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!

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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