The Washington DC Metropolitan Area chapter of Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) has been officially launched on January 11, 2009.
While getting itself organized, the chapter has already made substantial contributions to the Front to be used for humanitarian needs, such as purchasing medicines and supporting the families of the freedom fighters.
The EPPF Washington DC chapter’s primary task is to mobilize Ethiopians in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland to support the patriotic front in its effort to defend the people of Ethiopia against the brutal regime of the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne).
More information about EPPF’s activities can be found at the organization’s official web site: www.eppfonline.org
To join the EPPF Washington DC Metro Area Chapter, write to: [email protected]
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (APA) Meles Zenawi’s regime in {www:Ethiopia}, which recently dissolved its ministry of Information, on Tuesday established a new Communication Affairs Bureau to take its place.
In December 2008, the Meles regime officially dissolved the Ethiopian Ministry of Information saying that there was no need to continue the work of the ministry. Instead, the government decided to establish a new bureau at a cabinet level.
Accordingly, the [rubber-stamp] Ethiopian parliament on Tuesday endorsed the appointment by Prmie Minister dictator Meles Zenawi of Bereket Simone as minister of the new Communication Affairs Bureau.
Simone, who was a public relations advisor to Prime Minister Meles, also served as minister of the defunct Ethiopian Information Ministry a few years ago.
The new bureau is expected to undertake various communications activities, including the dissemination of government policies and strategies at national level.
{www:Ethiopia} has sunk deeper into despotism after it passed a law that restricts the work of independent human rights defenders and civil society organizations.
Two international human rights organizations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have strongly condemned the new Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law), enacted by parliament on January 2.
The organizations are urging donor and international organizations to condemn the new legislation, and to closely monitor and press for amendments to its most damaging provisions.
The new criminalizes human rights activities undertaken by Ethiopian organizations that receive more than ten percent of their funding from abroad.
The future of NGOs, including campaigners for gender equality, children’s rights, disabled persons rights and conflict resolution, is at stake if the legislation is enforced.
It also imposes disproportionate and criminal penalties for even minor administrative breaches of the law, establishes a Charities and Societies Agency with broad discretionary power over civil society organizations, and allows government surveillance of and interference in the operation and management of civil society organizations.
Human Rights Watch said that the law is a direct rebuke to governments that assist Ethiopia and expressed concerns about the law’s restrictions on freedom of association and expression.
Amnesty International termed the CSO law as repressive and designed to strictly control and monitor civil society in an atmosphere of increasing intolerance of the work of human rights defenders and civil society organizations.
However, the Ethiopian government claims the CSO law addresses perceived inadequacies in the existing legal regime, promotes financial transparency and accountability, and provides a proper administration and regulation of civil society.
SANA’A, Yemen (Saba) – Yemeni authorities have arrested 15 illegal Ethiopian immigrants, seven of them were arrested at the Yemeni-Omani border and eight other, including three women were arrested at Taiz’s coast while trying to enter the country illegally.
According to the information center of Interior Ministry, security forces detained the illegal immigrants for extraditing them to their country.
Meanwhile, security sources said that about 47 Somali refugees, including nine women had arrived at the coasts of Hadramout and Taiz provinces.
Thirty nine Somali refugees were handed over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in order to refer them to the refugees camp at Mayfa district in Shabwa governorate while eight Somali refugees, including five women have been transported to the Kharaz camp of refugees in Lahj governorate.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (U.S. Embassy) – Minister of Trade and Industry Girma Birru and U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Donald Yamamoto today joined the board of the newly established American Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia for the organization’s official launch. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Ethiopia aims to promote economic development by strengthening Ethiopian-American business partnerships and trade and investment between the two countries.
At the launch, AmCham President Getachew Ayele, said, “AmCham Ethiopia is committed to supporting Ethiopia’s development ambitions by promoting two-way trade and investment relations between Ethiopia and the United States.” He pledged that AmCham would foster a positive environment for the business communities in both countries, and work to bring commercial relations to their full potential.
U.S. Ambassador Donald Yamamoto praised the newly formed organization, saying, “The establishment of an American Chamber will create a new paradigm for how we do business in Ethiopia. This is a milestone in our two countries’ partnership, and it shows our commitment to a more prosperous tomorrow for all Ethiopian citizens.”
American Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AmChams) are voluntary associations of American companies and individuals doing business in a particular country, as well as firms and individuals of that country who operate in the United States.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia is the fourth AmCham in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ambassador Yamamoto noted at the launch, “The fact that AmCham Ethiopia is only the fourth of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa shows the importance that the United States places on its relationship with Ethiopia.”
AmCham Ethiopia is a not-for-profit, non-political, independent and voluntary business membership organization registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and affiliated with the U.S Chamber of Commerce. It will focus on increasing bilateral trade and investment activity, providing support and services to members businesses, and fostering a favorable business environment. As AmCham President Getachew stated today, “We will work diligently to encourage American investment of all kinds in Ethiopia, while promoting a positive image of our country in the United States.”
Following its official launch, AmCham Ethiopia is actively recruiting new members. Interested parties should contact the AmCham headquarters at 011-553-1990 or [email protected].
The Ethiopian People Patriotic Front (EPPF) issued a statement denouncing the imprisonment of UDJ chairperson Birtukan Mideksa and called on Ethiopians around the world to fight for her release.
EPPF also condemned the continued detention of all political prisoners, including artist Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro), who was jailed and convicted on trumped up charges.
The solution, EPPF’s statement said, is the removal of the Woyanne fascist regime and urged Ethiopians to stand together and fight toward that goal.
EPPF on its part will intensify its armed struggle to stop Woyanne’s atrocities, according to the statement. Read more here.
The Ethiopian People Patriotic Front (EPPF) issued a