Obama is Coming! Obama is Coming to Africa!

June 23, 2013

by Alemayehu G. Mariam

(This week my regular Monday commentary is presented in the form of a “flash drama” on Obama (a sub-genre of theatrical play sometimes described as a “ten minute one-act play”).

  

The scene is a barbershop somewhere in Africa. Two young African college friends are talking soccer as they await their turn in the barber’s chair. Their conversation shifts from sports to international politics on the news that President Obama is scheduled to visit Africa in late June 2013.  

I have opted to use “flash drama” to add creative range to my commentaries and expand my reach to the younger generation of Ethiopians and other African youth. The names of the two characters have special meaning.)

“Millions of Voices for Freedom” Ethiopians Standing against the Brutal Regime

June 22, 2013

by Betre Yacob

The Daily Journalist

The Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), the most important opposition political party working under the narrowest

 political landscape of Ethiopia, has launched a “peaceful struggle campaign” with a motto——“Millions of Voices for Freedom” against the brutal regime ruling the country since 1991. Many millions of Ethiopians suffering from racial discrimination, exploitation, injustice, abject poverty, rampant human rights violations are expected to actively participate in the struggle.

In a launching press conference held on 20 June 2013, Mr. Dawite Solomon, the spokesperson of the party, called upon the people, political parties, civic organizations, the mass media, the Ethiopian diaspora and concerned members of the ruling party who give priority to the interest of the nation to take an active part and participate in the campaign. He said that it is the time to get together and struggle for freedom.

Dr. Berhanu Responds Re: Broadcast Of His “Pvt’ Voice Records”

June 22, 2013

Source: De Birhan

Dr. Berhanu Nega, associate professor of Economics at Bucknell University and Chairman of the opposition movement, Ginbot 7, has responded to  recent reports by some websites which said were containing revelation about “his private phone conversation and financial support his Movement received”.

In an interview with ESAT Radio today, Dr. Berhanu said that such materials were released by the Ethiopian government to divert attention and there was no way that his Movement or himself was going to bicker into an argument of denying or admitting the reports about the said “secret audio”.  However, he stressed that the alleged audio, in which some websites claimed was ‘tapped’ from “his phone conversation”, can be viewed in two ways. He said, the first message that the government wanted to pass was that Ginbot 7 was receiving support from Egypt and that as if his Movement did not value Ethiopia’s national interests.

The Humanitarian Aid-Corruption Nexus in Ethiopia By Prof. Seid Hassan

Seid Hassan- Murray State University

June 21^st, 2013

1. A.     Introduction

The Amharic version of the Voice of America (journalist Solomon Abate serving as moderator) entertained a discussion on corruption which was broadcast on May 17 and 18, 2013. Participants included Messrs. Mulugeta Aragawi of Addis Ababa University, Abebe Gutta (attorney at law in Addis Ababa), Berhanu Assefa (Ethical Education and Communication Affairs Director of theFederal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission-FEACC) and I. The first two gentlemen who really knew the sources, extent and potential solution to the rampant Ethiopian corruption politely provided their views, including the approaches that the government has to take to fight the corruption that the government has admitted to be rampant. As expected and is customary of the members of the EPRDF, Mr. Berhanu Assefa of the FEACC was on the defensive and mostly on the attack mode, instead of listening to the complaints and suggestions of the two citizens.  As those who listened to the debate can easily attest, Mr. Assefa spent most of his time talking about unrelated to the topic of discussion –yes, you guessed it right: the same old and tireddouble digit growth rates that all EPRDFites like to parrot each other ad nauseam. He also suggested that the current decision to fight against corruption is for real and the arrest of Minister Melaku Fenta, director general of the revenue and customs authority and his deputy Gebrewahed Woldegiorgis along with several officials and businessmen merchants should serve as proof and we ought not to discourage it.  I partially agreed with Mr. Assefa’s suggestion in that all of us have to encourage the fight against corruption, if indeed it is for real while at the same time expressing my serious doubts.

Ethiopia After Meles: The Future of Democracy and Human Rights (video)

Editor's Note - In the mind of pro-democracy Ethiopians, the name 'Congressman Chris Smith' evokes a memory of an American lawmaker who showed an unwavering solidarity with the Ethiopian people who had fallen on bad days in the aftermath of the 2005 elections. If it were not for persons of conscience in the likes of Chris Smith and the Honorable Anna Gomez, EU member of Parliament, Ethiopians would have suffered greater atrocities in the hands of the late dictator Meles Zenawi. Once again, Congressman Chris Smith is presiding over an important hearing on human rights and democracy in Ethiopia. Those of us living in the Washington, DC area would do our people a great service by attending the important event. Following is the press release from the Office of Congressman Chris Smith:

Ethiopian Telecom Corporation or Tele-corruporation?

June 17, 2013

by Alemayehu G. Mariam

“Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation” (ETC)

In August 1998, the World Bank (WB) issued a corruption report on Ethiopia and summarized:

In the Government’s view, the following are the major determinants of corruption: a poorly functioning legal and judicial system inconsistent with the 1994 Constitution; an overregulated bureaucracy, emphasising regulation rather than service delivery; a low-paid civil service; a new yet rudimentary government, based on a federal structure; and weak budgetary and financial control, with an outdated procurement structure, and poorly trained financial staff…

That WB report made a number of recommendations to combat corruption including, “strengthening links with civil society and the private sector to identify critical areas relating to corruption”,  “elimination of excessive regulation”, “promotion of competitive market conditions and greater transparency”, and facilitation of  “dialogue among Parliament, Civil Service, Civil Society, the Private Sector, the Media, the government, the Chamber of Commerce,  other members of the business community, and civil society on implementing the anti-corruption program and developing complementary activities.”