By Samanthi Dissanayake
BBC News
The university of Burao in the breakaway territory of Somaliland began life on the streets of Whitechapel, east London.
"It is a diaspora building. We set up committees in every country to fund-raise. We had to do something to help our people."
Dr Saad Ali Shire knows that he is a lucky man. He sensed the danger and fled Somalia shortly before 40 people, including a friend, were massacred on a Mogadishu beach during an insurgency in 1989.
Abdulkadir Gutaale says Somali society is bitterly divided
In the years that followed, conflict laid waste to his hometown of Burao in the north. Building a university for Burao was his idea.
Since Somaliland declared independence in 1991 it has enjoyed relative stability. Its independence is not recognised by the international community but it has a parliament and a police force, and money from the diaspora funds universities, hospitals, schools - the fabric of civil society.
Even though the rest of Somalia has been in turmoil since 1991 and Islamist insurgents are capturing more territory, remittances from the diaspora keep Somali society functioning.
"There are few sources of income but what comes from the diaspora," says Dr Ali Shire, who also runs Dahabshiil, the UK's biggest Somali money transfer company.
Dr Saad Ali Shire is manager of Somali money transfer company, Dahabshiil
Reliable figures are very difficult to come by but some estimate that remittances come to about $1bn (£650m) each year.
Whenever north London housewife Isha can get small jobs she sends money back, even if it is as little as £20. Her brother was murdered in front of her and the money sent to her nephew sustains his business and many families.
"Every day people are dying. It is hard to say no," she says.
Dr Anna Lindley of the Refugees Studies Centre at the University of Oxford explains how even such small remittances to relatives can invigorate the economy.
Exporting chaos
EXILED IN THE UK
They might live in Britain, but the hearts and minds of many refugees remain in the homelands they fled. What influence do they have back home and what does it mean for their lives in this country?
Exiles wielding power from the UK
Refugees fund Somalia's future
Tiger terror ban splits UK Tamils
Kurds fight separate battles
Exile youth lead 'double lives'
"People receive money and then recirculate it. They spend it and that creates demand for different types of goods and services. It energises the whole economy," she says.'
But the chaos and competing factions that have characterised Somalia's recent history of civil strife can also be found in the UK.
Somali community workers often lament how fragmented Somali society is here. It is an extremely complex community with different clans and different social backgrounds, including a high number of educated professionals, politicians and activists. There is no one overarching organisation for Somalis - hundreds flourish throughout the UK.
"People came here because of tribal war. That enmity still exists and it hurts everyone," said one community worker who wished to remain anonymous.
Somalis in Birmingham describe their life and ambitions
In pictures
It is reported that al-Shabab, a group of Islamist insurgents, which the US believes is linked to al-Qaeda, does have collection agents operating in the UK. People do contribute money - although some might not know exactly where it is going beyond the cause of getting Ethiopian troops out of Somalia.
Mohammed Abdullahi of the UK Somali Community Initiative says: "We know it is going on in the Somali community." But he stresses the importance of the community uniting.
Warlords 'go freely'
Experts say that clan divisions can be overplayed. But whatever divisions do exist, there is palpable resentment towards those who exploit them. People do not shy from blaming Western governments for their attitude.
"Warlords come and go freely. Nobody disturbs them because they were part of the Western support for the transitional government [currently in power in Somalia]. They find sanctuary here," says Somali journalist Abdulkadir Gutaale.
Many people expressed support for the brief period in 2006 when the Islamist group the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) controlled Mogadishu and defeated the warlords. It represented a force which transcended clan divisions, many argue.
SOMALIS IN THE UK
First Somali seamen and traders arrived and settled in port cities in late 19th Century
Between 1985 and 2006, Somalis remained in the top 10 for asylum applications
2001 census: UK Somali population at 43,473
Somali community organisations put the number closer to 90,000
Somalis have settled in London with populations also in Cardiff, Birmingham, Bristol and Leicester
Source: Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees
In depth: Somalia
"They did something the international community could not do for the last 16 years. Mogadishu became peaceful," says Mohamud Nur, head of community group the Somali Speakers' Association.
Mr Nur says that when the UIC took control, many Somalis streamed back to Mogadishu to congratulate them. He was among their number and he is now a representative for the Alliance for the Liberation of Somalia, the organisation opposing Somalia's transitional government, which includes elements of the UIC.
He is part of a Somali political class in the UK that makes it their business to get involved in the deals and coalitions about Somalia's political future.
In a refugee centre in Birmingham, there is talk of yet another coalition of UK-based power-brokers to tackle Somalia's problems.
"We can make a better government if we go back," says Mohamed Aden, who believes the diaspora is critical to Somalia's future political stability.
Growing discontent
But unemployment, poverty and difficulties with integration are all serious problems facing Somalis in Britain, regardless of clan or class. A number of London's teenage knife crime victims come from Somali backgrounds and Somali gangs have been the subject of intense media and police scrutiny.
At a gathering of young Somalis in east London's Oxford House in October, there were complaints about being criminalised, the humiliation of being stopped and searched under the Terrorism Act, being questioned by police up to six times a day.
In Birmingham, which has a growing Somali community, a report from the Human City Institute last year highlighted the appalling conditions many Somali families lived in. The social housing available is often unsuitable for big families, so many take poor quality private sector accommodation.
Map: Somalis in the UK
"We are all politicians. We have to unpack our bags, settle down and try to live as normal British people," says Mr Gutaale.
He argues that an emphasis on life back home - often almost an obsession - has meant that the Somali community has allowed itself to become neglected and marginalised in the UK.
"In this advanced Western country, people should be putting other factors such as education, finding work, getting life skills instead of talking about backwards things such as tribalism," he says.
The responsibility of sustaining Somalia from afar can also become a burden.
"You can't make any progress. You work hard, try to go up the ladder. Whatever you earn is sent back home. It handicaps you."
The warning is clear; an absorption in the traumas of Somalia can lead to the neglect and alienation of Somalis in Britain.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Who is funding terrorists to the tune of $100 per month per person?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia/Africa:
Re: Who is funding and nurturing terrorists in the Horn? Eritrea, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt?
It is becoming evident day by day, that there is, a highly organized terrorist network, that funds the youths at the rate of $100 per month, with excellent benefits compared to what the youths of the region can afford in this very vulnerable part of the world.
No body seems to ask where does such level of funding come from? Who can afford to pay these delinquent youths to the tune of $100 per month with highly supportive benefits in the region? It is clear non of the local governments nor charities can afford that, even for their civil servants or their soldiers.
Who has that amount of money to spend so freely? No one has done any research or even intelligent speculations. Why?
In all the reports that come from the region, especially the so called journalists and researchers, do not expose the cause, nor the funding sources ; but just describe the scene as is. Any photo-journalist can d
that, and I some times wonder why they waste their words on print. Looks like an entertainment enterprise that just describes human sufferings and carnage and does not suggest solutions.
The United Nations, the Arab League, The African Union, The East African League or IGAD and all the series of self appointed Non Profit organizations those funded by the UN as well as churches and mosques and temples and all those philanthropic groups including the counter intelligence networks of all global groups under the banner of Journalists, doctors, lawyers, judges and charities without borders and the series of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty Groups, etc, non have suggested a solution on how to prevent the carnage nor discourage the funding and facilitation of this disaster in the Horn.
The only civilization or sane institution or civil society who tried to curb or stop the terror network, was and continues to be misunderstood , and even reported as the negative influence in the region, when it is actually defending its sacred national interests. The US is the only nation that has made overt and covert support for Ethiopia's effort to stem the tide. No one except Uganda and Burundi supported this effort.
Now, we have a rather sad and callous reporting by the economists, as though they are from Pluto or another Galaxy for a short Christmas Visit and making an observation of a dysfunctional globe ready to be overtaken by the aliens, as they are so incompetent to look after their own. What ever their own is.
The so called John Penderghast of the Enough Project and Human Rights Watch before that and the loony left Guardian newspaper before that even campaigned for the outgoing Bush Administration not to prevent
the funding and training of the terrorist that the Shabia criminals are facilitating with the support of the Egyptians and other loony governments in the region.
Imagine, Human Rights Watch and its loony organizations supporting the terrorist network! Whose Human Rights they are protecting is clear by their incompetent and irresponsible reporting on the topic.
We know who is funding and training these terrorists? We know who shattered the Pentagon and the New York building with US planes. We all know, and yet what the hell are we doing in Afghanistan and Iraq when none of the 12 were from these two countries.
We know who is funding and training these Shabab in Somalia. We also know who are the active players in this criminal venture. We can spot them from the air and the ground, and in fact we are the ones who are reporting on them.
What is so funny and sad is that, what are we doing by not sending UN and African Union and Arab League forces to stabilize the region. Are these institutions controlled by the same group that fund, retail and train terror? That is the real question. Who makes and sells the arms? Who trains the terrorists? How can we ignore this level of calamity for so long? Hitler would laugh at us in his grave and say look at these fools they are doing it again!
We know what to do, but we report as if some aliens from Pluto or another galaxy are responsible. We know the criminals are amongst us and may even be our closest friends and we have chosen to keep quiet.
It is like the US, Treasury and its mandated arm that regulates the market who knew Bernestien Maddoff was stealing and robbing the shadow banking system called Hedge Funds for over 30 years, and kept quiet when he robbed the world and his friends for over $50 Billion, NOW when it is really too late , we cry foul.
Yet he gets nothing and walks around with minor detective equipment around his ankles or forehead, while any African American youth caught or suspected to posses hashish is either shot on the spot or sent to jail for a long time. This is our sense of justice and fairness and competence. It is a shame and why get surpirsed if Maddoff gets a bail out.
Imagine, such level of incompetence in any planet and we would say the Martians are lost civilization and yet our own is vanishing under the weight of such incompetent civil societies and governance.
One wonders where we bail out thieves and robbers like Mad doff who robbed the economy not in thousands or millions but in billions and yet the common honorable person is left to be bankrupt and feel the homeless shelters.
Yes, like the Economist, in its current report, the world will respond with few temporary concern here and the and for few weeks we will sing, Noel, Noel! and even feed the poor in the shelter but soon forget them and continue to bail out the big robbers and even sell arms to the terrorists in the Horn and like London, England even facilitate the ransom money for the Pirates.
What a globe and civilizations that just does not care and continue to bail out the criminals with criminal priests interceding for their lost souls.
Please read below the fascinating story of the Shababa or Abused Youths with $100 per month into their self destruction.
It is a shame, no one seems to care! Just for the record do we know who is funding and training these Shababs and why did the US not put them in the Terrorists and Terrorist enabling list, I just wonder!
Dr B
The rise of the Shabab
The Economist | December 20, 2008
Sheik Muktar Robow Abu Mansur (2nd R), spokesman of Somalia's Islamic al-Shabab, leaves a news conference after vowing to step up attacks against government soldiers and foreign troops in Mogadishu December 14, 2008.
(REUTERS/Feisal Omar) FOR all its paradisal waters, golden dunes and swanky “eco-lodges”, life in Kenya’s coastal district of Kiunga, just a few miles from the border with Somalia, is hard. The place is remote, hungry and thirsty.
The harvest and the wells have failed again. Fishermen have no boats, only frayed nets cast from shore. Their catch rots for want of refrigeration. But what makes the village elders more nervous than anything is their proximity to Somalia.
During a war in the 1960s between Kenya and Somali bandits, known as “shifta”, who were egged on by Somalia, Kiunga was evacuated. These days a rough track, impassable during the rains, barely connects the two countries.
The border has been closed since December 2006, when jihadist fighters in Somalia retreated headlong from Mogadishu, the capital, and Kismayo, a southern port, into the mangrove swamps around Ras Kamboni, just inside Somalia. There they were shredded by Ethiopian artillery and American air raids.
An attack on Kenya by Somali jihadists based near the border is unlikely. Resurgent fighters still train there but look north. They belong to the Shabab (Youth), the armed wing of the former Islamic Courts Union that was all but wiped out two years ago. The presence of hated Ethiopian troops in Somalia, together with a corrupt and hapless transitional Somali government, gave the Shabab a chance to regroup.
Money and arms from Eritrea, which wants to use Somalia to hurt Ethiopia, as well as from some Arab countries, enabled it to recruit. Several thousand have signed up in the past year. They attend large training camps in southern Somalia where one of the instructors is said to be a white American mujahideen.
They are expected to disavow music, videos, cigarettes and qat, the leaf Somali men chew most afternoons to get mildly high. Thus resolved, they wrap their faces in scarves and seek to fight the infidel. In return, they get $100 a month, are fed, and can expect medical treatment and payments if they are wounded, as well as burial costs and cash for their families if they are killed.
The Shabab now controls much of south Somalia and chunks of Mogadishu. It took Kismayo a few months ago. The port of Marka, which takes in food aid, fell more recently. Many fighters are loosely grouped around two older jihadist commanders with strongholds near Kenya’s border, Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Turki.
Mr Robow celebrated the recent festival of Eid al-Adha by hosting prayers in Mogadishu’s cattle market. How sweet it would be at Eid, he told the gathering, if instead of slaughtering an animal in praise of Allah, they would slaughter an Ethiopian.
On a visit to Marka he was only slightly less belligerent. He urged reconciliation—except with enemies of Islam. There are many of those, it seems. Hundreds of Somali aid workers, human-rights campaigners and journalists have been killed or exiled.
Foreigners have been shot and kidnapped, in two cases just across Somalia’s border, in Kenya and Ethiopia. Where it cannot exert control, the Shabab excuses banditry. Borrowing tactics from Afghanistan’s Taliban, it spreads chaos to build a new order.
The Shabab has learnt from its mistakes in 2006, when it was overwhelmed in a few days by the Ethiopian army. It is now more pragmatic and more aggressive. This time round, it is apparently not picking fights with wealthy qat merchants. Men can chew what they like—but won’t be “clean enough” to get a lucrative job in Kismayo’s port. Education is encouraged. Girls can go to school. Charcoal burning is forbidden for the sake of the environment.
But the Shabab has also tightened its own security. Alleged spies for the transitional government or for Ethiopia are routinely beheaded with blunt knives. Mr Turki, the jihadist leader who lives mostly in the bush near the Kenyan border, sleeps in different houses when he is in a town. Public floggings and executions strike fear. So do masked faces. “Before, we knew who killed our relatives,” says a Kismayo merchant. “Now we don’t even know that.”
Most tellingly, the Shabab has learnt how to get hold of money faster. It concentrates its fighters in towns where there is money to be earned. The aim is to create an army that puts Islamist identity above divisive clan loyalties. Shabab commanders say a pious state will emerge once weaker militias have been disarmed.
Some reckon that the Shabab shares some of the ransoms earned by pirates who operate out of the central Somali port of Haradheere. Those in Puntland, farther north, are apparently beyond the Shabab’s reach.
Ethiopia says it will withdraw its troops within weeks, once ships evacuate the 3,000 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers under the African Union’s aegis holed up in Mogadishu. Somalia’s transitional government looks even feebler than before.
This week the president, Abdullahi Yusuf, an ageing warlord, sacked his prime minister, Nur Hussein, blaming him for what the president called a corrupt, inept and traitorous government. Mr Hussein refused to resign, and won a vote of confidence in parliament. Mr Yusuf went ahead and appointed his own prime minister anyway. More factional fighting beckons.
The UN says Somalia is the world’s worst humanitarian emergency. Some 3.2m people are said to need aid. The UN, which says 40,000 Somali children could soon starve to death, expects fighting over food to break out, another reason the Shabab wants to control the ports. Pirates make it hard to deliver aid.
Their activities may be curtailed after the UN Security Council this week let foreign governments chase pirates in Somalia itself as well as at sea. But the piracy will probably continue as long as the catastrophe on land does.
George Bush’s administration backed some of Mogadishu’s worst warlords as part of its war on terror. President Obama will have to take a new tack. The AU force has proved ineffective but a bigger or more robust intervention, by America or any other country, is not expected; this week Condoleezza Rice, America’s secretary of state, called in vain for UN peacekeepers to be sent.
A new American administration is unlikely to urge negotiation any time soon with the Shabab; it is still listed as a terrorist group by the Americans and may indeed shelter al-Qaeda people. It may have sleeper agents in Kenya and even in Britain. It has certainly become stronger.
---
Source: The Economist
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iGX8BKNT8QuvxoqtjIvpNI-cUhYQ
AFP
UN arms embargo on Somalia constantly broken
December 19, 2008
UNITED NATIONS — A 16-year arms embargo against Somalia has been constantly violated with weapons mainly coming from Yemen and financed by Eritrea as well as Arab and Islamic donors, a UN report said Friday.
"Most serviceable weapons and almost all ammunition currently available in the country have been delivered since 1992, in violation of the embargo," the report from a UN monitoring group said.
"Commercial imports, mainly from Yemen, remain the most consistent source of arms, ammunition and military materiel to Somalia," the group said.
Restrictions put into place in Yemen since June 2008 to limit arms sales have helped cut the flow of weapons to Somalia.
"Nevertheless, weapons from Yemen continue to feed Somali retail arms sales and the needs of armed opposition and criminal groups," the UN report said.
This illegal trafficking is fueling the bloody armed conflict in the Horn of Africa country, which has been wracked by a civil war since 1991, and is aiding rampant piracy off the Somali coast, the report added.
Earlier Friday, the UN Security Council prolonged the monitoring group's mandate for another year and reiterated "its intention to consider specific action to improve implementation of and compliance with" the embargo.
Independent experts have been mandated "to continue to investigate, in coordination with relevant international agencies, all activities, including in the financial, maritime and other sectors, which generate revenues used to commit arms embargo violations."
Somalia's transitional government controls only of a small part of the country, and the UN Security Council slapped an arms embargo on the country in 1992 under resolution 733.
"Insurgent groups in Ethiopia also procure arms and ammunition from Yemen, which then transit Somalia in violation of the arms embargo," the report said.
"Financing for arms embargo violations by armed opposition groups derives from a variety of sources, including the government of Eritrea, private donors in the Arab and Islamic world, and organized fund-raising activities among Somali diaspora groups."
Criminal gangs are also adding to the lawlessness in the country and are "typically self-financing, employing the proceeds from piracy and kidnapping to procure arms, ammunition and equipment."
"Some of these groups now rival or surpass established Somali authorities in terms of their military capabilities and resource bases," the report added.
Earlier this week, the UN Security Council adopted a landmark resolution authorizing for the first time the use of land operations against Somali pirates in a bid to clamp down on audacious, well-armed gangs menacing vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
But the UN monitoring group warned that another source of the arms flooding into the impoverished nation came from outside forces seeking to support the transitional government.
"Although such contributions are intended to contribute to security and stabilization in Somalia, and are eligible for exemption from the arms embargo, most are not authorized by the Security Council, and thus constitute violations."
"As much as 80 percent of such support has been diverted to private purposes, the Somali arms market or opposition groups."
________________________________
http://en.afrik.com/article15065.html
Afrik, pan-African news agency
Ethiopia releases corrupt official, Ex dictator still at large in Zimbabwe
Konye Obaji Ori
Saturday 20 December 2008
Tamerat Layne, Ethiopia’s former Prime Minister convicted by the Ethiopian Supreme Court in 2000 for corruption and abuse of power has been released. He is said to have swindled the government to the tune of US$ 10 million and stashed it in a private Swiss account.
The Former Prime Minister who was dismissed from government in 1996 was sentenced to 18 years in prison but has been released after serving 12 years for showing good behavior.
The Ethiopian government managed to recover the funds allegedly stolen by the former Prime Minister, who was arrested alongside senior party officials on corruption allegations and convicted of those crimes in what is considered a tough anti-graft stance.
Tamerat Layne is however a key ally of current Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who assumed the post of prime minister in 1995, and Seye Abreha, who went on to become defense minister.
The three men are at the top of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front coalition and it was their squad that ousted the military regime in 1991.
The military regime - known as the Derge - was headed by Mengistu Haile Mariam, whose 17-year rule was known as the Red Terror because of the thousands of people killed in that period.
Seye Abreha was also jailed for corruption not long after Tamerat was jailed in 2000 and like Tamerat, Seye was also given early release from prison last year.
However, Ethiopia’s Supreme Court in May sentenced former Ethiopian ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam - in absentia - to death.
It overturned on appeal last year’s ruling by the High Court sentencing Mengistu and 18 of his most senior aides to life in prison.
The judge said he had passed the death sentence as the defendants had tortured and executed thousands of innocent people, which amounted to genocide.
Mengistu has lived in exile in Zimbabwe since his overthrow in 1991. Tens of thousands of people were killed during a period of Mengistu’s 17-year rule known as the Red Terror
________________________________
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=how_bush_failed_somalia
American Prospect (web only)
December 18, 2008
How Bush Failed Somalia
Matthew Yglesias
Two years ago the United States intervened in East African politics in a way that has been responsible for the deaths of untold thousands of people, has created the pirate problem, and is breeding a new generation of anti-American jihadists.
Americans don't spend much time thinking about Somalia. And what time we do spend has in recent months been focused on somewhat amused accounts of the uptick in pirate activity off the Somali coast. But the piracy is but a symptom of the larger problem of lawlessness and anarchy in Somalia.
To Americans who have paid no attention to East Africa in the time between the departure of U.S. forces from Somalia in 1995 and the recent spate of pirate attacks, this situation may appear merely endemic to the region.
But it's not. The Somali situation was, in many ways, improving as of two years ago. At which point the Bush administration initiated a new adventure that, like most Bush administration deeds, was ill-conceived and worked out poorly. In this case, it destroyed the country, has been responsible for the deaths of untold thousands of people, has created the pirate problem, and is breeding a new generation of anti-American jihadists.
And nobody in the United States seems to have noticed.
In part, this is because Somalia is an obscure corner of the world. And in part it's because the crucial events took place almost exactly two years ago -- during the Christmas season when most journalists were on vacation and most people weren't following the news.
Two years ago, most of Somalia was under the control of a militia called the Islamic Courts Union. This was, as the name suggests, an Islamist movement that arose out of sharia courts that had begun to provide some measure of local judicial authority amid Somalia's anarchy.
Eventually, the ICU acquired armed forces and was able to seize control of the capital city, Mogadishu, and begin expanding its control over broader and broader swaths of the country.
The ICU was not made up of nice people, and it didn't have a model of governance that was going to win any human-rights awards. What's more, one of the forces it was fighting against was the de jure government, the so-called Transitional Federal Government, a ragtag and essentially powerless group that had been put together some years prior under United Nations auspices.
But the ICU did manage to bring a degree of actual law and order to the territories it supervised, and it wasn't trying to pick any fights with the United States. It was, in short, an improvement over the previous 15 years or so of anarchy.
But during the middle of the decade, the United States military had been building increasingly close ties with Ethiopia, hoping to turn that country into our key regional proxy. And Ethiopia and Somalia have traditionally been rivals.
As the TFG got weaker, it also drew closer to Ethiopia. And when ICU forces attached the TFG's holdout in the south central city of Baidoa on Dec. 20, Ethiopian forces came to the TFG's rescue. By Dec. 24 -- Christmas Eve -- Ethiopian forces announced that they were staging a counterattack aimed at routing the ICU.
The United States supported the operation, both with intelligence and some direct special-forces engagement and also diplomatically, which is crucially important since U.S. military assistance was how Ethiopia built their best-in-the-region military force. Before New Year's Eve, Ethiopians were in control of Mogadishu and began an occupation of the country in the name of the TFG.
To those of us who were both paying attention and chastened by the misadventure in Iraq, this looked like a recipe for disaster. Here was a largely Christian country (Ethopia), operating with the support of the United States, trying to occupy a largely Islamic country (Somalia) whose population has historically been at odds with the former.
The inevitable results would be insurgency, death, destruction, anarchy, and the development of a more dangerous strain of Islamism as the United States sent the message that we were the enemy of all Somali Islamists whether or not they had any quarrel with us.
Some conservatives took note of these events to engage in some of their usual short-sighted bloody-mindedness. James Robbins observed in National Review that “Ethiopia is in it to win, nice to see a country in the developing world (or anywhere for that matter) that can take care of business." TNR‘s James Kirchick hailed the Ethiopian invasion as just and the U.S. participation, a worthy counterterrorism strategy.
Of course what actually happened was a downward spiral of insurgency, violence, criminality, piracy, death, destruction, and humanitarian tragedy. Over the summer, the U.N. decided the humanitarian situation was "worse than Darfur." Somalia has the world's highest rate of malnutrition.
Because of the precarious security situation, it's extraordinarily difficult for humanitarian-aid organizations to operate. And because of the dismal record of foreign interventions in Somalia, no foreign countries are interested in intervening to stabilize things.
Of course the United States and the Bush administration are hardly the only blameworthy actors here. But we are blameworthy.
We could have just minded our own business. But instead, in a fit of thoughtlessness, we initiated a policy that nobody in the States paid much attention to and that over a period of years has prompted massive human suffering around the world.
And the Bush administration is continuing to make things worse in its final weeks in office. I can only hope that the incoming Obama administration will spend some time thinking about Somalia and learning not only specific policy lessons but also developing a sense of humility about the damage that can be done when the world's only superpower thrashes around carelessly.
Re: Who is funding and nurturing terrorists in the Horn? Eritrea, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt?
It is becoming evident day by day, that there is, a highly organized terrorist network, that funds the youths at the rate of $100 per month, with excellent benefits compared to what the youths of the region can afford in this very vulnerable part of the world.
No body seems to ask where does such level of funding come from? Who can afford to pay these delinquent youths to the tune of $100 per month with highly supportive benefits in the region? It is clear non of the local governments nor charities can afford that, even for their civil servants or their soldiers.
Who has that amount of money to spend so freely? No one has done any research or even intelligent speculations. Why?
In all the reports that come from the region, especially the so called journalists and researchers, do not expose the cause, nor the funding sources ; but just describe the scene as is. Any photo-journalist can d
that, and I some times wonder why they waste their words on print. Looks like an entertainment enterprise that just describes human sufferings and carnage and does not suggest solutions.
The United Nations, the Arab League, The African Union, The East African League or IGAD and all the series of self appointed Non Profit organizations those funded by the UN as well as churches and mosques and temples and all those philanthropic groups including the counter intelligence networks of all global groups under the banner of Journalists, doctors, lawyers, judges and charities without borders and the series of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty Groups, etc, non have suggested a solution on how to prevent the carnage nor discourage the funding and facilitation of this disaster in the Horn.
The only civilization or sane institution or civil society who tried to curb or stop the terror network, was and continues to be misunderstood , and even reported as the negative influence in the region, when it is actually defending its sacred national interests. The US is the only nation that has made overt and covert support for Ethiopia's effort to stem the tide. No one except Uganda and Burundi supported this effort.
Now, we have a rather sad and callous reporting by the economists, as though they are from Pluto or another Galaxy for a short Christmas Visit and making an observation of a dysfunctional globe ready to be overtaken by the aliens, as they are so incompetent to look after their own. What ever their own is.
The so called John Penderghast of the Enough Project and Human Rights Watch before that and the loony left Guardian newspaper before that even campaigned for the outgoing Bush Administration not to prevent
the funding and training of the terrorist that the Shabia criminals are facilitating with the support of the Egyptians and other loony governments in the region.
Imagine, Human Rights Watch and its loony organizations supporting the terrorist network! Whose Human Rights they are protecting is clear by their incompetent and irresponsible reporting on the topic.
We know who is funding and training these terrorists? We know who shattered the Pentagon and the New York building with US planes. We all know, and yet what the hell are we doing in Afghanistan and Iraq when none of the 12 were from these two countries.
We know who is funding and training these Shabab in Somalia. We also know who are the active players in this criminal venture. We can spot them from the air and the ground, and in fact we are the ones who are reporting on them.
What is so funny and sad is that, what are we doing by not sending UN and African Union and Arab League forces to stabilize the region. Are these institutions controlled by the same group that fund, retail and train terror? That is the real question. Who makes and sells the arms? Who trains the terrorists? How can we ignore this level of calamity for so long? Hitler would laugh at us in his grave and say look at these fools they are doing it again!
We know what to do, but we report as if some aliens from Pluto or another galaxy are responsible. We know the criminals are amongst us and may even be our closest friends and we have chosen to keep quiet.
It is like the US, Treasury and its mandated arm that regulates the market who knew Bernestien Maddoff was stealing and robbing the shadow banking system called Hedge Funds for over 30 years, and kept quiet when he robbed the world and his friends for over $50 Billion, NOW when it is really too late , we cry foul.
Yet he gets nothing and walks around with minor detective equipment around his ankles or forehead, while any African American youth caught or suspected to posses hashish is either shot on the spot or sent to jail for a long time. This is our sense of justice and fairness and competence. It is a shame and why get surpirsed if Maddoff gets a bail out.
Imagine, such level of incompetence in any planet and we would say the Martians are lost civilization and yet our own is vanishing under the weight of such incompetent civil societies and governance.
One wonders where we bail out thieves and robbers like Mad doff who robbed the economy not in thousands or millions but in billions and yet the common honorable person is left to be bankrupt and feel the homeless shelters.
Yes, like the Economist, in its current report, the world will respond with few temporary concern here and the and for few weeks we will sing, Noel, Noel! and even feed the poor in the shelter but soon forget them and continue to bail out the big robbers and even sell arms to the terrorists in the Horn and like London, England even facilitate the ransom money for the Pirates.
What a globe and civilizations that just does not care and continue to bail out the criminals with criminal priests interceding for their lost souls.
Please read below the fascinating story of the Shababa or Abused Youths with $100 per month into their self destruction.
It is a shame, no one seems to care! Just for the record do we know who is funding and training these Shababs and why did the US not put them in the Terrorists and Terrorist enabling list, I just wonder!
Dr B
The rise of the Shabab
The Economist | December 20, 2008
Sheik Muktar Robow Abu Mansur (2nd R), spokesman of Somalia's Islamic al-Shabab, leaves a news conference after vowing to step up attacks against government soldiers and foreign troops in Mogadishu December 14, 2008.
(REUTERS/Feisal Omar) FOR all its paradisal waters, golden dunes and swanky “eco-lodges”, life in Kenya’s coastal district of Kiunga, just a few miles from the border with Somalia, is hard. The place is remote, hungry and thirsty.
The harvest and the wells have failed again. Fishermen have no boats, only frayed nets cast from shore. Their catch rots for want of refrigeration. But what makes the village elders more nervous than anything is their proximity to Somalia.
During a war in the 1960s between Kenya and Somali bandits, known as “shifta”, who were egged on by Somalia, Kiunga was evacuated. These days a rough track, impassable during the rains, barely connects the two countries.
The border has been closed since December 2006, when jihadist fighters in Somalia retreated headlong from Mogadishu, the capital, and Kismayo, a southern port, into the mangrove swamps around Ras Kamboni, just inside Somalia. There they were shredded by Ethiopian artillery and American air raids.
An attack on Kenya by Somali jihadists based near the border is unlikely. Resurgent fighters still train there but look north. They belong to the Shabab (Youth), the armed wing of the former Islamic Courts Union that was all but wiped out two years ago. The presence of hated Ethiopian troops in Somalia, together with a corrupt and hapless transitional Somali government, gave the Shabab a chance to regroup.
Money and arms from Eritrea, which wants to use Somalia to hurt Ethiopia, as well as from some Arab countries, enabled it to recruit. Several thousand have signed up in the past year. They attend large training camps in southern Somalia where one of the instructors is said to be a white American mujahideen.
They are expected to disavow music, videos, cigarettes and qat, the leaf Somali men chew most afternoons to get mildly high. Thus resolved, they wrap their faces in scarves and seek to fight the infidel. In return, they get $100 a month, are fed, and can expect medical treatment and payments if they are wounded, as well as burial costs and cash for their families if they are killed.
The Shabab now controls much of south Somalia and chunks of Mogadishu. It took Kismayo a few months ago. The port of Marka, which takes in food aid, fell more recently. Many fighters are loosely grouped around two older jihadist commanders with strongholds near Kenya’s border, Mukhtar Robow and Hassan Turki.
Mr Robow celebrated the recent festival of Eid al-Adha by hosting prayers in Mogadishu’s cattle market. How sweet it would be at Eid, he told the gathering, if instead of slaughtering an animal in praise of Allah, they would slaughter an Ethiopian.
On a visit to Marka he was only slightly less belligerent. He urged reconciliation—except with enemies of Islam. There are many of those, it seems. Hundreds of Somali aid workers, human-rights campaigners and journalists have been killed or exiled.
Foreigners have been shot and kidnapped, in two cases just across Somalia’s border, in Kenya and Ethiopia. Where it cannot exert control, the Shabab excuses banditry. Borrowing tactics from Afghanistan’s Taliban, it spreads chaos to build a new order.
The Shabab has learnt from its mistakes in 2006, when it was overwhelmed in a few days by the Ethiopian army. It is now more pragmatic and more aggressive. This time round, it is apparently not picking fights with wealthy qat merchants. Men can chew what they like—but won’t be “clean enough” to get a lucrative job in Kismayo’s port. Education is encouraged. Girls can go to school. Charcoal burning is forbidden for the sake of the environment.
But the Shabab has also tightened its own security. Alleged spies for the transitional government or for Ethiopia are routinely beheaded with blunt knives. Mr Turki, the jihadist leader who lives mostly in the bush near the Kenyan border, sleeps in different houses when he is in a town. Public floggings and executions strike fear. So do masked faces. “Before, we knew who killed our relatives,” says a Kismayo merchant. “Now we don’t even know that.”
Most tellingly, the Shabab has learnt how to get hold of money faster. It concentrates its fighters in towns where there is money to be earned. The aim is to create an army that puts Islamist identity above divisive clan loyalties. Shabab commanders say a pious state will emerge once weaker militias have been disarmed.
Some reckon that the Shabab shares some of the ransoms earned by pirates who operate out of the central Somali port of Haradheere. Those in Puntland, farther north, are apparently beyond the Shabab’s reach.
Ethiopia says it will withdraw its troops within weeks, once ships evacuate the 3,000 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers under the African Union’s aegis holed up in Mogadishu. Somalia’s transitional government looks even feebler than before.
This week the president, Abdullahi Yusuf, an ageing warlord, sacked his prime minister, Nur Hussein, blaming him for what the president called a corrupt, inept and traitorous government. Mr Hussein refused to resign, and won a vote of confidence in parliament. Mr Yusuf went ahead and appointed his own prime minister anyway. More factional fighting beckons.
The UN says Somalia is the world’s worst humanitarian emergency. Some 3.2m people are said to need aid. The UN, which says 40,000 Somali children could soon starve to death, expects fighting over food to break out, another reason the Shabab wants to control the ports. Pirates make it hard to deliver aid.
Their activities may be curtailed after the UN Security Council this week let foreign governments chase pirates in Somalia itself as well as at sea. But the piracy will probably continue as long as the catastrophe on land does.
George Bush’s administration backed some of Mogadishu’s worst warlords as part of its war on terror. President Obama will have to take a new tack. The AU force has proved ineffective but a bigger or more robust intervention, by America or any other country, is not expected; this week Condoleezza Rice, America’s secretary of state, called in vain for UN peacekeepers to be sent.
A new American administration is unlikely to urge negotiation any time soon with the Shabab; it is still listed as a terrorist group by the Americans and may indeed shelter al-Qaeda people. It may have sleeper agents in Kenya and even in Britain. It has certainly become stronger.
---
Source: The Economist
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iGX8BKNT8QuvxoqtjIvpNI-cUhYQ
AFP
UN arms embargo on Somalia constantly broken
December 19, 2008
UNITED NATIONS — A 16-year arms embargo against Somalia has been constantly violated with weapons mainly coming from Yemen and financed by Eritrea as well as Arab and Islamic donors, a UN report said Friday.
"Most serviceable weapons and almost all ammunition currently available in the country have been delivered since 1992, in violation of the embargo," the report from a UN monitoring group said.
"Commercial imports, mainly from Yemen, remain the most consistent source of arms, ammunition and military materiel to Somalia," the group said.
Restrictions put into place in Yemen since June 2008 to limit arms sales have helped cut the flow of weapons to Somalia.
"Nevertheless, weapons from Yemen continue to feed Somali retail arms sales and the needs of armed opposition and criminal groups," the UN report said.
This illegal trafficking is fueling the bloody armed conflict in the Horn of Africa country, which has been wracked by a civil war since 1991, and is aiding rampant piracy off the Somali coast, the report added.
Earlier Friday, the UN Security Council prolonged the monitoring group's mandate for another year and reiterated "its intention to consider specific action to improve implementation of and compliance with" the embargo.
Independent experts have been mandated "to continue to investigate, in coordination with relevant international agencies, all activities, including in the financial, maritime and other sectors, which generate revenues used to commit arms embargo violations."
Somalia's transitional government controls only of a small part of the country, and the UN Security Council slapped an arms embargo on the country in 1992 under resolution 733.
"Insurgent groups in Ethiopia also procure arms and ammunition from Yemen, which then transit Somalia in violation of the arms embargo," the report said.
"Financing for arms embargo violations by armed opposition groups derives from a variety of sources, including the government of Eritrea, private donors in the Arab and Islamic world, and organized fund-raising activities among Somali diaspora groups."
Criminal gangs are also adding to the lawlessness in the country and are "typically self-financing, employing the proceeds from piracy and kidnapping to procure arms, ammunition and equipment."
"Some of these groups now rival or surpass established Somali authorities in terms of their military capabilities and resource bases," the report added.
Earlier this week, the UN Security Council adopted a landmark resolution authorizing for the first time the use of land operations against Somali pirates in a bid to clamp down on audacious, well-armed gangs menacing vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
But the UN monitoring group warned that another source of the arms flooding into the impoverished nation came from outside forces seeking to support the transitional government.
"Although such contributions are intended to contribute to security and stabilization in Somalia, and are eligible for exemption from the arms embargo, most are not authorized by the Security Council, and thus constitute violations."
"As much as 80 percent of such support has been diverted to private purposes, the Somali arms market or opposition groups."
________________________________
http://en.afrik.com/article15065.html
Afrik, pan-African news agency
Ethiopia releases corrupt official, Ex dictator still at large in Zimbabwe
Konye Obaji Ori
Saturday 20 December 2008
Tamerat Layne, Ethiopia’s former Prime Minister convicted by the Ethiopian Supreme Court in 2000 for corruption and abuse of power has been released. He is said to have swindled the government to the tune of US$ 10 million and stashed it in a private Swiss account.
The Former Prime Minister who was dismissed from government in 1996 was sentenced to 18 years in prison but has been released after serving 12 years for showing good behavior.
The Ethiopian government managed to recover the funds allegedly stolen by the former Prime Minister, who was arrested alongside senior party officials on corruption allegations and convicted of those crimes in what is considered a tough anti-graft stance.
Tamerat Layne is however a key ally of current Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who assumed the post of prime minister in 1995, and Seye Abreha, who went on to become defense minister.
The three men are at the top of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front coalition and it was their squad that ousted the military regime in 1991.
The military regime - known as the Derge - was headed by Mengistu Haile Mariam, whose 17-year rule was known as the Red Terror because of the thousands of people killed in that period.
Seye Abreha was also jailed for corruption not long after Tamerat was jailed in 2000 and like Tamerat, Seye was also given early release from prison last year.
However, Ethiopia’s Supreme Court in May sentenced former Ethiopian ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam - in absentia - to death.
It overturned on appeal last year’s ruling by the High Court sentencing Mengistu and 18 of his most senior aides to life in prison.
The judge said he had passed the death sentence as the defendants had tortured and executed thousands of innocent people, which amounted to genocide.
Mengistu has lived in exile in Zimbabwe since his overthrow in 1991. Tens of thousands of people were killed during a period of Mengistu’s 17-year rule known as the Red Terror
________________________________
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=how_bush_failed_somalia
American Prospect (web only)
December 18, 2008
How Bush Failed Somalia
Matthew Yglesias
Two years ago the United States intervened in East African politics in a way that has been responsible for the deaths of untold thousands of people, has created the pirate problem, and is breeding a new generation of anti-American jihadists.
Americans don't spend much time thinking about Somalia. And what time we do spend has in recent months been focused on somewhat amused accounts of the uptick in pirate activity off the Somali coast. But the piracy is but a symptom of the larger problem of lawlessness and anarchy in Somalia.
To Americans who have paid no attention to East Africa in the time between the departure of U.S. forces from Somalia in 1995 and the recent spate of pirate attacks, this situation may appear merely endemic to the region.
But it's not. The Somali situation was, in many ways, improving as of two years ago. At which point the Bush administration initiated a new adventure that, like most Bush administration deeds, was ill-conceived and worked out poorly. In this case, it destroyed the country, has been responsible for the deaths of untold thousands of people, has created the pirate problem, and is breeding a new generation of anti-American jihadists.
And nobody in the United States seems to have noticed.
In part, this is because Somalia is an obscure corner of the world. And in part it's because the crucial events took place almost exactly two years ago -- during the Christmas season when most journalists were on vacation and most people weren't following the news.
Two years ago, most of Somalia was under the control of a militia called the Islamic Courts Union. This was, as the name suggests, an Islamist movement that arose out of sharia courts that had begun to provide some measure of local judicial authority amid Somalia's anarchy.
Eventually, the ICU acquired armed forces and was able to seize control of the capital city, Mogadishu, and begin expanding its control over broader and broader swaths of the country.
The ICU was not made up of nice people, and it didn't have a model of governance that was going to win any human-rights awards. What's more, one of the forces it was fighting against was the de jure government, the so-called Transitional Federal Government, a ragtag and essentially powerless group that had been put together some years prior under United Nations auspices.
But the ICU did manage to bring a degree of actual law and order to the territories it supervised, and it wasn't trying to pick any fights with the United States. It was, in short, an improvement over the previous 15 years or so of anarchy.
But during the middle of the decade, the United States military had been building increasingly close ties with Ethiopia, hoping to turn that country into our key regional proxy. And Ethiopia and Somalia have traditionally been rivals.
As the TFG got weaker, it also drew closer to Ethiopia. And when ICU forces attached the TFG's holdout in the south central city of Baidoa on Dec. 20, Ethiopian forces came to the TFG's rescue. By Dec. 24 -- Christmas Eve -- Ethiopian forces announced that they were staging a counterattack aimed at routing the ICU.
The United States supported the operation, both with intelligence and some direct special-forces engagement and also diplomatically, which is crucially important since U.S. military assistance was how Ethiopia built their best-in-the-region military force. Before New Year's Eve, Ethiopians were in control of Mogadishu and began an occupation of the country in the name of the TFG.
To those of us who were both paying attention and chastened by the misadventure in Iraq, this looked like a recipe for disaster. Here was a largely Christian country (Ethopia), operating with the support of the United States, trying to occupy a largely Islamic country (Somalia) whose population has historically been at odds with the former.
The inevitable results would be insurgency, death, destruction, anarchy, and the development of a more dangerous strain of Islamism as the United States sent the message that we were the enemy of all Somali Islamists whether or not they had any quarrel with us.
Some conservatives took note of these events to engage in some of their usual short-sighted bloody-mindedness. James Robbins observed in National Review that “Ethiopia is in it to win, nice to see a country in the developing world (or anywhere for that matter) that can take care of business." TNR‘s James Kirchick hailed the Ethiopian invasion as just and the U.S. participation, a worthy counterterrorism strategy.
Of course what actually happened was a downward spiral of insurgency, violence, criminality, piracy, death, destruction, and humanitarian tragedy. Over the summer, the U.N. decided the humanitarian situation was "worse than Darfur." Somalia has the world's highest rate of malnutrition.
Because of the precarious security situation, it's extraordinarily difficult for humanitarian-aid organizations to operate. And because of the dismal record of foreign interventions in Somalia, no foreign countries are interested in intervening to stabilize things.
Of course the United States and the Bush administration are hardly the only blameworthy actors here. But we are blameworthy.
We could have just minded our own business. But instead, in a fit of thoughtlessness, we initiated a policy that nobody in the States paid much attention to and that over a period of years has prompted massive human suffering around the world.
And the Bush administration is continuing to make things worse in its final weeks in office. I can only hope that the incoming Obama administration will spend some time thinking about Somalia and learning not only specific policy lessons but also developing a sense of humility about the damage that can be done when the world's only superpower thrashes around carelessly.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Imagine Obama giving a one trillion Stimulus package
Obama considers $1 trillion plan to jolt economy
Digg Facebook Newsvine del.icio.us Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago Play Video CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles – Obama Is TIME's Person Of The Year
Play Video Video: Salazar Interior Secretary Choice Official CBS4 Denver Play Video Video: Obama and the Middle East Reuters Play Video Barack Obama Video: Obama chooses Republican for transportation post AP AP – President-elect Barack Obama, right, introduces Agriculture Secretary-designate, former Iowa Gov. Tom …
WASHINGTON – Anxious to jolt the economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama is considering a federal stimulus package that could reach a whopping $1 trillion, dwarfing last spring's tax rebates and rivaling drastic government actions to fight the Great Depression.
Obama has not settled on a grand total, but after consulting with outside economists of all political stripes, his advisers appear determined to make the stimulus bigger than the $600 billion they initially envisioned, aides said Wednesday.
Obama is promoting a recovery plan that would feature spending on roads and other infrastructure projects, energy-efficient government buildings, new and renovated schools and environmentally friendly technologies.
There would also be some form of tax relief, according to the Obama team, which is well aware of the political difficulty of pushing such a large package through Congress, even in a time of recession.
While a stimulus of $1 trillion over two years is under discussion, a more likely figure seems to be $850 billion. There is concern that a package that looks too large could worry financial markets, and the incoming economic team also wants to signal fiscal restraint.
Obama advisers, including Christina Romer and Lawrence Summers, have been contacting economists from across the political spectrum in search of advice as they assemble a spending plan that would meet Obama's goal of preserving or creating 2.5 million jobs over two years.
Among those whose opinions Obama advisers sought were Lawrence B. Lindsey, a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush during his first term, and Harvard professor Martin Feldstein, an informal John McCain adviser and the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Ronald Reagan.
Feldstein recommended a $400 billion investment in one year, Obama aides said, and Lindsey said the package should be in the range of $800 billion to $1 trillion. The advisers revealed the discussions on condition of anonymity because no decisions had been reached.
"I do recommend $400 billion in year one and expect a similar amount in year two," Feldstein said in an e-mail message. "The right amount depends on how it is used."
Lindsey could not be reached.
Obama aides also pointed to recommendations by Mark Zandi, the lead economist at Moody's Economy.com and an informal McCain adviser who has been proposing a $600 billion plan.
"I would err on the side of making it larger than making it smaller," Zandi said in an interview. "The size of the plan depends on the forecast — the economic outlook — and that is darkening by the day."
"Even a trillion is not inconceivable," he said.
Only one outside economist contacted by Obama aides, Harvard's Greg Mankiw, who served on President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, voiced skepticism about the need for an economic stimulus, transition officials said.
Under scenarios envisioned by Obama's economic team, a $600 billion package would satisfy the president-elect's jobs goal by the first quarter of 2011, but would leave an unemployment rate of 8 percent two years from now.
The team believes that to put unemployment on a downward trajectory, with a goal of 7.5 percent or less over two years, would require a stimulus package of about $850 billion. That would generate about 3.2 million jobs by the first quarter of 2011.
The advisers say they agree with economic forecasts that predict that without a government infusion unemployment will rise above 9 percent and not begin to come down until 2011.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday that Obama has indicated that Congress will get his recovery recommendations by the first of the year.
"He's going to get that to us very quickly and so we would hope within the first 10 days to two weeks that he's in office, that is after Jan. 20, that we could pass the stimulus plan," Reid said. "We want to do it very quickly."
This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats were preparing their own recovery bill in the range of $600 billion, blending immediate steps to counter the slumping economy with longer-term federal spending that encompasses Obama's plan.
A stimulus package that approaches $1 trillion could run into significant Republican opposition in Congress. It also could cause heartburn for moderate and conservative Democratic lawmakers, known as Blue Dogs, who oppose large budget deficits.
"Republicans want to work with the president-elect to help get our economy on the path to recovery, but we have grave reservations about taking $1 trillion from struggling taxpayers and spending it on government programs in the name of economic 'stimulus,'" House Republican leader John Boehner said in a statement.
In February, Congress passed an economic stimulus bill costing $168 billion and featuring $600 tax rebates for most individual taxpayers and tax breaks for businesses. Pelosi largely bowed to President Bush's insistence to keep the measure free of spending on federal projects.
The upcoming effort would dwarf that earlier measure as well as a $61 billion stimulus bill the House passed just before adjourning for the elections. That measure died after a Bush veto threat and GOP opposition in the Senate.
___
Associated Press Writer Erica Werner contributed to this story.
Digg Facebook Newsvine del.icio.us Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Writer Jim Kuhnhenn, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago Play Video CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles – Obama Is TIME's Person Of The Year
Play Video Video: Salazar Interior Secretary Choice Official CBS4 Denver Play Video Video: Obama and the Middle East Reuters Play Video Barack Obama Video: Obama chooses Republican for transportation post AP AP – President-elect Barack Obama, right, introduces Agriculture Secretary-designate, former Iowa Gov. Tom …
WASHINGTON – Anxious to jolt the economy back to life, President-elect Barack Obama is considering a federal stimulus package that could reach a whopping $1 trillion, dwarfing last spring's tax rebates and rivaling drastic government actions to fight the Great Depression.
Obama has not settled on a grand total, but after consulting with outside economists of all political stripes, his advisers appear determined to make the stimulus bigger than the $600 billion they initially envisioned, aides said Wednesday.
Obama is promoting a recovery plan that would feature spending on roads and other infrastructure projects, energy-efficient government buildings, new and renovated schools and environmentally friendly technologies.
There would also be some form of tax relief, according to the Obama team, which is well aware of the political difficulty of pushing such a large package through Congress, even in a time of recession.
While a stimulus of $1 trillion over two years is under discussion, a more likely figure seems to be $850 billion. There is concern that a package that looks too large could worry financial markets, and the incoming economic team also wants to signal fiscal restraint.
Obama advisers, including Christina Romer and Lawrence Summers, have been contacting economists from across the political spectrum in search of advice as they assemble a spending plan that would meet Obama's goal of preserving or creating 2.5 million jobs over two years.
Among those whose opinions Obama advisers sought were Lawrence B. Lindsey, a top economic adviser to President George W. Bush during his first term, and Harvard professor Martin Feldstein, an informal John McCain adviser and the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Ronald Reagan.
Feldstein recommended a $400 billion investment in one year, Obama aides said, and Lindsey said the package should be in the range of $800 billion to $1 trillion. The advisers revealed the discussions on condition of anonymity because no decisions had been reached.
"I do recommend $400 billion in year one and expect a similar amount in year two," Feldstein said in an e-mail message. "The right amount depends on how it is used."
Lindsey could not be reached.
Obama aides also pointed to recommendations by Mark Zandi, the lead economist at Moody's Economy.com and an informal McCain adviser who has been proposing a $600 billion plan.
"I would err on the side of making it larger than making it smaller," Zandi said in an interview. "The size of the plan depends on the forecast — the economic outlook — and that is darkening by the day."
"Even a trillion is not inconceivable," he said.
Only one outside economist contacted by Obama aides, Harvard's Greg Mankiw, who served on President Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, voiced skepticism about the need for an economic stimulus, transition officials said.
Under scenarios envisioned by Obama's economic team, a $600 billion package would satisfy the president-elect's jobs goal by the first quarter of 2011, but would leave an unemployment rate of 8 percent two years from now.
The team believes that to put unemployment on a downward trajectory, with a goal of 7.5 percent or less over two years, would require a stimulus package of about $850 billion. That would generate about 3.2 million jobs by the first quarter of 2011.
The advisers say they agree with economic forecasts that predict that without a government infusion unemployment will rise above 9 percent and not begin to come down until 2011.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday that Obama has indicated that Congress will get his recovery recommendations by the first of the year.
"He's going to get that to us very quickly and so we would hope within the first 10 days to two weeks that he's in office, that is after Jan. 20, that we could pass the stimulus plan," Reid said. "We want to do it very quickly."
This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats were preparing their own recovery bill in the range of $600 billion, blending immediate steps to counter the slumping economy with longer-term federal spending that encompasses Obama's plan.
A stimulus package that approaches $1 trillion could run into significant Republican opposition in Congress. It also could cause heartburn for moderate and conservative Democratic lawmakers, known as Blue Dogs, who oppose large budget deficits.
"Republicans want to work with the president-elect to help get our economy on the path to recovery, but we have grave reservations about taking $1 trillion from struggling taxpayers and spending it on government programs in the name of economic 'stimulus,'" House Republican leader John Boehner said in a statement.
In February, Congress passed an economic stimulus bill costing $168 billion and featuring $600 tax rebates for most individual taxpayers and tax breaks for businesses. Pelosi largely bowed to President Bush's insistence to keep the measure free of spending on federal projects.
The upcoming effort would dwarf that earlier measure as well as a $61 billion stimulus bill the House passed just before adjourning for the elections. That measure died after a Bush veto threat and GOP opposition in the Senate.
___
Associated Press Writer Erica Werner contributed to this story.
Bernard Madoff Ex-Chairman of NASDAQ: Proof that Jews colonize America
Madoff's $50 Bill Ponzy Scheme Proves America an Israeli Colony
Share: by davemakkar | December 17, 2008 at 08:47 am
17 views | 0 Recommendations | add comment
Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzy schemes proves America is a Israeli colony
Bernard Madoff a Jew ex-chairman of NASDAQ & till his arrest by Fed was a member of Nasdaq OMEX Group’s nominating committee. His Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities founded by him in 1960, a closely held market-making firm has been successfully running a Ponzy scheme for last 10 years with the blessings of Israeli controlled SEC despite numerous complaints filed against him of possible wrongdoings.
Finally after 10 years SEC woke up and Madoff was arrested by Fed on Dec. 10, 2008 over alleged $50 Billion Fraud; which is the biggest in American history by an individual.
Madoff told the US Attorney Lev Dassin that his business has been insolvent for years! Prosecutors have charged Madoff with single count of Securities Fraud. They said he faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million.
What a surprise, a Jew steals $50 billion and maximum he would get is 5 years and $5 million in fines? A colored guy steals $1000.00 by showing a gun gets more time for that. It reminds of another Jew Golan Cipel whom his gay paramour NJ Gov Jim McGreevy installed in NJ Home Land Security on a 6 figure job without valid work visa or Resident Alien card or FBI clearance.
When this scandal broke out Cipel fled to Israel over night & Jim resigned from his post to make way for a womanizer Jew Governor Jon Corzine who bought the Bed of Governor’s Mansion for over $140 million. Federal authorities failed to take any action against Jim or Cipel rather Corzine got a job for Jim to teach ethics in Kean University.
Oh I forgot Israelis controls Judiciary, big law firms besides Media, Hollywood, Banking, Real Estate and Politics of America. They have made America their colony. I refused to call Jews or any one American when they can serve in the Army of a foreign country and can vote in elections of a foreign Country. In the case of Jews while holding American Citizenship they can serve in Israeli Army like Rahm Emanuel and can vote in Israeli elections.
It is a debatable issue how one can trust such a privileged class with divided loyalties who is hostage to its own morally & ethically corrupt as well as racist Leadership in any country? Then I have failed to understand why we are giving $10 Billion every year to Israel for human genocide in Palestine and creation of terrorist to keep their illegal hold over Palestine land?
Why American politician before any one can blink their eyes; can drop their pants or skirts when they see a Jew or Israeli and start crawling for them. President Elect Obama has gone one step further by being stark naked on June 5, 2008 by saying undivided Jerusalem for Israel despite having knowledge that President Clinton’s 1993 Oslo accord calls for West Bank, Gaza Strip and divided Jerusalem for Palestine.
President elect Obama’s team looks like Bill Clinton’s third term minus Monica Lewinsky with major chunk of key post going to Jews or pro Israeli politicians and analysts.
Obama’s very first appointment of a known anti Arab & Muslims; Rahm Emanuel as Chief of White House Staff was a major blow to the Muslims around the world. The selection of Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State was the final nail in the coffin. Her selection has gladdened Israelis but in a major way it has offended the entire Muslim world.
Obama has also appointed Lisa Jackson as EPA Commissioner who as NJ DEP Commissioner ignored a Jew Builder Zygmunt Wilf blowing up a Hill a major Environmental crime to build Dream Condos.
With this team with same members or close to Clinton administration responsible for 1993 Oslo Peace Accord giving West Bank, Gaza & part of Jerusalem to Palestine; which has not been implemented after 15 years does not bear well with Muslim world. In nutshell the “Change” Obama has been talking during his campaign with this kind of a team promoting corruption and Israeli hold on America does not seem to materialize at least for the Muslim world and an average Joe of America.
Dave Makkar
www.savethehills9.blogspot.com
www.citizensfordemocracynj.org
Share: by davemakkar | December 17, 2008 at 08:47 am
17 views | 0 Recommendations | add comment
Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzy schemes proves America is a Israeli colony
Bernard Madoff a Jew ex-chairman of NASDAQ & till his arrest by Fed was a member of Nasdaq OMEX Group’s nominating committee. His Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities founded by him in 1960, a closely held market-making firm has been successfully running a Ponzy scheme for last 10 years with the blessings of Israeli controlled SEC despite numerous complaints filed against him of possible wrongdoings.
Finally after 10 years SEC woke up and Madoff was arrested by Fed on Dec. 10, 2008 over alleged $50 Billion Fraud; which is the biggest in American history by an individual.
Madoff told the US Attorney Lev Dassin that his business has been insolvent for years! Prosecutors have charged Madoff with single count of Securities Fraud. They said he faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million.
What a surprise, a Jew steals $50 billion and maximum he would get is 5 years and $5 million in fines? A colored guy steals $1000.00 by showing a gun gets more time for that. It reminds of another Jew Golan Cipel whom his gay paramour NJ Gov Jim McGreevy installed in NJ Home Land Security on a 6 figure job without valid work visa or Resident Alien card or FBI clearance.
When this scandal broke out Cipel fled to Israel over night & Jim resigned from his post to make way for a womanizer Jew Governor Jon Corzine who bought the Bed of Governor’s Mansion for over $140 million. Federal authorities failed to take any action against Jim or Cipel rather Corzine got a job for Jim to teach ethics in Kean University.
Oh I forgot Israelis controls Judiciary, big law firms besides Media, Hollywood, Banking, Real Estate and Politics of America. They have made America their colony. I refused to call Jews or any one American when they can serve in the Army of a foreign country and can vote in elections of a foreign Country. In the case of Jews while holding American Citizenship they can serve in Israeli Army like Rahm Emanuel and can vote in Israeli elections.
It is a debatable issue how one can trust such a privileged class with divided loyalties who is hostage to its own morally & ethically corrupt as well as racist Leadership in any country? Then I have failed to understand why we are giving $10 Billion every year to Israel for human genocide in Palestine and creation of terrorist to keep their illegal hold over Palestine land?
Why American politician before any one can blink their eyes; can drop their pants or skirts when they see a Jew or Israeli and start crawling for them. President Elect Obama has gone one step further by being stark naked on June 5, 2008 by saying undivided Jerusalem for Israel despite having knowledge that President Clinton’s 1993 Oslo accord calls for West Bank, Gaza Strip and divided Jerusalem for Palestine.
President elect Obama’s team looks like Bill Clinton’s third term minus Monica Lewinsky with major chunk of key post going to Jews or pro Israeli politicians and analysts.
Obama’s very first appointment of a known anti Arab & Muslims; Rahm Emanuel as Chief of White House Staff was a major blow to the Muslims around the world. The selection of Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State was the final nail in the coffin. Her selection has gladdened Israelis but in a major way it has offended the entire Muslim world.
Obama has also appointed Lisa Jackson as EPA Commissioner who as NJ DEP Commissioner ignored a Jew Builder Zygmunt Wilf blowing up a Hill a major Environmental crime to build Dream Condos.
With this team with same members or close to Clinton administration responsible for 1993 Oslo Peace Accord giving West Bank, Gaza & part of Jerusalem to Palestine; which has not been implemented after 15 years does not bear well with Muslim world. In nutshell the “Change” Obama has been talking during his campaign with this kind of a team promoting corruption and Israeli hold on America does not seem to materialize at least for the Muslim world and an average Joe of America.
Dave Makkar
www.savethehills9.blogspot.com
www.citizensfordemocracynj.org
Challenges of nature and nurture: Global Warming. piracy, draught and Coffee harvest challenges
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia/Africa:
Re: Managing Challenges of Nature and Nurture- the experience of the Horn
This is a unique time in the brief history of time where nature and nurture are intimately interacting with disastrous consequences.
Nature is flexing its muscle with a rapidly expanding universe, where dark energy of divergence or expansion is overtaking the dark matter of converging forces. This means we will have a series of vast open spaces between galaxies and some are even considering a series of parallel universes taking shape.
As the macro universe is taking new shape, our micro universe here in the solar system, and specifically the earths orbit and rotational system is facing another challenge that has generated a series of climatic changes referred to as global warming and cooling, which ever part of the globe ones inhabits.
More closely, on planet earth, these divergent and convergent universal forces are impacting the earths's rotational and navigational forces such as climate change in the form of extreme heat at the equator and cold at the poles are becoming more frequent.
The Horn is the oldest human habitation ground and as such tends to be highly vulnerable to natural and human or nurture activities. The recent past 30 years of series of draught has caused a series of challenges in the farming communities where revolutions have been ignited due to the catastrophes that ensued.
Now, it appears another wave of draught is upon us and it is likely that Ethiopia and Somalia will be the most impacted. Already coffee production is expected to slow down. The Somalis have converted themselves into highly effective pirates making $120 Million from some 100 piracy activities.
As their march on Ethiopia was halted effectively by Ethiopian invasion some two years ago, the Somalis are finding sea piracy a much more effective way of raising large sums of money to fund their on land terrorist activities.
Egypt and Eritrea are happy to funnel the Soviet made arms which they cheaply purchase from old Soviet satellite states. Ethiopians want to pull out of Somali terrestrial land mass and African Union forces want to do the same as the United Nations has been incompetent in sending adequate forces.
As Ethiopia pulls out and the maverick Somali President is trying his third Prime Minister and with the Shabab having their own series of Prime Ministers without portfolios, the Pirates have become effective Ministries of Economy and Finance bringing the equation of power and terror into a new level.
So, the United Nations seems to wake up to the challenge and even the Chinese are sending their navies. This is perhaps the busiest sea lane in the Gulf of Aden with European Union, NATO, US, Russian, British and Now Chinese navy is claiming their presence in the most precious Sealane in the universe.
I always wonder, what happened to the Ethiopian Navy, when the Ethiopian Shipping lane is still operational. I still have some friends who refer to themselves as Commodores and Admirals in Washington DC and London and wondered if they will take back their role in the Ethiopian Ocean or the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
Will Ethiopian Parliament led by the current parties allow Ethiopia to have her rightful place in this unique time in history? Time will tell. If the Chinese are making it why not Ethiopian Navy?
I some times wonder, what happened to those Great Ethiopian Sea fares and Naval expertise? Did it just disappear or waiting for their time to come?
I just wonder? Here is a fascinating series of stories unfolding and wondered if my people would like to share my concern for our region.
Here is a fascinating true story unfolding for your information.
Dr B
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aMhkaa9aHvl8&refer=africa
Bloomberg
December 17 2008
Ethiopia’s Coffee Crop May Fall 60% in Two Main Areas
Jason McLure
Coffee output in the two main export-growing areas of Ethiopia, Africa’s largest producer of the beans, may decline 60 percent because of drought, the United Nations said.
The lower harvest may aggravate malnutrition in southern Ethiopia’s Gedeo and Sidamo zones, where hunger is rife as a result of the drought, falling world coffee prices and higher food prices, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report today.
Production in Gedeo may fall 67 percent from a year earlier, while that in Sidamo may decline 53 percent, Tamirat Mulu, the author of the report, said in a phone interview in the capital, Addis Ababa, today.
The report was based on a livelihood assessment carried out by relief agencies between Nov. 17 and Dec. 5. Ethiopia’s main coffee harvest is from October through December.
Ethiopia exported 170,888 metric tons of coffee last year. About 35 percent of that was high-grade washed coffee and 65 percent lower quality dried coffee. Sidama and Gedeo provide about 60 percent of Ethiopia’s washed coffee, Mulu said.
_____________________
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/17/asia/18pirates.php
International Herald Trubune, France
China set to launch naval mission in Gulf of Aden
Mark McDonald
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
HONG KONG: In what would be the first active deployment of its warships beyond the Pacific, China appears set to send naval vessels to help in the fight against hijackers in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.
A vice foreign minister and a leading naval strategist were quoted in Chinese state media on Wednesday as saying that Beijing is close to mounting a naval mission in the gulf.
"China is seriously considering sending naval ships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast for escorting operations in the near future," said the Foreign Ministry official, He Yafei, quoted by Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency. His remarks came at a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Li Jie, a military strategist and naval expert, told the state-run China Daily that cooperating with a multinational force operating against East African pirates would be a "very good opportunity" for the Chinese Navy.
"Apart from fighting pirates," he said, "another key goal is to register the presence of the Chinese Navy."
The newspaper earlier this month said Maj. Gen. Jin Yinan, a military planner at the National Defense University, had conceived the Gulf of Aden plan. The paper quoted General Jin as saying that "the Chinese Navy should send naval vessels to the Gulf of Aden to carry out anti-piracy duties." "If one day the Chinese Navy sends ships to deal with pirates," he said, "nobody should be shocked."
Reuters reported Wednesday that pirates had seized a Chinese fishing vessel off the coast of Yemen. The report said the boat was believed to have a crew of about 30. At least two other ships have been hijacked this week: a French tugboat and a Turkish cargo ship.
Traditionally concerned with coastal defense, the People's Liberation Army Navy has been undergoing a wide and rapid modernization program, especially in the bolstering of its submarine fleet. A long-range goal of the Chinese expansion has been the development of a blue-water navy capable of extended tours.
About 60 percent of China's imported oil comes from the Middle East, and the bulk of that passes through the gulf, along with huge shipments of raw materials out of Africa. Last month, two Chinese ships were hijacked there, a fishing trawler and a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship carrying wheat.
"I would think they would go to protect their own interests -- just for escorting purposes and not for policing," said Jane Chan, an associate research fellow in the Maritime Security Program at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. "I don't think they're talking about going on the offensive right now so far away."
While China has been "quite wary of putting maritime assets in the region and wary of doing anything out in the open," Chinese diplomats have been active in anti-piracy efforts, according to Arthur Bowring, managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.
"The Chinese have been working diplomatically with the Yemeni government and coast guard, and their ambassador in Nairobi is very heavily involved," Mr. Bowring said. "They may not seem out in front, but they work extremely hard in the back seat."
To help combat the dramatic rise of increasingly brazen hijackings in the gulf, the European Union deployed its first-ever naval mission this month, a six-ship flotilla. The E.U. operation, code-named Atalanta, joined other navies already patrolling there, including the United States, Russia and India.
"China is usually quite conservative about playing with the big guys or saying they're going to match up with them," said Ms. Chan.
Also this month, the Security Council passed a resolution allowing navies to breach Somalia's 12-mile territorial limit while pursuing suspected pirates. And on Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to permit attacks on pirate bases on the ground as well.
Although pirates use oceangoing "mother ships" to attack merchant vessels deep in international waters, they are resupplied and find safe haven in towns along the lawless coast of Somalia. Many anti-piracy experts have pressed for international strikes against the pirate bases on land.
"Piracy is a symptom of the state of anarchy which has persisted in that country for over 17 years," said the U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. "This lawlessness constitutes a serious threat to regional stability and to international peace and security."
The U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, helped push through the U.N. resolution, which allows "all necessary measures." "I would not be here seeking authorization to go ashore if the United States government, perhaps most importantly, the president of the United States, were not behind this resolution," she said.
More than 100 vessels have been attacked by pirates in the gulf this year, and 42 have been hijacked. Sixteen are currently being held for ransom, including a fully loaded Saudi supertanker, the Sirius Star, and a Ukrainian ship, the Faina, carrying a load of 32 battle tanks and other heavy weapons. About 250 crew members also are being held on the various hijacked ships.
___________________________
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN16287080.html
UN council allows Somali anti-piracy fight on land
Tue 16 Dec 2008
Patrick Worsnip
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday authorized countries fighting piracy off the Somali coast to take action also on Somalia's territory and in its airspace, subject to consent by the country's government.
The United States said for the first time that the United Nations should deploy a peacekeeping force to war-torn Somalia and that Washington would push for a Security Council resolution by the end of the year to authorize one.
A surge in piracy in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes has pushed up insurance costs, brought pirates in the Horn of Africa country tens of millions of dollars in ransom and prompted foreign navies to rush to the area to protect merchant shipping.
But analysts say the international action has done little to deter the pirates, partly because the forces chasing them have not had the authority to take the battle onto land, where the pirates are based.
Tuesday's U.S.-drafted resolution, passed unanimously by the 15-nation council, extends that authority to countries that Somalia's interim government has told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are cooperating with it to combat piracy.
States "may undertake all necessary measures in Somalia, including in its airspace, for the purpose of interdicting those who are using Somali territory to plan, facilitate or undertake acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea," it says.
The Security Council session was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who were at the world body for talks on a range of world issues.
Although the role of the Somali government was repeatedly stressed in the resolution, that government is weak and divided. The country has been in virtual anarchy since the collapse of a dictatorship 17 years ago. Islamists control most of the south and feuding clan militias hold sway elsewhere.
It was also not clear what kind of forces would engage in land or air operations against the pirates or whether the U.S. military would participate.
CONTACT GROUP
The resolution called on states to "take part actively" in the fight against piracy off Somalia.
It urged them to make agreements with countries willing to take custody of captured pirates to take law enforcement officials from those countries onboard their naval vessels to aid the investigation and prosecution of those detained.
On the day the resolution was passed, pirates hijacked an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total off Yemen and a Turkish cargo ship was also reported captured. Around a dozen ships and nearly 300 hostages are being held in Somalia.
Rice told the council Washington would set up a contact group to promote anti-piracy efforts, including through sharing intelligence.
But, like other speakers, she said the piracy crisis was inseparable from the turmoil in Somalia. The United States "does believe that the time has come for the United Nations to consider and authorize a peacekeeping operation," she said.
"We believe that by the end of the year we should try and have such a Security Council resolution," Rice told reporters later. African countries favor such a force and South African envoy Dumisani Kumalo said, "It's what we've always wanted."
But U.N. officials fear a blue-helmet force would fail unless the situation in Somalia calms down.
Ban has proposed a multinational force with a wide mandate to pacify Somalia ahead of a U.N. peacekeeping force, but acknowledged that of 50 countries and three international organizations he had approached none had offered to lead one.
He told the council on Tuesday plans announced by Ethiopia to withdraw by the year's end its forces supporting the Somali government "could easily lead to chaos."
He suggested bolstering a so-far ineffectual African Union force in Somalia, helping the Somalis themselves to restore security and looking at setting up an international maritime task force to launch operations into Somalia.
Re: Managing Challenges of Nature and Nurture- the experience of the Horn
This is a unique time in the brief history of time where nature and nurture are intimately interacting with disastrous consequences.
Nature is flexing its muscle with a rapidly expanding universe, where dark energy of divergence or expansion is overtaking the dark matter of converging forces. This means we will have a series of vast open spaces between galaxies and some are even considering a series of parallel universes taking shape.
As the macro universe is taking new shape, our micro universe here in the solar system, and specifically the earths orbit and rotational system is facing another challenge that has generated a series of climatic changes referred to as global warming and cooling, which ever part of the globe ones inhabits.
More closely, on planet earth, these divergent and convergent universal forces are impacting the earths's rotational and navigational forces such as climate change in the form of extreme heat at the equator and cold at the poles are becoming more frequent.
The Horn is the oldest human habitation ground and as such tends to be highly vulnerable to natural and human or nurture activities. The recent past 30 years of series of draught has caused a series of challenges in the farming communities where revolutions have been ignited due to the catastrophes that ensued.
Now, it appears another wave of draught is upon us and it is likely that Ethiopia and Somalia will be the most impacted. Already coffee production is expected to slow down. The Somalis have converted themselves into highly effective pirates making $120 Million from some 100 piracy activities.
As their march on Ethiopia was halted effectively by Ethiopian invasion some two years ago, the Somalis are finding sea piracy a much more effective way of raising large sums of money to fund their on land terrorist activities.
Egypt and Eritrea are happy to funnel the Soviet made arms which they cheaply purchase from old Soviet satellite states. Ethiopians want to pull out of Somali terrestrial land mass and African Union forces want to do the same as the United Nations has been incompetent in sending adequate forces.
As Ethiopia pulls out and the maverick Somali President is trying his third Prime Minister and with the Shabab having their own series of Prime Ministers without portfolios, the Pirates have become effective Ministries of Economy and Finance bringing the equation of power and terror into a new level.
So, the United Nations seems to wake up to the challenge and even the Chinese are sending their navies. This is perhaps the busiest sea lane in the Gulf of Aden with European Union, NATO, US, Russian, British and Now Chinese navy is claiming their presence in the most precious Sealane in the universe.
I always wonder, what happened to the Ethiopian Navy, when the Ethiopian Shipping lane is still operational. I still have some friends who refer to themselves as Commodores and Admirals in Washington DC and London and wondered if they will take back their role in the Ethiopian Ocean or the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
Will Ethiopian Parliament led by the current parties allow Ethiopia to have her rightful place in this unique time in history? Time will tell. If the Chinese are making it why not Ethiopian Navy?
I some times wonder, what happened to those Great Ethiopian Sea fares and Naval expertise? Did it just disappear or waiting for their time to come?
I just wonder? Here is a fascinating series of stories unfolding and wondered if my people would like to share my concern for our region.
Here is a fascinating true story unfolding for your information.
Dr B
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aMhkaa9aHvl8&refer=africa
Bloomberg
December 17 2008
Ethiopia’s Coffee Crop May Fall 60% in Two Main Areas
Jason McLure
Coffee output in the two main export-growing areas of Ethiopia, Africa’s largest producer of the beans, may decline 60 percent because of drought, the United Nations said.
The lower harvest may aggravate malnutrition in southern Ethiopia’s Gedeo and Sidamo zones, where hunger is rife as a result of the drought, falling world coffee prices and higher food prices, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report today.
Production in Gedeo may fall 67 percent from a year earlier, while that in Sidamo may decline 53 percent, Tamirat Mulu, the author of the report, said in a phone interview in the capital, Addis Ababa, today.
The report was based on a livelihood assessment carried out by relief agencies between Nov. 17 and Dec. 5. Ethiopia’s main coffee harvest is from October through December.
Ethiopia exported 170,888 metric tons of coffee last year. About 35 percent of that was high-grade washed coffee and 65 percent lower quality dried coffee. Sidama and Gedeo provide about 60 percent of Ethiopia’s washed coffee, Mulu said.
_____________________
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/17/asia/18pirates.php
International Herald Trubune, France
China set to launch naval mission in Gulf of Aden
Mark McDonald
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
HONG KONG: In what would be the first active deployment of its warships beyond the Pacific, China appears set to send naval vessels to help in the fight against hijackers in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.
A vice foreign minister and a leading naval strategist were quoted in Chinese state media on Wednesday as saying that Beijing is close to mounting a naval mission in the gulf.
"China is seriously considering sending naval ships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast for escorting operations in the near future," said the Foreign Ministry official, He Yafei, quoted by Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency. His remarks came at a ministerial meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
Li Jie, a military strategist and naval expert, told the state-run China Daily that cooperating with a multinational force operating against East African pirates would be a "very good opportunity" for the Chinese Navy.
"Apart from fighting pirates," he said, "another key goal is to register the presence of the Chinese Navy."
The newspaper earlier this month said Maj. Gen. Jin Yinan, a military planner at the National Defense University, had conceived the Gulf of Aden plan. The paper quoted General Jin as saying that "the Chinese Navy should send naval vessels to the Gulf of Aden to carry out anti-piracy duties." "If one day the Chinese Navy sends ships to deal with pirates," he said, "nobody should be shocked."
Reuters reported Wednesday that pirates had seized a Chinese fishing vessel off the coast of Yemen. The report said the boat was believed to have a crew of about 30. At least two other ships have been hijacked this week: a French tugboat and a Turkish cargo ship.
Traditionally concerned with coastal defense, the People's Liberation Army Navy has been undergoing a wide and rapid modernization program, especially in the bolstering of its submarine fleet. A long-range goal of the Chinese expansion has been the development of a blue-water navy capable of extended tours.
About 60 percent of China's imported oil comes from the Middle East, and the bulk of that passes through the gulf, along with huge shipments of raw materials out of Africa. Last month, two Chinese ships were hijacked there, a fishing trawler and a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship carrying wheat.
"I would think they would go to protect their own interests -- just for escorting purposes and not for policing," said Jane Chan, an associate research fellow in the Maritime Security Program at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. "I don't think they're talking about going on the offensive right now so far away."
While China has been "quite wary of putting maritime assets in the region and wary of doing anything out in the open," Chinese diplomats have been active in anti-piracy efforts, according to Arthur Bowring, managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.
"The Chinese have been working diplomatically with the Yemeni government and coast guard, and their ambassador in Nairobi is very heavily involved," Mr. Bowring said. "They may not seem out in front, but they work extremely hard in the back seat."
To help combat the dramatic rise of increasingly brazen hijackings in the gulf, the European Union deployed its first-ever naval mission this month, a six-ship flotilla. The E.U. operation, code-named Atalanta, joined other navies already patrolling there, including the United States, Russia and India.
"China is usually quite conservative about playing with the big guys or saying they're going to match up with them," said Ms. Chan.
Also this month, the Security Council passed a resolution allowing navies to breach Somalia's 12-mile territorial limit while pursuing suspected pirates. And on Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to permit attacks on pirate bases on the ground as well.
Although pirates use oceangoing "mother ships" to attack merchant vessels deep in international waters, they are resupplied and find safe haven in towns along the lawless coast of Somalia. Many anti-piracy experts have pressed for international strikes against the pirate bases on land.
"Piracy is a symptom of the state of anarchy which has persisted in that country for over 17 years," said the U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. "This lawlessness constitutes a serious threat to regional stability and to international peace and security."
The U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, helped push through the U.N. resolution, which allows "all necessary measures." "I would not be here seeking authorization to go ashore if the United States government, perhaps most importantly, the president of the United States, were not behind this resolution," she said.
More than 100 vessels have been attacked by pirates in the gulf this year, and 42 have been hijacked. Sixteen are currently being held for ransom, including a fully loaded Saudi supertanker, the Sirius Star, and a Ukrainian ship, the Faina, carrying a load of 32 battle tanks and other heavy weapons. About 250 crew members also are being held on the various hijacked ships.
___________________________
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN16287080.html
UN council allows Somali anti-piracy fight on land
Tue 16 Dec 2008
Patrick Worsnip
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday authorized countries fighting piracy off the Somali coast to take action also on Somalia's territory and in its airspace, subject to consent by the country's government.
The United States said for the first time that the United Nations should deploy a peacekeeping force to war-torn Somalia and that Washington would push for a Security Council resolution by the end of the year to authorize one.
A surge in piracy in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes has pushed up insurance costs, brought pirates in the Horn of Africa country tens of millions of dollars in ransom and prompted foreign navies to rush to the area to protect merchant shipping.
But analysts say the international action has done little to deter the pirates, partly because the forces chasing them have not had the authority to take the battle onto land, where the pirates are based.
Tuesday's U.S.-drafted resolution, passed unanimously by the 15-nation council, extends that authority to countries that Somalia's interim government has told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are cooperating with it to combat piracy.
States "may undertake all necessary measures in Somalia, including in its airspace, for the purpose of interdicting those who are using Somali territory to plan, facilitate or undertake acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea," it says.
The Security Council session was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who were at the world body for talks on a range of world issues.
Although the role of the Somali government was repeatedly stressed in the resolution, that government is weak and divided. The country has been in virtual anarchy since the collapse of a dictatorship 17 years ago. Islamists control most of the south and feuding clan militias hold sway elsewhere.
It was also not clear what kind of forces would engage in land or air operations against the pirates or whether the U.S. military would participate.
CONTACT GROUP
The resolution called on states to "take part actively" in the fight against piracy off Somalia.
It urged them to make agreements with countries willing to take custody of captured pirates to take law enforcement officials from those countries onboard their naval vessels to aid the investigation and prosecution of those detained.
On the day the resolution was passed, pirates hijacked an Indonesian tugboat used by French oil company Total off Yemen and a Turkish cargo ship was also reported captured. Around a dozen ships and nearly 300 hostages are being held in Somalia.
Rice told the council Washington would set up a contact group to promote anti-piracy efforts, including through sharing intelligence.
But, like other speakers, she said the piracy crisis was inseparable from the turmoil in Somalia. The United States "does believe that the time has come for the United Nations to consider and authorize a peacekeeping operation," she said.
"We believe that by the end of the year we should try and have such a Security Council resolution," Rice told reporters later. African countries favor such a force and South African envoy Dumisani Kumalo said, "It's what we've always wanted."
But U.N. officials fear a blue-helmet force would fail unless the situation in Somalia calms down.
Ban has proposed a multinational force with a wide mandate to pacify Somalia ahead of a U.N. peacekeeping force, but acknowledged that of 50 countries and three international organizations he had approached none had offered to lead one.
He told the council on Tuesday plans announced by Ethiopia to withdraw by the year's end its forces supporting the Somali government "could easily lead to chaos."
He suggested bolstering a so-far ineffectual African Union force in Somalia, helping the Somalis themselves to restore security and looking at setting up an international maritime task force to launch operations into Somalia.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Europe Union Visit to the Horn
CR\753078EN.doc PE415.305v01-00
EN EN
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
2004
2009
Committee on Development
24.11.2008
REPORT
of the fact-finding mission of a Delegation of the Development
Committee of the European Parliament to the Horn of Africa (Eritrea,
Djibouti, Ethiopia) (25 October-2 November 2008)
Mr Alain Hutchinson (PES - Belgium), head of delegation
Mr Filip Kaczmarek (PPE - Poland)
Mr Mikel Irujo Amezaga (Greens - Spain)
PE415.305v01-00 2/17 CR\753078EN.doc
EN
Introduction
Following a request from the Development Committee for a fact-finding mission to
the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia), the Bureau authorised the visit on 7
July 2008. The President authorised an extension of the mission, due to difficult flight
connections, in a letter dated21 August 2008. The delegation was composed of three
Members of the Development Committee: Chair of the Delegation - Alain
HUTCHINSON (PES - Belgium), Mikel IRUJO AMEZAGA (Greens - Spain) and
Filip KACZMARK (EPP-ED - Poland).
The fact finding mission was tasked to focus on peace, sustainable development and
good governance in the regional context and the possible role the EU can play in
supporting this process. In light of the global crisis caused by soaring food prices, the delegation also examined the challenges in the area of food security and rural development.
The Delegation expresses its particular thanks to the Ambassadors in Brussels and the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as the
Commission Delegations in Asmara, Djibouti, Sana'a and Addis Ababa for their
significant support in the preparation of the programme and for facilitating the
successful undertaking of the mission.
1. Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa
Ethiopia-Eritrea - Border Conflict
In December 2000, Ethiopia and Eritrea ended a two year war by signing the
internationally brokered "Algiers Agreements", providing for a UN peace-keeping
operation mission (UNMEE) and the setting up of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary
Commission (EEBC).
The EEBC decided on the delimitation of the border in 2002,
attributing the contested village Badme to Eritrea. The decision was immediately
accepted by Eritrea, but initially rejected by Ethiopia. Ethiopia later accepted the
decision, but insisted on a dialogue about the implementation of the border decision.
After several years of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with both parties and to go
ahead with physical border demarcation, the EEBC dissolved itself in November
2007, leaving a set of geographical coordinates and a map as "virtual demarcation".
Following serious pressures from Eritrea to re-deploy UNMEE from the
demilitarisation zone, the UN Security Council decided in July 2008 to conclude the
UNMEE mandate as from 31 July 2008.
Today, estimates suggest that Eritrea and Ethiopia maintain 124,000 and 100,000 troops respectively along the border.
The EP delegation discussed the current situation and assessment of the border
conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea with representatives from both governments,
including the President of Eritrea and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The meetings
confirmed a great deal of mistrust between both governments, and very firm positions
with regard to the sequence for overcoming the stalemate (Eritrea: demarcation first;
Ethiopia: dialogue first). Both sides claimed that the other one was not interested in a peaceful coexistence.
CR\753078EN.doc 3/17 PE415.305v01-00
EN
The Eritrean government underlined the high importance they attach to the
implementation of the Algiers peace agreement without any preconditions and the
need for Ethiopian troops to fully retreat from Eritrean territory. They underlined the responsibility of the international community, including the EU, to guarantee the
implementation of the agreement and to use instruments under Chapter 7 of the UN
Charter, if necessary, to enforce it. Interlocutors admitted that the unsolved conflict binds manpower and resources which are desperately needed for the development of the country.
The Ethiopian government stated that it had fully accepted the delimitation decision,
but insisted that the demarcation must go together with a dialogue about the practical implementation (referring to problems such as the border cutting through villages and cemeteries) and must be linked to the normalisation of the relationship as well as guarantees for peace. For Ethiopia, it is particularly crucial to reopen the border for trade and access to the Assab port in Eritrea.
Eritrea - Djibouti border conflict
During the period of preparation of the fact-finding mission (in June 2008), violence
escalated at the border between Eritrea and Djibouti in Ras Doumeira, which resulted
in 35 fatalities and dozens wounded. Several fact-finding missions from international
organisations, including from the UN, have looked into the clash, but none was
allowed entry to Eritrea.
The United Nations Security Council issued a presidential
statement on 12 June 2008 calling on both sides to commit to a ceasefire and to
withdraw troops to the status quo ante. The contested border area could be strategic
for control of sea traffic (Ras Doumeira being situated at one of the narrowest points of the Red Sea). Eritrea also claimed that Ethiopia had set up a new military camp on mount Musa Ali on a border junction between the three countries (Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia).
The current situation is calm, but given the closeness of the troops there is a risk of escalation, and the resources bound by the status quo is a heavy burden, particularly for Djibouti. France, which has a military basis and a defence agreement with Djibouti, has come in with logistical and military support. It has to be assumed that Ethiopia would also get involved on the side of Djibouti should the conflict escalate further, as Ethiopia depends on Djibouti for access to the sea.
The Eritrean government minimised the incident at the border and accused the
international community, particularly the US, of fabricating a conflict.
The President of Eritrea said he had not instructed any military action and that no Eritrean soldier had crossed the border. According to the Eritrean side, heavy equipment had been moved to build a road and it was Djiboutian troops which attacked first.
The Government criticised France for accusing Eritrea in the Security Council on 23
October, while generally the French presence in Djibouti was described as a factor of
stability.
The Djibouti authorities stated that they had been taken by complete surprise by the
border incidents, as relations with Eritrea had been calm in the past.
All Djiboutian
interlocutors underlined the will to use diplomatic means for solving the problem.
They explained that the fighting had started after Eritrean deserters had crossed the
border and Djibouti had rejected to return them. After an Eritrean ultimatum had
passed, Djiboutian soldiers had been attacked "during prayer time". The ICRC is
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currently in negotiations to ascertain the presence of Djiboutian prisoners of war in
Eritrea, but has already been granted access to Eritrean prisoners in Djibouti.
Somalia and Sudan While originally not a focus of the fact-finding mission, the situation in Somalia and Sudan were raised as issues of great concern in all countries visited.
The terrorist bomb attack on the Ethiopian Consulate and UN offices in Somaliland's capital Hargeysa on 29 October, for which radial Islamic militias claimed responsibility,heightened fears, particularly in Djibouti, that the conflict could spread towards the North.
On the other hand, some positive developments were noted in the Somali peace process following the Djibouti agreement of June 2008, which to jeopardize was considered one reason for the terrorist attack.
On 26 October, another agreement was adopted in Djibouti between the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) and the moderate elements of the opposition, the Alliance
for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS), including modalities for the ceasefire and the
relocation of Ethiopian troops.
IGAD, at a conference on 29 October in Nairobi with representatives of the Transitional Federal Institutions and Members of the Transitional Federal Parliament, adopted a seven-point plan for supporting the peace
process in Somalia and established a mechanism for monitoring implementation. The
common position of the regional neighbours and their strong support for the Djibouti
agreement was described by several interlocutors, in particular in Ethiopia, as a
significant step.
It was also described as vital, however, that a UN stabilization force be deployed to back the African Union peacekeepers. Should the peace process not progress until the end of the year, Ethiopia announced the immediate withdrawal of its troops.
Piracy is another major security challenge for the Horn region. The French military
presence in Djibouti, the largest overseas naval base of France, has an important role for developing response strategies, including escorts for ships.
Sudan was described by some interlocutors as THE major risk factor in the Horn
region. The failure of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
between the North and the South could lead to secession, likely to be accompanied by
military conflict over the oil shares in the border region. The secession would most
likely lead to a total break up of the country, with Darfur and the Eastern part seeking independence and inter-ethnic fighting, further fuelled by involvement of
neighbouring countries, including Eritrea.
2. Food security and EU development cooperation
Eritrea
Since the interruption of the democratisation process in 2001, EC cooperation with
Eritrea has been confronted with major political and technical difficulties.
Cooperation was frozen for several years in reaction to the expulsion of the Italian
Ambassador, which led to a certain backlog with the 9th EDF funds. Technical
hurdles include the limited number of private enterprises able to participate in tenders,restricted access for consultants and even EC staff to projects, and bureaucratic
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delays. As of 25 September 2008, only half of the 9th EDF had been contracted and
25 percent had been paid.
Recently, efforts have been made to reinvigorate the cooperation and proceed with
contracting of outstanding EDF funds. A political dialogue has begun, to be evaluated
by the end of 2008. The negotiations over the CSP for the 10th EDF have been nearly
concluded, although the document had not yet been signed when the fact finding
mission visited Eritrea. The total aid budget is 122 mio Euro. The focal sectors
foreseen for the 2008-2013 period include food security and infrastructure.
In addition, the EU is to support the justice sector and capacity building for public
administration as well as rehabilitation of cultural goods under non-focal sectors.
As reflected in the CSP, the Government of Eritrea (GoE) has put a major focus on
food security. The delegation witnessed major efforts in water management projects
to increase agricultural production and achieve independence from increasingly erratic rainfalls.
Soil protection and fight against deforestation are other important
intervention areas, including through the government's initiative of providing all
households with improved, energy saving stoves by 2010. The interlocutors admitted
that military service, although formally to last 18 months, often extends over decades, reducing both the active workforce and the individual freedom and choices of the citizens.
Via the "Cash for Work Programme", citizens contribute to the public works - such as
the building of dams - against payments from the government. While this scheme was
described as being voluntary, there is a risk of people being forced to work for the
government in order to ensure they can earn their living.
One of the major problems for development cooperation is the lack of exact data
about the actual status of food insecurity. A planned food needs assessment by the
FAO had been blocked, while a nutritional survey planned by UNICEF has been
postponed. UN work was also impeded by insufficient fuel supply, rendering field
work extremely difficult.
The WFP has not been operational in the country, following
a clash over the food aid policy of the country and the seizure of WFP stocks by the
government in 2006. The work of international NGOs has been severely restricted by
the NGO proclamation of 2005, leaving only seven international NGOs active in the
country, and only one local NGO being registered under the proclamation.
While there are no independent verifications for reports about "silent famine" and
extreme malnutrition, several indicators suggest the risk of a humanitarian crisis as in other Horn of Africa countries.
Food subsistence has been down from about 70-75
percent in 2007 to 30-35 percent this year due to the drought. Given the high food and fuel prices (Eritrea being 100 percent dependent on oil imports) and the weakness of the economy, it is unclear how additional food imports can be financed. After 60 days of overdue payment of debt obligations, the World Bank had to suspend the payment of new credits end of October 2008 for the first time.
While also in other sectors reliable data are lacking, UN estimations suggest
considerable progress in the health sector, including for example the probability of
MDGs on child mortality and on HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases to be met.
Only 2 percent of the GDP are spent on health, however, and human resources in the
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health sector are insufficient. Major investments are being made, with the support of
the EC, in education (based on the Education Sector Development Programme) and
institutional capacity building (through the Eritrean Centre for Organisational
Excellence). While the delegation noted and acknowledged the strong will of the
Eritrean government to avoid any dependence from international donors, many
interlocutors explicitly called on the EU to provide financial support for the
development strategies and projects.
Djibouti
The Djiboutian authorities acknowledged significant improvements in the cooperation
with the EU and particularly welcomed the efforts of the EC delegation. The 9th EDF
has now been completely committed. Under the A-Envelope of the 10th EDF an
allocation of 40.5 mio Euro is foreseen, 85 percent of which is concentrated on the
focal sector "water, sanitation and energy".
Due to the short stay in Djibouti, the delegation did not visit any projects related to food security, but the exchanges with government authorities, NGOs and UN
confirmed dramatic challenges. The food security situation is alarming in all of
Djibouti's livelihood zones due to four consecutive poor rainy seasons and high food
prices. The loss of livestock due to the drought is estimated at 50-70 percent. Urban
households suffer from high staple food prices which rose by 15 percent between May
and October 2008.
DG ECHO intends to provide emergency food aid assistance to
150.000 beneficiaries in Djibouti. The Government of Djibouti waived the customs
tax on several food commodities, which has led to a significant decrease of
government revenue. The government tries to boost production, investing amongst
others, in improved water management and microcredit for farmers. Djibouti is also
harvesting in neighbouring countries (Sudan and Ethiopia). Poverty reduction and
creation of employment (current unemployment rate of 60 percent) also remain major
challenges. Improving the conditions for private business and thus employment could
contribute to better distribution of the fairly high per capita GDP (880 USD in 2007).
Ethiopia
Under the 10th EDF, Ethiopia has been allocated 644 mio Euro in programmable
funds. The focal sectors are transport and regional integration, rural development and food security and macro-economic support and governance. The Commission works
closely with civil society and non-governmental organisations, which expressed their
great satisfaction with the cooperation.
Ethiopia has seen remarkable growth of around 9-11 percent over the last years, with
agriculture remaining a key sector (46.3 percent of the GDP in 2006/2007). The
Government’s agricultural strategy focuses on investment in technology, improved
seeds and fertilisers, as well as capacity building. Efforts to diversification of the economy have resulted in the decrease of the proportion of coffee exports from 67 to 36 percent of total export revenues (in 2006/2007).
Policies for reaching the MDG targets are enshrined in the Ethiopian Poverty
Reduction Strategy, the "Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End
Poverty in Ethiopia" (PASDEP). Significant progress in key human development
indicators has been attained. For example, primary school enrolment has steadily
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increased since 2002, reaching a gross enrolment rate for the primary cycle (class 1-8)
of 91.7 percent in 2006/2007, according to official statistics. However, significant
disparities between regions exist. Under 5 child mortality has been reduced from
167/1000 in 2000/01 to 123/1000 in 2005/06. The percentage of people with an
income below one dollar a day came down from 44.2 percent in 2000/01 to 36.5
percent in 2005/6. Notwithstanding, Ethiopia only ranked 169 out of 177 countries in
the Human Development Index in 2007/2008.
Investments are made in the health system with the aim of achieving universal primary healthcare by 2010, but lack of qualified health staff and significant brain drain in this sector still present a major difficulty. Despite a stated policy of supporting the private sector and encouraging investment, the creation of an environment conducive for private enterprise remains a major challenge, and liberalisation is hampered by the strong overlap between political and economic power.
The rising food and fuel prices have put the Ethiopian economy under pressure
recently. The inflation is the second highest in the world, attributed by the government to external shocks, rising commodity prices and increasing demand linked to economic growth. Other factors mentioned to the delegation include uncontrolled
public spending, the recent increase of the defence budget (after a significant
reduction had been achieved between 2000 and 2007) and the high - albeit slowly
decreasing - population growth rates.
Despite investment in agricultural production
and the creation of the Productive Safety Net Programme, Ethiopia remains highly
vulnerable to food insecurity, with this year’s drought aggravating the situation.
Official statistics estimate 6.4 mio people to be in need of emergency food aid.
Unofficial estimates go beyond this figure and the government has been criticised of
being too hesitant in admitting the full scope of the crisis and for not calling earlier for international assistance.
The Ogaden part of the Somali region is severely hit by the drought, but full
establishment of facts about the humanitarian and human rights situation on the
ground remains difficult. The ICRC, asked to leave the Somali region by the
Ethiopian Government in 2007, has not yet returned.
While other NGOs and WFP are active in the region, the government is controlling food distribution in certain areas and considerable parts of the food aid foreseen for the Somali region have not reached the beneficiaries. There has been recent progress through the introduction by the WFP in October 2008 of the 'hubs-and-spoke' system which is expected to improve the delivery of food aid. However, delays are still reported due to the need for military authorisation to travel in the Somali region.
3. Human rights, democracy and good governance
Eritrea
The situation as regards civil and political rights and democratic principles has been of great concern to the European Parliament for many years. Before their departure Members received reports about arbitrary arrests, torture and maltreatment of prisoners as well as persecution of journalists and suppression of religious freedom.
The case of the G-11, former Members of Parliament and Government who were
arrested in September 2001 and have since been detained incommunicado, has been
raised by the EP and the Council regularly with the Eritrean authorities. The country
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has no elected national government and the existing one, nominated by the ruling
party immediately after the independence, has not met since 2002. As the Constitution
of 1997 was never implemented, the governance systems lack a clear separation of
powers, with detrimental effects for the rule of law and individual freedoms.
Elections
have been held at regional level, but no opposition parties are allowed. Progress has
been made, however, in advancing women's rights, with – for example – the ban on
Female Genital Mutilation and a 30 percent quota for women in regional assemblies.
The ICRC has no access to the prisons in the country, only to Ethiopian prisoners of
war. To compare reports about the situation in prisons with the reality on the ground,the Members of the delegation requested a visit to a detention centre to be included in the programme, which was rejected by the authorities.
The Delegation repeatedly expressed the concern of European citizens about the human rights situation in the country and welcomed the openness of the government to enter into a dialogue about these issues. Many interlocutors expressed the wish to bring an end to the extraordinary situation caused by the so-called "no-war-no-peace" situation and to restart with the Eritrean constitution.
In the current situation, however, they argued that priority was given to military security and delivery on social rights (right to food, education etc). The detention of journalists and the G11 was not denied, but the formulation of "political prisoners" was rejected. The ban of certain religions was justified by the President, on the grounds that the preaching of new bibles and/or radical beliefs was a violation of the religious rights of persons belonging to otherbeliefs.
Members of the delegation, while acknowledging the need for a transitional phase
after the war and the process character of democratic transition, underlined the need
for identifying a perspective for returning to a democratic process and reinstating
basic human rights in line with the international commitments of Eritrea. They were
very concerned that the “no war no peace situation” was used to justify the upholding
of an undemocratic regime.
As regards the justice sector, limited capacity and lack of trained legal personnel,
including defence lawyers, pose major challenges. The EC plans to support capacity
building and training for the Community Courts, which - in parallel to the official
court system - apply customary law at the village level. The delegation was concerned
about the Special Courts founded in 1994 for handling corruption cases. These courts,
not under the control of the Ministry of Justice, do not allow for legal defence and
foresee no right to appeal.
Djibouti
The delegation found that several of the issues raised by the last fact-finding mission of the Parliament (in 2004) remained a matter of concern. The majority voting system, highly unfavourable to the opposition parties, was applied during the 2008 legislative elections. The opposition boycotted the elections. Representatives of the Ruling Party stated that a dialogue with the opposition had been sought to adapt the electoral law but that the opposition was sterile and not open to dialogue. Some progress has been made in the representation of women in Parliament.
Deleted: could be
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The coalition of opposition parties outside Parliament argued that they had requested
a dialogue but that the government had not positively responded. The opposition also
reported that during the local and regional elections in 2006, although held with
proportional system, conditions for free and fair elections had not been in place.
Restrictions to the right of assembly before the elections in 2008, total lack of press freedom and harassments (such as the arrest in March 2007 of the human rights
defender Mr Jean Paul Noel Abdi), were described as factors severely restricting the
political space. The opposition party MRD was banned in July 2008 by a presidential
decree on the grounds of alleged support to an Eritrean attack against Djibouti.
Representatives of human rights organisations and trade unions reported that labour
rights continue to be violated and unionists face harassments, with, for example,
members of the UDT/UGTD leadership still not being reinstated in their jobs after
dismissals linked to their trade union activities .
Ethiopia
The Speaker of the House and Government representatives reconfirmed the strong
commitment of the Ethiopian authorities to human rights and democratic principles.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman were set up to
provide training, awareness raising and also investigate complaints. The Commission
has also begun to monitor prison and detention places. Among civil society and
representatives of opposition forces, however, there was a lack of trust with regard to the independence of these institutions.
In Parliament, representatives of the opposition parties also claimed that despite
changes to the Rules of Procedure, they are in practice excluded from proper
parliamentary work (e.g. by extremely limited speaking time; questions/motions
tabled are rejected or not taken; control of committees by ruling party).
The Speaker of the House and representatives of the ruling party underlined that the Rules of Procedure had been adapted together with international advisers. They referred to lack of capacity of Parliamentarians and claimed that the opposition did not make use of its rights. Capacity-building programmes are already in place with UN support, and EC engagement would be welcome.
With regard to the denial of status as political group to the newly formed opposition party, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), which was joined by 38 MPs, the Speaker referred to the rules requiring that the party had participated in the election. The opposition contested this and claimed that another party which was equally registered after the elections had received the political group status.
Opposition representatives also complained about frequent harassment, closure of the
offices during local elections of April 2008 and denial of access to their
constituencies, as well as arrests and non-respect for parliamentary immunity. On the
day of arrival of the delegation the Secretary General of the OFDM, Mr Bekele Jirata,
was arrested and charged with links to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), together
with other opposition supporters.
The authorities informed the Chair of the Delegation that prisoners had full access to lawyers and families, but the Delegation received continuing reports about prisoners being held incommunicado, and that Mr Bekele had been without access to his lawyer for at least six days. On 1 November, the Deputy Chair of the UDJ Mr Gizachew Shiferaw and two UDJ parliamentarians werePE415.305v01-00 10/17 CR\753078EN.doc
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detained for three hours in Dembacha, Western Gojjam, Amhara region, allegedly
with the stated reason that all party activities should be reported prior to the police.
Generally, there was a climate of fear among NGOs and opposition that government
control was increasing and the political space is reduced by the recently adopted press law and party registration law. Access to food, land, fertilisers etc. are said to be used by the government for political purposes. Major concerns were raised with regard to the Charities and Societies Proclamation draft law (CSO law). A broad sector of issues related to human rights and democracy would be barred to NGOs which receive more than 10 percent of their funding from sources outside Ethiopia, including the Ethiopian diaspora, which is estimated to apply to 99 percent of the NGOs.
The Parliament has not yet received the bill, but the Speaker announced a public hearing in the responsible Committee. Apparently, a fourth version is circulating, but the government has rejected all requests for changing the core elements.
The delegation also heard reports about government interference with the work of
trade unions and professional organisations. Members of the former Ethiopian
Teachers Association, dissolved by court decision, reported about bureaucratic delays
in answering to their request for re-registration under a new name, submitted in
August 2008. Several members of the former ETA are reported missing, in prison or
out of work.
4. Recommendations
Regional security
• Ethiopia should formally endorse the Boundary Commission's virtual demarcation
between Eritrea and Ethiopia as final and binding. The Eritrean government should
agree to a dialogue with Ethiopia, which would address the process for
disengagement of troops from the border and for physical demarcation in
accordance with the Border Commission’s decision as well as the normalisation of
relations between the two countries, including a reopening of the border for trade.
• The EU should continue its efforts in the framework of the Regional political
partnership for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa to identify
projects of common interest which could trigger functional cooperation between
Eritrea and Ethiopia, such as in the area of energy supply and cross-border trade.
• The Eritrean government should reconsider its current suspension of membership in
IGAD. The AU and IGAD leadership should continue to involve Eritrea and
encourage the government to rejoin the regional and sub-regional cooperation
efforts.
• The Eritrean governments should agree to invite, jointly with the Djiboutian
government, an independent fact-finding mission to look into the situation in Ras
Doumeira. Both sides should rely on dialogue and diplomatic means to restore
relations between the two countries. Eritrea should provide a list of Djiboutian
prisoners of war and ensure access for the ICRC.
• In Somalia, the EU should continue its support for institution-building, the
implementation of the Djibouti peace agreement and IGAD efforts in the peace
Formatted: Bullets and Numbering
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process. AMISOM should be reinforced and the UN stabilisation force be deployed
in a timely manner as soon as political and security conditions allow.
• In Sudan, the international community, including the EU, should become more
active in supporting the implementation of the CPA and enhance efforts to secure
the full deployment of UNAMID in Darfur.
• The EU should continue its support for IGAD and its efforts to develop an
integration plan for the region and to strengthen its institutions.
Food security
• The Eritrean government should cooperate more closely with international
organisations in the assessment of the food security situation to allow for timely and targeted intervention.
• The Eritrean government should allow the EC unhindered access to EC funded
projects and enhance its openness to technical assistance for jointly agreed projects
and programmes. It should also adapt the NGO Proclamation with a view of easing
the financial requirements for NGOs willing to engage in development activities in
Eritrea.
• The Ethiopian Government should grant full access to humanitarian organisations to
the Ogaden region in the Somali state, and provide all necessary conditions for aid
to reach its beneficiaries throughout the region.
• The European Commission should continue to support regional responses to crossborder
challenges through the EU Regional partnership for peace, security and
development, and in particular the regional management of water resources as an
essential element for food security.
• The EU should continue efforts to ease bureaucratic procedures and requirements,
where possible, with a view to speeding up the disbursement of EDF funds.
Human rights, democracy and good governance
• As it could be argued for other countries in the Horn, in Eritrea, the current situation
is not in conformity with the essential elements of cooperation stated in Article 9 of
the Cotonou agreement. Tangible progress in the near future in the field of human
rights is critical for the European Parliament, which will follow closely the political
dialogue and the process towards adoption of the Country Strategy Paper. As a first
step, the Eritrean authorities should enhance transparency about the prison system
and allow independent humanitarian organisations, such as the ICRC, to regularly
visit all prisoners, including the so-called G11 and the group of journalists arrested
in September 2001. Access to families, lawyers and medical treatment must equally
be granted in accordance with international human rights standards. Where no
charges have been brought against prisoners in a reasonable period of time, they
should be unconditionally released. Those with specific charges against them should
be brought to a speedy and fair trial. Bodies of prisoners who died in detention
should be handed over to their families.
• The Eritrean government should develop a time plan for implementing the Eritrean
Constitution and introducing freedom of religion, freedom of association and
freedom of expression. The rules for the Special Courts, introduced for a transitional
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period only, should be adapted so as to comply with international standards for the
rule of law and fair trials.
• In Djibouti, the authorities should protect the political space for opposition parties
and human rights organisations, including full guarantee of press freedom, freedom
of assembly and freedom of expression. A meaningful dialogue between
government and opposition should be launched, leading to an adaptation of the
electoral law so as to allow for a fairer representation of existing political parties in
Parliament. The recently banned opposition party MRD should be granted access to
court to challenge the decision.
• The Government of Djibouti should take steps to ensure better protection in law and
practice of the rights of trade unions in accordance with the respective core ILO
conventions.
• The Ethiopian Parliament should enter into serious and public consultation with
NGOs on the proposed bill on civil society organisations and consider its rejection,
unless significant adaptations are made. The Ruling Party should restart the dialogue
with opposition parties in Parliament about the working procedures and status of the
opposition. Through revision and/or proper implementation of the Rules of
Procedure and in line with the full set of recommendations from international
experts, a more meaningful role for representatives of the opposition parties,
including the UDJ, in debates and decision making should be ensured, as well as
equal access to infrastructure and resources. The European Commission and the
Ethiopian authorities should envisage the integration of capacity building
programmes for the Parliament in the CSP.
• The Ethiopian authorities should review the press law and party registration law as
well as the composition of the Election Board so as to ensure the political space for
opposition parties is guaranteed. Allegations of harassments and arbitrary arrests of
the opposition and civil society organisations should be investigated and those
responsible brought to trial. With a view to the elections in 2010, international
election observers should be invited at an early stage.
• The Ethiopian Ministry of Justice should handle swiftly the request for registration
by the Ethiopian National Teachers Association (NTA), in accordance with the
respective laws and rules.
• Given the reports about serious human rights violations by both government and
rebel forces in the Somali region, the Ethiopian government should invite the
relevant UN mechanisms to investigate the allegations.
• In accordance with Article 8 and Annex VII of the Revised Cotonou Agreement, the
Governments of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti and the EU should jointly agree to
deepen the political dialogue in the field of human rights, democratic principles and
the rule of law, including on the issues mentioned above, with a view to defining
benchmarks and attaining tangible results and progress on the ground. Dialogue
should be conducted in a flexible manner, formal or informal, within and outside the
institutional framework, including the ACP Group and the Joint Parliamentary
Assembly. The EU should consider associating regional and sub-regional
organisations, as well as representatives of civil society organisations to this
political dialogue, in accordance with Art. 8.7 of the Revised Cotonou Agreement.
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Annex 1
Fact-finding mission of a Delegation of the Development Committee
of the European Parliament to the Horn of Africa (Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia)
(25 October-2 November 2008)
Final PROGRAMME
Members of the Delegation:
MEPs: A. Hutchinson (PSE) (Chair of the delegation), F. Kaczmarek (PPE), M. Irujo
Amezaga (Greens)
Staff - DG ExPo Development Committee:
AD - Marika Lerch
AST - Alyson Wood
Saturday, 25 October
20.05 Arrival at Asmara International Airport
20:30 Transfer to hotel
Albergo Italia Hotel
Nakfa Avenue 13
Asmara
Eritrea
Tel: +29.1.1.120.740 Fax: +29.1.1.126.993
Arrival of Mr Irujo @ 04.05 26.10.08 (from Cairo)
Sunday, 26 October
8:30 – 13:00 Trip to Zoba Debub and visit to project sites (accompanied by the
Governor Mr Mustofa nur Hussein and DG, Minister of Agriculture)
-Oxfam projects: Adi Guroto (Areza sub-zoba) - EC funded
- Takketa: projects - GSE-funded
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch in Mendefera, hosted by the Governor of Debub
- Visit to Kakibdaand Deerko projects related to water - GSE funded
17.00 Drive Back to Asmara
19.00 Free Dinner
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Monday, 27 October
8:00 – 9:30 Meeting EC Delegation staff (Venue: EC Delegation)
9:45 – 10:30 Meeting with: H.E. Dr. Woldai Futur, Minister of National
Development
(Venue: MoND)
10:45 – 11:40 Meeting with UN agencies (Venue: UN building)
11.45 - 12.25 Meeting with ICRC (ICRC office)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch with Representatives of Civil Society Organizations (venue:
Albergo Italia):
National Union of Eritrean Women
National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students;
National Confederation of Eritrean Workers
Employers' Association
14:15 – 15:30 Meeting with Officials (DGs) from the Ministries of:
Public Works, Water Department (Venue: Water Department)
15.30 – 16:15 Meeting with Peace building Centre for the Horn of Africa (venue:
Delegation)
16:30 - 17:25 Meeting with Officials (DGs) from the Ministries of Education and
Health and Eritrean Centre of Organisational Excellence
17:30 – 18:30 Meeting with Members of National Assembly (Venue: Denden)
- H.E. Mr. Yemane Ghebreab
- Mr. Mussa Naib
- Mr. Zemehret Yohannes
- Mrs. Luul Ghebreab
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner at Ghidey Restaurant (hosted by H.E. Mr Yemane Ghebreab)
Tuesday, 28 October
8:30 – 9:10 Meeting with Minster of Justice, H.E. Fozia Hashim (Venue: Ministry
of Justice)
09:20 - 10:20 H.E. Mr. Yemane Ghebremeskel, Director General of the Office of the
President
(Venue: Denden)
10:30 – 12:00 Visit of Asmara (visit to detention centre rejected by ER authorities)
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13.00 - 18.30 Trip to Massawa; Meeting with H.E. President of the State of Eritrea
18.30-19:30 Meeting religious leaders (Venue: Office of the Patrtiarch of the
Orthodox Church)
19:30 - 21:30 Dinner with EC Delegation and EU MS, hosted by EP delegation
(Venue: at Casa degli Italiani)
01:00 Departure Asmara International Airport
Wednesday, 29 October
Departure Asmara: 01.00, arrival Sana'a at 05.00 (Yemen Airways, Flight IY631);
Transfer to Hotel - Rest
Sheba Hotel
P.O.Box 773,
Ali Abdolmoghni Street,
Sana'a, Republic of Yemen.
Tel. +967-1-272372
Fax: +967-1-274129
Departure : 22.00, delayed arrival Djibouti 23.15 (Ethiopian Airlines, Flight ET 307)
Transfer to Hotel Kempinski
Djibouti Palace Kempinski
Ilot du Heron,
P.O. Box 1960, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
Phone: +253 325555
Fax: +253 325556
19.00 - 19.30 Meeting with EC delegation in Djibouti (cancelled due to delayed
flight)
19.30 - 22.00 Reception hosted by the EC delegation in Djibouti (cancelled due to
delayed flight)
Thursday, 30 October
8.00 - 09.00 Breakfast meeting with French Ambassador (Venue: French Embassy)
9.00 - 10.00 Meetings with
H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation
H.E. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Minister for Atriculture
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Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh , Secrétaire d'état chargé de
la Solidarité Nationale
10.00-10.30 Meeting with the Prime Minister, H.E. Dileita Mohamed Dileita
10.30 - 11.30 Meeting with the President of the National Assembly, H.E. Idriss
Arnaoud Ali and Members of Parliament
11.30 - 12.15 Meeting with the President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Ismael
Omar Guelleh
12.15 -13.15 Meeting with representatives of UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF
13.15 -15.30 Lunch with representatives of civil society and trade unions, offered by
the
EP delegation (Venue: Restaurant Janateyn, Route de l'Aéroport ,
Djibouti)
16.00 - 17:00 Meetings with representatives of opposition parties belonging to UAD
coalition
(venue: Delegation)
17.15 Transfer to the airport (Salon d'honneur)
Departure from Djibouti: 18.20, arrival Addis Ababa at 19.30 (Ethiopian Airlines,
Flight ET 307)
Transfer to Hotel:
Sheraton Addis Hotel
Taitu Street
PO Box 6002
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel. +251.11.517.17.17
Fax: +25.11.517.27.27
Friday, 31 October
8:30 – 9:30 Meeting with EC Delegation and EU Troika (venue: EC Delegation
premises)
10:00 – 11:00 Meeting with Hon. Ambassador Teshome Toga, Speaker of the House
of Representatives (venue: Parliament) - jointly with President
Pöttering and Michael Gahler
11:00 – 12:00 Meeting with representatives of opposition parties in the Parliament
(venue: Parliament)
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12:00 – 12.30 Meeting with Representatives of the Ruling Party
12.45 – 14:00 Lunch with State Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr Tekeda Alemu
(venue: Hotel Sheraton)
14:15 - 16.15 Meetings with economic team (H.E Minister Sufian Ahmed, H.E.
Minister Girma Biru, and H.E. State Minister Abera Deresa), and social
sector team (H.E. Minister Teodros Adhanom and H.E. State Minister
Fuad Ibrahim) (venue: Parliament)
16.15 - 17.15 Meeting with Dr. Kassa G. Hiwot, Chief Commissioner, Ethiopian
Human Rights Commission; Ato Abay Tekle, Chief Ombudsman
(venue: Parliament)
17:30 – 19:00 Meeting with representatives of civil society (venue: Hotel Sheraton)
19.30 - 20.00 Meeting with Executive Secretary of IGAD (venue: Hotel Sheraton)
20:00 Dinner with representatives of international organisations, hosted by the
EP
delegation (venue: Hotel Sheraton, Les Arcades restaurant)
Saturday, 1 November (timing to be confirmed)
8:00 – 12:30 Visit to two EC supported project on food security
13.45 - 14.30 Free lunch
14:30 – 15:30 Informal meeting with representatives of opposition (venue: Hotel
Sheraton, room Barro salon)
15:30 - 16.00 Informal meeting with representative of civil society (venue: Hotel
Sheraton, room Barro salon)
17:00 – 18:30 Meeting with H.E. Prime Minister (venue to be confirmed)
19:00 - 20:00 De-briefing of EU Heads of Mission, followed by a buffet dinner
(venue: EC Delegation Residence)
21:00 Departure from EC Residence to Bole Airport
22:45 Departure from Addis Ababa to Brussels (LH 591)
Arrival in Brussels on 2 November at 08.05
EN EN
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
2004
2009
Committee on Development
24.11.2008
REPORT
of the fact-finding mission of a Delegation of the Development
Committee of the European Parliament to the Horn of Africa (Eritrea,
Djibouti, Ethiopia) (25 October-2 November 2008)
Mr Alain Hutchinson (PES - Belgium), head of delegation
Mr Filip Kaczmarek (PPE - Poland)
Mr Mikel Irujo Amezaga (Greens - Spain)
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Introduction
Following a request from the Development Committee for a fact-finding mission to
the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia), the Bureau authorised the visit on 7
July 2008. The President authorised an extension of the mission, due to difficult flight
connections, in a letter dated21 August 2008. The delegation was composed of three
Members of the Development Committee: Chair of the Delegation - Alain
HUTCHINSON (PES - Belgium), Mikel IRUJO AMEZAGA (Greens - Spain) and
Filip KACZMARK (EPP-ED - Poland).
The fact finding mission was tasked to focus on peace, sustainable development and
good governance in the regional context and the possible role the EU can play in
supporting this process. In light of the global crisis caused by soaring food prices, the delegation also examined the challenges in the area of food security and rural development.
The Delegation expresses its particular thanks to the Ambassadors in Brussels and the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as the
Commission Delegations in Asmara, Djibouti, Sana'a and Addis Ababa for their
significant support in the preparation of the programme and for facilitating the
successful undertaking of the mission.
1. Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa
Ethiopia-Eritrea - Border Conflict
In December 2000, Ethiopia and Eritrea ended a two year war by signing the
internationally brokered "Algiers Agreements", providing for a UN peace-keeping
operation mission (UNMEE) and the setting up of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary
Commission (EEBC).
The EEBC decided on the delimitation of the border in 2002,
attributing the contested village Badme to Eritrea. The decision was immediately
accepted by Eritrea, but initially rejected by Ethiopia. Ethiopia later accepted the
decision, but insisted on a dialogue about the implementation of the border decision.
After several years of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with both parties and to go
ahead with physical border demarcation, the EEBC dissolved itself in November
2007, leaving a set of geographical coordinates and a map as "virtual demarcation".
Following serious pressures from Eritrea to re-deploy UNMEE from the
demilitarisation zone, the UN Security Council decided in July 2008 to conclude the
UNMEE mandate as from 31 July 2008.
Today, estimates suggest that Eritrea and Ethiopia maintain 124,000 and 100,000 troops respectively along the border.
The EP delegation discussed the current situation and assessment of the border
conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea with representatives from both governments,
including the President of Eritrea and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The meetings
confirmed a great deal of mistrust between both governments, and very firm positions
with regard to the sequence for overcoming the stalemate (Eritrea: demarcation first;
Ethiopia: dialogue first). Both sides claimed that the other one was not interested in a peaceful coexistence.
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The Eritrean government underlined the high importance they attach to the
implementation of the Algiers peace agreement without any preconditions and the
need for Ethiopian troops to fully retreat from Eritrean territory. They underlined the responsibility of the international community, including the EU, to guarantee the
implementation of the agreement and to use instruments under Chapter 7 of the UN
Charter, if necessary, to enforce it. Interlocutors admitted that the unsolved conflict binds manpower and resources which are desperately needed for the development of the country.
The Ethiopian government stated that it had fully accepted the delimitation decision,
but insisted that the demarcation must go together with a dialogue about the practical implementation (referring to problems such as the border cutting through villages and cemeteries) and must be linked to the normalisation of the relationship as well as guarantees for peace. For Ethiopia, it is particularly crucial to reopen the border for trade and access to the Assab port in Eritrea.
Eritrea - Djibouti border conflict
During the period of preparation of the fact-finding mission (in June 2008), violence
escalated at the border between Eritrea and Djibouti in Ras Doumeira, which resulted
in 35 fatalities and dozens wounded. Several fact-finding missions from international
organisations, including from the UN, have looked into the clash, but none was
allowed entry to Eritrea.
The United Nations Security Council issued a presidential
statement on 12 June 2008 calling on both sides to commit to a ceasefire and to
withdraw troops to the status quo ante. The contested border area could be strategic
for control of sea traffic (Ras Doumeira being situated at one of the narrowest points of the Red Sea). Eritrea also claimed that Ethiopia had set up a new military camp on mount Musa Ali on a border junction between the three countries (Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia).
The current situation is calm, but given the closeness of the troops there is a risk of escalation, and the resources bound by the status quo is a heavy burden, particularly for Djibouti. France, which has a military basis and a defence agreement with Djibouti, has come in with logistical and military support. It has to be assumed that Ethiopia would also get involved on the side of Djibouti should the conflict escalate further, as Ethiopia depends on Djibouti for access to the sea.
The Eritrean government minimised the incident at the border and accused the
international community, particularly the US, of fabricating a conflict.
The President of Eritrea said he had not instructed any military action and that no Eritrean soldier had crossed the border. According to the Eritrean side, heavy equipment had been moved to build a road and it was Djiboutian troops which attacked first.
The Government criticised France for accusing Eritrea in the Security Council on 23
October, while generally the French presence in Djibouti was described as a factor of
stability.
The Djibouti authorities stated that they had been taken by complete surprise by the
border incidents, as relations with Eritrea had been calm in the past.
All Djiboutian
interlocutors underlined the will to use diplomatic means for solving the problem.
They explained that the fighting had started after Eritrean deserters had crossed the
border and Djibouti had rejected to return them. After an Eritrean ultimatum had
passed, Djiboutian soldiers had been attacked "during prayer time". The ICRC is
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currently in negotiations to ascertain the presence of Djiboutian prisoners of war in
Eritrea, but has already been granted access to Eritrean prisoners in Djibouti.
Somalia and Sudan While originally not a focus of the fact-finding mission, the situation in Somalia and Sudan were raised as issues of great concern in all countries visited.
The terrorist bomb attack on the Ethiopian Consulate and UN offices in Somaliland's capital Hargeysa on 29 October, for which radial Islamic militias claimed responsibility,heightened fears, particularly in Djibouti, that the conflict could spread towards the North.
On the other hand, some positive developments were noted in the Somali peace process following the Djibouti agreement of June 2008, which to jeopardize was considered one reason for the terrorist attack.
On 26 October, another agreement was adopted in Djibouti between the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) and the moderate elements of the opposition, the Alliance
for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS), including modalities for the ceasefire and the
relocation of Ethiopian troops.
IGAD, at a conference on 29 October in Nairobi with representatives of the Transitional Federal Institutions and Members of the Transitional Federal Parliament, adopted a seven-point plan for supporting the peace
process in Somalia and established a mechanism for monitoring implementation. The
common position of the regional neighbours and their strong support for the Djibouti
agreement was described by several interlocutors, in particular in Ethiopia, as a
significant step.
It was also described as vital, however, that a UN stabilization force be deployed to back the African Union peacekeepers. Should the peace process not progress until the end of the year, Ethiopia announced the immediate withdrawal of its troops.
Piracy is another major security challenge for the Horn region. The French military
presence in Djibouti, the largest overseas naval base of France, has an important role for developing response strategies, including escorts for ships.
Sudan was described by some interlocutors as THE major risk factor in the Horn
region. The failure of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
between the North and the South could lead to secession, likely to be accompanied by
military conflict over the oil shares in the border region. The secession would most
likely lead to a total break up of the country, with Darfur and the Eastern part seeking independence and inter-ethnic fighting, further fuelled by involvement of
neighbouring countries, including Eritrea.
2. Food security and EU development cooperation
Eritrea
Since the interruption of the democratisation process in 2001, EC cooperation with
Eritrea has been confronted with major political and technical difficulties.
Cooperation was frozen for several years in reaction to the expulsion of the Italian
Ambassador, which led to a certain backlog with the 9th EDF funds. Technical
hurdles include the limited number of private enterprises able to participate in tenders,restricted access for consultants and even EC staff to projects, and bureaucratic
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delays. As of 25 September 2008, only half of the 9th EDF had been contracted and
25 percent had been paid.
Recently, efforts have been made to reinvigorate the cooperation and proceed with
contracting of outstanding EDF funds. A political dialogue has begun, to be evaluated
by the end of 2008. The negotiations over the CSP for the 10th EDF have been nearly
concluded, although the document had not yet been signed when the fact finding
mission visited Eritrea. The total aid budget is 122 mio Euro. The focal sectors
foreseen for the 2008-2013 period include food security and infrastructure.
In addition, the EU is to support the justice sector and capacity building for public
administration as well as rehabilitation of cultural goods under non-focal sectors.
As reflected in the CSP, the Government of Eritrea (GoE) has put a major focus on
food security. The delegation witnessed major efforts in water management projects
to increase agricultural production and achieve independence from increasingly erratic rainfalls.
Soil protection and fight against deforestation are other important
intervention areas, including through the government's initiative of providing all
households with improved, energy saving stoves by 2010. The interlocutors admitted
that military service, although formally to last 18 months, often extends over decades, reducing both the active workforce and the individual freedom and choices of the citizens.
Via the "Cash for Work Programme", citizens contribute to the public works - such as
the building of dams - against payments from the government. While this scheme was
described as being voluntary, there is a risk of people being forced to work for the
government in order to ensure they can earn their living.
One of the major problems for development cooperation is the lack of exact data
about the actual status of food insecurity. A planned food needs assessment by the
FAO had been blocked, while a nutritional survey planned by UNICEF has been
postponed. UN work was also impeded by insufficient fuel supply, rendering field
work extremely difficult.
The WFP has not been operational in the country, following
a clash over the food aid policy of the country and the seizure of WFP stocks by the
government in 2006. The work of international NGOs has been severely restricted by
the NGO proclamation of 2005, leaving only seven international NGOs active in the
country, and only one local NGO being registered under the proclamation.
While there are no independent verifications for reports about "silent famine" and
extreme malnutrition, several indicators suggest the risk of a humanitarian crisis as in other Horn of Africa countries.
Food subsistence has been down from about 70-75
percent in 2007 to 30-35 percent this year due to the drought. Given the high food and fuel prices (Eritrea being 100 percent dependent on oil imports) and the weakness of the economy, it is unclear how additional food imports can be financed. After 60 days of overdue payment of debt obligations, the World Bank had to suspend the payment of new credits end of October 2008 for the first time.
While also in other sectors reliable data are lacking, UN estimations suggest
considerable progress in the health sector, including for example the probability of
MDGs on child mortality and on HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases to be met.
Only 2 percent of the GDP are spent on health, however, and human resources in the
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health sector are insufficient. Major investments are being made, with the support of
the EC, in education (based on the Education Sector Development Programme) and
institutional capacity building (through the Eritrean Centre for Organisational
Excellence). While the delegation noted and acknowledged the strong will of the
Eritrean government to avoid any dependence from international donors, many
interlocutors explicitly called on the EU to provide financial support for the
development strategies and projects.
Djibouti
The Djiboutian authorities acknowledged significant improvements in the cooperation
with the EU and particularly welcomed the efforts of the EC delegation. The 9th EDF
has now been completely committed. Under the A-Envelope of the 10th EDF an
allocation of 40.5 mio Euro is foreseen, 85 percent of which is concentrated on the
focal sector "water, sanitation and energy".
Due to the short stay in Djibouti, the delegation did not visit any projects related to food security, but the exchanges with government authorities, NGOs and UN
confirmed dramatic challenges. The food security situation is alarming in all of
Djibouti's livelihood zones due to four consecutive poor rainy seasons and high food
prices. The loss of livestock due to the drought is estimated at 50-70 percent. Urban
households suffer from high staple food prices which rose by 15 percent between May
and October 2008.
DG ECHO intends to provide emergency food aid assistance to
150.000 beneficiaries in Djibouti. The Government of Djibouti waived the customs
tax on several food commodities, which has led to a significant decrease of
government revenue. The government tries to boost production, investing amongst
others, in improved water management and microcredit for farmers. Djibouti is also
harvesting in neighbouring countries (Sudan and Ethiopia). Poverty reduction and
creation of employment (current unemployment rate of 60 percent) also remain major
challenges. Improving the conditions for private business and thus employment could
contribute to better distribution of the fairly high per capita GDP (880 USD in 2007).
Ethiopia
Under the 10th EDF, Ethiopia has been allocated 644 mio Euro in programmable
funds. The focal sectors are transport and regional integration, rural development and food security and macro-economic support and governance. The Commission works
closely with civil society and non-governmental organisations, which expressed their
great satisfaction with the cooperation.
Ethiopia has seen remarkable growth of around 9-11 percent over the last years, with
agriculture remaining a key sector (46.3 percent of the GDP in 2006/2007). The
Government’s agricultural strategy focuses on investment in technology, improved
seeds and fertilisers, as well as capacity building. Efforts to diversification of the economy have resulted in the decrease of the proportion of coffee exports from 67 to 36 percent of total export revenues (in 2006/2007).
Policies for reaching the MDG targets are enshrined in the Ethiopian Poverty
Reduction Strategy, the "Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End
Poverty in Ethiopia" (PASDEP). Significant progress in key human development
indicators has been attained. For example, primary school enrolment has steadily
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increased since 2002, reaching a gross enrolment rate for the primary cycle (class 1-8)
of 91.7 percent in 2006/2007, according to official statistics. However, significant
disparities between regions exist. Under 5 child mortality has been reduced from
167/1000 in 2000/01 to 123/1000 in 2005/06. The percentage of people with an
income below one dollar a day came down from 44.2 percent in 2000/01 to 36.5
percent in 2005/6. Notwithstanding, Ethiopia only ranked 169 out of 177 countries in
the Human Development Index in 2007/2008.
Investments are made in the health system with the aim of achieving universal primary healthcare by 2010, but lack of qualified health staff and significant brain drain in this sector still present a major difficulty. Despite a stated policy of supporting the private sector and encouraging investment, the creation of an environment conducive for private enterprise remains a major challenge, and liberalisation is hampered by the strong overlap between political and economic power.
The rising food and fuel prices have put the Ethiopian economy under pressure
recently. The inflation is the second highest in the world, attributed by the government to external shocks, rising commodity prices and increasing demand linked to economic growth. Other factors mentioned to the delegation include uncontrolled
public spending, the recent increase of the defence budget (after a significant
reduction had been achieved between 2000 and 2007) and the high - albeit slowly
decreasing - population growth rates.
Despite investment in agricultural production
and the creation of the Productive Safety Net Programme, Ethiopia remains highly
vulnerable to food insecurity, with this year’s drought aggravating the situation.
Official statistics estimate 6.4 mio people to be in need of emergency food aid.
Unofficial estimates go beyond this figure and the government has been criticised of
being too hesitant in admitting the full scope of the crisis and for not calling earlier for international assistance.
The Ogaden part of the Somali region is severely hit by the drought, but full
establishment of facts about the humanitarian and human rights situation on the
ground remains difficult. The ICRC, asked to leave the Somali region by the
Ethiopian Government in 2007, has not yet returned.
While other NGOs and WFP are active in the region, the government is controlling food distribution in certain areas and considerable parts of the food aid foreseen for the Somali region have not reached the beneficiaries. There has been recent progress through the introduction by the WFP in October 2008 of the 'hubs-and-spoke' system which is expected to improve the delivery of food aid. However, delays are still reported due to the need for military authorisation to travel in the Somali region.
3. Human rights, democracy and good governance
Eritrea
The situation as regards civil and political rights and democratic principles has been of great concern to the European Parliament for many years. Before their departure Members received reports about arbitrary arrests, torture and maltreatment of prisoners as well as persecution of journalists and suppression of religious freedom.
The case of the G-11, former Members of Parliament and Government who were
arrested in September 2001 and have since been detained incommunicado, has been
raised by the EP and the Council regularly with the Eritrean authorities. The country
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has no elected national government and the existing one, nominated by the ruling
party immediately after the independence, has not met since 2002. As the Constitution
of 1997 was never implemented, the governance systems lack a clear separation of
powers, with detrimental effects for the rule of law and individual freedoms.
Elections
have been held at regional level, but no opposition parties are allowed. Progress has
been made, however, in advancing women's rights, with – for example – the ban on
Female Genital Mutilation and a 30 percent quota for women in regional assemblies.
The ICRC has no access to the prisons in the country, only to Ethiopian prisoners of
war. To compare reports about the situation in prisons with the reality on the ground,the Members of the delegation requested a visit to a detention centre to be included in the programme, which was rejected by the authorities.
The Delegation repeatedly expressed the concern of European citizens about the human rights situation in the country and welcomed the openness of the government to enter into a dialogue about these issues. Many interlocutors expressed the wish to bring an end to the extraordinary situation caused by the so-called "no-war-no-peace" situation and to restart with the Eritrean constitution.
In the current situation, however, they argued that priority was given to military security and delivery on social rights (right to food, education etc). The detention of journalists and the G11 was not denied, but the formulation of "political prisoners" was rejected. The ban of certain religions was justified by the President, on the grounds that the preaching of new bibles and/or radical beliefs was a violation of the religious rights of persons belonging to otherbeliefs.
Members of the delegation, while acknowledging the need for a transitional phase
after the war and the process character of democratic transition, underlined the need
for identifying a perspective for returning to a democratic process and reinstating
basic human rights in line with the international commitments of Eritrea. They were
very concerned that the “no war no peace situation” was used to justify the upholding
of an undemocratic regime.
As regards the justice sector, limited capacity and lack of trained legal personnel,
including defence lawyers, pose major challenges. The EC plans to support capacity
building and training for the Community Courts, which - in parallel to the official
court system - apply customary law at the village level. The delegation was concerned
about the Special Courts founded in 1994 for handling corruption cases. These courts,
not under the control of the Ministry of Justice, do not allow for legal defence and
foresee no right to appeal.
Djibouti
The delegation found that several of the issues raised by the last fact-finding mission of the Parliament (in 2004) remained a matter of concern. The majority voting system, highly unfavourable to the opposition parties, was applied during the 2008 legislative elections. The opposition boycotted the elections. Representatives of the Ruling Party stated that a dialogue with the opposition had been sought to adapt the electoral law but that the opposition was sterile and not open to dialogue. Some progress has been made in the representation of women in Parliament.
Deleted: could be
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The coalition of opposition parties outside Parliament argued that they had requested
a dialogue but that the government had not positively responded. The opposition also
reported that during the local and regional elections in 2006, although held with
proportional system, conditions for free and fair elections had not been in place.
Restrictions to the right of assembly before the elections in 2008, total lack of press freedom and harassments (such as the arrest in March 2007 of the human rights
defender Mr Jean Paul Noel Abdi), were described as factors severely restricting the
political space. The opposition party MRD was banned in July 2008 by a presidential
decree on the grounds of alleged support to an Eritrean attack against Djibouti.
Representatives of human rights organisations and trade unions reported that labour
rights continue to be violated and unionists face harassments, with, for example,
members of the UDT/UGTD leadership still not being reinstated in their jobs after
dismissals linked to their trade union activities .
Ethiopia
The Speaker of the House and Government representatives reconfirmed the strong
commitment of the Ethiopian authorities to human rights and democratic principles.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman were set up to
provide training, awareness raising and also investigate complaints. The Commission
has also begun to monitor prison and detention places. Among civil society and
representatives of opposition forces, however, there was a lack of trust with regard to the independence of these institutions.
In Parliament, representatives of the opposition parties also claimed that despite
changes to the Rules of Procedure, they are in practice excluded from proper
parliamentary work (e.g. by extremely limited speaking time; questions/motions
tabled are rejected or not taken; control of committees by ruling party).
The Speaker of the House and representatives of the ruling party underlined that the Rules of Procedure had been adapted together with international advisers. They referred to lack of capacity of Parliamentarians and claimed that the opposition did not make use of its rights. Capacity-building programmes are already in place with UN support, and EC engagement would be welcome.
With regard to the denial of status as political group to the newly formed opposition party, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), which was joined by 38 MPs, the Speaker referred to the rules requiring that the party had participated in the election. The opposition contested this and claimed that another party which was equally registered after the elections had received the political group status.
Opposition representatives also complained about frequent harassment, closure of the
offices during local elections of April 2008 and denial of access to their
constituencies, as well as arrests and non-respect for parliamentary immunity. On the
day of arrival of the delegation the Secretary General of the OFDM, Mr Bekele Jirata,
was arrested and charged with links to the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), together
with other opposition supporters.
The authorities informed the Chair of the Delegation that prisoners had full access to lawyers and families, but the Delegation received continuing reports about prisoners being held incommunicado, and that Mr Bekele had been without access to his lawyer for at least six days. On 1 November, the Deputy Chair of the UDJ Mr Gizachew Shiferaw and two UDJ parliamentarians werePE415.305v01-00 10/17 CR\753078EN.doc
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detained for three hours in Dembacha, Western Gojjam, Amhara region, allegedly
with the stated reason that all party activities should be reported prior to the police.
Generally, there was a climate of fear among NGOs and opposition that government
control was increasing and the political space is reduced by the recently adopted press law and party registration law. Access to food, land, fertilisers etc. are said to be used by the government for political purposes. Major concerns were raised with regard to the Charities and Societies Proclamation draft law (CSO law). A broad sector of issues related to human rights and democracy would be barred to NGOs which receive more than 10 percent of their funding from sources outside Ethiopia, including the Ethiopian diaspora, which is estimated to apply to 99 percent of the NGOs.
The Parliament has not yet received the bill, but the Speaker announced a public hearing in the responsible Committee. Apparently, a fourth version is circulating, but the government has rejected all requests for changing the core elements.
The delegation also heard reports about government interference with the work of
trade unions and professional organisations. Members of the former Ethiopian
Teachers Association, dissolved by court decision, reported about bureaucratic delays
in answering to their request for re-registration under a new name, submitted in
August 2008. Several members of the former ETA are reported missing, in prison or
out of work.
4. Recommendations
Regional security
• Ethiopia should formally endorse the Boundary Commission's virtual demarcation
between Eritrea and Ethiopia as final and binding. The Eritrean government should
agree to a dialogue with Ethiopia, which would address the process for
disengagement of troops from the border and for physical demarcation in
accordance with the Border Commission’s decision as well as the normalisation of
relations between the two countries, including a reopening of the border for trade.
• The EU should continue its efforts in the framework of the Regional political
partnership for peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa to identify
projects of common interest which could trigger functional cooperation between
Eritrea and Ethiopia, such as in the area of energy supply and cross-border trade.
• The Eritrean government should reconsider its current suspension of membership in
IGAD. The AU and IGAD leadership should continue to involve Eritrea and
encourage the government to rejoin the regional and sub-regional cooperation
efforts.
• The Eritrean governments should agree to invite, jointly with the Djiboutian
government, an independent fact-finding mission to look into the situation in Ras
Doumeira. Both sides should rely on dialogue and diplomatic means to restore
relations between the two countries. Eritrea should provide a list of Djiboutian
prisoners of war and ensure access for the ICRC.
• In Somalia, the EU should continue its support for institution-building, the
implementation of the Djibouti peace agreement and IGAD efforts in the peace
Formatted: Bullets and Numbering
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process. AMISOM should be reinforced and the UN stabilisation force be deployed
in a timely manner as soon as political and security conditions allow.
• In Sudan, the international community, including the EU, should become more
active in supporting the implementation of the CPA and enhance efforts to secure
the full deployment of UNAMID in Darfur.
• The EU should continue its support for IGAD and its efforts to develop an
integration plan for the region and to strengthen its institutions.
Food security
• The Eritrean government should cooperate more closely with international
organisations in the assessment of the food security situation to allow for timely and targeted intervention.
• The Eritrean government should allow the EC unhindered access to EC funded
projects and enhance its openness to technical assistance for jointly agreed projects
and programmes. It should also adapt the NGO Proclamation with a view of easing
the financial requirements for NGOs willing to engage in development activities in
Eritrea.
• The Ethiopian Government should grant full access to humanitarian organisations to
the Ogaden region in the Somali state, and provide all necessary conditions for aid
to reach its beneficiaries throughout the region.
• The European Commission should continue to support regional responses to crossborder
challenges through the EU Regional partnership for peace, security and
development, and in particular the regional management of water resources as an
essential element for food security.
• The EU should continue efforts to ease bureaucratic procedures and requirements,
where possible, with a view to speeding up the disbursement of EDF funds.
Human rights, democracy and good governance
• As it could be argued for other countries in the Horn, in Eritrea, the current situation
is not in conformity with the essential elements of cooperation stated in Article 9 of
the Cotonou agreement. Tangible progress in the near future in the field of human
rights is critical for the European Parliament, which will follow closely the political
dialogue and the process towards adoption of the Country Strategy Paper. As a first
step, the Eritrean authorities should enhance transparency about the prison system
and allow independent humanitarian organisations, such as the ICRC, to regularly
visit all prisoners, including the so-called G11 and the group of journalists arrested
in September 2001. Access to families, lawyers and medical treatment must equally
be granted in accordance with international human rights standards. Where no
charges have been brought against prisoners in a reasonable period of time, they
should be unconditionally released. Those with specific charges against them should
be brought to a speedy and fair trial. Bodies of prisoners who died in detention
should be handed over to their families.
• The Eritrean government should develop a time plan for implementing the Eritrean
Constitution and introducing freedom of religion, freedom of association and
freedom of expression. The rules for the Special Courts, introduced for a transitional
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period only, should be adapted so as to comply with international standards for the
rule of law and fair trials.
• In Djibouti, the authorities should protect the political space for opposition parties
and human rights organisations, including full guarantee of press freedom, freedom
of assembly and freedom of expression. A meaningful dialogue between
government and opposition should be launched, leading to an adaptation of the
electoral law so as to allow for a fairer representation of existing political parties in
Parliament. The recently banned opposition party MRD should be granted access to
court to challenge the decision.
• The Government of Djibouti should take steps to ensure better protection in law and
practice of the rights of trade unions in accordance with the respective core ILO
conventions.
• The Ethiopian Parliament should enter into serious and public consultation with
NGOs on the proposed bill on civil society organisations and consider its rejection,
unless significant adaptations are made. The Ruling Party should restart the dialogue
with opposition parties in Parliament about the working procedures and status of the
opposition. Through revision and/or proper implementation of the Rules of
Procedure and in line with the full set of recommendations from international
experts, a more meaningful role for representatives of the opposition parties,
including the UDJ, in debates and decision making should be ensured, as well as
equal access to infrastructure and resources. The European Commission and the
Ethiopian authorities should envisage the integration of capacity building
programmes for the Parliament in the CSP.
• The Ethiopian authorities should review the press law and party registration law as
well as the composition of the Election Board so as to ensure the political space for
opposition parties is guaranteed. Allegations of harassments and arbitrary arrests of
the opposition and civil society organisations should be investigated and those
responsible brought to trial. With a view to the elections in 2010, international
election observers should be invited at an early stage.
• The Ethiopian Ministry of Justice should handle swiftly the request for registration
by the Ethiopian National Teachers Association (NTA), in accordance with the
respective laws and rules.
• Given the reports about serious human rights violations by both government and
rebel forces in the Somali region, the Ethiopian government should invite the
relevant UN mechanisms to investigate the allegations.
• In accordance with Article 8 and Annex VII of the Revised Cotonou Agreement, the
Governments of Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti and the EU should jointly agree to
deepen the political dialogue in the field of human rights, democratic principles and
the rule of law, including on the issues mentioned above, with a view to defining
benchmarks and attaining tangible results and progress on the ground. Dialogue
should be conducted in a flexible manner, formal or informal, within and outside the
institutional framework, including the ACP Group and the Joint Parliamentary
Assembly. The EU should consider associating regional and sub-regional
organisations, as well as representatives of civil society organisations to this
political dialogue, in accordance with Art. 8.7 of the Revised Cotonou Agreement.
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Annex 1
Fact-finding mission of a Delegation of the Development Committee
of the European Parliament to the Horn of Africa (Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia)
(25 October-2 November 2008)
Final PROGRAMME
Members of the Delegation:
MEPs: A. Hutchinson (PSE) (Chair of the delegation), F. Kaczmarek (PPE), M. Irujo
Amezaga (Greens)
Staff - DG ExPo Development Committee:
AD - Marika Lerch
AST - Alyson Wood
Saturday, 25 October
20.05 Arrival at Asmara International Airport
20:30 Transfer to hotel
Albergo Italia Hotel
Nakfa Avenue 13
Asmara
Eritrea
Tel: +29.1.1.120.740 Fax: +29.1.1.126.993
Arrival of Mr Irujo @ 04.05 26.10.08 (from Cairo)
Sunday, 26 October
8:30 – 13:00 Trip to Zoba Debub and visit to project sites (accompanied by the
Governor Mr Mustofa nur Hussein and DG, Minister of Agriculture)
-Oxfam projects: Adi Guroto (Areza sub-zoba) - EC funded
- Takketa: projects - GSE-funded
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch in Mendefera, hosted by the Governor of Debub
- Visit to Kakibdaand Deerko projects related to water - GSE funded
17.00 Drive Back to Asmara
19.00 Free Dinner
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Monday, 27 October
8:00 – 9:30 Meeting EC Delegation staff (Venue: EC Delegation)
9:45 – 10:30 Meeting with: H.E. Dr. Woldai Futur, Minister of National
Development
(Venue: MoND)
10:45 – 11:40 Meeting with UN agencies (Venue: UN building)
11.45 - 12.25 Meeting with ICRC (ICRC office)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch with Representatives of Civil Society Organizations (venue:
Albergo Italia):
National Union of Eritrean Women
National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students;
National Confederation of Eritrean Workers
Employers' Association
14:15 – 15:30 Meeting with Officials (DGs) from the Ministries of:
Public Works, Water Department (Venue: Water Department)
15.30 – 16:15 Meeting with Peace building Centre for the Horn of Africa (venue:
Delegation)
16:30 - 17:25 Meeting with Officials (DGs) from the Ministries of Education and
Health and Eritrean Centre of Organisational Excellence
17:30 – 18:30 Meeting with Members of National Assembly (Venue: Denden)
- H.E. Mr. Yemane Ghebreab
- Mr. Mussa Naib
- Mr. Zemehret Yohannes
- Mrs. Luul Ghebreab
19:00 – 21:00 Dinner at Ghidey Restaurant (hosted by H.E. Mr Yemane Ghebreab)
Tuesday, 28 October
8:30 – 9:10 Meeting with Minster of Justice, H.E. Fozia Hashim (Venue: Ministry
of Justice)
09:20 - 10:20 H.E. Mr. Yemane Ghebremeskel, Director General of the Office of the
President
(Venue: Denden)
10:30 – 12:00 Visit of Asmara (visit to detention centre rejected by ER authorities)
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13.00 - 18.30 Trip to Massawa; Meeting with H.E. President of the State of Eritrea
18.30-19:30 Meeting religious leaders (Venue: Office of the Patrtiarch of the
Orthodox Church)
19:30 - 21:30 Dinner with EC Delegation and EU MS, hosted by EP delegation
(Venue: at Casa degli Italiani)
01:00 Departure Asmara International Airport
Wednesday, 29 October
Departure Asmara: 01.00, arrival Sana'a at 05.00 (Yemen Airways, Flight IY631);
Transfer to Hotel - Rest
Sheba Hotel
P.O.Box 773,
Ali Abdolmoghni Street,
Sana'a, Republic of Yemen.
Tel. +967-1-272372
Fax: +967-1-274129
Departure : 22.00, delayed arrival Djibouti 23.15 (Ethiopian Airlines, Flight ET 307)
Transfer to Hotel Kempinski
Djibouti Palace Kempinski
Ilot du Heron,
P.O. Box 1960, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
Phone: +253 325555
Fax: +253 325556
19.00 - 19.30 Meeting with EC delegation in Djibouti (cancelled due to delayed
flight)
19.30 - 22.00 Reception hosted by the EC delegation in Djibouti (cancelled due to
delayed flight)
Thursday, 30 October
8.00 - 09.00 Breakfast meeting with French Ambassador (Venue: French Embassy)
9.00 - 10.00 Meetings with
H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation
H.E. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Minister for Atriculture
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Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh , Secrétaire d'état chargé de
la Solidarité Nationale
10.00-10.30 Meeting with the Prime Minister, H.E. Dileita Mohamed Dileita
10.30 - 11.30 Meeting with the President of the National Assembly, H.E. Idriss
Arnaoud Ali and Members of Parliament
11.30 - 12.15 Meeting with the President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Ismael
Omar Guelleh
12.15 -13.15 Meeting with representatives of UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF
13.15 -15.30 Lunch with representatives of civil society and trade unions, offered by
the
EP delegation (Venue: Restaurant Janateyn, Route de l'Aéroport ,
Djibouti)
16.00 - 17:00 Meetings with representatives of opposition parties belonging to UAD
coalition
(venue: Delegation)
17.15 Transfer to the airport (Salon d'honneur)
Departure from Djibouti: 18.20, arrival Addis Ababa at 19.30 (Ethiopian Airlines,
Flight ET 307)
Transfer to Hotel:
Sheraton Addis Hotel
Taitu Street
PO Box 6002
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel. +251.11.517.17.17
Fax: +25.11.517.27.27
Friday, 31 October
8:30 – 9:30 Meeting with EC Delegation and EU Troika (venue: EC Delegation
premises)
10:00 – 11:00 Meeting with Hon. Ambassador Teshome Toga, Speaker of the House
of Representatives (venue: Parliament) - jointly with President
Pöttering and Michael Gahler
11:00 – 12:00 Meeting with representatives of opposition parties in the Parliament
(venue: Parliament)
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12:00 – 12.30 Meeting with Representatives of the Ruling Party
12.45 – 14:00 Lunch with State Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr Tekeda Alemu
(venue: Hotel Sheraton)
14:15 - 16.15 Meetings with economic team (H.E Minister Sufian Ahmed, H.E.
Minister Girma Biru, and H.E. State Minister Abera Deresa), and social
sector team (H.E. Minister Teodros Adhanom and H.E. State Minister
Fuad Ibrahim) (venue: Parliament)
16.15 - 17.15 Meeting with Dr. Kassa G. Hiwot, Chief Commissioner, Ethiopian
Human Rights Commission; Ato Abay Tekle, Chief Ombudsman
(venue: Parliament)
17:30 – 19:00 Meeting with representatives of civil society (venue: Hotel Sheraton)
19.30 - 20.00 Meeting with Executive Secretary of IGAD (venue: Hotel Sheraton)
20:00 Dinner with representatives of international organisations, hosted by the
EP
delegation (venue: Hotel Sheraton, Les Arcades restaurant)
Saturday, 1 November (timing to be confirmed)
8:00 – 12:30 Visit to two EC supported project on food security
13.45 - 14.30 Free lunch
14:30 – 15:30 Informal meeting with representatives of opposition (venue: Hotel
Sheraton, room Barro salon)
15:30 - 16.00 Informal meeting with representative of civil society (venue: Hotel
Sheraton, room Barro salon)
17:00 – 18:30 Meeting with H.E. Prime Minister (venue to be confirmed)
19:00 - 20:00 De-briefing of EU Heads of Mission, followed by a buffet dinner
(venue: EC Delegation Residence)
21:00 Departure from EC Residence to Bole Airport
22:45 Departure from Addis Ababa to Brussels (LH 591)
Arrival in Brussels on 2 November at 08.05
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