Ethio-Zagol
One can’t get a better example of shoddy journalism than this. The best spin we can give to the story is this: the young AP journalists wanted to make a juicy story out of EPRDF’s allegation that it had foiled Ginbot 7’s alleged attempt to overthrow the government. Most of AP’s subscribers are in the US. So referring to the group leader’s connection to a US university would raise the profile of her story. Yada, Yada…
But I see a more sinister motive here. Anita Powell is a lousy journalist. Since Antony Mitchell’s death, her reports have mostly been what the government demands of foreign journalists - stories that portray the positive images of the country. She regularly hob nobs with government officials and EPRDF sympathizers at the Sheraton hotel, and has a not-so-hidden distaste for Birhanu Nega. So what does she do? Embarrass the institution which hosts him by making it the center of her story. Simply put, she is telling her US readers that Bucknell University is harbouring a “terrorism” suspect.
And her story will surely get traction in the US. Read this AP story. It will no doubt be in most Pennsylvanian and other US papers on Sunday. It is already in some of them. The EPRDF government is also using her story to put pressure on Bucknell so that it rethinks Birhanu’s position in the University.
But the story has a silver lining. We need to push back vigorously and systematically. There is a pile of credible evidence about the behaviour and character of the EPRDF government. It is a pathetic liar human rights abuser and totalitarian dictatorship. Let’s compile them and hand them over to the newspapers and wire correspondents who are assigned to do the story.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Berhanu Nega denies leading alleged Ethiopian coup plot
By Marc Scolforo, Assocaited Press Writer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – An economics professor at a Pennsylvania university said Saturday he supports efforts to spread democracy in his native Ethiopia, but denied backing an alleged coup attempt there that led to the arrests of 35 people by the government.
"I'm very suspicious that there was an attempt at all," said Berhanu Nega during an interview at his home outside of Lewisburg in north-central Pennsylvania. "This is not a government that has any credibility whatsoever in terms of telling the truth."
He said he did not know who may have been arrested, and said it could have easily been some sort of overreaction.
"The government, every time, it panics," he said. "It's always treason, always acting against the government."
Berhanu, 51, said he came to the U.S. as a young man in 1980, is married to an American citizen and has two sons. He is an associate professor of economics at nearby Bucknell University, a private liberal-arts school that enrolls about 3,400 undergraduates.
He previously taught at the university from 1990 until 1994, when he returned to Ethiopia to work at Addis Ababa University, according to a profile on the university's Web site.
In 2005, he became the country's first elected mayor when he won the mayoral race in Addis Ababa, the nation's capital. But post-election violence over the election results led the Ethiopian government to shoot 193 protesters and to later jail Berhanu, other opposition leaders and thousands of supporters. Berhanu said the party was not responsible for the violent demonstrations.
The opposition leaders stood trial for nearly two years on charges of challenging the constitutional order — the charge was lessened from treason. The main clique of 38 opposition leaders pleaded guilty and were pardoned in 2007 after appealing to the government.
Berhanu and several other party leaders then left for the U.S., returning to the country in August 2007. He rejoined Bucknell as a visiting international scholar in economics in Spring 2008.
"It became very clear immediately after our release that they will not at all tolerate any opposition, meaningful opposition," he said.
Berhanu also urged President Obama's administration to "carefully revisit its policy toward Ethiopia."
"It is just unseemly for any democratic government such as the United States to have any relationship with it," he said.
African immigrants risk lives on epic trek to U.S.
By Mica Rosenberg
Reuters
TAPACHULA, Mexico (Reuters) - Jailed repeatedly for his political views, Ethiopian immigrant Sharew paid smugglers around $10,000 to move him through a dozen countries and leave him a year later in the grubby southern Mexican city of Tapachula.
Once on Mexico's southern border, which has grown into a major stepping-stone for hundreds of migrants fleeing conflicts in the Horn of Africa, he was still 2,000 miles away from his destination: the United States.
The immigrants, mainly from Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea, are increasingly following a new, epic route down the continent to South Africa, across the Atlantic by boat or plane and then a trek overland though South and Central America.
Read the rest here.
Reuters
TAPACHULA, Mexico (Reuters) - Jailed repeatedly for his political views, Ethiopian immigrant Sharew paid smugglers around $10,000 to move him through a dozen countries and leave him a year later in the grubby southern Mexican city of Tapachula.
Once on Mexico's southern border, which has grown into a major stepping-stone for hundreds of migrants fleeing conflicts in the Horn of Africa, he was still 2,000 miles away from his destination: the United States.
The immigrants, mainly from Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea, are increasingly following a new, epic route down the continent to South Africa, across the Atlantic by boat or plane and then a trek overland though South and Central America.
Read the rest here.
Kin of Exiled Ethiopian Opposition Leaders Charged in Coup Plot
By Peter Heinlein
Addis Ababa(VOA)
Relatives of two prominent exiled Ethiopian politicians are among 35 people jailed in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government. Ethiopians shocked by news of the arrests are scrambling to learn the identities of the accused plotters and details of their alleged crimes.
Ethiopian officials say they had nothing to add to a statement issued Saturday announcing the arrest of 35 alleged members of Ginbot Seven, an opposition group based outside the country.
Ginbot Seven, or May 15th, is the date of Ethiopia's disputed 2005 election. The group's leader, Berhanu Nega, is a charismatic politician who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in that election. He was arrested afterward, convicted of treason, and sentenced to life in prison along with more than 100 other opposition leaders. All were later pardoned.
Berhanu now lives in the United States, where he is an economics professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
Saturday's government statement said security forces had foiled a terror network formed by Berhanu to wage armed struggle against the government. Spokesman Ermias Legesse said a search of suspects' homes had revealed a cache of weapons, military uniforms and a plan of attack.
In a telephone interview Monday, Berhanu confirmed that Ginbot Seven's aim is to overthrow the government by any means possible.
"Our position is very clear from the beginning. This is an illegal government. This government is in power by coup de etat in 2005. This government has usurped power by force and therefore any mechanism to get rid of an illegitimate tyranny is legitimate as far as we are concerned," he said.
Click on 'Read More.'
Ethiopian media said those arrested included an active duty army general, Teferra Mamo, said to be leader of Ginbot Seven's military wing. The only other suspect identified was Melaku Tefera, an organizer for the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party.
Melaku was among the opposition leaders convicted of treason and later pardoned following the 2005 election. He now joins UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa, who was re-arrested earlier this year and ordered to serve out her life sentence.
Berhanu Nega says he had been told the accused included a cousin of his living in Addis Ababa, and the 80-year old father of Tsige Andargachew, an exiled Ginbot Seven official living in Britain.
Berhanu told VOA security forces had surrounded his parents' Addis Ababa home and confiscated their cellphones. "This is a government that accuses your relatives for what you do. Whatever it is that you do. That is why Ato (Mr.) Tsige Andargachew's father is in prison. Maybe my cousin is in prison for the same reason," he said.
Several Ethiopian opposition figures expressed concern over the arrests. Parliament Member Bulcha Demeksa agreed that Ginbot Seven would be considered an illegal organization under Ethiopian law, but he expressed skepticism about the reports of a coup plot.
"I honestly believe this is not true. The government of Ethiopia has used such accusations so many times to make it a reason to arrest people ... The election approaching. Anybody who could be a viable candidate for an opposition party will be caught by this net," he said.
A government spokesman said he was busy in meetings but said told VOA further details of the arrests and the coup plot would be forthcoming in the next few days. He declined to speculate on what charges might be filed against those detained, but said the suspects would soon be brought before a judge to hear the charges read.
Addis Ababa(VOA)
Relatives of two prominent exiled Ethiopian politicians are among 35 people jailed in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government. Ethiopians shocked by news of the arrests are scrambling to learn the identities of the accused plotters and details of their alleged crimes.
Ethiopian officials say they had nothing to add to a statement issued Saturday announcing the arrest of 35 alleged members of Ginbot Seven, an opposition group based outside the country.
Ginbot Seven, or May 15th, is the date of Ethiopia's disputed 2005 election. The group's leader, Berhanu Nega, is a charismatic politician who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in that election. He was arrested afterward, convicted of treason, and sentenced to life in prison along with more than 100 other opposition leaders. All were later pardoned.
Berhanu now lives in the United States, where he is an economics professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
Saturday's government statement said security forces had foiled a terror network formed by Berhanu to wage armed struggle against the government. Spokesman Ermias Legesse said a search of suspects' homes had revealed a cache of weapons, military uniforms and a plan of attack.
In a telephone interview Monday, Berhanu confirmed that Ginbot Seven's aim is to overthrow the government by any means possible.
"Our position is very clear from the beginning. This is an illegal government. This government is in power by coup de etat in 2005. This government has usurped power by force and therefore any mechanism to get rid of an illegitimate tyranny is legitimate as far as we are concerned," he said.
Click on 'Read More.'
Ethiopian media said those arrested included an active duty army general, Teferra Mamo, said to be leader of Ginbot Seven's military wing. The only other suspect identified was Melaku Tefera, an organizer for the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party.
Melaku was among the opposition leaders convicted of treason and later pardoned following the 2005 election. He now joins UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa, who was re-arrested earlier this year and ordered to serve out her life sentence.
Berhanu Nega says he had been told the accused included a cousin of his living in Addis Ababa, and the 80-year old father of Tsige Andargachew, an exiled Ginbot Seven official living in Britain.
Berhanu told VOA security forces had surrounded his parents' Addis Ababa home and confiscated their cellphones. "This is a government that accuses your relatives for what you do. Whatever it is that you do. That is why Ato (Mr.) Tsige Andargachew's father is in prison. Maybe my cousin is in prison for the same reason," he said.
Several Ethiopian opposition figures expressed concern over the arrests. Parliament Member Bulcha Demeksa agreed that Ginbot Seven would be considered an illegal organization under Ethiopian law, but he expressed skepticism about the reports of a coup plot.
"I honestly believe this is not true. The government of Ethiopia has used such accusations so many times to make it a reason to arrest people ... The election approaching. Anybody who could be a viable candidate for an opposition party will be caught by this net," he said.
A government spokesman said he was busy in meetings but said told VOA further details of the arrests and the coup plot would be forthcoming in the next few days. He declined to speculate on what charges might be filed against those detained, but said the suspects would soon be brought before a judge to hear the charges read.
Ethiopia arrests 35 in 'terror' plot
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Ethiopian authorities have arrested 35 members of an opposition group accused of plotting to carry out a "terror attack" in the Horn of Africa nation, state media said Sunday.
The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) said all members belonged to "Gunbot 7" (May 15), a group headed by the former opposition party leader Berhanu Nega.
"The National (security) Taskforce detained 35 suspects on Friday based on the country's law," ENA said, citing the taskforce.
"The Taskforce through a search warrant issued by the court has caught various arms, bombs, satellite, computers, radio communications, military uniforms and planning documents, among others," the state media added.
Berhanu, 51, currently a university professor in the United States, was elected mayor of Addis Ababa during the disputed 2005 polls. He was then jailed for two years along with other leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party, and moved to the US after his release.
The CUD won an unprecendented number of the parliament's 547 seats in the 2005 elections, which the European Union and other observers said fell short of international standards.
Around 200 people died in violence that erupted after the CUD accused the party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of rigging the ballot.
The name "May 15" refers to the date the polls opened in the 2005 election.
Ethiopia's next general election is scheduled to be held in June 2010.
Meles, whose security forces were blamed for using excessive force four years ago, has vowed to prepare law enforcement agencies to avoid bloodshed in time for next year's vote
The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) said all members belonged to "Gunbot 7" (May 15), a group headed by the former opposition party leader Berhanu Nega.
"The National (security) Taskforce detained 35 suspects on Friday based on the country's law," ENA said, citing the taskforce.
"The Taskforce through a search warrant issued by the court has caught various arms, bombs, satellite, computers, radio communications, military uniforms and planning documents, among others," the state media added.
Berhanu, 51, currently a university professor in the United States, was elected mayor of Addis Ababa during the disputed 2005 polls. He was then jailed for two years along with other leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party, and moved to the US after his release.
The CUD won an unprecendented number of the parliament's 547 seats in the 2005 elections, which the European Union and other observers said fell short of international standards.
Around 200 people died in violence that erupted after the CUD accused the party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of rigging the ballot.
The name "May 15" refers to the date the polls opened in the 2005 election.
Ethiopia's next general election is scheduled to be held in June 2010.
Meles, whose security forces were blamed for using excessive force four years ago, has vowed to prepare law enforcement agencies to avoid bloodshed in time for next year's vote
Field trip of world religions doesn't go far
Los Angeles Times
By Joe Mozingo
In his quest to have students experience firsthand how people around the world worship, Varun Soni, the dean of religious life at USC, did not start up some expensive study-abroad program. He just ventured a few blocks from campus.
Within a square mile, he and his staff discovered 67 places of worship. And that was without crossing the Harbor Freeway just to the east.
Earlier this semester, Soni started a weekly "Souljourn" to explore that religious diversity, bringing students of different faiths to churches of different faiths, from Hare Krishna to Tao to Pentecostal.
On Sunday about 10 a.m., four Wiccans, a Buddhist, a Sufi and an agnostic filed up the rickety stairs to the balcony of the Virgin Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Hundreds of congregants filled the pews, many men wearing suit coats, women wrapped in gauzy white scarves. They chanted joyously with the choir in Amharic, tended restless children and clapped the deep detonations of the kubaro drum.
With no English translation, the students took in the distinct mix of African sound -- the ululating and drums -- with the Western fixtures of votive candles, incense and stained glass.
"It was beautiful," said Jaclyn Kalkhurst, 23, who runs a Pagan-Wiccan group on campus. "We love the drums. We want to get one now."
Click here for the rest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)