WASHINGTON DC – Ethiopians in Washington DC held a rally to protest the widespread human rights violation against innocent civilians and systematic repression of ethnic Somalis that is taking place in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia.
As reported by the international media and the recent extensive report made public by Human Rights Watch, in areas inhabited by Ogaden people in eastern Ethiopia, the TPLF/EPRDF regime security forces have raped and sexually assaulted numerous women; displaced entire rural communities and destroyed dozens of rural villages; forced residents to flee to the neighboring countries; summarily executed thousands of of civilians; arbitrarily detained tens of thousands of people; intentionally restricted the delivery of humanitarian assistance and access to food and medical supplies in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. Similarly, in the southern and western parts of Ethiopia that are inhabited mostly by Oromo communities, tens of thousands have been detained, tortured or otherwise mistreated.
At the rally organized on Friday October 24, 2008, in front of the US State Department, Ato Fitsum Achamyeleh Alemu, a Virginia based Attorney at law and human rights activist, representing the organizers, talked about gross violation of human rights committed in the past 17 and half years by the TPLF-EPRDF regime.
Fitsum said that from 1992-2008 the TPLF-EPRDF regime killed tens of thousands, forced millions to be displaced or to leave their country, detained and tortured hundreds of thousands. He based his statement on reports US State Department, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. He also stated that the TPLF-EPRDF also instigated ethnic and religious violence.
The protesters asked the US government to take leadership and stop the violence, the killing, the torture of Ethiopians. They also asked a new, independent commission to investigate the human rights situation in every province of Ethiopia and the US, the UN and the European Union to take the human rights situation in Ethiopia seriously and to bring perpetrators of the crimes to justice.
Ato Guled Kassim, a human rights activist in the Washington DC area and originally from Ogaden, also spoke at the rally. Guled challenged the US government, US lawmakers and the international community for looking the other way when such a gross violation of human rights is committed in the Ogaden. He said that US tax payers’ money should not be funneled to dictators like Meles Zenawi.
The Ethiopian Television Network (ETN), the VOA and members of the Ethiopian media were present to provide news coverage at the rally,
At the end of the rally, Ato Fitsum Alemu, Ato Neamin Zeleke, Dr. Kassa Aylew, and Dr. Mekdes Befekdau Mr. John Wysham, head of Ethiopia Desk at the State Department, and handed him the letter addressed to Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State.
The letter urges the US government to hold the Meles Zenawi regime accountable for its widespread and gross violation of human rights against thousands of innocent civilians in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia as in other places of Ethiopia.
It also urges the US to send a fact finding mission to the region in order to conduct an investigation of the wide spread and systematic human rights violations by the security forces of the Meles regime, identify those who are directly involved, and ensure that they receive no assistance or training from the United States, as required under the “Leahy law”.
KHARTOUM (AFP) — Kidnappers of nine Chinese oil workers seized near a disputed oil district in Sudan want Chinese oil firms to leave the area in return for the hostages’ release, a pan-Arab newspaper reported on Friday.
“We don’t have any material demands. We want Chinese companies to leave the region immediately because they work with the government,” the daily Asharq Al-Awsat quoted the alleged leader of the group as saying.
The Saudi-owned newspaper identified the man as Abu Humaid Ahmad Dannay, and said he commands the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Kordofan.
Three Chinese engineers and and six other workers employed by the China National Petroleum Corporation in South Kordofan, a state which includes the disputed oil district of Abyei, were kidnapped on October 18.
Dannay, who Asharq Al-Awsat said belongs to the Arab Messeria tribe, said the hostages were in good health and were being well treated.
“We treat them according to the ethics of Muslims and serve them despite the language barrier. I can affirm that they are in good health now,” he was quoted as saying.
The Sudanese government accuses JEM, the Darfur rebel group that attacked Khartoum last May, of orchestrating the kidnapping.
“From the first day we knew that JEM were responsible,” said Ali Yousuf, director of protocol at the foreign ministry.
“Sudanese security forces are still looking for the Chinese in cooperation with the Chinese embassy in Khartoum. We want to free them safely,” he said.
The Chinese workers were snatched in Heglig, adjacent to the flashpoint Abyei area, according to a diplomatic source in Khartoum.
Heglig lies near the line separating the former warring north and south, in the Muglad Basin where most of Sudan’s proven oil reserves are found.
The Messeria were also blamed for the kidnapping of four Indian oil workers and their Sudanese driver in the same area in May. All five managed to escape or were released unharmed.
Neither the Chinese embassy nor the Sudanese government have released further information on the whereabouts of the oil workers or whether contact has been made with the kidnappers.
Diplomatic officials have said privately that they do not expect a speedy resolution to the hostage crisis.
In the past, Darfur rebels have kidnapped foreign oil workers from Sudanese oilfields, often targeting Chinese companies because of their strong ties with Khartoum, although all of those abducted eventually emerged unscathed.
In October 2007, Darfur rebels from JEM attacked an oilfield run by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, a consortium involving China’s CNPC.
Asharq Al-Awsat said a high-ranking JEM source neither confirmed nor denied that the kidnappers belong to the movement.
The newspaper quoted Dannay as admitting that the abduction was aimed at drawing attention to the lack of development in the region and the failure of oil companies operating there to help provide services or jobs for natives.
Abyei and surrounding areas are prey to sporadic violence between tribes aligned either with the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum or with the administration in the south despite a 2005 peace deal that ended the civil war.
Tsehai Publishers’ Elias Wondimu Among 2008 Honorees of “Who’s Who in Black Los Angeles”
Elias Wondimu, the publisher and editorial director of the Tsehai Publishers and Marymount Institute Press, is profiled in the inaugural edition of Who’s Who In Black Los Angeles.
The book was released by Who’s Who Publishing Company, the nation’s largest annual directory publisher targeting the African-American market, on Thursday October 23, 2008 at STAPLES Center, the downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment arena, on center court.
Dr. Anthony Samad, associate publisher for Who’s Who In Black Los Angeles, exclaims, “We are proud that Who’s Who Publishing has come to Los Angeles, and provided us the opportunity to spotlight and highlight the wealth of talent and resources in the nation’s second largest city. African Americans helped found Los Angeles, helped grow Los Angeles, and are still a vital part of it being a world-class model city for diversity and prosperity. Showcasing African Americans in this market can only enhance the city’s image and encourage businesses to increase their dealings in the black community.”
The coffee-table quality publication recognizes more than 400 prestigious African Americans and offers readers inspirational stories and mini profiles that feature corporate executives, entrepreneurs, media professionals, entertainers, academic professionals, government and community leaders, as well as Loyola Marymount University’s Elias Wondimu. The new book also chronicles prominent individuals, such as Jim Brown, Reverend Cecil Murray, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kobe Bryant and more, as well as Interesting Personalities, including Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, Speaker Karen Bass, Tavis Smiley, Isaiah Washington, Ayuko Babu and Mablean Ephriam, to name a few. A Special Tribute is made to the legendary Stevie Wonder, among others. Wondimu says he is humbled and honored to be included in this inaugural edition. “We are grateful for all who sacrificed before us, he added “this tribute is a sign for the promise that the future holds for our society internationally.”
Who’s Who Publishing Company founder and CEO C. Sunny Martin shares, “It is exhilarating for Who’s Who Publishing to be in Los Angeles. We are very honored to showcase the talented and successful individuals in our inaugural edition.”
Who’s Who Publishing Company began in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1989, and currently publishes similar directories in 22 cities.
Stick in ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Just a quick one, two days. Two intense ones, though. So many people, so much car exhaust…you gotta like your daily dose of CO2 if you want to spend time there (what’s this ridiculous EU-commission obsession with lowering emissions all about anyway? It’s pointless once you’ve seen this.). The land of Haile Selassie, great coffee, 60s-70s architecture, beautiful faces and lots of others interesting things. Love the blue cabs. Pictures and the above ‘no comment’ type of short clip, with a landing from the cockpit in Khartum on the way back.
Zany Umbrella Circus in conjunction with the One Love Theater from Ethiopia presents:
Circus Party for Ethiopia
Icehouse Artists’ Studios in Lawrenceville
100 43rd St, Pittsburgh PA 15201 USA
Sunday, October 26, 6:30PM
Proceeds will promote youth activities in Ethiopia.
Suggested donation: $5.
ALSO that weekend, master dancer, Tesfay Tekalu from Ethiopia will present an African Dance Seminar, Saturday, October 25 from 10 AM to noon also at the Icehouse (100 43rd St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.)
Workshop fee: $20. All levels welcome.
Elias Wondimu, the publisher and editorial director of the Tsehai Publishers and Marymount Institute Press, is profiled in the inaugural edition of Who’s Who In Black Los Angeles.