May 22, 2006

OLF Statement announcing the formation of the Alliance for Freedom..

Statement announcing the formation of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy A historic meeting convened, by the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP), the Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF), the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), the Sidama Liberation Front (SLF) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), at Utrecht in Netherlands, from 19 to 22 of May 2006 has successfully completed by forming the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy (AFD) and elected its officers. The UEDF supports the formation of the alliance and its objectives and has requested a month to consult its member organizations. The formation of the Alliance is an outcome of a series of bilateral and multilateral discussions conducted in the past several months. The Founding Agreement has been unanimously accepted and ratified by all members of the Alliance. The formation of this Alliance reflects the aspirations and best wishes of all people in Ethiopia whose life has been blighted by political repression, marginalization and exclusion.

The ultimate aim of the Alliance is to establish a just, representative and a genuine democratic process through the convening of an all-inclusive conference where the country’s problems will be discussed and resolved.

We are confident that the formation of this Alliance will be a vehicle to eliminate mistrust and suspicion between political groups and communities so that all will work together in the spirit of mutual understanding and to the benefit and well-being of all. We believe the collective effort behind the Alliance will put an end to the existing destructive mentality of winner takes all and the habitual indifference towards the excluded. The Alliance aspires to purposefully cultivate the values of compromise, tolerance, inclusion, reconciliation and mutual understanding. That is the only way to end the underlying causes of repression, bloodshed, insecurity, political instability and exclusion in Ethiopia and the region, which are inflicting severe hardships and suffering on all people, and seriously hampers the prospects for development and the attainment of equality, justice and prosperity.

Time and time again the people in Ethiopia have risen up and paid unimaginable sacrifice to satisfy their yearning for freedom, justice, liberty and democracy. The struggle and the sacrifice that is being paid in relation to the May 15 2005 election is a recent addition to the series of quashed aspirations.

Our people have demonstrated their readiness and ability that a just and democratic political order is feasible in Ethiopia. What stands between the aspiration for freedom and democracy and its realization is the unwillingness of the incumbent EPRDF regime to submit to the expressed will of the people and its flagrant violations of human rights and civil liberties and failure to even respect and abide by its very own constitution.

The Alliance will therefore struggle to pressure the ruling party to stop frustrating the realization of the yearning for freedom and democracy. The Alliance would use its generous spirit of inclusiveness in convening the conference that would facilitate a way towards the establishment of a democratic and representative order.

We call upon all the people in Ethiopia, both at home and abroad, to rise up in unison to support the cause of the Alliance and struggle to make the convening of the conference, which paves the way for a democratic transition, a reality. The struggle should continue to challenge the current spate of repression in the country, halt the futile and destructive military campaigns, security crackdowns and end the farcical political trial of elected members of parliament and others and to free all political prisoners, including those detained in the small towns and villages.

We also call upon the international community to realize that dialogue and good-faith negotiation offers the only way to achieve a lasting solution and back the alliance's call for this all-inclusive conference to break the current impasse. We hope the international community will realize that peace and stability, sustainable development and good governance can be a reality in Ethiopia only when the disfranchisement of the many by the few is stopped and by bringing all the stakeholders together to chart a genuinely democratic course.

Ethiopian's problems are immense and grossly complicated. Convening an all-inclusive conference to address them is well over due. We do not underestimate the obstacles and challenges facing us. However, with patience and perseverance we are certain that we will succeed.

The Alliance would hold a Press Conference to lay out its vision and work programs in detail.

Freedom and Democracy for all!

May 21, 2006

Ethiopian Ambassador to Cote d'voire seeks asylum in USA
Sudan Tribune - Sudan
... based on self-rule for the majority of oppressed nations and nationalities in Ethiopia. ... the realization of the protection of the rights of the Oromo and other ...

With underlying characters
San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA
... His wildly energetic canvases combine written letters of the ancient Amharic language of Ethiopia, and dazzling color from traditional Ethiopian Christian icon ...

May 17, 2006

Ethiopia seeks up to 10 percent GDP growth by 2011
Reuters South Africa - Johannesburg,South Africa
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia unveiled on Tuesday a $39.4 billion, 5-year economic development plan which the government hopes will boost annual economic ...

Ethiopia: 200 Orphans Rehabilitated
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Close to 200 orphans in Wenbera Woreda of West Gojjam Zone in Amhara State received over 110,000 birr for rehabilitation, the woreda information office said. ...
Ethiopia, Eritrea get more time
News24 - South Africa
New York - The security council on Monday gave Ethiopia and Eritrea until the end of May to meet its demands that they accept the border drawn for them by ...
Ethiopia: There will be no war
News24 - South Africa
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's prime minister said on Tuesday that his country won't start a war with neighbouring Eritrea - but added he won't tolerate aggression ...
Amnesty International Urges Release of Jailed Ethiopian Protesters
Voice of America - USA
A leading human rights group has called on Ethiopia to release 76 people accused of treason and other charges for protesting national elections last year. ...
The Netherlands supports girl education in Ethiopia
Business in Africa (subscription) - South Africa
... Netherlands on Monday signed a deal under which the latter would provide $12mn in support of education for young girls in seven regions of Ethiopia for three ...
Ethiopia: President Receives Gondwanaland Expedition Team
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
... Speaking on the occasion, President Girma said that the mission of the team would help in creating ties not only between Ethiopia and India, but also among ...
'Innocent lives are destroyed'
News24 - South Africa
Addis Ababa - Ethiopia's main donors have denounced a string of deadly explosions that rocked Addis Ababa last week, saying there was no possible justification ...

Two killed in four blasts in Ethiopian capital
Reuters.uk - UK
... have blamed various groups for such attacks, including members of the main opposition group and separatist rebels from the Oromo region in southern Ethiopia. ...
 

Government urged to amnesty 21 detained journalists and other ...
Reporters without borders - France
... a solution to the crisis must be found so that Ethiopia can return ... of Shiferraw Insermu and Dhabassa Wakjira, two journalists with the Oromo-language service ...