NEWS IN BRIEF
MARCH 1998
AAAS Recognizes Professors Asrat and Alemayehu
On February 13, the American Association of Advancement in Science (AAAS) has honored Professors Asrat Woldeyes and Alemayehu Tefera during its annual Science and Human Rights Reception. AAAS believes that both professors are prisoners of conscience.
“As a follow-up to last year’s AAAS Resolution on human rights violations against scientists in Ethiopia, the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program will recognize Dr Alemayehu Tefera, a civil engineer and former president of Addis Abeba University,” AAAS said in its statement, adding “Dr Alemayehu was the only university president ever to be voted into the president’s office by the faculty.”
Dr Alemayehu, who was arrested on April 2, 1993, remains in prison without charges. He was arbitrarily dismissed from the university in 1992 along with 42 other professors by the government for airing critical views about the ruling party’s policies.
“The Program will also recognize Dr. Asrat Woldeyes, an internationally renowned Ethiopian surgeon who pioneered medical education in his country,” AAAS announced.
AAAS has expressed its concern about Prof. Asrat’s health, saying that “there is considerable concern of his well being; the hospital reportedly does not have adequate facilities to treat Dr Asrat’s diabetes, which is compounded by high blood pressure and loss of vision.”
AAAS’s annual Science and Human Rights Reception took place in conjunction with the 1998 AAAS annual meeting in Philadelphia on February 13. With over 200,000 members, AAAS is the largest scientific organization in the world.
A news and opinion journal on Ethiopia
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