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Friday, December 11, 2009
U.S. Urges Ethiopia to Improve Human-Rights Record
Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. called on Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government to re-examine a law that limits foreign funding of human rights and pro-democracy groups, and expressed concern over the closure of the country’s biggest privately owned newspaper.
The law cutting foreign funding, which was passed in January, “will constrain rather than promote the long-term democratization, governance and stability of Ethiopia,” according to a U.S. Embassy statement e-mailed to reporters yesterday in the capital, Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia has been a key ally of the U.S. in recent years. U.S.-backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in December 2006, occupying Mogadishu for two years and assisting the U.S. in pursuit of suspected al-Qaeda members. The U.S. trains Ethiopia’s military and American aid to the country topped $850 million this year.
The U.S. criticism comes as political tensions in Ethiopia rise ahead of national elections scheduled for May, which the country’s opposition has said will not be free and fair.
Earlier this month, Addis Neger, a newspaper critical of government policies, closed after its top editors fled the country accusing the government of using a new anti-terror law to silence the press.
Harassment
“We are concerned about the recent closure of the Addis Neger newspaper, and the allegations of harassment and intimidation of private media,” the U.S. Embassy said.
The embassy said the Ethiopian government’s pursuit of charges against newspapers closed after the country’s disputed 2005 elections “contribute to a perception that space for independent media in Ethiopia is constrained.”
Shimeles Kemal, a spokesman for the Ethiopian government, denied that Addis Neger reporters had been harassed.
“No government organs would interfere to stifle free expression of the media in Ethiopia,” Shimeles said in an interview today in Addis Ababa. “Their allegations are entirely baseless.”
Shimeles also defended the new law on funding for human rights groups, saying there was “nothing repressive or restrictive” about the legislation.
“It boosts the free operations of home-grown and local non- governmental organizations and it delimits the tasks and functions of international NGOs,” he said.
In an interview yesterday, Gizachew Shiferaw, the acting chairman of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice, accused Meles’s government of selecting ruling-party militia members and party cadres as election monitors.
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia is investigating the complaint, Shimeles said.
UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa has been jailed since December 2008 after the government accused her of violating terms of a pardon that released her from jail in 2007.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
Source:bloomberg.com/
The law cutting foreign funding, which was passed in January, “will constrain rather than promote the long-term democratization, governance and stability of Ethiopia,” according to a U.S. Embassy statement e-mailed to reporters yesterday in the capital, Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia has been a key ally of the U.S. in recent years. U.S.-backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in December 2006, occupying Mogadishu for two years and assisting the U.S. in pursuit of suspected al-Qaeda members. The U.S. trains Ethiopia’s military and American aid to the country topped $850 million this year.
The U.S. criticism comes as political tensions in Ethiopia rise ahead of national elections scheduled for May, which the country’s opposition has said will not be free and fair.
Earlier this month, Addis Neger, a newspaper critical of government policies, closed after its top editors fled the country accusing the government of using a new anti-terror law to silence the press.
Harassment
“We are concerned about the recent closure of the Addis Neger newspaper, and the allegations of harassment and intimidation of private media,” the U.S. Embassy said.
The embassy said the Ethiopian government’s pursuit of charges against newspapers closed after the country’s disputed 2005 elections “contribute to a perception that space for independent media in Ethiopia is constrained.”
Shimeles Kemal, a spokesman for the Ethiopian government, denied that Addis Neger reporters had been harassed.
“No government organs would interfere to stifle free expression of the media in Ethiopia,” Shimeles said in an interview today in Addis Ababa. “Their allegations are entirely baseless.”
Shimeles also defended the new law on funding for human rights groups, saying there was “nothing repressive or restrictive” about the legislation.
“It boosts the free operations of home-grown and local non- governmental organizations and it delimits the tasks and functions of international NGOs,” he said.
In an interview yesterday, Gizachew Shiferaw, the acting chairman of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice, accused Meles’s government of selecting ruling-party militia members and party cadres as election monitors.
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia is investigating the complaint, Shimeles said.
UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa has been jailed since December 2008 after the government accused her of violating terms of a pardon that released her from jail in 2007.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jason McLure in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
Source:bloomberg.com/
Ethiopian star to headline Womadelaide
A big Ethiopian star will be among the artists headlining the 2010 world music event in Adelaide.
Womadelaide director Ian Scobie says the music and dance festival in Botanic Park in early March will feature more than 500 performers from 27 countries.
"One highlight ... is Ethiopiques and we are thrilled to bring part of this remarkable Ethiopian musical ensemble to Australia," he said.
"[It will be] featuring one of the biggest stars of Ethiopia's golden age, Mahmoud Ahmed, and a 10-piece band."
Ethiopiques joins Ravi and Anoushka Shankar, Eliades Ochoa, Xavier Rudd and Tim Finn on the program.
"Each year we take pride in introducing Australian audiences to new experiences by assembling an original line-up ... and 2010 will be no different," Mr Scobie said.
Womadelaide is on from March 5-8 and ticket information is available on its website.
Source:abc.net.au/
Kennedy School students raise money to build library in Ethiopia
Students at John F. Kennedy Elementary School hope to raise $5,000 to build a library at their sister school in Ethiopia.
They previously donated more than $450 to purchase new desks and chairs for the Gordama School, which serves 1,800 kindergarteners through eighth graders who often sit on the floor in classes averaging 100 students, said Kristen Fudge, a Kennedy School teacher who is co-organizing the program.
Fifth graders also exchanged photos and letters with their African counterparts to learn about the people, culture, and school community in Africa. The relationship began when Fudge adopted an Ethiopian child and learned that the Gordama School was seeking an American sister school.
Students received letters and pictures from Ethiopian students this fall and wrote return letters which were sent to Africa Dec. 5 with a family adopting a child, Fudge said.
"It's opened their eyes to other parts of the world and situations other kids have to live in," she said. "I hope they will develop a connection to Ethiopia and realize they truly can make a difference."
The students are holding a fund-raiser at the Porter Square Pizzeria Uno Dec. 16 in which Uno will donate 20 percent of a participant's check to the cause. Attendees must present a donation ticket available here.
Students at the Gordama School in Ethiopia attend classes in crowded rooms where many have to sit on the floor.
Source:boston.com/
U.S. urges further Ethiopian action on human rights
Addis Ababa, December 10, 2009 – The United States congratulates the Government of Ethiopia for its participation yesterday in the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process in Geneva. The United States has been a strong supporter of the UPR process and looks forward to the review in 2010 of its own record in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in the United States.
While recognizing the complex environment prevailing in many parts of Ethiopia, we commend the Government of Ethiopia for its declared commitments to promote and protect human rights. We appreciate the Ethiopian Government’s willingness to consider country visits by UN Human Rights Council special rapporteurs and mandate holders, and note that the UN Special Rapporteurs on the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, on torture, and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, as well as the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention have outstanding visit requests.
The United States expresses the hope that Ethiopia will address positively the recommendations made to its delegation during the UPR session in Geneva. These recommendations included that the Ethiopian Government reassess the Charities and Societies Proclamation in light of concerns expressed by a number of UN member states that it will constrain rather than promote the long-term democratization, governance and stability of Ethiopia. Among other important issues raised, member states also recommended greater humanitarian access to the Ogaden areas of the Somali region so that organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and UN relief agencies can provide assistance to conflict victims.
The United States considers a vibrant and independent media to be one of the pillars of a strong democracy. As such, we are concerned about the recent closure of the Addis Neger newspaper, and the allegations of harassment and intimidation of private media. The outstanding charges against private journalists, editors, publishers, and media houses may also contribute to a perception that space for independent media in Ethiopia is constrained. Ethiopia’s constitution guarantees freedom of the press and that the press shall enjoy legal protection to ensure its capacity to entertain diverse opinions.
On International Human Rights Day, we welcome the Ethiopian Government’s latest pledges and call on the government to work in earnest to address its obligations under international and domestic law.
Source:nazret.com/
Ethiopia - Meles holds talks with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi received and held talks with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa, Vicki Huddleston on the existing Ethiopia-US bilateral relations and other issues common interest.
Meles and the visiting US official held fruitful discussions on political and security issues and as to how to fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa, according a senior government official who attended the discussion.
During the discussion, Meles expressed Ethiopia’s keen interest to scale up the existing Ethiopia-US bilateral relations to a higher level in the years ahead. The premier also reaffirmed Ethiopia’s willingness to work together with the US in efforts geared toward resolving the crisis in Somalia and in Darfur, the Sudan.
After the discussion, Huddleston told journalists that she and the prime minister held valuable discussions as to how to bolster cooperation between the two sisterly countries.
Vicki Huddleston, who worked as Charge d’Affairs in US Embassy in Ethiopia, also said the two parties agreed to work together toward resolving the existing crisis in Somalia and the Sudan.
Source:nazret.com/
Ethiopia: Over 20 Sudanese firms took part in exhibition, bazaar
(GONDAR) – A number of Sudanese firms took part in an exhibition and bazaar that opened in Gonder town of Ethiopia’s Amhara State. More than 100,000 people reportedly visited the Exhibition.
The weeklong exhibition and bazaar organized under the theme ‘Diversity for Renascence’ attracted more than 170 local and foreign business enterprises. More than 20 of the business firms were Sudanese enterprises.
At the closing ceremony of the exhibition and bazaar, deputy chief of the regional administration Gedu Andargachew said the exhibition and bazaar has enabled business community forge trade ties besides creating market opportunities to manufacturers and service providers.
Gedu said organizing such exhibition and bazaars in regional towns will have greater role in boosting trade and investment in the regions, he said.
A representative from Gelabat Doka Region, the Sudan told ENA that such exhibition and bazaars will bolster people-to-people relations besides enhancing trade and investment between the two neighboring countries.
Source:sudantribune.com/
The weeklong exhibition and bazaar organized under the theme ‘Diversity for Renascence’ attracted more than 170 local and foreign business enterprises. More than 20 of the business firms were Sudanese enterprises.
At the closing ceremony of the exhibition and bazaar, deputy chief of the regional administration Gedu Andargachew said the exhibition and bazaar has enabled business community forge trade ties besides creating market opportunities to manufacturers and service providers.
Gedu said organizing such exhibition and bazaars in regional towns will have greater role in boosting trade and investment in the regions, he said.
A representative from Gelabat Doka Region, the Sudan told ENA that such exhibition and bazaars will bolster people-to-people relations besides enhancing trade and investment between the two neighboring countries.
Source:sudantribune.com/
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