ADDIS ABABA, July 10 (Reuters) – Rescuers used motor boats on Tuesday to try to reach at least 4,000 pastoralists marooned by floods in Ethiopia’s remote southeast.

A senior official in South Omo region said 1,800 people had been moved to safety so far since hundreds of families were surrounded when the Wotio River burst its banks last week.

“The flood covered Erbor locality, which is flat, and formed a lake encircling the inhabitants,” deputy administrator Negatu Dansa told Reuters by telephone. No one had died, he said.

Local disaster relief officials were providing the displaced with food and shelter, he said. Some 48,000 Ethiopians were uprooted by flooding last year, according to U.N. estimates.

Floods typically hit lowland areas after heavy rains between June and September drench the country’s highlands.

The Federal Supreme Court in Ethiopia today sentenced former defense minister Siye Abraha to five years imprisonment on charges of corruption.

Since Siye has already been in jail for more than five years, he will be released. Siye, who many suspect, was jailed by the Woyanne regime because of his serious policy differences with Meles Zenawi, looked happy when the decision was read by the court.

The court sentenced the other defendants on the case, Fitsumzeab Asgedom, Beshah Azmete, Assefa Abaha and Tamrat Layne to five years, eight years, nine years, and three months imprisonment respectively. It means Fitsumzeab will also be released.

Source: Ethio-Zagol

Press Release
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party
Kinijit International Leadership

The regime in Ethiopia has recently escalated its campaign of terror against innocent civilians, this time in the Ogaden region of the country. It has been reported by international human rights organizations and confirmed by major media outlets that the Government has been engaged in a systematic campaign of violence against civilians under the pretext that they support the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) which the regime blamed for last April’s unfortunate death of civilians in an oil exploration facility run by Chinese experts. It has always been the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party’s (CUDP) position that it strongly condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians, by any party to a conflict, and for any cause whatsoever.

According to several well-founded reports, the TPLF army launched a series of attacks last month against innocent civilians throughout the Ogaden region. The attacks destroyed several villages and left dozens of civilians dead. The continued and well planned attack has also forced hundreds of civilians to flee their homes in search of food and shelter across the border with Somalia.

Although the latest situation in the Ogaden region indeed raises grave concern, it is, however, part of a pattern of behavior followed by the regime in unleashing a government sponsored violence in response to legitimate and peaceful demands from the Ethiopian people. The regime’s track record since its ascension to power in 1991 is studded with the brutal murder of popular union leaders, civil rights activists, peaceful demonstrators, political leaders, and influential figures in academia. Almost all of the mass killings that took place over the last seventeen years have been carried out under the personal order of the Prime Minister. Moreover, Mr. Zenawi’s army has been exceptionally even-handed on eliminating its opposition from each and every region of the country. The people of the Ogaden region have, in fact, taken more than their share of the tragedy as this is not the first time for them to be slaughtered by the regime. What we are witnessing currently in the Ogaden is a replay of the tragedy that was committed by the regime, albeit in a much larger proportion, in Gambella in 2003-2004, which in turn was a reproduction of similar killing sprees that took place in Awassa, Tepi, Ambo, Guder, Jimma, Addis Ababa, and many other parts of Oromiya, Amhara, and the Afar regions.

The latest demonstration of brute force by the government against unarmed civilians demonstrates the heavy price that Ethiopians have been and are paying to bring democratic changes in their country. As similar scorched earth campaigns waged by the regime to frustrate the people’s demand have been unsuccessful in the past, neither will the current campaign stifle the peaceful and democratic struggle of the people against tyranny. TPLF crackdown follows a similar pattern in that the campaigns always begin with the pretext of fighting armed rebels or “terrorists” ending up in a Janjaweed-type operation against innocent civilians.

What is more depressing is that the people of the Ogaden, like all other Ethiopians, have barely emerged from the apocalyptic calamities of drought, famine, and mass displacement when they are once again confronted by the killing machines of a government army.

The Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party is convinced that the recent crackdown in the Ogaden is yet another reminder of the stark truth that the only path to a democratic system is to coordinate the people’s struggle against the regime. It is CUD’s conviction that only a coordinated struggle through a holistic approach can deliver us from the current predicament which is partly exacerbated by the isolated and regional nature of our reaction to the tyranny that has amply proved to be a common enemy of the Ethiopian people without regard to our religious or ethnic identity. A coordinated effort can only guarantee success in our struggle and lead to national reconciliation and an inclusive system the returns of which could be partaken by the current regime as well. CUD, for its part, is trying to work along several dimensions to coordinate the democratic struggle with other groups with which CUD share similar visions of democratic change in our country.

Although, it increasingly appears that only a coordinated struggle of their own can deliver Ethiopians from their predicament, the international community can not remain indifferent as the regime in Ethiopia continue maiming civilians in front of a world media and human rights observers. Unfortunately, the regime’s opportunistic alliance with major world powers that provide the military and financial assistance, while turning a blind eye to the horrendous human rights has emboldened the Zenawi regime to unleash its post-election reign of terror through out the country.

The types of crimes that have been committed against civilians in other parts of the country as well as in the Ogaden is counter to the various international human rights conventions, to which the regime is a party to. As has been established from the Gambella tragedy, the regime’s army has committed widespread murder, rape, and torture against civilians.consistently and systematically against civilians including children, the elderly and nursing mothers. The regime has also been defrauding the international community through charades of investigations and mock trials, and other times by falsifying reports of Inquiry Commissions. Nevertheless, it is indisputable that offenses committed as part of a systematic and widespread attack against civilians are crimes against humanity under international law.

CUD urges donor governments and major international organizations to publicly condemn the regime in Ethiopia for the atrocities committed by its army in the Ogaden region. The CUD also calls upon the international community, especially the EU, AU and the United States, to set up an international commission for an independent inquiry into the systematic and widespread civilian killings committed by government forces in Ethiopia, including the post election mass murder and the recent crackdown in the Ogaden region of Eastern Ethiopia.

The CUD also avails this opportunity to remind the regime in Ethiopia that pursuing military solutions to problems that can be solved peacefully, and without the huge cost to human lives, would inevitably backfire against the regime itself. The CUD and other opposition parties continue to remind the ruling party that it is never too late to abandon its wanton course of murder and mayhem, and to choose the safest course of peaceful national reconciliation and a broad-based democratic system from which all Ethiopians stand to benefit.

Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit)

By Abdo Moqbil Al-Sabiri, Yemen Times

The Ethiopian Community is considered to be an institution whose members have dedicated themselves to reviewing all Ethiopian-related issues. Among those issues is shouldering several responsibilities and burdens such as issuing IDs, passports, providing and facilitating all procedures to solve the Ethiopian problems as well as providing shelter, food and improving their health care. Emran Mohammed Sharief, the Chairman of the Ethiopian Community has been living in Yemen for about 21 years. He has been entrusted with every Tom, Dick and Harry residing or working here in Yemen. He is married and has got 4 children. The eldest daughter is 23 years old while the youngest son is 16.

The community was established in August in 1983 and at that time the number of the Ethiopians was too few. According to the Ethiopian Embassy’s statistics, the number of Ethiopian residents has been ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 people.

While, the community members have reached only 1,500 persons. The community is supported by its members and they contribute YR 500 a month. About $ 1200 is paid as rent and that money comes from the community members themselves. So many shops are found at the community. Those shops are allotted for selling Ethiopian goods, because, when coming here, the Ethiopians are inclined to their traditional goods.

Conditions of Ethiopian Community

The Ethiopian community has been responsible for solving so many problems such as, giving treatment to Ethiopians and following up their cases. “If for instance one of the Ethiopians is imprisoned, we then follow his/her case and if someone dies here in Yemen, he is taken to his homeland, (Ethiopia) to be buried,” Mr. Sharief remarked. On the other hand, if no relatives or family is found, the dead person is buried here in Yemen. “We face so many problems related to the Ethiopian community residing or working here in Yemen, particularly female servants who come to Yemen in order to make a living. When coming home we are taken aback for not having pre-work contracts.

Those maidservants are conned out of their life by the agents, Mohammed Ali al-Ashtal and Hassan Al-Usta,” Mr. Sharief said.

Mr. Sharief attributed most of those problems to Mohammed Ali Al-Ashtal who has so many agents in Ethiopia and even without the knowledge of the Ethiopian government.

“No contracts are made; they don’t know even how many years they should work. They are totally unaware about the situation here in Yemen,” Mr. Sharief added further.

Consequently, agents worm their way into the Ethiopian maidservants’ confidence. “People have been still thinking that the Yemeni Rial has been still equal to that of the Saudi Rial. Agents there pull the wool over the Ethiopians’ eyes that if an Ethiopian maidservant receives YR. 8000 it means that one birr, (an Ethiopian currency) equals YR20. But, when coming here to Yemen, we got astonished of not having work contracts with them,” he commented.

According to what Mr. Sharief said, those maidservants are taken by the Mohammed Ali al-Ashtal directly from the airport to their workplaces.

When having the desire to come here, Ethiopians have to pay amounts of money totaling birr 2000 which equals YR., 40000.

More sorrow than in anger, Ethiopian girls when working here are exposed to several psychological disturbances. They are also annoyed intensely. But, who should be held accountable for all those problems.

“Agents bring them here and provides jobs for them. We at the Ethiopian community at length have to bear their entire burdens. Because of being next of kin, we have to treat them here at the Ethiopian community; we shoulder all burdens and return them to their home.

Community Chairman with security men

So many tangled problems are shouldered by the community, specifically its chairman, Mr. Emran.  He has been taken to police stations several times. As he is the only person who chairs the community, he has become the first to be held accountable for what is going on with the Ethiopians here working or residing in Yemen. So many examples are given by the Ethiopian community chairman. “If for instance a wage-earner girl escapes from an official house, I am the only person who should pay the cost, “One month ago, I remained at the Criminal Investigation for one week. This is because two maid servants fled an official’s house. I was taken to the Criminal Investigation office by security men from my office. I was taken immediately and imprisoned for a whole week. “Up to this moment, this case hasn’t been yet resolved and we also haven’t seen these two girls or even come to the community premises,” he explained. All these problems are because of the agents who bring them from Ethiopia.  In order to duck these cases, they throw stones at the community and escape.

Community appeals

The majority of the Ethiopians here in Yemen doesn’t have residence permits. If a distinction is made between the Yemeni community in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian community here in Yemen, a big difference lies there. Majority of Yemenis don’t have any problems concerning their residencies. “We are here in Yemen facing so many problems, including 365 passports at the immigration authority, haven’t yet been resolved. No response has been shown yet,” he said. Spacious piece of land is allotted for the Yemeni community in Ethiopia. This has paved the way for Yemenis there to build schools and be able to educate their children in Arabic. “We want our sons learn their mother tongue,’’ he concluded too.

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By Mustafa Haji Abdinut

MOGADISHU, July 9, 2007 (AFP) – Six people were killed and at least eight injured Monday as guerrilla attacks continued to plague Mogadishu, days before a key reconciliation conference involving rival Somali factions.

Three people were killed in a spate of grenade attacks and police reprisals in the capital’s busy Bakara market, witnesses said.

“I was trying to exchange money at a forex bureau when a hand grenade was hurled at the place,” Hassan Anteno told AFP. “Three people were wounded, all of them civilians.”

“Government forces posted nearby opened fire, which sent people fleeing from the market… The forces have also shot a civilian in the market,” he added.

Moments later, another blast rocked a sector of the market where goldsmiths and traders have their stalls.

“A hand grenade exploded inside the market. There were a lot of people, most of them civilians and some government forces. I saw two bodies and five wounded, including three women,” said one of the traders, Abdukader Mohamed.

The brother of one of the victims gave an AFP reporter the same toll.

A third explosion was heard in the market, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

Meanwhile two policemen were killed in separate incidents, witnesses and police sources told AFP.

“A policeman was collecting taxes from small businesses near Ged-Jael when he was shot in the head” by two unidentified gunmen, eyewitness Muno Hasan said.

The deputy police commissioner for Mogadishu’s Yakshid district, Nur Elmi, was also shot dead overnight, his superior Haji Ali Fidow told reporters.

“We have been told that he was shot several while going to his house,” he said.

“We took his body last night and he was buried this morning,” the victim’s nephew Sakariye Mohamed told AFP. “We don’t know who killed him but he was shot several times in the head and chest.”

A Medecins Sans Frontier (MSF) security guard was shot and killed in the central Somali town of Beledweyne, about 350 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu, officials said.

The guard was killed by a man wearing a government uniform in what appeared to be a “local Somali feud,” a witness said.

“We send our condolences but MSF operations will continue,” a humanitarian worker told AFP in Nairobi.

Last month, gunmen killed a doctor working with US charity International Medical Corps and his driver in southern Somalia, highlighting the continuing insecurity in the shattered nation.

Roadside blasts, grenade and gun attacks have convulsed the city since Ethiopia-backed Somali forces wrested final control of Mogadishu from Islamist and clan fighters in April after months of fighting.

Government officials, Ethiopian troops and African Union peacekeepers have been targeted in the attacks blamed on Islamists determined to sabotage efforts to normalise Mogadishu.

The attacks, as well as insufficient funding, have delayed a government-organised peace conference three times. It is now scheduled for July 15.

Somalia has been without a functioning central authority since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre touched off a bloody power struggle that has defied numerous attempts to restore stability.