Re: Imagine Sharia law in the USA and EU? Amputations for all crimes!
I could not but think what will happen if Sharia law is implemented in USA nad European Union and how many people will be left with hands and feet?
I just wonderedd the implications!
Let us start with Bernie Madoff, the South Carolina Governor and that goon that calls himself Sir Stanford in the Caribbean?
Just imagine, all the TV news that crowd the Airwaves, that at the end you see masked KKK Lieutenants, cutting off the hands and feet of all these wall street criminals.
Just imagine, what will happen to the British Parliament members who stole public money, some using it for renting Porn movies. The next day, after the news at the Parliament Square, there is the masked thugs of the racist parties, coming forward cutting off half the Ministers of the British Parliament due to the crimes they continue to commit by abusing their power.
Just imagine, that these thugs are advancing from Mexico with guns and Sharia laws and the US Government saying, oh! this is a Mexican problem and we will do nothing.
Just imagine for the moment that this Sharia law butchers are marching on Europe from the outskirts of European borders and the EU parliament and members of the Union, saying, oh, this is Albania's problem.
Just imagine for a moment, that is what the foolish goons of the so called Transparency International, Enough International, Human Rights Watch International, Amnesty International, all the loony pseudo human rights groups are demanding of Ethiopia to allow the butchers of Somalia to advance on its territory, supported by all the returnees from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Horn.
Just imagine, this level of foolishness being published on a regular basis by the foolish news paper editors who could be easily shot dead or have their limbs cut by these Sharia Goons.
Yet, the Ethiopians are put in the defensive, by a series of speculations, will you go again to Somalia to protect your national interest?
Will you defend the African Union Soldiers that are going to be sacrificed when non of the African Union and UN Security Council members put their resources at the disposal of the gallant Ethiopian Soldiers.
Then comes the goons of this generation, who claim that the Sharia Butchers should continue to butchers Somalis and Ethiopians and the Ethiopian Government has no business protecting its own citizens and its neighbors taken over by the Goons in Eritrea, Somalia and now may be in the Sudan.
Just imagine, such level of hypocrisy, where the Mullah's in Iran are not condemned when they murder young girls on the streets nor are these goons in Somalia who are butchering their citizens and burying alive their young girls.
Just imagine, Ethiopia who knows better from its 8 Milena Culture of Diversity being lectured and harassed by upstart Pseudo Human Right Groups and by its own citizens who have defected to enemy territory and more or less trying to tie the hands of the Ethiopian leadership and De fence Forces behind their backs.
Just imagine, Ethiopia abandoning its national and regional security and allowing the Goons from Pakistan and Afghanistan settling in its border to create another wave of violence and chaos.
Just imagine!
That is just what is being demanded of Ethiopia and as usual Ethiopia will go it alone or with African Union and some decent UN members and stand against the new Hitlers and Mussolini's of our time.
What about us, are we going to watch the people of Somalia, our brothers and our neighbors, go under fire under our watch?
This is the question of our time. Please read below the humiliating and rather depressing news in Somalia and no one speaks against it. Even that foolish New Jersey Goon, Donald Payne, who almost was shot down by the same goons he protects.
I just wonder what is come upon us, that we cannot say this is evil, you do not allow such barbaric system on the Somali and Ethiopian people and all decent humans around the world, should stand up for peace and security and justice.
Do we need to wait until all of us loose our limbs, hands and then our necks? Some thing has to give. That is our consciousness first
Dr B
PS: I look forward to your creative and alternative ideas.
Dr B
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8118306.stm
BBC
June 25, 2009
Somalis watch double amputations
Witnesses estimated the age of the four men at between 18 and 25
They have each had a hand and foot cut off after being convicted by a Sharia court in the capital earlier this week.
More then 300 people, mainly women and children, watched as masked men cut off their limbs with a machete.
The four men reportedly admitted to the robberies, but were not represented by a lawyer and were not allowed to appeal against their sentence.
ALe al-Shabab group, which controls much of southern Somalia, has carried out amputations, floggings and an execution in the southern port of Kismayo but such punishments are rare in the capital.
'Help, help, help!' one of them shouted
Eyewitness Mohamed Abdi
The amputations were carried out in the open in front of an al-Shabab military camp in the north-east of Mogadishu.
A local resident said the four men cried out during and after the amputations. Each man had his right hand and left foot cut off.
"'Help, help, help!' one of them shouted," Mohamed Abdi told the BBC.
Eyewitnesses estimate the age of the four men - Aden Mohamud, Ismail Khalif , Jeylani Mohamed, and Abdulkadir Adow - to be between 18 and 25.
Mr Abdi said the whole process took about an hour to complete.
'Warning'
Human rights lobby group Amnesty International had urged al-Shabab not to carry out the amputations after the men had been convicted on Monday.
But on Tuesday mosques in the area announced through their loud speakers that the amputations would take place at 0800 local time on Thursday.
Al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told journalists that the amputations were a warning to all thieves.
"If they are caught red-handed in similar circumstances, they will face amputation," he said.
He also said al-Shabab would look after the welfare of the amputees.
On Monday, the court had said it was too hot for the sentence to be carried out on that day as an amputation in such conditions could lead the accused to bleed to death.
The punishments carried out in Kismayo have shocked many Somalis, who traditionally practise a more tolerant form of Islam than al-Shabab's strict Wahabi interpretation. Onlookers at the amputation in Mogadishu on Thursday declined to comment when asked for their reaction.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, took office in January but even his introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the hardliners.
The government has not carried out any amputations under its version of Sharia.
Since 7 May, al-Shabab and its allies have been locked in ferocious battles with pro-government forces.
The president has declared a state of emergency and has appealed to Somalia's neighbours to send troops to help.
______________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLP935
Reuters
June 25, 2009
Ethiopia not ruling out troops return to Somalia
Tsegaye Tadesse and Barry Malone
* Ethiopia awaiting response by international community
* Would not want to intervene alone
* Thinks government can resist hardline Islamist rebels
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has not ruled out sending troops to Somalia if the situation there worsens, but said there are no plans to intervene for now. Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist movement from the capital in which new President Sheik Sharif Ahmed played a role. That sparked an Islamist insurgency which is still raging despite the withdrawal of the soldiers in January this year.
"We do not want to find ourselves in a situation where a so-called Ethiopian horse would be trying to take the chestnut out of the fire on behalf of everybody else," Meles told a news conference late on Wednesday.
"And this horse being whipped by every idiot and his grandmother."
Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, fled into exile after the Ethiopian intervention but joined a peace process last year and was elected in January. His government is now battling hardline insurgents who were once allies in the Islamist movement.
Addis Ababa has said it supports the new government, but is wary of the hardline Islamists, who are seen as a proxy for al Qaeda, because they control large areas of Somalia and have threatened to destabilise neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya. With reports of foreign jihadists streaming into Somalia, Western security services are worried al Qaeda may get a grip on the failed Horn of Africa state that has been without central government for 18 years.
WAIT AND SEE
"We want to wait and see how the international community as a whole responds and then see if there is any need to revisit our position on the matter," Meles said.
"We believe the deployment of Ethiopian troops would be unwarranted because we are not convinced there is a clear and present danger to Ethiopia," he said.
Violence from the Islamist-led insurgency worsened this month, with the killing of three officials. The government, which controls little but a few parts of the capital, has declared a state of emergency and appealed to neighbouring countries for military assistance.
The Ethiopian leader played down claims from the speaker of Somalia's parliament that the country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) risked being overthrown without foreign help.
"Our reading of the situation in Somalia is slightly different from the one of the speaker of the parliament that if there is no foreign military intervention ... the transitional government will collapse," Meles said.
"The TFG is facing a very difficult situation with al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam militias supported by hundreds of jihadists, but we don't believe they will be toppled." (Editing by David Clarke)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f3eca108-60ee-11de-aa12-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Financial Times
June 25, 2009
Somali pirates blamed for broadband delay
Barney Jopson
Somali pirates have claimed a new victim by disrupting the laying of an undersea fibre optic cable that has promised to end east Africa’s isolation as the last region of the world not connected to the global broadband network.
The managers of Seacom, a $600m project owned by private investors, said on Wednesday that its cable would not come into service until July 23 – nearly a month later than planned – because pirate activity off the coast of Somalia had delayed the work of its cable-laying contractor.
Tyco Telecommunications, the contractor and part of Tyco Electronics, was forced to suspend its cable-laying around the Horn of Africa so it could revise its security plans and beef up protection for its ships following the latest surge in pirate activity in April and May.
Piracy from Somalia has been on the rise since last August, resulting in dozens of ships and hundreds and crew members being taken hostage, millions of dollars in ransoms and severe disruption to commercial shipping.
Wednesday’s announcement from Seacom marked the first time the pirates have disrupted east Africa’s faltering efforts to end its dependence on satellite internet links, which are slow, unreliable and often prohibitively expensive.
Brian Herlihy, chief executive of Seacom, which is based in Mauritius, said he was “frustrated” by what he called the “pirate-induced delay”. He and Tyco would not comment on whether they had received specific information that Tyco ships were on a pirate hit list.
So far no cable-laying ships have been attacked, but the ships contracted by Seacom were huge – needing to carry up to 6,000km of fibre optic cable – and vulnerable to pirate attack because they moved so slowly.
“Cable-laying ships would be prime targets,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau in London. “They’re very slow when they’re laying the cables and they really can’t get away.”
Maritime experts said some ships using the waters off Somalia had beefed up anti-pirate security by employing armed guards from private security companies while others had hired armed patrol boats to escort them. Tyco declined to comment on its security procedures.
Mr Herlihy said the laying of the cable, which will connect the east Africa portion of Seacom to Mumbai, had been completed in the past few days. The delay had not been announced until the job was finished to avoid putting the ships in further danger.
The Seacom cable will link South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia to India and Europe. A separate project led by the Kenyan government called Teams will connect Kenya to the United Arab Emirates.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
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--- On Tue, 6/23/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Meles stepping down, what about Isayas? Who is Sophia Tesfamairam: This needs immediate response New Diaspora Business Fora evolving, Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 9:55 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
It is very interesting the Ethiopian Media do not report on this critical issue.
It is the British who seem to have interest to get Meles out of office and he never disucsses them with Ethiopian people, parliament and the Media.
It seems the British have better access or they have determined to ensure Meles will step down and Isayas will stay!
Just imagine the Irony?
Dr B
http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE55M0A220090623
Reuters
June 22, 2009
Ethiopia's Meles says preparing to step down - report
LONDON - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was quoted on Tuesday as saying he was preparing to step down and that discussions on the issue had already started within his ruling party.
"My personal position is that I have had enough," Meles, who came to power in 1991 when his then guerrilla group ousted former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam, said in an interview with the Financial Times.
Meles, whose ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front faces a parliamentary election in June next year, gave no deadline for his departure.
"I am arguing my case and the others are also arguing their case. I hope we will come up with some common understanding on the way forward that would not require me to resign from my party that I have fought for all my life," said Meles.
"We are not talking about Meles only. We are talking about the old generation. The party needs to have new leadership that does not have the experience of the armed struggle."
Meles was hailed as part of a new generation of African leaders in the 1990s, but rights groups have increasingly criticised the guerrilla-turned-premier for cracking down on opposition in sub-Saharan Africa's second most populous nation.
Ethiopia's political climate is closely watched by foreign investors showing increasing interest in agriculture, horticulture and real estate prospects. The country is one of the world's poorest, ranked 170 out of 177 on the United Nations Human Development Index, and one of the largest recipients of international aid.
Ethiopia sent thousands of troops into Somalia in 2006 to help topple an Islamist movement holding Mogadishu and most of the south.
That drew protests from some in the Muslim world and enraged the Islamists, who regrouped to launch an insurgency. The Ethiopian troops withdrew in January.
(Editing by Ralph Gowling)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/18/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Who is Sophia Tesfamairam: This needs immediate response New Diaspora Business Fora evolving, Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:05 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Now the silly seaon of blame and counter blame is upon us, I found yet another serious challenge to the image of Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the 21st Century.
I was sent this email by a friend who asked me to share it with Ethiopians to reflect the level of vitriol that is spreading against Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
I wonder, who is Sophia and What is the American Chronicle doing?
Please read the following and kindly respond appropriately. Please track the facts and respond intelligently but in a manner that is acceptable to all decent people.
with regards
Dr B
PS: This deserves an immediate response and trust one of our Patriotic Citizens will respnd.
ETHIOPIA: Deceptive Campaign to White-wash and Cover-up International Crimes in Somalia
Sophia Tesfamariam
June 17, 2009
The minority mercenary regime in Ethiopia led by Meles Zenawi, the Bush Administration's "staunch ally" in the "war on terror", finding itself in yet another self-created quagmire, has unleashed its loyal cadres, K-Street lobbyists and members of the Eritrean Quislings League to divert attention away from his lawlessness and belligerence, to white wash, downplay, and if possible, cover up its bloody tracks in Ethiopia and Somalia. Observers have described the childish and ignominious display by the regime´s cadres in New York as "disgraceful and embarrassing". It seems they made a total fool out of themselves at Turtle Bay last week. In Washington, the regime´s lobbyists attempted to misinform US lawmakers, but they were summarily rejected by seasoned members who know the regime and its tactics only too well. US lawmakers are tired of cleaning up the blood and carnage left behind by the Bush Administration´s policies. They, like the American people, want change.
The minority regime, which has no confidence in its own abilities and suffers from debilitating inferiority complex, always surrounds itself with individuals and groups it feels will give it clout. This time, it gambled wrong and its cadres brought along a decrepit band-wagon with some members of IGAD and AU on board, with the hopes that the "weight of their voices" would sway lawmakers in Washington and New York. The tantrums and frothing by the regime's cadres in New York last week is nothing new, and also came as no surprise for those who know the regime´s tried and tired, transparent gimmick "Accusations in a mirror"-where the minority regime accuses others of crimes it has committed or is planning to commit. By sending its henchmen to Washington and New York, the regime was also testing the waters and the Obama Administration.
The regime is sparing no expense in its orchestrated propaganda campaign and no stone is being left unturned to advance it. In Washington, members of the Eritrean Quislings League, which includes the Eritrean Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group and a collection of runaway defectors, pedophiles and torturers posing as "human rights" and "democracy advocates", NED sponsored "intellectuals and professionals" and other bankrupt individuals, have been assigned to distribute the "facial masks" to be used in the rallies and other activities planned by the regime. By calling on the 80,000 Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin that it inhumanly deported from Ethiopia during the 1998-2000 border citing "security threats", to return to Ethiopia and claim their billion dollar properties that it confiscated, the regime believes it can win the heart and mind of Eritreans and present itself as a humanitarian regime to the international community. What a joke! Anyway, these mercenary individuals and groups have been instructed to do whatever it takes to convince Washington and the Obama Administration to maintain the status quo in the Horn of Africa.
The desperate regime´s cadres and mercenaries are in Washington and New York seeking the same grotesque patronage from the Obama Administration as the one it enjoyed under Bush´s Washington and Kofi Annan´s United Nations. What else can the desperate criminal regime in Ethiopia led by the deceptive Prime Minister Meles Zenawi do, except beg, blame, threaten and whine for its inadequacies and self created quagmires? The shameless minority regime expected the Security Council to take punitive actions against Eritrea based on "evidence" provided by the regime itself. It expected to be bailed out, absolved of its crimes, by having Eritrea penalized, even if it meant violating international law and the UN Charter and violating the sovereign rights of the Eritrean people. It wanted sanctions against Eritrea for not giving its blessings to the TNG in Somalia. This shameless act of hypocrisy comes as no surprise as it is the nature of the regime to distort the truth and the facts and then to cry foul when it is cornered.
The regime´s cadres were heard preaching about international law and human rights. A repressive backward thugocracy that subjugates the Ethiopian people and is violating international law and the UN Charter by invading and occupying Somalia and is occupying sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme, a regime that has committed genocides and numerous other human rights violations in Gambela, Ogaden and Oromia regions of Ethiopia, does not have the moral or legal authority, credibility or integrity to call for sanctions against Eritrea…or any other country for that matter. It ought to take a good look at itself first, before pointing its blood soaked fingers at others. Had it not been for Washington´s policy of appeasement, the people of the Horn would have used their meager resources to develop their nations instead of fighting the regime and its mercenaries.
The shameless regime´s cadres brought a laundry list of actions to be taken against Eritrea and were hoping that by accusing Eritrea of many violations, the Security Council would pick from the list and take actions against Eritrea. For the last 8 years, emboldened by the silence and inaction of the US-led international community, the diplomatic, financial, military and political shield and support it received from the UN under the corrupt former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and from the Bush Administration, specifically the Secretary of State and her protégé, the incompetent and vindictive Jendayi E. Frazer the regime committed countless crimes against the people of Ethiopia and Somalia. By diverting attention away from itself and its crimes in Somalia, it is hoping the Obama Administration will not change course but follow the same destructive and dangerous policies for Africa.
Somalia´s invasion and occupation, just like the invasion and occupation of Iraq, was based on a lie. Meles Zenawi´s and incompetent and vindictive Jendayi E. Frazier, the former US Secretary of State for African Affairs orchestrated an elaborate and "tailored intelligence disinformation campaign" to invade and occupy Somalia in 2006 to oust the Union of Islamic Courts and "prop up" the illegitimate Transitional National Government of Somalia led by Abdulahi Yusuf and Ali Mohammed Ghedi. The US backed Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia did not produce the intended outcome; it did not produce the three terrorists who were responsible for the bombing of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, nor did it produce any Al Qaeda linked "terrorists" that Frazier and her Horn confidante Meles Zenawi, said were operating in Somalia.
After creating the greatest humanitarian disaster in the history of Somalia, killing over 17000 innocent Somalis, and after carrying out the extra-judicial murder of thousands more it labeled "extremists", "Islamists", "fundamentalists", "Taliban-like" etc. etc., destroying Somalia´s schools, clinics, markets, ports, airports and other vital infrastructures, pulverizing Somali villages and farms and causing the displacement of over one million Somalis, the regime was hoping to white wash its "mistakes and miscalculations" in Somalia by pointing its bloody fingers at Eritrea. The mercenary regime´s cadres were at the UN hoping to collect their brownie points and service pins for the destruction of Somalia. By pointing fingers at Eritrea and getting the Security Council to take punitive actions against Eritrea based on fabrications by "Ethiopian intelligence", the minority regime was hoping it would be absolved of the international crimes that it committed in Somalia.
In order to understand the regime´s warped thinking we need to go back to the events on last December and the shenanigans in Djibouti orchestrated by Jendayi E. Frazier and her criminal cohorts. At the 11th hour, just as the Bush Administration was leaving office, Meles Zenawi and his handlers hurriedly established yet another Transitional National Government (TNG) for Somalia, in Djibouti. Forcing Abdulahi Yusuf to step down (by paying him well), the Union of Islamic Court's Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, brought from Eritrea where he had taken refuge when Ethiopia invaded Somalia, was installed at the helm. Once again, instead of allowing the Somali people to come together and decide for themselves, Meles Zenawi and Jendayi Frazier handpicked the amenable "moderate Sheikh Sharif Ahmed" to lord over the Somali people. The illegitimate TNG is facing the same opposition, if not worse, that Abdulahi Yusuf´s TNG faced. Meles and company thought it was a smart move to present the Obama Administration with a fait accompli in Somalia-we´ll have to wait and see how this deceptive game plays out.
As for Ethiopia´s violations of the UN arms embargo on Somalia, they are well documented and Ethiopia´s interventions in Somalia, using several pretexts, precede the Eritrea Ethiopia border conflict. It was in violation of the UN charter, the African Union Charter and Security Council resolution 1724 that Ethiopia invaded and occupied of Somalia. It was also in violation of the Intergovernmental Agency for Development´s (IGAD) 2005 resolution that authorized the formation of IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia (IGASOM) and specifically called for non-interference by "neighboring states". The Ethiopian fabrications and claims about the presence of "2000 Eritrean troops fighting alongside the UIC" also turned out to be a blatant lie. As with all their unsubstantiated allegations and assertions at the time, it was a convenient diversion, a deceptive decoy, to camouflage the truth and justify the invasion and occupation of Somalia.
UN Reports dating back to 1997 show that Ethiopia, in violation of the UN embargo on Somalia, has been delivering "shipment of arms consisting primarily of ammunition, including AK-47s and PKMs; light weapons and mines" which was transported by road through the porous Somali/Ethiopian border. The reports also show a constant flow of arms from Ethiopia to Kenya and from Kenya to Somalia. Ethiopia has also invaded and occupied parts of Somalia in the past. It has used the pretext of hunting down members of the group Al-Ittihad- citing national security concerns, the groups tenuous links to Al Qaeda have been used as an excuse for the regime´s interference and involvement in Somalia´s internal affairs.
The UN reports say that shipment of arms to Somalia increased as the minority regime worked to undermine the Transitional National Government of Somalia that was established in Arta, Djibouti in 2001. The regime formed the group calling itself the Somalis Reconciliation and Restoration Council, made up of factions that were hostile to the TNG and its allies and provided it training, arms and ammunition. According to UN reports, Ethiopia has been a major source of weapons for a number of Somali groups since. In addition, in violation of the Arms Embargo on Somalia, the United States and Ethiopia financed and supported a coalition of warlords calling themselves the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT).
The ARPCT prevented the Abdulahi Yusuf´s TNG from relocating from Kenya where it was established. Two years later, in 2006, it established itself in Somalia and even then, it was straddled between Baidoa and Jowhar, unable to establish itself in Mogadishu. When the UIC, led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed kicked out the US and Ethiopia supported ARPCT from Mogadishu in 2006 and began to expand its influence all over Somalia, Jendayi E. Frazier and her Horn advisors decided to stop it. Ethiopia invaded Somalia and ousted the UIC and Sheikh Sharif and with Ethiopia´s help, Abdulahi Yusuf entered Mogadishu. The rest is bloody history.
Not only has Ethiopia been meddling in Somalia´s internal affairs, it is also the only party that has consistently disrupted and prevented the stabilization of Somalia. It is also the only party that has fueled the fighting by providing weapons to various warring factions vying for power. Here is a partial list of the weapons provided by Ethiopia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the UN embargo on Somalia as documented by the UN:
"…On 30 October 1997, a C- 130 military transport aircraft arrived from Ethiopia with ammunition for small arms, rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, antipersonnel landmines and grenades..."
"…April 2001:12 mortars, several M30 artillery pieces, M30 artillery ammunition, mortar bombs, landmines and other unspecified ammunition for militia opposed to TNG…"
"…April 2001-Assault rifles, light machine guns, 4 heavy machine guns, 4 106mm caliber antitank guns, ammunition for the aforementioned items-for Abdulahi Yusuf…"
"…7 June 2001- Nine heavy trucks containing anti-aircraft guns, assault rifles and mortars of different calibers along with ammunition for the aforementioned items …"
Steve Bloomfield reporting for the Independent in his 16 November 2006[1] report wrote:
"…Ethiopia, which is estimated to have some 6,000 troops already in Somalia, is also believed to have brought in tanks and surface-to-air missiles…"
Reuters in its 9 June 2009 report[2] said:
"…Weapons are captured, sold and recycled constantly between both sides, experts say. Many arms have come from Ethiopian soldiers who intervened in Somalia between 2006 and early 2009… Weapons are also said to pour across the porous borders of Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia, arriving by plane and through seas infested by pirates who are themselves armed to the teeth…"
On 9 July 2008 Hiiran online reported the following:
"…On July 9, Islamists seized a large shipment of Ethiopian arms and military vehicles from an armored convoy heading from Balidogle Airport to Baidoa meant for the TFG military…"
There is ample evidence to show that the regime in Ethiopia is training and arming the Islamist group Ahlu-Sunna Wal-Jama, various clan militias and warlords, including Bare Aden Shire ("Bare Hilale") the defense minister of the former TNG led by Abdulahi Yusuf and Ali Mohammed Ghedi. Bare Hilale is linked with the Juba Valley Alliance, a militia group.
On 24 May 2008 Reuters reported the following:
"…Dumisani Kumalo, chairman of the U.N. Security Council's Somalia sanctions committee and the South African envoy to the body, accuses "elements" of an AU peacekeeping force in Somalia and Ethiopian and Somali government troops of arms trafficking…The South African envoy said 80 percent of ammunition on sale in Somali markets come from Ethiopian and Somali troops…the presence of Ethiopian troops inside Somalia was itself a violation of the 16-year-old arms ban..."
The UN embargo on Somalia is not the only embargo that Ethiopia has violated, it should be recalled that there were reports citing Ethiopian violations of the UN embargo against North Korea also, but once again, with its friends at the State Department doing its lobbying, the Bush Administration decided to look the other way. Had it been any other country, the "ton of bricks" would have been thrown at it. Here is how Reuters explained Washington´s duplicity and hypocrisy in its 7 April 2007 news report:
"…The Bush administration allowed Ethiopia to complete a secret arms purchase from North Korea in an apparent violation of a U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution passed months earlier over its nuclear test…the United States allowed the January arms delivery in part because Ethiopia was fighting Islamic militias in Somalia in an offensive that aided U.S. policies of combating religious extremists in the Horn of Africa…"
Today, by portraying Eritrea as the culprit for the ongoing violence in Somalia, the minority regime and its partners… in pecking order-IGAD, AU and the regime´s multi million dollar K-Street lobbyists probably believed that the fabricated accusations and coordinated deceptive ploys would work….they may have worked Bush´s Washington, but not this time...as they say in Texas...that dog won´t hunt!
No matter what comical and desperate gimmicks the regime cooks up at Menelik Palace, its days are numbered. The citizens of the Horn, Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalis have had enough. The international community is also fed up with the regime that has refused to live up to its international obligations. The carte blanches given to it to do as it pleased in the Horn is about to be revoked permanently.
The rule of law must prevail over the law of the jungle!
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Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: New Diaspora Business Fora evolving, Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 4:51 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopians:
New Youth leadership in the business arena is evolving at last!
I trust we will have similar type of Youth Leadership will evolve in the Social, Political and Cultural aspects of our lives.
The old ones will write their stories and continue to due their revolutions by writing books and tell us how great they are and how successfully they shook the mountains and the Rivers and created the largest Diaspora in history, when our ancestors chose to stay in one place for 8 millennia.
Now is the time for the Geriratric Revolutionaries to take a stand back wards and write their glorius Revolutionary Stories with Cartoons, Videos and do the entertainment and leave the real work place for smart creative geniuses like these ones and Ethiopian Airlines and BPR managers for change.
I am impressed with these smart business geniuses and hope more will surface. I recomend them without reservations.
I want to see a book or two from Ambassadors of yester years who want to be revolutionaries by the age of 90, a little too old, but a book, a cartoon, a moview will be a better entertainment.
with regards
Dr B
4th Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum
Four Point Sheraton (12th & K St. NW)
Washington DC, USA
June 21, 2009
Organized by:
The Ethiopian American (http://www.theethio pianamerican. com)
Principal Sponsors:
VEGA Ethiopia AGOA+/USAID
Also sponsored by:
Precise Consult International PLC
The Forum is divided into two sessions. Session I will explore US Government support for American investors, including the Ethiopian Diaspora, in investing in Africa (USAID's Diaspora Loan Guarantee program in Ethiopia and the African Diaspora Market Place [www.diasporamarket place.org] initiative). Session II will discuss the experiences of Diaspora entrepreneurs currently active on the ground and/or in the process of establishing ventures in Ethiopia and their views on doing business in Ethiopia. A short video will be shown discussing the opportunities and challenges of investing in Ethiopia by Ethiopian and foreign business leaders/investors. A short video will be shown discussing the opportunities and challenges of investing in Ethiopia by investors.
Panel I
Chair: Yohannes Assefa, Esq.
Managing Director, The Ethiopian American
1. Rick Angiuoni, The Export Import Bank of the United States
2. Mr. Thomas Debass, OPIC
3. [Borany Penh, Sr. Political Economist], USAID African Diaspora Market Place
4. Mr. Sehul Trusew, VEGA Ethiopia AGOA+, Diaspora Loan Guarantee Program
Panel II
Chair: Mr. Henok Assefa, M.A. (Economist and Private Sector Development Expert)Managing Partner, Precise Consult International PLC
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1. Mr. Sehul Trusew, VEGA Ethiopia AGOA+, Diaspora Loan Guarantee Program
2. Mr. Henok Assefa, Managing Director, Precise Consult International PLC
3. Mr. Yusuf Reja, Managing Director, Zebra Jobs/Info Mind Solutions
Refreshments (Coffee, water, soda and snacks) will be served!
Attendance by RSVP ONLY (write to publisher@theethiop ianamerican. com to RSVP)
www.vegaethiopia. org
www.theethiopianame rican.com
www.preciseconsulti nternational. com
www.ethiopiainvesto r.com
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 4:26 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
The question of forced migration and refugees is becoming a new phenomenon again.
The United Nations is caring for up to 11 Million Refugees (11/600) 1.6% of the global population.
Iraq and Afghanistan lead the numbers with Pakistan housing the largest number of refugees in the world. Syria and Iran are the second most popular destinations for these refugees.
Germany leads as the most popular European destination way below Jordan. Surpirsingly, Sudan is the most popular destination for refugees of the Horn and for that matter the most hospitable African country.
I wonder what happened to Ethiopia's history of hospitality. With the current chaos in Somalia and Eritrea, Ethiopia will soon hold its rightful place in History as the most hospitaable country in Africa. Imagine, if most of these refugees are creative as the ones who migrated to the US some 200 years ago, Ethiopia could have the best brains in the world and not the bottom of the intelligent and prodcutivity pyramid as she is now.
So, it is good to be hospitable to refugees as they are the source of creativity and productivity of the next generation.
with regards
Dr B
Refugees
Forced migration
Jun 17th 2009
From Economist.com
Countries with most refugees, and the burden on their populations
AT THE end of 2008 10.5m refugees were in the direct care of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, down slightly from 11.4m a year earlier.
The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq again caused the largest numbers of refugees to flee to, or remain in, neighbouring countries.
Some 2.8m of the world's refugees are from Afghanistan, most of whom are in Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan hosted almost 1.8m people last year, nearly all from Afghanistan, with Syria and Iran each receiving around 1m people.
Germany was the most popular destination among rich countries. But as a share of its population Jordan has by far the highest concentration of refugees.
AFP
Readers' comments
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, "Anteneh Mehari of BA"
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 10:58 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
It appears the political silly season and the blame game is once more upon us. This time, a certain West African Konye is declaring war on Ethiopian governance.
Imagine, the Ethiopian Government blocking food supply. The usual Young inexperienced Jewish American names have changed by West African writers.
It was the Daniels and the like in Kenya producing fantastic summer stories from Kenya producing fantastic stories by interviewing refugees, and now we have a West African more or less repeating the same accusations that for some strange reason the Ethiopian Governance enjoys blocking food and starving its people.
I find the whole notion and assumption annoying. Yet, we have to follow the story and look for evidence and challenge this writer to come up with facts and pictures and interviews of both the Ethiopian Government and other stake holders.
Again, this is not some thing we should sleep about or say, here comes a West African with new stories. Let us follow the story, look for evidence and ensure that the Ethiopian Governance, that is transparency and accountability shine its torch on this dangerous story too.
We cannot go on year after year having all summers full of starvation stories. We need to be a society that plans ahead for rain shortages and food shortages and not be caught up with situations like this all the time.
So, where is Good Governance challenging these stories with facts?
If the Horn can produce geniuses like Distinguished professor Gebisa Ejeta to transfer the sorghum plant, why not others solve the port congestion and the truck shortage issue.
This does not take a rock scientist, a plant breeder or truck manufacturer, but some one who makes the order to get the trucks some 6 months in advance and talking to our Djibutian brothers for ways of facilitating Dry port system to clear the congestion.
Surely, this does not require Revolution or Developmental State slogans! It just needs some BPR in Action in Djibouti and Mojo Dry Port. I think there is some else behind this story!
I leave it to members of our community to follow up this story!
Hoping a smart and fast answer from us all, I remain;
Asking when will these stories be changed with positive and proactive stories from our people solving our problems and even projecting a better future!
Dr B
http://en.afrik.com/article15813.html
Afrik
17 June 2009
Ethiopia blocks food supply as millions go hungry
WFP concerned about the move
Konye Obaji Ori
The government of Ethiopia has put a restriction on trucks with food supplies and prioritized trucks of fertilizers into the country as nine million Ethiopians face hunger and three months of starvation.
The Ethiopian authorities claim to be ensuring better harvest by September, but the United Nations has warned that by the end of June, it would have run out of food supply for the dependent millions in Ethiopian.
There will be no further deliveries until September or October, claims the UN World Food Program (WFP). Children, refugees and breast-feeding mothers will be among those worst hit during the hunger season in Ethiopia.
The hunger season is expected to last until September when harvest begins.
The Ethiopian government has prioritized the delivery of fertilizer, to try to increase the next harvest rather than allow more trucks of food and grains to the country.
According to WFP, there is an acute shortage of trucks, yet the Ethiopian authorities have prevented them (the agency) from bringing in its own fleet from Sudan.
UN World Food Program says it has no option but to cut back on the food they provide, which has already been cut by a third since July 2008.
Currently there is little prospect of food supplies arriving at the port of Djibouti for the next five months. "We have a small refugee population here and their ration is being cut by half beginning this month. We run out of food and people will be very hungry," claims Barry Came of the World Food Program.
The UN can only supply food through the port of Djibouti because Eritrea denied land-locked Ethiopia access to its ports, following a border war.
_____________________________________________________________
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_SOMALIA?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-06-17-08-27-43
AP
June 17, 2009
Mogadishu police chief among 17 killed in clashes
MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN
AP Photo/FARAH ABDI WARSAMEH
MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Somali government forces attacked rebel strongholds in Mogadishu on Wednesday, triggering battles that killed at least 17 people, including the capital's police chief, witnesses and officials said.
Residents cowered in their homes or took cover behind buildings as mortars slammed into the city.
Islamist fighters wearing headscarves and ammunition belts draped over their shoulders were seen arriving from the outskirts of the capital to join the battle.
The government only controls a few blocks of Mogadishu with the help of an African Union peacekeeping force that guards the air and sea ports and other key government installations. Different Islamic insurgent groups control the rest of Mogadishu, and their goal is to topple Somalia's Western-backed government and install a strict Islamic state.
"A mortar landed on a neighbor's house and killed two people and injured four others," witness Abdiwali Dahir said from one of the two areas of southern Mogadishu where the fighting was under way. Police spokesman Col. Abdullahi Hassan Barise said Mogadishu police chief Col. Ali Said died in the fighting but was unable to provide details about how that had happened. Said had led the capital's police force for about two years.
Another witness, Farah Abdi, said he saw five corpses lying in the capital's streets. Speaking in a telephone interview as the sound of heavy gunfire echoed in the background, Abdi said three of the victims were civilians and that the two others appeared to be an Islamist fighter and a government soldier.
An administrator at Mogadishu's Medina Hospital, Ali Ade, said it had received 39 wounded people, with three of them dying.
In another part of southern Mogadishu, an Associated Press reporter saw six bodies lying in a street outside a home that had been hit by a mortar. A grieving Somali woman identified one of the victims as her son.
"A stray mortar landed on these young men who sought refuge in our house," said the woman, Hawo Hassan. "It is a tragic day. He was my eldest son, my loved son, my dear son," Hassan said as she cried and held her head.
Mogadishu resident Hanad Abdi Garun, who was huddled in his house, said government forces brought in reinforcements overnight before they started the offensive against Islamist bases.
Another resident, Asha Moalim, said: "This is the strongest fighting we have seen in recent months. We are ducking inside our rooms."
The fighting was occurring after a surge of violence in Somalia's capital in May had killed about 200 people as insurgents battled the government and its allies. The U.N. says the conflict has displaced more than 122,000 people.
In another development Wednesday, UNICEF condemned the looting of its supplies and the continued occupation of its compound in the southern Somalia town of Jowhar by an extremist Islamic group. Looted supplies include nutritional supplements for about 40,000 children under the age of three, the agency said in a statement.
UNICEF said al-Shabab militiamen on May 17 occupied the compound when they took control of Jowhar, which had been an operational hub for the agency's humanitarian work in southern and central Somalia. The militiamen have looted supplies at least twice since taking over the compound, and storage equipment for vital vaccines for children has been destroyed, UNICEF said.
"We strongly urge that humanitarian work not be impeded in any way and demand the immediate return of our facilities in Jowhar town, as well as the release of looted equipment and supplies," said Hannan Sulieman, the agency's acting Somalia representative.
Somalia has had no effective central government for nearly two decades. The lawlessness on land also has allowed piracy to thrive off the country's coast, making Somalia the world's worst piracy hotspot.
Associated Press writer Mohamed Sheikh Nor in Mogadishu, Somalia contributed to this report.
_______________________________________________________________________________
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-15-voa67.cfm
VOA
Accused Ethiopia Plotters Ask for Protection
June 15, 2009
Peter Heinlein
A group charged with conspiracy to overthrow Ethiopia's government has asked a court for special protection, alleging their human rights have been violated during detention. Our correspondent reports relatives say some defendants have been tortured.
At a pre-trial hearing, attorneys and defendants in the so-called "Ginbot Seven" case indicated the accused had suffered physical and psychological abuse while being held in pre-trial detention.
Former army general Asamenew Tsige, one of five leaders of an alleged coup plot being held in solitary confinement, pleaded for special human-rights protection. An attorney for another defendant, businessman Getu Worku, asked that her client be allowed to see a private doctor for injuries suffered in detention.
Both requests were denied.
Getu Worku's wife, Rakeb Messele, who is also an attorney and human rights activist, said her husband was told he could only be examined by prison doctors.
"He was told he can try to address those issues through the health personnel of the prison administration," said Rakeb Messele. " [They said] you cannot ask for a private doctor to examine the client because now he is at the custody of the prison administration. What she said that the report of the medical examination might serve as evidence for her client."
Rights groups have expressed concern about the political implications of the arrest of the 32 Ginbot Seven activists. The organization is led by Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005.
Berhanu was later jailed along with other opposition leaders in connection with violent post-election protests and sentenced to life in prison. He was pardoned in 2007 and went to the United States, where he founded Ginbot Seven, named for May 15th, the date of the disputed election. He has repeatedly stated the group's goal is to oust Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government, which it considers illegitimate, but he denies the existence of any assassination plot.
Thirty-two accused conspirators appeared in court for pre-trial hearings. Berhanu Nega is among 14 others charged in absentia.
Most of those in custody are current or former military officers, including two generals. But the government has rejected suggestions that the group was planning a military coup.
Relatives of some of the defendants told reporters their loved ones had been subjected to harsh physical abuse during interrogation.
Government spokesman Shimelis Kemal rejected the charge, and pointed out that in three court appearances, the defendants had not filed any specific charges of abuse or torture. He said investigating officers never resort to what he called 'third-degree measures' to procure information from prisoners.
The case was adjourned for further study until June 30, when a bail request will be heard. The court also turned down a special bail request by the 83-year-old father of a top Ginbot Seven official. The official is living in Britain, and is among those charged in absentia.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, "Anteneh Mehari of BA"
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 10:23 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
Having just returned from Roma, Italy and having had the Italian President at the White House recently, I wondered what the Romans will think of the child of their adventure in the Horn today.
I did not see any interest in Roma, but the US has been busy discussing what to do with the Problem Child Roma invented in the Horn some 100 years ago.
Surprisingly all the problem children in the Horn, that is Somalia and Eritrea have one thing in common that is they were vandalized by the Romans at the turn of the Century.
All the same, they are part of the Horn community and need to be understood as a community with serious level of poor outcome of Generational Post Traumatic Disorder.
The chaos continues and the US had a very interesting debate to sanction or not sanction it. This is our people we are talking about, overtaken by terrorists and dysfunctional people.
We need to act to change the paradigm for every one in the region once for all.
First, the facts and the US debate for what it is worth.
Please do not hesitate to share your alternative perspective! We need ideas to let the old traumatized population leave the leadership for young talented and productive ones.
Yes, We can, we can bring change that we can believe in and that is fair and creates opportunity for all 20 Million people in the Horn.
Dr B
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r111:1:./temp/~r111WK0dgE:e747918:
US Congress,
Congressional Record H6499-H6500
June 10, 2009
On 10 June 2009, the US Congress considered an amendment to designate Eritrea as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism". The amendment was rejected. This record of the debate is taken from the Congressional Record for that date. Speaking for the Amendment, Congressman Royce from California; against the Amendment, Congressman Payne from New Jersey.
Mr. Royce Mr. Chairman, I currently serve as the ranking member of the Foreign
Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism. Previously, for 8 years, I served as
the chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, so I long have followed the
issues surrounding Eritrea and the Horn of Africa.
And this particular amendment calls on the Secretary of State to
designate Eritrea as a ``state sponsor of terrorism.'' The Horn of
Africa is a combustible mix. You have al Qaeda, you have piracy, a
failed state in Somalia, border tensions, and a key instigator of this
violence has been the government of Eritrea.
As the
amendment indicates, U.N. report after U.N. report cites
Eritrea for providing arms and military training to members of the
Shabaab, and that's an al Qaeda-linked group that has been designated
by the United States as a ``foreign terrorist organization.''
Mr. Chairman, if you take a look at this picture which appeared in a
U.N. report, this is the actual Shabaab fighter who shot down a cargo
plane with that shoulder-fired missile supplied by Eritrea. And the
reason that we know that is the propaganda footage used by this al
Qaeda-linked organization in order to try to recruit fighters to their
goal. And they showed the footage of the successful attack on the cargo
plane.
Now, what if that had been a civilian jetliner? How many lives would
have been lost?
Indeed, our FBI is greatly concerned about Somali Americans who have
gone missing from American cities. They are worried that they have gone
to Somalia and are linking up with these terrorist groups. And it is
Eritrea that is providing the weapons, including shoulder-fired
missiles that can take out an airliner and that are providing this
military training.
The case for adding Eritrea to the state sponsor of terrorism list is
compelling. It's even overwhelming. It has been so for some time. The
Obama administration's Assistant Secretary of State for African
Affairs, Johnny Carson, has noted that ``we have clear evidence that
Eritrea is supporting extremists,'' and that ``the government of
Eritrea continues to supply weapons and munitions to extremists and
terrorist
elements.''
And this isn't new. The previous administration took a similar view
of the destructive role that Eritrea plays in the horn. Some will say
that this is counterproductive or the wrong time. Well, it has been a
delicate time in this region for a decade now, and it's gotten a whole
lot worse.
It is a complex region. One thing, though, is not complex; this is a
clear national security threat.
U.N. reports have noted that over 100 Shabaab terrorists have
traveled to Eritrea for their military training at an Eritrean military
base and then traveled back. The same U.N. reports have identified
Eritrea as a ``principal violator'' of the arms embargo on Somalia and
have asserted that these violations ``take place with the knowledge and
authorization of senior officials within the Eritrean government.''
Plainly, it is state policy of Eritrea to support international
terrorism.
The U.N. Security Council has made similar statements citing
Eritrea's destructive role in the horn, and so have many neighboring
countries. So it is time that Eritrea should be named a state sponsor
of terrorism.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition and rise in
strong opposition to the Royce amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, the Royce amendment to the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, H.R. 2410, which would designate Eritrea as a state
sponsor of terrorism and call on the United Nations Security Council to
impose sanctions against Eritrea, I strongly oppose.
While I certainly respect my esteemed colleague from California, Ed
Royce, who served as an excellent chairman on the Subcommittee on
Africa for several years, and we worked closely together on many
issues, and I have a great deal of respect for him, I must oppose this
amendment. This amendment could undermine critical engagements
currently going on between the U.S. and Eritrea. I urge my colleagues
to vote ``no.''
The Royce
amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of State should designate Eritrea a state sponsor of
terrorism and that the U.N. Security Council should impose sanctions
against Eritrea. I urge you to vote against this amendment for the
following reasons:
First, some of the assertions made in the amendment are factually
wrong and dated.
Second, the geopolitical dynamics and interstate rivalries in the
Horn of Africa cannot be addressed properly without concerted
diplomatic engagement. Declaring Eritrea a state sponsor of terrorism
and imposing international sanctions would do nothing to further our
diplomatic aims and
would impose further hardship on the people who are
struggling to survive on a daily basis.
Thirdly, while Mr. Royce's amendment lays out a long list of reasons
why he feels Eritrea should be placed on a state sponsor of terrorism
list, the proposed amendment does not recognize the diplomatic efforts
currently underway by the State Department to address the complex
issues surrounding the Horn of Africa. Just last month, Eritrea
President Isaias Akwerki sent a letter to President Obama expressing
the desire to engage on these issues and is sending a high-level
delegation to Washington. Additionally, a senior State Department
official is expected to visit Asmara in a few weeks. Moreover, the
Somali Government has said they want to engage with Asmara.
Lastly, putting Eritrea on a sanctions list would have limited effect
on our effort to try to stabilize the region and build alliances with
governments in a wider battle against extremism.
We should urge the administration to take careful note of the issues
raised by Representative Royce, and I have written a letter to the
President to that effect. The administration is engaging Asmara. We
must allow these diplomatic discussions to continue.
In my last trip to Asmara 1 year ago, I met with the President and
did indicate changes that would have to be made. The current President
of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was in Asmara and went back,
and now is trying to lead a government which is fighting against al
Shabaab and
al Qaeda. And so at this time, I think that this amendment would disrupt
sensitive diplomatic issues that are going on. I urge my colleagues to
vote against the Royce amendment.
Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Let me respond that, first of all, I have a great deal of
respect for Chairman Payne. We have worked together for years on Africa
issues. We worked together on Darfur, Sudan. But this is the very issue
of why we disagree here, because all Members should know that it was
Eritrea that was the first country to invite Sudan's President, al-
Bashir, to visit Eritrea following an arrest warrant for his crimes
against humanity in Darfur.
Now, with respect to the issue, I can think of numerous issues and
times when Congress has had to push--and we'll take Sudan as an
example, since the example I'm giving here is an example in which
Eritrea has welcomed al-Bashir at a time when the international
community is trying to get him to prevent the crimes that he has
committed in Darfur. We have had to push to take more assertive
actions. We did that with genocide in Sudan. And in my view, there is
nothing wrong now, especially with respect to a state sponsorship of
terrorism. I think that the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa's
words speak for themselves. Again, this is Secretary Carson before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month, in which he said, We
have clear evidence that Eritrea is supporting these extremist
elements, including credible reports that they continue to supply
weapons and munitions to terrorist elements.
I ask for an ``aye'' vote.
The Acting CHAIR (Ms. DeGette). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Fri, 6/12/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, "Anteneh Mehari of BA"
Date: Friday, June 12, 2009, 11:34 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Having just returned from Roma, the 3000 years Capital of Europe and home to the Holy Sea and the Vatican, I was impressed by the Rome office of the Ethiopian Airlines.
The castles, statues, bridges, churches, museums, Imperial Forums, Colosseum and the work of great artists and scientists of the Renaissance, ie. Da Vinci, Bernini, Michael Angelo and the series of Ceasars, Kings, Princes and ever present Popes in all the buildings of Rome, the Fountains, etc. are impressive.
The Giancolo, little hill by the Vatican houses all the great heroes of Rome surrounding Jusepi Garibaldi who united Rome. Then, there is the most beautiful church where St Peter was allegedly hanged upside down where young people come to get married seeking a good omen for life. I witnessed two such marriages on a Sunday morning.
The place where Duche Mussoloni declared war on Ethiopia in 1935 is now the center of Power where the Municipality sits at the top of the old Roman Forums and the office of Government and Parliament is just a small block away.
Rome is a very interesting and thriving city, and the world is much richers for its perservation, as I learned so much just in one week visit. Air France was my flight and could not believe what happened to the one from Brazil. May the Lord comfort all those who lost their loved ones on that fateful flight.
The most fascinating aspect is the link and connection of the past with the present, as the most exotic and well furnished fashion and shops are scattered in between the ruins, with excellent synergy and symbiosis of the past, present and the future.
Roma also took me to the large Central Bus Terminal and the memorial for the 500 Italian soldiers killed at Dogali by Ras Alula of Ethiopia during the Reign of Emperor Yohannes.
The Egyptian Oblesks adorn all the Fora and the Ethiopian Axumite Obeliskis missing and yet the Ethiooian College in the Vatican is impressive, next to the famous Sistine Chapels, etc.
I was previlaged to learn that Tourism to Ethiopia is at its peak as the Ethiopian Airlines Rome Office Director Genral reported that they have over 33 flights per week. I was impressed by the busy office at the Barberini Square, perhpas Rome's most expensive and fashionable real estate.
Ever since my return to Washington,DC, I have been thinking Ethiopia's 8,000 years history needs to be preserved and presented like the Romans have done.
Then, I found this interesting write up. I believe Ethiopia can do much more in its tourism industry and Rome can be an excellent example of allowing the past, present and future to co-exist symbiotically and with synergy.
Here is an interesting story from Melisa on Ethioipa.
Tourism, the new potential that Connects the past with the futue, the case of the
Living history in Ethiopia
Ties to ancient Israel run deep in the home of the Queen of Sheba, where Christianity came early and the churches are ancient and unique
BY MELISSA BURDICK HARMON, SPECIAL TO CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The Queen of Sheba's palace isn't what it used to be. Its roof is long gone. Its grand entrance is but a memory. Yet the 3,000-year-old ruins remain, sprawling over thin-grassed farm fields in Axum -- once the capital of a great world power and today a dusty Ethiopian town where cows and children, goats and donkeys roam free.
The Queen lived well. It is still possible to stride across her vast flagstone-floored throne room, just one of 50 excavated chambers. The sophisticated drainage system features fish-shaped granite gargoyles. Several brick ovens line the large kitchen, and multiple stairwells indicate that there were many more rooms above.
Here, according to Ethiopians, a great dynasty was born. And, as all great dynasties should, this one begins with a love story. As they tell it, the Queen of Sheba left Ethiopia only once, to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem. Solomon, despite being married, became smitten with the beautiful Queen. She reciprocated his desire and upon her return to Axum she gave birth to his son, Menelik.
Menelik I took the throne when his mother died, roughly a thousand years before the birth of Christ, and began a line of Solomonic rulers that endured with only a brief interruption until Emperor Haile Selassie, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was deposed 31 years ago.
Menelik I is also, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox church, responsible for that country's possessing the greatest relic of the Judeo-Christian tradition. It seems that the king went to visit his father, and somehow brought back the original Ark of the Covenant, previously kept in the great temple in Jerusalem.
The Ark is believed to hold the original tablets containing the Ten Commandments that God handed to Moses on Mount Sinai, and it is now said to be kept in Axum's Church of St. Mary of Zion. Only one elderly monk guards this treasure, which no one else may see.
St. Mary of Zion is one of thousands of Christian churches that dot the Ethiopian landscape. Christianity came early to Axum, and soon after A.D. 300 this new faith became the country's official religion. It has evolved little over the years, and its vivid churches are unlike any found elsewhere in the world.
This town's greatest attractions, however, are not its churches, but its stelae -- towering obelisks piercing the bright blue sky, the largest nine stories tall and cut from a single piece of granite. An even taller one, the height of a 13-storey building and weighing some 500 tonnes, lies on its side, broken. It fell, according to a written account, in about 850 AD.
Each stele has an altar for sacrificial offerings and a false door. No one knows exactly when or why they were built. Some say they were meant to house spirits.
Axum today shows much and hides much. Only about three per cent of this once vast city has been excavated. Kids routinely pull ancient coins from farm fields. It is a place rich with the feeling of unsolved mysteries.
In fact, mysteries and miracles abound all along Ethiopia's Historic Route, with each of the three remaining stops reflecting a different era in the county's rich life.
The 11 rock-hewn churches in the town of Lalibela have often been called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Like the monoliths at Axum, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And, according to legend, they were each carved out of a single piece of rock at record speed, "as angels worked on them during the night."
The churches, many carved in deep trenches with only their roofs exposed, others cut directly into the rocks of caves, are all connected by a labyrinthine series of tunnels, paths and steep steps. Each has been used continuously since the beginning of the 13th century.
Most are decorated with a Star of David, underscoring the church's close kinship with King Solomon. One displays a very old painting of a black Jesus.
It is a remarkable place, as priests and monks in brilliant brocade vestments carry on a religious life that has gone on here, hidden among the hills and caves, for nearly a thousand years.
If the rock churches of Lalibela impress with their stark simplicity, the 29 churches and monasteries scattered over the islands of Lake Tana, headwaters of the Blue Nile River, delight with their vivid paintings in primary colours.
Abba Hailemariam Genetu, Head Priest at Azwah Maryam -- a circular church with a grass roof, located on an isolated peninsula -- greets visitors.
"This church," he says, "dates back to the 14th century. It is younger than most."
The handsome Abba, or Father, Genetu, speaks a Semitic language related to Hebrew, doesn't eat pork and performs ritual circumcision. He, like all Ethiopian Orthodox, practices a Christianity that is older, closer to Judaism, and far more exotic -- complete with ritual dancing and drumming -- than you'll find anywhere in North America.
His remote church was constructed to protect the faith, but also to reserve Ethiopia's ancient religious treasures -- ornate silver and bronze crosses, prayer sticks that recall Moses' staff and centuries-old illuminated manuscripts.
The church walls are covered with paintings which, over time, have also become treasures. One shows the child Jesus zooming down a board from a second story window, while less sacred children, who have tried and failed, lie scattered around the ground. Others illustrate the Holy Trinity: three identical dark-skinned, white-haired, white-bearded men.
If the rock churches are marvels of construction, and the churches of Lake Tana delight with their vivid paintings, the castles of Gondar simply astonish. Getchu Eshetu, my guide throughout Ethiopia, calls this site "Africa's Camelot," and he does not overstate the case. This palace complex looks as though it has been airlifted from medieval Europe.
In fact, the castle construction was begun by Emperor Fasiladas in 1632, when he declared the town of Gondar to be Ethiopia's first official capital.
His brown basalt palace was assembled using mortar and boasts four domed towers and battlements.
A Yemeni merchant who visited in 1648 wrote that it was "one of the most marvelous of buildings" he had ever seen, mentioning rooms trimmed in ivory and jewels, courtiers in fine brocade and thrones embroidered in gold.
Succeeding rulers constructed their own palaces. The 18th-century Empress Mentewab built a lovely one, where it is said she hosted Scotsman James Bruce (for five years!) when he came through searching for the headwaters of the Nile.
Other Europeans were less kind to the castles. Mussolini's Italians, who occupied Ethiopia from 1935 to 1941, used them as barracks. The British found out and bombed the buildings. Restoration is a slow process in a poor country, yet much of the complex remains, a reminder of the days when Gondar ruled a great empire.
As travellers complete the historic circle, it becomes abundantly clear that this mountainous country in the Horn of Africa contains treasures that should be on every history buff's wish list. Someday they will be, but for now it's still possible -- and lovely -- to experience Ethiopia's great sites without being jostled by hoards of tourists.
- - -
ACCOMMODATIONS IN ETHIOPIA
Addis Ababa, the capital city and jumpin off point for tours, offers several luxury hotels:
Sheraton Addis, a member of the chain's luxury collection, is one of the finest hotels in Africa. Its vast pool and gardens, excellent shops and Italian, Indian and fine dining restaurants make it a lovely oasis in a sometimes chaotic city. Doubles from $181 US a night. 888-625-4988 or 011-251-1-171717; www.starwoodhotels.com; Taitu Street, Box 6002, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Hilton Addis Ababa, on six hectares in the heart of the city, features a heated pool, four tennis courts and a spa (where a one-hour massage costs roughly $8.50). The hotel has a vast array of shops and restaurants, and rooms complete with balconies. Doubles from $151 a night. 800-HILTONS or 011-251-1-518400; www.hilton.com; corner of Menelik II Avenue, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ghion Hotels, a chain run by the Ethiopian government, are the best available on the Historic Route. They are well located (on the shore of Lake Tana, on a hill overlooking Axum, for example), but the accommodations tend to be rather simple. Prices vary, and will be included in tour packages. Phone: 011-251-1-1513-222; Ghion Hotels Enterprise, Res Desta Damteu Ave., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Be sure to sample Ethiopian cuisine, typically a fermented, sponge-like pancake called injera, topped by a spicy stew called wat. The hotels on the Historic Route, however, are accustomed to catering to western tastes, serving up fresh fish, chicken and spaghetti. Save your fine-dining appetite for meals at the Hilton or the Sheraton, at journey's end.
Melissa Burdick Harmon served as travel editor of Biography Magazine and its predecessor, A&E Monthly, for 12 years.
© Copyright (c)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 5:23 PM
www.eastafricaforum.net
June 11, 2009
Charles Sutton's Tribute to Tilahun Gesses - Part II
Ye Muzika Metsihet
Part I of my tribute to Tilahun Gessesse concluded on a late summer evening in 1966, when staff Amharic teachers and I performed his beautiful song "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam" in a music show during Peace Corps training at the University of Utah.
As I begin writing again on the 40th-day memorial of Tilahun's death, I feel privileged to join you once more in commemorating this great, iconic singer.
In Part II, I will attempt to thank Tilahun in a more personal way, by acknowledging how profoundly he affected me during the years I spent as a Peace Corps Volunteer--and musical performer--in Ethiopia .
Perhaps I can best do this by inviting you to revisit with me a second musical event. It occurred almost exactly two years after the Utah show. The date was September 11, 1968 (Meskerem 1, 1961), and the occasion was the Grand New Year's Music Festival at the Ambassador Theater in Addis Ababa .
It was early, a little past eleven o'clock in the morning, when I arrived outside the Theater on that long-ago New Year's Day.
Already there was a large, animated crowd of music fans clustered around the box office, basking in the warm spring sunshine as they waited to purchase their tickets for the annual marathon show that would begin at one in the afternoon and continue until late into the night.
I paused for a moment near the main entrance to gaze at a large advertising poster on which I saw my name and photograph included along with those of Tilahun and other popular vocalists whose appearances were promised.
As I made my way through the throng toward the stage entrance at the rear of the building, a newspaper boy ran after me.
Under one arm he clutched a large stack of orange-colored magazines."Mister Charles! Mister Charles!" he cried. Music Magazine! Published today! Hot off the press! Limited edition just for the Festival! Great pictures and write-ups of Tilahun, Bizunesh Bekkele, Alemayehu Eshete--all the big stars! And you, Mister Charles! You! You are in it too! Look!" With a flourish, he opened a copy and held it up for my inspection.
"Mister Charles!" he continued. "This fantastic souvenir edition costs only one birr! Get yours now, before they are all gone! "I didn't need any more persuading. Fishing in the single, narrow pocket of my suri, I extracted the few coins necessary to make up the price.
By this time, we were surrounded by several more newsboys clamoring for me to buy their copies too. Leaving the sunlight, I escaped with my purchase through the stage door into the cavernous theater's backstage gloom.
For the equivalent of U.S. 40 cents, Ye Muzika Metsihet ("Music Magazine", as I have translated it; the text, except for a few English words added for effect to its advertisements, is entirely in Amharic) was undoubtedly one of the best bargains I have ever encountered.
Much more than a playbill, the metsihet contains in its 70 pages detailed descriptions of all the contemporary artists, groups, musical directors, and technicians; magnificent photographs and collages; and thoughtful essays covering a variety of musical subjects.
There is even a section devoted to English and American pop luminaries of the day like Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, and Ray Charles. The attractive cover of Music Magazine features a young, beautiful Asnakech Worku seated amidst spring flowers, plucking the strings of her krar.
All this was the work of Shawul Baminew, a presenter of popular music on Radio Ethiopia . Music Magazine was obviously a labor of love, which I doubt has been equaled before or since.
Once inside the theater, I became so absorbed in the magazine--which today remains one of my most treasured possessions--that I almost missed my cue.
Page 48 of Music Magazine features Charles and Almaz Getachew, the vivacious singer-dancer from Wolayita, performing with Orchestra Ethiopia.
As I had done for the first time in Utah , once again I was going before an audience to sing in Amharic, but now as the veteran of dozens of television, concert, and wedding performances during the preceding year and a half with Orchestra Ethiopia , a 15-member traditional folkloric troupe.
Long gone were the incongruous button-down shirt, striped tie, and slacks of my stateside initiation, replaced by the white cheesecloth cape, long white tunic, and white riding pants that constitute the Ethiopian national dress. Suspended on a leather thong from my left shoulder was a mesenko, which I had spent many laborious hours learning to play.
Even though I dressed in Ethiopian costume, sang Ethiopian songs, and made a fair attempt at performing on an Ethiopian musical instrument, you might well wonder how an amateur mesenko player--an American newcomer to the ancient land where the Peace Corps assigned him to be a teacher of English--could so rapidly have penetrated the ranks of its seasoned professional entertainers and musicians.
The paradoxical explanation is that I owed my improbable career in Ethiopian traditional music directly to the transcendent popularity of Tilahun Gessese.
The most quintessentially Ethiopian of all Ethiopian singers, but simultaneously the undisputed avatar of what was then called "modern music" ("zemenawi muzika"--Western-tinged Ethiopian pop performed on Western musical instruments), Tilahun, and his cohorts in the Imperial Bodyguard (the Army and Police Bands followed close on their heels), seemed in those days to sweep all before them, taking the world of Ethiopian music by storm.
Some commentators confidently predicted that Ethiopian traditional music and musical instruments would soon face extinction as a result.
Page 25 of Music Magazine is devoted to Tilahun Gessesse, 26-year-old star vocalist of the Imperial Bodyguard Orchestra
Orchestra Ethiopia , the group with which I had become associated, was founded under the auspices of the Creative Arts Centre of Haile Selassie I University in 1963 by the Egyptian-American composer and ethnomusicologist Halim El-Dabh, specifically to counter this trend.
As Shawul Baminew wrote about Orchestra Ethiopia in Music Magazine, "In order to prevent Ethiopia's great cultural heritage from being swallowed up by Western civilization and know-how, and with the goal of keeping the country's native arts alive and to defend against their being swept away in a flood of foreign influences..., one branch of the Creative Arts Centre was dedicated to the preservation of traditional music and given the name 'Orchestra Ethiopia'...[The Orchestra] would incorporate all the varied instruments characteristic of different Ethiopian ethnic groups, so that these instruments would not molder as displays in a museum, but would play on together in group performance and so be given new life and the chance to expand their musical scope."
Ato Shawul goes on to say that the then director of the Orchestra, a gifted twenty-year old composer and poet named Tesfaye Lemma, by means of his attractive, innovative compositions and his skilled supervision of the ensemble, had not only brought it a long way toward achieving the goals that had been set for it, but had in the process also won for traditional music an unexpected resurgence in popularity.
Nonetheless, traditional music still faced an uphill fight. Tesfaye told me that the first time Orchestra Ethiopia participated in the New Year's Festival, before he became director, an impatient audience hooted the musicians off the stage. Things had improved since then, but Tesfaye was still looking for new approaches and special attractions to help Orchestra Ethiopia hold its own against the glitz and glamor of the military bands.
That was where I came in.
Thirty years later, Tesfaye explained in an interview the genesis of his plan for me to join the Orchestra: "It was a new experience for Ethiopians when they saw a foreigner appreciating and performing their music.
This brought good attention to the Orchestra, especially in those days. Many people were not conscious of their culture. They didn't see their music and instruments as valuable. The younger people were more interested in rock music and in learning the guitar and keyboard.
When I invited Charles to perform with the Orchestra, it was unusual and they woke up and said, 'This is good music. An American is playing our music! 'They came to have more respect for their music as a result."
At the 1968 New Year's Festival at the Ambassador Theater, Orchestra Ethiopia finally came into its own. Tesfaye had spent months preparing an all-new program that was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm by the capacity crowd. The song he wrote for me then--it has been a staple of my repertoire ever since--was called "Mesenko". The audience liked "Mesenko" so much that I had to sing it twice.
Considered by the organizers to be the least exciting attraction, Orchestra Ethiopia was always first on the bill at the New Year's Festival, presenting a one-hour program. Next came the Police and Army Bands, each playing for two hours.
The grand finale was the Bodyguard's presentation, with Tilahun's performance as its climax. As each group finished its job at the Ambassador, it left immediately for the Ras Theater in the mercato, where the New Year's show was repeated in its entirety at half-price for a young, rough, more boisterous crowd.
Charles was proud when he saw his photograph positioned directly below Tilahun's at the center of this poster advertising a music show in 1968.
I can remember clearly the shock of the transition from the relative decorum of the Ambassador to the rough-and-tumble holiday hubbub of the Ras.
We descended from our minibus at twilight into the midst of a disorderly mob through which we had to push our way to the Theater's back entrance.
Once safely inside the dimly lit stage area, we found a scene that seemed to border on chaos, with many people running about and no one apparently in charge. But there was hidden method to this apparent madness; presently we were ushered into the wings and hurriedly prepared to march out on stage. I peeked through a tear in the curtain and felt butterflies in my stomach as I glimpsed a vast, restive multitude standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the darkened, fully packed house.
If a Ras audience found fault with you, their yells, insults, hoots, and catcalls would begin immediately and make it virtually impossible for you to continue your performance. But if you won them over and they liked you, they were equally uninhibited in demonstrating their approbation--nay, love--which you could feel wash over you like a warm wave. At the Ambassador, the rhymes in my new song "Mesenko" had been greeted with polite applause; at the Ras, they elicited roars of delight.
The audience began to sway and sing along. A young woman emerged from their midst, climbed a staircase at the side of the stage, and, like a lovely apparition, came dancing toward me. When she kissed me on both cheeks and pasted a 10-birr note to my forehead, the crowd went wild. She was followed by several others who stuffed money into my pockets, the collar of my tunic, under the strap of my mesenko, and even in my shoes--always to uproarious applause.
Orchestra Ethiopia 's entire program was very warmly received.
The bus was waiting outside to take us at last to our homes. I unwound by reading some more in Music Magazine, turning now to Shawul Baminew's appraisal of Tilahun (whose performance that day I was sorry to have missed): "Most of you know already that Tilahun holds the first place among our country's vocalists.
Tilahun is a young man who has a pleasant disposition, is disciplined, strives to please all of his listeners whoever they may be, always has a smile on his face, and, in accordance with Ethiopian custom, respects his fellow man.
Because he is like this, everyone who knows Tilahun admires and praises him. If you think I'm lying, approach him. Try him, and you will see."
Unfortunately, 32 years would pass before I was lucky enough to discover for myself the accuracy of that pronouncement.
I was a co-participant with Tilahun in four successive New Year's festivals, but because Orchestra Ethiopia always appeared at the beginning of the show and the Bodyguard Orchestra at the end, we never met.
However, I did at least get close to Tilahun--in a manner of speaking. Two weeks after Orchestra Ethiopia 's success at the Festival of '68, the entire New Year's show was staged again by popular demand.
A new advertisement posted all over town displayed the photographs of ten star performers. As always, Tilahun occupied the central position. But this time, for once--it was one of the proudest moments of my life--I joined him there.
I look forward to recounting to you in the third and concluding part of my tribute how I eventually did enjoy the good fortune not only to watch on two occasions from the best seat in the house as Tilahun performed, but also to meet him, express to him my admiration, hear his opinion of my singing and mesenko playing, spend some happy times with him, and become his friend.
Charles Sutton
Old Saybrook , Connecticut
June 9, 2009
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Lessons of excellence and competency: Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 4:24 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
It is with great honor and fond memory that I present to you Dr Gebisa Ejeta of Purdue University who was the then Gold Medalist of Alemaya College and now the New winner of the 2009 World Food Award equivalent to the Nobel awards.
I knew Gebisa when he used to come to Dire Dawa from Alemaya for the weekends and we used to play Basketball with Tenassi Nichol and Girma some of his classmates.
I was much younger and used to be amazed by this tall energetic man dunking the ball in mid air, we could hardly reach him as he was so agile and tall. Girma was the play maker then. I am afraid, Girma passed away recently due to cancer and he was also a distinguished scientist at the world bank.
Now, comes Gebisa after so many years of silence or at least absence from the Ethiopian scene.
Yet, he was dedicated to Plant Breeding Science and has come up with a novel way of developing a special breed of Sorghum. His personal story is such a great lesson, I thought he shares the special place like Ethiopian Airlines as the Gem of the Century for Ethiopia and Africa.
Congratulations, Dr Gebisa, may the Lord bless you and may we emulate your excellent work. You are a great role model to our children and Ethiopians in general.
Bless you.
Dr B
Please see more at http://globalbelai7.blogspot.com
GlobalBelai7: the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential-Always!
June 11, 2009
Purdue sorghum researcher wins World Food Prize
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Gebisa Ejeta
Gebisa Ejeta, Distinguished Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, on Thursday (June 11) was named the recipient of the World Food Prize for research leading to the increased production and availability of sorghum in his native Africa.
Ejeta, a plant breeder and geneticist, developed sorghum varieties resistant to drought and Striga, a parasitic weed. Sorghum is a major food crop for more than 500 million people on the African continent.
The World Food Prize is considered the Nobel Prize of agriculture. It is awarded each year by the World Food Prize Foundation to individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food worldwide. Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, established the World Food Prize in 1986.
The award announcement was made at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and World Food Prize Foundation President Kenneth Quinn. Ejeta will receive his $250,000 award at an Oct. 15 ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ejeta is the second Purdue professor to receive the World Food Prize in three years. Philip Nelson, the Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing and former head of Purdue's Department of Food Science, won the award in 2007 for developing aseptic bulk storage and distribution, a technology for transporting processed fruits and vegetables without product spoilage.
"I'm pleased that the selection committee found my work significant enough to choose me as the 2009 World Food Prize winner," Ejeta said. "It is a great honor."
Purdue President France A. Córdova said Ejeta's research is making a difference in the world and that he is deserving of the World Food Prize.
"We're very proud of Dr. Ejeta and the work that he has done and are thrilled that he is receiving the 2009 World Food Prize," Córdova said. "This is a sterling example of Purdue's commitment to helping resolve the global challenges of world hunger."
Jay Akridge, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue, agreed.
"Dr. Ejeta's work on the development of new sorghum varieties is a powerful demonstration of the difference agricultural research can make in creating a more secure and consistent food supply for millions of people," he said.
Sorghum is among the world's five principal cereal grains. The crop is as important to Africa as corn and soybeans are to the United States.
A native of Ethiopia, Ejeta witnessed the devastating effects of drought and Striga on sorghum crops in his own country and several others in eastern and western Africa.
"I focused my research on sorghum because I'm originally from Africa, and I've known about the importance of the crop to the people there," Ejeta said. "So I wanted to work on improving sorghum."
Five years of research in rain-starved northern Sudan produced his first breakthrough in sorghum research in the early 1980s, when Ejeta developed the drought-tolerant cultivar Hageen Dura-1, the first commercial sorghum hybrid in Africa.
Hageen Dura-1 produced yields up to 150 percent higher than traditional sorghum cultivars. About 1 million acres of the drought-tolerant sorghum is grown in Sudan annually.
Ejeta then focused on Striga. Commonly known as witchweed, the insidious weed attacks nearby sorghum through the plant's root system. The almost microscopic Striga seeds germinate and then send out rootlets, which find sorghum roots and work their way into the host plant. Once inside, the parasitic weed removes valuable nutrients.
Striga is especially troublesome because the weed's seeds can remain viable for up to 20 years. Striga-related losses of 40 percent are possible in non-resistant sorghum crops.
Working with late Purdue colleague Larry Butler, Ejeta identified the exudate - chemical signal - from sorghum that is picked up by Striga rootlets. From there, he was able to develop a biological mechanism for interrupting the exudation process.
"The parasitic weed work took nearly 15 years to come to fruition," Ejeta said. "The novel approach that we developed was a totally new paradigm on how to dissect this complex trait into simpler components. After that, we didn't need to go to Africa to do Striga research. We were able to do this work in a laboratory at Purdue University."
In 1994 eight tons of Ejeta's drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant sorghum seeds produced at a Purdue agricultural research farm were distributed to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Farmers reported yields of as much as four times larger than traditional sorghum crops.
Ejeta is not finished with sorghum genetics or international development work.
"The need out there is great, so there is more to do," he said. "We need to extend the results of our work to more programs and more nations. We need to build stronger human and institutional capacity in African nations to help people feed themselves. We need to encourage the development of similar advances in maize, millets and other crops of Africa."
Ejeta received his master's and doctoral degrees in plant breeding and genetics from Purdue in 1976 and 1978, respectively. He joined the Purdue faculty in 1984.
More information about the World Food Prize Foundation and Prize is available at http://www.worldfoodprize.org
Writer: Steve Leer, 765-494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu
Sources: Gebisa Ejeta, 765-463-4245 (June 11), 765-494-4320 (after June 11), gejeta@purdue.edu
Justin Cremer, World Food Prize Foundation, 515-779-4028, 515-245-3794, jcremer@worldfoodprize.org
Craig Beyrouty, head of the Purdue Department of Agronomy, (contact Steve Leer at 765-494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu for contact information)
Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
Note to Journalists: Broadcast-quality video can be downloaded at ftp://news69.uns.purdue.edu/Public/ in a folder called World Food Prize 2009. For more information, contact Jim Schenke, Purdue Marketing and Media, at 765-494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Ethiopian scientist named
2009 World Food Prize Laureate
Gebisa Ejeta of Purdue University developed drought- and weed-resitant sorghum, enhancing food supply in sub-Saharan Africa
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Gebisa Ejeta
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Gebisa Ejeta will receive the $250,000 World Food Prize on October 15 at the Iowa State Capitol
The 2009 World Food Prize will be awarded to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia, whose sorghum hybrids resistant to drought and the devastating Striga weed have dramatically increased the production and availability of one of the world’s five principal grains and enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
OVERCOMING EARLY OBSTACLES THROUGH EDUCATION
Ejeta as a grad student at Purdue in 1974 Born in 1950, Gebisa Ejeta grew up in a one-room thatched hut with a mud floor, in a rural village in west-central Ethiopia.
His mother’s deep belief in education and her struggle to provide her son with access to local teachers and schools provided the young Ejeta with the means to rise out of poverty and hardship.
His mother made arrangements for him to attend school in a neighboring town. Walking 20 kilometers every Sunday night to attend school during the week and then back home on Friday, he rapidly ascended through eight grades and passed the national exam qualifying him to enter high school.
Ejeta’s high academic standing earned him financial assistance and entrance to the secondary-level Jimma Agricultural and Technical School, which had been established by Oklahoma State University under the U.S. government’s Point Four Program. After graduating with distinction, Ejeta entered Alemaya College (also established by OSU and supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development) in eastern Ethiopia. He received his bachelor’s degree in plant science in 1973.
In 1973, his college mentor introduced Ejeta to a renowned sorghum researcher, Dr. John Axtell of Purdue University, who invited him to assist in collecting sorghum species from around the country. Dr. Axtell was so impressed with Ejeta that he invited him to become his graduate student at Purdue University. This invitation came at a time when Ethiopia was about to enter a long period of political instability which would keep Ejeta from returning to his home country for nearly 25 years.
Ejeta entered Purdue in 1974, earning his Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics. He later became a faculty member at Purdue, where today he holds a distinguished professorship.
Developing Drought-Tolerant Crops for Africa
Gebisa Ejeta conducting sorghum research
(click photo to enlarge)
Upon completing his graduate degree, Dr. Ejeta accepted a position as a sorghum researcher at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) office in Sudan. During his time at ICRISAT, Dr. Ejeta developed the first hybrid sorghum varieties for Africa, which were drought-tolerant and high-yielding.
With the local importance of sorghum in the human diet (made into breads, porridges, and beverages), and the vast potential of dryland agriculture in Sudan, Dr. Ejeta’s drought-tolerant hybrids brought dramatic gains in crop productivity and also catalyzed the initiation of a commercial sorghum seed industry in Sudan.
His Hageen Dura-1, as the hybrid was named, was released in 1983 following field trials in which the hybrids out-yielded traditional sorghum varieties by 50 to 100 percent. Its superior grain qualities contributed to its rapid spread and wide acceptance by farmers, who found that yields increased to more than 150 percent greater than local sorghum, far surpassing the percentage gain in the trials.
Dr. Ejeta’s dedication to helping poor farmers feed themselves and their families and rise out of poverty propelled his work in leveraging the gains of his hybrid breeding breakthrough. He urged the establishment of structures to monitor production, processing, certification, and marketing of hybrid seed—and farmer-education programs in the use of fertilizers, soil and water conservation, and other supportive crop management practices.
By 1999, one million acres of Hageen Dura-1 had been harvested by hundreds of thousands of Sudanese farmers, and millions of Sudanese had been fed with grain produced by Hageen Dura-1.
Another drought-tolerant sorghum hybrid, NAD-1, was developed for conditions in Niger by Dr. Ejeta and one of his graduate students at Purdue University in 1992. This cultivar has had yields 4 or 5 times the national sorghum average.
Using some of the drought-tolerant germplasm from the hybrids in Niger and Sudan, Dr. Ejeta also developed elite sorghum inbred lines for the U.S. sorghum hybrid industry. He has released over 70 parental lines for the U.S. seed industry’s use in commercial sorghum hybrids in both their domestic and international markets.
Defeating the Scourge of Striga
Ejeta with Striga-stricken sorghum in Niger
(click photo to enlarge)
Dr. Ejeta’s next breakthrough came in the 1990s, the culmination of his research to conquer the greatest biological impediment to food production in Africa – the deadly parasitic weed Striga, known commonly as witchweed, which devastates yields of crops including maize, rice, pearl millet, sugarcane, and sorghum, thus severely limiting food availability. A 2009 UN Environmental Programme report estimated that Striga plagues 40% of arable savannah land and over 100 million people in Africa.
Previous attempts by African sorghum farmers to control the deadly weed, including crop management techniques and application of herbicides, had failed until Dr. Ejeta and his Purdue colleague Dr. Larry Butler formulated a novel research paradigm for genetic control of this scourge. With financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation and USAID, they developed an approach integrating genetics, agronomy, and biochemistry that focused on unraveling the intricate relationships between the parasitic Striga and the host sorghum plant. Eventually, they identified genes for Striga resistance and transferred them into locally adapted sorghum varieties and improved sorghum cultivars. The new sorghum also possessed broad adaptation to different African ecological conditions and farming systems.
The dissemination of the new sorghum varieties in Striga-endemic African countries was initially facilitated in 1994 by Dr. Ejeta, working closely with World Vision International and Sasakawa2000. Those organizations coordinated a pilot program, with USAID funding, that distributed eight tons of seed to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The yield increases from the improved Striga-resistant cultivars have been as much as four times the yield of local varieties, even in the severe drought areas.
In 2002-2003, Dr. Ejeta introduced an integrated Striga management (ISM) package, again through a pilot program funded by USAID, to deploy in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Tanzania along with the Striga-resistant sorghum varieties he and his colleagues had developed at Purdue. This ISM package achieved further increased crop productivity through a synergistic combination of weed resistance in the host plant, soil-fertility enhancement, and water conservation.
Empowering Farmers, Inspiring Young Scientists
Ejeta working with students at Purdue University
(click photo to enlarge)
By partnering with leaders and farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and educational institutions in the U.S. and abroad, Dr. Ejeta has personally trained and inspired a new generation of African agricultural scientists that is carrying forth his work.
Dr. Ejeta’s scientific breakthroughs in breeding drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant sorghum have been combined with his persistent efforts to foster economic development and the empowerment of subsistence farmers through the creation of agricultural enterprises in rural Africa. He has led his colleagues in working with national and local authorities and nongovernmental agencies so that smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs can catalyze efforts to improve crop productivity, strengthen nutritional security, increase the value of agricultural products, and boost the profitability of agricultural enterprise – thus fostering profound impacts on lives and livelihoods on broader scale across the African continent.
Gebisa Ejeta will receive the $250,000 World Food Prize on October 15 at the Iowa State Capitol
To the News Service home page
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 11:06 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
It is becoming evident by the day that the Ethiopian Airlines, perhaps one of the most technologically complex industry in the African continent is becoming profitable against the Global business trend for the industry.
Reasons, appear to be competent leadership and market niche developed over time.
I wonder, if Ethiopians can succeed with such complex and high technology business efficiently, why not in the Agricultural and other technology sector?
The answer is the same. Incompetent leadership and lack of niche market in these industries. The Coffee Market is an excellent example where we have incompetent leadership that allowed the Eritreans to be t he 10th exporters of coffee.
It will not surprise me now if the Arabian Investors will not be the next new Ethiopian Coffee Exporters, if we continue to sale Ethiopian land to the Arabs. Mind you land that Ethiopians do not have access to is likely to be sold out to new investors.
The Governance of Agriculture, technology and industry need to have the same level of competent leadership, the ability to identify niche market and engage local and global technologies and markets.
So long as the Coffee industry and Agricultural sector is left in the hands of incompetent leadership we will continue to starve. Now, the new notion of Selling fertile lands to Arabs under the guise of investment is perhaps the largest incompetent decision that the current leadership is making.
Look at the concern expressed by African Union, United Nations experts and some how the same level of debate is not taking place by the locals be it in the local state and federal parliaments and even among the rather vocal Diaspora.
It is time to investigate the Developmental State, the Revolutionary Democracy heritage and evaluate its success and its weaknesses and ensure that patriotic policies evolve that ensures the security and prosperity of our people for a long time to come.
No doubt, the Ethiopian Airlines has shown to the world and specifically to African and Ethiopian people, that competent leadership can withstand the madness of soldiers as seen by incompetent military Juntas and ignorance of peasants; as evidenced by the track record of liberation fronts and Revolutionary Democracies; that continue to fail to engage the public in discourse and dialogs on serious matters as selling land to foreigners under the banner of investment.
Remeber all the enterprises that were intiated during the Emperor Haile Selassie time, none succeeded with subsequent generation of incompetent leadership except the Ethiopian Airlines.
Remember the Ethiopian Navy, Air Force, Military, where are they now? Remember the series of Mechanized farming at Wadu, Cadu and the fertile farms in Afar and Wolkait Tsegede in Bege-Medir regions what happened to them.
whereas the local Ethiopians and their properties are nationalized without any compensation and now after almost 40 years of Crazy Communism, that same land is going to be sold to Arabs as investment opportunities,
Now is the time to debate as to who has the right to sale the Ethiopian land and property without exhaustive debate and dialog in Parliaments, policy fora and especially at elections.
We need to see the process of democracy play out where there is a debate about the pros and cons of selling fertile land to foreign investors?
Why not invest in the Agri business as partners with local Ethiopians as the Indians and Chinese do.
What happened to that foolish notion that .."if we give land to the peasants, they will sale their land and over crowd the cities like Addis"
Now, who is selling the land and what happened to the peasants that are crowding the streets of Addis and other provincial cities.?
Is it the duty of Developmental State to sale the arable land? Where is the development if the sources of development, land, agricultural produce are sold out to Arabs and Chinese?
We need to discuss this and this is no laughing matter.
As we say Congratulations to the Ethiopian Airlines? Please learn the lesson; the Ethiopian Airlines buys technologies and sales service. Why not apply the same principle, let the investors invest in Agricultural technologies and we sale the produce.
Some thing is seriously wrong here and we need to debate and demand transparency and accountability from all concerned.
Please read the glorious stories of the Ethiopian Airlines below and see how the land sale issues is creating diverse debates across the international community!
Dr B
I look forward to your intelligent dialogue and alternative perspecitve on these critical issues of our time!
http://www.addisfortune.com/Ethiopian%20Soars%20despite%20Global%20Turbulence.htm
Fortune, Ethiopia
June 10, 2009
AMANYEHUN REDDA
Ethiopian Soars despite Global Turbulence
Airline reports 8.37b Br. Total Revenue in Eight Months.
Ethiopian Airlines has collected 45pc more revenue in the first eight months of the 2008-09 budget year than it has planned according to its officials.
The phenomenal performance has come during the global economic crisis that has put contributed to a loss of 8.5 billion dollars for the aviation industry in 2008 and an anticipated 4.7 billion dollars loss this year.
The airline has registered 8.37 billion Br in revenue over eight months, three per cent higher than the 8.15 billion Br plan for the entire year.
Of the gross revenue, 6.12 billion Br was collected from ticket sales for about 1.95 million passengers. This represents 99pc of the planned passengers for the eight months.
Boosting operations with three additional aircraft to its fleet size in the current fiscal year, the flag carrier’s performance in the cargo service has also, equally, gone beyond the plan its executives authored for their operations through the year.
“To facilitate the country’s export sector, the airline has bought a cargo plane for $60 million and rented two passenger airplanes, a Boeing 757 and a Boeing 737-800.” Girma Wake, chief executive officer of the national carrier, said. He was reporting the performance of the Airline to the Infrastructure Affairs Standing Committee of the House of People’s Representative last Wednesday June 3, 2009.
Ethiopian has collected 1.33 billion Br in revenue from transporting 354 million tons of freight overseas. The revenue from the cargo is five per cent higher than the actual plan for the eight months. It has also collected 850 million Br from payments for extra luggage, training and postage services. Previously, its plan was to collect 570 million Br from these sources.
Its expenditures over the same period were 7.64 billion; representing 96pc of expected expenses. This is a 45pc increase compared with the same period last year. The increasing oil consumption due to increased operations accounts for 3.39 billion Br of the total expenditure. This represents 44.3pc of its total expense.
“We are astonished by the performance of the airline,” said a member of the Standing Committee as he asked the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines how they managed to achieve such a performance at a time many other airlines are closing or loosing money due to the global financial crisis.
“33 of the 53 flight destinations of the airline are in Africa which has not been hit hard by the financial crisis,” said the CEO.
Conference travellers have also contributed to the performance of the airlines, according to Girma.
“Unlike Ethiopian, many airlines have more leisure travellers who are tourists. Thus, when a crisis like the one besieging the world happens, travelling for leisure is likely to decline. Business travellers, however, have to travel,” the CEO said while explaining the questions raised by the MPs.
“The airline has increased flight frequencies to many of its destinations and a modern airport facility built by the Airports Enterprise increases travellers’ comfort,” Girma said.
Many airlines have faced challenges in continuing their services during the global economic downturn which has decreased business and leisure travel worldwide. Some governments such as the republic of South Africa and China have been forced to inject hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure their airlines are able to continue providing service.
South African Airways, one of the biggest airlines in Africa and one of only two Star Alliance members in Africa, received a 2.8 billion Rand (a little over 348 million dollars) injection from their government while China Southern is set to be the first mainland carrier in China to fly out of the financial turbulence after getting a capital injection of three billion Yuan (approximately 440 million dollars) from their government.
Hit by declining passenger traffic, China Southern lost over 4.8 billion Yuan (a little over 700 million dollars) in 2008. Similarly British Airways reported 850 million dollars in losses over the same year.
The aviation industry experienced losses in 2008 due to the increasing price of oil. In July 2008, oil reached 147 dollars per barrel. The aviation industry lost 8.7 billion dollars. Now, with oil prices decreasing to their current price of approximately 66 dollars, the aviation industry still continues to suffer from losses. The CEO’s report also included speculation of industry experts that this year, the aggregate loss is will reach 4.7 billion dollars.
Despite a daunting global context where profitability has become rare, Ethiopian Airlines has managed to surpass its plans.
“We found the performance of Ethiopian Airlines impressive,” Wubneh Emiru, chairperson of the Infrastructure Affairs Standing Committee, told Fortune. “We cherish the achievements of the airline.”
But not surprising is the performance for experts in the industry.
“The achievements of Ethiopian are expected,” Zemedenen Negatu, managing partner of Ernst & Young, who has been consulting the airline since 2004, told Fortune.
He attributes the success of the airline to an efficient management system and the visionary leadership pursued by its management and board.
Nevertheless, its domestic operations seem to have enjoyed less attention. The CEO was asked to explain the contrast.
“It is a fair criticism,” Girma said.
But there are plans in the making to improve the domestic services.
“We have bought eight Bombardier Airplanes from Canada ,” he said. “We will buy four or more planes from the same company next year.”
Ethiopian is also working to upgrade its pilot training institution at a cost of 30 million euro (45 million dollars) with financing through a loan from French Bank. With the finalization of the expansion, the training institution would be upgraded to an Aviation Academy , according to the CEO.
As part of its preparation for membership in the Star Alliance, it has also signed a code share agreement with Singapore , Thai and United airlines of Singapore , Thailand and United States , respectively.
It has also bought 25pc equity share in the establishment of ASKY airline in Togo in collaboration with the government of Togo and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional block of 16 countries founded in 1975.
Ethiopian will be responsible for maintaining the aircrafts and management of airline operations.
Togo will serve as the airline’s West African hub, according to the CEO, though Nigeria offers the largest number of passengers for Ethiopian in the continent.
________________________________________________________
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L9584860.htm
Reuters
09 Jun 2009
INTERVIEW-Africa becomes wary of farm deals-land activist
* De facto moratorium on African land investments
Wendell Roelf
CAPE TOWN - African nations are becoming more cautious in selling farmland to foreign investors, with governments paying closer attention to deals that could lead to social unrest, a leading land activist said on Tuesday.
In a bid to overcome reliance on food imports, countries in Asia and the Gulf have been at the forefront of farmland purchases in the world's poorest continent where millions survive on subsistence farming.
However, these so-called "land grabs" have drawn sharp criticism from land activists -- who raised concerns of exploitation -- as well as some international donor agencies, the African Union and the European Union. [ID:nLS816189]
"I think there is almost a de facto moratorium (on land purchases)," Namanga Ngongi, president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), told Reuters on the sidelines of food security seminar in Cape Town.
Ngongi said foreign-funded AGRA, which aims to ease poverty by focussing on food security and access to markets, supported investment -- as long as it was mutually beneficial and not one-sided.
"There is a lot more reflection going on ... It is something that every country should weigh because governments are sitting on a box of dynamite if they take decisions likely to cause upheaval in their countries," Ngongi said.
He said governments needed to consult widely, especially with small farmers, before signing deals that may increase poverty.
International agencies report that since 2004 about $920 million has been spent to buy or lease nearly 2.5 million hectares (6.2 million acres) of farmland in five sub-Saharan African countries. [ID:nLP708175]
"If in the future Africa can become a bread basket of the world, why not ? But it is not that we in Africa should be starving while we are putting food on ships to other parts of the world," he said.
Large-scale farmland purchases by China and oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar increased fears of food security in Africa, where nearly all countries are net food importers and soaring prices last year caused violent protests.
Andrew Daudi, Malawi's permanent secretary for agriculture and food security, said the poor southern African country was cautiously mulling a land deal involving China and Djibouti.
He told Reuters that investors can come so long as they benefit Malawi's foreign exchange reserves.
He said the Malawian government was considering a bid by both countries to each grow crops on 50,000 hectares. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf, Editing by Peter Blackburn)
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http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5580CI20090609?sp=true
Reuters
June 10, 2009
Dealers revel in Somali war business
Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU - Sitting on a mat at home between taking orders for arms on his two mobile phones, Osman Bare gives thanks for the riches flowing from Somalia's war.
"I have only been in the weapon business five years, but I have erected three villas. I have also opened shops for my two wives," said the 40-year-old, one of about 400 Somali men operating in Mogadishu's main weapons market.
"Peace means bankruptcy for us."
Despite a U.N. arms embargo on Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation is awash with weaponry from all over the world that has fuelled one of Africa's longest-running conflicts.
In the latest cycle of civil war, militant Islamists have been fighting the Somali government for the last two years and 18,000 civilians have been killed in the crossfire.
Weapons are captured, sold and recycled constantly between both sides, experts say. Many arms have come from Ethiopian soldiers who intervened in Somalia between 2006 and early 2009.
African Union peacekeepers have been accused of trafficking arms, and regional bodies say Eritrea -- among others -- is funnelling weapons towards the rebels.
Weapons are also said to pour across the porous borders of Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia, arriving by plane and through seas infested by pirates who are themselves armed to the teeth.
The Mogadishu arms market is just one part of an illicit global arms bazaar.
According to Geneva-based research body Small Arms Survey, there are at least 640 million firearms in the world, one for every 10 people on the planet.
Only a third of these are in the hands of armies or law enforcement agencies, the rest dispersed among non-state militia groups or the general population.
Dealers like Bare say the main Irtogte market, within the sprawling Bakara commercial area of Mogadishu, is holding its largest stock ever, and gunrunners are rolling in money.
The risks of being robbed, cheated or shot are high, however, and prices fluctuate greatly. They are at a low right now due to the abundance of supply.
"The good thing is that our goods are not perishable," Bare said. "We get a lot of cash, but we are always in terror."
Dealers say they can be arrested, or even beheaded by the Islamists, if caught outside the market.
"But inside our market, we are cocks. There are hundreds of retailers and wholesalers and each has four well-armed guards."
BIG PRICE RANGE
He said masked Islamists once picked him up, blindfolded him and took him to a well-known execution house when he was found carrying a U.S. M16 rifle ordered by a pirate. As he was being beaten by gun-butt, a friend with good contacts in the al Shabaab insurgent movement came and rescued him.
"The government is better than Islamists -- they do not kill people. They take your property and jail you only for few days," Bare said.
While Islamists come to the market for purchases, traders said, arms are delivered to government and other buyers.
"We dismantle weapons and then secretly take them to anyone who needs to buy."
With the exception of pistols from Yemen, North Korean AK-47s, and hand-grenades from government supplies, most arms are second-hand, the dealers said.
One of the cheapest items is an Indian AK-47, at $140 each, but fighters disparage its poor quality compared to the heat-resistant North Korean version and the light Russian one. At the top of the range of light weapons, the most expensive pistol, Russian-made, goes for $1,000.
Hand-grenades go for $25 each, landmines $100.
There is no shortage of sources for such weapons.
According to a 2006 U.S. Congressional report, about 70 nations produce small arms and light weapons.
Most weapons are legally manufactured in relatively large factories, but many are diverted from their intended destination using false paperwork, according to weapons trade monitors.
In Mogadishu, the arms-dealers are not the only ones benefiting from war.
At $15 for each grave he digs, cemetery worker Ali Osman is in the money every time the death toll goes up.
"Sometimes I dig around 20 graves and stay here till evening," Osman told Reuters, while burying a baby.
Somali bankers say the more the fighting, the more cash that arrives by wire transfers.
"Last month has been very nice to us," said one banker, referring to the flare-up in Mogadishu.
The war business also benefits sellers of iron sheets -- they are cheaper than wood for coffins.
Garment dealers also have a brisk trade in shrouds.
"Rolls of this material are bought when people die like flies," shopkeeper Mohamed Abdi said. "But I cannot say I am pleased with death -- nature works this way."
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 3:37 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Is Ethiopia for sale?
This interesting article is recalling the Zombi students call of the mid 1970s "land to the tiller" and Derg said, No: Land to the Military Junta! and now Land to the Arabs is the new slogan that AlMariam is echoing in this article.
When do Ethiopians own back their land, house and property is the question of the Millennium and Good Governance!
Now after years of Revolutionary Democracy and Developmental State, it seems from this article, Ethiopia is moving to "Land to the Arabs"!
Even the Jews in the person and goverment of Natanyahu did not sign up to the land to the Arabs slogan.
AlMariam is claiming that in Ethiopia today the notion of Developmental State is converted to Ethiopian land to the Arabs!
Is this a lease arragement, free market contract or purchase or is it like what the Italians did some 200 years ago, where they leased the Asab Sea Coast, then contracted it and then purchased it and then colonized it.
As the AlQaeda are moving in with the Somalis to take the rich Ogaden, the Arabs seems to rush for the state of Oromia's fertile land.
We might see the next Coffee Exporters next to Eritrea to be the Arabs, After all, they call it Coffee Arabica.
Some one from the Ethiopian side please confirm if the new Developmental State is translating into land grab for the Arabs?
We need a clear cut response on this as the BBC, Economist and Even ECA of the UN and the Chair of African Union are expressing their concern about the new "Arab Land Grab"!
Could some one explain to the rest of us what is taking place. Is this just another CUD and Gunbot 7 and Shabia propaganda or are there some truth to this reporting and analysis.
All the same, we need some transparency and accountability on this report and analsys.
I wonder what is being termed as Arab land grab might be an innocent land lease with appropriate protocol for investment opportunities. All said and done, it is very important that we get facts supported by some official reference to the process on how Parliament be it the Federal and State Parliaments address this issue.
Remember the land that was confiscated by the Miltiary Junta and all the properties and houses have not been returned to their rightful owners, Ethiopians. Now as the Eritrean returnees are guaranteed to get back their property, what about the Ethopians whose land and houses have been confiscated by the loony and illegal bloddy revolution.
How can their land be given to Arabs and Eritreans when their children and descendants are roaming the streets of Addis looking for the BPR to address their files and their complaints.
Some thing seriously has gone wrong! Can some one come up with a story how the Eritreans and Arabs get preference to Ethiopians whose land rights and property has been documented for millennnia?
I just wonder how Developmental State and Revolutionary Democracy can handle this gross injustice?
I look forward to hear and read your perspective.
Dr B
Our (Home)land on Firesale
A while back, the capo di tutti capi (the “boss of bosses”) of the dictatorship in Ethiopia rebuked Congressman Donald Payne for pushing H.R. 2003 (“Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act”).
He quipped with his signature sarcasm, “Ethiopia, this government and this country, are incapable, unwilling and unable to be run like some kind of banana republic from Capitol Hill or anywhere else.” That is not exactly true today. The evidence shows that “Ethiopia and this government” are “capable, willing and able to be run like some barley republic from Jeddah or any of the other Gulf states.” It has been widely reported that Saudi and other Gulf “investors” have spent over two hundred million U.S. dollars to buy (“lease”) fertile Ethiopian farmland free of local taxes and other requirements to supply themselves with a cornucopia of agricultural commodities which, oddly enough, they could purchase on the world market at competitive prices. It seems the desert sand has trumped the fertile land in the barley republic.
There are many bewildering things about this sordid multimillion dollar land deal. First, as the dictators are orchestrating a fire sale of chunks of the country to foreign governments fronting as “investors” and lining their pockets, nearly a quarter of the Ethiopian population is teetering on the brink of famine. The rest of the population is menaced daily by malnutrition and hunger. Second, the dictators are bending over backwards to insure food security in the “investor” countries while Ethiopia’s food insecurity is causing frantic alarm in the rest of the world. For the past year, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization has been calling for immediate steps to be taken to protect the poor in Ethiopia from skyrocketing food prices. Just last week the U.N World Food Program issued an advisory estimating that the national relief program for Ethiopia will fall nearly 178,000 metric tons short of assessed needs for the second quarter of the year. Third, to add insult to injury, the same dictatorship, after engorging itself with the proceeds of the ill-gotten loot from the so-called “investors”, will shamelessly stand at the gates of the World Food Programme, the U.S. Government, the European Union and other donor countries panhandling for food aid. Such is the brazen audacity of dictatorship!
Everyone in the world is perplexed by this new mercenary land hustle taking place in Ethiopia. The Economist magazine, that unwavering bastion of conservatism and defender of free trade and globalization, wondered in total bafflement: “… Are these ‘land grabs’, ‘neocolonialist’ rip-offs, different from 19th-century colonialism only because they involve different land-grabbers and enrich different local elites?” Even the left-leaning Independent newspaper expressed righteous indignation: “Over the past few months, Saudi Arabian investors have paid $100m for an Ethiopian farm where they hope to grow wheat and barley, adding to the millions of acres they already own in the war-ravaged country… Neo-colonialists are buying up agricultural land in Africa and local farmers could be crushed unless there are international rules to protect them…” Agricultural experts worldwide have also chimed in to condemn such one-sided secret deals arguing that the deals ultimately serve to water the deep roots of the culture of corruption among Africa’s kleptocratic dictatorships than materially contributing to its development.
Anatomy of the Sale of Ethiopia
Time was when foreign private companies bought land from private owners in the developing countries and created large scale plantations. In the “banana republics” of Central America, multinational corporations exploited a large, impoverished peasant class by creating a dependent and subservient local oligarchy. American fruit companies eventually became powerful enough to dominate the entire export sector of these countries and own and operate key infrastructures such as railways, mining and ports.
What we are witnessing in countries like Ethiopia today is an extreme form of the banana republic syndrome. In the barley republic, the aim is to create a foreign enclave economy (completely and totally isolated and insulated from the local economy) in the host country with the singular purpose of extracting agricultural commodities for export back to the “investor” countries. The farms to be established on the acquired lands are expected to be high technology driven using high yield seeds, modern pesticides and other production systems. The “agricultural clusters” that are expected to be developed will have little connection to the host country’s broader economy. They will contribute very little to the development of a skilled work force at the local level, and local workers will be relegated to menial jobs that require minimal training. There will be few environmental standards for these “investors” to uphold, and there is no way to monitor the damage they are likely to cause to the local ecosystem. In short, in the enclave economy of the barley republic, there will be little “spillover” or “ripple” effect on the local or national economy; and there will be miniscule net gains to the host countries from the “investments” (except the millions of dollars that will line the pockets of the corrupt dictators). For Ethiopia’s wretched poor and hungry, it will all be a surreal experience: They will be standing by the dusty roadsides watching helplessly as the endless caravan of diesel trucks shuttle back and forth delivering the harvest of barley, wheat and rice to port for shipment.
The dictators in Ethiopia naturally want to conceal the corrupt and mercenary nature of the land deals. They say they are just attracting foreign direct investment which will result in a stable source of capital, boost national income and local employment while reducing the country’s debt load. Is that even theoretically possible in an enclave economy?
According to a study prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), it is obvious that the whole land deal is an elaborate swindle, a scam, a shell game :
In Ethiopia, for example, enquiries at the state-level Oromia investment promotion agency found evidence of some 22 proposed or actual land deals, of which 9 were over 1,000 ha, in addition to the 148 recorded at the national investment promotion agency. It is possible to speculate that state-level agencies in other Ethiopian states may also have records of additional projects, and that some land acquisitions may not have been recorded at all….For example, in Ethiopia information about the land size of many deals proposed or concluded in 2008 was missing….
In another instance, “an investment by German company Flora EcoPower in Ethiopia was reported to involve 13,000 ha (hectare), while it is recorded at the Ethiopian investment promotion agency for 3,800 ha only.”
To avoid public scrutiny and ward off local opposition, the dictatorship intentionally and fraudulently misclassifies all land sold to foreign governments as vacant “wastelands” implying that the land is unused, unoccupied by anyone or just wilderness. In fact, the so-called “wasteland” often supports herders who graze animals on it and people who have farmed it for generations. The dictators ignore the customary rights of the local people to satisfy their voracious appetite for foreign-investment deals to line their pockets. There is also evidence to suggest that smallholders have had their arms twisted to sign away their rights for insignificant compensation. According to the above-referenced study:
In Ethiopia, for example, all land allocations recorded at the national investment promotion agency are classified as involving “wastelands” with no pre-existing users. But this formal classification is open to question, in a country with a population of about 75 million, the vast majority of whom live in rural areas. Evidence collected by in-country research suggests that at least some of the lands allocated to investors in the Benishangul Gumuz and Afar regions were previously being used for shifting cultivation and dry-season grazing, respectively.
Although the dictatorship claims that the so-called land leases are determined by the regional governments, the evidence proves conclusively otherwise:
Most documented land leases are granted by the government. This includes 100% of documented cases in Ethiopia.
The dictatorship’s claim that the land deals bring prosperity and jobs to the local economy is simply false. The evidence actually shows that the “investors” are ripping off the country blind in broad daylight:
In-country research confirms the general impression that land fees are low in monetary terms and an unimportant component of negotiations. In Ethiopia, rent was required in four deals out of the six projects examined in greater detail, with prices ranging from US$ 3 to 10 per hectare per year. These fees are low in the international context, though land rentals are going up (in the Ethiopian state of Oromia, for instance). Several deals – including the contract from the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, examined by this study – involve five-year exemptions from land fees (article 4(a) of the Benishangul Gumuz contract)…. In Ethiopia, for example, profit tax (estimated at US$ 20 per hectare per year) is usually exempted for a period of 5 years; for a total of 602,760 ha allocated to documented projects, it is estimated that the exemption of this tax for each project over 5 years amounts to US$ 60,276,000.42.
This is the deal that made it possible for the king of Saudi Arabia a few months ago to celebrate the delivery of the first fresh harvest from his lush farms in Ethiopia.
The Scramble for Africa Redux?
It is a historical irony that Ethiopia should escape and successfully defend its sovereignty and independence during the European scramble for Africa in the late 19th Century and again in the last century against Italian colonial aggression only to become the first casualty of a newfangled neocolonial agricultural scramble. The historical parallels are obvious: In its early stages, European imperialism planted its economic tentacles in Africa by sending out its explorers, adventurers and merchantmen. The gunboats and armies showed up later. In the kinder and gentler world of petrodollar neocolonialism, there is no need for gunboats. The weapon of choice is a slush fund of petrodollars and so-called sovereign-wealth funds directed at corrupt and thieving African dictators and politicians who are able, willing and ready to sell out chunks of their countries for pennies. In this brave new world of petrodollar neocolonialism, neither the corrupt dictators nor their bankrollers care about the consequences of their deals on the local population, the displacement of local farmers and herders or adverse environmental impacts.
Last May, Tekleab Kebede, “Ethiopian Consul General” in Saudi Arabia, sought to bless the Saudi land deal by saying: “After all, the relations between Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia are longstanding. There is geographical proximity and the religious values and linguistic affinities that we share have brought the two countries close and strengthened the bonds. So, Saudis should have no hesitation in turning toward Ethiopia for investment.” That may be polite diplomatic palaver, but historically it is untrue. It is a fact that Saudi Arabia provided substantial material and moral support to secessionist elements in Ethiopia in the not too distant past. It also supported Somalia diplomatically and materially in its invasion of Ethiopian territory in 1977. Ethiopia’s supposed “special relationship” with Israel and other matters of religion have been a cause of ongoing irritation for the Saudis in their relations with Ethiopia.
The simple point is that this runaway land deal with the Saudis and the Gulf states needs to be scrutinized carefully for its broader implications. Is this ever expanding land deal a Trojan Horse used by the Saudis and the Gulf Shiekdoms for a broader thrust into Ethiopia? Are these “investments” the first elements of a grand strategic calculus to penetrate and dominate the Ethiopian economy and society? Or is it merely a benign search for land to raise crops, which by all accounts can be purchased on the world market at very competitive prices? Here the experience of the banana republics is instructive. The multilateral companies that invested in Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador and other places initially produced and exported bananas, pine apples, coffee and other commodities. Over a period of time, through their control of the large plantations, they managed to place a chokehold on the local oligarchies who depended almost entirely on the cash flow provided by the multinational agri-businesses. As history shows, it did not take long for the foreign “investors” to own and operate the rail, trucking, ports and banking systems in those countries. History also shows that the social upheavals in the banana republics which occurred in reaction to the oppressive alliance of the oligarchies and multinationals resulted in atrocities that lasted for decades in those countries.
Is this the bright future that awaits the brave Barley Republic of Ethiopia?
Resistance to Land Swindles
Not everyone is taking it lying down. Recently, the government in Madagascar was overthrown in large part because of public anger over a secret deal by the deposed ruler to hand over to a South Korean company one million hectares of Madagascar to grow maize. Marc Ravalomanana, the deposed president, initially denied the existence of a secret land deal. He and his cronies were expecting to pocket millions of dollars from the deal until the coup disrupted their plans. The interim president Andry Rajoelina rejected the deal declaring that, “In the Constitution, it is stipulated that Madagascar’s land is neither for sale nor for rent, so the agreement with Daewoo is cancelled.” Interestingly, the South Korean company had “promised to spend $6-billion in the next 20 to 25 years to help build infrastructure such as roads, railways, a port and schools in exchange for developing huge swathes of arable land in Madagascar.” The Maize Republic of Madagascar was not to be! (It is worth noting that Madagascar is ranked 143/176 on the U.N. Development Program Human Development Index (which measures life expectancy, literacy, education, GDP per capita in 176 countries in the world). Ethiopia ranks 169/176. Local opposition is brewing in Zambia against a proposed Chinese plan to acquire 2million hectares for a biofuels project. Kenyan farmers are demanding to produce the commodities themselves and export it to Quatar instead of working as menial farmhands.
The Real Questions
There are many basic questions that need to be answered: Should a country teetering on the verge of famine and starvation engage in large-scale shady land leads in secrecy and without public discussion? Has Ethiopia become a Crookdom where a small oligarchy of crooks is free to do whatever it wants? Do these land agreements have any validity under international law? What safeguards are in place for the environment and the rights of the indigenous people?
There are some economists who suggest that a country like Ethiopia that is perpetually afflicted by food shortages will eventually explode as in the case of Madagascar. Others plead for implementation of interim measures to protect the local people and ecosystem by some international standards or code of conduct. Still others argue that technologically sophisticated large farms could never work in Africa. They say history shows that such efforts “have often ended with abandoned machinery rusting in the returning bush.” In the long run, it is said, peasant farming will trump advanced commercial farming. What is clear in Ethiopia’s case is that none of these land deals will bring about development of infrastructure or have any significant “spillover effect.” There will be few, if any, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, rail lines or other lasting structures built as a result of these deals. The only legacy will be more misery and exploitation for the local people and environmental damage. As Ruth Meinzen-Dick, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute warned: “The majority of agricultural land in Africa is not titled. If these rights are not respected in these transactions, the livelihoods of millions of people will be put at risk.” In the end, in the petrodollar land swindle, Ethiopians will be stuck holding the bag. An empty bag!
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 12:36 PM
ALERT On the 21st Century health Care Reform- An Idea whose time has come!
Globalbelai7 -the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe! Our Passion to reach our individual and collective potential-Always! Cradle to Grave Universal Health care where annual Birthday health screening based care is supported with mobile digital health information system and preventative health care in the respective home environment of patients is the wave of the future health care reform. The new vision should be about portability, regular pre-emptive annual health screening and mobile data base that is available to the patient, physician and public health system to develop an evidence based health care system that is individualized to the specific needs of each person and citizen. Yes we can, health care is a human right and we need to protect is at all cost! I am a public health physician and scientist currently working in the health field as the Corporate Director for over 12 home health care agencies in the Metropolitan Washington, DC; Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Delta region of Colorado, Los Angeles, California and Allentown, Pennsylvania. We provide skilled and non skilled health care to patients in their own homes at the direction and guidance of their attending physician. This makes care available to patients in their own home environment as well as reduce cost to care due to hospitalization and institutionalization. Our service is considered as Boutique Medicine by some circles but we refer to it as back to the future when the Attending physician used to visit patients in their own homes some 50 years ago, before the advent of modern gigantic hospitals and their accessories. As such we take modern heatlh care to people's homes and their environment where they heal and recover faster. Prior to coming to the USA in 1993, I was working with the British National Health Service and when I discovered President William Clinton was proposing a heatlh care reform, I wrote to the then health care reform team and was invited to come to the USA and present my own paper to First Lady Hilary Clinton team entitled : Crade to Grave- Health Care Reform, An Idea Whose Time Has Come. I reviewed the global health care system, by focusing on Scandinavian, British, German, Canadian and Japanese Health Care Systems and comparing them with the US Health Care System. My focus was on making Preventative Medical Care Universal and mandatory to all according to their age and sex and current health status. Just like the Car Industry, the Insurance System should be made to work for people to keep them healthy and not wait until they are too sick to benefit from preventative heatlh care. As such I proposed that at each Birthday, every citizen should get a letter from his attending physician, summarizing his or health risk factors, current status and future prospective and invite them for annual Birth Day health Check. Obviously the content of the screening will vary according to the age, sex and predisposing factor of each individual. I also suggested A Portable Medical Record System that each patient is given at the end of each visit and can take with him or her to any future visit. The Medical System will be portable, electronic and will be available to each patient, attending physician and national data base. As a Public Health Physician and Medical Scientists who have worked in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, the most critical deficit in all health systems is that there is viable data about prospective patient needs, based on lifestyle, behavior, and current disease spectrum. All the CDC and NIH data bases are using out of date mortality data that does not reflect morbidity and risk factors for each age group, as such they are planning for the dead people and not for living populations. The Patient Communication Log or Portable Medical Record will change this frustrating situation by providing up-to-date Evidence based medicine and preventative care that is tailored to the specific needs of each patient, reviewed at least once a year at their birth day. I wrote a proposal to the NIH Research Team about making such Portable Data Base available to patients, physicians and the public health system but unfortunately failed to implement it due to like of sponsorship and resources. I believe the current health care reform, should address both the Management Information System i.e the Medical Record System as well as making health care available based on evidence that is collected at annual basis for each citizen. Then the health care reform will be guided by the notion of making every citizen healthy with the advanced medical technology and not wait until the patient had all the symptoms and signs of death. Yes, Health Care Reform is needed to ensure that we pay for staying healthy and productive and not for healing after we get sick. This is a big paradigm shift and the Medical profession and interest groups such as Insurances who make money out of the misery of people will not like it. But it is already happening for all our technologies such as cars, houses and electronic gadgets, that we pay to have the best utility and function and not wait until they broke down. Fortunately, current up-to-date knowledge about our physiology and immune system supports this idea. We are designed to live up to 120 years with fairly good health if we know how to look after our emotional, behavioral, physical and psychological health. We need to practice evidence based health care and that can only happen if every body is given at least annual Birthday health screening and relevant evidence based care while they are still healthy and able to enjoy life. When we get sick as we all do, we need to get modern first class medicine in our own home setting and not wait to get into the health institutions which are filled with iatrogenic infections which are more difficult to treat. I trust it is clear that the Cradle to Grave Health Care System, is medically and fiscally sound idea and most importantly creates a healthy thriving community that continues to be productive until 120 years of life span. So, I say, let us modify both the health information system, annual birthday health screening and care for people in their own homes. It is fiscally, medically and culturally appropriate to do so. I will be happy to furnish you with additional information at your convenience. Thank you and wish all the best. Learn from President Clinton and involve every one in all your deliberations and report to us on a regular basis and ask for our participation as you are doing now. Bless you. Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH Global Strategic Enterprises www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com Globalbelai7@gmail.com voice: 703.933.8737 and 571.225.5736 Testimony Statement by Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Health Reform in the 21st Century before Committee on Ways and Means Wednesday, May 06, 2009 Chairman Rangel, Ranking Member Camp, members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to join you for a critical conversation about health reform in America. Health reform has advanced thanks to your work and willingness to move forward together with other House Committees. We appreciate your hard work to enact reform. It is urgently needed. Health care costs are crushing families, businesses, and government budgets. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and health care premiums have grown three times faster than wages. Just last month, a survey found over half of all Americans, insured and uninsured, cut back on health care in the last year due to cost. And behind these statistics are stories of struggles for too many American families. Families who face rising premiums – now over $12,000, when it was $6,000 a decade ago. Parents choosing between health insurance and their mortgage because they can’t make ends meet because their paycheck is standing still but health care costs are rising much faster than inflation. Today health care costs are the big squeeze on middle class families and these challenges are growing as the economic picture worsens. And on top of all of this, in the last eight years an additional seven million Americans have become uninsured. And we know that during this recession, hundreds of thousands of people are losing health insurance as they lose their jobs. Even families who do have some coverage are suffering. From 2003 to 2007, the number of “under-insured” families – those who pay for coverage but are unprotected against high costs – rose by 60 percent. Still, we have by far the most expensive health system in the world. We spend 50 percent more per person than the average developed country. The U.S. spends more on health care than housing or food. And the situation is getting worse. The United States spent about $2.2 trillion on health care in 2007; $1 trillion more than what was spent in 1997, and half as much as is projected for 2018. High and rising health costs have certainly contributed to the current economic crisis. Rising health costs represent the greatest threat to our long-term economic stability. If rapid health cost growth persists, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2025, 25 percent of our economic output will be tied up in the health system, limiting other investments and priorities. This is why I share the President’s conviction that “health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.” Inaction is not an option. The status quo is unacceptable, and unsustainable. We are already on our way to making health reform a reality. In just over 100 days, this President has made great strides to advance the goal of reducing costs, guaranteeing choice and assuring quality, affordable health care to all Americans. Within days of taking office, the President signed into law the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. This program’s success in covering millions of uninsured children is a hallmark of the bipartisanship and public-private partnerships we envision for health reform. The President then signed the Recovery Act, which includes essential policies that will protect health insurance for the American people, support groundbreaking research, and make important investments in our health care infrastructure. And just last week, members of Congress passed a budget that includes an historic commitment to health reform. Delivering on this commitment and enacting comprehensive health reform is one of my top priorities. The Obama Administration is focused on passing health reform legislation that will end the unsustainable status quo and adhere to eight basic principles. First, we believe that reform must reduce the long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government. The high cost of care is crippling businesses, who are struggling to provide care to their employees and remain competitive. It is driving budget deficits and weakening our economy. We must pass comprehensive reform that makes health care affordable for businesses, government, and families. Second, we must protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs. Today, too many patients leave the hospital worried about paying the bills rather than returning to health. They have reason to be concerned. In America, half of all personal bankruptcies are related to medical expenses. It’s time to fix a system that has plunged millions into debt, simply because they have fallen ill. Third, we will guarantee choice of doctors and health plans. No American should be forced to give up the doctor they trust or the health plan they like. If you like your current health care, you can keep it. Fourth, we will make sure that Americans who lose or change jobs can keep their coverage. Americans should not lose their health care simply because they have lost their job. Fifth, we must end barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions. In Kansas and across the country, I have heard painful stories from families who have been denied basic care or offered insurance at astronomical rates because of a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies should no longer have the right to pick and choose. We will not allow these companies to insure only the healthy and leave the sick to suffer. Sixth, we must assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans. The large number of uninsured Americans impose a hidden tax on other citizens as premiums go up, and leaves too many Americans wondering where they will turn if they get sick. A system that leaves millions of Americans on the outside of the doctor’s office looking in is unjustifiable and unsustainable. Seventh, we must make important investments in prevention and wellness. The old adage is true – an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. But for too long, we’ve sunk all our resources into cures and shortchanged prevention. It’s time to make preventing illness and disease the foundation of our health care system. And finally, any reform legislation must take steps to improve patient safety and the quality of care in America. Our country is home to some of the finest, most advanced medicine in the world. But today, healthcare associated infections – infections caught in a hospital or other settings -- are one of the leading causes of death in our nation. 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of these and other medical errors -- more than car accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. These numbers are not acceptable for the world’s richest nation. We must sharply reduce the number of medical errors, keep patients safe and ensure all Americans receive high-quality care. As we work to enact policies that adhere to these principles, the President is committed to hearing from people in communities across the nation and on both sides of the aisle. In March, he held a White House health care forum and several regional forums in places like Michigan, Iowa, Vermont, North Carolina and California. There, bipartisan forums brought together people from all perspectives – across the political spectrum and representing all people with a stake in the system – to focus on solutions. I look forward to continuing this bipartisan process and I am eager to work with this Committee and your colleagues in the House and Senate to deliver the reform we so desperately need. Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this conversation with you and your colleagues. I look forward to taking your questions. Last revised: June 05,2009
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
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--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 12:00 PM
ALERT On the Horn!
Here is the US Perspectiv e on the Horn!
The message is clear! African Union, USA and UN Security Council are all saying this level of terror cannot go on in the Horn.
Where is the action?
Dr B
INTERVIEW-U.S. SAYS ERITREA MUST STOP SOMALIA MEDDLING
Reuters
June 9, 2009
SUE PLEMING* ERITREA PLAYS UNHELPFUL ROLE
* NO SIGN OF BIG ETHIOPIAN PRESENCE IN SOMALIA
WASHINGTON - Eritrea is playing an unhelpful role in nearby Somalia and must cease its actions there if it wants better relations with Washington, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for Africa said on Monday.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson pointed a finger at Eritrea for stoking hostilities in Somalia, whose government is battling militants.
“The role that Eritrea has played most recently has not been particularly helpful in helping to bring about a return to political stability and normalcy there (Somalia),” Carson said in an interview with Reuters.
He accused Eritrea of “aiding and abetting” the movement of arms into Somalia and of supporting the militant Islamist group al Shabaab and its leaders.
Somalia’s government also has accused Eritrea of supporting Islamist militants with planeloads of AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki has denied the allegations, saying U.S. agents were spreading lies.
“We would like very much to have good, normal relations with the government or Eritrea but that is predicated upon Eritrea acting as a responsible citizen in the neighborhood,” Carson said.
“If Eritrea is prepared to be a responsible player in the region and to act responsibly in its governance, then the prospects are good for a better relationship,” he said.
Eritrea’s key rival, Ethiopia, sent thousands of troops into Somalia in 2006 to help topple the Islamist movement holding the capital Mogadishu and most of the south. Those troops pulled out early this year but Ethiopia has kept a heavy border presence to counter any threat from Islamists.
But Western analysts say Ethiopia and Eritrea have been fighting a proxy war in Somalia. The two countries still are bitter over a border conflict in which 70,000 people died.
Last week, Addis Ababa acknowledged its military personnel had been carrying out reconnaissance missions into Somalia but Carson said he had no indication the Ethiopians had returned with any “large combat elements.”
Somalia’s Western-backed transitional government is battling against rival Islamist groups in violence that has swelled the country’s more than 1 million internal refugee population. Aid agencies say 3 million people need urgent food aid in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In addition, Carson said refugee camps in Kenya were overflowing with tens of thousands of Somalis flooding into the north of the country every month.
Kenya is suffering its own political problems, with its coalition government criticized for not tackling corruption or implementing reforms fast enough.
“We are concerned about the slow pace of implementation of the Kofi Annan accords which brought an end to the violence which occurred after the very flawed December 2007 process in Kenya,” Carson said, referring to an agreement brokered by former U.N. chief Annan.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki formed a coalition government with opposition leader Raila Odinga in early 2008 to halt violence after a disputed election.
“If Kenya is to make both political and economic success and gains, it has to move swiftly to resolve these political issues,” Carson said. (Editing by Bill Trott)
Posted on June 9, 2009 at 6:48 am , filed under ERITREA, REGIONAL, SOMALIA, US. Bookmark thePERMALINK. Follow any comments here with the RSS FEED FOR THIS POST. POST A COMMENT or leave a trackback: TRACKBACK URL.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 11:22 AM
Alert!
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
As Ethiopian Airlines is thriving in a very istraught region of the world, see what the other airlines, especially Aeroflot is doing by shipping a merchandize designed to decimate our people.
It is becoming apparent by the day the new terrorists do not want to let even the dead in peace and they are desecrating graveyards!
Just imagine, if they can terrorize graveyards which Somali is going to be spared?
Remember: These goons think they are doing all these to please some demon they call their Sharia and their God.
They have no respect for living and the dead and think they are religious. These are demonic movements of chaos created by uneducated and disengaged youth who get access to these guns.
The Russians are shipping these guns and they are now becomong ideological and religious terrorists.
Can we make these gun dealers accountable? Like Bernie Madoff, some one has to cut into their profit of doom
Who could it be, may be Barack Husein Obama and Hilary Rodham Clinton with the aide of Swhan Hannity?
Who knows, but we need to let the world know these crimes. It is us today and every one tomorrow!
We need to stand up for justice, progress, safety and security of all our global citizens and Somalia deserves attention.
Dr B
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSSP24218220090609
Reuters
June 9, 2009
Ethiopian Airlines says to go ahead with Dreamliner order
KUALA LUMPUR - Ethiopian Airlines will take all 10 of the Boeing (BA.N) 787 Dreamliners it has ordered, its CEO said on Tuesday, and may buy more planes as it sees medium-term growth of 20 percent in revenues and passengers.
The airline ordered 10 Dreamliners which are due for delivery between July 2010 and 2013, and it is considering buying more from 2014 onwards.
"We've started talking to both Boeing and Airbus (EAD.PA) -- it depends who gives us the best price," Chief Executive Girma Wake told Reuters on the sidelines of an airlines meeting, adding that he was also looking at buying other types of planes from next year. (Reporting by Neil Chatterjee; Editing by Sara Webb)
_____________________________________________________________________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8077725.stm
BBC
June 8, 2009
Somali rage at grave desecration
Mohamed Mohamed
The contents of the Sufi graves have been left in the open
Since they began to capture large swathes of southern Somalia, radical Islamists have been undertaking a programme of destroying mosques and the graves of revered religious leaders from the Sufi branch of Islam.
The destruction of non-approved religious sites started last year when they began to knock down an old colonial era church in the town of Kismayo.
Most Somalis are Sufi Muslims, who do not share the strict Saudi Arabian-inspired Wahhabi interpretation of Islam with the hardline al-Shabab group.
The living person can at least defend himself, but the dead cannot... destroying graves is despicable
Mohamed Sheikh
They embrace music, dancing and meditation and are appalled at the desecration of the graves.
But al-Shabab sees things differently.
The group's spokesman in the town of Kismayo, Sheikh Hassan Yaquub, told the BBC Somali Service that his movement considered that the memorials were being worshipped and that this was idolatry - banned by Islam.
"The destruction of graves is not something new: we target graves that are overdecorated and ones used for misleading people.
"We are not aiming at the sheikhs [religious leaders] and their standing in the society, but it is forbidden to make graves into shrines," Mr Yaquub said.
Mosques closed
Grave are being desecrated wherever al-Shabab is in control.
The town of Brave is home to a number of minority groups.
Among them are the Sufi Bravenese, a Bantu group who speak a language unique to their town called Chimbalazi, similar to Swahili.
Many of the graves of their religious leaders have been attacked.
Graveyard caretakers have been arrested and told not to go back to work.
The disappointment and sadness of this community has reached beyond Somalia.
"The people of Brave feel the desecrations of graves are actions against humanity," said Mohamed Sheikh, a Bravenese community leader in Manchester in the north-west of England.
"The Islamists closed the mosques and said no-one could pray at the ones near graveyards - arguing that the prayers performed there could not be proper prayers and would amount to worshiping the graves themselves.
"These people [he avoids mentioning al-Shabab by name] cannot teach us about Islam. Islam reached Brave and all the coastal areas when the religion arrived in East Africa 1,250 to 1,300 years ago.
"The living person can at least defend himself, but the dead cannot. The spirits of the dead deserve respect. Even when we walk near graves we walk slowly, because while the bodies are dead, the spirit is not. Destroying graves is despicable."
Fighting back
There is evidence that the anger is stirring the usually peaceful Sufis to take up arms and fight back against al-Shabab.
Has al-Shabab made a strategic error in antagonising the Sufis?
The umbrella group Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama (Sufi Sects in Somalia) has condemned the actions of what they call the ideology of modern Wahhabism and the desecrations of graves.
They see Wahhabism as foreign and ultimately un-Islamic.
Wahhabism is a branch of Sunni Islam dominant in Saudi Arabia.
It preaches a more literal interpretation of Islam and condemns innovations in Islam and rituals.
It is at the opposite end of the spectrum of Islam to Sufism.
"These radical groups shed Muslim blood every day and they dig out and desecrate our graves. They are funded from outside and their Wahhabi ideology is foreign and must be dealt with," says the group's spokesman Abdirasak Mohamed Al Ash'ari.
The group has now joined forces with the embattled government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, against al-Shabab.
Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama now controls much of the Galgadud Region in Central Somalia after they defeated al-Shabab in a number of battles.
In one of their battles they managed to kill a senior al-Shabab leader.
By antagonising the Sufi groups, al-Shabab may have gone too far.
____________________________________________________________________
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL9101815020090609
Reuters
June 9, 2009
Prices of arms in Mogadishu market
In Mogadishu, prices of guns and ammunition have fallen in recent months due to plentiful supplies from Eritrea and Uganda and the weapons Ethiopian troops left behind when they withdrew, arms dealers say.
Here is a price list for some popular weapons:
Mortars
120 mm - $700 ($55 per mortar bomb)
82 mm - $300 ($25 per bomb)
60 mm - $200 ($18 per bomb)
Anti-aircraft guns (truck mounted)
23 mm - $20,000 ($2.50 per round)
37 mm version also available, but there is currently no ammunition in stock. Other, smaller variants are available for between $4,000 and $5,000, with their rounds quoted at $1 each.
Anti-tank weapons cost $5,000, while a rocket-propelled grenade launcher is quoted at $200, plus $150 per grenade.
Pistols
A new pistol from Yemen is $650, a second-hand one from Russia is $400 and a new American pistol is $700.
A new Belgian pistol is $500 and a new Russian one is $1,000. Rounds cost between $1.50 and $3 each.
Rifles
An Indian-made AK-47 costs $140. Better quality versions from North Korea cost $600 and the Russian original costs $400.
Hand-grenades go for $25 each, landmines $100.
(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 10:32 AM
Dear Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
Here is a very interesting story about the recent call on United Nations sanction by African Union on the Shabia Gang leaders.
Here is their response and it is a very telling story of the Shadow world of terror and counter-terrorism.
We need to be aware, organized and ready always to to protect and preserve the security and prosperity of our people.
The secret is to be informed and be up-to-date all the time!
Dr B
ETHIOPIA: The Shameful AU-IGAD Collusion on Eritrea
Sophia Tesfmariam, Jun 9, 2009
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Print in plain-text
On 24 May 2009, Eritreans around the world were celebrating Eritrea ’s 18th Independence Anniversary with grand carnivals, galas, festivals and more. Jubilant Eritreans were too engrossed to pay attention to other news, least of all news emanating from Africa’s sin city, Addis Ababa , the capital of Ethiopia .
The minority regime in Ethiopia led by the reckless and belligerent Meles Zenawi took this opportunity to launch yet another propaganda campaign against Eritrea . The desperate campaign to link Eritrea with Somalia , specifically the flow of illegal arms into Somalia , and the call for sanctions against Eritrea were echoed by the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD). The regime and its partners are in a panic, the bloody trails lead right back to their own doorsteps.
With the two corrupt and inept regional organizations in tow, the shameless minority regime in Ethiopia is calling for sanctions against Eritrea for not endorsing the third illegitimate Transitional National Government of Somalia led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. These two organizations coordinated their calls for UN actions against Eritrea-calls that came on the eve of Eritrea ’s 18th Independence Anniversary. If they were counting on Eritreans being too busy celebrating to pay attention to their immature gimmicks, they would have been right…if the gamble was to get away with it, they were dead wrong.
So what was all the huffing and puffing coming from the African Union all about? Well, it all began with what Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission said at the IGAD Council of Ministers meeting on Somalia on 20 May 2009. He said:
“…It may be recalled that at your meeting in December 2008, the issue of imposing targeted sanctions against those that were deemed to be undermining the peace process was mooted. This idea has assumed greater relevance than it was at that time.
It is in that light, that I am calling for a full investigation into the matter in order to identify all those individuals and entities involved in the destabilization activities currently taking place in Somalia . This is with a view to facilitating the imposition of appropriate sanctions by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the United Nations Security Council, in accordance with the decisions and resolutions taken by these two bodies…”
Not sure what he means by "This idea has assumed greater relevance". Ping must know that IGAD and the AU need not go far, least of all conduct a full investigation, to identify the culprit here. The only country that has invaded and occupied Somalia is Ethiopia . In addition, Burundi , Djibouti , Ethiopia , Kenya and Uganda are the only countries that have contributed to the mayhem that is Somalia today. This orchestrated call is a poor attempt at cover up and white wash and divert attention from their known and documented crimes in Somalia . The UN Envoy for Somalia has since admitted that while there might be a lot of talk about Eritrea supplying arms to Somalia , there is no hard evidence. Yet the minority regime and its partners in crime continue to disseminate the erroneous reports.
It was fishy from the get go. It was obvious to all independent analysts that the accusations against Eritrea were meant to divert attention away from the US-backed Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia . Back then, there was an orchestrated to link Eritrea with terrorism, with Jendayi E. Frazer and Meles Zenawi leading the smear campaign. To help advance the campaign, a UN Report filled with lies, fabrications and exaggerations was produced. It accused Eritrea of supplying certain factions in Somalia with arms and went to great lengths to implicate Eritrea with certain deliveries, without ever producing any tangible evidence.
Once again I’d like to re-visit the fabricated allegations contained in the July 2007 UN Monitoring Group’s Report on Somalia . Recent deadly developments may shed more light on the conspiracies woven by Jendayi E. Frazer, Meles Zenawi and their hirelings.
AFP in a 12 May 2009 Report “ Africa aid shipped in planes 'used for weapons'” said:
“…The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report that 90 percent of air cargo companies identified in arms trafficking-related reports had been used by UN agencies, European Union and NATO members as well as leading non-governmental organisations to deliver aid …US private security firms hired air cargo carriers and aircraft which have been "involved in the trafficking of arms to militias which the US government have designated 'global terrorists'…
The report cited Dyncorp, a company that provides security services for the US government, as having contracted Aerolift, a firm accused by the UN Security Council in 2006 of being involved in arms trading, to supply weapons to an Islamist militia that controls much of southern Somalia…”
Aerolift? Isn’t that the same company that supposedly sold a plane to Eritrea ? I dug deeper…I went hunting, or is it fishing…My catch led me to Uganda and a 9 March 2009 news item[1] about the crash of a plane heading for Mogadishu. The report said:
“….An Iluyshin-76 four-engine cargo plane with eleven people on board crashed into Lake Victoria after take-off from Uganda 's main airport at 5:14 am Monday. It was chartered by US Dyncorp, which confirmed the crash. There seem to be no survivors… The plane, registration S9-SAB, was operated by an international cargo company located in Russia -- which uses some of the most experienced military pilots in the world -- Aerolift . It was chartered by Dyncorp, the US military and intelligence contractor [CIA], to fly emergency supplies to Somalia …”
Something about that plane kept nagging me and going back through my notes, I found it. The identification given, S9-SAB, was familiar. A quick check revealed that is was the same plane that was supposedly sold to Eritrea by Evgueny Zakharov of Aerolift in July 2006. More on that later
With international arms dealer Victor Bout behind bars in Bangkok, many world leaders are squirming over revelations of his client list, which include the US, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda , Congo and more. Despite the attempts by the UN Monitoring Group and its anonymous informants to link Eritrea with Bout and efforts by the minority regime and its handlers to implicate Eritrea in a dubious transactions with Zakharov and other known associates of Bout, the truth is that Eritrea has absolutely no links with Bout and has never done any business with the notorious arms dealer. So let us go back to the beginning and the UN, State Department and African Union’s collusion on Eritrea .
The UN Monitoring Group for Somalia in its November 2006 report wrote:
“…On 26 July 2006, at 07.45 AM, an Ilyushin aircraft (IL-76) containing an arms shipment for the ICU arrived at Mogadishu International airport…The IL-76 departed from Assab, Eritrea, indicating a flight plan designating a destination of Hargeisa (Somaliland), but the aircraft went to Mogadishu. The IL-76 used the call sign or LFT-1221. The IL-76 has the Kazakhstan flag painted on the tail. The registration number on the fuselage of the aircraft starts with the following pre-fix: UN - which is the code for Kazakhstan …”
In its July 2007 report, the Monitoring Group unabashedly repeated its allegations against Eritrea and again sought to deceive the readers with more “anonymous” informers.:
“…In its previous report (see S/2006/913), the Monitoring Group provided detailed information concerning an IL-76 cargo plane transporting arms and fighters from Eritrea to Mogadishu (paras. 43-53). When presented with the foregoing information by the Monitoring Group, the Government of Eritrea denied that the flights had taken place…During the current mandate, the Monitoring Group obtained a copy of the contract of sale (annex I) of the IL-76 aircraft to a company in Eritrea.
A person intimately familiar with the transaction confirmed the information contained in the previous report of the Group added that the company that had purchased the aircraft was a front for the Eritrean Government. The person also indicated that a down payment of US$ 200,000 had been paid by Eritrean diplomats based in a Gulf country to the seller of the aircraft…”
The Group never identifies the person who is supposed to be familiar with the said transaction. The Group had annexed to the report on Somalia , a “Contract of sale of an IL-76 aircraft to Eriko Enterprise ( Eritrea )”. According to the “Contract”, the buyer is a certain Kelati Haile for Eritrea and the seller is Evgueny Zakharov (of Aerolift Company). According to the Group, Eriko Enterprise was a “front” for the Government of Eritrea and this copy of the “Contract” was supposed to some how prove Eritrean involvement in the arms transport to Somalia .
Why would the Government of Eritrea need a “front company” if it wanted to purchase a plane? Of all the planes available for sale, how did the GoE end up buying the one exact plane that was used by Viktor Bout, and one that the African Union and DynaCorp used until it crashed in March 2009?
In yet another twist to the sordid saga of the Ilyushin 76, Amnesty International in its report about arms trafficking mentions the “transaction” between Aerolift and Eritrea . Let us take a look at Amnesty International’s version of the story…Amnesty wrote about Brian Johnson Thomas, “the journalist” who broke the story in a 18 February 2007 Times article[2], Amnesty wrote:
“…The managing director of Aerolift told a researcher in detail, and with supporting documents (Contract of Sale and Purchase, Registration Certificate, Certificate of Airworthiness and Noise Certificate) how he claims he was deceived by the Eritrean military into allowing ‘his’ aircraft to be used to make at least three clandestine arms deliveries to the Union of Islamic Courts. He stated that early in July 2006, Aerolift was approached by a high ranking officer of the Eritrean Peoples' Defence Force, who offered to pay US$1.5 million for the IL-76TD aircraft, registration UN-76496 (s/n 073410303), which at that time was operated by Aerolift.
Since the aircraft's actual value was in the region of US$1 million, Aerolift accepted the offer, even though the aircraft was not his property, and then contacted the actual owner GST Aero in Tashkent . Aerolift agreed to pay GST Aero US$1.2 million, thus leaving Aerolift with a notional profit of US$300,000…”
In a news item for the Times, Brian Johnson Thomas had identified the high ranking officer of the Eritrean People’s Defence Force as “General Tambi”. Amnesty, and/or the “journalists” want us to believe that Aerolift bought the plane from Victor Bout (owner of GST Aero) and then Eriko Enterprises bought it from Aerolift. Why didn’t Eritrea buy it directly from Viktor Bout and why would Eritrea pay more for the plane than it was worth? It should be recalled that Tambi ended up being a former member of the Monitoring Group appointed by Kofi Annan.
Amnesty has more details not found in the UN Monitoring Group’s Report. Amnesty says:
“…A contract was then drawn up between Aerolift and an Eritrean company called Eriko Enterprise, represented by a Mr Kelati Haile. Unusually, the contract does not specify the payment to be made for the aircraft sale, saying merely "payment conditions will be enclosed with contract forms", but Aerolift says that they received a first, and only, 'progress' payment of US$250,000 on signing the contract in Moscow on 25 July 2006… The aircraft was reportedly delivered to Massawa airport on 25 August 2006, whereupon the representative of the Eritrean military assumed operational control. According to the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority documentation, the aircraft was registered as E3-AAF with registered owner Skyroute Aviation ( Asmara , Eritrea ). So far as Amnesty International is aware, the Eritrean registration E3-AAF was never actually applied to the surface of the aircraft, which remained pure white except for the Kazakhstan registration UN-76496…”
Amnesty International has no presence in Eritrea so how does Amnesty know that the plane was registered in Eritrea ? How did Amnesty International get documents from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority? Considering Amnesty’s close links to the Eritrean Quislings League (EQL), it is possible that they are AI’s anonymous sources.
The “Contract of Sale” attached to the UN Monitoring Groups Report shows that the contract was signed on 21 July 2006 and to make the “evidence” fit the crime, the Contract says that the plane was to be delivered within four days of the signing. That would mean, Eritrea would take possession of the flights around 25 July 2006, just in time to make the 26 July 2006 run from Massawa to Mogadishu . But Amnesty says that plane was delivered to Massawa on the 25 August 2006. If that is the case, how did Eritrea make the flights from Massawa to Mogadishu in July 2006 as reported by the UN Monitoring Group?
The IL-76 is at the center of the accusations against Eritrea and it is supposed to be the most damning part of the UN report and the one accusation against Eritrea that Jendayi E. Frazier was hoping to make stick as she collected her “evidence” against Eritrea. It is also the story that Meles Zenawi’s minority regime and its partners in crime have been peddling in order to implicate Eritrea in their blood drenched theater of war. Turns out, the fabricated story was taken right out of a book about Viktor Bout- “Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Plans, and the Man Who Makes War Possible,” by Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun. On pages 254-255 of the book Farah and Braun write:
“…At the same time as the Lebanon crisis, a group of radical Somali militias operating under the banner of United Islamic Courts seized control of Mogadishu, the battered Somali capital…quickly consolidated their hold over the city's international airport, a crumbling facility nearly abandoned by foreign aircraft over the past decade. Then, on July 26 and again on July 28, exited residents near the airfield streamed outside after hearing a rumbling from the sky. They watched as a droning Ilyushin Il-76, with the flag of Kazakstan painted on its tail, descended from the barren horizon and taxied down the airfield's dusty runway…Journalists were banned from the airport, but several stationed just outside the field managed to snap pictures of the aircraft, using telephoto lenses. The plane's identifying tail number, required by international aviation regulations, had been stripped off, preventing any attempt to learn who was behind the weapons shipments…Within weeks, intelligence officials concluded that the flights were carried out by Bout's air network…”
Once again, in a related article, Douglas Farah on 29 July 2006 writes about that flight:
“…Twice in one week the airport at Mogadishu, Somalia, was the scene of something almost unseen in the past decade-the landing of two large Soviet-era IL-76 cargo planes… On the first flight, the plane was painted with the “UN” markings denoting Kazakhstan registration, with no other identifiers. The second flight may have been the same aircraft, and if not, was a similar Il-76… Hmm, so an unmarked Soviet-built aircraft probably carrying large amounts of weapons, flying to remote airstrips … Kazakhstan registration… Fits a certain M.O. There are not many people in the weapons world who can provide the weapons and the transportation, who know the terrain and the militia leaders…Bout has registered his Reem Air in Kazakstan, including an IL-76, and has flown regularly smaller planes to Somalia in recent times, from Sharjah, UAE…No one else has that kind of track record. Intelligence officials are desperately trying to find any further markers on the aircraft. But if it flies like a duck and quacks like a duck, it just might be a duck…”
Viktor Bout’s adventures in Somalia are well known and many have written about them, including the UN. In addition to Douglas Farah, many others have written about Bout and his illicit activities in Africa and Somalia . In a 9 April 2009 report about the pirates in Somalia , Larry Kelen writes:
“…Security observers have said that the hijackers are working with sophisticated groups involving a cell of former KGB operatives who were part of the Viktor Anatolyevich Bout network. Bout was arrested early last year, but some of his regional net work based out of the port city of Kisamyo , with satellite bases in Marka dealing in small arms and drugs has continued to operate. The same network is blamed for the arms trade in Kenya's capital Nairobi with arms supplied from Bircao and in the far flung south west town of Kalem in South west Ethiopia…”
There is documented proof that Bout has links with Ethiopia , Kenya , Uganda and the US , but he has absolutely none, except the fabricated one, with Eritrea . None of these shameful mercenary regimes, whose hands are drenched with the blood of innocent Somalis and that of their own citizens, have the legal or moral authority to point any fingers at Eritrea. Since the mercenary lot want to point fingers at Eritrea , let’s see how many of those fingers point right back to them. Let us take a look at Bout’s link with the above countries and the mercenary regimes and their sponsors that are responsible for the chaos and destruction in Somalia today.
Kenya
Sanjivan Ruprah, a Kenyan with mining interests in the Congo and Kenya and a notorious arms dealer was Victor Bout’s business partner and both “enjoyed a covert relationship with US Feds”. According to a 2002 UN Report, Sanjivan Ruprah:
“… plays a key role in Liberia ’s airline registry and in the arms trade. Before his involvement in Liberia , Sanjivan Ruprah had mining interests in Kenya , and was associated with Branch Energy ( Kenya ). Branch Energy owned diamond mining rights in Sierra Leone , and introduced the private military company, Executive Outcomes to the government there in 1995… Ruprah was once in charge of an airline in Kenya, Simba Airlines…”
The European Community on Protection of marine life (ECOP) also links Kenya with Bout. It said:
“…Kenya recorded association with maritime trade dates back to the 19th century when the Arabs from Oman established Manda Island 250km north coast of Mombasa as their base and port…The industry has been dogged behind by corruption, tribalism, nepotism and lack of political will. For the past 12 years the government of Kenya has been collecting Ksh.500 million annually from the shippers as merchant shipping levy of cargo interest…It hurts very much to note that this big amount of money has not been accounted for and no one knows its where about…Apart from lack of accountability and transparency the Kenya water ways has been used by international drug barons, human traffickers and the illicit arms dealers such as Victor Bout commonly known as ‘Anatoliyevich’…”
In addition, Alexander Radionov, a known associate of Viktor Bout, is the Kenyan-based representative for the Oregon based company SIMIX Ltm. Mentioned as the person who sold one of Viktor Bout’s planes to Eritrea, the story takes an interesting twist when it is discovered that it was Amnesty’s researcher/ and Times journalists, who posed as a middleman for the UIC[3]. Not sure what Amnesty’s role in the collusion against Eritrea is, but this certainly raises more questions about who else was in on the well orchestrated plot.
Uganda
Viktor Bout, the world's most notorious illegal arms baron who was arrested in Thailand , sold arms to Uganda and illegally used Entebbe International Airport to ship arms to DR Congo and Liberia . A report by the Belgian International Peace Information Service (IPIS) reveals how Bout, with the help of top Ugandan military officers, fueled the conflict in DR Congo, Africa 's vast and mineral-rich country. Belgian researcher Tim Raemaekers reported that in 2002, Culworth Investments (a Bout front company) sold arms to Uganda (machine guns from Slovakia ). There are reports that Bout frequented Kampala during the Congolese civil war and was close to top military officers in the UPDF and the Ugandan President.
Ethiopia and the US
Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun reported in their book about Bout, "Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Plans, and the Man Who Makes War Possible," that both the U.S. military and defense contractors KBR and DynCorp [supporting the African Union in Somalia] had used Bout's services in the aftermath of the Iraq war. Even after President Bush signed an order freezing Bout's assets, the Pentagon continued using his planes, they reported, to get reconstruction supplies into Baghdad . According to Farah and Braun, Bout’s planes flew hundreds of flights from 2003 to 2006, even after his work for the Defense Department was exposed by the Los Angeles Times in its 14 December 2004 article which said:
“…Planes linked to Bout's shadowy network continued to fly into Iraq, according to government records and interviews with officials, despite the Treasury Department freezing his assets in July and placing him on a blacklist for allegedly violating international arms sanctions…Largely under the auspices of the Pentagon, U.S. agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers and the Air Force, and the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, which governed Iraq until last summer, have allowed their private contractors to do business with the Bout network… Four firms linked to the network by the CIA and international investigators have flown into Iraq nearly 200 times on U.S. business…”
Douglas Farah in his book explains that Victor Bout’s activities are well known to US intelligence:
“…We have developed a large body of information of what Mr. Bout's organization is doing" in the Horn of Africa, one U.S. intelligence analyst said. "I am alarmed at what he is doing as it undermines Centcom's counterterrorism strategy in the region…”
A 28 October 2002 report “The Business of War: Making a Killing” from the Center for Public Integrity and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has much to say about Victor Bout and his connections. Here are some of its comments:
· “…the polyglot with personal skills was able to establish working relationships with various African heads of state and rebel leaders – the late Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, Liberian President Charles Taylor, former Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko…”
· “…And his associates – ranging from former U.S. military personnel and Russian officials to African heads of state and organized crime figures – gave him a lengthy list of buyers and sellers with whom to do business. He ran a maze of individuals and companies, which employed some 300 people and owned and operated 40 to 60 aircraft, including the largest private fleet of Antonov cargo planes in the world…”
· “…Bout’s companies shipped vegetables and crayfish from South Africa to Europe, transported United Nations peacekeepers from Pakistan to East Timor, and reportedly assisted the logistics of Operation Restore Hope, the U.S.-led military famine relief effort in Somalia in 1993…”
· “…Bout’s companies had contracts flying in tents, food, and other supplies for US firms working for the US military in Iraq, including a large contract to fly supplies for Kellogg, Brown, and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, the company once run by Vice President Cheney. Bout’s companies also flew for US Air Mobility Command. The US military does not stop hiring and using Bout’s planes until about 2007…”
Apart from his relationship with the Pentagon, I set out to find out more about Victor Bout and his associates. Not surprisingly, I found out that he was not only well known to the State Department, CIA and other US entities, but that Jendayi E. Frazier and Meles Zenawi also knew of him. Turns out Richard K. Orth, the US Defense Attaché in Ethiopia , a close friend of Jendayi E. Frazier, had used Bout to deliver arms to various groups in Africa including Rwanda .
On November 17-19, 2006, a Wayne Madison Report (WMR) contained the following on Richard K. Orth:
“…The arming by the U.S. of both the Ethiopians and Somalis in preparation for war is nothing new. In fact, WMR and this editor have reported extensively on the past and current covert intelligence activities of the U.S. Defense Attache in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , U.S. Army Colonel Richard Orth. He was present in Rwanda the day after U.S.-supplied surface-to-air missiles struck the Rwandan presidential aircraft on April 6, 1994, assassinating the Hutu presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and triggering Rwandan and Zairian/Congolese civil wars that took the lives of over 5 million Africans. Orth, as Defense Attache in Kigali , Rwanda , lorded over the transformation of that country from a French-speaking nation to a U.S. client state with English-speaking refugees from Uganda put in charge. Orth then proceeded to take over as U.S. Defense Attache in Uganda where he cemented the U.S. military presence in that nation. He then moved on to Addis Ababa where, as Defense Attache, he aided Meles Zenawi and helped prepare Ethiopia's incursion into Somalia, bolstered the U.S. military positions in Djibouti and Somaliland, tilted U.S. policy to favor Ethiopia in its border war with Eritrea, coordinated Horn of Africa intelligence activities…”
The Wayne Madison Report in a May 2007 article wrote:
“…Colonel Richard K. Orth is not well-known outside the circles of Africa specialists who have tracked America 's insidious role in some of Africa 's bloodiest civil wars. Orth is what is known in U.S. intelligence circles as an "operations area specialist." He now serves as the U.S. Defense Attache in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he oversees overt and covert U.S. military assistance to the Meles Zenawi regime and Ethiopian-backed groups seeking to overthrow the government of Eritrea and roll back that nation's long-fought independence struggle against Ethiopia…Orth also oversees the joint Ethiopian-U.S. military foray into Somalia as well as at least three secret CIA detention camps in Ethiopia where prisoners, accused of terrorist links, have been rounded up from around the world…In Addis Ababa, Orth has not only provided U.S. military and intelligence support to the Ethiopian dictatorship but has overseen U.S. training of African military units via the Pentagon's Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA)…”
It is clear that Ethiopia , Kenya , Uganda and the US know of and have done business with Viktor Bout. What is also becoming clearer is that the accusations against Eritrea were not only totally false, but that the whole sordid story was fabricated with the help of US intelligence officers and was designed to vilify Eritrea for not agreeing to their dangerous and deadly policies in Somalia. Only those who were in Somalia would know about Viktor Bout and his frequent flights there. Only those with access to Bout and his schedules would know such details. Eritrea , despite the fabricated and erroneous UN Report that claimed there were 2000 Eritrean forces in Somalia , had no presence then, and has no presence now, in Somalia .
It took two years, but the fateful turn of events, the crash of an Ilyushin 76 plane have finally exposed the truth and the US-Ethiopia-AU and IGAD collusion on Eritrea . Africa News reported the following on 23 March 2009
“...It is believed that the Ilyushin-76 plane that crashed at Entebbe Airport a fortnight ago, might have been hit by an Al-Qaida missile. Villagers who saw the plane going down confirmed to reporters on the accident's scene that the plane was indeed in fire when going down. Mr Yevgeniy Zakharov the owner of the ill fated plane told a russian news agency after spending five days in Uganda that evidences on the scene of the crash showed clearly that the cargo plane managed by Ugandan businessman Sam Engola, living Entebbe en route to Somalia was either hit by a rocket from a grenade launcher or a Stinger missile during take-off, when its tanks were virtually full with tonnes of fuel aboard. He supported his arguments by alleging that there was nothing left and all the debris recovered by the divers covered less than six meters by six area ashore...”
The one small item missing from this news report is that the plane is the same plane that the UN Monitoring Group and Meles Zenawi’s mercenaries claim was sold to Eritrea . When did the African Union and DynCorp take possession of the plane? According to the aviation report about the crash of the Ilyushin 76 in Uganda , Aerolift took possession of the plane in 2006 from GST Aero (Viktor Bout’s company) and it remained in its possession until the fateful crash.
The plane was leased to DynCorp at the time of the crash. Is it simply a coincidence that the very same plane ends up with DynCorp and the African Union? If the plane was sold to Eritrea in 2006, how did Aerolift get it back? I bet it was in Aerolift’s possession all along and Eritrea was wrongly framed. I bet there was no sale to Eritrea and I bet the “Contract” that is supposed to show the sale of the Ilyushian 76 to Eritrea is a forged document. The art of forgery and counterfeiting are two things that the minority regime and its mercenaries have perfected.
At this juncture, it behooves Johnnie Carson, the current Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and the Obama Administration and the Justice Department ought to launch a thorough investigation into the conduct of Jendayi Frazier, the former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and all those involved in the campaign to vilify Eritrea . The Obama Administration should review the policy for Somalia and the horn of Africa that has plunged Somalia into the abyss and is threatening to destabilize the entire region.
Finally, African Union and IGAD, the incompetent and crooked regional organizations have long compromised their credibility, neutrality and integrity and can no longer have relevance on matters pertaining to Somalia , or anywhere else in Africa . These two organizations no longer serve the interests of Africa and have become tools for those who want to plunder and pillage Africa ’s vast resources. Africans should come together and create new organizations that can better represent the aspirations and dreams of their people and revoke their memberships in these pathetic entities.
As for mercenary regimes in Burundi , Djibouti , Ethiopia , Kenya and Uganda , pointing their blood drenched fingers at Eritrea is not going to absolve them, or their handlers, of the international crimes and the genocide being committed in Somalia . History and the Somali people will judge them harshly.
The rule of law must prevail over the law of the jungle!
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Africa (African Union) and Ethiopia:
It is apparent that the Horn is likely to be the next taret for the War on Terror and the masterpiece of this tragedy is found in this attached article.
Imagine, the Whole African Union being blamed by a tiny Ethiopian Rengade territory in the hands of well established Mafia who have terrorized the region for more than 40 years.
Now, here is their story how they think they can fool the UN, African Union, Arab League and get away with such crime.
It is interesting to read their version of history and reality that is not compatible with any one in the universe except in the minds of those few hard core criminals.
Here is their version of the Somalia Saga in the 21st century.
Please read on!
[1] http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/268835 accessed 30 May 2009
[2] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1400655.ece accessed on 30 May 2009
[3] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2076015.ece accessed on 30 may 2009
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Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
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--- On Mon, 6/8/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, "Belai FM Habte-Jesus"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com
Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 11:12 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Africa and the Middle East:
Here is a very interesting and rather historic speech by a sitting American Pesident about his vision for a peaceful global world where the security of every citizen is promoted.
This is an excellent piece of political speech to win friends amongst skeptic audience.
The lesson is be direct, of good will and most of all respectful of the people you speak to.
What an excellent lesson for people of the Horn!
Would any body learn or try to look at issues differently? At least BHO is trying his best and his critics from all sides are surfacing to show that even good will can be a dangerous business!
Here is the speech for your review and trusting some one will come up with simliar speech in the Horn.
Who knows, some of us might be inspired by this.! There is hope and Yes We Can in all of us.
Dr B
Obama Calls for Alliances With Muslims (June 5, 2009)
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I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement.
Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate.
The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors.
There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment.
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote,
"The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known.
We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."
Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered,
that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.
This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.
That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support.
We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.
That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims.
Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.
We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."
Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August.
That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.
For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers – for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.
That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them – and all of us – to live up to our responsibilities.
Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation.
But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.
Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.
Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed.
All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.
The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.
It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.
There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all el
ected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.
Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.
Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.
Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.
Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations – including my own – this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities – those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.
This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.
On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.
I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."
The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."
The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.
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Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Tue, 5/12/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 11:38 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethopia:
It is interesting that we have a series of Watch Dogs who report and the series of liberation fronts who terrorize us with high coordination that is unfolding by the day.
It is critical to understnd if these campaigns and and the Egyptian Nile Basin and Red Sea Coast Conflict of Interest have any thing in common?
Historically, Ethiopia had a series of conflicts of interests from the time of the Ethiopian/Egyptian Pharaoh over the control of the Nile River Basin. This conflict has led some Ethiopian Emperors to overtake the whole Nile River Basin as some of the Nubian and Ethiopian Pharaohs had taken the matter into their hands.
Most recently, the Egyptian and Turkish Sultanates had hired US defeated Generals from the Civil War of Abraham Lincoln era to over take the Nile Basin as well as the Red Sea Coast and twice were defeated by Emperor Yohannes and the Gallant General Ras Allula at Gunder etc.
The Egyptians have called on the Turks, the British and the Itlians and even renegade American Generals of the Civil War and always they were defeated because Ethiopia was led by high caliber brilliant Kings and Emperors etc who galvanized the whole population to the rescue.
More recently, there have been calls for Strategic Pre-emptic Action that utilizes the African Union, United Nations and other regional Good Governance Institutions to avert the series of overt and covert terrorists trying to undermine the soveriegnity of Ethiopia and its historic place in the world.
Unfortunately the present day pharoes are fighting the old historic wars with proxies such as Alqaeda, Shabia, AlShabab, and the series of liberation fronts such as OLF, ONLF, Guinbot 7 etc. with highly suphisticated Media campaign groups that range from Amensty International, Genocide Watch and Human Rights Watch who openly attack Ethiopia' image and soveriegnity, so much so some foolish foreign government representatives such as Payne have taken it upon themselves to make it their business to disenfranchise Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia by making undiplomatic and unstateman like terror campaigns officially inviting the above terrorist groups to testify in Congress and set up a base in the United States of America.
This is a different world and Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia have to wake up to the latest series of challenges against the security and wellbeing of people of Ethiopian and African decent all over the world.
Here is an interesting article, where a so called Watch Dog group not appointed by Ethiopians and not recognized by Ethiopian Parliament interferinig in the internal affairs of a soveriegn country and seriously thinks that Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia will take it sitting down and be spectators of their heritage being decimated.
As many in history have learned, these series of neuvo charlatans and mercenaries will learn the hard facts of lives that Patriotic Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia and the USA will not rest until these overt and covert interference in our soverignity are challened ones for all with facts and good govenance that demand transparency and accountability from all.
Please read these two interesting stories and get involved to address them as our Patriotic Heritage demands to stand up with the truth based on peace and prosperity for all.
Make your voices heard and get involved for protecting the Good and fighting evil. It might help to set up African Human Rights Watch to expose the role of these so called international group what they really are by tracking their activities and demanding Good Govenance that is transparency and accountability prevails all the time!
Dr B
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31138
Sudan Tribune
May 12, 2009
Ethiopia blasts report by rights watchdog on arrested opponents
The Ethiopian government dismissed a recently released report by Human Rights Watch in connection with the recent arrest of 40 opposition member suspected of plotting to assassinate top government officials and strategic bombing on public facilities.
The US-based Watchdog in its recent report condemned the mass arrest against 40 members of opposition, "Ginbot 7"as "politically motivated" and "in line of blood relation."
But the Ethiopian government strongly reacted to HRW’s report and blasted it saying ground less and a usual deliberate campaign aimed to defame a nation’s image. "The report by the so-called Human Rights watch is baseless," the Government communications Affairs Bureau said in an Amharic statement issued on Friday.
It said the HRW jeopardized the rule of law in reporting on matters in due process by the country’s court.
"The suspects were put behind bars after it was discovered that they were preparing to assassinate government officials and blow up selected government cities," the statement said, adding the round up took place following an arrest warrant by the court.
"Citizens who violate the country’s law are held accountable, and this process will not be disrupted by fabricated reports and negative campaign aimed at tarnishing the country’s image," the statement added.
The ministry said it was not understood why the rights NGO chose to resort to making hasty statements about the matter while the issue was in due process and in line with national and international legal practices.
The statement accused the human rights watch as an organization engaged in relentlessly attempts of hurting the image of the country.
"The report is a product of one those so called international organizations who in the name of human rights, are engaged in hurting the image of the country." "This kind of unfounded and baseless report made in the midst of the due process is faulty and therefore unacceptable," the statement further said concluding government’s response to the HRW report released on Thursday.
The suspects were first taken to custody on alleged allegation of coup plot but Bereket Simon, Minister for government’s communication last week at a news conference reversed the claims saying plans were not to conduct a coup plot, it was an intent to create havoc by those that he described them as "desperados."
Ethiopia government’s report alleges that Weapons, landmines, and copies of plans were seized during a raid by security forces last month.
Today, suspects have come before court on a second hearing but it is again adjourned for a period of two weeks.
_________________________________________________________
http://en.afrik.com/article15667.html
Afrik
May 8, 2009
Ethiopia - Egypt: A tug of war over the Nile basin
Egypt makes offers but Ethiopia won’t budge
Despite a generous offer made by visiting Egyptian minister of Water Rosources and Irrigation, Dr. Mohamed Nasr Eldin Allam, Ethiopian Minister of Water Resources, Asfaw Dingamo, has stood by his government’s firm stance to continue with its decision to protect the upper riparian (Nile basin) countries. The Ethiopian position seeks to limit Egypt and Sundan’s indiscriminate use of the Nile’s water resource. The Egyptian Minister visited Ethiopia this week.
The Egyptian minister, appointed March 11, 2009, replaces Mahmoud Abu Zeid, who had been criticized for his weak negotiations on Nile issues. Egypt claims his replacement was due to a health related problem. Dr. Mohamed Nasr Eldin Allam, the new minister, is touring Nile riparian countries, a move criticised as lobbying to maintain Egypt’s grip on the Nile basin.
The visiting minister held closed door discussions with top Ethiopian Government officials, including Asfaw Dingamo, Minister of Water Resource. Talking to the press, Mr. Asfaw Dingamo indicated that Dr. Eldin Allam had expressed his country’s (Egypt) willingness to cooperate with Ethiopia and also provide Ethiopian water experts with a high level all-expense-paid training. “We accepted the new Egyptian minister’s offer,” Asfaw said. The training will be conducted by an Egyptian based training institute which offers short term Applied Training Programmes to all Nile countries, and is run by The Nile Basin.
The offer, however, does little to change Ethiopia’s unrelenting position on regulations affecting the subject of Nile sharing since negotiations among all Nile countries began, about a decade ago. The negotiations aim to amend an exclusive 1959 agreement signed between Egypt and Sudan that expressly excluded Ethiopia, despite the country’s 85 per cent contribution to the Nile’s water resource. Ethiopia’s insistence on protecting other riparian countries, while demanding that the Nile sharing programme should be free of any agreements that may prove detrimental to some countries, remains the main bone of contention.
An Ethiopian proposed article that deals with the possibility of water sharing without causing significant harm to other riparian countries has caused negotiating countries to split into two major blocks: Upper riparian countries, consisting of a host of countries under Ethiopia’s leadership including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi; and lower riparian countries, made up of Egypt and Sudan.
The two lower riparian countries, Egypt and Sudan, have indicated that they will not endorse the Ethipian proposed article unless a clause that guarantees that there will be no damage to water security is inserted. However, this clause if accepted, will allow the two countries to continue using the Nile water resource intensively and extensively, experts say. The division has halted the Nile Basin Ministerial Council sponsored negotiation process.
“We explained our stance to the Egyptian Minister and told him to lighten the gloomy negotiations,” Asfaw told Capital.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the current chair of the Nile Council of Ministers, however, Egypt will take over in the month of July, which may give it an opportunity to influence other nations. But before then, a final conference, to be hosted by DRC is expected to highlight a three point proposal that could improve Ethiopia’s position if endorsed by the Nile Basin member countries, Mr. Asfaw said.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; ben@ethiopiafirst.com; admin@aigaforum.com; ethiopian@tecolahagos.com; editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Getwondimu@yaoo.com; helenmullie@yahoo.com; nega@horinfer.com; editor@washingtonpost.com; editor@Washingtontimes.com; editor@hagerfikerradio.com; editor@ethiomedia.com; Editor@Afro.com; editorr@ethiopianreporter.com; editor@ethiopianreview.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:50:06 AM
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia
Here is the Memorial from Ethiopian Peace Corps Volunteers
Scholomo and Charles who continue to enhance and love Ethiopian Cultural and Musical Emperor Tilahun!
I trust North American communities including Bucknell University Economics students will appreciate that Ethiopia is more than what Bonger tells them.
It is a beautiful and rich cultural center with a deep history and civilization not paralleled in any other society.
Here Shlomo and Charlie testify in the rich personal character and contribution of one of its most famous modern son who just slept the other day but continues to mesmerize many music lovers all over the world.
With my respect and appreciation to Tilahun's Memory!
Dr B
Charles Sutton -- usually known as Charlie -- came to Ethiopia with the Peace Corps in 1966.
He was a musician, and even before he arrived, Charlie had discovered Ethiopian music through his Amharic language instructors. He describes the impact of that discovery, which directed his life toward a deep and lasting relationship with Ethiopia, its people -- particularly musicians, and its language, in which his fluency and elegance continue to astonish.
Charlie needs only a brief introduction from me since he will provide the rest himself. His friends and acquaintances know Charlie to be a gracious, warm and generous man, thoughtful and polite to a fault.
He is still a working musician both as a teacher and a performer. In his jazz, Charlie's improvisations reveal the depth to which Ethiopia has entered his soul.
In a recent recording, Charlie played masinko and sang, in Amharic, naturally, with two long-time Ethiopian musician friends. Characteristically, Charlie often directs the proceeds from his CD sales to the Institute for Ethiopian Studies or another deserving beneficiary.
This is the first of a three-part appreciation and reminisence by Charles Sutton about his friend, the supremely gifted singer, Tilahun Gessesse, who passed away on April 19, 2009 in Addis Ababa. All of Ethiopia, and music lovers around the world, are in mourning.
Shlomo Bachrach
Washington DC
May 10, 2009
Oo-oota Ayaskeffam
It has been three weeks since we heard the tragic news of Tilahun's death. I remain stunned by it.
No doubt like many others, I have derived some comfort from the multitude of deeply felt tributes poured out by his family, friends, colleagues, and fans.
Although there is little I can add to these, I still wish to offer in Tilahun's memory my own words of respect, appreciation and love--which I do from my heart.
I am an American. But when an Ethiopian calls Tilahun, as Ahadu Selamu did recently in his moving Aiga Forum eulogy, "just larger than life...Tilahun was a walking history that embodied the narrative of five decades of our lives in his songs," I understand very well what he is talking about. Before I ever saw Ethiopia, I knew instinctively that something of that country's deepest essence had been revealed to me when, 43 years ago, on a warm June night, in the unlikely precincts of Salt Lake City, Utah, I first listened spellbound to Tilahun's voice.
Along with 100 other recent college graduates from all over the United States, I had completed the first day of an intensive three-month Peace Corps training program at the University of Utah that would prepare us to become secondary school teachers in Ethiopia.
We studied TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) under the supervision of a youthful Shlomo Bachrach; Ethiopian history, geography, customs, and culture; and Amharic.
I was assigned, along with four other beginners, to a gifted young teacher named Mengesha, who had his students exchanging gender-and-status-specific greetings and forming elementary sentences in Amharic on the first day of class.
When we were chatting during a break, Mengesha and I found we had something in common: both of us loved music, sang folksongs, and played the guitar. Finally I had found someone who could explain to me what I had been wondering about for months. (In 1966, the Internet, with its vast store of instantaneously available information on every conceivable subject, was still a quarter-century in the future). "Mengesha," I confessed, "I've never heard any Ethiopian music. None at all! What is your music like?"
That evening, on a bulky Norelco portable tape machine in the dormitory common room, I listened with Mengesha to selections from his extensive collection of Ethiopian popular music, contained on large reels of magnetic audiotape he kept in a suitcase.
Though the unfamiliar timbres and modes were strange-sounding at first, I enjoyed everything Mengesha played. There was one song--it had a plaintive minor-key melody made twice as sad by the vocalist's incredibly intense, passionate, and grief-stricken rendition of it--that I loved. It was like nothing I had ever heard in my life and brought tears to my eyes.
"Could we listen to that again?" I asked Mengesha. "Who is that singer? I can't understand what he's singing, but it's breaking my heart."
"That is Tilahun Gessesse, star vocalist with the Imperial Bodyguard Orchestra," Mengesha replied as he obligingly pressed rewind. "Tilahun is a young guy in his twenties, but he's been performing since he was practically a kid, and a lot of people are already calling him our greatest singer."
"I'm not surprised. And what is he singing?"
"The song is called "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam". That means, "There's nothing wrong with crying."
Amharic instructors and Charles performing Tilahun's "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam" during a music show for Peace Corps trainees and staff members at the University of Utah, September 7, 1966.
"Nothing wrong with crying?"
"You see, Charles, you will learn when you get to know us better that we Ethiopians have a tendency to conceal our deepest feelings, to keep them locked up inside us.
And Tilahun is proclaiming that when we suffer the worst anguish of all, separation from or loss of someone we love, we must express our sorrow and let it come out, for that is the only way of easing it, if only just a little."
Mengesha taught me the words to "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam". I worked out arrangements of it on my guitar and accordion. We formed a vocal group and performed the song in a concert of Ethiopian music at the end of the training program.
So began my appreciation of the artistry of Tilahun Gessesse, which grew over the next four decades into reverence and love. I was actually fortunate enough to meet and get to know Tilahun the man, as I will explain when my tribute continues.
Perhaps along with everyone else, I never imagined the day when Tilahun would leave us. But now it has come. Oo-oota Ayaskeffam.
Charles Sutton
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
May 10, 2009
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
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Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; ben@ethiopiafirst.com; admin@aigaforum.com; ethiopian@tecolahagos.com; editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Getwondimu@yaoo.com; helenmullie@yahoo.com; nega@horinfer.com; editor@washingtonpost.com; editor@Washingtontimes.com; editor@hagerfikerradio.com; editor@ethiomedia.com; Editor@Afro.com; editorr@ethiopianreporter.com; editor@ethiopianreview.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:02:12 PM
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
Dear Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Here is some Good News that Bucknell University Economists should teach their students and not alleged terror and support for terror!
Addis Ababa, April4: The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) disclosed that the integrated utilization of the various development assistance secured from donor groups in Ethiopia is well in progress.
State Minister of MoFED, Ahimed Shide Mohammed, told WIC that the utilization of the funds of the development assistance secured from various donor groups is being carried out in line with the development program designed by the Ethiopian government.
Despite the economic instability various countries are experiencing amid the global financial slow down, development partners are releasing the financial support in accordance with their earlier promises, he said,
The financial support being obtained from the development partners is being spent on expansion of infrastructure facilities, rural development as well as provision of basic service facilities, the state minister said.
The state minister pointed out that more that 40 countries including the World Bank (WB), European Union, Britain, Japan and Germany are among development partners of Ethiopia, adding, that the country’s bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the countries and the international organizations is getting stronger over time.
Some 6.9 million birr was secured through the tripartite scheme over the last six months for the implementation of various development projects and programs here, the state minister said, adding that this year’s financial assistance exceeds that of last year’s same time by 83 per cent.
Moreover, some 9.7 million birr fund was secured through the government to government financial support scheme, adding that this also exceeds that of last year’s by 63 per cent than that of last year same time.
The state minister also indicated that the financial assistance from donor countries is also increasing both in its quantity and type, while it is expected to increase in the years to come.
According to the state minister, among African countries Ethiopia comes first for its effective and integrated utilization of various development assistances it is obtaining from donor groups.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; ben@ethiopiafirst.com; admin@aigaforum.com; ethiopian@tecolahagos.com; editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Getwondimu@yaoo.com; helenmullie@yahoo.com; nega@horinfer.com; editor@washingtonpost.com; editor@Washingtontimes.com; editor@hagerfikerradio.com; editor@ethiomedia.com; Editor@Afro.com; editorr@ethiopianreporter.com; editor@ethiopianreview.com
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 11:15:16 AM
Subject: Re: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Ethiopia has been at the fore front of Counter-terrorism efforts for millennia, be it in the Red Sea region, Gulf of Aden or Indian Ocean as well as the Miditerranean Seas.
The recent develpments in the Horn both on land and see are being reviewed by the international community with vigilance, especially after the successful operation to release Captian Philips Richards by the Special Navy Seal Commandoes.
Another Urban terrorists have been in operation from Pennsylvania, Berkenel University and London England and we have a very serious challenge in the Horn.
We were exploring for some time, how the US can deport some of the hard core criminals who have misrepresented themselves and got US Refuggee status and even citizenship and continue to master mind a serious Terrorist Sleeper Cells which grave consecquences.
Can the US be challenged to respect its own laws about terrorists? Here is the law and if the Justice Department cannot implement it, then citizens have to encourage it to do its job, that is implement the US legal system.
As we are reviewing the Torture Memos of the last administration, perhaps we should also review past administration policies of giving refugee and citizenship to known criminals and terrorists through out history and especially the recent case of a part time visiting professor of Economics at Berkenel University n Pennsylvania.
Here is what the law say and let us see how the US Jistice Department will react to it.
Dr B
Immigration and Nationality Act Section212
Fact Sheet
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Washington, DC
April 8, 2008
Return to Foreign Terrorist Organization factsheet.
Section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) defines "terrorist activity" to mean: any activity which is unlawful under the laws of the place where it is committed (or which, if committed in the United States, would be unlawful under the laws of the United States or any State) and which involves any of the following:
(I) The highjacking or sabotage of any conveyance (including an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle).
(II) The seizing or detaining, and threatening to kill, injure, or continue to detain, another individual in order to compel a third person (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the individual seized or detained.
(III) A violent attack upon an internationally protected person (as defined in section 1116(b)(4) of title 18, United States Code) or upon the liberty of such a person.
(IV) An assassination.
(V) The use of any--
(a) biological agent, chemical agent, or nuclear weapon or device, or
(b) explosive, firearm, or other weapon or dangerous device (other than for mere personal monetary gain), with intent to endanger, directly or indirectly, the safety of one or more individuals or to cause substantial damage to property.
(VI) A threat, attempt, or conspiracy to do any of the foregoing.
Other pertinent portions of section 212(a)(3)(B) are set forth below:
(iv) Engage in Terrorist Activity Defined
As used in this chapter [chapter 8 of the INA], the term '"ngage in terrorist activity" means in an individual capacity or as a member of an organization–
to commit or to incite to commit, under circumstances indicating an intention to cause death or serious bodily injury, a terrorist activity;
to prepare or plan a terrorist activity;
to gather information on potential targets for terrorist activity;
to solicit funds or other things of value for–
(aa) a terrorist activity;
(bb) a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
(cc) a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(III), unless the solicitor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the solicitation would further the organization’s terrorist activity;
I. to solicit any individual–
(aa) to engage in conduce otherwise described in this clause;
(bb) for membership in terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
(cc) for membership in a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(III), unless the solicitor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the solicitation would further the organization’s terrorist activity; or
II. to commit an act that the actor knows, or reasonably should know, affords material support, including a safe house, transportation, communications, funds, transfer of funds or other material financial benefit, false documentation or identification, weapons (including chemical, biological, or radiological weapons), explosives, or training–
(aa) for the commission of a terrorist activity;
(bb) to any individual who the actor knows, or reasonably should know, has committed or plans to commit a terrorist activity;
(cc) to a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
(dd) to a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(III), unless the actor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the act would further the organization’s terrorist activity.
This clause shall not apply to any material support the alien afforded to an organization or individual that has committed terrorist activity, if the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General, or the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretary of State, concludes in his sole unreviewable discretion, that that this clause should not apply.
(v) Representative Defined
As used in this paragraph, the term "representative" includes an officer, official, or spokesman of an organization, and any person who directs, counsels, commands, or induces an organization or its members to engage in terrorist activity.
i. Terrorist Organization Defined
As used in clause (i)(VI) and clause (iv), the term "terrorist organization" means an organization--
I. designated under section 219 [8 U.S.C. § 1189];
II. otherwise designated, upon publication in the Federal Register, by the Secretary of State in consultation with or upon the request of the Attorney General, as a terrorist organization, after finding that the organization engages in the activities described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (iv), or that the organization provides material support to further terrorist activity; or
III. that is a group of two or more individuals, whether organized or not, which engages in the activities described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (iv).
For more information, see Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Return to Foreign Terrorist Organization factsheet.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; Ben EthiopiaFirst
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Wondimu Asamenew
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 10:21:50 AM
Subject: Re: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
As you were being humoured by the Europeans on how to make Euro-English the language of the future, here is the story of the Assassinations attempt from a group that educateds Burnknel students on how best to be Economic Terrorists.
Unfortunately Betnachew does not have that opportunity as the BBC would perhaps milk the last drop of grey cells of terror left in him. All the same we need to protect the Burknell students from these criminals.
This is the latest story on the neuvo urban terrorists by remote control!
Dr B
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090501/wl_africa_afp/ethiopiaoppositionmilitarycrime
AFP/Yahoo
May 1, 2009
Senior Ethiopia officers "plotted assassinations"
Then opposition leader Berhanu Nega pictured in Addis Ababa in 2005. Senior military officers in Ethiopia, …
ADDIS ABABA – Senior military officers in Ethiopia, including a general, had plotted to assassinate top government officials, Communications Minister Bereket Simon said Friday, adding that 40 people were under arrest.
"While six of the suspects were army officers on active duty, including one general, 34 of the suspects were ex-army men expelled from the army on grounds of misconduct," he told a press conference.
Bereket said the plotters belonged to the Ginbot 7 (May 15) opposition group, saying it was linked to the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) headed by Berhanu Nega, currently living in the United States.
He said the government believed that the "desperado" group was not planning to stage a coup, but intended "assassinating individuals, high ranking government officials and destroying some public facilities and utilities ... like telecom services and electricity utilities.
"The police have also found evidence implicating some ex-CUD members released on pardon. With the exception of some three or four of the desperado group who are still at large, the police have arrested almost all members of the conspiracy.
"
Berekt told AFP the government knew about the plot from its inception, adding, "If there had been laxity from the government, there would have been problems."
The mass arrests were reported on Sunday by state media, which said the National Security Taskforce had also found weapons including bombs, computers and communications equipment, military uniforms and documents.
The CUD won an unprecedented number of seats in the May 15, 2005 elections, which the European Union and other observers said fell short of international standards.
Around 200 people died in violence that erupted after the CUD accused the party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of rigging the ballot.
Berhanu, 51, currently a university professor in the United States, was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in the polls. He was subsequently jailed for two years along with other leaders of the CUD, and left the country after his release.
Ethiopia's next general election is scheduled to be held in June 2010.
In a statement on its website following the initial reports of arrests Ginbot 7 said it "has no desire to engage in a tit-for-tat with the dictators in Addis Ababa, nor the time to waste replying to baseless accusations by a regime that rules Ethiopia by the barrel of the gun."
"Ginbot 7 remains committed to work for the establishment of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Ethiopia. No amount of scurrilous accusations, threats or blackmail by the regime will deter us from pursuing the cause of democracy and freedom," it added.
Oh! Assasinations and terror are the building blocks of democracy, these Zombies need help! I believe Bonger should follow Aweys and go back to Kaliti and meet his constituents!
Read below the example from Somalia, his terror mate
___________________________________________________________________
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSLU142426._CH_.2400
Reuters
May 1, 2009
INTERVIEW-Somali govt sees peace role for opposition ' s Aweys Abdiaziz Hassan
NAIROBI, May 1 (Reuters) - Somalia ' s hardline opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has an important role to play in restoring security to the country after 18 years of ruinous civil war, a government minister said.
Aweys, who is on the U.S. terrorism list for alleged links to al Qaeda, returned to the Horn of Africa nation last week in his first known trip home in more than two years.
He is an influential figure for many of the Islamist rebels fighting the new government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed -- who was Aweys ' former partner in the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) that ruled the capital and much of the south in 2 006.
Despite Aweys ' calls for African Union (AU) forces to leave, some analysts say exile may have mellowed him, and that he could still prove to be an important mediator with insurgents.
Aweys moved to Eritrea after Ethiopian forces chased his sharia courts group out of Mogadishu at the start of 2 007. In a Reuters interview late on Thursday, Somali Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar said a lot had changed since then.
"He has been away some time and major developments have taken place in the country. He left because of an issue that has been resolved. Ethiopian troops have withdrawn," Omaar said.
"Aweys is an elder and a historical figure in Somalia . I believe he has a responsibility for the wellbeing and progress of the Somali people, especially the women and children who are most affected by the war."
After leading the ICU until Addis Ababa ' s offensive, Aweys and Ahmed later split, with Aweys taking over the Asmara-based Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia from Ahmed, who was elected president early this year at U.N.-led talks in Djibouti .
Last week, donors agreed to give at least $ 2 13 million to help Somalia strengthen its security forces and also fund the small AU mission AMISOM over the next year. [ID:nLN86947]
Omaar said the amount pledged was a clear sign of broad global support, and that all of it would be spent transparently. Ahmed ' s administration is the 15th attempt since 1991 to set up a functioning central government for Somalia
"This time, the international community sees that we ' re serious and reliable ... I believe we have crossed that bridge," the foreign minister said during a visit to neighbouring Kenya .
"We will establish joint committees of donors and the government to deliver, supervise and manage the money. Systems that satisfy everybody will be established." (Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Jack Kimball)
____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSgUj_A-akAcFMRboCJf3Fg5d0TA
AFP
April 30, 2009
Canadian detained in Ethiopia to defend terror charges
ADDIS ABABA — A Canadian man facing terrorism-related charges in Ethiopia and in detention since 2006 will take the defence stand next month, a judge said on Thursday.
Bashir Makhtal, an Ethiopian-born Canadian citizen, is accused of inciting rebellion by aiding and abetting armed opposition groups in Ethiopia and being a senior member of a rebel group.
"The accused should now prepare his defence for next hearing on May 26," said Adam Ibrahim. Bonger can do the same at Kaliti where his real constituents are, Brecknel University students are just a distraction!
The 40-year-old, who has denied the charges, is also accused of supporting Somalia's Islamist movement ousted by Ethiopian forces in early 2007 when they intervened in the neighbouring country to prop up its embattled government.
Mukhtal was among some 150 people detained by Kenyan forces in 2006 on the border with Somalia as they fled the Ethiopian onslaught on the Islamists.
The trial has been postponed several times this year due to prosecutors' failure to provide witnesses.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; Ben EthiopiaFirst
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Wondimu Asamenew
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 10:04:42 AM
Subject: Re: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Re: Managing Conflicts of Interests the European way and lessons for Horn Terrorists and Revolutinaries.
On the lighter side, I thought as this space is going to be busy in the coming few weeks as the 35 Potential Terrorists are broght to court and we here their wonderful and productive association with Betnachew and Bonger, I felt it will be helpful how to manage our frstration by having some interesting story from the Europeans.
Please take it, but take it easy as life is rather tough. We will update you the latest developments on the Neuvo-terrorists as information becomes available. In the mean time, here is some fun and great lesson in negotiations.
Dr B
Read slowly And carefully... .
he European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English. "
In the first year, "S" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.
The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "O" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer , ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi TU understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Sultan R
To: EthioForum Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:57:37 PM
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Why is this fool tolerated on this forum?
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:14:50 -0700
From: globalbelai@yahoo.com
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
The Ethiopians and Russians are getting smarter catching the terrorists before they can act. I hope the US will do the same in Taliban land in Afghan and Pakistan Border!
As we watched President Barack Obama Report on his first 100 days, I could not help but be impressed by the intelligence, wit and deliberative and thinking president the US is blessed with.
I was forced to scan the universe and could not help but focus on the Horn, where people with the same genetic pool as the US President (Kenya and Ethiopia Borders) could not manage their affairs as he does in such clear and intelligent way.
He was so clear as he addressed the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic as well as the global climate change, the Economic Crisis, the Republican Crisis and welcoming the independent Senator Arlene Specter, and the future green economy, etc. and the Taliban and Betnachew type of Global Terror!
It is so amazing how people can be so intelligent but humble, so wise but simle, so great but respectful of their audience and the general public.
I then managed to review the Betnachew web site at www.Guinbot7.org and remembered the weekened interview by Apiring Terrorist Bonger, and felt, is this the same planet?
Such humility and intelligence wrapped around one man! He is from the Horn as are the Betnachews and Bongers are but he spent his early youth time in schools and colleges and not in the Mountains of Dedebit or the streets of Merkato terrorizing his own people.
That is the greatest difference, between three sets of people who hail from the Great Genetic Pool of the Horn people but whose outlook and foturnes are so different.
Can the Horn and Ethiopia create another HIM and Barack. I could not help but be amazed when I saw Barack quote straight from the Sermon on the Mount the same verses HIM quoted at the introduction of His book, My life and Ethiopia's progress.
Yet the same Bonger was heared just few years ago before he left for Ethiopia at the East West Highway Library in Silver Spring Maryland, the main cause of Ethiopia's problem is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Gospel of Christ. I walked out of the meeting by declaring you are a fool, Ethiopia will always respect its faith and you will be part of the dust bin of communist history. Now after almost 5 years, this fool converted into a potential terrorist and joined the camps of failed communists in the West.
What a shame!
Let us say, the majority children in the Horn by the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden did not see any thing but the tail of Camels all their lives and therefore we cannot expect any thing better than piracy and urban terror as Betnachew and Bonger have declared at www.guinbot.org. But, what do you say about Betnachew and Bonger who had all the opportunity to be educated and contributing members of humanity like Barack but decided to follow the tails of terror like their cousins in Somalia, Yemen, Egypt, Eritrea (Osaman, Ayman and Aweye and Afeworki) are engaged in.
Why did Bonger and Betnachew choose the terrorist route? This is a PhD student for future children of the Horn, especially the Merkato and Dedebit Neighborhood where these delinquents spent most of their creaative youth
I could not help but compare the compassion and intelligence when he was asked what surpirsed, humbled and endeared him and what would he cherish in the first 100 days, and then I listen to the Foolish Bonger and Betnachew regurgitating hate filled out of date and rather criminal language.
There you have it is not the Genuius Genes of the Horn that you see on Barack that matter but who your friends are and how you spend your time.
Imaine Bonger listening to Barack and saying, Please Bararck starve my people, and then Betnachew saying please Gordon, do not send help to my people, I would like to see them starve now so that I can then come back to you and feed them at their death bed.
This is such a great tragedy of the 21st Century, where the country of HIM, Menelik and Yohannes is now being cajoled to disaster by the Betnachews and Bongers of this world.
Please read on
Dr B
Could we generate more Baracks in the Horn and put all the Bongers and Betnachews in the dust hip of history!
That is my wish and I trust the wishes of all people of the Horn!
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/04/28/4152319.htm
Sudan Tribune/McClatchey Information Services, France/US
April 28, 2009
BRIEF: Ethiopia's 35 accused appear in court
ADDIS ABABA, Apr 28, 2009 (Sudan Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Some 35 Ethiopian, suspected of plotting to commit subversive activities against the government, were brought before the court on Monday.
Ethiopian security services said the terrorist group, which is led by Dr. Berhanu Nega, has declared an armed struggle to dismantle the national constitutional system through force.
The authorities, who detained them on Friday April 24, say they found in their houses weapons, explosives, communications tools and army uniforms.
The security service today requested the judge to allow them more time to finalize their investigations. A period of 14 days has been granted by the judges.
The police said they had been closely monitoring the activities of the members of the "terror network" which encompasses soldiers and civilians working in government ministries.
____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.telegraph..co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/ethiopia/5243280/Ethiopia-PM-warns-anti-hunger-effort-at-risk.html
Telegraph, UK
April 29, 2009
Ethiopia PM warns anti-hunger effort at risk
Ethiopia's prime minister has warned that a British-backed effort to stave off starvation in the country is in danger of collapse without a dramatic increase in international aid.
Damien McElroy
Meles Zenawi, the strongman who has ruled the African republic for 18 years, represented Africa at the G20 summit in London last month. He led calls from African countries on international officials that met in Washington last weekend to quickly hand out the $500 billion (£342 billion) pledged in London for developing countries.
"The economic downturn means there is no cash to give more support to the vulnerable," he told The Daily Telegraph at his offices in Addis Ababa.
"We need the global economy to pick up and the resources promised at the G20 from the IMF to be made be available immediately to help with the balance of payment problems many African countries like ours are facing."
Mr Meles has played a key role for Western governments, most notably as a member alongside the singer and campaigner Bob Geldof, of Tony Blair's Commission for Africa.
The G20 has further entrenched his role as Africa's spokesman. Mr Meles has said that some African countries "could go under" as a result of the global downturn. He pointed to a foreign exchange crunch in Ethiopia and the troubles caused by a halving of economic growth as Africa suffers from the global recession.
Asked about the parlous state of Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Programme - which receives £25 million a year from Whitehall - Mr Meles said that "it is in a more serious situation".
The half-cash, half-food scheme supports 7.2 million Ethiopians on the brink of starvation. But after five years the programme has fallen short of its original aim of helping millions escape from dependency on hand-outs.
A spokesman for the Department of International Development (DFID) in London said that it had demanded a "rapid payout" for Ethiopia and other distressed economies at the summit.
Officials believe the Ethiopian programme needs a drastic overhaul even if it survives the crisis. Just three per cent of recipients have been weaned off assistance, far short of the 50 percent hoped for when the scheme was launched in 2003.
"The government has been too optimistic," said Melakamnesh Alemu, a DFID adviser on the scheme. "We need to design the system to respond to a major shock."
Andrew Mitchell, the Conservatives' international aid spokesman, said that Ethiopia must be pressed to reform its economy as well.
"We in the West will not allow Ethiopians to face mass starvation again but at the same time Ethiopia is not doing enough free up its internal market to create jobs and livelihoods that would provide long-term security and prosperity," he said.
Ethiopia is the third largest recipient of British overseas aid. Relations with Addis Ababa were damaged by a violent response to pro-democracy demonstrators in 2005 and obstruction to international famine relief efforts last year.
The enhanced global role undertaken by Mr Meles has emboldened the 54-year old ex-guerrilla to grab more control of the Ethiopian economy. In recent weeks the government has seized the country's "Black Gold" - the coffee crop - from private merchants. Coffee traders have been threatened with prosecution for hoarding by holding back stock sales in the hope that the price would rise.
A foreign aid worker in Addis Ababa said: "Meles was a star at G20. He is still put as an example of success in Africa. He's pretty confident of what he can get away with as a result."
The long-serving leader has hinted he will hand over to a successor after a general election next year. Mr Meles rejected a suggestion that he had failed to entrench democracy while conditions were stable and the economy was logging robust growth.
"I disagree with the premise. I have done a lot for democracy and the elections will be free, fair and transparent," he said.
"When I withdraw, the system and the constitution will continue - it is a given."
_________________________________________________________________________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8023951.stm
BBC
April 28, 2009
Russia captures Somalia pirates
International navies have been moving to arrest suspected pirates
A Russian warship has seized a pirate vessel with 29 people on board off the Somali coast, Russian news reports say.
Guns and navigation equipment were found during a search of the pirate boat, officials were quoted as saying.
They said the suspected pirates were thought to have launched two unsuccessful attacks against a tanker with a Russian crew. Russia is one of the countries that has deployed naval ships against pirates operating in the area. Navies from Nato, the EU, Japan, China, India, Yemen, US Malaysia and Singapore have also been patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
However, the number of attacks has continued to rise.
Somali pirates have hijacked 25 vessels since the beginning of this year and are holding more than 260 crew around the stronghold of Eyl in northern Somalia, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
Naval patrols have captured pirates on a number of occasions.. Some have been put on trial in Kenya, while France has charged three suspected pirates and a Somali teenager is facing trial in the US.
Earlier on Tuesday, regional leaders in Somalia's northern Puntland region told the BBC they have put together a militia of fishermen to catch pirates.
Twelve armed pirates in two boats have been captured by the vigilante groups, they said
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Dawit Yohannis
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 4:06:39 PM
Subject: Fw: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia
Re: Ethiopia should initiate its own Internatinal Court of Justice
Let B Bonger be the first candidate to be prosecuted with all the loony terrorists in Ogaden and Alshabab, Shabia and OLF.
We have enough cases to keep the Addis International court of Justice busy as we can add the Terrorist Watch Group too who are busy fanning the potential terrorist activities.
Thee is a popular request from Patriotic Global Citizens for Ethiopia to house such International Court of Justice Against Global Terrorists!
A Popular request to get all cracked up terrrorist addicts masquerading as University Professors deported too! Guilt by facts as described at www.guinbot.org and etv and waltainformation and as reported by the BBC, VOA and all international media.
We do not need to revert to CIA reditioning, but to protect the sanctity of our people and governance, every thing is possible to get the Bongers to Kaliti International Court of Justice!
Here is an excellent justification why President Barack Obama should send Bonger and Tsigie to Addis as early as possible! Remember President Bush was able to send Kelbesa Negao, the Butcher of Addis and the Potential Butcher of Merkato should see his people in Addis Court!
U.S. Should Deport Dr. Berhanu Nega
Adal Isaw
adalisaw@yahoo.com
April 27, 2009.
Terrorism is “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” This definition of terrorism is neither EPRDF’s nor Premier Meles Zenawi’s. It’s the definition of the U.S. State Department of Defense- a part of the executive branch of the American government, which the few and vociferous violent prone Ethiopian Diaspora love to solicit with deceit.
The unfolding of the recent terrorist plot in a civil manner is a testament to arduous and efficient democratic governance in Ethiopia. A government that adheres to the rule of law under the Constitution is truly alive, where similar plot two decades ago would have been dealt with deadly force head on. A country that bore a fascist regime which levied the price of a bullet on a grieving mother is now endowed with a government that justly treats the treasonous elements of its citizens for the sake of exacting the rule of law.
Not by our choosing, our country sits in the Horn of Africa-arguably one of the roughest neighborhoods in the world. Abutted by a rogue one-man state of Eritrea that exacerbates conflicts through out the region and a failed state of Somalia, it is extremely self-defeating for few of our citizens to choose a terrorist route to force a political change of their inkling. As is, we Ethiopians have handful detractors of states and non state actors, such as Egypt, Libya, the one-man state of Eritrea, and others helping Al-quaeda and Al-shebaab to curtail our development as a people; enough is enough.
Our livelihood should not again be jeopardized under the same political ploy of the likes of Ginbot 7. Those nations with interest, especially the U.S. and European Union should take a serious note to amend their diplomatic engagements, to completely and absolutely disassociate themselves from the violent prone Ethiopian Diaspora. U.S. and the European Union should come to terms and realize that the vociferous Ethiopian Diaspora is the basket case of intolerance and backward thinking. In cases of those Diaspora leaders who are openly advocating for violent means, the U.S. and European Union should deport persons of interest as soon as possible. In regards to this matter, the U.S. should take the lead for it has a compelling interest to keep in so doing.
The Ethio-American diplomatic engagement is dictated by U.S.’s counter terrorism plan and it is a must for the authorities in the State Department to look into this matter quickly and forward the name(s) to Department of Homeland Security for deportation. The persons of interest includes Dr. Berhanu Nega and the evidence is everywhere for documentation.
Consider what BBC World News documented on April 25, 2009: “…one of the most charismatic opposition figures at the time of the last elections in Ethiopia in 2005 and if all had gone well he would have become mayor of Addis Ababa. But he was arrested along with other prominent opposition figures and tried for treason, sentenced to life imprisonment, then pardoned and released. Along with several of his colleagues he travelled abroad after his release, but while most of the others have returned to Ethiopia and are now organizing themselves as a legitimate opposition party to fight next year's elections, Dr. Berhanu chose to stay in the US, saying that the situation in Ethiopia was such that the government could not be changed by constitutional means.”
It is thus public knowledge that Dr. Berhanu has convinced himself and his followers to pursue a terrorist plot in lieu of adhering to the democratic processes set forth for political contest under the Constitution of FDRE. It is also very apparent that, Dr. Berhanu’s choice of a violent route by forsaking an established democratic process in and it self fits the State Department’s definition of terrorism. The U.S. State Department of Defense should thus make good on its own definition of terrorism and forward the case of Dr. Berhanu Nega and his cohorts to D.H.S for deportation.
Dr Berhanu Nega is the lead person of interest for the simple fact that the recent terrorist plot in Ethiopia is his brain child, and the evidences can be compiled from several news articles and other ample sources. In fact, his self-incriminating depositions without oath can be found at ease in arrays. This is not at all a trial to draw guilt by association but a trial to find justice for an apparent criminal intent by Dr. Berhanu Nega, to unlawfully coerce and intimidate a government and its people to exact his political and ideological inkling. His deed is criminal and is defined as terrorism by whom else but by the U.S. State Department of Defense, which should make good on its own definition and recommend to D.H.S for the deportation of Dr. Berhanu Nega.
The U.S. should not be an adobe for violence prone individuals of the likes of Dr. Berhanu Nega. After all, under U.S. Code 1227, section (4), subsection (I), in reference to deportable aliens, an alien whose presence or activities in the U.S. the secretary of the State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences is deportable. The State Department should pursue the deportation process for Dr. Berhanu Nega sooner than later if it really wants to keep the Ethio-American counter-terrorism alliance as effective as it has been.
Ethiopia’s endurance will continue!!!
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: "arayaamsalu@aol.com"
To: EthioForum Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:57:48 AM
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Belai,
You are cracking me up! A very good case of many an Ethiopian saying " etc. I can pick anyone of these and make my point about you man.
Whose fault is it that the aging parents are jailed? Berhanu and Andagatchew's or the governments? Let me humour you for a minute and go along, the two sons are criminals (let me agree with EPRDF innocent till proven guilty is overrated), then what has that got to do with the old parents being dragged to jail? Do these people have basic rights as citizens?Have you heard of the basics of rule of law, such as no guilt by association?
BTW I hate comparisons, but a friend pointed to me this is even worse than Dergue. You see even the Dergue did not jail Ato Zenawi Asres even when it knew Meles Zenawi was the leader of TPLF.
Araya
-----Original Message-----
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum Mailing List
Sent: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:24 pm
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Does Bucknell University kno w what we know? Does BBC and British Government know what we know?
Imagine a generation that puts its fathers into jail, not once, but twice and three times
What a curse, this is? My sympathy goes out to all those mothers who collected the Placenta instead of the real babies during the horrific days of the Derg that allows this level of evil to be unleashed among our people.
When will this evil stop? Please read below a sad saga of the Coward terrorists hiding in the US and London and allowing their parents untold misery.
My condolances for our elederly being pushed around at such Senior year when they should be enjoying their grandchildren's success!< /SPAN>
Imagine any Government in the Universe that accpets any group that is trying to get rid of it by any thing possible including Violence. This is basic abc of Governance1 Try it here in the White House or British Parliament, Bonger and Tsegie and see what you will get1
Is is so shameful to see such level of stupidity unfolding infront of the world from Ethiopia!
Watch this space, more will come! The tragedy is we need intelligent politicians who can learn from Barack Obama's 4 years campaign and 100 days of Governance.
Imagine the mother of Good Governance having such violent chaotic children wanting chaos for their families by hidign themselves in Pensylvania and London!
Watch this space, more interesting things will unfold
Dr B
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-27-voa53.cfm
VOA
April 27, 2009
=0 D
Kin of Exiled Ethiopian Opposition Leaders Charged in Coup Plot
Peter Heinlein
Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi (File Photo)
Relatives of two prominent exiled Ethiopian politicians are among 35 people jailed in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government. Ethiopians shocked by news of the arrests are scrambling to learn the identities of the accused plotters and details of their alleged crimes.
Ethiopian officials say they had nothing to add to a statement issued Saturday announcing the arrest of 35 alleged members of Ginbot Seven, an opposition group based outside the country.
Ginbot Seven, or May 15th, is the date of Ethiopia's disputed 2005 election. The group's leader, Berhanu Nega, is a charismatic politician who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in that election. He was arr ested afterward, convicted of treason, and sentenced to life in prison along with more than 100 other opposition leaders. All were later pardoned.
Berhanu now lives in the United States, where he is an economics professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
Saturday's government statement said security forces had foiled a terror network formed by Berhanu to wage armed struggle against the government. Spokesman Ermias Legesse said a search of suspects' homes had revealed a cache of weapons, military uniforms and a plan of attack.
In a telephone interview Monday, Berhanu confirmed that Ginbot Seven's aim is to overthrow the government by any means possible.
"Our position is very clear from the beginning. This is an illegal government. This government is in power by coup de etat in 2005. This government has usurped power by force and therefore any mechanism to get rid of an illegitimate tyranny is legitimate as far as we are concerned," he said.
Ethiopian media sa id those arrested included an active duty army general, Teferra Mamo, said to be leader of Ginbot Seven's military wing. The only other suspect identified was Melaku Tefera, an organizer for the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party.
Melaku was among the opposition leaders convicted of treason and later pardoned following the 2005 election. He now joins UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa, who was re-arrested earlier this year and ordered to serve out her life sentence.
Berhanu Nega says he had been told the accused included a cousin of his living in Addis Ababa, and the 80-year old father of Tsige Andargachew, an exiled Ginbot Seven official living in Britain.
Berhanu told VOA security forces had surrounded his parents' Addis Ababa home and confiscated their cellphones. "This is a government that accuses your relatives for what you do. Whatever it is that you do. That is why Ato (Mr.) Tsige Andargachew's father is in prison. Maybe my cousin is in prison for the same reason," he said.
Several Ethiopian opposition figures expressed concern over the arrests. Parliament Member Bulcha Demeksa agreed that Ginbot Seven would be considered an illegal organizat ion under Ethiopian law, but he expressed skepticism about the reports of a coup plot.
"I honestly believe this is not true. The government of Ethiopia has used such accusations so many times to make it a reason to arrest people ... The election approaching. Anybody who could be a viable candidate for an opposition party will be caught by this net," he said.
A government spokesman said he was busy in meetings but said told VOA further details of the arrests and the coup plot would be forthcoming in the next few days. He declined to speculate on what charges might be filed against those detained, but said the suspects would soon be brought before a judge to hear the charges read.
_________________________________________________________________
http://cyberethiopia.com/news/?id=139024
Fortune, Ethiopia
April 26, 2009
State Grain Firm Dips into Coffee Export Trade
PAWLOS BELETE
To Sell 12,000Qtls to German Co.
The Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise (EGTE) signed its first agreement to sell 12,000Qtls of coffee to a Germany based company more than a week ago, officials of the enterprise disclosed. The agreement, signed on April 14, 2009, makes the German company the first buyer of EGTE's coffee; the latter has finalized preparations for the first shipment of coffee to Germany in May.
The state owned enterprise penetrated the coffee export business for the first time in its half a century history a couple of months ago. It has already bought more than 42,000Qtls of coffee through open auction at the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX)..
The idea of becoming involved in the coffee export business was floated during Business Process Reengineering (BPR) of the enterprise, according to its officials. The assessment proved that the enterprise has both the infrastructure and manpower to handle export trade of coffee, in addition to the export of pulses, oil seeds and other agricultural products, which the enterprise has been known for over the past 50 years.
"We have the experience both in the domestic and international markets, with the manpower and the infrastructure to do the business," Beru Lede, deputy General Manager of the enterprise, told Fortune.
Nevertheless, perhaps because it has started at a time when the government has taken stern action=2 0against major coffee exporters and suppliers, accusing them of hoarding export standard coffee, there has been criticism that the enterprise's move is a government ploy to enter the coffee business. But senior government officials argue that this strategy is a result of concern for the void in the coffee export business created due to the action taken against the major actors.
"The enterprise has entered the coffee market for one simple reason; there is concern that the capability to process the coffee exports of the remaining several actors in the market may not be adequate to push the coffee through the system quickly enough," Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said at a press conference more than a week ago.
Though the preference would be to handle the trade through private sector actors, if there are bottlenecks created, the government would try to beef it up through the Grain Trade Enterprise, according to Meles.
"But there is no intention of establishing a public monopoly in any of the agricultural markets because we know that it doesn't work," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The coffee the EGTE bought at the ECX is from the stock the government has taken over from the stores of the six major exporters, knowledgeable sources disclosed. People engaged in the coffee export business, however, see EGTE's coming to the scene as potential competition.
"The move is contrary to the principle of free market; it was a practice apparent in the military regime through the Coffee Market (Buna Gebeya), a coffee exporter who requested not to be named told Fortune. "It complicates the competition field."
The absence of equal power between the state and private enterprises makes it difficult for the latter to compete fairly, the exporter added.
With its head office on Beyene Aba Sebsib Avenue ( Debre-Zeit Road ), the EGTE has 11 branches and 40 trade centres and warehouses throughout the=2 0country, with a combined storage capacity of eight million quintals. The enterprise has a 1,700 strong permanent workforce in all its branches and sales points. The business the enterprise was engaged in before exporting the commodity include transporting the coffee to the processing facilities it runs in different parts of the country for pulping and cleaning the coffee to meet the country's quality and grade requirements, as well as the buyers' needs.
The enterprise is eyeing markets in Europe, America , Middle East and Asia . Its general manager, Brehane Hailu, was recently in Atlanta , US , to participate in a coffee fair held there and to source for potential customers. The enterprise has in stock pulped and fermented coffee - which is washed to remove its sticky mucilage - otherwise known as "washed coffee" from Yirga Chefe and Sidama Areas of the Southern Nation, Nationalities and People Regional State, as well as "Sun Dried" coffee that is dried, hulled, cleaned and stored as red cherry coffee from Jimma and Nekemte of the Oromia Regional State. These are in stock ready to be transported to any interested buyer.
O ver the past 50 years, EGTE has been active in the buying and selling of grains, and for more than a year now, it has become a responsible government arm for the stabilization of the domestic grain market. It is accountable to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) and is run by a board chaired by Ali Suleiman, commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
EGTE owns 39 new and additional used heavy trucks to transport commodities to customers' facilities, or to and from the port, in the case of export and import transactions. The enterprise operates with 105 million Br of fully paid up capital injected by the government as seed money; its annual turnover is currently about 500 million Br. The turnover does not include the over 250 million dollars the government spent over the past more than a year to buy close to 800,000tn of wheat from the international market, mainly East Europe, to stabilize the local market through subsidized imports..
Ethiopia earned close to 175 million dollars in the first six months of the 2008/2009 fiscal year from the export of 59,188tn of coffee, which is 61.2pc of the plan (285 million dollars).20Compared to the previous year's performance of the same period, the coffee export this year increased by 14pc in volume and 21pc in earnings, according to data from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
________________________________________________________________
http://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFLR4979620090427?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
Reuters
April 27, 2009
Yemen frees ship, captures pirates - govt official
SANAA - Yemeni special forces on Monday freed a Yemeni oil tanker seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, killing three pirates and capturing at least nine on board, a government official said.
The ship, named Qana, was seized by Somali pirates off Yemen's coast on Sunday but was empty of oil cargo. The deaths on Monday took to five the number of pirates killed as Yemeni forces battled for two days to take back the vessel.
They were escorting the tanker to the Yemeni port of Aden on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
Pirates have made millions of dollars over the past year from seizing ships and taking crews hostage. Pirates have increased raids on ships passing through the Gulf of Aden, a key shipping lane for oil and cargo, since February.
Better weather has allowed them to operate more freely despite foreign navy patrols off the coast of Somalia.
Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia, is a small producer of oil and exports 200,000 barrels per day but is one of the world's poorest countries.
The tanker, with a 23-strong crew of which three are Indian and the rest Yemenis, has a capacity of 3,000 tonnes but was not carrying any cargo when it was seized.
The pirates had briefly seized three other vessels earlier before Yemeni forces freed them, a Yemeni official said.
On Sunday pirates freed the Yemeni-owned Sea Princess II tanker that had been held since Jan. 2.
The London-based IMB watchdog said piracy incidents nearly doubled in the first quarter of 2009, almost entirely due to Somalia and there were 18 attacks off its coast in March alone. (Reporting by Mohammed Sudam; Writing by Andrew Hammond; editing by Richard Balmforth)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Dawit Yohannis
Cc: Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Michael Mered
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:14:23 AM
Subject: Ethiopia tries to regaom its stole n Assets, South Afroca Commends Ethiopia for assisting it stop the looting of its people and Somalia wants to be the new looter
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
RE: Restoration of looted treasures and current campaigns to destory Ethiopia's image!
Restoration is about returning the honor, dignity and treasures looted illlegally by others without permission.
Ethiopia has stood for Good Governance and Justice among nations for Millennia.
The attached documents clearly show that Ethiopia will not allow any nation or pirates or terrorists to distrub its peace, loot its treasures and spiritual icons and keep quiet.
The attached statement of Russ Fienegold about Somalia is misguided as he continues to believe it is Ethiopia that caused Somalia to go bankrup t. It is Ethiopia who stopped the loony Terrorist Caliphate in its tracks. Somalia can have any form of Government it wants but it needs to deploy it on its territory and for its own people. Ethiopoia will not accept any faith to be imposted by it, be it by the Turkish and Egyptian Pashas of the past, and the Roman Catholics or the loony Somali Pirates!
The Minute Somalia, Sudan, British, Italy and any Senator wants to impose their will on Ethiopians then the game changes. Ethiopians have not gone to Italy, Britain or Turkey or Egypt and invaded these countries. They always come to loot Ethiopia and we say no. May be we need to change our policy and take the battle ground to these countries that continue to want to terrorize us. It worked when we went to Moqadisho and may be we need to do more of this! The traditional Ethiopian notion of Atinqugne, do not touch me or bother me has not worked.
Better still, we need to be proactive and pre-empt challenges by coming forward with creative solutions and not wait for crisis to galvanize us. The recent Tilahun Death is a case in point. If we had just done a little bit to ensure that he got good medical care in the USA and then followed=2 0him to Ethiopia and ensured that all the Ethiopian Ambullance System was effective we would not have lost Empress Medferiash Work, Dejasmatch Zewde Gebre-Selassie and even Fitawrari Amede Lemma, had our Medical System been Available, Accountable and Affordable.
We need to change the paradigm of hopeless ness and create a pardigm of opportunities in all sectors of our lives. Our people are our treasures and we need to protect their dighnity, health and prosperity at all costs!
Ethiopia has stood for Justice and Peace through out history and when the South Africans under Botha and Ian Smith were terrorizing Africans for centuries, there was no Genocide Watch or Apartheid Watch or Human Rights Watch from the USA and in fact Governments led by President Reagan and Co were supporting sanctions against people like Mandela, I understand that sanctioin still holds and Pres Mandela cannot travel to the USA. It was Ethiopia who put all its resources to get Africa Decolonized and United. Africans need to be reminded of the sacrifice Ethiopia made for their independence and dignity and African Union.
Who can tell Finegold first to clean your own house! Imagine, Finegold has been at the center of the Campaign to destabillize Ethiopia in support of ONLF terrorists. Now he wants President Barack Obamba to be involved like he pushed President Bush to be involved in Iraq. Jurst imagine who was part of the Torture Memo series in Congress and Senate. Finegold should be made to apologize for insulting and dishonoring the Ethiopian People. Just imagine what will be the outcome.
All the same, we have to get our stolen assets from the British Museum and not allow new Robbers to steal the imagination of our youth by starting all sorts of Calendar based Terror Groups like Guinbot 7 and May be February Revolution and who knows there are some 365 days and they can replace our Saints with a series of demonic terror leaders, if we keep quiet and allow them to convert Blessed Ethiopia into Chaotic Somalia. Just watch where does all the resources come to enter Somalia and keep the Peace there! Do you remember Black Hauck Down Movie?
When our surroundings are being targets for a battle ground for war, terror, Ethiopia will be the country that will be faced with refugees and terrorist network safe heavens. The re cent tragedy where an attempt to distabilize the country when the people were busy Mourning the deaths of its Patriots like Drs Senedu, Tilahun and Fitawrari Amede Lemma is clear indication that our terrorist networks willnot rest even at the time of our mourning, perhaps they think that is our weakest moment.
Now, let us get all our treasures from Britian and Switzerland before another set of terrorist come and create havoc for another blunder campaign.
Please read the stories of Somalia, South African Independence and Ethiopian attempt to get back the "Maqdela Treasures"
Just imagine who is ready to loot us again when the Guinbot & and ONLF manage to create havoc under false pretexts, some organized ciminal pirates?
Just imagine who is in line to benefit from creating havoc amongst us? and Why do they want to create havoc amongst us? If we put in place legal means of transaction and sharing information like we did with Lucy and other tresasures, The Tourists will flock to Ethiopioa. The lost financial and cultural=2 0opportunity demands that we display our treasures in a legal format for the world to see it instead of few crooks to looot it.
Just imagine! in the end we need to educate our youths about preserving our historical treasures and investment oppotunities and compete in the global market with quality and creativity, not with Guinbot 7 type of terror operatives. We need to proactively clean up terrorist cultures that is being promoted amongst our youth under the pretext of religious and political agenda.
Just imagine, if we have all 80 Million Citizens interacting with the Global Citizens in creative investment ventures than What the foolish Berhanu Bonger and Sheik Awiye, the Shabia and AlShabab terrorists want to do. An educated and interactive citizenship will protect itself and promote its best talents across the world... That is what Tilahun taught us. Even when his music was stolen and sold in the market under a different name, he said, I will go to Addis and investigte before I say any thing in advance. Investigate, Research is his last word in Washigton DC during his last interview.
So, let us reserach, investigate Guinbot 7 and other series of terrorists like ONLF, OLF, Shababa, Shabia and Alqaeda and Donald Paynes and Russ Finegolds. We can turn them around, if we know what they want or better still make them our friends and friends of Ethiopia for ever.
It takes a new set of geniuses to convert our enemies into friends. Ethiopia needs 7 Billion friends. Our task is before us to convert our alleged enemies into our friends, as Obama declares, "Yes We Can indeed!"
Dr B
http://feingold.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=311976
Senator Russ Feingold's office, US Senate
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on Somalia Piracy
As Submitted for the Record
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mr. President, I was glad earlier this week to join Senator Leahy in passing a resolution commending Captain Richard Phillips for his brave conduct, and those members of our Armed Services, particularly members of the Navy and Navy SEAL teams, who rescued Captain Phillips.. I also want to commend the leadership of the President and the efforts of many U.S. government departments and agencies in their response to this crisis. These many acts of bravery and leadership are deeply inspiring, and we should recognize them.
However, while the episode involving the Maersk Alabama was resolved, we are likely to see more such episodes if we do not take comprehensive measures to address not only piracy on the waters, but also conditions on land that enable it. We cannot ignore the fact that piracy off the coast of Somalia is an outgrowth of the state collapse, lawlessness and humanitarian crisis that have plagued the country for over a decade. In recent Congressional testimony, both Director of National Intelligence Blair and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Army Lt. General Michael Maples cited l awlessness and economic problems on land as the cause of the rise in piracy at sea. Until we address those conditions, we will be relying on stopgap measures, at best, to deter this piracy problem and we are unlikely to succeed in reversing the growing violent extremism in Somalia.
Mr. President, for years I have been calling for the development of a comprehensive, interagency strategy to help establish stability, the rule of law, and functional, inclusive governance in Somalia. This is the only sure and sustainable solution to address the problem of piracy – and the instability in Somalia – over the long term.. Moreover, I am convinced that we have a unique window of opportunity for progress as a result of the Ethiopian troop withdrawal earlier this year and the establishment of a new unity government relocated back to Mogadishu. This government has the potential to unite Somalia if it demonstrates a genuine commitment to inclusion and begins to make a real difference in people’s lives – in terms of security and basic services, such as protection, trash collection and job creation. Helping the government to find tangible solutions to expand effective and inclusive governance must be a central part of our overall strategy to stabilize Somalia and address the threats of piracy and terrorism.
To that end, I continue to urge th e Obama administration, as it develops its response to piracy, to make it a priority to engage at a high level with the new Somali government. I have written to President Obama, asking him to personally call Somali President Sheik Sharif and indicate a clear commitment to work with his government not just on maritime insecurity, but also on establishing security and governance within the country. We have been engaging with President Sharif at the ambassadorial level for quite some time now, and I met the president in Djibouti in December. In addition, there needs to be a stronger and more sustained diplomatic push to engage with a wide range of actors within Somalia and stakeholders in the wider region – both in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East – if we are going to address the underlying problems that have contributed to piracy and rising extremism.
Mr. President, the events with the Maersk Alabama earlier this month have finally brought increased attention to the problem of piracy in Somalia’s waters. But it will be insufficient if our response only deals with the symptoms and not Somalia’s central problems. I urge my colleagues and the different committees who will examine this issue over the coming weeks and months to take this seriously. For if we do not finally deal with Somalia’s lawlessness and instability, we will continue to see them manifest themselves in activities – be they acts of piracy or terrorism – that threaten U.S. and international security.
I yield the floor.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=96872
APA
April 28, 2009
South Africa commends Ethiopia ’s role in its liberation struggle
Addis Ababa ( Ethiopia ) South Africa on Monday commended Ethiopia for its support to South Africa ’s struggle for freedom during the apartheid era.
Speaking in Addis Ababa on Monday during commemoration of South African National Day, the South African ambassador to Ethiopia Major General Chris L. Pepani said relations between Ethiopia and South Africa were in good shape and would be further strengthened.
It is to be recalled that the former South African president Nelson Mandela was among those who received military training in Ethiopia during the liberation struggle against the apartheid regime.
Ambassador Pepani indicated that Ethiopia played an unforgettable role for South Africa ’s struggle for freedom, which has resulted in better bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“ South Africa continues with its firm commitment on the path towards the achievement of a better continent predicated on the obvious idea of democracy, peace, development and prosperity,” said ambassador Pepani.
______________________________________________ ___________________
http://news.independentminds.livejournal.com/2342224.html
Independent, UK
April 27, 2009
Ethiopia demands stolen crown back
Andrew Johnson
The President has written to the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Library and Cambridge University Library seeking the restitution of more than 400 so-called "treasures of Magdala", which were stolen by British soldiers following a battle in 1868.
In the letter, obtained by The Independent on Sunday, the President wrote: "I must state that Ethiopians have long grieved at the loss of this part of their20national heritage. Ethiopians feel that this act of appropriation had no justification in international law. I feel, therefore, that the time has come for the return of Ethiopia's looted treasures."
Among the items being held in the UK is an 18-carat gold crown and more than 300 priceless manuscripts, including Christian scriptures. Experts say the issue is particularly sensitive for Ethiopians because many of the artefacts hold deep religious significance for them.
These include nine tabots, or sacred wooden altar slabs, which are recognised as so holy that the British Museum has pledged never to display them. When a tabot was returned in 2005 after being discovered in the back of an Edinburgh church, thousands of people turned out to greet its return in Addis Ababa.
The objects were among those seized by British soldiers after the storming of the Fortress of Magdala in 1868, a punitive expedition that followed the kidnap of several Britons. Emperor Tewodros committed suicide after the battle.
According to contemporary accounts, British soldiers slaughtered hundreds of poorly armed Ethiopians after the battle, and then "jostled each other" to grab a piece of the emperor's blood-stained shirt, which they tore from his body.
They also looted the citadel and a nearby church, carrying off treasures that included "an infinite variety of gold, and silver and brass crosses", as well as "heaps of parchment royally illuminated".
British museums have in the past resisted calls for artefacts from their collections to be returned to their countries of origin, but it is understood that Neil MacGregor of the British Museum and Mark Jones of the V&A have already met the Ethiopian ambassador to discuss the matter.
Museums often argue in restitution cases that the artefacts are better off in Britain because anyone in the world can view them, and the V&A is known to have asked Addis Ababa whether the silver crown of Emperor Tewodros, which it returned to Ethiopia in 1925, is available for public view.
The V&A said yesterday that discussions were still ongoing, even though the President's letter was sent in February this year. The four organisations involved have also held meetings over the way forward.
The Magdala treasure differs to other restitution cases, such as that of the Elgin Marbles, because it is acknowledged that the treasures were simply stolen. "It was straightforward looting," a spokeswoman at the Ethiopian embassy in London said.
A spokeswoman for Afromet, an organisation that has campaigned for the restitutions of the items, said: "These museums hold most of Ethiopia's heritage. It means far more to Ethiopians than it could ever do to anyone else."
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
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Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
Re: Imagine Sharia law in the USA and EU? Amputations for all crimes!
I could not but think what will happen if Sharia law is implemented in USA nad European Union and how many people will be left with hands and feet?
I just wonderedd the implications!
Let us start with Bernie Madoff, the South Carolina Governor and that goon that calls himself Sir Stanford in the Caribbean?
Just imagine, all the TV news that crowd the Airwaves, that at the end you see masked KKK Lieutenants, cutting off the hands and feet of all these wall street criminals.
Just imagine, what will happen to the British Parliament members who stole public money, some using it for renting Porn movies. The next day, after the news at the Parliament Square, there is the masked thugs of the racist parties, coming forward cutting off half the Ministers of the British Parliament due to the crimes they continue to commit by abusing their power.
Just imagine, that these thugs are advancing from Mexico with guns and Sharia laws and the US Government saying, oh! this is a Mexican problem and we will do nothing.
Just imagine for the moment that this Sharia law butchers are marching on Europe from the outskirts of European borders and the EU parliament and members of the Union, saying, oh, this is Albania's problem.
Just imagine for a moment, that is what the foolish goons of the so called Transparency International, Enough International, Human Rights Watch International, Amnesty International, all the loony pseudo human rights groups are demanding of Ethiopia to allow the butchers of Somalia to advance on its territory, supported by all the returnees from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Horn.
Just imagine, this level of foolishness being published on a regular basis by the foolish news paper editors who could be easily shot dead or have their limbs cut by these Sharia Goons.
Yet, the Ethiopians are put in the defensive, by a series of speculations, will you go again to Somalia to protect your national interest?
Will you defend the African Union Soldiers that are going to be sacrificed when non of the African Union and UN Security Council members put their resources at the disposal of the gallant Ethiopian Soldiers.
Then comes the goons of this generation, who claim that the Sharia Butchers should continue to butchers Somalis and Ethiopians and the Ethiopian Government has no business protecting its own citizens and its neighbors taken over by the Goons in Eritrea, Somalia and now may be in the Sudan.
Just imagine, such level of hypocrisy, where the Mullah's in Iran are not condemned when they murder young girls on the streets nor are these goons in Somalia who are butchering their citizens and burying alive their young girls.
Just imagine, Ethiopia who knows better from its 8 Milena Culture of Diversity being lectured and harassed by upstart Pseudo Human Right Groups and by its own citizens who have defected to enemy territory and more or less trying to tie the hands of the Ethiopian leadership and De fence Forces behind their backs.
Just imagine, Ethiopia abandoning its national and regional security and allowing the Goons from Pakistan and Afghanistan settling in its border to create another wave of violence and chaos.
Just imagine!
That is just what is being demanded of Ethiopia and as usual Ethiopia will go it alone or with African Union and some decent UN members and stand against the new Hitlers and Mussolini's of our time.
What about us, are we going to watch the people of Somalia, our brothers and our neighbors, go under fire under our watch?
This is the question of our time. Please read below the humiliating and rather depressing news in Somalia and no one speaks against it. Even that foolish New Jersey Goon, Donald Payne, who almost was shot down by the same goons he protects.
I just wonder what is come upon us, that we cannot say this is evil, you do not allow such barbaric system on the Somali and Ethiopian people and all decent humans around the world, should stand up for peace and security and justice.
Do we need to wait until all of us loose our limbs, hands and then our necks? Some thing has to give. That is our consciousness first
Dr B
PS: I look forward to your creative and alternative ideas.
Dr B
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8118306.stm
BBC
June 25, 2009
Somalis watch double amputations
Witnesses estimated the age of the four men at between 18 and 25
They have each had a hand and foot cut off after being convicted by a Sharia court in the capital earlier this week.
More then 300 people, mainly women and children, watched as masked men cut off their limbs with a machete.
The four men reportedly admitted to the robberies, but were not represented by a lawyer and were not allowed to appeal against their sentence.
ALe al-Shabab group, which controls much of southern Somalia, has carried out amputations, floggings and an execution in the southern port of Kismayo but such punishments are rare in the capital.
'Help, help, help!' one of them shouted
Eyewitness Mohamed Abdi
The amputations were carried out in the open in front of an al-Shabab military camp in the north-east of Mogadishu.
A local resident said the four men cried out during and after the amputations. Each man had his right hand and left foot cut off.
"'Help, help, help!' one of them shouted," Mohamed Abdi told the BBC.
Eyewitnesses estimate the age of the four men - Aden Mohamud, Ismail Khalif , Jeylani Mohamed, and Abdulkadir Adow - to be between 18 and 25.
Mr Abdi said the whole process took about an hour to complete.
'Warning'
Human rights lobby group Amnesty International had urged al-Shabab not to carry out the amputations after the men had been convicted on Monday.
But on Tuesday mosques in the area announced through their loud speakers that the amputations would take place at 0800 local time on Thursday.
Al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told journalists that the amputations were a warning to all thieves.
"If they are caught red-handed in similar circumstances, they will face amputation," he said.
He also said al-Shabab would look after the welfare of the amputees.
On Monday, the court had said it was too hot for the sentence to be carried out on that day as an amputation in such conditions could lead the accused to bleed to death.
The punishments carried out in Kismayo have shocked many Somalis, who traditionally practise a more tolerant form of Islam than al-Shabab's strict Wahabi interpretation. Onlookers at the amputation in Mogadishu on Thursday declined to comment when asked for their reaction.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, took office in January but even his introduction of Sharia law to the strongly Muslim country has not appeased the hardliners.
The government has not carried out any amputations under its version of Sharia.
Since 7 May, al-Shabab and its allies have been locked in ferocious battles with pro-government forces.
The president has declared a state of emergency and has appealed to Somalia's neighbours to send troops to help.
______________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLP935
Reuters
June 25, 2009
Ethiopia not ruling out troops return to Somalia
Tsegaye Tadesse and Barry Malone
* Ethiopia awaiting response by international community
* Would not want to intervene alone
* Thinks government can resist hardline Islamist rebels
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has not ruled out sending troops to Somalia if the situation there worsens, but said there are no plans to intervene for now. Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist movement from the capital in which new President Sheik Sharif Ahmed played a role. That sparked an Islamist insurgency which is still raging despite the withdrawal of the soldiers in January this year.
"We do not want to find ourselves in a situation where a so-called Ethiopian horse would be trying to take the chestnut out of the fire on behalf of everybody else," Meles told a news conference late on Wednesday.
"And this horse being whipped by every idiot and his grandmother."
Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, fled into exile after the Ethiopian intervention but joined a peace process last year and was elected in January. His government is now battling hardline insurgents who were once allies in the Islamist movement.
Addis Ababa has said it supports the new government, but is wary of the hardline Islamists, who are seen as a proxy for al Qaeda, because they control large areas of Somalia and have threatened to destabilise neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya. With reports of foreign jihadists streaming into Somalia, Western security services are worried al Qaeda may get a grip on the failed Horn of Africa state that has been without central government for 18 years.
WAIT AND SEE
"We want to wait and see how the international community as a whole responds and then see if there is any need to revisit our position on the matter," Meles said.
"We believe the deployment of Ethiopian troops would be unwarranted because we are not convinced there is a clear and present danger to Ethiopia," he said.
Violence from the Islamist-led insurgency worsened this month, with the killing of three officials. The government, which controls little but a few parts of the capital, has declared a state of emergency and appealed to neighbouring countries for military assistance.
The Ethiopian leader played down claims from the speaker of Somalia's parliament that the country's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) risked being overthrown without foreign help.
"Our reading of the situation in Somalia is slightly different from the one of the speaker of the parliament that if there is no foreign military intervention ... the transitional government will collapse," Meles said.
"The TFG is facing a very difficult situation with al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam militias supported by hundreds of jihadists, but we don't believe they will be toppled." (Editing by David Clarke)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f3eca108-60ee-11de-aa12-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Financial Times
June 25, 2009
Somali pirates blamed for broadband delay
Barney Jopson
Somali pirates have claimed a new victim by disrupting the laying of an undersea fibre optic cable that has promised to end east Africa’s isolation as the last region of the world not connected to the global broadband network.
The managers of Seacom, a $600m project owned by private investors, said on Wednesday that its cable would not come into service until July 23 – nearly a month later than planned – because pirate activity off the coast of Somalia had delayed the work of its cable-laying contractor.
Tyco Telecommunications, the contractor and part of Tyco Electronics, was forced to suspend its cable-laying around the Horn of Africa so it could revise its security plans and beef up protection for its ships following the latest surge in pirate activity in April and May.
Piracy from Somalia has been on the rise since last August, resulting in dozens of ships and hundreds and crew members being taken hostage, millions of dollars in ransoms and severe disruption to commercial shipping.
Wednesday’s announcement from Seacom marked the first time the pirates have disrupted east Africa’s faltering efforts to end its dependence on satellite internet links, which are slow, unreliable and often prohibitively expensive.
Brian Herlihy, chief executive of Seacom, which is based in Mauritius, said he was “frustrated” by what he called the “pirate-induced delay”. He and Tyco would not comment on whether they had received specific information that Tyco ships were on a pirate hit list.
So far no cable-laying ships have been attacked, but the ships contracted by Seacom were huge – needing to carry up to 6,000km of fibre optic cable – and vulnerable to pirate attack because they moved so slowly.
“Cable-laying ships would be prime targets,” said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau in London. “They’re very slow when they’re laying the cables and they really can’t get away.”
Maritime experts said some ships using the waters off Somalia had beefed up anti-pirate security by employing armed guards from private security companies while others had hired armed patrol boats to escort them. Tyco declined to comment on its security procedures.
Mr Herlihy said the laying of the cable, which will connect the east Africa portion of Seacom to Mumbai, had been completed in the past few days. The delay had not been announced until the job was finished to avoid putting the ships in further danger.
The Seacom cable will link South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia to India and Europe. A separate project led by the Kenyan government called Teams will connect Kenya to the United Arab Emirates.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Tue, 6/23/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Meles stepping down, what about Isayas? Who is Sophia Tesfamairam: This needs immediate response New Diaspora Business Fora evolving, Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 9:55 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
It is very interesting the Ethiopian Media do not report on this critical issue.
It is the British who seem to have interest to get Meles out of office and he never disucsses them with Ethiopian people, parliament and the Media.
It seems the British have better access or they have determined to ensure Meles will step down and Isayas will stay!
Just imagine the Irony?
Dr B
http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE55M0A220090623
Reuters
June 22, 2009
Ethiopia's Meles says preparing to step down - report
LONDON - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was quoted on Tuesday as saying he was preparing to step down and that discussions on the issue had already started within his ruling party.
"My personal position is that I have had enough," Meles, who came to power in 1991 when his then guerrilla group ousted former Marxist ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam, said in an interview with the Financial Times.
Meles, whose ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front faces a parliamentary election in June next year, gave no deadline for his departure.
"I am arguing my case and the others are also arguing their case. I hope we will come up with some common understanding on the way forward that would not require me to resign from my party that I have fought for all my life," said Meles.
"We are not talking about Meles only. We are talking about the old generation. The party needs to have new leadership that does not have the experience of the armed struggle."
Meles was hailed as part of a new generation of African leaders in the 1990s, but rights groups have increasingly criticised the guerrilla-turned-premier for cracking down on opposition in sub-Saharan Africa's second most populous nation.
Ethiopia's political climate is closely watched by foreign investors showing increasing interest in agriculture, horticulture and real estate prospects. The country is one of the world's poorest, ranked 170 out of 177 on the United Nations Human Development Index, and one of the largest recipients of international aid.
Ethiopia sent thousands of troops into Somalia in 2006 to help topple an Islamist movement holding Mogadishu and most of the south.
That drew protests from some in the Muslim world and enraged the Islamists, who regrouped to launch an insurgency. The Ethiopian troops withdrew in January.
(Editing by Ralph Gowling)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
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Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/18/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Who is Sophia Tesfamairam: This needs immediate response New Diaspora Business Fora evolving, Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:05 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Now the silly seaon of blame and counter blame is upon us, I found yet another serious challenge to the image of Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the 21st Century.
I was sent this email by a friend who asked me to share it with Ethiopians to reflect the level of vitriol that is spreading against Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
I wonder, who is Sophia and What is the American Chronicle doing?
Please read the following and kindly respond appropriately. Please track the facts and respond intelligently but in a manner that is acceptable to all decent people.
with regards
Dr B
PS: This deserves an immediate response and trust one of our Patriotic Citizens will respnd.
ETHIOPIA: Deceptive Campaign to White-wash and Cover-up International Crimes in Somalia
Sophia Tesfamariam
June 17, 2009
The minority mercenary regime in Ethiopia led by Meles Zenawi, the Bush Administration's "staunch ally" in the "war on terror", finding itself in yet another self-created quagmire, has unleashed its loyal cadres, K-Street lobbyists and members of the Eritrean Quislings League to divert attention away from his lawlessness and belligerence, to white wash, downplay, and if possible, cover up its bloody tracks in Ethiopia and Somalia. Observers have described the childish and ignominious display by the regime´s cadres in New York as "disgraceful and embarrassing". It seems they made a total fool out of themselves at Turtle Bay last week. In Washington, the regime´s lobbyists attempted to misinform US lawmakers, but they were summarily rejected by seasoned members who know the regime and its tactics only too well. US lawmakers are tired of cleaning up the blood and carnage left behind by the Bush Administration´s policies. They, like the American people, want change.
The minority regime, which has no confidence in its own abilities and suffers from debilitating inferiority complex, always surrounds itself with individuals and groups it feels will give it clout. This time, it gambled wrong and its cadres brought along a decrepit band-wagon with some members of IGAD and AU on board, with the hopes that the "weight of their voices" would sway lawmakers in Washington and New York. The tantrums and frothing by the regime's cadres in New York last week is nothing new, and also came as no surprise for those who know the regime´s tried and tired, transparent gimmick "Accusations in a mirror"-where the minority regime accuses others of crimes it has committed or is planning to commit. By sending its henchmen to Washington and New York, the regime was also testing the waters and the Obama Administration.
The regime is sparing no expense in its orchestrated propaganda campaign and no stone is being left unturned to advance it. In Washington, members of the Eritrean Quislings League, which includes the Eritrean Islamic Jihad, a terrorist group and a collection of runaway defectors, pedophiles and torturers posing as "human rights" and "democracy advocates", NED sponsored "intellectuals and professionals" and other bankrupt individuals, have been assigned to distribute the "facial masks" to be used in the rallies and other activities planned by the regime. By calling on the 80,000 Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin that it inhumanly deported from Ethiopia during the 1998-2000 border citing "security threats", to return to Ethiopia and claim their billion dollar properties that it confiscated, the regime believes it can win the heart and mind of Eritreans and present itself as a humanitarian regime to the international community. What a joke! Anyway, these mercenary individuals and groups have been instructed to do whatever it takes to convince Washington and the Obama Administration to maintain the status quo in the Horn of Africa.
The desperate regime´s cadres and mercenaries are in Washington and New York seeking the same grotesque patronage from the Obama Administration as the one it enjoyed under Bush´s Washington and Kofi Annan´s United Nations. What else can the desperate criminal regime in Ethiopia led by the deceptive Prime Minister Meles Zenawi do, except beg, blame, threaten and whine for its inadequacies and self created quagmires? The shameless minority regime expected the Security Council to take punitive actions against Eritrea based on "evidence" provided by the regime itself. It expected to be bailed out, absolved of its crimes, by having Eritrea penalized, even if it meant violating international law and the UN Charter and violating the sovereign rights of the Eritrean people. It wanted sanctions against Eritrea for not giving its blessings to the TNG in Somalia. This shameless act of hypocrisy comes as no surprise as it is the nature of the regime to distort the truth and the facts and then to cry foul when it is cornered.
The regime´s cadres were heard preaching about international law and human rights. A repressive backward thugocracy that subjugates the Ethiopian people and is violating international law and the UN Charter by invading and occupying Somalia and is occupying sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme, a regime that has committed genocides and numerous other human rights violations in Gambela, Ogaden and Oromia regions of Ethiopia, does not have the moral or legal authority, credibility or integrity to call for sanctions against Eritrea…or any other country for that matter. It ought to take a good look at itself first, before pointing its blood soaked fingers at others. Had it not been for Washington´s policy of appeasement, the people of the Horn would have used their meager resources to develop their nations instead of fighting the regime and its mercenaries.
The shameless regime´s cadres brought a laundry list of actions to be taken against Eritrea and were hoping that by accusing Eritrea of many violations, the Security Council would pick from the list and take actions against Eritrea. For the last 8 years, emboldened by the silence and inaction of the US-led international community, the diplomatic, financial, military and political shield and support it received from the UN under the corrupt former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and from the Bush Administration, specifically the Secretary of State and her protégé, the incompetent and vindictive Jendayi E. Frazer the regime committed countless crimes against the people of Ethiopia and Somalia. By diverting attention away from itself and its crimes in Somalia, it is hoping the Obama Administration will not change course but follow the same destructive and dangerous policies for Africa.
Somalia´s invasion and occupation, just like the invasion and occupation of Iraq, was based on a lie. Meles Zenawi´s and incompetent and vindictive Jendayi E. Frazier, the former US Secretary of State for African Affairs orchestrated an elaborate and "tailored intelligence disinformation campaign" to invade and occupy Somalia in 2006 to oust the Union of Islamic Courts and "prop up" the illegitimate Transitional National Government of Somalia led by Abdulahi Yusuf and Ali Mohammed Ghedi. The US backed Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia did not produce the intended outcome; it did not produce the three terrorists who were responsible for the bombing of the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, nor did it produce any Al Qaeda linked "terrorists" that Frazier and her Horn confidante Meles Zenawi, said were operating in Somalia.
After creating the greatest humanitarian disaster in the history of Somalia, killing over 17000 innocent Somalis, and after carrying out the extra-judicial murder of thousands more it labeled "extremists", "Islamists", "fundamentalists", "Taliban-like" etc. etc., destroying Somalia´s schools, clinics, markets, ports, airports and other vital infrastructures, pulverizing Somali villages and farms and causing the displacement of over one million Somalis, the regime was hoping to white wash its "mistakes and miscalculations" in Somalia by pointing its bloody fingers at Eritrea. The mercenary regime´s cadres were at the UN hoping to collect their brownie points and service pins for the destruction of Somalia. By pointing fingers at Eritrea and getting the Security Council to take punitive actions against Eritrea based on fabrications by "Ethiopian intelligence", the minority regime was hoping it would be absolved of the international crimes that it committed in Somalia.
In order to understand the regime´s warped thinking we need to go back to the events on last December and the shenanigans in Djibouti orchestrated by Jendayi E. Frazier and her criminal cohorts. At the 11th hour, just as the Bush Administration was leaving office, Meles Zenawi and his handlers hurriedly established yet another Transitional National Government (TNG) for Somalia, in Djibouti. Forcing Abdulahi Yusuf to step down (by paying him well), the Union of Islamic Court's Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, brought from Eritrea where he had taken refuge when Ethiopia invaded Somalia, was installed at the helm. Once again, instead of allowing the Somali people to come together and decide for themselves, Meles Zenawi and Jendayi Frazier handpicked the amenable "moderate Sheikh Sharif Ahmed" to lord over the Somali people. The illegitimate TNG is facing the same opposition, if not worse, that Abdulahi Yusuf´s TNG faced. Meles and company thought it was a smart move to present the Obama Administration with a fait accompli in Somalia-we´ll have to wait and see how this deceptive game plays out.
As for Ethiopia´s violations of the UN arms embargo on Somalia, they are well documented and Ethiopia´s interventions in Somalia, using several pretexts, precede the Eritrea Ethiopia border conflict. It was in violation of the UN charter, the African Union Charter and Security Council resolution 1724 that Ethiopia invaded and occupied of Somalia. It was also in violation of the Intergovernmental Agency for Development´s (IGAD) 2005 resolution that authorized the formation of IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia (IGASOM) and specifically called for non-interference by "neighboring states". The Ethiopian fabrications and claims about the presence of "2000 Eritrean troops fighting alongside the UIC" also turned out to be a blatant lie. As with all their unsubstantiated allegations and assertions at the time, it was a convenient diversion, a deceptive decoy, to camouflage the truth and justify the invasion and occupation of Somalia.
UN Reports dating back to 1997 show that Ethiopia, in violation of the UN embargo on Somalia, has been delivering "shipment of arms consisting primarily of ammunition, including AK-47s and PKMs; light weapons and mines" which was transported by road through the porous Somali/Ethiopian border. The reports also show a constant flow of arms from Ethiopia to Kenya and from Kenya to Somalia. Ethiopia has also invaded and occupied parts of Somalia in the past. It has used the pretext of hunting down members of the group Al-Ittihad- citing national security concerns, the groups tenuous links to Al Qaeda have been used as an excuse for the regime´s interference and involvement in Somalia´s internal affairs.
The UN reports say that shipment of arms to Somalia increased as the minority regime worked to undermine the Transitional National Government of Somalia that was established in Arta, Djibouti in 2001. The regime formed the group calling itself the Somalis Reconciliation and Restoration Council, made up of factions that were hostile to the TNG and its allies and provided it training, arms and ammunition. According to UN reports, Ethiopia has been a major source of weapons for a number of Somali groups since. In addition, in violation of the Arms Embargo on Somalia, the United States and Ethiopia financed and supported a coalition of warlords calling themselves the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT).
The ARPCT prevented the Abdulahi Yusuf´s TNG from relocating from Kenya where it was established. Two years later, in 2006, it established itself in Somalia and even then, it was straddled between Baidoa and Jowhar, unable to establish itself in Mogadishu. When the UIC, led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed kicked out the US and Ethiopia supported ARPCT from Mogadishu in 2006 and began to expand its influence all over Somalia, Jendayi E. Frazier and her Horn advisors decided to stop it. Ethiopia invaded Somalia and ousted the UIC and Sheikh Sharif and with Ethiopia´s help, Abdulahi Yusuf entered Mogadishu. The rest is bloody history.
Not only has Ethiopia been meddling in Somalia´s internal affairs, it is also the only party that has consistently disrupted and prevented the stabilization of Somalia. It is also the only party that has fueled the fighting by providing weapons to various warring factions vying for power. Here is a partial list of the weapons provided by Ethiopia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the UN embargo on Somalia as documented by the UN:
"…On 30 October 1997, a C- 130 military transport aircraft arrived from Ethiopia with ammunition for small arms, rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, antipersonnel landmines and grenades..."
"…April 2001:12 mortars, several M30 artillery pieces, M30 artillery ammunition, mortar bombs, landmines and other unspecified ammunition for militia opposed to TNG…"
"…April 2001-Assault rifles, light machine guns, 4 heavy machine guns, 4 106mm caliber antitank guns, ammunition for the aforementioned items-for Abdulahi Yusuf…"
"…7 June 2001- Nine heavy trucks containing anti-aircraft guns, assault rifles and mortars of different calibers along with ammunition for the aforementioned items …"
Steve Bloomfield reporting for the Independent in his 16 November 2006[1] report wrote:
"…Ethiopia, which is estimated to have some 6,000 troops already in Somalia, is also believed to have brought in tanks and surface-to-air missiles…"
Reuters in its 9 June 2009 report[2] said:
"…Weapons are captured, sold and recycled constantly between both sides, experts say. Many arms have come from Ethiopian soldiers who intervened in Somalia between 2006 and early 2009… Weapons are also said to pour across the porous borders of Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia, arriving by plane and through seas infested by pirates who are themselves armed to the teeth…"
On 9 July 2008 Hiiran online reported the following:
"…On July 9, Islamists seized a large shipment of Ethiopian arms and military vehicles from an armored convoy heading from Balidogle Airport to Baidoa meant for the TFG military…"
There is ample evidence to show that the regime in Ethiopia is training and arming the Islamist group Ahlu-Sunna Wal-Jama, various clan militias and warlords, including Bare Aden Shire ("Bare Hilale") the defense minister of the former TNG led by Abdulahi Yusuf and Ali Mohammed Ghedi. Bare Hilale is linked with the Juba Valley Alliance, a militia group.
On 24 May 2008 Reuters reported the following:
"…Dumisani Kumalo, chairman of the U.N. Security Council's Somalia sanctions committee and the South African envoy to the body, accuses "elements" of an AU peacekeeping force in Somalia and Ethiopian and Somali government troops of arms trafficking…The South African envoy said 80 percent of ammunition on sale in Somali markets come from Ethiopian and Somali troops…the presence of Ethiopian troops inside Somalia was itself a violation of the 16-year-old arms ban..."
The UN embargo on Somalia is not the only embargo that Ethiopia has violated, it should be recalled that there were reports citing Ethiopian violations of the UN embargo against North Korea also, but once again, with its friends at the State Department doing its lobbying, the Bush Administration decided to look the other way. Had it been any other country, the "ton of bricks" would have been thrown at it. Here is how Reuters explained Washington´s duplicity and hypocrisy in its 7 April 2007 news report:
"…The Bush administration allowed Ethiopia to complete a secret arms purchase from North Korea in an apparent violation of a U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution passed months earlier over its nuclear test…the United States allowed the January arms delivery in part because Ethiopia was fighting Islamic militias in Somalia in an offensive that aided U.S. policies of combating religious extremists in the Horn of Africa…"
Today, by portraying Eritrea as the culprit for the ongoing violence in Somalia, the minority regime and its partners… in pecking order-IGAD, AU and the regime´s multi million dollar K-Street lobbyists probably believed that the fabricated accusations and coordinated deceptive ploys would work….they may have worked Bush´s Washington, but not this time...as they say in Texas...that dog won´t hunt!
No matter what comical and desperate gimmicks the regime cooks up at Menelik Palace, its days are numbered. The citizens of the Horn, Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalis have had enough. The international community is also fed up with the regime that has refused to live up to its international obligations. The carte blanches given to it to do as it pleased in the Horn is about to be revoked permanently.
The rule of law must prevail over the law of the jungle!
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Sophia Tesfamariam
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Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: New Diaspora Business Fora evolving, Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 4:51 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopians:
New Youth leadership in the business arena is evolving at last!
I trust we will have similar type of Youth Leadership will evolve in the Social, Political and Cultural aspects of our lives.
The old ones will write their stories and continue to due their revolutions by writing books and tell us how great they are and how successfully they shook the mountains and the Rivers and created the largest Diaspora in history, when our ancestors chose to stay in one place for 8 millennia.
Now is the time for the Geriratric Revolutionaries to take a stand back wards and write their glorius Revolutionary Stories with Cartoons, Videos and do the entertainment and leave the real work place for smart creative geniuses like these ones and Ethiopian Airlines and BPR managers for change.
I am impressed with these smart business geniuses and hope more will surface. I recomend them without reservations.
I want to see a book or two from Ambassadors of yester years who want to be revolutionaries by the age of 90, a little too old, but a book, a cartoon, a moview will be a better entertainment.
with regards
Dr B
4th Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum
Four Point Sheraton (12th & K St. NW)
Washington DC, USA
June 21, 2009
Organized by:
The Ethiopian American (http://www.theethio pianamerican. com)
Principal Sponsors:
VEGA Ethiopia AGOA+/USAID
Also sponsored by:
Precise Consult International PLC
The Forum is divided into two sessions. Session I will explore US Government support for American investors, including the Ethiopian Diaspora, in investing in Africa (USAID's Diaspora Loan Guarantee program in Ethiopia and the African Diaspora Market Place [www.diasporamarket place.org] initiative). Session II will discuss the experiences of Diaspora entrepreneurs currently active on the ground and/or in the process of establishing ventures in Ethiopia and their views on doing business in Ethiopia. A short video will be shown discussing the opportunities and challenges of investing in Ethiopia by Ethiopian and foreign business leaders/investors. A short video will be shown discussing the opportunities and challenges of investing in Ethiopia by investors.
Panel I
Chair: Yohannes Assefa, Esq.
Managing Director, The Ethiopian American
1. Rick Angiuoni, The Export Import Bank of the United States
2. Mr. Thomas Debass, OPIC
3. [Borany Penh, Sr. Political Economist], USAID African Diaspora Market Place
4. Mr. Sehul Trusew, VEGA Ethiopia AGOA+, Diaspora Loan Guarantee Program
Panel II
Chair: Mr. Henok Assefa, M.A. (Economist and Private Sector Development Expert)Managing Partner, Precise Consult International PLC
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1. Mr. Sehul Trusew, VEGA Ethiopia AGOA+, Diaspora Loan Guarantee Program
2. Mr. Henok Assefa, Managing Director, Precise Consult International PLC
3. Mr. Yusuf Reja, Managing Director, Zebra Jobs/Info Mind Solutions
Refreshments (Coffee, water, soda and snacks) will be served!
Attendance by RSVP ONLY (write to publisher@theethiop ianamerican. com to RSVP)
www.vegaethiopia. org
www.theethiopianame rican.com
www.preciseconsulti nternational. com
www.ethiopiainvesto r.com
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, tonymehari2@gmail.com, Tsehaye.teferra@ECDCinternational.org
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 4:26 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
The question of forced migration and refugees is becoming a new phenomenon again.
The United Nations is caring for up to 11 Million Refugees (11/600) 1.6% of the global population.
Iraq and Afghanistan lead the numbers with Pakistan housing the largest number of refugees in the world. Syria and Iran are the second most popular destinations for these refugees.
Germany leads as the most popular European destination way below Jordan. Surpirsingly, Sudan is the most popular destination for refugees of the Horn and for that matter the most hospitable African country.
I wonder what happened to Ethiopia's history of hospitality. With the current chaos in Somalia and Eritrea, Ethiopia will soon hold its rightful place in History as the most hospitaable country in Africa. Imagine, if most of these refugees are creative as the ones who migrated to the US some 200 years ago, Ethiopia could have the best brains in the world and not the bottom of the intelligent and prodcutivity pyramid as she is now.
So, it is good to be hospitable to refugees as they are the source of creativity and productivity of the next generation.
with regards
Dr B
Refugees
Forced migration
Jun 17th 2009
From Economist.com
Countries with most refugees, and the burden on their populations
AT THE end of 2008 10.5m refugees were in the direct care of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, down slightly from 11.4m a year earlier.
The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq again caused the largest numbers of refugees to flee to, or remain in, neighbouring countries.
Some 2.8m of the world's refugees are from Afghanistan, most of whom are in Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan hosted almost 1.8m people last year, nearly all from Afghanistan, with Syria and Iran each receiving around 1m people.
Germany was the most popular destination among rich countries. But as a share of its population Jordan has by far the highest concentration of refugees.
AFP
Readers' comments
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, "Anteneh Mehari of BA"
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 10:58 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
It appears the political silly season and the blame game is once more upon us. This time, a certain West African Konye is declaring war on Ethiopian governance.
Imagine, the Ethiopian Government blocking food supply. The usual Young inexperienced Jewish American names have changed by West African writers.
It was the Daniels and the like in Kenya producing fantastic summer stories from Kenya producing fantastic stories by interviewing refugees, and now we have a West African more or less repeating the same accusations that for some strange reason the Ethiopian Governance enjoys blocking food and starving its people.
I find the whole notion and assumption annoying. Yet, we have to follow the story and look for evidence and challenge this writer to come up with facts and pictures and interviews of both the Ethiopian Government and other stake holders.
Again, this is not some thing we should sleep about or say, here comes a West African with new stories. Let us follow the story, look for evidence and ensure that the Ethiopian Governance, that is transparency and accountability shine its torch on this dangerous story too.
We cannot go on year after year having all summers full of starvation stories. We need to be a society that plans ahead for rain shortages and food shortages and not be caught up with situations like this all the time.
So, where is Good Governance challenging these stories with facts?
If the Horn can produce geniuses like Distinguished professor Gebisa Ejeta to transfer the sorghum plant, why not others solve the port congestion and the truck shortage issue.
This does not take a rock scientist, a plant breeder or truck manufacturer, but some one who makes the order to get the trucks some 6 months in advance and talking to our Djibutian brothers for ways of facilitating Dry port system to clear the congestion.
Surely, this does not require Revolution or Developmental State slogans! It just needs some BPR in Action in Djibouti and Mojo Dry Port. I think there is some else behind this story!
I leave it to members of our community to follow up this story!
Hoping a smart and fast answer from us all, I remain;
Asking when will these stories be changed with positive and proactive stories from our people solving our problems and even projecting a better future!
Dr B
http://en.afrik.com/article15813.html
Afrik
17 June 2009
Ethiopia blocks food supply as millions go hungry
WFP concerned about the move
Konye Obaji Ori
The government of Ethiopia has put a restriction on trucks with food supplies and prioritized trucks of fertilizers into the country as nine million Ethiopians face hunger and three months of starvation.
The Ethiopian authorities claim to be ensuring better harvest by September, but the United Nations has warned that by the end of June, it would have run out of food supply for the dependent millions in Ethiopian.
There will be no further deliveries until September or October, claims the UN World Food Program (WFP). Children, refugees and breast-feeding mothers will be among those worst hit during the hunger season in Ethiopia.
The hunger season is expected to last until September when harvest begins.
The Ethiopian government has prioritized the delivery of fertilizer, to try to increase the next harvest rather than allow more trucks of food and grains to the country.
According to WFP, there is an acute shortage of trucks, yet the Ethiopian authorities have prevented them (the agency) from bringing in its own fleet from Sudan.
UN World Food Program says it has no option but to cut back on the food they provide, which has already been cut by a third since July 2008.
Currently there is little prospect of food supplies arriving at the port of Djibouti for the next five months. "We have a small refugee population here and their ration is being cut by half beginning this month. We run out of food and people will be very hungry," claims Barry Came of the World Food Program.
The UN can only supply food through the port of Djibouti because Eritrea denied land-locked Ethiopia access to its ports, following a border war.
_____________________________________________________________
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_SOMALIA?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-06-17-08-27-43
AP
June 17, 2009
Mogadishu police chief among 17 killed in clashes
MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN
AP Photo/FARAH ABDI WARSAMEH
MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Somali government forces attacked rebel strongholds in Mogadishu on Wednesday, triggering battles that killed at least 17 people, including the capital's police chief, witnesses and officials said.
Residents cowered in their homes or took cover behind buildings as mortars slammed into the city.
Islamist fighters wearing headscarves and ammunition belts draped over their shoulders were seen arriving from the outskirts of the capital to join the battle.
The government only controls a few blocks of Mogadishu with the help of an African Union peacekeeping force that guards the air and sea ports and other key government installations. Different Islamic insurgent groups control the rest of Mogadishu, and their goal is to topple Somalia's Western-backed government and install a strict Islamic state.
"A mortar landed on a neighbor's house and killed two people and injured four others," witness Abdiwali Dahir said from one of the two areas of southern Mogadishu where the fighting was under way. Police spokesman Col. Abdullahi Hassan Barise said Mogadishu police chief Col. Ali Said died in the fighting but was unable to provide details about how that had happened. Said had led the capital's police force for about two years.
Another witness, Farah Abdi, said he saw five corpses lying in the capital's streets. Speaking in a telephone interview as the sound of heavy gunfire echoed in the background, Abdi said three of the victims were civilians and that the two others appeared to be an Islamist fighter and a government soldier.
An administrator at Mogadishu's Medina Hospital, Ali Ade, said it had received 39 wounded people, with three of them dying.
In another part of southern Mogadishu, an Associated Press reporter saw six bodies lying in a street outside a home that had been hit by a mortar. A grieving Somali woman identified one of the victims as her son.
"A stray mortar landed on these young men who sought refuge in our house," said the woman, Hawo Hassan. "It is a tragic day. He was my eldest son, my loved son, my dear son," Hassan said as she cried and held her head.
Mogadishu resident Hanad Abdi Garun, who was huddled in his house, said government forces brought in reinforcements overnight before they started the offensive against Islamist bases.
Another resident, Asha Moalim, said: "This is the strongest fighting we have seen in recent months. We are ducking inside our rooms."
The fighting was occurring after a surge of violence in Somalia's capital in May had killed about 200 people as insurgents battled the government and its allies. The U.N. says the conflict has displaced more than 122,000 people.
In another development Wednesday, UNICEF condemned the looting of its supplies and the continued occupation of its compound in the southern Somalia town of Jowhar by an extremist Islamic group. Looted supplies include nutritional supplements for about 40,000 children under the age of three, the agency said in a statement.
UNICEF said al-Shabab militiamen on May 17 occupied the compound when they took control of Jowhar, which had been an operational hub for the agency's humanitarian work in southern and central Somalia. The militiamen have looted supplies at least twice since taking over the compound, and storage equipment for vital vaccines for children has been destroyed, UNICEF said.
"We strongly urge that humanitarian work not be impeded in any way and demand the immediate return of our facilities in Jowhar town, as well as the release of looted equipment and supplies," said Hannan Sulieman, the agency's acting Somalia representative.
Somalia has had no effective central government for nearly two decades. The lawlessness on land also has allowed piracy to thrive off the country's coast, making Somalia the world's worst piracy hotspot.
Associated Press writer Mohamed Sheikh Nor in Mogadishu, Somalia contributed to this report.
_______________________________________________________________________________
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-15-voa67.cfm
VOA
Accused Ethiopia Plotters Ask for Protection
June 15, 2009
Peter Heinlein
A group charged with conspiracy to overthrow Ethiopia's government has asked a court for special protection, alleging their human rights have been violated during detention. Our correspondent reports relatives say some defendants have been tortured.
At a pre-trial hearing, attorneys and defendants in the so-called "Ginbot Seven" case indicated the accused had suffered physical and psychological abuse while being held in pre-trial detention.
Former army general Asamenew Tsige, one of five leaders of an alleged coup plot being held in solitary confinement, pleaded for special human-rights protection. An attorney for another defendant, businessman Getu Worku, asked that her client be allowed to see a private doctor for injuries suffered in detention.
Both requests were denied.
Getu Worku's wife, Rakeb Messele, who is also an attorney and human rights activist, said her husband was told he could only be examined by prison doctors.
"He was told he can try to address those issues through the health personnel of the prison administration," said Rakeb Messele. " [They said] you cannot ask for a private doctor to examine the client because now he is at the custody of the prison administration. What she said that the report of the medical examination might serve as evidence for her client."
Rights groups have expressed concern about the political implications of the arrest of the 32 Ginbot Seven activists. The organization is led by Berhanu Nega, who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in 2005.
Berhanu was later jailed along with other opposition leaders in connection with violent post-election protests and sentenced to life in prison. He was pardoned in 2007 and went to the United States, where he founded Ginbot Seven, named for May 15th, the date of the disputed election. He has repeatedly stated the group's goal is to oust Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government, which it considers illegitimate, but he denies the existence of any assassination plot.
Thirty-two accused conspirators appeared in court for pre-trial hearings. Berhanu Nega is among 14 others charged in absentia.
Most of those in custody are current or former military officers, including two generals. But the government has rejected suggestions that the group was planning a military coup.
Relatives of some of the defendants told reporters their loved ones had been subjected to harsh physical abuse during interrogation.
Government spokesman Shimelis Kemal rejected the charge, and pointed out that in three court appearances, the defendants had not filed any specific charges of abuse or torture. He said investigating officers never resort to what he called 'third-degree measures' to procure information from prisoners.
The case was adjourned for further study until June 30, when a bail request will be heard. The court also turned down a special bail request by the 83-year-old father of a top Ginbot Seven official. The official is living in Britain, and is among those charged in absentia.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/17/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, "Anteneh Mehari of BA"
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 10:23 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
Having just returned from Roma, Italy and having had the Italian President at the White House recently, I wondered what the Romans will think of the child of their adventure in the Horn today.
I did not see any interest in Roma, but the US has been busy discussing what to do with the Problem Child Roma invented in the Horn some 100 years ago.
Surprisingly all the problem children in the Horn, that is Somalia and Eritrea have one thing in common that is they were vandalized by the Romans at the turn of the Century.
All the same, they are part of the Horn community and need to be understood as a community with serious level of poor outcome of Generational Post Traumatic Disorder.
The chaos continues and the US had a very interesting debate to sanction or not sanction it. This is our people we are talking about, overtaken by terrorists and dysfunctional people.
We need to act to change the paradigm for every one in the region once for all.
First, the facts and the US debate for what it is worth.
Please do not hesitate to share your alternative perspective! We need ideas to let the old traumatized population leave the leadership for young talented and productive ones.
Yes, We can, we can bring change that we can believe in and that is fair and creates opportunity for all 20 Million people in the Horn.
Dr B
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r111:1:./temp/~r111WK0dgE:e747918:
US Congress,
Congressional Record H6499-H6500
June 10, 2009
On 10 June 2009, the US Congress considered an amendment to designate Eritrea as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism". The amendment was rejected. This record of the debate is taken from the Congressional Record for that date. Speaking for the Amendment, Congressman Royce from California; against the Amendment, Congressman Payne from New Jersey.
Mr. Royce Mr. Chairman, I currently serve as the ranking member of the Foreign
Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism. Previously, for 8 years, I served as
the chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, so I long have followed the
issues surrounding Eritrea and the Horn of Africa.
And this particular amendment calls on the Secretary of State to
designate Eritrea as a ``state sponsor of terrorism.'' The Horn of
Africa is a combustible mix. You have al Qaeda, you have piracy, a
failed state in Somalia, border tensions, and a key instigator of this
violence has been the government of Eritrea.
As the
amendment indicates, U.N. report after U.N. report cites
Eritrea for providing arms and military training to members of the
Shabaab, and that's an al Qaeda-linked group that has been designated
by the United States as a ``foreign terrorist organization.''
Mr. Chairman, if you take a look at this picture which appeared in a
U.N. report, this is the actual Shabaab fighter who shot down a cargo
plane with that shoulder-fired missile supplied by Eritrea. And the
reason that we know that is the propaganda footage used by this al
Qaeda-linked organization in order to try to recruit fighters to their
goal. And they showed the footage of the successful attack on the cargo
plane.
Now, what if that had been a civilian jetliner? How many lives would
have been lost?
Indeed, our FBI is greatly concerned about Somali Americans who have
gone missing from American cities. They are worried that they have gone
to Somalia and are linking up with these terrorist groups. And it is
Eritrea that is providing the weapons, including shoulder-fired
missiles that can take out an airliner and that are providing this
military training.
The case for adding Eritrea to the state sponsor of terrorism list is
compelling. It's even overwhelming. It has been so for some time. The
Obama administration's Assistant Secretary of State for African
Affairs, Johnny Carson, has noted that ``we have clear evidence that
Eritrea is supporting extremists,'' and that ``the government of
Eritrea continues to supply weapons and munitions to extremists and
terrorist
elements.''
And this isn't new. The previous administration took a similar view
of the destructive role that Eritrea plays in the horn. Some will say
that this is counterproductive or the wrong time. Well, it has been a
delicate time in this region for a decade now, and it's gotten a whole
lot worse.
It is a complex region. One thing, though, is not complex; this is a
clear national security threat.
U.N. reports have noted that over 100 Shabaab terrorists have
traveled to Eritrea for their military training at an Eritrean military
base and then traveled back. The same U.N. reports have identified
Eritrea as a ``principal violator'' of the arms embargo on Somalia and
have asserted that these violations ``take place with the knowledge and
authorization of senior officials within the Eritrean government.''
Plainly, it is state policy of Eritrea to support international
terrorism.
The U.N. Security Council has made similar statements citing
Eritrea's destructive role in the horn, and so have many neighboring
countries. So it is time that Eritrea should be named a state sponsor
of terrorism.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition and rise in
strong opposition to the Royce amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, the Royce amendment to the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, H.R. 2410, which would designate Eritrea as a state
sponsor of terrorism and call on the United Nations Security Council to
impose sanctions against Eritrea, I strongly oppose.
While I certainly respect my esteemed colleague from California, Ed
Royce, who served as an excellent chairman on the Subcommittee on
Africa for several years, and we worked closely together on many
issues, and I have a great deal of respect for him, I must oppose this
amendment. This amendment could undermine critical engagements
currently going on between the U.S. and Eritrea. I urge my colleagues
to vote ``no.''
The Royce
amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of State should designate Eritrea a state sponsor of
terrorism and that the U.N. Security Council should impose sanctions
against Eritrea. I urge you to vote against this amendment for the
following reasons:
First, some of the assertions made in the amendment are factually
wrong and dated.
Second, the geopolitical dynamics and interstate rivalries in the
Horn of Africa cannot be addressed properly without concerted
diplomatic engagement. Declaring Eritrea a state sponsor of terrorism
and imposing international sanctions would do nothing to further our
diplomatic aims and
would impose further hardship on the people who are
struggling to survive on a daily basis.
Thirdly, while Mr. Royce's amendment lays out a long list of reasons
why he feels Eritrea should be placed on a state sponsor of terrorism
list, the proposed amendment does not recognize the diplomatic efforts
currently underway by the State Department to address the complex
issues surrounding the Horn of Africa. Just last month, Eritrea
President Isaias Akwerki sent a letter to President Obama expressing
the desire to engage on these issues and is sending a high-level
delegation to Washington. Additionally, a senior State Department
official is expected to visit Asmara in a few weeks. Moreover, the
Somali Government has said they want to engage with Asmara.
Lastly, putting Eritrea on a sanctions list would have limited effect
on our effort to try to stabilize the region and build alliances with
governments in a wider battle against extremism.
We should urge the administration to take careful note of the issues
raised by Representative Royce, and I have written a letter to the
President to that effect. The administration is engaging Asmara. We
must allow these diplomatic discussions to continue.
In my last trip to Asmara 1 year ago, I met with the President and
did indicate changes that would have to be made. The current President
of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was in Asmara and went back,
and now is trying to lead a government which is fighting against al
Shabaab and
al Qaeda. And so at this time, I think that this amendment would disrupt
sensitive diplomatic issues that are going on. I urge my colleagues to
vote against the Royce amendment.
Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Let me respond that, first of all, I have a great deal of
respect for Chairman Payne. We have worked together for years on Africa
issues. We worked together on Darfur, Sudan. But this is the very issue
of why we disagree here, because all Members should know that it was
Eritrea that was the first country to invite Sudan's President, al-
Bashir, to visit Eritrea following an arrest warrant for his crimes
against humanity in Darfur.
Now, with respect to the issue, I can think of numerous issues and
times when Congress has had to push--and we'll take Sudan as an
example, since the example I'm giving here is an example in which
Eritrea has welcomed al-Bashir at a time when the international
community is trying to get him to prevent the crimes that he has
committed in Darfur. We have had to push to take more assertive
actions. We did that with genocide in Sudan. And in my view, there is
nothing wrong now, especially with respect to a state sponsorship of
terrorism. I think that the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa's
words speak for themselves. Again, this is Secretary Carson before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month, in which he said, We
have clear evidence that Eritrea is supporting these extremist
elements, including credible reports that they continue to supply
weapons and munitions to terrorist elements.
I ask for an ``aye'' vote.
The Acting CHAIR (Ms. DeGette). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Fri, 6/12/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Living History and Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com, "Anteneh Mehari of BA"
Date: Friday, June 12, 2009, 11:34 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Having just returned from Roma, the 3000 years Capital of Europe and home to the Holy Sea and the Vatican, I was impressed by the Rome office of the Ethiopian Airlines.
The castles, statues, bridges, churches, museums, Imperial Forums, Colosseum and the work of great artists and scientists of the Renaissance, ie. Da Vinci, Bernini, Michael Angelo and the series of Ceasars, Kings, Princes and ever present Popes in all the buildings of Rome, the Fountains, etc. are impressive.
The Giancolo, little hill by the Vatican houses all the great heroes of Rome surrounding Jusepi Garibaldi who united Rome. Then, there is the most beautiful church where St Peter was allegedly hanged upside down where young people come to get married seeking a good omen for life. I witnessed two such marriages on a Sunday morning.
The place where Duche Mussoloni declared war on Ethiopia in 1935 is now the center of Power where the Municipality sits at the top of the old Roman Forums and the office of Government and Parliament is just a small block away.
Rome is a very interesting and thriving city, and the world is much richers for its perservation, as I learned so much just in one week visit. Air France was my flight and could not believe what happened to the one from Brazil. May the Lord comfort all those who lost their loved ones on that fateful flight.
The most fascinating aspect is the link and connection of the past with the present, as the most exotic and well furnished fashion and shops are scattered in between the ruins, with excellent synergy and symbiosis of the past, present and the future.
Roma also took me to the large Central Bus Terminal and the memorial for the 500 Italian soldiers killed at Dogali by Ras Alula of Ethiopia during the Reign of Emperor Yohannes.
The Egyptian Oblesks adorn all the Fora and the Ethiopian Axumite Obeliskis missing and yet the Ethiooian College in the Vatican is impressive, next to the famous Sistine Chapels, etc.
I was previlaged to learn that Tourism to Ethiopia is at its peak as the Ethiopian Airlines Rome Office Director Genral reported that they have over 33 flights per week. I was impressed by the busy office at the Barberini Square, perhpas Rome's most expensive and fashionable real estate.
Ever since my return to Washington,DC, I have been thinking Ethiopia's 8,000 years history needs to be preserved and presented like the Romans have done.
Then, I found this interesting write up. I believe Ethiopia can do much more in its tourism industry and Rome can be an excellent example of allowing the past, present and future to co-exist symbiotically and with synergy.
Here is an interesting story from Melisa on Ethioipa.
Tourism, the new potential that Connects the past with the futue, the case of the
Living history in Ethiopia
Ties to ancient Israel run deep in the home of the Queen of Sheba, where Christianity came early and the churches are ancient and unique
BY MELISSA BURDICK HARMON, SPECIAL TO CANWEST NEWS SERVICE
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The Queen of Sheba's palace isn't what it used to be. Its roof is long gone. Its grand entrance is but a memory. Yet the 3,000-year-old ruins remain, sprawling over thin-grassed farm fields in Axum -- once the capital of a great world power and today a dusty Ethiopian town where cows and children, goats and donkeys roam free.
The Queen lived well. It is still possible to stride across her vast flagstone-floored throne room, just one of 50 excavated chambers. The sophisticated drainage system features fish-shaped granite gargoyles. Several brick ovens line the large kitchen, and multiple stairwells indicate that there were many more rooms above.
Here, according to Ethiopians, a great dynasty was born. And, as all great dynasties should, this one begins with a love story. As they tell it, the Queen of Sheba left Ethiopia only once, to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem. Solomon, despite being married, became smitten with the beautiful Queen. She reciprocated his desire and upon her return to Axum she gave birth to his son, Menelik.
Menelik I took the throne when his mother died, roughly a thousand years before the birth of Christ, and began a line of Solomonic rulers that endured with only a brief interruption until Emperor Haile Selassie, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was deposed 31 years ago.
Menelik I is also, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox church, responsible for that country's possessing the greatest relic of the Judeo-Christian tradition. It seems that the king went to visit his father, and somehow brought back the original Ark of the Covenant, previously kept in the great temple in Jerusalem.
The Ark is believed to hold the original tablets containing the Ten Commandments that God handed to Moses on Mount Sinai, and it is now said to be kept in Axum's Church of St. Mary of Zion. Only one elderly monk guards this treasure, which no one else may see.
St. Mary of Zion is one of thousands of Christian churches that dot the Ethiopian landscape. Christianity came early to Axum, and soon after A.D. 300 this new faith became the country's official religion. It has evolved little over the years, and its vivid churches are unlike any found elsewhere in the world.
This town's greatest attractions, however, are not its churches, but its stelae -- towering obelisks piercing the bright blue sky, the largest nine stories tall and cut from a single piece of granite. An even taller one, the height of a 13-storey building and weighing some 500 tonnes, lies on its side, broken. It fell, according to a written account, in about 850 AD.
Each stele has an altar for sacrificial offerings and a false door. No one knows exactly when or why they were built. Some say they were meant to house spirits.
Axum today shows much and hides much. Only about three per cent of this once vast city has been excavated. Kids routinely pull ancient coins from farm fields. It is a place rich with the feeling of unsolved mysteries.
In fact, mysteries and miracles abound all along Ethiopia's Historic Route, with each of the three remaining stops reflecting a different era in the county's rich life.
The 11 rock-hewn churches in the town of Lalibela have often been called the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Like the monoliths at Axum, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And, according to legend, they were each carved out of a single piece of rock at record speed, "as angels worked on them during the night."
The churches, many carved in deep trenches with only their roofs exposed, others cut directly into the rocks of caves, are all connected by a labyrinthine series of tunnels, paths and steep steps. Each has been used continuously since the beginning of the 13th century.
Most are decorated with a Star of David, underscoring the church's close kinship with King Solomon. One displays a very old painting of a black Jesus.
It is a remarkable place, as priests and monks in brilliant brocade vestments carry on a religious life that has gone on here, hidden among the hills and caves, for nearly a thousand years.
If the rock churches of Lalibela impress with their stark simplicity, the 29 churches and monasteries scattered over the islands of Lake Tana, headwaters of the Blue Nile River, delight with their vivid paintings in primary colours.
Abba Hailemariam Genetu, Head Priest at Azwah Maryam -- a circular church with a grass roof, located on an isolated peninsula -- greets visitors.
"This church," he says, "dates back to the 14th century. It is younger than most."
The handsome Abba, or Father, Genetu, speaks a Semitic language related to Hebrew, doesn't eat pork and performs ritual circumcision. He, like all Ethiopian Orthodox, practices a Christianity that is older, closer to Judaism, and far more exotic -- complete with ritual dancing and drumming -- than you'll find anywhere in North America.
His remote church was constructed to protect the faith, but also to reserve Ethiopia's ancient religious treasures -- ornate silver and bronze crosses, prayer sticks that recall Moses' staff and centuries-old illuminated manuscripts.
The church walls are covered with paintings which, over time, have also become treasures. One shows the child Jesus zooming down a board from a second story window, while less sacred children, who have tried and failed, lie scattered around the ground. Others illustrate the Holy Trinity: three identical dark-skinned, white-haired, white-bearded men.
If the rock churches are marvels of construction, and the churches of Lake Tana delight with their vivid paintings, the castles of Gondar simply astonish. Getchu Eshetu, my guide throughout Ethiopia, calls this site "Africa's Camelot," and he does not overstate the case. This palace complex looks as though it has been airlifted from medieval Europe.
In fact, the castle construction was begun by Emperor Fasiladas in 1632, when he declared the town of Gondar to be Ethiopia's first official capital.
His brown basalt palace was assembled using mortar and boasts four domed towers and battlements.
A Yemeni merchant who visited in 1648 wrote that it was "one of the most marvelous of buildings" he had ever seen, mentioning rooms trimmed in ivory and jewels, courtiers in fine brocade and thrones embroidered in gold.
Succeeding rulers constructed their own palaces. The 18th-century Empress Mentewab built a lovely one, where it is said she hosted Scotsman James Bruce (for five years!) when he came through searching for the headwaters of the Nile.
Other Europeans were less kind to the castles. Mussolini's Italians, who occupied Ethiopia from 1935 to 1941, used them as barracks. The British found out and bombed the buildings. Restoration is a slow process in a poor country, yet much of the complex remains, a reminder of the days when Gondar ruled a great empire.
As travellers complete the historic circle, it becomes abundantly clear that this mountainous country in the Horn of Africa contains treasures that should be on every history buff's wish list. Someday they will be, but for now it's still possible -- and lovely -- to experience Ethiopia's great sites without being jostled by hoards of tourists.
- - -
ACCOMMODATIONS IN ETHIOPIA
Addis Ababa, the capital city and jumpin off point for tours, offers several luxury hotels:
Sheraton Addis, a member of the chain's luxury collection, is one of the finest hotels in Africa. Its vast pool and gardens, excellent shops and Italian, Indian and fine dining restaurants make it a lovely oasis in a sometimes chaotic city. Doubles from $181 US a night. 888-625-4988 or 011-251-1-171717; www.starwoodhotels.com; Taitu Street, Box 6002, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Hilton Addis Ababa, on six hectares in the heart of the city, features a heated pool, four tennis courts and a spa (where a one-hour massage costs roughly $8.50). The hotel has a vast array of shops and restaurants, and rooms complete with balconies. Doubles from $151 a night. 800-HILTONS or 011-251-1-518400; www.hilton.com; corner of Menelik II Avenue, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ghion Hotels, a chain run by the Ethiopian government, are the best available on the Historic Route. They are well located (on the shore of Lake Tana, on a hill overlooking Axum, for example), but the accommodations tend to be rather simple. Prices vary, and will be included in tour packages. Phone: 011-251-1-1513-222; Ghion Hotels Enterprise, Res Desta Damteu Ave., Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Be sure to sample Ethiopian cuisine, typically a fermented, sponge-like pancake called injera, topped by a spicy stew called wat. The hotels on the Historic Route, however, are accustomed to catering to western tastes, serving up fresh fish, chicken and spaghetti. Save your fine-dining appetite for meals at the Hilton or the Sheraton, at journey's end.
Melissa Burdick Harmon served as travel editor of Biography Magazine and its predecessor, A&E Monthly, for 12 years.
© Copyright (c)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Lessons of excellence and competency: Tilahun, charles and Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com, henockw@ethiopianairlines.com, Gejeta@purdue.edu
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, Zewditu.Admassu@yahoo.com, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 5:23 PM
www.eastafricaforum.net
June 11, 2009
Charles Sutton's Tribute to Tilahun Gesses - Part II
Ye Muzika Metsihet
Part I of my tribute to Tilahun Gessesse concluded on a late summer evening in 1966, when staff Amharic teachers and I performed his beautiful song "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam" in a music show during Peace Corps training at the University of Utah.
As I begin writing again on the 40th-day memorial of Tilahun's death, I feel privileged to join you once more in commemorating this great, iconic singer.
In Part II, I will attempt to thank Tilahun in a more personal way, by acknowledging how profoundly he affected me during the years I spent as a Peace Corps Volunteer--and musical performer--in Ethiopia .
Perhaps I can best do this by inviting you to revisit with me a second musical event. It occurred almost exactly two years after the Utah show. The date was September 11, 1968 (Meskerem 1, 1961), and the occasion was the Grand New Year's Music Festival at the Ambassador Theater in Addis Ababa .
It was early, a little past eleven o'clock in the morning, when I arrived outside the Theater on that long-ago New Year's Day.
Already there was a large, animated crowd of music fans clustered around the box office, basking in the warm spring sunshine as they waited to purchase their tickets for the annual marathon show that would begin at one in the afternoon and continue until late into the night.
I paused for a moment near the main entrance to gaze at a large advertising poster on which I saw my name and photograph included along with those of Tilahun and other popular vocalists whose appearances were promised.
As I made my way through the throng toward the stage entrance at the rear of the building, a newspaper boy ran after me.
Under one arm he clutched a large stack of orange-colored magazines."Mister Charles! Mister Charles!" he cried. Music Magazine! Published today! Hot off the press! Limited edition just for the Festival! Great pictures and write-ups of Tilahun, Bizunesh Bekkele, Alemayehu Eshete--all the big stars! And you, Mister Charles! You! You are in it too! Look!" With a flourish, he opened a copy and held it up for my inspection.
"Mister Charles!" he continued. "This fantastic souvenir edition costs only one birr! Get yours now, before they are all gone! "I didn't need any more persuading. Fishing in the single, narrow pocket of my suri, I extracted the few coins necessary to make up the price.
By this time, we were surrounded by several more newsboys clamoring for me to buy their copies too. Leaving the sunlight, I escaped with my purchase through the stage door into the cavernous theater's backstage gloom.
For the equivalent of U.S. 40 cents, Ye Muzika Metsihet ("Music Magazine", as I have translated it; the text, except for a few English words added for effect to its advertisements, is entirely in Amharic) was undoubtedly one of the best bargains I have ever encountered.
Much more than a playbill, the metsihet contains in its 70 pages detailed descriptions of all the contemporary artists, groups, musical directors, and technicians; magnificent photographs and collages; and thoughtful essays covering a variety of musical subjects.
There is even a section devoted to English and American pop luminaries of the day like Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, and Ray Charles. The attractive cover of Music Magazine features a young, beautiful Asnakech Worku seated amidst spring flowers, plucking the strings of her krar.
All this was the work of Shawul Baminew, a presenter of popular music on Radio Ethiopia . Music Magazine was obviously a labor of love, which I doubt has been equaled before or since.
Once inside the theater, I became so absorbed in the magazine--which today remains one of my most treasured possessions--that I almost missed my cue.
Page 48 of Music Magazine features Charles and Almaz Getachew, the vivacious singer-dancer from Wolayita, performing with Orchestra Ethiopia.
As I had done for the first time in Utah , once again I was going before an audience to sing in Amharic, but now as the veteran of dozens of television, concert, and wedding performances during the preceding year and a half with Orchestra Ethiopia , a 15-member traditional folkloric troupe.
Long gone were the incongruous button-down shirt, striped tie, and slacks of my stateside initiation, replaced by the white cheesecloth cape, long white tunic, and white riding pants that constitute the Ethiopian national dress. Suspended on a leather thong from my left shoulder was a mesenko, which I had spent many laborious hours learning to play.
Even though I dressed in Ethiopian costume, sang Ethiopian songs, and made a fair attempt at performing on an Ethiopian musical instrument, you might well wonder how an amateur mesenko player--an American newcomer to the ancient land where the Peace Corps assigned him to be a teacher of English--could so rapidly have penetrated the ranks of its seasoned professional entertainers and musicians.
The paradoxical explanation is that I owed my improbable career in Ethiopian traditional music directly to the transcendent popularity of Tilahun Gessese.
The most quintessentially Ethiopian of all Ethiopian singers, but simultaneously the undisputed avatar of what was then called "modern music" ("zemenawi muzika"--Western-tinged Ethiopian pop performed on Western musical instruments), Tilahun, and his cohorts in the Imperial Bodyguard (the Army and Police Bands followed close on their heels), seemed in those days to sweep all before them, taking the world of Ethiopian music by storm.
Some commentators confidently predicted that Ethiopian traditional music and musical instruments would soon face extinction as a result.
Page 25 of Music Magazine is devoted to Tilahun Gessesse, 26-year-old star vocalist of the Imperial Bodyguard Orchestra
Orchestra Ethiopia , the group with which I had become associated, was founded under the auspices of the Creative Arts Centre of Haile Selassie I University in 1963 by the Egyptian-American composer and ethnomusicologist Halim El-Dabh, specifically to counter this trend.
As Shawul Baminew wrote about Orchestra Ethiopia in Music Magazine, "In order to prevent Ethiopia's great cultural heritage from being swallowed up by Western civilization and know-how, and with the goal of keeping the country's native arts alive and to defend against their being swept away in a flood of foreign influences..., one branch of the Creative Arts Centre was dedicated to the preservation of traditional music and given the name 'Orchestra Ethiopia'...[The Orchestra] would incorporate all the varied instruments characteristic of different Ethiopian ethnic groups, so that these instruments would not molder as displays in a museum, but would play on together in group performance and so be given new life and the chance to expand their musical scope."
Ato Shawul goes on to say that the then director of the Orchestra, a gifted twenty-year old composer and poet named Tesfaye Lemma, by means of his attractive, innovative compositions and his skilled supervision of the ensemble, had not only brought it a long way toward achieving the goals that had been set for it, but had in the process also won for traditional music an unexpected resurgence in popularity.
Nonetheless, traditional music still faced an uphill fight. Tesfaye told me that the first time Orchestra Ethiopia participated in the New Year's Festival, before he became director, an impatient audience hooted the musicians off the stage. Things had improved since then, but Tesfaye was still looking for new approaches and special attractions to help Orchestra Ethiopia hold its own against the glitz and glamor of the military bands.
That was where I came in.
Thirty years later, Tesfaye explained in an interview the genesis of his plan for me to join the Orchestra: "It was a new experience for Ethiopians when they saw a foreigner appreciating and performing their music.
This brought good attention to the Orchestra, especially in those days. Many people were not conscious of their culture. They didn't see their music and instruments as valuable. The younger people were more interested in rock music and in learning the guitar and keyboard.
When I invited Charles to perform with the Orchestra, it was unusual and they woke up and said, 'This is good music. An American is playing our music! 'They came to have more respect for their music as a result."
At the 1968 New Year's Festival at the Ambassador Theater, Orchestra Ethiopia finally came into its own. Tesfaye had spent months preparing an all-new program that was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm by the capacity crowd. The song he wrote for me then--it has been a staple of my repertoire ever since--was called "Mesenko". The audience liked "Mesenko" so much that I had to sing it twice.
Considered by the organizers to be the least exciting attraction, Orchestra Ethiopia was always first on the bill at the New Year's Festival, presenting a one-hour program. Next came the Police and Army Bands, each playing for two hours.
The grand finale was the Bodyguard's presentation, with Tilahun's performance as its climax. As each group finished its job at the Ambassador, it left immediately for the Ras Theater in the mercato, where the New Year's show was repeated in its entirety at half-price for a young, rough, more boisterous crowd.
Charles was proud when he saw his photograph positioned directly below Tilahun's at the center of this poster advertising a music show in 1968.
I can remember clearly the shock of the transition from the relative decorum of the Ambassador to the rough-and-tumble holiday hubbub of the Ras.
We descended from our minibus at twilight into the midst of a disorderly mob through which we had to push our way to the Theater's back entrance.
Once safely inside the dimly lit stage area, we found a scene that seemed to border on chaos, with many people running about and no one apparently in charge. But there was hidden method to this apparent madness; presently we were ushered into the wings and hurriedly prepared to march out on stage. I peeked through a tear in the curtain and felt butterflies in my stomach as I glimpsed a vast, restive multitude standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the darkened, fully packed house.
If a Ras audience found fault with you, their yells, insults, hoots, and catcalls would begin immediately and make it virtually impossible for you to continue your performance. But if you won them over and they liked you, they were equally uninhibited in demonstrating their approbation--nay, love--which you could feel wash over you like a warm wave. At the Ambassador, the rhymes in my new song "Mesenko" had been greeted with polite applause; at the Ras, they elicited roars of delight.
The audience began to sway and sing along. A young woman emerged from their midst, climbed a staircase at the side of the stage, and, like a lovely apparition, came dancing toward me. When she kissed me on both cheeks and pasted a 10-birr note to my forehead, the crowd went wild. She was followed by several others who stuffed money into my pockets, the collar of my tunic, under the strap of my mesenko, and even in my shoes--always to uproarious applause.
Orchestra Ethiopia 's entire program was very warmly received.
The bus was waiting outside to take us at last to our homes. I unwound by reading some more in Music Magazine, turning now to Shawul Baminew's appraisal of Tilahun (whose performance that day I was sorry to have missed): "Most of you know already that Tilahun holds the first place among our country's vocalists.
Tilahun is a young man who has a pleasant disposition, is disciplined, strives to please all of his listeners whoever they may be, always has a smile on his face, and, in accordance with Ethiopian custom, respects his fellow man.
Because he is like this, everyone who knows Tilahun admires and praises him. If you think I'm lying, approach him. Try him, and you will see."
Unfortunately, 32 years would pass before I was lucky enough to discover for myself the accuracy of that pronouncement.
I was a co-participant with Tilahun in four successive New Year's festivals, but because Orchestra Ethiopia always appeared at the beginning of the show and the Bodyguard Orchestra at the end, we never met.
However, I did at least get close to Tilahun--in a manner of speaking. Two weeks after Orchestra Ethiopia 's success at the Festival of '68, the entire New Year's show was staged again by popular demand.
A new advertisement posted all over town displayed the photographs of ten star performers. As always, Tilahun occupied the central position. But this time, for once--it was one of the proudest moments of my life--I joined him there.
I look forward to recounting to you in the third and concluding part of my tribute how I eventually did enjoy the good fortune not only to watch on two occasions from the best seat in the house as Tilahun performed, but also to meet him, express to him my admiration, hear his opinion of my singing and mesenko playing, spend some happy times with him, and become his friend.
Charles Sutton
Old Saybrook , Connecticut
June 9, 2009
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
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Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to all: Lessons of excellence and competency: Dr Gebisa Ejeta and the Ethioopian Airlines
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com, GEjeta@purdue.edu, ezanareg@hotmail.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 4:24 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
It is with great honor and fond memory that I present to you Dr Gebisa Ejeta of Purdue University who was the then Gold Medalist of Alemaya College and now the New winner of the 2009 World Food Award equivalent to the Nobel awards.
I knew Gebisa when he used to come to Dire Dawa from Alemaya for the weekends and we used to play Basketball with Tenassi Nichol and Girma some of his classmates.
I was much younger and used to be amazed by this tall energetic man dunking the ball in mid air, we could hardly reach him as he was so agile and tall. Girma was the play maker then. I am afraid, Girma passed away recently due to cancer and he was also a distinguished scientist at the world bank.
Now, comes Gebisa after so many years of silence or at least absence from the Ethiopian scene.
Yet, he was dedicated to Plant Breeding Science and has come up with a novel way of developing a special breed of Sorghum. His personal story is such a great lesson, I thought he shares the special place like Ethiopian Airlines as the Gem of the Century for Ethiopia and Africa.
Congratulations, Dr Gebisa, may the Lord bless you and may we emulate your excellent work. You are a great role model to our children and Ethiopians in general.
Bless you.
Dr B
Please see more at http://globalbelai7.blogspot.com
GlobalBelai7: the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential-Always!
June 11, 2009
Purdue sorghum researcher wins World Food Prize
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Gebisa Ejeta
Gebisa Ejeta, Distinguished Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, on Thursday (June 11) was named the recipient of the World Food Prize for research leading to the increased production and availability of sorghum in his native Africa.
Ejeta, a plant breeder and geneticist, developed sorghum varieties resistant to drought and Striga, a parasitic weed. Sorghum is a major food crop for more than 500 million people on the African continent.
The World Food Prize is considered the Nobel Prize of agriculture. It is awarded each year by the World Food Prize Foundation to individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food worldwide. Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize, established the World Food Prize in 1986.
The award announcement was made at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and World Food Prize Foundation President Kenneth Quinn. Ejeta will receive his $250,000 award at an Oct. 15 ceremony in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ejeta is the second Purdue professor to receive the World Food Prize in three years. Philip Nelson, the Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing and former head of Purdue's Department of Food Science, won the award in 2007 for developing aseptic bulk storage and distribution, a technology for transporting processed fruits and vegetables without product spoilage.
"I'm pleased that the selection committee found my work significant enough to choose me as the 2009 World Food Prize winner," Ejeta said. "It is a great honor."
Purdue President France A. Córdova said Ejeta's research is making a difference in the world and that he is deserving of the World Food Prize.
"We're very proud of Dr. Ejeta and the work that he has done and are thrilled that he is receiving the 2009 World Food Prize," Córdova said. "This is a sterling example of Purdue's commitment to helping resolve the global challenges of world hunger."
Jay Akridge, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue, agreed.
"Dr. Ejeta's work on the development of new sorghum varieties is a powerful demonstration of the difference agricultural research can make in creating a more secure and consistent food supply for millions of people," he said.
Sorghum is among the world's five principal cereal grains. The crop is as important to Africa as corn and soybeans are to the United States.
A native of Ethiopia, Ejeta witnessed the devastating effects of drought and Striga on sorghum crops in his own country and several others in eastern and western Africa.
"I focused my research on sorghum because I'm originally from Africa, and I've known about the importance of the crop to the people there," Ejeta said. "So I wanted to work on improving sorghum."
Five years of research in rain-starved northern Sudan produced his first breakthrough in sorghum research in the early 1980s, when Ejeta developed the drought-tolerant cultivar Hageen Dura-1, the first commercial sorghum hybrid in Africa.
Hageen Dura-1 produced yields up to 150 percent higher than traditional sorghum cultivars. About 1 million acres of the drought-tolerant sorghum is grown in Sudan annually.
Ejeta then focused on Striga. Commonly known as witchweed, the insidious weed attacks nearby sorghum through the plant's root system. The almost microscopic Striga seeds germinate and then send out rootlets, which find sorghum roots and work their way into the host plant. Once inside, the parasitic weed removes valuable nutrients.
Striga is especially troublesome because the weed's seeds can remain viable for up to 20 years. Striga-related losses of 40 percent are possible in non-resistant sorghum crops.
Working with late Purdue colleague Larry Butler, Ejeta identified the exudate - chemical signal - from sorghum that is picked up by Striga rootlets. From there, he was able to develop a biological mechanism for interrupting the exudation process.
"The parasitic weed work took nearly 15 years to come to fruition," Ejeta said. "The novel approach that we developed was a totally new paradigm on how to dissect this complex trait into simpler components. After that, we didn't need to go to Africa to do Striga research. We were able to do this work in a laboratory at Purdue University."
In 1994 eight tons of Ejeta's drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant sorghum seeds produced at a Purdue agricultural research farm were distributed to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Farmers reported yields of as much as four times larger than traditional sorghum crops.
Ejeta is not finished with sorghum genetics or international development work.
"The need out there is great, so there is more to do," he said. "We need to extend the results of our work to more programs and more nations. We need to build stronger human and institutional capacity in African nations to help people feed themselves. We need to encourage the development of similar advances in maize, millets and other crops of Africa."
Ejeta received his master's and doctoral degrees in plant breeding and genetics from Purdue in 1976 and 1978, respectively. He joined the Purdue faculty in 1984.
More information about the World Food Prize Foundation and Prize is available at http://www.worldfoodprize.org
Writer: Steve Leer, 765-494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu
Sources: Gebisa Ejeta, 765-463-4245 (June 11), 765-494-4320 (after June 11), gejeta@purdue.edu
Justin Cremer, World Food Prize Foundation, 515-779-4028, 515-245-3794, jcremer@worldfoodprize.org
Craig Beyrouty, head of the Purdue Department of Agronomy, (contact Steve Leer at 765-494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu for contact information)
Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
Note to Journalists: Broadcast-quality video can be downloaded at ftp://news69.uns.purdue.edu/Public/ in a folder called World Food Prize 2009. For more information, contact Jim Schenke, Purdue Marketing and Media, at 765-494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Ethiopian scientist named
2009 World Food Prize Laureate
Gebisa Ejeta of Purdue University developed drought- and weed-resitant sorghum, enhancing food supply in sub-Saharan Africa
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Gebisa Ejeta
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Gebisa Ejeta will receive the $250,000 World Food Prize on October 15 at the Iowa State Capitol
The 2009 World Food Prize will be awarded to Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia, whose sorghum hybrids resistant to drought and the devastating Striga weed have dramatically increased the production and availability of one of the world’s five principal grains and enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa.
OVERCOMING EARLY OBSTACLES THROUGH EDUCATION
Ejeta as a grad student at Purdue in 1974 Born in 1950, Gebisa Ejeta grew up in a one-room thatched hut with a mud floor, in a rural village in west-central Ethiopia.
His mother’s deep belief in education and her struggle to provide her son with access to local teachers and schools provided the young Ejeta with the means to rise out of poverty and hardship.
His mother made arrangements for him to attend school in a neighboring town. Walking 20 kilometers every Sunday night to attend school during the week and then back home on Friday, he rapidly ascended through eight grades and passed the national exam qualifying him to enter high school.
Ejeta’s high academic standing earned him financial assistance and entrance to the secondary-level Jimma Agricultural and Technical School, which had been established by Oklahoma State University under the U.S. government’s Point Four Program. After graduating with distinction, Ejeta entered Alemaya College (also established by OSU and supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development) in eastern Ethiopia. He received his bachelor’s degree in plant science in 1973.
In 1973, his college mentor introduced Ejeta to a renowned sorghum researcher, Dr. John Axtell of Purdue University, who invited him to assist in collecting sorghum species from around the country. Dr. Axtell was so impressed with Ejeta that he invited him to become his graduate student at Purdue University. This invitation came at a time when Ethiopia was about to enter a long period of political instability which would keep Ejeta from returning to his home country for nearly 25 years.
Ejeta entered Purdue in 1974, earning his Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics. He later became a faculty member at Purdue, where today he holds a distinguished professorship.
Developing Drought-Tolerant Crops for Africa
Gebisa Ejeta conducting sorghum research
(click photo to enlarge)
Upon completing his graduate degree, Dr. Ejeta accepted a position as a sorghum researcher at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) office in Sudan. During his time at ICRISAT, Dr. Ejeta developed the first hybrid sorghum varieties for Africa, which were drought-tolerant and high-yielding.
With the local importance of sorghum in the human diet (made into breads, porridges, and beverages), and the vast potential of dryland agriculture in Sudan, Dr. Ejeta’s drought-tolerant hybrids brought dramatic gains in crop productivity and also catalyzed the initiation of a commercial sorghum seed industry in Sudan.
His Hageen Dura-1, as the hybrid was named, was released in 1983 following field trials in which the hybrids out-yielded traditional sorghum varieties by 50 to 100 percent. Its superior grain qualities contributed to its rapid spread and wide acceptance by farmers, who found that yields increased to more than 150 percent greater than local sorghum, far surpassing the percentage gain in the trials.
Dr. Ejeta’s dedication to helping poor farmers feed themselves and their families and rise out of poverty propelled his work in leveraging the gains of his hybrid breeding breakthrough. He urged the establishment of structures to monitor production, processing, certification, and marketing of hybrid seed—and farmer-education programs in the use of fertilizers, soil and water conservation, and other supportive crop management practices.
By 1999, one million acres of Hageen Dura-1 had been harvested by hundreds of thousands of Sudanese farmers, and millions of Sudanese had been fed with grain produced by Hageen Dura-1.
Another drought-tolerant sorghum hybrid, NAD-1, was developed for conditions in Niger by Dr. Ejeta and one of his graduate students at Purdue University in 1992. This cultivar has had yields 4 or 5 times the national sorghum average.
Using some of the drought-tolerant germplasm from the hybrids in Niger and Sudan, Dr. Ejeta also developed elite sorghum inbred lines for the U.S. sorghum hybrid industry. He has released over 70 parental lines for the U.S. seed industry’s use in commercial sorghum hybrids in both their domestic and international markets.
Defeating the Scourge of Striga
Ejeta with Striga-stricken sorghum in Niger
(click photo to enlarge)
Dr. Ejeta’s next breakthrough came in the 1990s, the culmination of his research to conquer the greatest biological impediment to food production in Africa – the deadly parasitic weed Striga, known commonly as witchweed, which devastates yields of crops including maize, rice, pearl millet, sugarcane, and sorghum, thus severely limiting food availability. A 2009 UN Environmental Programme report estimated that Striga plagues 40% of arable savannah land and over 100 million people in Africa.
Previous attempts by African sorghum farmers to control the deadly weed, including crop management techniques and application of herbicides, had failed until Dr. Ejeta and his Purdue colleague Dr. Larry Butler formulated a novel research paradigm for genetic control of this scourge. With financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation and USAID, they developed an approach integrating genetics, agronomy, and biochemistry that focused on unraveling the intricate relationships between the parasitic Striga and the host sorghum plant. Eventually, they identified genes for Striga resistance and transferred them into locally adapted sorghum varieties and improved sorghum cultivars. The new sorghum also possessed broad adaptation to different African ecological conditions and farming systems.
The dissemination of the new sorghum varieties in Striga-endemic African countries was initially facilitated in 1994 by Dr. Ejeta, working closely with World Vision International and Sasakawa2000. Those organizations coordinated a pilot program, with USAID funding, that distributed eight tons of seed to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The yield increases from the improved Striga-resistant cultivars have been as much as four times the yield of local varieties, even in the severe drought areas.
In 2002-2003, Dr. Ejeta introduced an integrated Striga management (ISM) package, again through a pilot program funded by USAID, to deploy in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Tanzania along with the Striga-resistant sorghum varieties he and his colleagues had developed at Purdue. This ISM package achieved further increased crop productivity through a synergistic combination of weed resistance in the host plant, soil-fertility enhancement, and water conservation.
Empowering Farmers, Inspiring Young Scientists
Ejeta working with students at Purdue University
(click photo to enlarge)
By partnering with leaders and farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and educational institutions in the U.S. and abroad, Dr. Ejeta has personally trained and inspired a new generation of African agricultural scientists that is carrying forth his work.
Dr. Ejeta’s scientific breakthroughs in breeding drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant sorghum have been combined with his persistent efforts to foster economic development and the empowerment of subsistence farmers through the creation of agricultural enterprises in rural Africa. He has led his colleagues in working with national and local authorities and nongovernmental agencies so that smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs can catalyze efforts to improve crop productivity, strengthen nutritional security, increase the value of agricultural products, and boost the profitability of agricultural enterprise – thus fostering profound impacts on lives and livelihoods on broader scale across the African continent.
Gebisa Ejeta will receive the $250,000 World Food Prize on October 15 at the Iowa State Capitol
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Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Thu, 6/11/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, nwamariam@yahoo.com, aateferra@gmail.com, tonymehari@gmail.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, wessen.debela@uspto.gov, mulugeta_agonafer@spfldcol.edu, muluneh@ethiomedia.com, Mulugetatsegaye@aol.com, awaktola@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 11:06 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
It is becoming evident by the day that the Ethiopian Airlines, perhaps one of the most technologically complex industry in the African continent is becoming profitable against the Global business trend for the industry.
Reasons, appear to be competent leadership and market niche developed over time.
I wonder, if Ethiopians can succeed with such complex and high technology business efficiently, why not in the Agricultural and other technology sector?
The answer is the same. Incompetent leadership and lack of niche market in these industries. The Coffee Market is an excellent example where we have incompetent leadership that allowed the Eritreans to be t he 10th exporters of coffee.
It will not surprise me now if the Arabian Investors will not be the next new Ethiopian Coffee Exporters, if we continue to sale Ethiopian land to the Arabs. Mind you land that Ethiopians do not have access to is likely to be sold out to new investors.
The Governance of Agriculture, technology and industry need to have the same level of competent leadership, the ability to identify niche market and engage local and global technologies and markets.
So long as the Coffee industry and Agricultural sector is left in the hands of incompetent leadership we will continue to starve. Now, the new notion of Selling fertile lands to Arabs under the guise of investment is perhaps the largest incompetent decision that the current leadership is making.
Look at the concern expressed by African Union, United Nations experts and some how the same level of debate is not taking place by the locals be it in the local state and federal parliaments and even among the rather vocal Diaspora.
It is time to investigate the Developmental State, the Revolutionary Democracy heritage and evaluate its success and its weaknesses and ensure that patriotic policies evolve that ensures the security and prosperity of our people for a long time to come.
No doubt, the Ethiopian Airlines has shown to the world and specifically to African and Ethiopian people, that competent leadership can withstand the madness of soldiers as seen by incompetent military Juntas and ignorance of peasants; as evidenced by the track record of liberation fronts and Revolutionary Democracies; that continue to fail to engage the public in discourse and dialogs on serious matters as selling land to foreigners under the banner of investment.
Remeber all the enterprises that were intiated during the Emperor Haile Selassie time, none succeeded with subsequent generation of incompetent leadership except the Ethiopian Airlines.
Remember the Ethiopian Navy, Air Force, Military, where are they now? Remember the series of Mechanized farming at Wadu, Cadu and the fertile farms in Afar and Wolkait Tsegede in Bege-Medir regions what happened to them.
whereas the local Ethiopians and their properties are nationalized without any compensation and now after almost 40 years of Crazy Communism, that same land is going to be sold to Arabs as investment opportunities,
Now is the time to debate as to who has the right to sale the Ethiopian land and property without exhaustive debate and dialog in Parliaments, policy fora and especially at elections.
We need to see the process of democracy play out where there is a debate about the pros and cons of selling fertile land to foreign investors?
Why not invest in the Agri business as partners with local Ethiopians as the Indians and Chinese do.
What happened to that foolish notion that .."if we give land to the peasants, they will sale their land and over crowd the cities like Addis"
Now, who is selling the land and what happened to the peasants that are crowding the streets of Addis and other provincial cities.?
Is it the duty of Developmental State to sale the arable land? Where is the development if the sources of development, land, agricultural produce are sold out to Arabs and Chinese?
We need to discuss this and this is no laughing matter.
As we say Congratulations to the Ethiopian Airlines? Please learn the lesson; the Ethiopian Airlines buys technologies and sales service. Why not apply the same principle, let the investors invest in Agricultural technologies and we sale the produce.
Some thing is seriously wrong here and we need to debate and demand transparency and accountability from all concerned.
Please read the glorious stories of the Ethiopian Airlines below and see how the land sale issues is creating diverse debates across the international community!
Dr B
I look forward to your intelligent dialogue and alternative perspecitve on these critical issues of our time!
http://www.addisfortune.com/Ethiopian%20Soars%20despite%20Global%20Turbulence.htm
Fortune, Ethiopia
June 10, 2009
AMANYEHUN REDDA
Ethiopian Soars despite Global Turbulence
Airline reports 8.37b Br. Total Revenue in Eight Months.
Ethiopian Airlines has collected 45pc more revenue in the first eight months of the 2008-09 budget year than it has planned according to its officials.
The phenomenal performance has come during the global economic crisis that has put contributed to a loss of 8.5 billion dollars for the aviation industry in 2008 and an anticipated 4.7 billion dollars loss this year.
The airline has registered 8.37 billion Br in revenue over eight months, three per cent higher than the 8.15 billion Br plan for the entire year.
Of the gross revenue, 6.12 billion Br was collected from ticket sales for about 1.95 million passengers. This represents 99pc of the planned passengers for the eight months.
Boosting operations with three additional aircraft to its fleet size in the current fiscal year, the flag carrier’s performance in the cargo service has also, equally, gone beyond the plan its executives authored for their operations through the year.
“To facilitate the country’s export sector, the airline has bought a cargo plane for $60 million and rented two passenger airplanes, a Boeing 757 and a Boeing 737-800.” Girma Wake, chief executive officer of the national carrier, said. He was reporting the performance of the Airline to the Infrastructure Affairs Standing Committee of the House of People’s Representative last Wednesday June 3, 2009.
Ethiopian has collected 1.33 billion Br in revenue from transporting 354 million tons of freight overseas. The revenue from the cargo is five per cent higher than the actual plan for the eight months. It has also collected 850 million Br from payments for extra luggage, training and postage services. Previously, its plan was to collect 570 million Br from these sources.
Its expenditures over the same period were 7.64 billion; representing 96pc of expected expenses. This is a 45pc increase compared with the same period last year. The increasing oil consumption due to increased operations accounts for 3.39 billion Br of the total expenditure. This represents 44.3pc of its total expense.
“We are astonished by the performance of the airline,” said a member of the Standing Committee as he asked the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines how they managed to achieve such a performance at a time many other airlines are closing or loosing money due to the global financial crisis.
“33 of the 53 flight destinations of the airline are in Africa which has not been hit hard by the financial crisis,” said the CEO.
Conference travellers have also contributed to the performance of the airlines, according to Girma.
“Unlike Ethiopian, many airlines have more leisure travellers who are tourists. Thus, when a crisis like the one besieging the world happens, travelling for leisure is likely to decline. Business travellers, however, have to travel,” the CEO said while explaining the questions raised by the MPs.
“The airline has increased flight frequencies to many of its destinations and a modern airport facility built by the Airports Enterprise increases travellers’ comfort,” Girma said.
Many airlines have faced challenges in continuing their services during the global economic downturn which has decreased business and leisure travel worldwide. Some governments such as the republic of South Africa and China have been forced to inject hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure their airlines are able to continue providing service.
South African Airways, one of the biggest airlines in Africa and one of only two Star Alliance members in Africa, received a 2.8 billion Rand (a little over 348 million dollars) injection from their government while China Southern is set to be the first mainland carrier in China to fly out of the financial turbulence after getting a capital injection of three billion Yuan (approximately 440 million dollars) from their government.
Hit by declining passenger traffic, China Southern lost over 4.8 billion Yuan (a little over 700 million dollars) in 2008. Similarly British Airways reported 850 million dollars in losses over the same year.
The aviation industry experienced losses in 2008 due to the increasing price of oil. In July 2008, oil reached 147 dollars per barrel. The aviation industry lost 8.7 billion dollars. Now, with oil prices decreasing to their current price of approximately 66 dollars, the aviation industry still continues to suffer from losses. The CEO’s report also included speculation of industry experts that this year, the aggregate loss is will reach 4.7 billion dollars.
Despite a daunting global context where profitability has become rare, Ethiopian Airlines has managed to surpass its plans.
“We found the performance of Ethiopian Airlines impressive,” Wubneh Emiru, chairperson of the Infrastructure Affairs Standing Committee, told Fortune. “We cherish the achievements of the airline.”
But not surprising is the performance for experts in the industry.
“The achievements of Ethiopian are expected,” Zemedenen Negatu, managing partner of Ernst & Young, who has been consulting the airline since 2004, told Fortune.
He attributes the success of the airline to an efficient management system and the visionary leadership pursued by its management and board.
Nevertheless, its domestic operations seem to have enjoyed less attention. The CEO was asked to explain the contrast.
“It is a fair criticism,” Girma said.
But there are plans in the making to improve the domestic services.
“We have bought eight Bombardier Airplanes from Canada ,” he said. “We will buy four or more planes from the same company next year.”
Ethiopian is also working to upgrade its pilot training institution at a cost of 30 million euro (45 million dollars) with financing through a loan from French Bank. With the finalization of the expansion, the training institution would be upgraded to an Aviation Academy , according to the CEO.
As part of its preparation for membership in the Star Alliance, it has also signed a code share agreement with Singapore , Thai and United airlines of Singapore , Thailand and United States , respectively.
It has also bought 25pc equity share in the establishment of ASKY airline in Togo in collaboration with the government of Togo and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional block of 16 countries founded in 1975.
Ethiopian will be responsible for maintaining the aircrafts and management of airline operations.
Togo will serve as the airline’s West African hub, according to the CEO, though Nigeria offers the largest number of passengers for Ethiopian in the continent.
________________________________________________________
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L9584860.htm
Reuters
09 Jun 2009
INTERVIEW-Africa becomes wary of farm deals-land activist
* De facto moratorium on African land investments
Wendell Roelf
CAPE TOWN - African nations are becoming more cautious in selling farmland to foreign investors, with governments paying closer attention to deals that could lead to social unrest, a leading land activist said on Tuesday.
In a bid to overcome reliance on food imports, countries in Asia and the Gulf have been at the forefront of farmland purchases in the world's poorest continent where millions survive on subsistence farming.
However, these so-called "land grabs" have drawn sharp criticism from land activists -- who raised concerns of exploitation -- as well as some international donor agencies, the African Union and the European Union. [ID:nLS816189]
"I think there is almost a de facto moratorium (on land purchases)," Namanga Ngongi, president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), told Reuters on the sidelines of food security seminar in Cape Town.
Ngongi said foreign-funded AGRA, which aims to ease poverty by focussing on food security and access to markets, supported investment -- as long as it was mutually beneficial and not one-sided.
"There is a lot more reflection going on ... It is something that every country should weigh because governments are sitting on a box of dynamite if they take decisions likely to cause upheaval in their countries," Ngongi said.
He said governments needed to consult widely, especially with small farmers, before signing deals that may increase poverty.
International agencies report that since 2004 about $920 million has been spent to buy or lease nearly 2.5 million hectares (6.2 million acres) of farmland in five sub-Saharan African countries. [ID:nLP708175]
"If in the future Africa can become a bread basket of the world, why not ? But it is not that we in Africa should be starving while we are putting food on ships to other parts of the world," he said.
Large-scale farmland purchases by China and oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar increased fears of food security in Africa, where nearly all countries are net food importers and soaring prices last year caused violent protests.
Andrew Daudi, Malawi's permanent secretary for agriculture and food security, said the poor southern African country was cautiously mulling a land deal involving China and Djibouti.
He told Reuters that investors can come so long as they benefit Malawi's foreign exchange reserves.
He said the Malawian government was considering a bid by both countries to each grow crops on 50,000 hectares. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf, Editing by Peter Blackburn)
_____________________________________________________________________
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5580CI20090609?sp=true
Reuters
June 10, 2009
Dealers revel in Somali war business
Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU - Sitting on a mat at home between taking orders for arms on his two mobile phones, Osman Bare gives thanks for the riches flowing from Somalia's war.
"I have only been in the weapon business five years, but I have erected three villas. I have also opened shops for my two wives," said the 40-year-old, one of about 400 Somali men operating in Mogadishu's main weapons market.
"Peace means bankruptcy for us."
Despite a U.N. arms embargo on Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation is awash with weaponry from all over the world that has fuelled one of Africa's longest-running conflicts.
In the latest cycle of civil war, militant Islamists have been fighting the Somali government for the last two years and 18,000 civilians have been killed in the crossfire.
Weapons are captured, sold and recycled constantly between both sides, experts say. Many arms have come from Ethiopian soldiers who intervened in Somalia between 2006 and early 2009.
African Union peacekeepers have been accused of trafficking arms, and regional bodies say Eritrea -- among others -- is funnelling weapons towards the rebels.
Weapons are also said to pour across the porous borders of Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia, arriving by plane and through seas infested by pirates who are themselves armed to the teeth.
The Mogadishu arms market is just one part of an illicit global arms bazaar.
According to Geneva-based research body Small Arms Survey, there are at least 640 million firearms in the world, one for every 10 people on the planet.
Only a third of these are in the hands of armies or law enforcement agencies, the rest dispersed among non-state militia groups or the general population.
Dealers like Bare say the main Irtogte market, within the sprawling Bakara commercial area of Mogadishu, is holding its largest stock ever, and gunrunners are rolling in money.
The risks of being robbed, cheated or shot are high, however, and prices fluctuate greatly. They are at a low right now due to the abundance of supply.
"The good thing is that our goods are not perishable," Bare said. "We get a lot of cash, but we are always in terror."
Dealers say they can be arrested, or even beheaded by the Islamists, if caught outside the market.
"But inside our market, we are cocks. There are hundreds of retailers and wholesalers and each has four well-armed guards."
BIG PRICE RANGE
He said masked Islamists once picked him up, blindfolded him and took him to a well-known execution house when he was found carrying a U.S. M16 rifle ordered by a pirate. As he was being beaten by gun-butt, a friend with good contacts in the al Shabaab insurgent movement came and rescued him.
"The government is better than Islamists -- they do not kill people. They take your property and jail you only for few days," Bare said.
While Islamists come to the market for purchases, traders said, arms are delivered to government and other buyers.
"We dismantle weapons and then secretly take them to anyone who needs to buy."
With the exception of pistols from Yemen, North Korean AK-47s, and hand-grenades from government supplies, most arms are second-hand, the dealers said.
One of the cheapest items is an Indian AK-47, at $140 each, but fighters disparage its poor quality compared to the heat-resistant North Korean version and the light Russian one. At the top of the range of light weapons, the most expensive pistol, Russian-made, goes for $1,000.
Hand-grenades go for $25 each, landmines $100.
There is no shortage of sources for such weapons.
According to a 2006 U.S. Congressional report, about 70 nations produce small arms and light weapons.
Most weapons are legally manufactured in relatively large factories, but many are diverted from their intended destination using false paperwork, according to weapons trade monitors.
In Mogadishu, the arms-dealers are not the only ones benefiting from war.
At $15 for each grave he digs, cemetery worker Ali Osman is in the money every time the death toll goes up.
"Sometimes I dig around 20 graves and stay here till evening," Osman told Reuters, while burying a baby.
Somali bankers say the more the fighting, the more cash that arrives by wire transfers.
"Last month has been very nice to us," said one banker, referring to the flare-up in Mogadishu.
The war business also benefits sellers of iron sheets -- they are cheaper than wood for coffins.
Garment dealers also have a brisk trade in shrouds.
"Rolls of this material are bought when people die like flies," shopkeeper Mohamed Abdi said. "But I cannot say I am pleased with death -- nature works this way."
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
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--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 3:37 PM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Is Ethiopia for sale?
This interesting article is recalling the Zombi students call of the mid 1970s "land to the tiller" and Derg said, No: Land to the Military Junta! and now Land to the Arabs is the new slogan that AlMariam is echoing in this article.
When do Ethiopians own back their land, house and property is the question of the Millennium and Good Governance!
Now after years of Revolutionary Democracy and Developmental State, it seems from this article, Ethiopia is moving to "Land to the Arabs"!
Even the Jews in the person and goverment of Natanyahu did not sign up to the land to the Arabs slogan.
AlMariam is claiming that in Ethiopia today the notion of Developmental State is converted to Ethiopian land to the Arabs!
Is this a lease arragement, free market contract or purchase or is it like what the Italians did some 200 years ago, where they leased the Asab Sea Coast, then contracted it and then purchased it and then colonized it.
As the AlQaeda are moving in with the Somalis to take the rich Ogaden, the Arabs seems to rush for the state of Oromia's fertile land.
We might see the next Coffee Exporters next to Eritrea to be the Arabs, After all, they call it Coffee Arabica.
Some one from the Ethiopian side please confirm if the new Developmental State is translating into land grab for the Arabs?
We need a clear cut response on this as the BBC, Economist and Even ECA of the UN and the Chair of African Union are expressing their concern about the new "Arab Land Grab"!
Could some one explain to the rest of us what is taking place. Is this just another CUD and Gunbot 7 and Shabia propaganda or are there some truth to this reporting and analysis.
All the same, we need some transparency and accountability on this report and analsys.
I wonder what is being termed as Arab land grab might be an innocent land lease with appropriate protocol for investment opportunities. All said and done, it is very important that we get facts supported by some official reference to the process on how Parliament be it the Federal and State Parliaments address this issue.
Remember the land that was confiscated by the Miltiary Junta and all the properties and houses have not been returned to their rightful owners, Ethiopians. Now as the Eritrean returnees are guaranteed to get back their property, what about the Ethopians whose land and houses have been confiscated by the loony and illegal bloddy revolution.
How can their land be given to Arabs and Eritreans when their children and descendants are roaming the streets of Addis looking for the BPR to address their files and their complaints.
Some thing seriously has gone wrong! Can some one come up with a story how the Eritreans and Arabs get preference to Ethiopians whose land rights and property has been documented for millennnia?
I just wonder how Developmental State and Revolutionary Democracy can handle this gross injustice?
I look forward to hear and read your perspective.
Dr B
Our (Home)land on Firesale
A while back, the capo di tutti capi (the “boss of bosses”) of the dictatorship in Ethiopia rebuked Congressman Donald Payne for pushing H.R. 2003 (“Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act”).
He quipped with his signature sarcasm, “Ethiopia, this government and this country, are incapable, unwilling and unable to be run like some kind of banana republic from Capitol Hill or anywhere else.” That is not exactly true today. The evidence shows that “Ethiopia and this government” are “capable, willing and able to be run like some barley republic from Jeddah or any of the other Gulf states.” It has been widely reported that Saudi and other Gulf “investors” have spent over two hundred million U.S. dollars to buy (“lease”) fertile Ethiopian farmland free of local taxes and other requirements to supply themselves with a cornucopia of agricultural commodities which, oddly enough, they could purchase on the world market at competitive prices. It seems the desert sand has trumped the fertile land in the barley republic.
There are many bewildering things about this sordid multimillion dollar land deal. First, as the dictators are orchestrating a fire sale of chunks of the country to foreign governments fronting as “investors” and lining their pockets, nearly a quarter of the Ethiopian population is teetering on the brink of famine. The rest of the population is menaced daily by malnutrition and hunger. Second, the dictators are bending over backwards to insure food security in the “investor” countries while Ethiopia’s food insecurity is causing frantic alarm in the rest of the world. For the past year, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization has been calling for immediate steps to be taken to protect the poor in Ethiopia from skyrocketing food prices. Just last week the U.N World Food Program issued an advisory estimating that the national relief program for Ethiopia will fall nearly 178,000 metric tons short of assessed needs for the second quarter of the year. Third, to add insult to injury, the same dictatorship, after engorging itself with the proceeds of the ill-gotten loot from the so-called “investors”, will shamelessly stand at the gates of the World Food Programme, the U.S. Government, the European Union and other donor countries panhandling for food aid. Such is the brazen audacity of dictatorship!
Everyone in the world is perplexed by this new mercenary land hustle taking place in Ethiopia. The Economist magazine, that unwavering bastion of conservatism and defender of free trade and globalization, wondered in total bafflement: “… Are these ‘land grabs’, ‘neocolonialist’ rip-offs, different from 19th-century colonialism only because they involve different land-grabbers and enrich different local elites?” Even the left-leaning Independent newspaper expressed righteous indignation: “Over the past few months, Saudi Arabian investors have paid $100m for an Ethiopian farm where they hope to grow wheat and barley, adding to the millions of acres they already own in the war-ravaged country… Neo-colonialists are buying up agricultural land in Africa and local farmers could be crushed unless there are international rules to protect them…” Agricultural experts worldwide have also chimed in to condemn such one-sided secret deals arguing that the deals ultimately serve to water the deep roots of the culture of corruption among Africa’s kleptocratic dictatorships than materially contributing to its development.
Anatomy of the Sale of Ethiopia
Time was when foreign private companies bought land from private owners in the developing countries and created large scale plantations. In the “banana republics” of Central America, multinational corporations exploited a large, impoverished peasant class by creating a dependent and subservient local oligarchy. American fruit companies eventually became powerful enough to dominate the entire export sector of these countries and own and operate key infrastructures such as railways, mining and ports.
What we are witnessing in countries like Ethiopia today is an extreme form of the banana republic syndrome. In the barley republic, the aim is to create a foreign enclave economy (completely and totally isolated and insulated from the local economy) in the host country with the singular purpose of extracting agricultural commodities for export back to the “investor” countries. The farms to be established on the acquired lands are expected to be high technology driven using high yield seeds, modern pesticides and other production systems. The “agricultural clusters” that are expected to be developed will have little connection to the host country’s broader economy. They will contribute very little to the development of a skilled work force at the local level, and local workers will be relegated to menial jobs that require minimal training. There will be few environmental standards for these “investors” to uphold, and there is no way to monitor the damage they are likely to cause to the local ecosystem. In short, in the enclave economy of the barley republic, there will be little “spillover” or “ripple” effect on the local or national economy; and there will be miniscule net gains to the host countries from the “investments” (except the millions of dollars that will line the pockets of the corrupt dictators). For Ethiopia’s wretched poor and hungry, it will all be a surreal experience: They will be standing by the dusty roadsides watching helplessly as the endless caravan of diesel trucks shuttle back and forth delivering the harvest of barley, wheat and rice to port for shipment.
The dictators in Ethiopia naturally want to conceal the corrupt and mercenary nature of the land deals. They say they are just attracting foreign direct investment which will result in a stable source of capital, boost national income and local employment while reducing the country’s debt load. Is that even theoretically possible in an enclave economy?
According to a study prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), it is obvious that the whole land deal is an elaborate swindle, a scam, a shell game :
In Ethiopia, for example, enquiries at the state-level Oromia investment promotion agency found evidence of some 22 proposed or actual land deals, of which 9 were over 1,000 ha, in addition to the 148 recorded at the national investment promotion agency. It is possible to speculate that state-level agencies in other Ethiopian states may also have records of additional projects, and that some land acquisitions may not have been recorded at all….For example, in Ethiopia information about the land size of many deals proposed or concluded in 2008 was missing….
In another instance, “an investment by German company Flora EcoPower in Ethiopia was reported to involve 13,000 ha (hectare), while it is recorded at the Ethiopian investment promotion agency for 3,800 ha only.”
To avoid public scrutiny and ward off local opposition, the dictatorship intentionally and fraudulently misclassifies all land sold to foreign governments as vacant “wastelands” implying that the land is unused, unoccupied by anyone or just wilderness. In fact, the so-called “wasteland” often supports herders who graze animals on it and people who have farmed it for generations. The dictators ignore the customary rights of the local people to satisfy their voracious appetite for foreign-investment deals to line their pockets. There is also evidence to suggest that smallholders have had their arms twisted to sign away their rights for insignificant compensation. According to the above-referenced study:
In Ethiopia, for example, all land allocations recorded at the national investment promotion agency are classified as involving “wastelands” with no pre-existing users. But this formal classification is open to question, in a country with a population of about 75 million, the vast majority of whom live in rural areas. Evidence collected by in-country research suggests that at least some of the lands allocated to investors in the Benishangul Gumuz and Afar regions were previously being used for shifting cultivation and dry-season grazing, respectively.
Although the dictatorship claims that the so-called land leases are determined by the regional governments, the evidence proves conclusively otherwise:
Most documented land leases are granted by the government. This includes 100% of documented cases in Ethiopia.
The dictatorship’s claim that the land deals bring prosperity and jobs to the local economy is simply false. The evidence actually shows that the “investors” are ripping off the country blind in broad daylight:
In-country research confirms the general impression that land fees are low in monetary terms and an unimportant component of negotiations. In Ethiopia, rent was required in four deals out of the six projects examined in greater detail, with prices ranging from US$ 3 to 10 per hectare per year. These fees are low in the international context, though land rentals are going up (in the Ethiopian state of Oromia, for instance). Several deals – including the contract from the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, examined by this study – involve five-year exemptions from land fees (article 4(a) of the Benishangul Gumuz contract)…. In Ethiopia, for example, profit tax (estimated at US$ 20 per hectare per year) is usually exempted for a period of 5 years; for a total of 602,760 ha allocated to documented projects, it is estimated that the exemption of this tax for each project over 5 years amounts to US$ 60,276,000.42.
This is the deal that made it possible for the king of Saudi Arabia a few months ago to celebrate the delivery of the first fresh harvest from his lush farms in Ethiopia.
The Scramble for Africa Redux?
It is a historical irony that Ethiopia should escape and successfully defend its sovereignty and independence during the European scramble for Africa in the late 19th Century and again in the last century against Italian colonial aggression only to become the first casualty of a newfangled neocolonial agricultural scramble. The historical parallels are obvious: In its early stages, European imperialism planted its economic tentacles in Africa by sending out its explorers, adventurers and merchantmen. The gunboats and armies showed up later. In the kinder and gentler world of petrodollar neocolonialism, there is no need for gunboats. The weapon of choice is a slush fund of petrodollars and so-called sovereign-wealth funds directed at corrupt and thieving African dictators and politicians who are able, willing and ready to sell out chunks of their countries for pennies. In this brave new world of petrodollar neocolonialism, neither the corrupt dictators nor their bankrollers care about the consequences of their deals on the local population, the displacement of local farmers and herders or adverse environmental impacts.
Last May, Tekleab Kebede, “Ethiopian Consul General” in Saudi Arabia, sought to bless the Saudi land deal by saying: “After all, the relations between Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia are longstanding. There is geographical proximity and the religious values and linguistic affinities that we share have brought the two countries close and strengthened the bonds. So, Saudis should have no hesitation in turning toward Ethiopia for investment.” That may be polite diplomatic palaver, but historically it is untrue. It is a fact that Saudi Arabia provided substantial material and moral support to secessionist elements in Ethiopia in the not too distant past. It also supported Somalia diplomatically and materially in its invasion of Ethiopian territory in 1977. Ethiopia’s supposed “special relationship” with Israel and other matters of religion have been a cause of ongoing irritation for the Saudis in their relations with Ethiopia.
The simple point is that this runaway land deal with the Saudis and the Gulf states needs to be scrutinized carefully for its broader implications. Is this ever expanding land deal a Trojan Horse used by the Saudis and the Gulf Shiekdoms for a broader thrust into Ethiopia? Are these “investments” the first elements of a grand strategic calculus to penetrate and dominate the Ethiopian economy and society? Or is it merely a benign search for land to raise crops, which by all accounts can be purchased on the world market at very competitive prices? Here the experience of the banana republics is instructive. The multilateral companies that invested in Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador and other places initially produced and exported bananas, pine apples, coffee and other commodities. Over a period of time, through their control of the large plantations, they managed to place a chokehold on the local oligarchies who depended almost entirely on the cash flow provided by the multinational agri-businesses. As history shows, it did not take long for the foreign “investors” to own and operate the rail, trucking, ports and banking systems in those countries. History also shows that the social upheavals in the banana republics which occurred in reaction to the oppressive alliance of the oligarchies and multinationals resulted in atrocities that lasted for decades in those countries.
Is this the bright future that awaits the brave Barley Republic of Ethiopia?
Resistance to Land Swindles
Not everyone is taking it lying down. Recently, the government in Madagascar was overthrown in large part because of public anger over a secret deal by the deposed ruler to hand over to a South Korean company one million hectares of Madagascar to grow maize. Marc Ravalomanana, the deposed president, initially denied the existence of a secret land deal. He and his cronies were expecting to pocket millions of dollars from the deal until the coup disrupted their plans. The interim president Andry Rajoelina rejected the deal declaring that, “In the Constitution, it is stipulated that Madagascar’s land is neither for sale nor for rent, so the agreement with Daewoo is cancelled.” Interestingly, the South Korean company had “promised to spend $6-billion in the next 20 to 25 years to help build infrastructure such as roads, railways, a port and schools in exchange for developing huge swathes of arable land in Madagascar.” The Maize Republic of Madagascar was not to be! (It is worth noting that Madagascar is ranked 143/176 on the U.N. Development Program Human Development Index (which measures life expectancy, literacy, education, GDP per capita in 176 countries in the world). Ethiopia ranks 169/176. Local opposition is brewing in Zambia against a proposed Chinese plan to acquire 2million hectares for a biofuels project. Kenyan farmers are demanding to produce the commodities themselves and export it to Quatar instead of working as menial farmhands.
The Real Questions
There are many basic questions that need to be answered: Should a country teetering on the verge of famine and starvation engage in large-scale shady land leads in secrecy and without public discussion? Has Ethiopia become a Crookdom where a small oligarchy of crooks is free to do whatever it wants? Do these land agreements have any validity under international law? What safeguards are in place for the environment and the rights of the indigenous people?
There are some economists who suggest that a country like Ethiopia that is perpetually afflicted by food shortages will eventually explode as in the case of Madagascar. Others plead for implementation of interim measures to protect the local people and ecosystem by some international standards or code of conduct. Still others argue that technologically sophisticated large farms could never work in Africa. They say history shows that such efforts “have often ended with abandoned machinery rusting in the returning bush.” In the long run, it is said, peasant farming will trump advanced commercial farming. What is clear in Ethiopia’s case is that none of these land deals will bring about development of infrastructure or have any significant “spillover effect.” There will be few, if any, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, rail lines or other lasting structures built as a result of these deals. The only legacy will be more misery and exploitation for the local people and environmental damage. As Ruth Meinzen-Dick, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute warned: “The majority of agricultural land in Africa is not titled. If these rights are not respected in these transactions, the livelihoods of millions of people will be put at risk.” In the end, in the petrodollar land swindle, Ethiopians will be stuck holding the bag. An empty bag!
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 12:36 PM
ALERT On the 21st Century health Care Reform- An Idea whose time has come!
Globalbelai7 -the new Millennial Renaissance Vision for the Globe! Our Passion to reach our individual and collective potential-Always! Cradle to Grave Universal Health care where annual Birthday health screening based care is supported with mobile digital health information system and preventative health care in the respective home environment of patients is the wave of the future health care reform. The new vision should be about portability, regular pre-emptive annual health screening and mobile data base that is available to the patient, physician and public health system to develop an evidence based health care system that is individualized to the specific needs of each person and citizen. Yes we can, health care is a human right and we need to protect is at all cost! I am a public health physician and scientist currently working in the health field as the Corporate Director for over 12 home health care agencies in the Metropolitan Washington, DC; Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Delta region of Colorado, Los Angeles, California and Allentown, Pennsylvania. We provide skilled and non skilled health care to patients in their own homes at the direction and guidance of their attending physician. This makes care available to patients in their own home environment as well as reduce cost to care due to hospitalization and institutionalization. Our service is considered as Boutique Medicine by some circles but we refer to it as back to the future when the Attending physician used to visit patients in their own homes some 50 years ago, before the advent of modern gigantic hospitals and their accessories. As such we take modern heatlh care to people's homes and their environment where they heal and recover faster. Prior to coming to the USA in 1993, I was working with the British National Health Service and when I discovered President William Clinton was proposing a heatlh care reform, I wrote to the then health care reform team and was invited to come to the USA and present my own paper to First Lady Hilary Clinton team entitled : Crade to Grave- Health Care Reform, An Idea Whose Time Has Come. I reviewed the global health care system, by focusing on Scandinavian, British, German, Canadian and Japanese Health Care Systems and comparing them with the US Health Care System. My focus was on making Preventative Medical Care Universal and mandatory to all according to their age and sex and current health status. Just like the Car Industry, the Insurance System should be made to work for people to keep them healthy and not wait until they are too sick to benefit from preventative heatlh care. As such I proposed that at each Birthday, every citizen should get a letter from his attending physician, summarizing his or health risk factors, current status and future prospective and invite them for annual Birth Day health Check. Obviously the content of the screening will vary according to the age, sex and predisposing factor of each individual. I also suggested A Portable Medical Record System that each patient is given at the end of each visit and can take with him or her to any future visit. The Medical System will be portable, electronic and will be available to each patient, attending physician and national data base. As a Public Health Physician and Medical Scientists who have worked in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, the most critical deficit in all health systems is that there is viable data about prospective patient needs, based on lifestyle, behavior, and current disease spectrum. All the CDC and NIH data bases are using out of date mortality data that does not reflect morbidity and risk factors for each age group, as such they are planning for the dead people and not for living populations. The Patient Communication Log or Portable Medical Record will change this frustrating situation by providing up-to-date Evidence based medicine and preventative care that is tailored to the specific needs of each patient, reviewed at least once a year at their birth day. I wrote a proposal to the NIH Research Team about making such Portable Data Base available to patients, physicians and the public health system but unfortunately failed to implement it due to like of sponsorship and resources. I believe the current health care reform, should address both the Management Information System i.e the Medical Record System as well as making health care available based on evidence that is collected at annual basis for each citizen. Then the health care reform will be guided by the notion of making every citizen healthy with the advanced medical technology and not wait until the patient had all the symptoms and signs of death. Yes, Health Care Reform is needed to ensure that we pay for staying healthy and productive and not for healing after we get sick. This is a big paradigm shift and the Medical profession and interest groups such as Insurances who make money out of the misery of people will not like it. But it is already happening for all our technologies such as cars, houses and electronic gadgets, that we pay to have the best utility and function and not wait until they broke down. Fortunately, current up-to-date knowledge about our physiology and immune system supports this idea. We are designed to live up to 120 years with fairly good health if we know how to look after our emotional, behavioral, physical and psychological health. We need to practice evidence based health care and that can only happen if every body is given at least annual Birthday health screening and relevant evidence based care while they are still healthy and able to enjoy life. When we get sick as we all do, we need to get modern first class medicine in our own home setting and not wait to get into the health institutions which are filled with iatrogenic infections which are more difficult to treat. I trust it is clear that the Cradle to Grave Health Care System, is medically and fiscally sound idea and most importantly creates a healthy thriving community that continues to be productive until 120 years of life span. So, I say, let us modify both the health information system, annual birthday health screening and care for people in their own homes. It is fiscally, medically and culturally appropriate to do so. I will be happy to furnish you with additional information at your convenience. Thank you and wish all the best. Learn from President Clinton and involve every one in all your deliberations and report to us on a regular basis and ask for our participation as you are doing now. Bless you. Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH Global Strategic Enterprises www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com Globalbelai7@gmail.com voice: 703.933.8737 and 571.225.5736 Testimony Statement by Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Health Reform in the 21st Century before Committee on Ways and Means Wednesday, May 06, 2009 Chairman Rangel, Ranking Member Camp, members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to join you for a critical conversation about health reform in America. Health reform has advanced thanks to your work and willingness to move forward together with other House Committees. We appreciate your hard work to enact reform. It is urgently needed. Health care costs are crushing families, businesses, and government budgets. Since 2000, health insurance premiums have almost doubled and health care premiums have grown three times faster than wages. Just last month, a survey found over half of all Americans, insured and uninsured, cut back on health care in the last year due to cost. And behind these statistics are stories of struggles for too many American families. Families who face rising premiums – now over $12,000, when it was $6,000 a decade ago. Parents choosing between health insurance and their mortgage because they can’t make ends meet because their paycheck is standing still but health care costs are rising much faster than inflation. Today health care costs are the big squeeze on middle class families and these challenges are growing as the economic picture worsens. And on top of all of this, in the last eight years an additional seven million Americans have become uninsured. And we know that during this recession, hundreds of thousands of people are losing health insurance as they lose their jobs. Even families who do have some coverage are suffering. From 2003 to 2007, the number of “under-insured” families – those who pay for coverage but are unprotected against high costs – rose by 60 percent. Still, we have by far the most expensive health system in the world. We spend 50 percent more per person than the average developed country. The U.S. spends more on health care than housing or food. And the situation is getting worse. The United States spent about $2.2 trillion on health care in 2007; $1 trillion more than what was spent in 1997, and half as much as is projected for 2018. High and rising health costs have certainly contributed to the current economic crisis. Rising health costs represent the greatest threat to our long-term economic stability. If rapid health cost growth persists, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2025, 25 percent of our economic output will be tied up in the health system, limiting other investments and priorities. This is why I share the President’s conviction that “health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.” Inaction is not an option. The status quo is unacceptable, and unsustainable. We are already on our way to making health reform a reality. In just over 100 days, this President has made great strides to advance the goal of reducing costs, guaranteeing choice and assuring quality, affordable health care to all Americans. Within days of taking office, the President signed into law the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. This program’s success in covering millions of uninsured children is a hallmark of the bipartisanship and public-private partnerships we envision for health reform. The President then signed the Recovery Act, which includes essential policies that will protect health insurance for the American people, support groundbreaking research, and make important investments in our health care infrastructure. And just last week, members of Congress passed a budget that includes an historic commitment to health reform. Delivering on this commitment and enacting comprehensive health reform is one of my top priorities. The Obama Administration is focused on passing health reform legislation that will end the unsustainable status quo and adhere to eight basic principles. First, we believe that reform must reduce the long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government. The high cost of care is crippling businesses, who are struggling to provide care to their employees and remain competitive. It is driving budget deficits and weakening our economy. We must pass comprehensive reform that makes health care affordable for businesses, government, and families. Second, we must protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs. Today, too many patients leave the hospital worried about paying the bills rather than returning to health. They have reason to be concerned. In America, half of all personal bankruptcies are related to medical expenses. It’s time to fix a system that has plunged millions into debt, simply because they have fallen ill. Third, we will guarantee choice of doctors and health plans. No American should be forced to give up the doctor they trust or the health plan they like. If you like your current health care, you can keep it. Fourth, we will make sure that Americans who lose or change jobs can keep their coverage. Americans should not lose their health care simply because they have lost their job. Fifth, we must end barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions. In Kansas and across the country, I have heard painful stories from families who have been denied basic care or offered insurance at astronomical rates because of a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies should no longer have the right to pick and choose. We will not allow these companies to insure only the healthy and leave the sick to suffer. Sixth, we must assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans. The large number of uninsured Americans impose a hidden tax on other citizens as premiums go up, and leaves too many Americans wondering where they will turn if they get sick. A system that leaves millions of Americans on the outside of the doctor’s office looking in is unjustifiable and unsustainable. Seventh, we must make important investments in prevention and wellness. The old adage is true – an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. But for too long, we’ve sunk all our resources into cures and shortchanged prevention. It’s time to make preventing illness and disease the foundation of our health care system. And finally, any reform legislation must take steps to improve patient safety and the quality of care in America. Our country is home to some of the finest, most advanced medicine in the world. But today, healthcare associated infections – infections caught in a hospital or other settings -- are one of the leading causes of death in our nation. 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of these and other medical errors -- more than car accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. These numbers are not acceptable for the world’s richest nation. We must sharply reduce the number of medical errors, keep patients safe and ensure all Americans receive high-quality care. As we work to enact policies that adhere to these principles, the President is committed to hearing from people in communities across the nation and on both sides of the aisle. In March, he held a White House health care forum and several regional forums in places like Michigan, Iowa, Vermont, North Carolina and California. There, bipartisan forums brought together people from all perspectives – across the political spectrum and representing all people with a stake in the system – to focus on solutions. I look forward to continuing this bipartisan process and I am eager to work with this Committee and your colleagues in the House and Senate to deliver the reform we so desperately need. Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this conversation with you and your colleagues. I look forward to taking your questions. Last revised: June 05,2009
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 12:00 PM
ALERT On the Horn!
Here is the US Perspectiv e on the Horn!
The message is clear! African Union, USA and UN Security Council are all saying this level of terror cannot go on in the Horn.
Where is the action?
Dr B
INTERVIEW-U.S. SAYS ERITREA MUST STOP SOMALIA MEDDLING
Reuters
June 9, 2009
SUE PLEMING* ERITREA PLAYS UNHELPFUL ROLE
* NO SIGN OF BIG ETHIOPIAN PRESENCE IN SOMALIA
WASHINGTON - Eritrea is playing an unhelpful role in nearby Somalia and must cease its actions there if it wants better relations with Washington, the Obama administration’s top diplomat for Africa said on Monday.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson pointed a finger at Eritrea for stoking hostilities in Somalia, whose government is battling militants.
“The role that Eritrea has played most recently has not been particularly helpful in helping to bring about a return to political stability and normalcy there (Somalia),” Carson said in an interview with Reuters.
He accused Eritrea of “aiding and abetting” the movement of arms into Somalia and of supporting the militant Islamist group al Shabaab and its leaders.
Somalia’s government also has accused Eritrea of supporting Islamist militants with planeloads of AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.
Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki has denied the allegations, saying U.S. agents were spreading lies.
“We would like very much to have good, normal relations with the government or Eritrea but that is predicated upon Eritrea acting as a responsible citizen in the neighborhood,” Carson said.
“If Eritrea is prepared to be a responsible player in the region and to act responsibly in its governance, then the prospects are good for a better relationship,” he said.
Eritrea’s key rival, Ethiopia, sent thousands of troops into Somalia in 2006 to help topple the Islamist movement holding the capital Mogadishu and most of the south. Those troops pulled out early this year but Ethiopia has kept a heavy border presence to counter any threat from Islamists.
But Western analysts say Ethiopia and Eritrea have been fighting a proxy war in Somalia. The two countries still are bitter over a border conflict in which 70,000 people died.
Last week, Addis Ababa acknowledged its military personnel had been carrying out reconnaissance missions into Somalia but Carson said he had no indication the Ethiopians had returned with any “large combat elements.”
Somalia’s Western-backed transitional government is battling against rival Islamist groups in violence that has swelled the country’s more than 1 million internal refugee population. Aid agencies say 3 million people need urgent food aid in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In addition, Carson said refugee camps in Kenya were overflowing with tens of thousands of Somalis flooding into the north of the country every month.
Kenya is suffering its own political problems, with its coalition government criticized for not tackling corruption or implementing reforms fast enough.
“We are concerned about the slow pace of implementation of the Kofi Annan accords which brought an end to the violence which occurred after the very flawed December 2007 process in Kenya,” Carson said, referring to an agreement brokered by former U.N. chief Annan.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki formed a coalition government with opposition leader Raila Odinga in early 2008 to halt violence after a disputed election.
“If Kenya is to make both political and economic success and gains, it has to move swiftly to resolve these political issues,” Carson said. (Editing by Bill Trott)
Posted on June 9, 2009 at 6:48 am , filed under ERITREA, REGIONAL, SOMALIA, US. Bookmark thePERMALINK. Follow any comments here with the RSS FEED FOR THIS POST. POST A COMMENT or leave a trackback: TRACKBACK URL.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - ALERT to the Criminals! Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com, "wossen"
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 11:22 AM
Alert!
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
As Ethiopian Airlines is thriving in a very istraught region of the world, see what the other airlines, especially Aeroflot is doing by shipping a merchandize designed to decimate our people.
It is becoming apparent by the day the new terrorists do not want to let even the dead in peace and they are desecrating graveyards!
Just imagine, if they can terrorize graveyards which Somali is going to be spared?
Remember: These goons think they are doing all these to please some demon they call their Sharia and their God.
They have no respect for living and the dead and think they are religious. These are demonic movements of chaos created by uneducated and disengaged youth who get access to these guns.
The Russians are shipping these guns and they are now becomong ideological and religious terrorists.
Can we make these gun dealers accountable? Like Bernie Madoff, some one has to cut into their profit of doom
Who could it be, may be Barack Husein Obama and Hilary Rodham Clinton with the aide of Swhan Hannity?
Who knows, but we need to let the world know these crimes. It is us today and every one tomorrow!
We need to stand up for justice, progress, safety and security of all our global citizens and Somalia deserves attention.
Dr B
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSSP24218220090609
Reuters
June 9, 2009
Ethiopian Airlines says to go ahead with Dreamliner order
KUALA LUMPUR - Ethiopian Airlines will take all 10 of the Boeing (BA.N) 787 Dreamliners it has ordered, its CEO said on Tuesday, and may buy more planes as it sees medium-term growth of 20 percent in revenues and passengers.
The airline ordered 10 Dreamliners which are due for delivery between July 2010 and 2013, and it is considering buying more from 2014 onwards.
"We've started talking to both Boeing and Airbus (EAD.PA) -- it depends who gives us the best price," Chief Executive Girma Wake told Reuters on the sidelines of an airlines meeting, adding that he was also looking at buying other types of planes from next year. (Reporting by Neil Chatterjee; Editing by Sara Webb)
_____________________________________________________________________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8077725.stm
BBC
June 8, 2009
Somali rage at grave desecration
Mohamed Mohamed
The contents of the Sufi graves have been left in the open
Since they began to capture large swathes of southern Somalia, radical Islamists have been undertaking a programme of destroying mosques and the graves of revered religious leaders from the Sufi branch of Islam.
The destruction of non-approved religious sites started last year when they began to knock down an old colonial era church in the town of Kismayo.
Most Somalis are Sufi Muslims, who do not share the strict Saudi Arabian-inspired Wahhabi interpretation of Islam with the hardline al-Shabab group.
The living person can at least defend himself, but the dead cannot... destroying graves is despicable
Mohamed Sheikh
They embrace music, dancing and meditation and are appalled at the desecration of the graves.
But al-Shabab sees things differently.
The group's spokesman in the town of Kismayo, Sheikh Hassan Yaquub, told the BBC Somali Service that his movement considered that the memorials were being worshipped and that this was idolatry - banned by Islam.
"The destruction of graves is not something new: we target graves that are overdecorated and ones used for misleading people.
"We are not aiming at the sheikhs [religious leaders] and their standing in the society, but it is forbidden to make graves into shrines," Mr Yaquub said.
Mosques closed
Grave are being desecrated wherever al-Shabab is in control.
The town of Brave is home to a number of minority groups.
Among them are the Sufi Bravenese, a Bantu group who speak a language unique to their town called Chimbalazi, similar to Swahili.
Many of the graves of their religious leaders have been attacked.
Graveyard caretakers have been arrested and told not to go back to work.
The disappointment and sadness of this community has reached beyond Somalia.
"The people of Brave feel the desecrations of graves are actions against humanity," said Mohamed Sheikh, a Bravenese community leader in Manchester in the north-west of England.
"The Islamists closed the mosques and said no-one could pray at the ones near graveyards - arguing that the prayers performed there could not be proper prayers and would amount to worshiping the graves themselves.
"These people [he avoids mentioning al-Shabab by name] cannot teach us about Islam. Islam reached Brave and all the coastal areas when the religion arrived in East Africa 1,250 to 1,300 years ago.
"The living person can at least defend himself, but the dead cannot. The spirits of the dead deserve respect. Even when we walk near graves we walk slowly, because while the bodies are dead, the spirit is not. Destroying graves is despicable."
Fighting back
There is evidence that the anger is stirring the usually peaceful Sufis to take up arms and fight back against al-Shabab.
Has al-Shabab made a strategic error in antagonising the Sufis?
The umbrella group Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama (Sufi Sects in Somalia) has condemned the actions of what they call the ideology of modern Wahhabism and the desecrations of graves.
They see Wahhabism as foreign and ultimately un-Islamic.
Wahhabism is a branch of Sunni Islam dominant in Saudi Arabia.
It preaches a more literal interpretation of Islam and condemns innovations in Islam and rituals.
It is at the opposite end of the spectrum of Islam to Sufism.
"These radical groups shed Muslim blood every day and they dig out and desecrate our graves. They are funded from outside and their Wahhabi ideology is foreign and must be dealt with," says the group's spokesman Abdirasak Mohamed Al Ash'ari.
The group has now joined forces with the embattled government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist, against al-Shabab.
Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama now controls much of the Galgadud Region in Central Somalia after they defeated al-Shabab in a number of battles.
In one of their battles they managed to kill a senior al-Shabab leader.
By antagonising the Sufi groups, al-Shabab may have gone too far.
____________________________________________________________________
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL9101815020090609
Reuters
June 9, 2009
Prices of arms in Mogadishu market
In Mogadishu, prices of guns and ammunition have fallen in recent months due to plentiful supplies from Eritrea and Uganda and the weapons Ethiopian troops left behind when they withdrew, arms dealers say.
Here is a price list for some popular weapons:
Mortars
120 mm - $700 ($55 per mortar bomb)
82 mm - $300 ($25 per bomb)
60 mm - $200 ($18 per bomb)
Anti-aircraft guns (truck mounted)
23 mm - $20,000 ($2.50 per round)
37 mm version also available, but there is currently no ammunition in stock. Other, smaller variants are available for between $4,000 and $5,000, with their rounds quoted at $1 each.
Anti-tank weapons cost $5,000, while a rocket-propelled grenade launcher is quoted at $200, plus $150 per grenade.
Pistols
A new pistol from Yemen is $650, a second-hand one from Russia is $400 and a new American pistol is $700.
A new Belgian pistol is $500 and a new Russian one is $1,000. Rounds cost between $1.50 and $3 each.
Rifles
An Indian-made AK-47 costs $140. Better quality versions from North Korea cost $600 and the Russian original costs $400.
Hand-grenades go for $25 each, landmines $100.
(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Globalbelai@Yahoo.com, "Negus Wolde Mariam"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 10:32 AM
Dear Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of African Union and Ethiopia:
Here is a very interesting story about the recent call on United Nations sanction by African Union on the Shabia Gang leaders.
Here is their response and it is a very telling story of the Shadow world of terror and counter-terrorism.
We need to be aware, organized and ready always to to protect and preserve the security and prosperity of our people.
The secret is to be informed and be up-to-date all the time!
Dr B
ETHIOPIA: The Shameful AU-IGAD Collusion on Eritrea
Sophia Tesfmariam, Jun 9, 2009
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On 24 May 2009, Eritreans around the world were celebrating Eritrea ’s 18th Independence Anniversary with grand carnivals, galas, festivals and more. Jubilant Eritreans were too engrossed to pay attention to other news, least of all news emanating from Africa’s sin city, Addis Ababa , the capital of Ethiopia .
The minority regime in Ethiopia led by the reckless and belligerent Meles Zenawi took this opportunity to launch yet another propaganda campaign against Eritrea . The desperate campaign to link Eritrea with Somalia , specifically the flow of illegal arms into Somalia , and the call for sanctions against Eritrea were echoed by the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD). The regime and its partners are in a panic, the bloody trails lead right back to their own doorsteps.
With the two corrupt and inept regional organizations in tow, the shameless minority regime in Ethiopia is calling for sanctions against Eritrea for not endorsing the third illegitimate Transitional National Government of Somalia led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. These two organizations coordinated their calls for UN actions against Eritrea-calls that came on the eve of Eritrea ’s 18th Independence Anniversary. If they were counting on Eritreans being too busy celebrating to pay attention to their immature gimmicks, they would have been right…if the gamble was to get away with it, they were dead wrong.
So what was all the huffing and puffing coming from the African Union all about? Well, it all began with what Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission said at the IGAD Council of Ministers meeting on Somalia on 20 May 2009. He said:
“…It may be recalled that at your meeting in December 2008, the issue of imposing targeted sanctions against those that were deemed to be undermining the peace process was mooted. This idea has assumed greater relevance than it was at that time.
It is in that light, that I am calling for a full investigation into the matter in order to identify all those individuals and entities involved in the destabilization activities currently taking place in Somalia . This is with a view to facilitating the imposition of appropriate sanctions by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the United Nations Security Council, in accordance with the decisions and resolutions taken by these two bodies…”
Not sure what he means by "This idea has assumed greater relevance". Ping must know that IGAD and the AU need not go far, least of all conduct a full investigation, to identify the culprit here. The only country that has invaded and occupied Somalia is Ethiopia . In addition, Burundi , Djibouti , Ethiopia , Kenya and Uganda are the only countries that have contributed to the mayhem that is Somalia today. This orchestrated call is a poor attempt at cover up and white wash and divert attention from their known and documented crimes in Somalia . The UN Envoy for Somalia has since admitted that while there might be a lot of talk about Eritrea supplying arms to Somalia , there is no hard evidence. Yet the minority regime and its partners in crime continue to disseminate the erroneous reports.
It was fishy from the get go. It was obvious to all independent analysts that the accusations against Eritrea were meant to divert attention away from the US-backed Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia . Back then, there was an orchestrated to link Eritrea with terrorism, with Jendayi E. Frazer and Meles Zenawi leading the smear campaign. To help advance the campaign, a UN Report filled with lies, fabrications and exaggerations was produced. It accused Eritrea of supplying certain factions in Somalia with arms and went to great lengths to implicate Eritrea with certain deliveries, without ever producing any tangible evidence.
Once again I’d like to re-visit the fabricated allegations contained in the July 2007 UN Monitoring Group’s Report on Somalia . Recent deadly developments may shed more light on the conspiracies woven by Jendayi E. Frazer, Meles Zenawi and their hirelings.
AFP in a 12 May 2009 Report “ Africa aid shipped in planes 'used for weapons'” said:
“…The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report that 90 percent of air cargo companies identified in arms trafficking-related reports had been used by UN agencies, European Union and NATO members as well as leading non-governmental organisations to deliver aid …US private security firms hired air cargo carriers and aircraft which have been "involved in the trafficking of arms to militias which the US government have designated 'global terrorists'…
The report cited Dyncorp, a company that provides security services for the US government, as having contracted Aerolift, a firm accused by the UN Security Council in 2006 of being involved in arms trading, to supply weapons to an Islamist militia that controls much of southern Somalia…”
Aerolift? Isn’t that the same company that supposedly sold a plane to Eritrea ? I dug deeper…I went hunting, or is it fishing…My catch led me to Uganda and a 9 March 2009 news item[1] about the crash of a plane heading for Mogadishu. The report said:
“….An Iluyshin-76 four-engine cargo plane with eleven people on board crashed into Lake Victoria after take-off from Uganda 's main airport at 5:14 am Monday. It was chartered by US Dyncorp, which confirmed the crash. There seem to be no survivors… The plane, registration S9-SAB, was operated by an international cargo company located in Russia -- which uses some of the most experienced military pilots in the world -- Aerolift . It was chartered by Dyncorp, the US military and intelligence contractor [CIA], to fly emergency supplies to Somalia …”
Something about that plane kept nagging me and going back through my notes, I found it. The identification given, S9-SAB, was familiar. A quick check revealed that is was the same plane that was supposedly sold to Eritrea by Evgueny Zakharov of Aerolift in July 2006. More on that later
With international arms dealer Victor Bout behind bars in Bangkok, many world leaders are squirming over revelations of his client list, which include the US, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda , Congo and more. Despite the attempts by the UN Monitoring Group and its anonymous informants to link Eritrea with Bout and efforts by the minority regime and its handlers to implicate Eritrea in a dubious transactions with Zakharov and other known associates of Bout, the truth is that Eritrea has absolutely no links with Bout and has never done any business with the notorious arms dealer. So let us go back to the beginning and the UN, State Department and African Union’s collusion on Eritrea .
The UN Monitoring Group for Somalia in its November 2006 report wrote:
“…On 26 July 2006, at 07.45 AM, an Ilyushin aircraft (IL-76) containing an arms shipment for the ICU arrived at Mogadishu International airport…The IL-76 departed from Assab, Eritrea, indicating a flight plan designating a destination of Hargeisa (Somaliland), but the aircraft went to Mogadishu. The IL-76 used the call sign or LFT-1221. The IL-76 has the Kazakhstan flag painted on the tail. The registration number on the fuselage of the aircraft starts with the following pre-fix: UN - which is the code for Kazakhstan …”
In its July 2007 report, the Monitoring Group unabashedly repeated its allegations against Eritrea and again sought to deceive the readers with more “anonymous” informers.:
“…In its previous report (see S/2006/913), the Monitoring Group provided detailed information concerning an IL-76 cargo plane transporting arms and fighters from Eritrea to Mogadishu (paras. 43-53). When presented with the foregoing information by the Monitoring Group, the Government of Eritrea denied that the flights had taken place…During the current mandate, the Monitoring Group obtained a copy of the contract of sale (annex I) of the IL-76 aircraft to a company in Eritrea.
A person intimately familiar with the transaction confirmed the information contained in the previous report of the Group added that the company that had purchased the aircraft was a front for the Eritrean Government. The person also indicated that a down payment of US$ 200,000 had been paid by Eritrean diplomats based in a Gulf country to the seller of the aircraft…”
The Group never identifies the person who is supposed to be familiar with the said transaction. The Group had annexed to the report on Somalia , a “Contract of sale of an IL-76 aircraft to Eriko Enterprise ( Eritrea )”. According to the “Contract”, the buyer is a certain Kelati Haile for Eritrea and the seller is Evgueny Zakharov (of Aerolift Company). According to the Group, Eriko Enterprise was a “front” for the Government of Eritrea and this copy of the “Contract” was supposed to some how prove Eritrean involvement in the arms transport to Somalia .
Why would the Government of Eritrea need a “front company” if it wanted to purchase a plane? Of all the planes available for sale, how did the GoE end up buying the one exact plane that was used by Viktor Bout, and one that the African Union and DynaCorp used until it crashed in March 2009?
In yet another twist to the sordid saga of the Ilyushin 76, Amnesty International in its report about arms trafficking mentions the “transaction” between Aerolift and Eritrea . Let us take a look at Amnesty International’s version of the story…Amnesty wrote about Brian Johnson Thomas, “the journalist” who broke the story in a 18 February 2007 Times article[2], Amnesty wrote:
“…The managing director of Aerolift told a researcher in detail, and with supporting documents (Contract of Sale and Purchase, Registration Certificate, Certificate of Airworthiness and Noise Certificate) how he claims he was deceived by the Eritrean military into allowing ‘his’ aircraft to be used to make at least three clandestine arms deliveries to the Union of Islamic Courts. He stated that early in July 2006, Aerolift was approached by a high ranking officer of the Eritrean Peoples' Defence Force, who offered to pay US$1.5 million for the IL-76TD aircraft, registration UN-76496 (s/n 073410303), which at that time was operated by Aerolift.
Since the aircraft's actual value was in the region of US$1 million, Aerolift accepted the offer, even though the aircraft was not his property, and then contacted the actual owner GST Aero in Tashkent . Aerolift agreed to pay GST Aero US$1.2 million, thus leaving Aerolift with a notional profit of US$300,000…”
In a news item for the Times, Brian Johnson Thomas had identified the high ranking officer of the Eritrean People’s Defence Force as “General Tambi”. Amnesty, and/or the “journalists” want us to believe that Aerolift bought the plane from Victor Bout (owner of GST Aero) and then Eriko Enterprises bought it from Aerolift. Why didn’t Eritrea buy it directly from Viktor Bout and why would Eritrea pay more for the plane than it was worth? It should be recalled that Tambi ended up being a former member of the Monitoring Group appointed by Kofi Annan.
Amnesty has more details not found in the UN Monitoring Group’s Report. Amnesty says:
“…A contract was then drawn up between Aerolift and an Eritrean company called Eriko Enterprise, represented by a Mr Kelati Haile. Unusually, the contract does not specify the payment to be made for the aircraft sale, saying merely "payment conditions will be enclosed with contract forms", but Aerolift says that they received a first, and only, 'progress' payment of US$250,000 on signing the contract in Moscow on 25 July 2006… The aircraft was reportedly delivered to Massawa airport on 25 August 2006, whereupon the representative of the Eritrean military assumed operational control. According to the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority documentation, the aircraft was registered as E3-AAF with registered owner Skyroute Aviation ( Asmara , Eritrea ). So far as Amnesty International is aware, the Eritrean registration E3-AAF was never actually applied to the surface of the aircraft, which remained pure white except for the Kazakhstan registration UN-76496…”
Amnesty International has no presence in Eritrea so how does Amnesty know that the plane was registered in Eritrea ? How did Amnesty International get documents from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority? Considering Amnesty’s close links to the Eritrean Quislings League (EQL), it is possible that they are AI’s anonymous sources.
The “Contract of Sale” attached to the UN Monitoring Groups Report shows that the contract was signed on 21 July 2006 and to make the “evidence” fit the crime, the Contract says that the plane was to be delivered within four days of the signing. That would mean, Eritrea would take possession of the flights around 25 July 2006, just in time to make the 26 July 2006 run from Massawa to Mogadishu . But Amnesty says that plane was delivered to Massawa on the 25 August 2006. If that is the case, how did Eritrea make the flights from Massawa to Mogadishu in July 2006 as reported by the UN Monitoring Group?
The IL-76 is at the center of the accusations against Eritrea and it is supposed to be the most damning part of the UN report and the one accusation against Eritrea that Jendayi E. Frazier was hoping to make stick as she collected her “evidence” against Eritrea. It is also the story that Meles Zenawi’s minority regime and its partners in crime have been peddling in order to implicate Eritrea in their blood drenched theater of war. Turns out, the fabricated story was taken right out of a book about Viktor Bout- “Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Plans, and the Man Who Makes War Possible,” by Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun. On pages 254-255 of the book Farah and Braun write:
“…At the same time as the Lebanon crisis, a group of radical Somali militias operating under the banner of United Islamic Courts seized control of Mogadishu, the battered Somali capital…quickly consolidated their hold over the city's international airport, a crumbling facility nearly abandoned by foreign aircraft over the past decade. Then, on July 26 and again on July 28, exited residents near the airfield streamed outside after hearing a rumbling from the sky. They watched as a droning Ilyushin Il-76, with the flag of Kazakstan painted on its tail, descended from the barren horizon and taxied down the airfield's dusty runway…Journalists were banned from the airport, but several stationed just outside the field managed to snap pictures of the aircraft, using telephoto lenses. The plane's identifying tail number, required by international aviation regulations, had been stripped off, preventing any attempt to learn who was behind the weapons shipments…Within weeks, intelligence officials concluded that the flights were carried out by Bout's air network…”
Once again, in a related article, Douglas Farah on 29 July 2006 writes about that flight:
“…Twice in one week the airport at Mogadishu, Somalia, was the scene of something almost unseen in the past decade-the landing of two large Soviet-era IL-76 cargo planes… On the first flight, the plane was painted with the “UN” markings denoting Kazakhstan registration, with no other identifiers. The second flight may have been the same aircraft, and if not, was a similar Il-76… Hmm, so an unmarked Soviet-built aircraft probably carrying large amounts of weapons, flying to remote airstrips … Kazakhstan registration… Fits a certain M.O. There are not many people in the weapons world who can provide the weapons and the transportation, who know the terrain and the militia leaders…Bout has registered his Reem Air in Kazakstan, including an IL-76, and has flown regularly smaller planes to Somalia in recent times, from Sharjah, UAE…No one else has that kind of track record. Intelligence officials are desperately trying to find any further markers on the aircraft. But if it flies like a duck and quacks like a duck, it just might be a duck…”
Viktor Bout’s adventures in Somalia are well known and many have written about them, including the UN. In addition to Douglas Farah, many others have written about Bout and his illicit activities in Africa and Somalia . In a 9 April 2009 report about the pirates in Somalia , Larry Kelen writes:
“…Security observers have said that the hijackers are working with sophisticated groups involving a cell of former KGB operatives who were part of the Viktor Anatolyevich Bout network. Bout was arrested early last year, but some of his regional net work based out of the port city of Kisamyo , with satellite bases in Marka dealing in small arms and drugs has continued to operate. The same network is blamed for the arms trade in Kenya's capital Nairobi with arms supplied from Bircao and in the far flung south west town of Kalem in South west Ethiopia…”
There is documented proof that Bout has links with Ethiopia , Kenya , Uganda and the US , but he has absolutely none, except the fabricated one, with Eritrea . None of these shameful mercenary regimes, whose hands are drenched with the blood of innocent Somalis and that of their own citizens, have the legal or moral authority to point any fingers at Eritrea. Since the mercenary lot want to point fingers at Eritrea , let’s see how many of those fingers point right back to them. Let us take a look at Bout’s link with the above countries and the mercenary regimes and their sponsors that are responsible for the chaos and destruction in Somalia today.
Kenya
Sanjivan Ruprah, a Kenyan with mining interests in the Congo and Kenya and a notorious arms dealer was Victor Bout’s business partner and both “enjoyed a covert relationship with US Feds”. According to a 2002 UN Report, Sanjivan Ruprah:
“… plays a key role in Liberia ’s airline registry and in the arms trade. Before his involvement in Liberia , Sanjivan Ruprah had mining interests in Kenya , and was associated with Branch Energy ( Kenya ). Branch Energy owned diamond mining rights in Sierra Leone , and introduced the private military company, Executive Outcomes to the government there in 1995… Ruprah was once in charge of an airline in Kenya, Simba Airlines…”
The European Community on Protection of marine life (ECOP) also links Kenya with Bout. It said:
“…Kenya recorded association with maritime trade dates back to the 19th century when the Arabs from Oman established Manda Island 250km north coast of Mombasa as their base and port…The industry has been dogged behind by corruption, tribalism, nepotism and lack of political will. For the past 12 years the government of Kenya has been collecting Ksh.500 million annually from the shippers as merchant shipping levy of cargo interest…It hurts very much to note that this big amount of money has not been accounted for and no one knows its where about…Apart from lack of accountability and transparency the Kenya water ways has been used by international drug barons, human traffickers and the illicit arms dealers such as Victor Bout commonly known as ‘Anatoliyevich’…”
In addition, Alexander Radionov, a known associate of Viktor Bout, is the Kenyan-based representative for the Oregon based company SIMIX Ltm. Mentioned as the person who sold one of Viktor Bout’s planes to Eritrea, the story takes an interesting twist when it is discovered that it was Amnesty’s researcher/ and Times journalists, who posed as a middleman for the UIC[3]. Not sure what Amnesty’s role in the collusion against Eritrea is, but this certainly raises more questions about who else was in on the well orchestrated plot.
Uganda
Viktor Bout, the world's most notorious illegal arms baron who was arrested in Thailand , sold arms to Uganda and illegally used Entebbe International Airport to ship arms to DR Congo and Liberia . A report by the Belgian International Peace Information Service (IPIS) reveals how Bout, with the help of top Ugandan military officers, fueled the conflict in DR Congo, Africa 's vast and mineral-rich country. Belgian researcher Tim Raemaekers reported that in 2002, Culworth Investments (a Bout front company) sold arms to Uganda (machine guns from Slovakia ). There are reports that Bout frequented Kampala during the Congolese civil war and was close to top military officers in the UPDF and the Ugandan President.
Ethiopia and the US
Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun reported in their book about Bout, "Merchant of Death: Money, Guns, Plans, and the Man Who Makes War Possible," that both the U.S. military and defense contractors KBR and DynCorp [supporting the African Union in Somalia] had used Bout's services in the aftermath of the Iraq war. Even after President Bush signed an order freezing Bout's assets, the Pentagon continued using his planes, they reported, to get reconstruction supplies into Baghdad . According to Farah and Braun, Bout’s planes flew hundreds of flights from 2003 to 2006, even after his work for the Defense Department was exposed by the Los Angeles Times in its 14 December 2004 article which said:
“…Planes linked to Bout's shadowy network continued to fly into Iraq, according to government records and interviews with officials, despite the Treasury Department freezing his assets in July and placing him on a blacklist for allegedly violating international arms sanctions…Largely under the auspices of the Pentagon, U.S. agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers and the Air Force, and the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, which governed Iraq until last summer, have allowed their private contractors to do business with the Bout network… Four firms linked to the network by the CIA and international investigators have flown into Iraq nearly 200 times on U.S. business…”
Douglas Farah in his book explains that Victor Bout’s activities are well known to US intelligence:
“…We have developed a large body of information of what Mr. Bout's organization is doing" in the Horn of Africa, one U.S. intelligence analyst said. "I am alarmed at what he is doing as it undermines Centcom's counterterrorism strategy in the region…”
A 28 October 2002 report “The Business of War: Making a Killing” from the Center for Public Integrity and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has much to say about Victor Bout and his connections. Here are some of its comments:
· “…the polyglot with personal skills was able to establish working relationships with various African heads of state and rebel leaders – the late Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, Liberian President Charles Taylor, former Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko…”
· “…And his associates – ranging from former U.S. military personnel and Russian officials to African heads of state and organized crime figures – gave him a lengthy list of buyers and sellers with whom to do business. He ran a maze of individuals and companies, which employed some 300 people and owned and operated 40 to 60 aircraft, including the largest private fleet of Antonov cargo planes in the world…”
· “…Bout’s companies shipped vegetables and crayfish from South Africa to Europe, transported United Nations peacekeepers from Pakistan to East Timor, and reportedly assisted the logistics of Operation Restore Hope, the U.S.-led military famine relief effort in Somalia in 1993…”
· “…Bout’s companies had contracts flying in tents, food, and other supplies for US firms working for the US military in Iraq, including a large contract to fly supplies for Kellogg, Brown, and Root, a subsidiary of Halliburton, the company once run by Vice President Cheney. Bout’s companies also flew for US Air Mobility Command. The US military does not stop hiring and using Bout’s planes until about 2007…”
Apart from his relationship with the Pentagon, I set out to find out more about Victor Bout and his associates. Not surprisingly, I found out that he was not only well known to the State Department, CIA and other US entities, but that Jendayi E. Frazier and Meles Zenawi also knew of him. Turns out Richard K. Orth, the US Defense Attaché in Ethiopia , a close friend of Jendayi E. Frazier, had used Bout to deliver arms to various groups in Africa including Rwanda .
On November 17-19, 2006, a Wayne Madison Report (WMR) contained the following on Richard K. Orth:
“…The arming by the U.S. of both the Ethiopians and Somalis in preparation for war is nothing new. In fact, WMR and this editor have reported extensively on the past and current covert intelligence activities of the U.S. Defense Attache in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , U.S. Army Colonel Richard Orth. He was present in Rwanda the day after U.S.-supplied surface-to-air missiles struck the Rwandan presidential aircraft on April 6, 1994, assassinating the Hutu presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and triggering Rwandan and Zairian/Congolese civil wars that took the lives of over 5 million Africans. Orth, as Defense Attache in Kigali , Rwanda , lorded over the transformation of that country from a French-speaking nation to a U.S. client state with English-speaking refugees from Uganda put in charge. Orth then proceeded to take over as U.S. Defense Attache in Uganda where he cemented the U.S. military presence in that nation. He then moved on to Addis Ababa where, as Defense Attache, he aided Meles Zenawi and helped prepare Ethiopia's incursion into Somalia, bolstered the U.S. military positions in Djibouti and Somaliland, tilted U.S. policy to favor Ethiopia in its border war with Eritrea, coordinated Horn of Africa intelligence activities…”
The Wayne Madison Report in a May 2007 article wrote:
“…Colonel Richard K. Orth is not well-known outside the circles of Africa specialists who have tracked America 's insidious role in some of Africa 's bloodiest civil wars. Orth is what is known in U.S. intelligence circles as an "operations area specialist." He now serves as the U.S. Defense Attache in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he oversees overt and covert U.S. military assistance to the Meles Zenawi regime and Ethiopian-backed groups seeking to overthrow the government of Eritrea and roll back that nation's long-fought independence struggle against Ethiopia…Orth also oversees the joint Ethiopian-U.S. military foray into Somalia as well as at least three secret CIA detention camps in Ethiopia where prisoners, accused of terrorist links, have been rounded up from around the world…In Addis Ababa, Orth has not only provided U.S. military and intelligence support to the Ethiopian dictatorship but has overseen U.S. training of African military units via the Pentagon's Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program (ACOTA)…”
It is clear that Ethiopia , Kenya , Uganda and the US know of and have done business with Viktor Bout. What is also becoming clearer is that the accusations against Eritrea were not only totally false, but that the whole sordid story was fabricated with the help of US intelligence officers and was designed to vilify Eritrea for not agreeing to their dangerous and deadly policies in Somalia. Only those who were in Somalia would know about Viktor Bout and his frequent flights there. Only those with access to Bout and his schedules would know such details. Eritrea , despite the fabricated and erroneous UN Report that claimed there were 2000 Eritrean forces in Somalia , had no presence then, and has no presence now, in Somalia .
It took two years, but the fateful turn of events, the crash of an Ilyushin 76 plane have finally exposed the truth and the US-Ethiopia-AU and IGAD collusion on Eritrea . Africa News reported the following on 23 March 2009
“...It is believed that the Ilyushin-76 plane that crashed at Entebbe Airport a fortnight ago, might have been hit by an Al-Qaida missile. Villagers who saw the plane going down confirmed to reporters on the accident's scene that the plane was indeed in fire when going down. Mr Yevgeniy Zakharov the owner of the ill fated plane told a russian news agency after spending five days in Uganda that evidences on the scene of the crash showed clearly that the cargo plane managed by Ugandan businessman Sam Engola, living Entebbe en route to Somalia was either hit by a rocket from a grenade launcher or a Stinger missile during take-off, when its tanks were virtually full with tonnes of fuel aboard. He supported his arguments by alleging that there was nothing left and all the debris recovered by the divers covered less than six meters by six area ashore...”
The one small item missing from this news report is that the plane is the same plane that the UN Monitoring Group and Meles Zenawi’s mercenaries claim was sold to Eritrea . When did the African Union and DynCorp take possession of the plane? According to the aviation report about the crash of the Ilyushin 76 in Uganda , Aerolift took possession of the plane in 2006 from GST Aero (Viktor Bout’s company) and it remained in its possession until the fateful crash.
The plane was leased to DynCorp at the time of the crash. Is it simply a coincidence that the very same plane ends up with DynCorp and the African Union? If the plane was sold to Eritrea in 2006, how did Aerolift get it back? I bet it was in Aerolift’s possession all along and Eritrea was wrongly framed. I bet there was no sale to Eritrea and I bet the “Contract” that is supposed to show the sale of the Ilyushian 76 to Eritrea is a forged document. The art of forgery and counterfeiting are two things that the minority regime and its mercenaries have perfected.
At this juncture, it behooves Johnnie Carson, the current Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and the Obama Administration and the Justice Department ought to launch a thorough investigation into the conduct of Jendayi Frazier, the former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and all those involved in the campaign to vilify Eritrea . The Obama Administration should review the policy for Somalia and the horn of Africa that has plunged Somalia into the abyss and is threatening to destabilize the entire region.
Finally, African Union and IGAD, the incompetent and crooked regional organizations have long compromised their credibility, neutrality and integrity and can no longer have relevance on matters pertaining to Somalia , or anywhere else in Africa . These two organizations no longer serve the interests of Africa and have become tools for those who want to plunder and pillage Africa ’s vast resources. Africans should come together and create new organizations that can better represent the aspirations and dreams of their people and revoke their memberships in these pathetic entities.
As for mercenary regimes in Burundi , Djibouti , Ethiopia , Kenya and Uganda , pointing their blood drenched fingers at Eritrea is not going to absolve them, or their handlers, of the international crimes and the genocide being committed in Somalia . History and the Somali people will judge them harshly.
The rule of law must prevail over the law of the jungle!
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Africa (African Union) and Ethiopia:
It is apparent that the Horn is likely to be the next taret for the War on Terror and the masterpiece of this tragedy is found in this attached article.
Imagine, the Whole African Union being blamed by a tiny Ethiopian Rengade territory in the hands of well established Mafia who have terrorized the region for more than 40 years.
Now, here is their story how they think they can fool the UN, African Union, Arab League and get away with such crime.
It is interesting to read their version of history and reality that is not compatible with any one in the universe except in the minds of those few hard core criminals.
Here is their version of the Somalia Saga in the 21st century.
Please read on!
[1] http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/268835 accessed 30 May 2009
[2] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1400655.ece accessed on 30 May 2009
[3] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2076015.ece accessed on 30 may 2009
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--- On Mon, 6/8/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, "Belai FM Habte-Jesus"
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com, globalbelai7@gmail.com
Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 11:12 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Africa and the Middle East:
Here is a very interesting and rather historic speech by a sitting American Pesident about his vision for a peaceful global world where the security of every citizen is promoted.
This is an excellent piece of political speech to win friends amongst skeptic audience.
The lesson is be direct, of good will and most of all respectful of the people you speak to.
What an excellent lesson for people of the Horn!
Would any body learn or try to look at issues differently? At least BHO is trying his best and his critics from all sides are surfacing to show that even good will can be a dangerous business!
Here is the speech for your review and trusting some one will come up with simliar speech in the Horn.
Who knows, some of us might be inspired by this.! There is hope and Yes We Can in all of us.
Dr B
Obama Calls for Alliances With Muslims (June 5, 2009)
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I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement.
Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate.
The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors.
There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment.
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote,
"The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known.
We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."
Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered,
that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.
This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.
That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support.
We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.
That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims.
Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.
We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."
Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August.
That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.
For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers – for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.
That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them – and all of us – to live up to our responsibilities.
Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation.
But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.
Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.
Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed.
All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.
The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.
It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.
There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all el
ected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.
Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.
Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.
Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.
Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations – including my own – this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities – those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.
This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.
On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.
I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."
The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."
The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.
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Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
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--- On Tue, 5/12/09, Belai FM Habte-Jesus
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com, nwMariam@yahoo.com, ben@ethiopiafirst.com, admin@aigaforum.com, ethiopian@tecolahagos.com, editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com, Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com, Getwondimu@yaoo.com, helenmullie@yahoo.com, nega@horinfer.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, editor@Washingtontimes.com, editor@hagerfikerradio.com, editor@ethiomedia.com, Editor@Afro.com, editorr@ethiopianreporter.com, editor@ethiopianreview.com
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 11:38 AM
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethopia:
It is interesting that we have a series of Watch Dogs who report and the series of liberation fronts who terrorize us with high coordination that is unfolding by the day.
It is critical to understnd if these campaigns and and the Egyptian Nile Basin and Red Sea Coast Conflict of Interest have any thing in common?
Historically, Ethiopia had a series of conflicts of interests from the time of the Ethiopian/Egyptian Pharaoh over the control of the Nile River Basin. This conflict has led some Ethiopian Emperors to overtake the whole Nile River Basin as some of the Nubian and Ethiopian Pharaohs had taken the matter into their hands.
Most recently, the Egyptian and Turkish Sultanates had hired US defeated Generals from the Civil War of Abraham Lincoln era to over take the Nile Basin as well as the Red Sea Coast and twice were defeated by Emperor Yohannes and the Gallant General Ras Allula at Gunder etc.
The Egyptians have called on the Turks, the British and the Itlians and even renegade American Generals of the Civil War and always they were defeated because Ethiopia was led by high caliber brilliant Kings and Emperors etc who galvanized the whole population to the rescue.
More recently, there have been calls for Strategic Pre-emptic Action that utilizes the African Union, United Nations and other regional Good Governance Institutions to avert the series of overt and covert terrorists trying to undermine the soveriegnity of Ethiopia and its historic place in the world.
Unfortunately the present day pharoes are fighting the old historic wars with proxies such as Alqaeda, Shabia, AlShabab, and the series of liberation fronts such as OLF, ONLF, Guinbot 7 etc. with highly suphisticated Media campaign groups that range from Amensty International, Genocide Watch and Human Rights Watch who openly attack Ethiopia' image and soveriegnity, so much so some foolish foreign government representatives such as Payne have taken it upon themselves to make it their business to disenfranchise Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia by making undiplomatic and unstateman like terror campaigns officially inviting the above terrorist groups to testify in Congress and set up a base in the United States of America.
This is a different world and Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia have to wake up to the latest series of challenges against the security and wellbeing of people of Ethiopian and African decent all over the world.
Here is an interesting article, where a so called Watch Dog group not appointed by Ethiopians and not recognized by Ethiopian Parliament interferinig in the internal affairs of a soveriegn country and seriously thinks that Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia will take it sitting down and be spectators of their heritage being decimated.
As many in history have learned, these series of neuvo charlatans and mercenaries will learn the hard facts of lives that Patriotic Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia and the USA will not rest until these overt and covert interference in our soverignity are challened ones for all with facts and good govenance that demand transparency and accountability from all.
Please read these two interesting stories and get involved to address them as our Patriotic Heritage demands to stand up with the truth based on peace and prosperity for all.
Make your voices heard and get involved for protecting the Good and fighting evil. It might help to set up African Human Rights Watch to expose the role of these so called international group what they really are by tracking their activities and demanding Good Govenance that is transparency and accountability prevails all the time!
Dr B
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31138
Sudan Tribune
May 12, 2009
Ethiopia blasts report by rights watchdog on arrested opponents
The Ethiopian government dismissed a recently released report by Human Rights Watch in connection with the recent arrest of 40 opposition member suspected of plotting to assassinate top government officials and strategic bombing on public facilities.
The US-based Watchdog in its recent report condemned the mass arrest against 40 members of opposition, "Ginbot 7"as "politically motivated" and "in line of blood relation."
But the Ethiopian government strongly reacted to HRW’s report and blasted it saying ground less and a usual deliberate campaign aimed to defame a nation’s image. "The report by the so-called Human Rights watch is baseless," the Government communications Affairs Bureau said in an Amharic statement issued on Friday.
It said the HRW jeopardized the rule of law in reporting on matters in due process by the country’s court.
"The suspects were put behind bars after it was discovered that they were preparing to assassinate government officials and blow up selected government cities," the statement said, adding the round up took place following an arrest warrant by the court.
"Citizens who violate the country’s law are held accountable, and this process will not be disrupted by fabricated reports and negative campaign aimed at tarnishing the country’s image," the statement added.
The ministry said it was not understood why the rights NGO chose to resort to making hasty statements about the matter while the issue was in due process and in line with national and international legal practices.
The statement accused the human rights watch as an organization engaged in relentlessly attempts of hurting the image of the country.
"The report is a product of one those so called international organizations who in the name of human rights, are engaged in hurting the image of the country." "This kind of unfounded and baseless report made in the midst of the due process is faulty and therefore unacceptable," the statement further said concluding government’s response to the HRW report released on Thursday.
The suspects were first taken to custody on alleged allegation of coup plot but Bereket Simon, Minister for government’s communication last week at a news conference reversed the claims saying plans were not to conduct a coup plot, it was an intent to create havoc by those that he described them as "desperados."
Ethiopia government’s report alleges that Weapons, landmines, and copies of plans were seized during a raid by security forces last month.
Today, suspects have come before court on a second hearing but it is again adjourned for a period of two weeks.
_________________________________________________________
http://en.afrik.com/article15667.html
Afrik
May 8, 2009
Ethiopia - Egypt: A tug of war over the Nile basin
Egypt makes offers but Ethiopia won’t budge
Despite a generous offer made by visiting Egyptian minister of Water Rosources and Irrigation, Dr. Mohamed Nasr Eldin Allam, Ethiopian Minister of Water Resources, Asfaw Dingamo, has stood by his government’s firm stance to continue with its decision to protect the upper riparian (Nile basin) countries. The Ethiopian position seeks to limit Egypt and Sundan’s indiscriminate use of the Nile’s water resource. The Egyptian Minister visited Ethiopia this week.
The Egyptian minister, appointed March 11, 2009, replaces Mahmoud Abu Zeid, who had been criticized for his weak negotiations on Nile issues. Egypt claims his replacement was due to a health related problem. Dr. Mohamed Nasr Eldin Allam, the new minister, is touring Nile riparian countries, a move criticised as lobbying to maintain Egypt’s grip on the Nile basin.
The visiting minister held closed door discussions with top Ethiopian Government officials, including Asfaw Dingamo, Minister of Water Resource. Talking to the press, Mr. Asfaw Dingamo indicated that Dr. Eldin Allam had expressed his country’s (Egypt) willingness to cooperate with Ethiopia and also provide Ethiopian water experts with a high level all-expense-paid training. “We accepted the new Egyptian minister’s offer,” Asfaw said. The training will be conducted by an Egyptian based training institute which offers short term Applied Training Programmes to all Nile countries, and is run by The Nile Basin.
The offer, however, does little to change Ethiopia’s unrelenting position on regulations affecting the subject of Nile sharing since negotiations among all Nile countries began, about a decade ago. The negotiations aim to amend an exclusive 1959 agreement signed between Egypt and Sudan that expressly excluded Ethiopia, despite the country’s 85 per cent contribution to the Nile’s water resource. Ethiopia’s insistence on protecting other riparian countries, while demanding that the Nile sharing programme should be free of any agreements that may prove detrimental to some countries, remains the main bone of contention.
An Ethiopian proposed article that deals with the possibility of water sharing without causing significant harm to other riparian countries has caused negotiating countries to split into two major blocks: Upper riparian countries, consisting of a host of countries under Ethiopia’s leadership including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi; and lower riparian countries, made up of Egypt and Sudan.
The two lower riparian countries, Egypt and Sudan, have indicated that they will not endorse the Ethipian proposed article unless a clause that guarantees that there will be no damage to water security is inserted. However, this clause if accepted, will allow the two countries to continue using the Nile water resource intensively and extensively, experts say. The division has halted the Nile Basin Ministerial Council sponsored negotiation process.
“We explained our stance to the Egyptian Minister and told him to lighten the gloomy negotiations,” Asfaw told Capital.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the current chair of the Nile Council of Ministers, however, Egypt will take over in the month of July, which may give it an opportunity to influence other nations. But before then, a final conference, to be hosted by DRC is expected to highlight a three point proposal that could improve Ethiopia’s position if endorsed by the Nile Basin member countries, Mr. Asfaw said.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
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Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; ben@ethiopiafirst.com; admin@aigaforum.com; ethiopian@tecolahagos.com; editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Getwondimu@yaoo.com; helenmullie@yahoo.com; nega@horinfer.com; editor@washingtonpost.com; editor@Washingtontimes.com; editor@hagerfikerradio.com; editor@ethiomedia.com; Editor@Afro.com; editorr@ethiopianreporter.com; editor@ethiopianreview.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:50:06 AM
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia
Here is the Memorial from Ethiopian Peace Corps Volunteers
Scholomo and Charles who continue to enhance and love Ethiopian Cultural and Musical Emperor Tilahun!
I trust North American communities including Bucknell University Economics students will appreciate that Ethiopia is more than what Bonger tells them.
It is a beautiful and rich cultural center with a deep history and civilization not paralleled in any other society.
Here Shlomo and Charlie testify in the rich personal character and contribution of one of its most famous modern son who just slept the other day but continues to mesmerize many music lovers all over the world.
With my respect and appreciation to Tilahun's Memory!
Dr B
Charles Sutton -- usually known as Charlie -- came to Ethiopia with the Peace Corps in 1966.
He was a musician, and even before he arrived, Charlie had discovered Ethiopian music through his Amharic language instructors. He describes the impact of that discovery, which directed his life toward a deep and lasting relationship with Ethiopia, its people -- particularly musicians, and its language, in which his fluency and elegance continue to astonish.
Charlie needs only a brief introduction from me since he will provide the rest himself. His friends and acquaintances know Charlie to be a gracious, warm and generous man, thoughtful and polite to a fault.
He is still a working musician both as a teacher and a performer. In his jazz, Charlie's improvisations reveal the depth to which Ethiopia has entered his soul.
In a recent recording, Charlie played masinko and sang, in Amharic, naturally, with two long-time Ethiopian musician friends. Characteristically, Charlie often directs the proceeds from his CD sales to the Institute for Ethiopian Studies or another deserving beneficiary.
This is the first of a three-part appreciation and reminisence by Charles Sutton about his friend, the supremely gifted singer, Tilahun Gessesse, who passed away on April 19, 2009 in Addis Ababa. All of Ethiopia, and music lovers around the world, are in mourning.
Shlomo Bachrach
Washington DC
May 10, 2009
Oo-oota Ayaskeffam
It has been three weeks since we heard the tragic news of Tilahun's death. I remain stunned by it.
No doubt like many others, I have derived some comfort from the multitude of deeply felt tributes poured out by his family, friends, colleagues, and fans.
Although there is little I can add to these, I still wish to offer in Tilahun's memory my own words of respect, appreciation and love--which I do from my heart.
I am an American. But when an Ethiopian calls Tilahun, as Ahadu Selamu did recently in his moving Aiga Forum eulogy, "just larger than life...Tilahun was a walking history that embodied the narrative of five decades of our lives in his songs," I understand very well what he is talking about. Before I ever saw Ethiopia, I knew instinctively that something of that country's deepest essence had been revealed to me when, 43 years ago, on a warm June night, in the unlikely precincts of Salt Lake City, Utah, I first listened spellbound to Tilahun's voice.
Along with 100 other recent college graduates from all over the United States, I had completed the first day of an intensive three-month Peace Corps training program at the University of Utah that would prepare us to become secondary school teachers in Ethiopia.
We studied TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) under the supervision of a youthful Shlomo Bachrach; Ethiopian history, geography, customs, and culture; and Amharic.
I was assigned, along with four other beginners, to a gifted young teacher named Mengesha, who had his students exchanging gender-and-status-specific greetings and forming elementary sentences in Amharic on the first day of class.
When we were chatting during a break, Mengesha and I found we had something in common: both of us loved music, sang folksongs, and played the guitar. Finally I had found someone who could explain to me what I had been wondering about for months. (In 1966, the Internet, with its vast store of instantaneously available information on every conceivable subject, was still a quarter-century in the future). "Mengesha," I confessed, "I've never heard any Ethiopian music. None at all! What is your music like?"
That evening, on a bulky Norelco portable tape machine in the dormitory common room, I listened with Mengesha to selections from his extensive collection of Ethiopian popular music, contained on large reels of magnetic audiotape he kept in a suitcase.
Though the unfamiliar timbres and modes were strange-sounding at first, I enjoyed everything Mengesha played. There was one song--it had a plaintive minor-key melody made twice as sad by the vocalist's incredibly intense, passionate, and grief-stricken rendition of it--that I loved. It was like nothing I had ever heard in my life and brought tears to my eyes.
"Could we listen to that again?" I asked Mengesha. "Who is that singer? I can't understand what he's singing, but it's breaking my heart."
"That is Tilahun Gessesse, star vocalist with the Imperial Bodyguard Orchestra," Mengesha replied as he obligingly pressed rewind. "Tilahun is a young guy in his twenties, but he's been performing since he was practically a kid, and a lot of people are already calling him our greatest singer."
"I'm not surprised. And what is he singing?"
"The song is called "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam". That means, "There's nothing wrong with crying."
Amharic instructors and Charles performing Tilahun's "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam" during a music show for Peace Corps trainees and staff members at the University of Utah, September 7, 1966.
"Nothing wrong with crying?"
"You see, Charles, you will learn when you get to know us better that we Ethiopians have a tendency to conceal our deepest feelings, to keep them locked up inside us.
And Tilahun is proclaiming that when we suffer the worst anguish of all, separation from or loss of someone we love, we must express our sorrow and let it come out, for that is the only way of easing it, if only just a little."
Mengesha taught me the words to "Oo-oota Ayaskeffam". I worked out arrangements of it on my guitar and accordion. We formed a vocal group and performed the song in a concert of Ethiopian music at the end of the training program.
So began my appreciation of the artistry of Tilahun Gessesse, which grew over the next four decades into reverence and love. I was actually fortunate enough to meet and get to know Tilahun the man, as I will explain when my tribute continues.
Perhaps along with everyone else, I never imagined the day when Tilahun would leave us. But now it has come. Oo-oota Ayaskeffam.
Charles Sutton
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
May 10, 2009
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; ben@ethiopiafirst.com; admin@aigaforum.com; ethiopian@tecolahagos.com; editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Getwondimu@yaoo.com; helenmullie@yahoo.com; nega@horinfer.com; editor@washingtonpost.com; editor@Washingtontimes.com; editor@hagerfikerradio.com; editor@ethiomedia.com; Editor@Afro.com; editorr@ethiopianreporter.com; editor@ethiopianreview.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 3:02:12 PM
Subject: Re: - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know? Over 16.6 Billion Birr
Dear Global Patriotic Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Here is some Good News that Bucknell University Economists should teach their students and not alleged terror and support for terror!
Addis Ababa, April4: The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) disclosed that the integrated utilization of the various development assistance secured from donor groups in Ethiopia is well in progress.
State Minister of MoFED, Ahimed Shide Mohammed, told WIC that the utilization of the funds of the development assistance secured from various donor groups is being carried out in line with the development program designed by the Ethiopian government.
Despite the economic instability various countries are experiencing amid the global financial slow down, development partners are releasing the financial support in accordance with their earlier promises, he said,
The financial support being obtained from the development partners is being spent on expansion of infrastructure facilities, rural development as well as provision of basic service facilities, the state minister said.
The state minister pointed out that more that 40 countries including the World Bank (WB), European Union, Britain, Japan and Germany are among development partners of Ethiopia, adding, that the country’s bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the countries and the international organizations is getting stronger over time.
Some 6.9 million birr was secured through the tripartite scheme over the last six months for the implementation of various development projects and programs here, the state minister said, adding that this year’s financial assistance exceeds that of last year’s same time by 83 per cent.
Moreover, some 9.7 million birr fund was secured through the government to government financial support scheme, adding that this also exceeds that of last year’s by 63 per cent than that of last year same time.
The state minister also indicated that the financial assistance from donor countries is also increasing both in its quantity and type, while it is expected to increase in the years to come.
According to the state minister, among African countries Ethiopia comes first for its effective and integrated utilization of various development assistances it is obtaining from donor groups.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; ben@ethiopiafirst.com; admin@aigaforum.com; ethiopian@tecolahagos.com; editor@ethiomedia.com
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Getwondimu@yaoo.com; helenmullie@yahoo.com; nega@horinfer.com; editor@washingtonpost.com; editor@Washingtontimes.com; editor@hagerfikerradio.com; editor@ethiomedia.com; Editor@Afro.com; editorr@ethiopianreporter.com; editor@ethiopianreview.com
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 11:15:16 AM
Subject: Re: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Ethiopia has been at the fore front of Counter-terrorism efforts for millennia, be it in the Red Sea region, Gulf of Aden or Indian Ocean as well as the Miditerranean Seas.
The recent develpments in the Horn both on land and see are being reviewed by the international community with vigilance, especially after the successful operation to release Captian Philips Richards by the Special Navy Seal Commandoes.
Another Urban terrorists have been in operation from Pennsylvania, Berkenel University and London England and we have a very serious challenge in the Horn.
We were exploring for some time, how the US can deport some of the hard core criminals who have misrepresented themselves and got US Refuggee status and even citizenship and continue to master mind a serious Terrorist Sleeper Cells which grave consecquences.
Can the US be challenged to respect its own laws about terrorists? Here is the law and if the Justice Department cannot implement it, then citizens have to encourage it to do its job, that is implement the US legal system.
As we are reviewing the Torture Memos of the last administration, perhaps we should also review past administration policies of giving refugee and citizenship to known criminals and terrorists through out history and especially the recent case of a part time visiting professor of Economics at Berkenel University n Pennsylvania.
Here is what the law say and let us see how the US Jistice Department will react to it.
Dr B
Immigration and Nationality Act Section212
Fact Sheet
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Washington, DC
April 8, 2008
Return to Foreign Terrorist Organization factsheet.
Section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) defines "terrorist activity" to mean: any activity which is unlawful under the laws of the place where it is committed (or which, if committed in the United States, would be unlawful under the laws of the United States or any State) and which involves any of the following:
(I) The highjacking or sabotage of any conveyance (including an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle).
(II) The seizing or detaining, and threatening to kill, injure, or continue to detain, another individual in order to compel a third person (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the individual seized or detained.
(III) A violent attack upon an internationally protected person (as defined in section 1116(b)(4) of title 18, United States Code) or upon the liberty of such a person.
(IV) An assassination.
(V) The use of any--
(a) biological agent, chemical agent, or nuclear weapon or device, or
(b) explosive, firearm, or other weapon or dangerous device (other than for mere personal monetary gain), with intent to endanger, directly or indirectly, the safety of one or more individuals or to cause substantial damage to property.
(VI) A threat, attempt, or conspiracy to do any of the foregoing.
Other pertinent portions of section 212(a)(3)(B) are set forth below:
(iv) Engage in Terrorist Activity Defined
As used in this chapter [chapter 8 of the INA], the term '"ngage in terrorist activity" means in an individual capacity or as a member of an organization–
to commit or to incite to commit, under circumstances indicating an intention to cause death or serious bodily injury, a terrorist activity;
to prepare or plan a terrorist activity;
to gather information on potential targets for terrorist activity;
to solicit funds or other things of value for–
(aa) a terrorist activity;
(bb) a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
(cc) a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(III), unless the solicitor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the solicitation would further the organization’s terrorist activity;
I. to solicit any individual–
(aa) to engage in conduce otherwise described in this clause;
(bb) for membership in terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
(cc) for membership in a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(III), unless the solicitor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the solicitation would further the organization’s terrorist activity; or
II. to commit an act that the actor knows, or reasonably should know, affords material support, including a safe house, transportation, communications, funds, transfer of funds or other material financial benefit, false documentation or identification, weapons (including chemical, biological, or radiological weapons), explosives, or training–
(aa) for the commission of a terrorist activity;
(bb) to any individual who the actor knows, or reasonably should know, has committed or plans to commit a terrorist activity;
(cc) to a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(I) or (vi)(II); or
(dd) to a terrorist organization described in clause (vi)(III), unless the actor can demonstrate that he did not know, and should not reasonably have known, that the act would further the organization’s terrorist activity.
This clause shall not apply to any material support the alien afforded to an organization or individual that has committed terrorist activity, if the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Attorney General, or the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretary of State, concludes in his sole unreviewable discretion, that that this clause should not apply.
(v) Representative Defined
As used in this paragraph, the term "representative" includes an officer, official, or spokesman of an organization, and any person who directs, counsels, commands, or induces an organization or its members to engage in terrorist activity.
i. Terrorist Organization Defined
As used in clause (i)(VI) and clause (iv), the term "terrorist organization" means an organization--
I. designated under section 219 [8 U.S.C. § 1189];
II. otherwise designated, upon publication in the Federal Register, by the Secretary of State in consultation with or upon the request of the Attorney General, as a terrorist organization, after finding that the organization engages in the activities described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (iv), or that the organization provides material support to further terrorist activity; or
III. that is a group of two or more individuals, whether organized or not, which engages in the activities described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (iv).
For more information, see Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Return to Foreign Terrorist Organization factsheet.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; Ben EthiopiaFirst
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Wondimu Asamenew
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 10:21:50 AM
Subject: Re: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
As you were being humoured by the Europeans on how to make Euro-English the language of the future, here is the story of the Assassinations attempt from a group that educateds Burnknel students on how best to be Economic Terrorists.
Unfortunately Betnachew does not have that opportunity as the BBC would perhaps milk the last drop of grey cells of terror left in him. All the same we need to protect the Burknell students from these criminals.
This is the latest story on the neuvo urban terrorists by remote control!
Dr B
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090501/wl_africa_afp/ethiopiaoppositionmilitarycrime
AFP/Yahoo
May 1, 2009
Senior Ethiopia officers "plotted assassinations"
Then opposition leader Berhanu Nega pictured in Addis Ababa in 2005. Senior military officers in Ethiopia, …
ADDIS ABABA – Senior military officers in Ethiopia, including a general, had plotted to assassinate top government officials, Communications Minister Bereket Simon said Friday, adding that 40 people were under arrest.
"While six of the suspects were army officers on active duty, including one general, 34 of the suspects were ex-army men expelled from the army on grounds of misconduct," he told a press conference.
Bereket said the plotters belonged to the Ginbot 7 (May 15) opposition group, saying it was linked to the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) headed by Berhanu Nega, currently living in the United States.
He said the government believed that the "desperado" group was not planning to stage a coup, but intended "assassinating individuals, high ranking government officials and destroying some public facilities and utilities ... like telecom services and electricity utilities.
"The police have also found evidence implicating some ex-CUD members released on pardon. With the exception of some three or four of the desperado group who are still at large, the police have arrested almost all members of the conspiracy.
"
Berekt told AFP the government knew about the plot from its inception, adding, "If there had been laxity from the government, there would have been problems."
The mass arrests were reported on Sunday by state media, which said the National Security Taskforce had also found weapons including bombs, computers and communications equipment, military uniforms and documents.
The CUD won an unprecedented number of seats in the May 15, 2005 elections, which the European Union and other observers said fell short of international standards.
Around 200 people died in violence that erupted after the CUD accused the party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of rigging the ballot.
Berhanu, 51, currently a university professor in the United States, was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in the polls. He was subsequently jailed for two years along with other leaders of the CUD, and left the country after his release.
Ethiopia's next general election is scheduled to be held in June 2010.
In a statement on its website following the initial reports of arrests Ginbot 7 said it "has no desire to engage in a tit-for-tat with the dictators in Addis Ababa, nor the time to waste replying to baseless accusations by a regime that rules Ethiopia by the barrel of the gun."
"Ginbot 7 remains committed to work for the establishment of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Ethiopia. No amount of scurrilous accusations, threats or blackmail by the regime will deter us from pursuing the cause of democracy and freedom," it added.
Oh! Assasinations and terror are the building blocks of democracy, these Zombies need help! I believe Bonger should follow Aweys and go back to Kaliti and meet his constituents!
Read below the example from Somalia, his terror mate
___________________________________________________________________
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSLU142426._CH_.2400
Reuters
May 1, 2009
INTERVIEW-Somali govt sees peace role for opposition ' s Aweys Abdiaziz Hassan
NAIROBI, May 1 (Reuters) - Somalia ' s hardline opposition leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has an important role to play in restoring security to the country after 18 years of ruinous civil war, a government minister said.
Aweys, who is on the U.S. terrorism list for alleged links to al Qaeda, returned to the Horn of Africa nation last week in his first known trip home in more than two years.
He is an influential figure for many of the Islamist rebels fighting the new government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed -- who was Aweys ' former partner in the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) that ruled the capital and much of the south in 2 006.
Despite Aweys ' calls for African Union (AU) forces to leave, some analysts say exile may have mellowed him, and that he could still prove to be an important mediator with insurgents.
Aweys moved to Eritrea after Ethiopian forces chased his sharia courts group out of Mogadishu at the start of 2 007. In a Reuters interview late on Thursday, Somali Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar said a lot had changed since then.
"He has been away some time and major developments have taken place in the country. He left because of an issue that has been resolved. Ethiopian troops have withdrawn," Omaar said.
"Aweys is an elder and a historical figure in Somalia . I believe he has a responsibility for the wellbeing and progress of the Somali people, especially the women and children who are most affected by the war."
After leading the ICU until Addis Ababa ' s offensive, Aweys and Ahmed later split, with Aweys taking over the Asmara-based Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia from Ahmed, who was elected president early this year at U.N.-led talks in Djibouti .
Last week, donors agreed to give at least $ 2 13 million to help Somalia strengthen its security forces and also fund the small AU mission AMISOM over the next year. [ID:nLN86947]
Omaar said the amount pledged was a clear sign of broad global support, and that all of it would be spent transparently. Ahmed ' s administration is the 15th attempt since 1991 to set up a functioning central government for Somalia
"This time, the international community sees that we ' re serious and reliable ... I believe we have crossed that bridge," the foreign minister said during a visit to neighbouring Kenya .
"We will establish joint committees of donors and the government to deliver, supervise and manage the money. Systems that satisfy everybody will be established." (Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Jack Kimball)
____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSgUj_A-akAcFMRboCJf3Fg5d0TA
AFP
April 30, 2009
Canadian detained in Ethiopia to defend terror charges
ADDIS ABABA — A Canadian man facing terrorism-related charges in Ethiopia and in detention since 2006 will take the defence stand next month, a judge said on Thursday.
Bashir Makhtal, an Ethiopian-born Canadian citizen, is accused of inciting rebellion by aiding and abetting armed opposition groups in Ethiopia and being a senior member of a rebel group.
"The accused should now prepare his defence for next hearing on May 26," said Adam Ibrahim. Bonger can do the same at Kaliti where his real constituents are, Brecknel University students are just a distraction!
The 40-year-old, who has denied the charges, is also accused of supporting Somalia's Islamist movement ousted by Ethiopian forces in early 2007 when they intervened in the neighbouring country to prop up its embattled government.
Mukhtal was among some 150 people detained by Kenyan forces in 2006 on the border with Somalia as they fled the Ethiopian onslaught on the Islamists.
The trial has been postponed several times this year due to prosecutors' failure to provide witnesses.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
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www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com; nwMariam@yahoo.com; Ben EthiopiaFirst
Cc: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Wondimu Asamenew
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 10:04:42 AM
Subject: Re: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
Re: Managing Conflicts of Interests the European way and lessons for Horn Terrorists and Revolutinaries.
On the lighter side, I thought as this space is going to be busy in the coming few weeks as the 35 Potential Terrorists are broght to court and we here their wonderful and productive association with Betnachew and Bonger, I felt it will be helpful how to manage our frstration by having some interesting story from the Europeans.
Please take it, but take it easy as life is rather tough. We will update you the latest developments on the Neuvo-terrorists as information becomes available. In the mean time, here is some fun and great lesson in negotiations.
Dr B
Read slowly And carefully... .
he European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English. "
In the first year, "S" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.
The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "O" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer , ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi TU understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
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Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Sultan R
To: EthioForum Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:57:37 PM
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Why is this fool tolerated on this forum?
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:14:50 -0700
From: globalbelai@yahoo.com
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
To: EthioForum@Ethiolist.com
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
The Ethiopians and Russians are getting smarter catching the terrorists before they can act. I hope the US will do the same in Taliban land in Afghan and Pakistan Border!
As we watched President Barack Obama Report on his first 100 days, I could not help but be impressed by the intelligence, wit and deliberative and thinking president the US is blessed with.
I was forced to scan the universe and could not help but focus on the Horn, where people with the same genetic pool as the US President (Kenya and Ethiopia Borders) could not manage their affairs as he does in such clear and intelligent way.
He was so clear as he addressed the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic as well as the global climate change, the Economic Crisis, the Republican Crisis and welcoming the independent Senator Arlene Specter, and the future green economy, etc. and the Taliban and Betnachew type of Global Terror!
It is so amazing how people can be so intelligent but humble, so wise but simle, so great but respectful of their audience and the general public.
I then managed to review the Betnachew web site at www.Guinbot7.org and remembered the weekened interview by Apiring Terrorist Bonger, and felt, is this the same planet?
Such humility and intelligence wrapped around one man! He is from the Horn as are the Betnachews and Bongers are but he spent his early youth time in schools and colleges and not in the Mountains of Dedebit or the streets of Merkato terrorizing his own people.
That is the greatest difference, between three sets of people who hail from the Great Genetic Pool of the Horn people but whose outlook and foturnes are so different.
Can the Horn and Ethiopia create another HIM and Barack. I could not help but be amazed when I saw Barack quote straight from the Sermon on the Mount the same verses HIM quoted at the introduction of His book, My life and Ethiopia's progress.
Yet the same Bonger was heared just few years ago before he left for Ethiopia at the East West Highway Library in Silver Spring Maryland, the main cause of Ethiopia's problem is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Gospel of Christ. I walked out of the meeting by declaring you are a fool, Ethiopia will always respect its faith and you will be part of the dust bin of communist history. Now after almost 5 years, this fool converted into a potential terrorist and joined the camps of failed communists in the West.
What a shame!
Let us say, the majority children in the Horn by the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden did not see any thing but the tail of Camels all their lives and therefore we cannot expect any thing better than piracy and urban terror as Betnachew and Bonger have declared at www.guinbot.org. But, what do you say about Betnachew and Bonger who had all the opportunity to be educated and contributing members of humanity like Barack but decided to follow the tails of terror like their cousins in Somalia, Yemen, Egypt, Eritrea (Osaman, Ayman and Aweye and Afeworki) are engaged in.
Why did Bonger and Betnachew choose the terrorist route? This is a PhD student for future children of the Horn, especially the Merkato and Dedebit Neighborhood where these delinquents spent most of their creaative youth
I could not help but compare the compassion and intelligence when he was asked what surpirsed, humbled and endeared him and what would he cherish in the first 100 days, and then I listen to the Foolish Bonger and Betnachew regurgitating hate filled out of date and rather criminal language.
There you have it is not the Genuius Genes of the Horn that you see on Barack that matter but who your friends are and how you spend your time.
Imaine Bonger listening to Barack and saying, Please Bararck starve my people, and then Betnachew saying please Gordon, do not send help to my people, I would like to see them starve now so that I can then come back to you and feed them at their death bed.
This is such a great tragedy of the 21st Century, where the country of HIM, Menelik and Yohannes is now being cajoled to disaster by the Betnachews and Bongers of this world.
Please read on
Dr B
Could we generate more Baracks in the Horn and put all the Bongers and Betnachews in the dust hip of history!
That is my wish and I trust the wishes of all people of the Horn!
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/04/28/4152319.htm
Sudan Tribune/McClatchey Information Services, France/US
April 28, 2009
BRIEF: Ethiopia's 35 accused appear in court
ADDIS ABABA, Apr 28, 2009 (Sudan Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Some 35 Ethiopian, suspected of plotting to commit subversive activities against the government, were brought before the court on Monday.
Ethiopian security services said the terrorist group, which is led by Dr. Berhanu Nega, has declared an armed struggle to dismantle the national constitutional system through force.
The authorities, who detained them on Friday April 24, say they found in their houses weapons, explosives, communications tools and army uniforms.
The security service today requested the judge to allow them more time to finalize their investigations. A period of 14 days has been granted by the judges.
The police said they had been closely monitoring the activities of the members of the "terror network" which encompasses soldiers and civilians working in government ministries.
____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.telegraph..co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/ethiopia/5243280/Ethiopia-PM-warns-anti-hunger-effort-at-risk.html
Telegraph, UK
April 29, 2009
Ethiopia PM warns anti-hunger effort at risk
Ethiopia's prime minister has warned that a British-backed effort to stave off starvation in the country is in danger of collapse without a dramatic increase in international aid.
Damien McElroy
Meles Zenawi, the strongman who has ruled the African republic for 18 years, represented Africa at the G20 summit in London last month. He led calls from African countries on international officials that met in Washington last weekend to quickly hand out the $500 billion (£342 billion) pledged in London for developing countries.
"The economic downturn means there is no cash to give more support to the vulnerable," he told The Daily Telegraph at his offices in Addis Ababa.
"We need the global economy to pick up and the resources promised at the G20 from the IMF to be made be available immediately to help with the balance of payment problems many African countries like ours are facing."
Mr Meles has played a key role for Western governments, most notably as a member alongside the singer and campaigner Bob Geldof, of Tony Blair's Commission for Africa.
The G20 has further entrenched his role as Africa's spokesman. Mr Meles has said that some African countries "could go under" as a result of the global downturn. He pointed to a foreign exchange crunch in Ethiopia and the troubles caused by a halving of economic growth as Africa suffers from the global recession.
Asked about the parlous state of Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Programme - which receives £25 million a year from Whitehall - Mr Meles said that "it is in a more serious situation".
The half-cash, half-food scheme supports 7.2 million Ethiopians on the brink of starvation. But after five years the programme has fallen short of its original aim of helping millions escape from dependency on hand-outs.
A spokesman for the Department of International Development (DFID) in London said that it had demanded a "rapid payout" for Ethiopia and other distressed economies at the summit.
Officials believe the Ethiopian programme needs a drastic overhaul even if it survives the crisis. Just three per cent of recipients have been weaned off assistance, far short of the 50 percent hoped for when the scheme was launched in 2003.
"The government has been too optimistic," said Melakamnesh Alemu, a DFID adviser on the scheme. "We need to design the system to respond to a major shock."
Andrew Mitchell, the Conservatives' international aid spokesman, said that Ethiopia must be pressed to reform its economy as well.
"We in the West will not allow Ethiopians to face mass starvation again but at the same time Ethiopia is not doing enough free up its internal market to create jobs and livelihoods that would provide long-term security and prosperity," he said.
Ethiopia is the third largest recipient of British overseas aid. Relations with Addis Ababa were damaged by a violent response to pro-democracy demonstrators in 2005 and obstruction to international famine relief efforts last year.
The enhanced global role undertaken by Mr Meles has emboldened the 54-year old ex-guerrilla to grab more control of the Ethiopian economy. In recent weeks the government has seized the country's "Black Gold" - the coffee crop - from private merchants. Coffee traders have been threatened with prosecution for hoarding by holding back stock sales in the hope that the price would rise.
A foreign aid worker in Addis Ababa said: "Meles was a star at G20. He is still put as an example of success in Africa. He's pretty confident of what he can get away with as a result."
The long-serving leader has hinted he will hand over to a successor after a general election next year. Mr Meles rejected a suggestion that he had failed to entrench democracy while conditions were stable and the economy was logging robust growth.
"I disagree with the premise. I have done a lot for democracy and the elections will be free, fair and transparent," he said.
"When I withdraw, the system and the constitution will continue - it is a given."
_________________________________________________________________________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8023951.stm
BBC
April 28, 2009
Russia captures Somalia pirates
International navies have been moving to arrest suspected pirates
A Russian warship has seized a pirate vessel with 29 people on board off the Somali coast, Russian news reports say.
Guns and navigation equipment were found during a search of the pirate boat, officials were quoted as saying.
They said the suspected pirates were thought to have launched two unsuccessful attacks against a tanker with a Russian crew. Russia is one of the countries that has deployed naval ships against pirates operating in the area. Navies from Nato, the EU, Japan, China, India, Yemen, US Malaysia and Singapore have also been patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
However, the number of attacks has continued to rise.
Somali pirates have hijacked 25 vessels since the beginning of this year and are holding more than 260 crew around the stronghold of Eyl in northern Somalia, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
Naval patrols have captured pirates on a number of occasions.. Some have been put on trial in Kenya, while France has charged three suspected pirates and a Somali teenager is facing trial in the US.
Earlier on Tuesday, regional leaders in Somalia's northern Puntland region told the BBC they have put together a militia of fishermen to catch pirates.
Twelve armed pirates in two boats have been captured by the vigilante groups, they said
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
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V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Dawit Yohannis
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 4:06:39 PM
Subject: Fw: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia
Re: Ethiopia should initiate its own Internatinal Court of Justice
Let B Bonger be the first candidate to be prosecuted with all the loony terrorists in Ogaden and Alshabab, Shabia and OLF.
We have enough cases to keep the Addis International court of Justice busy as we can add the Terrorist Watch Group too who are busy fanning the potential terrorist activities.
Thee is a popular request from Patriotic Global Citizens for Ethiopia to house such International Court of Justice Against Global Terrorists!
A Popular request to get all cracked up terrrorist addicts masquerading as University Professors deported too! Guilt by facts as described at www.guinbot.org and etv and waltainformation and as reported by the BBC, VOA and all international media.
We do not need to revert to CIA reditioning, but to protect the sanctity of our people and governance, every thing is possible to get the Bongers to Kaliti International Court of Justice!
Here is an excellent justification why President Barack Obama should send Bonger and Tsigie to Addis as early as possible! Remember President Bush was able to send Kelbesa Negao, the Butcher of Addis and the Potential Butcher of Merkato should see his people in Addis Court!
U.S. Should Deport Dr. Berhanu Nega
Adal Isaw
adalisaw@yahoo.com
April 27, 2009.
Terrorism is “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.” This definition of terrorism is neither EPRDF’s nor Premier Meles Zenawi’s. It’s the definition of the U.S. State Department of Defense- a part of the executive branch of the American government, which the few and vociferous violent prone Ethiopian Diaspora love to solicit with deceit.
The unfolding of the recent terrorist plot in a civil manner is a testament to arduous and efficient democratic governance in Ethiopia. A government that adheres to the rule of law under the Constitution is truly alive, where similar plot two decades ago would have been dealt with deadly force head on. A country that bore a fascist regime which levied the price of a bullet on a grieving mother is now endowed with a government that justly treats the treasonous elements of its citizens for the sake of exacting the rule of law.
Not by our choosing, our country sits in the Horn of Africa-arguably one of the roughest neighborhoods in the world. Abutted by a rogue one-man state of Eritrea that exacerbates conflicts through out the region and a failed state of Somalia, it is extremely self-defeating for few of our citizens to choose a terrorist route to force a political change of their inkling. As is, we Ethiopians have handful detractors of states and non state actors, such as Egypt, Libya, the one-man state of Eritrea, and others helping Al-quaeda and Al-shebaab to curtail our development as a people; enough is enough.
Our livelihood should not again be jeopardized under the same political ploy of the likes of Ginbot 7. Those nations with interest, especially the U.S. and European Union should take a serious note to amend their diplomatic engagements, to completely and absolutely disassociate themselves from the violent prone Ethiopian Diaspora. U.S. and the European Union should come to terms and realize that the vociferous Ethiopian Diaspora is the basket case of intolerance and backward thinking. In cases of those Diaspora leaders who are openly advocating for violent means, the U.S. and European Union should deport persons of interest as soon as possible. In regards to this matter, the U.S. should take the lead for it has a compelling interest to keep in so doing.
The Ethio-American diplomatic engagement is dictated by U.S.’s counter terrorism plan and it is a must for the authorities in the State Department to look into this matter quickly and forward the name(s) to Department of Homeland Security for deportation. The persons of interest includes Dr. Berhanu Nega and the evidence is everywhere for documentation.
Consider what BBC World News documented on April 25, 2009: “…one of the most charismatic opposition figures at the time of the last elections in Ethiopia in 2005 and if all had gone well he would have become mayor of Addis Ababa. But he was arrested along with other prominent opposition figures and tried for treason, sentenced to life imprisonment, then pardoned and released. Along with several of his colleagues he travelled abroad after his release, but while most of the others have returned to Ethiopia and are now organizing themselves as a legitimate opposition party to fight next year's elections, Dr. Berhanu chose to stay in the US, saying that the situation in Ethiopia was such that the government could not be changed by constitutional means.”
It is thus public knowledge that Dr. Berhanu has convinced himself and his followers to pursue a terrorist plot in lieu of adhering to the democratic processes set forth for political contest under the Constitution of FDRE. It is also very apparent that, Dr. Berhanu’s choice of a violent route by forsaking an established democratic process in and it self fits the State Department’s definition of terrorism. The U.S. State Department of Defense should thus make good on its own definition of terrorism and forward the case of Dr. Berhanu Nega and his cohorts to D.H.S for deportation.
Dr Berhanu Nega is the lead person of interest for the simple fact that the recent terrorist plot in Ethiopia is his brain child, and the evidences can be compiled from several news articles and other ample sources. In fact, his self-incriminating depositions without oath can be found at ease in arrays. This is not at all a trial to draw guilt by association but a trial to find justice for an apparent criminal intent by Dr. Berhanu Nega, to unlawfully coerce and intimidate a government and its people to exact his political and ideological inkling. His deed is criminal and is defined as terrorism by whom else but by the U.S. State Department of Defense, which should make good on its own definition and recommend to D.H.S for the deportation of Dr. Berhanu Nega.
The U.S. should not be an adobe for violence prone individuals of the likes of Dr. Berhanu Nega. After all, under U.S. Code 1227, section (4), subsection (I), in reference to deportable aliens, an alien whose presence or activities in the U.S. the secretary of the State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences is deportable. The State Department should pursue the deportation process for Dr. Berhanu Nega sooner than later if it really wants to keep the Ethio-American counter-terrorism alliance as effective as it has been.
Ethiopia’s endurance will continue!!!
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
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V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
From: "arayaamsalu@aol.com"
To: EthioForum Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:57:48 AM
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Belai,
You are cracking me up! A very good case of many an Ethiopian saying " etc. I can pick anyone of these and make my point about you man.
Whose fault is it that the aging parents are jailed? Berhanu and Andagatchew's or the governments? Let me humour you for a minute and go along, the two sons are criminals (let me agree with EPRDF innocent till proven guilty is overrated), then what has that got to do with the old parents being dragged to jail? Do these people have basic rights as citizens?Have you heard of the basics of rule of law, such as no guilt by association?
BTW I hate comparisons, but a friend pointed to me this is even worse than Dergue. You see even the Dergue did not jail Ato Zenawi Asres even when it knew Meles Zenawi was the leader of TPLF.
Araya
-----Original Message-----
From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EthioForum Mailing List
Sent: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:24 pm
Subject: [EthioForum] - Does Bucknell University Know what we Know?
Does Bucknell University kno w what we know? Does BBC and British Government know what we know?
Imagine a generation that puts its fathers into jail, not once, but twice and three times
What a curse, this is? My sympathy goes out to all those mothers who collected the Placenta instead of the real babies during the horrific days of the Derg that allows this level of evil to be unleashed among our people.
When will this evil stop? Please read below a sad saga of the Coward terrorists hiding in the US and London and allowing their parents untold misery.
My condolances for our elederly being pushed around at such Senior year when they should be enjoying their grandchildren's success!< /SPAN>
Imagine any Government in the Universe that accpets any group that is trying to get rid of it by any thing possible including Violence. This is basic abc of Governance1 Try it here in the White House or British Parliament, Bonger and Tsegie and see what you will get1
Is is so shameful to see such level of stupidity unfolding infront of the world from Ethiopia!
Watch this space, more will come! The tragedy is we need intelligent politicians who can learn from Barack Obama's 4 years campaign and 100 days of Governance.
Imagine the mother of Good Governance having such violent chaotic children wanting chaos for their families by hidign themselves in Pensylvania and London!
Watch this space, more interesting things will unfold
Dr B
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-27-voa53.cfm
VOA
April 27, 2009
=0 D
Kin of Exiled Ethiopian Opposition Leaders Charged in Coup Plot
Peter Heinlein
Ethiopian President Meles Zenawi (File Photo)
Relatives of two prominent exiled Ethiopian politicians are among 35 people jailed in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's government. Ethiopians shocked by news of the arrests are scrambling to learn the identities of the accused plotters and details of their alleged crimes.
Ethiopian officials say they had nothing to add to a statement issued Saturday announcing the arrest of 35 alleged members of Ginbot Seven, an opposition group based outside the country.
Ginbot Seven, or May 15th, is the date of Ethiopia's disputed 2005 election. The group's leader, Berhanu Nega, is a charismatic politician who was elected mayor of Addis Ababa in that election. He was arr ested afterward, convicted of treason, and sentenced to life in prison along with more than 100 other opposition leaders. All were later pardoned.
Berhanu now lives in the United States, where he is an economics professor at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
Saturday's government statement said security forces had foiled a terror network formed by Berhanu to wage armed struggle against the government. Spokesman Ermias Legesse said a search of suspects' homes had revealed a cache of weapons, military uniforms and a plan of attack.
In a telephone interview Monday, Berhanu confirmed that Ginbot Seven's aim is to overthrow the government by any means possible.
"Our position is very clear from the beginning. This is an illegal government. This government is in power by coup de etat in 2005. This government has usurped power by force and therefore any mechanism to get rid of an illegitimate tyranny is legitimate as far as we are concerned," he said.
Ethiopian media sa id those arrested included an active duty army general, Teferra Mamo, said to be leader of Ginbot Seven's military wing. The only other suspect identified was Melaku Tefera, an organizer for the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party.
Melaku was among the opposition leaders convicted of treason and later pardoned following the 2005 election. He now joins UDJ leader Birtukan Mideksa, who was re-arrested earlier this year and ordered to serve out her life sentence.
Berhanu Nega says he had been told the accused included a cousin of his living in Addis Ababa, and the 80-year old father of Tsige Andargachew, an exiled Ginbot Seven official living in Britain.
Berhanu told VOA security forces had surrounded his parents' Addis Ababa home and confiscated their cellphones. "This is a government that accuses your relatives for what you do. Whatever it is that you do. That is why Ato (Mr.) Tsige Andargachew's father is in prison. Maybe my cousin is in prison for the same reason," he said.
Several Ethiopian opposition figures expressed concern over the arrests. Parliament Member Bulcha Demeksa agreed that Ginbot Seven would be considered an illegal organizat ion under Ethiopian law, but he expressed skepticism about the reports of a coup plot.
"I honestly believe this is not true. The government of Ethiopia has used such accusations so many times to make it a reason to arrest people ... The election approaching. Anybody who could be a viable candidate for an opposition party will be caught by this net," he said.
A government spokesman said he was busy in meetings but said told VOA further details of the arrests and the coup plot would be forthcoming in the next few days. He declined to speculate on what charges might be filed against those detained, but said the suspects would soon be brought before a judge to hear the charges read.
_________________________________________________________________
http://cyberethiopia.com/news/?id=139024
Fortune, Ethiopia
April 26, 2009
State Grain Firm Dips into Coffee Export Trade
PAWLOS BELETE
To Sell 12,000Qtls to German Co.
The Ethiopian Grain Trade Enterprise (EGTE) signed its first agreement to sell 12,000Qtls of coffee to a Germany based company more than a week ago, officials of the enterprise disclosed. The agreement, signed on April 14, 2009, makes the German company the first buyer of EGTE's coffee; the latter has finalized preparations for the first shipment of coffee to Germany in May.
The state owned enterprise penetrated the coffee export business for the first time in its half a century history a couple of months ago. It has already bought more than 42,000Qtls of coffee through open auction at the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX)..
The idea of becoming involved in the coffee export business was floated during Business Process Reengineering (BPR) of the enterprise, according to its officials. The assessment proved that the enterprise has both the infrastructure and manpower to handle export trade of coffee, in addition to the export of pulses, oil seeds and other agricultural products, which the enterprise has been known for over the past 50 years.
"We have the experience both in the domestic and international markets, with the manpower and the infrastructure to do the business," Beru Lede, deputy General Manager of the enterprise, told Fortune.
Nevertheless, perhaps because it has started at a time when the government has taken stern action=2 0against major coffee exporters and suppliers, accusing them of hoarding export standard coffee, there has been criticism that the enterprise's move is a government ploy to enter the coffee business. But senior government officials argue that this strategy is a result of concern for the void in the coffee export business created due to the action taken against the major actors.
"The enterprise has entered the coffee market for one simple reason; there is concern that the capability to process the coffee exports of the remaining several actors in the market may not be adequate to push the coffee through the system quickly enough," Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said at a press conference more than a week ago.
Though the preference would be to handle the trade through private sector actors, if there are bottlenecks created, the government would try to beef it up through the Grain Trade Enterprise, according to Meles.
"But there is no intention of establishing a public monopoly in any of the agricultural markets because we know that it doesn't work," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The coffee the EGTE bought at the ECX is from the stock the government has taken over from the stores of the six major exporters, knowledgeable sources disclosed. People engaged in the coffee export business, however, see EGTE's coming to the scene as potential competition.
"The move is contrary to the principle of free market; it was a practice apparent in the military regime through the Coffee Market (Buna Gebeya), a coffee exporter who requested not to be named told Fortune. "It complicates the competition field."
The absence of equal power between the state and private enterprises makes it difficult for the latter to compete fairly, the exporter added.
With its head office on Beyene Aba Sebsib Avenue ( Debre-Zeit Road ), the EGTE has 11 branches and 40 trade centres and warehouses throughout the=2 0country, with a combined storage capacity of eight million quintals. The enterprise has a 1,700 strong permanent workforce in all its branches and sales points. The business the enterprise was engaged in before exporting the commodity include transporting the coffee to the processing facilities it runs in different parts of the country for pulping and cleaning the coffee to meet the country's quality and grade requirements, as well as the buyers' needs.
The enterprise is eyeing markets in Europe, America , Middle East and Asia . Its general manager, Brehane Hailu, was recently in Atlanta , US , to participate in a coffee fair held there and to source for potential customers. The enterprise has in stock pulped and fermented coffee - which is washed to remove its sticky mucilage - otherwise known as "washed coffee" from Yirga Chefe and Sidama Areas of the Southern Nation, Nationalities and People Regional State, as well as "Sun Dried" coffee that is dried, hulled, cleaned and stored as red cherry coffee from Jimma and Nekemte of the Oromia Regional State. These are in stock ready to be transported to any interested buyer.
O ver the past 50 years, EGTE has been active in the buying and selling of grains, and for more than a year now, it has become a responsible government arm for the stabilization of the domestic grain market. It is accountable to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) and is run by a board chaired by Ali Suleiman, commissioner of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
EGTE owns 39 new and additional used heavy trucks to transport commodities to customers' facilities, or to and from the port, in the case of export and import transactions. The enterprise operates with 105 million Br of fully paid up capital injected by the government as seed money; its annual turnover is currently about 500 million Br. The turnover does not include the over 250 million dollars the government spent over the past more than a year to buy close to 800,000tn of wheat from the international market, mainly East Europe, to stabilize the local market through subsidized imports..
Ethiopia earned close to 175 million dollars in the first six months of the 2008/2009 fiscal year from the export of 59,188tn of coffee, which is 61.2pc of the plan (285 million dollars).20Compared to the previous year's performance of the same period, the coffee export this year increased by 14pc in volume and 21pc in earnings, according to data from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
________________________________________________________________
http://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFLR4979620090427?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
Reuters
April 27, 2009
Yemen frees ship, captures pirates - govt official
SANAA - Yemeni special forces on Monday freed a Yemeni oil tanker seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, killing three pirates and capturing at least nine on board, a government official said.
The ship, named Qana, was seized by Somali pirates off Yemen's coast on Sunday but was empty of oil cargo. The deaths on Monday took to five the number of pirates killed as Yemeni forces battled for two days to take back the vessel.
They were escorting the tanker to the Yemeni port of Aden on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
Pirates have made millions of dollars over the past year from seizing ships and taking crews hostage. Pirates have increased raids on ships passing through the Gulf of Aden, a key shipping lane for oil and cargo, since February.
Better weather has allowed them to operate more freely despite foreign navy patrols off the coast of Somalia.
Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia, is a small producer of oil and exports 200,000 barrels per day but is one of the world's poorest countries.
The tanker, with a 23-strong crew of which three are Indian and the rest Yemenis, has a capacity of 3,000 tonnes but was not carrying any cargo when it was seized.
The pirates had briefly seized three other vessels earlier before Yemeni forces freed them, a Yemeni official said.
On Sunday pirates freed the Yemeni-owned Sea Princess II tanker that had been held since Jan. 2.
The London-based IMB watchdog said piracy incidents nearly doubled in the first quarter of 2009, almost entirely due to Somalia and there were 18 attacks off its coast in March alone. (Reporting by Mohammed Sudam; Writing by Andrew Hammond; editing by Richard Balmforth)
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
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From: Belai FM Habte-Jesus
To: EPRDF-Supporters-Forum@yahoogroups.com; Dawit Yohannis
Cc: Samuel.Assefa@gmail.com; Michael Mered
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:14:23 AM
Subject: Ethiopia tries to regaom its stole n Assets, South Afroca Commends Ethiopia for assisting it stop the looting of its people and Somalia wants to be the new looter
Dear Patriotic Global Citizens and Friends of Ethiopia:
RE: Restoration of looted treasures and current campaigns to destory Ethiopia's image!
Restoration is about returning the honor, dignity and treasures looted illlegally by others without permission.
Ethiopia has stood for Good Governance and Justice among nations for Millennia.
The attached documents clearly show that Ethiopia will not allow any nation or pirates or terrorists to distrub its peace, loot its treasures and spiritual icons and keep quiet.
The attached statement of Russ Fienegold about Somalia is misguided as he continues to believe it is Ethiopia that caused Somalia to go bankrup t. It is Ethiopia who stopped the loony Terrorist Caliphate in its tracks. Somalia can have any form of Government it wants but it needs to deploy it on its territory and for its own people. Ethiopoia will not accept any faith to be imposted by it, be it by the Turkish and Egyptian Pashas of the past, and the Roman Catholics or the loony Somali Pirates!
The Minute Somalia, Sudan, British, Italy and any Senator wants to impose their will on Ethiopians then the game changes. Ethiopians have not gone to Italy, Britain or Turkey or Egypt and invaded these countries. They always come to loot Ethiopia and we say no. May be we need to change our policy and take the battle ground to these countries that continue to want to terrorize us. It worked when we went to Moqadisho and may be we need to do more of this! The traditional Ethiopian notion of Atinqugne, do not touch me or bother me has not worked.
Better still, we need to be proactive and pre-empt challenges by coming forward with creative solutions and not wait for crisis to galvanize us. The recent Tilahun Death is a case in point. If we had just done a little bit to ensure that he got good medical care in the USA and then followed=2 0him to Ethiopia and ensured that all the Ethiopian Ambullance System was effective we would not have lost Empress Medferiash Work, Dejasmatch Zewde Gebre-Selassie and even Fitawrari Amede Lemma, had our Medical System been Available, Accountable and Affordable.
We need to change the paradigm of hopeless ness and create a pardigm of opportunities in all sectors of our lives. Our people are our treasures and we need to protect their dighnity, health and prosperity at all costs!
Ethiopia has stood for Justice and Peace through out history and when the South Africans under Botha and Ian Smith were terrorizing Africans for centuries, there was no Genocide Watch or Apartheid Watch or Human Rights Watch from the USA and in fact Governments led by President Reagan and Co were supporting sanctions against people like Mandela, I understand that sanctioin still holds and Pres Mandela cannot travel to the USA. It was Ethiopia who put all its resources to get Africa Decolonized and United. Africans need to be reminded of the sacrifice Ethiopia made for their independence and dignity and African Union.
Who can tell Finegold first to clean your own house! Imagine, Finegold has been at the center of the Campaign to destabillize Ethiopia in support of ONLF terrorists. Now he wants President Barack Obamba to be involved like he pushed President Bush to be involved in Iraq. Jurst imagine who was part of the Torture Memo series in Congress and Senate. Finegold should be made to apologize for insulting and dishonoring the Ethiopian People. Just imagine what will be the outcome.
All the same, we have to get our stolen assets from the British Museum and not allow new Robbers to steal the imagination of our youth by starting all sorts of Calendar based Terror Groups like Guinbot 7 and May be February Revolution and who knows there are some 365 days and they can replace our Saints with a series of demonic terror leaders, if we keep quiet and allow them to convert Blessed Ethiopia into Chaotic Somalia. Just watch where does all the resources come to enter Somalia and keep the Peace there! Do you remember Black Hauck Down Movie?
When our surroundings are being targets for a battle ground for war, terror, Ethiopia will be the country that will be faced with refugees and terrorist network safe heavens. The re cent tragedy where an attempt to distabilize the country when the people were busy Mourning the deaths of its Patriots like Drs Senedu, Tilahun and Fitawrari Amede Lemma is clear indication that our terrorist networks willnot rest even at the time of our mourning, perhaps they think that is our weakest moment.
Now, let us get all our treasures from Britian and Switzerland before another set of terrorist come and create havoc for another blunder campaign.
Please read the stories of Somalia, South African Independence and Ethiopian attempt to get back the "Maqdela Treasures"
Just imagine who is ready to loot us again when the Guinbot & and ONLF manage to create havoc under false pretexts, some organized ciminal pirates?
Just imagine who is in line to benefit from creating havoc amongst us? and Why do they want to create havoc amongst us? If we put in place legal means of transaction and sharing information like we did with Lucy and other tresasures, The Tourists will flock to Ethiopioa. The lost financial and cultural=2 0opportunity demands that we display our treasures in a legal format for the world to see it instead of few crooks to looot it.
Just imagine! in the end we need to educate our youths about preserving our historical treasures and investment oppotunities and compete in the global market with quality and creativity, not with Guinbot 7 type of terror operatives. We need to proactively clean up terrorist cultures that is being promoted amongst our youth under the pretext of religious and political agenda.
Just imagine, if we have all 80 Million Citizens interacting with the Global Citizens in creative investment ventures than What the foolish Berhanu Bonger and Sheik Awiye, the Shabia and AlShabab terrorists want to do. An educated and interactive citizenship will protect itself and promote its best talents across the world... That is what Tilahun taught us. Even when his music was stolen and sold in the market under a different name, he said, I will go to Addis and investigte before I say any thing in advance. Investigate, Research is his last word in Washigton DC during his last interview.
So, let us reserach, investigate Guinbot 7 and other series of terrorists like ONLF, OLF, Shababa, Shabia and Alqaeda and Donald Paynes and Russ Finegolds. We can turn them around, if we know what they want or better still make them our friends and friends of Ethiopia for ever.
It takes a new set of geniuses to convert our enemies into friends. Ethiopia needs 7 Billion friends. Our task is before us to convert our alleged enemies into our friends, as Obama declares, "Yes We Can indeed!"
Dr B
http://feingold.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=311976
Senator Russ Feingold's office, US Senate
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on Somalia Piracy
As Submitted for the Record
Friday, April 24, 2009
Mr. President, I was glad earlier this week to join Senator Leahy in passing a resolution commending Captain Richard Phillips for his brave conduct, and those members of our Armed Services, particularly members of the Navy and Navy SEAL teams, who rescued Captain Phillips.. I also want to commend the leadership of the President and the efforts of many U.S. government departments and agencies in their response to this crisis. These many acts of bravery and leadership are deeply inspiring, and we should recognize them.
However, while the episode involving the Maersk Alabama was resolved, we are likely to see more such episodes if we do not take comprehensive measures to address not only piracy on the waters, but also conditions on land that enable it. We cannot ignore the fact that piracy off the coast of Somalia is an outgrowth of the state collapse, lawlessness and humanitarian crisis that have plagued the country for over a decade. In recent Congressional testimony, both Director of National Intelligence Blair and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Army Lt. General Michael Maples cited l awlessness and economic problems on land as the cause of the rise in piracy at sea. Until we address those conditions, we will be relying on stopgap measures, at best, to deter this piracy problem and we are unlikely to succeed in reversing the growing violent extremism in Somalia.
Mr. President, for years I have been calling for the development of a comprehensive, interagency strategy to help establish stability, the rule of law, and functional, inclusive governance in Somalia. This is the only sure and sustainable solution to address the problem of piracy – and the instability in Somalia – over the long term.. Moreover, I am convinced that we have a unique window of opportunity for progress as a result of the Ethiopian troop withdrawal earlier this year and the establishment of a new unity government relocated back to Mogadishu. This government has the potential to unite Somalia if it demonstrates a genuine commitment to inclusion and begins to make a real difference in people’s lives – in terms of security and basic services, such as protection, trash collection and job creation. Helping the government to find tangible solutions to expand effective and inclusive governance must be a central part of our overall strategy to stabilize Somalia and address the threats of piracy and terrorism.
To that end, I continue to urge th e Obama administration, as it develops its response to piracy, to make it a priority to engage at a high level with the new Somali government. I have written to President Obama, asking him to personally call Somali President Sheik Sharif and indicate a clear commitment to work with his government not just on maritime insecurity, but also on establishing security and governance within the country. We have been engaging with President Sharif at the ambassadorial level for quite some time now, and I met the president in Djibouti in December. In addition, there needs to be a stronger and more sustained diplomatic push to engage with a wide range of actors within Somalia and stakeholders in the wider region – both in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East – if we are going to address the underlying problems that have contributed to piracy and rising extremism.
Mr. President, the events with the Maersk Alabama earlier this month have finally brought increased attention to the problem of piracy in Somalia’s waters. But it will be insufficient if our response only deals with the symptoms and not Somalia’s central problems. I urge my colleagues and the different committees who will examine this issue over the coming weeks and months to take this seriously. For if we do not finally deal with Somalia’s lawlessness and instability, we will continue to see them manifest themselves in activities – be they acts of piracy or terrorism – that threaten U.S. and international security.
I yield the floor.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=96872
APA
April 28, 2009
South Africa commends Ethiopia ’s role in its liberation struggle
Addis Ababa ( Ethiopia ) South Africa on Monday commended Ethiopia for its support to South Africa ’s struggle for freedom during the apartheid era.
Speaking in Addis Ababa on Monday during commemoration of South African National Day, the South African ambassador to Ethiopia Major General Chris L. Pepani said relations between Ethiopia and South Africa were in good shape and would be further strengthened.
It is to be recalled that the former South African president Nelson Mandela was among those who received military training in Ethiopia during the liberation struggle against the apartheid regime.
Ambassador Pepani indicated that Ethiopia played an unforgettable role for South Africa ’s struggle for freedom, which has resulted in better bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“ South Africa continues with its firm commitment on the path towards the achievement of a better continent predicated on the obvious idea of democracy, peace, development and prosperity,” said ambassador Pepani.
______________________________________________ ___________________
http://news.independentminds.livejournal.com/2342224.html
Independent, UK
April 27, 2009
Ethiopia demands stolen crown back
Andrew Johnson
The President has written to the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Library and Cambridge University Library seeking the restitution of more than 400 so-called "treasures of Magdala", which were stolen by British soldiers following a battle in 1868.
In the letter, obtained by The Independent on Sunday, the President wrote: "I must state that Ethiopians have long grieved at the loss of this part of their20national heritage. Ethiopians feel that this act of appropriation had no justification in international law. I feel, therefore, that the time has come for the return of Ethiopia's looted treasures."
Among the items being held in the UK is an 18-carat gold crown and more than 300 priceless manuscripts, including Christian scriptures. Experts say the issue is particularly sensitive for Ethiopians because many of the artefacts hold deep religious significance for them.
These include nine tabots, or sacred wooden altar slabs, which are recognised as so holy that the British Museum has pledged never to display them. When a tabot was returned in 2005 after being discovered in the back of an Edinburgh church, thousands of people turned out to greet its return in Addis Ababa.
The objects were among those seized by British soldiers after the storming of the Fortress of Magdala in 1868, a punitive expedition that followed the kidnap of several Britons. Emperor Tewodros committed suicide after the battle.
According to contemporary accounts, British soldiers slaughtered hundreds of poorly armed Ethiopians after the battle, and then "jostled each other" to grab a piece of the emperor's blood-stained shirt, which they tore from his body.
They also looted the citadel and a nearby church, carrying off treasures that included "an infinite variety of gold, and silver and brass crosses", as well as "heaps of parchment royally illuminated".
British museums have in the past resisted calls for artefacts from their collections to be returned to their countries of origin, but it is understood that Neil MacGregor of the British Museum and Mark Jones of the V&A have already met the Ethiopian ambassador to discuss the matter.
Museums often argue in restitution cases that the artefacts are better off in Britain because anyone in the world can view them, and the V&A is known to have asked Addis Ababa whether the silver crown of Emperor Tewodros, which it returned to Ethiopia in 1925, is available for public view.
The V&A said yesterday that discussions were still ongoing, even though the President's letter was sent in February this year. The four organisations involved have also held meetings over the way forward.
The Magdala treasure differs to other restitution cases, such as that of the Elgin Marbles, because it is acknowledged that the treasures were simply stolen. "It was straightforward looting," a spokeswoman at the Ethiopian embassy in London said.
A spokeswoman for Afromet, an organisation that has campaigned for the restitutions of the items, said: "These museums hold most of Ethiopia's heritage. It means far more to Ethiopians than it could ever do to anyone else."
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
Global Strategic Enterprises, Inc. 4 Peace & Prosperity
Win-win synergestic Partnership 4P&P-focusing on
5Es: Education+Energy+Ecology+Economy+Enterprises
www.Globalbelai4u.blogspot.com; Globalbelai@yahoo.com
V: 571.225.5736; C: 703.933.8737; F: 703.531.0545
Our Passion is to reach our Individual and Collective Potential
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