FROM MAIKELAWI TO KALITI – Bekele Jirata Tells the Plight of Oromo Political Prisoners under Zenawi’s Regime
Mr. Bekele Jirata, Former Secretary General of OFDM and Former Prisoner of Conscience under the Ethiopian regime of Meles Zenawi The following is a first-hand account of the plight of Oromo political prisoners under the Ethiopian regime of Meles Zenawi as told by Mr. Bekele…
Widespread Human Rights Abuses Reported Worldwide as UN Council Opens
Geneva13 September 2010 UN Council Goes After Human Rights Abusers The U.N. Human Rights Council began a three-week session Monday amid reports of widespread human rights violations around the world and escalating threats against human rights defenders. The new session of the rights council takes place against the backdrop of…
Western Ethiopia’s Gambella region faces risks head-on
GAMBELLA, 13 September 2010 (IRIN) – Officials in Ethiopia’s western Gambella Region have scored conflict and erratic rainfall a dead certainty this year, potentially affecting more than 150,000 people. Floods and disease outbreaks are likely too: rated four out of five (where five is certain). Far from being a cause…
Djibouti expels over 400 illegal immigrants from Somalia, Ethiopia
In the framework of fighting illegal immigration, national police undertook a large operation to expel over 400 illegal immigrants in Djibouti today on Tuesday [7 September]. Most illegal immigrants were arrested yesterday during an important campaign aimed at destroying illegal housing and other shelters built here and there in popular…
HRLHA held its 3rd annual Member’s General Meeting
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) held its 3rd annual members meeting on August 28. 2010 in Toronto. The members discussed the annual report presented by the executive Director of the Organization as well as the action plan of the next fiscal year and unanimously agreed to work…
ETHIOPIA: Pastoralism against the odds
JIJIGA, 2 September 2010 (IRIN) – Pastoralists’ disproportionate contribution to Ethiopia’s economy is belied by their marginalized status and by policy assumptions that they would be better off farming. But those who raise livestock tend to make the most of marginal land, according to experts, and are often proficient at…
A Message From the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Human Rights Day 2010: defending against discrimination Dear All, On Human Rights Day, 10 December, 2010 the focus will be on human rights defenders who act to end discrimination. The UN Human Rights office will pay tribute to human rights champions who in their daily lives find ways to ensure that…
South Sudan’s referendum should be held on time – UN envoy
August 27, 2010 (JUBA) – The United Nations remains committed to conducting of south Sudan’s forthcoming referendum on time and full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Haile Menkerios, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan said on Saturday. Haile Menkerios UN Special Representative to Sudan (UN)…
Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) Annual Activity Report 2009/ 2010
INTRODUCTION The 2009/2010 fiscal year is the time during which the volunteers of HRLHA once again proved their commitment to defending human dignity. The human rights situation in the horn in general and in Ethiopia in particular is declining every year. It is very unfortunate and frustrating that even the…
Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) Annual Activity Report 2009/ 2010
INTRODUCTION The 2009/2010 fiscal year is the time during which the volunteers of HRLHA once again proved their commitment to defending human dignity. The human rights situation in the horn in general and in Ethiopia in particular is declining every year. It is very unfortunate and frustrating that even the…
HRLHA Urgent Action No 5, 2010
Kidnapping and Disappearance in Ethiopia Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) is highly concerned about the safety of Mrs. Asha Mohammad Galmo and Mr. Milkesa Abdusalam Juhar, who were kidnapped on the 4th of August, 2010. Mrs. Asha Mohammad Galmo, age 40, and her son Milkessa Abdusalam…
Kenya: Ethiopians Jailed for Sneaking Into Region (Daily Nation)
Nairobi — Eighty Nine Ethiopians charged with being in Kenya illegally have started serving a three-month jail term after failing to raise a fine of Sh10,000 each. There was drama when the convicts broke into tears after pleading guilty. Some knelt and started chanting prayers, which they said were for…
US Special Envoy pledges support for holding referendum in January
August 22, 2010 (RENK) – Washington’s Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scot Gration pledged that his government was committed to supporting a “credible” and on schedule referendum on southern self-determination while visiting the autonomous region on Saturday. U.S. presidential special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration (Getty) Gration made the comments…
KENYA: Mohamed Barre Ali, “Our land has become a warzone”
DADACHABULLA, 20 August 2010 (IRIN) – Mohamed Barre Ali lives in Dadachabulla, in the northeastern Kenya area of Wajir South. Ali, an elder and chairman of the local peace committee, told IRIN how years of instability in neighbouring Somalia are affecting his village, about 10km from the border. “I am…
Yemen to deport 150 Ethiopian illegal immigrants
TA’IZZ, Aug. 20 (Saba) – Security Department in Ta’izz province has handed over 150 Ethiopian infiltrators to Passport and Immigration Authority in Sana’a who were detained for entry into the Yemeni lands illegally. The Immigration and Passport Authority said that they will deport the Ethiopian infiltrators who were handed over…
UN urges renewed support for relief workers on World Humanitarian Day
19 August 2010 –Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marked World Humanitarian Day today by leading a chorus of United Nations officials in lauding aid workers – including some who have paid with their lives – for their tireless efforts to help those who have lived through wars, catastrophes and other terrible events. The…
AUGUST 19 WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY
“Better acceptance of humanitarian work by state and non-state actors alike is desperately needed. The vast majority of aid workers come from the countries in which they work. Preventing them from doing their work harms no-one more than the most vulnerable. Today is a good time for a renewed commitment…
ERITREA/ETHIOPIA , Ethiopia: Beware of Those Bearing Olive Branches!
“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,” goes the old saying. I say beware of those bearing fake olive branches. In many societies, “extending an olive branch” symbolizes an act of reconciliation, goodwill and peace. In ancient Greece and Rome, people gave each other olive branches as tokens of their intention to…
Sudan expels UN and aid personnel
Sudanese authorities have expelled five workers from the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from West Darfur state, a UN official has said. Sudan has a history of tense relations with foreign aid agencies and the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission (Unamid), who are conducting the world’s largest aid operation…
U.S. special envoy heading to Sudan, Kenya
(WASHINGTON) — (ST) August 16, 2010, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration is headed to the region for a two week visit that will focus mainly on the preparations for the referendum in South Sudan that is scheduled for early next year. The U.S. State department said that…
UN chief voices concern over situation in Darfur
(KHARTOUM) — (ST) August 16, 2010, the United Nation’s secretary-general, Ban Ki Moon, has voiced concern over kidnappings of international peacekeepers as well as tension at Kalma camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), warning that these incidents have “contributed to a worsening of the situation” in the restive region of…
Somalia journalist jailed for Islamist interview
MOGADISHU Aug 15 (Reuters) – Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has jailed a journalist for interviewing a rebel leader who claims links to al Qaeda-inspired Islamist militants, local media and an international watchdog said. Armed police seized Abdifatah Jama Mire, the deputy director of Horseed FM, and six of his colleagues,…
KENYA: Call to boost disaster preparedness in marginalized north
GARBATULLA, 13 August 2010 (IRIN) – Response to disasters and emergencies in northern Kenya continues to be hampered by lack of infrastructure – airstrips, communication, health facilities and personnel – with aid workers and disaster response experts calling for more preparedness. Prepositioning more emergency supplies in “rescue centres” in key…
SOMALIA: UN EXPERT CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROTECT CIVILIANS AND PURSUE RIGHTS VIOLATORS
10 August 2010 The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari, today urged the international community to provide due attention to the protection of civilians in Somalia and ensure accountability for perpetrators of gross human rights and international humanitarian law violations. “I am deeply…
SOMALIA: Ban on aid agencies condemned
NAIROBI, 10 August 2010 (IRIN) – Government officials, aid beneficiaries and humanitarian workers in south-central Somalia have condemned a ban imposed on three aid organizations by the Islamist group, Al Shabab, which controls most of the region. “There is absolutely no excuse for this action,” Abdi Haji Gobdon, the media…
