Worldwide Prayer for Ethiopian Prisoners of Conscience
January 1999
On the weekend of January 10, 1999, places of worship in several cities around the world held prayer services for prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia. In most places prayers were held on Sunday, January 10, but some places have started praying since Gena (Ethiopian Christmas) on January7. The prayer program was organized by the Joint Task Force of Ethiopian Political & Civic Organizations.
Currently there are over 13,000 prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia, as estibated by international human rights groups. The regime in Ethiopia led by the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) has so far defied all public demands to release the prisoners of conscience and refused to stop its gross violations of human rights in the country. Highly regarded Ethiopian political and civic leaders like Dr. Taye Woldesemayat, Ato Abera Yemaneab, Fit. Mekonnen Dori, Prof. Alemayehu Tefera, Ato Wondayehu Kassa, Ato Tsegaye GebreMedhin, Ato Ali Idris, Wzr. Asegedech Shewangizaw, Shaleqa Getachew Mengiste and thousands of other prisoners of conscience are currently languishing in jails under inhumane conditions. Civil rights activists like Ato Assefa Maru, Ato Tesfaye Tadesse, Bahitawi Fekade-Selassie, Muslim cleric Al Hajj Moussa Ebso and several others in urban areas and in the countryside were gunned down by the TPLF security forces in broad daylight. Many others have disappeared without a trace.
Reports Around the World:
ATO DANIEL FROM OSLO, NORWAY – Here in Norway the World Wide Prayer held in different venues. On Friday, January 8, the Muslims prayed on their Friday Prayer remembering the prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia. The Hindus, Jews and Buddhists also prayed on 8th an 9th of January 1999. The Vesteraalen area Norwegian State Churches prayed on the Sunday service. On 10th January the Ethiopian Orthodox Church St. Gabriel in Oslo, the Ethiopian Christians Fellowship in Norway, the Lutheran Church of Norway, and the Russian Orthodox Church in Norway held the prayer service together at Greenland Church in Oslo. A lot of Ethiopians, Norwegians and non-Norwegians attended the service.
ATO YARED FROM FINLAND – First of all I would like to thank the Action group for the noble idea and your devotion for the success. I would like to inform you that a prayer was conducted on January 10 here in Finland in the Finish Orthodox church for the Ethiopian prisoners.
ATO MESSERET FROM MINNEAPOLIS – The Worldwide Prayer Day for Ethiopian Prisoners of Conscience was observed in Minneapolis on January 10 at Medhane-Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Church. After the regular ceremony, I was invited to deliver the keynote speech. Among other things, I explained the significance of such an observance by Ethiopians worldwide; namely, that it means an expression of solidarity with the thousands of prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia, that it creates bond among Ethiopians as we pray in unison for those in jail, that it increases awareness within the international community about the appalling state of prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia, and that it sends a big message to the Ethiopian government. Further, I pointed out that the church today, as in the old days, should stand for freedom and justice toward citizens as well as peace and harmony within the country. I emphasized the mediatory role that the church should play between government and citizens when human rights are violated and justice is trampled on. A short prayer then was held for the prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia. Following that, the priest delivered a very enlightening and timely sermon on prisoners of conscience based on the Bible. The priest concluded the prayer saying that the church will continue to remember such prisoners of conscience in our country regularly.
DR TADDELE FROM POLAND – A prayer service for Ethiopian prisoners of conscience was held on January 10 in the Warsaw International Church for God. The prayer will be communicated to all fellow international churches in the world.
ATO DULA FROM TEXAS – In Houston and Dallas, the prayer day was held on Saturday, January 9. The Houston Chronicle gave us pre-publicity and free announcement by indicating about the purpose of the gathering and sponsors. The local Ethiopian children choir who sang among others, Ethiopia Hagere, provided musical entertainment. The local NBC affiliate showed up to cover it. The African News Digest editor was there in person to cover the event. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Dr Mesfin Genanew, Dr Abate WoldeKirkos, Mr Mathew Mamoth of KPFT Radio, Councilman Robinson, and others made speech reflecting the occasion. The prayer was opened and closed by Melake Sibhat Komos Aba Marcos Tefera and at the end to give the function an icing on the cake, Aba Marcos Tefera sang a lovely Amharic song that energized the whole gathering. Yeharerwerk Gashaw in Dallas reported that Commissioner John Walley Price in the presence of Senator Royce West, Evan Davis, Chairperson of the Texas legislatur’s Black Caucus, and Councilman Don Higgs of the City of Dalas, conducted the prayer at a civic center in Dallas.
MS. MARILYN BOYD FROM ILLINIOS – We at Christ the King Episcopal in little Normal, Illinois, prayed on January 10 and have continued to do so every Sunday since. We have a prayer list which is printed in the church bulletin and when the Prayers of the People are offered during every service these names are read. So, Dr. Taye Woldesemyat and all Ethiopian Prisoners of Conscience are remembered at two services on Sunday and any during the week.
ATO ABATE KASSA FROM – On January 10, prayers were conducted for the prisoners of conscience at two Ethiopian Orthodox Churches in New York City: at the Church of Our Savior and St. Mary of Zion.
The effort on behalf of the prisoners of conscience is continuing. The Joint Task Force said in a statement that it is continuing to organize similar actions until the TPLF regime releases all the prisoners of conscience and stops its persecution and harassment of Ethiopians, including leaders and members of political, civic, religious groups and trade unions.
Marking the second anniversary of the assassination of human rights activist Assefa Maru, the Joint Task Force is organizing a worldwide demonstration on May 8, 1999, against political repression and human rights violations in Ethiopia by the TPLF regime. The demonstration will honor Assefa Maru, Tesfaye Tadesse and other civil rights activists who gave up their lives for the cause of justice, liberty, and the national interest of Ethiopian.
During the days and weeks leading upto the May 8 Worldwide Mass Demonstration, there will be vigils, prayers, symposiums, petition drives and other types of activities in various cities around the world. In Washington DC, the local task force is currently holding weekly protest demonstrations every Tuesday in front of the Ethiopian embassy and the U.S. Department of State. The Task Force will also organize a protest rally at the White House-sponsored US-Africa Conference that is planned to be held in mid-March. Foreign, trade and finance ministers from forty African countries will attend this conference.
In April, 1999, the Joint Task Force will conduct a demonstration in Houston, Texas where a conference is planned by the Corporate Council on Africa. Several African leaders, and high level U.S. officials, including U.S. President Bill Clinton, are expected to attend the conference.
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Report prepared and edited by ER staff