TPLF racks up $100-million/year from adoptions of Oromia/South children

This is a video from Australia’s ABC - a documentary that reveals the exploitation of helpless children and their parents under the regime of Meles Zenawi. The TPLF government racks up $100-million per year from international adoptions (which some call ‘harvesting‘) of children, mostly from the Oromia and the South States.

ABC - Since Angelina Jolie adopted her daughter Zahara in 2005, the number of Americans adopting Ethiopian children has quadrupled.

A pop-media obsession with celebrities adopting children in Africa has resulted in a queue of adopting foreigners dealing with opportunistic adoption agents in operating in a regulatory vaccuum. In Ethiopia - and beyond - its creating a heartbreaking mess.

International adoptions may seem like an ideal solution to the dreadful deprivation among the young in Ethiopia and the often impossible circumstances confronting parents trying to feed and raise their children.

The reality though, is far from ideal READ MORE.

Major Cattle Disease Eradicated in Ethiopia

By Steve Baragona
Washington, DC
16 September 2009

VOA

Rinderpest is an ancient viral disease that used to kill massive numbers of cattle in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In the late 19th century, a rinderpest epidemic wiped out an estimated 90 percent of Ethiopia's cattle and, as a result, approximately one-third of the human population died.

A vaccine developed in the 1960s eliminated the disease from much of the world. But the vaccine had to be kept cold. Researchers at Tufts University developed a heat-stable version that went into use in the 1990s...read more

Weyane’s Article 39: hidden agenda

Simply put, Weyane’s Article 39 is ye Amhara masferariya (scare tactics) and ye Oromo mataleya (deception tool) as well as ye Tegaru dibiq-tesfa (hidden agenda).

By Fayyis Oromia*

It is clear that the main promoter of Article 39 in the current Ethiopian Constitution is Weyane. The TPLF regime just did put the Article in a Constitution as a guarantee for an option to push for the independence of Tigrai in case it loses power in Finfinne palace. It was not planned to secure the right of other nations for this would be practically hindered as long as Weyane stayed in power. A very good example is the revision of the decision made by Somali Regional Parliament for self-determination in 1995, which caused the main conflict between ONLF and Weyane. Ogadenis were denied the right to self-determination, which is theoretically guaranteed as a constitutional right. Since then, the ONLF has to fight for the same self-determination, which it could have achieved in a peaceful way. This shows why the Article has no value for other oppressed nations other than for Tegarus. read more

Ethiopia rebels warn oil firms from restive Ogaden

AFP
In a statement, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) "strongly advises multinational corporations that Ogaden is a war zone"...read more

OLF as a Trinity (one and three at a time)

By Fayyis Oromia*

This short essay is just presented as a clarification for Oromo foes, who are nowadays delighting by “perceiving” a division of the Oromo liberation vanguard into “three.” For their information, OLF has got, from the very beginning, only one Kaayyoo (goal), which

Leaders of OLF factions (left to right):
Dawud Ibsa, Dhugasa Bakako and Kemal Gelchu

also at the same time can be interpreted as three Kaayyoos Kaayyoo is self-determination, the three interpretations of the Kaayyoo are: in a pocket, and it plays with the three cards based on the objective reality it is in, aka according to the “here and now” of the situations. Even though the only one

-independence without a union,
-referendum on the issue: independence without a union Vs. independence within a union, and
-independence within a union.

(Read More » » »)

Meles Zenawi: I am in the office until 2015

By ARGAW ASHINE, NMG correspondent in Addis Ababa Posted Wednesday, September 9 2009 at 10:08

In Summary

• The 54 year-old former guerrilla leader was convinced by party members to stay on.
• Ethiopia’s next general election is scheduled for June 2010.

Ethiopia Prime Minster Meles Zenawi will seek for a new five-year term, his ruling party announced on Tuesday.

Related Stories

• Foreign states in race for Ethiopia's farmland
• Lobby warns of chaos in Ethiopia

The 54 year-old former guerrilla leader, who has been in power for 18 years, was convinced by party members to stay on.

The Ethiopian People Democratic Front (EPRDF) council underlined that the Ethiopian people and his party need Mr Zenawi for one more term at the end of a two day annual gathering.

“Meles is playing a key role in transforming Ethiopia....” EPRDF said in a statement.

In recent months, EPRDF’s chairman Zenawi has said he plans to go in 2010 if his party accept his resignation.

The council extensively debated on the issue and agreed to keep Mr Zenawi in office for one until 2015.

Ethiopia’s next general election is scheduled for June 2010.

The PM has increasingly become a champion of African in international forums.

However, at home he is accused of a poor human rights record and oppression against opposition politicians and the media.

Last week, Mr Zenawi was elected to represent Africa in the climate change talks in Denmark, Copenhagen.

Daily Nation

Ethiopian court sentences six to death for massacre

ADDIS ABABA, Sept 3 (Reuters ) - An Ethiopian court has sentenced six members of the Benishangule-Gumuz community to death and another 97 to prison terms for the massacre of Oromo villagers last year, a state agency reported on Thursday.

The 103 had been charged with genocide for killings that took place in May 2008. They gunned down or speared to death 93 members of the Oromo tribe, the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported.

The two groups have for centuries lived side by side in western Ethiopia.

"The court found guilty the 103 members of the Benishangule-Gumuz after examining documents, pictures and video tape evidence presented by the prosecution and after the accused failed to exercise their right to defence," ENA said.

Those that escaped the death sentence were handed prison terms ranging between six years to life imprisonment with hard labour. (Reporting by Tsegaye Tadesse, editing by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura)
Reuters

Bulcha Demeksa: OFDM is for Ethiopia, not Oromia

Oromo Opposition leader Bulcha Demeksa said most Oromos do not want secession from Ethiopia and his party has declared its opposition to the corresponding Article 39 of the current government's constitution. He told Voice of America (VOA) that his OFDM party, various Oromo and other Ethiopian opposition groups inside the new FDD coalition have put this policy as one of their several uniting causes.

Bulcha added that Article 39 was enforced into the constitution by Meles Zenawi’s TPLF in the early 1990s without the wish of Oromo people and the political groups active during the transition period. He said Oromo people want democracy, equality and self-governance.

Bulcha said Oromo people see the secession ideology as being detrimental as it fuels more conflicts and as being impractical for Oromo people which he symbolized as being the “stem” of Ethiopia, since they are the majority in population with the most economic resources.

Bulcha said, while Oromo opposition parties are closing gaps with other opposition leaders inside FDD, his OFDM party still supports regional autonomy and ethnic federalism. His FDD-Medrek opposition organization has been the target of increasing government harassment in recent months.

The OFDM chairman and economist Bulcha has previously suggested that the OLF organization might have also dropped its secession ideology. Unlike OLF, the Eritrea-armed ONLF rebels in the Ogaden region reportedly seek secession from Ethiopia to establish "Greater Somalia."

The battle between the ONLF and the government has led to massive humanitarian crisis in all corners of the Ogaden region, comparable to the Darfur crisis, with western human rights groups blaming the Meles administration for war crimes and alleged human rights abuses.

jimmatimes.com

ETHIOPIA:Ethiopia: Thousands affected by acute watery diarrhoea

Photo: Contributor/IRIN

The use of contaminated water has contributed to an acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in Ethiopia (file photo)

ADDIS ABABA, 1 September 2009 (IRIN) - Ethiopian health authorities have dedicated three hospitals in the capital Addis Ababa to patients suffering from acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), according to a health official.

Thousands of people have been infected and 34 killed by the outbreak, says the Health Ministry. Ahmed Imano, head of public relations in the ministry, said there were fears it could escalate with the rains.

"If the people do not take extra care, the number of patients will increase and the outbreak will escalate," Ahmed told IRIN on 1 September. "The public should treat water before use."

The hospitals - Zweditu, Ras Desta and Yekatit - have set up tents to accommodate patients. So far, about 5,700 cases have been reported across the country, including 4,200 in the capital, over the past two weeks.

Some 27 died in 31 woredas (districts) outside Addis Ababa. "The fatality rate in Addis Ababa is 0.2 percent," Ahmed added. read more

Ethiopia troops enter strategic Somali town-locals

Reuters
By Mohamed Ahmed MOGADISHU, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Ethiopian troops in heavily armoured vehicles crossed into central Somalia on Saturday, witnesses said, ... read more

Captured in Oromia: An American nightmare

By: Rory Linnane /The Daily Cardinal Rory in traditional dress with her host brother after his graduation from kindergart

Daily Cardinal - Madison,WI,USA
While we were never given an official reason for our deportation, many of us believe it had to do with the ethnicity of the students we were teaching: Oromo. Every Oromo person I talked to felt that the government actively oppresses the Oromo ethnic group as a means of maintaining power. The ruling party of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, has proven it will go to great lengths to protect its power. After the 2005 national elections threatened the party’s majority in parliament, Ethiopians accused the party of intimidation at the polls and forging ballots. Hundreds were injured, killed or arrested. ...read more
www.dailycardinal.com

Ethiopian Athletes Vanish On Trip to Seek Asylum - Reports

Addis Abeba — Four athletes from Ethiopia have gone missing during a visit to Britain for an international athletics event, according to reports from UK.Addis Abeba — Four athletes from Ethiopia have gone missing during a visit to Britain for an international athletics event, according to reports from UK.

The athletes who have vanished in the UK are believed to be seeking asylum, Mirror reported yesterday. The two men and two women were among a team of 10 due to compete in a televised competition in Scotland, the report said...read more

allafrica.com

More Than 20 Killed in Fighting in Somali Capital

By Alisha Ryu Nairobi 21 August 2009

Dead bodies lay near a street in southern Mogadishu's K4 junction, 21 Aug 2009

Islamist militants in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, launched a pre-dawn raid on African Union peacekeepers Friday, triggering fierce fighting that killed more than 20 people. Meanwhile, government-led military efforts to take control of insurgent-held towns in the country's central and southwestern regions have reportedly suffered setbacks.

As Somalis prepare to observe the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, al-Shabab and Hisbul Islam rebels appeared to have made good on their vow to mark the start of Ramadan with intensified attacks against the government and the African Union mission in Mogadishu known as AMISOM. read more
Voice of America

Eritrea takes advantage over Ethiopia in war damages rulling

August 24, 2009 -- After the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission awarded Ethiopia USD 174 million and Eritrea USD 161.4 million in damages over the 1998-2000 border war on Monday, Ethiopia said it shall further study the details of the final award and measures that could be taken to ensure what is owed to Ethiopia by Eritrea is settled. The largest part of the award to Eritrea was USD 46 million for expellees’ losses of property on account of Ethiopia’s "wrongful actions". Similarly, Ethiopia was awarded USD 45 million for human suffering and lost income associated with internal displacement of persons. Following eight years' hearings, the final award of the Commission says Eritrea has to pay Ethiopia over USD 10 million. Ethiopia complained with the amount, and Eritrea said it would respect the ruling..... read more

Climate Change Meeting Will Undermine Meles Zenawi's Democracy

August 24, 2009, 10:20 am

By Roger Bate

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has always been shrewd in his courting of world leaders and deflection of his own failings. By talking tough over Somalia and terrorism he has won over many hawkish conservatives, who have been happy to gloss over his oppressive domestic record in order to have an ally in the Horn of Africa. He has done little to improve property right ownership in his country and so kept the likelihood of famine ever-present and himself in power, while managing to blame others for the poverty of his people. And now he’s hosting a meeting on climate change in order to further his Western and African credentials. Regardless of the stated aims of this meeting—to provide an African coordinated position on climate change—it is more of the same; deflection of the causes of famine and poverty and holding out a begging bowl to the West, which will be further used to undermine Ethiopian democracy. He and his African Union colleagues will once again use our largesse to suppress their masses—and all in the name of climate change. And of course Western leaders will love pressure from Africa on why they need to reduce their greenhouse emissions. Expect more of this tragic drivel in the run up to Copenhagen’s December climate jamboree.
The American

Oromian Kenenisa Makes History in Berlin

Gadaa.com Oduu - News
It's a men's 10000m race in a major championships and Kenenisa Bekele wins in a sprint finish: sounds familiar? Well actually it does, ..full report

Oromia fertile lands for sale

In Summary

• United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, China and South Korea among states seeking farms in Ethiopia.
• India leads the "land grabbing" race, with more than $2.5 billion in agricultural investment
• Currently, more than 5.2 million Ethiopians need emergency food aid

Ethiopian government has defended its plan to offer 2.7 million hectares of farmland to foreign companies despite millions of citizens who need food aid from the international community. graping O

According to Ethiopia's Agriculture Ministry officials, the country delineated around 2.7 million hectares of land, available for foreign companies from Middle East and East Asia countries.

The government will hand over 1.7 million hectares of arable land to the foreign investors before the coming harvest season.

World's top oil producing countries including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and giant economies like India, China and South Korea are queuing in Addis Ababa to start big commercial farming to feed their own people. read more

Kenya kicks out Eritrea diplomat

Kenya's Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula.
Kenya revealed on Friday that it had deported an Eritrean diplomat
“for security reasons”. Photo/FILE
A day after Mrs Clinton warned of unspecified action against the country, Eritrea dispatched Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed to Nairobi who immediately went into a meeting with Kenyan counterpart, Mr Moses Wetang’ula.Read more
Daily Nation

Canada pressured to cut foreign aid to Ethiopia

The Province
The Ogaden Human Rights Committee (OHRC), which calls itself independent, said Bashir was not a member of the ONLF and not involved in politics. ...Read more

Ethiopian government deported 15 U.S. students

By David Arnold Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 04/08/2009

The federal government of Ethiopia deported 15 American students who were teaching English in small, rural communities in eastern Hararghe region of Oromiya for several weeks.

They had been volunteering in several communities not far from the Ogaden and an off-limits region of Ethiopia where government forces are battling Ogaden National Liberation Front rebel forces. The trip was organized by Learning Enterprises International in Stanford, California. This was the third year the project had been in operation...read more

Source: VOA Horn of African News