EMF – Kinijit Vice President Bertukan Midekisa arrived in Addis Ababa today after two-month working visit in the United States.
Wzt. Bertukan received a warm welcome from family members, friends, Kinijit officials and supporters when she arrived at Bole International Airport, EMF sources said.
The other delegates to the U.S. will return to Addis Ababa on November 26, 2007.
Kinijit Secretary General Ato Muluneh Eyoel, who led the Kinijit delegataion to Europe, will return to Ethiopia on November 24th 2007.
The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) led regime currently in power in Ethiopia has been well aware of the Ogaden National Liberation Front(ONLF) policy on resolving the Ogaden conflict through peacefull dialogue. We have maintained that any such dialogue should be held in a neutral third country, in the presence of a neutral third party arbiter of international standing with no preconditions placed on either side.
In that context, recent attempts by the TPLF to utilize the person of Prof. Ephrem Isaac to seek to negotiate on matters that can only be addressed by the TPLF Regime itself demonstrate the lack of commitment of this regime to engage in serious diologue in order to reach a comprehensive and just political settlement on the Ogaden conflict.
The ONLF would like to make clear to the TPLF regime that we will not meet with or negotiate with Prof. Ephrem Isaac as he is not a government official and has no recognized authority nor the ability to affect circumstances on the ground in Ogaden.
The TPLF regime continues to execute a campaign of terror against our people and has shown no sign of seeking a peaceful solution to the Ogaden conflict.
Despite this, our door remains open to enter into discussions with the TPLF regime in the context of our long standing policy for dialogue.
The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) led regime currently in power in Ethiopia has been well aware of the Ogaden National Liberation Front(ONLF) policy on resolving the Ogaden conflict through peacefull dialogue. We have maintained that any such dialogue should be held in a neutral third country, in the presence of a neutral third party arbiter of international standing with no preconditions placed on either side.
In that context, recent attempts by the TPLF to utilize the person of Prof. Ephrem Isaac to seek to negotiate on matters that can only be addressed by the TPLF Regime itself demonstrate the lack of commitment of this regime to engage in serious diologue in order to reach a comprehensive and just political settlement on the Ogaden conflict.
The ONLF would like to make clear to the TPLF regime that we will not meet with or negotiate with Prof. Ephrem Isaac as he is not a government official and has no recognized authority nor the ability to affect circumstances on the ground in Ogaden.
The TPLF regime continues to execute a campaign of terror against our people and has shown no sign of seeking a peaceful solution to the Ogaden conflict.
Despite this, our door remains open to enter into discussions with the TPLF regime in the context of our long standing policy for dialogue.
We would like to invite you to the ‘Human Rights for Ethiopians in the Next Millennium meeting’ on Saturday, November 17, 2007. The goal of this meeting is to bring together ideas, energy and vision from all parts of Ethiopia in order to build a grand strategy that is based on mutual respect and trust in order to usher in a new millennium where Ethiopians can enjoy greater freedom, equality, peace, stability and prosperity.
We encourage you to invite others to this event such as friends, community leaders and others who would be interested in learning more about the Human Rights in Ethiopia and sharing in this time. We encourage everyone who is concerned about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, to come and to bring other interested persons along.
Please see the agenda below for the meeting in Washington on Saturday, Nov. 17. Can you please forward it to your friends whom may want to come?
Yours truly,
Obang
______________________________________________ Human Rights for Ethiopians in the Next Millennium
Sponsored by the Anuak Justice Council
November 17, 2007, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Unification Church, 1610 Columbia Rd., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Ticket/Donation: $20.00
Commencing at 4:00 PM, will be a showing of the film:
“Betrayal of Democracy: Ethiopia”, a riveting and revealing documentary film depicting the deepening crisis of democracy in Ethiopia under the current EPRDF government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. A must-see film for all concerned about the alarming state of affairs in this strategic country in the Horn of Africa.
Overview of Meeting (5:00 PM)
Ethiopians from different regions have been very isolated or even alienated from each other in the past years; yet widespread human rights violations have been a problem in every region of the country. This has resulted in factionalized approaches to dealing with these abuses rather than any cohesive and coordinated effort. In a unique forum, guests, human rights activists representing most every region of Ethiopia, will come together for the first time in history to discuss the state of human rights within their respective regions.
They will share how they have been dealing with human rights violations up to the present and how they see all of us, as Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians, moving forward in a more concerted effort in the next millennium. Most are now realizing that we cannot succeed alone; that, only by advocating for everybody in our country, will we see greater respect for human rights of all Ethiopians in the next millennium.
We all know that the respect for human rights has deteriorated since the Ethiopian National Election of 2005 when the ruling party allegedly hijacked the election. There is even less freedom and more human rights abuses today, but little attention is being given to it, some say because of the War on Terror. Although most Ethiopians support such an international effort to combat terrorism, they do not support the terrorist acts committed by Prime Minister Zenawi and his regime against the Ethiopian people throughout all of the regions in the country. We invite you to come and listen to how the current regime’s crimes against humanity, has affected the people of Ethiopia in their own pursuit of freedom, democracy and human rights.
The goal of this meeting is to bring together ideas, energy and vision from all parts of Ethiopia in order to build a grand strategy that is based on mutual respect and trust in order to usher in a new millennium where Ethiopians can enjoy greater freedom, equality, peace, stability and prosperity. This is not a political movement, but a much needed movement of the people for human rights.
Meeting Participants:
Mr. Guled Kassim, Ogaden Human Rights Committee, representing Somali Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Ogaden. (10 minutes)
1. Mr. Alemayehu Zemedkun: Ethiopian American Advocacy, Amhara National Regional State. Topic: As a Former Deputy Attorney General, head of the ministry’s civil division and one of the best bench prosecutors in the country, Mr. Zemedkun will represent the Amhara National Regional State and his experience as former Deputy Attorney General. (10 minutes)
2. Mr. Teklabe Habtu, Gasha for Ethiopians, Tigray National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Tigray Region.
Mr. Ibrahim.Yousuf, Benishangul Human Rights Foundation, Benishangul/Gumuz National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region: It’s Affecting Us All.
Break
3. Mr. Robsan Itana, Oromo-American Citizens Council, Oromiya National Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Right Situation in Oromia (10 minutes)
4. Ms. Abeba Fekade, a representative of the International Ethiopian Women’s Organization. Topic: Human Rights Challenges Facing Ethiopian Women (10 minutes)
5. Mr. Ali Ismael Muftah, Afar Human Rights Organization, Afar National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Afar Region
6. Mr. Jashu/Godi Baykeda, Southern Nations Human Rights Organization (in formation), the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Southern Nations (10 minutes)
Keynote Speaker:
Mr. Obang O. Metho, Anuak Justice Council, Gambella Region, (25 minutes)
Topic: After the presentations, Mr. Metho will highlight the key points and challenges for us to move forward with the advancement of human rights in Ethiopia in the next millennium. Because of his experience talking to Ethiopians from diverse ethnic backgrounds in over 30 different cities, including in Canada, in the US and in Europe, he will share what he has learned and his vision for a greater and more cooperative grassroots movement for the respect of human rights that will provide a stronger foundation for true freedom, democracy, justice and prosperity for all.
An opportunity for questions, comments and suggestions will follow.
Let us join hands in support of justice!
We encourage everyone who is concerned about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, to come and to bring other interested persons along.
Proceeds will support the Anuak Justice Council. For more information, call
(703) 462-1694 or 306 933 4346, contact Obang Metho at: [email protected].
We would like to invite you to the ‘Human Rights for Ethiopians in the Next Millennium meeting’ on Saturday, November 17, 2007. The goal of this meeting is to bring together ideas, energy and vision from all parts of Ethiopia in order to build a grand strategy that is based on mutual respect and trust in order to usher in a new millennium where Ethiopians can enjoy greater freedom, equality, peace, stability and prosperity.
We encourage you to invite others to this event such as friends, community leaders and others who would be interested in learning more about the Human Rights in Ethiopia and sharing in this time. We encourage everyone who is concerned about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, to come and to bring other interested persons along.
Please see the agenda below for the meeting in Washington on Saturday, Nov. 17. Can you please forward it to your friends whom may want to come?
Yours truly,
Obang
______________________________________________ Human Rights for Ethiopians in the Next Millennium
Sponsored by the Anuak Justice Council
November 17, 2007, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Unification Church, 1610 Columbia Rd., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Ticket/Donation: $20.00
Commencing at 4:00 PM, will be a showing of the film:
“Betrayal of Democracy: Ethiopia”, a riveting and revealing documentary film depicting the deepening crisis of democracy in Ethiopia under the current EPRDF government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. A must-see film for all concerned about the alarming state of affairs in this strategic country in the Horn of Africa.
Overview of Meeting (5:00 PM)
Ethiopians from different regions have been very isolated or even alienated from each other in the past years; yet widespread human rights violations have been a problem in every region of the country. This has resulted in factionalized approaches to dealing with these abuses rather than any cohesive and coordinated effort. In a unique forum, guests, human rights activists representing most every region of Ethiopia, will come together for the first time in history to discuss the state of human rights within their respective regions.
They will share how they have been dealing with human rights violations up to the present and how they see all of us, as Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians, moving forward in a more concerted effort in the next millennium. Most are now realizing that we cannot succeed alone; that, only by advocating for everybody in our country, will we see greater respect for human rights of all Ethiopians in the next millennium.
We all know that the respect for human rights has deteriorated since the Ethiopian National Election of 2005 when the ruling party allegedly hijacked the election. There is even less freedom and more human rights abuses today, but little attention is being given to it, some say because of the War on Terror. Although most Ethiopians support such an international effort to combat terrorism, they do not support the terrorist acts committed by Prime Minister Zenawi and his regime against the Ethiopian people throughout all of the regions in the country. We invite you to come and listen to how the current regime’s crimes against humanity, has affected the people of Ethiopia in their own pursuit of freedom, democracy and human rights.
The goal of this meeting is to bring together ideas, energy and vision from all parts of Ethiopia in order to build a grand strategy that is based on mutual respect and trust in order to usher in a new millennium where Ethiopians can enjoy greater freedom, equality, peace, stability and prosperity. This is not a political movement, but a much needed movement of the people for human rights.
Meeting Participants:
Mr. Guled Kassim, Ogaden Human Rights Committee, representing Somali Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Ogaden. (10 minutes)
1. Mr. Alemayehu Zemedkun: Ethiopian American Advocacy, Amhara National Regional State. Topic: As a Former Deputy Attorney General, head of the ministry’s civil division and one of the best bench prosecutors in the country, Mr. Zemedkun will represent the Amhara National Regional State and his experience as former Deputy Attorney General. (10 minutes)
2. Mr. Teklabe Habtu, Gasha for Ethiopians, Tigray National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Tigray Region.
Mr. Ibrahim.Yousuf, Benishangul Human Rights Foundation, Benishangul/Gumuz National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region: It’s Affecting Us All.
Break
3. Mr. Robsan Itana, Oromo-American Citizens Council, Oromiya National Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Right Situation in Oromia (10 minutes)
4. Ms. Abeba Fekade, a representative of the International Ethiopian Women’s Organization. Topic: Human Rights Challenges Facing Ethiopian Women (10 minutes)
5. Mr. Ali Ismael Muftah, Afar Human Rights Organization, Afar National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Afar Region
6. Mr. Jashu/Godi Baykeda, Southern Nations Human Rights Organization (in formation), the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Southern Nations (10 minutes)
Keynote Speaker:
Mr. Obang O. Metho, Anuak Justice Council, Gambella Region, (25 minutes)
Topic: After the presentations, Mr. Metho will highlight the key points and challenges for us to move forward with the advancement of human rights in Ethiopia in the next millennium. Because of his experience talking to Ethiopians from diverse ethnic backgrounds in over 30 different cities, including in Canada, in the US and in Europe, he will share what he has learned and his vision for a greater and more cooperative grassroots movement for the respect of human rights that will provide a stronger foundation for true freedom, democracy, justice and prosperity for all.
An opportunity for questions, comments and suggestions will follow.
Let us join hands in support of justice!
We encourage everyone who is concerned about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, to come and to bring other interested persons along.
Proceeds will support the Anuak Justice Council. For more information, call
(703) 462-1694 or 306 933 4346, contact Obang Metho at: [email protected].
ADDIS ABABA – UNICEF today called on the Ethiopian public to join efforts to realize the dreams of thousands of orphans and vulnerable children by taking part in this year’s Dream Team Campaign for the 2007 Toyota Millennium Great Ethiopian Run.
“There is nothing more tragic than to see children losing their chance for a decent and fulfilling life because of lack of a caring, protective environment and resources to get a basic education,” said UNICEF Representative Bjorn Ljungqvist. “The Dream Team Campaign is a great way to support some of the most disadvantaged members of Ethiopian society.”
There are an estimated six million orphans in Ethiopia today. Nearly 900 000 of them have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS virus. To provide support and protection for these children, more than $250 million is needed each year.
“We call upon concerned individuals and organizations, particularly the private sector, to come on board this campaign and do something meaningful for Ethiopia’s most vulnerable children. The money raised will help break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability for many of Ethiopia’s children, particularly those living with HIV and AIDS. As the Campaign slogan says – ‘Run for Fun, Run for Funds!’”
Convened by UNICEF and the Ethiopian Scouting Association, the 2007 Dream Team is a national advocacy campaign asking Ethiopians to support their country’s children by running for charity in the 2007 Millennium Toyota Great Ethiopian Run.
Participants are asked to sign up for the dream team by buying a race pack for 250 birr. Runners are encouraged to put a team together out of friends, families and colleagues to increase the amounts raised and compete against other teams participating in the campaign. Individual runners and teams can raise additional funds by soliciting sponsorship from individuals and organizations for completing the ten kilometer race. Runners can then take part in the run, with T-Shirts and Medals for everyone who crosses the finish line in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square on 25 November.
Through UNICEF, the money will fund skills and vocational training initiatives across Ethiopia, creating vital financial lifelines for the most vulnerable of children including those living with HIV AIDS.
For Further Information Please Contact:
Dr. Kerida Mcdonald, Chief, Communication Cluster, +0115 18 40 18, 0911 50 20 22, [email protected]
Indrias Getachew, Communication Officer, Media and External Relations, +0115 18 40 26, 0911 25 40 18, [email protected]
