Happy Millennium! If Everyone Care

On September 11, 2007 the 2nd Millennium, year 2000, will be celebrated by Ethiopians in Ethiopia and through out the world. *1

Amidst all the problems facing the country, the government is advertising and preparing the festival as an event that should be celebrated and shouldn't be missed by anyone.

"The Millennium party is not to be missed!"; "Are you kidding me…of course I will be there". I hear this and that from people who are coming to the party. Well, good for them and I wished them all 'Happy New Year!' already.

These people saying this are the ones who are out in touch with the reality. May you come or go and celebrate the Millennium in the land of where there is oppression, poverty and social injustice!

Having said that what should be the reasons we really celebrate the Millennium?

I myself think the Millennium should be celebrated because it's a once in a life time thing, so why not. However, it should not be celebrated for the same reason as how the regime wants us to celebrate. Besides, the Millennium is not only about its celebration and festivities. It's beyond its meaning, the beginnings of all beginnings where we start setting new goals and how we achieve them in the future. By seizing this moment, the Millennium, I ask you my sisters and brothers, to set goals for the sake of our nation and its people. Our country needs us as never before.

By adapting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG)*2 which embody the aspiration of the human betterment we can make commitment to ourselves in helping to achieve the goals. The MDG set these goals because we own the problems and by direct or indirect involvement we can take actions to achieve these goals. To do this we have all the help we need and the United Nations Africa Millennium Development Goals has already declared to assist us in our struggle for lasting peace, poverty eradication and sustainable development. What we need is a strong government leadership and good polices.

We owe a lot to our people and country. We need to start to care for each other and spread the message of hope to every one we know. Let us hope that the Millennium will be a moment where we unite once and for all. It shall be a Millennium of hope, of dignity, of human rights, of freedom and democracy. Let us realize the dream. I know we can make it.

We should be thankful to all our friends who have stood by us and in good and bad times and hope their caring and loving for our country continue beyond the Millennium. History will always remember them!

*1 The Ethiopian calendar, consists of 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month of 5 or 6 days every leap year (every 4 years).

*2 The Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015 E.C.)
• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development

Source: The Millennium Development Goals in Africa

Professor Mesfin W/M

For me, a life will have meaning only if you are involved. A life without involvement is really no life at all. We become human beings when we become aware of those who are below us.

Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam
Human rights activists and founder of the first ever Ethiopian human rights organization

Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam is an internationally renowned academic and human rights defender, advocate for social justice and a champion of his people, demanding a responsible and accountable system of governance for Ethiopia.
He is one of the 37 prisoners of conscience who have been freed on July 20, 2007. He still faces a possible prison term for an incitement charge that dates back to 2001.

Source: http://www.mesfinwoldemariam.org/

H.R. 2003

What is H.R. 2003 Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007?
H.R. 2003 is a bill that deals with Freedom Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia.

What is the aim of the Bill?
The aim of H.R. 2003 in Ethiopia is to:

1. facilitate the unconditional release of ALL political prisoners of conscience.
2. institute democratic reforms and accountability.
3. help restore the democratic rights of the people.
4. strengthen human rights and civic society organizations.
5. establish permanent human rights monitoring and reporting processes.
6. increase the independence of the judiciary.
7. create and support a judicial monitoring process, with special focus on unwarranted government intervention in strictly judicial matters.
8. prosecute human rights abusers, torturers and murderers, and bring to justice the killers of 193 innocent men, women and children and those who wounded 763 others in the post-2005 election period.
9. improve election procedures and insuring fraud free elections.
10. remove press censorship and ensure full freedom of the press.
11. repeal specific restrictive press laws.
12. establish a program to strengthen private media in Ethiopia.
13. offer training programs for democratic participation.
14. limit the use of U.S. security assistance to peacekeeping and counter-terrorism and NOT against the civilian population.
15. foster economic development.
16. help establish a program to provide legal support for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.
17. provide assistance to strengthen local, regional, and national parliaments and governments, political parties, and civil society groups.
18. strengthen training for political parties in the areas of organization building and campaign management;
19. provide training for civil society groups in election monitoring.
20. promote dispute resolution by means of dialogue, negotiations and compromise, and
21. professionalize the National Election Board to help it address certain issues, e.g. issues delimitation of constituencies, voter and candidate registration, political party registration, voting irregularities and challenges, etc.,

"The one central fact about H.R. 2003 that needs to be underscored and understood by everyone is that the only time the law will apply to suspend U.S. aid to Ethiopia is if the regime fails to meet specific human rights provisions, or does not make adequate general progress in their pursuit and achievement (e.g. release of all political prisoners, establishment and operation of an independent judiciary, prosecution of human rights abusers, operation of media without censorship, establishment of an independent national elections board, free operation of human rights organizations, etc.,). The law is very lenient and accommodating. If the regime fails to comply, the President of the United States could waive application of the law completely, regardless of the human rights situation in the country, if he deems it appropriate in the national interest of the United States. In other words, the bill has built-in grace period for compliance with its provisions."

Prof. Almariam

Sources: Lies, promised joy, shimagiles, pardons and bananas

STOP the abuse!

Various news media and human rights group reporting human rights abuses in Ogaden and asking the Ethiopian government and the rebels to respect international law and take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties.

Rights Group Accuses Ethiopia of Abuses in Ogaden

Ogaden Crackdown Carries High Human Cost



We have all heard government abuses done to our brothers and sisters of Awassa, Afar, Sidamo, Gambella, etc… and we didn't do anything.

It's about time we stand against human right abuses and do something before it is too late. Maybe we don't exactly see where or how to move. Whatever is done to our brothers and sisters every abuse is worse than all the previous abuses and what is reported.
We can't and shouldn't allow for the next to happen. We need to act! We are not alone! Human rights abuse anywhere is human rights abuse everywhere.

Ex-leader apologized

Ethiopian ex-leader Gidada said he is prepared to accept personal and collective accountability for human rights violations.
"How many have died … are crippled … in prison and how many have run away to other countries because of the brutality of the government, I do not know exactly," he said. "What I can only say at the moment is I am very sorry."

Questions shower Ethiopian ex-leader


Is an apology enough to forgive?
The first step to forgiveness starts with an apology and I think the ex-leader did just that apologizing for all wrong doings during his reign. Hope others also come to their senses and follow the ex-leader and learn from it. No one is tied to being right all the time and accepting mistakes is important in learning.
This might be unusual for us, Ethiopians, to hear this kind of statements from high officials but recognizing past mistakes and making amends for them is a big step in the right directions.
Human rights are still violated in Ethiopia and this has to stop now! All actions committed not only the government but all who are part of the regime are responsible and will be held accountable for it. Until all come to their senses the the past will continue to haunt them forever.