December 1, 2005 (TEL AVIV) - Seven Ethiopian Air Force officers who ended a three-month training in Israel were on Tuesday flown to the Eritrean capital of Asmara after their request for political asylum was accepted. An eighth airman couldn't be found. Air Force sources informed Ethiomedia the defectors were Ethiopian nationals, and not Eritrean. "There may be one or two Ethiopians of Eritrean stock," the source said. "The rest are Ethiopians and their defection is an expression of their rejection to the Meles regime." The eight arrived in Israel some three months ago to receive training in un-manned air-vehicle technology. Three days ago, they abandoned their airbase in Israel and ended up seeking asylum in Eritrea.
The Meles Zenawi regime had tried to capture the defecting officers. "The Ethiopians were on a wanted list in an Israeli newspaper," the source said. "The pilots had learned a lesson from Djibouti where two defecting pilots wer forcefully handed over back to the government in Addis. This time, the officers wanted to act fast like their fellow brothers in Belarus did."
Eritrean ambassador to Israel, Tesfamariam Tekeste, said the soldiers wanted to go to Asmara after their training ended in Israel. He said his government granted asylum immediately and were flown to Eritrea Tuesday night.
The ambassador said he let soldiers stay at his home and consulted his government, the UN Refugee Agency and the Israeli Foreign Ministry. After consultations Eritrea's government decided to allow the Ethiopian defectors into its territory, because of being of Eritrean origin.
On Wednesday the ambassador leased a private plane and flew the soldiers to Eritrea.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry was surprised by the developments and emphasized that Israel was not involved in any way in the defection.
A top TPLF intelligence officer was among those Air Force members who defected to Eritrea. The list includes:
1. Lt.Tewodros Belihu 2. Lt. Zerihun Tesfaye 3. Lt. Fasika Kelemework 4. Lt. Habtamu Ermias 5. Lt. Andualem Tadesse 6. Lt. Michael Berhe 7. Lt. Dawit Milion have already arrived in Eritrea. The whereabouts of the eighth, Lt. Fikremariam Teklay, remained unknown.
Legal
"In Israel we were surprised and we had nothing whatsoever to do with this whole episode," Reuters news agency quotes foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev as saying. "Foreign nationals entered Israel legally and foreign nationals exited Israel legally," he said.
These are not the first defections of Ethiopian servicemen this year. In July, three airmen defected to Djibouti - although two were subsequently returned home and the previous month, eight airmen asked for asylum in Belarus.
A peace agreement in 2000 ended a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea and led to a ruling on the border by an independent commission. But Ethiopia has not yet withdrawn its forces from the town of Badme, which was awarded to Eritrea.
In the past few months, Eritrea has imposed restrictions on the activities of the United Nations peacekeeping force patrolling the border buffer zone and both sides have reinforced their military positions.
A BBC report has been included in the above news.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Meles strangles free press
December 3, 2005 (Newswire) - Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is suppressing the pro-democracy movemenet in Ethiopia. Last month govenment troops killed over 50 people including children and women. They have jailed over 20000 people in harsh concetration camps. Ethiopians are now living in fear as detention, killings and torture has become common place.
The Ethiopian Media Forum unvailed that in addition to over seventeen journalists facing treason charges for critizing the tyrannical regime, they have added over sixty journalists on their hit list. (I-Newswire) - At least 12 journalist have been arrested. Tens of journalists are put under TPLF's"wanted" list. Security forces also raided the offices of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA ), in the capital, stealing money, computers and documents, sources told EMF."The ongoing crackdown on the private press in Ethiopia is an outrage," said Ann Cooper, CPJExecutive Director. "The government must stop its attempt to shutter the entire local press, and release all jailed journalists immediately."TPLF controlled media have disseminated photographs of many of these journalists, and have called on the public to tell police their whereabouts. Following journalists are cases in point. 1. Lykune Engeda --- Wonchif Newspaper 2. Abdisa Abera --- Wonchif Newspaper 3. Abreham Tezera --- Wonchif Newspaper 4. Eshetu Desta --- Wonchif Newspaper 5. Eyobe Demeke --- Wonchif Newspaper 6. Tamerat Zuma --- Wonchif Newspaper 7. Ayenew Alemu --- Wonchif Newspaper 8. Azemera Abdisa --- Wonchif Newspaper 9. Fassil Yenealem --- Addis Zena Newspaper 10. Wosonseged Kidanu --- Addis Zena Newspaper 11. Semeret G/mariam --- Addis Zena Newspaper 12. Zerhune Mulugeta --- Addis Zena Newspaper 13. Elsabet Gezawe --- Addis Zena Newspaper 14. Derje Begashaw --- Askual Newspaper 15. Serkalem Fassil --- Askual Newspaper 16. Sisay Agena --- Eth-op Newspaper 17. Andualem Ayele --- Eth-op Newspaper 18. Tesfu Tegegn --- Eth-op Newspaper 19. Germayenhe Mamo --- Eth-op Newspaper 20. Aberham Kidane --- Eth-op Newspaper 21. Befekadu Moreda --- Tomar Newspaper 22. Ababa Ayenetu --- Tomar Newspaper 23. Girma Feyesa --- Tobia Newspaper 24. Arega Woldekirkose --- Tobia Newspaper 25. Atenafu Alemayehu --- Tobia Newspaper 26. Hussen Kedere --- Tobia Newspaper 27. Mesenbet Hailu --- Tobia Newspaper 28. Dawit Kebede --- Hadar Newspaper 29. Feleke Tibebu --- Hadar Newspaper 30. Wubeshet Taye --- Hadar Newspaper 31. Daniel Getenet --- Hadar Newspaper 32. Yosef Kidane --- Hadar Newspaper 33. Zekarias Tesfaye --- Nesanet Newspaper 34. Abey Gezaw --- Nesanet Newspaper 35. Derje Habetwolde --- Nesanet Newspaper 36. Dagemawit Nesanet --- Nesanet Newspaper 37. Endale Teshe --- Nesanet Newspaper 38. Tewoderos Tekelaregay --- Tsegereda Newspaper 39. Alemayehu Bazezew --- Tsegereda Newspaper 40. asmamaw Hailegiorgis --- Tsegereda Newspaper 41. Ferhwiot Gwangul --- Tsegereda Newspaper 42. Eskender Nega --- Minilik Newspaper 43. Zelalem Gebere --- Minilik Newspaper 44. Abate Mandefero --- Minilik Newspaper 45. Wonagseged Zeleke --- Minilik Newspaper 46. Eyob G/e --- Seifeneblbal Newspaper 47. Hailu Selesh --- Seifeneblbal Newspaper 48. Goshu Moges --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 49. Maeregu Bezabehe --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper50. Atenaf seged Yelema --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 51. Tadess Kebede --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 52. Tigist Aberhame --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 53. Taye Belachew --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 54. Mesfen Tesfaye --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 55. Fekadu Ebndriase --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper56. Garedew Demese --- Abay Newspaper 57. Daneil Dersha --- Abay Newspaper 58. Solomon Lemma --- Abay Newspaper 59. Daneil Gezahgn --- Moged Newspaper 60. Ababaw Dametew --- Moged Newspaper 61. Bezabehe Teklu --- Moged Newspaper 62. Solomon Lakew --- Satenaw Newspaper 63. Dawit Fassil --- Satenaw Newspaperhttp://i-newswire.com/pr51351.html
The Ethiopian Media Forum unvailed that in addition to over seventeen journalists facing treason charges for critizing the tyrannical regime, they have added over sixty journalists on their hit list. (I-Newswire) - At least 12 journalist have been arrested. Tens of journalists are put under TPLF's"wanted" list. Security forces also raided the offices of the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA ), in the capital, stealing money, computers and documents, sources told EMF."The ongoing crackdown on the private press in Ethiopia is an outrage," said Ann Cooper, CPJExecutive Director. "The government must stop its attempt to shutter the entire local press, and release all jailed journalists immediately."TPLF controlled media have disseminated photographs of many of these journalists, and have called on the public to tell police their whereabouts. Following journalists are cases in point. 1. Lykune Engeda --- Wonchif Newspaper 2. Abdisa Abera --- Wonchif Newspaper 3. Abreham Tezera --- Wonchif Newspaper 4. Eshetu Desta --- Wonchif Newspaper 5. Eyobe Demeke --- Wonchif Newspaper 6. Tamerat Zuma --- Wonchif Newspaper 7. Ayenew Alemu --- Wonchif Newspaper 8. Azemera Abdisa --- Wonchif Newspaper 9. Fassil Yenealem --- Addis Zena Newspaper 10. Wosonseged Kidanu --- Addis Zena Newspaper 11. Semeret G/mariam --- Addis Zena Newspaper 12. Zerhune Mulugeta --- Addis Zena Newspaper 13. Elsabet Gezawe --- Addis Zena Newspaper 14. Derje Begashaw --- Askual Newspaper 15. Serkalem Fassil --- Askual Newspaper 16. Sisay Agena --- Eth-op Newspaper 17. Andualem Ayele --- Eth-op Newspaper 18. Tesfu Tegegn --- Eth-op Newspaper 19. Germayenhe Mamo --- Eth-op Newspaper 20. Aberham Kidane --- Eth-op Newspaper 21. Befekadu Moreda --- Tomar Newspaper 22. Ababa Ayenetu --- Tomar Newspaper 23. Girma Feyesa --- Tobia Newspaper 24. Arega Woldekirkose --- Tobia Newspaper 25. Atenafu Alemayehu --- Tobia Newspaper 26. Hussen Kedere --- Tobia Newspaper 27. Mesenbet Hailu --- Tobia Newspaper 28. Dawit Kebede --- Hadar Newspaper 29. Feleke Tibebu --- Hadar Newspaper 30. Wubeshet Taye --- Hadar Newspaper 31. Daniel Getenet --- Hadar Newspaper 32. Yosef Kidane --- Hadar Newspaper 33. Zekarias Tesfaye --- Nesanet Newspaper 34. Abey Gezaw --- Nesanet Newspaper 35. Derje Habetwolde --- Nesanet Newspaper 36. Dagemawit Nesanet --- Nesanet Newspaper 37. Endale Teshe --- Nesanet Newspaper 38. Tewoderos Tekelaregay --- Tsegereda Newspaper 39. Alemayehu Bazezew --- Tsegereda Newspaper 40. asmamaw Hailegiorgis --- Tsegereda Newspaper 41. Ferhwiot Gwangul --- Tsegereda Newspaper 42. Eskender Nega --- Minilik Newspaper 43. Zelalem Gebere --- Minilik Newspaper 44. Abate Mandefero --- Minilik Newspaper 45. Wonagseged Zeleke --- Minilik Newspaper 46. Eyob G/e --- Seifeneblbal Newspaper 47. Hailu Selesh --- Seifeneblbal Newspaper 48. Goshu Moges --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 49. Maeregu Bezabehe --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper50. Atenaf seged Yelema --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 51. Tadess Kebede --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 52. Tigist Aberhame --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 53. Taye Belachew --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 54. Mesfen Tesfaye --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper 55. Fekadu Ebndriase --- Lesanhezeb Newspaper56. Garedew Demese --- Abay Newspaper 57. Daneil Dersha --- Abay Newspaper 58. Solomon Lemma --- Abay Newspaper 59. Daneil Gezahgn --- Moged Newspaper 60. Ababaw Dametew --- Moged Newspaper 61. Bezabehe Teklu --- Moged Newspaper 62. Solomon Lakew --- Satenaw Newspaper 63. Dawit Fassil --- Satenaw Newspaperhttp://i-newswire.com/pr51351.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Map of oromia
