(The Sub-Saharan Informer, ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia) – An American law professor, teaching at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education’s Mekelle University in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, had her contract terminated last week by university officials.
The administration claims “incompetence” was the reason for her termination. But Professor Abigail Salisbury claims that her public voicing of alternative views on the U.S. House of Representative’s Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 (HR2003) got her fired.
After failing to convince the university’s academic commission that her contract should not be terminated, Professor Salisbury is planning to depart Ethiopia. The firing quickly followed an article she published in “The Jurist,” the online University of Pittsburgh law review journal, in which she described candidly her participation in a Mekelle University Law Faculty forum on HR 2003.
Taking one stance, Professor Salisbury writes, “Listening to the Ethiopians talk about the bill’s various points during the discussion forum, I… wonder[ed] if America hadn’t done something foolish…by asserting its right to determine the domestic affairs of a foreign nation.” She also points out that the factual findings section of HR2003 must be updated to reflect current human rights progress in Ethiopia.
But based on the passionate testimonies of her own international human rights law students at Mekelle, conveyed to her within mid-term essays she assigned, Salisbury reached an alternative conclusion – that HR2003 should be seen as an attempt by American foreign policy makers not to threaten Ethiopian sovereignty, but to improve the lives of poor Ethiopians who are truly suffering under a government with a firm grip on freedom of speech.
“I had been very careful in wording my assignment. I asked the students to select a human rights issue in Ethiopia…and find another country dealing with that same situation. They were required to then compare the actions of the two nations,” Salisbury writes. According to her, a number of students wrote that they would never give their real opinions to an Ethiopian professor, for fear of “being turned in to the government and punished.”
According to Professor Salisbury, the terms of her contract make it clear that in the case of premature termination, she should receive three months’ pay. Claiming they have an alternative interpretation, University officials have decided not to honor this clause. But Salisbury is more disappointed by the failure of the university’s professors and officials to honor freedom of speech. “The dean [of Mekelle Law School] told me never to be afraid to write anything,” the young American law professor recalled for SSI.
HR2003 was passed in October 2007 by the US House of Representatives and is now being debated by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It proposes to withdraw “nonessential” assistance from Ethiopia until the federal government meets human rights obligations outlined in the Act.
Barack Obama wins the Democratic Primary in Nebraska and Washington State by wide margins, and is on his way to win Louisiana today. It has been a bad day for Hillary Clinton… Read More >>
I read your open letter to the ‘Government of Ethiopia’ requesting the release of your father Ato Tamirat Layne, who was the vice chairman of the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Party (EPRDF), prime minister and, later, deputy prime minister and minister of defense. I read your letter on Ben’s Ethiopiafirst web. First of all let me tell you that I lack words to express my sadness and sympathy to Ethiopian children like you and children elsewhere on our earth who miss their parents due to unjust and unlawful measures taken by bad and unpopular governments. Although I have no personal relationship or intimacy with your dad, I have some information about him. When EPRDF (the party your dad was co-leading as the second top man only to Meles Zenawi) came to power in 1991 through armed warfare against the then Ethiopian national armed forces I was living in Addis Ababa and have been there when your dad was in power. And I was there in Addis when your dad was arrested also.
Your letter really impressed me and took my heart when I read it. I understand how it feels to miss one’s dad, especially at your age. But your letter also motivated me to send you this short response to leave a message for you and other young Ethiopians, the new generation, who will take over the country. I want to leave you a message that you will carry on with you throughout your life.
Dear Blen, let me mention that you and your little sister are not the only kids who miss their dad or family member in that country, but you are only two of tens of thousands of Ethiopian children who lost their dads, moms or other family members in similar way as you did. The same brutal and unlawful system took the dads and moms of many children from homes and separated them from their beloved kids. Few of those dads and moms have been fortunate enough to be allowed to go back home after years of unjust and illegal languish in prison. The second group of victims is still in prison like your dad and their children are always looking forward to seeing them at home one day exactly like you do. No one knows what their final fate could be. It is in the hands of dictators. Still there are other third groups that are so unlucky and are missed forever. These unfortunate ones have been killed by the system in one way or the other (some were killed in intentional killing, others through brutal mishandling) and their children always ask for and about their dads or moms for ever. And all the family and friends remain sad with no hope of one day seeing each other.
Finally there is the fourth group of victims. These ones are simply taken from home or work place or anywhere in the street, thrown to some unknown corner (usually hidden underground facilities or remote rural military facilities, all of which are not official prisons but covert detention facilities), and are missed for indefinite terms. Their where abouts and howabout are not known. Their children ask about them, but no family member has the answer. They are dead or alive, no one knows. They will come back home or they will not, no one can tell. Is it not very sad?
Let me tell you one story here. My uncle is one of group four victims. Ever since he was taken from home in Wollega in June of 1992, when your dad was in command, I and my families have never heard about him. No one knows whether he is alive or killed. He is missing and missing for indefinite time. When he was abducted, he was only a year’s groom and his wife was pregnant. That child was borne after some three months and is now a 17 year old boy. Ever since he managed to ask questions, Gadisa has been asking about his dad. He asks who his dad is, where his dad is and when his dad will come home. He has never seen his dad and neither has his dad seen him. Additionally, I have a close friend and blood relative that falls in group three above. He was taken from field in rural farming neighborhood, detained in concentration camp for some days, and killed and thrown away about a year after we missed my uncle. The killers did not allow us to conduct respectful funeral although they reluctantly permitted us to take his body after two days. I have several friends who belong to groups one and two.
As a result of this fact your dad is not the only political prisoner in Ethiopia. As you know he is only one of tens of thousands of political prisoners who are suffering in various covert and overt prisons and detention centers in different parts of Ethiopia. Consequently, you and your sister are also not the children who miss their father, but you are only two on many such Ethiopian children. In the same way such kinds of unjustly detaining dads and moms, and leaving children sad is not something started by the current government of Ethiopia. Rather, it has been a common practice of governments in Ethiopia ever since governments started in Ethiopia and Ethiopia was established as a nation. People have always been suffering under every government in Ethiopia although the intensity and target group might vary. It is unfortunate that your dad is one target under this government. But I must say and, I hope, you would agree that you might be in a better situation than many other Ethiopian children who share similar fate with you in several ways. Many of the children whose dads or moms are missing do not get any or sufficient support for living and school. Many of the prisoners are in worse conditions than your dad is in being held in worse places under much worse situations. The manner in which most political prisoners are handled and treated in that country involves various agonies including torture and physical abuse. Furthermore, many children and family cannot visit their arrested family and still many others lost their families forever. Don’t you think you are fortunate some how?
Additionally, please allow me to mention one fact. Your dad was ones a top political leader and the top executive officer of the Ethiopian government when he was part of the EPRDF-led government from 1991 to his arrest. With the capacity he held he was only second in command both in the ruling EPRDF party and the national government next to Meles Zenawi and he, by implication, was the second man in charge of every thing that happened in the country that time. Consequently, we must believe that during that time he was also doing the same thing that Ethiopian leaders do. I am going to open a can of worms.
When your dad was in government power with the second most powerful authority in Ethiopia, human right violations were the same at highest level as they are today. Unlawful detention of citizens merely on suspicious basis, missing and extrajudicial killings were common practices throughout the country especially in Oromia, Somali and the south. Genocide and crimes against humanity as a strategy to silence political dissent and abolish the people’s struggle for their right committed against the Ethiopian peoples and especially the Oromo were so extensive practice of his government and his party. All prison facilities in the country during his time were as full to their maximum capacities as they are today and your dad just joined some of his own prisoners later. But it is fortunate that he is in a better situation where there is fair treatment and handling, visitations by family, media and international institutions.
Coming back to my point, there is logical and credible conclusion that he was not only part of the brutal EPRDF regime, but also the top responsible person for things that happened in the country when he was in power. The problem is human being does not feel that he is doing wrong to the other until such time when he himself becomes a victim comes. I do not have sufficient evidence to comment on the issue of “Liking Sugar” and inappropriate use of power in which the Meles Zenawi group charged your dad. “Sugar Liking” was the term the Meles group used before it developed “MUSINA” as a standard term.
Please be informed that I am not intending to charge or incriminate your father because this is not the right place for that. I understand how it feels to be a direct victim or a family of victim especially victim’s child like you. I am writing this because I understand what that means. Let me ask you one question. I know you both were too young when your dad was in power. But can you now guess that there were people who were treated by your dad directly or indirectly in the same or worse manner he is being treated now by others? Yes or no?
Let me ask the last question and that brings me to my message. Do you think that such acts of arresting each other should continue or we should stop it some where and establish a free and democratic system where we do not arrest or attack each other for political reasons? Should we advance politics of fear and suspicion or we should compromise our political differences and work out to design equitable politico-economic system that benefits every one? Should we keep on attacking each other turn by turn and promote a politics of revenge or should we come to political reconciliation and create a system in which governments serve the people and are held accountable for their deeds. The choice is for you – the new generation.
You have made no mistake in asking for the release of your dad. Every body has to. But, as you understand, even if your dad is released there will still be other dads and moms remaining in prison. Would you still be concerned for other Ethiopian children and keep on asking for the release of their dads and moms? Further, will you intend to join thousands of other children who miss their parents or family in the same way and unite on this outstanding cause of the question for justice or you will be selfish enough to keep silent once you get your own answer? Even if your dad is released, what is the guarantee that he will not be taken back to prison or that your other family member will not get the same fate as far as the system is there in place? Moreover, don’t you think that you, one day when you grow up, may face similar chance and be arrested like your dad and your kids will miss you like you do now as far as the system doesn’t change. Let us work together to end this system that arrests dads, moms or uncles and ensure that it will never come back.
Ethiopians for Obama, a volunteer group that supports Barack Obama, is planning an intensive outreach to the Ethiopian and Ethiopian American community in the Washington DC metro area throughout this weekend leading up to the Potomac Primaries.
The Ethiopian American diaspora represents a significant voting block in the DC Metro area. The Northern Virginia/DC/Maryland area is home to the largest community of Ethiopians in the United States. With the Potomac primaries coming into focus as a significant and potentially watershed moment in the Democratic primaries, the Ethiopian-American voters can have a big impact on the final outcome of the primaries.
Ethiopians for Obama will be fanning out to the various Ethiopian churches to reach out to potential Obama supporters. The primary church we will be focusing on is Debre Mihret Kidus Mikael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, located at 3010 Mount Horeb Plaza, NE Washington DC. We plan on mobilizing to the site at 10:00 AM. We will also be sending representatives to churches in Maryland and Virginia.
In addition, Ethiopians for Obama will be volunteering primarily in Virginia. We plan on meeting at the official Barack Obama volunteer kick-off at 400 N. Washington St. Falls Church VA.
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For more info: Teddy Fikre, 703.798.5230.
Ethiopians for Obama
This is a personal appeal and plea to the Kenyan political leaders, specifically to Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga; the religious and community leaders of Kenya; and the people of Kenya at large, to save their country from destructions and the image of Africa.
I do not have any political clout or influence whatsoever. But I am appealing to you as a concerned African, an individual and human being deeply saddened by the violence and destructions that are taking place.
What are being shown from the news clips are already bad enough scene and disturbing. But one can imagine all those gruesome acts that have not been captured by media, besides the psychological trauma the helpless people are going through.
As a good neighbor and an African, I have special love for Kenya and the Kenyan people. Like so many people, I did travel to and also passed through (transit) Kenya so my times. I had Kenyan friends and colleagues. I even believed and expressed to many people that I was indebted to Kenya as I enjoyed more freedom of travel to and out of Kenya, even more than my own country. Because at that time my country required exist visas for all citizens which was a hustle to obtain. Kenya was the only country where I could go in and out without a hustle, which may sound simple but you only know and understand if you have gone through.
I know Mr. Annan’s effort and that of many Kenyans and other concerned Africans working behind the scene, (hopefully) to seek solutions and spare Kenya from further destructions and the unnecessary suffering of the thousands of innocent Kenyans: the young, too young to understand what is going on, the elderly too old to do anything; to save the beauty of Kenya, the animals and plants; the poisoned air by hatred. The ordinary people of Kenya do not deserve this.
Kenya used to be the pride of Africa, as an example of stability and peace. Nairobi used to be and still is, what I always felt the peace capital of Africa. It is home to the All African Conference of Churches, AACC.
It was in Nairobi that the hundreds of meetings were held to consult, and deliberate on the problems of the neighboring countries: specifically Somalia and Sudan. Kenya provided venues for the Somalis peace talk where the Somalis talked face to face, deliberated their differences for more than two years, and formed the Transitional Governments for Somalia, (whether it is working as hoped for or not is a different story). It was in Naivasha, which is burning at this moment that the Sudan peace accord signed between Southern Sudan and the North. Many of the current Kenyan leaders were involved (I remember the role of the Kenyan Foreign Minister of the time) in bringing the warring parties together to talk the language of peace instead of war and hatred. I am sure that the Kenyan leaders pleaded with the Sudanese and the Somalis about peace. Now we are forced to ask, did they genuinely believe in peace, as their conviction and fundamental principal or were those just outward display for convenience, because it was easy to talk to other people to make peace?
Nairobi was also the center from where hundreds of humanitarian interventions for South Sudan, Rwanda and Somalia operated, including Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) and the Somalia UN Operations.
It was in December 2003, just before Christmas day, that this writer wrote the following in the Horn of Africa Bulletin, under the title; Good Will and Peace in the Region, for Life and Peace Institute, Horn of Africa Program, which was by the way one of the Humanitarian NGOs based in Nairobi, mainly focusing on advocacy for Peace. The piece was to remind us of the Christmas message, “Peace on earth and good will among people”.
“Another brighter ray of hope is shining in the region. This is Kenya, and with an apparently improved human rights concern, culture of democracy, and political climate in the country. One is encouraged to see how the Kenyan people express their views without the fear of that infamous security persons would trail them to their homes or knock at their doors in the wee-hours of the morning. In this regard, Kenya offers a good example for the entire African continent and the Horn of Africa region in particular to learn from.”
At that time I lived and worked in Nairobi for 5 months and I really considered that Kenya was on a right track to build a true multi-ethnic, multi-religious tolerant democratic culture. I was sincere and truly believed in what I was writing. May be it was a perception and I did not know what was simmering underneath.But I still would like to believe that what I wrote then was accurate observation. Are Kenyans left with some Good Will to save the country and the suffering of the ordinary people?
Human beings’ problems emanate from arrogance, stubbornness, rigidity, greed and vengeance which lead to all sorts of extremism. But only good will can overcome them. Look at the life of one of the greatest African leaders of all time, former President Mandela. Just by his way of life and overcoming bitterness he humbled many.
One last but not least consideration that I plead with you is, right now at present, an outstanding young leader, who is tracing his background to Kenya is running for the highest and most powerful office in the world. As he was speaking yesterday, people watching and listening to him from all over the world, his grand-mother’s home village or even home were going up in smoke. I am sure the current Kenyan leaders may be of the same age and time with his father. A man who is the son of Kenya by blood is inspiring and moving the people of America, while his ancestor’s homeland is being destroyed. He is building bridges and not destroying, he is providing hope not despair. Please revisit your acts, pause and think of what messages you are sending out from Kenya.
I do not know why but I feel, deep down I strongly believe, if Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga put aside their stubbornness, rigidity and unholy pride and come out together and declare peace and tell the hardliners and the extremists to stop the violence, I really believe they can do so. Then they will emerge as great leaders both now and in the future Kenyan history. But for that to happen they have to have good will. It is my plea to you as an individual voice, and also my prayer for the people of Kenya during this tragic and difficult time.
This humble plea is also in support of Mr. Annan’s effort, urging the Kenyan political, religious and community leaders to realize before it is too late to swallow their pride and save their country and the image of Africa. The alternative does not guarantee that one group triumphing over the other but perishing all together. Please act responsibly!
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Admasu Simeso can be reached at [email protected]
Your letter really impressed me and took my heart when I read it. I understand how it feels to miss one’s dad, especially at your age. But your letter also motivated me to send you this short response to leave a message for you and other young Ethiopians, the new generation, who will take over the country. I want to leave you a message that you will carry on with you throughout your life.