The Ethiopian Community in the Diaspora and all friends of Ethiopia have once again are raising their voices and crying loud for help to have the legitimate leaders of the people of Ethiopia released from jail. It is incumbent upon all those international human rights defenders to come to the rescue of the Ethiopian people. It has now been over a year since immediately after the May 2005 national election well over thirty thousand opposition members including the leaders of the opposition parties were thrown into jails and concentration camps on trumped up charges. Half of these prisoners are still languishing inside barbed wires and dust floors in gross violation of their basic human rights without even formal charges in most cases.
What is sad and frustrating is the fact that the international community, UN Human Rights Commission and those Western governments, including the US, have kept silent and did nothing to curb the state sponsored violence against our people. It is true that Western governments and the European union have pressured the dictator for an investigation of the 2005 blatant massacre of peaceful demonstrators. Contrary to what the Prime Minister was saying, the report ascertained what was widely believed to have happened. The police force along with the military under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have used excessive force in which in Addis Ababa alone over 193 innocent civilians were murdered and over tens of thousands were thrown into jail. Since then, the Inquiry Commission chairman, Judge Firehiwot Samuel and another member, Ato Mitiku Teshome fearing for their lives fled the country and duly testified at the House of US representatives.
As if this is not enough the recent US Human Rights Country report, as always, have also reported the gross and consistent human rights violations by the rogue regime in Ethiopia. In its report, it has called for the immediate release of the elected leaders of the opposition, independent journalists and leaders of civic organizations from prison.
Those of us in the Diaspora, wherever we are, in all corners of the world, have made our voices heard on many occasions We have taken to the streets, appealed our cases to many governments, international organizations including to US lawmakers in our respective areas. Last year, some of us in the US have even flown many times to Washington DC to join the tens of thousands of fellow countrymen from many states to present our case and to protest the injustice and the systematic violence on our people perpetrated by the government of Meles Zenawi. Our cries seems to have fallen on deaf ears or simply shoved aside for some local political expediency.
On February 19th, after a year and half of being locked up, the popularly elected leaders of the opposition, independent journalists, prominent civil rights and civic organizations leaders will be paraded in Addis Ababa court to hear their fate from the mouthpiece of the Prime Minister. The whole world, let alone the Ethiopian people, knows that they are incarcerated on trumped up charges.
Next week, prior to the court date noted above, Ethiopians all over the world will come out in unison to appeal to all peace loving nations, international organizations, human rights activists etc. to make their last ditch effort in asking the Prime Minister and his close advisors to let all political prisoners go free. The African Union, the UN and especially the governments of Ethiopia’s neighbors have a duty and moral responsibility to intervene and help in attaining the release of the prisoners. As the saying goes, “a friend in need is a friend in deed”. The ball is now in the hands of the Prime Minister and his close advisors. They would either leave the future of the country in perpetual turmoil or release the prisoners and conduct civil negotiation with the opposition.
On February 15th, 16th and 17th The Ethiopian community and friends of Ethiopia in Seattle will join the rest of the Diaspora worldwide in protest marches and Candle Light Prayer Vigil to show our solidarity with our people back at home. We call upon all peace loving and human rights defenders to participate in these events and show their solidarity against injustice and human rights abuses. For event details please see fliers on this website.
