The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that a number of senior government officials, including other citizens, filed suit in a U.S. court against four Ethiopians for making false and defamatory statements.
The Ministry told ENA on Monday that the plaintiffs include PM Meles Zenawi, D/ Prime Minister Addisu Legesse, Information Minister Bereket Simon, Federal Affairs Minister Abay Tsehaye, Capacity Building Minister Tefera Waluwa, Education Minister Genet Zewdie and Capacity Building State Minister Kuma Demeksa.
The Ministry said Mayor of the Addis Ababa City Government Arkebe Equbay, President of the Addis Ababa University Prof. Andreas Eshete, TPLF Central Committee member Sibhat Nega and Shimelis Kidane are also among the plaintiffs.
The Ministry added Azeb Mesfin, the wife of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi also filed a separate suit against the same persons for defamation.
The Ministry said the defendants are Goshu Habte, Yonas Habte, and Dawit Kebede who live in the United States and Lishan Gizaw who resides in Germany.
Defendant Goshu Habte is the Chairman of the North American Support Committee Joint Forum for the United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin (UEDP-Medhin), which is member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).
According to the Ministry, the lawsuits are in response to recent false statements made by the named defendants and others through the use of the so-called Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity Radio and postings on the internet.
These statements included, among others, false and defamatory allegations, the assertion that some plaintiffs had transferred money from the national treasury of Ethiopia into personal bank accounts in foreign countries, the ministry said.
Such defamatory statements were made with malice, without any factual basis and are wholly false, the Ministry said. The intent was to injure the reputations of plaintiffs and hinder their abilities to carry out their duties in their respective public and private capacities.
The ministry stressed that not only are the defendants fabricated statement damaging to the personal reputations of the plaintiffs, but also seriously risk and undermine Ethiopias important international relations, including with its economic development partners.
Because of the damaging nature of the defendants false statements, the Ministry has disclosed that the plaintiffs retained a U.S counsel and instructed the counsel to take appropriate legal action.
We were shocked to learn that a proposal that calls for power sharing with the EPRDF murderous regime has been released in the name of CUD and UEDF a few days ago (August 4, 2005). The proposal bears the signature of Dr Berhanu Nega of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), and Dr Beyene Petros of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF). Later on, we learned from other CUD leaders that the proposal has not been authorized by the CUD leadership. Although it was a relief to hear that, there remains a troubling question as to why Dr Berhanu Nega, who’s the election campaign manager of CUD, has presented such a traitorous proposal in the name CUD. It is also troubling that CUD has yet to release any official statement denouncing or distancing itself from the proposal that has been released in its name.
For the past two months, CUD has been discussing with and lobbying the international community to help solve the election crisis in Ethiopia. While CUD has been pursuing solutions through foreign diplomats, it has completely ignored the people who voted for it. Last week, CUD has adjusted course and started to convene meetings with its members and the public. After two months of diplomatic efforts by Dr Berhanu Nega, running from one embassy to another and traveling to European capitals, there is no result to show for. The effort has been a disastrous failure. So much so that, last week, the head of the European Union delegation in Ethiopia, Ambassador Tim Clarke, openly began telling the opposition parties to give up, be satisfied with what they got and enter parliament, in total disregard for the choice the people made on May 15.
The chief architect and executioner of this failed strategy is Dr Berhanu Nega. As if his utter failure in the diplomatic field is not enough, now Dr Berhanu proposes a power sharing arrangement with the Meles regime — a brutal dictatorship that has just recently massacred over 40 unarmed civilians and severely tortured thousands of others, a regime that is trying to steal the people’s vote in a day light robbery. Instead of demanding Meles & Co. to resign, Dr Berhanu wants to share power with them. This is the most obscene opportunistic act by a political leader. This also demonstrates Dr Berhanu’s disdain for those Ethiopians who sacrificed their lives, those who have been tortured, and those who are languishing in disease infested jails for striving to bring about a genuine democratic governance in Ethiopia. Dr Berhanu’s proposal demonstrates his contempt for the 25 million Ethiopians who voted on May 25. By presenting such a proposal, without consulting his colleagues in the CUD leadership, Dr Berhanu demonstrates his lack of respect for his own party’s rules and procedures.
Because of these reasons, we don’t see how the CUD leadership can allow Dr Berhanu Nega to remain in the CUD executive committee. If Dr Berhanu is allowed to remain in the CUD leadership, it will be the end of CUD as a serious political entity that has the support of the people.
Taking all these into consideration, we trust the CUD leadership will take immediate corrective actions soon and show Dr Berhanu the door.
Addis Ababa – For decades, Ethiopia has been plagued by cyclical drought and chronic hunger with children worst hit.
Preventable diseases and malnutrition on average kill up to half a million Ethiopian children a year, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) country office.
A recent survey, the results of which were released in May, Unicef found acute malnutrition rates among children under five years was rising at an alarming rate and ranged in parts from 7.5% to nearly 20%.
Many children could die
Following an additional surge in cases of severe malnutrition cases among children, Unicef updated the findings of its survey carried out between January and April this year, and disclosed in early July that up to 170 000 children would die from this condition alone by the end of the year, if not treated.
Unicef’s representative in Ethiopia, Bjorn Ljungquist, issued an urgent appeal to donors requesting them to fill a gap of $42m gap to fund “a package of life-saving treatments, screenings and other interventions”.
Ljungquist pointed out that seven million Ethiopian children suffer from some form of malnutrition every year, with serious consequences for their development.
Poor rainfall, failed crops and delays in the roll-out of a government safety-net programme were identified by the survey as the main causes. The crisis has been compounded by health and hygiene risks among people already weakened by a lack of food.
Severe malnutrition
Severe acute malnutrition is a life-threatening condition and includes children “who are 70% or less of the median in terms of weight and height measurements”.
The symptoms are severely wasted or marasmic children with oedema or swelling of both feet caused by fluid and sodium retention. This is also called oedematous malnutrition or kwashiorkor, the survey said.
The survey identified 26 nutrition critical areas in Ethiopia where children with severe acute malnutrition could die, if they did not receive medical support including antibiotics and intensive, enriched foods for therapeutic feeding.
The stunting rate among Ethiopia’s 12 million children under five years is 52% – an indication of inadequate nutrition over an extended period, according to Unicef.
Stunting is particularly dangerous for women “as they are likely to experience obstructed labour and are thus at greater risk of dying in childbirth”.
Unicef is currently trying to reduce the risk of children becoming malnourished through a joint initiative called the Enhanced Outreach Survey (EOS) with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ethiopian government’s relief agency the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC). – Sapa-dpa
The Co-ordinating Committee of Ethiopian Communities
August 4, 2005
The Ethiopian Community in the United Kingdom and in particular the community in London has been greatly shocked by the despicable terrorist mayhem that took place on July 7.
Our Community has been more disturbed by the continuity of terrorist action as that attempted on July 21. We are issuing this statement out of our collective concern on what has happened on and since July 7, and the subsequent information issued by the authorities that there might be more groups lurking within the broader community marking their time to take more terror actions against the wider community.
The Ethiopian Community would like to express its unreserved condemnation of all forms of terrorist actions initiated and executed by anyone in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, whatever the cause for contemplating such actions.
The Ethiopian Community at large would like to reassure the Home Secretary that it strongly supports the actions taken by the police, the government and local authorities in pursuing and putting under control all those involved in causing the July 7 loss of life, destruction of property and disturbance of the peace in London, and the July 21 repeat attempt.
It is a collective and individual aspiration of members of our community to positively contribute to the society we have been well received and given opportunities to contribute in a positive and constructive way. Despite the comparatively recent emergence of our Community as an element in the wider spectrum of ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom, its Ethiopian origins and cultural roots, has started to be visible in the running of small businesses, working in the services industry and a very limited number ascending to the level of the professions. However, the Community is extremely concerned by the implied links of the July terror groups with Ethiopia and Ethiopians in one form or another. While terrorist actions are completely alien to our community, it acknowledges the need to co-operate fully with the authorities and the public to, both, uproot such tendencies that may exist, or dispel allegations that may have been made by circumstantial evidences or personal associations.
The Ethiopian Community has its roots in the diverse culture that draws from Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Until very recently, when religious cohesion and coexistence was transversed by ethnic divisions as a policy of governance, the population has been inter-linked in its history, belief systems, culture, and language. Stability in our community has been so reassuring that there was no cause for concern about what may be considered ‘the devious side of youth culture’. Religious fanaticism of any variation was not entertained at all if not out-rightly despised.
Implications made on Ethiopia and people of Ethiopian decent, in relation to the recent terrorist activities has seriously concerned our community. This statement is issued to the media and the general pubic to express the commitment of the Ethiopian Community to stand against evil in any form that it manifests in the society that we live in.
Our community hopes that public and the media would accept this statement as a positive and constructive initiative of co-operation with the government, police, local authorities and the wider public, to flush out any and all evil individuals or groups that may be embedded in our community or loosely associated with it. The Ethiopian Community appreciates the good work that the Metropolitan Police are doing against all active and latent terrorist activists.
The Community expresses its condolence to all the families affected in the July 7 atrocities.
Issued by The Co-ordinating Committee of Ethiopian Communities.* London
CUD’s regional representatives through out Ethiopia are coming to Addis Ababa for consultation with the party leadership. The meeting will take place this coming Saturday, August 6. CUD spokesman Dr Hailu Araya told Ethiopian Review today that 150 – 200 representatives are expected to participate in the meeting, which will address the election-related crisis and what course of actions CUD needs to take. Dr Hailu also said that CUD has launched a series of town hall meetings with prominent citizens on the same topic. In the first of such meetings that was held yesterday, prominent Ethiopians such as General Jagama Kello, Ato Abebe Workie, Ambassador Getahun Bekele and others were present.
As the last chapter of the ongoing election crisis is unfolding in Ethiopia, CUD is turning its face to the people and its members. It seems that all diplomatic avenues through the EU and US have been exhausted without any result. When it comes to Ethiopia, the EU and the US governments have proven themselves to be the biggest hypocrites by siding with a corrupt dictator that commits mass murder against unarmed civilians. The head of the EU delegation, Ambassador Tim Clarke, in particular, turned out to be a disgrace to the countries he is representing. It’s hard to believe that the European Union that has just recently issued a strong resolution condemning the anti-democratic measures taken by the Meles regime would approve what Ambassador Clarke is doing in Ethiopia, unless he is misinforming them. It’s about time that the opposition parties demand his recall.
Tim Clarke letter to Propaganda Minister Bereket: “… I was surprised at the EPRDF decision to put out a statement at the time of signature of the Code of Conduct on Friday afternoon, calling into question the integrity of the opposition parties. I had no idea, nor did the opposition leaders, that the agreement reached the previous night in the presence of PM Meles would in some way qualified, breaking the confidence and trust that needs, as you know, at this very difficult time, to be nurtured, reinforced and deepened.”
July 30, 2005
Ethiopian Air Force Officers Association
We would like to confirm that the eight air force pilots are out of Belarus after a daring and complex undertaking by a group of brave Ethiopians. As it was reported, the Meles regime was making a concerted effort to have the pilots deported, or forcefully take them, like they did to the two pilots who sought political asylum in Djibouti last month.
The air force officers, who are now out of Belarus, are all in good condition, safe and secure in a third country somewhere in Europe. The country where they are cannot be disclosed for now due to possible dangers.
The Ethiopian Air Force Association, which has been following the pilots’ situation and with a track record of providing a humanitarian assistance to members of the Ethiopian air force, would like to appeal to all patriotic Ethiopians to assist financially as there are hefty expenses to sustain the living condition and security of these eight brave pilots.
For further information, please call 202 386 3037. You can also make check or money order payable to Association of Members of the Former Ethiopian Air Force.
