Also:
the week in review (below)------------------------------------------------
ETP has contacted the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels; they informed us that the European Commission has not yet been formally told of the charges made against the two EU personnel that were expelled. They are demanding an explanation and are awaiting a formal response.
Their actual words:
“Call the guys in Addis (Govt. officials), they know more about this than we do”
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Government of Ethiopia wiretapping European Commission Offices(Ethio-Zagol)
Ethiopian government's espionage against European Commission is exposed. The Ethiopian government claimed on Thursday that it had expelled two EU diplomats who were trying to smuggle two Ethiopian fugitives who committed serious crimes.
According to Security sources, the two diplomats weren't arrested at the border town of Moyale but more than 157 miles away from the border while they were traveling back to Addis Ababa. They didn't try to cross the border.
The car was stopped near the town of Agre Mariam. Yalemzewd was arrested when she was checking at the Moyale immigration office as a regular traveler to Kenya. She was told to hang on and plain-clothed security guys picked her up and took her to a detention center. Fasil Assefa the man who was arrested with her was taken from Koket Borena hotel while he was sleeping. He wasn't trying to cross the border.
(More...)Inquiry Commission's report clearly demonstrates the need for HR5680: Rep. Donald PayneFor Immediate ReleaseOctober 20, 2006
Congressman Donald M. Payne Condemns Continued Harassment of Human Rights Advocates in Ethiopia and Calls for the Immediate Release of the Ethiopia Commission of Inquiry Report.
On Thursday October 19, Yalemzewd Bekele, 29, a human rights advocate, was arrested near the Kenyan border by Ethiopian security, while on her way to Kenya fleeing persecution.. In August 2006, during a visit to Ethiopia my delegation talked to Yalemzewd but was unable to meet with her face to face because of security concerns. Yalemzewd, who works for the European Commission in Addis found out late last week that a decision was made to arrest her. She decided to stay in her office to avoid arrest. After several days, she was asked by a senior EC official to leave the office.
Yalemzewd was betrayed by her own employer. Instead of protecting her, this official ruined her life. I strongly condemn this act and call on the European Commission to investigate this decision. Yalemzewd is in a detention center in Moyale, a small town near the Kenyan border. Alemayehu Fantu was also arrested on October 5. He was visibly tortured when he appeared in court on October 12, 2006 and may have been coerced into naming Ms. Bekele. Conditions in Ethiopia are going from bad to worse. Ethiopians are living in fear and they don’t know what to expect tomorrow, a true reminder of the torturous past. Under the circumstances there is enough indication that Ms. Bekele may be harmed while in detention. I call for the immediate release of these political prisoners.
For over a year, I constantly argued that the Ethiopian government used excessive force against innocent civilians. Many innocent civilians lost their lives. Parliament established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the killings. The Commission interviewed dozens of people and spent months investigating and documenting what they saw and heard. When the time came to submit the report, parliament was adjourned a day early, denying the Commission the opportunity to present their findings. The decision was deliberate in order to force the Commission to change its findings. In August, I was told by a senior Ethiopian official that the Commission did not finish its work. After constant threat and harassment, the Chairman of the Commission and the Deputy Chair left the country with the report. Over the past week, a friend spoke to both the chair and deputy chairman of the Commission. They clearly stated that they “can not turn their backs on all those people who risked their lives to speak to us.” They said “the truth must come out and Ethiopians must know what happened in June and November.”
I have seen the reports and the video of the deliberation of the Commission. One can not question the quality of the work nor the authenticity of the documents. The faces of the Commissioners are clear to see and the message and conclusions loud and clear. The data presented in these reports and the videotaped testimony of the members of the Commission as they cast their votes further reveals the degree to which a systematic crackdown was in place. I repeatedly stated then and the Commission agrees that the Government used excessive force against civilians in June and November. I said then and I repeat again, those who gave the orders and those who carried out the order must be held accountable for this unspeakable crime.
The commission finally voted 8-2 that indeed excessive force was used. The committee chairman, Supreme Court Judge Frehiwot Samuel, stated that “many people were killed arbitrarily.” He stated further that “Old men were killed while in their homes, and children were also victims of the attack while playing in the garden.” An Ethiopian Orthodox priest, Estatiose Gebrekristos, was recorded as saying, "based on my eyes, ears and knowledge the actions taken were 100 percent wrong." We must never forget the victims. These are just a handful of the many who perished last year. Mathewos Girma, 14; Qasim Ali, 21; Legesse Tulu, 60; Tamam Muktar, 25; Etenesh Yimam, 50; Worke Abebe, 19; Debela Oliqa Guta, 15; Hassan Dula, 65. Etenesh Yimam was killed in her home in front of her family for simply asking why they are arresting her husband, who was elected in May. Etenesh is dead, her husband in prison, and her daughter in hiding somewhere in Africa. This is the more reason why we should pass H.R. 5680, Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006.
The Week in Review
Catch-up on major news events you missed in the past week
- Monday- October 16, 2006
UN says Eritrea moving troops, tanks closer to Ethiopia - November 1, 2006 a day of protest against tyranny - difficult profession of journalist - US military consolidates Africa command - Internal opposition in a fray - troops briefly occupy Somali town - Somali president in Ethiopia - 'Why Are They Poor?' [PART 3]
- Tuesday- October 17, 2006
Ethiopia sees no military response against Eritrea - ERITREA- 'Troops harvesting buffer zone' - Union of Islamic Courts Issues Decisions Against Ethiopia - 'Why Are They Poor?' [PART 4], Clone H.R. 5680 and more of today's top stories
- Wednesday- October 18, 2006
Ethiopian security forces massacred protesters, says inquiry judge!! - 'Meles rejects observer's report' - Eritrea rejected UN call to withdraw - Somalia Islamists recruit hundreds after call for Jihad on Ethiopia - What is the Size of the Ethiopian Population in the United States? - H.R.5680: Sustaining the Struggle for Freedom - Democracy and Human Rights and more of today's top stories.
- Thursday- October 19, 2006
Unidentified EU personnel arrested in Ethiopia - leaked report confirms serious government human rights violations:Ana Gomes - Ethiopia Admits to Sending Military Trainers to Somalia - US accuses Eritrea of arming Somali Islamists - Ethiopian government blocks report of massacre by its forces and more of today's top stories
- Friday- October 20, 2006
Ethiopia: Regime's Silence on Report Speaks Volumes - Rep. Chris Smith - Fear of Torture or ill-treatment: Yalemzewd Bekele - European Union condemns Ethiopian government - a letter to Mr. Clarke, Mr. Delphin, and Mr. Michel - Ethiopian human rights lawyer arrested and more of today's top stories
To our Ethiopian Muslim Brothers and sisters: ETP wishes you a happy and joyous EID. As was the case in the past: May our land continue to be a shining example of religious harmony for centuries to come. 
(More...)
In her post entitled “the most difficult post ever” addis ferengi is announcing her retirement from the Blogesphere. This is sad news. Addis ferengi is responsible for single handedly restoring our confidence in ferengis.
