Ethiopian journalist on hunger strike

International Women’s Media Foundation calls for reinstatement of visitation privileges

September 13, 2013 — As stories about the political crisis in Cairo have been dominating the news from Egypt, there has been limited coverage on a brewing international conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia – two countries that do not share a border but are indivisibly connected by the Nile, the world’s longest river.

Amid works to construct a giant hydro-electric dam, and much to the anger of the Egyptian government, Ethiopia has started diverting the Blue Nile, a tributary of the Nile, prompting a furious debate about if and how the “Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam” will affect Egypt’s water security.

An Armed Force that comes out from Oppression

As all know Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has been in power for more than 22 years in Ethiopia. TPLF took power with force and it rules the country with force applying draconian laws that deny basic human rights and the right of the people to elect its own government. Anyone who expresses its firm opposition to the TPLF regime in Ethiopia is convicted for terrorist act, citing the controversial ‘terrorist proclamation’ adopted by the regime to crush the opposition. Since TPLF took power, there is no free media, and the country became one of the countries with lots of exiled and jailed journalists.

The so called Ethnic federalism introduced into the country by TPLF turns to be ethnic racism, that threaten the sovereignty of the country. The Ethiopian ethnic federalism is a tool used to implement the dangerous divide and rule principle of TPLF.

Happy new year !!!

The Diplomacy of Nonviolent Change in Ethiopia September 8, 2013

 Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam

In my commentary last week, “Interpreting and Living MLK’s Dream”, I discussed, among other things, Dr. Martin Luther King’s (MLK) philosophy of nonviolent social change. MLK argued that the “crucial political and moral question of our time” is the “need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.” I believe the crucial political and moral question for Ethiopians today is how to transform Ethiopia into an oasis of democratic governance in the middle of a sub-Saharan desert of African tyranny in a nonviolent struggle.

 

 

 

MLK dreamt about creating the “Beloved Community”– a community that has rid itself of racism, poverty and militarism. He said, “The end of nonviolent social change is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the Beloved Community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opponents into friends.”

Teshome fires Ethiopia to victory

Ethiopia are through to the playoff stages of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers after coming from a goal down to beat Central Africa Republic (CAR) 2-1 in their final Group A clash played in Brazzaville on Saturday.

Minyahil Teshome was the hero for the Walia Antelopes firing in the winner to seal an historic moment for the East African nation.

It was a special moment for the midfielder as it was his fielding against Botswana that saw the side docked three points by Fifa as he was ineligible to play.

Following the win, Ethiopia top Group A with 13 points, two ahead of South Africa who beat Botswana 4-1 in Durban.

Needing a win to stay to seal progress, Ethiopia suffered a blow before kick off after striker Getaneh Kebede failed to shake off a knock with Omod Okwury Omod taking his place.