Breaking News: Meles Zenawi ridiculed in Belgium

Friday, November 17, 2006 Ethiopians living in Europe, who went to Belgium to protest against the invitation of Meles zenawi by European commission to participate on “Good governance conference”, have ridiculed him. When Meles started to speak, Ethiopians who got the possibility to enter into the conference room started screaming and shouting, asking for the release of political prisoners and the resignation of Meles. The protestors inside the conference room yelled slogans in front of the other African leaders and the EU commissioner saying, “Meles is a Killer!!”, “”Meles is a dictator”, “Meles should come to international court”, “Free political prisoners ”. His speech was interrupted many times and he used only 5 minutes out of the 25 minutes that was allocated for all the gust speakers. All the other African leaders speech was warmly welcomed and did not face any challenge from anyone, which was also followed by a good applause from the audience. However, Meles faced a very strong opposition form his own citizens. Thousands of Ethiopians were also demonstrating outside the conference building against the dictatorial regime his invitation.

Rising Tension: New uprising in Oromia extends to its second week

November 16, 2006 (Finfinne) - Last year’s uprisings in Oromia marked a watershed in the rocky relationship between the Ethiopian regime and the Oromo, who make up close to half of the population in Ethiopia. It all began in Ambo, a flashpoint that personified resistance against TPLF/EPRDF. It all begun by students, high school, and college and university students protesting human rights violations --- as they have done so in the past, but this time in qualitatively different way. The protests started out peaceful. Local police were called in to put the situation under control. However, soon cracks developed between the Oromia Police displaying increasing sympathy to the grievances aired by protesters and ruling party cadres calling for tougher action.

As time went by without the protests dying down and instead the crowd swelling and protests spreading from one town to another, almost becoming a phenomenon, the Prime Minister called in the Agazi Federal Police, putting the local police on the sideline. In subsequent questioning in parliament the Prime Minister denied the involvement of federal units brought in by the urging of General Abadula, President of the Oromia Regional State Government, seen by many as the Meles’ henchman.

The Agazi, an elite army division disguised as a police force, lived true to its deadly reputation in last year’s disturbances in Finfinne/Addis by unleashing volley after volley of live ammunition into crowds, killing and wounding scores of protesters and onlookers. The barbarity of the action prompted parents and the general public to be involved. By the time the protests cooled down more than 200, mostly students, were killed and hundreds more wounded, thousands arrested and others fled the country.
It was a mini-revolution of sorts that had many sad, happy and humorous moments. The most hilarious was in Ambo where locals tied the flags of OPDO on stray dogs to symbolize its role as the attack dogs of the regime.

Abaya Comman, where local peasants bravely held the full might of the Agazi at bay for two consecutive weeks, Galamso, where the locals dared to take full control of the entire district for weeks, Kofale, Tikur Incini, Salale, and Gimbi where students lighted the torch of freedom with their lives, Kamise, where the Wallo Oromo renewed its vow that its fate lie with its mother nation despite all the years of separation, and many other places seared into Oromo national psyche.

This all begun on November 9, 2005, a day that the Oromo liberation struggle entered a new phase. On November 9, 2006, commemorated throughout Oromia and among the Oromo Diaspora around the world. As in last year, the protests are continuing. As in last year’s federal units have been called in. As in last year, parents and the general public are joining students, unfazed by the Agazi. As in last year the international community and media is silent about a story that may shape the future of Ethiopia. It is the brutality by Agazi and the state that prompted senior army officers, soldiers, diplomats, judges, and officials to break ranks with the regime and join the liberation struggles of their people. Like the man who saw the end of Communism after witnessing, at the heyday of the Polish Solidarity movement, ¨proletariats¨ being shot and killed by a ¨proletarian state¨ many sensed EPRDF’s imminent demise.


Division of Information
OLF Foreign Affairs

Oromo: EU Passes Resolution

2006-11-17
The European Parliament has passed a Resolution strongly critical of the Ethiopian Government’s treatment of opposition leaders and civil society activists, with particulate focus on its violent suppression of protests following the 2005 election crisis. A large number of protestors, including a UNPO Member, the Oromo community in Ethiopia, were subject to harassment, violence, and arbitrary detention, with a large number of casualties also reported.
The Resolution also calls for the full release of the official inquiry into these events, following a number of reports claiming Judges and other senior officials have been subject to intimidation and harassment whilst conducting their investigations.
The Resolution in Full:
European Parliament resolution on Ethiopia
P6_TA-PROV(2006)0501 B6-0596 , 0598 , 0600 , 0603 , 0606 and 0613/2006
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the post-election crisis and serious human rights violations in Ethiopia, in particular those of 7 July 2005 on the human rights situation in Ethiopia(1), 13 October 2005 on the situation in Ethiopia(2) and 15 December 2005 on the situation in Ethiopia and the new border conflict(3),
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. disturbed by the arrest and expulsion from Ethiopia of two Commission officials on the alleged grounds that they tried to help Yalemzewd Bekele, a lawyer and women's rights campaigner, working for the Commission in Addis Ababa, to leave the country,
B. whereas there are reports of continuing arrests, harassment, arbitrary detention, humiliation and intimidation of opposition politicians, civil society activists, students and other ordinary citizens,
C. whereas, following high-level EU intervention on her behalf, Yalemzewd Bekele was released on 27 October 2006 after being held incommunicado for a few days,
D. whereas the Ethiopian Parliament established a government-backed Commission of Inquiry in late November 2005 with the task of investigating the June and November 2005 killings,
E. whereas the Ethiopian Government has put pressure on the members of the Commission of Inquiry to alter the findings and whereas three of the members, including the chairman and vice-chairman, have left the country after refusing government orders to alter the findings of the final report,
F. whereas the members of the Commission of Inquiry managed to leave the country with the final report, and whereas the report overwhelmingly condemns the government's handling of the crisis, which left 193 citizens dead following demonstrations in June and November 2005,
G. whereas, following the mass arrests of government opponents, human rights activists and journalists during demonstrations in June and November 2005, 111 opposition party leaders, journalists and human rights defenders are still in custody and are facing trial on charges including 'outrage against the constitution', 'inciting, organising or leading an armed rebellion' and 'attempted genocide',
H. recalling that post-election political detainees include Hailu Shawel, President of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, former Chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, former UN Special Envoy and former prosecutor in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Birtukan Mideksa, former judge, Dr Berhanu Nega, Mayor-elect of Addis Ababa, Netsanet Demissie, Director of the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia, and Daniel Bekele, of ActionAid Ethiopia,
I. concerned at the recent arrest of Wassihun Melese and Anteneh Getnet, members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, and that these new arrests seem to be a response to Ethiopian Teachers' Association complaints about government interference in its activities and intimidation of its leaders,
J. whereas Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is one of the Commission's guests at the European Development Days, which are being held in Brussels from 13 to 17 November 2006,
K. whereas Ethiopia is a signatory to the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement, Articles 9 and 96 of which stipulate that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is an essential element of ACP-EU cooperation,
1. Welcomes the EU's efforts to secure the release of Yalemzewd Bekele and regrets deeply the expulsion from Ethiopia of Commission officials Björn Jonsson and Enrico Sborgi;
2. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to publish unamended and in its entirety, and without any further delay, the final report of the Commission of Inquiry; calls for the relevant courts to be supplied with the report, and urges them to take due account of it so that fair trials can be conducted;
3. Calls on the Ethiopian authorities to refrain from acts of intimidation and harassment against national leaders, including court judges and members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, carrying out their professional obligations;
4. Calls on the Ethiopian Government immediately and unconditionally to release all political prisoners, whether journalists, trade union activists, human rights defenders or ordinary citizens, and to fulfil its obligations with respect to human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law;
5. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to disclose the total number of persons detained throughout the country, to allow visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and to allow all detainees access to their families, legal counsel and any medical care that their health may require;
6. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Union Charter on Human and People's Rights, including the right of peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion, and an independent judicial system;
7. Deeply regrets the Commission's invitation to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to address the European Development Days, especially on governance issues, a decision which sends out the wrong signal with regard to EU policy on respect for human rights, democratic principles, the rule of law and good governance;
8. Asks the Council and the Commission to monitor closely the situation in Ethiopia, and considers that development cooperation programmes under the Cotonou Agreement should be contingent on respect for human rights and good governance, as clearly set out in Articles 9 and 96;
9. Calls on the Council and the Commission to explore ways of organising an all-inclusive inter-Ethiopian dialogue with the participation of political parties, civil society organisations and all stakeholders in order to work out a lasting solution to the current political crisis;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Ethiopian Government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairperson of the African Union.
(1) OJ C 157 E, 6.7.2006, p. 495.(2) OJ C 233 E, 28.9.2006, p. 116.(3) Texts Adopted , P6_TA(2005)0535.
Oromo: EU Passes Resolution
2006-11-17
The European Parliament has passed a Resolution strongly critical of the Ethiopian Government’s treatment of opposition leaders and civil society activists, with particulate focus on its violent suppression of protests following the 2005 election crisis. A large number of protestors, including a UNPO Member, the Oromo community in Ethiopia, were subject to harassment, violence, and arbitrary detention, with a large number of casualties also reported.
The Resolution also calls for the full release of the official inquiry into these events, following a number of reports claiming Judges and other senior officials have been subject to intimidation and harassment whilst conducting their investigations.
The Resolution in Full:

European Parliament resolution on Ethiopia
P6_TA-PROV(2006)0501 B6-0596 , 0598 , 0600 , 0603 , 0606 and 0613/2006

The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the post-election crisis and serious human rights violations in Ethiopia, in particular those of 7 July 2005 on the human rights situation in Ethiopia(1), 13 October 2005 on the situation in Ethiopia(2) and 15 December 2005 on the situation in Ethiopia and the new border conflict(3),
– having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. disturbed by the arrest and expulsion from Ethiopia of two Commission officials on the alleged grounds that they tried to help Yalemzewd Bekele, a lawyer and women's rights campaigner, working for the Commission in Addis Ababa, to leave the country,
B. whereas there are reports of continuing arrests, harassment, arbitrary detention, humiliation and intimidation of opposition politicians, civil society activists, students and other ordinary citizens,
C. whereas, following high-level EU intervention on her behalf, Yalemzewd Bekele was released on 27 October 2006 after being held incommunicado for a few days,
D. whereas the Ethiopian Parliament established a government-backed Commission of Inquiry in late November 2005 with the task of investigating the June and November 2005 killings,
E. whereas the Ethiopian Government has put pressure on the members of the Commission of Inquiry to alter the findings and whereas three of the members, including the chairman and vice-chairman, have left the country after refusing government orders to alter the findings of the final report,
F. whereas the members of the Commission of Inquiry managed to leave the country with the final report, and whereas the report overwhelmingly condemns the government's handling of the crisis, which left 193 citizens dead following demonstrations in June and November 2005,
G. whereas, following the mass arrests of government opponents, human rights activists and journalists during demonstrations in June and November 2005, 111 opposition party leaders, journalists and human rights defenders are still in custody and are facing trial on charges including 'outrage against the constitution', 'inciting, organising or leading an armed rebellion' and 'attempted genocide',
H. recalling that post-election political detainees include Hailu Shawel, President of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, former Chair of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, former UN Special Envoy and former prosecutor in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Birtukan Mideksa, former judge, Dr Berhanu Nega, Mayor-elect of Addis Ababa, Netsanet Demissie, Director of the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia, and Daniel Bekele, of ActionAid Ethiopia,
I. concerned at the recent arrest of Wassihun Melese and Anteneh Getnet, members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, and that these new arrests seem to be a response to Ethiopian Teachers' Association complaints about government interference in its activities and intimidation of its leaders,
J. whereas Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is one of the Commission's guests at the European Development Days, which are being held in Brussels from 13 to 17 November 2006,
K. whereas Ethiopia is a signatory to the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement, Articles 9 and 96 of which stipulate that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is an essential element of ACP-EU cooperation,
1. Welcomes the EU's efforts to secure the release of Yalemzewd Bekele and regrets deeply the expulsion from Ethiopia of Commission officials Björn Jonsson and Enrico Sborgi;
2. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to publish unamended and in its entirety, and without any further delay, the final report of the Commission of Inquiry; calls for the relevant courts to be supplied with the report, and urges them to take due account of it so that fair trials can be conducted;
3. Calls on the Ethiopian authorities to refrain from acts of intimidation and harassment against national leaders, including court judges and members of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association, carrying out their professional obligations;
4. Calls on the Ethiopian Government immediately and unconditionally to release all political prisoners, whether journalists, trade union activists, human rights defenders or ordinary citizens, and to fulfil its obligations with respect to human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law;
5. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to disclose the total number of persons detained throughout the country, to allow visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and to allow all detainees access to their families, legal counsel and any medical care that their health may require;
6. Calls on the Ethiopian Government to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Union Charter on Human and People's Rights, including the right of peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion, and an independent judicial system;
7. Deeply regrets the Commission's invitation to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to address the European Development Days, especially on governance issues, a decision which sends out the wrong signal with regard to EU policy on respect for human rights, democratic principles, the rule of law and good governance;
8. Asks the Council and the Commission to monitor closely the situation in Ethiopia, and considers that development cooperation programmes under the Cotonou Agreement should be contingent on respect for human rights and good governance, as clearly set out in Articles 9 and 96;
9. Calls on the Council and the Commission to explore ways of organising an all-inclusive inter-Ethiopian dialogue with the participation of political parties, civil society organisations and all stakeholders in order to work out a lasting solution to the current political crisis;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Ethiopian Government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairperson of the African Union.
(1) OJ C 157 E, 6.7.2006, p. 495.(2) OJ C 233 E, 28.9.2006, p. 116.(3) Texts Adopted , P6_TA(2005)0535.
Link to European Parliament Text

Rising Tensions: Three Generals - two Oromo, one Amhara purged

Staff Writer
Ethiotribune
November 16, 2006


Finfinne- the government-owned Ethiopian Television last night reported that three generals of the Ethiopian Army, Major General Alemshet Degife (Oromo), Brigadiers Kumera (Oromo) and Asaminew Tsige (Amhara), are suspended from their duties.

Although the announcement was made by the Defense Council, at the Ministry of Defense, the instruction is said to come right from the Prime Minister himself.

Major General Alemshet has been the Chief of the Air force. He was assigned this force after a similar purge in 2001 following the division within the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the dominant party within the rump EPRDF.

After the defection of other senior military commanders, the Ethiopian Prime Minister is facing strong upheaval from the armed force. Analysts believe that after the defection and dismissal of so many senior officers, maintaining control over the army will be highly problematic.

Before coming to power in 1991, the TPLF manufactured PDOs to give a more multinational image. Lately this ruse is falling apart and the EPRDF, the ruling coalition, is increasingly being reduced to its Tigrean core with the defection, resignation, arrest and disappearance of several Oromo and Amhara dignitaries.

The Oromo and the Amhara make up close to 65% of the Ethiopian army. Although the Tigrean component is disproportionately represented at the high brass, the fighting force is mainly Oromo and Amhara.

The current rounds of purges are likely to intensify rather than dampen tension within the armed forces. An aura of suspicion has already building since the defection of Brigadier General Kamal Galchu, one of the army’s most decorated soldiers. General Galchu was accompanied by Colonel Abebe Garesu along with over 600 soldiers and officers of different ranks. Even though the BBC had reported only 150 and Ethiotribune has been able to confirm through its sources that the actual number was 600. Later they were joined by Brigadier General Hailu Ayana and Colonel Gammachu Ayana.

What is apparent from the purges and defections, both civilian and military, is that people think the EPRDF ship is sinking and want to jump before it runs aground. This is reminiscent and by far worse than the last days of the Dergue regime. With continuing anti-government protests throughout Oromia, tension in the capital and many northern regions, armed confrontation in Ogaden, the standoff with Somalia, and the tension on the border with Eritrea, grave danger hovers over the future of the Ethiopian regime.

Ex-Member of TPLF Regime's Parliament Exposes Atrocities

November 15, 2006 (Shabait.com) - An Ex- member of the TPLF regime's parliament, Dr. Getachew Jiggy, stated that a number of innocent civilians killed by the regime for voicing protest against its election fraud last year is not less than 600.

Dr. Getachew told ERI-TV that the Ethiopian Premier's claim regarding the killing of civilians in Addis Ababa alone and covering up the similar acts of brutality in other parts of the country by the Agazi Federal Police is a conspiracy designed to conceal the real character of the regime.
Noting that the Meles is making futile attempts to change the decisions of the three committees that were set up to investigate the killings through intimidation and giving overt and covert directives, Dr. Getachew pointed out that the regime has made some of the investigators its paid agents.
He further stated that western countries like the US were engaged directly or indirectly in the killings and violations of human rights committed by the Agazi police in the Oromia and Amhara regions. Dr. Getachew added that these are countries bear responsibility for the atrocities. Stating that the US Administration had deceived opposition parties to participate in the election, Dr. Getachew underlined that the deaf ear given by the US to the brutal killings by the TPLF regime following the May 2005 Elections has left a scar in the minds of both the Amhara and Oromo ethnic groups.

Prime Minister gets rid of Auditor who exposed government’s corruption

ETP - Last (Ethiopian) year when the auditor General of Ethiopia, Lema Aregaw (seen here), presented his report to the House of People’s Representatives and officially exposed the deep seated corruption within the EPRDF led government of Ethiopia; everyone knew his days in office were numbered.His report indicated that close to 7.2 Billion Birr (approximately 900 million U.S dollars) was unaccounted for; most of it from the regional state coffers. It was an eventful day in the house that Tuesday; it was also the day when the very infuriated prime Minister gave the now infamous ‘the right to burn money’ speech. “The regional administrations” Prime Minister Meles said, “had the authority that could go as far as burning the money they received as subsidies from the federal government if they wished to do so”As expected, in a letter dated November 10, 2006, Prime Minister Meles has relived the auditor general from all his duties. What the Prime Minister did is of course illegal, since the law clearly states that only the parliament has the authority to remove the Auditor General from his position. Proclamation 68/1997 sub article (4) article 101 of the constitution states “the Auditor General is accountable to the Council of Peoples' Representatives and between sessions is accountable to the President of Ethiopia” Mr. Lemma Argaw has served as Auditor General for thirty years. He was appointed to his post in 1979 during the derg era; because of his professional reputation and unpartisan reports, he had managed to hang on to his post for decades.

35 ethiopian soldiers killed by rebels in southern region

Nov 13, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — An Ethiopian rebel group reportedly killed 35 soldiers in attacks against the regular troops in southern Ethiopia, an opposition radio said Sunday.
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), armed wing of the Oromo Liberation Front, operating in southern Ethiopia have carried out attacks against the Ethiopian government forces in different places, killing 35 soldiers and wounding 46 others. as well as capturing many weapons, the OLA southern region commander has announced.
According to the Ethiopian opposition radio Voice of Oromo Liberation in Oromo, the OLA forces attacked the Ethiopian army positions in different areas during the period from 2 to 9 November.
On 8 November 2006, OLA attacked Ethiopian forces at a place called Siga Bordi in Moyale District bordering Kenya, killing four enemy soldiers and wounding three others. An AKM rifle with complete rounds of ammunition was also captured in the attack.
On the same day, at a place called Hara in Moyale District, OLA engaged Ethiopian forces in fighting. Fifteen regular soldiers were killed and 21 others wounded in the fighting which also resulted in the capture of four AKM rifles with complete rounds of ammunition.
On 9 November 2006, at a place called Ila Gara, also in Moyale, OLA carried out an attack on Ethiopian forces, killing 12 enemy soldiers and wounding 16 others.
The OLA southern region commander added that on 6 November 2006, at a place called Sura in Bule Hora District, Guji Province, his fighters attacked a vehicle transporting Ethiopian troops. Four soldiers were killed and six others wounded in the attack.
According to the rebel radio, reports from Bule Hora say three police officers have been killed in separate societal riots in the town. The incidents took place between 2 and 6 November 2006.
(ST)