Dehumanizing migrant workers in Saudi Arabia is not new

By Samuel Getachew   
As Saudi Arabia curbs its vital but "illegal" migrant population violently this week to appease high unemployment, I cannot help but reflect on my moment with such destitute citizens a few years ago. As the Kingdom announces deaths of its migrant population as a result of a stubborn and unnecessary police brutality, I cannot help but think of the memories and voices of the destitute I heard as a transit passenger in Bahrain on my way to Addis Ababa from Canada.
I was disillusioned by the experience and saddened by what goes on in the Middle East by way of cheap labor from mostly African and Asian countries. While in transit, I came across countless Ethiopian maids and laborers in distress. I witnessed many sobbing and dozens sharing their nightmares to anyone who will listen. I could not help but listen to their tales. Around the entrance of the airport, I was also told that there were countless Ethiopians begging for the most basic necessities such as food while dreaming of flying back to Ethiopia after escaping from their workplace with nothing but a miserable working experience in the Middle-East. Like almost all migrant workers everywhere including in North America, these people perform jobs that their own citizens would not dare touch. The ones I met left Ethiopia looking for a new opportunity but most experienced violence, trauma and dejection with absolutely no basic human rights.
Among the hundreds who flew back to Ethiopia with us from Bahrain, the lucky few, there literally was no one who told of a fulfilling experience working as a maid. There were hundreds of young girls sent to find work in all parts of the Arab world, including Lebanon, Bahrain and Oman and especially Saudi Arabia. They all spoke of a mutual experience that was dark, brutal and abusive. One such person was a young 16-year-old named Tigist who sat next to me for four hours on a flight back to her hometown of Adama. With the help of her employment agent, she faked her age in order to find employment in Lebanon. She was determined as she paid 10,000 Ethiopian Birr (about $550) for an agency to help her find an employment placement in Beirut for a two-year assignment. This was a hefty sum for someone from a working class background. She reflected with me how her day began at 5 AM when she was always awoken by the man of the house and was pressured to perform sexual favors. Beatings would follow when and if she refused the advances. The more she refused, the harder the beating became. Around 6 am until 1 am, seven days a week, her duty entailed cleaning the seven-room mansion, cook, iron countless clothes for the large extended family and, oftentimes, she would be asked to do cleaning for families outside the owner's mansion. As the long days became weeks and then months, the work pressure became much to bear for such a young girl with a large dream of helping her struggling family back home. Beyond taking care of her family, she also had the extra burden of repaying the loan she took in order to pay the employment placement agency that delivered her into her new nightmare. As months passed, the unending sexual advances and the pressure of the job it took its toll; she contemplated suicide as the only escape from her nightmarish life. After a two-month period that felt like a lifetime, she faked an illness so that she could be sent back home. Even though she worked for two long months, she was paid barely enough to buy her one-way ticket back to Ethiopia with a debt that is almost like a life sentence for such a young girl from a disadvantaged background. Feeling both scared for what lies ahead and happy to return to a friendly territory, I ask her what would be her future. She quickly told me that she will soon embark on a long walk to Sudan and look for opportunities to go to western countries such as the United States or Canada. The story of Tigist is no different than the experiences of thousands of Ethiopian maids in the Middle East. As horrific as Tigist's story is, she is among the lucky as she returns back home with her life still intact and her determination stronger than ever. A couple of years ago, in the neighboring Emirates, a 26-year-old hung herself, leaving a hand-written note asking her mother for her prayer. Another one was burned alive with boiling water. This week, in Saudi Arabia, we are witnessing them dying before our own eyes. According to the respected Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, "the abuse in the Middle East goes beyond just physical. We know that often girls have to perform sexual favors. But unfortunately for us, to talk about sex and sexuality in Ethiopia is taboo and to get the hard facts from girls is very difficult." In the flight to Ethiopia, I witnessed girls who were physically and emotionally paralyzed. Many shared with me the story of many of their colleagues who became victims of suspicious deaths where their death seemed suspicious yet the authorities always labeled it suicide without adequate investigations. However, all of them fail to recall anyone being held responsible for the countless of deaths of migrants in the Middle-East. As Tigist drifts away at the Bole International airport, I cannot help but wonder where she would be in the near future. Would she succeed in reaching her dream destination or will she give up along the way to entertain other options. I might never hear from her again, but her story is not unique, Tigist can be any one of countless Ethiopians who go to the Middle East only to be caught in a paradigm of nightmares and pain. In a perfect world, there would have been a safety-net to protect her well-being and that of the world's vulnerable youngest citizens. They are living a destiny while risking their own existence without any human rights protection. The dreams of Ethiopians as well as the rest of all migrant workers should never be relegated to the whims of those that seek to exploit innocent young girls and turn these hopeful immigrants into indentured servants. As Saudi Arabia becomes the latest member of the U.N. Human Rights Council seat this week, I hope the UN and its members would demand a higher standard and swift action for basic human rights and dignity for migrant workers from their colleague country. It's not just Saudi Arabia's reputation that is at stake here but the United Nations credibility to be an advocate for good, not evil, in the world. As the late Emperor Haile Selassie once remarked, "Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph." Indeed. The UN should speak up. Canada should speak out. We should all speak up and at the very least join an international protest planned for this Friday, November 15th at Toronto's City Hall starting at 6 PM.

Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia formed

ዓለምአቀፍ ትብብር ለኢትዮጵያውያን መብት በሳኡዲ አረቢያ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Global Coalition, Global Alliance for the Rights of Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia, has been formed to coordinate efforts to stop violence against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia
On Tuesday, November 12, 2013, concerned Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans held a conference to deliberate on effective strategies to respond to the recent Saudi government’s deadly crackdown on and inhuman treatment of immigrants from Ethiopia and formed a Global Alliance to coordinate efforts. The following prominent activists were elected to lead the Global Alliance:
1. Activist Abebe Gelaw
2. Activist Berhanu Damte (Abamela)
3. Activist Tamagn Beyene
Ethiopians all over the globe have been following the shocking inhumane violence committed against Ethiopian immigrants by the Saudi, Police Security Forces, and government backed youth vigilante. We have followed the events that were unfolding in Saudi Arabia with great sorrow, horror, and anger. The atrocities committed by the Saudi Police and youth backed has now reached intolerable heights. The random killings, gang rape, and severe beatings of defenseless Ethiopians underscore the urgent need for action.
At this time and age, killing unarmed civilians is an act of moral depravity. The act of Saudi Security forces and the youth vigilante against Ethiopian immigrants can simply be characterized as among one of the gravest human rights violations in the world. It is also a crime absolutely prohibited by international law, including the UN Convention against Torture.
The video reports and eye witness testimonies confirm Saudi Arabia employed an extensive use of torture and savagery. These acts affirm the need for an immediate action and condemnation by the international community. These acts of gross human and civil rights violations calls for United Nations investigation and inquiry into the full extent of the crime against humanity committed by the Saudis. Presently, Ethiopian immigrants in Saudi have been subjected to extra-judicial killings, gang rape, torture, and mass arrests. The continued killings, rape, and arrests serves as an irrefutable evidence of the Saudi government’s brutality, utter disregard for the rule of law, and humanity.
Many Ethiopians have also been expressing their anger over the Ethiopian government not only for its failure to respond to the crisis situation on a timely manner, but also for making the country hostile to its own citizens. It is a well known fact that most young Ethiopians, besides facing high rate of unemployment, are subject to some of the most serious rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, incommunicado detention, arbitrary arrest, torture, and inhumane prison conditions. As a result, each year thousands of Ethiopians flee their home country in search of a better life.
Using social media and other channels Ethiopians allover the world have launched campaigns to expose the atrocities and demand the Saudi government to immediately stop the violence against Ethiopians. A series of public meetings and street demonstrations have also been scheduled in many big cities to call upon the international community denounce these brutal acts and initiate formal investigation to bring those culprits to justice without delay.
The Global Alliance is formed in response to the call from members of the Ethiopian Diaspora, disturbed by the cruelty, inhumanity, and degrading treatment of Ethiopians in the hands of the Saudi government Security forces.
The Global Alliance, therefore, seeks to bring awareness about the savage crime committed against Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia to the international community. The Global Alliance shall employ all means at its disposal to alert the international courts, civic and human rights organizations, civil rights advocates, donor nations, individuals and groups to join in the effort to prevent yet another global crisis or genocide of Ethiopians from taking place in Saudi. The Global Alliance is sincerely concerned the events unfolding in Saudi Arabia eerily bares resemblance of the Nazis actions against the Jews prior to WW II.
This Global Alliance shall summon the support of attorneys, legal professionals, and experts in international human rights violations and work diligently to bring charges of crimes against humanity against the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia, and make an effort to assist the victims obtain justice. The Global Alliance may send fact finding mission to Saudi Arabia to gather information and detail ways of reaching for the victimized Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.
The Global Alliance calls upon all Ethiopians and members of civilized society to join us in condemning the killings, rape, and torture. We further call upon all to support our efforts to bring those responsible, for authorizing the use of cruel and inhuman treatment of Ethiopian immigrants, to be held accountable for their actions. We, also, ask all Ethiopians and human rights advocates to join the Global Alliance and provide information, share ideas and expertise as well as donate resources, in advancing the causes of saving lives and stopping the massacre of innocent Ethiopians by the Saudis.
All Lives Have Equal Value!!!
ሁሉም ህይወት እኩል ዋጋ አለው!!!
Contact information:
Telephone: (877)RING-ETHIOPIA begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (877)RING-ETHIOPIA FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting or (877)746 -4384
Email address: Alliance4rightsofethiopians.sa@gmail.com

Saudi Embassy in Stokholm denies the crimes against Ethiopians

Saudi Embassy in Sweden denies the killings, beatings and rape that is currently undergoing against Ethiopians. In its response to the letter ENTC sent, the embassy said that it is just following international laws in executing the immigration reform law in its country.
Read the email reaction below:
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: Unspeakable crimes currently underway in your country!
From: “Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Sweden”
<saudi.ambassador@telia.com>
Date: Fri, November 15, 2013 5:45 am
To: <contact@etntc.org>
Thank you for your email. The Embassy would like to clarify to you that there were no killings, rapings or beatings of Ethiopians in Riyadh. The Saudis always appreciate Ethiopian participation and there are numerous Ethiopians who are currently enjoying working in Saudi Arabia and who have never been subjected to any harm.
However, we would like to point out the following in this regard.
- The government’s intentions are to streamline their legal status in Saudi Arabia in order to ensure the adherence of their residency to the laws and regulations that organize foreign residents in Saudi Arabia.
- The aim of applying laws and regulations is to safeguard the rights and obligations of all foreign labor alike, without targeting any specific foreign labor from any country, nationality or ethnicity. Such action is in accordance with national and international agreements and rules that protect the rights and obligations of foreign labor working in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the Saudi authorities gave all illegal aliens in the country a several months deadline to correct their illegal status in the Kingdom.
- Given our historical relationship with Ethiopians which dates back to the Prophet’s Mohammed (Peace be upon Him) time, we hope to cooperate and to solve any obstacles with respect to illegal residence according to the law.
- We would like to assure you and the Ethiopian Community here in Stockholm through you that the Government of Saudi Arabia is keen at respecting national and international rules and agreements that protect foreign labor currently working in Saudi Arabia. We appreciate the valuable contribution of all foreigners including Ethiopians to the development in the Kingdom.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
Saudi Arabian Embassy
——– Original Message ——–
From: contact@etntc.org [mailto:contact@etntc.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 7:57 PM
Subject: Unspeakable crimes currently underway in your country!
To All Saudi Arabia embassies around the world,
Please read the attached letter and give it your utmost attention!
http://etntc.org/ENTC/wp/wp-content/uploads/Letter-Saudi-Embassies-Around-the-World.pdf
Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENTC)
P.O.Box 9929
Alexandria, VA 22304
Tel: 1-206-203-3375 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-206-203-3375 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Email: contact@etntc.org
Website: www.etntc.org

Egypt-Ethiopia Nile talks end on sour note

An Egyptian farmer holds a handful of soil to show the dryness of the land due to drought on a farm formerly irrigated by the Nile River, in Al-Dakahlya, June 4, 2013. (photo by REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Disputes and disagreements erupted again between Egypt and Ethiopia concerning the Nile River dam construction, after both countries failed to reach an agreement governing the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in their initial negotiating session. The attempt at dialogue quickly ended, while the crisis of trust between the two countries resurfaced as their fears that the other might appropriate the Nile’s waters became evident.

Egyptian, Ethiopian and Sudanese ministers of water resources met in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Sunday, Nov. 4, to begin the first round of negotiating sessions set to deal with the Renaissance Dam, as well as to consult with each other on the mechanisms needed to complete it, and how to implement the recommendations of an international committee of technical experts. The latter concluded its activities on May 27 after studying the effects of the dam on the water security of Egypt and Sudan.

The meetings began with an opening session, attended by Al-Monitor, in which the ministers of water resources from all three countries spoke about the prevailing spirit of cooperation and contentment, as well as the principle of mutual good will and a desire to prevent harm to others. Egypt’s minister of irrigation affirmed in a speech that Egypt would not stand against development in countries of the Nile Basin, as long as it did not adversely affect it. The Ethiopian minister countered that his country would not cause harm to any downstream countries, meaning Egypt and Sudan.
Attitudes quickly changed, however, once the closed sessions began and disagreements mounted. As a result, the meetings were suspended and a new date for negotiations was set for Dec. 8.
“We were taken aback by Ethiopia’s attempts to impose its agenda on us during the meetings, while it outright failed to recognize the international committee’s recommendations pertaining to the dam. Disagreements revolved around how to establish a committee or body through which the three countries would work to implement those recommendations,” an Egyptian diplomatic source who participated in the meetings told Al-Monitor.
“Egypt is of the opinion that it is necessary for Ethiopia to acknowledge that there are problems associated with the dam and that it will have negative effects on Egypt. Clear conditions must be set, and Ethiopia must commit to abide by and never circumvent them. This is why Egypt has insisted on the presence of international experts who would serve to validate Egypt’s position before the international community, though Ethiopia has objected to this,” added the source who requested anonymity.
Egyptian concerns about the Renaissance Dam are confined to its technical specifications, the size of the projected structure and the holding capacity of the reservoir attached to it, which might negatively affect the flow of water into Egypt and decrease the rate of electricity production at the Aswan Dam. Furthermore, Ethiopia did not submit sufficient studies concerning the dam’s safety and its ecological and social impact.
“We were surprised by Ethiopia’s rejection of our proposals during the meeting. We cannot support the dam without added proof of good intentions from the Ethiopian side. All options are open before Egypt, if Ethiopia does not acquiesce to our conditions,” another Egyptian source present at the meetings told Al-Monitor.
“We do not want to characterize the negotiations as having failed. We will give ourselves another chance to talk and better clarify everybody’s points of view,” Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Mohammed Abdel Moteleb, further told Al-Monitor.
Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Alamayo Tegno, in a statement given to Al-Monitor after the meetings, said: “The decision to build the Renaissance Dam is resolute, both by the government and the Ethiopian people. We are in complete agreement with Sudan about all the details pertaining to the completion of the dam. Egypt will certainly come to understand this and espouse our position.”
“What is currently taking place is a dispute and not a difference in opinion. We have repeatedly affirmed our intention not to harm any other country. Financing difficulties will not hinder our efforts, since the Ethiopian people are mobilized in favor of building the dam. Ethiopia has now become one of the world’s 10 fastest-developing countries,” Tegno continued.
Cairo is currently mulling taking a number of quick steps prior to the second session of negotiations scheduled for Dec. 8. In this regard, Egypt’s political leadership seemed comfortable with the matter when the Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Biblawi announced before the first session was held that the Renaissance Dam could bring prosperity to Egypt. This is in direct contrast with Egypt’s stance during negotiations.
An Egyptian diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that Cairo’s options right now revolve around maintaining international pressure and preventing foreign funding of the dam project to slow construction until an agreement can be reached with the Ethiopians. Egypt will also make public the official report prepared by the international committee of technical experts, which shows that the dam will have a negative impact if it is built according to the current planned dimensions.
“Continuing to follow the technical track in negotiations pertaining to the Renaissance Dam between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia will lead nowhere. A political agreement must be reached, and an official mechanism established by the senior leaders of all three countries, through which direct negotiations are held until each country’s positions and decisions can be clearly defined,” the source affirmed.
As the tug of war between the Egyptian and Ethiopian delegations intensified during the first negotiating session, Sudan fully and unreservedly adopted the Ethiopian position. None of the Sudanese delegation members wanted to comment about the meetings, though Sudanese Minister of Water and Energy Osama Abdallah issued a very brief news statement. In it, he said that an atmosphere of honesty and brotherhood prevailed over the meetings, while they all tried to find the best avenues to move forward. He added that they would meet again to reconsider the matter.
The door is still open to all possibilities and the upcoming negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia about the Renaissance Dam could either succeed or fail. Available information, however, seems to indicate that disagreements and a lack of confidence still prevail between the Egyptian and Ethiopian sides, with Sudan joining the latter’s camp to safeguard its interests and receive a part of the ensuing benefits. Egypt, on the other hand, has failed to clearly state whether it will participate in building the dam, despite the positive statements issued by the country’s political and diplomatic leadership in this regard.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/11/egypt-sudan-ethiopia-reconnaissance-dam-nile-talks.html##ixzz2kDtYQvSR

Let Us Co-ordinate Our NEXT Rallies More!!

by Anteneh Shiferaw

Ethiopians Mobilizing Themselves within a “Short Span of Time” around the world against “The Savage Saudi Arabian KINGDOM” is Historical! This mobilization has to continue, by all means, till the end of the Savage work of Saudi Arabian KINGDOM! For that effect, besides the different diplomatic works at different levels, the demonstration against Saudi Arabia’s Embassies has to continue in different cities and countries of the world!

As we know, The Saudi Arabian SAVAGE KINGDOM is our historical enemy that still continues to destabilize our region for centuries by collaborating with our domestic Sub Servants groups like the current TPLF!! As a result, this is a very historical moment that should not be missed out to underline the degree of what our relationship holds with such SAVAGE KINGDOM would be, in the future, after TPLF?
In the meantime, I had watched the Rallies which were held, specifically, in Washington DC and Stockholm. The huge number of participants in these demonstrations justifies how we Ethiopians are “ONE AND THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO DEFEND OUR OUTSIDE COMMON ENEMY!” What is more astonishing is that the presence of our Eritrean Brothers and Sister in our Hardest Time is paramount to address our common enemy. I hope this oneness has to continue and encouraged to a higher degree of unity against our common enemy that creates division between us! In fact, the purpose of this very short article is not to discuss anything more than the current issue of the day. i.e., the Slogans used during these Rallies/demonstrations do not real transcend (clearly) our degree of frustrations across the public!

ዋና ጠላታችን የትግሬ ነፃ አውጪ ወያኔ ነው!

ከቴዎደሮስ ሐይሌ
“ወዴት ነው የምንሄደው ለማን ነው የምንነግረው መንግስት ረስቶናል ኤንባሲው አላቃችሁም …ብሏል ነገ እኔ እህትህን ወይ ተደፍሬ ወይ ሞቼ ወይ አብጄ ነው የምታገኘኝ” አንዲት በሳውዲ ተደብቃ ያለች እህታችን ያስተላለፈችው መልዕክት [ሙሉውን ለማንበብ እዚህ ይጫኑ]

Ethiopian police crackdown on anti-Saudi Arabia protest following migrant worker attacks

By Associated Press,

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian police used force Friday to disperse hundreds of people protesting against targeted attacks on Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.
Police units blocked roads to prevent the protest at the Saudi Arabia Embassy from growing. Some two dozen people were detained. The police also forced some journalists to delete photos.
Many foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are fleeing or are under arrest amid a crackdown on the kingdom’s 9 million migrant laborers. Close to 500 Ethiopians have been repatriated. Last weekend, Saudi residents fought with Ethiopians, and video emerged of a crowd dragging an Ethiopian from his house and beating him.
The government’s spokesman, Shimelis Kemal, said Friday’s demonstration was broken up because organizers had not sought permission to hold such a protest. He also said many of the demonstrators carried anti-Arab messages that sought to “distort” strong relations between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. He declined to say how many people were arrested and expressed regret for police actions against journalists.
One protester, Asfaw Michael, who was beaten, said he didn’t understand why Ethiopia wanted to shield Saudi Arabia from the protest given the anti-Ethiopian actions inside Saudi Arabia.