The Co-ordinating Committee of Ethiopian Communities
August 4, 2005
The Ethiopian Community in the United Kingdom and in particular the community in London has been greatly shocked by the despicable terrorist mayhem that took place on July 7.
Our Community has been more disturbed by the continuity of terrorist action as that attempted on July 21. We are issuing this statement out of our collective concern on what has happened on and since July 7, and the subsequent information issued by the authorities that there might be more groups lurking within the broader community marking their time to take more terror actions against the wider community.
The Ethiopian Community would like to express its unreserved condemnation of all forms of terrorist actions initiated and executed by anyone in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, whatever the cause for contemplating such actions.
The Ethiopian Community at large would like to reassure the Home Secretary that it strongly supports the actions taken by the police, the government and local authorities in pursuing and putting under control all those involved in causing the July 7 loss of life, destruction of property and disturbance of the peace in London, and the July 21 repeat attempt.
It is a collective and individual aspiration of members of our community to positively contribute to the society we have been well received and given opportunities to contribute in a positive and constructive way. Despite the comparatively recent emergence of our Community as an element in the wider spectrum of ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom, its Ethiopian origins and cultural roots, has started to be visible in the running of small businesses, working in the services industry and a very limited number ascending to the level of the professions. However, the Community is extremely concerned by the implied links of the July terror groups with Ethiopia and Ethiopians in one form or another. While terrorist actions are completely alien to our community, it acknowledges the need to co-operate fully with the authorities and the public to, both, uproot such tendencies that may exist, or dispel allegations that may have been made by circumstantial evidences or personal associations.
The Ethiopian Community has its roots in the diverse culture that draws from Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Until very recently, when religious cohesion and coexistence was transversed by ethnic divisions as a policy of governance, the population has been inter-linked in its history, belief systems, culture, and language. Stability in our community has been so reassuring that there was no cause for concern about what may be considered ‘the devious side of youth culture’. Religious fanaticism of any variation was not entertained at all if not out-rightly despised.
Implications made on Ethiopia and people of Ethiopian decent, in relation to the recent terrorist activities has seriously concerned our community. This statement is issued to the media and the general pubic to express the commitment of the Ethiopian Community to stand against evil in any form that it manifests in the society that we live in.
Our community hopes that public and the media would accept this statement as a positive and constructive initiative of co-operation with the government, police, local authorities and the wider public, to flush out any and all evil individuals or groups that may be embedded in our community or loosely associated with it. The Ethiopian Community appreciates the good work that the Metropolitan Police are doing against all active and latent terrorist activists.
The Community expresses its condolence to all the families affected in the July 7 atrocities.
Issued by The Co-ordinating Committee of Ethiopian Communities.* London
CUD’s regional representatives through out Ethiopia are coming to Addis Ababa for consultation with the party leadership. The meeting will take place this coming Saturday, August 6. CUD spokesman Dr Hailu Araya told Ethiopian Review today that 150 – 200 representatives are expected to participate in the meeting, which will address the election-related crisis and what course of actions CUD needs to take. Dr Hailu also said that CUD has launched a series of town hall meetings with prominent citizens on the same topic. In the first of such meetings that was held yesterday, prominent Ethiopians such as General Jagama Kello, Ato Abebe Workie, Ambassador Getahun Bekele and others were present.
As the last chapter of the ongoing election crisis is unfolding in Ethiopia, CUD is turning its face to the people and its members. It seems that all diplomatic avenues through the EU and US have been exhausted without any result. When it comes to Ethiopia, the EU and the US governments have proven themselves to be the biggest hypocrites by siding with a corrupt dictator that commits mass murder against unarmed civilians. The head of the EU delegation, Ambassador Tim Clarke, in particular, turned out to be a disgrace to the countries he is representing. It’s hard to believe that the European Union that has just recently issued a strong resolution condemning the anti-democratic measures taken by the Meles regime would approve what Ambassador Clarke is doing in Ethiopia, unless he is misinforming them. It’s about time that the opposition parties demand his recall.
Tim Clarke letter to Propaganda Minister Bereket: “… I was surprised at the EPRDF decision to put out a statement at the time of signature of the Code of Conduct on Friday afternoon, calling into question the integrity of the opposition parties. I had no idea, nor did the opposition leaders, that the agreement reached the previous night in the presence of PM Meles would in some way qualified, breaking the confidence and trust that needs, as you know, at this very difficult time, to be nurtured, reinforced and deepened.”
July 30, 2005
Ethiopian Air Force Officers Association
We would like to confirm that the eight air force pilots are out of Belarus after a daring and complex undertaking by a group of brave Ethiopians. As it was reported, the Meles regime was making a concerted effort to have the pilots deported, or forcefully take them, like they did to the two pilots who sought political asylum in Djibouti last month.
The air force officers, who are now out of Belarus, are all in good condition, safe and secure in a third country somewhere in Europe. The country where they are cannot be disclosed for now due to possible dangers.
The Ethiopian Air Force Association, which has been following the pilots’ situation and with a track record of providing a humanitarian assistance to members of the Ethiopian air force, would like to appeal to all patriotic Ethiopians to assist financially as there are hefty expenses to sustain the living condition and security of these eight brave pilots.
For further information, please call 202 386 3037. You can also make check or money order payable to Association of Members of the Former Ethiopian Air Force.
(SA) 29/07/2005 11:41 – Addis Ababa – Ethiopia’s prime minister and opposition leaders met on Friday to discuss for the first time a disputed election that has dragged out for more than two months and left more than 36 people dead.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and leaders of opposition parties hoped to ease tensions and end the deadlock over who won the May 15 election, when 25 million people turned out to vote in what observers said was the most competitive election in the country’s history.
The two-hour meeting was the first the three major political parties have held since security forces shot dozens of protesters during demonstrations over alleged fraud.
Not all smooth talking
“This is a major breakthrough and hopefully a sign that things can get back on track,” said Tim Clarke, the head of the European commission in Ethiopia, who helped broker the talks.
But the talks were tinged by a threat from Meles, he added.
“The opposition were told by the prime minister they have to make a choice in the coming days on whether they are in or out of the process and face the consequences,” Clarke said.
Opposition leaders have rejected the results from 435 declared seats and said complaints must be re-examined or elections re-held in 299 constituencies.
So far in the 547-seat parliament, the ruling party and allies have 263 seats, the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) has won 108 and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) have 51, according to officials results.
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition and allied parties are now 11 seats short of a majority. Opposition parties held 12 seats in parliament after the last election, in 2000.
PM asks opposition asked to co-operate
The prime minister called on the two main opposition parties to stay in the election process and not to carry out their threat to pull out and boycott parliament in protest.
During the talks, an agreement was reached on allowing opposition parties access to state-run media and curbing “hate speech” in press coverage of the elections.
The elections, which European observers declared as the freest the country has ever held, descended into bitter accusations after allegations of fraud surfaced.
Opposition leaders were placed under house arrest and disturbances led to at least 40 protesters being shot dead by security forces and thousands rounded up in mass arrests.
Election violence has also hit eastern Ethiopia, where a series of bomb attacks killed five. Government officials said the attacks were linked to the delayed August 21 ballot, when 23 seats will be up for grabs.
Elections are also being repeated in at least 15 constituencies.
Her name is ShiBire Desalegn. She is the first person to be killed when Meles Zenawi unleashed his forces following a peaceful protest by Addis Ababa University (AAU) students on June 6. She was shot and killed by EPRDF troops as she and her friends tried to block the road in Kotebe that leads to the Sendafa torture camp. She helped escape several AAU students from torture by helping them jump from the trucks that were taking them to Sendafa. She didn’t have any weapon. But that didn’t stop the EPRDF troops from shooting her to death.
A high caliber bullet pierced through her neck.
Because of ShiBire’s actions, some AAU students escaped torture. But because of the action and inaction of others, thousands went through unspeakable brutality in the hands of the EPRDF security forces under the direct orders of Meles Zenawi. Thirty days later, Meles Zenawi was standing next to President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair at the G8 meeting in Scotland, looking proud of his barbaric actions.
Ethiopian Review spoke with ShiBire’s mother, Wzr. Ayelech Birkneh. She is devastated by her daughter’s sudden death. As the bread winner of the family, the 21-year old ShiBire was supporting her mother and six teenage siblings. The father passed away, leaving only a 50 birr monthly pension.
ShiBire could not continue her education, because there was nobody else to support the family. Her income was not enough to support the whole family even though she worked hard. The only choice she had to generate enough income was to go to a foreign country looking for a job.
People in ShiBire’s neighborhood appreciate what she did and died for. They think she is a heroine and a role model. They talk about her with a great deal of pride. She stood up for the students who only demanded respect for the people’s vote. She paid the ultimate sacrifice trying to save others.
The Coalition for Unity & Democracy’s spokesperson Dr Hailu Araya said yesterday that in the event the Election Board fails to properly count the people’s vote and declares EPRDF the winner, his party will go to court to pursue a legal recourse.
Asked if CUD will participate in the next parliament that will convene in September, Dr Hailu said that a decision has not been made on this yet. But he said the parliament may not convene in September because of the continuing process to resolve the disputes.
In the one-hour teleconference with Ethiopian Review and Tensae Radio, Dr Hailu said that the people Ethiopia need to be prepared to take constitutional and peaceful measures to make sure that their choice is respected.
The teleconference was attended by over 100 Ethiopians from the U.S. and Europe. Many of them had forwarded questions to the interviewers in advance.
Originally, CUD Chairman Ato Hailu Shawel was scheduled to appear at the teleconference, but he could not make due to a health problem.
The audio version of the teleconference will be made available shortly.
