Meles Zenawi is travelling to Brussels today to beg the European Union for money. He is scheduled to meet with Mr Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. DGAF reports quoting its sources that EU is pressuring Meles to release all political prisoners and stop mass arrests and killings before considering the resumption of any financial assistance... ER Feb 3
On January 19, police reportedly opened fire on people suspected to be demonstrating support for the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party. Two people were reportedly killed and several wounded as a result of the shooting. The following day, police reportedly opened fire on a further Timket procession in Addis Ababa, wounding over 20 people. One of the wounded, Lealem Bogale, was said to have died later in hospital... AI, Feb 3
The Meles regime appointed Ato Abe Sano to take the place of Ato Gezahegn Yilma as the new general manager of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, DGAF reported today. Ato Gezahegn died of a bullet wound last week. The police says it's suicide, but friends of Ato Gezahegn and others blame the government. All of Ato Gezahegn's assistants have been replaced following his death, giving more weight to the suspicion that the government has a hand in the death of the general manager
Federal Police savagely attacked students at Ayer Tena and Basillios schools yesterday. There is a report that the police shot to death a girl who refused to kneel down at Ayer Tena school. While the police was roaming Ayer Tena school, students from Basillios school came to their assistance. The police attacked them with large sticks. When the beating would not force the students to disperse, the police started shooting. Then the students dispersed into the open market nearby, regrouped and came back to attack busses and other government vehicles... ER Feb 2
The Federal Police troopers are showing signs of growing fear and confusion. In some instances, they were seen panicking and fighting among themselves when confronted with students in the past few days, according to observers. Their savagery is creating more resolve among the students, and in some instances, parents are getting involved ... ER Feb 2
This report (in Amharic) details what happened at the Addis Ababa Stadium last Sunday. It seems that the appearance of the dreaded Federal Police and their blue uniform evokes violent anger every where they appear. Their presence, instead of calming things, leads to disturbance, violence, and bloodshed. The blood thirsty Federal Police troopers never fail to satisfy their bosses, Commissioner Workneh and Prime Minister Meles, in their sheer brutality. Today, Addis Ferenji observed a new tactic--Federal Police in Addis Ababa Police uniform... ER Jan 31
University of Chicago Professor Donald Levine is meeting with CUD leaders at the Kaliti Prison now, prison sources told DGAF News Network. The distinguished sociology professor and expert on Ethiopian affairs held meetings with government officials earlier ... ER Jan 31, 3:42 AM EST
Reporters Without Borders today called on the Ethiopian authorities to explain why they have been holding Frezer Negash ... RSF Feb 3
Students clashed with Federal Police in Addis Ababa's Shimelis Habte and Bahr Dar's Tana Haik schools today. Several students have been arrested and tortured
IFTIN, the Federal Police propaganda outlet, reports that Tegbar League leadership has been placed under control ... scanned copy, Amharic
Meles Zenawi's wife, Wzr Azeb Mesfin, who's the head of Mega Publishers, doesn't seem to be too happy about IFTIN's growing prominence in the EPRDF circles. DGAF reports that Wzr Azeb is planning to launch a new newspaper soon, and is also forcing IFTIN to pay all the debt it owes to her publishing company ... ER Feb 3
