Federalism or internal colonialism — the Ethiopian situation

By Yilma Bekele

The tragic reality of today is reflected in the true plight of our spiritual existence. We are spineless and cannot stand straight.” — Ai Weiwei, Chinese dissident…..

Aljezzera Report that Ethiopian Mejilis Received Around 280 Million Ethiopian Birr for launching Ahbashizim.

Muslims accused the Government of Ethiopia Addis Ababa being responsible for the ongoing unrest there, by encouraging a group known as the Ethiopians, “Association of Islamic Charitable Projects” and promote the ideas described Bagma center of the Muslims of Ethiopia, but the government denies the charges altogether. 

Ethiopia: Exiled Journalist Convicted of Terrorism

Ethiopia is apropos an increasingly odious state, generally in a area of media and telecommunication.

Europe was reminded of this when news recently pennyless that publisher Fassil Yenealem, who is banished in a Netherlands, was convicted of terrorism in Addis Ababa. RNW spoke with a 39-year-old Ethiopian during a small, self-built studio in Amsterdam where he presents his unchanging Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) news show.

Ethiopia’s Rulers Kangaroo Court Finds 24 guilty of Fabricated Charges of Terrorism

June 27, 2012

Twenty-four Ethiopians, including a leading opposition figure and a prominent journalist, faced life in prison Wednesday after a kangaroo court found them guilty on fabricated charges of terrorism.

“Guilty as charged,” Endeshaw Adane ( a cadre who serves Zenawi’s regime to conduct fake justice) said, referring to journalist Eskinder Nega, opposition member Andualem Arage and 22 others accused of links to US-based group Ginbot 7, labeled a terrorist group under Zenawi’s law, and other outlawed groups. Neither Journalist Eskinder Nega nor Andualem Aragae and other opposition figures accused of fabricated charges were members of Ginbot 7.

Ethiopia: Journalists Living in Fear of the ‘Terror’ Law

June 21, 2012

 In nation after nation, journalists are attempting to inform their people of their rights and encourage them to hold their governments accountable. For this, many of them are being held accountable in the most draconian of ways.

In Zimbabwe, for example, Robert Mugabe’s regime has long attempted to conceal the repression of its people. Journalists have fought back and continue to expose hidden realities, despite facing the prospect of jail as a consequence.

Most recently, this has been happening in Ethiopia, where Eskinder Nega, a journalist I visited seven years ago in Kalati Prison, along with his pregnant wife, Serkalem Fasil (who gave birth in prison), is back in jail now on charges of terrorism. What appears to have been his crime is that he continues to tell, if not yell, truth to power – although the government is actually prosecuting him for what they say is his membership in a terrorist network that advocates violence. As ‘proof’ at his trial, they showed a video in which he questioned whether an Arab Spring-type uprising could ever happen in Ethiopia.

IPI World Press Freedom Heroes Condemn Imprisonment of Ethiopian Journalist …

April 26, 2012

Eskinder Nega, an online writer and critic of the current Ethiopian government, was arrested in September 2011 and is accused of supporting terrorism, for which he could face the death penalty if convicted. He was jailed shortly after having criticized the government’s use of anti-terrorism laws to jail other journalists and opposition figures. This is hardly Eskinder’s first brush with the authorites – he and his wife, also a journalist, were jailed for 17 months on treason charges in the aftermath of the disputed 2005 elections. Their son was born in prison. Since then, Eskinder has been banned from journalism but has continued to speak out and write.

Top PEN Prize to Honor Eskinder Nega, Jailed Ethiopian Journalist and Blogger

April 15, 2012

Ethiopia: Top PEN Prize to Honor Eskinder Nega, Jailed Ethiopian Journalist and Blogger

Source: PEN

PEN American Center today named Eskinder Nega, a journalist and dissident blogger in Ethiopia, as the recipient of its 2012 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. Nega, a leading advocate for press freedom and freedom of expression in Ethiopia, was arrested on September 14, 2011, and is currently being tried under the country’s sweeping anti-terror legislation, which criminalizes any reporting deemed to “encourage” or “provide moral support” to groups and causes which the government considers to be “terrorist.” He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Ethiopian Terrorism Trial Hears Journalist Defendant

march 29/2012

A anarchist Ethiopian publisher on hearing for terrorism has definitely denied a charges and warned a justice that story would decider a verdict.

A three-judge row listened Wednesday as publisher Eskinder Nega described himself as a restrained of demur and deserted accusations that he had conspired to overpower a supervision by violence.