(APA) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – One hundred of the 500 city service buses which Ethiopia has purchased from China at an estimated 20 million dollars, have begun arriving in the country, APA observed here on Wednesday.
The buses are intended to help tackle the transport shortage in Addis Ababa where around 5 million people live.
Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Communication said the remaining buses are expected in the country by next week.
Transport sources say there are currently around 14,000 taxis in Addis Ababa and over 500 city buses.
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How much commission did Azeb Mesfin, Meles Zenawi’s wife, and Junedin Sado, the transportation minister, receive from the purchase of these inferior quality buses from China? ER Research Unit is investigating.
For the Woyanne tribal thugs, it seems every solution comes from the barrel of the gun. If they want to bring down the price of commodities, they go out and arrest vendors. The irony here is that most business activities in Ethiopia are controlled by Woyanne. Most major industries, from trucking to food distrubution are owned by officials and members of the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne), including Meles Zenawi’s wife Azeb Mesfin, who is becoming the richest Women in Africa using her status as the wife of a brutal dictator.
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Ethiopia Police Arrests Over 30 Over Price Hike
(APA) – Ethiopian police have arrested over 30 traders for allegedly making a 600 percent increase on the price of salt on the market. The wholesale traders were arrested at the weekend while attempting to stock the commodity so as to make it scarce on the market.
One kilogram of salt was on sale in Addis Ababa for 10 Birr (one USD) up from 1 Birr and 25 cents over night.
Ethiopian Federal Police accused the arrested people of trying to make salt scarce in the country, which has a huge salt resource.
Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry said it will act in collaboration with the police against the “illegal” traders.
It is the first time that government has taken such a tough stance against traders who make high profits on basic food commodities.
There are two ways to be rich or super rich in Ethiopia: 1) Be a member of the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne); or 2) Be a Woyanne butt-kisser. There is no other way. The photos below show how one of these super rich individuals, the owner of Sunshine Construction, lives in Addis Ababa. It is to preserve and expand this ill-gotten wealth that Woyanne will fight tooth and nail to stay in power as long as it can no matter the cost to the people of Ethiopia. It is a good thing to be rich, but not through cruel exploitation and subjugation of other people.
The home of Sunshine Construction owner Samuel Tafesse, a business partner and personal friend of Azeb Mesfin, Meles Zenawi’s wife.
Addis Ababa
Woyanne billionaire Al Amoudi visits Samuel’s house
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation & Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
MEDIA ADVISORY
Ethiopian activists Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie may face brief additional time behind bars, as the court today sentenced them to two years and six months in prison on charges of incitement, despite demands by the prosecution that they receive the maximum sentence of 10 years.
“While we welcome the fact that Daniel and Netsanet may soon be reunited with their friends, families and colleagues in civil society, we are perplexed and dismayed by the additional sentence. Everyday they have spent and possibly will spend in prison is a deep injustice. They are true heroes of Ethiopia, true heroes of Africa and for everyone around the world who supports democracy, justice and the fight against poverty ,” said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) who was present at the sentencing this morning.
Daniel and Netsanet, coordinators of GCAP in Ethiopia, were today sentenced to two years and six months in prison by the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa for provocation and preparing incitement in the aftermath of the May 2005 elections. On Monday, they were acquitted of conspiracy to overthrow the constitutional order, but were found guilty on the lesser charge. CIVICUS and GCAP anticipate that they will soon be released, given the two years and two months they have already spent behind bars, as well as their good behaviour and their willingness to cooperate with the court.
Before sentencing them this morning, the judges read a statement recognising their contributions to peace, democracy and the rule of law in Ethiopia. The presiding judge dissented from the verdict and has consistently maintained they are innocent of the charges, finding their actions to be fully within the constitution.
“The judges’ statement today read more like a citation for the Nobel Peace Prize than justification for even a single day they have spent in prison ,” said Kumi Naidoo.
Since Daniel and Netsanet’s arrest in November 2005, civil society organisations in Ethiopia have come under increasing scrutiny, and many have been forced into silence on controversial issues for fear of meeting the same fate as Daniel and Netsanet.
Speaking from Ethiopian Federal court, Kumi Naidoo said, ” This case has significance beyond the travesty of justice against Daniel and Netsanet. Their continued detention has had a chilling effect on civil society in Ethiopia. It is extremely important that the judges stated none of their actions were against the constitution and were in fact legitimate civil society activities. We hope that this vindication will enable civil society to fully exercise its role, including advocacy for human rights, democracy, peace and the eradication of poverty.”
Aside from their work with GCAP, Daniel is also head of the policy department at ActionAid International Ethiopia. Netsanet is also the founder of local human rights group Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.
At the start of the trial in May 2006, 131 opposition politicians, journalists, civil society leaders and organisations stood accused of a range of charges from genocide to treason. They were among thousands who were detained following protests accusing the government of rigging the 15 May 2005 parliamentary elections. Many of the accused were acquitted during the course of the trial. Others were convicted but pardoned in July and August 2007 – all of whom signed a confession, admitting use of “unconstitutional means to change the constitutionally established government functions” following the 2005 elections.
Although they were asked to sign a similar statement, Daniel and Netsanet declined. They argued that their activities in 2005 were entirely legal and did not serve to undermine, but rather to protect and promote Ethiopia’s constitutional order.
Recognised as Amnesty International prisoners of conscience, Daniel and Netsanet were consistently denied bail, even after seven attempts, including an appeal to the Supreme Court.
ENDS
For more information or interviews, please contact:
Ciara O’Sullivan, GCAP – in the UK: +44 776 724 6880, [email protected]
Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS – in Ethiopia: +251 911 926 295
Julie Middleton, CIVICUS – in South Africa: +27 403 6040 [email protected]
For more information on CIVICUS: www.civicus.org
For more information on GCAP: www.whiteband.org
An office staff member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit), Ato Girma Amare, was picked up by Woyanne gunmen from the party’s temporary office located at the Kirkos district of Addis Ababa today. Ato Girma was released in the afternoon after being interrogated by the Woyanne security personnel. The Woyanne gunmen also searched the office without search warrant. Read more by zikkir News Service.
