Andy Tsege’s family and Reprieve’s Maya Foa discuss his pardon on Victoria Derbyshire
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Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed was photographed shaking hands with Andragachew (Andy) Tsige, who has been labelled a “terrorist” and was in incommunicado for the past four years after being abducted from Sanna, Yemen airport while transiting. Andy was just freed yesterday from jail.
He reportedly also had a meeting with Andy at the national palace today. The details of the meeting have not been revealed.
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Fitsum Arega@fitsumaregaaAndargachew Tsgie met HE PM Dr Abiy Ahmed today to express his gratitude for the government’s decision to grant him pardon.
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Yonatan T Regassa@regassa_tThere you have it #Ethiopia
PM Dr Abiy Ahmed with Andargachew Tsege at the prime minister’s office – no details disclosed about their discussion, however Andargachew said “It’s hopeful”
This handshake photo is historic in that two people leading two extremely polarized parties, Andy’s Ginbot 7 being the fugitive opposition that had taken the brunt of Abiy’s repressive regime abuses and oppression. It is symbolic as well as significant in that it will have a huge impact in the politics, reconciliation and transformation of Ethiopia.
Source- De Birhaner
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Ethiopia to Amend Anti-Terror Laws in Sign of Political Thaw
By Nizar ManekEthiopia’s government plans to amend parts of the nation’s anti-terror law as the high court dropped terrorism charges against the heads of two U.S.-based opposition groups.
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and other political parties will meet Wednesday after agreeing to alter unspecified articles of the law, Fana Broadcasting Corp. reported. The chief of staff for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Twitter that a draft amnesty law is being prepared, without giving further details.
The meeting follows the dropping of charges against Berhanu Nega of the Ginbot 7 group, Jawar Mohammed who heads the Minnesota-based Oromia Broadcasting Network, and another opposition media organization, ESAT. They’re the latest signs of a political thaw in the Horn of Africa nation that’s been tightly controlled by the EPRDF for a quarter-century.
Since taking office in April, Abiy has released thousands of prisoners and started talks with other opposition groups. His predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, quit in February after failing to end sporadic regional protests that began almost three years ago.
Ethiopia on May 26 pardoned 745 prisoners including Andargachew Tsige, a British citizen and secretary-general of Ginbot 7 who was on death row, Fana reported.
The European Union delegation in Ethiopia welcomed the dropping of legal charges and Andargachew’s release.
Along with other recent steps, “this signals the willingness of the new government to address the grievances expressed by the population including demands to open up political space in Ethiopia,” it said in an emailed statement, urging the government to lift a current state of emergency as soon as possible.
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REUTERS
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition started talks with opposition groups on Wednesday on amending provisions of an anti-terrorism law that critics say has criminalized dissent, state-affiliated media said.
Watchdog groups say the 2009 law’s broad definitions have been used indiscriminately against anyone who opposes government policy. Among its provisions, it makes anyone publishing information deemed to encourage terrorism liable to a jail term of up to 20 years.
The discussions follow the release on Tuesday of opposition leader Andargachew Tsige, who was sentenced to death under the law in 2009 over his role in the opposition group Ginbot 7, which the government has labeled a terrorist organisation.
The Fana Broadcasting Corporation said 14 political parties, including the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, were taking part in talks having “agreed to amend” unspecified articles of the legislation.
Human Rights Watch has previously said the law “grants authorities the power to prosecute journalists who publish articles about protest movements, armed opposition groups, or any other individuals deemed as terrorist or anti-peace”.
Ethiopia has released thousands of dissidents since January as part of reforms that the government has pledged to undertake in the wake of violent unrest that broke out three years ago.
The protests were sparked by an urban development plan for Addis Ababa that critics said would trigger land seizures in the surrounding Oromiya region, before broadening into rallies over political rights.
The unrest led to the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February. He has since been replaced by former army officer Abiy Ahmed, who has pledged to push through reforms.
Andargachew’s Ginbot 7 is among five groups the government had blacklisted under the anti-terrorism legislation, along with the secessionist groups Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front, as well as the militant Islamist al Qaeda and Somalia’s al Shabaab.
On Tuesday, the government pardoned Ginbot 7’s leader Berhanu Nega, who had previously been sentenced to death.
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Muluken Tesfaw, For Addis Standard
Addis Abeba, May 30/2018 – Ethiopia’s ruling party EPRDF has controlled state power in the country since 1991. One of the major political changes it brought shortly after seizing power was to dismantle the previous sub-country level administrations (a.k.a“provinces”) and create the current federal administrative units divided on the basis of language and identity, popularly known as “ethnic federalism.”
Numerous claims asserting the recognition of different identities have been raised ever since. A large number of people have lost their lives for demanding the recognition of their identity, culture, and language. A great many people have also been subjected to arbitrary detentions and torture. So far more than a dozen such demands for the recognition of identity have been addressed through the House of Federation (HoF). However, the demand for the recognition of the Amhara identity of Welkait was met with force which caused the deaths, enforced disappearances, and exodus of many thousands of people of Amhara origin. The issue remains unresolved despite its persistence for over 27 years.
The area known as Welkait is located in the North-Western part of Ethiopia, surrounded by the river Tekezie in the North, Eritrea and Sudan in the West, and the Semien mountains in the South. It is a highly fertile and productive land stretching across 13,000 square kilometers. It produces some of the best quality sesame and resin for the international market. It is also one of the main gold producing areas in Ethiopia. TPLF, one of the dominant parties of the ruling EPRDF, wanted the land of Welkait ever since it first set its foot on it during its guerilla war and has been fixated on taking it. For that purpose, it removed the Amhara, the native inhabitants of Welkait, and settled more than half a million Tigregna-speaking (Tigray) people in the area, which remained at the heart of the matter. Using its state power, TPLF declared the Welkait Amhara people have “Tigray” identity and forced them to be administered under the Tigray Regional State. The native Amhara inhabitants have been forced to change their Amhara identity to Tigray identity; those who, in defiance, expressed their Amhara identity were killed, maimed, jailed or were forced to disappear without a trace.
Welkait is an area in which an active crime is being carried out on the native Amharas in broad day light. How could something like this be allowed to happen in the 21st century?! It is a common experience for the native Amharas of Welkait to be taken away by government security personnel and disappear without a trace. For instance, the following 105 native Amharas of Welkait are known to have vanished through years of repression just because they have openly expressed their Amhara identity.
| 1) Mamu Zewdie | 2) Hailu Leyeleh | 3) Alebachew Mebratu | 4) Dagne Takele |
| 5) Lema Zenebe | 6) Fantu Tegegne | 7). Alebachew Defresha | 8) Chalu Worku |
| 9) Sefi Sisay | 10) Beyene Ayelegn | 11) Asamene Atalay | 12) Goshu Haile |
| 13) Alebel Haile | 14) Habte Zenebe | 15) Hayelom yirga | 16) Fetene Gebreye |
| 17) Addisu Teje | 18) Sisay Tesfahun | 19) Abreha Nega | 20) Mamu Desta |
| 21) Meshesha Desta | 22) Serebe Betene | 23) Bitewlegn Yeshiber | 24) Wolde Yaekob |
| 25) Berhe Hagos | 26) Lemlemu Ferede | 27) Yeshteh Ayalneh | 28) Goitom Hadgu |
| 29) Gebreselassie Reda | 30) Habte Yirga | 31) Drar Gessesse | 32) Lilay Hadgu |
| 33) Reskay Haile | 34) Malede Nega | 35) Tebeje Bekele | 36) Tekle Lejalem |
| 37). Gere Reda | 38) Ayalew Semu | 39) G/Mariam Zeleke | 40) Alemu Legesse |
| 41) G/Medhin Zerfu | 42) Tegegne Nega | 43) Qes (Priest) Belete | 44) Fantu Sisay |
| 45) Adane Restu | 46) Gebre Tirfneh | 47) Mr. Alehegn Tsegaye | 48) Sisay Tesfahun |
| 49) Arefayne Mekonnen | 50) Desta Lejalem | 51) Mereed G/Michael | 52) Eyassu Alene |
| 53) Ybeyn Tegegne | 54) Hagos Atalay | 55) Tekalegn Tesfaye | 56) Leul Mesfin |
| 57) Fantahun Gebeyehu | 58) Enkuayen Legese | 59) Ferede Zereay | 60) Tegaye |
| 61) MISSING | 62) Mulaw Kassahun | 63) Ayahuney Wendachew | 64) Dereje Angaw |
| 65) Alehegn Tsegayesus | 66) Wendim Haile | 67) Atmafu Alemayehu | 68) Sissay |
| 69) Enyew Awhara | 70) Asmamaw Belete | 71) Aweke Teku | 72) Adebe |
| 73) Atalay Alem | 74) Asmare | 75) Rtebey Atsebeha | 76) Lejalem Taye |
| 77) G/Medhin Zerfu | 78) Tedla Haile | 79) Yemenberu Ferede’s Child | 80) Meheret Abebe |
| 81) Nigatu Tirfie | 82) Abebe Tefera | 83) Gebrhet Bahta | 84) Damtie Takele |
| 85) Endeshaw Tafere | 86) Tegegne Belay | 87) Beyew Biyadgelegn | 88) Atalay Zenebe |
| 89) G/Medhin Yehuala | 90) Nega Tebeje | 91) Yirsaw Zewdie | 92) Getaw Tamirie |
| 93) Tefera Sisay | 94) Gefachew Dagnew | 95) Alemaw Zenebe | 96) Mamay Tebeje |
| 97) Worku Aytegeb | 98) Teka Tesfaye | 99) Ferede Tsehay | 100) Getu Wolie |
| 101) Tekalegn Tsegaye | 102) Nega Asres | 103) Wagnew Abatalew | 104) Aleka Baye |
| 105) Kegnazmach Wolde Wassyihun | |||
In particular, in 2015, native Welkait Amharas filed a petition to the House of the Federation through their representatives seeking recognition for their Amhara identity in accordance with the Constitution of Ethiopia. Following their demand, all members of the Committee were charged under trumped up charges of terrorism. In August 2016, no less than 400 (four hundred) people were killed by security forces in relation to the Amhara resistance which was sparked by the detention of the Committee members. More than 20,000 (twenty thousand) Amhara youth were detained. Many have since been released, but thousands remain jailed.
Yonas Gashaw is but one
Yonas Gashaw is one of the native Amharas of Welkait to have been subjected to torture in federal prison in the capital Addis Abeba. The sacrifice that Yonas has paid for asking the recognition of his Amhara identity forces us to ask the question as to how much the price of identity is worth in today’s Ethiopia. I believe that Yonas’ one day courtroom experience is enough to show the extent of sacrifice being paid for the recognition of identity.
Yonas Gashaw Demeke is the 3rd defendant in the court case of “Tadesse Meshesha Assegie et al.” who were all charged in relation to the Amhara resistance movement. The following is what happened at the 19th Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court in Addis Abeba on January 15, 2018:
During the hearing, Yonas took off his pants in front of the court to show his body to the people who were there to observe the court proceedings. He cried, “You be the judges!” and showed them his genitalia, which was damaged due to the torture he endured while in detention. He did so despite the presence of two of his torturers in the courtroom. The method Yunas was subjected to was that of a common method: hanging a bottled water to his genitalia and suspending it. The audience in the court room burst into a collective gasp and tears. Journalist Shiferaw Getachew, who was following the case, wrote afterwards that he was unable to compose his report after what he witnessed; the judges themselves had to avert their gazes. Of the court room, when a journalist asked the judges how they felt, they said it was beyond belief. Yet, this is not an isolated case. Aschalew Dessie and other Amhara youths who are going through the same ordeal have done so.
Yonas suffered this horrifying torture while he was at the Maekelawi investigation center, where his nails were also torn apart with pliers; where he lost his ability to procreate, and his legs damaged, leading him to fall victim of a nerve disease.
But Yonas’ suffering is not the end of his ordeal. Before he was detained, his family members were deliberately targeted. In the courtroom, he expressed his grief when he said: “They deliberately run over my brother with their military truck; they killed my mother in the same way. Why are the Amhara prevented from breeding and replacing themselves? What we have learned is hatred. What will our generation learn from us?”
He was subsequently taken to Zewditu Hospital for medical treatment but doctors at the hospital told him it was beyond their capacity. He was then taken to Paulos Hospital and was given proof that he suffered from broken bones but officials at the Qilinto Prison destroyed the results of his medical diagnosis. His right leg has been almost completely paralyzed and he needed to wear closed shoes because of this. However, a prison officer got rid of his shoes saying prisoners are not allowed to wear closed shoes. Yonas’ response has been telling: “Do we have to change our ethnic identity even to be able to wear closed shoes?”
Today, Yonas has to use crutches to walk; he cannot step on the floor with his right foot even while sitting. And the right part of his body (up to his shoulder) is in constant pain. His right foot hardly touched the ground when he was escorted to the restroom while the court was in session.
The demand for the recognition of the Amhara identity of Welkait has brought untold miseries among the Amhara people; Yonas Gashaw is but one example. Similar repression continue to happen today in Welkait. Even as I am writing this piece, several reports coming from the Welkait area of Telemt Amharas are being deliberately targeted by government soldiers.
In his recent visit to the Amhara regional state, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed mistook this matter for a question of lack of infrastructure. However, the current administration has to look beyond this misunderstanding and put an end to the ongoing repression in connection with the identity question of the Welkayit Amharas. This can only be done by addressing their decades old demand for the recognition of their identity. AS
Source: https://addisstandard.com/
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
The Ethiopian government must immediately withdraw and disband the Liyu police unit of the Somali regional state, whose members are unlawfully killing the Oromo people, Amnesty International said today.
Members of the unit, set up by the Somali state as a counter-terrorism special force, this week burnt down 48 homes belonging to Oromo families who were living in Somali, forcing them to flee to Kiro in the regional state of Oromia.
“The Ethiopian authorities must immediately demobilize the Liyu police and replace them with police that abide by international human rights law. These rogue officers must not be allowed to brutalize people at will,” said Joan Nyanyuki, Amnesty International’s Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
On 23 and 24 May the unit also attacked four neighborhoods in the Chinaksen district of East Oromia, killing five farmers and burning down around 50 homes. These attacks caused residents to flee their homes looking for safety.
“The authorities must put an end to what appears to be state-sanctioned violence. The first step is to ensure all policing in Oromia is respectful of human rights. The next is to hold those responsible for these attacks to account through thorough, impartial and independent investigation.”
In 2017, incursions into Oromia by the unit led to the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of more than one million, according to a report by Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Amnesty International is calling on the Ethiopian authorities to implement the recommendations of the 2004 referendum, which voted for a clear demarcation of the Oromia-Somali border, as a means of addressing the root causes of tensions in the region.
Public Document
****************************************
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Catherine Mgendi on:
+254 737 197 614;
email: Catherine.mgendi@amnesty.org
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By William Davison
International experts have projected an above average flow in the Blue Nile river this year when the government may start filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s largest hydropower project.
That is potentially important for the scheme known as GERD, which alarms Nile-dependent Egypt, as it could allow Ethiopia to start impounding water at a reasonable rate without causing downstream shortages.
“The relative consistency of the 2018 prediction across models of different origin and structure provides some confidence that there is a high probability of average to above average flow in the coming season,” said the Ad hoc Blue Nile Forecast Group, a collection of eight scientists, who calculated that there was only a six percent chance of a below normal flow after this year’s rainy season.
Ethiopia’s latest plan is to start electricity generation this year, but it has not announced that it has started collecting water that will amount to around 1.5 times the river’s average annual flow at GERD.
The two nations and Sudan are locked in slow-moving talks over impact assessments and how to mitigate risks stemming from the damming of the Nile’s main tributary. While Egypt wants the filling strategy to be agreed collaboratively, Ethiopia looks set to press ahead even if there’s no consensus.
GERD’s effect on water availability and energy production in Sudan and Egypt will depend on the levels of their own dams at the start of the filling period and the extent of cooperation, as well as the impoundment rate, according to a 2016 study led by Kevin Wheeler from the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University.
“Assured protection of Egypt’s needs across all hydrologic conditions is only feasible with cooperative management of the upstream infrastructure in Ethiopia and Sudan,” the study said. If each year Ethiopia releases around half of the Blue Nile’s average annual flow then it will probably take five years to fill the reservoir, it said.
The 6,450-megawatt capacity hydropower plant is domestically funded and is valued at 3.4 billion Euros by its main contractor. Initial generation from two turbines was slated to begin as early as 2015 for the scheme that’s been accompanied by a concerted fundraising campaign.
Italy’s Salini Impregilo began building the dam in 2010 with the electro-mechanical works handled by the Metals and Engineering Corporation (MetEC), which was run by military officers. That state-owned conglomerate has had leadership changes recently after it mismanaged sugar and fertilizer projects. MetEC sub-contracted turbine construction to France’s Alstom and Germany’s Voith Hydro.
Egypt, which consumes the bulk of the Nile’s water, objected to GERD from its inception and hasengaged in saber-rattling. The dam will be mutually beneficial as it will smooth the river’s annual flow and power the region by pumping out 15,000 gigawatt hours of electricity a year, according to officials from Ethiopia, which is the source of around 60 percent of the Nile.
The governments need to focus on water management, as it’s too late to alter GERD, which is almost two-thirds completed, said the University of Wisconsin’s Paul Block, a member of the forecast group. “We are way too far down the path to make those changes. But filling policy and subsequent operational policy are really critical,” he said.
A fundraising pageant for GERD in Debre Birhan, Amhara region in 2014 (William Davison)
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The Role of Ethiopian Public Intellectuals: Prof Getachew Haile – SBS Amharic
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Dear Fellow Ethiopians,
After days of deliberations regarding the request from H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered by the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C., the ESFNA Board of Directors have voted not to accept the Prime Minister’s desire to address Ethiopians in North America during the Dallas tournament in July, but request it to be at a future tournament. There were multiple pressing factors that led the Board to postpone the invitation, most importantly:
However, the majority of Board Members were honored by the request. This is the first time an Ethiopian head of state has ever requested to attend any ESFNA’s annual tournament. It is a testament to ESFNA’s contribution to the North American Ethiopian community, and the North American community at large.
ESFNA is cognizant of the wave of change occurring in Ethiopia. Our hope is these reforms continue and become more participatory of every stakeholder of the nation. ESFNA is acutely aware of the energy and vigor with which the Prime Minister is harvesting from the Ethiopian people. We encourage everyone, including Prime Minister Abiy, to continue to engage with the Ethiopian community through peaceful dialogue so that current and future generations of Ethiopians will continue to come together.
It is our hope that the office of the Prime Minister and ESFNA will have an opportunity to revisit this outstanding invitation at a later time.
In conclusion, we would like to thank our fellow Ethiopians from across the world who e-mailed, called and used every form of media and social networks to voice their opinions on the letter of request.
We hope to see you in Dallas this summer.
ESFNA
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By Tsega Wiyohannes
It is really disappointing to say the least that Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) has rescinded the request made by Dr Abiy Ahmed, the current prime minister of Ethiopia, to be present in its sports tournament organised yearly in July, this year to be held in Dallas, Texas.
By rejecting Dr Abiy’s offer of olive branch, not only ESFNA has failed to make sport live up to its promise and mission of bringing hope, but also failed to make Ethiopian history in Dallas, whereby diverse Ethiopians of our generation and the next would inter mingle in peace, rejoicing the new hope and euphoric sense of freedom with those who sacrificed their lives for the betterment of others to build together the newly envisioned Ethiopia.
What more could a sport event have achieved than making the impossible possible, by locking arms in solidarity of Bekele Gerba, Eskinder Nega, Prof, Berhanu Nega, Andargachew Tsegie, Dr Merara Gudina and Dr Abiy Ahmed in the same podium for Peace, love and hope of the New envisioned Ethiopia everyone aspires to proudly call home.
This is really a missed opportunity where Ethiopian history would have recorded the event as the one that planted the seed of reconciliation, tolerance, friendship and love for Ethiopia. Imagine how proud and ecstatic people back home would have felt to see those who have sacrificed being recognised in a faraway land by their families who have the same feeling of despair, plight, love, passion and affection as their own. For that reason and reason alone, I thought it would be inconceivable to even think and do otherwise. Incredible!
In case they were not paying attention, in less than two months since Dr Abiy, became Prime Minister, we have not only averted a possible civil war but also, we are on course to establishing a relative peace and creating a political stakeholder society. It all began with releasing of prisoners of conscience, ranging from journalists to political activists from different regions, creed and backgrounds; both from regional as well as federal penitentiaries. The closure of Me’akelawi torchere chamber and the release of Eskinder Nega, Temesgen Desalegne, Bekele Gerba, Merara Gudina, Demeke Zewdu, Seyoum Teshome, Nigist Yirga and Andualem Arage, as well as many more unsung heroes was incredible to see and ecstatic to witness. To top it all off, the release of Andargachew Tsegie together with his photo shoot with the Prime Minister was just the icing on the cake that was needed for the freedom hungry, long suffering, now jubilant and aspiring Ethiopians.
By the same token, what took most people by surprise was the fact that thousands of Ethiopian prisoners whose plight most Ethiopians were never privy to, have been incarcerated in prisons as far as The Sudan, Kenya and Saudi Arabia. In his maiden foreign trip to The Sudan, later to Kenya and finally to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The Prime Minister made it his top agenda to deliver his people from bondage and bring them back home to their families to the cry of joy to many millions of Ethiopians. The Prime Minister, who envisioned a vision of new Ethiopia to the young and the able bodied; delivered those who were shackled in prison far away from home as well as at home; earned him the title of ‘Moses who grew up in Pharaoh’s household’ (ፈርዖን ቤት ያደገው ሙሴ) and rightly so.
This is the kind of prime minister ESFNA has the boldness to decline the presence of with nonsensical excuses that wouldn’t even worth the paper it is printed on. Ethiopians hoped for once, ESFNA, would do the right thing and accept the prime minister’s offer, extend their invitation and face the wrath of some diasporas. That is what courageous people do as there will always be some disgruntled voices even with a unanimous decision. Unfortunately, so it seems, courage and audacity are what ESFNA lacks most. So, they know it would have been better to be damned and do the right thing, be in the right side of history than be damned while censured by history.
By Dawit W Giorgis
A few months back Ethiopia was on the brinks but today we have our country back. The failure to support and encourage Prime Minster Ably Ahmed at this critical time is a failure for Ethiopia. It will be a missed opportunity with consequences that will haunt Ethiopians forever. Ethiopians have to follow their conscience and not the agendas of those who have a lot to loose with change. Those of us who have been used to condemn and criticize EPRDF (TPLF) have to now use our pen to support the approach that the PM is following and contribute constructively. Whatever change we see has yet to be institutionalized but one thing is certain: Ethiopians have Saved the Country. The concerted efforts of the Ethiopian people, the sacrifices paid and the magnificent work of Team Lemma have saved Ethiopia. A few months ago the future of Ethiopia was vigorously being debated with a cloud of uncertainty as to where the country was heading. Ethiopia was on the brinks of civil war and possibly become one of those failed states of Africa. I referred to Rwanda, Somalia, Yemen and Syria as examples and warned our people of the possible catastrophe unless we remain united. We wrote on how difficult it would be to get back our united Ethiopia once it descends into anarchy and civil strife. We saw the challenge that Ethiopia was facing as existential. Many elites and political pundits had no answers how Ethiopia can come out of this quagmire peacefully. Tradition, history and the strong bondage of our people prevailed and today we are assured that nothing can stand between Ethiopians and Unity. We have saved the country and this has been assured to us by a Prime Minister who has taken bold measures to consolidate this victory. That is the biggest and most historic achievement of the struggle which has been going on for 27years. WE HAVE A UNITED ETHIOPA. The struggle now should be not to reverse this historic gain. What we do with this country and how we do it is politics. Let the politicians act with caution and wisdom so that whatever issues are discussed do not threaten what has already been achieved with enormous pain and sacrifice. Don’t let any body try to take us back to the situation where we were in a few months ago.
In my article titled The Beginning of the End of TPLF in the middle of April, I wrote:
“The PM should face head-on the TPLF leadership and advise them not to try to thwart his efforts to dismantle EPRDF and transform Ethiopia in a direction that the people wish to. Autocrats fight for their survival. It would not be easy for the TPLF to abandon power and accept the dismantling of the EPRDF, which has been used as its Trojan horse. Non of us believe that it is going to be easy but when a leader has a universal support it will make his work for transition easier. TPLF might prefer to fight the PM and the Ethiopian people tooth and nail to maintain the status quo. The Ethiopian people are ready for that. The PM should be ready for that as well. If Dr Ably has an idea to continue as EPRDF cadre and try to maintain the status quo through cosmetic changes he will be mistaken. We advise that he exercise courage with wisdom and reason or else he would face the wrath of people who have waited for change for too long.
Hitler of Germany, Stalin of Russia, Duvalier of Haiti, Ferdinand Marcos of Philippines, Pol Pot of Cambodia, Mobutu of DRC, Bokassa of the CAR, Mengistu of Ethiopia Charles Taylor of Liberia, Gadhafi of Libya and the list goes on, have all been crushed by the popular wave of anger of their own people. TPLF is now close to joining that list.
In the end success will depend on the crossing of a fear barrier by Dr Ably and the people around him and his faith in the Ethiopian people. The Ethiopian people have crossed that fear. The question now is ‘Can PM Ably and his team cross that fear and take the bold steps towards democratic transition?’ If he fails he has no one to blame except himself. The people are more united than ever and they will not hesitate to continue the struggle for a final and lasting outcome.”
And indeed his decisions so far show that he is crossing that line of fear. He cannot reach the finishing line without the peoples support. Good governance is about decision-making and implementing decisions, and the process is thorny. To identify expectations and determine priorities, to be accountable, to maintain balance between the various interest groups and stake holders and build consensus, to be at the same time transparent and responsive and to establish rule of law in a country where it did not exist for over 40 years; are all not easy as some elites who have never been close want us to believe. New leaders like Dr. Ably also have to know that oratory and rhetoric alone will not take democratic leaders a long distance. Winston Churchill was the prime mister of Great Britain during one of the most difficult times in the history of the country, during the Second World War when Britain was challenged by Nazi Germany. He is well known for his wonderful oratory and patriotic rhetoric. But oratory alone was not enough to defeat Hiller. Eventually he not only delivered rhetoric and oratory but also delivered policy results that enabled a virtually bankrupt Britain to continue fighting and win the war. Churchill is now remembered as the greatest Statesman Britain ever had. We want Prime Minister Abiy to succeed so that generations of Ethiopians would remember him as one of Ethiopia’s greatest statesmen.
People should be aware that there is now, what could be considered as a parallel government in Ethiopia headed by hardliners within the TPLF and their supporters. The Prime Minster’s detractors would do anything to stop him. He can exist and continue to move the country forward if only the people allow him and continue to support his reform agenda but also guide him towards the final dismantling of the EPRDF (TPLF) repressive machinery. We have to protect him and assure him that the people will be with him so long as he is on the true path of change. This should not in any way stop people from pressuring Prime Mister Abiy to do more towards fundamental change. In fact we should continue to constructively contribute to the ongoing debate on how we can reach the goal of a united democratic Ethiopia in which its people live with equality freedom and justice living in peace with themselves and with the rest of the world. But for now, there should be no doubt that Prime Minister Abiy’s actions, decisions and speeches have transformed Ethiopia and given hope to all.
Dawit W Giorgis
Hindessa Abdul
Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed is making history. His magnanimity is unprecedented in recent history. Not only did he set most political prisoners free, he has even shown the courage to host some of them in his office. What happened this week is even more startling. The PM was confident enough to release Andargachew Tsige, the second in command of the outlawed opposition party Ginbot-7, who vowed to dislodge the TPLF/EPRDF government by all means possible.
And to make it clear that the release was whole hearted, the two discussed and got time to pose for a camera which actually made the rounds across the social media. Asked about the subject of the conversation by VOA Amharic, Andargachew declined to go into details but said it was extremely “positive.”
Andy, as supporters affectionately call him, was kidnapped from Yemeni capital on June 24, 2014 en route to Asmara. Whether it was a well organized operation by the security in Addis or a case of somebody selling him for 30 pieces of silver was largely a mystery. But he told VOA that his focus on the cheapest flight through Sana’a might have compromised his security. He thinks people might have easily recognized him and tipped the authorities in Addis. Other than that he doubts any conspiracy against him.
While the government spokesperson at the time, the infamous Getachew Reda, promised Andargachew will have his day in court, that didn’t materialize. He was in a state of solitary confinement for the better part of his incarceration. He told VOA he spent one year in an unknown villa and the rest in Kaliti prison with two murder convicts who made his life unbearable. It is only with the change at the helm of the government that he was finally able to have access to television.
A Brit without a visa
His release understandably made TPLF fanatics mad. They couldn’t see any point why he was kidnapped in the first place. They can not help but admit Andargachew has become a role model for young activists who camped outside of his father’s house waiting for his release. The international media coverage, the pressure of the British government and his family’s appeal for his release created a completely different Andargachew than the terrorist persona the government wanted to paint.
When the wind of change is sweeping the nation, and the case for dialogue is taking center stage, the old order is trying to hold on to the myth it created, though time is running out. And the arguments they present are absurd if not outrageous. TPLF media is decrying breaking of the country’s immigration law, where by a British citizen is in the country without a visa. They suggest he was supposed to be deported within 24 hours let alone having the PM’s ear. What they don’t mention is how did he enter the country in the first place. Was a visa issued during his entry?
Those criticisms echo the sinister undertakings the security hacks are known for. Confiscating passports and citing technicalities on travel documents are a well-traveled path of sabotaging dissidents. Eskinder Nega’s passport has been seized at the airport just a couple of weeks ago.The bottom line is they just want Andargachew to get the heck out of the country and vanish. He may leave the country for thousands of reasons but disappearing doesn’t seem to exist in his vocabulary, at least for now.
Andy Tsege was held in solitary confinement in Ethiopia after the authorities there accused him of being a terrorist.
A British national who spent four years on death row in Ethiopia has arrived back in the UK after being pardoned last month.
Supporters surrounded Andargachew Tsege, known as Andy, as he walked through arrivals at Heathrow Airport.
He told Sky News he was “overjoyed” to be home and “overwhelmed” by the reception he received.
Mr Tsege said he did not think the campaign to free him and the welcome he got would be “as large, as emotional, as effective as this”.
Being away had been “terrible”, he added, and very hard on his family.
Missing four years of his children growing up had been the “most painful thing”.
“The price they paid, the kids, that’s very painful,” he said.
Were he not a father, Mr Tsege said he would not have minded dying in prison for a “cause I believed in”.
While in detention, he said he was “completely sealed off” from any information.
Mr Tsege was kidnapped in Yemen in 2014 and taken to Ethiopia, which he left in the 1970s after criticising the country’s ruling party.
The father-of-three sought asylum in the UK in 1979.
In 2009, he was accused by the Ethiopian authorities of being a terrorist, tried with others in his absence and sentenced to death.
After being taken back to Ethiopia, he was held in secret detention and solitary confinement for a year.
Theresa May has thanked her Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed, for the release of Mr Tsege and other prisoners.
Mr Tsege, who is in his 60s, praised the British government for its efforts in helping to free him.
There had been a lot of “silent diplomacy”, he said, and knew the UK authorities had been “doing their best”.
Addis Abeba, June 02/2018 – The Council of Ministers in its today’s regular meeting has approved a draft law that lifts the current state of emergency , according to Fitsum Arega, Chief of Staff, Prime Minister’s office. Fitsum said: “the draft will be sent to Parliament for its consideration. The council deemed the security situation in the country was stable and law and order was restored.
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Fitsum Arega@fitsumaregaaThe Council of Ministers in its today’s regular meeting reviewed the security situation of the country. It noted that law & order has been restored. It has approved a draft law that lifts the State of Emergency. The draft will be sent to Parliament for its consideration #Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s ruling party controlled members of parliament have, on March 02/2018, approved the current state of emergency which was first proposed by the council of ministers on February 16. The state of emergency was planned to last for six months, coming to an end in August. The council of ministers announced the current state of emergency, the second in a year and half, one day after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Fitusm did not mention when the council’s draft bill proposing to lift the decree would be sent to the national Parliament.
AS
by Kaleab Tessema
Actually, there has been a pattern of massively murdering and displacing the Amharas for the last 27 years by the TPLF and its agents in every region in the country, but the recent gruesome massively attacked a young boy’s genitals being removed in Benishangul is very disturbing and savagely cruel. This barbarous act emphatically shows that the TPLF is deliberately planning and wilfully caused the deaths and sufferings of the Amhara, which is a crime of moral turpitude.
Strangely enough, it is not seen or heard by any of the opposition groups or advocacy in the country condemning this unprecedented and diabolical act perpetrated on 14 -year- old Amhara by the TPLF agents. It is stunning that how people could tolerate seeing a young boy with his genitals removed and thrown on the street.
The TPLF has had a long term goal of the destroying the Amhara and of course, a million of Amharas have been murdered since the TPLF controlled the country. The Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) intention was crystal clear that its ultimate goal was to secede from Ethiopia, by falsely accusing the Amhara by spewing hate-mongering propaganda that Tigray is being destitute economically poor and vagrant. This an utterly false accusation and an utterly scurrilous threat became the TPLF’s an implacable policy of the ethnic Amhara that its virulence still makes one wince.
Frankly speaking in the past, no Amhara went to Tigray to look for economic opportunity. The TPLF tried to launch its political mission over the Amhara people using sophistry to convince the west that the Amhara people were the oppressors and trying to take control of Tigray and its economy. This of course is a falsehood and entirely untrue.
It is vice versa, now at this time, it is an Amhara ethnicity who downtrodden by the TPLE regime, which the TPLF and its associates never realized its folly that created hostility and enemies between the Tigre ethnicity and others. At one time the big enemy of the Ethiopian, the late TPLF chief had promised to his cabals that he would make the Amhara beggars on the street and to an extent, he tried to wipe-out the Amhara from Welkait, and still the people of Welkait under TPLF without respite from suffering. These heinous crimes created an ethnic-racial tension to fester throughout the country. Look what happened between ethnic Oromo and ethnic Somali.
Nevertheless, I reiterate in my previous pieces that the Amhara is one of the large segments and rooted people in the country that the Tigray oligarchies could never eliminate the Amhara.
Despite the fact, from my perspective, if this vampire regime stays in power for the next 20-30 years, say, hypothetically, there will be the possibilities of making the Amhara a minority ethnic group. If the TPLF and its cronies continue orchestrating ethnic cleansing to every part of the country where the Amharas live, it may become a reality. If I recall correctly, the late TPLF leader bragged that if “we want, we can make the Oromos minority.” This is a tangible evidence having a suspicious.
A few years ago, I wrote an article about Melese legacy where the TPLF tripped, and I mentioned the TPLF’s hideous crime on Amharas populations:
“Sadly enough, the TPLF brutal killing of innocent Amharas peasants in the southern part of the country was not enough; the TPLF tried to inject some sort of sterilizer into Amhara women that would make them unable to conceive. Further, a few years ago a report given to Woyanne parliament about the disappearance of 2.4 million Amharas in the census conducted was evidence. The TPLF tried any means necessary to reduce the number of the Amhara population. These diabolic actions on Amharas, it is not new, it is already in the record.”
Funny enough, I happened to read a warning rebuttal written in Amharic by Abraham Desta the Arena Tigray chairman, posted on welkait.com saying that Welkait will be the battlefield if the Amharas do not give up on Welkait. He continues saying he told to the Amharas activist that the question of expanding territory is inconceivable, and there is no way for the Amhara to take back Welkait from Tigrayan. In other words, it will be the end of the Amharas if they think of about Welkait. That is what he meant!
I would not be surprised by his skin deep shallow comment. This narrow minded ethnocentric-Tigryan tries to brag that the Woyanne-Tigre is superior and strong in every aspect of, like militarily and economically, which he seemed a gullible person who falls in the TPLF’s old trick, because the Tigryans peasants are heavily armed in Welkait and in Humera whereas the Amharas’ peasant guns have been taken by TPLF forces, and that is why Abraham Desta tries to threaten the Amhara as if Welkait was part of Tigray even before Woyanne went to the bush.
Arena chairman knows very well that Welkait was never be part of the Tigray region. Let me acquaint him with some facts that, if the Amhara dies for its land which is forcibly taken by an expansionist regime, is legitimate and justified, but if a Tigryan dies for a land which does not belong to them is meaningless and insane. I know for sure Abraham is worried about the survival of the TPLF regime if it begins to wind down, which is inevitable.
As it is known to all, in the TPLF’s manifesto outline said that apart from “capitalism and imperialism,” the number one enemy of the Tigray people is Amhara. Unfortunately, the ordinary Amhara never knew the Woyanne’s ill will against Amhara people, and the TPLF for a solid 17 years organized and accumulated a large hoard of weapons so that it could easily crush its enemy. Obviously, the Amhara where indiscriminately slaughtered and evicted from their own land, which is genocide.
Here something TPLF should know that killing the Amharas for the sake of repugnancy, will not bring peace or prosperity for the Tigray people. It brings chaos that leads to the war between ethnicities. The TPLF formulated ethnic and language-based federalism in order to stay in power. Now the TPLF’s power is weakening. “Divide and Rule,” in the 21 century is an obsolete idea that initially the system planned by the TPLF to isolate and target the Amhara, which is a primitive and show the ignorance of the Woyanne.
As I mentioned above, brutality and displacing of the ethnic Amhara from every region in the country has been occurring for the past 27 years. But, this recent merciless attack is very painful on a 14 years old boy being mutilated and displayed on the street by the TPLF agents in Benishangul is extremely heinous.
Addis Abeba, June 03/2018 – A team of two senior members of the US based Oromia Media Network (OMN) are en route to Ethiopia in what the media company said was a mission of “exploring logistics and opportunities” to open its branch offices in Ethiopia.
A management team of two led by Mohammed Abdosh, deputy director for operations, are “on the way to Ethiopia as of now”, according to Jawar Mohammed, executive director of OMN. “While we are aware of the potential challenges of operating from the ground by opening up branch offices, we want to explore opportunities based on the recent encouraging developments,” Jawar told Addis Standard in an email interview.
In a speech delivered to a public gathering in Hawassa, the capital of the southern regional state, on April 26, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopian media organizations based abroad can relocate their offices and operate from within Ethiopia. The Prime Minister made the remark as part of his administration’s efforts to loosen up the current restrictive space for independent and critical media organizations. In a recent separate remark, the Prime Minister also said media plurality was an essential element of improving professionalism.
OMN board of directors responded to the Prime Minister’s speech in Hawassa stating three conditions that would make it impossible for the media organization to relocate and operate from within Ethiopia. One of which was the pending terrorism charges against OMN and the criminal charges against Jawar Mohammed. Both have since been discontinued. The second was the six months state of emergency. But in its is regular meeting yesterday, the Council of Ministers has approved a draft law that lifts the current state of emergency pending the parliament’s approval.
In a statement released on May 31, OMN board of directors said “we are encouraged that charges of violating the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2009 brought against the OMN and its executive director, Jawar Mohammed, were dropped on May 29, 2018. While we await the lifting of this unconstitutional and unnecessary law, we interpret this legal action as meaning one of our conditions were met.”
The statement also said “the Press Law currently in effect in Ethiopia does not allow freedom of speech and the unencumbered flow of ideas,” and called for “a swift parliamentary action to repeal the current law and replace it with one that allows for free press and free expression.”
Jawar Mohammed said despite no change to that end, OMN was “hopeful that the current administration will take the call to heart and consider to repeal such a draconian media law that made the progress of independent media in Ethiopia nearly impossible.” Asked if OMN has set a date to open its branch offices and begin operations from Ethiopia anytime soon, Jawar said they were taking “one step at a time.”
Established in 2012, OMN is licensed under the US Federal Communications Commission. It is “governed by a Board of Trustees, an Executive Council, and an independent editorial team made up of professional journalists,” according to a statement on its website.
AS
ADDIS ABABA, June 2 (Xinhua) — The Ethiopia Council of Ministers on Saturday approved a draft law that lifts marital law, reported state media Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation.
The draft will be sent to the Ethiopian parliament where it’s widely expected to be approved.
The ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and allied parties control all the 547 parliamentary seats.
Ethiopia imposed a six-month martial law on February 16, to stem violent protests and increasing ethnic clashes.
The Council noted that law and order have been restored to justify lifting the martial law.
We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the board of ESFNA reconsider its decision to decline the request by Prime Minister Abiy to engage Ethiopians at the 2018 ESFNA event in Dallas. In light of Prime Minister Abiy’s genuine efforts to change our civic and political discourse, this petition is also our direct message to the Prime Minister that a majority of Ethiopians, wherever they may live, support his messages of unity, reconciliation, and his ongoing efforts to transform our national dialog.
Dear ESFNA board members,
It has been the deepest held aspiration of all Ethiopians to see Ethiopia as a country where everyone is treated justly under the law. The art of a peaceful dialog is a first step in moving our nation into permanent reconciliation. Prime Minister Abiy has brought the country so far in this direction in such a very short time.
The Prime Minister has also taken concrete and successful steps to prepare the ground work for such a dialog with all Ethiopians, especially the diaspora: he has released political prisoners, brought the country back from the brink through his language of brotherhood and unity, worked to restore our dignity by bringing home Ethiopian prisoners from Kenya, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia. He has also invited opposition parties and media to join him in this important work. We do not underestimate the challenges and obstacles the Prime Minister has had to overcome to achieve this much. A dialog requires willing participants and one must be courageous enough to be the first to extend the hand of friendship. We appreciate that the Prime Minister has come halfway with his humble request for a conversation.
That is why we find it very distressing that the ESFNA board has chosen to shut the door to this important discussion. We believe ESFNA can and should find a solution to the concerns it listed in its announcement and create a space for this much-needed debate between diaspora Ethiopians and Prime Minister Abiy. In this watershed moment in Ethiopia’s history, we need ESFNA to stand strong and show leadership and do its part in bringing a lasting change to the national conversation. Some have been vocal in their objections to the Prime Minister’s request by stating that he must do more to earn the trust of diaspora Ethiopians who have been time and again deceived by past governments. While we respect this view, we believe that it does not recognize the transformational time we Ethiopians find ourselves in. This view puts the task of transforming Ethiopia solely at the feet of the Prime Minister while it leaves the rest of us, including the ESFNA, as bystanders without a part to play in our own future. We all have equal responsibilities to create a better Ethiopia. Let us take the responsibility to hold the Prime Minister accountable, let us challenge him, and let us become his fiercest critics, if need be. But, we cannot do this if do not meet him halfway for a conversation.
We hope that the 2018 ESFNA event will be a successful one. We hope to see many more successful years, both for the ESFNA and for Prime Minister Abiy.
Respectfully,
Concerned Ethiopian-Americans
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Show your support to Prime Minister of Ethiopia Dr. Abiy Ahmed on his request to attend #ESFNA Dallas 2018
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