The Meeting Organized by the Shengo and My Observation

by T.Goshu

I want first of all to say that the efforts being made by the Shengo to bring different groups and genuinely concerned individuals together are truly appreciated.  And organizing meetings and conferences which are aimed at publicizing its objectives and progresses, and encouraging exchanges of ideas is a very desirable thing to do.
I am reflecting this observation and impression; because I sincerely believe that expressing our views and comments (big or small) about the political and socio-economic quagmire our country is experiencing is not only the right thing to do, but also a very desirable and important thing to do. I have a feeling that there should be for opposition political movements and civic groups as well as genuinely concerned individuals to engage in critical but constructive conversations, not the other way round. The culture of attempting to glorify one’s role by undermining the role of others should be discouraged, if not be avoided.
I was listening to Addis Dimts Radio of Abebe Belew’s general comment (10/26/13) on the atmosphere of the meeting, and his view about the way forward. I sincerely appreciate how he tried to make sense how the seemingly unhealthy perception between the Shengo and Ginbot-7 should be dealt with amicably, not mistrustfully. And he has informed us that he has invited two representatives from the two sides to his next radio program to have conversation from the perspectives of their organizations. That is the way it should be if we want to make a well-informed comments and to extend any support we may afford.
I had a chance to attend the public meeting of the “Shengo” organized by the DC Metro coordinating committee on October 20 – 2013.The meeting was scheduled to start at 2: pm. When I arrived at 3:10, there were about 15 attendants. The panelists did not arrive yet. The program started at 3:30 when the panelists arrived and were seated in their respective chairs. They were: Professor Achamyeleh Debela, Dr. Aklog Birara and Woizero Tsigie Mulugeta. There were about 35 – 40 attendants who I think were genuinely eager to listen what the organizers and the panelists had to say. I also sensed that the attendants looked interested to participant actively during the question and answer (discussion) time.  Although I felt seriously disappointed about one and half hour late start, I had to be patient hoping that the meeting would be desirably fruitful as far as the desperately needed contribution from the Shengo to the very critical struggle for political freedom, rule of law and socio-economic justice going on in our country is concerned. Now, let me proceed to my comment on the issues raised by the panelists and the discussion:
We were introduced with the panelists and the topics they presented and discussed on. The introducer stated that our country is in danger; and he underlined that the very objective of the meeting was to discuss on the issue of how we should stand together in perusing a united struggle and subsequently to bring about a common solution. Although this was and is a very common statement in any political forum, I had a sort of feeling that the presentations and the discussion would be positively interesting and inviting. Did they turn out to be the case or….? Let me continue:
Professor Achamyeleh Debela gave a brief description about the mission, objective and function of the Shengo. I strongly believe that it is the right thing to reiterate the very compelling reason that has brought the Shengo into being, and its mission to stick with and its objectives to accomplish. However, I would say that since the Shengo has already celebrated its first anniversary and the publicity of what it stands for has been conducted via various media, not to mention its web site; it would have been better just to highlight about it and take more time on the challenges and opportunities and the way forward in a much more concrete manner. My point of observation is that especially for very highly qualified persons such as   Professor Achamyeleh Debela, it should have been better to devote their time and resources on issues pivotal to the ongoing struggle and the efforts being made by the Shengo to deal with those issues. I did not have an impressive impression about assigning the Professor to go through mere description of missions, objectives and functions of the Shengo. Once again, do not get me wrong that what I am saying is that it was not necessary to highlight those missions/objectives/functions). What I am trying to say is that it sounded not productive to devote all his presentation to mere description of what the Shengo stands for and which is of course written in black and white; and any interested person can refer. Underscoring the serious challenges our country is facing, Professor Achamyeleh declared that the door is open to those who share the concerns and objectives of the Shengo. Unfortunately, he did not say anything about the need for the Shengo to take courageous initiative to knock at the doors of other groups. Yes, good intention is great; but interpreting that great intention into practical terms by going extra-mile is much greater. He did inform the meeting that two civic associations have joined the Shengo. But, he did not tell about the influence and seriousness of those groups. Yes, it is desirable to bring all those who want to play their parts. But, I sincerely believe that bringing in only the easiest ones, not those who have significant role in the process of the struggle but who may have legitimate differences of views with ours is a serious weakness.
Woizero TSegie Mulugeta’s subject of discussion was “the Participation of Women and Youth from the Perspective of the Shengo.”I have observed that she is a genuinely involved member of the leadership. I had an impression that she is with a reasonable knowledge and information about what is going on in Ethiopia. She has tried to support her argument about the plight of the Ethiopian women and youth with critical issues such as human rights violation, socio-economic quagmire, the politicization of micro- finances, environment degradation, water shortages, the rampant practice of rape and etc.  Although it may not seem important, I observed her struggling to express her thoughts in such a way that participants (audiences) could understand without struggling to have a sense of coherent flow of ideas.
The noticeable problem I observed was that Wizero Tsegie Mulugeta did not clearly demonstrated what and how the Shengo is doing in this respect (women and youth) in practical terms. She couldn’t go beyond saying that the Shengo has stood firm to provide a road map in this regard (the participation of women and youth). This was not of course different from making a very general statement. I think the audience was expecting to hear if there was any concrete step taken, if not what that road map looks like. That is why the panelists had to deal with some very critical comments and questions.

Ethiopia: Confessions of a Police State

by Alemayehu G. Mariam
The trashing of constitutional rights  
The Ethiopian Constitution guarantees, “Persons arrested have the right to remain silent. Persons arrested shall not be compelled to make confessions or admissions which could be used in evidence against them. Any evidence obtained under coercion shall not be admissible.” (Article 19(2)(5).) In reality, this guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on!
Last week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report documenting the horrors that take place in the little shop of horrors of the ruling regime in Ethiopia known as the “Federal Police Crime Investigation Sector” (the dreaded “Maekelawi (Central) Police Station”). Located in the capital Addis Ababa, Maekelawi is “the country’s most notorious police station.”
HRW’s report, “They Want a Confession” Torture and Ill-Treatment in Ethiopia’s Maekelawi Police Station”,  is based on intensive interviews of former detainees, many of whom were tortured for opposing the regime. Maekelawi is the first stop for “many of Ethiopia’s political prisoners — opposition politicians, journalists, protest organizers, alleged supporters of ethnic insurgencies, and many others after being arrested.”
Maekelawi lives up to its reputation as “third degree” central — a place “beyond wrath and tears” where “looms but the horror of the shade” to borrow from William Ernest Henley. Regime opponents, dissidents, independent journalists and others are “interrogated, and, for many, at Maekelawi they suffer all manner of abuses, including torture.” I have met some former detainees who were delivered from the “clutches” of  Maekelawi — that black pit of physical and mental suffering and citadel of false confessions. HRW’s report barely scratches the tip of the iceberg of horrors that take place at Maekelawi.
In 2011, the U.S. Department of State in its annual human rights report concluded:
Numerous credible sources confirmed in 2009 that in Maekelawi, the central police investigation headquarters in Addis Ababa, police investigators often used physical abuse to extract confessions. Citizens widely believed that such treatment remained a common practice at Maekelawi. Authorities continued to restrict access by diplomats and NGOs to Maekelawi.
A genuine Medieval torture chamber in 21^st Century Ethiopia! 
Maekelawi evokes images of Medieval torture chambers of Europe infamous for inflicting “horror, dread and despair” on their victims. According to HRW, “Police investigators at Maekelawi use coercive methods on detainees amounting to torture or other ill-treatment to extract confessions, statements, and other information from detainees.” Not unlike many Medieval European torture chambers, Maekelawi has four categories of prisoners grouped in terms of their level of cooperation and compliance with the demands of their interrogators: “Maekelawi has four primary detention blocks, each with a nickname, and the conditions differ significantly among them. Conditions are particularly harsh in the detention blocks known by detainees as ‘Chalama Bet’ (dark house in Amharic)… [where] detainees have limited access to daylight, to a toilet, and are on occasion in solitary confinement… In ‘Tawla Bet’ (wooden house) ‘access to the courtyard is restricted and the cells were infested with fleas.’ Short of release, most yearn to transfer to the block known as ‘Sheraton,’ dubbed for the international hotel, where the authorities allow greater movement and access to lawyers and relatives.” There is also “an overcrowded women’s section”.
The ruling regime in Ethiopia uses a variety of torture methods to extract information, statements and confessions from political prisoners.  “Detainees are repeatedly slapped, kicked, punched, and beaten with sticks and gun butts. Some reported being forced into painful stress positions, such as being hung by their wrists from the ceiling or being made to stand with their hands tied above their heads for several hours at a time [Medieval “strappado”], often while being beaten. Detainees also face

TPLF’s Abay Dam Scam Failed again in Los Angeles

TPLF’s Abay Dam Scam Failed again in Los Angeles (Ethiopian Review) Woyannes (members of the ruling party in Ethiopia) by nature are among the most stupid creatures in the world. Why else would they come to the Diaspora to try to collect money from the same people they have forced into exile? And they do it over and over again even though every time they try, they are met with angry Ethiopians who confront them. Recently the Woyanne thugs were humiliated and chased away in Germany. Previously, they had attempted to do the same thing in Norway, Sweden, South Africa (where Tedros Adhanom ran like an impala when Ethiopians stormed his hotel), Houston, San Diego, Melbourne, and Dallas.
Yesterday, it was Los Angles. As expected, only about 10 – 20 people showed up to give them money (which is less than what they pay for organizing the fund raising event. Outside, several angry Ethiopians also waited for them.
A protest participant sent Ethiopian Review the following photos of Woyanne supporters arriving at the fund raising event. It is to be noted that many of these individuals are in the U.S. as political refugees, and yet they support the government that they claimed in their asylum application as their abuser. Why doesn’t the USCIS look into their fraudulent asylum application?
Woyanne thug shows middle finger to the protesters