ኦባንግ – ከዓለምአቀፍ ተቋማት ጋር እየሠራሁ ነው አሉ

የሳዑዲ ልዑል አንጋቾቻቸውን አወደሱ

November 22, 2013 

በሳዑዲ አረቢያ በኢትዮጵያውያን ላይ የደረሰውንና እየደረሰ ያለውን ፈር የለቀቀ አስነዋሪ ግፍ ዓለምአቀፍ ይዘት እንዲኖረው ለማድረግ ከሰብዓዊ መብት ተሟጋች እና ሌሎች ዓለምአቀፋዊ ድርጅቶች ጋር እየሠሩ መሆናቸውን አቶ ኦባንግ ሜቶ በተለይ ለጎልጉል፡ የድረገጽ ጋዜጣ ተናገሩ፡፡ የሳዑዲ ልዑል ሰብዓዊነት የረገፈበትንና በግፍ የተሞላ የወሮበላ ተግባር የሚፈጸምበትን አሰቃቂ ተግባር የሚከናውኑትን አንጋቾች አሞካሹ፡፡

ያለ አንዳች ልዩነት ኢትዮጵያውያን በኅብረት ድምጻቸውን በማሰማት እየተቃወሙት ያለውን ኢሰብዓዊ ተግባር አስመልክቶ በተለያዩ መንገዶች ይፋ ከሆኑት በተጨማሪ ድብቅ መረጃዎች እየተሰበሰቡ መሆናቸውን ለአዲሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ (አኢጋን) ዋና ዳይሬክተር አስታውቀዋል፡፡ ዳይሬክተሩ አቶ ኦባንግ ሜቶ የጋራ ንቅናቄው ከዓለምአቀፍ የመብት ተቋማት ጋር በቅርበት እየተሰራ ስላለው ዝርዝር ጉዳይ ግን ከሁኔታው ምስጢራዊነት አኳያ ማብራሪያ ከመስጠት ተቆጥበዋል፡፡

“አልዘገዩም” በሚል ለቀረበላቸው ጥያቄ ሲመልሱም “አኢጋን ችግር በተከሰተ ቁጥር የሚቋቋምና የሚፈርስ የዕቁብ ይዘት ያለው ድርጅት አይደለም፡፡ ወይም እሣት ሲነሳ ድምጽ እያሰማ እንደሚከንፍ የእሣት አደጋ መኪና የሚመሰል ድርጅት አይደለም” በማለት የጋራ ንቅናቄውን የተጠና አካሄድ በመጠቆም የመለሱት አቶ ኦባንግ ይህ ችግር እንደሚከሰት አስቀድሞ ማስጠንቀቂያ መስጠታቸውን ተናግረዋል፡፡

ችግሩ አስቀድሞ እንደሚከሰት ቢታወቅም ምላሽ የሚሰጥ ብቃት ያለው አካል ባለመኖሩ አንገት የሚያስደፋና ኃፍረት የሚላብስ፤ “አገር አለኝ ወይ?” የሚል ጥያቄ የሚያስነሳ በኢትዮጵያ ታሪክ ተሰምቶና ታይቶ የማይታወቅ ኃፍረት ሊደርስብን ችሏል፡፡ “ይሁን እንጂ” አሉ ኦባንግ “ይህ መራር ዜና ከተሰማበት ሰዓት ጀምሮ የጋራ ንቅናቄው የበኩሉን” ሲያደርግ መቆየቱን አመልክተዋል፡፡

“ከተለያዩ ዓለምአቀፋዊ ተቋማት፣ የሰብዓዊ መብት ተሟጋች ድርጅቶች፣ አግባብ ካላቸው መንግሥታዊ አካላትና በተለያየ ደረጃ ላይ ከሚገኙ የሳዑዲ ባለስልጣናት ጋር ተነጋግረናል” በማለት አቶ ኦባንግ ተናግረዋል፡፡ ለዓብነት ያህልም የሳዑዲ ም/ጠ/ሚ/ር እና የመከላከያ ሚ/ር፣ የውጭ ጉዳይ ሚ/ር፣ የአገር ውስጥ ጉዳይ ሚ/ር፣ የፍትሕ ሚ/ር እና ሌሎች ጉዳዩ በቀጥታ የሚመለከታቸውን የመንግሥት መ/ቤቶችን ጨምሮ በአውሮጳና በሰሜን አሜሪካ የሚገኙትን የሳዑዲ ኤምባሲዎችን እንዲሁም የተባበሩት መንግሥታት የስደተኞች ጉዳይ ኮሚሽነርን፣ የአፍሪካ የሰብዓዊ መብቶች ኮሚሽን (ACHPR)፣ ወዘተ ማነጋገራቸውንና በየደረጃውም ምላሽ ማግኘታቸውን አመልክተዋል፡፡

በመላው የመካከለኛው ምስራቅ አገራት የሚኖሩ ኢትዮጵያውያን ጉዳይ ዕረፍት የሚሰጥ እንዳልሆነ የጠቆሙት “ጥቁሩ ሰው” ሳዑዲ ካላትና ከምትከተለው “የበርህን ዝጋ ፖሊሲ” አንጻር በአካል በቦታው ላይ ከመገኘት ይልቅ አቅም ካላቸው ዓለምአቀፋዊ አካላት ጋር በአፋጣኝና በቅርበት መሥራቱ ድርጅታቸው የወሰደው አማራጭ መሆኑን ጠቁመዋል፡፡ የሎጂስቲክሱ ጉዳይ መስመር ሲይዝም የጋራ ንቅናቄው ከዚህ በፊት በየአገራቱ የሚገኙ ኢትዮጵያውያን ስደተኞች ጉዳይ ሲያስፈጽምበት የነበረውንና በውጤታማነቱ የሚታወቀውን አማራጭ እንደሚተገብር ጨምረው ገልጸዋል፡፡

ኢህአዴግ አገርን እንደሚያስተዳድር ድርጅት በዜጎቹ ላይ እየደረሰ ያለውን አስነዋሪ ተግባር ትኩረት ሰጥቶ አለመመከቱ ተቃውሞ አስነስቷል፡፡ ይህንኑ አስመልክቶ አቶ ኦባንግ ሜቶ “ወገኖቻችንን ድንበር በማሻገርና ኤጀንሲ ከፍተው ወደ አረብ አገራት ሲልኩ የነበሩት ሁሉ ሕግ ፊት ቀርበው ተገቢውን ቅጣት እንዲያገኙ የተለያዩ ተግባራት” እየተከናወኑ መሆናቸውን ተናግረዋል፡፡

ሼክ መሐመድ አላሙዲ የሠራተኛ ኃይል ወደ ሳዑዲ እንዲላክ ከኢህአዴግ ጋር በይፋ ስምምነት ማድረጋቸው የሚታወስ ነው፡፡ ኢንቨስትመንትን በተመለከተ ከሚፈልጉበት ክልል መሬት ለመውሰድ፣ ከሚፈልጉበት ባንክ ኮሪደር ገንዘብ ለመበደር ገደብ የሌላቸውና በሞቀበት ሁሉ ባለመጥፋት በጀት መድበው በሚያስተዳድሯቸው ሚዲያዎች እንዲሁም አንደበታቸውን በሙስና ላሰሯቸው ባለሥልጣናት “ኢትዮጵያዊ ነኝ” እያሉ በተገኙበት ቦታ ሁሉ ለሚዲያ ፍጆታ የሚደሰኩሩትና ግጥም የሚያስደረድሩት ሼክ መሐመድ አላሙዲ፣ “ወገኔ” የሚሉት ሕዝብ በአባታቸው አገር ወሮበሎች ሲያልቅና ሲጨፈጨፍ ዝም ማለታቸው ኢንቨስትመንቶቻቸውን ጥያቄ ውስጥ ከትቷል፡፡

አንዳንዶች እንደሚሉት ይህ አሰቃቂ ድርጊት መስመር ለቅቆ ከመውጣቱ በፊት የሳዑዲ አረቢያ ዜጎችን ከርስ እንዲሞላ በኢትዮጵያ የተቋቋመው ሳዑዲ ስታር ኩባንያ በገንዘብ እጥረት ሊዘጋ እንደሚችል መዘገቡ የሚታወስ ነው፡፡ በወቅቱ ሪፖርተር ባወጣው ዘገባ ሳዑዲ ስታር በኪሣራ ወደ መዘጋት መድረሱ የኩባንያው “ባለቤት የሆኑትን ሼክ ሙሐመድ አል አሙዲንና የሳዑዲ ዓረቢያን ስም የሚያጎድፍ ከመሆኑም ባሻገር፣ ኢትዮጵያ ውስጥ እስኪታክት የተወራለት ይህ ፕሮጀክት መና መቅረቱ ሁለቱን አካላት በሕዝቡ ዘንድ ለከፍተኛ ትችትና ወቀሳ እንደሚያጋልጣቸውም” ጠቁሞ ነበር፡፡

ልዑል ሞሐመድ ቢን ናይፍ

በአሁኑ ጊዜ “ሕገወጥ ናችሁ” በሚል ሰብዓዊነት የጎደው እርምጃ እየተወሰደባቸው ያለው የበርካታ አገራት ዜጎች በተለይም ኢትዮጵያውያን ላይ የሚፈጸመውን ሰቅጣጭ ተግባር ሕገወጦችን የማባረር “ዘመቻ” በማለት ያቃለሉት የሳዑዲው አገር ውስጥ ሚ/ር ልዑል ሞሐመድ ቢን ናይፍ ወንጀለኛ ሬንጀር ለባሾችን፣ ፖሊሶችንና ወሮበሎቹን ሸባቦች አደፋፍረዋል፡፡ “ዘመቻው ይቀጥላል … በተወሰነ ጊዜ የተገደበ አይደለም” በማለት “እስክንጨርስ እንጨርሳችኋለን” የሚመስል የማፊያ መሪ መሰል መልዕክት ለአንጋቾቻቸው አስተላልፈዋል፡፡

አብዛኛዎቹ ኢትዮጵያውያን በሕጋዊነት የሚኖሩትም ጭምር በሳዑዲ ያለው ሁኔታ አሳሳቢነት ወደፊት ችግር ውስጥ ሊከትታቸው እንደሚችል በመገመት ወደ አገራቸው መመለስ ይፈልጋሉ፡፡ በአሁኑ ወቅት ለከፍተኛ ሰቆቃ የተጋለጡት ኢትዮጵያውያን “ቤት አለን ቤታችን መልሱ” እያሉ የሰቆቃና የድረሱልን ጥሪ በሚያስተላልፉበት ወቅት ሰብዓዊነት የጎደላቸው የኢህአዴግ መሪዎች ይህ ነው የሚባል አፋጣኝ ምላሽ መስጠት አለመቻላቸው “በእርግጥ ኢትዮጵያውያን አገር አላቸው?” ብሎ የሚያስጠይቅ እንደሆነ በርካታዎች የሚጋሩት ነው፡፡

አቶ ኦባንግ በበኩላቸውም የኢትዮጵያ አየር መንገድ ለአንድ ሳምንት ሥራውን አቋርጦ እንኳን ቢሆን ስደተኞቹን ባፋጣኝ የማመላለስ ተግባር መፈጸም ይገባው ነበር በማለት ቁጭታቸውን ተናግረዋል፡፡ ዜጎች በእንደዚህ ዓይነት ሁኔታ ህይወታቸው እየተቀጠፈ “3ሺህ ዛሬ ገቡ … ድምሩ 10ሺህ ሆኗል …” የሚል የሞላ ጎደለ ቁማር ዓይነት ጨዋታ በትዊተር መጫወት የቴድሮስ አድሃኖምን ዘመነኛነት ሳይሆን ለሰውልጅ ህይወት ያላቸውን ደንታቢስነት የሚያሳይ መሆኑን ሁኔታው ያስቆጣቸው አስተያየት ሰጥተዋል፡፡ አቶ ኦባንግም “ቤቴ መልሱኝ” ብሎ ለሚለምን አንድ ዜጋ የተከፈለው ተከፍሎ ትራንፖርት በማቅረብ ክቡር ህይወትን በአስቸኳይ ለመታደግ አለመቻል ለትውልድ የሚተላለፍ የታሪክ ጠባሳ መሆኑን በአጽዕኖት ተናግረዋል፡፡

---

ማሳሰቢያ፤ በተለይ በስም ወይም በድርጅት ስም እስካልተጠቀሰ ድረስ በጎልጉል የድረገጽ ጋዜጣ^® ላይ የሚወጡት ጽሁፎች በሙሉ የጎልጉል የድረገጽ ጋዜጣ^®ንብረት ናቸው፡፡ ይህንን ጽሁፍ ለመጠቀም የሚፈልጉ ሁሉ የዚህን ጽሁፍ አስፈንጣሪ (link) ወይም የድረገጻችንን አድራሻ (http://www.goolgule.com/) አብረው መለጠፍ ከጋዜጠኛነት የሚጠበቅና ህጋዊ አሠራር መሆኑን ልናሳስብ እንወዳለን፡፡

Ethiopians protest in Aotea Square

The New Zeland Herald

Teklay Zinaw protests alongside fellow Ethiopians in New Zealand outside the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Auckland denouncing Saudi Arabian crimes against their people. Photo / Richard Robinson

About 100 Ethiopians gathered in Auckland’s Aotea Square this afternoon for a lunchtime rally to protest against Saudi Arabian “crimes” against Ethiopians.

Saudi authorities last week began a clampdown on illegal migrant workers which led to clashes in its capital, Riyadh, where at least five people have been killed.

“Ethiopians in Auckland hereby demand the immediate halt of the barbaric act in general, the killings, the gang-rape and mistreatment,” a statement distributed at the protest said.

“We are shocked by the atrocities, cruelty, killings, rape and beatings of Ethiopian immigrants by Saudi security forces and police-backed thugs called shebab.”

Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said he had information that three Ethiopian citizens had been killed in the clashes.

But Saudi authorities said three Saudis were among the dead, along with two foreign nationals.

The Auckland protest was part of rallies held worldwide against the attacks, with demonstrations in Switzerland, the UK, Norway and the US.

ሰማያዊ ፓርቲ፣ የዜጎችን ሰቆቃ እና በደል ችላ ማለት ከግፈኞች ጋር እንደመተባበበር ይቆጠራል!!

ሰማያዊ ፓርቲ በሳውዲ አረቢያ የሚገኙ ዜጎቻችን ላይ የሳውዲ መንግስት እያደረሰ ያለውን እስራት፣ ስቃይ እና ግድያ በመቃወም እና ህይወታቸው ላለፈ፣ ለተደበደቡ እንዲሁም የአካል ጉዳት ለደረሰባቸው ወገኖች ህዝቡ ሃዘኑን እንዲገልጽ በመጪው እሁድ በሚደረገው ታላቁ ሩጫ ላይ የሚሮጡ ተሳታፊዎች ጥቁር ሪቫን አድርገው እንዲሮጡ ጥሪ ማስተላለፉ የሚታወቅ ነው፡፡

ይሁን እንጂ የታላቁ ሩጫ አስተባባሪዎች ይህንን ጥሪ እንደሚቃወሙት እና በፕሮግራሙም ላይ ጥቁር ሪቫን ያሰረ ተሳታፊን እንደተሳታፊ እንደማይቆጥሩ መናገራቸው ፓርቲያችንን እጅግ አሳዝኖታል፡፡ ፓርቲያችን ይህንን ጥሪ ሲያስተላልፍ አላማው ፍጹም ፖለቲካዊ አንድምታ የሌለው ሲሆን ጥያቄውም በዜጎች ላይ የሚደርሰውን ጥቃት እና ግድያ እንዲቆም እና ፍትሃዊ እርምጃም እንዲወሰድ ለመጠየቅ ብቻ እና ብቻ እንጂ ሌላ አላማ እንደሌለው እየታወቀ የታላቁ ሩጫ አስተባባሪዎች ግን ጉዳዩ ከፖለቲካ ጋር ለማያያዝ መሞከራቸው የሚያስተዛዝብ እና ህዝባዊ ወገንተኝነታቸውን ጥያቄ ውስጥ የሚከት ነው፡፡

ስፖርት ሰላማዊ ነገር የሚሰበክበት እንዲሁም እኩይ ተግባራት የሚወገዙበት መድረክ ነው፡፡ በአለማችን ላይ በተለያዩ ጊዜያት በተከሰቱ አሰቃቂ ሰው ሰራሽ አደጋዎች በተለያዩ ስፖርታዊ ዝግጅቶች ላይ ሲወገዙ እንዲሁም ለሰለባዎች ሃዘን የመግለጽ ስነ ስርዓትና የህሊና ጸሎት ሲደረግ መመልከት የተለመደ ነው፡፡ ታዲያ በጠራራ ፀሀይ በአደባባይ እናት ልጆችዋ ፊት እንዲሁም ሴት ልጅ ቤተሰቦችዋ ፊት ስትደፈር ከማየት የዘለለ ምን እኩይ ተግባርስ ሊኖር ነው? ታዲያ ስፖርት ይህንን ካላወገዘ ምንን ሊያወግዝ ነው?
በመጨረሻም የታላቁ ሩጫ አስተባባሪዎች የፓርቲውን ጥሪ መቃወማቸው ፓርቲያችንን ያሳዘነ እና ያስቆጣ መሆኑን እየገለጽን አሁንም ፓርቲያችን በድጋሜ በዝግጅቱ ላይ ተሳታፊዎች ጥቁር ሪቫን አድርገው እንዲሮጡ እየጠየቀ ጥቁር ሪቫኖችን ማግኘት ለማትችሉ በሰማያዊ ፓርቲ ጽህፈት ቤት ተገኝታችሁ መውሰድ የምትችሉ መሆኑን እናስታውቃለን፡፡

ክብር ለዜጎቻችን ይሁን!!

In repressive Ethiopia, new ‘Blue Party’ struggles to offer a choice

With 1,000 Ethiopian laborers being sent home daily from Saudi Arabia, the opposition party is channeling popular outrage.

by William Davison, Correspondent 
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian workers walk with their luggage as they wait with their countrymen to be repatriated in Manfouha, southern Riyadh, November 11, 2013. Last week the new ‘Blue Party’ tried to organize a protest outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Addis Ababa, feeding off widespread public outcry over the treatment of Ethiopian migrants and laborers in the Saudi kingdom. Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters

Ethiopia is a definite success story in expert opinion about post-cold war Africa. The civil strife that wreaked havoc and made headlines in the 1980s has disappeared. Investments in roads, health, education, and water have improved the daily life of millions.

Yet Ethiopia’s ruling coalition seems intent on maintaining a tight grip on power until its project to transform Africa’s second-most populous nation into a middle-income country is complete.

That authoritarian control makes any opposition difficult – though of late a group called the Blue Party, made up of young Ethiopians who describe themselves as progressive, have attempted to move, if not shake, the nation’s politics in ways not seen here for a decade or more.

Last week the Blue Party tried to organize a protest outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Addis Ababa, feeding off widespread public outcry over the treatment of Ethiopian migrants and laborers in the Saudi kingdom. Some 1,000 Ethiopians a day are being deported back home and migrant clashes with police in Riyadh are hitting social media here.

Still, instead of allowing Ethiopians to demonstrate their anger, the government forcefully broke up the protest, upsetting even those normally supportive of the government.

What remains unclear is how much repression the rising educated middle class in cities is willing to ignore in the Horn of Africa regime.

Ethiopia enacted a liberal constitution in 1994 that promised a free press, autonomy for some 80 ethnic groups, and multi-party politics. Yet dissenting journalists have still been jailed, minority groups complain of oppression, and elections are uncompetitive.

In the last vote in 2010, out of 547 seats in parliament, the opposition won one.

Ethiopia has been governed by the multi-ethnic Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front since 1991, when rebel groups overthrew a military regime.

In 2005, the opposition, led by a group called the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, won 173 seats in the first competitive election. But months later some 200 people were killed by police when the opposition protested the outcome was rigged. Opposition leaders were jailed en masse.

But now there is some resurgence of opposition against the ruling (EPRDF) coalition.

The Blue Party held the first large demonstration by a political party since 2005 in July, when several thousand supporters marched in downtown Addis Ababa. They demanded the release of jailed politicians and journalists, as well as action against corruption, unemployment and inflation.

Another more established opposition group peeking its head out of the bunker is the Unity for Democracy and Justice. UDJ held a moderately successful demonstration in the capital as part of a “Million Voices for Freedom” campaign. They demanded the release of “political prisoners” and the repeal of the anti-terrorism law used to convict them.

With new voices now emerging the government is taking a two-track approach: Last month Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that multi-party democracy is constitutionally protected and that his administration wants a “constructive, progressive, opposition.”

Yet he issued a warning: If opposition parties mix with banned groups, they will be prosecuted. “Anyone who plays with the fire, then that fire will burn them,” Mr. Hailemariam said.

And there is evidence little has actually changed: Both the Blue Party and UDJ complain of harassment, with offices raided, members arrested and police arbitrarily preventing activities such as distributing leaflets.

Still, Blue Party leader Yilkal Getnet, in his thirties, believes his party will win a majority of the vote in 2015. He is counting on young people that want more freedom and want to move past the divisive ethnic politics of the past and embrace national unity. Mr. Yilkal also thinks another bleary and non-competitive election will lead to increased frustration and instability.

Merera Gudina is a leading member of the Oromo Federalist Congress. The Oromo are Ethiopia’s most populous ethnic group and frequently allege that they have remained excluded from power under EPRDF rule.

Mr. Merera has raised funds in the US but thinks the Blue Party optimism is misplaced. He digs out a cardboard box from beneath his desk at Addis Ababa University, where he is a political scientist, and shows an uncounted ballot from 2010 elections. He says that thousands of votes for the opposition were discarded by the ruling party cadres.

But Merera allows that if the ruling coalition does a fair election they may suffer a shock greater than 2005.

“If they open up they are going to lose easily in less than one month of campaigning,” he says.

There are latent frustrations brewing in the current dynamic in Ethiopia, analysts feel, where construction profits are accruing to a corrupt elite tied to the ruling party — while the cost of living for the masses rises.

“Even if they open a small window they know there’s going to be a repeat of 2005,” one senior analyst who could not be named, argues.

Merera says Ethiopia’s political stagnation is also due to divided challengers that can’t agree on a “common agenda,” a analysis detailed in book “Ethiopia: From Autocracy to Revolutionary Democracy, 1960s to 2011.”

In Ethiopia, parties only emerged after the downfall of absolute monarch Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 and they have primarily been vehicles either for rivalry between traditional ethnic elites, or among different Marxist revolutionaries. “Sectarianism, conspiracy and political intrigues have become the hallmark of the Ethiopian political parties and their leaders,” leading to public disillusion, Merera writes.

Ethnicity is a key fault-line among the nascent opposition. Oromo activists argue that in practice, the focus on national unity or universal values by the likes of the Blue Party will bring more of the exploitation that Ethiopia’s minorities historically experienced at the hands of traditional rulers.

Such inhuman and shameful treatment of Ethiopian migrants living in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States should be stopped immediately

November 22, 2013

Garbis Korajian

I am a fourth generation Ethiopian-Armenian and, like many Armenians who lived in Ethiopia, my grandparents took refuge in Ethiopia after the Armenian Genocide. Those Armenians who were fortunate enough to have escaped the Turkish atrocities and mass murders of the early 20th century repatriated to different countries around the world. Ethiopia was a country that provided unconditional support and welcomed Armenians with open arms. We lived and prospered in Ethiopia where we maintained our institutions such as our churches, schools and community centers without any interference from the Government of Ethiopia and its citizens. We were treated as brothers and sisters and lived a good life. Although I now live in Canada, I still have a lot of love for Ethiopia and the people. Therefore, I find it necessary to say a few words about the current mistreatment of Ethiopians in the Gulf States including Saudi Arabia which has been the focus of despicable mistreatment of Ethiopians. For various reasons, mostly economic, today’s young Ethiopians are traveling abroad looking for better opportunities of life through employment. For women, this is mostly domestic help and for men, it would be construction or any other job they can find. Needless to say, life for Ethiopians looking for work and to survive in these countries is not easy. On top of these hardships, the Ethiopians who are law abiding and hard working members of society are facing persecution beyond anyone’s imagination. There is no justification for such cruel behavior.

It is important to remember that one day, the citizens and its descendants from the countries that are committing such atrocities on helpless Ethiopians may very well seek refuge in Ethiopia as was done 1500 years ago. As always, what goes around always comes around. Do not forget your history vis-a-vis Ethiopia and stop mistreating our Ethiopian brothers and sisters living in your country. Start treating them with decency and respect.

Garbis Korajian

Saudi Arabia Doubles Down on Abuse (Dawit Giorgis)

Dawit Giorgis, David Andrew Weinberg
The National Interest

This past week,three Ethiopians were killed in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, as well asone foreign worker from Sudan. They died amidvigilanteviolence and reports ofpolice brutalityafter illegal immigrants in the slum of Manfouha protested against a massive campaign of deportations that the government launched this month. Asimilar demonstration was broken up in the city of Jeddah, and its organizers arrested.

Meanwhile, large groups of Ethiopians have been gathering for protests this week at Saudi diplomatic institutions across the United States, including in front of the Saudi Embassy inWashington, as well as the Kingdom’s consulates inAtlanta andLos Angeles.

What is this big controversy about?

Saudi officials claim that the Ethiopians instigated this episode by throwing stones at cars without any provocation, but a reporter for the Wall Street Journaltalked to locals who had a different view. They said “Saudi security forces had come to the neighborhood the night before to declare that all illegal African migrants had to leave… immediately. Pakistani laborers began trying to help police by catching African workers, and clashes began”.

This harsh crackdown comes as part of a longstanding Saudi effort aimed at increasing the proportion of citizens employed in productive sectors of the economy. However, it is also the result of a pervasive legacy of racism and religious discrimination experienced by African Christians in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia only abolished slavery in 1962, under heavy pressure by Washington and the UN. The best estimates suggest that the Kingdom held approximately thirty thousand slaves at the time.

But the Wahhabi religious establishment was reluctant to see the institution go. Just a decade ago, a member of Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body wascaught on tape preachingthat “slavery is a part of Islam”. He elaborated that “slavery is a part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long as there is Islam”.

In this insidious mindset—which, of course, is rejected by many Muslims—a hierarchy of races could be seen as a religious obligation. Due to what Saudi dissident Ali al-Ahmed calls a “culture of slavery” that “pervades the country,” even dark-skinned men and women who are Saudi citizens have beenblocked from positions in a range of prestigious professions.

There are an estimated nine million foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, mostly doing jobs that Saudis themselves do not want to take. And so far, the sudden crackdown is mainly just causing disruptions to Saudi Arabia’s national economy. According to a story in theSaudi Gazette, twenty thousand schools in the country are now short of janitors, and 40 percent of small construction firms have stopped operations. One observer even counted thirteen facilities for the religious ritual of washing dead bodies that had been shuttered in Jeddah because the workers responsible for this thankless task had been forced to flee.

Many illegal immigrants have wanted to go home but were unable to do so. Hundreds of Filipinos have been camping out in front of their country’s consulate in Jeddah because they needed official support to get exit visas and purchase expensive airplane tickets home.

Saudi Arabia’s kefala labor systemfacilitates human rights abuses, “sometimes amounting to slavery-like conditions.” The system gives companies enormous power over their foreign employees, including the ability to block employees from flying home if they are unhappy with their work conditions. That is why such rights groups and theEconomisthave called on Riyadh to abolish the kefala system.

Overlaid with this system of discrimination and exploitation is Saudi Arabia’s chauvinistic repression of Christian residents. Many African workers in the country are Christians, but absolutely no churches are officially allowed. As recently as this April, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Muftideclared that all churches in the Arabian Peninsula must be destroyed.

In February, Saudi Arabia’s religious policeraided a private religious gathering of fifty-three Ethiopian Christians, shutting down their prayer group and making mass arrests. Just half a year earlier, authorities deported thirty-five others for participating in a similar Ethiopian prayer group. And in 1997 two foreign workers werebeheaded for conducting Bible study meetings and prayer groups in prison.

But no aspect of these abuses is more chilling than the examples of bodily harm experienced by some foreign workers in the Kingdom. Many of the individuals returning to Ethiopia have scars or fresh woundsfrom beatings by employers or police, and one man claims the officer who beat himeven stole the shoes from off of his feet. According to theUAE paperEmirates 24/7, “scores of Asian and African domestic workers have been reported to have committed a suicide in Saudi Arabia over the past years because of mistreatment and other factors”. Chillingimages keep surfacing on the web of Ethiopian maids who were so desperate with their circumstances in Saudi Arabia that they hanged themselves.

Over the years,numerousvideoshavesurfacedshowing angry, entitled Saudis beating and verbally abusing foreign workers—although to their credit,many Saudi citizens called out for a criminal investigation in one recent case. Astudy by the Committee on Filipinos Overseas found that 70 percent of Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia reported instances of physical or psychological abuse.

Ethiopia’s ambassador to Riyadh, who obviously wishes to maintain good relations with his Saudi hosts, actuallyclaimed that twenty-three thousand of his countrymen “handed themselves in” after Manfouha. They are beingdeported in large numbers at this very moment.

How bad must it become for economic migrants when suddenly tens of thousands of them are allegedly begging for a way out? And at what point does the international community have a responsibility to say loudly and emphatically enough is enough?

Dawit Giorgis is a Visiting Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former senior official in the Government of Ethiopia. David Andrew Weinberg is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation

Immediate Campaign to solicit support from members of the Congressional Black Caucus

Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia was formed to coordinate efforts to stop violence against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia. Since its inception, the Global Alliance has defined its mission and scope, formed various subcommittees and started to take practical actions.

The purpose of this campaign is to solicit support from the Congressional Black Caucus Members of the US Congress.  The Congressional Black Caucus is being asked for assistance because there is a racist basis for targeting Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia. Migrant workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Pakistan etc. have not been subjected to the kind of atrocities and abuses that Ethiopians have faced.

As part of all around effort undertaken by the Global Alliance to aliviate the suffering of our compatriots in Saudi Arabia,   We call upon Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans  in the US, to call the following members the congressional black caucus and request them to do the following:

1. To call the Saudi Ambassador and demand explanation about the atrocities committed against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia;
2. Facilitate conditions so that the victims could be visited by humanitarian organizations and get immediate care that they deserve;
3. Release statements condemning the inhuman act of the Saudi government.

Name	Congressional District	DC Telephone	Name	Congressional District	DC Telephone
Karen Bass	CA- 37	202 225-7084	Hakeem Jeffries	NY-08	202-225-5936
Joyce Beatty	OH- 03	202-225-4324	Bernice Johnson	TX-30	202-225-8885
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.	GA-02	202-225-3631	Hank Johnson	GA-04	202-225-1605
Corrine Brown	FL-05	202- 225-0123	Robin Kelly	IL-02	202-225-0773
G.K. Butterfield	NC-01	202-225-3101	Barbara Lee	CA-13	202-225-2661
André Carson	IN-07	202-225-4011	John Lewis	GA-05	202-225-3801
Donna M. Christensen	VI	202- 225-1790	Gregory W. Meeks	NY-06	202-225-3461
Yvette D. Clarke	NY-09	202- 225-6231	Gwen Moore	WI-04	202-225-4572
Wm. Lacy Clay	MO-01	202-225-2406	Eleanor Holmes Norton	DC	202-225-8050
Emanuel Cleaver	II 05	202- 225-4535	Donald M. Payne, Jr.	NJ-10	202-225-3436
James E. Clyburn	SC-06	202-225-3315	Charles B. Rangel	NY-13	202-225-4365
John Conyers, Jr.	MI-13	202-225-5126	Cedric Richmond	LA-02	202-225-6636
Elijah E. Cummings	MD-07	202- 225-4741	Bobby L. Rush	IL-01	202-225-4372
Danny K. Davis	IL-07	202- 225-5006	David Scott	GA-13	202-225-2939
Donna F. Edwards	MD-04	202-225-8699	Robert C. “Bobby” Scott	VA-03	202-225-8351
Keith Ellison	MN-05	202-225-4755	Terri A. Sewell	AL-07	202-225-2665
Chaka Fattah	PA-02	202-225-4001	Bennie Thompson	MS-02	202-225-5876
Marcia L. Fudge	OH-11	202-225-7032	Marc Veasey	TX-33	202-225-9897
Al Green	TX-09	202-225-7508	Maxine Waters	CA-43	202-225-2201
Alcee L. Hastings	FL-20	202-225-1313	Mel Watt ()	NC-12	202-225-1510
Steven Horsford	NV-04	202-225-9894	Frederica Wilson	FL-24	202-225-4506
Sheila Jackson Lee	TX-18	202-225-3816

Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia

Telephone: (877)RING-ETHIOPIA or (877)746 -4384
Email address: Alliance4rightsofethiopians.sa@gmail.com