In response to a question by the EU Commissioner Louis Michel, Meles confirmed that international legal observers would be welcome at the trial against leaders of the opposition and members of the civil society and journalists, and that he was confident that this would be speedy and fair ... noticias.info, Feb 17
If there should be any trial, it should be against Meles and gang. The opposition leaders, the journalists and others should stay firm in their decision not to defend themselves in the Meles kangaroo court.
Finally Reuters decides to report on Ato Hailu's condition--after a European leader expresses concern.
European Union Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel met with Meles Zenawi and the jailed CUD leaders today. Mr Michel, who arrived in Addis Ababa last night, held a two-hour talk with the CUD leaders. Before Mr Michel arrived at the Kaliti prison, the security forces took CUD chairman Hailu Shawel to a hospital so that Mr Michel cannot see Ato Hailu's health condition
... ER Feb 16,
Analysts say Meles is likely to weather the storm through the goodwill of allies such as the U.S., the use of the security services to quell and divide any vocal opposition
The analysts will be proven wrong soon. Meles will not be allowed to deny 70 million Ethiopians their freedom no matter what kind of support he is getting from the United States.
A critical look at the responses and strategies of Ethiopians to decades of political repression, ethnic policy, impoverishment and territorial disintegration
CUDP leader Hailu Shawel lost his eye sight, according to the physician who treated him today. Ato Hailu had been denied medical treatment for over a month while his condition deteriorated. He has now completely lost vision in one eye, and the other one is getting weaker. Another CUD leader, Dr Hailu Araya, is also seriously ill. This is a slow death penalty that is being carried out by the Meles regime
Tegbar League's Washington DC chapter will hold a town hall meeting on Sunday, March 5, in Washington DC... Tegbar
Ethiopians in Seattle held a protest rally today in Downtown Seattle. They appealed to the U.S. Government to break its silence on the atrocities in Ethiopia. An assistant to Congressman Jay Inslee gave a speech at the rally. He said that the U.S. Congress supports the Ethiopian people's struggle for freedom and democracy. Other speakers included Ethiomedia editor Abreha Belai and representatives of opposition parties. Hundreds of Ethiopians attended today's rally, which was one of the largest in Seattle... ER Feb 10
Meles Zenawi has become a source of embarrassment to the Progressive Governance Summit to be held in South Africa this coming weekend. Observers are asking how a brutal dictator who orders the mass arrest and killing of unarmed civilians can be invited to a meeting of "progressive leaders." The Ethiopian Community Association in South Africa also issued a statement denouncing the invitation to Meles Zenawi to participate in summit ... ER Feb 10
Where is the OUTRAGE? The Inexplicable Silence of the AU to the Ethiopian crisis! ... NES, Feb 9
A pregnant reporter has been jailed in Ethiopia for more than two weeks, and Ethiopia's Information Ministry said on Thursday she had not been legally accredited
Ethiopians in Washington DC today held a protest rally in front of the World Bank building where mayors of cities around the world gathered. It's reported that unelected Addis Ababa city mayor, Arkebe Oqubay, was among those who attended the meeting with World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz and a press conference with Washington DC mayor Anthony Williams today. Arkebe is a member of the TPLF politburo that is ordering the ongoing arrests, tortures and killings of opposition party members and other unarmed civilians through out Ethiopia ... ER Feb 9
Federal Police is looking for popular singer Tedy Afro for questioning, according to police sources. An arrest warrant was issued for Tedy based on complaints by former EPRDF fighters who claim that the singer has defamed them with his song, "yasteseryal." Tedy Afro is currently abroad on tour... DGAF Feb 9
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and senior World Bank officials will hold a meeting in Washington DC tomorrow with mayors from cities around the world, including Addis Ababa's unelected mayor who is currently involved in the mass arrest and killing of the city's residents ... US Newswire, Feb 8
The World Bank is undercutting the European Commission's effort to pressure the Meles regime to release political prisoners and stop mass arrests and killings
Meles defiant on opposition detainees... he told parliament yesterday that releasing them would embolden them to think "whatever their action, they will not be held accountable" ... Financial Times, Feb 8
US Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer tells Meles to open the jails and let the prisoners of conscience out, but argues that the U.S. doesn't have financial leverage, only diplomatic ... VOA Feb 8, video
The noose is tightening around Meles' neck... ER Feb 7
The International Women's Media Foundation has expressed alarm regarding the detainment without charge of an Ethiopian journalist Frezer Negash ... IWMF Feb 7
Irish Development Cooperation Minister Conor Lenihan said the Irish Government contributed €35 million aid to Ethiopia in 2005 but all further donations were under review in light of recent events ... IOL Feb 7
Four top executives of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's labor union have resigned
Minister of Capacity Building, Tefera Walwa, told a teachers conference yesterday that Atse Menelik built roads and telephone lines in order to subjugate ethnic minorities... DGAF Feb 7 Tefera, who failed to win rigged elections twice, is the dumbest person in the Meles cabinet.
Observing a "very tense" security situation in Addis Ababa, the UN Field Security Coordination Office (FSCO) Monday advised UN personnel and their families to be on the alert while in the Ethiopian capital ... Angola Press Feb 7
Tegbar League expresses its condolences to the family of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Tegbar will also send a delegation to Mrs. King's funeral ceremony in Atlanta on Tuesday... Tegbar Feb 6
University of Chicago Professor Donald Levine is mediating the release of CUD leaders, journalists and the other political prisoners ... ER Feb 6
Fearing continued protests, the Meles regime extended the one- week school break that started last week to four weeks. The semester break will be over on Feb. 20, which is three days before the CUD leadership trial resumes on Feb 23. Meanwhile, EPRDF's Capacity Building Minister Tefera Walwa is currently holding meetings with teachers. The Meles regime thinks that some teachers are behind the student protest... DGAF Feb 6
Denounce, NOT resource, the Brutal Dictatorship of Ethiopia ... NES Feb 5
The Harvard African Law Association and the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) would like to invite you to a symposium on Ethiopia, Saturday, Feb 11th. For a list of speakers and their presentations, location, and hours visit here
Civil rights leader Dr Joseph E. Lowery was among the distinguished Americans who addressed the Feb. 1st Ethiopian pro-democracy rally in Washington DC ... ER Feb 3
Imprisoned owner of Menelik newspaper, Wzr Serkalem Fasil, is pregnant and is currently sick. She is being denied medical care at Kaliti jail. Serkalem was arrested with her journalist husband, Eskinder Nega, and her brother Dawit Fasil last November ... DGAF Feb 3
Frezer had to be hospitalizedafter being beaten up by the Federal Police when she was arrested last Friday. She is in good spirit today, but bitter about the way she is being treated. She was allowed to see a lawyer today... more
CUDP leader Hailu Shawel's vision is critically impaired due to lack of medical care. According to family sources who spoke with Ethiopian Review, Ato Hailu did not receive any medical treatment for the past 28 days. Prison officials are saying that they cannot take him to a hospital because they lost his files... more by DGAF Feb 4
United States Congressman Dana Rohrabacher told Ethiopians that they have the right to wage a peaceful struggle for democracy and the U.S. will stand with them
Barbara Starr, how about the Ethiopian people being terrorized by a brutal U.S. -backed dictatorship?
