Dear Friends,

We would like to invite you to the ‘Human Rights for Ethiopians in the Next Millennium meeting’ on Saturday, November 17, 2007. The goal of this meeting is to bring together ideas, energy and vision from all parts of Ethiopia in order to build a grand strategy that is based on mutual respect and trust in order to usher in a new millennium where Ethiopians can enjoy greater freedom, equality, peace, stability and prosperity.

We encourage you to invite others to this event such as friends, community leaders and others who would be interested in learning more about the Human Rights in Ethiopia and sharing in this time. We encourage everyone who is concerned about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, to come and to bring other interested persons along.

Please see the agenda below for the meeting in Washington on Saturday, Nov. 17. Can you please forward it to your friends whom may want to come?

Yours truly,
Obang
______________________________________________
Human Rights for Ethiopians in the Next Millennium
Sponsored by the Anuak Justice Council

November 17, 2007, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Unification Church, 1610 Columbia Rd., N.W., Washington, D.C.

Ticket/Donation: $20.00

Commencing at 4:00 PM, will be a showing of the film:
“Betrayal of Democracy: Ethiopia”, a riveting and revealing documentary film depicting the deepening crisis of democracy in Ethiopia under the current EPRDF government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. A must-see film for all concerned about the alarming state of affairs in this strategic country in the Horn of Africa.

Overview of Meeting (5:00 PM)

Ethiopians from different regions have been very isolated or even alienated from each other in the past years; yet widespread human rights violations have been a problem in every region of the country. This has resulted in factionalized approaches to dealing with these abuses rather than any cohesive and coordinated effort. In a unique forum, guests, human rights activists representing most every region of Ethiopia, will come together for the first time in history to discuss the state of human rights within their respective regions.

They will share how they have been dealing with human rights violations up to the present and how they see all of us, as Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians, moving forward in a more concerted effort in the next millennium. Most are now realizing that we cannot succeed alone; that, only by advocating for everybody in our country, will we see greater respect for human rights of all Ethiopians in the next millennium.

We all know that the respect for human rights has deteriorated since the Ethiopian National Election of 2005 when the ruling party allegedly hijacked the election. There is even less freedom and more human rights abuses today, but little attention is being given to it, some say because of the War on Terror. Although most Ethiopians support such an international effort to combat terrorism, they do not support the terrorist acts committed by Prime Minister Zenawi and his regime against the Ethiopian people throughout all of the regions in the country. We invite you to come and listen to how the current regime’s crimes against humanity, has affected the people of Ethiopia in their own pursuit of freedom, democracy and human rights.

The goal of this meeting is to bring together ideas, energy and vision from all parts of Ethiopia in order to build a grand strategy that is based on mutual respect and trust in order to usher in a new millennium where Ethiopians can enjoy greater freedom, equality, peace, stability and prosperity. This is not a political movement, but a much needed movement of the people for human rights.

Meeting Participants:

Mr. Guled Kassim, Ogaden Human Rights Committee, representing Somali Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Ogaden. (10 minutes)

1. Mr. Alemayehu Zemedkun: Ethiopian American Advocacy, Amhara National Regional State. Topic: As a Former Deputy Attorney General, head of the ministry’s civil division and one of the best bench prosecutors in the country, Mr. Zemedkun will represent the Amhara National Regional State and his experience as former Deputy Attorney General. (10 minutes)

2. Mr. Teklabe Habtu, Gasha for Ethiopians, Tigray National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Tigray Region.

Mr. Ibrahim.Yousuf, Benishangul Human Rights Foundation, Benishangul/Gumuz National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region: It’s Affecting Us All.

Break

3. Mr. Robsan Itana, Oromo-American Citizens Council, Oromiya National Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Right Situation in Oromia (10 minutes)

4. Ms. Abeba Fekade, a representative of the International Ethiopian Women’s Organization. Topic: Human Rights Challenges Facing Ethiopian Women (10 minutes)

5. Mr. Ali Ismael Muftah, Afar Human Rights Organization, Afar National Regional State. (10 minutes) Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Afar Region

6. Mr. Jashu/Godi Baykeda, Southern Nations Human Rights Organization (in formation), the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Regional State. Topic: The Current Human Rights Situation in the Southern Nations (10 minutes)

Keynote Speaker:

Mr. Obang O. Metho, Anuak Justice Council, Gambella Region, (25 minutes)

Topic: After the presentations, Mr. Metho will highlight the key points and challenges for us to move forward with the advancement of human rights in Ethiopia in the next millennium. Because of his experience talking to Ethiopians from diverse ethnic backgrounds in over 30 different cities, including in Canada, in the US and in Europe, he will share what he has learned and his vision for a greater and more cooperative grassroots movement for the respect of human rights that will provide a stronger foundation for true freedom, democracy, justice and prosperity for all.

An opportunity for questions, comments and suggestions will follow.

Let us join hands in support of justice!

We encourage everyone who is concerned about Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, to come and to bring other interested persons along.

Proceeds will support the Anuak Justice Council. For more information, call
(703) 462-1694 or 306 933 4346, contact Obang Metho at: obang@anuakjustice.org.

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