By Lauren Gelfand, World Politics Review
LONDON — Pomp, pagentry and the hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas accompanied Ethiopia’s celebration of its entry into the third millennium, seven years after the rest of the world but in line with the Coptic calendar of the Horn of Africa nation.
But with the exchange of fiery rhetoric threatening to upset a fragile peace with neighbor Eritrea, new broadsides in the internal conflict raging in the Ogaden region on the country’s border with Somalia, and dissatisfaction with progress toward improved social welfare, Ethiopia has entered the 21st century much the way it wrapped up the 20th: divided and poor.
In honor of the Sept. 11 and 12 celebrations, the capital, Addis Ababa, was lit up with fireworks that cast long shadows on the expensive civic projects funded by the increasingly unpopular government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The elite — few and far between in the country of 70 million people that is ranked 170 of 179 on the U.N. Human Development Index — attended lavish celebrations at five-star hotels, including the Sheraton, considered one of Africa’s most luxurious.
Many among them are members of the Ethiopian diaspora, some of the more than 35,000 people who flew home from around the world, from Washington, D.C. to London.
For those diasporans who remained in their adopted cities, there were parties galore: London’s Trafalgar square hosted a concert attracting some 10,000 people, and Ethiopian restaurants around the United States advertised banquets, music and dance parties.
“People think of starving children and famine and poverty when they think of Ethiopia, when really we are a country where civilization took root and created sophisticated arts and music and education,” said one Addis native in London, an artist who refused to give her name, hunched over a plate of spicy chicken in sauce at a south London Ethiopian restaurant.
“This millennium party is a chance for us to change the way our country is perceived. Politics should not enter into the equation, it should be about partying and celebrating!”
‘There is Nothing’
For the average Ethiopian, however, unable to shell out the equivalent of two months’ salary for the extravagant parties, there seemed to be little on offer to preserve a festive mood.
Many of the planned festivities, including the annual racing of the Great Ethiopian Run, a “Taste of Ethiopia” celebration of national cuisine and a free concert hosted by the Rastafarian community, were all cancelled by the government amid “security concerns.”
Many residents of the capital spent the evening in church, following marathon prayers with meals of roasted goat and the spongy sourdough flatbread known as injera.
But even their festive meals were bare of the berberi spices essential to the traditional “wat” sauce that flavors many dishes. Price hikes put hot peppers out of reach for most of the population, leading many to decry the 21st century as the “pepperless millennium.”
So glum were residents of the capital that a wry joke was making the rounds, both of Addis Ababa and the international media: What’s Amharic for Millennium? The answer: minnum yellum, which literally translates to “there is nothing.”
Ogaden Humanitarian Crisis
Further east, in the Ogaden region on the border with Somalia, the atmosphere was anything but festive.
An untold number of refugees have flooded into makeshift camps, escaping rape, looting and murderous rampages perpetrated by Ethiopian troops and civilians on the mostly-Muslim population living in the triangle that juts into Somalia.
The Coptic Christian regime has launched a major crackdown on the mostly ethnic Somali and Muslim population of Ogaden, fueled, according to the Meles government, by its opposition to the independence-seeking rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).
For nearly two decades, the ONLF has fought both with force and through diplomatic efforts to end what it considers the region’s systematic marginalization by Addis Ababa.
In ramping up efforts to crack down on the ONLF, however, humanitarian organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières have warned that civilians are facing collective punishment and being deprived of humanitarian aid — a public pronouncement that has resulted in the organization’s ouster from the region.
Three of the worst-affected areas have been decreed off limits to both MSF and the International Committee of the Red Cross, leaving an estimated 400,000 people in a very precarious state, with limited access to food, clean water and medical care.
Next Page: ‘There is a humanitarian crisis’ . . .
“There is a humanitarian crisis,” said William Robertson, the MSF head of mission, from Nairobi on Sept. 4.
“Our teams have treated people who were forced to flee their homes and who are now battling for their survival with next-to-no assistance. They are living in fear, the targets of armed groups or in the crossfire.”
So preoccupying is the evolving humanitarian crisis in Ogaden that the United States, a staunch ally of the Meles government and major contributor of foreign aid, has sent a senior diplomat to help resolve the issue.
Jendayi Frazer, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, called the situation in Ogaden a “humanitarian crisis” on a Sept. 8 visit to the region, putting Washington squarely at odds with a country it relies upon to bring a measure of stability to the restive Horn of Africa.
Border Tension With Eritrea
Washington is also looking warily at the resumption of combustible rhetorical exchanges between Ethiopia and perennial rival Eritrea, seven years after they signed an agreement to end two years of bloody war.
Noting recently that Ethiopian troops were just “meters” away from their Eritrean counterparts, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin breathed new life into the intractable stalemate, a tacit warning that Addis would continue to obstruct the implementation of a ruling that awarded the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea.
Despite the presence of U.N. troops in the border region these last six years, the two sides have continued their dispute over Badme, a dry and dusty town that has limited strategic value beyond its symbolic worth to Addis and Asmara.
“At this time there is little separation of troops from the two neighbors. . . . The armies of the two countries are only 70 or 80 meters apart,” Mesfin said during a Sept. 10 news conference.
Mesfin also chided a U.N. border commission’s work to reinforce the 2002 border decision ahead of its dissolution in November, criticism that was backed up on Tuesday by Meles himself, who reiterated Ethiopia’s resistance to giving Badme to Eritrea.
Analysts contend that Meles is maintaining his bluster on the border dispute in order to boost his sagging popularity and to obfuscate the ongoing domestic travails faced by his impoverished population. But there is real concern that the stalemate could edge into violence again, as neither Addis nor Asmara shows any signs of backing down.
More than one in 10 Ethiopians is “food vulnerable,” according to development agencies, which means they have no financial security that will allow them to regularly purchase what they need to feed their families.
“It is absolutely the case that Ethiopia faces some very serious political and security challenges, both at home domestically and in the Horn of Africa,” said Tom Porteous, the London director of Human Rights Watch, in an exclusive interview with World Politics Review. “Violating human rights law and international humanitarian law is not an effective way of dealing with those challenges, aside from being wrong and causing a lot of civilian suffering.”
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Lauren Gelfand is a freelance journalist and commentator with a special interest in African issues.
Wasington, DC. — Ethiopian social entrepreneur and peace advocate Elias Wondimu was appointed Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP).
Elias Wondimu Appointed
Ambassador for Peace
The Ambassadors for Peace is a global network of leaders from religion, politics, the media, academia, and civil society working cooperatively for the sake of world peace.
UPF and IIFWP chose as Ambassador for Peace those individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to universal moral values, strong family life, interreligious cooperation, international harmony, renewal of the United Nations, a responsible public media, and the establishment of a culture of peace.
Wondimu is one of five African publishers in the United States and the founder of the Ethiopian Institute for Nonviolence Education and Peace Studies. He has been at the forefront of knowledge production through his Tsehai Publishers, which publishes books on African politics and culture; his coordination of Tsehai Conferences; and his establishment of the peer-reviewed International Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Currently, he serves as board director on PEN Center USA West and the African Diaspora Foundation-a group working to establish peace curriculum in African schools. He was the former managing editor of the Ethiopian Review Magazine. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most active young leaders in the African diaspora and has built a name for service to the community through brokering connections among Americans and Africans, the general public and political leaders, and academia and business.
The Ambassadors for Peace initiative was launched in January of 2001, giving rise to a series of educational programs aimed at reconciliation and peace. Nearly 70,000 Ambassadors for Peace have been appointed worldwide.
The Ethiopian Institute for Nonviolence Education and Peace Studies is an organization that actively engages in nonviolent means of political participation to effect positive change in the country’s political landscape. The Institute accomplishes its mission by providing educational and research opportunities, and leadership development using in-person-training and distance education. (To learn more, visit: http://www.eineps.org)
PRESS RELEASE
The Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) is very much concerned about the fate of Australopithecus afarensis, which is popularly known as both Lucy and Dinkinesh. Lucy – the root of mankind is an exception and symbol that places Ethiopia into the World heritage. Unlike any other hominid fossil ever found Lucy is most complete hominid skeleton of the 3.2 million years old. Lucy is fundamentally about what it means to be human, and preserving the fossil records of the origins of humanity.
We share the concern of many people about the safety of our anthology (Lucy) while in US tour. Meanwhile, we would like to draw the attention of the International community to the fate of the Afar people where Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) was found- the Lucy land. The tour of Lucy is no more than self-centred propaganda wishes to divert the attention of international community from what is being happening inside the country, including flooding, volcano eruption, and human rights violation.
Few people ever had the chance to see what Lucy is all about in Ethiopia; even less is known what Lucy means for international heritage among the Afars. While discussing Lucy, it is very important to take into the consideration the situation of the Afar people, because Lucy, Afar and Ethiopia is inseparable from one another. It is not very much that Lucy was secretly taken through a covert deal with TPLF-regime in order to be exhibited around in the Houston Museum, and other places in the US. The question is, what is the objective of the deal and how is the interest involved would be used back home in Ethiopia. We do not believe it wise to think, the regime who abuse human rights at home could do any better for Lucy. A regime that has no respect for human rights, can not respect the legacy of the international treasure like Lucy either.
The TPLF led government never mind about Mother of All Humanity which hire the Lucy skeleton on a six-year-tour of the United States. What perplexing however is that, the position of Houston Museum which is a cultural center with renowned respect for other cultures. Does Houston Museum know where Lucy was found is desolate and remote Afar area, where people lack drinking water for both human and livestock? Does Houston Museum know Hadar in the Afar region, where Lucy was found lack any single sign indicating where Lucy was found? Does the Museum know the area where Lucy was found lack basic infrastructure still suffers of drought, diseases and civil war? In this conjunction, it is essential to understand the position of the Afar people! You can contact and support our effort through e-mail: “AFAR HUMAN RIGHTS”
We call upon International Association connected to Human Palaeontology and UNESCO safeguard the well being of the fossils of Lucy!
We call upon UNESCO to mark the site where Lucy was found and improve accessibility and the infrastructure!
AHRO call upon Houston Museum to reconsider the deal with the TPLF ruler and redirect the income generated from the exhibition to be used for improvement of life where Lucy was found!
By James Butty, VOA
James Butty interview with Hailu Araya Butty interview with Hailu Araaya
Ethiopia’s main opposition, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) says the struggle in Ethiopia is a struggle for democracy, and it hopes the United States will stand on the side of those fighting for democracy in Ethiopia.
In July this year, the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 of the country’s top opposition leaders. They had been arrested and charged with treason in a government crackdown following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Now a five-man delegation of the opposition CUD is in the United States.
Spokesman Hailu Araaya told VOA that the delegation is here to thank the Ethiopian Diaspora for its support.
“You know we have been in prison for almost 21 months, and the Ethiopians in the Diaspora have been helpful, so supportive in many ways such as diplomatically, financially and so on. So we wanted to come to this country to meet them face-to-face and say thank you to them. The other thing is there is a struggle going on in Ethiopia to establish democracy there, and this democracy needs the support of the people not only in Ethiopia but also outside Ethiopia. And we are here to discuss with them how best we can work together to promote the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia,” he said.
Araaya said the delegation has been meeting with members of the U.S. Congress, and he hoped similar meetings could be arranged with Bush administration officials.
“Yes we have met with Congressman Donald Payne (chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa), and tomorrow we are going to meet other senators. And we hope that some program could be worked out for us so that we would have the opportunity to meet some of the people in the State Department,” Araaya said.
At a forum in Washington recently to mark Ethiopia’s third millennium, one speaker said current U.S. Ethiopia relations were frustrating the quest for democracy in Ethiopia.
Araaya said current Ethiopia-U.S. relations are good, but he hoped they would get better with U.S. support for the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia.
“I think Ethio-American relations are good at the moment. We hope that they will keep improving because the United States is the supporter and champion of democracy, and the struggle going in Ethiopia is to establish democracy in Ethiopia. We see no reason why the United States will not stand on the side of those forces that are struggling for democracy. I remember when President Bush made the inaugural speech, he said that the United States will be standing on the side of those who also fight for democracy. And we hope that the United States will keep its word and be on the side of people, parties that are determined to establish democracy in their respective countries,” Araaya said.
When the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 opposition leaders in July, the government said the opposition leaders had signed statement of apology.
Araaya confirmed the opposition did sign a statement to be released from prison.
“Well we were released on pardon basis. We were pardoned. As you said yes, we did sign a document and then on basis of that document, a pardon board reviewed our case and then presented to the president of the country, and the president issued a pardon declaration. And so we are released with all our full rights that a citizen should have,” Araaya said.
Araaya said the opposition leaders signed the statement voluntarily with an apology to the Ethiopian government.
“We signed it voluntarily. We apologized to the people, to the government. Yes, we did. That’s what the paper said, and that’s what we signed,” he said.
Ethiopia’s next elections are in January 2008. Araaya said the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy would like to field candidates, but for now, it wants to concentrate on rebuilding.
“In principle we would like to participate in any kind of election. But as you know, we just came out of prison, and while we were in prison, our offices were closed and most of our activists were dispersed because of the harassment and other problems. So now what we’re trying to do is to regroup ourselves and also to obtain a certificate of recognition as a party,” he said.
On this month’s Sierra Leone presidential run-off election in which opposition candidate Ernest Bai Koroma defeated incumbent Vice President Solomon Berewa, Araaya said the Ethiopian opposition was proud of the performance of Sierra Leone Election Commission Chairwoman Christiana Thorpe.
“In the first place, we are very happy, we are proud of the electoral board in Sierra Leone. I wish our board would do the same thing. We hope the day will come when our electoral board would do the same. But I just wanted to say that we are very encouraged by what happened in Sierra Leone. And it could be a good moral symbol, very encouraging to us as opposition parties and also our electoral board would examine the Sierra Leone case and learn something from it,” Araaya said.
