MELES’S ETHNIC FIASCO EPRDF: THE DEN OF NARROW NATIONALISTS
"Secessionist parties invariably have their claims on a list of grievances. Their people are exploited economically, ignored politically, treated as cultural inferiors, deprived of basic rights, or any combination of these. However, temporary grievances, no matter how strongly felt, cannot plausibly be put forward as a justification for breaking up an existing state, so long as the state provides some mechanism for the peaceful adjustment of its policies and the replacement of its governing parties." Contrary to the above correct policy, Meles has been continuously perforating the Ethiopian unity from within. Inevitably the TPLF/EPRDF is showing incongruity from within its ranks.
By Wolde S. Asfaw (June 24/2001)
An open letter to Seyoum MesfinBy: Concerned Ethiopians in California.
As Ethiopians, we all have a historic duty to play a role when our nation's future is in danger. After saying that, the highest regards to you and the critical leadership position you hold as Ethiopian's Foreign Minister, motivated us to write this open letter to you concerning the current crises and the security issues facing the nation in particular
Part twoTwo groups of the TPLF and two issues of Ethiopia By Kahsay Berhe, and Tesfay Atsbeha, (June 12, 2001)
"The TPLF had experienced some major internal crises prior to the current one in its history. The assertion that the TPLF had democratically solved previous crises, whereas Meles has resorted to undemocratic measures in the present crisis does not correspond to the truth and leads to the confusion of the root-cause of the present crisis. Surveying the crises can enrich our knowledge of the character of the TPLF, if and only if our analysis is based on facts. For us, as eyewitnesses of the events, the solutions to the real, imagined or fabricated crises show an identical pattern of behaviour of their protagonists. The so called solutions in all the cases ended up producing incriminated victims, intimidated, uncritical and opportunist members and the corresponding aggravation of tyranny."
Part oneTwo groups of the TPLF and two issues of Ethiopia By Kahsay Berhe, and Tesfay Atsbeha,
"Ethiopia is for the first time in her history under the control of a tyrant who started with an open anit Ethiopian program. All Ethiopian rulers before Meles, including colonel Mengistu, whatever mistakes they might have made, were committed to the cause of Ethiopia."
Ethiopia: The political Economy of Transition (University Press of America, 1995) by Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia.A book review By Dr. Teodros Kiros
News
President Negaso Walks Out of EPRDF Regular ConferenceAddis Ababa, June 22(ENA)-- President Negaso Gidada walked out of the ongoing regular conference of the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the council of the front disclosed.
Ethiopian students remain defiantBBC
Ethiopian students are leaving the Addis Ababa University campus after attempts by the university authorities to end the two-month class boycott finally failed.
Court rules against release of Siye on bailAddis Ababa, June 12 (ENA)--The first criminal bench of the federal high court delayed the release of Siye Abrha on bail who is indicted on charges of alleged corruption upon the appeal of the investigation coordination section. Investigation coordination division of the federal police told ENA on Monday that the court has issued an injunction against the release of Siye Abrah until further notice is made available from the same court.
Ethiopian law declares corruption as unbailable offenceAddis Ababa, June 12 (ENA)--The House of Peoples' Representatives in its ground breaking deliberations here on Tuesday approved the inclusion of two articles in the anti-corruption special procedure and rules of evidences proclamation.
Former Defence Minister Released On BailUN Integrated Regional Information Network - June 11, 2001
Siye Abraha, former defence minister and leader of a dissident group within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), who was recently suspended from the party, was released on bail, the pro-government Walta Information Centre (WIC) reported on 9 June.
Once More Deja Vu The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)EDITORIAL June 12, 2001
The Daily Monitor is now back in your hands after having been shut down by the government for seven days. Armed police refused us entry into our editorial offices on Sunday, June 4th, 2001. They told us they have orders from "above"-and that certainly was not from God-not to let us in. We were told by eyewitnesses that they had arrested our Publisher Ato Fitsum Zeab Asgedom on Friday night and that they had brought him to the office to show which ones were the offices. He was brought in the dark between 9:00-10:00 p.m. on Saturday to Taitu Hotel where the offices are located. Come Sunday morning, we could not enter the offices because police had sealed them all off.
Daily Monitor Reopens After 7 Days of Closure
The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)June 12, 2001
Staff Writer
Ethiopia's only private daily newspaper has been accorded by court its right to operate after being shut down by armed security forces last week. The military men who have been camped outside and inside the corridors of the offices of The Daily Monitor were told by the First Instance Court of the civil court on Thursday June 7th, that they have to leave the premises of the offices of The Daily Monitor.
Ethiopian court releases 27 ex-army officers charged with genocideBBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 12, 2001
The Ethiopian high court has acquitted 27 of 28 ex-army officers charged with genocide under the government of President Mengistu Haile Mariam in the 1980s, Ethiopian radio reported.
Ethiopia: Court releases 27 ex-army officers charged with genocideBBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 11, 2001
Text of report by Ethiopian radio on 11 June
The sixth criminal bench of the federal high court has acquitted 27 of the 28 genocide defendants charged under the same category. All the defendants have been indicted on charges of genocide and crime against humanity allegedly committed while they held high government offices in the former Eritrea province during the military government.
Some 23 Ethiopian students, one soldier flee to Kenya
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 8, 2001Text of report by Kenyan newspaper East African Standard web site on 8 June At least 23 Addis Ababa University students and an Ethiopian soldier have fled to Kenya and are being held at the Moyale police station. The soldiers defection brings to eight the number of Ethiopian military deserters on Kenyan territory.
Kenya still holding Ethiopian army deserters
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 8, 2001Text of report by Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation web site on 8 June The seven Ethiopian military men who fled to Kenya brought with them an arsenal of sophisticated weapons, including two Chinese-made bombs, according to police sources. They were also armed with 35 grenades, six AK-47 assault rifles and 237 bullets, four bayonets and had two combat dresses.
Ethiopia police admit excessive force
BBC - Friday, 8 June, 2001, 09:07 GMT 10:07 UKThe police in Ethiopia have admitted to using extreme force to control crowds during the riots in Addis Ababa in April.
Tight Controls At Border Crossings
UN Integrated regional Information NetworkJune 8, 2001
Following the reported defection of seven Ethiopian soldiers to Kenya on Monday, security at border crossing points between the two countries has been tightened, humanitarian sources told IRIN. Kenyan and Ethiopian security forces have been deployed at the border crossing points of Wada, Sololo, Somare, Bori and Gurari, all in northern Kenya, the sources said. The soldiers who were being held by the Kenya Army Intelligence Corps at Oda camp in Moyale, have now been moved to Garissa and "are being held at a police station", according to the sources.
Political turmoil in Ethiopia and Eritrea
BBC - Tuesday, 5 June, 2001, 12:27 GMT 13:27 UKIn a strange quirk of fate, the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea have been plunged into political crises that almost mirror one another.
Ethiopia: US delegation reportedly unhappy with visit to EthiopiaBBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 6, 2001
In line with the peace agreement reached between Ethiopia and Eritrea, both countries should have continued with the exchange of POWs. However for no reason the exercise has been disrupted, and an American delegation has expressed its concern over this, sources close to the issue have reported.
Court Releases Rights Activists On Bail UN Integrated Regional Information NetworkJune 6, 2001
Two prominent human rights activists, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, former head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), and Dr Berhanu Nega, head of the non-governmental Ethiopian Economic Association, who were charged with inciting university student protests in Addis Ababa in April, have been released on bail by the Federal High Court, Ethiopian radio, monitored by the BBC, reported on 5 June.
Ethiopian officers 'defect'
Wednesday, 6 June, 2001, 13:13 GMT 14:13 UK Eleven men believed to be Ethiopian army officers are reported to have defected to Kenya.
Ethiopia: Sacked chief of staff, air force commander reportedly arrestedBBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 2, 2001
Let-Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae, who was sacked on Saturday [26 May, as chief of staff], was arrested immediately after his dismissal was announced in the media. The reason for his sacking was none but this week's wave of corruption cases.
Letter sent by Ato Gebru Asrat to the people and Council of Tigrai
