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<td width="60%" id="mainContentWrapper"><h1 >Welcome! </h1>
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<p>Welcome to the <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia</strong>, a non-political and non-violent social justice movement of diverse Ethiopians. The <strong>SMNE</strong> is a non-profit organization that seeks to unite the many Ethiopian ethnic groups into a <em>solidarity movement</em> that stands together to call the current Ethiopian government to account for myriad allegations of human rights violations.</p>
<p> Please explore our website to learn more about this united effort!</p>
<p><a href="amharic/dewel-introduction.php" ><img src="amharic/dewelLink.png" alt="Dewel Link" width="175" height="24" border="0" /></a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong><span class="textB4Cent">LET US SPEAK OUT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT</span></p>
<p>By Obang Metho</p>
<p>February 6, 2023</p>
<p> We Ethiopians are in trouble on so many fronts. We have reached a <strong>“tipping point” </strong>where the signs pointing to the likelihood of our country imploding into ethnic violence and instability are already in front of us. When can be done to stop this? I can no longer be silent. <p>
Over the last four years, there have been so many violent ethnic and religious-based killings of innocent people in this country that there are too many to count. In only the last few days, we have reportedly lost thirty-six more members of our Ethiopian family in senseless killings in Shashemene at the hands of Oromia regional government led special forces who shot and killed them and critically wounded many others. <a href="230206-speak-out-for-what-is-right.php">Read...</a> </div>
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong><span class="textB4Cent">We call for immediate release of Mr. Tamerat Negera Feyisa.</span></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="220217-Tamerat-Negera-Release.php"><img src="/articleImages/220217-Tamerat-Negera-Release-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="243" /></a>
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<p>By Obang Metho.</p>
<p>February 17, 2022</p>
<p>Who is Tamerat Negera Feyisa? Mr. Tamerat Negera is an Ethiopian journalist, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Terara Network was arrested from his home in Addis Ababa, on December 10, 2021 and his whereabouts were not disclosed to his family and the public for seven days until he appeared at court on December 16. He was transferred from Addis Ababa Police to Gelan City Police Department in the Oromia Regional State. In response to the police’s request for the case’s transfer to the state of emergency and the closure of the investigation case file, Gelan City Woreda Court ordered the closure of the file and transfer of the case to the state of emergency on December 30, 2021. <a href="220217-Tamerat-Negera-Release.php">Read...</a></p>
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>Mr. Obang Metho’s Address to the University of Bahir Dar Graduation Class of 2021Heading</p>
<p align="center" class="textB2Cent">Seeking the Source of Genuine Truth, National Reconciliation, Restorative Justice and Meaningful Reforms as the Answer to Our Present and Future Crises</p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="210924-Bahir-Dar-University-Blue-Nile.php"><img src="/articleImages/210924-Bahir-Dar-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="346" /></a>
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<p>September 18, 2021</p>
<p>Good Morning! I am greatly honored to be with you today to address the 2021 graduating class from the University of Bahir Dar. I want to join with you in celebrating the great educational achievements of each student who is graduating today. This is a great accomplishment that has taken diligence, perseverance, sacrifice and basic hard work. Congratulations on your achievement! </p>
<p>I also want to thank Dr. Firew Tegegne Amogne, Bahir Dar University President, Dr. Seleshi Bekele Awulachew, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy of Ethiopia and the leadership of this major Ethiopian University of high distinction for an opportunity to speak to you at such a critical time as this in the history of our nation. <strong><em>There is much at stake and I believe this university and today’s graduating class can take a meaningful role in making a difference in the direction we, as Ethiopians, choose to take to bring about a healthier society.</em></strong> <a href="210924-Bahir-Dar-University-Blue-Nile.php">Read...</a></p>
<p><strong>የአቶ ኦባንግ ሜቶ አድራሻ ለ 2013 ዓ.ም የባህር ዳር ዩኒቨርሲቲ ምረቃ ክፍል እውነተኛ የእውነትን ምንጭ መፈለግ ፣ ብሔራዊ እርቅ ፣ የተሃድሶ ፍትህ እና ትርጉም ያለው ተሃድሶ ለአሁኑ እና ለወደፊቱ ቀውሶቻችን መልስ </strong></p>
<p>እንደምን አደራችሁ! በ ፪ ሺህ ፲፫ ዓ.ም ከባህር ዳር ዩኒቨርሲቲ ተመራቂ ተማሪዎች ጋር ለመነጋገር ዛሬ ከእናንተ ጋር በመሆኔ ታላቅ ክብር ይሰማኛል። ዛሬ የሚመረቀውን እያንዳንዱ ተማሪ ታላቅ የትምህርት ስኬቶችን ለማክበር ከእናንተ ጋር መቀላቀል እፈልጋለሁ። ይህ ትጋትን ፣ ጽናትን ፣ መስዋዕትነትን እና መሠረታዊ ጠንክሮ መሥራት የወሰደ ታላቅ ስኬት ነው። በስኬታችሁ እንኳን ደስ አላችሁ! <a href="210924-Bahir-Dar-University-Blue-Nile-amharic.php" target="_blank">ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>The Egyptian Proxy War With Ethiopia: Why Are Some of Our People Helping Them Win? </p>
<p><em>Part II article that focus on external forces that exert an influence on deteriorating conditions in Ethiopia</em></p>
<p>April 20, 2021</p>
<p><strong><em>“A compromise to Egypt’s water share is a red line, and our response [if our water share is affected] will affect the stability of the whole region,” …</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>(A recent comment made by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi)</em></strong></p>
<p>Some Ethiopians seem to be on the wrong side of an Egyptian proxy war against their own country. As ethnic-based killing and violence explodes in Ethiopia, the country has become a place where gruesome crimes against other human beings are committed with little remorse or accountability. It could trigger more massive killings, even genocide. </p>
<p>It is the responsibility of those who value every human life and the national unity of Ethiopia to do something about it. For years, Egypt has been attacking Ethiopian national unity by stoking the fires of division. It is finding fertile ground among ethno-nationalists, but is also strongly reinforced by Ethiopia’s governmental model of ethnic federalism and our ethnic-based Constitution, which could also be called institutionalized tribalism. <a href="210420-Egyptian-Proxy-War-With-Ethiopia.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>Institutionalized Tribalism: Ethiopia’s Constitution and Ethnic Federalist Government Increase the Risk of Instability in Ethiopia </p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="210415-Institutionalized-Tribalism.php"><img src="/articleImages/210415-Obama-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="346" /></a>
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<p>April 15, 2021</p>
<p>Institutionalized tribalism, in its worst form, was officially adopted under the deceptive name of Ethnic Federalism, 30 years ago, under the former government led by the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). It was a way to placate some ethnic groups; however, the result of it is now threatening our survival as a country. </p>
<p>It was purposely set up to ensure that Ethiopians did not come together under a consensual agreement for the benefit of all Ethiopians, which was a threat to the goals of the TPLF who sought to achieve perpetual hegemony, as per their manifesto: “TPLF/EPRDF’s Strategies for Establishing its Hegemony & Perpetuating its Rule,” published in 1993.</p>
<p>One of the goals of this structure was to ethnicize Ethiopia’s citizens, a divide and conquer formula so people would not achieve unity; but instead, live as separate ethnic groups, not even as individual citizens. It was and still is a recipe for destruction. The maturing of this indoctrination has now reached to its pinnacle as young people start to believe that their primary identity is their tribe and that their religion, actually practiced, is “tribalism.” <a href="210415-Institutionalized-Tribalism.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE MUST BE HEARD <br />
An Appeal to the people of Ethiopia from Mr. Obang Metho </p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia.php"><img src="/articleImages/201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="153" /></a>
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<p>November 6, 2020</p>
<p>To my dear Ethiopian brothers and sisters,</p>
<p>We are presently at a very dangerous impasse due to the military confrontation between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Regional Government of the Tigray region. As a part of the shared family of Ethiopians, I am highly concerned, as are most of you.</p>
<p>A military attack was reported to have occurred on November 4, 2020, when members of the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked the Ethiopian National Defense Forces of the Northern Command, stationed in the Tigray region. It was reported to have included a robbery of the artillery and military equipment of the Northern Command. No casualties have been reported, but few details are yet known. <a href="201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>Ethiopia is at Risk of Becoming a Failed State! <br />
What Will You Do?</p>
<p>By Obang Metho.</p>
<p>April 7, 2021</p>
<p>Increasingly, many, including me, believe Ethiopia has become a fragile state, in serious danger of collapse and descent into a failed state. Two growing sources of violence are potential threats: armed military conflict in the Tigray Region in the North and ethnic-based killing and violence in non-combat zones especially Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz and the Amhara Region. Here are some of the details: </p>
<p><strong>Armed Military Conflict in the Tigray Region</strong></p>
<p>A major source of present instability, with indications of worsening, involves the ongoing armed combat in the northern Tigray Region between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayan Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF). The Tigray Region is the home region of the party that ruled the country for 27 years, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), who appear to be fighting for the restoration of their power. <a href="210407-Ethiopia-is-at-Risk-of-Becoming-a-Failed-State.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE MUST BE HEARD <br />
An Appeal to the people of Ethiopia from Mr. Obang Metho </p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia.php"><img src="/articleImages/201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="153" /></a>
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<p>November 6, 2020</p>
<p>To my dear Ethiopian brothers and sisters,</p>
<p>We are presently at a very dangerous impasse due to the military confrontation between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Regional Government of the Tigray region. As a part of the shared family of Ethiopians, I am highly concerned, as are most of you.</p>
<p>A military attack was reported to have occurred on November 4, 2020, when members of the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked the Ethiopian National Defense Forces of the Northern Command, stationed in the Tigray region. It was reported to have included a robbery of the artillery and military equipment of the Northern Command. No casualties have been reported, but few details are yet known. <a href="201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE MUST BE HEARD <br />
An Appeal to the people of Ethiopia from Mr. Obang Metho </p>
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<p>November 6, 2020</p>
<p>To my dear Ethiopian brothers and sisters,</p>
<p>We are presently at a very dangerous impasse due to the military confrontation between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Regional Government of the Tigray region. As a part of the shared family of Ethiopians, I am highly concerned, as are most of you.</p>
<p>A military attack was reported to have occurred on November 4, 2020, when members of the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked the Ethiopian National Defense Forces of the Northern Command, stationed in the Tigray region. It was reported to have included a robbery of the artillery and military equipment of the Northern Command. No casualties have been reported, but few details are yet known. <a href="201106-Appeal-to-the-people-of-Ethiopia.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>Mr. Obang Metho’s speech: “In Honor and Remembrance of the Life of Professor Mesfin Woldemariam”</p>
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<p>October 6, 2020</p>
<p>Good Morning to everyone here. First of all, I would like to give my deepest sympathy to the family of Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and the great numbers of Ethiopians who consider him a great friend of the Ethiopian people for many generations. I also thank those who have given me the opportunity to speak today about one of greatest men I have been privileged to meet and know. This giant of a man has played an important and strategic role in my life and that of many others. </p>
<p>Most people know him as a defender of human rights; and yes, I am also a defender of human rights; however, I did not have the privilege of knowing him when I was young, living in Gambella. It was not until the killing of the Anuak at the end of 2003 when everything changed. <a href="201006-Professor-Mesfin-Woldemariam.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>A Sober New Year’s Message to My Ethiopian Family</p>
<p>Dear Ethiopians,</p>
<p>At this time of the Ethiopian New Year, I want to share a message from my heart to my beloved fellow Ethiopians. </p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="200908-New-Years-Message.php"><img src="/articleImages/200908-new-years-message-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="171" /></a>
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<p>As most of you already know, I am a human rights defender and advocate for peace, justice, and reconciliation. <strong><em>I strongly believe that this country is like a human body that can only flourish when all its parts are protected, nurtured and functioning well together. Now, this precious body we call our home or sanctuary, is ill and the symptoms are being felt throughout it. I see it from my eyes, I hear it from my ears, I feel it in every limb of my body and now my conscience is telling me I must not ignore it, but speak of it. Because I love this body, which represents the people and land of Ethiopia, I do not want anything to happen to bring it harm.</em></strong> <a href="200908-New-Years-Message.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>የሰኔ 23 2012 ዓ.ም. በባቱ፣ሻሸመኔ እና አካባቢው የነበሩ ጥቃቶችን ተከትሎ በአዲሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ የተጠናቀረ ሪፖርት</p>
<p><em>ቁ.047/SMNE/20 <br />
4/12/12 ዓ.ም.</em></p>
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<p><strong>መግቢያ</strong><br />
አርቲስት ሀጫሉ ሁንዴሳ ሰኔ 22/2012 ዓ.ም. በአዲስ አበባ ከተማ ውስጥ በአሳዛኝ ሁኔታ ህይወቱ ማለፉ ይታወሳል፡፡ ዋና ከተማዋ አዲስ አበባን ጨምሮ በተለያዩ የኦሮሚያ አካባቢዎች ሌሊቱን እና በማግስቱ 23/10/12 የፀጥታ መደፍረስ ችግሮች ተከስተው በሰዎች ህይወትና ንብረት ላይ ከፍተኛ ጉዳት ደርሷል፡፡<br />
ከኢትዮጵያ በጎ ፈቃደኛ ጋዜጠኞችና አርቲስቶች ሕብረት ጋር ለአዲሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ ዋና ዳይሬክተርና ቡድናቸው በሐምሌ 27 እና 28 2012 ዓ.ም.በነበሩት ቀናት በባቱ እና ሻሸመኔ ከተሞች እና አካባቢ በተወሰነ መልኩ ተዘዋውረን የደረሰውን ጉዳት ለማየት ሙከራ አድርገናል፡፡<br />
<strong>ባቱ ከተማ</strong><br />
<strong>አብነት ገለታው </strong><br />
እኛ አግኝተን ያናገርናችው ሶስት ወንድማማቾች ባቱ ከተማ ዘመድ ቤት ሀዘን ተቀምጠው ቢሆንም አምስት የቤተሰብ አባሎቻቸውን ማለትም አባታቸውን፡ እናታቸውን፡ ወንድም፣ እህታቸውን እና የአጎታቸውን ልጅ በአሰቃቂ ሁኔታ ያሳጣቸው ድርጊት ግን የተፈጸመው ከባቱ 7ኪ.ሜ ርቃ በምትገኘው አዳሚ ቱሉ ከተማ እንደነበር ነግረውናል፡፡<strong></strong><br />
<strong>የሟቾች ስም ዝርዝር </strong> <a href="200810-SMNE-Report-Shashamne.php" target="_blank">ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>Mr. Obang’s Response to the Postponement of the Filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)</p>
<p><em>June 26, 2020</em></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/200626-Obangs-Response-to-the-Postponement-of-the-Filling-of-the-(GERD).php"><img src="/articleImages/200626-dam-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="192" /></a>
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<p>Today I am in Gambella, sometimes called “the land divided by the rivers.” Gambella region is located in the Upper Nile, an area that overlaps both Ethiopia and South Sudan. It is a land of five major rivers and many tributaries that connect to the Nile River. It used to be a port that could be used for transportation all the way north to Egypt.</p>
<p>I have just learned that the Ethiopian government has agreed to a two week postponement of the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). <strong>I am very disappointment with this decision<em>. </em></strong>Let me explain. <strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="200626-Obangs-Response-to-the-Postponement-of-the-Filling-of-the-(GERD).php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>Mr. Obang Metho, Response to the Constitutional Debate: “HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC REVEALED THE DEEPER FLAWS WITHIN THE ETHIOPIAN CONSTITUTION?”</p>
<p><em>May 20, 2020</em></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/200520-Start-Talking-About-a-Common-Vision-for-Ethiopia.php"><img src="/articleImages/200520-image1-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="162" /></a>
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<p>A newly invigorated media debate has emerged over the last three weeks. It centers on the impact of the second postponement of the national election, this time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Delaying the election for an unknown period of time, possibly a year or more, will essentially leave the current members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (Parliament) in limbo. Their five-year terms expire on October 5, 2020. What will be their status following that date? </p>
<p>In response, the<strong> </strong>government made the decision to seek a Constitutional interpretation in order to legitimize the extension of term limits in the House of Representatives until an election can be held; however, opinions and solutions differ on this decision and on the way forward. <strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="200520-Start-Talking-About-a-Common-Vision-for-Ethiopia.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020 <br />
Time: 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM Address: Harmony Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia </p>
<p>Dear Member of the Media:</p>
<p>We invite you to join us for a press conference, sponsored by the <strong>“I’m Human Movement,”</strong> to inform the public of the role we intend to play in response to the current COVID-19 crisis; most specifically, on the possible impact on the people of Ethiopia. This is a call for action from all Ethiopians, to all Ethiopians and for all Ethiopians. </p>
<p align="center"><strong><u>Here is our Mission Statement:</u></strong><br />
<em>“I’</em><em>m Human</em><em>” and I’m ready to help serve, protect and save the lives of others in Ethiopia and beyond.</em></p>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong>The <strong>“I’m Human Movement”</strong> is an outgrowth of the <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)</strong>. The commitment to help protect, improve and advance the lives and well being of all Ethiopians is not new; but instead, has been the focus of the work of the SMNE for the last 16 years. In carrying out our mission, we have gone to many different countries to help Ethiopians in danger or in great need. We have advocated for the rights of Ethiopians within Ethiopia and addressed numerous issues of concern over the years. <strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="200327-Press-Conference-Covid-19.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>A Message from Mr. Obang Metho to the Ethiopian people: <br />
I’m Human and I’m Ready to Serve, Help and Protect lives; Will You Join Me? </p>
<p><em>March 24, 2020</em></p>
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<p><strong>Dear Fellow Ethiopian,</strong></p>
<p>Like other people throughout the world, <strong><em>I am deeply concerned about the rapid spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), which has drastically altered life outside of Ethiopia and now poses an increasing threat to the people of our nation, the Horn of Africa, Africa and beyond</em></strong>.</p>
<p>My heartfelt sympathy goes to those who have lost family members, as well as to those whose way of life has been made so difficult. Right now, <strong><em>I am ready to join together with those attempting to serve, protect lives and help to find solutions and ways to treat Covid-19 and to prevent as many as possible from being exposed to it. These attempts have called for life-altering changes now affecting the lives, social and business networks, education, movement, employment, and the access to goods and services of people all over the world.</em></strong> <strong><em>So far, Ethiopia has been spared some of the effects; yet, we must be vigilant and prepare as best we can to deal with this possible crisis, not only for ourselves, but also for others. </em></strong></p>
<p> The concern for the wellbeing of all people, regardless of our differences, has been a core principle of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) since its formation. <strong><em>We believe that the value and dignity of every human being comes from God, our Creator, and that we will be held accountable, under God, for how we treat or care for others. </em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="200324-Letter-on-the-Covid-19-Crisis.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong></strong>My Remarks on Joining the Board of the Ethiopian Press Agency </p>
<p><em>March 17, 2020</em></p>
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<p>It is honor to have been appointed as a volunteer to the Board Member of the <strong>Ethiopian Press Agency</strong> this past week, an institution with a 79-year-old history. It is not something I ever expected; however, because of my commitment to truth, accountability, freedom of speech and the free flow of information to and from all our people, I am grateful for this opportunity to help advance these values in this organization. </p>
<p>First of all, I would like to thank those who nominated me to be on this board as well as the Prime Minister who gave endorsement for that nomination and the members of the Ethiopian Parliament who voted to approve my appointment. It resulted in being sworn in by the Chief Justice of Ethiopia on March 12. <strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="200317-Ethiopian-Press-Agency-Board-Appointment.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p align="center" class="textB2Cent"><strong>Mr. Obang Metho speech at the 124th Anniversary of Ethiopia’s Victory at the Battle of Adwa at the Debre Berhan University.</strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>What Kind of Victory is Needed Today? Is Victory for All Possible in Ethiopia Today? What would it look like today?</strong></p>
<p><em>February 29, 2020</em></p>
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<p>Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today at this 124th anniversary of <strong><em>one of the most shaping events in our shared history as Ethiopians, the victory at Adwa in 1896, where Ethiopians worked together to defend our sovereignty from the invasion of foreign forces who were seeking to subjugate our people</em></strong>. The deciding battle against the colonization of this country was fought at Adwa. It is an honor to be with you to reflect on our history and what we might learn from it today. </p>
<p>I want to especially thank the president of Debre Berhan University and Dean of College of Social Science and Humanities, Ms. Tsedale Gebretsadik for organized this event meant to commemorate the significance of this day. Those of us present here are not the only ones who will be celebrating. <strong><em>Many of our fellow Ethiopians and friends throughout the country and world will also remember this day, honoring the courage and sacrifices made by those who came before us to fight this battle. </em></strong><br />
It is great to be back at Debre Berhran University for the second time; the first being when I had the privilege of addressing many of your students last year. Since then, our journey as people of this country, has had highs and lows. <strong><em>We still have many challenges ahead as we recognize the tensions within our country that continue to birth ethnic violence and conflict in some places. We also are looking to an election in August of 2020. What will make a difference in the outcome? What led to that victory in 1896 that could help us better navigate the future? </em></strong> <br />
<strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="200229-Adwa-Lessons.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><span class="textB2Cent">“It is Time to Hear from the Ethiopian Minorities on the Current Crisis We Face!” <br />
Do Not Forget: <br />
They Too Have a Stake in the Shared Future of Ethiopia!</span></p>
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<p align="center"><strong>Eliana Hotel</strong><br />
<strong>Churchill Avenue, Piazza, Arada, 1000 </strong><br />
<strong>Addis Ababa </strong><br />
<strong>Saturday, December 7, 2019</strong><br />
<strong>9:00 AM- 12:00 PM</strong></p>
<p>The <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)</strong> will hold a press conference so as to give opportunity to hear from a panel of Ethiopian stakeholders from minority regions and/or groups. These regions/groups are commonly known to be “the others,” or under-represented in the public square or within the formalized structure of our government or its institutions.</p>
<p>For the last thirty years, the ruling party has included four regions: Tigray, Oromia, Amhara and Southern Nations. The first three ethnic-based regions have mainly represented three of our eighty-six ethnic groups within Ethiopia, each of the three having a political party in the coalition based on the predominant ethnicity of their regions. Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ is the exception in that it is geographic in nature and home to some fifty-six different ethnic groups. <br />
<strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="191207-Minority-Press-Conference.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>I’m Human: Today is the Day to Join a Movement for Humans </strong> </p>
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<p>November 24, 2019</p>
<p>On Sunday, November 17, 45,000 Ethiopians participated in the <strong>Great Ethiopian Run</strong> in Addis Ababa. Mr. Obang Metho, the Executive Director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) was one of the participants in that race. He wore the official T-shirt similar to all participants; however, at the finish line of the race, as planned by some of the youth leaders in the organization, Obang removed his race T-shirt to reveal a different one. On the front of that shirt was written in Amharic:<strong> “I’m Human.” </strong></p>
<p><strong>Everyone got it. Why? </strong>It not only confronts today’s reality that has resulted in a shocking rise of ethnic violence and conflicts, but it also points to Ethiopia’s 30-plus-year history of the politicized, divisive and self-centered exploitation of ethnicity/tribe in Ethiopia, used to advance the power and self-interests of a dominant group or the elite of that group over others. The idea and the phrase quickly went viral, spreading via the social media and by word of mouth. <strong><em> </em></strong> <a href="191124-IM-Human.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia invites all media to: <br />
A Press Briefing on Peace and Security in Ethiopia <br />
Thursday, October 31, 2019 from 12 noon until 3PM<br />
National Press Club <br />
529 14th St. NW Washington DC 20045 </strong>
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</em></strong><a href="191030-Press-Briefing-on-Peace-and-Security.php" target="_blank">Read Press Release...</a><br />
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<p class="textB3"><strong>የአቶ ሽመልስ የተሠባሪ/ሠባሪ ንግግር ጸረ መደመር ነው! አያሻግርም!
የፖለቲካ ሹመኞች በባሕላዊ/ሃይማኖታዊ መድረኮች ንግግር ከማድረግ መታቀብ አለባቸው</strong></p>
<p class="textB2">ቀን፤ መስከረም 27፤ 2012</p>
<p class="textB2">የአዱሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ፤ የአገራችን ኢትዮጵያ ኅብረብሔራዊነት መገሇጫ ከሆኑት አንደ የሆነው የኢሬቻ በዓሌ በሰሊም በመጠናቀቁ በቅዴሚያ ሇጨዋው ሕዜባችን ከፍ ያሇ ምስጋና ሇማቅረብ ይወዲሌ። በተሇይም ሇበዓለ ክብር በማሇት ሇሁሇት ቀናት ያህሌ ብዘ መስዋዕትነት ሇከፈሇውና ከየክፍሇ ሃገሩ ሇመጡ ታዲሚዎች የሚችሇውን በማዴረግ ዕገዚ ሊዯረገው ጨዋው የአዱስ አበባ ሕዜብ ከፍ ያሇ ምስጋና እናቀርባሇን። ብዘ ክፉ ሃሳቦችና ውጥኖች ሲወሩበት የነበረው በዓሌ በኢትዮጵያውያን መሌካምነትና በሕግ አስከባሪዎች ታታሪነት ያሇ አንዲች ችግር መጠናቀቁ አሁንም ሕዜብ አብሮነትን፤ ሰሊምን የሚፈሌግ መሆኑን በዴጋሚ ያረጋገጠበት ነው።</p>
<p><span class="textB2">ሆኖም ይህንን በሰሊማዊ መንገዴ የተጠናቀቀ ታሊቅ ክብረበዓሌ የሚያጠሇሽ ተግባር በዙያኑ ዕሇት መፈጸሙ የጋራ ንቅናቄችን ይህንን መግሇጫ እንዱወጣ ያስገዯዯው ምክንያት ሆኗሌ። በዕሇቱ ከቀረቡ በርካታ የሚያንጹና አገራዊ አንዴነትን የሚያጎሇብቱ ንግግሮች መካከሌ በሇውጥ አራማጅነት ከሚጠቀሱትና በምክትሌ ርዕሰ መስተዲዴርነት ከተሾሙ ጀምሮ ተስፋ የተጣሇባቸው አቶ ሽመሌስ አብዱሣ “ተሠባሪና ሠባሪ” በማሇት ያቀረቡት ንግግር ዯረጃውን ያሌጠበቀ ብቻ ሳይሆን በ“መዯመር” እሳቤ በተጀመረው ሇውጥ ሊይ ጥቁር ነጥብ የጣሇ ሆኖ አግኝተነዋሌ።</span> <a href="191007-SMNE-press-release-on-Ato-Shemelis-speech.php" target="_blank">ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more...</a></p>
<p><a href="amharic/191007-SMNE-press-release-on-Ato-Shemelis-speech.pdf" target="_blank">Read PDF...</a>
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<p><strong>Remarks by Mr. Obang Metho on Shimelis Abdissa’s speech at the Ireecha Festival <br />
A MISTAKE OR INTENTIONAL? EITHER WAY, OROMO REGIONAL PRESIDENT’S STATEMENTS RAISE SERIOUS QUESTIONS </strong>
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<div class="imageRight"><a href="/190129-CRRF-REFUGEE-LAW.php"></a><a href="/191007-WHETHER-MISTAKE-OR-INTENTIONAL-EXPLANATION-NEEDED.php"><img src="/articleImages/191007-Shimelis-Abdissa-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="177" /></a>
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<p>October 7, 2019</p>
<p>In a speech given at the 2019 Ireecha Festival, Mr. Shimelis Abdissa, the President of Oromia Regional State, who also is the head of the Oromo Democratic Party (ODO), the political party currently in power in Ethiopia and also the former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, made a number of highly controversial statements that have incited anger and rocketed suspicions to new heights among countless Ethiopians. </p>
<p>Whether it was a mistake or intentional; either way, President Shimelis Abdissa’s comments raise serious questions that require some explanation. <strong><em>In our present ethnic-dominated, political climate, such comments are loaded with innuendos of what people are now saying is “a takeover turn.” It builds the case of those who are suspicious of the motivation behind the players leading the current reforms. Are they genuine? If this was an unfortunate overstatement by Shimelis, the public needs answers to their questions before it creates a bigger divide between an already divided society. </em></strong> <a href="191007-WHETHER-MISTAKE-OR-INTENTIONAL-EXPLANATION-NEEDED.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>JOIN THE MOVEMENT OF KINDNESS <br />
ONLY KINDNESS AND LOVE WILL TRANSFORM ETHIOPIA </strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/190129-CRRF-REFUGEE-LAW.php"></a><a href="/190911-NEW-YEARS-2012-2019.php"><img src="/articleImages/190911-happy-new-year-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="170" /></a>
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<p>September 11, 2019</p>
<p>As Ethiopians across Ethiopia and throughout the world gather with family and friends, I want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Ethiopian New Year. This is always a hopeful time, as we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. Even though 2011 was difficult for millions of Ethiopians, we must also look back on this year with the knowledge that brighter days are ahead of us.</p>
<p> Although our current challenges of ethno-nationalism and others are greater than ever before, each of us Ethiopian from every ethnic and religious groups must have the courage and determination to rise up and meet them. It is that spirit of (Ethiopiawinet) or togetherness that has kept us together as proud Ethiopians for generations, and it is that Ethiopiawinet spirit that will keep Ethiopia together for generations to come. <a href="190911-NEW-YEARS-2012-2019.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>JOIN THE MOVEMENT OF KINDNESS <br />
ONLY KINDNESS AND LOVE WILL TRANSFORM ETHIOPIA </strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/190129-CRRF-REFUGEE-LAW.php"></a><a href="/190316-a-movement-of-kindness.php"><img src="/articleImages/190316-image2-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="328" /></a>
<div class="photoComments">A displaced child in Gedeo, Southern Ethiopia</div>
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<p>March 16, 2019</p>
<p>The response of the public to the humanitarian crisis in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia over the last 24 hours has exceeded what has been done since it all began last year, 2018. If you look at it honestly, the crisis they face today is the result of the failure to see the humanity of each other and to not respond with love and kindness to this human tragedy. It has only deepened as it has been ignored.</p>
<p>This conflict, partly rooted in land border issues and ethnic identities, goes back to decisions made during the time when the TPLF/EPRDF was formed in 1991 and divisive tribal lines were drawn without consultation with the people and favoring the interests of the ruling regime. Other historical issues are also involved as well as recent efforts to tap into the resources in the area. <a href="190316-a-movement-of-kindness.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>NEW REFUGEE INTEGRATION LAW LEAVES MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR ETHIOPIANS, ESPECIALLY IN REGIONS MOST IMPACTED BY NEW LAW </strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/190129-CRRF-REFUGEE-LAW.php"><img src="/articleImages/190129-mp-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="143" /></a>
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<p>January 29, 2019</p>
<p>The Ethiopian Parliament just passed a new refugee law that will allow greater opportunities for the over 900,000 refugees residing in over twenty camps throughout the country. The law will put into effect the “ROAD MAP for the implementation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Government Pledges and the practical application of the CRRF in Ethiopia”. It includes a commitment to carry out nine pledges [see below] made by the previous EPRDF administration at the Leaders’ Summit on refugees in New York, co-hosted by Ethiopia, and signed on September 20, 2016, a day after the formal adoption of the resolution, called: New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. </p>
<p>Ethiopia’s commitment to now implement the nine pledges through its Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) plan are expected to result in expanded opportunities for refugees that will provide greater freedom of movement, better access to education, jobs and socio-economic services and will also allow for some additional benefits for refugees living in Ethiopia. <a href="190129-CRRF-REFUGEE-LAW.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>The New Reform Leadership of President Mustafa Omer Brings Hope and Light to the Somali Region </strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/190125-Somali-Regional-Trip-and-Leadership-Example.php"><img src="/articleImages/190125-Somali-Regional-Trip-and-Leadership-Example-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="171" /></a>
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<p>January 25, 2019</p>
<p>What an opportunity we on the SMNE team had during a recent visit to the Somali region where we were able to see so much evidence of reforms brought by the new president, Mustafa Omer, and his administration. Everywhere we went, people told us about the new leadership that is bringing genuine reforms.</p>
<p>Over all, the SMNE team trip to the Somali region was a real success. The initial reason for the trip was an invitation from Jijiga University to speak to their students and faculty on the topic of: <strong>The Way Forward: Identifying, Affirming and Building National Unity Based on Shared Core Values<em>, </em></strong>which includes human dignity, human rights, equality, inclusiveness, justice, the rule of law, and participatory democracy. <a href="190125-Somali-Regional-Trip-and-Leadership-Example.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong> THE WAY FORWARD: RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP</strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong>Location: Gambella University <br />
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2019 <br />
Time: 9 AM</strong></p>
<p><em><strong> </strong></em><strong><em></em></strong> Come and hear Mr. <strong>Obang Metho, </strong>the Executive Director of <em>the <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New </strong></em><strong><em>Ethiopia (SMNE)</em></strong>, as he answers the above-mentioned questions and extends them as a challenge to the students at Gambella University. He will speak on the topic of responsible citizenship and how it is key to making change come to our own lives, families, communities, ethnic groups, regions and nation, spreading the benefits broadly—for no one is free until all are free— a core principle of the SMNE. </p>
<p>We Ethiopians have entered a new era under the leadership Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Change that was seen as impossible only a year ago, has suddenly emerged—a miracle— and has opened up new possibilities for the future that did not exist in early 2018. <strong><em>For the first time in more than fifty years, hope is stirring in the hearts of young and old throughout Ethiopia. At the same time, many people know this change is still very fragile. Like a newborn child, it will require nurturance, protection and support in order to survive, develop, strengthen and grow. How will that growth be accomplished in our own case? </em></strong> <a href="190109-Gambella-University-Flyer.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>Mr. Obang Metho addresses the Oromo and Amhara Intellectuals at Wollo University</strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="/190108-Obang-Metho-addresses-Oromo-and-Amhara-Intellectuals.php"><img src="/articleImages/190108-obang-256px.jpg" alt="Image" width="256" height="171" /></a>
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<p><strong>AT SUCH A TIME AS THIS; WHAT IS OUR CALL?</strong></p>
<p>“እንደምን አደራቹ?” Good Morning everyone. I would like to thank Dr. Abate Getahun, President of Wollo University for inviting me to speak before you today on this beautiful campus of Wollo University. I would also like to thank the Oromo and Amhara Intellectuals’ Council: for giving me the honor of being your keynote speaker at the third Oromo and Amhara Intellectuals’ Council conference at this beautiful city of Dessi. It is an honor and privilege to speak to you.</p>
<p>We are an ancient people and country; we have a beautiful land with beautiful people; yet, we are poor and conflicted. We have gone through decades of troubling and difficult times; but God has given us an opportunity today— one that we have not had in many years— to make something new in this nation. This is a highly esteemed group of people here today with a noble, but difficult task before you. <strong><em>I want to challenge you to consider how to respond to what may be the high calling of your life, at such a time as this. What happens here may alter the direction of Ethiopia. Are you willing? </em></strong> <a href="190108-Obang-Metho-addresses-Oromo-and-Amhara-Intellectuals.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong><u>Mr. Obang Metho’s speech to Bahir Dar University</u> <br />
THE WAY FORWARD: LET’S START TALKING TO EACH OTHER</strong></p>
<p>Good Afternoon! “እንደምን አመሻችሁ”. I would like to thanks the president of Bahir Dar University, vice president, Dean of College of Social Science and the Humanities and other members of the staff. It is an honor to be at the Bahir Dar University, one of the great universities of Ethiopia, located in one of the most beautiful city and the capital of the Amhara National Regional State in Ethiopia.</p>
<p><strong><em>My speech today will consisted of both good and bad news. I will start with t</em></strong><strong><em>he bad news. We Ethiopians are in trouble as a society. Despite all the great progress being made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his reform team, sustainable change is not assured, but could be hijacked in a multitude of ways, making the present open door to change in Ethiopia abruptly close. One of the biggest challenges is our division, much of it based on ethnicity, the dehumanization of others and the lack of safeguards within our government institutions that apply to all. Our current model of government, ethnic federalism, has so emphasized ethnicity that it has actually worked against unity and peace; instead producing conflict, violence and the polarization of our society. </em></strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong><em></em></strong> <a href="181217-Obang-Metho's-speech-to-Bahir-Dar-University.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>Remembering the Anuak Massacre: Begin by Lighting Your Candle and then Your Neighbor’s Until Our Candles Bring Light Over Our Nation</strong></p>
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<p><em>December 13, 2018. Addis Ababa--<br />
</em>Today, December 13th, will mark the fifteen year anniversary of the beginning of three days of killing and destruction in Gambella, Ethiopia that was carried out by TPLF/EPRDF national security forces, backed up by civilian militia groups they had armed with machetes. The Anuak people were targeted, especially leaders and those who were against the TPLF political repression and opposed to the federal government plans to explore oil on their indigenous land without following the legal process as set up in the Ethiopian Constitution or as required in international law regarding indigenous peoples’ rights. There was also a long-term plan to exploit the abundant fertile land and untapped natural resources.</p>
<p>In less than three days, 424 Anuak were killed. The Anuak continued to be targeted for nearly three years. By that time, over two thousand had been killed and many more human rights atrocities committed, including being jailed, tortured and driven by the thousands to seek refuge in neighboring countries like South Sudan and Kenya. The limited infrastructure in Gambella was largely destroyed, equipment and supplies were pilfered from clinics and schools, and homes, crops and granaries were burned. <a href="181213-Remembering-the-Anuak-Massacre.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p class="textB4Cent"><strong>የአኙዋክ ምድር በኢትዮጵያ የዕርቅ ማስጀመሪያ ቦታ ሊሆን ይገባል! <br />
የታኅሣሡ ዕልቂት ሁልጊዜ ሲታሰብ የሚኖር ነው!</strong></p>
<p class="textB2">ዕለቱ ቅዳሜ ታኅሣሥ 3 ቀን 1996ዓም ነበር - ልክ የዛሬ 15 ዓመት። የአኙዋክ ወንዶች እንዲገደሉ ዕቅዱ የወጣው አስቀድሞ ነበር። በቅርቡ ህይወቱ ያለፈውና በወቅቱ የጋምቤላ ክልል ርዕሰ መስተዳድር የነበረው <a href="http://www.solidaritymovement.org/100308GenocideWatch.php">ኦሞት ኡባንግ ኡሎም ቢሮ በ1996 ዓም</a> የተገኘ በአማርኛ የተጻፈ ባለ 16 ገጽ ማስታወሻ እንደሚያመለክተው “<a href="http://www.solidaritymovement.org/100308GenocideWatch.php">መስከረም 13፤ 1996ዓም የዚያን ጊዜ ጠ/ሚ/ር</a> በነበረው <strong>መለስ ዜናዊ</strong> ቢሮ ውስጥ በተካሄደው ስብሰባ ላይ <strong>መለስ</strong> ራሱ፣ ምክትል ጠ/ሚ/ር <strong>አዲሱ ለገሠ</strong>፣ የህወሓት ከፍተኛ ሹም <strong>ስብሃት ነጋ</strong>፣ የማስታወቂያ ሚኒስትር <strong>በረከት ስምዖን</strong>፣ የጋምቤላ ደኅንነት ዋና ኃላፊ <strong>ኦሞት ኡባንግ ኡሎም</strong>፣ ፌዴራሉ ደኅንነት ጽ/ቤት የመጣና ስሙ ያልታወቀ፣ የፌዴራል ጉዳዮች ሚኒስትር <strong>አባይ ፀሃዬ</strong>፣ ኤታማዦር ሹም <strong>ሳሞራ ዩኑስ</strong>፣ መከላከያ ሚኒስትር <strong>አባዱላ ገመዳ</strong>፣ የወታደራዊ ስለላ ሹም ብርጋዴር ጄኔራል <strong>ዮሐንስ ገብረመስቀል</strong> ተገኝተው ነበር። <br />
“በዚህ መለስ ዜናዊ በመራው ስብሰባ ላይ የነበረው ዋና አጀንዳ የጋምቤላን የፀጥታ ሁኔታ መወያየት ነበር። ሆኖም በዚህ ስብሰባ ላይ ነበር ታኅሣሥ 3 ቀን 1996ዓም መጨፍጨፍ ስላለባቸው አኙዋኮች ዕቅድ የወጣውና አፈጻጸሙም የተወሰነው። ለዚህም ይረዳ ዘንድ ከስብሰባው በኋላ በኅዳር ወር አጋማሽ አካባቢ የሚገደሉት ሰዎች ዝርዝር በኦሞት ኡባንግ ኡሎም ተዘጋጀ። ይህ የመጀመሪያው ዝርዝር አምስት መቶ አሥራሁለት ስም ሊስት የያዘ ነበር። በታኅሣሥ ወር ሊስቱ ላይ የሠፈሩት ስሞች ከዚህም ይበልጥ እንደነበር ግምት አለ። ምክንያቱም በጋምቤላና በአዲስ አበባ በእስር ላይ የነበሩ አኙዋኮችም በኋላ ተካትተው ነበር።</p>
<p><span class="textB2"> (ሙሉውን መግለጫ ለማንበብ እዚህ ላይ ይጫኑ)</span> <a href="181213-December-13-2003.php" >ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more...</a><br />
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<p><strong><u>Mr. Obang Metho’s speech to Debre Berhan University</u><br />
THE WAY FORWARD: UPHOLDING TRUTH IN A POST-REPRESSIVE SOCIETY— IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE</strong></p>
<p><strong>November 28, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>Thank you so much Dr. Desalegn for that kind introduction. Good afternoon everyone! It is both a great pleasure and a great privilege to be here and speak to you this afternoon. First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the president of Debre Berhan University, Dr. Hailemariam Birke Andarge (PhD) and Dean of College of Social Science and Humanities, Tsedale Gebretsadik for organizing this public lecture and for inviting me to speak before you today. </p>
<p>I thank all the students, faculty members and everybody who put their plans aside to come and listen. My talk today is more of one of giving advice and encouragement; however, it is also accompanied by a call for each of you to take responsibility to bring peace, freedom and stability to this country. <a href="181128-the-way-forward-truth-debre-berhan-university.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong><u>Mr. Obang Metho’s speech to the University of Gondar students</u> <br />
What is the Way Forward? Can the Right Change Be Sustained in Ethiopia?</strong></p>
<p><em>November 21, 2018 </em><br />
Good Afternoon! “እንደምን አመሻችሁ” . It is an honor to be at the University of Gondar, one of the great universities of Ethiopia, located in one of the oldest cities of the country and even in the world. I would like to thanks Dr. Desalegn Mengesha, president of University of Gondar; Dr, Asrat Atsedewoyin, vice president, Dr. Kassahun Tegegne, Dean of College of Social Science and the Humanities, Mr Aysheshim Terefe, Vice dean, College of Social Science and the Humanities and members of the staff for the privilege of speaking before you today. </p>
<p>Since I arrived in Ethiopia over two months ago, yours is the first university to invite me to share with you a topic I believe to be of utmost importance. It begins with a question: <strong>What is the Way Forward? Can the Right Change Be Sustained in Ethiopia?</strong><em><strong> </strong></em><strong><em></em></strong> <a href="181121-Speech-to-University-of-Gondar.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>IS PRIME MINISTER ABIY HEARING THE CALL FOR POLITICAL REFORM COMING FROM THE PEOPLE OF GAMBELLA?</strong></p>
<p><strong>October 12, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Gambella in late May 2018, he noticed how far behind the region was in its overall development compared to most regions of the country. <strong><em>He later noted these concerns before the Ethiopian Parliament, naming Gambella as one of several regions, also including Benishangul and Afar, that were so marginalized that they would require an additional 30% in their budgets, over and above the funding of other regions, to simply catch up to the level of the others. This significant gap has been the result of years of neglect as well as to high levels of misuse of funds, corruption and exploitation in the region. </em></strong><strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>If he were to visit again today, he might come away with a similar view on the lack of progress in the implementation of his administration’s new policies to bring change to the country.</em></strong> Again, Gambella is one of the regions where such changes have been strongly resisted by those in power, changes that are bringing new democratic rights and voice to other places. We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) want to bring added attention to this need, believing that the calls for reform coming from the diverse people of Gambella may actually be heard by PM Abiy; and, for thefirst time in many years, actually get an action-oriented response. <a href="181012-gambella-update.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>SMNE Team Headed by SMNE Executive Director, Mr. Obang Metho Will Travel to Ethiopia on September 6, 2018 to meet with PM Abiy and Others</strong></p>
<p>A team from the <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE),</strong> headed by SMNE Executive Director, Mr. Obang Metho, plans to travel to Ethiopia in September to meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, other members of his staff and various groups in different regions of the country. <strong><em>Out of the darkness and the challenges of these past years of work has come this new opening, one that gives light to a new road that was previously blocked.</em></strong></p>
<p>Few expected the appointment of Prime Minister Abiy, and the subsequent amazing progress made by him, his team and others, to open up a former closed system to new possibilities that did not exist five months ago. As a result of these significant changes, <strong><em>the SMNE leadership now sees an opportunity to take the mission, vision and principles of the SMNE back home, so they may become integrated into the foundation of these changes now being implemented. This would mark the beginning of a second phase of work of the SMNE.</em></strong><strong><em></em></strong> <a href="180905-SMNE-Team-to-Return-to-Ethiopia.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p class="textB4"><strong>ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ዐቢይ ከሕዝባቸው ጋር ሊገናኙ ይገባል!</strong></p>
<p class="textB2" ><u>ቀን፤ ነሐሴ 11፤ 2010ዓም</u></p>
<p class="textB2" >ወደ ሥልጣን ከመጡ ጀምሮ በተደጋጋሚ ከሕዝብ ጋር ቀጥተኛ ሲያደርጉ የነበሩት ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር ዐቢይ አሕመድ ከሕዝባቸው ጋር ግንኙነት ሳያደርጉ ሁለት ሳምንታት አልፈዋል። ጉዳዩን በቅርብ የሚከታተለው ለአዲሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ (አኢጋን) የጠ/ሚ/ሩ ደጋፊዎችና መላው ሕዝባችን ሁኔታውን እንዲያውቅና አስፈላጊውን ውሳኔ እንዲወስድ ይፋ ለማድረግ ተገድዷል። በእርግጥ ዶ/ር ዐቢይ በተቀነባበረ በሚመስል ስልት ሁለት ሦስት ጊዜ ያህል ለሕዝብ ዕይታ ቀርበዋል። ሆኖም ከወትሮው በተለየ መልኩ ለውጡን አጥብቀው የሚቃወሙና ለማክሸፍ የሚፈልጉ ኃይሎች ያቀነባበሩት በሚመስል የተከናወነው ከሚዲያ ፍጆታ የማያልፍና በጥያቄ ውስጥ ያለውን ሕዝብ ለማርገብ የተሰራ የሕዝብ ግንኙነት ሥራ ሆኖ ነው ያገኘነው። ስለዚህ ሕዝባችን መሪውን የማግኘትና የማነጋገር መብቱ ሊነፈግ አይገባም፤ ይህም ባጭር ጊዜ ውስጥ በጋዜጣዊ መግለጫም ሆነ በፊት ሲደረግ እንደነበረው ዓይነት የውይይት መድረክ መገለጽ ይገባዋል በማለት አኢጋን አቋሙን በግልጽ ያስታውቃል። <br />
(ሙሉውን መግለጫ ለማንበብ እዚህ ላይ ይጫኑ) <a href="180817-press-release.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>ETHIOPIAN RALLY FOR PRINCIPLE-BASED CHANGE FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR NATION</strong></p>
<p><strong>June 22, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>The <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) </strong>will join with the many Ethiopians, both here in the Diaspora and those in Ethiopia, <strong><em>to enthusiastically endorse the remarkable leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, along with the work of numerous others, in bringing meaningful democratic reforms to Ethiopia, which six months ago we would have thought impossible!</em></strong></p>
<p>At that time, most of us saw the crisis worsening in Ethiopia. Mounting threats of ethnic-based violence, warnings of the possible disintegration of the country and the many roadblocks to genuine democratic change that were looming before us, convincing us that only God could do what otherwise would be humanly impossible. <strong><em>Now we hear many recognize the fact that what has emerged out of the darkness, is nothing short of a God-given miracle—no can explain how this all is happening apart from this.</em></strong> <a href="180622-principle-based-future-for-future-sustainablility.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p class="textB4Cent"><strong>የአዲስ ኢትዮጵያ ብስራት!</strong></p>
<p><u>ቀን፤ ሰኔ 15፤ 2010ዓም</u></p>
<p><span class="textB2">ለአዲሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ (አኢጋን) የተመሠረተባቸው አዕማዶች ሁለት ናቸው። እነዚህም <strong>ከጎሣ ይልቅ ለሰብዓዊነት ቅድሚያ እንስጥ!</strong> እና <strong>ሁላችንም አብረን ነጻ ካልወጣን ማንም ብቻውን ነጻ ሊሆን አይችልም!</strong> የሚሉት ናቸው። እነዚህን ግዙፍ መርሆዎች ተግባራዊ ለማድረግ የሚጠቀምባቸው ስልቶች ደግሞ ዓመጽ፣ ጥላቻ፣ ክፋት፣ ምቀኝነት፣ ዘረኝነት፣ ወገንተኝነት፣ ወዘተ ሳይሆን ሰብዓዊ ዘርን ከልዩነት በጸዳ ጽኑ ፍቅር በማክበር፣ በመውደድና ለሌላው ሰው ከልብ በመነጨ ቅንነት በሚያስብ አመለካከት ላይ በመመሥረት ነው። የእነዚህ ተግባራት መዳረሻ ደግሞ በአገራችን ላይ ፍቅር፣ ሰላም፣ ኅብረት፣ ዕርቅና ፍትሕ ማስፈን ነው።</span> <a href="/180622-public-demonstration-addis.php">ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more</a><br />
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<p><strong>LETTER FROM OBANG AND THE SMNE TO THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE: <br />
The best opportunity for sustainable and meaningful success must be based on inclusive, principle-based change that protects and upholds the rights and interests of all Ethiopians</strong></p>
<p><strong>June 3, 2018</strong></p>
<p>Dear Fellow Ethiopian Brothers and Sisters,</p>
<p><strong><em>Ethiopians have new reason for hope. Over the last sixty days, we have witnessed many encouraging developments that have stirred new depths of hope within us. We should be thankful; yet, the road ahead is long and filled with challenges.</em></strong> Much will be required from all of us if we are to see genuine freedom, justice, reconciliation and healing become the pillars of a revived Ethiopian society. </p>
<p><strong><em>Hope alone, without responsible action on the part of all our people, will not lead us to a better Ethiopia. Instead, our hopes and dreams are fragile and without care, they can dissipate— devolve into something of lesser or no value— like the evaporation of water among thirsty people, leaving them all the more thirsty and despairing.</em></strong> <a href="180603-Letter-to-Ethiopians.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>TO ALL ETHIOPIANS SEEKING JUSTICE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE: IMPORTANT ALERT: NATION BUILDING IN ETHIOPIA WILL NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A FEW WEEKS! LET’S PITCH IN AND HELP! </strong></p>
<p><strong>April 20, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>Nation building is a complex process that will take time; especially in a country like Ethiopia that has not been free for decades and where our history reveals innumerable power struggles among us, which have repeatedly hijacked the hopes of the people for freedom and justice. It has infected us with a high level of suspicion towards others. This lack of trust dominates the current political climate, which may trigger increased sensitivities and emotional overreactions to what would otherwise be minor or even positive. This tendency is multiplied when it involves those outside one’s own “group,” whatever that might be.</p>
<p> Into this environment, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has emerged. What are our expectations of him? Are they reasonable? Are they based on the reality on the ground? When critical, is a judgment based on important core issues or on more disputable issues where opinions may vary? How quickly should changes be made? Where do conflicts of interest or bias based on ethnicity, political views, regional interests or personal ambitions shade the opinions? How can we support change for all in a country steeped in zero-sum politics, where the success of someone else or some other ethnic group is viewed as a threat to one’s own objectives, resulting in the desire to see it all fail? Is change immediate or a process; and again, what is realistic and how can each of us pitch in and help? <a href="180420-nation-building.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>ACT NOW TO EMPOWER THE ETHIOPIAN VISION OF PRIME MINISTER ABIY OR THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE TO BRING CHANGE MAY BE WASTED</strong></p>
<p><strong>April 7, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>On April 2, 2018, a remarkable peaceful transfer of power was made in Ethiopia when Dr. Abiy Ahmed assumed his new position as Ethiopian Prime Minister, following the unprecedented action of former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn when he voluntarily stepped down from that position, hoping to make way for peaceful democratic reforms. </p>
<p><strong>Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed then gave a historic speech before the Ethiopian Parliament, unlike any other in the last fifty years. The vision he laid out was clearly an <em>Ethiopian vision, </em>which affirmed the innate dignity of all Ethiopians, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or other differences, the foundation of each person’s right to freedom, justice, the rule of law and protection from corruption and robbery</strong>. <a href="180407-Ethiopians-must-support-democratic-reforms.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>CONGRATULATIONS TO ETHIOPIA’S PRIME MINISTER-ELECT DR. ABIYE AHMED ALI FROM THE SMNE </strong></p>
<p><strong>March 28, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>We in the <strong>Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)</strong> would like to congratulate <strong>Dr. Abiye Ahmed Ali,</strong> the newly elected chairperson of the <strong>Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, (EPRDF), </strong>soon to become Prime Minister of Ethiopia. </p>
<p >We also congratulate the people of Ethiopia who have a new opportunity to shape their future for the betterment of all. This is a time for wisdom, diligence, strength and restraint so it is not wasted.</p>
<p>Countless Ethiopians have contributed to this favorable moment, giving us hope for a better future. We must thank them. Others had fought for change in the past. </p>
<p>In our present struggle, many Ethiopians were wounded, imprisoned, tortured, sacrificed their lives or had to flee the country, simply for standing up for greater freedom and justice. These people were from every region of the country, from every walk of life, and of different ages, religions, genders and cultural backgrounds. <strong><em>Among them are Ethiopia’s finest voices for freedom, activists for justice, political leaders, journalists, religious leaders, elders and particularly our youth. Unfortunately, the valiant efforts of the past have not yet produced the fruit for which we still hope. </em></strong> <a href="180328-congratulations-to-pm-abiye-ahmed.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>A CALL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: WILL YOU URGE THE GOVERNMENT OF ETHIOPIA TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRINCIPLE-BASED ACTION PLAN TO BRING POLITICAL STABILITY AND A PEACEFUL TRANSITION TO DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN ETHIOPIA?</strong></p>
<p><strong>March 20, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>Ethiopia is in political turmoil. After 27 years of increasingly autocratic rule under the <strong>Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)</strong>, Ethiopians are demanding change. As a means to that change, they are seeking an inclusive national dialogue, leading to reconciliation and genuine democratic reforms.We are pleased that many members of the international community have already endorsed this plan as the best means to bring democratic rights and stability to this strategic country in the Horn of Africa. Unfortunately, at the same time, the government seeks to declare a state of emergency, adding further restrictions to an already tense environment that could backfire, causing greater instability and even violence. </p>
<p>The purpose of this letter is to call on you to urge the current Government of Ethiopia to engage in an inclusive national dialogue with the people of Ethiopia, leading to the development of a principle-based road map and action plan to bring political stability and peaceful transition to a more democratic, reconciled and just Ethiopia. <a href="180320-call-to-the-international-community.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>IS TODAY’S RECYCLING OF THE WOYANE (TPLF) CRY OF 1943: “THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT,” A NEW STARTING POINT TOWARDS A NEW ETHIOPIA? </strong></p>
<p><strong>March 8, 2018</strong></p>
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<p>In what was called the <strong>Woyane Rebellion of 1943</strong>, in (Ge'ez: ህዝባዊ ወያነ ሓርነት ትግራይ), more commonly known as the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the resistance cry of the Woyane of Tigray against the Imperial regime’s corruption, greed and centralization of power at the top was: “<strong>There is no government, let’s organize and govern ourselves.” </strong></p>
<p><strong>Ironically, this same cry could be voiced even more loudly and boldly today, as “those Woyane or TPLF, now at the top of power,” have created a ruling government based on one-ethnic group domination, corruption, greed and violence in a time where the stability and future wellbeing of Ethiopia is at stake. </strong> <a href="180308-rigging-the-outcome-or-changing-our-ways.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>February 24, 2018</p>
<p><strong>NO ONE IS FREE UNTIL ALL ARE FREE: LET US NOT STOP OUR EFFORTS UNTIL ALL OUR POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE FREE! </strong></p>
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<p ><strong>Whether or not we Ethiopians can work together until all our remaining political prisoners are freed, will be the greatest proof as to whether or not we are ready for inclusive transformational change in Ethiopia.</strong></p>
<p>Thousands of Ethiopian political prisoners have been released from jails, prisons and detention centers in Ethiopia in the last two weeks. Who could not celebrate this unprecedented release of such large numbers of Oromo and Amhara leaders as well as some others like the former governor of Gambella and Muslim religious leaders. For many Ethiopians, especially former political prisoners and their families, their release has brought unsurpassed joy as they were finally reunited with their families after being separated for years. <a href="downloads/180224-NO-REST-UNTIL-ALL-POLITICAL-PRISONERS-RELEASED.pdf">Read...</a> <em>(pdf)</em><br />
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<p><strong>A CALL FOR ETHIOPIANS TO LAY OUT STEPS LEADING TO A TRANSITION TO INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY: THE ONLY REAL WAY OUT OF THIS CRISIS</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><em>February 15, 2018. (Washington, DC)</em></strong>— Ethiopia is in political turmoil. The desperate inner conditions of the country have not matched its publicly acclaimed narrative for many years; so, the crisis of today was to be expected. The autocratic rule of the TPLF/EPRDF has come up against the greatest resistance of its 27 years rule, with its end in sight. </p>
<p>To the international community, the TPLF/EPRDF cited double-digit economic growth, the unity of the people around its governance model of ethnic federalism, its role as a beacon of peace and stability and a critically important partner in the War on Terror. </p>
<p>To most of the people of Ethiopia, the TPLF/EPRDF is an authoritarian regime that is dominated by one of its four ethnic-based party members, the TPLF. The TPLF has shown favoritism towards its own ethnic group over all others; doling out opportunities, privileges and power accordingly, until their representatives dominated every sector of society. <a href="180215-a-call-for-ethiopians.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>February 13, 2018<br />
<strong>A LETTER FROM MR. OBANG METHO TO THE OPDO AND TO THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT STATEMENT BY THE OPDO</strong>:</p>
<p><strong>IS THERE AN OPEN DOOR FOR TPLF/EPRDF TO RECONCILE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA? DEFINITELY: IT'S NOT TOO LATE!</strong> </p>
<p>Dear OPDO Central Committee and people of Ethiopia:<br />
...
Because we love Ethiopia and care deeply about the security and well being of all of its people, as well as in maintaining its national integrity at this dangerous time in its history, we want to affirm the positive direction laid out in the recent OPDO statement and to encourage those involved, as well as others, to continue this noble work towards a better, more inclusive, more democratic, more just and more peaceful home for all the people of Ethiopia— including the TPLF/EPRDF. <strong> </strong> <a href="180213-response-to-the-statement-by-opdo.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>January 27, 2018</p>
<p><strong>WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED IN ETHIOPIA TO AVERT ETHNIC VIOLENCE AT THIS TIME OF CRISIS? </strong></p>
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<p ><strong>Is the TPLF willing to take the country down with them, thinking they could simply secede from the country as an escape plan and leave the rest with chaos?</strong></p>
<p>Allegedly, the TPLF and some of the people of Tigray are seriously considering seceding from Ethiopia, believing they can no longer safely “lead” the country due to the rising opposition and ethnic-based resentment from large numbers of Ethiopians. They may have been shaken by the recent outburst of destruction of Tigrayan or TPLF government properties in the Amhara region in retribution for the violent killing of at 32 people by federal security forces in the town of Woldia, Kobo and Mersa. The reason? These young people in Woldia were singing anti-government songs. They were among the thousands of believers who had been observing the day of Epiphany, the holiest day of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church when believers come out to identify with the baptism of Jesus Christ. Amongst those who were murdered in Woldia was a 12 years old Yoseph Eshetu Tessema. <a href="180127-LEADERSHIP-IN-TIME-OF-CRISIS_.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p>January 4, 2018 </p>
<p><strong>IS THE EPRDF OFFER FOR REAL?</strong></p>
<p><strong>---FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---<br />
</strong></p>
<p>Washington, DC -- On January 3, 2018, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn publicly declared the EPRDF’S (Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front) decision to release all political prisoners and to close down the infamous Maekelawi detention center as a confidence-building measure with the goal of promoting a political dialogue and national reconciliation. Is it for real? If real, this is unexpected good news for Ethiopians and long overdue. Ethiopians, including ourselves, have been calling for this action for years, but increasingly more in the last months of widespread protests where our political prisoners have been a focus. Unfortunately, instead of responding to the concerns of the protesters, federal security forces have used brutal force to silence them, resulting in the killing and wounding of many Ethiopians, especially our youth. Now, will their concerns be addressed?<strong> </strong> <a href="180104-is-it-for-real.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>December 23, 2017 </p>
<p><strong>HOW WE FACE THE BEAST OF ETHNIC HATRED WILL DETERMINE OUR OUTCOME AS ETHIOPIANS<br />
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<p>Why have so many students at our universities, soccer fans and civilians been killed or wounded these past weeks and months because of the increasing climate of ethnic hate that exists and is spreading across our country? Those recently being mourned by their families, friends and communities were allegedly targeted based on ethnicity, whether Tigray, Oromo, Amhara or Somali. This hate did not come out of nowhere; but, to a significant degree, is a toxic byproduct of Ethnic Federalism and the TPLF efforts to divide and conquer the majority to enable them, a minority, to maintain power; yet, it appears to be worsening daily and may become uncontrollable. Has the “beast of ethnic hatred” finally burst out of containment to threaten all of us, like a contagious disease that infects others exponentially? What are the solutions? Pretending it does not exist or that it is the responsibility of someone else to fix it, will not work.<strong> </strong> <a href="171223-Blinded-by-a-Flawed-Vision.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>October 17, 2017 </p>
<p><strong>A CALL TO THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA: WHAT WILL WE LEAVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION— A GIFT OR A CURSE?<br />
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<p>What will we leave to the next generation—a gift or a curse? This question is critically important; however, it is equally important to know whether or not our—or someone else’s—individual or collective efforts, will produce the desired outcome. These are key questions to ask ourselves today as we face the many warning signs that signal the growing instability in Ethiopia. Change appears to be inevitable, but what kind of change do we want and how can we get there? How can we avoid the mistakes of the past where mass efforts and sacrifice were hijacked by a minority at the top, greedy for power and profit? <strong> </strong> <a href="171017-dallas-conference.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>September 17, 2017 </p>
<p><strong>AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE: WHAT COURSE OF ACTION NOW WILL GIVE ALL ETHIOPIANS THE BEST SUSTAINABLE ENDING TO TPLF/EPRDF DOMINATION?<br />
</strong></p>
<p>Dear Ethiopians, <br />
We wish you a meaningful Ethiopian New Year, hoping that Ethiopians will join with us in finding an effective and sustainable solution to the crisis as we enter the New Year. We come to you as stakeholders who care about the future of all of us. We believe sustainable peace will not come until we value the humanity of all our people, putting humanity before ethnicity or any other differences and caring about the well being of all for no one is free until all are free. Based on these principles, the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) urges you to consider how you might work with us in being part of the solution. Let us first explain how we see the challenges ahead and what cautions we should take so we not jeopardize our future. <strong> </strong> <a href="170917-Is-Destruction-Only-Possible-Ending.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>September 14, 2017 </p>
<p><strong>FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN! Ethiopia Needs Its Elders and Trusted Leaders to Help Stop the Cycles of Violence and Revenge in Our Communities and to Bring Us Together! <br />
</strong></p>
<p>We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) strongly condemn the horrific and inhumane murder of 32 or more Ethiopian civilians in the Somali and Oromo regions of Ethiopia. Shocking reports of unbelievable brutality and cruelty to the victims on both sides accompany these reports. We deeply grieve with the families and communities who have lost their loved ones.<strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Why has this happened and who is behind it? <strong> </strong> <a href="170914-A-Call-to-Our-Ethiopian-Elders.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>A CALL TO ETHIOPIAN ELDERS AND LEADERS: <br />
A TIME FOR MORAL HEROISM</strong></p>
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<p><em>September 8, 2017</em></p>
<p><em class="textBI">“The greatness of a nation lies in its fidelity to its constitution and strict adherence to the rule of law and above all the fear of God.”</em></p>
<p>These are the words of Kenyan <a href="https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/09/22/judge-david-maraga-nominated-chief-justice_c1425179">Chief Justice David Maraga</a>, a respected Kisii elder, who explained the basis for his own decision to nullify the recent 2017 Kenyan presidential election results, after finding its outcome invalid. The August election gave current President Uhuru Kenyatta another term, which is now null and void by decision of the Kenyan Supreme Court. </p>
<p>Maraga calls these principles, the foundational ingredients for making a great nation; concluding with the importance of one’s own personal accountability before God. <a href="170908-a-call-to-ethiopian-leaders.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p>March 1, 2017</p>
<p><strong>GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ETHIOPIA’S AUTOCRATIC REGIME SHOULD BE A CONDITION OF CONTINUED AID<br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>The EU, the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Norway and other Western democratic countries should not continue to give large amounts of aid to the increasingly authoritarian Ethiopian regime of the TPLF/EPRDF</strong>. In a time where global doors are closing to refugees, why should money from the West continue to prop up a dictatorship that leads to so much suffering and repression, driving many Ethiopians from their homes and country? Yes, Ethiopia is a sovereign country; yet, large amounts of aid from outside sources may be undermining the ability of Ethiopians to hold their own leaders accountable.</p>
<p>If massive aid to Ethiopia is to continue, donors should require— <strong>as a key condition of continued aid— greater accountability, meaningful democratic reforms, the release of all political prisoners, and a genuine dialogue leading towards a peaceful resolution of the deepening schism between the minority-led TPLF/EPRDF regime and the Ethiopian people. </strong><strong> </strong> <a href="170301-Merera-Gudina-Press-Release.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>December 27, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>STANDING TOGETHER AS ONE: ARE WE READY TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER AT THIS CRITICAL TIME OF HISTORY?<br />
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<p>This past year of 2016 may have been the worst year in recent history for Ethiopians within the country. Many families will be facing Christmas or the New Year without the presence of a beloved family member at their side. The reasons have been many and most point to the actions or lack of actions taken by the TPLF/EPRDF. </p>
<p>Too many have been taken from this earth early due to the deadly violence perpetrated against them by TPLF/EPRDF security forces. The ruling regime used deadly force against thousands of dissenting Ethiopians, mostly youth, who were exercising a basic democratic right to peaceful protest. Nearly a thousand Oromos were killed at the Ireecha Festival in October and hundreds in the Amhara region. Others will be absent because they are in detention centers or prisons. Tens of thousands were targeted under the regime’s drive to crush all protest through these massive arrests while also continuing to imprison journalists, opposition leaders, activists and known voices for truth, freedom and justice. <strong> </strong> <a href="161227-standing-together-as-one.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p><strong>A DECEMBER 13 “DAY OF REMEMBRANCE” FOR ALL ETHIOPIANS Thirteen Years After the Massacre of the Anuak and Still No Justice for Any of Us!</strong></p>
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<p><em>December 13, 2016.</em> <strong><em>(Vancouver, BC, Canada)</em>--</strong>Today is December 13, a day which will remind the Anuak of the painful loss of their loved ones in Gambella on the same date in 2003— thirteen years ago. </p>
<p>It is a Day of Remembrance that is not easy for the Anuak, wherever they are in the world. It is a time that brings back memories of the horrific killing of 424 Anuak in less than three days. Destruction, pillaging and other egregious human rights abuses accompanied the slaughter of these precious lives. It signaled the beginning of a three-year period of regime brutality and intimidation that resulted in the death of nearly fifteen hundred more Anuak. This is a huge percentage among a very tiny ethnic group numbering only about 100,000 people worldwide. Thousands more Anuak fled to refugee camps. At the core was the Tigre People's Liberation Front (TPLF) regime’s plan to exploit the oil found on their indigenous land. The TPLF is an ethnic minority regime in Ethiopia makes less than the 6% precent of the Ethiopian population and it controls over 90% of the Ethiopian economy. <a href="161213-Anuak-Remembrance.php">Read...</a><br />
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<p>December 8, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>A CALL FROM OBANG AND THE SMNE: <br />
RECLAIMING AN ETHIOPIA FOR ALL ETHIOPIANS <br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>I, for one, will not stand by as the country we call home is tossed to and fro in the ethnic or sectarian battlefield of the ambitions and interests of a few vying groups. The competition— rather than cooperation—continues until whomever comes out on top takes over to dominate in a recycling of dysfunction that has been repeated again and again in Ethiopia. </strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Once in power, that ethnic or sectarian group suddenly wants to claim leadership over the same Ethiopia they had rejected and over the same Ethiopian people who had been forgotten or devalued during their own struggle for power. </p>
<p><strong>Why do we, the people of Ethiopia, continue to repeat the same mistakes— repeatedly? Is it habit, tradition, fear, deception, intimidation, ignorance, selfishness or ambition that drives Ethiopians to continually form their own sectarian huddles, perpetually leaving others out, including those they claim to represent? </strong> <a href="161208-Reclaiming-Ethiopia.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>October 29, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>ETHIOPIA AT THE EDGE: What can external efforts achieve to reduce the risk of ethnic violence and destabilization in a semi-closed country? Mr. Obang's speech at the Amnesty International (AI) event in New York City, ETHIOPIA IN CRISIS. </strong></p>
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<p>The theme of my talk is <strong>Ethiopia at the edge because the internal conflict between the majority of Ethiopians and the increasingly repressive ruling regime are no longer simmering, but about to boil over.</strong> </p>
<p><strong><em>The situation is grim. The prospects for peaceful resolution without meaningful intervention are highly doubtful; yet, the world seems to be turning a deaf ear to it. If this continues, it may be too late and Ethiopia will join the ranks of others countries that now face disaster because earlier opportunities for prevention have been missed. We do not want Ethiopia to be among those graphic and tragic stories of regret where we only can wish we had done more. </em></strong> <a href="161029-Ethiopia-is-at-the-edge-Amnesty-INT.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>October 27, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>Open Letter to the Ethiopian People <br />
The TPLF Carried Out the Goal of Dividing and Finally Internally Colonizing Ethiopia Where the Italians Failed: What Can Each of Us Do to Reclaim Our Independence and Avoid Destruction and the Disintegration of Ethiopia?</strong></p>
<p><strong><u>Dear Fellow Ethiopian Brothers and Sisters,</u></strong></p>
<p>I am writing this letter to each and every one of you about the current issues of great concern facing us in Ethiopia. In this case, <strong>it is NOT about the state of emergency, nor is it about the TPLF; instead, it is about us, the individual people of Ethiopia who care about the well being of our people and nation</strong>. </p>
<p>I’m the Executive Director SMNE, a non-violent, non-political, grassroots social justice movement representing the diverse people of Ethiopia. The SMNE is committed to bringing truth, justice, freedom, equality, reconciliation, accountability, respect for human and civil rights and economic prosperity to the people of Ethiopia. I speak to you as someone who, like you, has a stake in the future of Ethiopia. Despite all the distractions in our lives, as well as daily news reports about what the TPLF/EPRDF have done, <strong>I cannot be silent about the responsibility we each have to bring about the best outcome for our country during this time of such great risk to our country.</strong> <a href="161027-Letter-to-the-Ethiopian-People.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
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<p>October 18, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>INTERNATIONAL ALERT REGARDING ETHIOPIA TO WESTERN POLICY MAKERS, DONORS AND STAKEHOLDERS Open letter to the Western </strong></p>
<p><strong>Governments and Donor Countries concerning the deteriorating situation of human rights and political instability in Ethiopia that is shifting from bad to worse day after day. </strong></p>
<p><strong>Your Excellency,</strong></p>
<p>The State of Emergency declared by the ruling ethnic apartheid regime of the TPLF/EPRDF, which is an attempt to <strong>enforce draconian measures to repress the emerging vocalization of discontent by the people of Ethiopia, will undoubtedly fail, with unknown results.</strong> </p>
<p>Some of these new restrictions include severe penalties for violation of 3-5 years in prison. These new laws prohibit such things as absurd as the following: <a href="161018-International-Alert-on-the-State-of-Ethiopia.php" target="_blank">Read...</a></p>
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<p align="center"><strong>ለምዕራባውያን ፖሊስ አውጪዎች፤ </strong><br />
<strong>ለጋሽ አገራትና ባለጉዳዮች!</strong><strong> </strong><br />
<strong>በህወሃት/ኢህአዴግ ላይ የከረረ እርምጃ ሊወሰድ ይገባል!!</strong></p>
<p > ዘረኛ የአፓርታይድ ሥርዓት የሚያራምደው የህወሃት/ኢህአዴግ አገዛዝ በኢትዮጵያ ሕዝብ ላይ ያወጀው የአስቸኳይ ጊዜ አዋጅ የሕዝብን ድምጽ ለማፈንና ጨቋኝ አገዛዙን ለማስፈን እንደመሆኑ በራሱ ላይ ያወጀው የመጥፊያ አዋጅ መሆኑና ይህም ያለጥርጥር ለመጥፊያው ያዘጋጀው መሆኑ ሊታወቅ ይገባል፡፡ <br />
አዋጁን በተመለከተ በተሰጠው ዝርዝር መረጃ መሠረት ጨቋኙን ድንጋጌ የጣሱ ከ3-5 ዓመታት በሚደርስ እስራት የሚቀጡ ሲሆን ዜጎች ከተከለከሉት በርካታ ነገሮች ጥቂቶቹ የሚከተሉት ናቸው፤ <a href="amharic/161018-International-Alert-on-the-State-of-Ethiopia.pdf" >ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more</a><br />
</p>
</div>
<div class="postExcerpt">
<p>October 10, 2016</p>
<p><strong>THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA CONDEMN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE TPLF: IT IS A SELF-SERVING TACTIC TO PROLONG THEIR OPPRESSIVE RULE OVER THE PEOPLE</strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="161010-state-of-emergency.php"><img src="/articleImages/161010-state-of-emergency3-255px.jpg" alt="Image" width="255" height="170" /></a>
<div class="photoComments"></div>
</div><p>On October 9, 2016, Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the TPLF-controlled regime of Ethiopia, declared a state of emergency in Ethiopia, to be put into effect immediately and last for six months. </p>
<p>The people of Ethiopia have questions. What is the state of emergency meant to do? The prime minister claimed in a televised address, that the primary reason it was done was for the people. He said, <em>“We put our citizens’ safety first. Besides, we want to put an end to the damage that is being carried out against infrastructure projects, education institutions, health centers, administration and justice buildings.”</em></p>
<p>We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) strongly challenge the sincerity of the prime minister’s claim; <strong><em>believing the state of emergency would never have been necessary had this regime put the safety of its citizens first and not so severely violated every human and civil right of the people of Ethiopia</em></strong><em>. </em> <a href="161010-state-of-emergency.php" >read more</a></p>
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<div class="postExcerpt">
<p>October 5, 2016</p>
<p><strong>WILL THE DEATH OF 700 PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN ONE DAY AT THE IRREESHA RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL SHAKE ETHIOPIANS TO STAND TOGETHER TO BRING PEACE AND JUSTICE TO ALL?</strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="161005-Irreecha-Festival-Deaths.php"><img src="/articleImages/161005-Irreecha-Festival-Deaths-255px.jpg" alt="Image" width="255" height="170" /></a>
<div class="photoComments">Soldiers facing protesters</div>
</div><p>We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) are deeply shocked and grieved by the loss of hundreds of Ethiopians in our Oromo family, in Bishoftu, Ethiopia on Sunday, October 2, 2016 during a celebration of the Irreecha Festival, a traditional day of thanksgiving for the Oromo in Ethiopia and worldwide. </p>
<p>Despite ruling regime’s reports of 60-70 deaths, reliable sources using body counts and names, allege deaths numbering nearly 700 persons. <strong>Most of these victims were young people, dressed in traditional clothes, joining together outdoors for celebration, speeches, dancing and in open appreciation for God’s provision. The festival is widely celebrated following the rainy season and draws millions to join in the public gathering, considered one of the largest in all of Africa.</strong> <a href="161005-Irreecha-Festival-Deaths.php" >read more</a></p>
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<div class="postExcerpt">
<p class="textB4Cent"><strong>ፈይሣ ሌሊሣ በድርጊቱና በአስተሳሰቡ ሁሉንም <br />
ኢትዮጵያውያን እንደራሳችን ወገን እንድቆጥር አድርጎናል!</strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="amharic/160930-fayissa-smne.pdf"><img src="/articleImages/160930-fayissa-smne.jpg" alt="Image" width="255" height="327" /></a>
<div class="photoComments"></div>
</div><p>ከአንድ ወር በፊት በሪዮ ኦሎምፒክ ሁለት እጆቹን በማንሳት በኢትዮጵያ የሚፈጸመውን ግፍ የተቃወመው ፈይሣ ሌሊሣ <strong>“ሁላችንንም እንደ ኢትዮጵውያን እንድንተያይ አድርጎናል”</strong> በማለት አቶ ኦባንግ ሜቶ ገለጹ፡፡</p>
<p>የፈይሣን የጀግንነት ተግባር በተመለከተ አቶ ኦባንግ በሚመሩት ድርጅት ለአዲሲቷ ኢትዮጵያ የጋራ ንቅናቄ ስም ባሰራጩት መግለጫ ላይ ነበር ይህንን ሃሳብ የገለጹት፡፡ <strong>“ኦገስት 21፤ 2016ዓም ኢትዮጵያውያን አዲስ የመንፈስ መነቃቃት ሆነላቸው”</strong> በማለት የፈይሣን አኩሪ ተግባር የገለጸው መግለጫ ይህ <strong>የኦሮሞ ወጣት ለወገኖቹ ብቻ ሳይሆን ለሁላችንም ድምጻችንን በዓለም ላይ እንዲሰማ አድርጎልናል ብሏል፡፡</strong> ድርጊቱም የዓለምአቀፉን ሚዲያ ትኩረት በመሳብ በህወሃት የግፍ አገዛዝ ላይ ብርቱ ጡጫውን አሳርፏል፡፡ </p>
<p><strong>“በርግጥ ፈይሳ የኦሮሞ ሕዝብ ኩራት ነው”</strong> ያሉት አቶ ኦባንግ፤ <strong>“ነገርግን ፈይሣን በዋሽንግተን ዲሲ ላይ ጋዜጣዊ መግለጫ ሲሰጥ በሰማሁት ጊዜ እንዲሁም በግሌ ካገኘሁት በኋላ ከብሔር ማንነቱ በላይ እጅግ ታላቅና አስደናቂ ሰው መሆኑን ለመረዳት እያለሁ”</strong> በማለት አስተያየታቸውን ሰጥተዋል፡፡ <a href="amharic/160930-fayissa-smne.pdf" >ሙሉውን አስነብበኝ / read more</a></p>
</div>
<div class="postExcerpt">
<p>September 15, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>FEYISSA LILESA: A MAN WHOSE ACTIONS AND IDEALS INSPIRE US TO EMBRACE ALL ETHIOPIANS AS OUR PEOPLE</strong></p>
<p>Human rights work might be compared to preparing for a long race— like a marathon— requiring long, hard, and grueling dedication to a task where the final outcome— often years in the future—remains
unknown. At times along the way, the barriers to success appear so large that one can easily get off course
and go through periods where the possibility of reaching the ultimate goals looks grim. In the midst of
that struggle, something can suddenly emerge from what otherwise appears as darkness, which acts to
bring new light, insight and a change of attitude to those who witness it.
For Ethiopians, that unexpected source of new inspiration is Feyissa Lilesa, the Ethiopian winner of the
silver medal for the marathon Olympic event held in Brazil on August 21, 2016. <a href="downloads/160916-Feyissa-reflections.pdf" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
</p>
</div>
<div class="postExcerpt">
<p>September 2, 2016 </p>
<p><strong>Letter to Mr. Loui Hooijman, regarding the loss of the Esmeralda BV’s Farm near Bahr Dar, Ethiopia.</strong></p>
<p>Dear Mr. Loui Hooijman, </p>
<p>We members of the Ethiopian community inside and outside Ethiopia are saddened by the loss of your company’s farm near Bahr Dar, Gojam. We are <em>disappointed </em>that one of your Ethiopian employees was harmed. The horror that all your employees experienced in the last minute of this event is unfortunate. The loss of 10 Million(€) Euro, foreign investment loss for a poor country like ours is massive.</p>
<p>Your company started production just 16 months ago. To see the entire farm going up in smoke in a short time like this, is truly sad. The enthusiasm of being 10 months ahead of schedule is now only a memory. It is also a disconcerting that you are considering leaving Ethiopia permanently.
<a href="160902-Letter-to-Mr.-Loui-Hooijman.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
</p>
</div>
<div class="postExcerpt">
<p>September 2, 2016 <br />
<strong>Ethiopians Call on the Obama Administration, Donor Countries and International Community to Break the Silence and Condemn the Killing of Peaceful Protesters and Civilians in Ethiopia.</strong></p>
<div class="imageRight"><a href="160902-Ethiopians-Call-on-Donor-Countries.php"><img src="/articleImages/160902-Protester-255px.jpg" alt="Image" width="255" height="136" /></a>
<div class="photoComments">Protester</div>
</div>
<p>Ethiopia is teetering on the edge of a full-scale catastrophe. The TPLF/EPRDF regime, one of the most repressive, bloodthirsty dictatorships in the world is panicking and its leader Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, has officially declared war against the people. As hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians in the Amhara and Oromia regions protest against the repressive policies of the current Ethiopian dictatorial regime, one ethnic minority-led regime has responded with escalating violence against peaceful protestors, leading to the death of nearly 1000 civilians from the Oromia and Amhara regions, since November 2015. Many of the victims are young teens and even children as young as 4 years old. Over the 5 days only, it is estimated that regime-controlled security forces shot and killing at least a 64 or more civilians in Amhara region. The ethnic apartheid regime of the TPLF/EPRDF must top killing the people. <a href="160902-Ethiopians-Call-on-Donor-Countries.php" target="_blank">Read...</a><br />
</p>
</div>
<div class="postExcerpt">
<p><a href="amharic/160830-ethiopia-after-protest-and-resistance.pdf"><img src="/amharic/160830-ethiopia-after-protest-and-resistance.png" alt="Image" width="480" height="447" /></a></p>
<a href="amharic/160830-ethiopia-after-protest-and-resistance.pdf" >Read in Amharic...</a></div>
<div class="postExcerpt">
<p>August 24, 2016 <br />
<strong>An Open Letter to President Barack Obama:<br />
Will the United State’s foreign policy regarding Ethiopia be on the side of furthering the democratic rights of the Ethiopian people or will the current support for the strong-armed, ethnic-based regime continue? </strong></p>
<p><strong>Dear President Obama:</strong><br />
Ethiopia is teetering on the edge of a full-scale crisis. As hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians in various parts of Ethiopia protest against the repressive policies of the current Ethiopian dictatorial regime, the minority-led government has responded with escalating violence against peaceful protestors, leading to the death of nearly 800 Ethiopians from the Oromia and Amhara regions, since November 2015. Many of the victims are young teens and even children as young as 8 years old. Over the past week only, it is estimated that government-controlled security forces shot into the crowd, killing at least a hundred or more civilians.</p>
<strong>Many worry that the situation could easily explode, pushing Ethiopia over the edge to become another failed state in the Horn of Africa. Actions or inaction taken in the next days, weeks and months may determine which direction it will go. Countries like Libya, Syria, Yemen and now South Sudan provide disturbing images of the kind of disintegration we seResolver
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AS24757
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Resolver Network Name
Ethio Telecom
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