BREAKING NEWS: Website of TPLF’s
Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) have been taken down by #OromoHacktivists. As the regime imposes media blackout across the regime #OromoHacktivists are retaliating by attacking its own media outlets. Earlier website of the communication ministry was taken down followed by that of the ministry of education. More to come, say the hacktivists community.
Jawar Mohammed:Oromo Revolution
By Prof. Alemayehu G. Mariam
THEY know what they want, and do NOW!
The T-TPLF has declared a “state of emergency” and unleashed a reign of terror on Ethiopia. But what do they want, and do now?
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is use every trick in the book to remain in power for another 25 years and do business as usual!
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is find a way to maintain for the next 25 years total and complete control of the political system and structures, the economy and the military/security forces.
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is reinvent the T-TPLF as a gentler and kinder organization that is all embracing and inclusive. The T-TPLF wants to convince the Ethiopian people and its foreign bankrollers that the fox guarding the hen house has suddenly been transformed into a fun-loving, affectionate and obedient Golden Retriever.
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is divide and destroy once and for all time the opposition, particularly the leaderless youth movement and create its own puppet opposition groups and pretend it is practicing democracy.
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is secure the total and unconditional surrender of the Ethiopian people who are now in full uprising mode and force them to return to T-TPLF enslavement swiftly.
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is project a sense of “peace” and “stability” (which simply means shackle the hands and feet of the Ethiopian people, plug their ears so they hear nothing from the outside, poke their eyes out so they cannot see T-TPLF massacres and muzzle their mouths so they cannot speak) and play nice so that the loaners, donors, international poverty pimps and “investors” will keep pumping more money to prop up T-TPLF rule. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told PPM Hailemariam to “open talks with people who have problems [opposition]” and that in a “democracy there always needs to be an opposition that has a voice.” The PPM said, “Yeah, yeah… whatever.” Barack Obama said the T-TPLF is democratic and does not need to give the opposition a voice to be a democracy. PPM Hailemariam yelped, “Right on Bro-bama!”
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is infiltrate, penetrate and completely destroy the leaderless youth movement that has been organizing the national resistance, protests and civil disobedience against T-TPLF rule. (I use the phrase “leaderless youth movement” to indicate the widespread use of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience by loosely organized and coordinated independent groups who broadly share the same objectives without an identifiable command and control structure).
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is achieve a “negotiated” settlement to the current massive uprising (by force, trickery, bribery, persecution, prosecution, etc.) so that it can buy more time to plan a ruthless crackdown. The T-TPLF wants to use “negotiations” to keep itself in power with total and complete domination of the politics, economy and military structures of Ethiopia. Anyone who believes the T-TPLF will give one millimeter, one milligram of power through negotiation, is a damned fool. The T-TPLF will NEVER, NEVER give one millimeter or one milligram of power to anyone by negotiation or other civilized means. The reason is simple: Those who seized power straight out of the bush know only the law of the jungle; they are clueless about the rule of law. As I like to say, you can take the thug out of the bush (jungle) but you can never take the bush (jungle) out of the thug. There is as much chance of teaching the T-TPLF about the rule of law as there is domesticating a hyena.
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is defeat the nonviolent resistance and movement in Ethiopia by waging a war of attrition by strategically using its velvet-gloved iron fist.
What the T-TPLF wants to do NOW is hoodwink and bamboozle Ethiopians into giving it one more chance to remain in power for another 25 years.
The T-TPLF puppet prime minister in his televised declaration of a “state of emergency” (for the T-TPLF, that is) spent nearly one-half of his 20-minute statement pleading, groveling and begging for one more chance to get it right. The PPM said:
In this regard, as set forth in the constitution, our aim is to continue the work started by the people and the government. Our government’s system of governance needs to be renewed (rehabilitated). We have started a competent mobilization process. We will reshape our (administration) from top to bottom and address the questions raised by the people and their complaints about the services the government should give them. This is one of our biggest goals. Second, the governance process must be rehabilitated. We have to do deep reforms. In so doing, we will extract those things that are democratic deficits and correct them. Reforming our democratic structure is another one of the big jobs we have to do. That means increasing executive accountability to the legislature. It is also necessary to engage civic and professional organizations in discussion with the government and widen our democracy. Also to broaden and deepen our democracy, it is very necessary to engage the legal parties in discussion with the government on various agendas…
To reinforce the PPM’s message, for the past week the T-TPLF has been setting up shotgun “conferences” (forced) to engage in dialogue with local academics, researchers, community, religious, opposition, civic and traditional leaders.
In one videotaped “conference” on T-TPLF TV, T-TPLF invited “leaders” are seen and heard talking about the need “for urgent dialogue with other stakeholders”, “better governance”, “opening of political space”, institutionalizing the “rule of law”, “taking responsibility for past mistakes”, “civility and tolerance”, “reconnecting the (T-TPLF) with the people”, “peace and harmony” and a whole bunch of other stuff.
At the “conference”, the T-TPLF leaders also got an opportunity and a forum to absolve themselves of any responsibility and engage in their usual incantations and litanies about all the work they have done and are “doing everything to develop the country and bring democracy”, admitted to “not living up to the constitutional standards” and failing to “employ constitutional techniques”, the need for creating “more political space” and being “more inclusive”, all of the great economic progress that has been achieved over the past two decades, and so on. (They no longer talk about “10 percent growth over the past 10 years”. Could it be because someone proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the claim of 10 percent annual growth was a lie damned lie and a statislie?)
There are three things I found incredible in the T-TPLF make-believe “conference”.
First, there was not a single young person (under 30) present at that “conference”. (I did not say those who attended the “conference” were a horde of grumpy old geezers.)
Second, I found it mind-boggling that the people talking about the problems of the country at the “conference” were among those who are directly or indirectly responsible for the problems. The voices of the young people who are doing the heavy lifting, the dying, the going to jail, suffering the T-TPLF torture chambers were not being heard at the “conference”.
“Where are the young people at the ‘conference’?”, I asked myself.
“Why weren’t they invited to attend?”, I declared out loud indignantly.
“Obviously, someone forgot to invite them!”
Then it occurred to me, they are all in jail, in hiding, in exile, in fear, in despair, in doubt, in terror and on the run from one place to another as they are hunted down by T-TPLF goons.
What a travesty!!!
Hyenas and lions were having a “conference” over what do with the problems and challenges created by zebras.
Third, while those present at the “conference” pontificated about good governance, “constitutional process” and the rest of it, not a single one of them talked about the absolute urgency of now to release political prisoners, prosecute human rights violators, launch investigations into the Irreecha Massacres and other human rights violations and so on. Not a single person challenged the need or justification for the so-called state of emergency decree and the arbitrary arrests and detentions of citizens without probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Not a single one demanded the immediate removal of all restraints on the media including the internet and a stop to implementation of the so-called “state of emergency”. Lifting restrictions on the internet is important. Just like the T-TPLF shut down the international media from investigating the famine in Ethiopia, it is now shutting down all media and the internet to conceal its campaign of massacres and mass arrests and detentions throughout the country. It is incredible how the Western donors, loaners and international poverty pimps have remained silent as the T-TPLF pulls a black curtain over Ethiopia.
A “Mexican standoff” between the T-TPLF and the leaderless popular uprising?
When PPM Hailemariam declared a state of emergency, most people thought there was a state of emergency in Ethiopia.
The fact of the matter is that it is the T-TPLF that is in a state of emergency. The people of Ethiopia have lived in a state of emergency for the past 25 years. It is not possible to be in a state of emergency when one has been in a state of emergency for 25 years.
The current situation between the T-TPLF and the leaderless mass resistance movement may best be described as a “Mexican standoff” (“a confrontation between two or more parties in which no participant can proceed or retreat without being exposed to danger. As a result, all participants need to maintain the strategic tension, which remains unresolved until some outside event makes it possible to resolve it.”)
In the current situation, neither the T-TPLF nor the resistance movement has a “safe” way to withdraw because both sides have arrived at a juncture where the outcome can only be a zero-sum game (that is, one side must lose completely and the other side must win completely).
To the T-TPLF, the leaderless mass youth movement must be destroyed at all costs because the T-TPLF knows the young people united can NEVER be defeated.
The T-TPLF will spare nothing and will use its security and military forces to the maximum to kill, incapacitate and neutralize the youth movement. The leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party once said, “He owns the future who own the youth.” Since the T-TPLF cannot own the youth, they will do everything to destroy the youth movement by massacres and mass arrests and detentions. But by doing so, the T-TPLF will be grooming the next generation of die-hard revolutionaries against its rule.
In the standoff, the T-TPLF is not offering anything of value to the resistance movement. The T-TPLF’s gestures about replacing one gang of thugs for another at the local level is non-starter. The T-TPLF promising “reforms”, giving lip service to making available more political space to opposition groups, integrating civic society groups in “expanding and deepening our democracy” as the puppet T-TPLF prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in his “state of emergency declaration” amount to nothing more than “whistling Dixie”, to use an American idiom. The T-TPLF’s plea for one last chance to do it right so that they can stay in power for another 25 years in power will fall on deaf ears.
I shall predict the “standoff” between the T-TPLF and leaderless youth movement will likely remain a permanent feature as the T-TPLF uses increasing violence to suppress the movement and the young people become more radicalized and radicalize those coming behind them.
I have explained my views on the restless Ethiopian Cheetahs (young people) in my recent commentary “Disinformation in T-TPLF Land of Living Lies: Pinocchio Preaches Truth Against Perception in Ethiopia?”. To summarize my points, there is a national awakening in Ethiopia in the same sense Zbigniew Brzezinski talked about a “global awakening” in 2008. Brzezinski argued that the “worldwide yearning for human dignity is the central challenge inherent in the phenomenon of global political awakening… That awakening is socially massive and politically radicalizing.” Brzezinski warned:
The youth of the Third World are particularly restless and resentful. The demographic revolution they embody is thus a political time-bomb, as well… Their potential revolutionary spearhead is likely to emerge from among the scores of millions of students concentrated in the often intellectually dubious “tertiary level” educational institutions of developing countries….
The young people of Ethiopia who constitute 70 percent of the population are leading the uprising and revolution, NOT the opposition political parties, leaders and the rest. They are demanding human dignity and human rights. That is non-negotiable. The young people of Ethiopia are restless and resentful. They are sick and tired of being sick and tired of living as third-class citizens under T-TPLF tyranny. The young people of Ethiopia are far more radicalized than anything the T-TPLF leaders can think of in their wildest imagination. The lethality of the military might of the T-TPLF is greater than ever, but in the face of Ethiopia’s Youth Power it is like a feather in a tornadic storm.
The leaderless popular resistance is not offering much to the T-TPLF either. Proposing to the T-TPLF that 25 years of daylight robbery, 25 years of massacres and genocide and 25 years of one-party dictatorship must end is not going to enrapture the T-TPLF. One question over which there is no question is that the T-TPLF wants to continue with business as usual (daylight robbery, corruption, human rights violation, abuse of power, etc. for the next 25 plus years).
T-TPLF’s Million dollar question: How can the T-TPLF completely destroy the leaderless youth nonviolent movement? Answer: War of attrition!
The most important lesson the T-TPLF has learned over the past several months is that it cannot massacre itself back into business as usual.
The T-TPLF tried shock and awe and it did not work. At least it did not get them back to business as usual. It rattled them a bit but in the main they remain convinced that they can remain in power through brutality, savagery and barbarism. They know they cannot win by simply massacring tens of thousands of people. The legal, political and diplomatic costs are too high. Beside the more people they kill, the more people who will rise and take up the fight. People will fight to the end when they have nothing to lose. It is a paradox. People who have lost their land, their self-dignity, their identity, their pride and their humanity will fight to the end because they have nothing left for them to fight for. The T-TPLF believes, when push comes to shove, they can ultimately fight their way out by killing as many people as they can.
The fact of the matter is that the T-TPLF relentlessly pursued both preemptive and retaliatory action against the leaderless youth movement; but that has only made things worse. It forced the people to show their true grit.
Therefore, the only and last option the T-TPLF has to defeat and subdue the leaderless youth movement engaged in nonviolent struggle and go back to business as usual is to wage a war of attrition.
I don’t mean the old style war of attrition of WW I where waves after waves of soldiers are ordered to cross the line and attack the enemy to wear him down.
The T-TPLF does not have the soldier-power to kill one hundred million Ethiopians or to engage in military action for a decisive military victory. They do not have enough jails or jail keepers to put millions of people behind bars. Even if they could secure decisive military victories, it would only be temporary because the resistance will continue by other means. The T-TPLF must have psychological victory over the people.
The T-TPLF war of attrition is short-term and long-term. In the long-term, the T-TPLF wants to 1) degrade and wear down the popular resistance by systematically eliminating resistance activists, opposition community leaders and the like; and 2) wear down the appeal of the ideas that are driving the resistance by adopting or embracing them as their own.
In the short-term, the T-TPLF is (will be) waging a psychological war of attrition through the systematic and tactical use of force. By selective and targeted killings of youth activists and suspected activists, jailing mobilized youth on an industrial scale and subjecting them to economic pressure, the T-TPLF aims to accomplish several objectives against the leaderless youth movement: 1) destroy their will to fight by non-violent means; 2) sap the collective energy of the movement by a campaign of intimidation, 3) destroy the morale of those engaged in resistance activities to the point where they simply give up; 4) destroy whatever informal structure of resistance exists and 5) inflict sufficient physical damage so that the movement suffers great losses and cost is too high for them to continue the struggle.
In order for the T-TPLF to reestablish its absolute supremacy and go back to business as usual, it must convince all of the people of Ethiopia that they have been defeated collectively. They cannot convince the people of their supremacy by massacring and jailing them. All that will do is harden the resolve of the people and be determined to remove the T-TPLF from power at all costs. The T-TPLF will try t do it by a prolonged campaign of attrition.
As the T-TPLF implements its war of attrition, they will use a carrot-and-stick strategy. In other words, the T-TPLF will speak softly and carry a big stick. So far, the T-TPLF has undertaken the following activities in its war of attrition against the leaderless youth nonviolent movement:
Create bogus national dialogue bodies from among its supporters and cronies;
Trot out old opposition leaders (including some that have been thoroughly discredited) and pretend to give them a meaningful and real role in resolving the current “crises” (state of emergency);
Sound out the opposition to find out who they can payoff and bribe to get back to business as usual;
Use disinformation to create the impression of imminent democratic transition;
Make make-believe concessions that look and sound good but not amount to a hill of beans;
Temporarily relax repressive laws until such time that they feel confident enough to unleash the dogs of hell;
Make empty gestures of reform and democratization while knowing full well they will not give away a milligram of power to anyone under any and all circumstances;
Pretend to take the advice of their Western behind-the-scenes advisors to moderate their actions and to look more reasonable so that their Western supporters will continue to pump in hundreds of millions of dollars to prop them up;
Manufacture bogus emergencies to justify commission of new crimes against humanity;
Refine their divide and rule strategy and find ways to divide Oromos and Amharas;
Pretend to be ready for fundamental change by promising all sorts of reform. After Merkel berated PPM Hailemariam, he said, “We want to reform the electoral system so the voices of those who are not represented can also be heard in the parliament.”
In the end, the T-TPLF will be defeated
What the T-TPLF is doing today was done with equal brutality by the apartheid white minority government in South Africa.
What the T-TPLF is doing in Ethiopia is nothing new.
Apartheid South Africa tried it and failed. As I demonstrated in my commentary last week, the apartheid white minority regime tried state of emergency declarations, passed all kinds of laws to arbitrarily arrest and imprison and thousands of black South Africans. They tried to suppress the mass nonviolent campaigns by jailing, torturing and killing black South Africans engaged in defiance and civil disobedience to apartheid rule. They implemented laws outlawing organizations and criminalizing any act of individual or mass civil disobedience.
In the end, the apartheid regime failed to stop the popular nonviolent resistance movement. Defiance spread throughout South Africa.
The repressive measures of the apartheid regime created a South African Black Consciousness Movement which gave black South Africans a new consciousness of their own distinctive identity and self-worth, and made them more determined to speak out and defend their human rights. They put everything behind until they gained liberation. The young black South Africans declared, “Liberation before education” and became radicalized.
In my view, the greatest achievement of the South African Black Consciousness Movement was its role in transforming the thinking and perceptions of South Africans away from ethnic and racial identity to one national identity for all South Africans.
My analysis of the situation is that the T-TPLF is hastening its own destruction by creating all the conditions necessary for a national consciousness movement based on the total rejection, contempt, disgust and hatred for what the T-TPLF has done to cling to power and stands for. Just as the people of South Africa committed themselves totally to the struggle against apartheid after all the repressive measures were taken by the white minority regime, Ethiopians will also totally commit themselves to rid their country of the scourge of the T-TPLF.
DOWN, DOWN WOYANE!
What do WE do NOW? (Part 2, continues next week)
Addis Ababa (AFP) – Ethiopia has banned access to foreign-based opposition media and restricted foreign diplomats’ travel, in new provisions of a state of emergency.
The government declared the six-month state of emergency eight days ago, stepping up its response to an unprecedented wave of protests against its authoritarian rule which has left hundreds dead.
New restrictions published in local media on Sunday also include a 50-kilometre (30-mile) “red zone” adjacent to the country’s borders in which it is illegal to carry firearms. The areas around several key roads have also been declared red zones.
Foreign diplomats are forbidden from travelling more than 40 kilometres outside the capital, Addis Ababa, “for their own security”.
“This is a state of emergency and we expect repressive measures,” a western diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity on Monday.
“But we also expect an opening of the political space for the opposition as stated by the president in front of the parliament. This is not what seems to be happening,” the diplomat added.
The measures include a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew around factories, farms and government institutions, which have come under attack from protesters in recent weeks.
Political parties are “banned from giving press statements that incite violence” and religious leaders are forbidden from making political statements.
Security forces are banned from going on holiday or resigning their jobs.
The measures also make it illegal to watch television stations set up by the diaspora such as Ethiopian Satellite television (ESAT) and the US-based Oromia Media Network (OMN).
Posting links from these organisations’ websites onto social media has also been declared a “criminal activity”.
Cellphone internet access has been cut for almost three weeks in most parts of the country, including the capital.
“There is a pressing concern that the Ethiopian authorities will need even less of a pretext to prevent foreign journalists from doing their work during the state of emergency,” said Will Davison, head of the Foreign Press Association, an informal gathering of foreign correspondents in Ethiopia.
On Friday an AFP photographer was stopped in the central town of Sebeta — in the restive Oromia region — and taken to the police station before being released.
The country’s Oromo and Amhara communities — which together make up 60 percent of the population — have been protesting for nearly a year against marginalisation by a government largely made up of minority Tigrayans, which controls power and the economy.
The latest surge in violence came after police fired tear gas at protesters attending an Oromo religious festival on October 2, sparking panic in a massive crowd and triggering a stampede that left over 50 dead.
International rights groups estimate the government crackdown has left more than 500 dead.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn promised last week to reform the electoral system and “open up political space”.
September 30, 2016
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate United States Senate
433 Russell Senate Bldg Washington, DC 20510
RE: The Application of Leahy Law in Ethiopia
Dear Senator Leahy:
On behalf of the Ethiopian Advocacy Network (EAN) we would like to express our utmost gratitude for your continued support for democratic governance, respect for rule of law and the promotion of human rights in Ethiopia.
Your steadfast support of issues of critical importance to Ethiopian-Americans the inclusion of language critical to the pursuit of human rights in Ethiopia into the Appropriations Bill for 2014, 2015 and your support for SR432 are, but, the latest in a long tradition of your legislative efforts to advocate for justice in Ethiopia. It also speaks to your deep understanding of the complexity of the problems plaguing the Horn of Africa.
We are writing this letter requesting your assistance in writing a letter to Secretary Kerry regarding the application of Leahy Law in Ethiopia in light of the egregious human rights violations being committed by the security forces.
As you know, in the last nine months peaceful protests have erupted in many regions of Ethiopia – specifically in the Oromo and Amhara regions that account for 75% of the Ethiopian population. There have been a disturbing number of reports by Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch about the egregious human rights violations committed by security forces that have very well documented history of using excessive lethal force with impunity to stifle all forms of dissent.
According to a statement issued by Human Rights Watch on August 13, 2016, more than 500 demonstrators are now estimated to have been killed by security forces in largely peaceful protests since November 2015. 1 In fact, in one weekend as many as 100 unarmed protesters were killed by security forces2.
On August 10, 2016 Zeid Raad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stating that “the use of live ammunition against protesters in Oromia and Amhara of course would be a very serious concern for us,”3 has called for an international investigation into the killings which the regime has promptly rejected. Such is the lawless nature of a regime that has a seat in the Security Council.
In 2006 Vicki Huddleston, the Charge d’ Affairs at the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa, announced the cancellation of future sales of Humvee military vehicles to Ethiopia because they were being misused to “disperse demonstrations.” 4 The Humvees were actually used to open fire on crowds of protesters.
Ten years later and after the signing of a new broad ranging security agreement that include equipment, training, advisory support, information sharing, and logistics support on March 31, 2016 5 it has come to our attention that guns and bullets supplied by the U.S. are being used to kill peaceful protesters.
We understand the strong high level relationship between the Pentagon and Ethiopian Defense Forces. But, it’s imperative for the U.S. to stop supplying tools of repression to the Ethiopian regime. In fact, we strongly believe that the mass killings of young peaceful protesters by the brutal security forces in Ethiopia should trigger the Leahy Law.
Over the years, the US has invoked the law to bar assistance to major allies like Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Colombia and it has been instrumental in preventing human rights violators from receiving American taxpayer-financed assistance.
Our efforts to highlight the egregious human rights violations in Ethiopia will benefit tremendously from your continued advocacy as a passionate voice for respect for human rights.
We hope that you will help us bring this issue to the forefront. It is through the consistent work of powerful and respected lawmakers such as yourself that we will be able to realize our dream of an Ethiopia with a robust democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Sincerely,
Araya Amsalu, Ph.D.
Ethiopian Advocacy Network is a grassroots organization that was formed in January 2015 by Ethiopian-Americans, Ethiopian activists and community organizers to promote democracy, human rights, and justice in Ethiopia through advocacy, civic education and grass roots mobilization. EAN has a global presence with members in the USA, Africa, Canada and Europe.
ESAT Prof. Berhanu Nega message October 17, 2016
ESAT Radio 30min 17 Oct 2016
October 17, 2016)
Ethiopia’s government has declared a six-month state of emergency in the face of an unprecedented wave of violent protests.
Activists in the country’s Oromia region has been holding demonstrations since last November, and protesters from the Amhara region have also joined in.
The deaths of at least 55 people at an Oromo religious festival on 2 October triggered fresh unrest, including the targeting of some foreign-owned businesses.
Rights groups say that at least 500 people have died during the protests overall and last week Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that could be an accurate estimate.
The emergency was announced earlier this month but the government has now made clear what this means in practical terms.
Here are some of the things that are restricted:
You cannot use social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to contact what are called “outside forces”. In fact, any attempt to communicate with “terrorist organisations and anti-peace groups designated as terrorist” is banned.
Protesters have been posting messages and mobile phone footage to social media and websites run by Ethiopian dissidents living abroad.
The government has accused Eritrea and Egypt of fomenting the protests.
You cannot watch the TV channels Esat and OMN, which are both based outside the country. The government has described them as “belonging to terrorist organisations”.
These broadcasters have become some of the major sources for people wanting to know more about the protests.
You cannot organise a demonstration at your school or university, neither can you be involved in a political campaign that is “likely to cause disturbances, violence, hatred and distrust among the people”.
University campuses were among the first places to be hit by the wave of anti-government protests.
You cannot make a political gesture, such as crossing your arms above your head, or communicate a political message to the public “without permission”.
The crossing-arms gesture has been seen widely at the protests in Oromia, and even made it to the Olympics when marathon runner Feyisa Lilesa used it as he crossed the line in second place in Rio in August.
You cannot visit a factory, farm or governmental institution between 6pm and 6am the next day. If you violate the curfew than “law enforcement bodies have been authorised to take the necessary action”.
Government buildings and private businesses, some of them foreign owned, have been deliberately targeted by some of the protesters.
If you are a diplomat you are not allowed to travel more than 40km (25 miles) from the capital, Addis Ababa, without permission. The government says that this is for your own safety.
In general, the diplomatic reaction to the protests and the state of emergency has been muted. The US has said that it is “troubled” by any restrictions on the freedom of expression in the state of emergency, but, like other western powers has called for peaceful dialogue to solve the country’s problems.
Ethiopia is a close ally of the US against Islamist militancy in neighbouring Somalia.
If you have a gun, you cannot take it within 25km of the country’s main roads out of Addis Ababa, and within 50km of the country’s borders, even if you have a permit to carry it.
Published October 17, 2016 Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging the Ethiopian government to ensure “the protection of fundamental human rights” following its imposition of stringent rules under its state of emergency.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday that Ban has been following developments in Ethiopia “with concern” following the imposition of the state of emergency effective Oct. 8. The new rules announced late Saturday include a ban on any contact with groups that are labeled as “terrorist.”
Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo, began protesting almost a year ago. According to human rights groups and opposition activists, hundreds of people have been killed in the past year in protests demanding wider freedoms.
Dujarric said Ban “reiterates his call for calm and restraint and calls for inclusive dialogue to resolve all grievances.”
ESAT Radio Tue 18 Oct 2016
***Advisory – St. Paul Event Wednesday***
Sen. Franken to Meet with Coalition of Community Leaders to Discuss Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia
Wednesday Meeting with Humanitarian and Advocacy Organizations Will Focus on Political Crisis, Recent Government Killings in Ethiopia
MINNESOTA [10/18/16]—On Wednesday, October 19, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) will meet with coalition of community leaders at his office in St. Paul to discuss the increasingly dire situation in Ethiopia—where the government is violently cracking down on, and in some cases killing, political protestors.
Earlier this year, Sen. Franken helped author a bipartisan resolution condemning the serious human rights violations of the Ethiopian government—including unprovoked arrests, torture, and oppression. He called on the Ethiopian government to halt its violent crackdowns, and called upon the Secretary of State to review security assistance to Ethiopia in light of allegations that Ethiopian security forces have killed civilians. During his trip to Ethiopia last year, Sen. Franken also met with civil society groups to discuss the ongoing human rights crisis.
At 10:30 a.m., Sen. Franken will meet with Minnesota Ethiopian community leaders to discuss the human rights crisis in Ethiopia. The discussion will be based on Ethiopian government killing protesters and others inside that country. The meeting is open to press.
WHO: U.S. Sen. Al Franken
WHAT: Meets with coalition of community leaders to discuss the human rights crisis in Ethiopia
WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, at 10:30 p.m.; Open Press
WHERE: Sen. Franken’s St. Paul Office, 60 East Plato Blvd, Suite 220
Almost in all clans, ethnicities and nationalities in Ethiopia, elders are well respected and their wisdoms are listened. That is what our culture and history tells us. Their advice and judgement in social, economic, even in political and some criminal disputes were the final words. The society abode it. Elders are accumulated encyclopaedias of social norms, customs and life wisdoms. For centuries and millennia, they were the equivalent (or better of) the modern day justice system.
Their wisdoms are product of life time experience, formal or informal education, social interaction and personal reflections. Those blessed ones who give their ears to these elders learn life’s wisdom in short cut. A society which listens and learn from the good part of their wisdom is privileged one. A group which doesn’t pay respect to elders and doesn’t listen their wisdom is potentially dangerous.
Unfortunately our modern day rulers of Ethiopia for the last 40 or more years fall to the category of dangerous groups. They have lived in their selfish, egoist, self inflated pseudo confidence, grandiose and paranoid delusions of power suppressing the people of Ethiopia. They have disrespected and ignored our elders and their seasoned wisdom.
Educated elders are the special gifts for society; on top of their life based wisdom, they have also acquired a lot of knowledge and experience through education about the world which they can pass for the new generation. Their contribution, messages and wisdoms are immense.
I read and listened recently two great educated Ethiopian elders who want nothing but the better of their country and the Ethiopian people they come from. They don’t have any self interest on power, wealth, or personal vendetta. They feel responsible of passing their elderly wisdom, their life time formal and informal educated, well seasoned message to us.
I read Professor Mesfin Woldemarim’s recent articles on peaceful political transitions in Ethiopia and Professor Adugna Worku’s message to us ( those of us who are on power, in the oppositions and among the people) on his 71st birth day.
We all will benefit from such messages and wisdoms. The rulers, the oppositions and the people would benefit immensely. This is short way for the better of what we most of us wish to reach too. Please listen and read to their golden statements, proverbs and messages.
Lets be free from our personal ego, political and ethnic inclination and be human (who were born in country called Ethiopia on God’s wish otherwise we would have been born somewhere). Lets give ourselves few hours with clean mind set and listen and read what these educated elders message and wisdoms they pass to us. It will show us the light with in the darkness. It will lead us to the end of the dark tunnel where light is shining. It cleans us from the hate, fear and animosity we are swamped in.
May I call all daughters and sons of Ethiopia to pay few hours to listen and read to these educated elders messages and wisdom; then ask ourselves what is better for all of us?
The solution for the complex problems we are in, is with in us.
May God help us.
By Briana Duggan, CNN
(CNN)Ethiopia has imposed severe regulations under a new six-month “state of emergency” as it faces unprecedented levels of unrest across the country, a first in the government’s 25-year rule.
The government says the state of emergency was put in place to prevent further loss of life and property, but many activists worry the new rules serve as a way to limit criticism and allow the government to use a heavy-handed approach to opposition.
ESAT News
Ethiopian Priest ,Mulugeta Tekle Yared, has joined armed struggle,Ginbot 7, led by Professor Birhanu Nega. In the interview disclosed to Tensae Radio and ESAT, he has decided to join the struggle to fight the current regime because the regime has brought back the country to stone age. He has also disclosed how the current regime interfere in the work of Ethiopian Orthodox Church. His brother is in prison due his political activity in the country.
Liesl Louw-Vaudran
Was the German Chancellor’s African trip more about easing the migration pressure than anything else?
Her three-day trip to Mali, Niger and Ethiopia was officially to discuss Germany’s assistance with security and development in Africa. A lot of the focus, however, was on migration. The German Development Minister Gerd Mueller told Reuters ahead of her trip that ‘the migration pressure will increase dramatically in the coming years if we do not manage to generate economic prospects in African countries’. Development is one thing, but the immediate problem for Germany is to stem the flow of migrants to Europe so that Merkel can make good on her promise to Germans that the influx of migrants will be curbed in the coming months.
Mali and Niger are key transit countries for smugglers and human traffickers. Ethiopia is also a route favoured by many in the Horn of Africa to reach the Mediterranean via Sudan, Egypt and Libya.
Merkel has lost a lot of support in Germany due to her policy towards refugees and forced migrants in the last two years. In 2015 Germany received 890 000 refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, but also from Africa.
She promised more aid to the country that is still in serious trouble due to the persistent presence of armed Islamic militants and separatists. Merkel calledthe situation in the north of Mali ‘very bad’ – a statement that didn’t go unnoticed in the French media. Germany is a small player in the rooting out of armed groups in Mali. France, with its operation Barkhane, has several thousand troops in the country that are tracking the jihadists, supported by MINUSMA. Nevertheless, few would deny the situation is indeed going from bad to worse in some parts of the north, like the town of Kidal.
In Niger, Merkel also spoke about beefing up Germany’s military presence, notably through an expanded base to support its airborne troops in Mali. She also promised substantial aid to develop the Agadez Region – a major thoroughfare for migrants seeking to get to Europe via Libya. Many of the migrants here are prey to unscrupulous smugglers and some succumb to horrific deaths travelling across the Sahara.
Germany’s help, however, will not be simply about dishing out cash. According to the German external service Deutsche Welle, Merkel wasn’t keen on the suggestion by Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou that Niger would need massive amounts of additional aid to fight illegal migration. She believed ‘it was more important to first ensure that the funds were funnelled efficiently,’ before Germany would reconsider increasing its financial assistance – a warning against the irregular use of aid that many foreign donors are concerned about, but rarely spell out in clear terms.
Merkel had been under pressure from human rights groups and Ethiopians in Germany, who staged a sit-in in Berlin complaining about the visit.
Merkel started by offering her government’s help with the policing of protests. Last month at least 55 Ethiopians died when police clashed with protesters in Bishoftu. ‘I will speak with our interior minister about how we can help with further training for the police in Ethiopia so that so many people don’t have to die when such demonstrations occur’, she told Desalegn during a joint press conference.
Merkel also called for more democracy in Ethiopia – a country where the ruling party coalition occupies all the seats in parliament. ‘I plea for those with different political opinions to be included as stakeholders in society. Different arguments are part of a democratic process,’ she said.
Ethiopia’s massive population of around 100 million have largely benefited from strong growth rates and infrastructure development, many of it thanks to Chinese and other foreign investments. However, rights groups say the outflow of illegal migrants from Ethiopia is largely driven by the lack of political freedoms. This is also what drives Eritreans out of their country, often transiting via Ethiopia. Eritreans are the largest group of African refugees hosted in Europe.
Merkel’s statements about democracy in Ethiopia might not have been on the agenda at all, had it not been for the declaration of the state of emergency and the escalation of violence in Ethiopia that could no longer be ignored.
This donation is also part of a much wider German involvement in peace and security in Africa. This is often in the form of support to AU structures and regional economic communities that are largely under the radar. Germany’ssupport to the AU over the last 10 years amounts to over 500 million euros.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, the issue of migration was raised once again. The AU has been largely silent on migration and its leaders don’t share the same view as the Europeans about stopping Africans from travelling to Europe. After all, wasn’t Africa, in another time, the recipient of many European colonialists?
AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma reminded Merkel that migration is a natural phenomenon. She has argued that Africa resents the strategy of creating stricter regulations to keep Africans out of Europe. What Africa wants is to empower the youth and educate them so that when they leave Africa it will be ‘by choice and not out of desperation,’ she said at the ceremony. Dlamini Zuma is another woman leader who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Liesl Louw-Vaudran, ISS Consultant
by Teshome Debalke
Blaming the civilized people of Ethiopia for crimes of the uncivilized ethnic Apartheid regime in the cover of development, stability and security for its cronies and foreign partners is crime by its own. If anything, it is another attempt to compromise Ethiopians by the same old as well as new and home-grown enemies.
by Teshome Debalke
It is unambiguously clear by now, the make-believe government of Ethiopia and its credulous foreign partners couldn’t comprehend what the civilized people of Ethiopia have been telling them for the last 25 years. That is, giving diplomatic and political legitimacy by embracing and empowering the long despised and discarded Apartheid rule and the racketeering economy it runs is not only a crime against humanity and corruption but, modern day proxy occupation.
Therefore, the latest State of Emergency (more a State of Panic) to preserve Apartheid rule and sustain an illegitimate and corrupt proxy regime was for the interest of others than the people of Ethiopia as we witnessed all these years. Unfortunately Western governments and Medias as their Easter counterpart kept going around the bushes affirming; legitimacy of a government don’t matter for Ethiopians. Thus, instead of addressing the crises head-on to help end an illegitimate and corrupt minority ethnic Apartheid rule they wrongly escorted all these years in a cover of development, security and stability and kept blaming its victims.
It is sad and shameful how things never changed since the uncivilized Fascist occupying regime came to Ethiopia in the name of ‘civilizing mission’. It appears to be back again in partnership with the rogue minority ethnic Apartheid regime led by Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and in the name of the development.
Incidentally, the last time Ethiopians were subjected to ethnic Apartheid rule and racketeering economy was under Fascist Mussolini occupation 1936. And, State of Emergency was declared and implemented in the same way under the ruthless Fascist Marshal Rodolfo Graziani better known as the Bucher of Ethiopia when Ethiopians challenged the uncivilized Fascist regime to vacate the country. The similarity of Western governments and Medias’ complicities are astoundingly similar then as it is now.
The Pope endorsement of Fascist occupation and atrocities summarized by Anthony Rhodes in ‘The Vatican in the Age of the Dictators’ when he issued ambiguous statements about the occupation set the standard of Western morality then. But, noting recount the sentiment of the prevailing lack of moral leadership than what Bishop of Cremona of Italy in the 24th October 1935 said about civilized people of Ethiopians that accepted Christianity and Islam thousand years earlier by uncivilized Fascist Italian regime. He said;
“The blessing of God be upon these soldiers who, on African soil, will conquer new and fertile lands for the Italian genius, thereby bringing to them Roman and Christian culture. May Italy stand once again as the Christian mentor to the whole world”
Western leaders and journalists were not far behind echoing their moral leaders. According to Socialist Worker Newspaper, the foreign editor Daily Mail Ward Price argued that if Britain opposed war on “one of the last and most backward of independent nation states, we should be hindering the progress of civilization”.
It went on;
The head of Daily Mail Lord Hardinge said that the Abyssinians were “a savage and barbarous enemy”. Lord Stanhope, under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, told a foreign office official that the British could not sell arms to the poorly equipped Abyssinians as that “would be going back on the white man everywhere”.
Given Western leaders’ double standard and low expectation of Africans is still intact by their actions-and-inactions and, granted; in the 21st century; ethnic Apartheid rule can only be possible through uncivilized groups like TPLF; the latest reaction to the State of Emergency of regime in Addis Ababa is nothing more than a repeat of the past in an attempt to sustain a lawless regime in name of ‘development, security and stability’ or as it was called then in the name of ‘civilizing mission’.
Why Western democracies abandoned the civilized people of Ethiopia for uncivilized Fascist Italy regime then and TPLF regime now is not a mystery? But, the irony of endorsing criminality then and now is not only insult to the peoples’ rights and the nation’s integrity again but, it is contempt for the rule of law and democracy itself contrary to what we are told. But again, as far as the international community is concerned anything goes when it comes to Africa as we witness when Western governments made a mockery of democracy, rule of law and development under a lawless and corrupt minority ethnic Apartheid regime as Western Medias made a mockery of journalism and the Free Press clapping their hands in agreement.
Unfortunately, more than we will like to admit; homegrown dysfunctional contemporary elites foreigners escort have plenty to do with the atrocities and corruption of the regime to compromise the rights and sovereignty of the people of Ethiopia. Therefore, anyway we shake-it-or-bake it, the ultimate responsibility remained with the elites that sold their people and nation for pocket change and, their bank account proves it.
But, what is even more disheartening about the whole affair is not the State of Emergency (Panic) of a rogue regime on our people that endured its criminality for far too long but, foreign enablers’ agony to make the uncivilized regime look civilized enough to hang around on the expenses of the people. Is the history of Westerners blaming the victims of rogue regimes repeating again as they did under Fascist Italy occupation where Ethiopians were guilt of liberating their people and country from the uncivilized occupation of Fascist regime? It surly looks like it.
Notwithstanding Western government led by US and UK and Eastern governments led by China are appeasing the uncivilized ethnic Apartheid regime of Ethiopia; the Media coverage in prior atrocities and corruption of the regime and the recent State of Emergency declaration speaks volume to the similarity of what happened under the Fascist occupation and the ever continued double standard that persisted. It is another indication what the international community in general have in mind to undermine Ethiopians in the future to come.
But one thing stand out than any. Alike Medias operated by authoritarian states like China, in the Middle East and the rest that reflects the one-party states’ policies, Western Medias that are supposedly independent of their respective governments failed miserably again-and-again from doing their basic job of exposing the reality; the rogue ethnic minority Apartheid regime of Ethiopia remained in power by ethnic segregation, atrocities and racketeering with diplomatic, financial and military support of Western as well as Eastern governments and institutions to the detrimental of the people of Ethiopia and the region.
For ‘western’ journalists, it shouldn’t have been a rocket science to understand their role if they had some respect for their ‘profession’ and the Free Press’ not to mention for the rights and liberties of the people in distance places. The big question is; what went wrong with the supposedly beacons of democracy and the Free Press at home to fold in reducing the Free Press in to supermarket tabloid putting out fairytale than the reality of a rogue regime?
Take for instant the State of Emergence coverage by William Davison, the Ethiopia Correspondent at Bloomberg News and a well-recognized reporter in the region that operate out of Kenya. His off the shelf article on the State of Emergency was reduced to; “Ethiopia losing Foreign-Investment Appeal as attack spread” He highlighted; foreign owned companies are ‘under attack in growing political unrest’ than the unrelenting attack of the regime on the population since it came to power. He went on to describe the government’s response to declare State of Emergency; ‘to deal with the violence accompanying protests by ethnic Oromo and Amhara communities that began 11 month ago over dispossession of their land, political marginalization and state repression’.
Unfortunately, the bizarre report that attempted to explain the cause-and-effect of the problem reached out only to three Ethiopian national. Two ruling party official, Getachew Reda, the Communication Minster and, Fisume Araga Investment Agency’s Director and Jawar Mohammed, referred as “an influential Oromo activist” from the USA.
William not only completely missed the reality but, went on to blame the victims of the rogue regime long known to him for its atrocities, racketeering and rights and Free Press violation he personally was a victim but, he violated every conceivable journalistic inquiry. In his defense, he is not alone. Correspondents from BBC, CNBC, AP, Reuters, Economist and the rest are not different.
The BBC report “Ethiopia declares state of emergency amid protests” goes even further by featuring a picture of ‘A torched bus in the Sebeta region of Ethiopia’ and by breaking down the ethnic composition of Ethiopians quoted its expert editor to make its point. It said;
“BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper says the violent protests are the most serious threat to Ethiopian stability in a quarter of a century. The protesters have been attacking foreign companies, she says, threatening Ethiopia’s reputation as a growing economy, ripe for international investment.”
Mary Harper that claims to be ‘a journalist and writer specializing on Africaespecially Somalia since the early 1990s pride to “write for academic journals and publications including The Economist, Granta, The Guardian, The Times and The Washington Post. I have worked for, amongst others, the Economist Intelligence Unit and the United Nations.” But yet, she couldn’t figure out Ethiopian’s foreign reputation was built on empty propaganda she ‘the expert journalist’ as her colleagues ignored to investigate for 25 long years. Instead, she choose the easy way out of blaming the victim of the rogue regime as “violent protestors are the most serious threat to Ethiopian stability in a quarter of a century” seating in the comfort of her office far away.
Though most Western Media correspondents like William Davison and Mary Harper never took their role seriously and set foot where the actual news stories are taking place nor did basic research on the regime beyond what they are told by the regime and interest groups as their articles and statements reviles, nor no one makes them accountable for violating the basic journalism formula of covering the complete story.
They don’t even reach out to the actual responsible parties and institutions and the victims that are the subject of their story. Instead, they print anything that comes out of the center of power that benefit from the status qua and counter it by few known international organizations if any. Essentially, beside their appearance of being independent Media investigating the opacity of the regime; they are no better than authoritarian states’ hired ‘journalists’.
What the supposedly independent Western Medias are missing about the illegitimate regime of Ethiopia is not hard to find nor secret. First and most importantly; the ruling party is an ethnic minority Apartheid regime that won by 100% in the last round of ‘election’ with all the illegitimacy that comes with it. Second, the ruling party controls all the important means and the ways of the economy, including all the public lands, banks and institutions making it the sole dominate economic force in the nation. Third, it controls all the means and ways of communication, including broadcasting and the internet. Fourth, it controls all the military, police and intelligence establishment–making it a deadly force. Such obviously crude regime that naturally bring about atrocities and crony capitalism in favor of its own cronies and foreign partners thus, instability and insecurity doesn’t require journalism training to figure out. But yet, we are told; the victims of the crude regime are violent and the ‘most serious threat to Ethiopian stability’?
At the meantime, authoritarian regimes’ operated propaganda Medias that reflect their respective governments’ love-and-hate of their counterparts aren’t shy to express their wishes of preserving their illegitimate partner.
Take Al Jazeera report titled Ethiopia declares state of emergency over protests that photo copied what the illegitimate regime said and reduced the crises between three ethnic groups of Tigray ethnic group representing the regime and what unidentified groups representing Oromo and Amhara ethnic group said as follow;
“The anti-government demonstrations started in November among the Oromo, Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group, and later spread to the Amhara, the second most populous group.
Though they initially began over land rights, they later broadened into calls for more political, economic and cultural rights.
Both groups say that a multi-ethnic ruling coalition and the security forces are dominated by the Tigray ethnic group, which makes up only about 6 percent of the population.
The government, though, blames rebel groups and foreign-based dissidents for stoking the violence.”
Closer look reviles, Al Jazeera reflect the authoritarian oil-rich Arab regimes’ political and sectarian divide foreign policy in the region that kept the status qua in power. Therefore, drumming up ethnic and sectarian divide in the Middle East and beyond has always been its brand to sustain the status qua in the shadow of Western nation as it is reflected on its coverage since its inception.
Therefore, the botched coverage regarding the Ethiopian regime’s declaration of State of Emergence is as expected dose not revile anything resembling the reality beside what the regime and unidentified individuals that it claims to represent ‘Oromo and Amhara ethnic group’ wanted the world to believe.
Had Al Jazeera exercise due diligence of excursing basic journalism; it would find out the rogue regime is in bed with the lawless oil-rich Arab monarchs right where it is headquartered. They probably have more political and economic power on the regime financing its atrocities and corruption.
Likewise, CCTV Africa (the official Media of the ruling Chinese communist party) simply provided the Ethiopian ruling party’s State of Emergency announcement Video with a caption;
“The announcement was made at the weekend. It will last for at least six months. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn made the announcement. It comes amid ongoing protests in the country by two of Ethiopia’s largest tribes. They’ve been torching factories and damaging property since a deadly incident killed scores of people at a national celebration just over a week ago.”
Obviously, China is the elephant in the room where anything goes as long as it gets its way of pillaging Africa in partnership with a willing regime in distress and in the shadow of Western governments’ incoherent policy. The same Chinese regime that raise hell when tribalism and sectarianism is raised in its territory is willing to partner with the self-proclaimed minority ‘tribe’ led Apartheid regime when it comes to Ethiopia and cry foul when its illegitimate investment with a rogue regime being threatened. Had Chinese regime stop pretending to be holier than Western governments in dealing with Africans, the last regime it would deal with is a corrupt minority ethnic ‘tribe’ led Apartheid regime of Ethiopia. It doesn’t have to look anywhere but, the regime’s Ambassador-crime boss Seyome Mesfin in Beijing assigned to involve China in criminality.
Naturally, authoritarian regimes with blood trails and corruption of their own are expected to cover up their illegitimacy and corruption in the propaganda Medias they exclusively control against the will and rights of their respective people. It appears there is unwritten rule among authoritarian regime to coddle up together to fend off criticism labeled against their illegitimate rules by their own people and world alike. But, Western governments’ incoherent policy coupled with the indifference of the ‘Free Press’ is not helping to understand the reality.
For instance, President Barak Obama Administration’s endorsement of the rouge ethnic Apartheid regime of Ethiopia is an example of the double standard applied picking and choosing favorite tyrannical regime on the expenses of the rights and liberties of the people. Likewise, Western Medias’ double standard of journalism left the field wide open from telling the difference between the Free Press and the rest in the ever increasing gray area of legitimacy of news in the public interest. Weather it is driven by individual journalist motives or governments’ political or corporate interests is not clear. But, the credibility of independence of the Free Press is increasingly becoming the thing of the past as the standard bearer abandon the public interest faster as we are witnessing the crises in democratic nations themselves.
As the Free Press continue to compromise the integrity of the public interest, the reality; authoritarian regimes run propaganda outlets filling the gap is real with far more consequences in the future. Therefore, the ‘Free Press’ that failed to do their basic journalistic duty are compromised enough to peddle for authoritarian regimes by blaming the victims of the regime for the crises — re-victimizing the people of Ethiopia again on behalf of foreign investors.
If anything, the failure of the Free Press to investigate the reality of a minority ethnic Apartheid regime and the unconditional support it gets from Western democracies to blame. Legitimate foreign investors would be better off making the governments, the ‘Free Press’ and the so called investment consultants that mislead them to invest in a rogue minority Apartheid regime that was distant to fail before it began.
Otherwise, blaming the civilized people of Ethiopia for crimes of the uncivilized ethnic Apartheid regime of in the cover of development, stability and security for its cronies and foreign partners is crime by its own. If anything, it is another attempt to compromise Ethiopians by the same old as well as new and home-grown enemies.
በቅድሚያ ልሳነ ግፉዓን እንደ ድርጅት በይፋ ከተመሰረተበት ከ 2009 (እኤአ) ጀምሮና ይልቁንም በሙሉ ሃይላችን ወደ ትግል ከገባንበት ከ2013 (እኤአ) ጀምሮ በተከታታይ ለመላው የኢትዮጵያ ህዝብና ለዓለም ማህበረሰብ ስናቀርብ የነበርነውን አቤቱታ፣ የድረሱልን ጩሃትና፣ የአግዙን ጥሪ ተቀብላችሁ ያለምንም ማቅማማት ከወልቃይት ጠገዴና ጠለምት ማህበረሰብ ፍትሃዊ የህልውና ትግል ጎን ለተሰለፋችሁ የትግል አጋሮቻችንና ወዳጆቻችን ሁሉ ከመራራው ትግላችን ጎን በቁርጠኝነት በመሰለፍ ጥያቄያችንን አንግባችሁ ለከፈላችሁትና እየከፈላችሁት ላለው ውድና ክቡር መስዋዕትነት በህዝባችን ስም ላቅ ያለው ምስጋናችን በያላችሁበት ይድረሳችሁ።
እንዲሁም ዘራችንን ለማጥፋትና በትግሪያዊነት ለመተካት አቅዶና ተዘጋጅቶ እርስታችንን በመውረር የዘር ማፅዳት ወንጀል የፈፀመብን ጠላታችን የትግራይ ህዝብ ነፃ አውጭ ቡድንና በዚህ ፋሽስትና ተስፋፊ ድርጅት ዙሪ የተሰባሰባችሁ ግብረ በላዎች ሁሉ በህዝባችን ላይ የቃጣችሁትን ፈርጀ ብዙ ጥቃት ታቆሙና ከእኩይ ተግባራችሁ በአስቸኳይ ትታቀቡ ዘንድ የመጨረሻ ወደ ጤናማ ህሊና መመለሻ ደወልና በታሪክም ይመዘገብ ዘንድ ድርጅታችን ልሳነ ግፉዓን ይህን ጥብቅ ግልፅ መልዕክት ማስተላለፍ ይሻል።
ጀግናው ህዝባችን “የትግራይ ህዝብ ነፃ አውጭ” ቡድን ከ1972 ዓ.ም ጀምሮ ዕርስታችንን በወረራ ከያዘ ጀምሮ እስከ አሁኗ ሰአት ድረስ በህዝባችን ላይ እያደረሰ ያለው የዘር ማጽዳትና አካባቢያችንን በትግሬያዊነት የመተካት ፈርጀ ብዙ ወንጀል በመቃወምና፣ ከአባቶቹ የወረሰውን ለወራሪና ለባንዳ የእግር እሳት የመሆን ማንነቱን ሊተገብር ከሁሉም አስቀድሞ “ከፋኝ” በማለት ጀግኖቹን ከፊት አስቀድሞ ሲፋለም መኖሩ ይታወቃል።
ዛሬም ህዝባችን ከምንግዜውም በላይ እራሱን አደራጅቶና አጠናክሮ ዘሩን ከጥፋትና የአባቶቹን እርስት ከባንዳዎች ወረራ ለመታደግ እያደረገ የሚገኘው ፍትሃዊ ትግል የፋሽስቱን ህወሃትና የጀሌዎቹን ጎራ እያንኮታኮተውና እያሽመደመደው የሚገኝ ሲሆን፣ በአንፃሩ ደግሞ በህዝባችን ቁጣ ጉሮሮው የታነቀው የባንዳው መንደር የሚይዘውንና የሚጨብጠውን በማጣት አንዴ በ“ጥልቅ መታደስ” ሌላ ጊዜ በ“አስቸኳይ ጊዜ አዋጅ” ስም ጭቆናውንና ወረራውን ለማስቀጠል “አራምባና ቆቦ” እየዳከረ ይገኛል።
በሃገራችን ኢትዮጵያና በተለይም ዘሩን ከፈፅሞ ጥፋት ለመታደግ የሞት ሽረት ትግል ላይ በሚገኘው ህዝባችን ላይ ከመስከረም 28, 2009 ዓ.ም ምሽት ጀምሮ ተግባራዊ እንደሚሆን በወራሪው የትግራይ ነፃ አውጭ ቡድን ፊት አውራሪነት የታወጃው የ“አስቸኳይ ጊዜ አዋጅ” የህዝብን ጥያቄ በፍትሃዊ መንገድ ለመመለስና ሃገርንና ህዝብን ለማረጋጋት የታለመ እንዳልሆነ ድርጅታችን ልሳነ ግፉዓን በፅኑ ያምናል።
ይልቁንም ይህ የቁጩ አዋጅ ከዚህ ቀደም የህዝብን ሰላማዊ ጥያቄና ቁጣ በአዋጅና በህጋዊነት ስም ለማፈንና ለመብታቸው የሚታገሉ ንጹሃን ዜጎችንና የህዝብን ሰላማዊ መሪዎች ለማሰር፣ ለማሰደድና፣ ብሎም ለመግደል ተግባር ላይ እንደዋሉት “የሙስና”፣ የ“የፀረ-ሽብር”ና መሰል አፋኝና እርባና ቢስ አዋጆች ሁሉ፣ ዛሬም በመላው ሃገራችን የተቀጣጠለውን የፍትህና የህልውና ጥያቄ በአግባቡ ከመመለስ ይልቅ ህዝብን ለከፋ ቁጣና ወደ ተቀናጀ ህዝባዊ አመፅ የሚያስግቡ ከዘመኑና ከህዝባችን ንቃተ ህሊና ጋር የማይመጣጠኑና እጅግ ኋላቀር እንደሆኑት የቀደሙት “አዋጆች” ቀጣይ የጥፋት መንገድ እንደሆነ እንረዳለን።
ቀደም ባሉት ጊዜያት ህዝባችን ላነሳቸው ፍትሃዊ ጥያቄዎች ያለምንም ማቅማማትና መፈራገጥ ያልተሸራረፍ ምላሽ መስጠት ብቸኛ መፍትሄ መሆኑን አበክረን ማሳሰባችን ይታወቃል። ይልቁንም ዛሬም ትንሽም ብትሆን የቀረችውን ክልላዊም ሆነ ሃገራዊም ሰላምና መረጋጋት ማቆየትና ከሚንቀለቀለው ህዝባዊ ቁጣ መዳን የሚቻለው ያለምንም ቅድመ ሁኔታ ህዝባችን በተደጋጋሚ የነሳቸውን ፍትሃዊና ህጋዊ ጥያቄዎች በአስቸኳይ ምላሽ መስጠትና ተግባር ላይ ማዋል ሲቻል ብቻ ነው ብሎ ድርጅታችን ልሳነ ግፉዓን አጥብቆ ያምናል።
ዛሬ የህወሃትን መቀመጫ ያሞቀውና መሪዎቹንም ሆነ ፍርፋሪ ለቃሚዎቹን እንደ አበደ ውሻ የሚያክለፈልፋቸውና “ኮሽ” ባለ ቁጥር ከቦታ ቦታ “ቅልና ቋንቁራ” ሳይቀር እየሰበሰቡ የሚያንከራትታቸው ገና በህዝባዊው ቁጣ የ“ሙከራ ጊዜ” ወቅት መሆኑ በእጅጉ ግርምትን የሚፈጥር ከምሆኑም በላይ ለዘመናት ታላቁን ህዝባችን በማሸበር ሲያስጨንቁትና ሲበዘብዙበት የኖሩባቸው “ተራሮችን ያንቀጠቀጠ”፣ “እኛ ከሌለን ኢትዮጵያ ተበታተናለች”ና ሌሎችም የማስፈራሪያ ተረቶቻቸው ህዝባችን በቁጣ ሲነሳ እንደጉም በነው ሲጠፉ መታዘብ ችለናል።
ይሃውም ይህን መግለጫ እስካወጣንበት እለት ያለው የህዝባችን ትግልና ተቃውሞ ለዋናውና እየመጣ ላለው፣ እንደ እሳተ ጎሞራ ለሚፋጀው የህዝብ ቁጣ መንገድ ጠራጊ እንጂ ዋናው የህዝባችን የቁጣ ሰይፍ እንዳልሆነ በአፅንኦት መግለጥ እንሻለን። ይህ እውነተኛውና የከፋው የህዝብ ብሶትና ቅጣት ሲገለጥ ከፊት የሚቆምም ሆነ ከቁጣው መቅስፍት የሚተርፍ አንዳችም የህወሃት ሰራዊትም ሆነ ግብረ-በላ ጀሌ እንደማይኖር በእርግጠኝነት መናገርን ወደድን። ምንግዜም ቢሆን ብሶት የወለደው የህዝብ ትግል ያለጥርጥር አሸናፊ ነውና!
ስለዚህ ይህን አላስፈላጊ የህዝብ ቁጣ ለማስተናገድ ከመሞከርና የቀሩትን እጅግ ጠባብና አነስተኛ የመዳኛ መንገዶች ለአንዴና ለመጨረሻ ጊዜ እንዳይከፈቱ ሆነው ከመዘጋታቸው በፊት የሚከተሉትን የመፍትሄ እርምጃዎች በትግራይ ህዝብ ነፃ አውጭ ቡድንና በግበረ-በላዎቹ በኩል ያለምንም ቅድመ ሁኔታ እንዲተገበሩ ድርጅታችን ልሳነ ግፉዓን አጥብቆ ያሳስባል።
1ኛ. ከወልቃይት ጠገዴና ጠለምት፣ ከጎንደር፣ ከጎጃምና፣ ከአዲስ አበባ ታፍነው የተወሰዱና በትግራይ፣ በጎንደር፣ በጎጃም፣ በቤንሻንጉልና፣ በአዲስ አበባ የማጎሪያና የማሰቃያ ቦታዎች ተግዘው የሚገኙ ወገኖቻችን በአስቸኳይ መልቀቅና ይህንም እርምጃ በሃገሪቱ ሚዲያ ወጥቶ ለህዝብ በግልፅ ማሳወቅ፣
2ኛ. ከመላው ኢትዮጵያ በተለያየ ጊዜ ታፍነው ለእስርና ለስቃይ የተዳረጉ የፖለቲካ እስረኞች፣ ጋዜጠኞች፣ የመብት ተሟጋቾችና፣ የሃገር ሽማግሌዎችና የማህበረሰብ ተጠሪዎች እንዲሁ በአስቸኳይ እንዲፈቱና ይህንም እርምጃ በሃገሪቱ ሚዲያ በኩል ለህዝብ በግልፅ ማሳወቅ፣
3ኛ. በመስከረም 28, 2009 ዓ.ም ጀምሮ ተግባር ላይ እንዲውል የታወጀው የ“አስቸኳይ ጊዜ አዋጅ” በአስቸኳይ እንዲነሳ፣ በሃገር አቀፍ ደረጃ ተቋቁሟል የተባለው “ኮማንድ ፖስት” በይፋ እንዲበተንና ለዚህም ማረጋገጫ ይሆን ዘንድ አዋጁን ለህዝብ የገለጠው አካል በሃገሪቱና አዋጁ በተላለፈባቸው የውጭ ሚዲያዎች ቀርቦ አዋጁ መሻሩን ለህዝብ በግልፅ እንዲያሳውቅ፣
4ኛ. በጎንደር፣ በጎጃምና፣ በኦሮሚያ ውስጥ የተቋቋመው “ኮማንድ ፖስት” በይፋ እንዲዘጋና በሰላማዊ ህዝብ መካከል ሰፍሮ የሚገኘው ጦር ሰራዊት በአስቸኳይ ወደ ካምፑ እንዲመለስና አካባቢዎቹን የማስተዳደርና የመጠበቅ ስራ ለመደበኛ ሲቪል አስተዳደር እንዲመለስና ለከተማ ፖሊስ አባላት ብቻ እንዲተው፣
5ኛ. አሁን ስራ ላይ ያለው የህዝብ ተወካዮች ምክርቤት እንዲበተንና ስልጣን ላይ ያለው ቡድን ከህዝብ በሃይል የወሰደውን ስልጣን ከህዝብ ለተወጣጣና ነፃነቱ በገለልተኛ አካላት ለተረጋገጠ ጊዜያዊ ባለ አዳራ መንግስት ስልጣኑን እንዲያስረክብ፣
6ኛ. እነዚህ ከ1ኛ – 5ኛ ተራ ቁጥር የተዘረዘሩ እርምጃዎች እስከ ጥቅምት 16, 2009 ዓ.ም ለህዝብ ይፋ ሆነው ተግባር ላይ የማይውሉ ከሆነ ማንኛውም የህዝብ ወገን የሆነ የብአዴን አባል በይፋ ከህወሃት መራሹ መንግስት በመለየትና ህዝባዊ ትግሉን በመቀላቀል እራሱን እንዲያድንና ወገኑን ከጥቃት ይከላከል ዘንድ አጥብቀን እናሳስባለን።
በመጨረሻም
ከላይ በግልፅ የተቀመጡት እርምጃዎች በወቅቱ ማለትም እስከ ጥቅምት 16, 2009 ዓ.ም ባለመወሰዳቸው ምክንያት ለሚደርሱት ሃገራዊም ሆነ ክልላዊ ጥፋቶች ስልጣን ላይ ያለው ህወሃት መራሹ ቡድን ዛሬም እንደ ቀደሙት ጊዜያት ሁሉ ሙሉ ሃላፊነቱን የሚወስድ መሆኑን በአፅንኦት ማስጠንቀቅ እንሻለን።
ድል የህዝብ ነው!
ልሳነ ግፉዓን ድርጅት
ጥቅምት 9, 2009 ዓ.ም
ESAT DC Morning News Wed 19 Oct 2016
by Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the United Nations has called on the Ethiopian government to end the crackdown on peaceful opponents.
She also called for an end to mass arrests citing particularly the rearresting of Blen Mesfin, a member of the opposition who was first detained in April last year.
Mrs Powers took to her twitter handle to make the call, adding that the government was not going to succeed with the clampdown because it was sel defeating. She joins several western diplomats who have expressed worry about the use of repression by the government under new curfew rules.
According to humanrights.gov, Blen Mesfin was arrested along with Meron Alemayehu, and Nigist Wondifraw. The three were among a number of opposition party members and others arrested and charged with inciting violence in Addis Ababa in April 2015.
#Ethiopia must end crckdwn on peaceful oppo. Mass arrests, incl rearresting Blen Mesfin, show cont’d backslide on rts & are self-defeating.
Ethiopia is currently under a 6 month state of emergency where anti government protests are banned. There have bee restriction on movement and on the use of social media and some conventional media.
Blen, Meron, and Nigist are said to be leading members of Ethiopia’s Blue Party, which advocates peacefully for democratic principles and has faced numerous obstacles in exercising freedom of association and assembly both in the build-up to May 24 parliamentary elections, and thereafter.
All three were arrested in Addis Ababa in the days following the April 22 protests and charged with inciting violence at the rally. Alemayehu and Wondifraw were released from prison in November 2015 while Mesfin is still imprisoned.
by Thomas C Mountain — October 19, 2016
With ethnic uprisings spreading across an Ethiopia now ruled by martial law there is only one nationally based organization in place to lead the eventual regime change in the country and that is the revolutionary Islamic movement.
Presently all the liberation resistance movements in Ethiopia are ethnically based with their senior leadership in exile, mainly in neighboring Eritrea. The only organization with a national presence is the revolutionary Islamic religious community, whose recently freed leaders have sworn to liberate Ethiopia from the western backed Tigrayan ethnic minority regime presently ruling the country.
The revolutionary Islamic community in Ethiopia has a nation wide network of mosques and religious schools, with very respected locally based leaders and can provide the only legal point of assembly in the country.
Just as in the Iranian revolution in the late 1970’s where the only place revolutionaries could gather without being attacked by the police is the mosques, especially for large gatherings for Friday Prayers, the Islamic community in Ethiopia can provide the only place for the opposition to meet especially now that any and all gatherings are banned under Martial Law and the State of Emergency.
The regimes Agazi death squads have shoot to kill orders and the only place of safety for meetings is in the mosques, though how long the regime will tolerate this is not certain.
Having attacked the Islamic community four years ago, gunning down many and locking up the recently released leadership, the Ethiopia regime may be planning on cracking down on Muslims in a new wave of terror.
The maxim is oppression breeds resistance and even the Washington Post’s Editorial Board knows this, having pointed out how martial law and an iron fist will only lead to further protests and the eventual explosion that will drive the regime into exile and leave Ethiopia without any leadership.
The ensuing power vacuum could see the revolutionary Islamic community taking leadership and bringing unity to Ethiopia, for even if the country is divided along ethnic lines all Muslims no matter what tribe worship together in their mosques.
Most Ethiopians are muslims and their religious practices for centuries past forbid them from discriminating by ethnicity when it comes to their worship. The very idea is foreign to the country.
And Ethiopia’s Muslims practice a very tolerant Sunni variant and have lived side by side with their Christian brothers and sisters for over a millennia, sitting together to break bread and even intermarrying. Thank god the wahabi virus has not yet taken root in the country.
Even the CIA via its execrable media front Freedom House a few months ago insinuated that regime change maybe necessary in Ethiopia and with the recent massacres and growing protests matters may come to a head more quickly than expected. It maybe sooner rather than later that revolutionary Islam finds itself leading regime change in Ethiopia.
Thomas C. Mountain is an independent journalist in Eritrea, living and reporting from here since 2006. His speeches, interviews and articles can be found on Facebook at thomascmountain and he can best be reached at thomascmountain at g mail dot com
