Ethiopians in London protest against widespread human rights violations in their native country.

In a similar fashion, eight years have gone by since Professor Asrat Woldeyes,
the renowned first Ethiopian surgeon had been left in jail until his captors were sure
the condition of his heart had reached an irreparable stage and died on 14 May 1999.
Other innocent victims include Tesfaye Kumsisa, Terrefe
Qumbi, Alemante Melisew, journalists Gizachew Mengistu, Tesfaye Tadesse, Worku
Mekonnen and Abay Hailu, just to mention few. Journalist Kumsa Burayu of
Wolafen, and Bekele Mekonnen Roba of Urji disappeared without trace. It was in
May 2001, six years ago that the Woyyane security men mowed down 42 peaceful
Addis Ababan demonstrators. It is coming to two years since the Woyyane Agaazi
murdered 193 and injured 800 civilians and charged the innocent with treason and
genocide.

To mark the heroism of the victims, this year, Ethiopians in London held Ethiopian
Martyrs Week for peace, democracy and human rights from 7th to 13th May 2007 with
various events.

Ten years ago, when Ato Assefa Maru was murdered in cold blood, Ethiopians in

London vowed never to forget him year in and year out until his killers were brought

to justice. Immediately, The Ethiopian Register, Montreal Editorial office named May

8, as Ethiopian Human and Trade Union Right Martyrs Day”. Since then

Ethiopians have been documenting the names of the martyrs, carrying their pictures

on their chests and going out on the streets and remembering them.

Photos of the martyrs on display

This year, Ethiopians in London elevated “the martyrs’ day” to “Martyrs’ Week”

and decided to remember the victims through various events. The first event was a

vigil held on 08 May 2007 in front of 17 Princess Gate, ostensibly the Ethiopian

Embassy, in reality the dictatorial regime’s spy post. The vigil was
well attended by the cross -section of the community, including members of the CUD, UEDF, civic groups

and citizens. The Ethiopians demanded justice for Martyrs Assefa Maru, Professor

Asrat , Alemanten Melisew, Tesfaye Adane, Shibere Dessalegn and all others. They

renewed their vows never to forget their immortal Martyrs. They also demanded

unconditional release of Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, Eng. Hailu Shawel, Tsegaye

Debteraw, Aberash Berta, Sitotacw Hussien, Dr Berhanu Nega, Abera YemaneAb,

Engineer Gizachew, Birtukan Mideksa, Dr Hailu Araya. Dr Yakob H/Mariam, Eyoel

Muluneh, Artist Debebe Eshetu and many others. They also reminded people that

TPLF has lost the election, and therefore, it was an illegal regime, that should go.

As usual, motorists hooted their horns in solidarity with the demonstrators and the

event that started at 4:00 pm came to a conclusion at 6:00 pm with out any incident.

PUBLIC EVENT AT THE NUT HEADQUARTERS

On 13 May 2007, the National Union of Teachers, the Ethiopian Teachers’

Association Support Group and Concerned Ethiopian Civic Group hosted an event

that aimed at raising awareness of miscarriages of justice against trade and human

rights in Ethiopia.

The evening started with prayers and photographic exhibitions of Woyyane’s atrocities in June and November 2005. After the prayers, the guests were invited to have an Ethiopian traditional vegetarian buffet dinner. The guests, both Ethiopians and non-Ethiopian expressed how they enjoyed the food. After the dinner, the audience went straight to the main events.

Ms Samidha Garg

International Relations) National Union of Teachers. In her welcoming speech to

packed audience, Mrs Garg said:

“Prominent amongst the latest to face imprisonment is Professor Mesfin

Woldemariam, the founder of the Ethiopia Human Rights Council.

Professor Mesfin is an internationally renowned geography scholar and has

received many international awards for his work. At 77 years of age and in

poor health, the conditions in which he is being held, can be nothing but

damaging to his fragile health. It is important that we as union activists join

the international campaign for his freedom.”

Mrs Garg concluded her speech by saying that the event would provide an opportunity to

focus on current miscarriages of justice against trade and human rights in Ethiopia. Mrs Garg Acknowledged that the NUT had been privileged to have speakers from Ethiopia and Britain, representing a range of non governmental organisations. The NUT

applauded the tireless work of organisations, such as Amnesty International and the TUC, in grappling with the grass roots reality of those in need in Ethiopia.

Following Mrs Samidha Garg, a message from ETA executive Council have been

read by Yeneneh Wodlegabriel, a member of ETA Support Group and concerned

Ethiopians Civic Movement. In this message, the ETA General Secretary, Ato

Gemoraw Kassa enumerated crimes carried out by the regime in power against the

ETA.:

1. Identity theft (in breach of the law of land the government handpicked few

   timeserver teachers and installed a nominal teachers’ union in the same

   name, ETA)

2. Lengthy Court Litigations Followed by the Head Office Closure, Frizzing

   Bank Assets, disrupting ETA Activities. Whenever a court rules in favour of

   ETA, it remains in vain.

3. Police Occupation of ETA Premises on a number of occasions
4. Police and security agents ransacked ETA’s offices repeatedly and

   confiscated documents, research papers, office equipments particularly

   computers, fax machine, and scanners previously donated by donor

   organizations

5. Random detentions, harassments, involuntary transfers, dismissals,

   involuntary disappearances and extra judicial killings of the leadership and

   prominent activists in the association

6. The ETA General Assembly Disbanded by Government Armed Forces

   (March 30 and 29 August 2007) in Addis Ababa

7. A conference on EI Declaration on Professional Ethics supposedly to take

   place 27-30 April 2007 in Addis Ababa has been cancelled for the

   government refused to cooperate.

Ato Gemoraw thanked the international community for standing by the ETA and

requested to continue with their constant solidarity to achieve the goals the association

had set before itself.

Judge Teshale Abera

Oromiya Supreme Court. He graphically presented how justice had been twisted and

why. His approach to the problem was systematic and logically easy to follow. First

he explained the principles of the law. He revealed how the constitution had been

drafted. The best articles from all over the world including United Nations Human

Rights Convention were copied and incorporated into the Ethiopian Constitution. In

practice, however, Judge Teshale was convinced that they were merely meant to

appease the donor countries. It was implemented only when it suited the government

to prosecute opponents. From his personal account, the judges in Ethiopia were not

independent and their attempt to be one had resulted in futility. He said:

In this century EPRDF may be the only or the political institution that owns and runs a government on one side and a gigantic business organizations. It succeeded

to own and to profitably run private limited companies like Mesfin Engineering (produces part of trucks and assembles), Mesobo cement factory, Mega printing

enterprise, Guna Traing, Dinsho Trading, Wando Trading, Walta Information, Radio Fana, Mega Electronics, Mekele pharmaceutical PLC, and else the total capital of which is estimated to be more than six billion Ethiopian birr just at the time of their

establishment. Recently, some critics began to allege that these untaxed party owned companies have accumulated a total capital of 176 Billion Eth. Birr

Partial scene of the audience.

Judge Teshale Abera summed up why the regime in power is behaving that way. He

revealed that the regime is the owner of the vast portion of the economy. It is the

maker of the law, the judge, the jury and prosecutor. To carry out that it has huge

resources at its disposal. It is protecting its interest. Therefore, according to Ato

Teshale, it should not be expected to allow the independence of the judiciary system

for the obvious reasons. The Ethiopian Parliament is known to produce self

contradictory rules and reserves the right to change them overnight if need be. Ato

Teshale concluded his very revealing speech, by saying:

Generally, as things stands now, our understanding of the existing governance tells us that the ruling government is prone to take the most extreme measures to maintain its political power, and as it used to do things over the last 15 years it appears to intervene to every aspect of the people’s life and has committed itself to own virtually everything including access to wealth.

After Judge Teshale’s presentation, a message from Louise Elman, MP had been read.

Mrs Elman expressed how she was deeply disturbed by the atrocities committed

against innocent civilians and the members of the opposition parties, and immediately

raised a motion in the parliament which had been signed by 106 parliamentarians and

now is pending discussion. She expressed that her heart went with the victims and

wished their families strength. Honourable Elman reassured Ethiopians that she would

stand shoulder to shoulder with those fighting for peace, democracy and respect for

human rights and rule of law in Ethiopia, in the land of Queen of Sheba. That

statement pooled a huge applaud.

A blow-up image of Judge Wolde-Michael Meshesha

The next speaker was Judge Woldemichael Meshesha via audio link from

Amsterdam. Judge Woldemichael Meshesha stunned the audience by revealing details

of findings of the Inquiry Commissions into the June November 2005 massacre of

innocent civilians. He said:

“After establishing the facts, the Commission prepared the list of 193 innocent civilians who lost their lives, 698 innocent civilians most of are severely wounded with gun bullet, and more than 20,000 violation of human rights. Finally, the commission was to decide on the crucial issue, whether the security forces of the Ethiopian government used excessive force. Before voting on issue, every member of the Commission was required to comment on the findings. According to the procedure of voting which the

Commission adopted initially, abstention was precluded. Accordingly, the

Commission members decided eight to two(8:2) that the security forces used

excessive force.”

Judge Wodemichael Meshesha explained how the government tried to twist the arms

of the Commission to come up with an alternative report that would justify the carnage. Rather than complying, Judge Woldemichael chose to flee the country with

documentary evidences.

Due to some technical glitch there was a problem reaching Judge Firhiwot Samuel.

Instead Amnesty Internationals report on human rights violation in Ethiopia was

heard. The senior researcher of Amnesty international explained that his office had

been systematically following up every incident in Ethiopia and reporting the gross

miscarriage of justice in that country since the TPLF came to power and promised to

continue doing the same until justice is made.

Own Tudor, Head of TUC European Union and International Department sent a

solidarity message which said The TUC saluted the bravery and persistence of the

trade unionists of Ethiopia. They declared solidarity and support for their struggle for

good governance and workers’ rights. The TUC warned that their persecutors should

know that they will never go away, and TUC would always stand by comrades.

Ms. Hillary Bills

Following Owen Tudor’s solidarity message, the floor was opened for questions and discussions. Ideas were exchanged. Particularly, Ethiopians thanked the international community for their support and asked to help them stop the dictatorial regime from
continuing persecuting trade unions, human rights activists and the opposition part leaders and members.

A concluding remark was made by Mrs Hillary Bills, NUT Ex-President. Mrs Bills hailed the bravery of the ETA in the face of so many difficulties. Mrs Bills acknowledged that trade unions of the world could learn a lot from their Ethiopian colleagues how to fight for their rights in the most difficult circumstances. She added that she found that meeting was a very well attended meeting and that could prove to her and the NUT that the community of Ethiopians is fully behind the ETA in their struggle for their democratic rights.

Mrs Bills expressed NUT’s commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with

Ethiopians people, until, peace democracy and respect for trade and human rights are

respected in that great and historical country of Africa.

Judge Frehiwot Samuel

The Ethiopian Martyrs week had been concluded on 13 May 2007 by holding one
more final public meeting. The star guest speakers were Judge Firehiwot Samuel and
Judge Woldemichael Meshesha. Judge Firehiwot’s Samuel’s account of atrocities committed by the dictatorial regime shocked the audience. For example, they received information that some people were killed in prison while trying to escape. They wanted to check if the government had taken appropriate measure to prevent the jail breakers. The investigators were lead to a cell where the attempt was reported had taken place. It did not look like the victims were trying to breakout at all. The door of the prison cell was bullet ridden and the cell had been blood stained. Obviously the inmates were murdered inside their cell rather than outside attempting to escape. Otherwise, why should the door of the cell be bullet ridden and shattered?

Judge Woldemichael Meshesha kindly shared his experience throughout his career as

a judge and particularly as a Deputy Chairman and later Chairman of the Inquiry

Commission. He resisted every time the government tried to twist his arm. There had

always been attempts to force him to carryout miscarriage of justice. An example

would be the murder case the regime attempted to bring upon Dr Taye and another

case on Seye Abraha which the judge clearly explained how his female colleague and

himself resisted on upholding justice and paid dearly for that. The pressure on him to

twist the truth about the massacre of 2005 became too much to bear, gave up all his

privileges as a judge and left the country with clear evidences of miscarriage of justice

in Ethiopia which is now used as an evidence throughout the world.

The audience hailed the bravery of the judges, and passed unanimously the following

resolutions:

The audience gave the mandate to the organisers of “Martyrs Week” to follow up the

case and see steps were taken to bring the resolution into effect.

The struggle of Ethiopians for peace, democracy and human rights shall triumph.

—-
Wondimu Mekonnen is a London-based human rights activist.