Ethiopian opposition activists have demanded the release of reporters and political prisoners jailed under anti-terror legislation in demonstrations.
In rare public outpours of anger, people on Sunday marched peacefully in the towns of Gondar and Dessie, chanting "freedom" and carrying pictures of jailed politicians and journalists. Government officials said there were around 1 500 protesters in total in both towns, while the activists themselves claimed the number to be as high as 20 000. "The protests were peaceful and successful," said Senegas Gidada, protest organiser and chairman of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) party. "We are unhappy about the lack of human rights and democratic freedom in Ethiopia," he added. The demonstrations follow a rally last month in the capital Addis Ababa when several thousand activists demanded the government adhere to basic human rights. The recent rallies are the largest since post-election violence in 2005 resulted in 200 people being killed and 30 000 arrested. "The cost of living is too high. We have no rights. They took away my family's property and land and gave us no compensation," said one young unemployed protester, who asked not be named, but who was speaking by telephone from Gondar. "The dogs on the street have more freedom than we do. We are here to demand freedom and we will continue to protest until the government makes fundamental changes." Dismissed But the government dismissed the protesters' calls. "The protesters are demanding the release of prisoners who have been convicted of terrorism, these are not pro-democracy protests," government spokesperson Shemeles Kemal said. "Most of these demonstrators are Islamic extremists. The government is not concerned by these demonstrations. They are meddling in religious issues and mixing them with political matters." The government had allowed the protests to go ahead despite earlier saying they had not received official permission. Protesters have said they will continue to demonstrate until the government addresses their grievances. Journalists, opposition members and religious leaders have been jailed under Ethiopia's 2009 anti-terrorism legislation, which rights groups say is used by the government to stifle peaceful dissent. Ethiopian journalist, Eskinder Nega, and UDJ vice-chairperson, Andualem Arage, were both jailed last year under the government's anti-terror legislation for treason and conspiring to commit acts of terror. Another demonstration is planned for next month. – AFP
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
The Struggle of Ethiopian Muslims and Jawar Mohammed’s Speech
by Ephrem Shaul
Jawarism exposed!
The struggle of Ethiopian Muslims for religious freedom is indeed legitimate! I am full supportive of it. It has been supported by non-Muslims given the fact that TPLF/EPRDF intervened in the religion which is part of its totalitarian nature to control every aspect of people life. It is creating dangerous resentment with its political gambling. It has been doing the same on Christians though it has not been well challenged by the Christians. So fighting for freedom is indeed legitimate.
However it should ensure that it will not aspire to take freedom of others and make it clear that it will be within the democratic framework that we all aspire to have in Ethiopia. It should without precondition declare its objective is in line with the broader goal of justice and freedom.
The question comes when religion is attempted to be intertwined with politics and aspiration to hold political power in the name of Islam. That is what Jawar Mohammed has said [watch the video] its cause to prompt and its aspiration to see. Free Islamic Oromia that will support and strengthen Islamism in the Horn of Africa. That is what we all have to fight! That is what Ethiopian Muslims fight. That is not the reason why Abubeker fought for!
I fight TPLF/EPRF’s repressive rule with clear goal to see democratic Ethiopia where Muslims and Christians live together and freely worship their God/Allah! I have the courage to denounce its repression on Ethiopian peaceful Muslims. Make no mistake I have equal courage and determination to fight the ideas of Jawarism! Jawar in his ill speech served TPLF/EPRDF divided and rule policy to repress the fight for freedom in Ethiopia! We have to be aware of it and keep our eye on the ball (fighting injustice and repression on any Ethiopian Oromo, Amhara, Gambella, Afar, Ogaden or Muslims, Christians, atheists…) and we have to equally keep an eye on the goal (what we aspire to achieve). I will be back with detail analysis of Jawarim and its religious fundamentalism.
It is indeed my call to Ethiopian Muslims brothers and sisters to denounce Jawar and unequivocally clarify their position and aspiration!
Jawarism exposed!
The struggle of Ethiopian Muslims for religious freedom is indeed legitimate! I am full supportive of it. It has been supported by non-Muslims given the fact that TPLF/EPRDF intervened in the religion which is part of its totalitarian nature to control every aspect of people life. It is creating dangerous resentment with its political gambling. It has been doing the same on Christians though it has not been well challenged by the Christians. So fighting for freedom is indeed legitimate.
The struggle of Ethiopian Muslims for religious freedom and Jawar Mohammed’s speech
The question comes when religion is attempted to be intertwined with politics and aspiration to hold political power in the name of Islam. That is what Jawar Mohammed has said [watch the video] its cause to prompt and its aspiration to see. Free Islamic Oromia that will support and strengthen Islamism in the Horn of Africa. That is what we all have to fight! That is what Ethiopian Muslims fight. That is not the reason why Abubeker fought for!
I fight TPLF/EPRF’s repressive rule with clear goal to see democratic Ethiopia where Muslims and Christians live together and freely worship their God/Allah! I have the courage to denounce its repression on Ethiopian peaceful Muslims. Make no mistake I have equal courage and determination to fight the ideas of Jawarism! Jawar in his ill speech served TPLF/EPRDF divided and rule policy to repress the fight for freedom in Ethiopia! We have to be aware of it and keep our eye on the ball (fighting injustice and repression on any Ethiopian Oromo, Amhara, Gambella, Afar, Ogaden or Muslims, Christians, atheists…) and we have to equally keep an eye on the goal (what we aspire to achieve). I will be back with detail analysis of Jawarim and its religious fundamentalism.
It is indeed my call to Ethiopian Muslims brothers and sisters to denounce Jawar and unequivocally clarify their position and aspiration!
Ethiopian Police Detain Activists Calling for Terror Law Repeal
July 16, 2013
by William Davison
(Bloomberg) Ethiopian police detained 40 opposition supporters distributing leaflets calling for the repeal of an anti-terrorism law they say has been used to stifle dissent, the Unity for Democracy and Justice party said.
The arrests in four districts of the capital, Addis Ababa, occurred yesterday as UDJ members distributed pamphlets asking people to sign a petition that also demands the release of jailed opposition members, religious leaders and journalists, the party said in an e-mailed statement.
“It is harassment,” UDJ Chairman Negasso Gidada said in a phone interview today from the capital. “There is no law that says you need permission to distribute leaflets.”
The mobile phones of government spokesman, Shimeles Kemal, and Bereket Simon, spokesman in the prime minister’s office, were switched off when called for comment. The opposition campaigners were released on bail late yesterday and the group plans to continue gathering signatories for the petition, Negasso said.
Opposition politicians and reporters have been arrested under an anti-terror law passed by Ethiopia in 2009. The U.S. and United Nations have criticized the legislation for curbing freedom of expression after the arrest of several journalists.
Online writer Eskinder Nega and Woubshet Taye, former deputy editor of the defunct Awramba Times, were convicted last year under the law for crimes including trying to incite anti-government protests and having links to terrorist organizations.
Ethiopia’s 547-member parliament has one opposition-party member.
UDJ held demonstrations on July 14 in two cities to protest the lack of democratic rights under the current government and it is planning to hold more events through September, including in Addis Ababa, Negasso said.
Its “Millions of Voices for Freedom” campaign follows a public protest in the capital last month by the opposition Blue Party that was the largest demonstration by a political party since 2005 when opposition supporters protested election results.
To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
(Bloomberg) Ethiopian police detained 40 opposition supporters distributing leaflets calling for the repeal of an anti-terrorism law they say has been used to stifle dissent, the Unity for Democracy and Justice party said.The arrests in four districts of the capital, Addis Ababa, occurred yesterday as UDJ members distributed pamphlets asking people to sign a petition that also demands the release of jailed opposition members, religious leaders and journalists, the party said in an e-mailed statement.
“It is harassment,” UDJ Chairman Negasso Gidada said in a phone interview today from the capital. “There is no law that says you need permission to distribute leaflets.”
The mobile phones of government spokesman, Shimeles Kemal, and Bereket Simon, spokesman in the prime minister’s office, were switched off when called for comment. The opposition campaigners were released on bail late yesterday and the group plans to continue gathering signatories for the petition, Negasso said.
Opposition politicians and reporters have been arrested under an anti-terror law passed by Ethiopia in 2009. The U.S. and United Nations have criticized the legislation for curbing freedom of expression after the arrest of several journalists.
Online writer Eskinder Nega and Woubshet Taye, former deputy editor of the defunct Awramba Times, were convicted last year under the law for crimes including trying to incite anti-government protests and having links to terrorist organizations.
Ethiopia’s 547-member parliament has one opposition-party member.
UDJ held demonstrations on July 14 in two cities to protest the lack of democratic rights under the current government and it is planning to hold more events through September, including in Addis Ababa, Negasso said.
Its “Millions of Voices for Freedom” campaign follows a public protest in the capital last month by the opposition Blue Party that was the largest demonstration by a political party since 2005 when opposition supporters protested election results.
To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Addis Ababa via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)