---

February 28, 2006

˜Sweetness in the Belly' portrays a softer side of Islam
Royal Gazette - Bermuda
... "Most of the characters in the book are Oromo, a specific ... She said it was a journalist she met through Pen that influenced her to go to Ethiopia in the first ...

 

Is EPRDF Eradicating Anti-Democratic Tendencies or Becoming the Source of Oppression Itself? AllAfrica.com Mon, 27 Feb 2006 7:04 AM PST This piece of mine comes as a result of my participation in the on-going nationwide assembly of teachers. I am forced to convey the massage and the spirit of the meeting to all Ethiopians both in the country and abroad because I believe that this has really exposed the real nature of the regime.

---

A losing bet in Ethiopia
By Mike Clough, Michael Clough has worked on U.S. Africa policy for
nearly three
decades. Most recently, he was the Africa advocacy director for Human
Rights Watch.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/suncommentary/la-op-ethopia18dec18,1,491349.story?coll=la-headlines-suncomment&ctrack=1&cset=true
 

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February 27, 2006

Police arrest opposition members in western Ethiopia
Sudan Tribune - Sudan
... The deputy administrator of East Welega Zone (in western Ethiopia), Kena Yadeta ... with the "sha'biyyah" (Eritrean government) and Oromo Liberation Front (OLF ...
==============

Ethiopia, UNHCR sign agreement to repatriate 70,000 Sudanese Monsters and Critics.com - Glasgow,UK Addis Ababa - A tripartite agreement was signed in Addis Ababa Monday among Ethiopia, the Sudan and the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, for the voluntary ... ============= ETHIOPIA-ERITREA: UN calls for resolution of border stalemate Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK NAIROBI, 27 February (IRIN) - Ethiopia and Eritrea should define their common border as decided four years ago and meet with the commission charged with ... ============= ETHIOPIA: Support for water and sanitation sectors Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK NAIROBI, 27 February (IRIN) - The African Development Bank (ADB) has given a US $64.32 million grant to Ethiopia to finance rural water supply and sanitation ... =============== Humanitarian situation worsens in southeast Ethiopia Xinhua - China 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The humanitarian situation in southeast Ethiopia continues to deteriorate, with increasing livestock deaths, serious shortage of water and ... ================ Talks to head off recurrence of Ethiopia-Eritrea border conflict EiTB - Euskadi,Spain Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping mission's current mandate to monitor a 15-mile (25-km) buffer zone between Ethiopia and Eritrea expires on March 15. ... ================= Police arrest opposition members in western Ethiopia Sudan Tribune - Sudan Feb 26, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) -- Ethiopian authorities arrested opposition members accused of subversive activities in western Ethiopia. ... ================== Ethiopia is Africa's Biggest Jailer of Journalists Mathaba.Net - London,UK ... the government" and printing "misinformation" in an article printed several years ago about the border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia, Mulat told CPJ. ...

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February 24, 2006

Drought situation critical in the southeast Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK NAIROBI, 24 February (IRIN) - The drought situation in southeastern Ethiopia is already "critical" and is expected to deteriorate over the coming months if the ... Ethiopia, Finland Sign Investment Promotion, Protection Accord AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA Ethiopia and Finland have signed an agreement providing for the promotion and protection of investment. The agreement was signed ...   To end dispute, UN Security Council urges Ethiopia and Eritrea to ... UN News Centre 24 February 2006 -- In order to resolve the current impasse between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the United Nations Security Council today urged the two parties to ...   Aliwa leads Uganda in Ethiopia The Monitor, Uganda - Kampala,Uganda ... Aliwa will lead six other Ugandans at the Janmeda International Cross-country Championships that will be flagged off this morning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia . ...   Treason trial begins in Ethiopia World Peace Herald - Washington,DC,USA ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- The trial of 129 lawmakers, journalists and human rights activists on treason charges opened yesterday with all but three defendants ...   Ethiopia bars critical UK reporter from country - CPJ Sudan Tribune - Sudan ... "Here was a reporter seeking to cover the crisis in Ethiopia thoroughly and ... Ethiopia has jailed at least 17 journalists in the crackdown, according to CPJ. ...   African Development Bank president starts visit to Ethiopia Xinhua - China ... Xinhuanet) -- President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Donald Kaberuka arrived here on Friday to pay a three-day working visit to Ethiopia, aimed at ...   Seyoum expresses gov'ts support to professional ... African News Dimension - Johannesburg,South Africa ... He said it is important to look for mechanisms of further integrating the science of Chemistry to the various efforts being deployed in Ethiopia to fight ...

 

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February 22, 2006

EU funds professional, civic associations in Ethiopia Xinhua - China ¡¡ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Ethiopian government to ...   Ethiopia denies killing of two students in Oromia Sudan Tribune - Sudan Feb 21, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) -- Ethiopia's police denied media reports on the killing of two students during a riot in Oromia state, the official ENA reported ...

Sounds Alarm over Pre-Famine Conditions in Southern ...
UNPO - The Hague,Netherlands
... Nations aid coordination agency said Monday the drought gripping the Horn of Africa had reached a critical stage in eastern and south-eastern Ethiopia and was ...
 

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February 21, 2006

Mengistu hatched and directed Operation Murambatsvina ZWNews.com "His idea was that reducing the urban population through such an operation would greatly diminish the chances of an uprising" Harare - Exiled Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam was the brains behind last ...

State leads nation in Somali immigrants

BY PATRICK CONDON

ASSOCIATED PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota saw its third largest influx of immigrants in a quarter century in 2004, with immigrants from Somalia leading the pack.

In 2004, 11,708 legal immigrants came to Minnesota, according to Department of Homeland Security data released by the State Demographic Center.

That put the state at 16th nationally, but it was first in the number of Somali immigrants, at 1,445. Ohio was a distant second, with 572 Somali immigrants.

Faced with political turmoil and violent unrest in their home country, Somali refugees started coming to the U.S. in large numbers in the mid-1990s. Minnesota quickly became a favored destination, thanks in part to a number of well-organized groups established to help immigrants settle, such as Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities.

The mid-'90s Minnesota economy also was a draw, said Barbara Ronningen of the State Demographic Center, offering plenty of job opportunities for immigrants who wanted them.

Before long, Ronningen said, a Somali community started to establish itself.

"It's fairly common in immigration, when there's a critical mass -- a large group of people from the same places -- that they will attract more people from their home country," she said.

In 2004, the total number of Somali residents of Minnesota was about 25,000, and Ronningen said it could be as high as 30,000 now -- with no sign of slowing down.

"There's no place for them to return to in Africa," Ronningen said. "Somalia has no government and it's still very chaotic and dangerous."

Of Minnesota's 11,708 immigrants last year, the largest number (4,319) came from Africa. That put the state at fifth in the nation for number of African immigrants, behind California, New York, Texas and Maryland.

Other countries well-represented among Minnesota's new immigrants in 2004 were Ethiopia, Mexico, India, the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

The vast majority of Minnesota's immigrants, almost84 percent, settled in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

TONY BLAIR BARS FREE SPEECH IN BRITON
Foreign Correspondent - Windsor,ON,Canada
... Bangkok government. Oromo fighting Ethiopia's Marxist regime; Kashmiri's fighting for independence from Indian misrule. All are ...

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February 17, 2006

State Dept. Official Comments on Ethiopian Opposition Leaders   US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer comments regarding jailed Ethiopian opposition leaders.

 

Ethiopia's ruling EPRDF, 2 opposition forces agree to discuss ...
African News Dimension - Johannesburg,South Africa
... United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) and the opposition Oromo Federalist Democratic ... items such as the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, Mass Media ...
==================

Free the Gitmo 500!
Blogcritics.org - Aurora,OH,USA
... Ethiopia whose government recently arrested all of the leaders of the political ... trial or outside contact thousands of students from the Oromo tribe, after ...
 

 

 

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February 16, 2006

Traditional African Sports and Games:Karssa (A Game Similar To ...
BlackAthlete.net - USA
... The Oromo of Ethiopia also have traditional sports that have been enjoyed by children and young adults such as gugssa (horseback riding), qillee (field hockey ...
 

Popular uprising in Oromia reaches a critical stage
Sudan Tribune - Sudan
... clear- the regime can no longer sideline the yearning of the Oromo and other ... silent about the tragedy unfolding in Oromia in particular and Ethiopia in general ...

 

Officers document HIV/AIDS response
African News Dimension - Johannesburg,South Africa
President of Dawn of Hope Ethiopia Association underlined the importance of a national workplace document that would enable spark practical response of all ...
 

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February 15, 2006

ATTACK on the Press in 2005

ETHIOPIA

http://www.cpj.org/attacks05/

=======================

Charities in plea over State aid for Ethiopia Ireland Online - Dublin,Ireland Irish development aid to Ethiopia should not be cut off because of unfounded allegations of corruption, it was claimed tonight. ... =====================  Why is the rift widening between Blair and Meles? Nazret.com - College Park,MD,USA When Ethiopia's regressive tyrant jetted to South Africa over the weekend to catch up with this year's Progressive Governance Summit, many where wondering why ... ===================== Ethiopia to build 3m-dollar prison in Addis Ababa African News Dimension - Johannesburg,South Africa By Andnetwork .com. The Federal Prisons Administration will build a prison with an international standard at a cost of (27m birr 3m dollars). ==================== Technology raises birth rate in Ethiopia Scenta.co.uk - London,England,UK A study from the University of Bristol has demonstrated a link between technological development and an increase in birth rate in Ethiopia. ...  =====================  Nevirapine made available in all health stations of ... African News Dimension - Johannesburg,South Africa ... a drug preventingt mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS (MTCT), has been launched in five health stations of the Gedeo Zone, South Ethiopia Peoples State ...

Februray 14, 2006

Windbreaker--Ethiopia's Tolossa fights through blustery conditions ...
The Daily Yomiuri - Osaka,Japan
Seven years ago, Ethiopia's Ambesse Tolossa experienced firsthand the ups and downs of life as a distance runner competing for a Japanese corporate club. ...
 ===================

 WFP ambassador calls for more aid
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
... Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, has called on donors to continue supporting food aid projects in Ethiopia ...
 ======================
 

Blair optimistic despite human rights abuses in Ethiopia
EiTB - Euskadi,Spain
... about governance in Africa despite setbacks such as a corruption scandal rocking Kenya and allegations of human rights abuses in Ethiopia, until recently one ...
=======================

UK must stand firm against tyranny in Ethiopia
Sudan Tribune - Sudan
By Idris Shaankkore. Re: Human Rights Abuses in Oromiyaa Region of Ethiopia. ˜The state of Africa is a scar on the conscience of the world. ...
=======================

Eritrea arrests UN staff
News24 - South Africa
Asmara - Eritrea has arrested several local staff of the United Nations peacekeeping mission that monitors its tense border with Ethiopia in a new sign of ...
 =======================

The first FM Commercial Stations
Geeska Afrika - Somalia
... is a plan to give additional FM radio licenses in the future, adding that till now licenses have been given to the Amhara and South Ethiopia Peoples States as ...

 

---

February 12, 2006

Ethiopia denies Amnesty report of mass Oromo detentions
Middle East Times Sat, 11 Feb 2006 1:49 AM PST
ADDIS ABABA -- The Ethiopian government on Wednesday flatly denied an Amnesty International report that it has detained thousands of members of the country's Oromo ethnic group in a crackdown on dissent.

 

February 10, 2006

The Honorable Senator Leahy                                                
27, 2005
433 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
 
by
 
Falmataa Biyaa
 
The Honorable Senator,
 
In 1991, the despotic communist military regime of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam was
deposed through the concerted efforts of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the
Tigrean Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF).
Even so, the Tigreans, which constitute only 5% of the Ethiopian population and thus
make a minority ethnic group, came to power in 1991 through massive assistance of
certain western powers.
 
Upon coming to power, the Tigrean leaders committed themselves to such democratic
ideals as a multi – party election, a pluralist society with free press, respect for
human rights and the rule of law with equal status for all people of the empire.
 
However, this sham democracy revealed its true nature as the Tigre leaders viewed
the conduction of domestic politics not as an exercise in compromise and consensus
building among fellow citizens, but started waging warfare especially against the
Oromo Nation. Thus, the Oromo Nation fell again under a second round of
colonization.
 
In forceful denial of the inalienable right of the Oromo Nation for
self-determination, the Tigrean leaders are using battlefield strategies in the
control, subjugation, oppression and ethnic cleansing of the Oromo people. Under the
pretext that a multitude of the Oromo people are either members or supporters of the
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Tigrean dominated Ethiopian empire is grossly
violating the inalienable human rights of the Oromo people.
 
At this very moment, the regime is waging a secret war against the Oromo people,
which the mass media of many western countries do not cover. It is carrying out the
most hideous carnage against the Oromo Nation through summary and extra-judicial
execution of thousands of innocent people,
 
Presently, there is a massive uprising in Ethiopia by Oromo of all walks of life
such as  elementary and secondary school, college and university students, teachers,
farmers, business people, protesting the inhumane mistreatments of the Oromo, as
well as demanding our right for self-determination, 
 
As a consequence, tens of thousands of Oromo are being captured and imprisoned in
numerous known and unknown prisons, army barracks, private houses, factory
compounds, underground detention centers etc.
 
Many Oromo are being kidnapped from their houses, learning institutions, churches,
work places, on the streets and the disappearances of such people has become a daily
routine,
 
Furthermore, the exposure of prisoners to unprecedented forms of physical torture,
psychological terror, intimidation, mock execution, denial of food (forced
starvation), denial of medical treatments for sick prisoners are daily occurrences,
 
Mutilation of genital organs of both male and female prisoners, a form of torture
practiced by the first colonizers of the Oromo Nation, who used to castrate males
and cut off breasts of females, is also being practiced by the Tigres now, 
Strict surveillance, scrutiny and registration of the daily activities of urban and
rural dwellers, especially in Oromia, is a flagrant abuse of human rights,
 Deployment of trained military personnel and secret agents among urban and rural
dwellers has exposed the people to intimidation and psychological terror,

A multitude of highly skilled and experience Oromo people have been dismissed from
their works and replaced by Tigres,

A substantial number of well educated Oromo have left and are still leaving the
country, and seeking refuge in USA, Europe, Australia, Canada, South Africa and
other neighboring countries,
 
Many refugees have been killed or kidnapped by assassination
squads, organized by the regime in Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia
and South Africa,
 
 The regime is also looting and plundering Oromo properties and natural resources
and hauling the booty to the province known as Tigrai, which is the home province
of the Tigres, Similarly, the regime is dismantling factories, hospitals, and universities located
in Oromia, and transferring them to Tigrai.
 
The fact that the regime commits human rights violations is corroborated by the
United States Department of States’ Country Report on Human Rights Practices of the
Ethiopian empire as well as by credible human rights groups including the Amnesty
International,  Human Rights Watch/Africa, and the International Commissions of
Jurists.
 
 The liberation war that the Oromo Liberation Front is waging is purely to resist the
forcible denial of the Oromo people’s right for self-determination. The demand of
the Oromo people is: -
The entitlement of the Oromo people for self-determination, as stipulate under
Article 1 of the UN Covenants on Human Rights, which recognizes the right to
self-determination. Ethiopia has accepted, and is bound by the Covenant,
 
Under the provision of the Covenant, the demand is just and right, because Oromo is
the largest nation on the Horn of Africa. It inhabits a separate and well defined
territory and has a distinct cultural and linguistic identity,

The objective of our demand is to restore our sovereignty, which has been robbed
from the subjugated Oromo people.

As reiterated above, the current Ethiopian regime is using force to
suppress the demand of the Oromo people to exercise their right for
self-determination. This contravenes the UN Charter that bans the use of force by
member states in international disputes. This includes the claim for
self-determination.
 
The Oromo people are sick and tired of successive Abyssinian regimes posturing as
legitimate custodians of the right of the Oromo people and interests.  
 
In the Declaration of American Independence, presented by the representatives of
this Great Nation of the United States of America to the Congress assembled on July
4, 1776 it was stipulated, I quote: -
 
“that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.---That when any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it
is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.------- But, when a long train of
abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
 
The American people passed this Declaration to free, to liberate themselves from the
English colonization. They wanted freedom, they wanted independence. Therefore,
adopting this Declaration of Independence of the American people from the former
British colonizers as a guiding principle, and in view of the grotesque abuse and
gross violation of human rights in Ethiopia today, I hereby appeal to the conscience
of the people and the government of this great nation of democracy and freedom: -
 
1.That the government of the USA in particular and the western democratic
powers in general, who cherish the respect for human rights and are considered as
the citadel of democracy, refrain themselves from supporting the present despotic
and autocratic regime of Ethiopia,
 
2.That the struggle of the Oromo Nation being for democracy, freedom and
peace, human dignity and equality, the Oromo people be given the inalienable right
for self determination.
 
3. Hence, in the principle of good faith, the Oromo people be given a fair
chance to make a genuine choice, whether to become an independent and sovereign
state, or integration with an already existing state, or association with an
existing state.
 
4. That a change in USA policy concerning the most unpopular regime that ever
ruled Ethiopia become necessary, because more than 15 years of tenure of power by
the Tigrean autocratic regime has only contributed to the escalation of violation of
human rights as well as to the destabilization of peace on the Horn of Africa.
 
At this juncture, I would like to point out the fact that the Oromo Gada democratic
system of the Oromo Nation is based on equality, freedom of assembly, speech and
movement and mutual respect. The system believes that it is morally unacceptable to
deprive people of their basic human rights.
 
The Oromo people also believe in the policy of peaceful co-existence with their
neighbors, big and small, for many hundred of years. They have proven themselves
beyond doubt by accommodating many nationalities living within Oromia as well as
bordering Oromia. This is so, because of all nationalities living in Ethiopia it is
the Oromo which lives peacefully with its international neighbors, namely Kenya in
the south, Somalia to the southeast, Djibouti on the east, and the Sudan on the
west.
 
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize our belief that due to our large population
size, our peaceful nature, our natural resource, and also taking the proximity of
Oromia to the Middle East and the Gulf States, the Oromo Nation will play a pivotal
role in bringing about a long-lasting peace and stability on the Horn of Africa. I
also believe that the Oromo will become the most important variable in the power
equation of the Horn of Africa, and be a good friend of the USA. 
 
Therefore, the Oromo Nation extends its hands to the government of this Great Nation
of the USA for the establishment of a mutual working relationship with the Oromo
Nation.
 
God bless America! 
 
 Demand Respect for Human Rights in Oromiya Regional State of Ethiopia (Petition drive)

Ethiopia's May 2005 elections, It was not your normal election

=========================
Lonely as a world leader, well join the club
Business Day - Johannesburg,South Africa
... has arrested thousands of members of the Oromo ethnic group, according to human rights watchdog Amnesty International. In addition, Ethiopia's election last ...
========================

February 8, 2006

Feburary 6, 2006

Ethiopia's PM, opposition MPs in row over Oromia

February 5, 2006

Oromos deserve attention of Ethiopia's PM supporters
Sudan Tribune - Sudan
... and alerts, The African Union Reports, and The EU Human Rights reports on Ethiopia. ... The Oromo people have always been and remain grateful friends of the people ...
===============

February 3,2006

Crosssections of society condemn onslaught on inhabitants of West Wollega zone

Gimbi , February 02, 2006 (WIC) -Cross sections of the society in Oromia state have condemned the killings, rape and burning of houses and
properties perpetrated by anti-peace forces in West Wollega zone . Over 240 members of a team drawn from all zones of Oromia state
representing the elderly, religious leaders, youths and other cross sections of the society condemned the acts after visiting the victims in the
rural kebeles of Laloasabi and Gimbi woredas. In a discussion the members of the team held in Enango and Gimbi towns
they expressed their dismay at the brutal killings, rape and burning of properties perpetrated by OLF and some political parties which claim to
pursue peaceful struggle. The participants of the discussion expressed their deep sorrow over the onslaught in the area and said it was an attack on the Oromo people at
large.
They said the perpetrators of the atrocities need to be brought to justice expeditiously as it was a dismaying and disgracing onslaught never
committed on the Oromo people. The government also needs to exert effort in tracking down and making
accountable those who were allegedly involved in committing the criminal act, they noted.
The participants of the meeting also pledged to provide financial and material support for rehabilitating the people affected by the violence.
It was explained to the team that three people were killed, 131 injured and many women raped in Laloasbai and Gimbi woredas by the fascistic
acts of the anti-peace forces.
Many residents in five woredas of the zone were also recently exposed to social and economic problems as their houses and properties were
damaged by the atrocities perpetrated by anti-peace forces, it is to be recalled.
 

February 2,2006

Gov't disputes student arrest allegations
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
... African bureau that thousands of students are detained in Ethiopia is misinforming ... "Several thousand school and college students from the Oromo ethnic group ...
Ethiopia Denies Protesters Are Wrongly Detained
Voice of America - USA
... Hailu denies Amnesty International's claims that the government was holding thousands of members of Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group in detention in a ...
Ethiopia's food aid addiction
BBC News - UK
... Even in good years, some 5m people need food aid just to survive. Ethiopia is so poor that it takes one bad rainy season to tip millions more into crisis. ...
 

February 1,2006

Meles rejects abuse accusations
Reuters AlertNet - London,England,UK
... London-based Amnesty International said earlier in the day that Ethiopia had arrested thousands of students from the Oromo ethnic group in a crackdown ...
===========

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