Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
The world tweets support for Ethiopia’s bloggers today
The international citizen journalism group Global Voices invites you to join a today’s “worldwide, multilingual tweetathon in support of the ten bloggers and journalists facing terrorism charges in Ethiopia.”
Join Global Voices bloggers for a worldwide, multilingual tweetathon in support of the ten bloggers and journalists facing terrorism charges in Ethiopia.
The Global Voices community and our network of allies are demanding justice for these men and women, all of whom have worked hard to expand spaces for social and political commentary in Ethiopia through blogging and journalism. We believe their arrest is a violation of their universal right to free expression, and that the charges filed against them are unjust. Learn more about their story and the campaign for their release at the Zone9 Trial Tracker blog.
The bloggers’ trial begins on August 4, 2014. Until then, and beyond, they will need all the support they can get. So this Thursday, we as a global community of bloggers, writers, activists, and social media experts will share this message around the world, tweeting in our native languages at community leaders, government and diplomatic officials, and mainstream media to draw public attention to the case.
#FreeZone9Bloggers: A Tweetathon Demanding the Release of Jailed Ethiopian Bloggers
Six of the detained bloggers in Addis Ababa. Photo used with permission.
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014
Time: 10am – 2pm — no matter what time zone you’re in!
Hashtag: #FreeZone9Bloggers
Hosts: Nwachukwu Egbunike (@feathersproject), Ndesanjo Macha (@ndesanjo), Ellery Roberts Biddle (@ellerybiddle)
Want to join us this Thursday? Or help spread the word? Add your name and Twitter handle to our community planning sheet.
Sample Tweets:
- .@Zone9ers deserve a fair trial under international standards #FreeZone9Bloggers http://bit.ly/1g65ijg
- Free the @Zone9ers… because blogging is not a crime! #FreeZone9Bloggers http://bit.ly/1g65ijg
- “We blog because we care” #FreeZone9Bloggers http://bit.ly/1g65ijg
- Blogger arrests in #Ethiopia are a violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights #FreeZone9Bloggers http://bit.ly/QlzRuG
- Blogger arrests in #Ethiopia violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights #FreeZone9Bloggers http://bit.ly/1g1MUNM
Tweet until your fingers hurt and demand justice for the Zone9 bloggers!
Source: Global Voices Advocacy Defending Free Speech Online
Local EU statement on the situation in Ethiopia
“The EU Delegation is deeply concerned about developments in the case of the ten bloggers and journalists charged under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation on 18 July, as well as recent arrests of opposition members. It calls on the Ethiopian authorities to ensure that proceedings are carried out according to the Ethiopian Constitution and respecting international and regional human rights standards, in particular granting access to legal counsel and family, as well as the right to apply for bail when applicable, and that the trial is transparent and free from political interference.
The EU Delegation recalls the European External Action Service statement of 6 May 2014 which underlined the importance of enhancing the political space, particularly in view of the elections next year. It calls on the Ethiopian Government to ensure that the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation is not used to curb freedom of expression or association.
The EU Delegation welcomed the additional commitments made by the government of Ethiopia to address areas of human rights concern in the recent Universal Periodic Review process in Geneva and called for early and continuing action to ensure implementation of all of the government’s human rights commitments.”
Source: Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Is being a journalist a crime in Ethiopia?
The dictatorial regime in Ethiopia-led by minority group, TPLF continued stepping up its efforts against press freedom by firing about 20 Oromo journalists from the state-run Oromia Radio and Television Organization (ORTO).
The Ethiopian regime dismissed the journalists from their job without giving any acceptable reason except accusing them of “narrow political views”. As some of the journalists who were among those dismissed said “the reality behind the firing of the Oromo journalists by the regime is the fact that the Oromo journalists exposed the Ethiopian government plan to expand the capital city or Finfinne by evicting Oromo farmers from their indigenous land which caused a wide scale protest through Oromia region against this plan.” The protest was organized by Oromo University and high school students together with local people resulting in the death, injury and the arrest of many students and locals after federal police fired live ammunition against protesters even though the protest was peaceful. In fact persecution, firing, harassment, arresting, torture of journalists and violation of press freedom is not a new incident in Ethiopia under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front(EPRDF), as the government made a habit of it. We don’t need to look any farther, just two months ago the same government arrested three journalists and six bloggers, called zone 9 bloggers. I don’t remember a single year, which went by without the TPLF/EPRDF lead regime firing and arresting journalists since they came to power in 1991.
For instance, only between 2005 and 2009 about 150 journalists have been forced to leave their homeland, (mereja.com) and in connection with 2005 Ethiopian general election the regime had put in jail 17 editors and publishers (cpj.org). The Ethiopian regime is unrestrained by the law and constitution of the country, they do everything and anything as they please without regard for the rule of law. The continuation of persecution, harassment and firing of journalists from their job in connection with their coverage of the students’ protest against the government’s plan to expand Finfinnee by what was called Master plan, which some people termed as Master killer; and the eviction of farmers from their indigenous land is another proof of the Ethiopian regime’s dictatorial and oppressive nature.
It is not difficult to come up with the conclusion that the Ethiopian government wants a journalist who will act as the government mouth piece, to report and promote the interest of the ruling party not that of the larger society as stipulated in the constitution. No one can blame the journalists except TPLF regime and its members since the journalists have the moral and ethical obligations to report such horrific incidents as happened in Ambo and other regions of Oromia. If the Ethiopian regime fires journalists because of doing their job it simply means they don’t want what was reported to reach the people of Ethiopia and the larger world. As it is known, humanitarian and Human Right organizations have been extremely restricted in the country resulting in lack of information especially beyond the capital city. As the Ethiopian regime is always fabricating false documents to crackdown and silence dissent, bloggers and journalists remain the target accused of sympathizing with Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and G7.
The main problem in Ethiopia stems from the fact that the regime and the parliament are the same in form and action. There is no any opposition in the parliament when laws are passed with the aim to discriminate and silence anyone who disagrees with the government. As we know, since the anti- terrorist law was formed, the law is always in favour of the government because when the government fails to indoctrinate you into their ideology, they categorize you as a terrorist and the enemy of the regime in power. Woyanes always deny facts, tell white lies to the people of Ethiopia and the world and want to maintain power at all costs by terrorizing innocent people every single day with the help of the law which was purpose made for the job.
As we know, respect for the freedom of speech is considered an important part of the rule of law and a fundamental requirement to democracy. Freedom of expression concerns the right of citizens to express themselves by giving or receiving information. Freedom of expression is a human right. All people should be allowed to give their views to others, without being subjected to threats. However, in Ethiopia people are always subjected to threats being pestered by the rogue regime if and when they do not think like TPLF and its members. In general, there is no basic freedom of any sort and freedom of speech in Ethiopia under the Woyane rules.
I believe that the pain that we’ve all felt since Eskinder Nega, Reeyot Alemu, and all Oromo journalists who have been dismissed from their job and who are in prison now including the Zone 9 bloggers as a result of inhuman acts of TPLF against them is enormous. We have to do all we can to join hands and oust TPLF regime in order to meet the demand of our people who are hungry for freedom and justice as they suffer in the hands of TPLF brutal regime. I believe, if we stand together with all the oppressed nations and nationalities we will be able to get this done sooner than later. The suffering of our innocent people demand from us to work with all the people who believe in justice and freedom.
At the end I would like to urge all oppressed people who are really looking for a true freedom to stand together to replace the fake TPLF/EPRDF democracy by a real one.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Ethiopian Regime a Step Away From Its Own Grave
“The government is merely a servant―merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn’t. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them”
By Yosef Tesfasilas,
Time for the minority regime in Ethiopia to reap what they saw
July 25, 2014 (Tesfa News) — UNFORTUNATELY, the Ethiopian Woyane regime has never been a servant to Ethiopians but a totalitarian regime who has been on a mission for the last several decades to bring a totality of terror not only in Ethiopia but also in Horn of Africa as well. For the last several decades, slowly but surely, the regime has been putting nails on its own coffin. Time has arrived for the regime to put the ‘the last nail on its coffin’.
Since the helm of the regime, it has been a catalytic burner in producing tribal conflicts, religious conflicts, ethnic cleansing, genocide, border disputes, land grabbing and etc. Therefore, the regime has created a diversity of nemesis from all angles. Who are the major nemesis that could seal the fate of the regime? Who are from the nemesis that is ultimately going to put the regime in its own coffin?
OROMO PEOPLE:
Oromos are the majority population in Ethiopia. The Oromo tribe has been victimized by every predecessor regime. However, the TPLF has been the worst regime that the Oromo people have ever seen. On daily basis, there are conflicts between Tigrayans and Oromos throughout the country.
The TPLF regime has systematically taken the Oromo lands and distributed to the Tigrayan investors. The Oromo, like their counterpart Amhara, are labelled as terrorists. The regime has been on killing Speer recently with out discriminating women and children after accusing the people as supporters of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Indeed, the regime has symptom of paranoia. Oromo people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.
TIGRAYAN PEOPLE:
The Tigrayan people are the foundation of springboard of Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) movement. Sadly, Tigrayans, in the last century, has faced a major hardship from the Ethiopian government particularly under former Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam regime-known as Derg. Therefore, the Tigrayans has decided to stand up for their self-determination rights in eradicating the ethnic cleansing, abject poverty, chronic diseases … etc.
With help from the Eritrean people, the TPLF has gradually become a formidable nemesis to the Derg regime in Tigrai. Unfortunately, the Tigrayan people were immediately betrayed once the TPLF regime roamed into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The betrayal of TPLF regime which has been a huge blow to the fabrics of society for the majority of Tigrayan people. The Tigrayan people has shed their loved ones bloods to full-fill their long-term aspirations of becoming a people who are free from abject poverty, chronic diseases, and corruptions. Instead, the TPLF has only been delivering endless of terror to its own people.
Indeed, the majority of Tigrayan people have discorded themselves from the TPLF regime. Perhaps the minority of Tigrayan people who have gained immense wealth under the TPLF regime. Certainly, the diaspora Tigrayans have finally awaken in small factions such as California, Washington, Texas, New York, Chicago, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Chicago, Atlanta, and Europe, all over the world against the tyrant’s regime because the majority of Tigrayan people are peaceful and hard-working who are aspired to live in harmony with all tribes and neighbors. The Tigrayan people have finally awaken against tyrant’s regime.
AMHARA PEOPLE:
When the TPLF liberators roamed into Addis Ababa, the Amhara people did not waited with rosy flowers to welcome the Tigrayan fighters. Yet, the liberators were immediately perceived as invaders with mighty weapons in their soils. Historically speaking, no foreigner’s army has won the minds and hearts of the native people. For instance, developed countries with their mighty army could not sustain for a long time on their residency in a foreign land.
The Amhara people have certainly illustrated the world in a uniform mode of democracy that they do not welcome the TPLF’s liberator in Ethiopia. For example, the 2005 election was a hallmark in which a majority of Amhara people voted against the tyrant’s regime. The election outcome certainly indicated that the Amhara people would like the regime to depart from their lands. The aftermath of the election, consequently the Amharas are constantly being hunted down inside or outside of Ethiopia.
According to the tyrant’s regime, every Amhara people are considered to be a terrorists. Certainly, this is a symptom of paranoia that the TPLF regime had acquired once it was considered to be an unwelcome aliens. The Amhara people, all over the world, have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.
OGADEN PEOPLE:
The Horn of Africa has definitely seen colossal of humanitarian crisis in the Ogaden region. The Ogaden people has been victimized by the TPLF region for many years without the International Communities awareness. However, Sweden is the first European country to have awareness on the unprecedented human right violations against the Ogaden people. The Human Rights Watch has substantially recorded evidences on the regime committing heinous crimes against children, women, and elderly. The Ogaden people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.
ANUAKE PEOPLE:
From 2004 to 2006, the TPLF regime was on mission to cleans ethnic Anuakes from their ancestral land. December of 2004, the regime had killed 400 Anuakes just in one day. The TPLF regime has decided to eradicate these people because it needs their land for investors. There are more than 2000 Anuake tribe residing in United States alone after fleeing the massacre and ethnic cleansing perpetrated in their village by the regime.
Indeed, the Anuke people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.
BENISHANGUL PEOPLE:
The TPLF regime has systematically taken the fertile lowlands from Benishangul tribe and give it to the Tigrayan investors. Also, the regime has indiscriminately murdered many young men who are innocent and do not have any relation with the guerrilla fighters of Benishangul.
There are daily conflicts in the Benishangul-Gumuz region because of land grabbing policy the regime has introduced in the region. The people of Benishangul have finally awoken against the tyrant’s regime.
NUER PEOPLE:
The inhabitant of the tribe is in southwestern of Ethiopia in the Nile Valley. For thousands years, the tribe has lived in the Nile of Valley lands. However, the regime has been on mission to eradicate the minority tribe from their ancestral lands. Majority of tribe has fled the ethnic cleansing by fleeing to nearby countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. The Nuer people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.
SOMALIA PEOPLE:
In 2006, the TPLF regime has invaded Somalia in which it was under the reign of the Islamic Court Union (ICU). Since then, the regime has brought terror to Somalian people.
Sadly, millions of Somalian refugees have become a homeless inside Somalia. The fortunate Somalis were able to flee to the neighbor countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Today, Somalia is known for piracy and lawlessness. Somalia people have finally awaken against the tyrant’s regime.
As the saying goes, “He cooked his own goose”. Perhaps it is unfathomable to reckon that TPLF’s liberator in just two decades has become a terror and invader in Horn of Africa. The regime has caused endless of horrors and unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the regions. A variety of indigenous tribes have lived in serenity and harmony in the Nile Valley for mellenia. However, these tribes have eradicated from their ancestral lands because the regime have great interests in their lands.
Today, the regime has found itself surrounded with proliferation of nemeses in all regions of Ethiopia. Certainly, perhaps it is going to be the Tigrayan people who are going to seal the fate of the TPLF regime in its own coffin with the last nail left. Perhaps the betrayal of Tigrayan people is the final blow for the regime to be sealed in its cof
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