Ethiopia: Uneven Coverage of Suppressed Ethiopian Journalists

By Marthe Van Der Wolf

August 30, 2014, Addis Ababa (VOA) — This month, Ethiopian officials shut down five magazines — the latest in a series of shutdowns — but the move got little attention from outside the country. The East African country is well known for suppressing the media, but some cases seem to get celebrity status while others are ignored.

Twelve Ethiopian journalists and publishers left the country in August after the magazines they worked for were forced by the government to shut down. International media gave little attention to the self-chosen exile of these media practitioners.

In contrast, the cases of Eskinder Nega, Reeyot Alemu and more recently the Zone9 bloggers have been covered by outlets such as al-Jazeera and the BBC, as well as VOA.

Tom Rhodes of the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, says it can be partly explained why some cases get more attention.

Arresting and Torturing of Oromo Women and Youth does not Stop the Struggle of the Oromo People for Justice and Freedom

August 29, 2014 (Qeerroo) – The Tigrayan minority TPLF-led Ethiopian regime has continued arresting and torturing of the Oromo nationals in an attempt to stop the struggle of the Oromo nation for freedom, democracy and justice. Currently, the atrocities committed by this regime on innocent Oromo civilians have been escalated to unimaginable scale. Hundreds of Oromo students, teachers, farmers, daily labourers, and civil servants are languishing in prisons located at several places in Oromia. The overwhelming majority of those who are sent to detention centres are subjected to severe and inhuman torture. Some have died in prison cells or thrown out of jail and left to die in hospital simply because they couldn’t stand the torture.

Diddaa Barattoota Oromoo Yuuniverstii Wallaggaa Hagayya 27 2014

ETHIOPIA: Arrests and Detentions of Oromo Students Continued

HRLHA – Press Release

August 27, 2014

While fresh arrests and detentions, kidnappings and disappearances of Oromo nationals have continued in different parts of the regional state of Oromo following the April-May crackdown of peaceful demonstrators, court rulings over the cases of some of the earlier detainees by courts of the regional state are being rejected by political agents of the governing TPLF/EPRDF Party. The renewed violence by government forces against Oromo nationals started particularly following what was termed as “Lenjii Siyaasaa” (literally meaning “political training) that has targeted Oromo Students of higher educational institutions and has been going on in the past two weeks in different parts of Oromia.

Ethiopia: Gross Violations of Human Rights and an intractable conflict

Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA)
26^th Session of United Nations Human Rights Council
Geneva, Palais des Nations,

Presented By :Garoma B. Wakessa : Executive Director of HRLHA

June 19, 2014

Ethiopia: Gross Violations of Human Rights and  an intractable  conflict

Introduction:  It is common in democratic countries around the world for people to express their grievances/ dissatisfactions and complaints against their governments by peaceful demonstrations and assemblies.    When such nonviolent civil rallies take place, it should always be the state’s responsibility to respect and guard their citizens’ freedom to peacefully assemble and demonstrate. These responsibilities should apply even during times of political protests, when a state’s own power is questioned, challenged, or perhaps undermined by assemblies of citizens practicing in nonviolent resistance. If a government responds to peaceful protests improperly, a peaceful protest might lead to a violent protest- that could then become an intractable conflict. Government agents, most of all the police, must respect the local and international standards of democratic rights of the citizens during peaceful assemblies or demonstrations.

Oral statement, Human Rights Council, 19 June 2014

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August 27, 2014

Fleeing from abuse in Ethiopia and seeking refuge in Kenya, Djibouti, Somaliland, South Africa and Egypt, 187 refugees have described in detail, during hour-long interviews how they and their close families were persecuted.[1]

Breaking News:- AMBO Waraanni Agaazii Barattoota Oromoo 53 Irratti Miidhaa Guddaa Geessisuun Isaa Daran FDG Jabeesse

Gabaasa Qeerroo Amboo  Hagayya 25,2014 Goototni barattootni Oromoo Yuuniversiitii Amboo karaa nagaa mirgaa fi kan dimokraasiikaasuun gaaffii mirga abbaa biyyummaa sababa gaafataniif jecha mootummaan faashistii Wayyaanee(Itiyoophiyaa) Waraanaa Agazii Wayyaaneetiin ukkanfamani barattoota 230 mana hidhaa Wayyaanee galma mootummaa magaalaa Amboo keessatti argamutti hidhaman.

Sabboontootni barattootni Oromoo fedhii isaanii malee waraanaa Wayyaaneetiin dirqamanii akka walga’ii afaan faajjii mootummaa Wayyaanee ta’aan kan ta’ee kana irraatti barattootni Oromoo uummatni keenya Oromoon utuu jumlaan hidhamuu, qee’eef qabeenyaa irraa buqqifamuu , Ajjeefamuu, gara dabarfamuu, barnoota irraa Arii’amuu waraanaan doorsifamnee walga’ii Wayyaanee taa’uun hirmii nyaachuudha jechuun FDG guyyaa hanga guyyaa har’atti utuu wal irraa hin kutiin mormii guddaan sirna mootummaa Wayyaanee jala dhaabbachaa jiru.

Sabboontoti barattooti Oromoo 230 hidhaman keessaa waraana Wayyaaneen gara malee reebamuu fi miidhaan guddaa irra gahee hidhaa keessatti dararamaa jira keessaa  gadiiti:-

Waliin Waliif – Together for Each Other

Background

Since 1991 the TPLF have predominantly controlled government power in the country resulting in over 40,000 Oromo’s being unjustly detained and their lives destroyed. Retired Oromo elders, mothers, teenagers and children with their families are among the thousands of innocent Oromo civilians unlawfully imprisoned for long periods, with many losing their lives in prison as the result of a lack of adequate treatment and torture. Other Oromo civilians, counted in thousands, including farmers, business people, teachers, students and professionals have had their properties confiscated, lost their jobs and risked uncertain life in their homeland. On top of all these atrocious situations, the systematic complication of due legal process- such as high lawyer costs, prevent the Oromo detainees from accessing lawyers and bringing their case to hearing in the court system. Thousands of Oromo released from years of prison have fled to different countries and suffer in various refugee camps. By taking all these factors into account, and to support these victims as much as possible this “Waliin-Waliif” – literally ‘ Together for Each Other’ project has been established.

Breaking News : Hagayyaa 20/2014 FDG Marsaa 2ffaan Godina Lixa Shawaa Yuunibarsiitii Amboo Keessatti Goototata dargaggoota Oromoon Qabsiifame

Hagayya 21, 2014 (Qeerroo) — Goototni barattootni Oromoo Lixa Shawaa Yuunibarsiitoota biyyatti garaagaraa irraa baracha turanii boqonnaaf maatii isaani bira utuu jiranii Wayyaaneen maqaa walgaii farra uummata Oromoo ta’ee fi farra qabsoo bilisummaa Oromoo ta’een gaggeessuuf akkuma Yuunibarsiitii Ambootti walitti qabdeen guyyaa haraa saaatii 10:30 irratti akkuma wayyaaneen walitti qabdee Orientation kennuufii eegalteen goototni batattootni Oromoo gaaffii irratti roobsuun Iyyaannoo isaanii kan qabxii 10 of irraa qabu itti kennachuun gaaffii keenyaaf deebiin hanga nuuf kennamutti walgaii wayyaanee waliin hin teenyu, wayyaaneen diina keenya, hirimii keenya kaleessa daaima umrii waggaa 7 hanga manguddoo waggaa 80tti ajjeesa turtan dhiignii ilmaan Oromoo lafa hin qoorree akkamitti walgaii biyyooleessa qopheessuun walitti nu qabuu dandeessan, waraannii haga kana baayatu magaalaa Amboo fi Unibarsiitii Amboo keessa qubsiifamee jiru kun maal nurraa eega.

OVR: Oromia – Ambo town under attack

Oromo Voice Radio broadcasts to Oromia on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:00 PM Finfinne time at 16 MB or 17850 kHz. Oromo Voice Radio is operated by Madda Walaabuu Media Foundation. In today’s broadcast: 1. News 2. Qophii Tibbanaa 3. Mala Jireenya Website: http://oromovoice.org Email: ovr@oromovoice.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oromovoiceradio Listen by phone: +1 716-748-0384 Voicemail message: +1 206-309-3148

Sochiin diddaa gabrummaa Oromiyaa keessaa jabaate itti fufuun Wayyaanee raafam keessa galche

Hagayyaa 18, 2014 (Odeessa Qeerroo Bilisummaa) – Hagayyaa 16/2014 Sochiin Dargaggoota,Barattoota Oromoo fi waliigalattii uummaatni  Oromoo mirga abbaa Biyyummaa isaa kabachiifachuuf abbaa irree EPRDF/TPLF/OPDO  irratti gaggeessa jiru daran jabaachuun mootummaa Wayyaanee raafama ulfaata keessa  galchee jira.

Sochiin Qeerroo, barattoota Oromoo dhaabbilee barnoota olaanoon qabsiifame kana danquuf  wayyaaneen shiroota garaagaraa xaxaa kan turete yeroo ta’u uummata walitti qabuun sochii  kana ABOtu gaggeessa, balaaleffadhaa jedhee godinaalee Oromiyaa garaagaraa keessa  deemuun uummaata humna waraanaatiin walitti qabee hiriira baasuuf yaalii godheen  uummaata irraa diddaa guddaan isa mudachuun ni yaadatama. Keessattuu shirri Wayyaanee  kun Godinaalee dhiha Oromiyaa keessatti mormii guddaa itti kaase.

Dr. Teodros Adhanom – tries to drag USA into TPLF’s on life support politics

Teodros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs, says “the arrested Ethiopian Muslim leaders had connection with those terrorists in Guantanamo Bay” but later Teodros tried to swallow his words back on Facebook. Listen Sadik Ahimed Ethiopian activist exposing Teodros Adhanom’s blatant lie

Breaking News -Koree gidduu galeessaa OPDO keessatti jeequmsi olaanaan dhalate. Miseensotni Korichaas arii’amaa jiru

Gabaasa Qeerroo Finfinnee Hagayya 15, 2014

Yeroo dheeraaf Ulee mootummaa wayyaanee ilmaan Oromoo rukkutu tahuun tajaajilaa kan as gahe Koree gidduu galeessaa OPDO keessatti jeequmsi olaanaan dhalate. Fincila diddaa garbummaa bara 2014 gaggeeffame keessatti isin miseensota ABOti, FDG Kana keessatti hirmaattanii jirtu jechuudhaan Qorannaan caasaa qulqulleessuu magaala Adaamaatti eegalame xumura malee hafuudhaan gara magaala Shaashimanneetti cehamee jeequmsa olaanaa irratti argamu. Miseensota Koree gidduu galeessaa OPDO kan turanii fi tika Caasaa OPDO kan turan Obbo Geetaachoo Olii fi Abdoo kanneen jedhamanis miseensummaa irraa haqamanii jiran.

Ethiopia’s “Terrorist” Journalists and Bloggers

August 13, 2014, NAIROBI, Kenya (Huffington Post) - A cursory glance at the headlines shows that Ethiopia has one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. But the noise generated by the hyperbolic international media is drowning out the critical voices.

Political opposition is being strangled by the authorities as activists and journalists are arrested and thrown into jail at a dizzying pace.

On April 25 of this year, the Ethiopian government made news by arresting six bloggers and three freelance journalists. Setting a dangerous precedent for other governments in the region and beyond, authorities are now targeting youth online.

Kora Gamtaa Miseensoota ABO Amerika Kaabaa kan bara 2014 Murtii Ejjennoo fi Kutannoolee

Hagayyaa 13, 2014

Nutii miseensotni Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo kan USA fi Kanadaa Kora, ABO Amerikaa Kaabaa kan Marsaa  18ffaa bara kana magaalaa Minneapolis, Minnesota keessatti Adoolessa 7 fi 8 godhanneen, dhimmoota ciccimoo Jaarmiyaa, Siyaasaa akkasumas haala idil adunyaa irratti  gad fageenyaan marihannee murtii fi kutannoolee asiin gadi dabarfanne.

Melbournians Hold a Concert for Oromo Human Rights

(Advocacy for Oromia, 12 August 2014) — The Human Rights Concert for Oromia was held in Ascot Vale, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, on August 9, 2014.

Bonsen Dhabasa, 10 years old boy who was six months old when his father was arrested; five years old when his mother was imprisoned presented his memoir of persecution account on this Human Rights for Oromia concert in Melbourne.

This is our Human Rights Concert. The people coming together as one and uniting against a common enemy! Corrupt power. We are the voice of the people! This is dedicated to those suffering under suppression and Human Rights Abuses. The people on the ground who are treated like collateral damage by those who have vested interests and no concern for human values or human rights!

Washington DC: PM Hailemariam Desalegn was hiding while his Information Minister, Redwan Hussein, embraced humiliation

August 9, 2014 (Somaliland Press) — This week, more than 90 US companies attended the U.S-African Summit in Washington, DC. During the meeting, President Obama announced that American companies — many with trade assistance from the US Export-Import Bank — are declaring new deals across Africa in clean energy, aviation, banking, and construction. These deals are estimated to be worth more than $14 billion. US Companies such as Black Rock, Coca Cola, GE, and Marriott Hotels are a few of the companies that publicized their interest in the African investments. According to Bloomberg News, there is a five-year, $7 billion Power Africa initiative for six countries — pending approval for US congress based on good governance. Ethiopia is supposed to get a piece of this action.

Ethiopia and its press: The noose tightens

Bloggers and journalists who criticise the government are under the cosh

August 7, 2014 (The Economist) — A RANKING that countries do not aspire to ascend is the one compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based group. It reckons that Ethiopia is Africa’s second-worst jailer of journalists, ahead only of its ultra-repressive neighbour and bitter enemy, Eritrea. Cementing its lamentable reputation, on August 4th Ethiopia briefly resumed the trial of ten journalists and bloggers, nine of whom it has kept in prison since April; one is being tried in absentia. The court proceedings are to start again in earnest on August 20th.

Washington Meeting of African Leaders Opens to Protests

August 5, 2014, WASHINGTON (The New York Times) — Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the State Department on Monday, the start of a summit meeting here of more than 40 African heads of state, to denounce some of the leaders as “torturers” and “killers.”

The protesters, who were mostly from Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, said they were angry that the White House was looking to enhance economic ties with repressive governments. “Stop financing dictators,” the crowd chanted. “President Obama, shame on you.”

Obang Metho, director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia, referenced Mr. Obama’s message to African leaders during his 2009 trip. “Africa doesn’t need strongmen. It needs strong institutions,” Mr. Obama said at the time.

“Now he is sitting with strongmen,” Mr. Metho said. “Where are the strong institutions?”

US-Africa: Make Human Rights Central to Summit

Obama Should Press African Leaders to End Repression

August 5, 2014, Washington, DC (HRW) – US President Barack Obama should ensure that human rights concerns are a major focus of the US-Africa Leaders Summit, Human Rights Watch said today. Rights concerns should not be relegated to meetings in the margins of the summit. The theme of the August 4-6, 2014 summit in Washington, DC, is “Investing in Our Future.”

The summit will host some 45 African heads of state, at least a dozen of whom lead repressive governments that have imprisoned journalists, human rights defenders, and anti-corruption campaigners. Many have approved laws that stifle freedom of expression and used national security, defamation, and anti-terrorism laws to prosecute independent writers, protesters, and activists who criticize government policy.

Ethiopia : British – Ethio immoral policy in Benishangul

By Khalid Nasser Benishangul activist and Ahmed Abdi | August 3, 2014

The British people have moral and legal responsibility toward the Benishangul people, because if it was not for British economic interest policy, the Benishangul would not be part of the so called Abyssinia

Hiriira Hawaasa Oromoo Washington DC; MTA – Afuura Biyyaa, Hagayya 1, 2014

Hiriira Hawaasa Oromoo Washington DC	Radio Afuura Biyyaa

Ethiopian photojournalist Aziza Mohamed held without charge

Aziza Mohamed was arrested while covering Muslim protests. (Facebook/Addis Guday)

August 2, 2014, Nairobi–CPJ is alarmed by the detention of Addis Guday (“Addis Affairs”) photojournalist Aziza Mohamed, who has been in custody for two weeks without charge. Police arrested Aziza on July 18 while she was covering Muslim protests near Anwar Mosque in the capital Addis Ababa, local journalists told CPJ. She is being held at the Addis Ababa police headquarters.

Police investigators presented Aziza before the Kirkos First Bench Court today but requested further time for their probe before bringing formal charges, local journalists said. According to local journalists who attended the hearing, police told the court that Aziza was inciting protesters to violence during the demonstration. However, Aziza told colleagues who visited her in detention that plainclothes policemen arrested her in a café near the protests, likely after noticing her camera. Police searched Aziza’s home on July 26 and confiscated several music compact discs, local journalists said.

Ethiopian runners: Police confirm athletes defected to escape civil unrest

The names of the four pictured athletes are (from left to right): Amanuel Abebe Atibeha; Dureti Edao; Meaza Kebede; Zeyituna Mohammed.

August 2, 2014 (WSJ) — The four Ethiopian runners who disappeared from the IAAF Junior World Championships in Eugene this past weekend defected from their home country to avoid returning to widespread civil unrest there, police confirmed in a report released late Friday.

The report, provided by police in Federal Way, Washington, describes an interview with Zeyituna Mohammed, an 18-year-old woman runner on the Ethiopian national team. She told police that she and the other athletes decided to stay in the U.S. because they were too afraid to return to Ethiopia.

The report confirms for the first time what many close to the case, including the team’s coaches, had suspected — that the athletes’ disappearance was part of a plan to defect from Ethiopia.

Mohammed told authories she may seek asylum in the U.S., but she is not certain of her plans. It remains unclear whether the other three athletes, whom police  found in Beaverton earlier this week, are planning to do so.

#OromoProtests: Oromo Peaceful Protest Rally in Washington, DC- August 01, 2014.