Tegbar (Ethiopian Democratic Action League) was formed in 1997 with a simple mission: To give voice to the thousands of political prisoners who languish in jail. Since that time we have created international awareness for the plight of political prisoners by staging protest rallies, peaceful civil disobedience, vigils, town hall meetings, and family events in several cities around the world. On the 25th anniversary of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) in Washington DC, we ask you all to join us and give your voice to the millions of Ethiopians who are languishing under Meles Zenawi’s brutal dictatorship by boycotting all events sponsored by ESFNA.
ESFNA has recently announced that it has received a donation of USD$300,000 from Woyanne businessman Sheik Al Amoudi. By accepting the donation from the Woyanne sheik, ESFNA has made a clear choice to align itself with an individual who is a key supporter of Meles Zenawi’s brutal dictatorship.
The connection between Meles Zenawi’s terrorist regime and the Sheik includes, among many things, that they are being represented in the U.S. by the law firm DLA Piper. This is the same law firm that had represented Woyanne in a recent European Union parliamentary hearing on the political crisis in Ethiopia. Al Amoudi is a major business partner of the Meles crime family. Ethiopian resources, such as gold, are being mined and smuggled out of the country by Al Amoudi’s private planes without the knowledge of even the Meles regime’s own Ministry of Mines. Al Amoudi has also a corrupting influence on the Ethiopian society, particularly the youth, through his public drunkenness, having sexual relationships with multiple partners other than his wives, turning thousands of desperately poor Ethiopian teenage girls into sex toys for his business partners, friends, and bodyguards, using his ill-gotten money to buy Ethiopian artists, athletes and prominent citizens NOT to speak out against the fascist regime, etc. Al Amoudi is a lowlife corrupt businessman, on top of the fact that he is a key financier of Meles Zenawi’s killing machine. He is not a role model for young Ethiopians by any standard.
It is not secret to ESFNA officials that Meles Zenawi’s regime is currently increasing its military budget, spending millions on lobbyists, giving away Ethiopia’s land to Sudan, committing gross human rights violations in and outside Ethiopia, while subjugating, brutalizing, terrorizing and starving millions of Ethiopians and Somalis. Acceptance of Al Amoudi’s donation is an endorsement of Woyanne’s crime on the people of Ethiopia and Somalia by ESFNA. As clear as ESFNA’s choice to stand with the Woyanne terrorist regime, so must our choice be in standing with the millions of our oppressed people.
Taking a stand takes courage. It’s not always the easiest choice, but one that speaks volumes about what is most important to a person/organization. ESFNA could have accepted the donation and made a contribution for the exact amount to the Red Cross or other NGOs working to feed millions of our people who are currently facing starvation. They could have declined and encouraged the Sheik to contribute the money to address the famine in Ethiopia that is caused by the mismanagement of Ethiopia’s resources by the Meles regime. But that would have taken courage. The decision to accept the money shows the presence of obscene greed within ESFNA.
In the 2005 elections, millions of Ethiopians took a stand. Months leading up to that historical day, they came out in large numbers to show a desire for new leadership. When the time to vote came, they came out 26 million strong to stand up and vote for change. Their voices would, however, be muzzled. When they stood up after the election and protested vote stealing, Woyane’s special forces showered them with bullets killing and injuring thousands. Let us take this opportunity to stand for them.
A few years back, Teddy Afro took a stand. In a sold out event at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, he was told by Al Amoudi’s henchmen not to perform one of his songs criticizing Meles Zenawi’s dictatorship. The Sheik was not going to allow Teddy to criticize his friend and partner that night, no, not in his house. As his fans waited in suspense, Teddy Afro had to make a decision — he chose not to compromise his principle. As he currently languishes in prison, let us stand for him.
Tegbar is calling for the boycott of all events organized by the ESFNA. What we are NOT, however, calling for is the boycott of independent activities, such as concerts and conferences. A good number of hardworking merchants have paid money to ESFNA to provide goods and services and they should be supported. There are also many events including concerts and parties that are not sponsored by ESFNA that we can attend and enjoy.
Don’t embrace ESFNA’s choice by purchasing tickets to attend a concert or a soccer match it has organized. Instead, let us all stand up and be a voice to the voiceless.
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.
Ato Zenawi Asres, the father who brought to this world one of the worst mass murderers in Africa’s history — also known as the Butcher of Addis Ababa and Mogadishu — Meles Zenawi, has died today in Addis Ababa at the age of 82. Ato Zenawi’s body was flown to Adwa for burial.
Mayor-Elect of Addis Ababa and leader of the newly formed Ginbot 7 Movement, Dr Berhanu Nega, testified yesterday at the European Union parliamentary hearing on the current political crisis in Ethiopia.
The hearing in Brussels, Belgium, was organized by Member of European Parliament Ana Gomez, and attended by members of EU’s Human Rights and Development committees.
Several Ethiopians and representatives of the International Crisis Group (ICG) have also attended the hearing.
Meles Zenawi’s regime was represented by the lobby firm DLA Piper, not by the ambassador to EU Berhanu Gebrekristos.
“I am from a lobby firm DLA Piper. I have a question to you and Ms Ana Gomes. Why don’t you fight the government in Ethiopia, like Professor Mesfin does, than from Diaspora?” the lobbyist asked.
“We have never seen you in any of our sessions before,” the U.K. Labor Party spokesperson and Co-President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Glenys Kinnock, said to the DLA Piper lobbyist.
Glenys pointed out the recent Human Rights Watch report that criticizes the EU executives for being silent on the crimes against humanity committed by Meles Zenawi’s regime in Ethiopia.
“In Portugal, we also had the same brutal dictator as that of Meles Zenawi,” Ana Gomes responded to the lobbyist. “We fought it both from inside and out side.”
As a chief European election observer mission, Ms. Anna had witnessed that Kinijit leaders won the 2005 elections. “Berhanu would have been in power. But the regime put him in jail.” Ana said.
“You are doing everything you can to kill HR 2003. You make money by defending a corrupt and criminal regime at the expense of millions of the Ethiopian poor,” Dr. Berhanu told the lobbyist for DLA that is being paid $50,000 per month by Meles.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why doesn’t the drunkard sheik invest his own money, instead of borrowing from the World Bank in the name of Ethiopia? The answer is simple. He is in Ethiopia to plunder the country with his Woyanne buddies and leave when their time is up, not to invest in long-term economic development.
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Billionaire businessman Al Amoudi signed a $200 million loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on Wednesday to build a new cement plant to ease cement shortages in Ethiopia, officials said. IFC is the private sector arm of the World Bank.
The new factory, worth $351 million will also be financed by Midroc, a privately owned company with interests across the Horn of Africa country which will provide the remaining $151 million needed to build the new plant.
“This plant with a capacity to produce up to 2.5 million tonnes a year, will address the acute shortages of cement in Ethiopia,” Midroc Chairman Sheik Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi said during the signing ceremony.
The plant will be built in Derba, some 70 kms (43 miles) north of Addis Ababa.
“As a result of the unprecedented boom in the construction business in Ethiopia, a mix of Ethiopian and foreign investors are building 24 cement factories in different parts of the country”, Hailu Abebe a public relations officer at the trade ministry told Reuters.
By 2009, production from some of the 24 cement factories is expected to surpass Ethiopia’s annual demand of between five to six million tonnes, Hailu added.
ADDIS ABABA – As part of the annual, global celebration of an international day for refugees, UNHCR, with support form its partners, colourfully celebrated the 2008th edition of World Refugee Day on Friday under the theme “Protection.” The aim was to create greater awareness on the work of UNHCR to ensure that refugees enjoy international protection.
The Friday afternoon celebration at the African Union in particular drew a great number of representatives of the Addis-based diplomatic community, heads of UN agencies, government and African Union officials to mention a few. Statements calling for increased international support to refugees as well as to address the root causes of forced displacement in Africa were delivered by officials of the African Union, a representative of the Ethiopian government responsible for refugee matters as well as by UNHCR Regional Liaison Representative Ilunga Ngandu. Mr. Ngandu said he was himself an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) early in his life and knows it pretty well how it feels to be uprooted from home and get dispossessed of everything. He sounded an earnest call to African leaders to work on policies that effectively address forced displacement of people.
A refugee girl from Congo Democratic Republic and a refugee boy from Somalia also shared their experiences as refugees and the kind of support they were getting from UNHCR, the government of Ethiopia and other humanitarian organizations.
Refugee children sang in a choir while adult refugees set up stalls to display and sell products that were produced by themselves. The market was meant to show to the world what refugees were capable of doing while at the same time aimed to help refugees generate some income.
Also on Friday, a UNHCR documentary entitled “Working With Refugees,” was screened at the Alliance Ethio-Francasie cinema hall to a packed audience of students, diplomats, officials and refugees. The film described UNHCR’s mandate and role in the humanitarian filed and demonstrated the UN refugee agencies often immediate reaction to major emergencies. That was followed by a lively question & answer session that witnessed a very active participation from the audience
Refugee children who participated and excelled in a writing competition were also awarded and encouraged on the occasion.
UNHCR currently hosts more than 80,000 refugees in six camps. All the refugee camps also commemorated the day on Friday with various activities.
Courtesy: UNHCR Public Information Unit.
For further information please contact Mr. Kisut Gebre Egziabher, Senior Public Information Assistant UNHCR-RLO E-mail:[email protected]
ADDIS ABABA – As part of the annual, global celebration of an international day for refugees, UNHCR, with support form its partners, colourfully celebrated the 2008th edition of World Refugee Day on Friday under the theme “Protection.” The aim was to create greater awareness on the work of UNHCR to ensure that refugees enjoy international protection.