Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing a Happy Holiday Season to You, Your Family, and to All Ethiopians All Over the World!

Please check out this piece from our esteemed sister and poet Lemlem Tsegaw. Thanks for sharing Lemlem!

Unlike Ethiopian Refugees...

Unlike Ethiopian refuges
Elephants, Giraffes
And other animals
Are protected
From random killers
By Kenyan laws
Funded by Europeans

Unlike Ethiopian refuges
These animals are free
To room all over
Cross boarders
Any where
Among African countries

How is it
Kenyans chose
To gun dawn
Ethiopian children on daylight
Who have no where to go
But be temporary guests
Don’t the refuges
Merit equal right
To those animals
In the eye of Kenyans

** Lemlem Tsegaw, November 7, 2007, Dedicated to all “Ethiopian … killed and wounded in Kenya” per EthioMedia, November 5, 2007

Click here to read the poem in Amharic

The Detention of Atanaw Wasie...

On 27 September, the Sudanese authorities forcibly returned 15 recognized refugees to Ethiopia, handing them over at the Ethiopia-Sudan border. Their whereabouts are now unknown and Amnesty International believes they are at risk of enforced disappearance, arbitrary and incommunicado detention, torture and unfair trials.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on 11 October that the 15 had been part of a group of more than 30 Ethiopian refugees arrested in early July 2007 by Sudanese intelligence officers in Khartoum and Blue Nile state.

Among the 15 was Atanaw Wasie, who has chronic asthma for which he needs medical treatment. He was a leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Union (EDU) political party, which opposed the Dergue government thatwas overthrown in 1991, but is no longer active. He was arrested on 7July 2007 in the eastern town of Gedaref and held incommunicado.

Others who were returned and detained are reported to be alleged members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which is fighting the Ethiopian security forces in the Oromia Region. Several thousand members of the Oromo ethnic group have been arbitrarily detained and tortured in Ethiopia in recent years. Read more here...

Also see:
SUDAN: Forcible return/Fear of torture/Arbitrary detention of several hundred Ethiopian and Eritrean nationals

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What is the Population Size of Wolqait-Tegede?

The above table shows a partial population statistics by sex for "Kafta Humera," Welqait, and Tegede from 2004 to 2005. You can see the full statistics here

My questions in regards to these numbers are:

1. If these numbers accurately reflect the population size on the ground?
2. If these numbers show the population size of the native inhabitants only or if they include the settlers (Tigrayans) too?

I don't have any other (independent) statistics to question the numbers. However, from what friends and close relatives who have visited the areas in recent years, the population on the ground is perhaps maybe two or three times of what is being reported by the Central Statistical Agency.

It is estimated that the population size of the native inhabitants is around 300,000. In recent times, particularly since the annexation of this areas into Tigray has caused a major influx of new Tigrayan settlers that have overwhelmed the local population. Some say that more than 300,000 Tigrayans have settled in Wolqait-Tegede (more than 1 tgrayan for every 1 native inhabitant). Most of these Tigrayans have taken over the fertile low-land agricultural farm lands in and around Humera and the native inhabitants have been forced to resettle in the highlands where farmlands are infertile.

There is fear on some parts of the native community leaders and elders of the local inhabitants that this massive influx of Tigrayan settlers is diluting the unique linguistic heritage and sense of identity of the native inhabitants. This is in addition of the economic burden that have been levied against the locals. Moreover, the population increase has a significant environmental damage that has reached a breaking point. Many of native plants and wildlife are in brink of extinction.

***Also notice that the population has increased by only 6,607 from 2004 to 2005. How is it possible for a population of that size to increase only by 6,000? I wonder if the Chinese 1 child policy has been instituted in those areas!

{~~~~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~~~}

Petition to the Sudanese Gov't...

To: Sudan Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Mohammed Ali Almardi

Ministry of Justice

PO BOX 744

Khartoum

Fax: + 249 183 78 07 96

October 23, 2007

Dear Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mr. Mohammed Ali Almardi:

Please Stop Detaining and Deporting Ethiopian Refugees!

First and foremost, we, the undersigned, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of the Sudanese people and government for their kindness and hospitality to Ethiopian refugees over the years since the ascendancy to power of the dictatorial military regime in Ethiopia. People living along the border of both countries have lived in peace and exemplary neighbourliness for generations. However, the last few years have seen a growing collaboration between the governments of the two countries, often to the detriment of the interests of the Ethiopian people and to freedom and justice, especially with regard to Ethiopian refugees. Reliable news coming out of Sudan reveals constant harassment, imprisonment and deportation of Ethiopian refugees.

In the beginning of July, over 30 Ethiopians were arrested by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service. On September 27, at least 15 of them were handed over by Sudanese officials to Ethiopian authorities in violation of the principle of non-refoulement. As Your Excellency knows, this principle is the cornerstone of the 1951 Refugee Convention in which refugees will not be sent back to a country where their life or freedom would be at risk. A similar deportation that took place early in August 2007 aroused the complaint of the UNHCR to your government, but to no avail. The whereabouts of the deportees is not yet officially known and they may be subjected to physical and psychological torture under extremely inhumane prison conditions in their native country. The remaining group of Ethiopian refugees in detention in Sudan will also face the same risk of deportation and the same tragic fate awaits them in Ethiopia. As a contracting party of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention and as a member of the UN Human Rights Commission, your government is committing a breach of its obligations under international law. Confident that you will do everything in your power to save the lives of the victims and their families:

• We, the undersigned, humbly appeal to you to use your position as Minister of Justice and Attorney General to take action and bring an end to the involuntary repatriation of Ethiopian refugees.

• We call upon the Sudanese government to cease arbitrary detainment of innocent Ethiopian refugees and release those in jail without delay.

• We request that you use your good offices to urge the Ethiopian government to account for the whereabouts of the deportees, who might be subjected to extreme ill-treatment and torture.
  

Sincerely,

Click here to sign the petition

Sudan Illegally Deported 15 Ethiopian Refugees

Click on the image above to read and listen German Radio Amharic Report on the deported prisoners.

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....We have now received reliable information that on September 27, 2007 the Sudanese Government handed over the 15 Ethiopian political refugees suspected of being members/supporters of the said armed groups allegedly sponsored by Eritrea. Our sources have also confirmed that the deportees are being held in the notorious MAKELAWI (Central) Prison located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Among the deportees is the elderly - Atanaw Wasse, who was also highlighted in our August 7, 2007 letter to you.

SOCEPP Canada is gravely concerned about the welfare and security of the repatriates who may have already been subjected to inhumane treatment in this notorious prison. We sincerely believe that this action of the Sudanese Authorities constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention on Refugees and the UN Declaration of Human Rights for which the Sudanese government must be held responsible. We are also deeply concerned and disturbed by the fact that your good offices failed to intervene to save these refugees from this unfortunate incidence of involuntary repatriation without any guarantee of safety in place. We anticipated that our appeal would have alerted the international community to take proper steps as to provide the necessary protection to these refugees. Read more.....

More News reports on this matter...
** Amharic Report from Khartoum, Sudan
** SOCEPP Press Release
** UNHCR Report on the deportation

Historical Facts and Personal Accounts of Ethio-Sudan Border

This insightful article by Ato Solomon Getaneh provides an interesting perspective on the Ethiopian and Sudanese border along Gondar (Quara and Humera). The author of the article sites historical facts and personal accounts of local farmers and community elders from the region.

Read the article here

Happy New Ethiopian Millenium!

Wishing you and your family the Happiest New Ethiopian Millenium! May the coming new millenium be a millenium of peace, unity, democracy and unity to our beloved Ethiopia!

Happy New Year!

Gondar

Gross Human Rights Abuses Against Ethiopina Civilians

The Ethiopian American Civic Advocacy (EACA) calls upon the international community to demand for the immediate halt to the atrocious and gross human rights abuses taking place against Ethiopian civilians in the Ogaden by the Ethiopian authoritarian regime.

Click here for the press release

Resolution of Ethiopians in Ohio

To read the resolution passed by Ethiopians in Ohio on the August 18, 2007 meeting in Columbus, Ohio please click here (amharic, pdf). Also, you can read an earlier statement on the issue.

Woyane’s Mission of Manipulating Ethiopians of Wolqait and Tegede Origin Failed Miserably

Two TPLF officials who called for a meeting on August 18, 2007 in Columbus, OH failed to reach their goal of dividing the people of Wolqait and Tegede. After an hour or so of diatribe and exaggerated statistical report on developments on the region, the participants took the advantage to maneuver the attention to the most dire and urgent issues of freedom and democracy in their homeland.

Almost all the participants including those who support the TPLF repeatedly expressed their dismay at the officials who tried to ignore the human rights and freedom concerns of Wolqait Tegede people. The participants expressed their opposition to article 39 and the demarcation of their homeland with Tigray on the basis of language and demanded their lands to be reunited with Gonder. The participants also stressed that the most urgent issue for the people of Wolqait-Tegede as it is for the rest of Ethiopia is the respect of human rights and democratization and that they will not blindly fall into the TPLF trap of “investment” and “development” designed stifle individual rights and hold the people hostage to their oppressive policies of divide and rule.

The participants demanded the release of their countrymen languishing under the TPLF concentration camps. Moreover, they reminded the TPLF to immediately stop from giving away lands that rightly belong to Ethiopia to the Sudan.

The officials (Ferede Yeshiwondim, Administrator of Wolqait and Tsegaye Asimamaw. Tigray Security Representative) denied and dodged many of the questions and concerns raised by the participants. Also, in many cases they blatantly lied to the face of the participants on the current condition of the region and attempted to paint everything as peaceful, stable and that there are no problems or prisoners.

Even though the meeting organizers attempted to give more time and opportunity to their supporters and shut down the dissenting voices, the brave Ethiopians used the advantage to forward their opinions. To the surprise of the dissenting Ethiopians and even to the officials many of their supporters expressed their opposition to what TPLF is doing to the people of Wolqait and Tegede. As such, the people of the region who previously were at odds in previous times came out stronger and united than ever to expose TPLF’s atrocities committed against the people of Wolqait and Tegede. Other than presenting their boring statistical report the officials failed to divert the people’s attention.

A press statement and other supporting documents from the community organizers of the dissenting Ethiopians will shortly be released to the public.

Community Organizers
August 18, 2007

Ethiopian Demand Explanation...

The characteristic peculiar to our country, which distinguishes it from other countries, is the fact that it played an exemplary role in fiercely defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity at the time when powerful foreign powers were on the rampage to subjugate most lands on the globe.

Indeed, there have been periods in our history where our country had land mass many folds more than of the present one and trade relations and influence extending into the interior of the then neighboring Nubian Empire. This glaring history has been attested by innumerous literary works of ancient and modern scholars, both foreign and local origins.

Virtually, all Ethiopian governments prior to that of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front ( EPRDF ), although rightfully criticized for their autocratic and repressive leadership style, decidedly took preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the nation as their primary undertaking. Under their leadership, and largely because of it, our country repulsed powerful invaders such as the Ottoman Turks, Egyptians, Italians and Mahadists.

And it has now become the historical burden of this generation to carry on the great tradition of keeping the territorial integrity of the nation as the best way of commemorating the sacrifices of our forefathers. However, recent international media coverage of giving away another part of our country in the making is in circulation. read more...

• Press Release in Amharic pdf

• Also read a poem by Lemlem Tsegaw

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Update on the status of Ethiopian refuges in the Sudan

On July 20, 2007 SOCEPP Canada issued an urgent action appeal regarding the new wave of mass arrests and possible involuntary repatriation of Ethiopian refugees suspected of having affiliations with and/or support opposition political groups such as Oromo Liberation front (OLF), Ethiopian People Patriotic Front (EPPF) and others.

Following a massive protest by the international community as well as by Human rights groups from within Sudan, it now appears that some progress has been achieved. It is reported that many Ethiopian refugees who were rounded up and placed in detention are now freed with bail. It is anticipated that the remaining will be freed soon. read more...

Azeb Golla on a Mission to Divide People of Wolqait-Tegede in Ohio

Uncofirmed statements indicate that Azeb Golla, wife of Meles Zenawi along with Ferede Yeshiwondim, Head of Security for Wolqait and Tsegay Asmamaw, former TPLF parliamentarian and judge are planning a trip to the U.S. According to sources, the delegate is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007. Though the purpose of the trip is not clearly known, some speculate that this a continuation of TPLF's plan to divide the diaspora community along ethnic and religious lines. It is to be remembered that Addisu Legese made a similar trip to the major U.S. cities including Ohio where he was humiliated by Diaspora Ethiopians.

The same handful individuals who hosted Addisu Legesse are now running up and down in preparation to host a meeting with Azeb Golla and her conscripts. Ferede Yeshiwondim is an individual who is terrorizing his own people and recently made a trip to the Sudan in an effort to identify those individuals suspected of supporting the EPPF which the arest of dozens. Azeb Golla was rejected by the people of Wolqait in her bid for election in 2005 and chose to run in Humera instead where there is a high concentration of Tigrayans.

It is despicable that these people are willing to travel thousands of miles in the name of discussing the problems of Wolqait while they have muzzled and failed to give the same opportunity to the people they claim to represent. The Wolqait people here in the Diaspora do not expect anything good to come out from the TPLF who annexed their land, displaced its people, killed and tortured thousands and kept thousands more in secret underground prisons. This same people who are working day-in and day-out to erase Wolqait identity, culture, a unique dialect, social norms and psychs expect us to believe that they would actually listen to us.

We suggest that thy should give this opportunity to the people back home, restore all their rights, return their lands and properties unconditionally, stop the illegal resettlement of Tigrayans and finally return and reunite Wolqait-Tegede and its people with it historical identity of Gonder! After that the people of Wolqait will leave with the Tigray people peacefully!

***************

26 Refugees Still Under Arrest in Sudan

Sources from Sudan reveal that 26 Ethiopian refugees are under arrest in Khartoum, Sudan in a prison called Kober. Two people, have been released on August 3. The sources indicated that all of the prisoners are have been question by security forces and have been treated fairly well. However, They added that they were beaten on the head during the early roundups on July 2nd.

Thanks to the effort and outcry of concerned Ethiopians in Sudan and abroad as well as the UNHCR, Amnesty International and other organizations the whereabouts of these people is known and they have been spared from being deported to the dictators in Ethiopia. It is hoped that more people will be released soon.

Read an Amharic report from Debteraw
Also previous reports
VOA Interview with Ato Wondimagegn

Remembering Aba Melakeselam Sisay Ayele

Click on the image or here to read the poem by Ato Lakew Hiruy in rememberance of Aba Melakeselam Sisay. To read the obituary in Amharic, please click here.

VOA Amharic Interview on the Case of Ethiopian Refugees in Sudan

VOA Amharic July 26, 2007 (Hamle 19/1999) Program

Voice of America's (VOA) Amharic program reporter Surafel Fantaye interviewed Ato Wondimagegn Getaneh, Deputy Chairman of Ethiopian Refugees Committee in Sudan. According to Ato Wondimagegn heavily armed Sudanese security forces conducted house to house searches beginning July 2, 2007 and arrested many Ethiopian refugees who have been granted legal refugee status. Ato Wondimagegn stated that many of the arrests took place in Khartoum with few others being in Umrakuba and Gedarif of eastern Sudan. He also told VOA that the where abouts of most of the detained is unknown and the Sudanese authorities are unwilling to disclose why and where the prisoners are being detained.

Ato Wondimagegn added that there are rumors circulating which suggest some of the prisoners being handed over to Ethiopian Authorities though there is no hard evidence to backup those claims. He also said that Ato Kenaw Dilnesaw an Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF) member/supporter is believed to have been to Ethiopian authorities and the where abouts of Ato Achenefe Alemu also a supporter of EPPF is not known since he was detained two months ago.

Listen VOA interview with Ato Wondimagegn Getaneh

SOCEPP-CAN Urgent Action Alert

Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners - Canada (SOCEPP-CAN) released the following press release regarding detained Ethiopian refugees in Sudan. Click here to read the report.

Read related articles:

• Amnesty International Report or here
• WAEER Press Release
• News Report from Sudan (Amharic)
• Christian Today News Report
• Unity for the Best of Ethiopia

Sudan: Forcible return / Fear of torture / Arbitrary detention

URGENT ACTION
Sudan: Forcible return / Fear of torture / Arbitrary detention
PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 54/038/2007 20 July 2007
UA 190/07 Forcible return/Fear of torture/Arbitrary detention

SUDAN: Several hundred Ethiopian and Eritrean nationalsHundreds of Ethiopian and Eritrean nationals have been arrested since the beginning of July, and are at risk of being forcibly returned to their countries of origin. Many of the Ethiopian and all the Eritrean nationals would be at risk of immediate arrest, torture and indefinite detention without charge or trial if forcibly returned.

In mid-July several hundred Ethiopian and Eritrean adults and children were arrested in the capital, Khartoum. At least 14 Ethiopian nationals, whose names are known to Amnesty International, had been arrested on 5 July in Khartoum and in the east of Sudan. Arrests are continuing.

Many of those detained are understood to be asylum-seekers or recognised refugees. Some are in Omdurman prison in Khartoum, but the whereabouts of most is not yet known, or has not been disclosed by the authorities. Some have been taken to court, charged with illegal entry and summarily sentenced to imprisonment or immediate deportation as illegal migrants. It is understood that no-one has access to them in custody.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Sudan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, all of which oblige the authorities not to forcibly return any person to a country where they risk torture or other serious human rights violations.

The government has generally abided by these treaties and worked closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to protect the rights of both long-term refugees and new refugees from Ethiopia and Eritrea. However, this policy appears to have changed recently because of the government’s changed political relations with both the Ethiopian and the Eritrean governments. For many years Sudan had hosted and supported political opponents of both governments, some of them belonging to armed groups. The recent detentions of Ethiopians came immediately after the Ethiopian foreign minister visited Sudan in June 2007, indicating new friendlier relations with Ethiopia. A similar change appears to have been made in the Sudan government’s political relations with Eritrea.

Many of the detainees have been living in Sudan as refugees since the late 1970s, having fled from the Dergue government that was in power in Ethiopia at the time. Some were unwilling to return when the Dergue government was overthrown in 1991, and the current government of Meles Zenawi seized power in Ethiopia and Eritrea gaining independence under the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). Some of the detainees are said to be opponents of the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia or President Issayas Afewerki in Eritrea, who arrived in Sudan in the 1990s or more recently to seek asylum. Thousands of Eritreans fled to Sudan in recent years to escape political repression or military conscription.

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Source: Amnesty International

Let Freedom Shine All Over Ethiopia Again

Let the freedom that shone over the CUD leaders also SHINE ALL over other Ethiopians suffering in and out of prison camps throughout Ethiopia!

MAY GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA AND ITS PEOPLE!

Update on Condition of Ethiopian Refugees in Sudan

Hundreds of Ethiopians face forced return to Ethiopia where they are at high risk of being tortured by the Ethiopianm government. For more information please click here to read an Amharic report from Khartoum, Sudan.

Ethiopian, Eritrean Refugees Appeal

Sudanese government urged to treat refugees as fellow human beings
WAEER Press Statement July 17, 2007

The relationship between the people of Sudan and Ethiopia dates back to thousands of years. Despite occasional political differences and sometimes conflicts between successive governments, the relationship between the two peoples has never been affected and had always been nothing less than excellent. Without going too far back in history, if we examine their history since the WWII, it can be characterized as a relationship bonded by a common culture, common security, shared natural resources, drinking from the same water, a liking to each others food and music.

One does not have to research a lot to understand how profound this bonding is. The streets of Khartoum, the towns of Gedraif, Port Sudan, Kassala, the bars, restaurants and public ceremonies in several Sudanese towns demonstrate how close the two peoples are. Nowadays it is common to have Ethiopian bands in Sudanese weddings. Many well to do Sudanese families employ Ethiopian or Eritrean maids or guards. Sudanese feel at home in Ethiopia and Eritrea and vice versa. During the Second World War, Ethiopians fleeing the fascist invasion and persecution found refuge in Sudan. They were welcomed with open arms and lived in Sudan until the liberation, without ever feeling that they were indeed refugees.

Ethiopian generals who led the liberation war were educated in Sudan military academy, then in Soba. After graduation they led Ethiopian patriots under Emperor Hiale Sellasie and the combined Sudanese and British forces. Emperor Haile Sellasie lived in Sudan for a long time prior to the final push to liberate Ethiopia. Thousands of Sudanese troops sacrificed their lives fighting for the liberation of Ethiopia from fascist Italy. The cemetery at Keren is a living testimony of this. More recently the Eritrean Liberation Front (EPLF) and the Tigray Liberation Front (TPLF) which is currently in power in Ethiopia, were trained and oragnised in Sudan. They were both supported and encouraged by the then governments and Sudan was used as the staging ground for these guerrilla forces which eventually overcame the government forces and created a new reality in Ethiopia and Eritrea. However misguided these polices of arming and supporting guerilla movements against a neighboring country, they may have been, the relationship between the two people remained unaffected. The armed guerillas and their families lived in peace welcomed by the people and without being harassed by the government. Ethiopians and Eritreans are deeply grateful for this unconditional non political affection and sympathy accorded to them by the people of Sudan.

However, in the last few years there are disturbing signs that this compassion and traditional ties among the people of the three countries are being eroded through certain segments of Sudanese bureaucracy. None of us believe that the Sudanese government has instituted deliberate policy to intimidate and harass the Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees and migrant workers. There are currently thousands of Ethiopians and Eritreans who have crossed the borders in search of better life and or protection. Some come to Sudan for economic reasons and others come here for political reasons with the aim of being registered with the UNHCR and hopefully resettled in Europe, Canada or Australia. They work in restaurants, in individual homes as house maids, guards, in hair salons etc...Some use Sudan as transit point on their way to Mediterranean coasts with the intention of crossing over to one of the European countries. They come from diverse backgrounds and have different ambitions. But one thing is certain. Except perhaps a few, none are involved in criminal activities. They don’t rob, steal, cheat or beg. They work hard and live a decent life. They respect the law of the country and adjust to the culture and way of life of Sudanese.

It is true that most of the migrant workers cannot afford to pay the annual 400 dollars required by the government for the extension of their stay and work permit. Almost all the Ethiopians who enter Sudan do so with legal visas. But once they arrive, most find it difficult to extend their permits because they are required to pay 400 dollars every year. This is truly exorbitant for people who, if lucky, earn 100 or 150 dollars a month. It is very unfair to apply the same rules for an oil company executive from abroad seeking stay permit and an ordinary economic migrant who earns 100 or 150 dollars a month. Because of this, many of our people are being arrested and abused. The governments position is understandable but it is our opinion that this situation can be handled differently. It has now become common for Ethiopians and Eritrean homes to be raided and people arrested form the streets, work places and homes and herded like cattle and taken to unknown places, some deported and some released after some negotiations.

In reference to this people the question that concerned people ask is: "Why is there no decent way of conducting inquiries on the status of these people besides raiding their homes, arresting them on the streets, beating and humiliating them?"

If the labors of these people are wanted and they have legally entered the country why is it not possible to fix a reasonable fee for their stay or work permits? The second group of people are those who have come here for political reasons and who are registered as political refugees. Even though for the last several years Sudan has been hosting many kinds of political armed groups it is the common position of most Ethiopians living in Sudan now that it would be wrong to abuse the hospitality of this country and use Sudan once again as a staging place for armed struggle inside Ethiopia or Eritrea. Situations have changed and the only alternative to bringing about change is through the new political process and pressure.
Armed struggle is not an option and is furiously opposed by many decent Ethiopians and Eritreans across the world. However these dissidents some of whom have been here since the times of Haile Selasie, meet and discuss the political situation in their respective countries. To the best of our knowledge there are no armed and oragnised forces in Sudan operating against the security of Eritrea and Ethiopia. But this does not mean that there are no people who talk politics and discuss the prevailing situation in their countries. These discussions are held in their homes and in community gatherings and never go beyond that. Political refugees in Sudan have not even conducted any political demonstration against Ethiopia or Eritrea like they d so frequently in Europe and America. Why then are some simple activists who have done nothing more than probably talking about the politics in their own country , being arbitrarily arrested ,their homes raided and ransacked, beaten, abused and raped. The families of many of these helpless prisoners are not informed and they rot in jail without charges and without the knowledge sometimes of the senior government officials. Ethiopians and Sudanese people living in Sudan believe that these acts are very much un-Suadnses and should be rectified both for the sake of the helpless voiceless migrants and refugees and for the sake of the image of this country who all of us love and respect.

The question that is being asked regarding this group of people is:
- If there are some suspicious activities why are these people not inquired through the agency
that protects the rights of refugees, the UNHCR?
- If the address of these dissidents are known, why are they not properly invited to report to the police and questioned properly?
- Why are the families not informed on their whereabouts?
- Why does not the government take actions regarding these arbitrary arrests?
- Why are rape cases in prison by prison guards not being investigated when the evidence has been brought to the attention of the government officials?
- Why are Sudanese officials so quiet on this shameful act by people who do not represent the true culture and traditional values of Sudan? Should these inhuman acts be allowed to continue?

Please Sudanese people speak out and defend the rights of your brothers, sisters daughters and sons from your good neighbors.
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Concerned members of the World Wide Association of Ethiopian an Eritrean Refugees (WAEER). WAEER is an association established to protects the rights of refugees under the Geneva Convention and International law of Human Rights. Source: Ethiomedia

Ethiopian Detainees in the Sudan

The following names are few of those refugees imprisoned in Sudan By the Sudanese government in the last two days.

From Khartoum
1. Mr. Beyene Aligaz
2. Mr. Alemayehu Malede
3. Mr. Tsegaye Alemu
4. Mr. Yimenu Mengstu
5. Mr. Abate Degago
6. Mr. Jumua Rufael
7. Mr. Mamay Tiruneh
8. Mr.Muley Serebe
9. Mr. Asfaw Malede

From Emrakuba (Gedaref)
10.Mr. Abebe Gebrey
11. Mr. Alemayehu

The following people are in hiding .Their residents were searched and are wanted by the Sudanese Security Officers.

Khartoum
1. Mr. Abera Atalay
2. Mr. Solomon Mekonen
3. Mr. Asheberegn Berhe
4. Mr. Miruts Tadese
5. Mr. Genanaw Mengste
6. Mr. Kifley Mamay
7. Mr. Aman Shiferaw
8. Mr. Girmay Tesfay
9. Mr. Shibabaw Asefa

It is widely believed that more than 89 Ethiopians suspected of being opposition supporters are imprisoned as a trade in for our fertile lands.

Please contact your state representatives and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch about this issue and seek their attention in this regard.

Amnesty International:
International Secretariat
Web site: www.amnesty.org
Telephone: +44-20-74135500
Fax number : +44-20-79561157
Address:
1 Easton Street
London, WC1X 0DW, UK

Amnesty International USA
5 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10001
Tele: (212) 807-8400
Fax: (212) 627-1451
Email: aimember@aiusa.org

Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
USATel: 1-(212) 290-4700,
Fax: 1-(212) 736-1300
Email: hrwnyc@hrw.org

Contact your congressperson in the U.S. House of Representaives and the U.S. Senate

Mass Arrest of Ethiopians in Sudan

Following the news of the Ethiopia handing over its lands to Sudan, the Sudanese government has started door-to-door search arresting Ethipoians suspected of sympathising with opposition political groups such as the EPPF. Many people particularly those of the Wolqait-Tegede origin have been targeted and are currently in detention by Sudanese authorities. Some have managed to escape this crackdown and are currently in hiding.

According to the news report by Sudan Tribune, the Ethiopian government has agreed to hand over the lands to the Sudan while Sudan would return the favor by imprisoning Ethiopians suspected of sympathising with Ethiopian political opposition groups.

Sources close to me indicate that some of my family members and relatives have either been incarcerated or are in hiding at the moment.

Ethiopians in the Diaspora (USA, Europe, and Australia) should contact their respected representatives and senators and demand to voice their concern and halt of this human rights abuses.

Eastern Sudan farmers get back disputed lands from Ethiopia

Wednesday 4 July 2007 05:00.

July 3, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — A joint Sudanese-Ethiopian committee would start today to hand over agricultural lands to residents of more than 17 Sudanese villages located in eastern Atbara River along the Ethiopia-Sudan border.
The agricultural lands remained a source of dispute for more than 100 years.
Governor of Al-Gadarif State, in eastern Sudan, Abdelrahman al-Khidir told Akhir Lahzah that this step came as an implementation of 1971 agreement which stated re-demarcation of the border between the two countries.
He added that technical arrangements have been finished and a committee of seven experts from each side would give the Sudanese farmers their lands, pointing out that his government is ready to append these farmers with the current agricultural season.
He said that with the end of the committee’s work which might last for a week, the lands would be back to their owners.
He explained that they have formed 17 cooperative societies in addition to other previous societies in order to support the farmers within the framework of the agricultural campaign on one hand and to consolidate the Sudanese land on the other.
Furthermore the governor called for dealing with the border issue with a good spirit between the two countries, adding that people should look at the border issue as an area of integration not of conflicts.
He explained that the final operation of border re-demarcating which might conclude after the autumn season would put an end for all kinds of security breaches and instability situation in the area. [Source]

Comment: About a year or so ago I commented on a similar article from Sudan Tribune in which the online magazine reported the possible handing over of Ethiopian territories to Sudan. I am outrageous today as I was then. I don't understand what this people (the TPLF) are thinking. They have no regard to securing the sovereignty of the nation that they control. What I found striking from the above article is found in the last paragraph, "He explained that the final operation of border re-demarcating which might conclude after the autumn season would put an end for all kinds of security breaches and instability situation in the area." So, the TPLF is willing to go as far as giving chunks of Ethiopia's fertile lands to the Sudan for the sake of preventing the operation of Ethiopian opposition/rebel groups inside Sudan and in order to stay in power as long as they can at the cost of Ethiopia!

The Great Father Abba Melake Selam Sisay Ayele Yimer Passed Away

Abba (Father) Melake-Selam Sisay Ayele Yimer, the devoted Servant of the Almighty God; the true son of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo faith; the gallant Ethiopian nationalist; treasurer of the legal Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Holy Synod in exile and the founder and administrator of the Great Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Debre Medhanit Medhane-Alem Cathedral of Columbus, Ohio passed away after five months of ailment and hospital care at the age of 80 in the city of Columbus, Ohio, USA on Friday, June 29, 2007.


Religious Services and Funeral Arrangement Schedule:

** Beginning Friday, June 29 His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church along with other Arch-bishops, Bishops, Fathers, and Dignitaries have started arriving in Columbus, Ohio, USA for the funeral services.

** Beginning Monday, July 2, prayers will be conducted from 6:00 Am to 7:00 AM in the morning and from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM in the evening at Debre Medhanit Medhane Alem Cathedral.

** On Wednesday, July 4, starting 10:00 AM Holy Mass and Tselote-Fithat (wake) will be conducted at Debre Medhanit Medhane Alem Cathedral, under the leadership of His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

** On Saturday, July 7, starting 9:00 AM the last and final Tselote-Fithat (wake) will be conducted at Debre Medhanit Medhane Alem Cathedral, under the leadership of His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. After the Tselote-Fithat (wake), eulogy will be read and the burial ceremony will be performed at:

** Cemetery Address: St. Joseph Cemetery * 6440 South High Street * Columbus, OH 43137 * Phone (614) 491-2751.

** Church Address: Debre Medhanit Medhane Alem Cathedral * 610 Neil Avenue * Columbus, OH 43215 * Church Telephone: (614) 280-0626

** For more info : (614 ) 622-5922 or (614) 332-8002 or (614 ) 989-4777

Click here for Amharic

Hager Malet

Click on picture to view enlarged version or go here

The 2007 Census: A Continuation of an Ongoing Scheme of Social Engineering

Brief Background on Repatriations from the Sudan

It is to be remembered that many Ethiopians, most of which consisted people of Welkayt-Tegede and the environs migrated to the Sudan as early as 1960s and ‘70s due to the civil war. They settled in refugee camps located in Derabil, Safawa, Umrakuba, Tewawa, Umgurdja and some in towns and cities such as Gedarif and Khartoum. Some managed to escape to third host countries such as USA and European countries but for most they had to live the harsh conditions and Sudanese government abuse until today. (This is is a topic of its own. I will come back to it some other time)

In mid-1990s, the TPLF led government with the help of the United Nations carried out a massive repatriation program of Ethiopian returnees from Eastern Sudan. In the 1990s the TPLF led regime started a repatriation program that was carried out under divisive ethnic lines of resettlement and that favored its supporters. Those that supported the TPLF and the once that were from the Tigrayan ethnic group were rewarded with generous compensations, fertile land, housing and free transportation to whichever destination they chose. Most of the Tigrayan returnees along with ex-TPLF fighters were resettled in places such as Humera and Rawyan, which are localities that rightly belong to the people of Welkayt-Tegede. Today, the Tigrayans residing in these areas have made a fortune and are big business owners. They are also, the most extreme hardcore TPLF supporters and financiers. Since they they are primary beneficiaries they are willing to do what ever they can to defend the TPLF and hence, their interests.

Unfortunately, for those who opposed the TPLF, particularly for the people of Welkayt-Tegede, the story was a whole lot different. Although, the UNHCR was supposed to carry out the registration and repatriation program (in cooperation with the TPLF gov’t), most of the insider work was run by TPLF hired cadres that made sure they opponents were left out by creating loopholes of filtering. One of these techniques was to impose Tigrayan ethnic identity on the people of Welkayt-Tegede. If an individual of Welkayt-Tegede native chooses to resettle in Welkayt-Tegede, they were required to state they ethnicity as Tirayans, since at that time the TPLF has annexed these regions into Tigray.

Nevertheless, many people were unhappy and outraged by this measure and began looking for alternative means of reaching their homeland. Others helplessly fell for the TPLF’s ill conceived and manipulative scheme of imposing new identity and arrived at their destinations. Those that were aware of TPLF’s poisonous plan chose to resettle in the “Amhara” region namely in places such as Gonder, Armacheho, Abderafi, and so on in an attempt to avoid that evil plan. Some of this people later moved to Welkayt-Tegede through the back-door, while other remained in the named towns and villages and started a new life maintaining their identity and dignity. Today there are thousands of Welkayt-Tegede natives living in Abderafi, Amachiho, and Gondar alongside the people with whom they share a common culture, psych, and identity for hundreds of years.

The 2007 Ethiopian Census and Imposed Ethnic Identity

The third national census is expected to be conducted starting May 28, 2007 in much of the country with the exception of Afar and Somali regions. According to Addis Fortune, (through AllAfrica.com), Ethiopia’s population was 39.5 million in the first census conducted in 1984. This number increased to 53.5 million in the 1994 census. Today Ethiopian population is estimated around 77 million. The third census was initially scheduled to take place in 2005 but was postponed as a result of the general elections that coincided in the same year.

In the same Addis Fortune article, Professor Beyene Petros and chairman of the opposition UEDF cautions the census to be carried out properly asserting that, “It is sensitive and has a serious implication on budget, identity and territorial issues." It is due to this fact and for reasons that I discuss above that I raise my suspicion in the process of the census. Are people allowed to freely state or declare their identity without any retribution of any form from the governments’ cadres? Even though the article states that teachers would conduct the data collection, I have no doubt that the government has a hand in manipulating the outcome in a way that favors its agenda.

In today’s Ethiopia where people are highly sensitive about their identity and where the political structure is based on ethnic identity, population census cannot be carried out clearly and freely. This is also true in Welkayt-Tegede, where there is a high tension between the Tigrayans and the native inhabitants. The Tigray people and the native inhabitants as well as the TPLF elites know that there is a clear sense of difference in their identity and socio-cultural makeup. However, these elites minimize/ignore all these factors and attempt to restructure the issue along language similarities, i.e. both groups speak Tigrinya.

In fact it is interesting to see TPLF’s absurd in way of dividing the people of Tegede. In an effort to legitimize its annexation of Welkayt-Tegede, the TPLF looked at the language pattern of the local people to determine how fluent they are in either Tigrinya or Amharic. Since, the people of Welkayt speak Tigrinya fluently their annexation to Tigray was assumed to be unquestionable, however the people of Tegede showed mixed patterns. The people residing in northern part of Tegede were leaning to Tigrinya, while those in the southern part were leaning toward Amharic. Thus, according to TPLF, those people who leaned toward Tigrinya language were considered of the Tigrayan ethnic group and consequently were incorporated into Tigray and the rest who leaned toward Amharic were left with the Amhara region.

As such, to the people of Welkayt-Tegede, this year’s census is nothing but a carefully orchestrated social engineering of redefining the identity of the local people in a standard that fitted their (the TPLF's) long-term goal of systematic and silent ethnic cleansing. It is saddening and humiliating to see the TPLF intentionally promoting the domination and extinction of minority people in a world in which humans are fighting for the preservation of extinct animals and plants. Today we are in a world where a larger and stronger group tries to respect and protect the rights of a minority group and where diversity is preferred to forced assimilation. Nevertheless, the TPLF has none of these good characteristics and these are the deficiencies that will ultimately bring its catastrophic demise.

Greetings to Our Gonder

Please take a moment to read the following two interesting poems authored by Lemlem Tsegaw. The first poem is titled "Anch yeGna Gonder" and the second one "Adowa." Both poems remind us of the condition our beloved Gondar and its people as well as the Ethiopian populous in general are going through under the current curse of the TPLF led ethnic dictatorship of divide and rule.

To read each of the poems in their entirety, please click here for "Anch yeGna Gonder" and here for "Adowa."

Many thanks and appreciation goes to the Author of both poems Lemlem Tsegaw. Again, than you so much for sharing Lemlem, and please keep it coming. Will gladly entertain it here.

****** "Adowa" *******

ye-Habtam deHa! Where is the dollar going?

The following two pieces of news articles are a little bit old, nevertheless, as you can read, millions upon millions of dollars are generated from sesame seed export from just the Wolqait area of our country. I am dumbfounded to learn that there is almost no basic development of infrastructure in this part of Ethiopia. Compared to the rest of Tigray where there are constant development of roads, hospitals, clean water and electric services, schools including universities are being built in every corner of Tigray with the exception of Wolqait-Tegede. I also read another news article with the same message as the once attached below. This article which came out just a few day ago (I could not find the source, but will post it as I find it), indicate that export of sesame seed has overtaken export of coffee in terms of the overall GDP of Ethiopia's export. The news indicate that China is the major importer of sesame seed from Ethiopia.
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Ethiopia town exports more sesame to int'l market
UPDATED: 07:59, July 27, 2006
Kefta Humera, north Ethiopia's Tigray state, garnered over 38 million U.S. dollars from export of sesame during the just-ended fiscal year (July 8, 2005-July 7, 2006), customs officials said Wednesday.
Aklilu Lema, senior officer with the Ethiopian Customs Authority, said in a news release that the revenue was obtained from the export of over 510,700 quintals of sesame to international market, 183,000 quintals more than the previous fiscal year.
During the past fiscal year, Ethiopia earned 142 million dollars from export of sesame. At present, the product has a 30 percent share of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), exceeding coffee that contributed a 60 percent share to the GDP three years ago.
The product was shipped to China, Canada, Middle East, Europe and United States and China took the lion's share in Kefta Humera's export of sesame, Aklilu said.
The growing demand of sesame in global market and the increase in exporters engaged in the sector are the major factors for the increase in the volume of export, he said.
Located in the equatorial belt, Ethiopia has an ideal climatic condition that helps in producing sesame. Also, sesame produced in Ethiopia is of top quality.
Ethiopia is among the least developed countries where the economy is primarily agriculture based and quite backward. Like many other nations in Africa, Ethiopia relies greatly on the trade of primary goods.
Source: Xinhua
__________________________

China becomes Ethiopia's major export destination
Updated: 15:49, April 23, 2006

Ethiopia said Saturday China has become one of the Horn of Africa country's major export destinations this year.
Tekle Gebre-Hiwot, a senior official of Ethiopian Customs Authority, told journalists that Ethiopia exported to China 175, 000 tons of agricultural products, worth 123 million U.S. dollars, from July 2005 to March 2006.
Ethiopia's export to China before July 2005 was at a low level but it jumped following China's declaration of duty-free market access to African goods, said Tekle.
China has granted Ethiopia and other African countries the right to export 187 varieties of goods produced in the country duty-free, starting in 2005.
During the nine months, Ethiopia's total export to China included 142,825 tons of sesame seeds worth 112 million dollars, 28,594 tons of leather goods, hides and skin worth 10.4 million dollars and 3,712 tons of natural gum worth 275,850 dollars.
Source: Xinhua

SOCEPP On Findings of Secret Prisons in Ethiopia

Of Secret Prisons and Labor Camps in EthiopiaSolidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP) Newsletter, April 2007

The recent issue of SOCEPP Newsletter discloses that the regime of Mele Zenawi, in Ethiopia, runs concentration camps in many places. The well known labor camps are in Dedesa, Zwai and Bir Sheleko. In these camps, the beating of prisoners is routine. Prisoners are starved and subjected to force labor. One reports that most of the hoards and wardens in Zwai hail are from ethnic group of the Prime Minster. Psychological torture and humiliation of the prisoners are also routine in these camps. Secret prisons have been identified in Quiha Tigrai, Welkait, Metekel, Holeta and other places. Prisoners are held incommunicado, denied medical treatment, beaten severely and mistreated daily. Reports indicate that such prisoners who die are buried in secret.

Source: http://www.debteraw.com/

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I wish the newsletter had more details, however, the fact is that the TPLF had established these secret prisons commonly known as "Bado 6" by the local people since early 1970s when this TPLF first occupied Welkait. To this day, thousands have been incarcerated in these underground torture chambers. Saddly, many do not make it to come out of it alive. Many of the youth from the native people (Welkait-Tegede) are still being incarcerated without the due processes of the law and for every minor or no reason. Some are are arrested for speaking out against the injustice committed on the Welkait-Tegede people, and others are detained because of a baseless suspicion of sympathising with the Ethiopian People's Patriotic Fron (EPPF).

TPLF: On a Mission of Antagonizing Ethiopians

As it has been mercilessly displacing the people of Wolqait-Tegede for the past 16 years, the TPLF is yet again displacing hundreds of thousands of Afaris from they own homeland. The recent report by Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP), indicates that Woyane has been resettling thousands of Tigrayans in the fertile Awash river basin in the Afar region at the expense of displacing countless Afaris and imprisoning those who opposed the occupation of their homeland without their consent. This is indeed an outrageous act that should be resisted at all costs. The ARDUF should continue it armed resistance by attacking TPLF military posts and soldiers. Similarly, we see the people of Wolqait-Tegede and the environs raising arms against the occupying and unwelcome oppressors. Albeit, it is sad to see the division of the Ethiopian people in general, what the TPLF is doing is an excusable. Because of its shameful act and claim of representing the Tigrayan people, many non-Tigrayan Ethiopians particularly the people of Wolqait-Tegede and Afar have developed deep resentment and hatred against the Tigrayans. Yes, what all Ethiopians need at this time is unity, love, and peace amongst each other, however, it is almost impossible to achieve this things under TPLF's blunt oppression of Ethiopians.

The diary of Agazi soldier

(By an Agazi Soldier in Humera Shaleka) - Translated by Meqdela

It was one hazy dawn in the month of March. It had been more than three weeks since we got back to Ethiopia after completing our mission in Somalia. I am a member of the Humera Regiment of the Agazi Division which was at the forefront of the war in Somalia. Read More

Fighting Erupts at Adi-Goshu

According to local people we contacted in Wolqait, fierce fighting has erupted between the EPPF fighters and TPLF (Woyane) army. Sources claim that tensions between the TPLF army and the EPPF have increased in recent times and assert that these tensions have increased to an out-right conflict around a local village of Ad- Goshu. Adi Goshu is located in northern most of Wolqait to the northeast of Kafta bordering Tigray and Eritrea.

We will post more info as it becomes available.

Sudan says Ethiopian rebels cause tension on joint border

April 10, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan has acknowledge for the first time security tensions on the border with Ethiopia over activities by the Ethiopian rebels which it said is receiving training in neighbouring Eritrea that has a long-standing border dispute with Ethiopia.

The governor of Gadharif State, eastern Sudan, Abdelrahman al-Khadir, admitted that the Ethiopian rebels is active on the border. He said the opposition received its training in Eritrea and crossed Sudanese territory to carry out forays in Ethiopia. This is distinct from activities by the highway robbers known as Al-Shafta gangs who menace both Sudanese inhabitants and foreigners in the region, the London based Asharq al-Awsat reported on Tuesday. (Read More)
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Comment: I think the build up of tensions between Sudan and the Woyane junta is a good news for Ethiopia People's Patriotic Front (EPPF) as it opens new opportunity for the Front to re-establish itself and attack Woyane. It is also an important development as it allows the Front to free itself from Eritrea which deliberately has been a hindrance to the growth of the Front by putting to many restraints. The EPPF International Committee should seriously take this opportunity and build military alliances with the Sudanese before it is too late.

Our Father Melakeselam Sisay Ayele

Father Melakeselam Sisay Ayele was born in 1919 in a small village called Bel Amba Michael found in Wolqait of Gondar province. He was raised by his mother and Grand father. At the age of seven he started attending a local spiritual school where he studied the bible. However, few years later the education was disrupted as a result of the Italian invasion and many of the children went back to assist their parents in farming practices. After the defeat of Italians his grand father persuaded him to go back and continue pursuing his spiritual education. Father Melakeselam was married in 1943 and few years later in 1949 he received his priesthood from Abune Michael of Gondar.

In 1988 Father Melakeselam helped establish the Debre Medahit-MedaheAlem Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church along with other community elders and leaders. He also recently published a book with his Fatherly advices referencing the Holy Bible.

Father Melakeselam has been one of the pillars of our community at all times, including at times when the TPLF juntas were forcing him to give up the Churches he was leading in the Sudan. If it were not for Our Father, our community could have easily fallen pray for the Woyane cadres.

It is heart-breaking to see Our Father's health conditions deteriorating in recent time. I personally and on behalf of my community would like to wish him a full and speedy recovery.

Dear Father: we all love you from the bottom of our hearts and we certainly pray for a healthy return to your daily teachings and services. Thank you and May God Bless You.

***P.S. All years above are in Ethiopian Calendar.

To read the .pdf articles in Amharic...
Interview with Gugsa Magazine (July 2002)
Interview with Voice of Unity Magazine (June 2003)

EPPF Intl. Cmte. Internal Assessment Report

The Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front International has released a press statement and a summarized report on the recent internal crisis. For more information please go to http://www.eppf.info/.

Also, check out the following video clip showing EPPF members and supporters confronting Dr. Musse Tegegn. Dr. Musse is believed to be the main cause for the recent turmoil within EPPF and for his manupulative leadership and repression of EPPF supporters.

Appeal to the DPM Tamrat Layne of TGE, 1992

On Hidar 11, 1984 Ethiopian calendar (November 19, 1992?) two respected individuals submitted a letter of protest to the then Deputy Prime Minister Tamirat Layne voicing their opposition towards the annexation of Setit Humera, Welkayt, Tegede, and Telemt by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE). The writers Ato Dagnew W/Selassie and Ato Fetihaye Assegu acknowledged the historical ties between the people of Gondar and Tigray. However, they condemn the illegal act of annexing the districts to Tigary and express their dismay at forcing the native inhabitants to be second class citizens of Tigray.

This two Honorable men were brave enough to question the government of TPLF at a crucial juncture in the history of our nation. Their courage to stand up in defence of their people was and still is commendable. They accurately foresaw the implication of the annexation of the districts on our people on relations between the people of Gondar and Tigray. Had there been the willingness to listen and act upon the advice of these elders our people would not have fallen in today's situation of animosity between the people of Gondar and Tigray.

It is saddening that we do not have such great heroes who stand up and fight in defence of their people today. These two Great individuals had the guts to express their opposition and expose the human rights violations that were committed by the TPLF on the native inhabitants. At times when not a single international human rights organization or even our own Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC) reported the atrocities that were committed in these districts, Ato Dagnew and Ato Fithaye stood for us. It is heartbreaking to see these organizations continuing to give a blind-eye to what is happening in these districts. I wish that they extend their fact finding expertise to these and all such districts rather than just concentrating in Addis Ababa or just other major cities.

The real harassment and human rights violations take place in rural Ethiopia (note: this is not to say that cities are immune), where communication to the outer world is either limited or deliberately blocked by the TPLF/EPRDF regime. It is erroneous to assume that the indicated districts (Welkayt, Tegede, and Telemt) are in a good condition just because they are located in the Tigray regional administration. In fact it is there where the conditions are miserable and where gross human rights violation are silently taking place.

Click on "Read more" to view the Amharic pdf letter written by the two gentlemen.
Read more...

Free at Last!

The hero fighter Gebrehiwot Gezahegn has been released after fifteen years of imprisonment by the TPLF regime. My sources indicate that fighter Gebrehiwot was set free this January of 2007 from the Woyane concentration camp located in Humera, northern Ethiopia. Fighter Gebrehiwot along with his compatriot Kasahun who currently is on death row were put to prison in 1992 for their involvement with the armed group Kefagn also known as EPPF.

I would like to congratulate fighter Gebrehiwot for his release and wish him all the best. I would also like to extend my best wishes to all of the fighters that are languishing in all the secret incarceration camps and to those who are sacrificing their lives at the moment.

The freedom of our people from the Woyane dictatorship is just around the corner. So, Keep the Faith and the Struggle!!

Oh Wolqait...

Here is an article which seems is a response to the previous post given by certain individual nick-named Bitwoded Wolde-Negodiguad from Columbus, Ohio. You can read the previous article here.

Read more...

Wolqait without Gonder?

This article was published on Hawarya Newspaper a while back by an individual named Kebede Agegnehu from Portland, Oregon. To read the Amharic article in pdf please go here. I will post the response to this article in a couple of days.



Read more...

Ethiopia's Archaeologists Discover Ancient Relics at Ancient Town

Town of Axum
Ethiopia's archaeologists discover ancient relics at ancient town
04/14/2006

The team also uncovered glassware and clay moulding tools, which indicate that glass technology was in use in ancient Axum.
Ethiopian Archaeologists have uncovered several ancient relics and building through excavations they conducted at the ancient town of Axum.
Coordinator of the archaeologists team Tekle Hagos told ENA on Tuesday that the team has been carrying out excavations beginning from February 8, 2006 on the tombs of Izana and Remhai around the Statue of Queen of Sheba in Axum town.
Tekle said the team has uncovered claywares, several metallic and stone-made relics as well as a four-pillar building.
According to the Ethiopian News Agency Tekle added that by the side of the ancient building was found a throne statue erected for a warrior named Hatsani Daniel.
"The script on the statue describes the victory of Hatsani Daniel at Kessela and Wolqait and his refusal to accept the appointment offered to him by the Axumite King," Archaeologist Tekle said.
The team also uncovered glassware and clay moulding tools which indicate that glass technology was in use in ancient Axum, he said.
More over, Tekle said, armaments, claywares, silver and bronze coins, bracelets and other ornaments have been found at the site, ENA reported.
The excavation, undertaken with a budget earmarked by the authority for research and conservation of cultural heritage, will continue by involving other pertinent organs next year.

Source: Eitb24 (via ENA)