December 2,2016
Part III of ESAT interview with Meron Alemayehu. She was member of Semayawi party. After she was arrested a number of times for her active role in the party, she decided to join Arbegnoch Ginbot 7, armed rebel group in the North.
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December 2,2016
While Ethiopians who tend to consider themselves as “progressives” omitted deliberately talking about story of Fidel Castro following his death, media outlets like VOA Amharic and DW Amharic covered the news and reactions of Ethiopians who studied in Cuba.
Political convictions and ideologies aside, the story is not something that can be ignored. True, Cuba left its foot print in the history of Ethiopia at some crucial point in our history when Arab backed Ziade Baree invaded Ethiopia. Besides, thousands of Ethiopian children, who were orphaned by civil war in Northern Ethiopia and Ethio-Somalia war, were sent to Cuba to pursue their education and many of them returned to Ethiopia as medical doctors, economists and engineers.
But the measure of significance of Fidel’s story is not just his contribution to Ethiopia in a difficult time. He did it to Africa and elsewhere,too. In recognition of that, the memorial service at “Plaza De La Revolucion” (Revolution Square) in Havana was attended by world leaders from Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America.
In terms of development programs, Cuba helped improve health coverage in Africa by sending thousands of Cuban doctors for free in addition to providing university scholarships to thousands of African students from Namibia,South Africa,Zimbabwe etc. Politically, it supported anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggles in Africa by providing logistic and training for freedom fighters. In the case of Angola, Cuba sent well over 30,000 troops to fight along side Angolans against Apartheid aggression. Cuba also offered support in the in Latin America, Middle East and Asia.
All these supports were initiated by Fidel Castro. That’s part of the reason which makes omitting Fidel, for those who want to distance themselves on grounds of political conviction or perception that it would harm effort to form alliance with neoliberal forces, looks really unethical. The attitude to ignore the story could in fact put these forces on the spot for test as to whether freedom, in the real sense of the term, is valued or it is just lip service. It is also a measure of the principle of impartiality on reporting.
On the part of ESAT, it is better late than never and it’s well done.
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December 3,2016
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In this edition of Efeta, Sisay and his collegue Kassahun search for a political meaning and/or message behind the arrest of Oromo Federalist Congress leader, professor Merere Gudina.
Merera is a politician whose activism stretches back to the years of Ethiopian Students movement which contributed immensely to the downfall of imperial government of Ethiopia and emergence of Ethiopia as a socialist state – a system that rather brought about much havoc to the very existence of Ethiopia. In the political context that era, Merera was a member of All Ethiopian Socialist Movement and was behind bar for nearly seven years.
Perhaps it is that experience, and many politicized Ethiopians seem to understand it that way, that helped Merera become a pragmatic politician with a good measure of wisdom. Although he is dragged to ethno-nationalist politics in the aftermath of the fall of Colonel Mengistu’s military government in 1991, he consistently remind the radicalized ethno-nationalist group about the futility of secessionist agenda. And his interpretation of Ethiopian history, perhaps antecedent, is not black and white where the Oromos are exceptionally painted as if they endured all forms of repression, while it was a shared experience. For that reason, he, at times, endured a good deal of political slurs from the radical ethno-nationalist quarter.
On the other hand, existence of radicalized ethno-nationalist, it does seem to have somewhat religious flavor, did seem to have the impact of making a politician like Merera Gudina acceptable with his ethnic party affiliation among Ethiopians which would otherwise sound unacceptable for people who grew up in a political landscape where ethnic based politics was perceived as, it is still the case, a bump – if not more. In a positive note, some in fact go to the extent of seeing a reconciliation of the past and the present in Merera and they think that he could make a good leader in the post TPLF/EPRDF Ethiopia. Merera is also well known outside of Ethiopia. Before he was arrested this week up on arrival at Bole International Air Port, he attended European Union briefing by invitation from one member of European Parliament, Ana Maria Gomez. Government claimed that Merera is arrested on grounds that he “violated” state of emergency regulation.
That said, why did the regime in power decided to arrest Merera for the first time in its twenty six years of brutal rule? This is the puzzle, as indicated above, that Efeta is trying to untangle in this edition. Is the arrest of Merera a manifestation of the ruling party’s insecurity as Sisay seem to think? Does it have something to do with the fact that Merera revealed information about the identity of the new minister of foreign affairs, Worqneh Gebeyehu (Woldekidan”? Do you agree with one or more of the above these theories or do you see any other motive or meaning in the arrest?
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Written by Dimetros Birku. Could be reached on twitter : @dimetros
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December 7,2016
Video credit : Amhara TV
The above clip is from December 4 meeting in Debremarkos,Gojjam, North Western Ethiopia. It was about evaluating implementation of state of emergency. If one is to read body language, the clip above has a lot to tell about how people feel in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
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December 8.2016
Ethiopian National Movement, a coalition of four opposition political parties, held its second meeting in Sweden. It was established last month in Washington DC.
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December 9,2016
In this edition of Yetmihirt Bilchita interview, Tadesse interviewed to female rebel combatants in the wilderness of Eritrea. Apparently, some of them have been there at least for 10 years. The challenges of leading a combatant life in environmentally adverse condition is imaginable. Yet, the moral strength and the purpose of the struggle seem to have lessened. How did they find themselves in the wilderness of Eritrea and what do they aspire to achieve? And what do they feel about what they are doing? The interview has answer for these kinds of question.
Sound quality is not that great but hopefully you could manage to hear the message.
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December 9,2016
Video Credit : Social Media
It has been weeks, if not months, since resistance to what many say is genocide by the regime in power in Gonder entered a whole new level. Residents in Armachiho, Methema and other parts of Northern Gonder have organized themselves under the leadership of volunteer group leaders known in Ethiopian history as “Gobez Aleqa”
In the past, the traditional system was employed during the struggle to maintain the independence of Ethiopia from threats and subsequent period of occupation by Fascist Italy.
“Aleqa” could literally translate to “boss” but the context is entirely different as it implies comradeship and equality. And “Gobez” sounds,literally, clever but it implies bravery. The system of Gobez Aleqa is based on one among equally capable group of men with a role for organizing,coordinating and leading the resistance. No hierarchical power relation seem to be exist within the group.
In the past two weeks alone, these groups engaged regime army deployed in Nothern Gonder and have reportedly killed well over fifty soldiers. Furthermore, they’ve captured weapons and ammunition they need very much including machin gun.
The video above is apparently in Armachiho. They are mourning the loss of one of their brave son who fell as martyr during engagement against regime forces.
What seem to be very striking about the grief tradition in the region is that grief does not have the power to break spirit within the family and within the community as well. It rather seem to be an occasion to celebrate the life and bravery of the deceased and lift up the spirit of those who are alive. One poetic maxim shared on social media captures the very sentiment used to lift up spirit during resistance.
ፈሪ ተራራ ነው ዘላለም ይኖራል፥
ጀግና ብርሌ ነው ቶሎ ይሰበራል፥
Roughly translates as follows
Like mountain a coward lives forever
Fragility is for the brave to go sooner
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December 13,2016
A documentary entitled “The Movement: Ethiopian Muslims Demand a Secular and Democratic State” is uploaded on Raadiyoo Daandii Haqaa ‘s YouTube channel. Apparently, it is a production of Raadiyoo Daandii Haqaa itself.
The documentary recounts the struggle of Ethiopian Muslims , Dimtsachin Yesema, against government intervention and imposition of new religious creed.
In doing so, it vividly portrayed the state of freedom of expression in Ethiopia by highlighting repressive measures that the regime took to make sure that free press is incapacitated to function the way it is supposed to, how the notion of the “war on terror” is perverted in a way to craft repressive machinery to brutally repress dissent and how Tigray people’s Liberation Front dominated state and society – among other things. In that regard, the documentary could be seen as a success and as an important tool to demonstrate the level of repression in Ethiopia under the ruling party.
However, references to realities of relation between the state and Ethiopian Muslims could be more accurate. For example, imposition of new state sponsored Islamic creed on Ethiopian Muslims by the ruling Tigray People’s liberation Front is equated with the history of Ethiopian Muslims as a “second class citizen” which is not really accurate.
Those two items need to be analyzed in different context – as they should be. Furthermore, reference to Ethiopian Muslims in history should not omit the fact that Ethiopia was the first country to receive Islam at a time when the followers of Prophet Mohammed were persecuted in Mecca. The first Hejira is a significant by all measures. In fact, it is possible peaceful religious coexistence between Ethiopian Christians and Ethiopian Muslims, the reminiscent of which exists in places like Wollo,could be attributed to that tradition.
Finally, it has to be told like it is that Ethiopian Muslims need to make due caution in order for “The Movement” not to be hijacked by radical ethno-nationalists.
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December 17,2016
In a video message posted on her facebook page, Swedish activist Melody Sundberg questions whether Ethiopian government is sincere about its commitment to democracy. She seem to think that people who could otherwise help in making Ethiopia a democracy are rather languishing in prisons for no other reason than their commitment to make democracy a reality in Ethiopia.
Making a reference to those human rights defenders behind bars in the various prisons in Ethiopia, she advises the government to “stop calling people terrorist” and in stead listen to what they have to say.
“Cure hatred with love” that another important message that she conveyed to people in power in Ethiopia.
Cover photo : screenshot of Melody Sundberg’s video
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December 17,2016
As reported in many Ethiopian news outlets, agricultural investors cooperative association from Tigray complained about the way they are treated in Gambella region of Ethiopia.
Among other things, they complained about defamation and identity based attack. There are claims that most of the Tigraian investors in Gambella were either former Tigray People’s Liberation Front guerrilla fighters or their relatives. For many, these investors are part of the land grab deal arranged by the government of Ethiopia.
Ermias Legesse and Sisay Agena look in to the issue closely. Apparently, these investors seem to constituent a significant proportion of investors in Gambella region.
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December 17,2016
Peasants from Gonder are enduring all kinds of atrocities from TPLF but much of it is not revealed. The video above was shared on social media today and reveals on only an aspect of TPLF government crime against Ethiopians. In the past few months the attack was intensified on Amhara in Gonder region of Ethiopia.
Amhara Resistance activists shared the video on Facebook.
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December 19,2016
ESAT Latest News December 19,2016 coverage reported about latest attempt by “Federal Security Forces” to transfer colonel Demeke Zewdu from Angerebe prison in Gonder to a different location, probably the notorious Maekelawi torture chamber in Addis Ababa.
Situation was tense for three days following the arrival of federal security forces. Federal security forces wanted to isolate colonel Demeke Zewdu from the rest of the inmates and keep him alone in a different cell until they transfer him. The result was expected confrontation.
It involved not only inmates, who were reportedly opposing the move fiercely, but also members of special forces who were assigned to guard colonel Demeke Zewdu. ESAT reported that one inmate is killed and at least three soldiers are killed during a shootout between members of special forces and “Federal security forces.”
Calm is not restored yet and roads leading to Angerebe prison in Gonder are reportedly closed.
It is to be recalled that the uprising in Gonder was sparked by government attempt to arrest colonel Demeke Zewdu simply because he was elected leader of Wolqaite identity question committee. When government security forces came to capture, if possible, or kill him, Colonel Demeke fought back against security forces and killed at least three of them. Ever since, Gonder resisted Tigray People Liberation Front’s loyal forces who turned all the stones to snatch colonel Demeke. The regime deployed defense force in the region since August of this year and there has been reported ethnic cleansing in the region. Children,elders and women are victimized by the move.
Wolqaite question got national prominence. Hundreds of youth in Amhara region were killed while clamoring for the restoration of Wolqaite as part of Gonder. Currently, it is under Tigray regional government, which incorporated it following the fall of Derg.
At the height of the popular protest, regime in power seem to have agreed that it will not attempt to transfer colonel Demeke to other prison location. After alleged restoration of calm in the country two months after state of emergency, regime seem to be thinking in terms of retaliatory measure, and also to trivialize the symbol of resistance in Gonder, against colonel Demeke Zewdu. That, could perhaps backfire in a way that the regime never imagined.
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December 21,2016
Video credit : EBC
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with Worqneh Gebeyehu in Ethiopia to discuss bilateral issues. The two countries lived diplomatic row and there was no relation for years after 2008. Now the regime in Ethiopia wanted to resume relation and Qatari investment in Ethiopia. Eleven bilateral agreements and MoU are reportedly signed between the two parties.
What Ethiopians picked from the above video is that the very flag that the regime imposed on Ethiopians,to no avail, is not put upside down.
It is not the first time for that to happen. The late Meles Zenawi did same thing in South Sudan.
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December 22,2016
In today’s ESAT Daily News coverage, among other things, the news coverage looks into Ethiopian Embassy’s response to European Union’s request for clarification on the arrest of Merera Gudina, drought hovering in the horn of Africa and Ethiopia’s huge debt burden are covered.
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December 22,2016
Diaspora Ethiopians will face new land transfer law, an increase in “terrorist charges” against journalists, decline in the number of tourists to Ethiopia, funeral ceremony of renowned lawyer Teshome Gebremariam are among main news in today’s ESAT Daily News
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December 25,2016
Video credit : Social Media
Oromo Media Network belongs to an individual and it does not reflect Oromo values, says an Oromo speaking Harvard Student – Chala Alemu. ESAT should be supported, he added. Find out more from the video above.
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December 26,2016
This edition of ESAT Bezhisamint takes a close look into unimaginable corruption related to land distribution in Gambella region of Ethiopia.
Research based report conducted by the ruling party itself unveiled a striking information regarding land distributed to “investors.” Of the total 630,000 hectares of land distributed, only 16 percent of it is developed by the “investors”.
In the first place, it is important to remember a study by US based Oakland institute regarding land grab in Gambella region.Land made available to “investors” was acquired by government through compulsory and dehumanizing dislocation of local residents and farmers. In instances where peasants and local farmers were given “compensation,” , what they’ve received constitute, in most cases, much less than 1 percent of the real value of land they lost through compulsory dispossession. Hundreds of lives have been lost.
Most of the “investors” who were given land in Gambella region were from Tigray region. The Federal government was directly involved in the allocation of land in Gambella region and perhaps in the arrangement of loan itself. Under the current constitution of Ethiopia, the task of distributing land to “investors” was supposed to be within the jurisdiction of regional governments – in this case Gambella. So the issue of constitutional breach is well noted Sisay and his guests.
Apart from land distribution, what arrangements were made for “investors” ?
4.9 billion Ethiopian birr loan arrangement was made available from development bank often without collateral holds.
It appears to be the case that 84 percent of “investors” who benefited from the loan arrangement, as can be deduced from statistics from government’s own fact finding research, did not invest the fund on the land they were given by the Federal investment. Mind you they also benefited from tax free importation which was meant to be for machinery but was instead used for importing some other stuff.
Yet, Tigraieans who are majority of agricultural “investors” in Gambella and who are beneficiaries of the loan arrangement complained last week that they have been targeted because of their “identity.” Cleary, it represented an attempt to veil the grand corruption.
Ironically, one of the recommendations from the research team does appear to be transferring land given in investment back to the regional government of Gambella so that the “investors” will pursue the matter with the government of Gambella. So Tigrians could play more of identity politics card. The truth is Tigrayeans exploited dominance of Tigray People Liberation Front over government to enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of Ethiopians.
Of course, it should be remembered that land given for “agricultural” investment is entirely useless when it comes to contributing to food security in Ethiopia. Simply because the investment is motivated by profit making and the product will end up to markets where it can fetch better price.
There is more into this grand story of corruption. Ermias Legese, Sisay Agena and Dr. Semahegne delved into it in the video above.
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December 26,2016
Video : embedded from youtube channel of Mereja.com
Three fire incidents in different locations reported within 24 hours in Addis Ababa. This same week, a fire that broke out at Deberebrehan University North of the capital Addis Ababa, caused 2 million birr in damage. In the past few months, more fire incidents have been recorded in Ethiopia, including in prisons like Kilnto and other parts of Ethiopia.
Is it just accident?
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December 27,2016
Video credit : Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation
125 people are arrested in Addis Ababa in what the regime allegedly says is over corruption practices. It is Addis Ababa police Commission that made the arrest, not the “Command Post.” And the arrest was made on Friday, according to Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation. The report added that Addis Ababa Police is investigating the cases of arrested officials and individuals.
22 of the arrest are said to be executives in city administration of Addis Ababa. 99 of them are said to be employees of Addis Ababa Administration at various levels and 4 are individuals, according to the report by state media. Addis Ababa is one of the most corrupt places in the country to the extent that corruption has become almost like a norm.
Lists of arrested executives in the city administration is not disclosed, perhaps purposely. Concerns have been expressed that the regime in power could use “the fight against” corruption in a way to root out officials whose loyalty to the regime is questionable.
In fact, many Ethiopians are of the view that the regime in power deliberately entrenched corruption, which is at unprecedented level in the history of the country, as a tool to form loyal social base to maintain its power.
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December 21,2016
Helen, Helen show host on EBS, interviewed Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, grandson of Emperor Hailesellasie, and his wife Princess Saba.
Prince Ermias was only 14 when the Ethiopian revolution ended the historic three thousands years old Ethiopian crown. But he had to deal with his own fair share of challenges, for lack of a better word, following the collapse of the imperial government. In addition to the story of his grandfather who was suffocated to death the members of military junta who carried out the revolution, the entire royal family was imprisoned for many years.
Asked to point out something the he would like the public to understand about the reign of his grandfather, Emperor Haileselassie, he said that a lot of lies had been told about Emperor Haile Selassie during height of the Ethiopian revolution. Specially, the rumor about the emperor stashing away billions of dollars overseas was pure lie, he told the host of the show. The allegation that the emperor was indulging in lavish royal life style while famine was ravaging Wollo was not true either ; it was just propaganda – he says. He believes that his grand father did the best he could but admitted that there were things that could have been even better and things that should have been done differently.
Apart from that, he shared his own fond memories and stories of the royal family that did not make it to the headline. He also fondly talked about Jamaica and Jamaicans ; apparently very much impressed about their knowledge regarding the history of Ethiopia. He visited Jamaica recently.
He is currently the chair of The Crown Council of Ethiopia. And he is thinking in terms of numerous projects along the lines of improving the lives of impoverished Ethiopians-projects that could perhaps link him to many Ethiopians in the future.
With all the problems that Ethiopia is facing right now, he seem to be optimistic about the future of Ethiopia. It is only recently that he returned to Ethiopia after living for 34 years abroad and his dream is to live in Ethiopia.
While Prince Ermias is a piece of history, by virtue of the contribution of his grandfather not just to Ethiopia but to Africa, he does not even have a residence in Ethiopia. Certainly, regrettable -for lack of better words. It is our history and we should treat it as such, at least.
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