The Danish government has announced a USD 150 million contribution to help Ethiopia’s ambitious reform agenda. The contribution is to build a Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) of the nation. women’s and youths will be a crosscutting focus throughout all programs activities of the contribution which runs until 2022.
The Denmark’s development aid program in Ethiopia complementing its national strategies including the Growth and Transformative Plan, improved governance and respect for human rights, safeguarding of millions of refugees in the country as part of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, and support the Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) to benefit the farmers and improve live hood opportunities for the people of Ethiopia as well as refugees hosted by the Ethiopia communities.
According to Ethiopia reporter “Ethiopia is currently going through a historical period that will, if it succeeds, change the country for the benefit of the people of Ethiopia and the region,” Ulla Tornaes, the Danish Minister of Development Cooperation said.
Diplomatic relations were established in the 1960s. The Danish development corporation with Ethiopia started in 2004 and has gathered speed over the years and covers areas such as peace and security, the fight against poverty, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and women’s rights. Denmark cooperates with a wide range of partners to support Ethiopia’s ambition of achieving middle-income status by 2025 through green growth poverty reduction.
Some Danish International company has shown an interest to invest in Ethiopia.
Gedu Andargachew commanded very well his first town hall meeting.
Gedu Andargachew during the town hall meeting in Washington DC. Source : AMMA
borkena
December 3,2018
Gedu Andargachew and his entourage held its first town hall meeting with Ethiopians in Washington DC area yesterday, a day after their arrival.
Gedu, who is the president of Amhara regional state, and his colleagues faced questions on matters relating to Ethio-Sudan border, identity questions relating to Wolkait and Raya, national unity, water hyacinth challenges of Lake Tana, peace and campaign against Khat addiction. They seem to have addressed them to the satisfaction of the audience.
On the issue of Ethio-Sudan border, Gedu reminded the audience that there is consensus about it in the government and that is is working on it. As to the identity questions in Wolkait and Raya, he explicitly said that his administration is pursuing it though legal means. He stressed importance of peaceful approach to it. He told the audience that the question will be addressed no matter how long it takes.
Regarding Khat, which has become one of the factors for social crisis, especially among the youth, in the country with a negative impact on cultural and political aspects of life, Gedu stated that there is awareness and that the administration has started acting on it with the objective to eradicate consumption of it from the country. Farmers who depend on the production of it for their livelihood will in the long run be given alternatives. Unlike the case of Ethiopia and some countries in the horn of Africa, Khat is illegal in many countries.
Gedu also seized the opportunity to thank Ethiopians for their contribution in the fight against water hyacinth. Ethiopians in the United States raised funds for the purchase of removal machine in January of 2018. He added that government will use all the means in its power to make sure that Lake Tana, which he described as of great historical significance, is free from water hyacinth.
On political questions involving identity and relation with Tigray, leader of the deligation offered a sound response. Asked what he makes of Debretsion’s alleged remark “better to live with Sudanese who cut of Emperor Yohannes IV’s head rather than living with Amharas,” Gedu answered that he does not know if he said that or not. “If I was asked whether I prefer to live with Sudanese or Tigreans, I would say thousands of folds times that I prefer to live with Tigreans,” Gedu said to the applause of the audience packed in the hall.
As well, he addressed questions regarding power distribution after the onset of reform in the country some seven months ago. The questions as to who, implying ethnicity, has more power and who is holding what positions are short of understanding the purpose of ongoing change, he added. It is about creating democratic Ethiopia livable to all its citizens and “You should support us in the struggle to make the change take root ” Gedu told the audience.
Dr. Ambachew, who is member of Gedu’s team, on his part underscored that the change in the country has reached to a point that it will not be reversed but it does not mean that it is complete, the very reason that needs the support of all Ethiopians including those outside of Ethiopia, according to him.
The delegation held meetings with activists today at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington and they will have town hall meetings in three other towns in the coming days.
Andarchagew Tsige soon after his release from prison
borkena
December 3,2018
Ginbot 7 Movement which is rebranded as Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 Movement for Unity and Democracy disclosed today that it will be fielding candidates in all Federal electoral districts. The are 547 electoral ridings across Ethiopia, which is divided into 9 ethnic based regional states and two city administrations.
Deutsche Welle Amharic Service reported Andargachew Tsige, secretary of the movement who was released from prison in May of this year after four years in death row, spoke about it during a meeting in London with members of the movement in the United Kingdom and the region.
He also said the movement is preparing to engage Ethiopians living abroad widely and that it will finalize party program and code of conduct for member.
Ginbot 7 movement was one of the opposition groups that were outlawed in the country on grounds of “terrorism.” It was after the election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, from within the ruling coalition, that the organization was removed from the list of terrorism and its leader Berhanu Nega, who was sentenced to death in absentia, returned home after several years in exile.
If election is happening next year, Ginbot 7 will be running up against the ruling coalition, EPRDF which constitutes four ethnic based parties.
Ethiopia recently appointed former opposition leader and political prisoner, Birtukan Mideksa, as chiarperson of the National Election Board with a mandate to carry out necessary institutional reform so as to make the institution credible, neutral and acceptable to all Ethiopians.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held a meeting with more than 81 opposition groups in the country and the next election was among agenda items.
A considerable number of Ethiopians are expressing concern that the upcoming federal election, which is happening next year if not cancelled, need to be postponed in view of increasing security problems in different parts of the country.
Ethiopia arrested today five senior and junior levels officials from Benishangul regional state, in the western parts of the country, reported the state media, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).
The Federal Police, as cited by EBC, says that the authorities are arrested in connection with violence in the areas adjoining western parts of Oromia regional state and its neighboring regional state to its immediate north western part of Ethiopia.
Among those arrested following Federal Police Task Force’ operation in the region are former Assosa, capital of Benishangul regional state, mayor and the region’s administration and security deputy head.
Last week, dozens of civilians and police officers were killed in Wollega areas adjacent to Benishangul for which no entities claimed responsibility so far.
The Attorney general office disclosed yesterday that the violence that left many dead and displaced thousands of people is planned and coordinated with groups with a strong backing from unidentified bodies, not an artitrary violence with no purpose.
National Security Council was more specific, although not calling names, in the statement it issued this week regarding the incident in the aforementioned areas. It sees it as a work of groups who lost privilege and power due to the political change in the country in the past seven months and the purpose of the violence is to reverse the reform process.
Oromia regional state passed a resolution yesterday following a cabinet meeting and it disclosed its full support to the decision of National Security Council, one of which was to deploy federal forces in the region.
The suspects arrested today are also linked to violence that happened in Assosa town in June of this year.
Outgoing Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP) leaders after their recognition Photo : Fana Broadcasting Corporate
borkena
December 6,2018
Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP) made changes to leadership says a report published today by Fana Broadcasting Corporation.
The party said good riddance to 72 members of the party including head of the regional state, Hadji Seyoum Awol, and other senior officials.
As is the case with other regional state leadership ( for example, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region –SNNPR- and Gambella regions leaders), the very reason that led to the resignation of former leaders is politial and does seem to have something to do with thier incompatibility with the ongoing political change in the country.
And from experience in the past few months, resignation of former regional authorities is usually an outcome of several weeks of internal political wranglings. On November 19 of this year, for example, the Prime Minister held a meeting, in his office in Addis Ababa, with leaders from the region and key members of ANDP which is when, apparently, resignation of leaders in the party was suggested.
Yet, Abiy Ahmed’s administration has introduced a sort of political ritual, and it is becoming customary now, to send off former politicians “with honor.” In line with the new politial tradition, those who resigned today were “recognized and awarded for their contribution during their leadership.”
As well, the party reportedly approved audit report today and it is poised to elect new leaders tomorrow.
There has been a resilient protest in Afar region in the past few months against the outgoing regional administration which was believed to be under the influence Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) leaders.
Although no official reaction so far, political changes in Afar region is likely to be good news to Afar opposition parties. But that will not be, certainly, the case with TPLF. And the former master of all regions and parties has got a mantra to vent out its anger about the changes: “The constitution is violated” – a message with which it is alerting Tigray region.
Left to right, Dawud, Lemma and Merera Source : EBC
borkena
December 7,2018
As many as 81 opposition parties have attended recent meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. And his key message during the meeting was that opposition parties in the country need not be more than three or four. His recommendation was for parties with reconcilable political agenda and difference to come together as a single part which, in his calculation, would cut down the number of political parties to three or four.
Oromo ethno-nationalist parties, and they are said to be about 16, seem to have taken the advice to heart. According to a report by Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN), yesterday “parties operating in Oromia region” held discussion at Oromo cultural Center in Addis Ababa and have agreed to form a joint-forum.
One of the purposes of the forum is to resolve differences peacefully if Oromo ethno-nationalist parties found themselves in conflict.
Leaders of three ethnic Oromo Parties, Dawud Ibsa (Oromo Liberation Front), Lemma Megersa (Oromo Democratic Party), and Merara Gudina (Oromo Federalist Congress), held a joint press statement together after the meeting.
They all have expressed willingness and readiness to defend the ongoing reform in Ethiopia while committing themselves to a peaceful struggle.
As well, the report by OBN added that a consensus has been reached among the parties that the security of Ethiopia is a priority agenda and will not be tabled for negotiation.
Lemma Megersa, vice-chairman of ODF and president of Oromo region of Ethiopia, on his part emphasized on the importance of the rule of law. He also told the parties that a plot is underway to make Oromia a conflict region, and political parties and the people need to understand that. In that regard, his key message is that people need not be instrument for those forces who are plotting to bring about chaos to the region.
Merara Gudina, Oromo Federalist Congress party leader, on his part said that the unity between Qeerroo, a semi-clandestine youth movement, and the people need to be strengthened and that “parties operating in Oromia” need to iron out their differences, and work together in the interest of the people.
Oromo Liberation Front Leader, Dawu Ibsa who was challenging, a few months ago, government position that his rebel forces need to disarm, is now saying that his party will do its part to support government effort to ensure rule of law.
Sudanese president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, and Djibouti president, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, jointed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today during the inauguration ceremony of brand new Industrial Park in Jimma, South Western Ethiopia.
It was constructed at a cost of $61 Million Dollars. It is intended for textile industry and agro-processing.
The leaders have also inaugurated Jimma-Agaro-Dedessa road construction project. Before that, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed already attended convocation of Jimma University Medicine students.
Ethiopia arrested today two top former National Information and Security Services offices, the state media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported today.
They are identified as Measho Kidane and Hadush Kassa. The source, which cited Federal Attorney General Office, did not mention the circumstances under which they were detained or where they were detained.
It did however mention that they were arrested in connection with egregious human rights violations.
On November 14,2018 Ethiopia arrested former deputy spy chief, Yared Zerihun, as he was allegedly fleeing to Kenya.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration has been cracking down on former government officials involved in colossal embezzlement of public resources and human rights violations.
The measure however met with resistance from Tigray regional state, which is under Tigray People’s Liberation Front. TPLF leaders call the crackdown “targeted attack against ethnic-Tigreans and violation of the constitution” and they have been mobilizing Tigray region to protest against it. Today, for example, there was a huge protest in the Mekelle for a second time in less than a month.
Before TPLF lost the Federal power it used to ruthlessly rule Ethiopian, key positions in the security apparatus including in the spy agency were held by TPLF officials.
Relentless protests across the country before the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegne were partly informed by human rights.
Counter-reform struggle in Ethiopia is manifesting itself in form of proxy violence instigation to bring about conflict between different community groups in different parts of the country, among other forms.
This past week violence erupted in Northwestern Ethiopia affecting communities. Chilga district of central Gonder region was in security crisis following a manufactured conflict which is intended to be depicted as “Amhara-Kimant” conflict.
The damage is a serious one. Dozens of civilians were killed, hundreds of houses burned, children kidnapped, and property damaged, among other things, based on reports from Amhara Mass Media Agency this week which cited local communites.
Ethnic Amhara opposition party operating in the region, and beyond too, National Amhara Movement (NaMA), and Amhara Democratic Party, which is governing Amhara Region of Ethiopia, are on the same page in that groups operating in the name of “kimant identity committee” are instigating proxy conflict between ethnic Amhara and Kimant, people that have lived together for ages.
However, NaMa is explicit in its statement issued after the killings in Chilga and Dembia areas of the region. It squarely located the problem as TPLF and called the recent killings in the region “terrorist act.” As well, NaMA went on to demand the federal government to scrap Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) from the list of legally registered political parties on grounds that it is inciting violence in different parts of the country.
The regional government did not explicitly link the problem to TPLF but connoted it, rather. Brigadier General Asamenew Tsige, Amhara Regional State Security Head, is of the view that the security challenges experienced in central Gondar region this past week is similar too one that was experienced in western Oromo region of Ethiopia a few weeks ago. In fact many Ethiopians seem to believe that in the case of the violence in Oromo region of Ethiopia, the Oromo radical ethno-nationalist group, OLF was used.
But General Asamnew is explicit that those who are operating in the name of Kimant (also written as Kemant) do not have representation of the aforementioned group and that it is backed by groups outside of the region with a motive to make the region a conflict zone.
Based on reports from Amhara Mass Media Agency, and it spoke to local people affected by the violence this week, the groups that launched the attack are well armed, including group weaponry.
Today, relative peace is restored in the region although there are still pocket areas living tension in Chilga, Dembia and Kola Deba areas.
Central Gonder police department head, Enyew Zewude, told AMMA that 53 suspects are arrested in connection with the violence and more than 29 weapons are seized.
Local communities affected by the attack are calling on the government to maintain rule of law and take decisive action against those who are manufacturing the conflict and those who are executing it.
Yet, the regional government on its part says that it needs the support of the community so as to take measures by exposing those elements working on a project of making the region a war zone. It also wants to create capacity for local farming communities and youth in the area to defend themselves in the event of similar attacks in the future.
A report by Sheger Radio today says that Ethiopia lost as estimated $US 36 billion ( about 1 trillion and 80 billion Ethiopian Birr) in illicit financial inflows in the last 27 years.
Sheger spoke to Maco-Economist and Consultant, Eyob Tesfaye, who stated that studies have revealed that Ethiopia has lost the above mentioned amount of money. Before 2012, the annual rate of illicit financial inflows was about US$500 million a year. After 2012, the figure rose to US$1.5 billion.
Procurement processes (using wrong invoice some time at price 1000 % than the actual price), export-import process and financial borrowings were some of the areas from/through which illicit financial inflows has been possible.
Ethiopian government embarked on crackdown on those who were involved in the crime in the past few weeks but the process is causing political disenchantment in Tigray region, where most of the corrupt politicians are from.
Yet, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) elites are giving their narratives a spin in order not to make it seem like an opposition against crackdown corruption. The name of the opposition is “respect the constitution.”
Ethiopian Airlines inaugurated earlier today Manchester as its second destination in the United Kingdom. And it will have four flights weekly, according to the CEO, Tewelde Wolde Mariam.
Ethiopian Airlines flies to London everyday. The flight to London was started in 1973.
Last month, the Airlines was named 2018 Best Airlines in Africa for the six time in a row.
Press release from the Airlines regarding Manchester flight reads as follows :
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, inaugurated flights to Manchester, its second destination in the UK next to London, at a colourful ceremony graced by the presence of H.E. Mrs Susanna Moorehead, Ambassador of the UK to Ethiopia, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, dignitaries and invited guests. The four weekly flight to Manchester will be operated by the ultra-modern B787 Dreamliner.
Speaking at the inaugural event, H.E. Mrs Susanna Moorehead, Ambassador of the UK to Ethiopia remarked, “I would think of Ethiopian Airlines as a symbol of Ethiopia. It’s global; it’s growing; connecting people; it’s supremely professional, modern; its forward looking, its young and it’s dynamic. I am fortunate enough to be the British ambassador to Ethiopia. The inaugural flight to Manchester is a strong symbol of the depth and breadth of the relations between Ethiopia and the UK.”
Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam on his part said, “It’s a pleasure to be here this evening with you to celebrate an important milestone in our history, the opening of a second city in the UK, Manchester. We’ve been flying to London since 1973, more than 46 years, so we are not new to the UK market. But we are very happy to expand our services closer to the customer in Manchester now. Today we can travel the customer conveniently to 60 destinations in Africa with an immediate connection in our hub here in Addis… The connectivity we are establishing between Europe and Africa is facilitating trade investment, tourism and people-to-people ties.”
Over the years, Ethiopian has been opening new routes including to Europe, which it is currently serving with 51 flights a week. The Airline is finalizing preparations to start services to other European countries including Moscow.
For more information about the Press Release, please check out Ethiopian Airlines page.
Addis Ababa police Commission says that it has learnt that there are activities by “some individuals” for organizing a demonstration in the capital this weekend.
However, police says that the demonstration has no recognition from Addis Ababa Police Commission, reported Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation citing the public relation officer of the Commission.
While it is a constitutional right to organize a peaceful demonstration, identities of the organizers, start point and destination of the march and related issues are not known to police and that police can not guarantee to make the necessary deployment for it, added the police statement.
It went on to warn that if the organizers dare to ignore the message from the police and go ahead with the demonstration, “legal action” will be taken.
A report by Bloomberg today, which cited anonymous sources within Saudi government, says that Saudi-born Ethiopian billionaire Al Amoudi is “still alive.”
There has been rumor in Saudi Arabia’s business circle that he is deceased, added the report.
The Saudi official who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity also said that he “would face trial in a Saudi court on a date yet to be confirmed.”
His spokes person has not remarked on the latest information about the business tycoon.
He was arrested in November 2017 at the Riz-Carlton hotel along with some Saudi Royal families and businessmen but was later reportedly transferred to Saudi’s maximum security prison.
With an estimated US $3 billion investment, his business empire in Ethiopia dominated manufacturing, gold mining (license not renewed after his arrest), agriculture, construction and hotel , among other things.
Ethiopian government has been making diplomatic efforts to secure his release. When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Saudi Arabia in May of this year, with invitation from Saudi government, he raised the issue of Al-Amoudi. Up on his return, he told Ethiopians that he is sure that Al-Amoudi would be released.
Felix Horne
HRW Senior Researcher, Horn of Africa
December 13,2018
Ethiopia’s state broadcaster EBC aired a documentary this week, detailing numerous horrendous acts of torture carried out by security services in recent years. Many Ethiopians were shocked and outraged.
These allegations are not new. Human rights groups have documented extensive torture in detention for many years. What has changed is that torture is now spoken about openly on state television and by the government after years of denial that torture even existed. This a refreshing change.
The airing of Tuesday’s torture documentary came several weeks after another documentary appeared on state television describing corruption involving state-owned Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC). Days earlier, several former high-ranking officials and employees of METEC were arrested and accused of corruption or gross human rights abuses. They have not yet been charged.
While this may signal a new commitment to justice, the government should avoid the past practice of using these documentaries to undermine defendants’ right to a fair trial by mobilizing the public to support a judiciary that was far from independent of state control. This long-standing tactic was used ahead of arrests or trials of Muslim protest leaders, journalists, and others who were targeted for peaceful activities.
Human Rights Watch and others have continually stressed the importance of accountability and justice as Ethiopia comes to grips with its repressive past. But for recent accountability efforts to be meaningful, due process rights must be respected and trials not turned into politicized shows targeting those seen to be opposed to the government and its policies, as trials in the past have often been.
The only way for victims to see justice done is through fair trials where victims can describe their ordeals, defendants are forced to answer to allegations, and decisions are arrived at based on evidence and in accordance with the law, free from political interference. This would send an important message to other past, present, and would-be abusers, including those currently in government, that torture and other abuses will be longer be tolerated. Meaningful accountability and justice, in parallel with reconciliation efforts, are critical for Ethiopia to move forward and come to terms with the abusive past.
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For more information about this report, please check out HRW
Ambassadors from thirty European countries reportedly pledged continued partnership with Ethiopia
PM Abiy Ahmed posing for picture with diplomatic members Source : OPM
borkena
December 14,2018
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with more than 30 European Ambassadors based in Addis Ababa today, according to a social update from his office.
The purpose of the meeting was to “brief” the diplomatic community about the ongoing “change” in Ethiopia. The ambassadors reportedly labeled the reform measures taken since Abiy Ahmed came to power as “progressive.”
“The Ambassadors of more than 30 European countries that met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on December 14, 2018, welcomed the progressive steps taken over the past months in Ethiopia under the Prime Minister’s premiership,” says the update from the Prime Minister’s office.
Measures that particularly were seen in positive lights include the release of political prisoners, press freedom and foreign policy that contributed to “stability” in the region. Gains in the area of freedom of expressions are significant. Unlike the case in the past, Ethiopia is now a country with no journalists behind bar.
Ambassadors of EU members and non-members alike reportedly affirmed commitment to sustainable partnership with Ethiopia.
In a related development, Abiy Ahmed met today with Philippe Le Houérou, CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). He reportedly commended IFC for support including “advisory and access to finance programs.” Mr. Le Houérou on his part pledged commitment to enhance advisory services and investment operations in Ethiopia.
Apart from ending state of war with Eritrea and making the region relatively peaceful than it was, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration has achieved some notable diplomatic successes. They are manifested in the form of financial and political support, among other things, from western and from Middle Eastern countries.
The relationship with countries in the Middle East which brought about billions of dollars of investment to the country, however, brought about skepticism among Ethiopians.
Domestically, his administration has become a popular one although raging ethnic violence in different parts of the country is turning out to be a major obstacle triggering doubts if the “change” is safe.
Commander of Eastern Military Command Post,Major General Zewudu Belay, reportedly said that the military court punished 66 soldiers who went to the Prime Minister’s office in October of this year on alleged grounds of demanding pay raise and benefits.
As revealed by the Prime Minister later, their intention was to kill him and abort the reform measures in the country.
The remaining soldiers are to be subjected to administrative measures.
It is, however, unclear as to what the punishment constitutes.
Girma Woldeghiorgis, Ethiopian former president, passed away last night in the capital Addis Ababa at 93, his families reportedly confirmed to Ethiopian government news sources. He was born in Addis Ababa in 1924.
During emperor Haileselaile’s imperial government, he served as member of parliament.
Under the current Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government, he has served as head of state for twelve years between 2001 and 2013. Girma is survived by five children.
Details of the funeral arrangement is not known yet but it is expected that it is going to be a state funeral, and the former president will likely be laid to rest at Kiddist Selassie Menbere Tsebaot church (Holy Trinity).
borkena team would like to express condolences to the family and friends of the late Girma Woldeghiorghis.
Abraha Belay, who is based in Seattle, is a journalist by profession and owns Ethiomedia.com, an online Ethiopian news portal.
Like some critical voices from Tigray region, he has been rejecting Tigray Peoples Liberation Front’s (TPLF) assertion that there is no distinction between this political organization and people in the region.
Now, he is sounding alarm about impending sort of civil war in Ethiopia.
“It is hard to write on such topic out of the blue. It is worrisome. It is a matter of life and death,” are the sentences with which he began his facebook update, he wrote it in Amharic, which he shared yesterday.
But the title he used was bold and to the point: “State of Ethiopian Affair is now clear, war is inevitable!”
Debretison Gemremichael, chairman of TPLF and Tigray regional state president, has been traveling to different parts of Tigray and has conveyed the message he wanted, added Abraha. Despite the pretext for his travel was visiting development projects, his cardinal mission was “to prepare people for the inevitable war,” he wrote.
Noting that TPLF’s chairman has been condemning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s reform moves, the journalist quoted him as saying “The Federal system in under deconstruction and the constitution is violated.”
Debretsion also reportedly told people in different parts of Tigray that TPLF has been “foiling attacks on itself and the people of Tigray.” And he went on to tell people in Tigray: “We are capable not just to defend ourselves but defend others.”
Speaking about the next move, president of Tigray r described it as “to fight back threat from left and right, and rescue the federal system for which we paid much”,according Abraha Belay’s writing, which may mean war.
Expressing his concern about the people of Tigray, the owner of Ethiomedia argues that it has been 40 years since the TPLF had effective control of Tigray without intervention from the center.
“Not sure if it is lack of power or ‘they will not do it’ sort of conviction on the part of Dr. Abiy’s team, there seem to be no preparation to rescue the people of Tigray from TPLF, and that is what TPLF wants. 90 percent of farmers in Tigray live subsistence life and do not know politics. If they know anything, it is TPLF’s propaganda indoctrination, and they are not aware of Team Abiy’s change for peace, democracy, justice and national dignity,” he added.
My worry is, he continued, Dr. Abiy might unknowingly repeat Derg’s, which was colonel Mengistu’s government, mistake. He reminds Abiy’s administration that Derg excessively overlooked TPLF.
And he warns that
“…TPLF has always the habit of projecting itself as the underdog to its perceived enemies. This helps the rival not to prepare adequately because of the wrong perception that the enemy is too weak and can be dealt with easily.”
His concern with regard to the peasantry in Tigray is that it is impoverished and could be easily tricked and mobilized by TPLF. If Debretison’s team hands out a uniform and a rifle to farmers, throwing a little party slaughtering an ox, and beat the drum “Wufer Tebeges” (war song), it could be seen as a miracle from heaven for the unemployed peasantry, and may be even seen as an “opportunity.”
Some opposition politicians from Tigray region are also concerned about TPLF’s “mobilization for war” kind of activity. Aregawi Berhe was one of the founders of TPLF over forty years ago but abandoned it in the 80’s after he fell out with leaders in the party on political grounds. Now he is the leader of Tigrean opposition. Speaking to VOA Tigrigna service, as reported by Ethiopia Observer, he labeled TPLF’s assertion that “the anti-corruption campaign is targeting Tigreans selectively” as distortion of truth and reality.
He is not alone. When Andom Gebreselassie, one of the respected leaders in the ethnic Tigray opposition group, Arena-Tigray, spoke out against the TPLF leaders’ mantra that “Tigray is selectively targeted” this week during a town hall meeting in Mekelle,where Bereket Simon made a presentation, OLD TPLF ideologues like Sebhat Nega and his cohorts silenced him making noises and claps.
It seems like the war is an escape route from culpability for TPLF leaders and they seem to be capable of mobilizing Tigray for it.
Police in Amhara regional state arrested an individual, who considered himself as a prophet, for causing fear by disseminating false information.
He is identified as Kenaw Abeje, according to reports by Amhara Mass Media Agency (AMMA)
It happened in central Gonder, north western Ethiopia, Tegede district Egegoye Kebele.
Mr. kenaw claimed that he ascended to heaven on Hidar 21 around 2:00 a.m local time (November 30th this year) and came back ( and it is unclear if he came back same day or some other day).
He said “Our creator revealed for me that people would be wipe off the town on Monday,” and there was no specificity from AMMA report as to which Monday he was talking about.
“When I enter heaven,” continued Kenaw Abeje, “I have a prayer book on my hand and I met God with a lady whom I think is Mary.”
Due to the “prophecy” he preached, residents in the region were disturbed and students avoided school.
The source cited Tegede District government communication office to report that the “prophet” is now in police custody and under investigation.
Amdom Gebreselassie as he was speaking out against TPLF during a forum in Mekelle University. Photo : Screesn shot DW Television Source : SM
Arena Tigray opposition party public relation head, Andom Gebreselassie, is arrested today according to a report by US based Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT).
The report added that he was detained near Aksum Hotel in Mekelle, seat of Tigray regional state, on alleged grounds that he committed a physical assault although the identity nor the circumstances under which and when he assaulted the victim remain unclear.
ESAT cited its sources in Mekelle to report that he is currently arrested in Addishndih.
Amdom was in the limelight this week among Ethiopians in the cyber world after he blamed Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) leaders, for what they did to Ethiopians in the last 27 years, during a forum organized at Mekelle University.
A video showing TPLF top leaders, including Sebhat Nega and Getachew Reda, heckling Amdom as he as expresses his view during a question and answer period, where Bereket Simon presented paper, was circulating in social media this weekend.
Ethiopian facebookers and activits alike praised Amdom for the courage he showed to calmly express in spite of coordinated move by TPLF leaders to stop him by mounting a devious applause.
Addis Ababa police Commission says that it has learnt that there are activities by “some individuals” for organizing a demonstration in the capital this weekend.
