The Economist: Will the political dissidents be spared?
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The Economist
...It was a real shock this week when the state prosecutor called for all 38 (Ethiopian opposition leaders) to be put to death. Those facing the firing squad include Hailu Shawel, the elderly head of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), the main opposition party, and Berhanu Nega, the elected mayor of the capital, Addis Ababa.
Surely not, say queasy diplomats, aid types and even many in the Ethiopian government. The prime minister, Meles Zenawi, has made some progress in building infrastructure, tackling poverty and attracting foreign investment. He has even managed to turn himself into a close ally of America by invading Somalia last December to vanquish the Islamist regime in Mogadishu, suspected of harbouring al-Qaeda people. The last thing Mr Zenawi needs now is the terrible publicity, especially in America, that such executions would bring.
..But Ethiopians are stubborn. Most of the 38 dissidents have refused even to recognise the court's legitimacy or to offer a defence. They may be unwilling to sign an apology. Then there is the government's instinct for brutality. In spasms, it has muzzled, beaten and jailed the opposition since the elections of 2005. Thousands of young Ethiopians were sent to prison camps. The press has been stamped on. (More...)
CAMPAIGN TO MARK-UP H.R. 2003 (Urgent Action Needed)
- Who to contact: [List of Foreign affairs committee members]- Contacting Foreign affairs committee Members by Phone
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Today's Top HEADLINES
-Crushing dissent in Ethiopia: von Meijenfeldt-Threatened Execution of Ethiopian Opposition Should be Opposed: Freedom House
-Siye, The Healer (ethiozagol)
-Transcript of Siye Abraha’s Interview
-Floods hit 7,000 in Ethiopia
-ETHIOPIA: 'Community conversations' opening up the AIDS discussion
-Somali presidential palace targeted as fresh violence kills four
-Bombs, Bandits Hinder Aid to Somalia
-Nigeria female football team faces Ethiopia in must-win match
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
-Learning under trees in South Sudan
-Al-Qaida has regained strength, US warns
-Fierce fighting erupts at Lebanon camp
-Russia dismisses new Kosovo resolution
-China to Begin Olympic Food Checks
-BBC apologizes to queen over photo tiff
-George Weah returns to classroom
Picture of the day
Kebede Michael (also spelled Mikael), seen here, was a giant in the field of education and literature in Ethiopia. He wrote a total of 26 books including a wide range of translations from various languages - "Romeo and Juliet" and "Macbeth" of William Shakespeare to name a few. Some of his most famous books include; "Japan Endet Seletenech?", "Teretna Missale", "Ye-Hilina Berhan", "ye-tinbit Qetero" and "Hannibal". He worked as Director General for the Ministry of Education, as Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1942), as Director of the National Library (1944), and as a Cabinet Minster in the Imperial Palace. He received prizes for Literature from Emperor Haileselassie as well as from the governments of France, Germany, Italy, USSR and Mexico. Aleka Dr. Kebede Michael died on 12 November 1998 at the age of 82.
(Sources: mediaethiopia.com, ethiopianmillennium.com, zegabi.blogspot.com)
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