Monthly Archives: December 2005

48-hour vigil at the U.S. State Department

ER Dec 30 – The 48-hour vigil that started yesterday has ended today after State Department officials left early for the New Year holiday. The participation was greater than anticipated by the organizers. There will be more vigils like this …

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Federal Police savagely attacked students, teachers

Federal Police attacked students at Wzr. Zerfeshiwal elementary school in Addis Ababa today. The police were seen savagely beating 11 and 12 yrs old boys and girls. They loaded many of them on trucks and took them to unknown locations.…

Posted in Ethiopia News

Western donors to withhold millions of dollars of aid to Ethiopia

Western donors are considering withholding millions of dollars of aid to Ethiopia, after a recent crackdown on the opposition and the press. The sum of $375m in direct funding for Ethiopian government programmes is reported to be under review.

More …

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Donors plan to withhold $375m from Ethiopia

By Andrew England, Financial Times

Donors are to withhold direct budgetary support worth about $375m (€317m £218m) from Ethiopia following the government’s brutal crackdown on opposition supporters last month, western development officials said yesterday.

Until the situation improves, the donors …

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The popular uprising in Ethiopia against the fascist regime of Meles Zenawi continues

Ethiopian Review, Dec 29, 11:30 AM

The popular uprising in Ethiopia against the fascist regime of Meles Zenawi continues today. Most high schools in Addis Ababa and other cities are closed. Students at Wondyrad and Abiyot Qirs high schools staged …

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The jailed CUD leaders and journalists appeared in court

The jailed CUD leaders and journalists appeared in court again today and asked to return next Wednesday.

Many observers, including legal experts and foreign diplomats, are expressing the view that the trial is being used by the Meles regime to …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Meles Zenawi’s murderous rampage in Gonder

Ethiopian Review
Dec 28, 2005

On Thursday December 22nd, police entered Felege Edget and Fasiludus schools in the early morning hours and waited for students to arrive. The unsuspected students gathered in their respective school compounds as usual before classes …

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Police and students clashed at Ambo’s Meskerem Hulet high school

Police and students clashed at Ambo’s Meskerem Hulet high school yesterday. Police opened fire on students and arrested many of them.

In the town of Gedo, 68 km from Ambo, a bomb exploded injuring several students. The students say that …

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Hundreds of protestors in western Ethiopian arrested

Hundreds of people from the towns of Mendi and Gimbi, western Ethiopia, are rounded up and taken to Senkele Police Training Center in Ambo. Special forces surrounded these towns after the residents started holding protests demanding the removal of Meles …

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Students at Ayer Tena and other Addis Ababa high schools staged peaceful protests

Students at Ayer Tena and other high schools staged peaceful protests today. Federal Police and Agazi troops, Meles Zenawi’s private army, surrounded Ayer Tena school, rounded up all the students they can find and took them to unknown locations. Many …

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U.S. About to Awaken to a Nightmare in Ethiopia

The Houston Chronicle — While the West celebrates the joys of Christmas, Africa’s oldest independent nation, Ethiopia, is submerged in apocalyptic violence sponsored by the regime.

The Daily Telegraph of London recently described repression of the opposition and the media …

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The Struggle for Democracy in Ethiopia

Column by Scott Simon Simon Says

By Scott Simon, National Public Radio (NPR)

Listen to this story... 

Weekend Edition Saturday, December 24, 2005 · Ethiopia’s government files charges of treason and genocide against 131 people, all of whom raised questions about vote-rigging in recent elections. Does …

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High school students in Addis Ababa continued their protests

High school students in Addis Ababa continued their protests today demanding the release of CUD leaders and members. Schools in Merkato area were closed. Some shop owners in the Merkato area closed their shops. There was a heavy security presence …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Student protest that started last week in Gonder is spreading to Addis Ababa

The student protest that was started last week in Gonder is now spreading to Addis Ababa, western Shoa and other regions of Ethiopia.

Yesterday and today, high school students in Addis Ababa are staging protest rallies demanding the release of …

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Jailed Ethiopian opposition leaders appeared in court

The jailed CUD leaders and journalists appeared in court today. They were cheered on by hundreds of supporters who waited for them outside the court. They responded with CUD’s V sign.

Today’s court hearing was to decided on bail, but …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Ethiopian civic and political organizations meet at the CUD office in DC

Representatives of Ethiopian civic and political organizations held a meeting yesterday at the CUD office in Washington DC.

They discussed how to coordinate the effort in the Washington DC area to support the struggle for democracy and freedom at home. …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Artist Tamagn Beyene awarded “Man of the Year” by Ethiopians in Boston

Tamagn BeyeneBoston, Massachusetts — In a jubilant and colorful night, on Saturday, December 17, 2005, in the presence of statesmen and Ethiopians from all walks of life, young and old, men and women in Boston, Artist Tamagn Beyene was received “Man …

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Senator Maria Cantwell on Human Rights Violations in Ethiopia

Statement for the Record
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell

December 20, 2005

Mr. President, I rise to speak on the disturbing reports of political chaos in Ethiopia. With allegations of vote tampering and emerging pictures of large-scale human rights abuses taking …

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Meles Zenawi's forces savagely beat students in the town of Ambo

Meles Zenawi’s forces are savagely beating and torturing students in the town of Ambo, western Ethiopia. Some have lost consciousness from the beatings and torture by the heavily armed police and troops who are under the direct command of Meles …

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Hundreds of Ethiopians have staged a protest rally at the U.S. State Department and World Bank

Hundreds of Ethiopians have staged a protest rally at the U.S. State Department and World Bank in Washington DC today.

The protestors appealed to the Bush Administration and the World Bank to stop financing the murderous dictatorship of Meles Zenawi …

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Schools through out Gonder are being closed down

Schools through out Gonder are being closed down after students staged protests demanding the release of all students and political prisoners.

The protest is spreading through out the region as other students picked up the same demands. Eyewitnesses told Ethiopian …

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A Dream Defiled: The Betrayal of Ethiopia's Democracy

By Micha Odenheimer
The Washington Post
December 18, 2005; Page B04

The Addis Ababa airport I used to know was shabby and neglected, an overgrown shack of wood, concrete and tin. It smelled of incense mingled with the dank, sweet …

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Posted in Ethiopia News

A Dream Defiled: The Betrayal of Ethiopia’s Democracy

By Micha Odenheimer
The Washington Post
December 18, 2005; Page B04

The Addis Ababa airport I used to know was shabby and neglected, an overgrown shack of wood, concrete and tin. It smelled of incense mingled with the dank, sweet …

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Posted in Ethiopia News

Protesters killed and 40,000 jailed as Blair's friend in Ethiopia quells 'insurrection'

By David Blair in Addis Ababa
Telegraph

A leader handpicked by Tony Blair to champion Africa has smashed his opponents with the biggest crackdown in the continent’s recent history, jailing 40,000 people including boys of 15.

Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian …

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Posted in Ethiopia News

Protesters killed and 40,000 jailed as Blair’s friend in Ethiopia quells ‘insurrection’

By David Blair in Addis Ababa
Telegraph

A leader handpicked by Tony Blair to champion Africa has smashed his opponents with the biggest crackdown in the continent’s recent history, jailing 40,000 people including boys of 15.

Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian …

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Posted in Ethiopia News

Members of the European Parliament condemn violence in Ethiopia

Members of the European Parliament voted in favour of three resolutions on the human rights situation in Tibet and Hong Kong, human rights issue in Russia and the new NGO legislation and the situation in Ethiopia and the new border …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Senator Patrick Leahy Responds to Violence in Ethiopia

U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY
CONTACT: Office of Senator Leahy, 202-224-4242
VERMONT

Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy
Violence And Repression In Ethiopia
December 16, 2005

On May 15, 2005, Ethiopia held the first open, multi-party, democratic elections in its 3,000 year …

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Ethiopians Protest Against The Washington Times

By Robert Redding Jr.
Redding News Review

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2005, 11:00 p.m. – Dozens of Ethiopians yesterday braved the cold to protest a forum on the democratization of their country being held at The Washington Times newspaper’s headquarters.

More …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Prof. Clapham’s reply to State Minister Takeda Alemu

(Distributed with the author’s permission.)
5 December 2005
H.E. Takeda Alemu,
State Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Addis Ababa

Dear Takeda,

Thank you for your open letter of 17 November, raising some points about my earlier ‘Comments on the Ethiopian Crisis’. …

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Posted in Ethiopia News

Ethiopian Teachers Association appeals to the international community

ETA’s Urgent Appeal to the International Community

ETA Press Release
Monday, December 05, 2005

The Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA) urges the international community to intervene to save the lives of Mr. Hailu Shawel, age 71 and Chairman of CUD, and …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Harvard Panel on Ethiopia

All interested people in the Boston area are welcome to this event at Harvard University

Harvard Panel on Ethiopia
Wednesday, December 7, 2005, 6:00 PM
Askwith Lecture Hall – Harvard Graduate School of Education

Political Detentions, Elections, and “Democracy” in …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Ethiopian Airlines provides service to over 462,000 passengers in three months

The Ethiopian Airlines (EAL) said Thursday it has provided service to more than 462,000 passengers during the first three months of the current budget year (July 8, 2005 — July 7, 2006).

EAL public relations manager Kagnew Fiseha told journalists …

Posted in Ethiopia News

Education and training in Ethiopia: An evaluation of approaching EFA goals

By Johanna Lasonen, Raija Kemppainen and Kolawole Raheem
Institute for Educational Research
University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria. Ethiopia is ethnically and linguistically very diverse. The transitional legislature formally recognised …

Posted in Ethiopia News