EFFORT emptied Development Bank of Ethiopia
By Abebe Gellaw | February 5, 2010
In mid-January, the ailing Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) declared once again that it is in need of rescue fund. The business weekly, Addis Fortune, reported that the bank called on the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) to inject more capital to refill its empty cash registers.
INCREASED
ROLE OF PARTY-OWENED ENTERPRISES IN BUSINESSES & THE ECONOMY RAISES
SEVERAL SERIOUS CONCERNS. FOR MANY, THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS HAPPENING TO
THE EXPRESSED NATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF:
By
Genet
Mersha
It
is extremely troubling why the ruling party is so driven about pushing new
visible and invisible policy doors. It has opened immense political and
legal support to its business enterprises, including the country’s banks
made to give them priority over others. Could
that be the reason why only TPLF/EPRDF members preside over the boards of
party-owned businesses and major government enterprises including banks?
The Politicization of Food Aid Under One-Party Rule in Ethiopia
By Seeye Abraha
February 1, 2010
The West has provided hundreds of millions of dollars of food aid to Ethiopia in the past several years. However, donor countries have placed few monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure that the aid provided is delivered to the target populations. As a result, the ruling party has been able to effectively use relief aid to mobilize support for itself and undermine support for its opposition.
Press Statement
The
United Nations Human Rights Council officially declared
that
UDJ Chairperson W/t Birtukan
Mideksa is among those
prisoners
who
are arbitrarily arrested
UDJ will continue to pursue its course of
peaceful endeavor to see our leader Birtukan Mideksa and other prisoners
of conscience released and freedom and democracy become a reality in
Ethiopia. We call upon the international community to stand on our side in
the pursuit of this noble and common cause. It would be a serious mistake
to believe that anyone’s interest could be protected in an environment
where repression rules.
WHY
IS THE
VATICAN
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY ON
ETHIOPIA
?!
Kidane
Alemayehu.
I
feel sure you're aware of the fact that the Vatican is in the process of
beatifiying Pope Pius XII into sainthood although it is well known that he
was a major supporter of the Italian Fascists who committed genocide in
Ethiopia. The Jewish community is expressing its serious objections
because of the Pope's collaboration with the Nazis. Ethiopians have more
cause for objections to the process.
Ethiopian
Banker Leads Development Agency for Obama Administration
As
chief of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Daniel Yohannes, is the
highest 
ranking
Ethiopian American in Obama's government.
An Ethiopian
immigrant is making history as the highest Ethiopian-American official in
the Obama administration. Daniel Yohannes was born in the Ethiopian
capital. He completed his elementary school at Addis Ababa’s Nativity
Boy’s School and later transferred to St. Joseph’s, a prestigious
Catholic high school in Addis Ababa. “In those days people of my
generation were idealistic, full of energy, with a lot of love for each
other, as well as love and respect for our parents, elders, and teachers,”
Yohannes says Yohannes tells about some of the successes. Ghana, he points
out, is making commercial agriculture more profitable and reduce the cost
of transporting food from rural areas to markets.
Residents
of Addis Ababa crying out for freedom
By
Astway Yared
According
to residents of Addis Ababa, the regime has put in place multiple
controlling mechanisms, which are designed to control the daily activities
of citizens. Currently, the regime has established new structures called
Urban citizens’ league (“Yeketema Newariwoch League”), “Women
League”, “Youth League”, and “Youth Forums”. League and forums
are a newly introduced organizing techniques intended to control citizens.
One woman said “if citizens decide to abandon these League and Forum
meetings, they will be under the threat of receiving no social services
from their Kebele, including wheat”.
Protecting
Ethiopia?: On Outside Support for Human Rights
By
Donald Levine
It
is in this age-old spirit that some Ethiopians warn today of new dangers
of encroachment in their country and in Africa generally. This fear may
well be exacerbated by recent leases of expanses of land to Saudi Arabia,
India, and Egypt, and by published reports that some 50pc of Chinese
businesses reportedly operate in Ethiopia illegally.
Haiti:
Our Great Friend in Need
Tecola W. Hagos January
18, 2010
We urge our Ethiopian
brothers and sisters to give and help as much as possible to the victims
of this horrendous devastation. The suffering of every single Haitian is
ours as well. Let us remember how our Haitian brothers and sisters,
without exception, helped our cause during the Fascist Italian aggression
and occupation of our beloved country
Ethiopia
in 1935-41.
Please, participate actively in every way you can by denoting money to
charitable organizations, and by volunteering to Work in the recovery
process in
Haiti
. Please, contact the Red Cross, the Haitian Embassy et cetera for such
humanitarian purposes. Let us use our wide network of families, friends,
neighbors, colleagues, and community members for such purpose. It is our
duty to help our fellow human beings in time of their greatest needs, and
it is also our obligation of gratitude to the kindness shown to us by
Haitian in our time of great need.
Passion and Interest: The Faking of
Tigrean Nationalism
Messay
Kebede
January
18, 2010
Our
surprise should decrease even more in light of ethnic discourse
authorizing oppressive behavior. The clear message of ethnonationalist
discourse in Ethiopia is that there is nothing common between Amhara,
Oromo, Tigreans, and other groups. They are all different nations that the
Amhara state held together by sheer force. Given this image of Ethiopia as
a “prison-house of nations,” what can we expect from TPLF fighters
when they land in Wollega, Gondar or Wolaita? Obviously, they come as
conquerors and occupiers since no bonds exist between them and the
indigenous people. In denying the existence of a country called Ethiopia,
the TPLF fighter is thereby invited to behave as a foreigner occupying an
alien land that he/she will ransack without the slightest
hesitation.
AS
ETHIO-EGYPTIAN ACCORD TAKES EFFECT,
AL
AHRAM RUBS SALT ON OLD WOUNDS
By
Genet Mersha, January 12, 2010
In
fact, Mr. Nikrumah insinuates as though Ethiopia has said, “take
whatever you want, but make sure you cooperate with me in the economic
field. Even then, the best he could is to state, “Egypt, too, [compared
with Israel] stands poised to prove that it can offer technical assistance
to Ethiopia. Though no small challenge, it is one that can be met.”
POLITICS HAMPERS
PROGRESS ON POVERTY ERADICATION,
BALANCED GROWTH, FAIRNESS,
DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE
By
Genet Mersha, January 4, 2010
In
Ethiopia’s case, the slogan is growth with distribution. To that end,
numerous actions have been undertaken. Nonetheless, in spite of these and
significant GDP growths, the data suggest loud and clearly that poverty is
on the rise, instead of declining. This speaks of a strategy anchored on
shifting grounds. This could be the outcome of growth processes hijacked
by the dictates of political interests rendering pro-poor growth
toothless. Obviously,
the desire to break out of the shackles of poverty is there, although
priorities have changed to overcoming the damage the tragic 2005 election
has caused. As the French would say
Journalists facing supreme court vendetta
By Abebe Gellaw*
The people at the helm of the Federal Supreme Court know the difference between justice and vengeance. They know that justice is blind, a concept that underlines the neutrality of the judiciary. But blinded by political and ethnic interests, the Supreme Court judges have preferred to dispense injustice with vehement vendetta against the perceived political enemies of the regime.
Birtukan
Mideksa:
Ethiopia
’s Freedom Supernova
By
Abebe Gellaw, January 1, 2010
Those
who have been consumed with self-destruction and bickering even within her
party in stead of unifying against the rise of Stalinism and Apartheid in
our homeland should remember a woman, who has chosen to suffer in harsh
jails than kneeling down to despotism
Book
Review: Tadesse Tele Salvano’s Ay Massawa!
By
Messay Kebede, December 31, 2009
The book presents an encircled army defending with courage and determination the port of Massawa against the ferocious attacks of the EPLF’s military forces assisted with units of the TPLF. This army unit of 17000 men resisted for ten long days even though it had no other choice than death or mere surrender: it could neither retreat as the Red Sea blocked any backward move, nor receive reinforcements given that the EPLF firmly controlled the road to Asmara. The book is all together an epic, an immense tragedy, and a great tribute to Ethiopian nationalism. Many combatants were killed on both sides although the book does not offer figures of the dead, the wounded, and the prisoners.
EDITORIAL:
UN
Sanction against Eritrea is ill Advised,
Not
Beneficial to Ethiopia
“Ahyawin
tito Dawlawoon”
By
Tecola W. Hagos, December 29, 2009
Both China and Russia in some ways may act in their own self interest, which may restrict the ever growing imperialistic and hefty decisions of the West. My dissatisfaction of the decisions of the powerful Western nations is not an opposition to their economic structure that had brought about unheard of wealth to the World in general, but their poor foreign relations and terrible foreign policies. I particularly resent their subservient relationship and difference to Saudi Arabia, which should not even be considered as a government, but a family business with abominable and absolutely dictatorial primitive system of law and system of management. It is laughable that the West would be imposing on little and poor Eritrea sanction for “destabilizing” the Horn region, while Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Emirates, and Egypt, the main forces that have caused havoc in the region for the last half century are held in reverence.
UN DATA INDICATE ETHIOPIA’S PROGRESS
ON MAJOR MDG TARGETS HAS LONG WAY TO GO
By Genet Mersha, 27 December, 2010
Part I of this article rang the bell that poverty and inequality have deepened in Ethiopia. With the help of data, it showed where Ethiopia stands in respect of attaining the three targets of Goal One of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The internationally defined objective of Goal One is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
PART FIVE:
Lacrimosa for Ethiopia: Political Liquidation of EPRDF/TPLF
By Tecola W. Hagos [December 23, 2009]
There is an Ethiopian aphorism that is always a source of
fascination to me every time I think about Meles Zenawi and his close associates: When Totit (a young agile ape) was asked what type of contest-game she liked best, she answered, “Ye zaf ly tigle.” [trans. “Wrestling on tree branches.”] What Meles does best in politics is the equivalent of wrestling on tree branches metaphorically speaking, where he is adept with arboreal acrobatics of lies and deceptions. To counter his form of contest is not to go after him to tree tops up in the air, but to pull him down to Earth with pragmatic strategy and short term tactics. Medrek is a group I believe destined to rescue Ethiopia from destruction. It is the best aggregation of politicians and intellectuals that could effectively transform Ethiopia into a unitary and multi-ethnic nation-state and on to a strong rich and humane country in the near future.
The
Honorable Judge Birtukan Mideksa,
We at the Website www.tecolahagos.com
are wishing you Melkam Genna and Year 2010 of Justice. We
want you to know that you are never far from our thoughts
every single Day. We Protest your illegal and barbaric
imprisonment by the Government of Meles Zenawi and his
Close Associates, in the strongest terms possible. We
offer you as part of our greeting a Poem by Dr.
Ghelawdewos Araia. TH
Birtukuan,
Tell Me!
By
Ghelawdewos Araia
What
have you done my dear
To
be thrown into the jail of Qaliti
Is
it your elegant appearance?
Or
your formidable political stance
Oh Africa!
By Haileselassie Girmay
What is this thing I carry - empty sack,
Funny enough
It is tough,
It weighs me down
Like no other thing has done,
I have no use for the paunch,
Whatsoever none,
Please take it if you can.
This grey matter
Inside the skull,
Ideas together it could not pull.
The Beauty of Faith: The Lalibela Ethiopian Cross -
The Most Beautiful Cross in the World
By Tecola W. Hagos, December 18, 2009
Reprint as Season’s Greetings, Melkam Genna and a Happy New Year
www.tecolahagos.com
In this one design, the Christian dogma and the history of the Church are both encapsulated in an exquisitely balanced expressive design. [The first Lalibela Cross depiction at the top herein in this article is the base for all Lalibela Cross variations.] The Cross is based on two elongated circles intertwined with each other, where one simply continues or merges into the other, symbolizing the temporal and the eternal, or Heaven and Earth, or the Spiritual and the Physical aspects of Creation.
Eternal flame….
Locke me in a fridge
I will not get cold
And my blood clot.
If I hold on to you - eternal flame
Death will not triumph and claim.
By Haileselassie Girmay
IMF/World Bank & the Clientele of Failing States: The case of Ethiopia’s chronic famine syndrome
Laeke Gebresadik December 12, 2009
The problem of food crisis has its deep
roots in the structural changes of the farming sector since the 1984
famine. The commercialized food aid and austerity programs of the
IMF/World Bank and World Trade Organization (WTO) on the agricultural
sector, and the economy at large, are the forces that have failed Ethiopia
to achieve food security for its people since the great famine.By
the year 2004, twenty years after the great famine, farmers and their
families in Ethiopia trapped in a cycle of draught and government
mismanagement became established customers of human misfortune for rich
farmers and mill companies in the United States.
POVERTY & INEQUALITY DEEPEN, DESPITE ECONOMIC GROWTH:
IS IT SYMPTOMATIC OF POLICY FAILING THE POOR, OR GROWTH?
By Genet Mersha, December 17, 2009
In making this conclusion, this writer declares her awareness that accelerated economic growth in Ethiopia has begun from a low base, and real growth is only six years old, out of the eighteen, since the regime has been in power. Even then, unfortunately, the momentum of growth and national development has been taking place in a climate beset by policy inconsistencies, political polarization, uncertainty and corruption. At the individual level, rife is state-inspired fear and insecurity and public resentment against curtailment of civil liberties.
Remarks
by MCC CEO Daniel Yohannes at the Public Outreach Meeting after the
December 2009 Board Meeting
December
10, 2009 - As prepared
I’m
grateful for the Senate’s swift confirmation of my nomination. Congress
is an important partner for us, and I am looking forward to working with
the many men and women on Capitol Hill who are dedicated to MCC’s
mission of reducing poverty. I am also looking
forward to getting to know, and working with, all of you. This is my
second week on the job and this is what I know for sure: MCC is expanding
opportunities for the world’s poor through a system built on
transparency, results, and new thinking in development.
grapeshot
of the Ethiopian Revolution
By
Aymro
Ato
Meles, cuts a similar figure to Louis Napoleon, the same arrogant pride,
deceitfulness, monarchic aspirations (overt in Louis & covert in
Meles) and bloody-mindedness. They both turned out quite costly to
the countries they misruled; Louis Napoleon foolishly conquered Mexico
with disastrous consequences and was then manipulated by Bismarck into
declaring war on Germany and then soundly beaten. Ato Meles, has given
away the seacoast, fought a foolish war with Eritrea and invaded Somalia a
few times. All these wars have been disastrous to Ethiopia’s economy
with no benefit to anyone.
The
Mystery and the Glory of Ethiopia
A
leap of faith to Ethiopia's ancient holy sites
By
Mark Sissons | December 12, 2009
The
mind tends to wander when you're trying to catch a glimpse of the only man
on Earth who's allowed to see the Ark of the Covenant, the shiny gold box
said to hold the tablets of the Ten Commandments. How
do you get that job? Is there a security clearance? Does it come with
medical and dental, or is your well-being pretty much overseen by the
Almighty? I couldn't help but think:
Indiana Jones would have loved Axum.
Press
Release: U.S. URGES FURTHER ETHIOPIAN ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The United States considers a vibrant and independent media to be one of
the pillars of a strong democracy. As
such, we are concerned about the recent closure of the Addis Neger newspaper,
and the allegations of harassment and
intimidation of private media. The outstanding charges against
private journalists, editors, publishers, and media houses may also
contribute to a perception that space
for independent media in Ethiopia is constrained. Ethiopia’s
constitution guarantees freedom of the
press and that the press shall enjoy legal protection to ensure its
capacity to entertain diverse opinions.
A
MANIFESTO FOR UDJ: Moral Economy, an Alternative to Capitalism and
Socialism
By
Tewodros Kiros, PhD
When
famines occurred and deep inequalities became a way of life, it was the
duty of the rulers to uphold Maat and measure the depth and extent of the
suffering. Not that this ideal was perfectly upheld, particularly when
nature overwhelmed the rulers ideals, but there was at least an absolute
and objective standard by which social/ political life was judged and
measured.
EDITORIAL:
Addis
Neger
[victim
of Meles Zenawi's
Oppression]
By
Tecola W. Hagos
December
9, 2009
Nothing infuriates me more than the
mistreatment of mothers and children. I could easily go into epileptic
convulsion when I hear about harm done to the most valuable and yet the
most vulnerable members of society. The next groups of people that I
believe deserve all the protections we can muster are reporters, editors,
and publishers, people who inform, educate, and galvanize us. Without free
press and open communication, a nation and a people have no life and no
future. Of all the fundamental freedoms, the right to free speech and
expression is the most foundational and cannot be delaminated from the
right to life.
UDJ
Press Statement
December
7, 2009
In
a matter of one week, open lawlessness wins twice in Addis Ababa. On 29
November 2009, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) had called an
Extra-ordinary Congress scheduled to be held at the Imperial Hotel. The
meeting was permitted by the Addis Ababa City Administration in writing.
The permit was copied to the relevant security and law enforcement bodies.
UDJ also had delivered a copy of the permit to the Police Command, under
whose jurisdiction Imperial Hotel is, to make sure that it had reached the
immediately responsible body. The Extra-ordinary
Congress was openly disrupted by a group of individuals who
were dismissed from the party for disciplinary reasons and UDJ asked for
police help. No help came. The government failed to uphold the rule of law
and lawlessness reigned at the Imperial Hotel.
Do
You Remember Me?
Ethiopia
.......!
“Do You Remember Me? “
“”Yes! I do! How couldn't I!
I am the river you found me dry.
Your parched throat about to crack,
Water, plenty that I have & that I don't,
Was what you were heard cry!
Poems
from Arsenic and Humor: A Book of Verses [manuscript]
By
Tecola W. Hagos [Phineaus] (three poems)
From Abbay
Media
Addis Neger ceases
publication
Posted in
December 4th, 2009
by Editor
in Press
Freedom, Press
Release
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR
On
Professor Mesfin, UDJ, and Medrek
The
test of a difficult time can hardly be overcome by slicing one another
By
Genet Mersha
Lately the actions of the man I respect have reminded me of the words of the famous economist Paul Samuelson. He emphasized that, in a changing world, the risks are too many, especially as “customs may be so unyielding that societies become extinct defending their traditions.” Ethiopian pride comes to mind, cherished as it is. However, I mean no disrespect in saying I turned into the Doubting Thomas the day Prof. Mesfin pushed further into political activism as his latest vocation. For all I understand, his well-recognized trademark has been opposing whatever everyone supports, the type of which he has unwisely demonstrated now. It seems his frailty—not in the least in the physical sense—has become more evident now than anytime before.
PART
FOUR
Lacrimosa
For
Ethiopia
: Medrek and the “Code of Conduct”
By Tecola W, Hagos – December 1, 2009
How many Ethiopians, among the opposition or in general, would have the type of personal individualized courage as some of Ethiopia’s heroes from our past, such as Abraha Deboch, Moges Asghedom, Belai Aschenaki, Zerai Deres, Abuna Petros et cetera? I am not advocating here recklessness or terroristic activities, but focusing on the mental preparedness and courage of such individuals. By contrast, I find Ethiopian politicians in the opposition camp in general (I know or heard about) to be not forthcoming and secretive. However, I do not want to be misunderstood here, for there are very heroic Ethiopians like Judge Birtukan Mideksa and others who are facing the brutal Government of Meles Zenawi with exemplary courage.
Part
Three: Lacrimosa for
Ethiopia
Hailu Shawel’s Posse
By Tecola W. Hagos, November 27, 2009
The
claims of Mankelkilot and of chat room vulgar amateur politicians, who
hide behind strange false names, that I helped in the conceptualization
and drafting of the Kilil system are patently and utterly false and silly.
I had already left the country when the 1995 Constitution was being
drafted. I was already in friction with Meles Zenawi and his support group
for a year by then (1992-1993).
Event at Ghioni
(Amharic &English)
Although I realize that there
are many remaining tasks that have to be carried out to make
UDJ even a strong national party and an inviting common home for all Ethiopians, I
would like to assure you all that I am in full agreement with the pillar values enshrined in
the draft programme. I have full confidence that, based on these fundamental pillars
values, we can make this party with great potentials, a truly strong party.
Dr.
Negaso's Speech
Eng.
Gizachew Speech
Ethiopia: Meles Zenawi's Ploy for Copenhagen Conference
By Selam Beyene, November 23, 2009
The
dictator has instituted draconian laws to restrict the activities of NGOs
who work in the field of human rights and other areas that are
incompatible with the corrupt and repressive policies of the regime. In
particular, the law has severely curbed the
ability of environmental NGOs to educate the public
at large on climate change issues and to expose the destructive
environmental policy of Zenawi’s deceitful government.
U.S.
Senate Confirms Daniel W. Yohannes as CEO of Millennium Challenge
Corporation
Washington,
D.C. -- Today the United States Senate unanimously confirmed President
Barack Obama’s nomination of Daniel W. Yohannes as the new Chief
Executive Officer of the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC). As CEO, Mr. Yohannes will undertake MCC's mission
to reduce poverty through economic growth.
Much Ado about Nothing
Messay Kebede
Articles
fulminating against Hailu Shawel’s signing of the code of conduct
proliferate on Ethiopian websites. For these articles, the unilateral and
hasty agreement with Meles while other opposition groups, such as Medrek,
are still in contention about some important issues, constitutes nothing
less than betrayal on Hailu’s part. This act of sabotage suggests,
according to some articles, a prior agreement with the Meles regime
promising Hailu a post in the future government in exchange for his
contribution in dividing and weakening the opposition.
ELECTION
2010: WHO WOULD WIN—POLITICS OR THE PEOPLE?
By
Genet Mersha, November 17, 2009
Even
then, nothing irks Eng. Hailu Shawl as much as Medrek’s complaints about
the imprisonment of its members. His advice to Medrek is not to waste its
breath (The Reporter, 8 Nov), as
his party also continues to suffer similar fate. He says, “We do not cry
loud. We follow up with letters. Sometimes we get positive responses,
sometimes not. They [the EPRDF] do not like it when one is loud about such
things
PART
TWO
By
Tecola W. Hagos November 15, 2009
III.
The Mahel Sefaris Back in Power
I
share in principle with Fayyisa the signing of the Code of Conduct by
Meles Zenawi on one side and Hailu Shawel, Lidetu Ayalew, and Ayalew
Chemiso on the other is a betrayal. The best way to learn the point of
view of an opposition group is to the source as far as possible and read
what the members and supporters write or state in public forums. The best
way to show how a stick is crocked is not by arguing about it, but by
laying a straight one next to it.
I
am using as my subsection title after my favorite book title The Oromo
of
Ethiopia
(1994) by Professor Mohammad Hassen. Without sounding divisive,
insincere, or patronizing, I cannot think of any other group of Ethiopians
of my parents and my generations as dynamic in heroic deeds.......
THE MEDUSA AND THE
NUDIBRANCH:
An assessment of
the political life of Ethiopians
Tecola W. Hagos -
May 22, 2006 [Reposted November 14,
2009]
If some Ethiopian Opposition leaders or supporters lash
out and take extreme positions and blame by association this or that
ethnic group along with the current or past political leaders, it is very
understandable. Nevertheless, I will try to point out where we failed to
bring about effective leadership and suggest further solutions to our
monumental problems. The decision of very many Ethiopians in the
Opposition to stand against an oppressive government is something to be
applauded and supported. However, even the slightest hint of using ethnic
difference as a political rallying tool is to be condemned and quashed in
its infancy. We have learned a very expensive lesson how the current
government has alleged against the Opposition leadership and supporters of
promoting ethnic animosity as their tool for political opposition, and
proceeded to arrest and charge them with treason and attempted genocide.
Lacrimosa
for Ethiopia
By Tecola
W. Hagos
November
10, 2009
The losers in the current game of the signing of the Code
of Conduct and realignment of the EPRDF with its newest Member Hailu
Shawel (AEUP) are the people of
Ethiopia
, not Hailu Shawel and his Party, not Medrek or anybody else. Meles Zenawi
has gained another day to prepare for far longer and devastating fight
against all those who are concerned about the vital interest of
Ethiopia
, the Opposition et cetera. He has extended his life to do more damage to
the state of
Ethiopia
entrenching his divisive Killel system, alienating Ethiopian territory,
selling/leasing huge chunk of Ethiopian land to foreign investors and
states while millions of Ethiopians starve to death. He will keep looting
Ethiopia
’s gold in collaboration with Alamoudi.
DIFFERENT
VIEW
Ethiopia
: The Zenawi-Shawel Handshake – the Anti-Thesis of Liberty &
Democracy (Analysis)
By
Fayyis Oromia [November 5, 2009]
What
do these two persons have in common? Why did the handshake happen? Why was
it surprising to most Ethiopians, in general, and “shocking” to
Amharas, in particular? Did the “Oromo factor” play a certain role for
the handshake to happen? What is the relation of this handshake to the
hitherto attempts made to achieve the necessary compromise between Amhara
democratic forces and Oromo federalist movements in the formation of the
recent alliance aka Medrek?
Major
General Demissie Bulto and the coup d’état of May 1989:
a
book review
By
Teodros Kiros (PhD)
Great
books arrive on the reading scene at the right time and for the right
reason. So does Derege Demissie’s, Abate
Yachin Se’at: Major General Demissie Bulto and the Coup d’ etat of May
1989. Such books create their own readers. The book is so
compellingly presented that readers cannot wait until they wrap themselves
around with it. It has created a new CULTURE OF WRITING and with it a new
breed of readers. The newness of the readers is unction of the literary
merits of the author. Derege writes well.
የአፍሪቃን
የጠለቀ ችግር
ለመወያያት
በአ.አ
ከ29-10 እስከ 31.10.2009
ስብሰባ
ተካሄደ
!
እኛስ ምን እየሰራን
ነው?
“A Guide for the Perplexed” (On the Future
of Ethiopia) Tecola W. Hagos
[Reposted October 30, 2009, originally posted May 10, 2002]
We
too, the “educated” few Ethiopians of the last fifty years, stagnated
within narrow wells of conformity, and hardly ever allowed original
thinking to seep in, which would have helped us move away from the
doldrums of political ideology. Even worse, we desperately tried to
imitate our aristocrats and feudal class in our personal behavior. We
never truly internalized any of the democratic principles we pontificated,
in our own daily lives. We are hypocrites and delusional. Whether we are
promoting universal suffrage, or democratic centralism, it seems we were
always the center of every political structure we intended to erect for
Ethiopia
. We seem to have no genuine respect of our fellow Ethiopians who toil
from Sun Rise to Sun Set maintaining the continued existence of our
nation. Even though most of us are the sons and daughters of such people,
we have no stomach for rural life or for work that requires physical
exertion.
የሚያድግ
ኢኮኖሚ ነገር ግን
የማይታይ
የማይዳሰስ
!
ፈቃዱ በቀለ
በአለፉት
አስር ዐመታት
በጠቅላይ
ሚንስተሩና
በፊናንስና
በኢኮኖሚ ዕድገት
ሚንስተራቸው
በአቶ ሱፍያን
አህመድ፣ እንዲሁም
ደግሞ አገዛዙን
በሚደግፉትና በልዩ
ዓለም ውስጥ
የሚኖሩት፣ በየፓል
ቶክ ውስጥ
የሚደነፉት
ጀግኖች፣ አገራችን
ከዚህ ቀደም
ታይቶ የማይታወቅ
ዕድገት የሚታይባት
አገር እንደሆነችና
ህዝቡም በኑሮው
እንደተሻሻለ
ሲምሉ ሲገዘቱ
ይሰማል። በተለይም
ደግሞ፣ አዲስ አበባ
እዚህና እዚያ
የተተከለው ህንፃና
የመጨፈሪያ ቤት
የአንድ አገር
ኢኮኖሚ ዕድገት
ምልክት ሆኖ
የሚታያቸውና፣
ይህንን
በቪዲዮ በመቅረጽ
ሊያሳምኑን
የሚሞክሩት፣
እዚያው በዚያው
ደግሞ ሺህ በሺህ
የሚቆጠረው
ህዝባችን በድህነት
ዓለም ውስጥ ዘፍቆ
በመኖር የዕለት
ምግቡን ከቆሻሻ
እየለቀመ
እንደሚበላ በመካድ
ነው። አገር ቤት
በየዐመቱ
እየተመላለሱ
ከጉብኝት ሲመለሱ
ስለአገራችን
ሁኔታ ከሚነግሩን
እህቶቻችንና
ወንድሞቻችን
የምንሰማው ግን
በስታትስቲክስ
ከተደገፈ
ማስረጃ ሺህ ጊዜ
እንደሚበልጥና፣
ስለሁኔታውም
አስከፊነት አንድ
የኢኮኖሚ
ምሁር ነኝ ባይ ከሚል
የበለጠ እየዘረዘሩ
የሚነግሩን እንደ
ህያው ማስረጃ
መሆኑን
ማረጋገጥ
ይቻላል።
Dropping
the Substance for the Shadow?
Messay Kebede
Jawar makes me say that “leftist ideology is responsible for
growth of ‘ethnic’ nationalism, secessionist demand, and armed
struggle” and then contests my alleged statement by citing liberation
movements that are not leftist. Yet, my reference to leftist ideology was
only echoing his own analysis of the legacy hampering the OLF. To quote
him, “OLF is a foster child of the student movement that brought
the revolution; as such it shares some common organizational behaviors and
characteristics with all other organizations that came out that era, such
as the EPRP, TPLF and EPLF”; “the political forces that emerged from
the student movement were led by individuals who worshiped Mao Zedong and
Stalin, so they embraced such undemocratic, rigid and control freak
organizational model.” True, there are non-leftist nationalist
movements, but in the particular case of Ethiopia,
የኢትዮጵያ
ፋዯራሊዊ
ዳሞክራሲዊ
አንዴነት መዴረክ (መዴረ
2009 Laureate
Gebisa Ejeta
Editor's
Note:
We,
at this Website are very proud of the distinguished Ethiopian
Agronomist Dr. Gebisa Ejeta for his outstanding and pioneering scientific
work in developing "sorghum hybrids resistant to drought
and the devastating Striga weed" where by advancing the well
being of vulnerable millions of human beings in Africa and elsewhere.
We congratulate Dr. Gebisa for being the winner of the 2009 World
Food Prize. We hope the rest of the World applaud the great work of this
great scientist whose life work is dedicated to the service of
mankind. We believe if any one deserves to be awarded the 2010 Nobel
Prize for outstanding scientific work, the Nobel Committee would award the
Nobel to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, under one of the categories such as
Humanitarian, Peace awards, or create a new one on Feeding the Poor;
Advancing Scientific Work et cetera. Let us start the nominating process
of awarding the 2010 Nobel to Dr. Gebisa Ejetaby by writing to the Nobel
Committee.TH
Strategic
and Cleaver-Politick: A Response to Tedla Asfaw
By
Tecola W. Hagos
October
14, 2009
I
wish the author had shown some restraint from labeling the leading members
of the opposition who have formed Medrek as “TPLF known loyalists” a
phrase that simple discredit his otherwise profound concern about the
“politicks” of Ethiopia. The people named as “loyalist” by Tedla
Asfaw in his short essay are not newcomers to the political scene
of dissent or controversies in
Ethiopia
. Just like all great politicians they have evolved.
Withdrawal
of Book Review and Commentary [Henze’s Book]
By
Tecola W. Hagos
As
a result of my rereading and reconsideration of material overlooked by me
and on the basis of new information as indicated below, I have withdrawn
my recent review and commentary of Henze’s book. [Paul B. Henze, Ethiopia
in Mengistu’s Final Years: The Derg in Decline, Vol. I, Shama Books,
Addis Ababa: Ethiopia, 2007; Ethiopia in Mengistu’s Final Years:
Until the Last Bullet, Vol. II, Shama Books, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia,
2007.] Moreover,
as an issue of regional policy, the whole scheme of fracturing and land
locking Ethiopia was absurd and against well established principles and
norms of international law—against principles of jus
cogens.
World’s
oldest human-linked skeleton found [In Ethiopia]
‘Ardi’
predates Lucy by a million years, changes scientific view of origins
By Randolph E. Schmid
AP
October 1, 2009
WASHINGTON - The story of humankind is reaching back another million years with the discovery of “Ardi,” a hominid who lived 4.4 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia.
The 110-pound, 4-foot female roamed forests a million years before the famous Lucy, long studied as the earliest skeleton of a human ancestor.
This older skeleton reverses the common wisdom of human evolution, said anthropologist C. Owen Lovejoy of Kent State University.
Follow
up on Professor Messay Kebede’s Article “On
the Right to Self-Determination” of August 19, 2009. [Taken from
chat discussions.]
On
the Right to Self-Determination
By
Messay Kebede August 19, 2009
Let me begin by what amazes most: the defenders of the right to self-determination have rejected everything of Stalin (Lenin and the Soviet Union), except his view of nations and nationalities. It is for me next to impossible to understand how scholars and politicians stop short of being critical of the Stalinist doctrine of self-determination even as they know that Stalin has been entirely wrong in everything. What are the chances for a doctrine whose inherent perversion led to such disastrous consequences to be right on the crucial issue of nation-building? My contention is that, far from promoting free union, the right to self-determination actually blocks it. It is when union becomes unconditional that it forces peoples to find a form of accommodation that suits them all. Here is an illustrative analogy: if two competing individuals decide to build a house together, their cooperation makes sense if the house becomes their common interest, that is, if both intend to live in the same house. However, if one of the partners is at the same time building another house, whatever partnership they had becomes so suspicious that it comes to an end.
PRESS
RELEASE
August
17, 2009
ERITREA-ETHIOPIA
CLAIMS COMMISSION RENDERS FINAL AWARDS ON
DAMAGES
The
armed conflict between these two Parties caused serious injury and damage
to the people
and infrastructure of these two countries,
which the Commission recognized are among the
poorest on earth. While the compensation
awarded to each Party is substantial, the
Commission recognized that it is probably much
less than each Party believes it is due. The
Commission stated: “The difficult economic
conditions found in the affected areas of
Ethiopia and Eritrea must be taken into account
in assessing compensation here.”
Meles
Zenawi’s Laughable Democratic Process
Letter
Report from Former President Negaso Gidada, Disruption of a Public Meeting
16th
August, 2009
Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia
To All, Mob Disrupts UDJ public Meeting !!!!
Experts worry about negative consequences
INTERNATIONAL AGRCULTURAL LAND DEALS AWARD:
ETHIOPIAN VIRGIN LANDS TO FOREIGN COMPANIES
By Genet Mersha, 12 August 2009
During the last one year, the international media have reported with noticeable frequency on international agricultural land deals in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, land is under government control and, therefore, cannot be sold or bought. Of the dozen or so African countries engaged in such deals, for varied reasons the cases of Ghana, Madagascar, Mali and the Sudan have also attracted similar attention.
Ethiopian Israeli Filmmaker Pulls No Punches
Shmuel Beru, who arrived in Israel in 1984 in the first wave of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants, tells his people's story in the award-winning 'Zrubavel.' But not that many white Israelis are listening.
By Edmund Sanders Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 14, 2009
Ethiopia's
resilient prime minister
Dear Editor:
I saw the article, "Israeli bus driver to Ethiopian: No blacks allowed", posted on your website www.tecolahagos.com. It is something we should all learn from. As far as the rest of the world are concerned we are all black, sometimes derogatorily called "niggers", "jungle monkey", "Kushite", etc. Nobody gives crap whether we are Oromos, Amharas, Tigres, Gurages, etc. All “niggers” according to many !!
Israeli bus driver to Ethiopian: No blacks allowed
Posted in August 12th, 2009
by Editor in Current News
Woman recounts humiliating experience in which bus driver told her, ‘Kushit, in Ethiopia you didn’t even have shoes and here you do, so why don’t you walk?’; Egged to investigate incident
A 23-year-old woman of Ethiopian descent claimed that the driver of an Egged No. 5 bus in Rishon Lezion refused to allow her to board his bus because of the color of her skin.
Speaking to Ynet, Yedno Verka recounted last Wednesday’s incident: “As I prepared board the bus, the driver suddenly shut the door. I banged on the glass, but he ignored me. Then a young woman came running towards the bus, and he opened the door for her. I stayed close to her and boarded the bus.
የሼክ
መሐመድ
ሌላው
የኢንቨስትመንትና
የማኔጅመንት
አካሄድ
ውጤታማ
ስላልሆነ
በወርቁ
ያለው
ውጤታማ
ሊሆን
ይችላል
ወይ
የሚል
ሥጋት
አለ፡፡ Reporter
The Dangerous Hype behind the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (or
Commodity Invasion?)
By: Seid Hassan, Murray State University
It is our hope that many Ethiopians have watched the PBS/WNET documentary film under the title of The Market Maker/Wide Angle, which was
broadcast beginning on July 23, 2009. This documentary followed the Ethiopian
economist, Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin who is the CEO of the relatively newly established Ethiopian Commodity Exchange. Many of us were waiting for the
documentary to show us how the ECX could “… transform the Ethiopian economy by
becoming a global commodity market of choice,” as claimed in the ECX’s main web
page. That was not to be.
Outrage
over EFFORT-led corruption
By
Abebe
Gellaw
ǀ July 27, 2009
In
response to Ethiopia and Zenawi’s gangster capitalism, an
article I published a few weeks back that tried to highlight the biggest
and most flagrant corruption scheme in Ethiopia, the Endowment Fund for
the Rehabilitation of Tigray [EFFORT], I received
numerous comments via email
4/23/05
