Sources close to Qaliti:
Woyanne propagandists are busy trying to characterize the negotiation between the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne) and the prisoners as a plea bargain and are also trying to insinuate that the prisoners in Qaliti are asking for mercy. It also said that the whole thing has been initiated from the movement in North America while the reality is that the initiative is that of the shimagiles and others in Addis Ababa including the regime and the US embassy. Woyanne cadres true to the nature of their masters are busy attempting to confuse the public by also saying that there is division among the prisoners. There is no such thing inside Kaliti. None.
Here is the accurate information. The Meles Government is feeling the pressure from the international community, particularly soon after the guilty verdict. In fact, the guilty verdict which was written in the palace by Meles was meant to put additional pressure on the prisoners to submit to Meles’s demand that they absolve him from the crimes he committed. He is badly in need of face saving. There were repeated attempts made by the regime to make the prisoners self incriminate in exchange for the release which they have rejected. Meles and his TPLF clique are worried about the consequence of the blood of innocent people in their hands. They also know that their court case is totally without a single merit and that it is in shambles. So they want the prisoners to take partial blame for the post election crisis and absolve them.
No one has yet signed the draft sent by Meles through the shimagiles. Our leaders are carefully weighing the pros and cons and the language of the agreement. There is no plea bargain as the shameless Aiga (TPLF) guys try to insinuate. Any question of plea bargain has been tried since last year and the prisoners of conscience have rejected it.
You may also need to know that Meles is not in Addis Ababa the last few days. Unconfirmed reports say that he is being treated in an Israeli Hospital for some illness. God save him. We will know more about this over the next hours. We are told Bereket is the medium for now.
The prisoners are allowed to get together to discuss the issue freely. They are discussing it intensively as in the culture they started before and after the election. Everybody’s idea is respected in Kinijit and everybody is listened to. There are some who look at it from points of principle, there are others look at it from points of views of tactic. But they are all firm in their stand. Inside Qaliti there is only a robust discussion and comradely love and respect for one another. Not an iota of the kind of division the Aiga bullies are trying to make. We are told the prisoners are jovial and feeling no pressure at all. They are negotiating intelligently. As you can imagine these are the super brains together. They know what they are doing and their dedication and determination has never been stronger. Everyone should, of course understand that our leaders are negotiating under duress. Obviously Meles has more cards over his victims but also knows the buttered side of his bread. The American embassy is heavily involved, but its pressure on Meles is not what we expect it to be. The European Union is coming down on him heavily. The NYT story has shaken their ground. Even the Americans are a little more tired of Meles. Deep in their hearts they know the accusation against Kinijit’s leaders is a pack of lie.
Our leaders are with all their integrity and determination. They will decide on their best bet. May be they may give in on some of their positions to help Meles face save. But they have agreed to be unanimous in their decision. There is no bickering among them only intelligent deliberation. Be careful about attempts by Woyane agents to saw confusion and division among us. They are busy trying to create the illusion of two camps inside Kinijit. That is their wish. There is no such thing inside Qaliti.
Let’s also prey for our country and the prisoners. Let’s pray for the woyanes too for God help free their mind from the hatred and vengefulness that obsessed their mind.
Stay tuned and united…
Innovations Report
University of Nottingham scientists have been instrumental in helping to establish a pioneering branch of chemistry in Ethiopia.
They have helped to introduce Green Chemistry, an emerging field of sustainable science that will help African nations to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Green Chemistry — a field in which The University of Nottingham is a world leader — focuses on greener ways of creating chemicals, and is now regarded as one of the major routes to more environmentally-friendly production of the chemicals that underpin modern society.
The work of Nottingham academics with their colleagues in Ethiopia, detailed in the online version of the journal Science, began with a chance meeting four years ago. Today it is sufficiently developed to enable African scientists to participate more fully in the search for new chemicals, processes and techniques that could impact on millions of people.
Much current research is focused on the search for renewable feedstocks and more environmentally acceptable solvents as replacements for petroleum-based products. This makes Green Chemistry particularly relevant to the needs of African countries such as Ethiopia, faced with an increasing demand for chemicals, little or no indigenous oil, and rapidly expanding populations.
The collaboration started with a chance meeting between Dr Nigist Asfaw and Professor Martyn Poliakoff, who heads research into Green Chemistry at The University of Nottingham, while the latter was on holiday in Ethiopia.
Over the next four years, links were gradually developed and strengthened through staff visits, conferences, workshops and collaborative research. Today, the Ethiopian scientists have established an international presence and are on the brink of their first conference for chemists from across the whole of Africa.
Ethiopian PhD student Haregewine Tadesse is currently in the second year of her PhD in Dr Peter Licence’s research group at The University of Nottingham. Haregewine has made a very strong start, having already authored a high-profile scientific paper for publication and addressed a meeting of the RSC Archives for Africa at the Houses of Parliament. A second Ethiopian postgraduate, Mr Bitu Biru, is due to join in September to start a PhD in the subject.
Professor Poliakoff and Dr Licence have co-authored a paper in Science Express with Dr Asfaw and Dr Temechegn Engida, of Addis Ababa University.
They write in Science Express: “Green Chemistry provides a unique opportunity for African chemists because it combines the search for new science with the development of sustainable chemical technologies appropriate to the needs of the community.
“Therefore, the resources of Africa — intense sunlight, unique plant species and enthusiastic young people — present its chemists with scientific opportunities, less readily available in many other countries.
“With modest funding and overseas support, a determined group of Ethiopian scientists has established an international presence within only four years. It is a model which perhaps can be replicated elsewhere.”
Green chemistry is now well established at Addis Ababa University and the collaboration has led to a number of other key developments, notably:
– The establishment of Addis Ababa University as an Overseas Chapter of the American Chemical Society, Green Chemistry Institute.
– The formation of the Federation of African Societies of Chemistry, bringing together scientists from across Africa.
– 1st Annual FASC conference to be held in Addis Ababa in September 2007 — with Green Chemistry as its theme.
– Nottingham PhD student Haregewine Tadesse and Nottingham academic Dr Robert Mokaya, a Kenyan, spoke at the launch of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Archive for Africa. The launch of the Archive means that African scientists will have free access to the latest research published in key scientific journals.
– Research and staff links between Nottingham and Addis Ababa University, including appointment of Dr Peter Licence as visiting professor, making extended visits to Addis Ababa to participate in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Professor Poliakoff and his colleagues wrote in Science Express: “Our collaboration has been intellectually rewarding for all of those involved and it has been particularly helpful in developing the careers of the younger participants. However, this was only possible because our Ethiopian colleagues had already built a strong chemistry department at their university.
“Having overseas scientists to champion their work on the international scene has clearly been valuable to the chemists in Ethiopia.
“We strongly urge other scientists to consider championing an African country so that their needs can be more loudly articulated in the international arena and their scientists empowered to meet the tremendous challenges of the future.”
Emma Thorne | Quelle: alphagalileo
Weitere Informationen: www.nottingham.ac.uk
NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SOCIALIST GROUP
21 june 2007 –
Contact: Solange Hélin-Villes – +32476 510 172
Tony Robinson:+475 257 410
www.socialistgroup.eu
Socialist European Members of Parliament are seriously concerned with the fate of 38 Ethiopian political prisoners who were charged guilty on 11 June, most of whom could face death penalty sentences, expected in early July. The convicted include elected Members of Parliament, human rights activists, opposition leaders, journalists, teachers, etc.
In a resolution approved today, the European Parliament calls once more for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners in Ethiopia, who were not given the opportunity of a fair trial. The resolution also urges the EU Commission and Council to take a clear stand with the Ethiopian government in order to ensure such a release.
“The EU can make the difference, no doubt. We have seen the positive results of EU firm action when, in June 2005, over 5.000 political prisoners were released in one month, following pressure from the international community. The EU must stand by those Ethiopian citizens who voted massively for democracy on 15 May 2005, under the eyes of the EU Election Observation Mission, and were killed and wounded in June and November 2005, while their leaders were imprisoned by the Ethiopian authorities.
We expect the EU Council and the Commission to come forward much stronger”, said MEP Ana Gomes, at a press conference yesterday.
Among those convicted are Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, aged 76, founder and former president of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council; Dr Berhanu Negga, elected Mayor of Addis Ababa; Dr Yakob Hailemariam, law professor and former UN prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; Ms Birtukan Mideksa, former judge; Andualem Ayele, editor of Etiop newspaper and others who are considered by Amnesty International as “prisoners of conscience”.
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the post-election crisis and serious human rights violations, in particular those of 7 July 2005 on the human rights situation in Ethiopia1, of 13 October 2005 on the situation in Ethiopia2, of 15 December 2005 on the situation in Ethiopia and the new border conflict3, of 16 November 2006 on Ethiopia4 and of 10 May 2007 on the Horn of Africa: EU regional political partnership for peace, security and development5,
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 11 June 2007 an Ethiopian court found 38 senior opposition figures guilty of charges related to mass protests following disputed elections two years ago, ranging from ‘outrage against the constitution’ to aggravated high treason,
B. whereas sentencing is expected next month and most of the accused could face the death penalty,
C. whereas among those found guilty were Hailu Shawel, President of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, former Chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, UN Special Envoy and former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Dr Berhanu Nega, Mayor-elect of Addis Ababa, and Ms Birtukan Mideksa, former judge, all of whom have been declared ‘prisoners of conscience’ by Amnesty International,
D. whereas the 38 prisoners, who all refused to plead guilty, were among the estimated 30 000 people arrested in a government crackdown on demonstrators protesting against fraud and vote-rigging by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government in the 2005 polls,
E. whereas the Commission of Inquiry established by the Ethiopian Parliament at the end of November 2005 to investigate the violence of June and November 2005 concluded that 193 civilians were killed and 763 injured by government security forces; whereas the Commission’s report found that some of the victims were killed with a single bullet wound to the head and that sharpshooters targeted certain opposition leaders; and whereas, according to the same report, protesters were unarmed and the security forces used excessive force,
F. whereas the report also states that a 14-year-old boy was killed during the demonstrations, that his brother, who ran out to help him, was shot from behind and that Etenesh Yimam, the wife of an opposition candidate, was gunned down outside her house in front of her children,
G. whereas the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) blamed the deaths on the security forces, but Mr Meles accused the opposition of starting the violent protests,
H. whereas the President and Vice-President of the Commission of Inquiry were forced to flee following pressure by the government to reverse the Commission’s findings, and whereas testimony to these events was given by Commission Vice-President Woldemichael Meshesha to the European Parliament, during a hearing held on 5 June 2007,
I. whereas journalists continue to be arrested and prevented from exercising their profession,
J. whereas in January 2007 police forces allegedly beat and severely injured students in the towns of Dembi Dollo and Ghimbi, causing the death of three of them, and detained between 30 and 50 students,
K. whereas individuals accused of international terrorism, including EU citizens, have been arbitrarily detained and subject to rendition,
L. whereas political and democratic stability in Ethiopia is crucial to the development of the countries of the Horn of Africa,
M. whereas Ethiopia needs a reconciliation process to restore the derailed democratic gains and pave the way for sustainable development that is respectful of fundamental human rights, political pluralism, minority rights, particularly those of ethnic Oromo, and the rule of law,
N. whereas Ethiopia is a signatory to the Cotonou Agreement6, Article 96 of which stipulates that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is an essential element of ACP-EU cooperation,
O. whereas members of the UN Security Council met on 16 June 2007 in Addis Ababa with African Union (AU) and Ethiopian officials, as well as with the AU Peace and Security Council,
1. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners, including elected members of parliament, CUD leaders, human rights activists, journalists, teachers, students, trade union activists and ordinary citizens;
2. Deplores the recent decision by an Ethiopian court to find guilty 38 opposition leaders, human rights activists and journalists, and strongly condemns the fact that this occurred without defence proceedings in a judicial process that does not respect international standards for free and fair trials and has been widely condemned by international human rights organisations;
3. Urges the Ethiopian judicial authorities to reconsider their verdict, and calls on the Ethiopian Government to repeal possible death and/or prison sentences and to guarantee the independence of the judicial system;
4. Welcomes the release of 28 defendants on 10 April 2007, including seven journalists, one of whom, Serkalem Fasil, was six months pregnant when arrested and was denied adequate medical care;
5. Calls for the establishment of an international independent Commission of Inquiry, and urges the Ethiopian Government to allow it to pursue the original findings of the Commission independently and to give it unlimited access to the sources and documents that are relevant to the investigation;
6. Condemns the arrests of independent journalists and asks the Ethiopian Government to guarantee freedom of the press;
7. Urges the Ethiopian Government promptly to investigate the incidents involving students in Dembi Dollo and Ghimbi and to hold those responsible accountable;
8. Asks the Ethiopian Government to disclose the total number of persons detained and to allow all detainees access to their families, legal counsel and medical care;
9. Condemns the arbitrary detention and rendition of individuals accused of international terrorism, including EU nationals, and calls on the Ethiopian Government immediately to disclose information about these ‘renditions’;
10. Calls on the Ethiopian regime to respect human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedom, including the right to assembly and freedom of expression, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and to implement the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
11. Urges the Ethiopian Government to engage in a serious dialogue with the opposition and civil society with a view to national reconciliation, allowing a real democratisation process to take place;
12. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the African Union and the United Nations to encourage and support an all-inclusive inter-Ethiopian dialogue, with the participation of political parties and civil society, in order to work out a lasting solution to the current political crisis;
13. Calls on the Commission and the Council to make a clear request to the Ethiopian Government to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally;
14. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to condemn the use of the death penalty in Ethiopia;
15. Requests the Commission and the Council to share with the European Parliament the reports produced by those who, on behalf of the Commission and Council, have been observing the current trials, including the Briton Michael Ellman and others;
16. Calls on the Commission and the Council strongly to condemn the Ethiopian Government for the brutal repression that followed the May 2005 elections and for the serious breaches of human rights and democracy perpetrated by the authorities ever since, and to monitor the situation in Ethiopia;
17. Calls on the Commission and the Council to pursue a coherent post-electoral policy in Ethiopia;
18. Calls on the European Council to consider the application of targeted sanctions against senior government officials;
19. Calls on the Commission and the Council to support victims of human rights atrocities and relatives of political prisoners;
20. Requests the Commission and the Council to take concrete action to put the derailed democratic process back on track and to avoid further deterioration of the human rights situation in Ethiopia, which may have far-reaching consequences in the region if it is not addressed properly and without delay;
21. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support, through cooperation instruments, the development of free media broadcasting in Ethiopia;
22. Calls on the Commission and the Council to take a coordinated stance consistent with Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement; stresses that the development cooperation programmes under the Cotonou Agreement should depend on respect for human rights and good governance;
23. Calls on the UN to appoint a ‘special rapporteur’ to conduct an investigation in Ethiopia into judicial independence and arbitrary detentions, the human rights situation, including minority rights, post-election violence and killings, and charges of treason and outrage against the constitutional order directed at opposition leaders, journalists and civil-society activists;
24. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the co-presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the African Union Commission and the Pan-African Parliament, the Ethiopian Government and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
