This is a speech given at the Kinijit public meeting in Washington DC on Sept. 16, 2007, by the Mayor-Elect of Addis Ababa, Dr Berhanu Nega – click here [pdf, Amharic]

Sileshi Tesema from London writes about Kinijit Diaspora and ongoing problems. Click here to read [Amharic, pdf]

Wasington, DC. — Ethiopian social entrepreneur and peace advocate Elias Wondimu was appointed Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP).

Elias Wondimu Appointed
Ambassador for Peace

The Ambassadors for Peace is a global network of leaders from religion, politics, the media, academia, and civil society working cooperatively for the sake of world peace.

UPF and IIFWP chose as Ambassador for Peace those individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to universal moral values, strong family life, interreligious cooperation, international harmony, renewal of the United Nations, a responsible public media, and the establishment of a culture of peace.

Wondimu is one of five African publishers in the United States and the founder of the Ethiopian Institute for Nonviolence Education and Peace Studies. He has been at the forefront of knowledge production through his Tsehai Publishers, which publishes books on African politics and culture; his coordination of Tsehai Conferences; and his establishment of the peer-reviewed International Journal of Ethiopian Studies. Currently, he serves as board director on PEN Center USA West and the African Diaspora Foundation­-a group working to establish peace curriculum in African schools. He was the former managing editor of the Ethiopian Review Magazine. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most active young leaders in the African diaspora and has built a name for service to the community through brokering connections among Americans and Africans, the general public and political leaders, and academia and business.

The Ambassadors for Peace initiative was launched in January of 2001, giving rise to a series of educational programs aimed at reconciliation and peace. Nearly 70,000 Ambassadors for Peace have been appointed worldwide.

The Ethiopian Institute for Nonviolence Education and Peace Studies is an organization that actively engages in nonviolent means of political participation to effect positive change in the country’s political landscape. The Institute accomplishes its mission by providing educational and research opportunities, and leadership development using in-person-training and distance education. (To learn more, visit: http://www.eineps.org)

PRESS RELEASE

The Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) is very much concerned about the fate of Australopithecus afarensis, which is popularly known as both Lucy and Dinkinesh. Lucy – the root of mankind is an exception and symbol that places Ethiopia into the World heritage. Unlike any other hominid fossil ever found Lucy is most complete hominid skeleton of the 3.2 million years old. Lucy is fundamentally about what it means to be human, and preserving the fossil records of the origins of humanity.

We share the concern of many people about the safety of our anthology (Lucy) while in US tour. Meanwhile, we would like to draw the attention of the International community to the fate of the Afar people where Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) was found- the Lucy land. The tour of Lucy is no more than self-centred propaganda wishes to divert the attention of international community from what is being happening inside the country, including flooding, volcano eruption, and human rights violation.

Few people ever had the chance to see what Lucy is all about in Ethiopia; even less is known what Lucy means for international heritage among the Afars. While discussing Lucy, it is very important to take into the consideration the situation of the Afar people, because Lucy, Afar and Ethiopia is inseparable from one another. It is not very much that Lucy was secretly taken through a covert deal with TPLF-regime in order to be exhibited around in the Houston Museum, and other places in the US. The question is, what is the objective of the deal and how is the interest involved would be used back home in Ethiopia. We do not believe it wise to think, the regime who abuse human rights at home could do any better for Lucy. A regime that has no respect for human rights, can not respect the legacy of the international treasure like Lucy either.

The TPLF led government never mind about Mother of All Humanity which hire the Lucy skeleton on a six-year-tour of the United States. What perplexing however is that, the position of Houston Museum which is a cultural center with renowned respect for other cultures. Does Houston Museum know where Lucy was found is desolate and remote Afar area, where people lack drinking water for both human and livestock? Does Houston Museum know Hadar in the Afar region, where Lucy was found lack any single sign indicating where Lucy was found? Does the Museum know the area where Lucy was found lack basic infrastructure still suffers of drought, diseases and civil war? In this conjunction, it is essential to understand the position of the Afar people! You can contact and support our effort through e-mail: “AFAR HUMAN RIGHTS”

We call upon International Association connected to Human Palaeontology and UNESCO safeguard the well being of the fossils of Lucy!

We call upon UNESCO to mark the site where Lucy was found and improve accessibility and the infrastructure!

AHRO call upon Houston Museum to reconsider the deal with the TPLF ruler and redirect the income generated from the exhibition to be used for improvement of life where Lucy was found!

By James Butty, VOA

James Butty interview with Hailu Araya Butty interview with Hailu Araaya

Ethiopia’s main opposition, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) says the struggle in Ethiopia is a struggle for democracy, and it hopes the United States will stand on the side of those fighting for democracy in Ethiopia.

In July this year, the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 of the country’s top opposition leaders. They had been arrested and charged with treason in a government crackdown following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Now a five-man delegation of the opposition CUD is in the United States.

Spokesman Hailu Araaya told VOA that the delegation is here to thank the Ethiopian Diaspora for its support.

“You know we have been in prison for almost 21 months, and the Ethiopians in the Diaspora have been helpful, so supportive in many ways such as diplomatically, financially and so on. So we wanted to come to this country to meet them face-to-face and say thank you to them. The other thing is there is a struggle going on in Ethiopia to establish democracy there, and this democracy needs the support of the people not only in Ethiopia but also outside Ethiopia. And we are here to discuss with them how best we can work together to promote the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia,” he said.

Araaya said the delegation has been meeting with members of the U.S. Congress, and he hoped similar meetings could be arranged with Bush administration officials.

“Yes we have met with Congressman Donald Payne (chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa), and tomorrow we are going to meet other senators. And we hope that some program could be worked out for us so that we would have the opportunity to meet some of the people in the State Department,” Araaya said.

At a forum in Washington recently to mark Ethiopia’s third millennium, one speaker said current U.S. Ethiopia relations were frustrating the quest for democracy in Ethiopia.

Araaya said current Ethiopia-U.S. relations are good, but he hoped they would get better with U.S. support for the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia.

“I think Ethio-American relations are good at the moment. We hope that they will keep improving because the United States is the supporter and champion of democracy, and the struggle going in Ethiopia is to establish democracy in Ethiopia. We see no reason why the United States will not stand on the side of those forces that are struggling for democracy. I remember when President Bush made the inaugural speech, he said that the United States will be standing on the side of those who also fight for democracy. And we hope that the United States will keep its word and be on the side of people, parties that are determined to establish democracy in their respective countries,” Araaya said.

When the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 opposition leaders in July, the government said the opposition leaders had signed statement of apology.

Araaya confirmed the opposition did sign a statement to be released from prison.

“Well we were released on pardon basis. We were pardoned. As you said yes, we did sign a document and then on basis of that document, a pardon board reviewed our case and then presented to the president of the country, and the president issued a pardon declaration. And so we are released with all our full rights that a citizen should have,” Araaya said.

Araaya said the opposition leaders signed the statement voluntarily with an apology to the Ethiopian government.

“We signed it voluntarily. We apologized to the people, to the government. Yes, we did. That’s what the paper said, and that’s what we signed,” he said.

Ethiopia’s next elections are in January 2008. Araaya said the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy would like to field candidates, but for now, it wants to concentrate on rebuilding.

“In principle we would like to participate in any kind of election. But as you know, we just came out of prison, and while we were in prison, our offices were closed and most of our activists were dispersed because of the harassment and other problems. So now what we’re trying to do is to regroup ourselves and also to obtain a certificate of recognition as a party,” he said.

On this month’s Sierra Leone presidential run-off election in which opposition candidate Ernest Bai Koroma defeated incumbent Vice President Solomon Berewa, Araaya said the Ethiopian opposition was proud of the performance of Sierra Leone Election Commission Chairwoman Christiana Thorpe.

“In the first place, we are very happy, we are proud of the electoral board in Sierra Leone. I wish our board would do the same thing. We hope the day will come when our electoral board would do the same. But I just wanted to say that we are very encouraged by what happened in Sierra Leone. And it could be a good moral symbol, very encouraging to us as opposition parties and also our electoral board would examine the Sierra Leone case and learn something from it,” Araaya said.

By James Butty, VOA

James Butty interview with Hailu Araya Butty interview with Hailu Araaya

Ethiopia’s main opposition, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) says the struggle in Ethiopia is a struggle for democracy, and it hopes the United States will stand on the side of those fighting for democracy in Ethiopia.

In July this year, the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 of the country’s top opposition leaders. They had been arrested and charged with treason in a government crackdown following the 2005 parliamentary elections. Now a five-man delegation of the opposition CUD is in the United States.

Spokesman Hailu Araaya told VOA that the delegation is here to thank the Ethiopian Diaspora for its support.

“You know we have been in prison for almost 21 months, and the Ethiopians in the Diaspora have been helpful, so supportive in many ways such as diplomatically, financially and so on. So we wanted to come to this country to meet them face-to-face and say thank you to them. The other thing is there is a struggle going on in Ethiopia to establish democracy there, and this democracy needs the support of the people not only in Ethiopia but also outside Ethiopia. And we are here to discuss with them how best we can work together to promote the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia,” he said.

Araaya said the delegation has been meeting with members of the U.S. Congress, and he hoped similar meetings could be arranged with Bush administration officials.

“Yes we have met with Congressman Donald Payne (chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa), and tomorrow we are going to meet other senators. And we hope that some program could be worked out for us so that we would have the opportunity to meet some of the people in the State Department,” Araaya said.

At a forum in Washington recently to mark Ethiopia’s third millennium, one speaker said current U.S. Ethiopia relations were frustrating the quest for democracy in Ethiopia.

Araaya said current Ethiopia-U.S. relations are good, but he hoped they would get better with U.S. support for the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia.

“I think Ethio-American relations are good at the moment. We hope that they will keep improving because the United States is the supporter and champion of democracy, and the struggle going in Ethiopia is to establish democracy in Ethiopia. We see no reason why the United States will not stand on the side of those forces that are struggling for democracy. I remember when President Bush made the inaugural speech, he said that the United States will be standing on the side of those who also fight for democracy. And we hope that the United States will keep its word and be on the side of people, parties that are determined to establish democracy in their respective countries,” Araaya said.

When the Ethiopian government pardoned and released from prison 38 opposition leaders in July, the government said the opposition leaders had signed statement of apology.

Araaya confirmed the opposition did sign a statement to be released from prison.

“Well we were released on pardon basis. We were pardoned. As you said yes, we did sign a document and then on basis of that document, a pardon board reviewed our case and then presented to the president of the country, and the president issued a pardon declaration. And so we are released with all our full rights that a citizen should have,” Araaya said.

Araaya said the opposition leaders signed the statement voluntarily with an apology to the Ethiopian government.

“We signed it voluntarily. We apologized to the people, to the government. Yes, we did. That’s what the paper said, and that’s what we signed,” he said.

Ethiopia’s next elections are in January 2008. Araaya said the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy would like to field candidates, but for now, it wants to concentrate on rebuilding.

“In principle we would like to participate in any kind of election. But as you know, we just came out of prison, and while we were in prison, our offices were closed and most of our activists were dispersed because of the harassment and other problems. So now what we’re trying to do is to regroup ourselves and also to obtain a certificate of recognition as a party,” he said.

On this month’s Sierra Leone presidential run-off election in which opposition candidate Ernest Bai Koroma defeated incumbent Vice President Solomon Berewa, Araaya said the Ethiopian opposition was proud of the performance of Sierra Leone Election Commission Chairwoman Christiana Thorpe.

“In the first place, we are very happy, we are proud of the electoral board in Sierra Leone. I wish our board would do the same thing. We hope the day will come when our electoral board would do the same. But I just wanted to say that we are very encouraged by what happened in Sierra Leone. And it could be a good moral symbol, very encouraging to us as opposition parties and also our electoral board would examine the Sierra Leone case and learn something from it,” Araaya said.