Wz. Lishan Akuma’s court trial resumed yesterday in the District of Columbia Court. The trial was adjourned after the judge ruled mistrial due to problems with the court translator.
This morning witnesses on Lishan’s side will testify. Those of you in the Washington DC area can show solidarity with Lishan by stopping by at the Court some time today before 4 PM.
Place: District of Columbia Court, Room 212
500 Indiana Ave NW [see map]
PRESS RELEASE
Ethiopian Review would like to announce that it is launching a new web site in collaboration with Telecomcity to offer reliable pinless prepaid phone card service at a very competitive price to its readers. The name of the new web site is http://ethiopianreview.deqiqa.com available online 24 hours and 7 days a week.
It is going to be a two-fold benefit: Our readers will be saving significant amount of money on their calling expenses while at the same time supporting our journal to grow by using the service.
Based on the agreement, the Texas-based telecom company will provide to our readers a prepaid phone card service that does not include any hidden fee of any sort.
It is the end of all hidden fees. People are tired of hearing about bulky minutes that end up to be fake promises.
The company will also make this same opportunity available to all other Ethiopian web sites and none profit organizations at wholesale prices so that it can help them as an additional source of income for their
organization.
Please try us. Click here: ethiopianreview.deqiqa.com
For further information:
[email protected]
or [email protected]
Seven UD alumni took the spotlight Friday afternoon, Oct. 12, as UD President Patrick Harker and Monica Taylor, vice president of development and alumni relations, honored them with this year’s Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement Awards.
Held in the Gore Recital Hall of the Louise and David Roselle Center for the Arts, the ceremony honored the seven recipients for their dedication to public service and professional contributions and drew colleagues, guests and family members from as far away as Ethiopia, Minnesota and Massachusetts.
“To today’s honorees, congratulations on your achievements,” Harker said in his welcoming remarks. “Know that we at the University are very proud of you and what you have accomplished.
“Although your individual experience and your accomplishments vary, you all share an important quality–you have remained engaged with this University. Such engagement is crucial.”
Noting the growing academic presence of the University of Delaware, Harker voiced his confidence “that UD is on the brink of being recognized as one of the great universities” and said that “it is on the path to prominence.”
Each recipient gave a short speech acknowledging the award and the University’s role in shaping their careers, and accepted their certificates and a handshake from Harker.
The following are the winners of this year’s Presidential Citation Awards for Outstanding Achievement.
Menbere Alemayehu, owner of Menby’s Design, a studio based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, graduated from UD’s apparel design program in 1990. She achieved her first goal–to become a successful self-employed businesswoman in her native country of Ethiopia. Her second, related goal is to improve the lives of other Ethiopian women by hiring and training more women as weavers and seamstresses while providing good pay and better working conditions. Alemayehu talked about her origins as a seamstress, when she worked alongside her mother sewing garments for family members. She credited the University for making it possible for her to pursue a successful career in her own country, and gave special thanks to her former professors at UD.
Robert Boudwin, the mascot and event specialist for the NBA’s Houston Rockets, received his bacholer’s degree in business and economics from UD in 1997. Boudwin helped launch the University of Delaware’s YoUDee mascot from 1993-95 before becoming Houston’s own Clutch the Rocket Bear. Named the fifth most recognizable mascot in sports by USA Today in 2005, Boudwin continues to create impromptu comedy at Houston Rockets basketball games, cheerleading, signing autographs, performing skits and cavorting with power dancers to the beat of his own drum. Boudwin talked about the origins of UD’s mascot program, acknowledged how it gave him skills he still calls upon daily, and credited the program with sending him down a career path he wouldn’t have otherwise chosen.
Sean Dalton, who received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UD in 1992, a master’s degree in the same subject from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and an MBA from Harvard in 1998, is a managing general partner of Highland Capital Partners in Boston, a venture capital firm with $3 billion of committed capital that backs entrepreneurs within the technology, life sciences and consumer markets. Dalton currently focuses on opportunities in network infrastructure and semiconductors. Dalton talked about his early days at UD, acknowledged the supportive environment for building his confidence and gave special thanks to the electrical engineering program at UD.
Sunita Gangopadhyay, an executive director at Seagate Technology, earned her doctorate in physics at UD in 1993 with a specialization in magnetism and magnetic materials. Gangopadhyay leads teams of up to 50 professional engineers at Seagate Technology, the world’s largest manufacturer of hard disk drives, magnetic disks and read-write heads, an innovator in tape drives, and a leading developer of business intelligence software. Gangopadhyay thanked all her former professors in UD’s Department of Physics and said that her research opportunities while a student instilled her with lasting confidence and passion for her work.
George E. Heimpel, an associate professor in the department of entomology at the University of Minnesota, received his master’s degree in entomology and applied ecology from UD in 1991. He has traveled to far-flung places to find biological control solutions that are more effective in discouraging insect pests and less toxic than some chemical solutions. Heimpel emphasized his appreciation of the opportunities with which UD provided him during his pursuit of his master’s degree, thanked a former professor, Judith Hough-Goldstein, and credited UD with giving him world-class training.
Aklilu Kidanu, director of the private and independent Miz-Hasab Research Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, received his doctorate from UD’s College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy (CHEP) in 1990. Kidanu researches the impact of population, poverty and health issues on the social and economic development of African societies and suggests ways of using this knowledge to improve people’s lives. Kidanu talked about how his opportunities at UD allowed him to return to his native country and in turn provide job opportunities to more than 450 Ethiopians.
Mark B. Shiflett, a researcher at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Del., received his master’s degree in chemical engineering and a doctorate from UD in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Shiflett and his research team at DuPont developed new refrigerant mixtures to replace the CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) that were linked to the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer. The new refrigerant mixtures are non-ozone depleting, as well as nonflammable, with low toxicity and good thermal stability. Shiflett talked about the challenges of working full-time while pursuing his masters and doctoral degrees at UD, and gave special thanks to the Engineering Outreach Program at UD.
Taylor concluded the ceremony with final congratulatory remarks to the recipients, and invited all present to the reception.
Article by Becca Hutchinson
The Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO)
Press Release
The Afar pastoralists face a humanitarian disaster caused by flash flooding. The Afar region is a plain land adjacent to the Ethiopian highland plateau. Most rivers and streams emanated from the eastern highland and ends up into the Afar lowlands, which exposes the Afar land to flooding every rainy season. Additional factor to the flash flooding in Afar is the release of excess water from the Koka Dam. The Koka Dam on the Awash River was completed in 1960 with an initial capacity of 1.8 billion m3 and remains as a major source of hydroelectric power in the country. The Koka Dam releases most of its polluted and contaminated water during the rainy season, which is directly used by the pastoralists and their livestock. The magnitude of flash flooding and its adverse effect on the livelihood of Afar society raises serious concern.
The past governments established huge State Farms along Awash Valley to earn hard currency from cotton plantation. During this time the State Farms were protected from flooding by construction of dykes and a regular water brigade that worked all year round. When State Farms were dismantled by the TPLF- led regime the whole area remained open for regular flooding that displaced tens of thousands of people and livestock. So far, an emergency aid and humanitarian assistance both by government and NGO is nonexistent. Neither exist a long term plan for flood management to curb the recurrent flood related humanitarian disaster in the region. The stagnant water in the area is now a source for malaria and waterborne diseases. The flooding meant also a competition between humans and wild animals in search of dry places. As a consequence there are reports of causalities by hyenas, lions, crocodiles and snakes which are also displaced by the flooding. Water protected areas are occupied and guarded by the TPLF-army to safeguard the sugar cane plantations. Thus, there is a clear indication that the TPLF wishes to see the Awash Valley evacuated for the investors affiliated to the regime and intentionally neglects to address the tragedy of Afar people.
The disaster is often clearly seen in towns, where there are government institutions, which may draw the attention of media and solicit immediate response. However, the scale of flooding crisis is huge among the pastoralist majority of the region. At the end of August to September this year, the first gust of flooding occurred in Burimodayto wereda engulfing the wereda surrounded in water and washed away most livestock. In Dulecha woreda all eastern Kebeles, in Amihbara all the northern Kebeles, and in Zone five all eastern Kebeles are subject to sever flooding. In Zone one, Rumayto, Gaali Fagi, Dat Bahari, Harisa and Bayahele are surrounded by water and heavily affected by flooding. Even Awra and Uwa rivers caused flooding. The total population affected by the flooding was estimated 50 000 of which about 10 000 people are only from Burimodayto in Zone three.
Afar Human Rights Organisation believes that there is an immediate need to help the displaced people by humanitarian organisations.
AHRO call upon international community to help the displaced Afars by the flooding!
We call upon all humanitarian NGOs to investigate the flooding disasters and mobilise aid to affected people of the Afars in Ethiopia!
You can contact and support our effort through e-mail:[email protected]
The Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO)
Frankfurt, Germany — Kinijit or Qinijit or CUD. Some call it Qin Anjet! A spectacular event took place in Frankfurt last Friday where hundreds of Kinijit supporters met with the elected representatives of Ethiopia.
The Kinijit delegation to Europe, including Ato Muleneh Iyuel, Dr. Yacob Weldemariam, Ato Aschalew Ketema and Ato Abayneh Berhanu, has arrived at a Frankfurt Conferene hall where they were welcomed by a large, cheerful crowd.
The event included public discussions, fund raising and music. Delicious Ethiopian food with German beer and soft drinks were been served.
During the discussion, which was chaired by Dr. Assefa Nesibu, the delegates have emphasized the role Kinijit support groups in the Diaspora can play to help the party carry out its policies.
Dr. Getachew Lemma presented the delegates with a souevnir which he won during fund raising to be sent to Kinijit office in Ethiopia.
Similar public meetings and fund rasing events were conducted in Berlin and Munich, Germany. The Kinijit Support Group chairman in Germany has confirmed that all the funds collected will be sent directly to the Kinijit Finance Committee in Ethiopia.
By Alemayehu G. Mariam
“It is a great day for America! It’s a great day for Ethiopia!”
– Congressman Donald Payne
A Great Day for Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia!
Passage of H.R. 2003 on October 2, 2007 in the U.S. House of Representatives marked a great day for Ethiopia as did the lunar landing of Apollo 11 for humanity on July 20, 1969. When astronaut Neil Armstrong first stepped on the lunar surface, he said: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” That was the spirit of Payne’s message when he stepped out of the Foreign Affairs Committee hearing room on September 26, 2007and said, “It is a great day for America. It is a great day for Ethiopia”. But we all know what he meant: “H.R. 2003 is one small step for the U.S. Congress, one giant leap for Ethiopians on their long walk to freedom, democracy and human rights.”
Two dates in Anno Domini 2007 shall forever live in glory in the history of Ethiopia: September 26 and October 2. On these dates, the American Congress sent a message of hope, redemption and salvation to the Ethiopian people, “Hold on! Hold fast! Hold tight! Your Freedom Train is coming!”
The U.S Congress also addressed another stern message to the ironfisted, cruel and pitiless dictators in Ethiopia: “America will not give you guns, tanks and bombs to wipe out the people of the Ogaden. America will not be your partner in crime as you slaughter unarmed demonstrators in the streets. America will not stand with you by your prison gates as you keep hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens behind bars. The American tax payer will not bankroll your wicked decimation of the democratic liberties and human rights of your citizens. Americans will not allow their tax dollars to oppress the Ethiopian people, massacre, maim and mistreat them. No, America will not befriend tyrants who pervert and corrupt justice for private gain and disfigure it in the pursuit of partisan politics. America will not conspire with election thieves and rob the Ethiopian people of their democratic voices.”
On October 2, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives made its final declaration, unanimously and without objection: “Enough is enough!” In the pithy words of Congressman Chris Smith, “No more American tax dollars to support a vicious dictator and his henchmen!” And Congressman Dana Rorabacher could barely contain his fury when he said: “No military aid to the thugs and gangsters that are running Ethiopia today and profiteering from the confiscated property of American citizens of Ethiopian descent!” But the imperturbable Donald Payne just laid out the plain case to a candid world: “Our aim in H.R. 2003 is to foster accountability and transparency in Ethiopia, and strengthen its institutions of democracy.”
Donald Payne’s Long Road to Deliver a Gift of Freedom to Ethiopians
On October 2, 2007, at precisely 12:58 p.m., Donald Payne stood in the well of the House of Representatives as the Speaker Pro Tem thundered: “H.R. 2003 is passed by the House without objection.” Many of us had waited to hear those words for a mighty long time. And those words resonated in our ears like sweet musical lyrics, and reverberated across the globe wherever Ethiopians live scattered by the winds of tyranny. And all freedom-loving Ethiopians the world over let out a crescendo of joyful noises for God to hear!
But on that fateful day, Don Payne stood in the well of the House like a captain standing on the bridge of a ship that had just emerged on the horizon after a long night on the savage sea. There he stood calm, collected, deliberate and with an air of quiet dignity and self-assuredness. That brief moment masked the years of hard work and toil he had exerted to get this bill to the floor. But how many of us really know the trials and tribulations of the lone captain of the H.R. 2003 in getting the bill to the House floor?
Encircled by 3,500 ferocious predator sharks from the lobbying firm of D.L.A. Piper, our captain did not flinch. When Armey’s Army marched on the Hill to lay siege to his office, he held his ground. And when D.L.A. Piper, engorged by millions of lobbying dollars, bombarded members of Congress with the slings and arrows of falsehoods, half truths and distortions in an effort to defeat H.R. 2003, Payne stood there and said, “I shall not be moved!” When he saw Ethiopian brokers of tyranny skulking in the halls of Congress to spread their lies and mislead lawmakers, he must have shaken his head in dismay: “How can men sell their souls and their people for thirty pieces of silver?” In the end, he was told, “You will never make it against the mighty D.L.A. Piper. You are up against George Mitchell, Richard Gephart, Richard Klien, Richard Armey and 3,500 of the cleverest and most cunning lawyers in the world. There is no way you can win against a regime that has mined the legislative sea with millions of dollars. Back off Payne! Give it up!”
But Captain Payne would have none of it. He called out: “All hands on deck. Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”… continued on next page