Several Ethiopian women and men are suffering in Libya detention centre. Addis Dimts radio host, Abebe Belew managed to interview these prisoners, who had been tortured and starved. These Ethiopian prisoners are held in life-threatening facilities lacking adequate food, drinking water, sewage facilities and medical care, one of women prisoner told to Addis Dimts, “we don’t even have menstrual pad… we are using piece of unclean cloths”. Among prisoners’ most common complaints is that Libya police are torturing men prisoners in regular basis.
This is A Must Listen (Click here – starts from 50 minutes) and take urgent action.
Action Required
1) Write to Mr Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees High Commissioner to take urgent action regarding the state of the Ethiopian refugees in Libya.
2) Write to HE Mr Ali Aujali, Libya’s ambassador to the United States
3) Write to HE Mr Omar R Jelban, The People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
4) Write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country requesting them to appeal for the welfare of the refugees in Libya.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
High Commissioner Mr Antonio Guterres
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse.
Dear Mr Antonio Guterres,
Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland
I am very concerned about the welfare of the Ethiopian refugees detained in Libya, who are currently facing impending deportation to Ethiopia where they may be arrested and tortured upon arrival.
According to reports by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in different detention centers. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of women prisoners are with their kids in detention center.
The Libyan authorities have already deported many of these refugees to their countries of origin where they may have faced ill-treatment. By doing so, Libya is in breach of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Organization of African Unity Convention to which it is a state party.
I request you to investigate this case and urge the Libyan authorities to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter,
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
===========================
The Libyan Liaison Office is located at
20037 (tel. 202-944-9601, fax 202-944-9060)
Sample Letter to HE Mr Ali Aujali, Libya’s ambassador to the United States
Tel. +202-944-9601
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
The People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
HE Mr Ali Aujali,
2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705,
Washington DC
20037
Dear Mr Ali Aujali, Libya’s ambassador to the United States,
Assalam Alykum,
Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland
I am very concerned about the welfare of the Ethiopian refugees detained in Misratah, Libya, who are currently facing impending deportation to Ethiopia where they may be arrested and tortured upon arrival.
According to reports by the Wasington DC radio program, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in Misratah. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of them are imprisoned with their kids.
The Libyan authorities have already deported many of these refugees to their countries of origin where they may have faced ill-treatment. By doing so, Libya is in breach of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Organization of African Unity Convention to which it is a state party.
I urge your government to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards and assist them in their applications for asylum. Please ensure that the refugees are given the same rights as other Libyans.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
=========================
Sample Letter to HE Mr Omar R Jelban
Tel. +44 207 5896120
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
The People’s Bureau of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
HE Mr Omar R Jelban
15 Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7LY
Dear Mr Omar R Jelban,
Assalam Alykum,
Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland
I am very concerned about the welfare of the Ethiopian refugees detained in Misratah, Libya, who are currently facing impending deportation to Ethiopia where they may be arrested and tortured upon arrival.
According to reports by the Wasington DC radio program, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in Misratah. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of them are imprisoned with their kids.
The Libyan authorities have already deported many of these refugees to their countries of origin where they may have faced ill-treatment. By doing so, Libya is in breach of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Organization of African Unity Convention to which it is a state party.
I urge your government to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards and assist them in their applications for asylum. Please ensure that the refugees are given the same rights as other Libyans.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
=================================
Dear Mr ………..,
Re: Ethiopian Refugees in Libya Facing Torture / Forcible Return to Their Homeland
I am very concerned about the welfare of the Ethiopian refugees detained in Misratah, Libya, who are currently facing impending deportation to Ethiopia where they may be arrested and tortured upon arrival.
According to reports by the Washington DC based radio station, several hundred Ethiopians are currently detained in Libya detention centers. There are detainees from other sub-Saharan African countries as well. The detainees are held in deplorable conditions; they are not provided with proper food, drink or medical facilities. Further, many detainees have reportedly been physically and sexually abused by the prison security guards. Some of them are also born a chilf in prison.
The Libyan authorities have already deported many of these refugees to their countries of origin where they may have faced ill-treatment. By doing so, Libya is in breach of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Organization of African Unity Convention to which it is a state party.
I request you to urge the Libyan authorities to treat the refugees in accordance with international human rights standards and assist them in their applications for asylum. They should ensure that the refugees are given the same rights as other Libyans.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter,
Yours sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
——————————————————–
For more information and effective result, please contact the office on the numbers or email below.
Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ihrc.org
===================
Diplomatic Representation in US:
The Libyan Liaison Office is located at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington DC 20037 (tel. 202-944-9601, fax 202-944-9060)
Mission of Libya to The United Nations
309 East 48th Street
New York
+1 212 752 5775
+1 212 593 4787
Libyan Peoples Bureau in The United Kingdom
London
+44 207 5896120
Libyan Peoples Bureau in Canada
Ottawa
+1 613 230 0919 – +1 613 230 0683
Peoples Bureau of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
81 Metcalfe Street Suite 1000
Ottawa, ONTARIO, K1P 6K7
Last week, IRIN (a U.N.-sponsored news agency) reported that 8 million Ethiopians are currently facing starvation. Today, we learn that Woyanne businessmen and the minister of agriculture are in Ghana to find meat buyers. What can one make of this?
(Ghana News Agency) – An eight-member Ethiopian Meat Exporters currently in the country to access the Ghanaian market on Thursday interacted with members of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GNCCI) on possible business links.
Mr. Yaecob Yalla, Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development and the head of the delegation, said their mission was to access market demands of meat products in Ghana and to establish business relations with their local partners.
He said government of Ethiopia had decided to establish business links with its West African counterparts, especially Ghana to deepen the existing socio-economic, cultural and political relations between the two.
“Currently Ethiopia had over 40 million livestock, which we export to East and Northern African countries yet we still have enough meat products to cater for the other parts of Africa,” the Minister added.
He announced that the Ethiopian government and the private sector were ready to facilitate the visit of Ghanaian officials and businessmen to observe their market and products.
Mr Sal Amegavie, Chief Executive Officer of GNCCI, said there were lots of products that both Ethiopia and Ghana could supply each other and urged the two to do more to fill the trade gap between them.
He said the GNCCI had 34 registered businesses including meat importers in Ghana who would be interacting with them later.
The CEO said Ghana was not only interested in buying and selling but would want to create jobs as well and urged the delegates to also consider establishing meat factories in Ghana.
He said the Chamber had competent people to also assist them establish livestock farming for local consumption. Mr Wilson Attah Krofah, President of GNCCI urged the delegates to take advantage of Ghana’s Free Zone to establish businesses to cut down cost.
“Here in Ghana, you can be assured of quality workforce to boost your businesses,” he said.
He said Ghana was endowed with lots of raw materials, which they could explore to enhance their chances.
“Ghana’s coastline too was very suitable for salt production and those of you interested could invest in that area as well,” he said.
Dr Francis Konadu Apramtwum, Principal Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said the veterinary service “primarily ensure that all meat products that come in or go out of the country was of a good quality.
“We protect both the health of consumers by ensuring that all meat and other fish products meet the required international standards,” he said.
He said they normally follow the OIE regulations to check the sanitation and disease control status of the countries concerned before issuing out permit to importers.
“We don’t just allow everything into the country. We only accept things that would not bring any health hazard or dehumanise our people,” he added.
Dr. Mushebu Mohamed-Alfa, Head of Animal Product and Bio Safety Department of Food and Drugs Board, said the board would only give any businessman permission to import such products if they could prove that the country in question certified sanitation facilities that met the international standards.
He said Burkina Faso had also shown interest in exporting her meat products to Ghana and would have to comply with same regulations.
“We’re not doing this to put bottlenecks on your ways but we have to be sure that our consumers are consuming wholesome and healthy products,” he said.
In the delegate chase, Barack Obama has pulled ahead of Clinton, even when the support of uncommitted super delegates is figured in. According to CBS News estimates, Obama holds a razor-thin lead with 1,134 delegates overall to 1,131 for Clinton. … More >>
Meanwhile, Clinton’s campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle announced today that she is stepping down… More >>
Kenenisa Bekele on the way to 3000m win in Valencia
permit meeting (Julio Fontán)
Valencia, Spain – As expected, both 3000m and Long Jump events provided some of the main highlights of Saturday evening’s (9-Feb) ‘Reunión Internacional Ciudad de Valencia’ – IAAF Indoor Permit meeting, which was taking place in the stadium which will host the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships from 7 – 9 March 2008.
Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele (7:36.08) and Meselech Melkamu (8:29.48) took honours in the longer distance of the programme while Portugal’s Naide Gomes flew to a PB and national record of 6.90 in the Long Jump and Irving Saladino of Panama kicked off his indoor campaing with an 8.20 effort which is a new world-leading performance, the same feat achieved by Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin in the 1500m thanks to a 3:36.63 time and Nigeria’s Olujosi Fasuba over 60m with a 6.51 clocking.
Bekele content with ’08 indoor debut
Running on the track that will host next month’s World Indoor Championships, the task of breaking Daniel Komen’s World 3000m record of 7:24.90 proved to be too tough and unassailable for Kenenisa Bekele who could not even better his brother Tariku’ world season best of 7:31.09.
The 25-year-old World indoor champion was paced through the first kilometre in a fine 2.28.99 split with Tariku, his compatriot Roba Gari and the Kenyan pair of Daniel Kipchirchir Komen and Edwin Soi in close attendance.
However, the pacemaking duties finished too early – exactly at the 1600m point insted of the scheduled 2000m – and so Bekele was forced to take command of the event with the clock reading four minutes. The 2000m point was covered by the leading group, always ruled by Bekele, in 5:02.26, a figure which suggested that any World record chance had already vanished.
The question was then would Bekele’s win be put in jeopardy as his rhythm slowed down drastically and a 1:05 400m split seemed to increase his pursuers’ winning possibilities? With 400m to go Tariku, Kipchirchir and his fellow Kenyan Edwin Soi remained at Bekele’s shoulder but the five-time double World Cross Country champion then unleashed his trademark devastating kick with 260m to go and a 26.2 final lap led him to a convincing 7.36.08 success while Soi – winner of the San Giorgio Su Legnano and Fuensalida XC permits in January – outclashed Tariku for second in 7:36.70 with the younger Bekele’s 7:37.09 clocking with Kipchirchir also dipping under the 7:40 barrier (7:38.58).
“I’m satisfied since the most important thing for me today was not to break the World record, which is extremely tough to beat, but just to kick off my indoor season and feel comfortable on the track. Definitely today’s win was not a piece of cake.”
When asked if he’s planning to return to Valencia next month to defend his 3000m World crown, a cautious Bekele replied: “Honestly, I have not made a decision yet, I’ll take it in one week’s time.”
World season leads for Gebremedhin and Fasuba
As it had been foreseen the men’s 1500 witnessed a fast race whose 400m split was a fine 56.49 to decrease the pace slightly afterwards. Bahrain’s Ali Bilal Mansour headed the event from midway but just at the bell it was the long-legged Mekonnen Gebremedhin who moved to the front to win in style in 3:36.63 (WL) while Spain’s reigning European champion Juan Carlos Higuero pipped Mansour in the closing stages to take second (3.37.46 vs 3.37.90) with Arturo Casado, also of Spain producing a PB of 3:38.13 in fourth.
An ecstatic Gebremedhin commented: “Excellent race! I only think now of coming back to this track in March to take the gold medal at the Worlds.”
Nigeria’s Olympic 4x100m Relay bronze medallist Olujosi Fasuba gave a first hint of his awesome form by clocking 6.58 in his semifinal which proved to be only a dress-rehearsal for his stunning outcome in the final where the Osaka 100m fourth placed recorded a 6.51 despite a far from ideal start (0.174s was his reaction time). The 23-year-old is now the fastest man of the season (PB of 6.49) and seems to be on the right path to improve on his fifth from the last World indoors in Moscow. Italy’s Simone Collio ran a massive PB of 6.55 to clinch second.
Gomes (6.90) and Saladino (8.20 WL) excel in the infield
Portugal’s reigning European indoor Long Jump champion Naide Gomes provided one of the women’s headlines of the meeting by leaping to a PB of 6.90m. The former multi-event specialist has proved over the last two years that her decision to focus only on the Long Jump has been a good decision. Following two outings on Portugese soil with 6.60 and 6.79 as the outcome, Gomes opened with a 6.69 jump to take the top spot and she was never headed throughout the contest. The 28-year-old strengthened her lead thanks to a 6.87 second effort while only Brazil’s Maurren Higa Maggi seemed capable of threatening Gomes’s dominance with a 6.76 leap also in round 2.
Gomes, who took the bronze medal at the last World Indoors in Moscow and joined the exclusive 7.00m + club last summer outdoors, produced another fine jump of 6.83 in the third round, had a foul in her next attempt and managed her furthest ever measure indoors by landing at 6.90 in round 5 to place now second on the season’s list behind Russian Irina Simagina’s 6.94.
Maggi equalled her 6.76 in the final round to secure the runner-up position while the Valencia-native Concha Montaner took third with 6.66.
Irving Saladino also rose to the top of the season list as the Panamanian World Long Jump champion managed 8.20 in round 4 in his first appearance of the indoor calendar while the reigning World Indoor champion, Ghana’s Ignisious Gaisah, didn’t take part in the contest and no other jumper exceeded the 8.00m barrier.
Solo run for Melkamu
Up to three top-class Ethiopians had been announced in the women’s 3000m but finally only Meselech Melkamu was in contention. Paced by her fellow Ethiopian Meskaren Assefa through the first kilo in a World record schedule of 2:47.35 Melkamu took charge of the race at midway but her 2000m split (5:39:85) indicated that Meseret Defar’s World record was not to be broken in Valencia. Chased way back by Morocco’s Meryem Alaoui Selsouli, Melkamu, holder of the three last World XC bronze medals romped home in 8:29.48 from the Moroccan’s 8:35.86 while Portugal’ Jessica Augusto finished third in 8:55.18.
“Although I haven’t matched my last year result in Stuttgart (when she pushed Defar to the line to clock 8.23.74) I’m confident of being selected for the Worlds as my time is now second among the Ethiopians athletes.” said the victor.
Elsewhere…
The men’s 800m didn’t offer the expected kind of performances but at least the reigning World indoor champion Wilfred Bungei made up for his disappointment from last year when he was disqualified after winning the race. On this occasion it was Latvia’s Dmitrijs Milkevics who ran closest to the pacesetter trying to avenge his defeat to Bungei in Stuttgart but Bungei overtook the Latvian just before negotiating the final bend and held off his challenge to post a narrow win, 1:47.22 and 1:47.30 their respective times. Uganda’s Abraham Chepkirwok cloked 1:48.03 for third.
In the infield Jesse Williams of the US managed 2.31 in the High Jump to take top spot ahead of Ukraine’s 2005 World bronze medallist Yuriy Krimarenko, who had to settle for a 2.26 clearance while the men’s Shot Put only witnessed two athletes exceeding the 20m barrier by a narrow margin. Poland’s Osaka fifth placed Tomasz Majewski was the victor with a 20.11 toss in round four while Portugal’s Marco Fortes was measured at 20.08 in his second attempt, both bettering America’s Dan Taylor’s 19.87 best effort.
Spain’s Jackson Quiñónez overcame a slow start (0.187s his reaction time) to capture a 7.61 60m hurdles win from Sweden’s Robert Kronberg, timed at 7.67 while the latter’s countryman Johan Wissman beat easily Grenada’s reigning World indoor champion Alleyne Francique (46.37 vs 46.98) in the 400m.
In other women’s events, Poland’s Monika Pyrek had a first-time success over 4.61 (SB) in the women’s Pole Vault while Germany’s Silke Spiegelburg recorded a PB thanks to a 4.51 clearance. The win in the women’s 60m Hurdles went for Spain’s Josephine Onya with 7.98 while Mayte Martínez notched a 1500m win in 4:15.34 ahead of her fellow Spaniard Esther Desviat, a former U-23 800m bronze medallist who posted a PB of 4:15.95.
WASHINGTON (AFP) — They are political polar opposites, but for Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, hidden family ties run deep, as they are distant cousins.
The vice president’s wife Lynne Cheney told MSNBC that she had uncovered the bizarre political twist while researching her new book, a memoir of growing up in the western state of Wyoming.
“Dick and Barack Obama are eighth cousins … isn’t that an amazing thing?” Cheney said in the interview.
“If you go back eight generations they have a common ancestor,” Cheney said, adding they were both descended from a man that moved out west from Maryland.
“This is such an amazing American story that one ancestor … could be responsible down the family line for lives that have taken such different and varied paths as Dick’s and Barack Obama.”
Obama’s spokesman Bill Burton offered a tongue in cheek reply.
“Every family has its black sheep,” he told AFP.
Obama often highlights his rich multicultural family heritage on the campaign trail — his father was from Kenya and his mother was from Kansas.
WASHINGTON (AFP) — They are political polar opposites, but for Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, hidden family ties run deep, as they are distant cousins.