Carrying posters and placards that read “Fiteh” (justice), tens of thousands of Ethiopian Muslims staged peaceful protests in several cities across Ethiopia today. Some of the cities where protests took place include Addis Ababa at Anwar Mosque, Dessie, Awasa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, Jimma, and Gonder. The protesters demanded the TPLF regime to release their leaders and stop interfering in their religion.

By Aniqa Haider

BAHRAIN – An Ethiopian woman whose family had given her up for dead after they had no contact with her for nearly eight years is due to return home thanks to the help of community leaders.

Misrak Alemo came to Bahrain to support her family, but was held as a prisoner in her sponsor’s home and prevented from calling her relatives.

Her Bahraini employer also only sent her salary to her family in Addis Ababa twice – leaving them to fear something terrible had happened.

The 30-year-old’s case came to light when her mother tracked down and called Ethiopian G W Demmelash to say she feared her daughter may be dead. Relatives sent pictures to him and other community leaders, who took two years to find Misrak.

“We were unaware of the case until her mother called me and started crying over the phone from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia,” said Mr Demmelash.

“She said Ms Alemu left the country in 2005 to work in Bahrain and hadn’t spoken to them since then.

“We had no clue where she was working and how to find her.”

Community leaders eventually had a breakthrough when the Misrak’s brother sent them a copy of a receipt from one of the few times her sponsor had sent the family money.

“They didn’t get money from him after that and had no contact with Misrak at all,” said Mr Demmelash.

“After getting the number, we contacted him but upon receiving a negative response, we forwarded the number to an officer at Isa Town police station.

“The employer confessed he didn’t pay Misrak as he was building his house and has agreed to pay her the money.”

According to Mr Demmelash, the Bahraini owes her BD3,000 from her salary of BD40 a month. “The employer agreed to pay after police intervened,” he said.

“Police asked him to come to the police station along with Misrak.”

However, community leaders are having to foot the bill of her air ticket home.

An emotional Misrak, who is now living with Mr Demmelash, told the GDN she was longing to return to her family.

“I was unable to control my emotions when I spoke to them for the first time in all these years,” she said.

“Now I call them everyday, just to confirm that I am fine and coming home soon.

“My mother couldn’t believe it when she heard my voice and started crying, but I told her everything will be okay now.”

Misrak has four sisters and three brothers and says the first thing she will do once she returns home is eat some of her mother’s food.

“I have to tell them so much and I am sure they have a lot to be shared,” she said.

“The first thing I want to do is hug my mother and then eat food cooked by her which I missed all these years.

“I am longing to go back home as soon as possible and be with my family.”

Source: Gulf Daily News

ENTC NEWS RELEASE

Members of the Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENTC) are currently carrying out an awareness-creation campaign in Ethiopian cities about the need to establish an all inclusive transitional government.

ENTC believes that as long as the government in Ethiopia is controlled by the TPLF/EPRDF regime, or any other dictatorship, the people of Ethiopia will continue to be denied a government they elect. Due to the TPLF regime’s anti-Ethiopia policy, our country is also sliding into chaos, and as some international observers predict, Ethiopia is endangered of becoming a failed state. Every patriotic Ethiopian has the responsibility to help prevent this danger. On our part, we at ENTC believe that the creation of a transitional government is imperative in order to have a smooth transition to democracy in Ethiopia.

With this goal insight, ENTC members are actively working to inform and mobilize the people of Ethiopia by distributing flyers, posting slogans in public places, and writing messages on walls, as shown in the video below:

ENTC members in Ethiopia have been encouraged by the reaction of the people who have seen and heard about our mission and many are expressing their interest to help.

As ENTC prepares for the July Conference that is called to discuss the formation of a transitional government in Ethiopia, its leaders and members inside Ethiopia and around the world are also busy giving voice to our people by engaging in diplomatic, public relations, and other activities.

Join us. Let’s save Ethiopia. Let’s fight for our freedom.

The Executive Committee
Ethiopian National Transitional Council

Contact info:
Tel: 1-202-735-4262 or +44-7958-487-420
Email: [email protected]

The Atlanta Chapter of Ethiopian National Transitional Council on Sunday, March 17, 2013, hosted a discussion on the planned all inclusive conference in July 2013 being organized in Washington DC to explore the removal and replacement of the repressive TPLF/EPRDF regime by an all-inclusive Ethiopian Transitional Government.

After welcoming the participants and making brief remarks, Chairman of ENTC-Atlanta, Ato Fasil Kasegne, introduced the guest speakers, Aba Gebreselassie from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and Dr Fisseha Eshetu, Secretary General of ENTC. A representatives from the Muslim community was invited but was unable to come due to schedule conflict.

In his brief speech, Aba Gebreselassie urged political parties and opposition politicians to reconcile their differences for the sake of the suffering people of Ethiopia, but rejected any call for reconciliation with the TPLF/EPRDF regime.

Dr Fisseha explained that at the July 2013 conference ENTC will present a concrete proposal on how to remove the regime and form a transitional government, and indicated that this will be an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders to present their respective alternative ideas, plans, or proposals. He said that it is imperative for the conference to have the input of all political parties, civic and religious groups, scholars, elder statesmen, and other stakeholders.

Following Dr Fisseha’s presentation, a lively discussion took place. While everyone supported the July 2013 Conference on Transitional Government, some participants expressed their reservation that it might turn out to be just another political meeting. Dr Fisseha assured the participants that the July Conference will discuss and come up with concrete and implementable solutions that will be acceptable to all stakeholders. .
Similar town hall meeting are being organized in several cities around the world in the coming weeks.

ENTC is looking for volunteers to help with the July 2013 Conference. Please call 1-202-735-4262 / +44-7958-487-420 or write to [email protected]

The Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENTC) is organizing a town hall in Washington DC on Sunday, February 24, 2013, following its 2-day general assembly.

Local representatives from several cities and countries around the world are heading to Washington DC starting Feb. 20 to participate in the ENTC general assembly.

At the end of the two-day conference, ENTC will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the public the organization’s vision, plans and activities.

Town Hall meeting address: 85 South Bragg Street, Alexandria, VA 22312, USA
Date: February 24, 2013 Time: 2:00pm

For more info write to: [email protected]