Following a critical report by the U.S. Department of State last week, the Woyanne tribal regime in Ethiopia has lifted its blockade on all news web sites such as Ethiopian Review, EMF and opposition web sites such as Ginbot7.org.
DebreTsion GebreMichael, Ethiopia’s Information Technology chief, has unblocked news web sites after a 3-year ban
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The Woyanne regime’s propagandist (Liar-in-Chief), Bereket Simon, had persistently denied that there is a restriction on access to web sites.
The official in charge of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, Ato DebreTsion GebreMichael, who carried out the decision to ban web sites, also denies any such blockade.
Under DebreTsion’s watch, Ethiopia ranks lower than Somalia in Information Technology (IT) usage. As chief of Ethiopia’s IT, DebreTsion’s main focus is to limit people’s access to information, not to build the country’s IT infrastructure. As a result, Ethiopia with a population of 80 million has only 30,000 Internet subscribers, according to the State Department report.
Related:
* Opposition websites blocked in Ethiopia
* Critical Web sites inaccessible in Ethiopia
* Ethiopia’s dictatorship blocks opposition web sites
* CPJ site blocked in Ethiopia
* Ethiopia: Ginbot 7 radio program jammed
* There are only 300 broadband internet subscribers in Ethiopia
* Ethiopia mobile phone usage
* Low IT penetration impedes Africa’s e-commerce development
15 thoughts on “Woyanne unblocks access to news web sites in Ethiopia”
I don’t trust the tribal regime until I see their decision will go on atleast for a year.The regime well known for its charlatan character can reverse their decision overnight when critical writtings appear on the web sites.
Dear Elias,let’s give it a time…you’ll see what will happen.Folks have a good day!
Blocks or unblocks it is immaterial. Our people have the capacity to retrieve information in a cafè ceremony.
The Dummies(Woyane)won’t learn from others. That’s why they put iron curtain in front of the people`s mind.
For an educaed person information is like Cafè and tea. It is an energy drink.
Woyane should free the telecommunication market. But, as long as those shabbys are in charge of it, it is the same as blocking infrmation access.
The current government must be replaced by a broad based and far-sighted cabinet. Then we can see the change.
It is amazing to hear that Ethiopia with a population of over 75 million has lower internet acses than somalia which is a very small country. This is enough indication by it self that Woyanes are mainly working on how to restrict peoples acsess to IT, than develloping IT in the country.Acoording to the authority time elongating minster, Bereket Semon, Ethiopian at this time has a better information system network than the Atse. tewodros regime which is more than 100 years ago. It is realy mocking to hear them compairing what ever they did with The previous regimes than evaluating there own performances against their own in a year or years ago
About time…u can silence a revolutionary but u can’t silence a revolution….what is the meaning of freedom of speech if there is no free press….all we can say..Dear Mr Priminister if you can’t handle the media get out of the office….God bless
Access to internet is not big deal.
Ethiopian people can see live in Ethiopia what is going on.
eveyrone knows how woyanne works.
Internet will change little, but radios and TVs may have better effect. Anyways as long as the public remains silent or frightened, nothing will happen with the diaspora’s screaming. Woyanne lives until its military and police powers turn against it which seems impossible. So, powerful freedom fighters are needed at this time to defeat the most military power in the region. This is the fact to understand always.
This is a good news. Some times we need to appreciate when ppl transform from bad to good. One thing we miss is this quality. It is a good oportunity for stakeholders like media owners, information receverers and producers to use this free time to reach the ppl with useful and constructive
information. Information related to Agriculture is one example (both English and Amharic or other languages).
We need to convey as much information as possible as there is a short time(I don’t mean TPLF closes it as #1 Solomon said) but in general , just think of the price of any article last year and today in $(where there is no $ in Ethiopia). I don’t know how much of the information ER dissiminates is politics, health, …but for sure ER has many visitors and therefore Elias can make use of this site.
Just a comment Ato(or Wozero) Keremela, I don’t agree with you. Why do we sell EAL, ETC and other money generating companies whose profit can be used in so many ways. One has to consider its future implication. Foreign investors once they are in full controll of land,banking, EAL, ETC, and other strategicall important companies, they can play their dirty games and we see this in many poor countries in Africa and else wehre. They are being treated like a king where as the citizen is a subject of exploitation (not a socialist idea). The gov’t has to be very strong to the extent that it has full capacity to punish all investors when found for example selling expired food or medicine, or involved in deculturization or what ever is not acceptable by the Ethiopian due to relegion, culture or way of livig. It is possible to live without fully following “capitalism”
Another bogus election is around the corner, here we go again fooling the fools! We had been fooled thousands of times by this crime family this is another stunts to appear “digmocratic” of thugere aranat! This are savages we should call them by their true names, barberians gone wild in lootings and killings. watchout yehagere sew!!!!!
This is Yamamoto’s decision, not Meless’, so transparent, trust me, when things start to get out of control in a few months they will close opposition internet sites. This is all about laying the groundwork for May 2010, to make the American designed and run election so they can select the political entities they want. They already have their new puppet in waiting getting groomed for power. Ghebru Asrat is their dictator in waiting. I only hope they will not fool the Ethiopian people into believing there is genuine western democracy in Ethiopia. I have no faith in anyone who is getting ready to participate in the coming sham election. It will set Ethiopia back again.
Folks, we shouldn’t be rejoicing at a possibly harmless move by/for the TPLF. This needs no mention, but we have seen them play their cards very carefully and only in self-interest. Here is my take: TPLF security members want to get to the core of the clandestine members of the Ginbot 7 movement in Ethiopia. And, of course, the G7 leadership wants to have some form of reliable and economical way to
communicate with its members back home. We were informed that the overwhelming majority of G7 members reside in Ethiopia, as it should be. This is where the Internet comes in. On more than a few occasions, the G7 leaders have stated
that they use Internet billboards and/or blogs to sound out ideas and discuss the movement’s progress. That’s more than enough information to get the TPLF’s security engaged.
I think TPLF’s line of thinking is pretty clear: You crack the window open just a bit even if you know that some flies come in. International observers, human right groups, activists of all sorts will see this as a positive development. Even some in the opposition will give our oppressors a nod. For TPLF, however, the catch
is much bigger. It already knows that it has little to no support across the country; it may never had it to begin with except in isolated and indoctrinated Tigray. The
TPLF also knows that G7 is an accurate reflection of the opinions of the majority of Ethiopians. Pretty much every level-headed Ethiopian (and even some charitable foreigners) have concluded that TPLF can only be dealt with force. Remember that this is a party never given to persuasion even among its own members.
Now, one of the stated goals of G7 is an unfettered parliamentary election in our country. Unless TPLF realizes that its life is on the line, it’ll never agree to an election board that it can’t control. Neither will it allow Ethiopians to exercise their will freely. That’s one of the lessons of the May 2005 elections. In effect, thus, it’s begging for a force to bring it over to the negotiating table. But it also knows that G7 is one such force. Nipping G7 in the bud will, thus, be a priority for its top cadres. The TPLF might have some advantages here for it might already possess a sophisticated technology to track and infiltrate secure and secret websites. The Chinese
do it, and so can the TPLF. Like any unaccountable and tyrannical group, it has plenty of cash to service its security wing. Tens of millions of dollars spent on ensuring TPLF’s survival is money well spent. In addition, our tribalist 19th century tyrants have deliberately kept the Ethiopian populace in the dark essentially hindering the development of its Internet expertise. But no matter; others have found a way to work around their oppression, and so can we. This might even be an opportunity to turn the game around and use this opening to a maximum effect.
The TPLF cannot indefinitely deny us our liberty and equality before the law.
Weyane blocked many opposition websites for nearly half a decade. No one was allowed to see OLF web page and any blog with regard to Oromo too. It was not those mentioned above only.
Remember Oromo is the most suffered ethnic group in the hands of the TPLF regime through out the last decades. No other ethnic group suffered like the oromo though of course all paid the price. To smash the TPLF we should need to form unity. Keeping Oromo away from Ethiopian politics is not right.
Devide and Conquer was and still is woyane’s main strategy.Making us feel we shouldn’t act if our eyes didn’t see the injustice it is all democracy..etc…We are a nation that existed for thousands of years.Whether I like it ore not it hurts me when my people in Ogaden , Gambella , Anuak , oromo , addis , North , South all over face discrimination.I cann’t change history we are all one .Sooner or later it is going to be my turn to taste Woyane’s injustice.I amnot going to sit arround and wait . Wendimihe Siwega NEGE BENAE bell.
Congratulations to Ethiopian Review!
I just need to appreciate what is currently available, because, it is temporary access to the people who may have opportunity to the internet.
My question to evvery one concerned is the understanding of the actual contradiction that drives the opposition, that seeks overall solutions. I do not think the real contradiction is found, understood, and the solutions are designed.
EPRDF is enjoying its two decades, while opposition forums are running around.
I can see only two options to change political coruptions or injustice.
1. Legal approach: legal approaches includes negotations that may lead to popular election. PROTRACTED ENDURANCE THAT INCLUDES GREAT SACRIFICES,are requirements. This may take several rounds of counter action by the ruling party, but it is a requirement to go through. Regarding this sacrifice my great appreciation goes to all those who are contributing their part in Ethiopia.
EPRDF Government’s legacy could be said the THE POLITICAL ENDURANCE OF BERTUKAN MIDEKSSA. EPRDF has given Ethiopia very dedicated and commited politician the HONARABLE BERTUKAN MIDEKSSA. EPRDF MUST RESPECT THIS KIND OF PERSON DEDICATED TO JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY.
I would like to appreciate Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. This is SYMBOLIC SACRIFICE. Here again the EPRDF government must respect this Hoarable long serving real Ethiopian Professor, because the lesson will go beyoned the EPRDF government, and this kind of endurance may one day save the entire Ethiopia.
2. The 2nd option for some body/group to bring justice is simply armed struggle. I have nothing to mention.
Either hold on to the tiger’s tail & go to the end, run peacfully and keep all the small victories until you win the chamber.
Election is coming who is ready to go? Do not keep blaming, stick to cure to the reqired endurance and win what ever possible to your capasity or CHANGE THE COURSE and show some leadership.
GOOD DAY FOR EVERY ONE!
hey guys does it really matter? the number of internet connections are so few considering a market size of 80 million, only the few, who mostly would be weyanE associates who have the access, so DOES it really matter…
think.
ይሄ ማለት ምን ያህል ኢህአዼግ በራሱ ስለማይተማመን እውንትን ከህዝቡ ለመደበቅ የሚያደርገው ጥረት እንዳለ ነው ክዚህ በላይ ሽንፈት የለም !!!