Esat a Must Listen News analysis on the 20-year long dispute between 2 synods (by Sisay Agena)
This bloog is my personal property, where I express my admire, feelings, comments, suggestions and objections about any thing. Hope you will give me your support to make it better. ለኢትዮጵያ !!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
For Immediate Release: 16 Members of the European Parliament Call for the Release of Imprisoned Ethiopian Journalist Eskinder Nega
December 18, 2012
For Immediate Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Patrick Griffith
+1 (202) 423-7925
pgriffith@freedom-now.org
+1 (202) 423-7925
pgriffith@freedom-now.org
16 Members of the
European Parliament Call for the Release of Imprisoned Ethiopian
Journalist Eskinder Nega
Washington, D.C.: Today, 16
members of the European Parliament issued a public letter to Ethiopian Prime
Minster Hailemariam Desalegn expressing their grave concern regarding the
continued detention of imprisoned journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega.
Arrested in 2011 and detained
without access to an attorney for nearly two months, Mr. Nega was sentenced to
18 years in prison under the country’s broad 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation
on July 13, 2012. Mr. Nega’s arrest and prosecution came after he wrote online
articles and spoke publicly about the possibility of an Arab Spring-like
movement taking place in Ethiopia. After his sentencing, the government
initiated proceedings to seize his assets, including the home still used by his
wife and young son. An appeal hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday,
December 19th.
The letter, notes that the
Ethiopian government has an obligation to uphold the right to free expression
and reminds the newly appointed Prime Minister that he has “the unique
opportunity to lead Ethiopia forward on human rights and bring the country
fully within the community of nations.” The letter closes by urging the Prime
Minister to take all measures within his power “to facilitate the immediate and
unconditional release of Mr. Nega.”
“This is an important
recognition by members of the European Parliament from across the political
spectrum that the right to free expression is universal and must be respected
by the Ethiopian government,” said Freedom Now Executive Director Maran Turner.
“Mr. Nega has been wrongfully detained in Ethiopia in violation of his right to
freedom of expression, and he must be released.”
The text of the letter is
copied below and a full PDF of the letter can be found at the below link.
Freedom Now, a legal advocacy organization that represents prisoners of
conscience around the world, serves as international pro bono counsel to Mr.
Nega.
###
Dear Prime Minister Desalegn,
We write to express our grave
concern regarding the continued detention of independent Ethiopian journalist
and blogger Eskinder Nega and urge you to facilitate his immediate release.
Mr. Nega, a longtime publisher
and journalist, was arrested in 2011 and charged under the country’s 2009
Anti-Terror Proclamation after he wrote and spoke publicly about the
Arab-Spring movements then unfolding across the Middle East and North Africa.
Although clearly sympathetic, Mr. Nega consistently emphasized that any similar
movements in Ethiopia must remain peaceful. Despite this, the government of
your predecessor Prime Minister Meles Zenawi arrested Mr. Nega, held him
without access to family for nearly one month and without access to an attorney
for nearly two months, and ultimately sentenced him to 18 years in prison. Even
now, reports indicate that proceedings are underway to seize Mr. Nega’s home,
where his wife and young son continue to live.
Unfortunately, Mr. Nega is not
alone—journalists Woubshet Taye and Reyot Alemu have also received long prison
sentences on terror charges. In response to your government’s use of the 2009
Anti-Terror Proclamation against journalists and opposition leaders, the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights, and five United Nations Special
Rapporteurs—including the Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human
rights—have all expressed alarm at this worrying trend. As some have noted, the
use of vague anti-terror legislation to silence legitimate expression threatens
to seriously undermine the credibility of efforts to address real security
threats to the region.
It is our understanding that
appeal proceedings in Mr. Nega’s case are ongoing and we respect your need to
allow the judicial process to continue. However, it is also your government’s
obligation to respect the right to freedom of expression as established under
customary international law and codified in Article 19 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Ethiopia is a party.
You now have the unique
opportunity to lead Ethiopia forward on human rights and bring the country
fully within the community of nations. As such, we urge you to take all
measures within your power to facilitate the immediate and unconditional
release of Mr. Nega.
Sincerely,
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff
Ana Gomes
Charles
Tannock
Eduard
Kukan
Eija-Riitta
Korhola
Emilio
Menendez del Valle
Fiona
Hall
Frank
Engel
Kinga
Gál
Laima Liucija Andrikienė
Maria Da Graça Carvalho
Mariya Gabriel
Monday, December 17, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Tigray conference "We fought Amhara"
The man is saying there is a problem withing TPLF. He states they fought and toppled Amhara and the Amhara regime, but now power has been transferred from Amhara to Adwa.
Open letter to Ambassador Susan Rice by Abebe Gellaw
Dear Ambassador Rice, I have great admiration and respect for you. I
believe that you have made the right decision not to bid for the position of
U.S. Secretary of State. Although your commitment to serving your country with
utmost integrity and passion is very commendable, some of your backstory is
truly disturbing, especially your position of steadfast inaction during the
height of the Rwandan genocide.
Last September, you
traveled to Ethiopia to attend the funeral of Ethiopia’s 21-year long dictator
Meles Zenawi. Your eulogy has troubled and upset so many ordinary Ethiopians.
You referred to Zenawi as a trustworthy friend to the U.S and you personally.
That is fine! But according to you, “Meles was disarmingly regular,
unpretentious, and direct. He was selfless, tireless and totally dedicated to
his work and family.” You also claimed: “Among Prime Minister Meles’ many
admirable qualities, above all was his world-class mind. A life-long student,
he taught himself and many others so much. But he wasn’t just brilliant. He
wasn’t just a relentless negotiator and a formidable debater.”
Yes, as a master of deception, he might have appeared selfless in front of global VIPs like yourself. Far from it, Meles Zenawi was an obstinate dictator who did not understand the language of diplomacy, negotiation and compromise. He killed, tortured and maimed countless Ethiopians. He divided the country along ethnic lines just to enforce his divide-and-rule policies.
Your “brilliant” friend did not have a world-class mind, as you claimed. He was narrow-minded who could not see the world beyond his nose and power, no matter how eloquently he could speak. Your friend was not selfless, but a narcissist who did everything in his power to destroy critics and dissidents.
It was even hurtful when you insensitively said: “He was tough, unsentimental and sometimes unyielding. And, of course, he had little patience for fools, or “idiots,” as he liked to call them…Meles was consistently reasoned in his judgments and thoughtful in his decisions; and, he was driven not by ideology but by his vision of a better future for this land he loved….”
As a critic, I was among those whom he labeled as terrorists, idiots and fools. For Meles, any critic is a threat including the minors killed savagely in broad daylight for protesting his tyranny and brutality. Tens of thousands of others are languishing in jails even after his death. Those were the “idiots and fools” he seemed to have referred to insensitively and you echoed approvingly.
Your eulogy for Zenawi was not only insensitive but also quite revealing as to your lack of commitment to the freedom of others that dictators like Zenawi robbed and destroyed. I am one of those countless Ethiopians abused, tortured and exiled by your “brilliant” friend.
I honestly feel that the world is lighter and safer without the likes of Meles, Gaddafi or Mubarak. Your brilliant friend was in fact an idiotic despot who did not know how to treat his fellow countrymen fairly, respectfully and kindly.
I do believe that your eulogy for dictators will be more measured and reasoned in the future. I hope this would be a teachable moment for you to move forward.
I wish you all the best.
Best regards
Abebe Gellaw
Exiled Ethiopian journalist
Yes, as a master of deception, he might have appeared selfless in front of global VIPs like yourself. Far from it, Meles Zenawi was an obstinate dictator who did not understand the language of diplomacy, negotiation and compromise. He killed, tortured and maimed countless Ethiopians. He divided the country along ethnic lines just to enforce his divide-and-rule policies.
Your “brilliant” friend did not have a world-class mind, as you claimed. He was narrow-minded who could not see the world beyond his nose and power, no matter how eloquently he could speak. Your friend was not selfless, but a narcissist who did everything in his power to destroy critics and dissidents.
It was even hurtful when you insensitively said: “He was tough, unsentimental and sometimes unyielding. And, of course, he had little patience for fools, or “idiots,” as he liked to call them…Meles was consistently reasoned in his judgments and thoughtful in his decisions; and, he was driven not by ideology but by his vision of a better future for this land he loved….”
As a critic, I was among those whom he labeled as terrorists, idiots and fools. For Meles, any critic is a threat including the minors killed savagely in broad daylight for protesting his tyranny and brutality. Tens of thousands of others are languishing in jails even after his death. Those were the “idiots and fools” he seemed to have referred to insensitively and you echoed approvingly.
Your eulogy for Zenawi was not only insensitive but also quite revealing as to your lack of commitment to the freedom of others that dictators like Zenawi robbed and destroyed. I am one of those countless Ethiopians abused, tortured and exiled by your “brilliant” friend.
I honestly feel that the world is lighter and safer without the likes of Meles, Gaddafi or Mubarak. Your brilliant friend was in fact an idiotic despot who did not know how to treat his fellow countrymen fairly, respectfully and kindly.
I do believe that your eulogy for dictators will be more measured and reasoned in the future. I hope this would be a teachable moment for you to move forward.
I wish you all the best.
Best regards
Abebe Gellaw
Exiled Ethiopian journalist
Thursday, December 13, 2012
SMNE December 13, 2010
Dear Friends and Colleagues;
December 13, 2012 marks the 9-year anniversary of the brutal massacre of 424 disarmed Anuak in Gambella, Ethiopia by the TPLF/EPRDF Defense Forces armed with guns and militia groups armed with machetes. Not just the families of the victims, but all Anuak, will forever remember that dark day that brought so many pains, tears and suffering.
Even after 9 years, some widows, some fathers, some mothers and children are still waiting to bury their loved ones properly. Some day their bodies, which were buried in mass graves, will be exhumed and buried with proper respect by their families and loved ones. Someday a memorial of remembrance may be erected in Gambella in their honor, to remind people that behind every name on that memorial, is a human life, given as a precious gift from God, our Creator.
Such memorials may be erected all over Ethiopia where innocent lives of Ethiopians have been taken. Someday, a large monument—a wall of shame—could be erected in Addis Ababa with the names of the Anuak and the names of all other people throughout Ethiopia who have lost their lives at the hands of this government that devalues human life.
On this Anuak Memorial Day, Anuak in Gambella cannot join with Anuak in the Diaspora in observing this day. It is prohibited by the TPLF or EPRDF government. Instead, they will have to look forward to the day they will be able to join together in a service such as the ones being held in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Kenya, South Sudan and in other cities where there are Anuak where they are free to remember the death of more than 1500 other Anuak who were killed in the next two years following the December massacre.
Because public mourning is not allowed, those who want to remember family members, friends and community members who died, must quietly carry out some kind of observances within their homes and hearts.
This TPLF regime wants to erase it from the memory of the Anuak, but this will never happen. Someday, all the details will be revealed for all to see on the shame-filled pages of our Ethiopian history books. Until then, Anuak are still waiting for those responsible to be brought to justice. As one Anuak who lost a family member recently said, “the TPLF and it killers have moved on, but we will never stop grieving or rest until the killers have been brought to justice and until our family members are buried properly.”
For the Anuak people and supporters of the Anuak, let us all remember this day together. Let us take this day of sorrow and make it a day of reconciliation and healing among all peace-loving Ethiopians. This pain we feel was brought because of hate, anger, envy and greed and we want to create a different Ethiopia.
May God bless all of those who are remembering this day of tragedy and may God help bring about an Ethiopia where truth, justice, freedom, reconciliation and harmony prevail over death and destruction.
Please take a few minutes and watch this heartbreaking video below: The testimonies of survivors and other witnesses of the December 13th Massacre.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaZty97JXzU
Thanks so much for your never-ending support. Don’t give up. Keep your focus on the bigger picture and reach out to others and listen!
I am appealing to all my friends and colleagues to forward it to your friends. If you do, you will not just be giving a voice to our beautiful people, but you would be doing justice to our humanity. Knowing the truth is overcoming the first obstacle to freedom!
Sincerely your severance,
Obang
Executive Director of SMNE
E-mail: obang@solidaritymovement.org
http://www.solidaritymovement.org
-------------------------------------------------
The Bible Says (Ecclesiastes 11:4), "
- If You Wait for Perfect Conditions, You Will Never Get Anything Done - "
" - One Action is More Valuable Than a Thousand Good Intentions -
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
32 ONLF Rebels and Ethiopian Forces killed in Dhagahbour – Diplomatic Source
(Ogadentoday Press)- A report says that clashes
between ONLF, Ogaden National Liberation Front and a coalition of Ethiopian
military and Liyu Police Troops erupted in the restive Ogaden region,
Dhagahbour Zone on Tuesday.The sources said that 32 Ethiopian Troops
and ONLF fighters killed in the fighting.According to a diplomatic source based In
Jigjiga told Ogadentoday Press that ONLF troops attacked, a Labbiga, a small
village near to Dhagaxbour, where Ethiopian Troops had a military camp, the
ONLF troop’s ambush killed 30 Ethiopian coalition troops, while two ONLF
fighters killed, the source confirmed.Ethiopian troops carried out a massive crackdown after the attack, some
elders have been taken to prison; while some women are unknown where have been taken. Civilians in the
area express concerns about the crackdown.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Tigray Priest insulting Ethiopians Must Watch
I Don`t think this motherfucker is a priest at all, this idiot can not represent Our Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Go to Hell Mr. fake Priest.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Denmark family adopted Masho and Roba Ethiopian kids touching story
Selling Ethiopian Children a profitable Business for Adaption Agency. African news: Over 5,000 Children are sold to foreigner from around the World – A very sad truth about a Multi Million $ business by bad Ethiopians which profit from this bad business.
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