Representatives of Kinijit’s Oakland Chapter meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and U.S Congressman Michael Honda at Laney College in Oakland, California, on Friday.
Representatives Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas, Barbara Lee of California, Al Green of Texas, and Michael Honda were attending a Western Regional Forum 2006 organized by Congressional Black Caucus, Education & Leadership Institute.
The Kinijit-Oakland representatives informed the Congressmen about the mass murders, arbitrary detentions and torture by the Meles regime to suppress political dissent in Ethiopia.
By Scott Morgan
There was a glimmer of hope for the Ethiopian Opposition last week. The British have asked for the Government of Ethiopia to allow for an independent investigation into Human Rights Abuses. Now the ultimate player in world politics was calling. A delegation had arrived from the United States. The two main opposition parties made their concerns known and duly waited for the response. What was the reply? Don’t expect any changes to be facilitated by Washington. However we will talk with the government to improve conditions.
One must ask if this policy contradicts the goals laid out by President Bush in his second inaugural address in January 2005. In the address the President identified the spread of Democracy worldwide as a goal of his during his term that expires in 2009. This goal has had marginal success in the Middle East and in Africa recent elections in Liberia can be construed as a success. This goal is an interesting concept. In the Past the US has focused its foreign relations based more on stability than on Democracy.
This policy is a relic of the Cold War. The return of this policy could indicate that the US is trying to check the influence of a couple of actors trying to raise their sphere of influence in Africa. During the Cold War the US sought to minimize the influence of the Soviet Union. This time it appears that Washington seeks to limit the roles of an emerging China and the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism.
Members of the Opposition state that several months ago a political dialogue between Government and the Opposition ended. The climate of mistrust grew after the Parliamentary elections that were held last year. After there were allegations of fraud massive demonstrations broke out. Dozens of people lost their lives in the street battles. Several opposition members of Parliament have refused to take their seats in protest of the elections and the violence. Some of these people now face treason charges for refusing to take their duly elected seats. At this juncture both parties are trying to determine a dialogue so that negotiations can resume and end the impasse.
The United States has stated that it has an interest in promoting Democracy in Ethiopia. Which is a noble gesture in itself but hard to properly define. The American Delegation did promise to raise the concerns of the Opposition when it met with members of the Government. This could be seen as Washington once again doing just enough to appear that it is concerned with a crisis. Before the meeting the US Defense Department did withhold a shipment of HUMVEES to Addis Ababa to highlight its concerns over the current political detainees. But when asked to comment on the Outcome of the meeting both the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry and the US Embassy both declined comment. So was anyone truly surprised by this?
The author comments on US Foreign Policy and Human Rights in Africa. He has posted items regarding these subjects on www.frontpageafrica.com, www.canadafreepress.com and other sites including www.rpec.org
He can be contacted at [email protected]
Student protests continued through out Ethiopia today. In Addis Ababa, Menelik II school was forced to postpone exam because of protests. There were protests in Ayer Tena and other schools. Most schools in Dessie, Ambo and Nekempt are closed. Ethiopian Review spoke with students in Gonder, Gojjam, Dessie, and Jimma today. They said that the brutal actions of the Meles dictatorship is making them more resolute. Many are considering joining the sporadic armed resistance movements that are spreading in many parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the Meles regime is intensifying its campaign of mass arrest and torture. Thousands of students and suspected supporters of the opposition are being rounded up every day. The regime is pouring millions of U.S. and British aid money into hiring more spies who report to the security forces any suspicious opposition activity. The country has turned into a Stalinist state with the aid of the Bush and Blair administrations. The Meles regime’s massive security and intelligence apparatus that is responsible for the mass arrest, torture and murder of Ethiopians who demand democracy is funded by the US and the UK administrations. This should be unacceptable to the UK and the US peoples and their elected representatives in the Parliament and Congress.
In a letter to Meles Zenawi, the Canadian Labour Congress condemns press freedom violations and the repeated attacks on the integrity and human rights of the Ethiopian Teachers Association leaders and rank and file members:
_______________
January 27, 2006
Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
c/o Ethiopian Embassy to Canada
151 Slater Street, Suite 210
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H3
Canada
Re. Ethiopia: Teachers, Journalists and Trade Unionists’ Rights Violated
Dear Prime Minister Meles Zenawi:
On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress, representing 3 million working women and men throughout Canada, I call on you to uphold the human rights of the many teachers, journalists and trade unionists detained by your government, since November 2005. The whereabouts of some of them are unknown and many have still not been charged nor released.
The Ethiopian Constitution provides that detainees be taken to court within 48 hours of their arrest and informed of the reasons for their detention. While they are waiting for their trials, detainees must have access to legal assistance and be allowed to have visitors. The detainees must therefore be released immediately or charged and brought to court in a fair and transparent process.
Over a hundred teachers, journalists, trade unionists, civil society activists and opposition leaders have been imprisoned in the wake of clashes between protesters and security forces in November. The November clashes followed similar protests in June against election results that the opposition says were rigged. Last Friday again, on January 20, 2006 police opened fire on stone-throwing protesters as annual religious processions were turned into political protests for a second straight day. At least two people were killed and 40 injured in these two days of clashes, according to credible media reports.
On December 16, 2005, fifteen separate charges, including conspiracy, armed insurrection, attempting to subvert the constitution, high treason and genocide, were presented in court by prosecutors against the 131 government opponents and critics detained by Ethiopian authorities, including numerous teachers and trade unionists.
Among those accused are Mr. Kassahun Kebede, Chairman of the Addis Ababa branch of the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA), Mrs. Mulunesh Ababayehu, activist member in the ETA Women Wing and Dr. Taye Woldesmiate, ETA President (currently overseas).
Meeting on January 4, 2006, the Second Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court categorically rejected the victims’ appeal to be released on bail. Following the denial of bail, hearings have been adjourned to February 23, 2006.
It is to be recalled that, according to Ethiopian law, being charged of treason does not allow detainees to be released on bail. If found guilty, the accused may face the death penalty. However, defense lawyers have boycotted proceedings for the second time, complaining of being prevented from meeting their clients who, if convicted, face sentences ranging from three years in prison to the death penalty.
These are extremely serious charges. Students’ protests, demanding the release of those detained, have spread to most schools and colleges in Addis Ababa. Students also oppose the act of surrounding schools by armed security forces and soldiers. In Addis Ababa, the Federal police and other security forces broke into school compounds and indiscriminately beat and injured a large number of students and teachers. It is reported that many school girls were severely injured.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported this week that the Ethiopian government recently expelled The Associated Press correspondent in the country, Anthony Mitchell, who reported news last Friday of renewed clashes between police and protesters in the capital, Addis Ababa. He had to leave on Sunday after government officials gave him 24 hours to depart. Mitchell, a British citizen, who worked in Ethiopia for more than five years, also worked for the U.N. news agency IRIN. The Ethiopian government has imprisoned 16 journalists since November.
The Canadian Labour Congress strongly condemns press freedom violations and the repeated attacks on the integrity and human rights of the Ethiopian Teachers Association leaders and rank and file members. Many of the detained teachers’ spouses have no earnings. With ETA unable to offer financial support as its assets have been frozen since April 1993, the detentions are creating a strain on many families. We fear that this might be another long, arbitrary and non-transparent court case.
The United Nations have been asked by Education International to send a legal observation mission to Ethiopia to assess the validity of the charges, monitor respect for due process at the coming mass trial, and report back to the UN Security Council.
I urge your government to cease this policy of repression of trade union rights, to guarantee the physical integrity and lives of all trade union leaders and activists, and to take action against those police and civilians who have breached the laws protecting trade union rights.
Sincerely,
Kenneth V. Georgetti
Canadian Labour Congress
President
cc. CLC Officers
CLC Executive Committee
His Excellency Dr. Berhanu Dibaka Kuma, Ethiopian Ambassador to Canada
Honourable Minister, Foreign Affairs Canada
Honourable Minister, Canadian International Development Agency
International Labour Organization
Education International
International Federation of Journalists
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions – African Regional Office
Some Western donors plan to channel the withheld $375 million direct budget support to Ethiopia’s Woreda administrations, according to sources at the Ministry of Finance. The plan, which is supported by UK’s Department for International Development and the World Bank, is opposed by the European Commission (EC).
Yesterday, representatives of EC, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank and other donors met with Finance Minster Sofian Ahmed and talked about this so-called “New Instrument.”
Observers noted that the British Government, which announced the cut off of direct budget support to the Meles regime last week, helped the regime to come up with this new plan to get the money indirectly, since all woreda administrations in Ethiopia are controlled by the regime.
During the discussion, the Meles regime insisted that it should select the woredas which would be provided with the money. Representatives of the donors wanted the money to be shared by all woredas equally.
An economists at the Ministry of Finance said that the plan was an indirect budget support designed by the Blair government to save the Meles regime from economic collapse under the guise of helping the people of Ethiopia. The donors are expected to make a final decision in February.
Several students at the Tikur Anbessa school in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa have been rounded up today and taken to jail. Ethiopian Review spoke with the family of one of the detained students tonight (local time). They said their son is still in jail. This is his second time to be arrested in the past three weeks.
Federal Police also surrounded Misrak Atekalay school in Addis Ababa around noon local time. They were responding to a confrontation between the student and the school director. Confrontation between the security forces and students is intensifying in Wollo, Gonder, Gojjam, Wollega, Ambo and other parts of the country.
