Friday, January 20, 2006

Atrocities committed by the Ethiopian Government





More on BBC










"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph”

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie

Ethiopia festival turns violent










At least 16 people are shot when violence breaks out at an Ethiopian Christian festival in the capital. Some of the tens of thousands of people started chanting opposition slogans and throwing stones, police say. Read more

Police, protesters clash in Ethiopian capital - Several wounded during Epiphany unrest

Friday, January 20, 2006 Posted: 1344 GMT (2144 HKT)

At least 16 people were injured, three seriously, on Friday as Ethiopian police moved to quell unrest in at least two parts of the capital on the second and final day of celebrations marking the Orthodox Epiphany, or Timkat, hospital officials said. Read more on CNN and The Mail & Guardian online.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Britain cuts off aid to Ethiopian government

Money redirected to aid agencies after protesters killed, jailed

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 Posted: 1810 GMT (0210 HKT)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Britain cut all of its aid to Ethiopia's government on Wednesday and plans to redirect the 73 million euro ($88 million U.S.) to humanitarian agencies working in the Horn of Africa nation.

Hillary Benn, Britain's international development secretary, said his government was "seriously concerned" by the unrest sparked by disputed elections last year that returned the ruling party to power and led to 88 protesters being killed by security forces. Benn met with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi before the announcement.
Read More

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Ethiopia: Hidden Crackdown in Rural Areas



12 Jan 2006 20:39:23 GMT [Reuters Alert]
Source: Human Rights Watch(New York, January 13, 2006)

The Ethiopian government is using intimidation, arbitrary detentions and excessive force in rural areas of Ethiopia to suppress post-election protests and all potential dissent, Human Rights Watch said today after a research trip to Addis Ababa and the Oromia and Amhara regions. "The Ethiopian government is violently suppressing any form of protest and punishing suspected opposition supporters," said Peter Takirambudde, director of Human Rights Watch's Africa Division. "Donor governments should insist on an independent, credible investigation into abuses by federal police and local officials in rural as well as urban areas." Read more

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

The British Minister in Ethiopia

"Since the May elections, people have been shot down on the streets, people have been arrested and many are currently on trial," he told Reuters. "These problems have to be resolved by dialogue, not by locking people up and not by violence on the streets." Read more

Ethiopia's lion roars to grandstand finish

DOUG GILLON in Edinburgh January 16 2006

"ANBESAW META" chanted the Ethiopian supporters gathered round Holyrood Palace. The Queen was not in residence – no Lion Rampant, but still they persisted: "Anbesaw meta – The lion has come home." Read more

British minister in Ethiopia to meet with Meles, opposition

Jan 17, 2006, 11:41 GMT


Addis Ababa - British Secretary of State for Development Hillary Benn arrived Tuesday in Addis Ababa Tuesday on a two-day working visit for talks with both the government and opposition figures at a time when top opposition leaders are on trial. Read more