EDITORS NOTE: Meles Zenawi’s dictatorship in Ethiopia that is committing massive human rights violations and war crimes in Ethiopia and Somalia participates in the International Human Rights Day, as reported below by the Walta Woyanne Information Center (WIC).

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (WIC)- The International Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by UN under the theme “Dignity and Justice for All of US” marked here today.

Speaking on an event organized to mark the day Commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ambassador Dr. Kassa Gebrehiwot said the celebration of the day would enable the people to ensure their right that are enshrined in the international human rights declarations.

The commissioner said the international human rights declarations are instrumental to foster human rights, adding that various activities are being undertaken to ensure human rights in the country.

Ambassador Kassa also indicated that the commission since its inception has undertaken activities aimed at strengthening its capacity and to achieve its mission bestowed up on it.

The Commission has also carried out various activities to monitor violations of human rights happened in the country.

Vice president of the Federal Supreme Court Membere-Tsehay Tadesse on his part said that human rights are realized only when religious, ethnic, gender, color, economic and social equalities are ensured. Justice bodies should play a great role in this regard, he added.

He also pointed out that this year’s celebration would have a significant impact to Ethiopia, adding that government officials, institutions, international organizations and NGOs should make a concerted effort to realize the respect of human rights in the country.

The International Human Rights Day was observed with various activities including mass walk, circus and marsh-band musical performances, it was learnt.

Codeshare services on onward flights from Addis Ababa and Frankfurt / Lufthansa now offering all three travel classes on flights to Ethiopia

Lufthansa passengers now have a choice of four new codeshare destinations in Africa. The increase in services is due to the expansion of the German carrier’s partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, which with immediate effect will operate several onward flights from Ethiopia under a Lufthansa flight number. These include flights from Addis Ababa to Kigali (Rwanda), Entebbe/Kampala (Uganda), Nairobi (Kenya) and to the Tanzanian airports Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Nairobi and Dar es Salaam will also continue to be served on a codeshare basis by SWISS.

Likewise, Ethiopian Airlines will be able to book its passengers under its own flight numbers on Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt to Amsterdam, Geneva, Stockholm, New York (John F. Kennedy and Newark), San Francisco and Los Angeles.

On existing codeshare flights between Frankfurt and Addis Ababa, which Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines have been operating since April 2008, customers will be able to book seats in First Class with immediate effect. This is because Lufthansa will in future deploy the Airbus A330-300 with three travel classes on its four-times-weekly flights.

The codeshare flights, which can be booked now, provide customers with greater flexibility and a wider choice of connections. As both airlines’ frequent flyer programmes have been linked since October 2007, members of Lufthansa Miles & More and Ethiopian Sheba Miles can collect and redeem miles on any of the partner’s flights.

By Shelly Paz | Jerusalem Post

Aleli Admasu, an unknown father of five from Rishon Lezion, surprised everyone by winning the 30th spot on the Likud Knesset candidates list in Monday’s primary, reserved for an immigrant.

“I didn’t believe the results myself. It was a great surprise for me, too, but I am very happy and glad that this is what Likud members and especially the members of the [Ethiopian] community wanted and chose,” he said Tuesday.

Admasu defeated candidates endorsed by party chairman Binyamin Netanyahu and Jewish Leadership faction leader Moshe Feiglin.

“The Ethiopian community in Israel has been loyal to the Likud for many years and this achievement is a big hug from the Ethiopian community,” Admasu said.

The first slot reserved for immigrants, No. 21, went to Netanyahu’s choice, current Kadima MK Ze’ev Elkin, who was born in Kharkov, Ukraine, in 1971 and made aliya at age 19.

Admasu said he did not have the financial resources to promote his candidacy.

By Tim Carman | City Paper

It just came to my wandering attention that News Channel 8 followed up on the Washington Post’s recent story about how the sagging economy and the city’s new meter system have affected cabbies and their ability to, essentially, subsidize the local Ethiopian restaurant community. At first I was sympathetic to this issue; but after supping at Etete, on a Monday night no less, when both levels of the joint were overflowing with customers, I’m thisclose to calling bullshit on the theory.

But I won’t. For one reason:

It’s based on only one visit, and that was to an elegant Ethiopian restaurant (read: accessible to Americans) just off the busy U Street NW drag. I suspect that the lesser lights among D.C.’s Ethiopian eateries are indeed suffering. But I wonder how much can be blamed on the new fare structure? Could there not be a glut of Ethiopian markets and restaurants? (Yes, there could be.) Could they have been suffering before the economy tanked and cabbies shifted to the new meter system? (Yes, they could have.)

What’s been your experience lately at Ethiopian haunts? Busy or not?

The London Chapter of Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) has been formed on Sunday, December 7, 2008, according to the Chapter’s press release. (Read more here)

EPPF is currently reorganizing itself around the world under the leadership of its International Committee. According to Ato Leul Qeskis, the Committee’s chairman, chapters will soon be formed and functional in several cities in Europe, the U.S., and Canada.

With the help of the International Committee, EPPF has recently acquired a new 4WD emergency vehicle that it uses to transport those who are injured in the field to hospitals. The payment for the vehicle is not fully paid yet, and the London Chapter and those that are being formed are expected to help raise the necessary funds for such purpose.

The EPPF-IC is also working on a plan to raise funds online from the Diaspora Ethiopians to provide humanitarian assistance to the families of fellow Ethiopians who are joining the resistance.

In Washington DC, a chapter organizing committee will hold its first meeting Sunday. The organizing committee can be reached at [email protected]