Colbert Ahead of 3 Democrats in Presidential Poll-
Poll Tries to Measure Colbert Effect-
____________________

-Mafia Largest Segment of Italian Economy, Business Group Says
-Behind South Africa's Reggae Murder
-US might delay missile defense
-China unveils likely successors to top posts
-Toyota's Sales Numbers A Relief For GM
-Looking for attractive people? Don't go to...

_________________________

Ethiopian rebels claim 140 killings

2007-10-21T08:47:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES^UPDATED!
- INTERNATIONAL news^UPDATED!
- Video of the day (Fallen Reggae Icon Lucky Dube)*
____________________

Rep. Christopher Smith to speak on human rights in Ethiopia Monday - October 22, 2007
AUDIO - Dr. BERHANU NEGA VOA INTERVIEW (PART 1)
Breaking News: RADIO SHABELLE MANAGER ASSASSINATED
____________________

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia—Ethiopian rebels said Sunday they have killed 140 Ethiopian soldiers in the country's southeast, but the government denied that such an attack took place. The Ogaden National Liberation Front said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press that about 1,000 fighters attacked Ethiopian troops on Saturday in a southeastern area of Wardher, about 485 miles southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa.

"This is just a story created by the ONLF. I don't believe they have killed even one. I don't think it is true. We believe that ONLF is not in a position to make this kind of attack," government spokesman Zemedkun Tekle told The Associated Press.

It was not possible to independently verify the rebel claims because the area where the attack took place is remote. "This operation was a direct response to the burning of Caado village recently and the continuing abuses against the people of Ogaden by (government) forces in the Wardher area," the rebels' statement said.(More...)

ETHIOPIA: SENATOR INHOFE PROMISES TO KILL HUMAN RIGHTS BILL

INHOFE PROMISES TO KILL H.R. 2003 IN THREE WEEKS AND DELIVER REMAINS ON SILVER PLATTER TO ZENAWI IN ADDIS ABABA

(see video )

For Immediate Release
The Coalition For H.R. 2003
October 18, 2003

Using language previously seen in D.L.A. Piper lobbying materials and official Ethiopia Embassy press releases, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma released a statement criticizing H.R. 2003.

He described the bill as one “focus(ing) only on shortcomings while blatantly ignoring the unprecedented progress the country has made”. He said Ethiopia “continue(s) to be a close friend of the United States and a strong ally in the War on Terror in the Horn of Africa.”

Other statements lifted from other lobbying promotional materials include unfounded allegations that the “language contained in H.R. 2003 enflames tensions already present in the Horn of Africa, threatening regional stability and long term U.S. national security.”

The Coalition calls attention to Sen. Inhofe’s statements on video found at the web address above where he promises to deliver the remains of H.R. 2003 to Zenawi in three weeks.

The Coalition has learned from highly reliable sources that Inhofe is currently organizing a group of Senators to kill H.R. 2003.

The Coalition will monitor the situation carefully and inform H.R. 2003 supporters on new developments. The Coalition will make further announcements shortly on responses to Senator Inhofe’s statements to kill H.R. 2003 in the Senate.

INHOFE STATEMENT ON ETHIOPIA RESOLUTION
Click here for Video

____________________

Note from ETP - Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma believes that the Government of Ethiopia is respectful of human rights. He also believes that global warming is a myth and Iraq is a “huge success story”.
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-THE HORN, THE LIST AND THE RISKS (NY Times)
-ETHIOPIA FOREIGN MINISTRY ON THE ABOVE NY TIMES ARTICLE
-First locally made car Unveiled -- (See Pictures here)
-Study: Ethiopia Draft Press Law will Hamper Press freedom
-UN and Ethiopian Govt Agree On Ogaden Aid
-Somali PM Consults With Ethiopian Leaders in Addis - AUDIO
-'A Scandal That Is Not Being Dealt With'
-GABRIEL DWAIT LAID TO REST IN BE'ER SHEVA
-INSIDE A CITY OF FEAR
-UN stops Somalia food aid after gunmen seize official

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

____________________

AFRICAN REGGAE STAR SHOT DEAD IN FRONT OF HIS CHILDREN

[Audio Report from VOA]

BBC - The South African reggae musician, Lucky Dube, has been shot dead in front of his children in Johannesburg during an attempted car hijacking. He had been dropping his teenage son and daughter off in the suburb of Rosettenville on Thursday evening.(More...)

Also see:
ANTI-APARTHEID REGGAE ICON MURDERED (AGI)
African reggae icon dead (Guardian)
Lucky dead (AFP)
South African star shot dead (Reuters)
____________________

-Don't blame me, says militant who threatened Bhutto
-Nobel Winner Issues Apology for Comments About Blacks
-EU leaders approve new treaty
-French President Sarkozy, Wife Separate
-China: US Award for Dalai Lama Gravely Undermines Relations
-Why Males Die Before Females

Video of the Day

(Lucky Dube had a significant following in Ethiopia; many reggae fans considered him to be Africa’s Peter Tosh.)

I've Got You(1988)-Album Slave (From his second major reggae album , this poppy song was the first international hit for the reggae singer)
Also see:
Back To My Roots
Peace Perfect Peace
Prisoner

____________________

2007 Press Freedom Index Released, Ethiopia Ranked 150th

2007-10-17T11:41:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES^Updated
- INTERNATIONAL news^Updated
____________________

ONE SMALL STEP FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS (Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam)

AUDIO - Professor Mesfin WoldeMariam’s take on the current CUD crises (VOA Interview)

ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM (Amharic article, Tewodros Abebe)
____________________

ETP/AP - Ethiopia has been outranked by more than 145 countries including Zimbabwe, Sudan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia in a survey of press freedom around the world.

(Picture - Kifle Mulat, President of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association, who had been arrested at least seven times in previous years)

Ethiopia was rated 150th in an index of 169 countries published today by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which examined various factors such as the way journalists are treated, freedom of speech, freedom of information and diversity of media ownership.

RSF criticized the incarceration of journalists in Ethiopia, deportation of foreign correspondents and the government’s involvement in web censorship. The report stated that most blogs and opposition websites were inaccessible in the country.

The survey also found that Ethiopia’s neighbor Eritrea had the least free media in the world, displacing North Korea.

"The privately-owned press has been banished by the authoritarian president Issaias Afeworki and the few journalists who dare to criticise the regime are thrown in prison," RSF said. "We know that four of them have died in detention and we have every reason to fear that others will suffer the same fate."

China was seventh from the bottom of the list, at 163rd, just ahead of Burma, Cuba and Iran. The top of the list was dominated by European countries, which made up 18 of the top 20.

[Click here to see Press freedom index list]
[Click here to see RSF’s annual report on Ethiopia]

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Ethiopia opposition out of jail but in disarray
-Ogaden Rights Group: Refugees Face Deportation - AUDIO
-UN compound stormed in Mogadishu
-U.N. food program officer seized, jailed in Somalia
-WAR ON TERROR TRUMPS PROMOTING ETHIOPIAN DEMOCRACY
-Ethiopia: Gulf of Aden death toll increases in October
-Eritrea security chief survives assassination bid
-Resentment and rations as Eritrea nears a crisis
-Somali rulers duel in political showdown
-Ethiopian Airlines in afforestation campaign

____________________

Ethiopian biodiversity institute awarded UN environmental prize

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today jointly awarded an environmental preservation prize to an Ethiopian biodiversity institute and a Slovak ecologist.(More...)
____________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

____________________

Rwanda aims to become Africa's high-tech hub

Sometime in the next two years, nearly every school in Rwanda – from distant mountain villages to swelling urban areas – will be hooked up to the Internet. And it won't be some crummy dial-up service. It will be high-speed broadband, carried by fiber-optic cables.(More...)
____________________

-Bush dismisses Chinese criticism over Dalai Lama
-Parliament in Turkey Votes to Allow Iraq Incursion
-Colbert announces presidential pursuit
-Tensions with Turkey Spur Oil Price Increase
-Japan cuts grant aid to Burma
-Clinton Now Ahead of Obama in Money Race
-Gossip more powerful than truth, researchers say

_________________________

Battle raging between Somaliland and Puntland

2007-10-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
____________________

ONE SMALL STEP FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS (Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam)

VIDEO - STATEMENT FROM THE ETHIOPIAN TELEVISION NETWORK (ETN)

(ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM -
Amharic article, Tewodros Abebe)
____________________

MOGADISHU (AFP) - At least eight people were killed and several wounded Monday in fighting between forces from the breakaway Somali states of Somaliland and Puntland over a disputed border town, commanders said.

The latest violence, sparked by a long-running territorial dispute, broke out early Monday in Sool, a region split between sub-clans backing the feuding statelets.

"I can confirm... that heavy fighting broke out... early morning causing casualties. The Somaliland forces waged the attack against our military positions in the northern outskirts of Las Anod," Burhan Mohamed, a Puntland commander, told AFP by phone.(More...)

____________________

IPU Says Parliament Members Disappeared in Eritrea

[Click here for AUDIO report]

Canadian Senator Sharon Carstairs says 11 Eritrean members of parliament have been held incommunicado since 2001 after they called for Democratic reforms. "they have literally disappeared off the face of the earth" She says "We know nothing about these individuals. We have asked to take a mission to Eritrea. So far, we have not been able to do that." (More...)
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-EMF On the CUD crisis
-Ethiopia’s elite are letting the country down
-Explosion in Somalia kills three children
-Somali president, PM duel in political showdown
-Bomb targets Ethiopian Convoy in Mogadishu

____________________

China's Hu says Communist Party must stay in charge

China's Communist Party must stay firmly in charge as the nation embraces economic and social change, President Hu Jintao said on Monday in an agenda-setting speech vowing tightly controlled political reforms.(More...)
____________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Togo votes free of boycott
-Putin Confirms Iran Trip, Despite assassination Plot
-Bush 'to focus on Mid-East peace'
-Sweden top in Europe for welcoming migrants
-Rumors Fly in France of Sarkozy Divorce
-Drunken priest punches cop, jailed

____________________

UN condemns deportation of Ethiopian refugees by Sudan

2007-10-12T09:51:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Eid-Mubarak to all Ethiopian Muslims!
____________________

Also:^UPDATED!
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Video of the day
____________________

UN concerned about the rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, recent shooting incidents, as well as the building up of military forces in the border area.(Brief statement from the UN)

AUDIO - LEGAL EXPERT DR. DADIMOS HAILE DISCUSSES DANIEL AND NETSANET’S CASE (VOA)^New

THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA (English version of EHRCO’s report now available)^New

Monday, October 22, 2007 - Rep. Christopher Smith to speak about his efforts to advance human rights reform in Ethiopia (National Press Club)
____________________

GENEVA – The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, on Thursday condemned the recent deportation by Sudan of at least 15 Ethiopian refugees.

The deportation took place on September 27, but UNHCR only learned of it this week. The refugees were handed over by Sudanese officials to Ethiopian authorities at the border crossing of Metema, about 500 kms south-east of Khartoum.

This refoulement is a breach of Sudan's obligations as a contracting party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol and the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention. One of the key principles of all these conventions is the prohibition against refoulement, or forcibly returning individuals to their country of origin where they could face persecution.(More...)

_______________________

Eithiopian Publisher Free but Still Faces Charges

Serkalem Fasil, a 2007 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner, has packed a lot into her 27 years. She grew up an avaricious reader and learned the ropes of reporting in secondary school. She had no role models or mentors, but she was active in an amateur journalists association. There are no journalism schools in Addis Ababa where she grew up, so she took useful courses at the British Council and at university.(More...)
_______________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Three Ethiopian soldiers killed in Somali
-When the phone rang things got sticky
-Dismissive Ethiopian Govt. tests US indulgence
-GOAL statement on Ethiopia's Ogaden
-22 Somali Government Ministers Resign
-Confidence Vote Looming for Somali Govt. - AUDIO
-Splits Developing in Somali Insurgency (GT Analysis)
-Ethiopia: a new view from a 4x4
-Ethiopian Scientists Are Here to Stay (National Geographic)
-IBA offers first contract to Ethiopian reporter

_______________________

Emerging voice of mainstream Islam

Spirit of optimism seems to have inspired 138 Muslim scholars—including grand muftis from most of the world's Islamic nations—who this week wrote to Christian leaders, appealing for dialogue.(More...)

Also see:
An unprecedented Muslim appeal to Christianity
Muslims and Christians Table talk for monotheists
Christian leaders welcome letter of peace from Muslim scholars
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-After Oscar and Emmy, Gore lands a Nobel Prize
-Putin threatens to end Cold War nuclear pact
-UN Security Council Reprimands Burma - AUDIO
-World's oldest wall painting unearthed in Syria
-Book brings letters to Hitler to light

Video of the day

Liya Kebede - CNN Revealed
Part 1

Also see: Part 2 and Part 3

____________________

Daniel and Netsanet told to wait 45 more days in jail for verdict

2007-10-09T07:10:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
____________________

-DETAILED REPORT ON DANIEL AND NETSANET'S CASE (REUTERS/actionaid)
-AUDIO - VOA'S REPORT ON Daniel and Netsanet'S CASE
____________________

(Click on picture for more)
(Picture - On June 28, 2007 organisations and individuals in more than 10 countries stood in solidarity with the two civil society leaders on trial for treason in Ethiopia. Through letters, rallies and vigils they called for the acquittal of Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie. organised by CIVICUS and GCAP.)
(ETP/ActionAid) Final verdict has once again been postponed in the case of the two civil society advocates, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, who are currently languishing in an Ethiopian prison.

The presiding judge told the court that the bench needs more time to examine the final statements of the prosecution and the defense, in preparing final verdict. The court is adjourned for 45 days to reconvene on 22nd November 2007.
____________________

PRESS RELEASE
CIVICUS ON TODAY’S COURT DECISION TO DELAY VERDICT

“The courts must stop delaying. It is unacceptable to force these courageous civil society leaders to spend any longer in prison. Justice delayed is justice denied,” said Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General and co-chair of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP). [MORE...]

Also:
-On trial in Ethiopia – TIMELINE (actionaid)
-CLOSING ARGUMENT SUBMITTED BY DANIEL AND NETSANET TO THE COURT

_______________________

YOU BLOCK BLOGSPOT, I BLOCK BOING BOING^{Must Read}
(A tale of two internet blockers)

In Ethiopia, you start suspecting your website has been blocked when it suddenly disappears from your screen. Your suspicion grows as you try to log on from different internet connections at different times of day, during weekends, public holidays - and the site is still gone.(More...)
_______________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-EU urges Ethiopia to allow aid to Ogaden region
-Ethiopian president reelected for new six-year-term
-PM Meles Wants Germany to be more like China
-Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of jamming media
-Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Push to War - AUDIO
-Study: HIV Infection Rate in Ethiopia Rose 26%
-Older Than Egypt is Ethiopia (History)
-Somali PM strikes deal with Mogadishu clan leaders

_______________________

Cuba remembers Che Guevara 40 years after his fall
Communist Cuba paid tribute on Monday to its poster boy, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, 40 years after the guerrilla fighter was captured and executed in Bolivia.(More...)
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-'DEATH TO THE DICTATOR!' STUDENTS PROTEST AHMADINEJAD
-Israel's nightmare: Homegrown neo-Nazis in the Holy Land
-Burma Military Opens Communication With Opposition -AUDIO
-Belgium downplays breakup concerns
-Physics Nobel goes to German, Frenchman

____________________

Final Verdict Expected in Daniel and Netsanet's Case Tuesday 9 October

2007-10-07T10:01:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- ETP COMMENTARY
- Kinijit EU delegation report
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
____________________

PRESS RELEASE - INCREASED THREATS TO CIVIL LIBERTIES EXACERBATE POOR GOVERNANCE IN ETHIOPIA (Freedom House)

Ethiopia in the Third Millennium—Where Do We Go From Here? (Obang Metho)

PRESS RELEASE - Congressman Mike Honda to host RECEPTION Honoring the Ethiopian Millennium. [Click here for details]
____________________

(Corrected)
(ETP/ CIVICUS) - Final verdict is expected Tuesday, October 9, 2007, in the case of the two civil society advocates, Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, who have languished in an Ethiopian prison for over 23 months.

Daniel and Netsanet presented their defence from 27 July until 2 August, calling 29 witnesses and presenting 300 pages of documentary evidence. Their witnesses included members of the opposition party CUD and a UN election observer, all who pointed to Daniel and Netsanet’s innocence. Daniel and Netsanet were charged with conspiracy and the treason related charge of 'outrage against the constitution and constitutional order'.

Also see:
-Activists in over 10 countries unite for Danel and Netsanet
-U.N. elections consultant testifies for Daniel and Netsanet
-Daniel/Netsanet's case not to wrap before the millennium
-THE DANIEL BEKELE PROJECT
____________________

ETP COMMENTARY

In a press conference held Oct. 4th with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi took some time to express his feelings on the passing of H.R. 2003 from the house.

“It is an unfair decision. It is the result of a vendetta” he said “If it was about the human rights situation; they should have looked at Eritrea first”.

What sort of argument/logic is this? Especially coming from the Prime Minister, one who has been deemed by some as being highly intellectual, is very surprising.

First, in regards to the “vendetta” comment;

Is the Prime Minister saying that Congressman Payne, Congressman Smith and all the other congressmen and women who voted “yes” to H.R. 2003, have a “blood feud, rivalry, contention, or the like” with him and his government? Because that is how the dictionary defines “vendetta” –- “a prolonged and bitter blood feud, rivalry, contention, or the like”.

Second, in regards to the “they should have looked at Eritrea first” comment:

Particularly kids in elementary School are very familiar with this excuse. The ploy is simple; when you are caught doing something that you know you shouldn't be doing – blame a peer to divert attention off of yourself. It may be a good strategy in kindergarten, but not so in international politics.

Here is a simple analogy; say you get pulled over for doing ninety in a thirty mile per hour zone, and you say to the officer “Well, I know I was speeding, but my neighbor always drives much faster than me” Will this argument convince anyone?

Why bring Eritrea into this? Eritrea is a totally different issue from the topic at hand. Actually, the Prime Minister has no reason to be envious of U.S’s treatment of Eritrea, as a part of the U.S. government is currently pondering whether to put that country on a terrorism watch list or not.

The uncanny ability of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister to talk his way out of any predicament is well known. But even he couldn’t muster a single convincing and credible reason as to why H.R. 2003 could be of harm to Ethiopia.

Also see:
-Ato Samuel Aseffa Hates HR 2003 (Weichegud)

____________________

KINIJIT EU DELEGATION REPORT - WE TESTED DEMOCRACY, IT WAS SO SWEET

(EMF) - Kinijit Europe Delegation met with EU MPEs, EU commission, ACP-EU high ranking officials and Office of Human right commission.

Discussions were held with the EU authorities during the sessions. The delegation, which started its tour in London, is having similar sessions and lobby works in major European countries, namely Belgium, Norway , Sweden, Finland, Holland, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.(More..)
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-City Expresses Support for Ethiopia's Pro-Democracy Movement(ethiomedia)
-Eng. Hailu Shawl interview with DW - AUDIO (via emf)
-Hijackers release khat cargo plane in Somalia
-Darfur Rebels Find Refuge in Eritrea, but Little Hope
-Attacks kill five in Somali capital
-FLIGHT FROM ETHIOPIA (CPJ)
-Interview with Haile Gebrselassie - VIDEO

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Burmese Military's Offer to Meet Opposition Leader

(Picture - Burma Senior General Than Shwe (L) and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R))

[AUDIO report]

The sincerity of the Burmese leadership's offer to meet with pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi is being questioned by activist groups. But at least one critic of Burma's military government calls the offer a positive step. Chad Bouchard reports from Bangkok.(More...)

-Death toll from Congo plane crash rises to 39
-Obama hopes to surprise Clinton in Iowa
-Pakistan's court puts Musharraf's future on ice
-From soup to swords, this year's Ig Nobels

____________________

Germany's Merkel calls for democracy in Ethiopia

2007-10-04T05:35:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
____________________

-PROMOTING MILLENNIUM HOPES
(Professor Mammo Muchie, Chair of NES)
-Thank You, Congress, for Passing HR 2003 (EAC)
-PRESS RELEASE - CONGRESSMAN PAYNE’S OFFICE
____________________

ADDIS ABABA — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urged Ethiopia to allow more democratic freedoms after the country ran into international criticism over disputed 2005 elections.

(Picture - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi hold a press conference at the National Palace in Addis Ababa. Merkel kicked off her first tour of sub-Saharan Africa with a plea for more democratic freedoms in Ethiopia.(AFP/Axel Schmidt)
"We are in favour of further openness of the country, of the political system," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Merkel was in Ethiopia on the first leg of a three-nation African tour that will also take her to South Africa and Liberia. "We have the interest to see this society more open and the opposition's rights protected," she said, adding: "The respect of human rights is among the factors very conducive for development."

(Picture - German Chancellor Angela Merkel helps cut a traditional loaf of bread at a home for former street children in Ethiopia on the first day of her four-day, three-country trip to Africa. DPA)

Several opposition leaders were detained during a heavy crackdown in the aftermath of the 2005 parliamentary polls that the opposition claimed were rigged by the ruling party.But in July, the leaders, who were facing heavy jail terms, were freed under a pardon.

Merkel and Meles also discussed cooperation, regional conflicts, notably the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region, violence in neighbouring Somalia as well as the border dispute between Ethiopian and long-time foe Eritrea.

Also see:
-Merkel kicks off Africa tour with plea for democracy (AFP)
-Merkel starts Africa tour with plea to Ethiopia (Reuters)
-Chancellor in Ethiopia, urges human rights efforts (dpa)
-Chancellor offers help in Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute (AP)

____________________

(Click on picture for tuesday's Special
coverage on the passing of HR 2003 from the house)
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-FLIGHT FROM ETHIOPIA^{(Must Read)} (CPJ)
-Peace Corps returns to Ethiopia after 9 years
-ETHIOPIA PLEDGES 5,000 PEACEKEEPERS TO DARFUR-AUDIO
-ETHIOPIAN ENVOY FURIOUS OVER BILL TO LIMIT U.S. AID
-FM Seyoum Mesfin's speech at the U.N. - VIDEO
-Dr. Yakob Hailemariam's VOA interview - AUDIO (EMF)
-INTERVIEW - Ethiopia can't legally scrap border ruling
-US launches new African military command
-African Reactions Mixed on New US Military Presence

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-JIMMY CARTER SHOUTS DOWN SECURITY IN SUDAN (Click on Pic. for AUDIO report from NPR)

-Seventeen die in DR Congo crash
-MYANMAR TROOPS STAGE NIGHTTIME ARRESTS
-ASTRONOMERS SEE SECOND EARTH IN THE MAKING

____________________

H.R. 2003 SUCCESSFULLY PASSES THE HOUSE!!

2007-10-02T10:05:00.001-07:00

____________________

- SHORT AUDIO CLIP FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR
- Excerpts from Congressman Chris Smith Speech
- Congressman Honda's speech in support of HR2003 - VIDEO
- EMBASSY of Ethiopia on House Passage of H.R. 2003
- House of Representatives Passes Human Rights Bill (VOA)
- House Seeks Reform in Ethiopia (AP)

- Read H.R. 2003 in English
- Read H.R. 2003 in Amharic
- EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT H.R. 2003, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!
____________________

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED H.R. 2003 TODAY AT 12:58 EASTER STANDARD TIME

(Coalition for HR 2003)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007) on a unanimous vote at exactly 12:58 Eastern Standard Time.

Donald Payne delivered an impassioned speech on the floor of the House urging members pass the bill. He outlined the long train of human rights abuses that have taken place in Ethiopia over the past two years. He said the people of Ethiopia deserve democracy and human rights and a government of their choice.

Congressman Chris Smith, similarly delivered an impassioned speech and recounted Zenawi’s arrogant lecture that he planned to imprison all of the opposition leaders. Smith joined Payne in insisting that the U.S. demand of the Ethiopian government accountability for the aid that it receives and compliance with human rights laws.

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.”

The Coalition will issue further statements on action in the Senate soon.

Coalition for HR 2003
____________________

There was also a separate hearing at the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health which focused on Human Rights and Humanitarian Conditions in the Ogaden and Somalia. Kinijit VP Birtukan Mideksa And Dr. Berhanu Nega were among those who testified at this hearing.

-VIDEO - hearing at the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
-Full text of the Prepared Statement of Birtukan Mideksa
-Full text of the Prepared Statement of Dr. Berhanu Nega
-Testimony by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer

____________________

FINAL HOUSE ACTION ON H.R. 2003 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2007

2007-09-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF H.R.2003

__________________

A special congratulations to Ethiopia's own, athlete Haile Gebrselassie, who has shattered the world marathon record with an official time of 2hr 4min 26sec to win the 34th Berlin Marathon
__________________

The Coalition for H.R. 2003 is pleased to announce that HR 2003 (“Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007”), introduced by Chairman Donald Payne of the Subcommittee on Africa on April 20, 2007, has been scheduled for final action by the House of Representatives on October 2, 2007. Consideration of items on the suspension calendar will begin at 10:00 a.m. [See, Here]

There are 14 bills scheduled for floor debate on October 2. H.R. 2003 is listed as #5 on the calendar.

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.

Also see:
-EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT H.R. 2003, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

______________________________

Eritrea calls on UN to solve border crisis, warns of Ethiopian attack

2007-09-28T08:35:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

- Today's Top HEADLINES
- BURMA - SPECIAL COVERAGE (cntd.)
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (MESKEL)
____________________

EDITORIAL: ETHIOPIAN POLITICS (AMHARIC)
____________________

ASMARA — Eritrea urged the United Nations to force its arch-foe Ethiopia urgently to implement a border ruling, warning it feared Addis Ababa was preparing to resume war, in a letter published Friday.

(Members of The Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, EEBC (from left to right): Sir Arthur Watts, KCMG QC; Professor W. Michael Reisman; Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, CBE QC; His Excellency Prince Bola Adesumbo Ajibola; Judge Stephen M. Schwebel)
In the letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Foreign Minister Osman Saleh said he believed that Ethiopian threats to scrap the Algiers peace deal that ended their bloody 1998-2000 border war were a precursor to an attack.

"Ethiopia seems to be planning to use its unlawful attempt at renunciation of the Algiers Agreements as a precursor for initiation of renewed hostilities," read the letter, dated Thursday but posted on the Eritrean information ministry website Friday.

"It is a cardinal principle of international law that forcible occupation of the territory of another state is an act of aggression and Ethiopia's stationing of troops north of the recognised international boundary falls squarely within that category," Osman added.

Early this month, a meeting of the Eritrea Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) meeting in The Hague, seen as a last-ditch attempt to break the frontier deadlock, ended in failure.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-100,000 Ethiopian faithful celebrate 'true cross'
-Kinijit delegates arrive in Oakland (ER) --- [See Video here]
-Press Release: The Coalition for HR 2003
-Merkel to visit Ethiopia, South Africa and Liberia
-Meles speaks at the Clinton Summit, NY - VIDEO
-11,000 fled Mogadishu fighting in September-UNHCR
-Press group deplores attack on Somali media boss
-Four Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu attack

_______________________

BURMA - SPECIAL COVERAGE (cntd.)

BURMA JUNTA CUTS INTERNET ACCESS AND PHONE-
Bush: Every nation should stand up for Burama-
VIDEO - Reuters REPORT-
AUDIO - PROTESTER SPEAKING TO NPR-
Burmese Authorities Attack Civilians-
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Court Allows Musharraf to Seek Re-Election
-Iran Signs Accords With Venezuela And Bolivia
-Iraqi Leader rejects division of nation
-Phone credit low? Africans go for "beeping"

PICTURE OF THE DAY

(Ethiopia, Meskel Festival)

(Festival marking the finding of the true cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The festival is ancient; dating back 1,600 years. The celebration of Meskel recognizes the presence of the true cross at the Mountain of Gishen Miriam monastery, and also recognizes Empress Helena’s road to finding it. According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for assistance from God in her search for the cross. The smoke from the incense drifted in the direction of the buried cross. She dug and found three crosses: one of them was the true cross on which Christ died. Empress Helena gave a piece of the cross to each of the churches, including the Ethiopian church. The piece given to the Ethiopian church was then brought to Ethiopia.)

_________________________

HR 2003 ON TO THE NEXT STAGE

2007-09-26T13:28:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- ON THE KINIJIT CRISES: ETP and Others
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- SPECIAL COVERAGE – JUNTA IN SERIOUS TROUBLE
- INTERNATIONAL news
____________________

HR 2003 ON TO THE NEXT STAGE

[AUDIO] - Congressman Chris Smith, Members of the Kinijit delegation and others react to the news. [Click here to Listen to VOA's Report]

Also see:
-Report: Ethiopia Legislation Moves Forward
-EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT H.R. 2003, BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!
____________________

ON THE KINIJIT CRISES: ETP and Others

Here are some opinions (articles, video and audio) that deal with the current crisis within KInijit. We have also tossed in our two cents into this conversation by posting our first AMHARIC editorial

-IN POLITICS, CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY (Abebe Gelaw)
-Almezuria Teshome appeals to Kinijit’s leaders
-VP Birtukan Mideksa appeals to chairman Hailu - VIDEO
-Obang Metho Appeals to Kinijit’s leaders
-Winners do not falter at faulty moments (ENC)
-Management of crisis
-Enkifat - Poem (Tewodros Abebe)
____________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Kinijit leaders meet with authorities in Finland (EMF)
-Ethiopian Human Rights Council Report
-Upstate New York welcomes Kinijit Delegation
-Press Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-Ethiopia Threatens to Terminate Peace Deal With Eritrea
-Ethiopia gets $208 mln China loan
-Ethiopia to sell hydro power to Egypt (Capital)
-Somali president, PM meet to solve latest rift
-Pictures - Kinijit Delegation in Sweden

_______________________

Who will win the $5m prize?

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is next month due to award over $5m to the former African head of state adjudged to have demonstrated exemplary leadership. The presidential prize is aimed at encouraging best practice. The lucky recipient of what the organisers call "the world's biggest prize" will be named on 22 October.(More...)

Also see:

Rwanda 'most improved' in Africa-
Ibrahim Index of African Governance-
_______________________

SPECIAL COVERAGE – JUNTA IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

-BURMA MONKS CHANT "DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRACY"
-BUSH TO ANNOUNCE SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA
-BRITISH PM CALLS FOR ACTION ON BURMA
-AUNG SAN SUU KYI INTERVIEW - VIDEO
-BURMESE CONTINUE DEFIANCE - AUDIO

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Fukuda elected Japan's prime minister
-Ahmadinejad Remarks Meet With Scorn, Laughter
-Putin purges cabinet of last reformers
-Lebanon parliament puts off presidential vote
-Germs taken to space come back deadlier (Science)

_________________________

Almezuria Teshome appeals to Kinijit’s leaders

2007-09-24T11:18:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

Almezuria Teshome appeals to Kinijit’s leaders

Alemzuria Teshome is 25 years old. In November 2, 2005 security forces who came to arrest her father (Kinijit’s city council elect for Addis Ababa) murdered her mother W/ro Etenesh Yimam , a 52 years old housewife, for screaming too loud. [Listen here]

Also see:
-Alemzuria's Testimony to the U.S. Congress

Today's Top HEADLINES

-VP of Kinijit Birtukan Mideksa Speech - VIDEO
-Winners do not falter at faulty moments (ENC)
-Azeb Mesfin in NY to attend conference
-Ethiopian Doctors fleeing in record numbers
-Ethiopia to see grand Millennium Library
-Africa flooding spreads, 22 countries hit: UN
-Enkifat - Poem (Tewodros Abebe)

_______________________

SOMALIA: RIFT BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND PM DEEPENS

The political row between Yusuf and Gedi first surfaced earlier this year when the two leaders supported opposite deals with foreign firms intending to explore for potential oil in Somalia. Some insiders suggested that Gedi's recent meetings with opposition figures represents a separate policy the Prime Minister is pursuing, especially with regard to securing Mogadishu, which is dominated by members of Gedi's Hawiye clan.(More...)

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Iranian president begins US visit amid controversy
-US invites Syria to peace talks
-Top Pakistan politicians arrested
-Germans Protest Online Surveillance
-The Most Influential People in the World

_______________________

JUNTA IN CRISIS AS BURMA'S MONKS MARCH ON

The military leaders of Myanmar, the former Burma, are expected to meet this week, to decide how to react to growing protests against their rule. Thousands of Buddhist monks and nuns have staged daily demonstrations on the streets. The generals face a dilemma; stamp out the dissidents and risk an explosion of popular anger, or allow the monks to continue and see the protests become unstoppable.(More...)
_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(Ethiopia - Borana girl)

(the Borana are estimated to total 500,000, but because many live in remote areas it is hard to know exactly how many exist. They are traditionally semi-nomadic pastoralists, who depend exclusively on their livestock for subsistence. The women are independent and equal to men even with building and owning houses. )

_________________________

2007-09-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

AMNESTY: OGADEN CLAN ELDERS HELD INCOMMUNICADO IN JIJIGA

Sultan Fowsi Mohamed Ali and Ahmed Mohamed Tarah were arrested on 28 August in Jijiga, the capital of the Somali Region (known as the Ogaden) in the east of the country. They are held incommunicado in Jijiga military barracks, where they are at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

Both men are respected clan elders, Fowsi Mohamed Ali with the title of Sultan. Both had long been involved as independent mediators in conflict-resolution activities in the Somali Region.

There have been reports that they were arrested to prevent them meeting and giving evidence to a UN fact-finding mission, which visited the Somali Region on 29 August to investigate.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-AUDIO: OLF spokesman Beyan Asoba's Interview with VOA
-Fresh Ethiopia forces deployed in Mogadishu
-US gives 'strategically important' Ethiopia $97 million
-Ethiopia: Worst place to live in the World?
-VIDEO - PM Meles answers questions from govt. Journalists

________________________________

Ethiopian Politicians Making the Rounds in the U.S.

2007-09-20T16:00:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

____________________

“For the sake of political stability and political dialogue we decided to accept the proposal from the elders” - Gizachew Shiferaw On signing the pardon letter

"U.S. government should do more to ensure human rights are protected in Ethiopia" - Hailu Shawel On U.S. foreign policy

"The ultimate desire is for all principles contained in the bill to be implemented" - Brook Kebede On HR 2003

Members of an Ethiopian opposition party who were jailed for 20 months in connection with a disputed election are lobbying the Bush administration and Congress to pressure Ethiopia to support a more open and democratic society.

Members of the CUD delegation also plan to travel to various U.S. cities in an effort to continue to organize Ethiopian Americans and to thank them for providing financial and political support during their incarceration.

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.

Government police reportedly arrested as many as 30,000 people in the weeks after the elections. Most were released soon after, but around 70 top CUD members were kept in jail, drawing condemnations from human rights groups and foreign governments. Most were released in July and August after receiving pardons.

The pardons came after eight months of negotiations from a group of elders. CUD members said they signed the letters seeking the pardons, which included apologies to the government, even though they believed they had not committed any crimes.

“For the sake of political stability and political dialogue we decided to accept the proposal from the elders,” said CUD member Gizachew Shiferaw, who was elected to a seat in parliament but refused to accept it unless the government agreed to a list of eight conditions CUD members said would promote democracy.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-SOMALI OPPOSITION ALLIANCE BEGINS FIGHT AGAINST ETHIOPIA
-UN calls for Human rights probe in Ogaden
-O.N.L.F STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO UN REPORT
-ETHIOPIAN GOVT. STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO UN REPORT
-US endorses Arab-African peace force for Somalia
-Shabelle Media Network Closes Radio Station
-Envoy Cites 'Lack of Confidence’ in Somali Government

_______________________

"The Failure of 'Reconciliation' and 'Reconstitution' Opens Up a Political Vacuum

(Independent analysis by PINR)

The Power and Interest News Report (PINR) is an independent organization that utilizes open source intelligence to provide conflict analysis services in the context of international relations. PINR approaches a subject based upon the powers and interests involved, leaving the moral judgments to the reader.(More...)
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Violence reignites in Sierra Leone
-Bin Laden to declare war on Musharraf, al-Qaida says
-BURMA monks escalate pressure on junta
-EU urges Israel to reconsider Gaza "enemy" status
-New York: Iran's leader can't visit ground zero
-Thousands rally in La. to support Jena 6

_______________________

LEBANON REACTS TO YET ANOTHER POLITICAL ASSASSINATION

[Audio Report]

Stores, banks and some government offices were closed in many parts of Beirut to mourn the slaying of Christian member of parliament Antoine Ghanem in a car bomb explosion, Wednesday. Edward Yeranian reports from Beirut.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(western Ethiopia, Anuak girl)

(The Anuak of Ethiopia reside in the Gambela Region. The Anuak live a tight-knit community life. The villages are run by headmen, but these can be removed if their behavior or judgment is considered unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactoriness includes being dictatorial, as according to Anuak philosophy there are no "God-men." All family and other disputes are resolved democratically within the village. The region is hot and tropical with rich, fertile, well-watered soil coming from the rivers originating in the mountains of the highlands where there is a much cooler, dryer climate.)

_________________________

Ethiopia's Opposition Wants U.S. Support for Democracy Struggle

2007-09-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

UN's FULL REPORT ON THE OGADEN (UN FACT FINDING MISSION TO THE OGADEN PUBLISHES FINDINGS)

LETTER TO THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS (Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy, EACA)
____________________

Ethiopia’s main opposition, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) says the struggle in Ethiopia is a struggle for democracy, and it hopes the United States will stand on the side of those fighting for democracy in Ethiopia.

In July this year, the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 of the country’s top opposition leaders. They had been arrested and charged with treason in a government crackdown following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Now a five-man delegation of the opposition CUD is in the United States.

[CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO REPORT]

Spokesman Hailu Araaya told VOA that the delegation is here to thank the Ethiopian Diaspora for its support.

“You know we have been in prison for almost 21 months, and the Ethiopians in the Diaspora have been helpful, so supportive in many ways such as diplomatically, financially and so on. So we wanted to come to this country to meet them face-to-face and say thank you to them. The other thing is there is a struggle going on in Ethiopia to establish democracy there, and this democracy needs the support of the people not only in Ethiopia but also outside Ethiopia. And we are here to discuss with them how best we can work together to promote the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia,” he said.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-UN fact-finders say situation in Ogaden deteriorating fast
-Ogaden NGO slams Ethiopian govt over U.N. visit
-Kinijit Leaders Continue in Ethiopia's Fight for Democracy
-Meles's bruised image recovering in Addis? (Fortune)
-EU urges Eritrea to charge or free detainees
-Police surround and fire upon Somalia ’s Radio Shabelle
-US Firm enters Ethiopia’s fuel-distribution market
-Uplift of Ethiopian plateau coincided with evolution (science)
-Africa: Many Modern Conflicts are Food Wars (Analysis)

_______________________

[VIDEO] - Finding the origins of humanity

Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged is looking for the roots of humanity in Ethiopia's badlands. Here he talks about what he has found -- including the oldest skeleton yet discovered of a humanoid child -- and how Africa holds the clues to what makes us human.[Watch Video]
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Rice Begins Mideast Peace Mission
-Israel: Hamas-controlled Gaza 'hostile entity'
-Monks on march again in BURMA
-10 Musical Events that Changed the World
-10 Technologies That Will Change The World
-Study: L.A. drivers lose 72 hrs a year
-Kanye crushes 50 Cent in sales showdown

_______________________

Tutu calls for action on Zimbabwe

The former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, has called for tougher action to end the crisis in Zimbabwe. He told a British television station that South Africa's "softly-softly" diplomatic approach had failed and more forthright measures were needed.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(western Ethiopia, Nuer girl)

(The Nuer of Ethiopia are located in the western part of the country, there are also many Nuer in Sudan. Collectively, the Nuer form one of the largest ethnic groups in East Africa. Nuer warriors were noted as some of the most skilled in East Africa, with weapons made of fine crafted iron. Since the Nuer were so successful at fending off European powers, they spent much of their time interacting with bordering groups like those of the Dinka and Anuaks.)

_________________________

Eritreans Deny American Accusations of Terrorist Ties

2007-09-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

LETTER TO THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS (Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy, EACA)
EUROPE - UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF KINIJIT DELEGATION
____________________

NY Times - Eritrean officials, responding to American accusations that they have abetted terrorists in the volatile Horn of Africa, defended their actions on Monday and said that while they would like to have better relations with the United States, they had no intention of bowing to American pressure.

Over the weekend, the Eritrean government held a conference for Somali opposition leaders that included some prominent Islamists whom Jendayi E. Frazer, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, has called terrorists.

American officials have threatened to list Eritrea as a state sponsor of terrorism, accusing it of funneling weapons to Somali insurgents. But on Monday, Eritrean officials denied that they were trying to destabilize Somalia, and said their conference was a legitimate way to rebuild the shattered country.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Eritrea: Human Rights violations continue unabated (Amnesty)
-OLF applauds new Somali opposition alliance (OLF Statement)
-CPJ: Somali police besiege radio station
-Is Kinijit the Way? (Opinion, Fikru Helebo)
-HARAR: City on a hilltop, UNESCO World Heritage site
-Teddy Afro Rocks Out in Jimma

_______________________

[AUDIO] VOA's Report ON LAST SUNDAY's KINIJIT D.C. METRO CHAPTER SPONSORED EVENT
(For more, see yesterday’s post)
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Musharraf set to relinquish army post
-'Tear gas used' on Burma monks
-Russia warns West over use of force in Iran
-10 Musical Events that Changed the World
-10 Technologies That Will Change The World

_______________________

MYSTERY ILLNESS STRIKES AFTER METEORITE HITS PERUVIAN VILLAGE

Villagers in southern Peru were struck by a mysterious illness after a meteorite made a fiery crash to Earth in their area. Around midday Saturday, villagers were startled by an explosion and a fireball that many were convinced was an airplane crashing near their remote village.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia - Gumuz man)

(The Gumuz ethnic group of Ethiopia live in the northern and western parts of the country near the Sudan border. Over 120,000 Gumuz in Ethiopia live in the “bush-savanna” region, an area covered primarily with bamboo and other small trees. The Gumuz are rich in culture and the region is full of natural attractions.)

_________________________

Bombs defused in Addis Ababa says Govt.

2007-09-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (Kinijit's chairman arrives in Washington)
____________________

U.S. CUD DELEGATION ITINERARY -- SEPTEMBER 16 - OCT 27, 2007 (Ad Hoc Coordinating Committee)

EUROPE - UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF KINIJIT DELEGATION
____________________

Two bombs were defused in the Ethiopian capital and three suspects were arrested in connection with what the government said Sunday was a thwarted attack.

Authorities defused the two devices in the Lideta district of the capital of Addis Ababa on Saturday, government spokesman Zemedkun Tekle said. He did not provide information on the three suspects arrested or the area where police believed the devices were to be detonated.

Security has been a top concern of the Ethiopian authorities during the country's millennium celebrations, which began last Tuesday and saw tens of thousands celebrating in the streets. Ethiopia follows the Coptic Christian calendar, which is seven years behind the one used by most of the rest of the world.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-OLF and EPRDF to start Negotiations? (Reporter)
-NPR on the Ogaden - AUDIO (National public Radio)
-Ethiopia to deploy 5000 troops in Darfur
-Afeworki pledges support for anti-Ethiopian alliance
-Ethiopia says Eritrea must change stance
-Eritrea says will never ever change stance
-SOMALIA: "What have we done to deserve this?"

_______________________

SPEECHES FROM THE KINIJIT D.C. METRO CHAPTER SPONSORED EVENT SEPT. 16, 2007

Dr. Berhanu Nega: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ]

Birtukan Midekssa: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
Tamagne Beyene: [ 1 ] [ 2]
_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Alan Greenspan Says Iraq War 'Largely About Oil'
-France: Prepare for war over Iran
-Microsoft must share code with rivals
-Al-Qaeda Offers Reward for Cartoonist's Death
-Man in China dies after three-day Internet session

_______________________

SIERRA LEONE OPPOSITION WINS PRESIDENCY

Opposition leader Ernest Bai Koroma has won Sierra Leone's presidential election run-off. He won 54.6% of the vote while his rival Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) obtained 45.4%.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY

(Kinijit chairman Hailu Shawel arrives in Washington DC, Sep. 15, 2007)

Click here to watch short clip of Hailu Shawel arriving in DC.

_________________________

Politically Motivated Arrests, Harassments to continue into the New Millennium?

2007-09-14T08:38:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

____________________

CUD DELEGATION ITINERARY -- SEPTEMBER 16 - OCT 27, 2007 (Ad Hoc Coordinating Committee)
____________________

AP - Authorities have detained three Ethiopians linked to a top opposition politician, accusing them of trying to create a disturbance during the country's millennium celebrations, a fourth man who was released said Friday.

Nebiyu Bazezew, a 28-year-old banker, said that three of his friends had been arrested in the capital on Tuesday night, when celebrations for Wednesday's millennium began, and held without charge.

After attempting to see the men, Bazezew was held incommunicado for three hours of questioning on Friday, but was released without being told why he had been detained. He was informed by police that his friends were being investigated for trying to cause a disturbance at millennium celebrations, he said, but given no further information on the circumstances of their arrest. Ethiopia follows a Christian calendar seven years behind the one most of the rest of the world uses.

Authorities were not immediately available for comment due to the millennium holiday, which was extended over several days. The three men still in prison were scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Bazezew said.

"It was more than scary. Nobody knew I was there. In a country where we talk about civil rights, I wasn't even registered, and I wasn't told why I was there," Bazezew said.

His three friends have not been charged. Under Ethiopian law, suspects must be charged within 48 hours, although the holiday may have delayed their case.

Bazezew said the only connection between the four men was fundraising efforts to buy a car for Birtukan Mideksa in August. Birtukan, a top opposition politician, was among 38 opposition members released from prison last July.

They had been held for more than two years after security forces shot 193 civilians protesting electoral fraud. The trial attracted international condemnation and strong pressure from the United States to free the accused, who emerged from prison with strong support in many of their neighborhoods. Such support motivated a group in the neighborhood to buy Mideksa a car, Bazezew said. Bazezew said his arrest was "obviously" political but could offer no further explanation.

Related story:
-Police release ceremony organizers

Today's Top HEADLINES

-CUD DELEGATION PULLING DOUBLE SHIFT
-More Ethioipans Die crossing to Yemen- AUDIO
-WFP food reaching victims of flooding across Ethiopia
-PM Meles awards Al Amoudi golden medal
-Heavy clashes in Somali capital kill six

_______________________

ISLAMIST TO LEAD NEW SOMALI OPPOSITION ALLIANCE

Somali opposition figures on Friday named a senior Islamist as chairman of a "liberation" alliance vowing war on Ethiopian troops. They chose 43-year-old Sheikh Sharif Ahmed -- one of the two highest-ranking leaders of Somalia's Islamic Courts movement -- to steer the new opposition grouping.(More..)

Also See:
-Key facts about Sheikh Sharif Ahmed

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-SAUDI WOMEN TO SAY NO TO DRIVING BAN
-Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan on Oct. 18
-Sunni Sheik Who Backed U.S. in Iraq Is Killed
-US, China to reward North Korea with fuel aid
-Japan Launches (Unmanned) Moon Mission
-Report on Hindu god Ram withdrawn

_______________________

WORLD'S 10 MOST POLLUTED PLACES (PHOTOS)

Areas that researchers have declared the most polluted in the world are typically little known even in their own countries. Yet, the kinds of pollution in these areas not only lead to cancers, birth defects, mental retardation and life expectancies approaching medieval levels, but are also often found all around the globe.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(Bumi Men, Omo River Region, Ethiopia)

(The Bumi live south of Omo National Park. Numbering around 6 - 7000 in population, the Bumi are agro-pastoralists, relying on cattle herding and flood-retreat agriculture (consisting mainly of sorghum harvesting on the Omo and Kibish Rivers). The Bumi are known to be great warriors. Small groups of Bumi living along the Omo are specialized crocodile hunters using harpoons from a dugout canoe.)

. . .

THE DANIEL BEKELE PROJECT

2007-09-13T11:58:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (In honor of the beginning of Ramadan for Ethiopian Muslims)
____________________

____________________

Join Daniel's family and friends as they call for the end of political incarceration and to a new millennium where human rights and freedom are respected in Ethiopia

Letter from the family of Daniel Bekele

October 8, 2007. To many, that day holds no particular meaning or significance. On that day, many people will go on with their daily lives. They will go to work and spend time with family and friends. Some may celebrate a special event, such as a birthday or an anniversary.

However, in an Ethiopian court on October 8th, it will be a somber day where judges will determine the future of Daniel Bekele, a human rights attorney, activist, scholar and a Prisoner of Conscience who has been incarcerated in an Ethiopian jail for two years.

We are writing to request your legal, social and political intervention to secure his freedom so we may memorialize that date as the day justice prevailed for not only Daniel and Prisoners of Conscience throughout the world, but for a society that values human rights for all.

At the University of Oxford, Daniel is a Ph.D. candidate with a Masters Degree in Legal Research, in addition to a L.L.B. in Law and a Masters Degree in Development Studies from Addis Ababa University. As an attorney, Daniel's fields of expertise are in Public International Law, Human Rights Law and Law in Development.

Daniel actively participated in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and he worked as a policy and advocate manager at ActionAid Ethiopia, the South Africa-based international development organization, where he pushed for civic engagement in Ethiopian society.

He also published papers with a focus on the freedom of expression and the application of international human rights law in his homeland of Ethiopia. Daniel's contributions and his passion for peace illustrate dedication to his belief in a peaceful and democratic change in Ethiopia.(More...)

Related stories:

-SSI: Daniel and Netsanet's case may not wrap up before the millennium
-U.N. elections consultant testifies for Daniel and Netsanet, says they "acted within law"
-Two-Month Adjournment and a Prolonged Jail Delay

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Celebrating 2000 with Mixed Emotions
-Kinijit Leaders addressing Crowed in London - Picture
-Addis Press Corps: My observations(Mengedegna)
-PM Meles's Millennium speech (ETH govt.)
-O.N.L.F Press Release
-AUDIO - Govt. Ridicules Opposition Gathering in Eritrea
-Cornell University to offer degree program at BahirDar (First in Africa)
-Ethiopia, EU, US agree on coffee trademarks
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

MUSLIM WORLD CELEBRATES START OF RAMADAN

Most of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims celebrated the start of Ramadan on Thursday. The beginning of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of a new crescent moon. During the month Muslims have to abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex from dawn until dusk.(More..)

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Egypt faults U.S. for inactivity on Mideast peace
-Bush to endorse limited troop cuts in Iraq
-Russian nominee PM hints at presidency
-U.S. Base Hit By Iranian-Type Rocket
-Japanese Prime Minister Abe hospitalized
-Castro Says Cuba Saved Reagan's Life

_______________________

In memory of a South African martyr

Thirty years after freedom fighter Steve Biko was beaten to death by police, his image is still instantly recognisable across South Africa. He is one of the most important figures in recent South African history and some are concerned about the commercialisation of his image. But it is undeniably one of the ways in which his legacy is kept alive.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY^repost

(In honor of the beginning of Ramadan for Ethiopian Muslims)

(The mosque of Negash is said to be the first one built in Ethiopia by the followers of Prophet Mohammed who came with the First Hijra. The photo shows a modern building on that place)
-ETN Interview with Ato Nejib Mohamed from the Ethiopian Muslim community and Abune Gebrail from the Ethiopian Orthodox church
-The first hijra: Migration to Abyssinia(International Board of Islamic Research and Resources)
-[VIDEO] The Message – first Muslims flee to Abyssinia (Scene from the 1977 movie by Director Moustapha Akkad starring Anthony Quinn)

. . .

Wednesday , September 12, 2007 - Update

2007-09-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

-AUDIO - CUD Delegation On US National Public Radio (NPR)
-AUDIO - Ethiopians in DC Celebrate Their Millennium

THE DANIEL BEKELE PROJECT (Join Daniel's family and friends as they call for the end of political incarceration and to a new millennium where human rights and freedom are respected in Ethiopia)

-PRESS RELEASE FROM THE AD HOC COORDINATING COMMITTEE
-CUD Delegation Meets Congressman Donald Payne - Pictures
-Ethiopia accuses Norway of AIDING TERRORISTS
-"ALLIANCE FOR THE LIBERATION OF SOMALIA" formed in Asmara
-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: MILLENNIUM OF HUMAN RIGHTS
-EHRCO PRISONERS RELEASED WITHOUT CHARGE
-CPJ: ETHIOPIA should DISCLOSE INFO ON DETAINED JOURNALISTS
-ERITREA RULES OUT WAR WITH ETHIOPIA OVER BORDER
-CONGRESSMAN HONDA ATTENDS MILLENNIUM EVENTS (Word doc.)
-REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER! (A short story on the arrival of the Peoples Leaders, from a guy who was there)
-BULCHA DEMEKSA message for the MILLENNIUM
-New US Africa military command to start work next month
-US - 9/11 ATTACK VICTIMS HONORED

____________________

JENDAYI FRAZER: "HUMANITARIAN CRISIS" IS UNFOLDING IN ETHIOPIA’S OGADEN

2007-09-10T07:24:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Kinjit’s Delegation arrives
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
____________________

Announcement
Ethiopian Millennium Celebration in South Korea
____________________

Financial Times - A senior US official has said for the first time that a “humanitarian crisis” is unfolding in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, putting Washington at odds with the Addis Ababa government, which has rejected similar claims from aid organisations.

Jendayi Frazer, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, made the comment on Saturday following a trip to the region, where government forces are fighting rebels who this year stepped up a violent campaign for self-determination.

Ethiopian government forces have been accused by non-governmental organisations of human rights abuses, but Addis Ababa has rejected the charges and denied reports of shortages of food and medical supplies.

The difference of opinion with the US is significant because the two countries are normally staunch allies. They co-operate closely on anti-terrorism and Washington sees Ethiopia as a source of stability in the highly combustible Horn of Africa.

The Ogaden is gaining attention just as Ethiopia seeks to use the start of its third millennium, which dawns under the country’s calendar on Wednesday, to present a fresh image to the world. “We are trying to co-operate to solve the humanitarian crisis,” Ms Frazer told a press conference in Addis Ababa.(More...)

_______________________

KINJIT DELEGATIONS ARRIVE IN THE US AND EU

ETP - Top officials of the coalition for unity and democracy party CUDP (also former prisoners of conscience), have arrived in the US and Europe to begin their tour which aims to rejuvenate and revive the diaspora constituency of their organization.

(L to R - Dr Berhanu Nega, Brook Kebede, Gizachew Shiferraw, Bertukan Mideksa, Dr Hailu Araya)

The delegation that arrived in North America yesterday, September 9, 2007, will primarily undertake the delicate task of deciphering and resolving the crises that had enveloped dispora CUDP.

Members of kinijit’s delegation to the US are, Bertukan Mideksa (VP), Dr Berhanu Nega (mayor elect of Addis Abeba), Dr Hailu Araya (CUDP’s spokesperson), Gizachew Shiferraw (Public Relations) and Brook Kebede. The party’s chairman engineer Hailu Shawl, who experienced some difficulty acquiring a US visa, is said to be arriving later this week.

The delegation has planed a stopover at several cities in the U.S. and Canada for a meet and greet with support chapter members.

A second team of prominent members of the party’s leadership has also arrived in London yesterday for a tour of the E.U.

This team consists of ; Muluneh Eyuel(Secretary General), Yacob Haile Mariam (External Affairs), Abayneh Berhanu(council member), Kifle Tigneh and Aschalew Ketema (council member).

Kinijit is hoping that this tour will reenergize the diaspora and completely bring to an end the infighting and feud that had plagued its support organizations for well over a year.

Also see:

VOA’S REPORT ON THE DELEGATION - [AUDIO]-
VIDEO of the delegation (Kinijit) arriving in the U.S. (ETN)-
Kinijit’s Delegation arrives in the US - Pictures-
Pictures from Kinijit’s EUROPE delegation-

_______________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Ethiopia slams UN border commission
-STATEMENT BY ETHIOPIA'S border commission LEGAL COUNSEL
-Eritrea says Ethiopia Scuppers Border Talks
-Somali opposition vows to defeat Ethiopia within months
-Ethiopia Scales Back Millennium Celebration - [AUDIO]
-Time for parties,not poverty, in Addis Abeba
-Ethio Diaspora Begins Millennium Celebrations - [AUDIO]
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Algerian group uses suicide bombers
-APEC Ends With Urgent Message on Trade
-Iraq PM: We Still Need U.S. Military
-Israeli Police Arrest a Homegrown Skinhead Gang
-Iran must go beyond cooperation plan for trust: IAEA
-BRAIN FUNCTION OF LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES DIFFERS
-MTV Awards flourish despite Britney bomb

_______________________

Pakistan Deports Musharraf's Opponent Nawaz Sharif

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been sent back to exile in Saudi Arabia only hours after returning to his homeland. A Pakistan International Airlines plane carrying Mr Sharif left Islamabad airport only hours after he was detained in the confines of the VIP terminal.(More..)

_______________________

. . .

The Week in Review

2007-09-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

____________________

Also:
- Weekend News and Updates
____________________

TOP STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK

_________________________________________

OFFICIAL: ETHIOPIA DETAINED 4 AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN MAY

2007-09-07T07:45:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

[VIDEO] - THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN ETHIOPIA: A TALK BY DR. BERHANU NEGA (PART 1, 2 and 3)

[AUDIO] - INTERVIEW OF DR. BERHANU NEGA WITH LEONARD LOPATE - WNYC

____________________

PRESS RELEASE - The Citizens Charter Group is pleased to release the millennium edition of the "Citizens Charter for a Democratic Ethiopia". An Amharic translation is provided for the first time, and translations in other major Ethiopian languages shall follow soon. [CLICK HERE TO READ]

INTERVIEW: The CITIZENS’CHARTER GROUP is not affiliated with any political party and is comprised of Ethiopians from a variety of ethnic backgrounds [Interview Part 1] - [Interview Part 2]

____________________

By ANITA POWELL

(AP) September 7, 2007 - Ethiopia briefly detained what it said were four American soldiers trying to contact a rebel group that has been fighting for greater autonomy for eastern Ethiopia, Ethiopian 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." An official at the U.S. Embassy could not immediately comment on the issue.

In an interview published in this week's edition of Time magazine, Meles said Ethiopia had no proof the American soldiers made contact with the rebels but they could have been "moving in that direction."

"As far as we know, these personalities did not have official sanction to do that what they were doing. They were violating their own code of conduct," the premier told Time in an interview conducted last month.

An official familiar with the case said that the soldiers were detained in May in the eastern region of Somali State, as the Ogaden is known. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said they were immediately released and their Ethiopian-American interpreter released in August. At the time, the U.S. soldiers' detention was not made public.

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Migrants' horror stories offer glimpse of Ogaden repression
-Somali opposition to discuss military strategy against Ethiopia
-[AUDIO] - Govt. Detains Opposition Oromo Ethiopians
-Millennium celebrations fall flat for some Ethiopians
-U.S. Donates for Restoration of 130 Year Old House in Addis
-Ethiopia: Horn of Dilemma (Time)
-Somali PM to meet Islamist financier in Djibouti
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

Interview: Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

"We are supposed to have burned villages. I can tell you, not a single village, and as far as I know not a single hut has been burned. We have been accused of dislocating thousands of people from their villages and keeping them in camps. Nobody has come up with a shred of evidence. Nobody."(More...)

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Moroccans vote for new parliament
-BURMA junta blames Diaspora for unrest
-Tension rises after Syria opens fire on Israeli planes
-Al-Qaida Prepares to Release New Bin Laden Video
-Bush, South Korean president have testy exchange
-Tutu praises 'unifying' barbecues

_______________________

Darfur peace talks set for Oct. 27 in Libya

Sudan's government and rebel groups will start talks on October 27 in Libya to push for peace in violence-torn Darfur before 26,000 peacekeepers deploy there, the United Nations and Khartoum announced on Thursday. The choice of Libya as a venue came as a surprise as Tanzania had been seen as most likely to host the talks.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(Omo Valley, Ethiopia - Mursi girl)

The Mursi are a nomadic cattle herder ethnic group located in the Debub Omo Zone in Ethiopia, close to the Sudanese border. The estimated population of the Mursi is 6-10,000. Surrounded by mountains between the Omo River and its tributary the Mago, the home of the Mursi is one of the most isolated regions of the country. Their neighbors include the Aari, the Banna, the Bodi, the Kara, the Kwegu, the Nyangatom and the Surma.
For more beautiful pictures of the Mursi- Click here

___________________________________

Somali opposition leaders unite against Ethiopia

2007-09-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

PRESS RELEASE

The Citizens Charter Group is pleased to release the millennium edition of the "Citizens Charter for a Democratic Ethiopia". An Amharic translation is provided for the first time, and translations in other major Ethiopian languages shall follow soon.

[CLICK HERE TO READ]
____________________

ASMARA, Sept 6, 2007 - Somali opposition figures, including top Islamist leaders, opened a 10-day congress in Eritrea Thursday with a call for a swift withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from their war-torn country.

Some 400 delegates gathered in the Eritrean capital for the meeting, which came exactly a week after the close of a clan reconciliation conference sponsored by the interim government and the international community in Mogadishu.

(Picture - Militant Somali Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys (C) attends opening of a meeting of Somali opposition figures in Asmara September 6, 2007)

[CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO REPORT]

Sheikh Hassan Aweys, the overall leader of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) that briefly controlled large swathes of Somalia before being ousted earlier this year by Ethiopian-backed government forces, was present at the gathering.

The Islamist movement's other top leader, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, urged Ethiopia to pull its troops out of Somalia and criticised its US ally in his opening speech. "We hold this conference to establish a political organisation that liberates the country and ends the violence and chaotic situation," he said.

"We call upon Ethiopia to unconditionally withdraw its troops from Somalia and stop its imperialistic adventure on our territory," the senior ICU leader added.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-U.N. team RETURNS from troubled OGADEN
-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION ALERT - ETHIOPIA
-Ethiopian opposition leader takes fight abroad
-BULCHA DEMEKSA: 107 DETAINED IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS
-Ethiopia's Distinctive Religious Heritage (Donald N. Levine)
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

Dr. Yacob donates money to heart disease patients

Dr. Yacob H/mariam donated 4000 birr to heart disease patients in Ethiopia by selling gifts he received from supporters and friends after his release from prison.(More...)

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Fears as DR Congo fighting flares
-France to Host U.N. Africa Summit
-German police hunt for terror plot 'back-up team'
-Syria says Israeli jets bomb territory
-Bush Meets with China's President in Australia
-Republican Fred Thompson joins presidential race
-Luciano Pavarotti dead at 71

_______________________

Nigeria reach Under-17 World Cup final

Nigeria will meet Spain in the final of the U-17 World Cup after the West Africans team beat Germany 3-1 in Thursday's semi-final. Striker Macaulay Christanus took his tournament tally to seven goal when he opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 10th minute.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(Turmi, Ethiopia - Hamer man)

(The Hammere are a tribal people in southwestern Ethiopia. They live in a fertile part of the Omo River valley. They are largely pastoralists, so their culture places a high value on cattle. According to the CSA census of 1994, there were 42,838 Hammer language speakers, and 42,448 self-identified Hammer people of a total population of about 53 million, representing approximately 0.1% of the population.)

For more beautiful pictures of the Hamer- Click here

___________________________________

Ethiopia Rights Group says Government has Detained Activists

2007-09-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day - (millennium edition featuring Faces of Ethiopia)
____________________

____________________

AUDIO - International Ethiopian Women Organization (IEWO) September 2 Program (Millennium wishes)
____________________

A human rights organisation in Ethiopia said Wednesday that the government has been holding three of its members without charge for more than two weeks in the west of the country.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) said three members of its branch in Nekemte, 220 kilometres (135 miles) west of Addis Ababa, were detained on August 23 after police came to search their homes.

"Three of our members in Nekemte have been detained without an arrest warrant for 16 days," Tesfaye Desalegn, the group's public relations officer, told AFP.

"They were looking for arms and papers they claimed were used to incite violence, but even though nothing was found, they haven't released or tried them yet," he added.Regional security officials have not responded to appeals, he added.

In a statement, the group urged the government to either release the three or press charges against them.Nekemte lies in the Oromo region, where rebels have been battling the government for years.(Source)

Also see:
-EHRCO: Release or Prosecute those Detained in Nekemte

Today's Top HEADLINES

-BULCHA DEMEKSA: GOVT. DETAINED 107 IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS
-Humanitarian crisis hits Ethiopia
-Britain to boost healthcare in poor countries, Ethiopia
-World Bank commits record US$5.8b to Africa
-CPJ: threats force press freedom activist in Somalia into hiding
-30 Somali journalists flee into neighbouring countries
-Nine killed in Mogadishu as Islamists prepare for talks
-Namibia/Ethiopia: Warriors Take on Ethiopia
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

ETHIOPIA FINISHES FOURTH AT IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ethiopia finished in the fourth spot of the general medal standings of the 11th World Championships of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that concluded on Sunday in Osaka, Japan, with the participation of athletes from 203 countries. A total of 4 medals (3 gold and 1 silver) guaranteed Ethiopia’s position to finish at the top of the table. Taking the first place was the United States (14-4-8), Kenya came in second (5-3-5) and Russia third (4-9-3).

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Germany foils 'massive' attack on US citizens
-Darfur: UN chief promises renewed push
-Israel decides against military action in Gaza
-China's Hu tests power at Communist congress
-Mrs Sarkozy defends Libya visit
-Airline sacrifices goats to appease sky god

_______________________

RUSSIAN MAYOR BANS PHRASE 'I DON'T KNOW'

The mayor of a Siberian oil town has ordered his bureaucrats to stop using expressions such as "I don't know" and "I can't." Or look for another job. Alexander Kuzmin, the 33-year-old mayor of Megion, has banned these and 25 other phrases as a way to make his administration more efficient, his spokeswoman said Tuesday.(More..)

_______________________

PICTURE OF THE DAY - FACES OF ETHIOPIA^{Millennium edition}

(Chencha, Southern Ethiopia - Dorze Man)

(The Dorze are a small ethnic group in Ethiopia who speak a language in the Omotic family. Numbering approximately 28,000, they live primarily in the southern region of the country. Many Dorze live in villages near the cities of Chencha and Arba Minch)

For more beautiful pictures from Southern Ethiopia- Click here

___________________________________

Ethiopia Rebels Declare Ceasefire for UN Visit

2007-09-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day
____________________

Show your support for HR 2003
____________________

Conference Announcement
REFLECTIONS ON THE EVE OF THE THIRD ETHIOPIAN MILLENNIUM
____________________

Rebels in Ethiopia's volatile east declared a unilateral ceasefire so the United Nations can investigate their claims of human rights abuses in the region.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front rebels, ethnic Somalis who have been fighting the government for more than a decade, said they will only defend themselves if attacked.

"We want to give every hand to the UN mission so that the Ethiopian government does not find an excuse to interfere, so that they [the UN] can do a thorough investigation about what's happening in the Ogaden," Abdulrahman Mahdi, spokesperson for the ONLF, told the Associated Press in a telephone interview on Sunday.

Ethiopian officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Mahdi said the ceasefire will last as long as the UN is in the Ogaden, which is near the Somali border. The 14-person UN mission arrived in the region last week.

Ethiopia announced a crackdown on the rebels in June, two months after the ONLF attacked a Chinese-run oil exploration field, killing 74 people.(More...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Villages deserted, burned in Ogaden: MSF
-Crisis looming in Ogaden: medical relief agency
-Ethiopian Govt. Denies 'Blocking' MSF
-IRAN, ETHIOPIA to boost economic ties
-Tens of thousands displaced by Ethiopia floods
-Arkebe Iqubay Back on the Scene
-Chavez puts off Africa tour
-Rate of Ethiopia Brain-Drain Alarming - Study
-Fortune’s Gossip on the millennium festivities
-Eritrea Ready for Talks on Border Demarcation with Ethiopia
-Somali opposition figures to unite in Eritrea
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

SOME ETHIOPIANS CRINGE AT LAVISH MILLENNIUM BASH

Ethiopians bemoan the fact that in a country where the average annual per capita income peaked at $160 in 2005, ticket prices ranging from $270 to $330 will ensure Ethiopia's Y2K concert is not a popular celebration. "How could you expect the average Ethiopian to afford that kind of price when the amount he receives as salary per year is lower than the ticket price?"...."Not only will they miss the concert, they won't watch it on television as most of them don't have one," (More...)

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-APEC seeks climate change consensus
-Bush reflects on the visit to Iraq
-Category 5 Hurricane Felix slams ashore
-'Chemical Ali,' 2 others to be hanged
-Intimidation In Tehran
-Myanmar (Burma) Constitution Ensure Military Power

_______________________

PENTAGON (U.S.) COMPUTER SYSTEM HACKED BY CHINESE MILITARY

China's military successfully hacked into the Pentagon's computer network, raising fears it could disrupt the US defence department's systems, the Financial Times reported Tuesday. The Chinese military's cyber attack was carried out in June following months of efforts, the London-based newspaper said, citing unnamed current and former US officials.(More..)

Also see: China rejects US charge it hacked Pentagon

_______________________

Picture of the Day

(Britain honoured Mandela on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, by unveiling a bronze statue of him alongside those of great statesmen such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico)

NELSON MANDELA on ETHIOPIA:

"Ethiopia always has a special place in my imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England and America combined.I felt I would be visiting my own genesis, unearthing the roots of what made me an African." - Long walk to Freedom, the autobiography of Nelson Mandela

Also see: Mandela statue joins ranks of Britain's heroes

___________________________________

BULCHA DEMEKSA: GOVT. DETAINED 107 IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS

2007-09-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

By ANITA POWELL
Associated Press
2007-09-06

Ethiopia has detained 107 of its citizens over the past two months without charge, according to an opposition lawmaker who said Wednesday he believed the detainees were suspected of links to a southern insurgency.

Opposition lawmaker Bulcha Demeksa said he compiled the figure of those detained since July in Addis Ababa and southern Ethiopia from reports from family members.

Ethiopian law provides that any one arrested should appear in court within 48 hours and be charged.

Federal police officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday and repeated calls to other government officials went unanswered.

Bulcha said his total of 107 included three staff members of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council in Nekemte, 220 kilometers (137 miles) west of the capital, that the council said were arrested on Aug. 23 and had not been taken to court since.

Hiwot Emishaw, an official of the group, said, "They were allegedly arrested for disseminating papers to incite violence. Our organization is saying they have not been engaged in such an act."

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.

Bulcha, whose Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement party is a minority in parliament, said that he had complained to government officials, but has not received any response.

EHRCO: Release or Prosecute those Detained in Nekemte

2007-08-31T11:33:00.001-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day
____________________

Plea to all Ethiopians regardless of Political Party Affiliation

____________________

(ETHIOPIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - EHRCO)

Urgent Appeal -- Police in Nekemte town, Eastern Wellega Zone in the Oromia Region, detained fifteen people since August 23, 2007 without taking them to a court of law until the date of issuance of this report.

The police came with a search warrant stating that they are suspected of hiding arms and papers calling for violence. However, although they searched their homes and found nothing, they took away the individuals without an arrest warrant and held them in detention since then.

Three of the detainees are Executive Committee Members of EHRCO's Nekemte Branch Office.

*Released on August 30, 2007 around 6:00 PM

EHRCO expresses its grave concern over the detention of its members and other citizens and urges the government to immediately take them to a court of law or release them.

EHRCO also calls on those who stand for the respect of human rights, local and international human rights groups, government envoys and concerned individuals to exert pressure on the government to take the detainees to a court of law or to release them without delay.(MORE...)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-EACA chairman’s letter to the UN on the Ogaden (Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy)
-MSF says blocked from Ethiopia's volatile Ogaden
-UN Assessing Needs of Civilians in Ogaden(AUDIO REPORT)
-CUD Accuses Government for 'Mishandling' Inflation
-ETHIOPIA FINALIZES STUDIES FOR BUILDING HYDROPOWER DAMS
-Somali govt. sacks its ambassador to Ethiopia
-Somalia opposition conference in Eritrea delayed
-US calls for urgent deployment of Somali peacekeepers
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE WORLD’S OLDEST WOMAN DOING IN HOUSTON?
(Alemayehu G. Mariam)

We call her Dinkenesh. They call her “Lucy”. But what’s in a name? “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” said Shakespeare. But Lucy is one of a kind. She is unlike any other hominid fossil ever found. She is the most complete hominid skeleton of the Pliocene Epoch [1.8-5.3 million years ago]....But what in the world is she doing in Houston, Texas?(More...)

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Guinea-Bissau 'to shoot down drug planes'
-Protests Persist in BURMAA, Despite Arrests
-Bush discusses Iraq, China military
-Shiite’s Tale: How Gulf With Sunnis Widened
-UN Says Iran's Cooperation a 'Significant Step Forward'
-Forbes: Merkel most powerful woman

_______________________

Musharraf's allies question deal with Bhutto

Allies of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf have raised objections to a power-sharing deal he is negotiating with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, casting fresh doubt on the future of the embattled president.(More..)

_______________________

Picture of the Day

(An Ethiopian reggae fan looks at photographs of Bob Marley at an exhibition in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.(Antony Njuguna/Reuters)
In February of 2005, MARC LACEY of the New York Times, who at the time Was covering the celebration of Marley’s birthday in Addis Abeba wrote, “If he had been onstage, Bob Marley would have waved his graying dreadlocks in the air and beseeched black people to continue struggling. In that lilting voice of his, he would have sung of love, of unity, of his beloved Ethiopia.”

Ethiopia held a special place in Marley’s heart; he regularly expressed his interest to move there permanently. Unfortunately, the emergence of the DERG hindered Marley’s wishes from becoming reality.

-MARLEY IN HIS OWN WORDS (VIDEO)

___________________________________

Norway to cut aid to Ethiopia

2007-08-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Picture of the Day
____________________

Plea to all Ethiopians regardless of Political Party Affiliation

____________________

30 Aug 2007 Report - Ethiopia's decision to expel six of nine Norwegian diplomats from the country means Ethiopia will lose around NOK 30 million in Norwegian development aid.

"This isn't a punishment, but a consequence of the fact that so many people at the Norwegian Embassy are being kicked out," Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told newspaper Aftenposten. That will leave a staffing shortage at the embassy, that will hinder its ability to handle foreign aid.

One of the diplomats' most important jobs involved monitoring the use of aid funds that are sent through the embassy. The total amounts to around NOK 100 million (about USD 16 million) this year alone.

With only three diplomats left on the embassy staff, capacity to handle aid funding is sharply reduced, and the aid itself will be reduced as well.

Most of the aid Norway extends to Ethiopia is channeled through the United Nations, and it won't be affected. Norway donated a total of NOK 268 million to Ethiopia last year.

Støre wouldn't say exactly what led to the expulsion, noting only that "we need to go through our experience." He expects to meet his Ethiopian counterpart in New York next month, at the US General Assembly. (Source)

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Ethiopia: The Annual Great Run postponed
-Chicago firm opens first IT Outsourcing Center in Ethiopia
-Exile at all costs for many young Eritreans
-Ordinary people, extraordinary deeds! (ethiomedia)
-African free-for-all? (Analysis)
-Coffee Price on the Rise: Who’s Going To Profit?(Analysis)
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

_______________________

SOMALIA PEACE TALKS TO WRAP UP WITH NO PROGRESS

Talks aimed at ending 16 years of conflict in Somalia were due to wrap up Thursday, with diplomats saying the parley had made no progress after six weeks of marathon negotiations.(More...)

Also see: Somalia peace talks fail as UN roots for all-inclusive dialogue

_______________________

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Canada expels Sudanese envoy
-VIDEO: Castro picks Clinton and Obama (In an editorial Cuba's Fidel Castro said a Clinton/Obama ticket would be best for the U.S.)
-Sarkozy calls Chavez for help on Colombia hostages
-Musharraf rejects pressure to quit
-US Congressional Report Finds Little Progress in Iraq
-Mafia suspects arrested in Italy
-New York's ‘Queen of Mean’ leaves $12 million to dog

_______________________

Liberia discovers 7000 'ghost' workers

Liberia's government says it has found more than 7,000 'ghost' workers on its payroll - employees who do not actually exist, or do not work for it. The discovery was made when the government embarked on a civil service overhaul to improve efficiency. (More..)

_______________________

Picture of the Day

(King Tona of Wolaita)

(The last king of Wolaita King Tona, reigned from about 1890 to 1900. He was reputedly the seventeenth monarch of a dynasty which traced itself back to a chief from Tegray. Tona himself succeeded his grandfather Gobie, and traced his line back, through his mother, to a noble Oromo family from Arsi.(Richard Pankhurst).........Yes, we Ethiopians are all interconnected.

-^{Must Read}COMMON FACTORS UNITING THE PEOPLES OF ETHIOPIA (by Fikre Tolossa, 1994)

___________________________________

UN to send a fact-finding mission to the Ogaden

2007-08-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

____________________

Also:
- Today's Top HEADLINES
- INTERNATIONAL news
- Pictures of the Day
____________________

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The United Nations plans to send a fact-finding mission to Ethiopia's Ogaden region where separatist rebels who killed 74 people in an April attack say they are facing the toughest government crackdown in years.

The mission, due to start on Aug. 30, will assess allegations by the rebels and rights groups of human rights abuses as well as the food, water and health needs of Ogaden's ethnic Somalis.

The remote region bordering Somalia has come under growing scrutiny since the government launched a campaign two months ago to flush out Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels after they carried out one of their bloodiest attacks on a Chinese-run oil exploration field in April.

Rights groups accuse soldiers of shooting civilians, burning homes and seizing livestock in its hunt for the ONLF, which wants more autonomy for the area believed to be rich in oil and gas.

"The information coming from the Somali region since the beginning of the Ethiopian government campaign against the ONLF has been secondhand, and it has been worrying," Paul Hebert, head of the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia, told Reuters on Wednesday.(More...)

_______________________

UNITE THE PEOPLE: DIVISION AND FRAGMENTATION HAS NOT AND WILL NEVER WORK

(NES: Professor Mammo Muchie)

“Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell upon the bitterness of the past....rather look to the future....If we can create this sense of national direction and identity, we shall have gone a long way toward solving our economic problems.” - Kenyatta.(More...)

_______________________

Today's Top HEADLINES

-Happy New Year! Govt. moves Homeless Out of Capital
-Ethiopia: Water - Tomorrow's Oil
-UN Says Many Ethiopians, Somalis Risk Lives to Flee
-Failed states think alike? (Opinion)
-Clinic treats abused donkeys, the Ethiopian 'family car'
-8 months on, Somalia's government cannot tame Mogadishu
-TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK (The Week in Review)

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

-Mandela statue unveiled in London
-Burma (Myanmar) rulers try to crush dissent
-12 South Koreans freed in Afghanistan
-Firefighters gain upper hand over Greek fires
-US Troops Release Detained Iranians
-Sadr 'freezes' militia activities
-Minister Says Musharraf-Bhutto Alliance Nearly Complete

_______________________

Ghana U17 stun Brazil at World Cup

Ghana knocked tournament favourites Brazil out of the under-17 World Cup in South Korea with a 1-0 win on Wednesday. Isaac Donkor scored the only goal of the game, played in Gwangyang, on 51 minutes.(More...)

_______________________

Pictures of the Day

The patriotism and devotion to country Ethiopian athletes possess is legendary. When Tirunesh suffering from terrible stomach pain, won the race in Osaka last Saturday, she said “I did it for my country. I was struggling but I told myself to hang in. I didn't want to let down the people back home in Ethiopia.”

This sentiment is not new to Ethiopian athletes. Just see the conversation below between Mamo Wolde and Abebe Bikila, as Abebe realized he was too sick to finish the race and defend his title at the 1968 marathon in Mexico City.

As narrated by Mamo Wolde

(Ten miles into the race), he (Abebe) turned and beckoned teammate, Mamo Wolde,

Abebe: "Lieutenant."
Mamo: "Captain."
Abebe: "I'm not finishing this race."
Mamo: "Sorry, sir."
Abebe:"But Lieutenant, you will win this race."
Mamo: "Sir, yes sir."
Abebe:"Don't let me down."

when Abebe Bikila emerged from an ambulance (just after Mamo won the race), He caught Wolde's eye, came to attention and saluted. Wolde, mission accomplished, crisply returned it. Wolde's victory meant his country hadn't produced a lone prodigy, but a succession. Wolde had made the marathon Ethiopia's own. (Excerpted from ‘The Ordeal of Mamo Wolde” by Kenny Moore)

(Mamo Wolde wins Olympic Gold in Mexico, 1968 )

(Legendary Ethiopian athletes, Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde)

_______________________________________