Ethiopia Abducts two key-ONLF senior leaders and negotiators in Nairobi, Kenya

By Ahmed Abdi

January 28, 2014 (ONLF) — Two high-ranking members of the ONLF, who were peace negotiators between ONLF-and- Ethiopia have been abducted in Kenya by the Ethiopian security agents on Sunday afternoon(26/01/2014).

The Group issued yesterday a press release saying that “The Ethiopian security abducted Mr Sulub Ahmed and Ali Hussein, two senior ONLF leaders from Nairobi yesterday afternoon. The leaders, who were members of the ONLFnegotiation team, were in Nairobi for a proposed third round of talks.”http://onlf.org/?p=578

Amharic fluent speaker-Sulub Ahmed ,a former ONLF-head-quarter’s commander and a member of Central Committee and Ali Hussein aka Ali-dhere ,a member of the 74 ONLF central Committee have been in Nairobi waiting to resume a peace-talk between Ethiopian government -and-ONLF which stalled 17 October last year. 

US Congress against Land Grabs-Related Forced Evictions in Ethiopia

January 27, 2014
Oakland, CA – In a historic move, the US Congress has taken a stance on land grabs-related human rights abuses in Ethiopia. The 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill contains provisions that ensure that US development funds are not used to support forced evictions in Ethiopia.

The bill prevents US assistance from being used to support activities that directly or indirectly involve forced displacement in the Lower Omo and Gambella regions. It further requires US assistance in these areas be used to support local community initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and be subject to prior consultation with affected populations. The bill goes further and even instructs the directors of international financial institutions to oppose financing for any activities that directly or indirectly involve forced evictions in Ethiopia.

Amhara’s far right Fundamentalist ‘Moresh’ leaders officially declare war on Oromo!

Moderator, Sidama National Regional State Information Net Work

January 25, 2014

A highly controversial far right fundamentalists Amhara organisation advocating to reclaim its lost hegemony officially declares war on the largest Ethiopia’s Oromo Ethnic nationals, on January 24, 2014 in its officially dispatched press statement in Amharic. Known under its Amharic name ‘Moresh Wogene Amhara Dirjit’ dispatched its unpalatable, unbalanced, uncivilised and potentially venomous propagandas against the Oromo nationals –erroneously blaming them for causing death and destruction to others Ethiopian nations and nationalities; more essentially accusing them of attempting to destroy the concept of Ethiopianism created by Abyssinian king ‘Atse Menelik II’ who had colonised nations and nationalities of Ethiopia to create today’s Ethiopian Empire’s geo-political shape.

Ethiopia Has a Terrible Human Rights Record – Why Is the West Still Turning a Blind Eye?

By Eleanor Ross, Writer and journalist based in London
January 23, 2014 (The Huffington Post) — Some disappeared, others were given lengthy prison sentences. One thing all thirty men arrested in 2012 in Ethiopia had in common was that they had criticised the state and the policies of the former Premier, Meles Zenawi.
And yet last week Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a group of Japanese business leaders met with the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn to discuss further support for Ethiopia at “government and private sector level.”
The former Meles Zenawi was a staunch supporter of American counter-terrorism policy while at the same time overseeing a country with a violent human rights record. In the eyes of the USA, Ethiopia is strategically situated. Located in the Horn of Africa, next to Somalia, northern Kenya and Sudan, it acts as a buffer zone between the growing Islamic extremism of Somalia and the West. As a result, the human rights violations of Zenawi were ignored.

UK: Public Meeting on the State of Human Rights in Ethiopia

January 17, 2014
A meeting on Human Rights Situation in Ethiopia took place at the House of Commons on 26 November 2013. It began by an opening speech of Mr David Anderson (MP) chairman of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Third World Solidarity who also highlighted efforts that has been underway to highlight and address allegations of human rights abuses by the government of Ethiopia. He further indicated that despite the continuous reports of such allegations the government of Ethiopia has always been dismissive in its response. He then invited speakers.
Dr Trevor Truman, chairman of Oromia Support Group (OSG) was the first person who briefed the audience about the suffering of Oromo refugees who fled Ethiopia and live in different parts of Africa. Based on factual accounts and story of Oromo refugees in Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, South Africa and Egypt he presented the nature of human rights crisis Oromo refugees had to go through while they were in their home land and after they left Ethiopia.

The Human Right Issues and Violations in the Horn of Africa,Ethiopia-Oromia

By: Dejene Abdissa Janna | January 10, 2014

A paper presented on the Conflict of the Horn of Africa,the Struggle for Freedom, Democracy, Peace and Development Conference
04 January, 2014
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
E-Mail: abdissa2011@gmail.com
Human Right
The modern concept of human rights is rooted in the experiences of ‘legal lawlessness’ when crimes were committed with the authorization of the law, and when some human beings were denied their status as such. An answer to these experiences was the emergence of the international human rights law. The main aim of this branch of international law is to prevent broad violations of fundamental rights from recurring in the future. Appreciating the worth of every human being, the international community decided to eliminate elements that could destroy the individual person, but also to create the conditions that would enable him or her to develop and flourish. Accordingly, the Preambles to the International Bill of Rights  provide that the “foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world” is the “inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family”. (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966). However, the dictator government of Ethiopia otherwise known TPLF is unable in the enforcement of these rights and remain a headache,mainly due to technical blockades; lack of effective institutions or the existence of weak institutions only; and lack of political will to implement human rights with differing degrees. Therefore asking your rights in Ethiopia will either lead you to be imprisoned or counted you as anti-government.

HORN OF AFRICA: Humanitarian Situation Deteriorates as New Year comes and goes

December 28, 2013

HRLHA’s 2014 New Year Message

Dear friends,

Time does seem to pass ever more quickly. Has it really been a year since the HRLHA office last shared its thoughts on the occasion of the 2013 New Year? The fact is our attention is totally consumed by the job we are doing. For those who are languishing in prisons simply because they hold different political views from those of the ruling party of Ethiopia, for those Ethiopians and others who escaped from fear of persecution and are in refugee camps or live on the streets of the countries they took asylum in looking for their daily slice of bread, even a minute is too long. Soon we all will be joining together to welcome a new year with another new hope to do better. We must recognize the fact that doing better doesn’t happen simply because we wish it to be true. Rather, first we need to take our time and assess this year’s achievements or losses and compare them against the promises we made as this year began. In short, it is a time for “self-analysis”.

The Strange Twist in Amhara Politics: Rehabilitating Past Tyrants

December 19, 2013 | Gulele Post

The latest fanfare surrounding the celebration of Menelik’s centennial marks an interesting strategic shift in Amhara politics. This memorialization function which, both by design and default, turns every futile, petty, even downright brutal acts of ancient kings into a dazzling action, began a decade ago with a successful resurrection of Haile Selassie I. Now it’s Menelik’s turn.  With the publishing of his memoirs and multiple interviews, Mengistu is just around the corner.  I argue that the resurrection and rehabilitation of the memory of past rulers is not just an obsession of  the fringe in the right and some populist artists, but  a calculated and systematic undertaking by intellectuals supported by the broader political community suggestive of a deeper and seismic shift  in the Amhara politics.

Mourning the Departure of Freedom Icon and African Hero Nelson Mandela While Celebrating His Achievements

Press Release, December 9, 2013 

We, the Board of Directors and Staff members of the Human Rights League of Horn of Africa (HRLHA), would like to express that we are deeply saddened by the passing away of our African hero and freedom icon Mr. Nelson Mandela, also known as Madiba especially among his funs and lovers. It is everyone’s belief that this icon of freedom, although he is peacefully departing, has left behind an everlasting legacies of hope for the better future, perseverance in the struggle for equality, justice and dignity for all human beings as well as forgiveness. We could say that not only the South Africans but also the rest of African and other global communities are better off because of his priceless sacrifices, democratic achievements, spirits of hope, forgiveness, peace, harmony, and overall human dignity. HRLHA believes that those of us at all ages and generations who are staying behind are expected to take lessons from his legacies and carry on the torch of freedom that this freedom icon has ignited from where he has left it, and make Africa a much better place where political differences are settled through roundtable discussions, negotiations, and reconciliations, and policies are framed based on respect for human rights.

Simbirtu Radio: Oromo Journalist Usman Bayu Flees Oromia due to threats of persecution and imprisonment in Ethiopia

Muddee/December 03, 2013 | Ayyaantuu.com

Usman Bayu Tatago used to work for the Oromian Radio and TV organization (ORTVO) as a journalist. He worked as a producer and anchor of many entertainment programs. The government security personnel and ORTVO authorities were not happy with his programs, because of they focused on revitalization of the Oromo culture and history. Usman received a series of warnings, investigation, harassment and imprisonment by Ethiopian security men.

For more information click Simbirtuu.com