Birtukan Mideksa: Outstanding Person of the Year 2009

Ethiomedia

| Updated December 31, 2009

Ethiomedia proudly announces Birtukan Midekssa as its “Outstanding Person of the Year” for 2009. This year marks the first time Ethiomedia has made such a selection since it began serving the Ethiopian community worldwide in 2002.

In selecting Birtukan Midekssa, the iconic Ethiopian political prisoner and chairperson of the Unity and Democracy Party in Ethiopia, Ethiomedia accepted the recommendations of a deliberative group of Ethiopian scholars, human rights advocates and activist and members of the independent Ethiopian media, and considered the unsolicited suggestions of many of its readers.

Birtukan Midekssa is selected as the “Outstanding Person of the Year” for her uncompromising commitment to the oneness and unity of the Ethiopian people and the integrity of its national boundaries, her vigorous defense of the rule of law, her tireless efforts to build genuine multiparty democracy in Ethiopia, her unflinching support for human rights and unwaivering support for peaceful resolution of disputes. In making this selection, Ethiomedia acknowledges Birtukan as a towering inspirational figure to Ethiopian youth, and an outstanding national leader who best personifies our pride in Ethiopia and its glorious future as a democratic society.

Birtukan Midekssa was arrested in the streets and jailed without due process of law on December 29, 2008. Over the past year, her imprisonment has brought wide international attention to the abject condition of political prisoners in Ethiopia and the massive violations of human rights that continue to take place there. Ethiomedia believes that through Birtukan’s imprisonment millions of Ethiopians have gained a renewed sense of commitment to democracy, and following her example strive for a higher level of assertiveness in the exercise of their human rights.

Ethiomedia hopes that Birtukan’s imprisonment will serve as a sober and urgent reminder for all Ethiopians committed to democracy in Ethiopia to spare no effort to seek ways and means in the new year to explore creative ways of strengthening their bonds to advance the interests of Ethiopia and its people, and forge ahead in building alliances and partnerships to build a just society and shape a prosperous future. Birtukan’s political imprisonment should serve as an example to all Ethiopians that there are more things that serve to unite us than dividing us. Birtukan though imprisoned represents our collective and abiding faith in Ethiopia and its sacred future as a free and democratic society.

Ethiomedia and the worldwide Ethiomedia family, and friends of Ethiopia congratulate Birtukan Midekssa as the Outstanding Person of the Year for 2009.