We are shocked and terribly sad to learn that the Ethiopian girl who we saw on a video over the weekend being attacked and kidnapped by Lebanese men in front of the Ethiopian embassy has died this morning. She was fighting for her life as she was beaten and dragged into a car. How can it be said she committed suicide? She was murdered.
BEIRUT (DailyStar) — The Ethiopian woman whose beating outside her country’s consulate was widely publicized on video committed suicide Wednesday morning, Ethiopia’s consul general in Lebanon confirmed to The Daily Star.
Alem Dechasa, 33, hanged herself using her bed sheets between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., Ethiopian General Consul Asaminew Debelie Bonssa said doctors told him. He spoke to The Daily Star while returning from the hospital Psychiatrique de la Croix Hospital, known as Deir al-Salib. Police took her to the hospital after the incident.
The video released by LBCI last week showed Dechasa moaning as a man, later identified as Ali Mahfouz, beat her and forced her into a car. According to Bonssa, who said Dechassa was in Lebanon illegally, the incident took place two weeks prior to its release. Mahfouz said Dechasa had previously attempted suicide.
Bonssa said he saw Dechasa Saturday and she appeared fine. Bonssa also said doctors told him they checked on her at 5 a.m. this morning and when they returned at 6 a.m. she was dead.
Bonssa said he was “deeply shocked” by the news.
The hospital declined to comment, citing privacy concerns.
Negotiating is bargaining for self interest, whereas dialoguing is satisfying the Others’ interests as well. To understand the Others, first we have to try and know them in their entirety, know their beliefs, their customs, their rites – which requires knowledge or a certain education… [read more]
Ali Mahfouz is the man seen in the video footage, abusing the Ethiopian worker; LBCI identified him through his plate number. Ali tried to justify his act by denying that he beat her; he stressed that the worker tried to commit suicide more than once and that he tried dealing with her humanely, but she refused to go to the airport for deportation… [read more]
They drag the Ethiopian girl by the hair in broad daylight in front of the Ethiopian embassy on a major street full of people, throw her in a car and take off. This is a great shame on us Ethiopians more so than on the Lebanese thugs. We should ask ourselves, once a proud people, what we have become to allow such indignity and brutality against our women and children. The incident happened in front of the Ethiopian embassy and no one from the embassy staff bothered to save the girl. Saudi agents Al Amoudi and Meles Zenawi are currently exporting 25,000 Ethiopian girls to Saudi Arabia, as reported here. Those girls are facing similar terror in the streets, neighborhoods and jails of Saudi Arabia cities.
One of Ethiopia’s most prominent authors, Mamo Wudneh, has passed away today at the age of 81. He has been ill and hospitalized for the past few days.
(Wikipedia) — Mammo Wudneh is a playwright, journalist and Former President of the Ethiopian Writers’ Association.
Mammo Wudneh was orphaned during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War when the Italians bombed his village, Bashagia in what was then Wollo Province. By chance he later met one of the pilots who took part in the raid that killed his family. In a moving encounter the playwright forgave the pilot.
Some of his well known published works include: Degree yasabedew; Khartoum hedo qere; Hirut abatwa manew?; Gilen-yekifle zemenu selay; Miseate Israel; Yegna sew bedemasko
Ali Mahfouz is the man seen in the video footage, abusing the Ethiopian worker; 
One of Ethiopia’s most prominent authors, Mamo Wudneh, has passed away today at the age of 81. He has been ill and hospitalized for the past few days.