Ethiopia: HRLHA Presents Concern Over Land Grabs at the UN 13th Session Human Rights Council
Mr. Garoma Wakessa, Executive Director of the Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA), presented concern about the massive land grabs and their consequences in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan African countries at the UN Human Rights Council 13th Session now meeting in Geneva (March 1-26, 2010). Here’s the video of Mr. Wakessa’s presentation – from March 15, 2010; and a transcript of his speech is given below.
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Leaders of the Oromo Liberation Movement: Where is the Conflict?
By Fayyis Oromia*
Thanks to OACC (Oromo-American Citizens’ Council), to its sponsors and to OPride.com/Gadaa.com, we followed the panel discussion, which took place in Minessota last weekend.
The panelists were individual Oromo scholars and Oromo political leaders from the three factions of OLF, from OFC and from COPLF. It was a nice start for further unification of Oromo liberation forces, specially it was encouraging and uplifting to see the leaders from different groups speaking from the same podium and sitting side by side to respond to the questions raised by the public. All in the conference went good, except my disappointment by not hearing an explicit unity of Kaayyoo (unity of goal or unity of purpose) from the leaders of our liberation fronts. This disappointment does not include the leader of the federalists at home (OFC), who has already done his homework in uniting the major Oromo federalist parties.
There is No Ethiopia Without Oromia – Minnesota OACC Panelists
By Qeerransoo Biyyaa*
 Top – from left to right: Dr. Fido Ebba, OLF; Dr. Merara Gudina, OPC and Medrek; Obbo Abduljalil Abdella, COPLF; Dr. Ezekiel Gebissa, Kettering University – Assistant Professor. Bottom – from left to right: Obbo Hassan Hussein, OLF; Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, Oromo Evangelical Churches; Obbo Abrahim Abaye, OLF; Dr. Asafa Jalata, University of Tennessee – Associate Professor. |
Oromo: Opening Speech of Mr. Itana at the 4th OACC Annual Conference
Opening Speech of Mr. Robsan Itana, the Chairman of the Oromo-American Citizens’ Council (OACC) at the 4th Annual OACC Annual Conference on March 13, 2010 in Minneapolis, MN.
Good afternoon,
On behalf of the Oromo-American Citizens’ Council, I would like to welcome honored speakers, guests, friends, brothers and sisters to this historic conference. WELCOME!
Ethiopia: Medrek’s Election Debate on Good Governance, Human Rights and the Rule of Law
Mr. Gebru Asrat and Mr. Andualem Arage represented Medrek, the major opposition coalition challenging the one-party Zenawi regime at the upcoming election in May 2010. The debate topic: Good Governance, Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Oromo: Bulcha Demeksa – An Honorable Statesman’s Graceful Exit
By Jawar Mohammed
Listen to the Interview:
The honorable Bulcha Demeksa, a founding Chairman of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) and a vocal member of the Ethiopian Parliament, announced his retirement from politics when his term ended in June 2010.
On March 9, 2010, Mr. Bulcha told Namoo Daandii of the Voice of America (VOA) that he tried his best to fight for the right of the Oromo people, equality of all people and establishment of a just and democratic system in Ethiopia.
Jawar Mohammed: Oromo movement has achieved its objectives, but not concluded its journey | Interview
Gadaa.com conducted an interview with a young Oromo political analyst and social commentator, Mr. Jawar Mohammed, about his childhood, political views and visions. He also shared his views on the state of politics in Ethiopia and the Horn, the Oromo struggle and the upcoming election. Here’s the interview.
Gadaa.com: Tell us about yourself.
Jawar Mohammed (JM): I grew up in Dhummugaa, a small rural town on the Arsi-Hararge border in Oromia. I think of Dhummugaa as my hometown – the place where I came of age and where I attended elementary school until I got kicked out and left for Asella. There, I went to a Catholic school for a year and Cilaalo secondary school for another year until I once again had to move to Adama, where I took my high school national exam.
From there, I won a scholarship to attend the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore, where I studied Afaan Oromoo and other subjects. Upon completion of my studies there, I came to Stanford for my undergraduate degree and graduated this past June. Currently, I have just completed an internship in Washington, DC; and I am now conducting an independent research. I plan to start graduate school this coming September.
Ethiopia: US State Department 2009 Human Rights Report
2009 Human Rights Report: Ethiopia
U.S. State Department
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Ethiopia is a federal republic led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition. The population is estimated at 77 million. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the EPRDF won a majority of seats to remain the ruling party for a third consecutive five-year term. In local and by-elections held in April 2008, the EPRDF and allied parties took virtually all of the more than three million open seats contested nationwide. Prior to the vote, ruling coalition agents and supporters used coercive tactics and manipulation of the electoral process, including intimidation of opposition candidates and supporters. Political parties were predominantly ethnically based, and opposition parties remained splintered. During the year fighting between government forces, including local militias, and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), an ethnically based, nationalist, insurgent movement operating in the Somali Region, resulted in continued allegations of human rights abuses, particularly diversion of food aid from intended beneficiaries suffering from a severe drought. While civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces, there were numerous instances in which elements within those forces acted independently of government authority.
Ethiopia: Embattled Zenawi Meets Geldof in Nairobi
The state-owned ENA reported the following.
Addis Ababa, March 9, 2010 (Addis Ababa) – Bob Geldof said in Nairobi, Kenya that donor organizations involved in the distribution of relief in 19984/85 famine in Ethiopia at the time had condemned BBC’s recent allegation while discussing with Prime Minister Meles Zeanwi on Monday.
BBC’s allegation alleges that millions of pounds raised through Bob Geldof’s Live Aid concerts were diverted to fund rebel military operations in northern Ethiopia.
Foreign Farming in Ethiopia | VOA
By Tizita Belachew
Washington, D.C. – VOA Horn of African Service
Listen to the Report:
Horn of Africa reporters have been tracing the aggressive entry of foreign investors who have leased from Ethiopian government large tracts of arable land. Reporter Tizita Belachew gives an overview of what some critics have called the “new colonialism.”
Ethiopia: TPLF’s Famine Aid Scamming Goes Beyond Weapon Purchases
Mr. Sebhat Nega – affectionately called Abboy Sebhat by his supporters, is the most influential member of TPLF – even more than Mr. Meles Zenawi, who’s also Mr. Nega’s nephew. Mr. Nega was interviewed about EFFORT in June 2009. In the interview, he has disclosed what business areas TPLF had involved in during its rebel years.
Some say the recent BBC exposé about TPLF’s famine aid scam is old story and not relevant to the present. They add, “BBC has just exposed to the world a story that’s 25-years old;” that’s because, without looking at EFFORT, the REST spin-off, the story won’t be complete and current.
OSA Annual Conference Call for Presentation Proposals and the Theme of 2010
The OSA (Oromo Studies Association) 2010 Call for Proposals is now open!
The 2010 Oromo Studies Association’s 24th Annual Meeting will be held July 31st and August 1st at the campus of the Howard University, Washington, D.C.. This year’s Annual Conference theme is “Oromia and East Africa in the 21st Century: Rethinking the Urgency of Paradigm Shift for Democracy, Human Rights and Social Injustice in the Age of Intensified Globalization.” We have deliberately chosen a theme that is broad enough to accommodate wide-ranging interests, but we propose the following sub-themes as a guide:
Ethiopia: The West Pals Around with Famine Aid Scammer, PM Zenawi
Call for the Resignation of the Co-Chair of the UN’s Climate Financing Group over Famine Aid Abuse
An exposé broadcast on BBC World Service reports how aid money earmarked to help the famine victims of 1984/85 in northern Ethiopia, Tigray, was diverted to purchase weapons by TPLF rebels while hundreds and thousands were in need of food.
Ethiopia: Call for the Resignation of Co-Chair of Climate Financing Group over Famine Aid Abuse
An exposé broadcast on BBC World Service reports how aid money earmarked to help the famine victims of 1984/85 in northern Ethiopia, Tigray, was diverted to purchase weapons by TPLF rebels while hundreds and thousands were in need of food.
Ethiopia: Call for the Resignation of Co-Chair of Climate Financing Group over Famine Aid Abuse
An exposé broadcast on BBC World Service reports about how aid money earmarked to help the famine victims of 1984/85 in northern Ethiopia, Tigray, was diverted to purchase weapons by TPLF rebels while hundreds and thousands were in need of food.
Ethiopia: Oromo Rebels Claim Putting 54 Troops Out of Action in Eastern Oromia
According to a news report posted on its website, the Oromo Liberation Front claims putting 54 troops out of action in Eastern Oromia. Here’s an excerpt of the report.
The hope and shield of the Oromo people, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) Eastern Command, reported that our gallant freedom fighters have put over 54 Woyane [Ethiopian] invading troops out of action in a two-day operation at two separate locations in Western Harargee zone on February 18, 2010 and February 25, 2010, OLF News correspondents reported from Eastern Oromia.
Sen. Feingold: We should not be afraid to stand with the Ethiopian people
Here’s an excerpt of a letter from Senator Russ Feingold, the chair of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Africa. The letter is addressed to the U.S. President, Mr. Barack Obama.
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Feingold Statement on the Fragile State of Democracy in Africa
For the Congressional Record
Ethnic Oromos in Yemen Say They Flee Persecution in Ethiopia | VOA
In recent months, thousands of Ethiopians living in Yemen, have been returned to Africa. Members of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo, say they are systematically abused in Ethiopia and they travel to Yemen out of fear for their lives. But Yemeni and Ethiopian officials say they are in search of better jobs, not in fear of political persecution.
In Yemen, tens of thousands of Africans arrive on the beaches every year. Some come half-alive after being dumped off-shore by smugglers, fleeing gunfire from Yemeni troops. Many do not survive the journey.
Ethiopia: Deceiving Westerners is the Policy of TPLF
Sir Bob Geldof, the rock musician turned humanitarian, “reacted angrily yesterday to claims broadcast on the BBC that millions of dollars raised by Band Aid were diverted to Ethiopian rebels.” (Times Online, March 4, 2010).
Ethiopia: The Chief Commander of TPLF Confirms Famine Aid Diversion for Weapons
 Mr. Seye Abraha, the military leader of TPLF in 1980’s. Now, he’s the chief strategist of Medrek, the opposition coalition challenging the Zenawi government in the May 2010 elections. |
In light of the BBC investigative report just released on BBC’s website: “Ethiopia famine aid ’spent on weapons’” (March 3, 2010), it is also important to add the following evidence to TPLF’s (Mr. Meles Zenawi’s party now in power in Ethiopia) criminal diversion of famine aid to purchase weapons.
In a rare admission TPLF’s abuse of aid money during the 1984-5 famine in Tigray, Mr. Seye Abraha, the then commander of TPLF rebels and now a prominent opposition leader against his previous political party – TPLF, discloses that TPLF had diverted aid money to purchase ammunition and other weaponry in the 1980’s, obviously while thousands of people in Tigray, whom TPLF claims to represent, were dying of starvation.
Beyene Petros of Medrek Slams the Revolutionary Centralism State Structure in Ethiopia
Dr. Beyene Petros, the current chairman of the Medrek opposition coalition challenging the Zenawi government in the May 2010 elections, ridicules the claim by the Zenawi government that the current Ethiopian state structure is ‘federal.’ He argues that the appropriate name for the current state structure is “revolutionary centralism,” where states are directly and indirectly controlled by the ruling party (TPLF) from the central government.
Dr. Petros cites examples to show the current system is top-down, instead of bottom-up; examples include the chronic fiscal dependency of some states on the “federal government”, the repression of calls for statehood (such as the Sidama people in the Southern Regional State), the shuffling of even those officials holding elected positions by the ruling party, the inappropriate designation of the Upper Chamber (House of Federation) as a body tasked with interpreting the Constitution (even though it’s a legislative body), and the unjust distribution of resources between the “federal government” and the states (i.e. most of incoming-generating resources are still owned by the “federal government”).
Watch Parts Two and Three below (Part One was published yesterday, but it’s also provided here for quick reference).
Ethiopia: Gebru Asrat of Aarena Tigray Speaks About Candidate’s Death on VOA
 Mr. Gebru Asrat, Leader of Aarena Tigray and Vice-Chair of Medrek |
Mr. Gebru Asrat, the leader of the Aarena Tigray for Democracy and Sovereignty (AarenaTigray.org) and the Vice-Chair of the Medrek opposition coalition, speaks to the VOA Amharic Radio about Mr. Aregawi Gebre-Yohannes, who “was killed at a restaurant he owned near the town of Shire in the Tigray region by a group of six men who had shadowed his movements for the previous two days.” (The New York Times)
