The Obama Administration has requested Congress $583.5 million in assistance for Ethiopia’s genocidal junta for FY 2011, according to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Foreign Assistance.
This amount does not include grants and loans from other U.S. Government branches.
The U.S. Congress has not approved the budget yet. The new Congress under Republican leadership is well-advised to reject the budget request since most of the money goes into the pockets of TPLF junta leaders Meles Zenawi and wife Azeb Mesfin. The rest goes to buy weapons that are used to brutalize the people of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s Aselefech Mergia wins the Dubai Marathon in the Women’s field today and her fellow Ethiopian Eshetu Wendimu finished third in the men’s field. In both fields Ethiopians dominated the course. In the women course 6 out of the top tens finishers are Ethiopians, while five Ethiopian men were in the top ten.
Men
Place name /country time/prize in US$
1 David BARMASAI, KEN, 2.07.18 250k
2 Evans CHERUYIOT, KEN 2.08.17 100k
3 Eshetu WENDIMU, ETH 2.08.54 50k
4 Deressa CHIMSA, ETH 2.09.08 25k
5 Stephen KOSGEI, KEN 2.09.27 15k
6 Berhanu BEKELE, ETH 2.09.54 14k
7 Emanuel SAMAL, KEN 2.10.27 13k
8 Adil ANANNI, MOR 2.11.15 12k
9 Dereje TESFAYE, ETH 2.13.26 11k
10 Alebachaw DEBAS, ETH 2.13.39 10k
Women
1 Aselefech MERGIA, ETH 2:22:45 250k
2 Lydia CHEROMEI, KEN 2.23.01 100k
3 Isabella ANDERSSON, SWE, 2.23.41 50k
4 Atsede HABTAMU, ETH 2.24.26 25k
5 Atsede BAYISA, ETH 2.25.08 15k
6 Diana CHEPKEMOI, KEN 2.26.53 14k
7 Genet GETANEH, ETH 2.27.13 13k
8 Werknesh KIDANE, ETH 2.27.15 12k
9 Helena KIROP, KEN 2.27.41 11k
10 Feysa BORU, ETH 2.30.23 10k
DUBAI (IAAF) A torrid early pace put paid to a really fast time in Dubai on Friday morning, and after three consecutive victories for the most famous marathoner in the world, Haile Gebrselassie, it was the relatively unknown David Barmasai of Kenya who won today’s Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, in 2.07.18.
On a temperate morning for the Emirate, just 21C with low humidity, it was nevertheless a strong headwind in the second half of the race that robbed Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia of the women’s course record. She won in 2.22.45, five seconds outside her best (3rd in London 2010), and just three seconds short of her compatriot, Berhane Adere’s record of 2008. But first place prize money of $250,000, for both winners, will go a long way towards softening that disappointment.
The men took off in assault of Gebrselassie’s World record 2.03.59, and a group of 20, including race favourite Eliud Kiptanui of Kenya were within reach for the first 15km, which took 44.38. But by halfway in 62.46, the possibility had already gone, as had nearly half the contenders.
Shortly afterwards, pacemaker Stephen Kibet only had Kiptanui and Barmasai for company, and when Kibet throttled back at his allotted 30km, and Kiptanui shot away, the race looked settled. But the 21-year-old, who had run 2.05.39 in Prague last May suddenly clutched his side less than a kilometre later, and dropped out, leaving Barmasai to struggle through the final kilometres alone.
Despite his pace dropping considerably, from under three minutes per kilometre to 3.38 by the final one, the 22-year-old had done sufficient damage to his pursuers, to maintain a minute advantage by the end.
This was Barmasai’s third marathon, and his first trip outside Kenya. His only previous claim to fame was in winning the Nairobi Marathon in 2.10.31, at around 1600 metres (one mile) altitude last October.
Today’s result seemed as much of a surprise to himself as to his experienced opponents and the onlookers. “I didn’t really expect to win,” he said in the finish area, immediately after the race. “I was thinking to finish in the top ten. That’s why I kept behind the leading group up to halfway.
“I was afraid of Kiptanui, I was surprised to leave him behind, I thought he’ll come again later. Then I looked for him, and couldn’t see him. It was tough finding myself alone after 30km, and at 35km the wind was really affecting me. But I’m happy to win on my first trip outside my country”.
After two years of injury following his win in Chicago 2008(2.06.25), Evans Cheruiyot rallied into the headwind, and finished second, in 2.08.17, relegating Ethiopian Eshetu Wendimu to a third consecutive third place here, this time in 2.08.54.
After winning a bronze medal in the IAAF World Championships in Berlin 18 months ago, Mergia said that she suffered, “a lot of leg problems”. They were still evident when she finished clutching her left thigh, which went into spasm immediately afterwards.
But she had held the problems in check long enough to outpace the now veteran Lydia Cheromei of Kenya, who had shocked the athletics world exactly 20 years ago, when she won the World Junior Cross Country title at the tender age of 13.
“I was just a baby then,” said a cheery Cheromei, who is now a mother of five year old Faith. “I did not expect still to be running, at 33”.
It was her fourth marathon, as it was for Mergia, who reckoned that but for favouring her legs, she might have clocked closed to 2.20, a time she has always looked capable of doing since her first marathon two years ago.
She eased away from Cheromei with two kilometres to run, and said through an interpreter that it wasn’t until another kilometre later that she knew she would win. Cheromei clocked a personal best by close to three minutes, with 2.23.01. And the Kenyan born former orienteer, Isabella Andersson took another minute and a half off the Swedish record, finishing third in 2.23.40.
A young Ethiopian movie producer who worked as a store clerk to supplement his income was shot and killed early Thursday in Atlanta.
(WSBTV.com) — The robbery occurred just after 3 AM on January 20, police said. Store owner Narendar Kour said the clerk, Jagama Beyene (also known as Jack Wizzy), opened a screen glass window above the counter and was met by 3 robbers.
Police surrounded the Citgo Glenwood Food Mart at 2315 Glenwood Avenue, which was marked by several bullet holes and shattered glass. Officers were talking to at least two witnesses.
Jagama Beyene, 26, was then shot in the stomach, and the robbers took the drawer from the cash register and ran, according to authorities.
“At some point during the robbery attempt we believe the suspect discharged his weapon at least four to five times,” said Atlanta police Lt. Keith Meadows.
Officers said they found money scattered on the floor of the business along with shell casings.
Paramedics took Beyene to the hospital, but authorities said he later died at the hospital.
Detectives said they were working to get the store’s surveillance cameras.
Kour was upset and said the killing was senseless. “If you want money, just take the money and go,” she said.
A witness, Vernon Owensby said he was sitting in his car outside the store at the time of the robbery. He said he saw two young men go into the store. A third man stopped at the door, as if to stand watch, he said.
“Then I heard shots. Then they broke out the door running and started shooting out here,” Owensby said.
He said once they left, he ran in to check on the clerk.
“I thought he was just ducking down or something, and I called him, and he was laying on the floor, so I called the police,” he said.
Another witnesses told police the men got away in a burgundy pick-up truck.
Jagama, or Jasck Wizzy as most of his friends call him, had recently launched a new documentary film titled “Habeshan Filega.”
In his Facebook page Jagama’s friends are expressing their shock and grief at the senseless killing of such a hardworking and talented person.
A plane carrying the Archbishop of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Jos Punt, and several other passengers to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa made an emergency landing in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik today after the pilots detected smoke in one of the aircraft’s engines.
RKK reported that Bishop Jos Punt of Haarlem-Amsterdam, Deacon Fennis, and diocese spokesman Wim Peeters were heading for Ethiopia to attend the Baptism of the Lord (Timket).
According to Peeters the airplane made a few loops over the Adriatic Sea and the pilot then decided to make an emergency landing in Croatia. The pilot had “two of the four engines off. Therefore it seemed as if we were floating. Everyone held his breath. We obviously have said some prayers.
The trio arrived Wednesday morning in Addis Ababa. The Catholics were at the so-called Timket celebrations, the Ethiopian version of the commemoration of the baptism of Christ.
Bishop Punt, Fennis and traveling press secretary will fly later this week to Kenya to visit a number of projects run by the diocese.
While families of the new ruling elite, Woyannes and their opportunist allies, poison themselves with alcohol, khat and drugs, average young Ethiopians seem to be embracing religion more than ever. This is a pleasantly surprising development since they have almost no role model as the top leaders in the country — the patriarch, imam, pastor, president, prime minister — are all crooks. The moral bankruptcy of Ethiopia’s elite is having little effect on the average Ethiopian.
The following are photos showing how young Ethiopians celebrated Timket today in Addis Ababa at St. Urael Church.
The Government of Eritrea has sent one of its most seasoned diplomats, Ambassador Girma Asmerom, to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa as a representative to the African Union. Although Girma was sent to Addis Ababa because it is the seat of African Union’s Headquarters, the news has caused a {www:rumor}, fueled by Woyanne cadres, that it is among the first steps for normalization of relations between the regimes of Meles Zenawi and Isaias Afwerki.
Eritrea Reopens African Union Mission
By Peter Heinlein
Eritrea has reopened its mission to the African Union, ending years of self-imposed exile from the continental organization. But diplomats say the move does not signal a thaw in relations between Eritrea and its archrival, the African Union host Ethiopia.
Eritrea’s ambassador to the African Union Girma Asmerom Tesfay presented credentials this week to AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping. An AU statement said Ping expressed delight at seeing Eritrea return to the 53-member organization after several years’ absence.
Eritrea recalled its previous ambassador in an angry protest at what it called the African Union’s ‘failure’ to condemn Ethiopia’s alleged violations of a peace agreement that ended a 1998-2000 border war. The continental body was one of the main brokers of the agreement.
Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia and declared independence in 1993 after a 30-year struggle. But a border {www:dispute} sent the neighbors back to war five years later, and relations have been frozen since.
At Ethiopia’s urging, the AU took the unprecedented step in 2009 of asking the United Nations to penalize Eritrea for providing aid to Islamic fighters in Somalia. Despite Eritrea’s strong denial, the UN Security Council imposed tough sanctions on the Asmara government, including an arms embargo, asset freezes and travel bans.
AU Chairman Ping last year rejected Eritrean allegations that Ethiopia was using its position as AU host to block Eritrea from reopening its mission in Addis Ababa. Diplomats say Ping has worked tirelessly to bring the estranged member back into the fold.
Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has strongly denied any attempt to block Eritrea’s return. But in a telephone interview, ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said the re-establishment of Asmara’s AU mission will have no effect on the frozen bilateral relationship.
“It has nothing to do with the situation. We are the host country of the African Union,” said Mufti. “We are under obligation to facilitate anything for the African Union. That has nothing to do with the status quo.”
The Ethiopian spokesman rejected a suggestion that the arrival of an Eritrean government representative in Addis Ababa might be a sign of a thaw. He said there has been no change in the status quo.
Eritrea sent a high-level {www:observer} delegation to the most recent AU summit in Kampala last July as a sign of its renewed interest in continental affairs. There was no immediate word on who might represent the Asmara government at the next continental summit beginning later this month in Addis Ababa.
The Obama Administration has requested Congress $583.5 million in assistance for Ethiopia’s genocidal junta for FY 2011, according to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Foreign Assistance.
Police surrounded the Citgo Glenwood Food Mart at 2315 Glenwood Avenue, which was marked by several bullet holes and shattered glass. Officers were talking to at least two witnesses.
A plane carrying the Archbishop of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Jos Punt, and several other passengers to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa made an emergency landing in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik today after the pilots detected smoke in one of the aircraft’s engines.
