CUD executive committee member Dr Yacob Hailemariam told Ethiopian Review this morning that the Meles regime doesn't have legal authority to deny the people of their rights to hold peaceful rallies. He said the peaceful struggle will continue and intensify in the coming few days... Sep 30
Action alert to avert wave of repression in Ethiopia... SOCEPP, Sep 28
CUD and UEDF members through out Ethiopia are being rounded up by the Meles regiem
Just one day after reporting that 43 opposition members had been detained for alleged subversion in northern Tigray state, the official Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) said 80 people had been arrested on similar charges in southern Oromia state and another three south of the capital.
Meles Zenawi's' security forces stepped up terrorizing opposition members throughout Ethiopia. Today, the security forces have arrested UEDF representatives and office staff in Bahr Dar, Gonder, and Mekele. Sgt. Negussie Dagne, UEDF Bahar Dar representative and regional parliament-elect, and Ato Asrat Bahru, a member of UEDF in Bahar Dar, Ato Mohammed Gahdif, UEDF member in Mekele, Capt Admasu Feleke, UEDF member in Gonder, were taken by security forces to an unknown location after their houses were searched and ransacked. Ato Dereje Kebede, Secretary General of UEDF, is receiving death threats ... ER, Sep 27
We call on the security forces to respect the people’s right to ‘freedom of peaceful assembly and association.’... NES, Sep 26
The UEDP-Medhin General Assembly yesterday elected the 18 individuals who will make up the 60-member CUD central committee that will be formed on Sep 24. The General Assembly also elected Ato Lidetu Ayalew as the first among the 5 individuals who will join CUD's new Executive Committee. The other four will be elected next Saturday. After merging with the other three parties in the CUD next Saturday, UEDF-Medhin and the other three parties in the coalition will be disbanded.
CUD will be transformed into a unitary party today, Sep 24, by merging the four parties that make up the coalition. The new party will keep its popular Amahric name "Kinijit." The top leaders of the party, including the chairman, 2 vice-chairmen, and secretary general, will be elected today at the founding convention.
The Coalition for Unity & Democracy (CUD) became a unitary party... ER, Sep 24
UEDP-Medhin elected the following five individuals for CUD's Executive Committee that will be formed tomorrow (Sep 24): Ato Lidetu Ayalew, Ato Mushe Semu, Ato Mesfin Ayalew, Ato Abdurahman Ahmedin, and Dr Mulualem Tarekegn. Earlier this week, the UEDP general assembly elected 18 individuals for CUD's 60-member Central Committee ...ER, Sep 23
The United Nations Children's Fund said that more than 6 million people in Ethiopia are at risk of contracting malaria... Reuters, Sept 22
"CUD will not enter parliament," Ato Hailu Shawel... more
Ethiopians demanded justice at the world summit in New York, Sep 15 ... more
If the donor countries really want to assist the Ethiopian people, they should first help them in their struggle for transparent and democratic governance
Tensae Radio lawyers are considering to obtain a court order to depose Meles Zenawi while in New York. If the court gives an order, Meles is obligated to answer questions from Tensae's lawyers, or face arrest. As reported earlier, Tensae Radio is filing a counter lawsuit against Meles Zenawi for torturing and murdering Ethiopian citizens. Last month, Meles and his officials have filed a lawsuit against Tensae Radio in a Virginia court accusing them of defamation... ER, Sep 13
Chris Albin-Lackey, HRW: Since Meles came to power 14 years ago, his security forces have imprisoned, tortured and harassed thousands of people who have criticized the government. But in the countryside, such heavy-handed methods are often not necessary. Local officials are able to use their control over much-needed rural development schemes as leverage over the people they govern ... Sep 2005
The Afar region of Ethiopia is not an inviting place – a barren, salty, cracked rockscape with barely any life. But it’s a meeting place of sorts ... Live Science, Sep 8
The Meles regime is expanding a prison facility in a place called Abuari in Qobo Woreda of Wollo. Previously, the facility was used to house Eritrean prisoners of war. Eye witnesses who have observed the massive reconstruction of the facility told ER that the place is being turned into a large concentration camp that can hold thousands of people. Opposition leaders fear that the place is being prepared for political prisoners ... ER, Sep 8
Possible prisoners of conscience/ fear of torture or ill-treatment
U.S. Congress: "Ethiopian citizens must be able to exercise their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but any demonstrations should attempt to obtain legal sanction and should be carried out peacefully. The one development that will be intolerable for us and many of our colleagues in Congress is the renewed outbreak of violence and the death of innocent Ethiopians. In such an event, it will not matter who is to blame." Sep 29... more
Meles Zenawi's repression is intensifying... CUD, Sep 29
CUD office in Jijiga has been shut down by Meles' security forces and the representative, Ato Kidus Beneberu has been arrested... ER, Sep 29
The Meles regime said unless CUD and UEDF accept the election results, it will not give permission for the Oct 2 nationwide rally. The CUD- UEDF joint committee will announce its plan tomorrow... The U.S. Congress is preparing a strong warning to the Meles regime not to engage in violence against peaceful protestors. The statement will be issued today or tomorrow... Sep 28
Meles and his officials are backing away from their lawsuit against Tensae Radio, according to Tensae lawyer Ato Shakespear Feyissa. This proves that the report by Tensae Radio that Meles and his officials have deposited millions of dollars in foreign banks is true, and the radio programs credibility is intact. Tensae's counter lawsuit against Meles will proceed. Ato Shakespear's interview can be listened here
... Sep 28, 2005
Courageous move on the part of Hailu Shawel... ER Sep 22
Tensae Radio's interview with CUD leader Ato Hailu Shawel will be posted at Tensae's web site today.
CUD chairman Ato Hailu Shawel gave a press conference this afternoon at the National Press Club in Washington DC. Ato Hailu started out by saying that what took place in Ethiopia is not "vote rigging." He said, "it's a daylight robbery of the people's vote." Regarding CUD's decision not to enter the parliament, Ato Hailu said, "the parliament is going to be illegal because it will not represent the people. We are not going to enter an illegal parliament." Asked what he wants from the U.S. Government, Ato Hailu said he wants the U.S. to tell Meles that he lost the elections and "must relinquish power." ... ER, Sep 20
Meles Zenawi left New York in a hurry... ER, Sep 20
An Urgent Fundraising Appeal ...EHRCO
Moving Ethiopian Democracy Forward: What is to be done? ... NES, Sep 20
A statement by U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack on the Ethiopian election, Sep 16.
Even though the statement is disappointing, in the absence of coherent and firm leadership by the CUD and UEDF, nothing better can be expected from the U.S. government.
The Carter Center reports "apparent partisanship on the part of NEBE presiding officers," proving the opposition parties' main complaint.
Denver, Colorado - Abraham Hagos is led from court Wednesday after being sentenced to life in prison without parole for having a witness killed in a 2002 drug case
The Meles regime banned the CUD public meetings in Addis Ababa, according to Ato Gizachew Shiferaw, a member of the CUD council. Ato Gizachew told reporters today that the authorities told them they are not allowed to hold any public meeting for the next 15 days... ER, Sep 7
Messeret was shot in the back... ER
Response to Tefera Walwa's attack on the Orthodox Church... pdf Amharic
Well stated PR Show for Yara - It is not always easy to hide "raw commerce" behind "societal responsibility"... Knut Olav Åmås, Sept 4
The CUD council has decided to transform the coalition into a unitary party. CUD is a coalition of four parties that was created in February 2005. The CUD council set the date of the merger September 24 (Meskerem 14). Reportedly, in the new CUD, there will be a 60-member central committee. The two major parties in the coalition, AEUO and EDUP-Medhin, each will select 18 members for the new central committee, while the smaller parties, Kestedemena and EDL, each will select 12 members. The new central committee will elect the top leaders on September 24.
Tensae Radio is preparing to file counter law suits against Meles and Co. for murdering and torturing Ethiopian citizens. According to Tensae Radio's lawyers, when Meles sued Tensae in a Virginia court last month, he waived his diplomatic immunity, exposing himself for counter law suits in the U.S. The lawyers are documenting evidences of murders and tortures committed by Meles Zenawi, Bereket Simon and the other EPRDF officials ... ER, Sep 6
"The final results of Ethiopia’s historic 2005 elections issued by the NEB, including the results of revotes and the Somali Region elections, confirm EPRDF’s majority in Parliament." Ambassadors Donor Group, Sep 13
Why didn't they wait until the EU-EOM report comes out next week, as they promised?
A high-level delegation led by Meles Zenawi has arrived in New York today to participate in the UN General Assembly
To Kofi Annan: The people of Ethiopia lay their deep trust in you not to dim their faith in the lofty ideals of the UN by the invitation of an authoritarian ruler, who has desecrated the fundamental precepts of the organization... EAD, Sep 2005
A message from the Boston CUD/UEDF support groups
A message from the New York rally organizing committee
Ethiopians who were gunned down by Meles Zenawi's troops in June 2005
ER is receiving a lot of inquires about a report that the U.S. government called for a "unity government" in Ethiopia. It is a false report. This is what the U.S. State Department spokesman said on Sep 6: "We urge all parties to continue to resolve any disputes or challenges to the results through existing legal channels. We expect all political parties to work through any future phases of this process, including the formation of a new government, in a peaceful, transparent and democratic manner."
An observer: "Liar"
Meles Zenawi has arrived in Oslo, Norway today to receive the Yara Award. He is staying at the Grand Hotel in Oslo. No Norwegian media has reported his arrival, and no Norwegian official greeted him at the air port. Hundreds of Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia are heading from all over Europe by bus towards Oslo for a protest demonstration. Norwegian government officials are boycotting the award... Sept 2
After a long debate, EDUP decided to hold its general assembly ahead of the CUD merger... ER, Sep 2
A Columbia University scholar, Jeffrey Sachs, is coming under fire from Ethiopian-Americans who are upset that the author of "The End of Poverty" is presenting a $200,000 award to Ethiopia's embattled prime minister... The New York Sun, Sept 2
The complete collapse of trust in the state media ... Franz Kruger, Sep 2
It's time for a joint conference of CUD and UEDF elected representatives... ER, Aug 30
Meles accuses European Union election observers of lying ... AP, Aug 29
It's to be remembered that (BBC, May 16) Meles had said he would accept the decision of the international observers.
EU Presidency backs the election observers and their chief Ana Gomes... EU, Aug 29
Resolution of the Ohio Ethiopian public meeting ... pdf
Normally, it's the political leaders who motivate people to rise up and defend their freedom. What's going on in Ethiopia currently is unheard of. It is the people who are motivating and agitating the leaders to be assertive and fearless. Please read this report by Addis Zena (Amharic)
Teddy Afro's concert at Sheraton has been canceled over the objection by EPRDF authorities who disliked some of his songs. Teddy left the country today and is in Dubai now... ER, Sep 10
Meles and Bereket protest against Ana Gomes... cartoon
CUD public meeting in Woreda 17 on Aug 21...video ...audio
The Shibire Email Group members held a brief teleconference (listen) with Shibire's mother Wzr Ayelech Birkneh on Sunday, Sep 4. The group collected and sent $1000 to Shibire's family last week. This week the Shibire Email Group has concluded a fund raising drive for Meseret Tadesse. The money will be sent Thursday, Sep 7. Currently, the group is raising funds for Kuma Kabe.
Meles Zenawi calls Ana Gomes "a self-appointed colonial viceroy" ... BBC, Sept 1
