(AFP) ADDIS ABABA – AT least 129 people were killed overnight in flash floods in eastern Ethiopia after an intense, sudden downpour pounded the region, sweeping away many in their sleep, police said yesterday.
“So far 129 people are confirmed dead. We are still looking for more on the outskirts of the city and all along the river from the north to south,” Inspector Beniam Fikru, a top police official in Dire Dawa region, said.
The region lies about 500 kilometres east of the capital Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian security forces, aid workers and residents, who scoured for survivors and bodies, said several thousand civilians were displaced and others reported missing in the Addis Ketema, Genfele, Coca Cola and Aftessa areas, which lie adjacent to the township.
“We have between 2 000 and 3 000 people displaced,” Kasahun Debelie, a local Red Cross official, said.
“With the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) and other government organisations we are trying to facilitate shelters and other support as the search for more bodies and survivors goes on,” he said.
Residents said the casualties of the floods, which are as a result of the June-to-September rainy season, were mainly women and children, many of whom were swept away while asleep in poorly constructed shacks along the river bank in the poverty-ravaged region.
“Most of the people in the village known as the ‘Coca Cola’ area were in bed when the floods hit the area. The search for more bodies is going on with the help of the army and local people,” a witness said.
Survivors, who said whole families might have been drowned, hoped the missing people might have escaped to higher ground when the floods hit.
“We are waiting and hoping that some people might have fled from the area (to higher ground) in the middle of the night. Otherwise, it would be a disaster to many families and friends,” one survivor, Adugna Lema, said.
The heavy downpour pummelled the area for more than an hour and a half, causing the River Dire Dawa that passes through the town to burst its banks and flood in the region in the early morning hours, according to a witness, Belete Ayalew.
“My home is situated a bit far from the river, I was in bed when I heard people shouting. I opened the door, the water burst in, forcing me to escape to the rooftop from where police rescued me, but my house and property were destroyed,” another witness, 45-year-old Abaye Baheru, said.
“While on the rooftop, I saw men, women and children being washed away while crying for help,” Abaye explained.
Witnesses said the floods destroyed more than 100 homes, markets and shops, and swept away livestock and vehicles. The full extent of the damage remained to be assessed.
State media reported that the floods swept the main road linking Dire Wara, the neighbouring Harar township and the capital Addis Ababa.
Last year, at least 200 people were killed and more than 260 000 displaced when heavy rains pounded the same region, which lies close to Ethiopia’s Somali state.
In those floods, swarms of crocodiles devoured villagers, while others clung on to trees in a desperate attempt to avoid being eaten.
Over the last couple of years, flooding has affected large areas of eastern and southern Ethiopia, displacing tens of thousands of people and causing millions of dollars of damage, particulary in the subsistence agricultural sector, which offers livelihood to many impoverished people.
The floods follow a devastating drought that hit the north-east African region, threatening the lives of about 15 million people.
Amnesty International welcomed the ruling on 19 July by a High Court judge that Dr Berhanu Negga be transferred to a less crowded, cleaner and better ventilated cell in Addis Ababa’s Kaliti prison, in compliance with the recommendations issued by doctors at the hospital where he was treated in June. However, reports suggest that the judge’s orders were not carried out and that Dr Berhanu Negga remains in his original cell. Concern remains that Dr Berhanu Negga’s health will further deteriorate if he is not moved to a better cell and allowed to receive adequate medical treatment.
Dr Berhanu Negga suffers from high blood pressure as well as cardiomyopathy, a heart disease which causes the heart muscles to become weaker, making it unable to pump as well as it should. He was hospitalized on 9 June after experiencing severe shortness of breath. However, he was sent back to prison after 20 days, against the advice of doctors and without having been examined by a specialist as had been recommended. Doctors’ recommendations that he should be transferred to a less crowded and cleaner cell with better ventilation were also reportedly disregarded by prison authorities.
In Kaliti prison, Dr Berhanu Negga is held in a large zinc-walled cell, which holds 270 political and criminal prisoners, including other opposition party leaders. It is currently rainy season in Ethiopia and the cell’s roof leaks, making the cell cold and damp. Sanitary facilities are poor. There are rats, cockroaches and fleas in the cell. Some of the other prisoners on trial alongside Dr. Berhanu Negga are held in slightly better and less crowded cells in the prison. Prisoners are generally provided with medical treatment as needed, either in prison or in hospital, but there have sometimes been delays and other deficiencies.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Several thousand suspected government opponents from the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and other opposition parties were detained following demonstrations in June and November 2005 in Addis Ababa and other towns. They were protesting against alleged fraud in the parliamentary elections of 15 May 2005. During the demonstrations, the security forces shot dead at least 86 people and allegedly many more, and wounded over 200 others. Seven police officers were killed by mobs. The detained CUD leaders, including several who were elected to parliament and the Addis Ababa City Council (such as Dr Berhanu Negga who was chosen as Mayor of Addis Ababa), had refused to take up their positions. In December 2005, they were charged with instigating the violence. All defendants except three civil society activists refused to defend themselves, on the grounds that they did not expect to receive fair trial. A parliamentary inquiry is currently investigating the killings at the demonstration.
Dr Berhanu Negga and other CUD leaders, as well as four human rights defenders and 14 journalists, whom Amnesty International considers to be prisoners of conscience, are among 76 people currently on trial. Twenty five exiles are being tried in absentia. They are charged with a range of serious political offences, including treason, most of which can carry the death penalty. The prosecution has completed presentation of video and audio evidence, mostly of opposition party meetings, and is currently calling its witnesses. The trial is expected to last several months. It is being held in open court with a European Union-designated trial observer. (See Amnesty International’s report on the trial, “Ethiopia – Prisoners of conscience on trial for treason: opposition party leaders, human rights defenders and journalists”, AI Index: AFR 25/013/2006, May 2006.)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:
– welcoming the High Court’s ruling that Dr Berhanu Negga should be moved to a less crowded, cleaner and better ventilated cell in Kaliti prison;
– expressing concern that the court order has not been carried out, and that Dr Berhanu Negga continues to be held in poor and unsanitary conditions;
– urging the government to follow through on the doctors’ recommendations and the High Court’s ruling by carrying out the Court’s order immediately;
– urging the authorities to take immediate action to provide adequate medical treatment for Dr Berhanu Negga, in accordance with regional and international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
APPEALS TO:
Minister of Justice
Mr Assefa Kesito,
Ministry of Justice,
PO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 11 552 0874
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Seyoum Mesvin
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 393, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 11 551 43 00
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
Minister of Health
Dr Tewodros Adhanom,
Ministry of Health,
PO Box 1234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 11 551 93 66
Salutation: Dear Minister
Federal Administration of Prisons
Prison Service Headquarters,
PO Box 2234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
and to diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 September 2006.
Amnesty International welcomed the ruling on 19 July by a High Court judge that Dr Berhanu Negga be transferred to a less crowded, cleaner and better ventilated cell in Addis Ababa’s Kaliti prison, in compliance with the recommendations issued by doctors at the hospital where he was treated in June. However, reports suggest that the judge’s orders were not carried out and that Dr Berhanu Negga remains in his original cell. Concern remains that Dr Berhanu Negga’s health will further deteriorate if he is not moved to a better cell and allowed to receive adequate medical treatment.
Dr Berhanu Negga suffers from high blood pressure as well as cardiomyopathy, a heart disease which causes the heart muscles to become weaker, making it unable to pump as well as it should. He was hospitalized on 9 June after experiencing severe shortness of breath. However, he was sent back to prison after 20 days, against the advice of doctors and without having been examined by a specialist as had been recommended. Doctors’ recommendations that he should be transferred to a less crowded and cleaner cell with better ventilation were also reportedly disregarded by prison authorities.
In Kaliti prison, Dr Berhanu Negga is held in a large zinc-walled cell, which holds 270 political and criminal prisoners, including other opposition party leaders. It is currently rainy season in Ethiopia and the cell’s roof leaks, making the cell cold and damp. Sanitary facilities are poor. There are rats, cockroaches and fleas in the cell. Some of the other prisoners on trial alongside Dr. Berhanu Negga are held in slightly better and less crowded cells in the prison. Prisoners are generally provided with medical treatment as needed, either in prison or in hospital, but there have sometimes been delays and other deficiencies.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Several thousand suspected government opponents from the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) and other opposition parties were detained following demonstrations in June and November 2005 in Addis Ababa and other towns. They were protesting against alleged fraud in the parliamentary elections of 15 May 2005. During the demonstrations, the security forces shot dead at least 86 people and allegedly many more, and wounded over 200 others. Seven police officers were killed by mobs. The detained CUD leaders, including several who were elected to parliament and the Addis Ababa City Council (such as Dr Berhanu Negga who was chosen as Mayor of Addis Ababa), had refused to take up their positions. In December 2005, they were charged with instigating the violence. All defendants except three civil society activists refused to defend themselves, on the grounds that they did not expect to receive fair trial. A parliamentary inquiry is currently investigating the killings at the demonstration.
Dr Berhanu Negga and other CUD leaders, as well as four human rights defenders and 14 journalists, whom Amnesty International considers to be prisoners of conscience, are among 76 people currently on trial. Twenty five exiles are being tried in absentia. They are charged with a range of serious political offences, including treason, most of which can carry the death penalty. The prosecution has completed presentation of video and audio evidence, mostly of opposition party meetings, and is currently calling its witnesses. The trial is expected to last several months. It is being held in open court with a European Union-designated trial observer. (See Amnesty International’s report on the trial, “Ethiopia – Prisoners of conscience on trial for treason: opposition party leaders, human rights defenders and journalists”, AI Index: AFR 25/013/2006, May 2006.)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:
– welcoming the High Court’s ruling that Dr Berhanu Negga should be moved to a less crowded, cleaner and better ventilated cell in Kaliti prison;
– expressing concern that the court order has not been carried out, and that Dr Berhanu Negga continues to be held in poor and unsanitary conditions;
– urging the government to follow through on the doctors’ recommendations and the High Court’s ruling by carrying out the Court’s order immediately;
– urging the authorities to take immediate action to provide adequate medical treatment for Dr Berhanu Negga, in accordance with regional and international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
APPEALS TO:
Minister of Justice
Mr Assefa Kesito,
Ministry of Justice,
PO Box 1370, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 11 552 0874
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Seyoum Mesvin
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 393, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 11 551 43 00
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
Minister of Health
Dr Tewodros Adhanom,
Ministry of Health,
PO Box 1234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: +251 11 551 93 66
Salutation: Dear Minister
Federal Administration of Prisons
Prison Service Headquarters,
PO Box 2234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
and to diplomatic representatives of Ethiopia accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 September 2006.
It is with great reluctance that Ethiopian Review is once again writing about problems inside the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP/Kinijit). A few months ago when ER tried to discuss the problems and weaknesses on the part of the North America Kinijit leadership, it was condemned by several Kinijit members and supporters. Some conducted a petition drive asking ER to stop expressing critical views on the Kinijit U.S. Support Committee. Instead of trying to find out if there is any truth to what was being written and fix the problem, ER was criticized and attacked. Its publisher was called “Woyanne” by a few angry supporters. Other pro-democracy media kept their silence fearing the wrath of some blind Kinijit supporters. This unwillingness to look at the problems, and the tendency to lash out against any one who utters any criticism, emboldened the incompetent North America Kinijit leadership to continue on its path to failure and disaster. Now we are at a stage where Kinijit could be irreparably damaged,
What is the core of the problem?
The core of the problem inside Kinijit is lack of leadership. When the top Kinijit leaders in Ethiopia were rounded up and thrown in jail, the party was taken over by the leadership of the North America Support Committee. The Support Committee’s executive members became the de facto Kinijit leaders. Many of these “leaders” came to occupy their positions not because of their political and organizational skills. They were appointed by the top leaders in Addis Ababa based on personal friendship and loyalty. Under normal circumstances, the damage that such an arrangement could cause would not be detrimental, but in this case when the responsibility of the whole organization had suddenly fallen on these appointees, the result is what we are looking at right now–disaster.
Recognizing this problem, the Kinijit leaders in jail decided to form a political leadership that is composed of a few but competent individuals whom they have closely worked with before and whose judgement they trusted. After several weeks of discussions, they appointed six individuals to form a political group they named “Kinijit International Leadership.” The individuals who were appointed to the new leadership have one or more of these skills: political, organizational, fund raising, communications, and community relations. When the announcement was made, Kinijit supporters around the world expressed full support for the new leadership. However, many of the individuals inside the notoriously incompetent North America Support Committee who have not been included in the new leadership rebelled. Some of them went as far as questioning the ability of the Kinijit leaders in jail to make such a decision. Fearing division, the leaders in jail allowed six more individuals to join the leadership. Even though this decision had quieted some of the trouble makers, it defeated its purpose, because some of the individuals who were ineffective in the North America Support Committee were allowed to join the new political leadership. The result is that the new 12-person leadership is unable to form policies and unable to lead. As the saying goes: gulicha biqeyayer wot ayatafit.
The consequence of Kinijit’s lack of leadership is felt through out the opposition camp, as it is unable to make any meaningful contribution to the Alliance for Freedom & Democracy (AFD). It is also felt by the pro-democracy media who are concerned about it but afraid to say any thing in public. Most importantly, Kinijit’s absence of leadership is demoralizing the people.
The consequence of a weak Kinijit is that its elected leaders will suffer and die in prison, just as the AAPO allowed Professor Asrat Woldeyes to die in jail after five years of suffering. Meles Zenawi’s strategy is to eliminate the Kinijit leaders who have a popular mandate to govern the country. He may not shoot them after the kangaroo court finds them guilty of treason. He will kill them one by one by exposing them to diseases and denying them medical treatment.
The priority of the Kinijit leadership abroad should have been to mobilize Ethiopians around the world to fight for the release of the elected leaders who are currently languishing in jail. The priority should have been to fight for the respect of the people’s vote and to bring to justice the fascist regime that is trying to deny the people their right to choose their leaders. Unfortunately, the Kinijit leadership abroad is not focusing on these. In fact, there is no focus on any thing at all. The party is in total disarray.
In the face of such total lack of leadership and lack of action, many who have joined the organization with genuine interest to make contributions will soon resign and return to living their normal lives. Speaking out is out of the question–they will be labeled “Woyanne.”
Solution
The solution for the current problems plaguing Kinijit is to implement the Kinijit top leaders’ wise decision to appoint a six-person political leadership–without any adulteration. All the Kinijit support committees must cooperate with the new leadership. Any Kinijit branch, support committee or member that refuses to implement the decisions of the new leadership must be reprimanded, or suspended. Kinijit branches around the world must demand immediate action. Short of these, Kinijit will soon cease to exist as a viable political organization.
July 12, 2006  After Auschwitz the international community made a collective promise to defend humanity. Fifty years after the community witnessed multiple madness and abuse of humanity by mindless dictators from Rwanda to Srebrenica, Darfur to Chile, Ethiopia to Cambodia, and Iraq to Chad. The ghosts of dictators haunt millions of children. Their names have become scarecrow for school age children allover the world.
Yet again in the 21 st century where fiber optics and internet technology transformed our lives, we continue witnessing the proliferation of new breeds of ruthless dictators like Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. To ascend and cling to power, they have exterminated scores of innocent people, wasted immense resources, and destroyed the cultural and human values of their nations. They killed and imprisoned thousands of their opponents, tortured civilians, mutilated children, raped women and executed many without trials. They buried their victims in mass graves denying them the minimum human curtsey expected of Homo sapiens. They have pulled the triggers of genocide and ignited the chambers of torture.
Like a child playing Entendo games, they watched the act of torture of prisoners by their mindless prison wardens, army and police officers from their palace chairs. For them it is as easy as one two three to decided the fate of their nation from lavish limousine seats chatting with their concubines or drinking whisky with their likeminded people. As a result children were orphaned, women were widowed, and thousands were killed and maimed. Their societies have been paralyzed to melancholy indiscriminately. The level of torture is gruesome to account. Their actions are no different from Hitler, Sadaam or Charles Taylor.
What is shocking and surprising is that UN member states seated at the 2nd floor of the UN head quarters in New York watched the madness of dictators with utter indifference. When one is indifferent to the suffering of others, one has indeed taken a moral stand. A moral stand which says, the life or pain of poor people is of no consequences. Consequently, the international community gave lip services with diplomatic jargons of restrain and containment strategies.
Unashamed of their deeds, dictators sat shoulder to shoulder with Western diplomats in international conferences, workshops and meetings to discuss wide ranging issues from human rights to sustainable development and International terrorism to peace and stability. For example African dictators sat with G8 countries to discuss the New Partnership for Africa’s Development initiative in Kananaskis Canada, the Millennium Development Goal in Galingales with Tony Blair and EU, poverty reduction and sustainable development with WB, and international terrorism with President Bush at the White House. They are signatories of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Convention against Discrimination in Education. More than ever they continue to abuse their women, keep their population illiterate and starve their children to death
Interestingly and under the banned wagon of international diplomacy, diplomats of the so called civilized world attended receptions and tossed friendship champagnes with modern day butchers. The hand shakes and champagne for diplomacy and containment coupled by their unfettered access to western goods and services have emboldened the hearts and minds of dictators. To this end African and Asian dictators who failed to trust their own financial institutions are encouraged to keep their embezzled monies in American and European banks. They are allowed to vacation in western countries often with full diplomatic immunity. Dictators who pressure their people to send children to local schools are allowed to send theirs to prestigious western institutions of learning often at the expense of starving children.
Many are permitted to buy lobby firms in America and Europe to advocate their causes of genocide and tyranny with western governments. A case in point would be the regime of Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia who hired DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary to provide legislative, regulatory and PR services to the Government of Ethiopia. God knows for how long, the firm will receive $50,000 a month or $600,000/annum for its services. At current prices this can buy 150,000 impregnated mesquite nets for the entire families of the residents of Bahir Dar,Ethiopia. In a country where 81.9% of the Population earns below $1 a day, spending exorbitant sums of money to pay rich lobby firms is absolute madness. The firms are greedy profiteers who sell their decency and moral values for sheer personal gain. They should understand that the money they are receiving from Meles’ regime is money taken from starving children of Ethiopia on whose behalf the UN is asking donors for help. What else would be more shameful than to defend a dictatorial regime?
Moreover, Ethiopia is ruled by a minority ethnic group whose members are genetically close to Meles Zenawi’s family. In the 3000 years of its history this is the first time that Ethiopia is ruled by a single family member and a single ethnic group. These ruling elites between them have national assets (excluding their fluid net worth of assets in American, European and Asian Banks) $225 million. At current prices this can buy 57 million impregnated mosquito nets sufficient to protect 77 million Ethiopians from Malaria. Or in monetary terms it constitutes 30% of WFP’s US$763 million budget for its relief and recovery operation for a three year period, from January 2005 to December 2007 in Ethiopia. To add insult to injury the Ethiopian Ambassador in Washington requested his government to send him $20,000 to meet his expenses for compiling the list of names and photos of pro-democracy protesters in Washington and elsewhere in the US. On the contrary, we see that Microsfot co-founder and Chairman Bill Gates devotes most of his time and wealth to philanthropic foundations he established in 2000. Whereas leaders like Meles Zenawi use public and World Bank funds to suffocate democracy. They drain the resources of their people and approach the widerworld to ask for humanitarian and development aid. They use international aid and loan to buy military hard ware to sustain the rule of genocide and dictatorship.
One wonders why President Bill Clinton called Meles and others as the new breeds of African leaders for the renaissance of African democracy. Africans continue wondering how the Bush and Blair administration partnered with these leaders in the fight against international terrorism while they terrorise their own people. It is time to pause and reassesses the moral values of the United States of America and Great Britain.
More surprising is the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund willingness to reward dictators with huge loans and credits for a job well done in castrating democracy, the rule of law and good governances. Recently, the World Bank granted the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenwai of Ethiopia $1.05 billion dollar. But Meles uses this fund to collect the names and photos of pro-democracy demonstrators at the door steps of the World Bank offices and the white House. Knowing full well the atrocities of Meles Zenawai, it is shameful and equally sinful of the WB to crown a dictator with such large sum of money.
So far Western nations who often expose the atrocities and human rights abuses of dictators in their annual human rights report of nations have often failed to take concrete steps. It is, therefore, important to stop business as usual and do some serious business of disaster prevention. In this context, the trial of Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic and Charles Taylor is a welcome omen. Nevertheless it is something too good that came too late at the expenses of too many innocent lives. It is a pity that the west remained a sleeping giant while genocide, miscarriage of justice, abuse of power and torture took place at the doorsteps of their respective embassies for so long. This is a regrettable diplomatic episode that aught to be condemned and not condoned. There should be no diplomatic and moral generosity of complacence to dictators. Financial institutions should not be keen to hide the monies embezzled by African and Asian Heads of States. Meles and his surrogates who are considered as the darling democrats of African Nations are cold-blooded murderers whose security forces hunt and kill innocent citizens.
Finally “Every year, about US$15 billion pours out of Africa, a sum that equals international aid. As the money comes in, capital flows out into Western Banks. Every year, 70,000 of Africa’s brightest and best leave to work abroad, and 100,000 foreign “experts†come to work in Africa.â€ÂThere is no need of telling African leaders to do capacity building while they are torturing their expertise daily. In the Ethiopian context no capacity building or development agenda will be achieved when the effects of poverty and lack of individual and collective freedom is at stake. Multilateral and bilateral donors should not lend money or provide aid to reinforce tyranny. The community that said no to Auschwitz should be able to say no dictatorship. There should be no sanctuary to corrupt and undemocratic leaders who loot the resources of the people whom they were destined to serve. The developing world is sick and tired of the continuednaivety and complacence of the international community. In unison Africans demand the international community to act before the beast makes colossal damages. Acting after the fall of dictators is just like a dog barking after the enemy left its barracks. That is why the Ethiopian Diaspora and the Ethiopian people demand the Bush administration to approve HR 5680, the “Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006†and implement in earnest. If approved, the Act will send clear messages to Meles Zenawi and other members of the AU in Addis Ababa who are champions of terrorizing and looting their peoples.
The writer is an economist who is interested on international affairs particularly on Ethiopia. He resides in Canada. He can be reached at [email protected]
ADDIS ABABA – Members of the parliamentary opposition parties — including Professor Beyene Petros (first on the left) and Dr. Merera Gudina (first on the right), both of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), and Ato Temesgen Zewde (third on the left) of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) — brief World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz on priorities for Ethiopia’s development.
