Hindessa Abdul | May 5th, 2010
Jammin’
In what seems to be a brazen move against a major donor Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr Meles Zenawi decided to jam Voice of America (VOA).
 A voice that was part of the Ethiopian airwaves for almost three decades. The PM accused VOA of “engaging in destabilizing propaganda.” It even went further as to compare the Washington DC based broadcaster to Radio Mille Collins of Rwanda of the early 1990s fame which is considered to be the voice of génocidaires.
The announcement didn’t come as surprise for the transmission was jammed as of February. But it was a pleasure hearing it from the horses own mouth.
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By Robele Ababya | May 4, 2010
To: Ladies with Cabinet-rank in the Obama Administration
Washington DC
C/o US Embassy (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
)
Entoto Street,
P.O. Box 1014
Addis Ababa
Honorable Ladies,
Chris Flaherty is on hunger strike for former Judge Birtukan Mideksa under torture in prison with her constitutional rights denied including referral to a specialist doctor
I have the audacity to write this letter on this day when Mr. Christopher P. Flaherty is on hunger strike in front of the White House, which is a symbol of the rule of law and universal human rights recognized as such by the global community upholding the fundamental values of Liberty, Freedom and pursuit of Happiness.
Mr. Flaherty is on hunger strike because he is fully convinced that Birtukan Mideksa is illegally in jail for the sole reason that she is posing a threat to the ruling regime of Ethiopia. The regime is widely believed to have rigged the election set for 23 May 2010 – a sign of even worse civil strife to come than the one seen in the aftermath of election 2005.
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By Gabe Hamda | May 6, 2010
Film producer Chris Flaherty on hunger strike (May 5, 2010)
You can support Chris Flaherty and his cause by engaging in one or more of these activities. Any contribution you can make is greatly appreciated.
1. Join Chris in the Hunger Strike
2. Stop by to see Chris and show support. You may stay as long as you are able.
3. Spread the word about the hunger strike and the cause behind it
4. Send a letter to President Obama in support the hunger strike
5. Write an editorial in your local paper in support of the hunger strike
6. Encourage the press to cover the hunger strike
7. Wear a t-shirt that symbolizes the Ethiopian Democratic Movement and Birtukan Mideska
8. Write an article about the hunger strike and publish it on the electronic media.
9. Commit your self to advance the Ethiopian democratic movement by volunteering with a pro-Ethiopian Democratic civic group or join a political party of your choice.
10. Send a thank you message to one or more of the people who are in the fore-front of advancing the Ethiopian Democratic Movement.
10 Do’s of the Hunger Strike
Do
1. Thank Chris for doing his part.
2. Smile at chris.
3. Keep your remarks to chris very brief and pleasant.
4. Ask Chris what you can do for him.
5. Express gratitude about others who are doing their part.
6. Tell others what you plan to do to support the cause.
7. Ask who is willing and able to do any specific task.
8. Publicize all the contributions that people have willingly contributed.
9. Engage in encouraging conversation about the Ethiopian Democratic Movement.
10. Feel good about your contribution and the contributions of others, whatever they are.
10 Don’ts of the Hunger Strike
Don’t
# Ask Chris how long he is going to stay on hanger strike
# Share sad stories with Chris even if it is justified.
# Engage him in lengthy talks. Remember, he is a human being and he is tired and he is hungry.
# Offer or suggest to Chris what you think he should do or what you can do for him.
# Complain and complain about others who you believe are not doing enough.
# brag about how important is what you have done
# Instruct others what to do without knowing their willingness and ability.
# publicize what others have not contributed.
# Engage in a discouraging conversation. Encouraging conversation is good for your health and good for the movement. Discouraging conversation diminishes your immune system and disheartens the activists of the movement.
# Belittle your contributions and the contributions of others, whatever they are.
Gabe Hamda
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VOA, WASHINGTON | May 4th, 2010
 US President Barack Obama has alleged that countries like China and Iran are curtailing freedom of expression by “limiting full access” to use of connective technologies like internet and cell phones.
“Last year was a bad one for the freedom of the press worldwide,” Obama said yesterday in his statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.
“While people gained greater access than ever before to information through the internet, cell phones and other forms of connective technologies, governments like China, Ethiopia, Iran, and Venezuela curtailed freedom of expression by limiting full access to and use of these technologies,” he said.
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By Yilma Bekele | May 2nd, 2010
What do you do when you first wake up in the morning? Some of us cannot move without our first cup of coffee while others require a good breakfast. How about if you went to bed without dinner? I am sure you woke up a few times hungry, you did not have a good restful sleep and it is possible your rest was disturbed by all sorts of dream and nightmare due to an empty stomach.
Food is primary. Food comes first. Without food there is no you. Without food there is no life.
Food is what is lacking in our country. Food has been lacking in our country for eternity. We are famous for not having enough food. Our name has become synonymous with hunger. When you say famine the word that comes to mind is Ethiopia.
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Genet Mersha | May 1st 2010
Exactly 23 days from today, Ethiopians would go to the polls, under the foreboding shadow of the failed and tragic May 2005 election that has left a huge political and emotional scar on Ethiopian society. Therefore, it goes without saying that this election comes with heavy baggage: preparations stained by violence and harassment, unresolved disputes from the past, profound distrust of the ruling party/government, and abounding fears. On the other side, there is lack of confidence in the divided opposition that since 2005 has made the electorate once bitten twice shy, as the saying has it. Although encouraging efforts have been made to strengthen their unity, especially within Medrek, the challenges facing UDJ are testing that hard built unity, much as unaltered habits and deft hands are at work undermine it.
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Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Washington, D.C., 29 Apr. 2010 – Voice of America announced Wednesday the start-up of a new satellite transmission of many of its Africa language broadcasts, giving the Horn of Africa broadcasts in Afan Oromo, Amharic and Tigrigna prime evening listening time on the 24-hour schedule.
Ethiopians and Eritreans with access to satellite television on Arabsat, the region`s most popular satellite, can now hear the clear and complete broadcast of daily news from our reporters on the ground, and from our international broadcasters in Washington, D.C. This audio transmission of VOA’s shortwave air shows will display as VOA Africa 24 in a list of available channels.
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CPJ, New York, April 30, 2010
In light of the Ethiopian government’s longstanding practice of jailing journalists on trumped-up criminal charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the detentions last week of two government TV journalists on allegations of misusing state property. CPJ is monitoring the legal proceedings closely.
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The Ethiopian opposition may provoke violence during the first national elections since a disputed 2005 poll ended with street riots and the jailing of politicians, the ruling party has said.
The government said in 2005 that the violence was planned to force an unconstitutional change after a vote in which both sides claimed victory. Security forces killed about 200 people on the streets and top opposition leaders were imprisoned.
The ruling party said late on Tuesday that Beyene Petros, leader of the main opposition coalition Medrek, told thousands of supporters it was possible to oust the government violently.
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By Tesfalem Tekle | April 29th, 2010
April 28, 2010 (ADDIS ABABA) — The European Union on Tuesday dispatched a first group of its election monitors throughout Ethiopia, ahead of next month’s national election.
A first phase of 90 observers unit on Tuesday left the capital, Addis Ababa, to the different regions of the country.
With a budget of eight million Euros, the EU will deploy a total of 150 monitors in Ethiopia, with 60 more observers to land in the horn of Africa’s country one week before polls open on May 23 elections. The bloc’s mission said.
The deployment comes after the Ethiopian government signed a memorandum of understanding with EU this week.
“They will observe all phases of the election from the opening of polling stations to voting, closing ad counting,” said the statement.
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