There are reports of clashes between the the ONFL and the regular Ethiopian army Woyanne in Ethiopia’s eastern region of Ogaden.
Local sources said that thirty people, mostly regular soldiers, were killed in the fighting near the towns of Shilabo and Warder, along the border with Somalia. The traffic, on the roads that connect the two countries, was halted in the past few hours on account of the violence.
Fighting between the ONFL and the army has increased since last April, when the ONLF fighters – armed against the central government since the early 1990s -– have attacked some oil wells managed by a Chinese company, leaving 77 dead.
The Ethiopian reaction Woyanne, involving the intervention of ground troops and aerial bombardment and prime minister dictator Meles Zenawi’s decision to prohibit access to humanitarian workers, has made the living conditions of the civilian population even more difficult.
Press Release OROMOS IN EUROPE CALL FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ETHIOPIA
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — On Monday 30 June 2008, over one hundred members of the Oromo diaspora from across Europe will gather in the Place Jean Rey of Brussels to protest the ongoing and systemic
degradation of human rights within Ethiopia under the regime of Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia since 1991.
Oromo activists will then proceed to the European Commission Berlaymont Building. Over four hours, they to draw public attention to the human rights situation in Ethiopia and urge the European Commission to condemn the Ethiopian regime’s longstanding disdain for human rights and disregard for the international covenants which it has signed and which are intended to safeguard these rights.
The protests will also be used as an opportunity to present detailed dossiers of information regarding the abuses to key figures within the European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, and the African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States. The dossiers will call upon the institutions to act in support of the people of Ethiopia and encourage the Ethiopian government to respect its human rights obligations.
This protest has been sparked by the most recent catalogue of abuses in the district of Oromia. In recent weeks, ethnic Oromos have been dealing with violence which has gone unaddressed by the Ethiopian government. With no protection, hundreds have been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in makeshift camps without any meaningful aid from the Ethiopian government. This is occurring at the same time as Ethiopia is enduring a major drought and resource scarcity has become a tool of regime maintenance.
The protest will take place between 9.00 am – 3.00 pm on Monday 30 June 2008, beginning in the Place Jean Rey between 9.00am – 10.00am before moving to the European Commission (Berlaymont Building) where activists will be present from 11.00am – 3.00pm.
EVENT SUMMARY
9.00am – 10.00am
Place Jean Rey, Brussels
11.00am – 3.00pm
European Commission (Berlaymont Building), Brussels
For media enquiries, contact Andrew Swan (UNPO Project Coordinator)
+32 (0) 472 577 518 / [email protected]
Union of Oromo Students in Europe
Flories de Cuyper Straat 31/3,
2640, Morstel, Belgium.
Tel/Fax: +32 (0)34 480459
E-mail: [email protected]
Some days more than others it is becoming hard to wake up being an Ethiopian. It seems like there isn’t anything good about it. Today was one of those days. First to hit me was a report from Brussels. My fellow brother, Dr. Berhanu, was making a presentation regarding the current situation in our country. I do not have a problem with that. It takes an Ethiopian to speak about Ethiopia. My problem is with the people who were sitting across the table from him. As diverse as we are there is no way you would mistake them for an Ethiopian.
In front of him were two complete strangers, a man and a woman defending the acts and atrocities of the Woyane government. Lo and behold, I could feel my jaw dropping. These two hired guns from DLA Piper, a lobbyist firm from Washington D.C., were appearing in front of a European Union Parliamentary hearing and they were speaking for and about us. When did we sink so low? Doesn’t the minority regime have anyone they can count on to speak for them? Do they have to pay complete strangers to articulate their haphazard policy and ill-advised blunders? I know they hide from the Ethiopian people, I did not know they hide from fernjis too.
The whole world is worried about the 12 million starving Ethiopians. UNICEF is begging for help and to be allowed to help. Save the Children Fund is working hard to collect money. All aid agencies are focused to try to do their best. Our government is busy denying the existence of a famine. Our government is under reporting the number of people who are dying. They are playing the number game. They are shouting,“It is not 4 million but just 75 thousand children who are dying” and do not call it famine when it should be referred to as ‘lack of adequate nutrition’. They must have a special department devoted to the art of‘misspeak and word parsing’. Symbolism is what matters to the dictator and his gang. It is all in the appearance.
Thus, hiring a high priced lobbying firm from the U.S. and sending them to a hearing in Brussels is of no concern to Woyane leaders. They are not ashamed to pay millions to have someone without any clue regarding our country to speak for us. The Europeans were as surprised as the rest of us. They were compelled to ask, who are you? It was left to Dr. Berhanu and to our friend the Honorable Ana Gomez to tell the true story about the dire situation in our homeland. The DLA Piper, after the teach-in session, was compelled to ask for forgiveness for their ignorance and they had to go back humiliated. They were trying to defend the indefensible. They were charging thousands of US dollars a day plus expenses while their clients’ subjects were starving and lacking a simple loaf of bread. Mercenaries have no heart.
The next item on my breakfast of misery plate was regarding the generosity of Dr. Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Alamudi to the so-called Ethiopian Soccer Federation in North America (ESFNA). The good Sheikh who has already bought our country is diversifying outwards. Apparently there isn’t anything left to buy in Ethiopia, and he stumbled across this Organization that has been using the name Ethiopia for the last twenty-five years, according their claim to fame.
Let us all calm down and look at this situation in a rational way. ESFNA is a US registered non-profit organization operating with a tax number and a license from the IRS. Its well organized web site (http://esfna.net/esfna/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=68) states its mission as follows: ‘The Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1984 to promote amateur soccer and cultural events within the Ethiopian community in the North America. Its goals include providing positive role models for the youth, promoting goodwill between the Ethiopian communities in North America and creating a bridge where people from Ethiopia and North America can interact in a mutually beneficial manner. In addition to the sports event, the Federation also promotes cultural activities to provide opportunities for Americans to learn more about Ethiopia’s culture and history.’
By its own admission it attracts thousands of Ethiopians to its yearly tournament held during the July 4th weekend. It charges for admissions, it collects money from vendors selling every imaginable Ethiopian related goods and services, and it holds a must attend concert before the final match. You can say that one is lucky to leave with your cloth on your back when you are done with this week of fun and orgy in July. ESFNA makes a lot of money. A lot of organizational work goes to arranging this once a year happening.
There is also the other side of ESFNA shrouded in secrecy and behind the scene manipulations. It generates lots of speculation due to lack of information. It encourages for a few to make decisions that affect the many without open discussion.
ESFNA must operate under the same rules and guidelines say as the ‘American Red Cross’ or your local ‘Save the Children Fund’. Our expectations are very high for a twenty-five years old organization. Transparency and accountability are a must for the organization to prosper and carry out its mission. As an organization rooted in a democratic system ESFNA should show the rest of us the superior model of open and transparent organization. That is if it really wants our respect, admiration and love.
I can google ‘financial report red cross’ and look at their IRS return. I can also read a detailed financial statement and their future plans. ESFNA should do the same. It should show the percentage that goes towards operating cost including salary, donations to teams, donations to our country, and others. Since our collective name is in the name, since we are taxpayers, we are entitled to such information.
This press release from ESFNA regarding the good Sheik’s donation is a little troubling. How and why did ESFNA deserve such generosity? Did ESFNA ask itself if it needs the money? Did ESFNA think about the impression it creates? Did ESFNA think about the bigger picture? One thing we know for sure in this life is ‘nothing is free’. In that case what is the catch? Accepting money from an individual closely allied with the illegal and criminally liable government is a little too much for me. This organization that is serving the cultural needs of the Diaspora community should be careful not to offend the sensibilities of its benefactors for a few pieces of silver.
This self-delusion of being above politics while engaging in political activity is not convincing. Claiming to stand neutral while one’s country and one’s people are subjected to famine and hunger, loss of basic human rights and arbitrary detention and punishment is an act history will judge harshly. I believe the Sheiks donation is an attempt to steer the organization in its current policy of turning a blind eye towards abuse of power. It will give it the muscle to withstand any attempts to reform it and steer it towards the road of open and accountable organization that reflects the wishes of its constituents. It looks like instead of choosing self-reliance as a principle ESFNA is willing to be bought. Instead of hard work and smart planning to flourish it is opting for welfare and loss of independence. Short cut has its pitfalls.
On the other hand ESFNA is free to declare itself as a business and do what the owners wish with their income. There is nothing like a clear and level playing field. But to register as a non-profit outfit and abuse the rights and privileges entailed to such organization is a disservice to the community.
As they say it is up to the consumer to be aware. That is what is beautiful about democracy. We are free to make a choice. To attend or not, that is the question. What to attend and what to boycott is making a loud statement. Knowing where ones dollar goes is being a smart consumer. Who succeeds and who fails is a decision made by the consumer. It is up to each of us to say no to abuse and disrespect. It is not okay to let wrong slide by and hope others will do the right thing. It is not cool to be silent in the face of injustice. Right is earned not offered as a gift.
DLA Piper and the Dr. Sheik were too much to take for one day. I feel like crawling back under the blanket. But not today. There are battles to be fought and won.
Amara and Tigre of today’s Ethiopia and Eritrea, were the founders of ancient Gebts over 5100 years ago for the primary purpose of selling goods and produce. For more information and lists of ancient Amarigna and Tigrigna words written 5100 years ago,
Late on June 26, Education International (EI) received a disturbing update from Gemoraw Kassa, General Secretary of the ETA, established in 1949 and EI Member, informing EI that the court of cassation at the Federal Supreme Court ruled against the original ETA, 26 June.
Gemoraw Kassa notes the disappointment of the ETA, and the surprise not only at the content of the ruling but the proceeding itself. Surprising because during the hearing held on the 11th of June 2008, the case was postponed to the 30th of July 2008. This followed the original postponement from 7 April 2008. In the meantime, the ETA received an execution order from the Federal High Court based on its ruling of 7 February 2008 that could force ETA to hand over the property of original ETA to the ETA established in 1993. ETA (1949) then applied for the suspension of this order pending the final outcome of the court proceeedings. But, Gemoraw Kassa says, despite the provision of the law, the judges at the court of cassation have been too reluctant to respond for the last two weeks. “We have been constantly pleading with them but with no avail.”
Gemoraw goes on to say, “Finally, today (on 26 June), we were allowed to appear in a court room where six judges sat around a table and they told us that they upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court and of the Federal Supreme Court. According to their ruling, we are going to lose the property, bank assets, name and logo of ETA altogether to the surrogate ETA leaders.
“It is regrettable that by such court proceeding, the ETA court case which has been on litigation for the last 15 years has been finalized, denying ETA members of their rights to independent professional organization and property as well as bank assets accumulated for the last 59 years. Hereafter, nowhere to go to seek a high standard of justice to be practiced in this country.”
Gemoraw Kassa also informs EI that the ETA (1993) leaders accompanied by a number of policemen and officials of neighborhood office nearby ETA headquarters came to ETA (1949) premises to claim its property today. “As we were at the court of cassation of the Supreme Court, they could not achieve their purpose. They may come back tomorrow with a new order. What will follow is to be seen.”
Indeed we will keep you posted.
Please see also the Urgent Resolution on Trade Union Rights Violations in Ethiopia, adopted by the 5th EI World Congress in July 2007.
Chronology of recent events:
3-6 February: EI Delegation to Ethiopia: Steve Sinnott (NUT), Assibi Napoe, Emanuel Fatoma (EI), Teopista Birungi Mayanja (UNATU), Gemoraw Kassa (ETA).Visas denied to Jan Eastman, Dominique Marlet (EI) and Walter Dresscher (AOb).
7 February: Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court : dissolution of the original ETA, which is ordered to hand over property, other assets and its name to the ETA established in 1993. Date set by court for execution of this order is 26 June 2008.
ETA petitions the Court of Cassation.
8 February: EI Urgent Action Appeal on Dissolution of Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (EI member).
25 February: EI letter to Ethiopian PM, asking once again for dialogue with Ethiopian authorities.
5 March: Responses to the UAA sent to ETA, embassy in Brussels, embassy in Geneva, Ethiopian PM.
7 April: Court of Cassation hearing is adjourned because one of the judges was also at the Supreme Court which delivered the verdict against the original ETA.
10 April: Audience with ambassador of Ethiopia in Brussels.
18 April: Hearing of Court of Cassation: proceedings are adjourned until the 12th of June 2008 for further investigation.
6 June: Meeting with CETU.
9 June: ETA (1949) commisionned report on tortures of members sent to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels. Supplement to EI/ETA Complaint n°2516 to the ILO CFA.
11 June: Hearing of Court of Cassation postponed to 30 July. New ETA has processed an order for EI’s ETA to vacate the ETA headquarters.
26 June: 30 July Hearing of Court of Cassation moved forward with no notice. The Court upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court and of the Federal Supreme Court.
… do the right thing and you will be celebrated as heroes. Or continue to kill and mayhem for Woyanne, and you are nothing but pigs.
Somali pilot returns to city he refused to bomb
Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:29am EDT
By Hussein Ali Nur and Guled Mohamed
HARGEISA (Reuters Life!) – On July 13, 1988, Somali fighter pilot Abdi Mohamed Hassan was ordered to bomb Hargeisa city as part of operations by dictator Mohamed Siad Barre to crush anti-government forces.
Hassan defied his superiors, and instead dropped his load on bare mountains close to the hilly city in north Somalia that is now capital of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Then he crash-landed on a beach in neighbouring Djibouti after running out of fuel, handed himself in to local authorities, and eventually won asylum in Luxembourg despite Somalia’s bid to bring extradite him.
Twenty years on, Hassan — now a businessman in Luxembourg — is back in Hargeisa for the first time, invited by the government as a guest of honour during this week’s celebrations of Somaliland’s independence from Britain on June 26, 1960.
“The instruction was to bomb Hargeisa city using Russian made Fab 500kg bombs,” the 56 year-old father-of-four told Reuters in the city, where ruins still bear witness to the massive bombardment of 20 years ago.
“But I had already made up my mind never to drop the bombs. As a soldier, I swore to protect my people. There was no way I could hurt my own countrymen.”
Now Hassan is thinking of moving back to his homeland — either Hargeisa or Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, where he was born.
In Hargeisa, a camouflaged metal replica of Mig fighters like the one Hassan flew stands in Independence Square as a memorial to the bloodshed and terror unleashed by Barre, who was toppled in 1991.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, won independence in 1960 just four days before Italy relinquished the south. The two territories joined together to form modern Somalia.
Inter-clan hatred ensured the union was a difficult one, and those four days in 1960 now form the legal case for Somaliland’s 1991 declaration of independence.
Although it lacks international recognition, the northern enclave has held democratic elections and is relatively peaceful compared to the rest of Somalia, especially in the south.
The bespectacled and bearded Hassan is disgusted by daily violence in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the south, where insurgents are battling the Somali government and its Ethiopian Woyanne military allies.
“Innocent civilians die every day in the south. I wish to urge the combatants to spare our country and people. I long for the day when peace will prevail in my beloved country,” he said.
In Somaliland, Hassan is lauded for his decision 20 years ago. Peace activists gave him a certificate of appreciation.
“I am glad I did not drop those bombs here… I got a hero’s welcome. I miss home and will one day return to settle in Hargeisa or Mogadishu,” he said, showing the certificate.
