Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice and Democracy has released its latest Amharic language newsletter, Voice of Ginbot 7 (Ginbot 7 Dimts), today.
The newsletter contains reports about the current rush by Woyanne government officials to move their money outside of Ethiopia; the handing out of fertile Ethiopian farmlands to Djibouti officials; an advise to Woyanne military officers, and other reports and commentaries.
Click here to read Ginbot 7 Dimts [pdf, Amharic].
Ethiopia’s hopes of reaching the next round of 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers suffered a massive blow when Fifa cancelled their game with Morocco.
Morocco were due to travel to play Ethiopia for the game next weekend but football’s world governing body has now confirmed that the match has been cancelled.
The Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) was suspended by football’s world governing body last month following a long-running row over what Fifa considers the wrongful dismissal of the federation’s leaders. “Fifa today confirmed that the match is cancelled due to the current suspension of the Ethiopian Football Federation from international football,” Fifa said in a statement.
Fifa added that the World Cup organising committee would meet on an unspecified date to decide what effect the cancelled game would have on the situation in Ethiopia’s qualifying group.
Ethiopia is currently third in the four-team group which also includes Rwanda and Mauritania.
(CPJ) — Reliable sources in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa have informed CPJ this week that our site was inaccessible on the servers of the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation, the country’s official Internet service provider. A handful of separate Internet users in the country have independently confirmed seeing “The page cannot be displayed” messages when attempting to access our site. The same sources have reported that e-mails they have tried to send to CPJ have not gone through.
Web sites, particularly foreign-based independent sites and blogs discussing political reform and human rights, have been blocked on a recurring basis in Ethiopia since the government cracked down on free media following disputed elections in 2005. In 2007, OpenNet said it has gathered “overwhelming evidence” that Ethiopia was among the nations worldwide restricting the Internet access of its citizens.
This time, the reports emerged over the weekend as CPJ was investigating the detention of newspaper editor Amare Aregawi in northern Ethiopia. Last year, sources in the country disclosed that the CPJ site was blocked on World Press Freedom Day, when CPJ named Ethiopia the world’s worst backslider on press freedom. The moves are part of the Ethiopian government’s pattern of restricting coverage of issues deemed sensitive such as the political activities of the foreign-based opposition, the high-profile trial of Ethiopian pop singer Teddy Afro, food shortage conditions, or the insurgency in the western Ogaden region.
Ethiopian journalists sent CPJ this screen shot of what they see when they try to access our site.
Authorities have repeatedly denied blocking Web sites, even casting doubt “if the problem really exists,” to quote Information Ministry Spokesman Zemedkun Tekle.
This week, in a telephone interview with CPJ, Bereket Simon, a top senior advisor to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, echoed the same position. “The government has no policy of blocking Web sites. Accessibility to any Web site is open,” he told me. He said he had not received any complaints from Ethiopians about blocked sites, and questioned whether such reports were credible. The government has no control over foreign-based sites, he said.
In July, Simon asserted that the mushrooming of private electronic media in Ethiopia was a sign that political dissent and free speech were not “shrinking.” Still, many foreign-based news and human rights sites besides ours–including the popular U.S.-based Nazret—remain inaccessible.
Watch below Alaska Governor Sarah Palin accepting her vice presidential nomination:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “The selection of a vice presidential candidate is one of the most significant and telling decisions a presidential candidate can make. John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin raises serious questions about his judgment. Why, when the country is fighting two wars, facing an uncertain economy and an energy crisis, did Senator McCain make the choice that he did? Why, with so many other qualified women and men in his party, did John McCain choose Sarah Palin? Sarah Palin is not the right choice. She shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies. John McCain and Sarah Palin will not bring the American people the New Direction they need.”
Former Republican presidential candidate and Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: “I am absolutely delighted by this selection. Once again, John McCain has shown that he is an independent thinker who paints in bold strokes. Sarah Palin is a conservative reformer with executive experience who will bring a breath of fresh air to Washington. She will be an ideal running mate for John McCain, and will make a major contribution to our country’s future.”
Former Republican presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Sarah Palin is a pleasant surprise for those of us who had hoped that Senator McCain would pick a principled and authentic conservative pro-life leader. Sarah Palin is both principled and authentic. As a Governor, she also brings an important balance of understanding of the critical domestic issues that is needed and that the Democrats have ignored with their ticket. Governor Palin is smart, authentic, tough, and a dynamic choice that will remind women that they may not be welcome on the Democrats ticket, but they have a place with Republicans.”
Former Republican presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: “Governor Palin’s story is one that all Americans will find inspiring. She’s a Washington outsider with a commitment to the conservative principles that will make our nation stronger. I look forward to campaigning for Senator McCain, Governor Palin and Republicans all across the country.”
Democratic nominees Barack Obama and Joe Biden (joint statement): “We send our congratulations to Governor Palin and her family on her designation as the Republican nominee for vice president. Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that all barriers are falling in our politics and while we obviously have differences over how to best lead this country forward, Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign.”
New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer: “While Palin is a fine person, her lack of experience makes the thought of her assuming the presidency troubling. I particularly look forward to the Biden-Palin debate in Missouri.”
Barack Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton: “Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska: “John McCain has taken a bold step today in choosing Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Gov. Palin has risen to every challenge shes faced, and her choice is historic for Alaska and for the women of America. Sarah brings a great deal of excitement to the campaign and she makes Alaskans proud. Gov. Palin understands and is a leader on the most crucial issue facing our nation today — energy. Her candidacy will highlight Alaska’s critical role as a state that can help meet our nation’s energy needs through domestic oil and gas exploration and development. Sarah has built an impressive record as Governor of Alaska, and she will bring a valuable outside-the-beltway perspective to John McCain’s candidacy. Gov. Palin is smart, energetic and her choice as the Republican vice presidential candidate represents a new direction in the race for the White House.”
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese: “Today, presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain announced he has chosen first term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his choice to be his Vice Presidential running mate. Although only holding an executive, state-wide office for less than two years, Gov. Palin has already shown that she is a fierce opponent of equality. America may not know much about Sarah Palin, but based on what our community has seen of her, we know enough,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Sarah Palin not only supported the 1998 Alaska constitutional amendment banning marriage equality but, in her less than two years as Governor, even expressed the extreme position of supporting stripping away domestic partner benefits for state workers. When you can’t even support giving our community the rights to health insurance and pension benefits, it’s a frightening window into where she stands on equality.”
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio: “John McCain made an historic choice in naming Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, a popular and proven reformer with a record of accomplishment and real executive experience, as his running mate. In choosing Governor Palin, McCain has put Washington on notice — he is serious about shaking up the status quo and leading a movement for reform on behalf of families and small businesses. And Im pleased he made the announcement in my home state of Ohio. Palin is a strong advocate for taxpayers, using her veto to cut wasteful spending and put a stop to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. And she is an important ally for Americans demanding action on an All of the Above energy reform strategy to help lower fuel costs. While Barack Obama chose a running mate who shares his opposition to increasing the supply of American energy to help bring down gas prices, McCain and Palin will lead the fight to liberate the United States from its dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Last month I had the pleasure of meeting Governor Palin while in Alaska on our American Energy Tour, and I can attest that she will be a strong agent of change in Washington. The McCain-Palin ticket has the experience to lead the effort to fix a broken Washington. This is the ticket that is ready to lead.”
Americans United for Life Action President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest: “With this bold and inspired selection, Sen. McCain has verified his stated commitment to assembling a truly pro-life administration. The Republican ticket stands in stark contrast to the stridently pro-abortion ticket put forth by the Democratic Party. You can be sure the vice presidential selections will have far-reaching ramifications in this race.”
Executive Director of MoveOn.org Eli Pariser: “On his 72nd birthday, Senator McCain has chosen a VP based on her political currency rather than her ability to lead our country in a crisis. If John McCain wins in November, he’ll be the oldest president in U.S. history, and Sarah Palin would be a heartbeat away from being our commander in chief. It’s not only fair, but critical in this case, to ask if she’s up for the job of commander in chief. We just can’t afford a gamble like this with our future.”
Source: Fox News
(Gallup) PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking finds Barack Obama moving to an eight percentage point lead over John McCain, 49% to 41%.
Obama’s significant lead over McCain almost certainly reflects the effects of the Democratic National Convention. The two presidential candidates were tied at 45% in the last Gallup Poll Daily tracking results conducted entirely before the convention began. The latest results include interviews from Tuesday through Thursday night, though most of the interviewing was conducted before Obama’s acceptance speech late Thursday.
Gallup has measured the convention bounce for candidates in previous years by comparing the last poll conducted entirely before the convention began with the first poll conducted entirely after the convention concludes. That historical calculation is complicated this year by the intense media focus on McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate on Friday, and the increasing focus on next week’s Republican National Convention.
Obama has clearly seen a rise in the polls since the convention began with a 4-point increase in his support (from 45% to 49%) with the margin moving eight points in his favor. Obama’s largest advantage at any point in the campaign was a 9-point lead recorded July 24-26, so as his party’s convention concludes, he is about as strongly positioned as he has been at any point this year. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.) — Jeff Jones
Friends and fans of Teddy Afro are organizing a protest rally in Washington DC to demand his release from jail.
Teddy (aka Tewodros Kassahun) is languishing in jail on a potentially fabricated charge of hit and run.
Last month, it was found that the primary evidence used against Teddy to charge him with the crime has been tampered with — the date on the original hospital document and the one produced by the prosecutor do not match. But the judge ignored this significant discovery and instead of dismissing the case, ordered Teddy to defend himself.
The protest rally in Washington DC will be held on Friday August 29, 2008, in front of the Ethiopian Embassy, 3506 International Drive NW, starting at 10:00 AM.
Fore more info: 202 341-1854
Prayer for Teddy Afro
(Click enlarge)
