By Fikre Tolossa

I am writing this note as a matter of principle. I have seen the anti-Tsehai Publishers campaign and Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam’s unbound book that is circulating around in the internet. The origin of this campaign indicates that it has connection with EPRP. However, Ato Eyasu Alemayehu’s name is not attached to it. Therefore, I cannot assert that it was he who did it, as Ato Elias Kifle, Editor of Ethiopian Review suggests. Whoever did this, is wrong in this case. First and foremost, whoever did it, is contradicting themselves. On the one hand, they are unhappy that Col. Mengistu’s book is out. In other words, they are for its suppression. On the other hand, they are circulating it themselves big time by making it available for free for the world at large, thus spreading it far more than Tsehai Publishers.

My stand of such matters is that, instead of suppressing ideas, let them roam about freely and target them openly. Fight some ideas with other ideas. By doing so, you will achieve two things. One, you will fight openly wrong and poisonous ideas. Two, you will encourage freedom of expression.

In this particular case, once Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam’s book is out, it could be scrutinized whether the author is presenting the truth, and the whole truth. Technically, we know that it is impossible for the Colonel to tell the truth, and the whole truth after what he has said and done in Ethiopia during his 17 years of reign of terror. Nevertheless, those who know the “whole truth”, if there are any that know “the whole truth”, could expose it refuting the assertions of the Colonel. In other words, we can use his book as a tool to find out the truth, the relative truth, since it is impossible to find out the absolute or whole truth of anything.

Imagine the Colonel dying without revealing anything about that turbulent period of Ethiopian history without leaving a trace of it after his full participation in it. That would have been tragic. It is a blessing in disguise that this book saw the light of the day. It is better to know his perspective rather than not know it totally. It is up to the reader to agree or disagree with it. Now that the book is out, the best thing to do is review it and criticize it thoroughly. Let all those people who endured through the revolution come out of their shells and challenge the author and educate us using his book as a means.

Pertaining to the director of Tsehai Publishers, Ato Elias Wondimu, I think he should be commended for publishing the Colonel’s book. I have known and worked with him for the past 15 years. He is a descent and competent Ethiopian who cares about the well-being of his country. He has been toiling 24/7 without any external financial assistance to publish about 50 books on Ethiopia within a short period of time, an outstanding performance by any standard of publication. It is obvious that he has spent tons of money to publish the Colonel’s book. To sabotage him in such a way is unfair, inconsiderate and unjust. It is he and not the Colonel that would be hurt most by the free dissemination of the book. It seems that the Colonel is comfortable in Zimbabwe. Besides, it didn’t cost him a penny to publish the book. Like I said, it is Ato Elias Wondimu who incurs a financial loss if people read the book freely. If I choose not to buy the book, I can do so, because I have the free circulation in my computer. However, it is ethically wrong for me to read it not paying for it. I don’t want to encourage such a dangerous trend either. Therefore, I won’t read the free circulation. I will buy one from the local store and read it. I advise those who have received it over the internet freely to do the same.

(Dr Fikre Tolossa can be reached at [email protected])

By Elias Kifle

The Iyasu Alemayehu faction of EPRP has a new enemy — an independent Ethiopian publishing company named Tsehai Publishers. Why? Because it has published former president Mengistu Hailemariam’s book.

Iyasu wants to punish Mengistu by copying and distributing the book for free. What he doesn’t care to understand is that Mengistu doesn’t need the few thousands of dollars that the book may generate in royalty. What Mengistu wants is for his book to be read by every one, not the money. But Iyasu’s action will definitely harm Tsehai Publishers, and it will also set a dangerous precedent where other Ethiopian writers, scholars and publishing companies could face a similar threat of bankruptcy.

The interesting thing is that Iyasu and gang are NOT waging the same kind of campaign against the real enemy, such as Bereket Simon, who recently published a book. It is a normal practice for them to always target only innocent Ethiopians. But never Woyanne. Tsehai Publishers is their latest victim.

Elias Wondimu has put his sweat and blood into building Tsehai Publishers from the ground up during the past 15 years. He is one of the hardest working and most decent Ethiopians I know who loves his country. Tsehai Publishers is currently the only successful independent Ethiopian publishing company that has published over 50 books on Ethiopia. Any Ethiopian political leader who claims to fight for the interest of Ethiopia needs to support and nurture such enterprises built by Ethiopians.

I am singling out Iyasu Alemayehu in this case because after talking with some members and supporters of EPRP these past two days, I learned that they have no part in the action. The campaign to bankrupt Tsehai Publishers is being coordinated by Isayu Alemayehu and a small circle of friends. So I don’t want to accuse the whole EPRP of this despicable, criminal act.

It is this kind of destructive behavior by the likes of Isayu Alemaheyu against innocent, hard working Ethiopians that has made our country the poorest in the world. What a shame!

I urge all members of the Ethiopian free press to take a stand against Iyasu’s action and express solidarity with our colleague Elias Wondimu of Tsehai Publishers.

The book can be ordered online. Click here.

By Elias Kifle

On Sunday, January 15, I took part in a town hall meeting that was called by Ethiopian Review in Dallas, Texas. The face-to-face discussion with all the patriotic Ethiopians who came to the meeting has boosted my morale and strengthened my resolve to fight enemies of freedom more than ever. After the meeting ended, I asked myself why Ethiopian Review, during its 20 years of existence, did not organize such a town hall meeting on a regular basis.

Only two things dampened my excitement and enthusiasm in Dallas. 1) My friend Negussie Garede, organizer of the Dallas meeting, had to be hospitalized a few days earlier — he is now recovering well; and 2) My friend and Ethiopian Review board member Meseret Agonafer came down with flu and could not be there.

The purpose of the Dallas meeting was intended to introduce Ethiopian Review’s 2012 program. The program includes: 1) expanding our information network inside Ethiopia; 2) cooperate with other members of the Ethiopian free press in the fight to liberate Ethiopia from the Woyanne fascist junta; and 3) The role of the media in bringing a positive change.

The meeting was hosted by Ato Assefa Gultu and chaired by Ato Zewge Kagnew, host of the Dallas Ethiopian Community Radio.

After welcoming the participants and making brief remarks, Ato Assefa invited Ato Zewge to moderate the meeting. Ato Zewge also made brief remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, Ato Betru Gebregziabher, a prominent businessman and member of the Dallas Ethiopian community.

Ato Betru talked about the importance of an independent press in the struggle for freedom in Ethiopia, and Ethiopian Review’s contribution to the struggle.

I spoke next. I talked about what Ethiopian Review has accomplished since it was launched in 1991, the challenges we faced, and what we plan to do in 2012. I made my speech short to allow more time for discussion.

As expected, some of the audience grilled me about my position on Eritrea. One person said that he is a long time supporter and reader of Ethiopian Review, but is dismayed by the selection of President Isaias Afwerki in 2009 as person of the year.

My response was that, the choice was made to encourage Eritrea to open its door wider for Ethiopian opposition groups and continue to provide shelter for opposition party members and activists who are escaping from the Woyanne junta. I realize that it is a tough sell, and subsequent events in Eritrea, such as the disappearances of highly respected Ethiopian patriots such as Col. Tadesse Muluneh, and the travel restriction imposed on others, is not helping my argument.

I was also asked about the recent decision by the Kemal Gelchu faction of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to come out for Ethiopian unity. I answered that it is a positive development for Ethiopia and the entire region, but we should not dwell on the matter, as it could distract our attention from the fight to liberate Ethiopia from the Woyanne junta.

Regarding our 2012 plans, I explained that Ethiopian Review plans to redouble its capacity to collect and disseminate information inside the country by organizing information units in 10 – 15 major cities in Ethiopia. We plan to fund the information units through the sponsorship program that we have recently launched (click here to read about it). The information units will collect news about local civil resistance actions that are currently left unreported.

Several other points have been discussed during the Dallas town hall meeting. Some were constructive criticisms.

A similar town hall meeting is scheduled in Washington DC for Saturday, February 4, 2012, at 5:00 PM. See below for more info:

Human rights advocate Amnesty International issued the following statement regarding the convictions by a kangaroo court in Ethiopia today.

(Amnesty International) — The Ethiopian authorities must immediately release four government critics and a former opposition supporter who have been found guilty of terrorism charges on Thursday, Amnesty International said today.

Journalists Reyot Alemu and Woubshet Taye, opposition party leader Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher and former opposition supporter Hirut Kifle, were found guilty on terror and money laundering charges. Journalist Elias Kifle, now based in the US, was also found guilty in absentia.

“This is an affront to freedom of expression. The convictions are yet another sign that individuals who hold different opinions, represent different political parties or attempt to provide independent commentary on political developments, are no longer tolerated in Ethiopia,” said Claire Beston, Amnesty International’s Ethiopia researcher.

“There is no evidence that these three men and two women are guilty of any criminal wrongdoing. We believe that the five are prisoners of conscience, prosecuted because of their legitimate work and peaceful activities and they should be released immediately,” she added.

The five were found guilty on three charges: ‘Planning, Preparation Conspiracy, Incitement and Attempt of Terrorist Act’, Participation in a Terrorist Organisation’ and ‘Money Laundering’.

Journalists Woubshet Taye, Reyot Alemu and Elias Kifle have all written articles critical of government policy and practice, while Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher, the president of the Ethiopian National Democratic Party, has written statements on behalf of his party which were critical of the government.

Shortly before his arrest in June last year, the opposition leader had also requested permission to stage a political rally on 28 May in central Addis Ababa.

Hirut Kifle was jailed in 2007 for alleged involvement with an armed group, while she was a supporter of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy, before being released by Presidential pardon.

Much of the evidence presented by the prosecution during the trial related to the defendants exercising their right to freedom of expression and association. This included numerous articles written by defendants,and even articles sent to them by other people.

A substantial proportion of the evidence against the defendants related to their reporting of, and alleged involvement in, the appearance of the slogan Beka! (“Enough!”) in locations around Addis Ababa in early 2011, as a call for peaceful protests against the government to take place on 28 May.

“This focus of the prosecution’s evidence illustrates that free expression has been criminalised in this trial, and that criticising the government is considered a crime,” said Claire Beston.

The court and pre-trial proceedings were also marred by numerous fair trial concerns. Both Woubshet Taye and Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher complained in court that they were severely beaten while held at Maikelawi detention centre in Addis Ababa, which is infamous for the frequent use of torture against pre-trial detainees. No investigations into these allegations have been carried out.

Woubshet Taye and Reyot Alemu were both forced to reveal their e-mail passwords during interrogation in Maikelawi. Contents of the e-mail accounts were presented as evidence against them in court. Woubshet Taye also complained that e-mails from his account had been changed, and some were falsely interpreted.

Reyot, Woubshet and Zerihun were denied access to family members for the first month of their detention in Maikelawi and were held in isolation cells during the initial stages of their detention. Hirut Kifle was reportedly denied access to family members for three months when she was first detained.

In October, Woubshet Taye and Zerihun Gebre-Egziabher were informed that their visiting arrangements had changed. Since then, visitors have only been permitted to visit the two men for ten minutes per day.

Since March 2011 at least 107 opposition party members and journalists have been arrested and charged with various offences under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and Criminal Code. Last month two Swedish journalists were convicted of terrorism offences and sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.