Ethiopia News http://www.topix.com/world/ethiopia http://www.topix.com/rss/world/ethiopia.xml News on Ethiopia continually updated from thousands of sources around the net. en-us Copyright 2008, Topix Topix http://www.topix.com/ http://www.topix.com/pics/topix_homepage_logo2.png UDJ signatures being collected across country http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/udj-signatures-being-collected-across-country?fromrss=1

Knasso press release

The CUDP has been an organization with visions and principles which attracted tens of millions of Ethiopians from all regions, religions, ethnic groups, classes and genders. Its legal, peaceful, ethiopiawi (Ethiopian) and civil politics has unmasked the ruling party inner undemocratic behaviors and showed how shallow the power base of the latter has been. The ruling party, nervous about the new democratic movement of the people and determined to kill the spirit of freedom and democracy, unleashed its drastic measures against the CUDP by incarcerating its leaders for more than 20 months, closing its offices, detaining thousands of its supporters, and illegally awarding the CUDP name and election symbols to others.
However, in spite of heavy onslaughts against it, the CUDP showed its strength and resilience. It reinvigorated itself and came out as a more matured, experienced, strong, broad based and effective organization. It renamed itself Unity for Democracy and Justice, selecting from more than 125 suggestions received from supporters. To collect signatures and strengthen the party structures in all weredas (districts) and zones (groups of districts), It dispatched more than 70 high level officials consisting of executive members, members of the council, member of parliaments et others of UDJ, all over Ethiopia .
The National Board requires 1500 signatures from 4 regions to register an organization. Nearly 400% of the required signatures (5800), 1292 from Southern Region, 1924 from Addis Ababa, 1248 from Amhara region, and 1109 from Oromia region and 280 From Afar regions were collected.
The reactions of the people, from Durame to Basketo, from Dessie to Metema, from Assebe Teferi to Metu from Ambo to Jimma from Danguela to Jinka it have been phenomenal and very encouraging. It shows the grass root popular base the UDJ has, and the great commitment and desire of Ethiopians to see a democratic, peaceful, united Ethiopia where the law rules and where its citizens are respected regardless of their religions, ethnic groups, classes or gender.]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:55:24 GMT 080409TULBMK 0 Forest Incineration and Genocidal Practices in Zenawi Neo-Nazi Ethiopia http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/forest-incineration-and-genocidal-practices-in-zenawi-neo-nazi-ethiopia?fromrss=1 "An estimated 88, 000 people in affected woredas [districts] in Borana zone require emergency assistance from government, humanitarian partners and UN agencies."

Tigray regime of forest incineration must get immediately eliminated, as Threat against the Mankind. via Buzzle.com

]]> Buzzle.com Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:48:45 GMT 080408UJ5BNV 0 AFRICA: Soaring food and fuel prices may hurt growth http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/africa-soaring-food-and-fuel-prices-may-hurt-growth?fromrss=1 "While our current economic development is encouraging, worsening inflation has created a difficult situation for the low-income urban dwellers."

AFRICA: Soaring food and fuel prices may hurt growth ADDIS ABABA, 7 April 2008 - Tayech Ali arrived half an hour before the grain distribution centre in Gojam Berenda, in the capital, Addis Ababa, opened, but ... via IRIN News

]]> IRIN News Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:04:01 GMT 080408UITL50 0 India turns its eyes on Africa for energy needs; summit on April 8-9 http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/india-turns-its-eyes-on-africa-for-energy-needs-summit-on-april-8-9?fromrss=1 As many as 15 heads of African Government including South African President Thabo Mbeki, Congo's President Joseph Kabila, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Uganda's President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will ... via News Behind The News

]]> News Behind The News Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:52:58 GMT 080407GITURU 0 Sars collects R572bn from taxpayers http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/sars-collects-r572bn-from-taxpayers?fromrss=1 "It's a happy story, and I think as South Africans we must feel proud of our achievements over the past fiscal year. Commenting on the figures, Sars said "strong growth"

By Carol Hills The SA Revenue Service exceeded its targeted tax revenue by collecting R571,8-billion in the 2007/08 financial year, which ended on Monday, according to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. via The Mercury

]]> The Mercury Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:39:08 GMT 0804063J4FG4 0 Africa: Investments in Agriculture Key to Reducing Poverty - UN Official http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/africa-investments-in-agriculture-key-to-reducing-poverty-un-official?fromrss=1 "The escalation of social unrest we have seen in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal may become commonplace in other African countries"

A senior United Nations official has called for greater investments in agriculture and rural development to boost economic growth and reduce poverty in Africa, both of which are critical to achieving the global ... via AllAfrica.com

]]> AllAfrica.com Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:53:35 GMT 080406IKJBOH 0 A fine, if painful 'Walk to Beautiful" http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/a-fine-if-painful-walk-to-beautiful?fromrss=1 This moving documentary charts the plight of rural Ethiopian women - just girls, really, in many cases - who suffer incontinence from obstructed childbirth injuries. via Inside Bay Area

]]> Inside Bay Area Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:43:34 GMT 080405U9DKH7 0 Ethiopia And The United States: A loveless liaison http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/ethiopia-and-the-united-states-a-loveless-liaison?fromrss=1 "Control is what this government is all about."

THE alliance between the United States and Ethiopia was born of pragmatism. In another time, they might have been enemies. via Harowo.com

]]> Harowo.com Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:07:59 GMT 080405CEE8CB 0 "Telemedicine" links Africans to Indian expertise http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/telemedicine-links-africans-to-indian-expertise?fromrss=1 "By using telemedicine, a country like Ethiopia, a Third World country with a problem with funding and manpower, can benefit greatly"

Troubled by a difficult case, doctor Asfaw Atnafu decides to seek advice. He walks into a consulting room at Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa and greets a doctor at the Care Hospital in the ... via Reuters RSS Reuters.com

]]> Reuters RSS Reuters.com Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:40:34 GMT 080404TP93CD 0 African peacekeepers called to tame Somalia http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/04/african-peacekeepers-called-to-tame-somalia?fromrss=1 "As long as it is contained anarchy, Somalia is not such a problem for Ethiopia."

By Andrew Cawthorne Nairobi - Many international diplomats are touting an African peacekeeping force as the answer to Somalia's myriad problems and a way to get Ethiopian troops out. via The Mercury

]]> The Mercury Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:14:33 GMT 080402H0TLF0 1 Freedom for Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/freedom-for-ethiopian-anti-poverty-campaigners?fromrss=1 CIVICUS & GCAP Press Release

28 March 2008 - After a long two years and five months in prison, the two Ethiopian anti-poverty campaigners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie were released from prison this afternoon.
"We are thrilled that Daniel and Netsanet have finally been released from prison. It has been a long wait for them and their families, but finally freedom and justice is theirs. The release is a testament to Daniel and Netsanet's contributions to human rights and poverty eradication in Ethiopia, Africa and around the world, and is a vindication of civil society efforts to confront injustice." said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), speaking from outside Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa upon their release.
Daniel and Netsanet, both coordinators of GCAP in Ethiopia, were today released following recent negotiations. While they were acquitted on treason related charges in December 2007, they were found guilty on the lesser charge of "provocation and preparing incitement" and sentenced to two and a half years in prison. If they had served the full sentence, they would have been released in early May 2008.
"It is indeed a wonderful moment for civil society in Ethiopia. Two of the country's most courageous defenders of human rights and social justice are once again free. Today, their release is being celebrated in the over 100 country coalitions of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and CIVICUS members in more than 120 countries," said Irfan Mufti, Campaign Manager of GCAP.
Daniel and Netsanet were the last two remaining detained in the high profile treason trial that originally charged 131 journalists, politicians and civil society leaders on a range of charges from genocide to treason. They were among thousands who were detained following protests accusing the government of rigging the 15 May 2005 parliamentary elections. Aside from their work with GCAP, Daniel is also head of the policy department at ActionAid International Ethiopia. Netsanet is also the founder of local human rights group Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia.
Daniel and Netsanet were instrumental in coordinating legitimate election monitoring activities by local civil society organisations during the May 2005 election.]]> Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:36:51 GMT 080329HFL28T 0 Personalizing State Power in Ethiopia http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/personalizing-state-power-in-ethiopia?fromrss=1 Throughout the 1990s, the international donor community supported Ethiopia as a country that embarked on a democratic path almost after 2 decades of socialist military rule. via OromiaTimes

]]> OromiaTimes Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:52:22 GMT 080327K83VBT 0 The Ogaden - forgotten war draining forgotten people http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/the-ogaden-forgotten-war-draining-forgotten-people?fromrss=1 "There are strong reasons to believe such a catastrophe could occur in the next few months if all the necessary action to avert it is not taken"

Fears of famine are rising in Ethiopia's troubled and barren eastern badlands. - Photo: AP A child clings to its mother's beads in this file picture of a famine-hit Ethiopian village. via The Hindu

]]> The Hindu Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:17:40 GMT 080325CLUC4B 0 Comoros Says Rebel Capital Captured -AP http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/comoros-says-rebel-capital-captured-ap?fromrss=1 The Comoros government captured the capital of the rebel-held island of Anjouan on Tuesday, just hours after an African Union-backed military operation got under way to oust a renegade colonel who took power in ... via Guardian Unlimited

]]> Guardian Unlimited Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:51:12 GMT 08032573E68O 0 Eritrea Works to Lure Business Back to War-battered Port. http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/eritrea-works-to-lure-business-back-to-war-battered-port?fromrss=1 "We believe it can be an engine to transform Eritrea's economy"

It's been a long time since the old bank in Eritrea's main Red Sea port had a customer. via Harowo.com

]]> Harowo.com Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:34:59 GMT 080324PDJ55C 0 Ethiopia: India, Africa On Projects Worth $10 Billion http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/ethiopia-india-africa-on-projects-worth-10-billion?fromrss=1 The 4th CII-Exim Bank India-Africa Project Partnership 2008 which was held in India ended on Thursday, the Indain embassy in Addis Ababa said on Friday. via AllAfrica.com

]]> AllAfrica.com Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:28:25 GMT 0803244RAVPN 0 Ethiopia's price hikes 'normal' http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/ethiopias-price-hikes-normal?fromrss=1 More income for farmers means higher prices in shops A UN report says that contrary to popular perceptions inside Ethiopia, greedy traders and speculators are not to blame for recent price rises. via BBC

]]> BBC Sun, 23 Mar 2008 09:18:08 GMT 080323H1GDVU 1 ETHIOPIA: Lifting of grain tax may ease food burden for urban poor http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/ethiopia-lifting-of-grain-tax-may-ease-food-burden-for-urban-poor?fromrss=1 "Direct subsidies have included government expenditure to stabilise fuel prices and provide wheat for low-income populations"

The Ethiopian government's decision to remove some taxes on grains is unlikely to have an immediate impact on rising food prices in rural areas, where most of the consumers are actually producers, an economist ... via IRIN News

]]> IRIN News Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:54:24 GMT 08032174DS5B 0 South African judge to lead polls inquiry arrives http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/south-african-judge-to-lead-polls-inquiry-arrives?fromrss=1 "We'll announce the date the public inquiry will begin"

Story by DAVE OPIYO Publication Date: 3/20/2008 The man expected to lead a public inquiry into last year's General Election has arrived into the country. via Daily Nation

]]> Daily Nation Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:38:31 GMT 080320Q7VDA6 0 Opportunity for lasting Somalia peace must be seized: Ban Ki-moon http://www.topix.net/world/ethiopia/2008/03/opportunity-for-lasting-somalia-peace-must-be-seized-ban-ki-moon?fromrss=1 "I particularly call on all parties to protect the civilian population and abstain from harming or kidnapping humanitarian workers and other expatriates working in Somalia."

Despite the volatile security and dire humanitarian conditions many Somalis face, the window of opportunity to bring a durable peace to the war-torn Horn of African nation must be seized, UN Secretary-General ... via Arabic News

]]> Arabic News Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:25:44 GMT 0803182MLBCD 0