The Heroic Ethiopian Journalist Eskinder Nega

August 15, 2013

by Betre Yacob
Ethiopian prominent Journalist and blogger Eskinder Naga is one of those who have been arrested, interrogated, and threatened in Ethiopia, for exercising freedom of expression. He is currently serving his jail sentence in Kality, a notoriously brutal prison in Addis Ababa, where dozens of political prisoners are suffering. Judged a “terrorist” by the regime’s kangaroo court, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2012, along with other critical journalists and bloggers.
Ethiopia is one of the leading repressive nations in the world. Particularly, the repression of freedom of expression is the most severe in this poor East African nation more than any other country. According to Amnesty International, during the past three years only, over 100 prominent journalists and influential political activists were prosecuted on fabricated charges of terrorism, and too many others were also subjected to harassment, intimidation, threat, and other violence.
Eskinder Naga, 45, is a brave and most admirable journalist and blogger that the world has ever seen. What makes him exceptional is his commitment to freedom of speech even in the face of grave risks. According to his profile, he has courageously worked as a journalist for more than twenty one years and been jailed 8 times in the past two decades only. Until his last day in freedom, he courageously wrote about the political crisis of his impoverished country Ethiopia, and bravely fought falsehoods, brutality, and oppression with the power of words. Today, this exceptional courage, resistance, and commitment to freedom of expression have made him a glorious hero in Ethiopia and a symbol of press freedom in Africa.
Eskinder served as a vital voice for independent journalism in Ethiopia that hungers for access to free information, and as inspiration for many journalists and human right activists. He found 4 most prominent newspapers which were eventually closed by the Ethiopian regime that continues its tight grip on press freedom. He has also worked as a columnist at different publications, and been a contributor of many Ethiopian online medias and news forums.

Vesten tier om overgrep

Etiopia: Minayehu Mekonnen skriver om forholdene i sitt hjemland Etiopia.
Foto: Lars Olve Hesjedal

Tigrayan People's Libration Front (TPLF) har støttet vestlige land i krigen mot terror, men TPLF selv terroriserer og forfølger etiopere i deres eget land, finansiert med bistandspenger.

Sakset fra: Helgelands Blad 12. august 2013

Vesten har tiet mot handlingene mot uskyldige etiopere. Her er en liste over overgrepene:

Grove forhold

1. 3. august drepte føderalt politi mer enn 20 uskyldige etiopiske muslimer, såret enda fler, og rundt 1.500 ble fengslet.
2. 1. juli ble det kjent at 60 etiopere fra Oromo-folket drept i en massakre i fengselet over en toårsperiode.
3. Amhara-folket fordrives i 2013 fra egne hjem i Benishagule-regionen.
4. TPLF begår folkemord mot landsmenn i Gambella, Ogaden, Afar, Oromo og Amhara.
5. TPLF har laget antiterrorlover som brukes mot opposisjonen, journalister, og andre kritikere av TPLF. Tusenvis av etiopere sitter i fengslet.
6. TPLF gjør lite for å hindre borgerkrig mellom kristne og muslimske minoriteter
7. Hundrevis av etiopiske asylsøkere er drept, fengslet, voldtatt og torturert i Saudi Arabia og andre arabiske land.
8. Etteretningen til TPLF og sikkerhetstjenestene har fått frie hender fra lovgivene.

Tie hvor lenge?

Hvor lenge skal Vesten tie om overgrepene?

Vestlige land må åpnee øynene for bva som skjer med 80 millioner etiopere.

Mekonnen Minayehu Wokin
Sandnessjøen

“Ginbot-7 our party, our voice and our hope!” The dramatic Durban meeting declares…

August 12, 2013

The Horn Times Newsletter 12 August 2013
by Getahune Bekele-South Africa

“We have to work in unison to end the brutal repression currently blighting Ethiopia. Join Ginbot-7 now. Embrace Ginbot-7; join the political party of the people.  All peace loving Ethiopians, join us in our struggle to bring about a nascent democracy our country deserves.”- Dr Birhanu Nega.

“I compare the current Ethiopian rulers with the fascist Italian invaders who wanted the fertile land of Ethiopia without her people. When today’s rulers commit genocide in Gambella, Oromyya and Amhara areas they are re-visiting the horrific crimes of Benito Mussolini on our people.”- Aba Haileeyesus.

“The recent mass killing of Ethiopian Muslims and the continued assault on our religion is nothing but a crime against humanity. Where is justice? Where is justice…”- Sheik imam Khalid Omar.

To the genocidal Ethiopian evil junta that violated every norm of how a national government should behave or conduct itself, the message was loud and clear. Hoist the white flag and surrender now before the inevitable institutional collapse takes place. In a country, that has known only autocracy and tyranny, the cry for change is ringing. A time of unprecedented stress for the criminal warlords.

Moreover, if last night’s (August 11) eventful meeting of Ethiopians is anything to go by, the divide and rule classic junta’s 22-year effort of trying to create a major ethnic and sectarian fault lines between the people has dismally failed. In addition, Ethiopia will never become a byword for ethnic hatred and political intrigue as the dead tyrant Meles Zenawi once fervently wished; or a nefarious desire his peers often said he harbored for more than three decades.

The Meeting was simply a massive endorsement for Dr Birhanu Nega personally, the man who was arrested for winning the 2005 elections and casted off to exile by force of arms. Homesick refugees described his party Ginbot-7 as a party of epic patriots and intrepid soldiers of the revolution.

At 9:30 pm, when he appeared on the big screen at the sun coast casino conference room and conveyed greetings, the enthusiastic crowd reciprocated by giving him a four-minute standing ovation.

“Am overwhelmed by emotions to see the future leader of my country whom I voted for in 2005.” A sobbing woman who declined to give her name told the Horn Times reporter.

Dr Birhanu, a distinguished orator who strongly condemned the Eid day slaughter of Ethiopian Muslims by the junta’s Trojan horses, said in his twenty-five minute speech that it is up to the people of Ethiopia to close the bitter chapters of 22 years of history steeped in blood and usher in a new one.

His call on the participants and all other Ethiopian exiles to join G-7 was again well received with thunders applause. The Horn Times watched in astonishment as young men immediately starting to fill up forms and distribute leaflets to newcomers.

“Am tired of turning the other chick. The body count is mounting while we amble about undecided which party to join. For me Ginbot-7 is the way to go.” Deriba Habebe, 41, said with excitement and sheer joy.

Next, to speak was Aba Haileeyesus of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Johannesburg under the Holy Synod in exile.

The venerated monk reminded Ethiopians that how the violent persecution by the Italian invaders (1936-1941) refined and purified the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church known for its unique theology, traditions and customs; with martyrs like his Holiness Abune Petros paying the ultimate price. According to him, the ongoing persecution of the ancient faith by the minority junta is the second and the most brutal one.

“The Italians tried to encourage sectarian violence but failed. Instead of fighting against each other Ethiopian Muslims and Christians formed a united front and defeated the Italians as one people. The Italians, after toiling in barren and parched deserts of Libya and Punt land, said they wanted the fertile land of Ethiopia without the population. What we see today is the direct copy of that criminal practice. In Gambella, the land is needed but not the people. Amharas must be deported because the rulers want the land not the people.”

At the end of his touching and meticulous teaching, the monk urged unity and expressed his deep sadness to the Muslim community of Ethiopia for the loss of lives they suffered during and after the holy month of Ramadan.

Thanking Aba Haileeyesus, the well-known Muslim scholar who is also living in exile, sheik imam Khalid Omar told the refugees that in the nearly two years of bitter but peaceful struggle for religious freedom, Ethiopian Muslims have suffered very heavy causalities but bullets will never brake the vivid spirit of the people.

The peaceful resistance will continue until the regime stops its unconstitutional interference in religious affairs.

Finally, the meeting ended by dissident artist/activist Tamagne Beyene’s wise words that lit up the screen.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for the opposition to have a dialogue with such arrogant and an implacable regime. Unite and rise up for change.”