1. Why would they reject it? In the first place there is nothing new to report on because there were never revisions on their human rights implementations so the problems are always the same. Sad to know that what Ethiopia is experiencing now due to the chaos happening in the neighboring countries it could get worst . Denial is the only answer to that.

   HUMAN RIGHTS MARCH HUMAN RIGHTS BEGIN WITH HUMAN LIFE CLICK HERE.

2. Why would they reject it? In the first place there is nothing new to report on because there were never revisions on their human rights implementations so the problems are always the same. Sad to know that what Ethiopia is experiencing now due to the chaos happening in the neighboring countries it could get worst . Denial is the only answer to that.

   HUMAN RIGHTS MARCH HUMAN RIGHTS BEGIN WITH HUMAN LIFE CLICK HERE.

3. THERE IS ONLY ONE KINGMAKER

   Placing my hands on the holly books,
   I am here to tell nothing but the truth.

   Recently, I came across an article that manifests Human Right Watch’s current findings on human right abuse in Ethiopia. It (HRW) accuses the government for distributing foreign aids among its population based on political affiliation. The government reciprocated by revealing its own “findings” on HRW. It accuses HRW for being “…nothing but a self appointing kingmaker institution.” This is not the first time for human right watch organizations such as HRW, Amnesty International, Transparency International, Human Right First, Freedom House and others to point out human right abuse in Ethiopia and other countries; nor it is the first time for the government of Ethiopia to bluntly deny such allegations. These organizations are known for exposing human right abuses in many countries, including France, USA and Canada, countries known for better governance. However, these western Democracies never accused the human right organizations of being kingmaker.

   While it would and could be natural for Ethiopian government to react rationally to any form of allegation directed against it, it resorted to name-calling, a weapon of its choice. Ethiopian government’s reaction, I am afraid, lucks integrity. This is not politically appealing to the international community. It certainly makes the government look guilty, because it is not secrete that the government is the number one choice of the real kingmaker, USA.

   About twenty years ago we witnessed the end of an era that marked the fall of one of the two masters, the Soviet Union. Hence we are left with only one kingmaker, the United States of America. The current government of Ethiopia has known USA for its unconditional political and economic supports. That is because it is the king of America’s choice in Ethiopia. Yes, the government of Ethiopia came to power with the blessing of United States of America. I am not referring to phenomenon that took place in 1991. The choice was already made during the mid of Ronald Regan’s first four years in office.

   I believe some of us are familiar with the scandal surrounding covert actions known as Iran-Contra. These of course are only two of the six covert-operations that took place at about the same time. Needless to say, the remaining four were hardly known or talked about. One such operation took place in Lebanon to neutralize and destroy anti-American activities that involved the kidnapping of American citizens. The other three were based in Africa: The first one is the support of Jonas Savimbi’s UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) in Angola in order to overthrow the Marxist government of MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) led at the time by António Agostinho Neto. This was done contrary to an early bill passed by American Congress against funding a covert action in Angola. The bill is known as the Clark Amendment. The second covert operation took place in Chad. It was an operation designed to provide aid and armament to Hissen Habre’s groups that fought against GUNT (Transitional Government of National Unity), a pro Libyan government in Chad. The third operation took place in Ethiopia. It provided arms and financial support to groups regarded to be anti Colonel Mengistu’s Marxist regime in the country. Colonel Mengistu was a pro Soviet dictator who massacred hundred thousands of civilians, mainly students, before he was ousted by TPLF, an ethnic based organization that became the head of the current Ethiopian government. These groups are namely EPLF (Eritrea People Liberation Front, TPLF (Tigray People Liberation Front) and EDU (Ethiopian Democratic Union). It should be remembered that EDU’s army was composed of the remnant of Ethiopia’s feudal aristocracy whose head was King HaileSelassie, a despotic pro America ruler whose kingdom was heaven for few and hell for the majority of Ethiopians.

   For obvious reason EDU was, at one point, a favorite to the mastermind behind these covert-operations, Director of CIA, William Casey. That was because EDU had no affiliation to Marxism and also achieved some success at early stage in fighting against Megistu’s army. Unfortunately or fortunately EDU’s victory was short lived. TPLF became CIA’s number one choice. Hence it continued, along with EPLF, to receive necessary aid package from Saudi Arabia, an arrangement formulated by CIA, as part of the covert action, with the help of Prince Bandar, a Saudi ambassador to the US. However, CIA’s open and direct role in helping the groups was non lethal. It was because of the earlier bill passed by US Congress banning lethal aid to covert operations. Unfortunately, the Congress’ bill had no jurisdiction over Prince Bandar’s performance. Prince Bandar was also known for being the best go-between to broker deals between US and Middle Eastern anti-American factions and visible figures, such as Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadl-Allāh of Lebanon who had been variously attributed by the media as being the spiritual leader of Hezbollah. He also assisted CIA in a secrete operation to prevents the Communists from coming to power in Italy.

   Having examined the above, one may wonder if there is any tangible reason behind Ethiopian government’s reaction to HRW’s report other than an attempt to cop out from the real issue at hand. Is the current allegation by HRW real or fabrication? A similar accusation surfaced during a political debate that took place just before Ethiopia’s current national election. During the debate, which was broadcasted on Ethiopian TV, Lidetu Ayalew, an interesting figure in Ethiopian politics and a leader of one of the many opposition parties in Ethiopia, raised an issue pertaining employment practice by the government where political affiliation was the basis. I don’t remember if any response was given by the participant representing EPRDF, the government’s coalition party. However, if the government was innocent as it claimed to be, all it had to do was to provide its proof against HRW’s allegation. Unfortunately, the government chose a different method. This only made the government look guilty. Or is it like we say it in Amharic, “fes yalebet zelay ayechilem”?

   It is my belief that the government has come one step forward in recent years when it comes to correcting human right abuse in Ethiopia. Despite the many obstacles, while marching to this new political culture known as democracy (whatever it means), I see a potential for the government to go more steps forward. Of course this should not be only up to the government; we all have to play part in it. After all one builds democracy from the bottom up, not the other way around.

   We have lots of work to do. Our nation is a product of mismanagement by its corrupted leaders in the past, religious institutions and even backward cultures. No wonder Ethiopia is said to have been sleeping for 3000 years. Please let’s not drift back. We cannot afford to play “we are righteous and the rest of the world is wrong about us.” If that is the case, we are doomed to fail again and again

   GOD BLESS ETHIOPA AND THE REST OF THE WOLRD

   Ezana from Toronto

   UPDATES

   The two covert actions, one in Iran and the other in Nicaragua (also called Iran-Contra because it involved the selling of armament to Iran and the profit to fun the contras fighting Daniel Ortega’s Marxist government in Nicaragua) resulted in total failure. The covert actions were exposed when a newspaper in Beirut leaked the story. Number of prominent figures, such as Oliver North, John Poindexter, Duane Clarridge, and Casper Weinberger were used as escape goat to cover up the more responsible and sinister body, CIA, and its director, William Casey. Casey died of cancer before even the case was brought to court. Ronald Regan who gave Casey a green light to execute the operations was never held responsible.

   The covert action operation by CIA in Lebanon also failed. The groups that CIA intended to eliminate, such as Hizbollah continued to operate in a larger scale. The most recent one being Hizbollah’s success in capturing Israeli soldiers in Southern Lebanon in 2006.

   After number of failed attempt on his life by CIA, Mossad and the Saudi intelligence, the Shiite Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah died of natural cause on July 4, 2010 at age 75 in Beirut, Lebanon where his death was mourned by hundreds of thousands people.

   The covert action operation in Angola never materialized. Jonas Savimbi’s UNITA failed to succeed in replacing MPLA’s government. USA found him irrelevant and an obstacle to the so-called peace and democratization process in Angola. Hence, according to the recent whistleblower, CIA assassinated him in 2002

   The clandestine operation in Chad brought CIA’s man, Hissen Habre, to power in 1982. Shortly after, Habre’s government became one of African brutal dictator. According to a Chadian truth commission, his government is responsible for 40,000 politically motivated murders and 200,000 cases of torture and ethnic cleansing during his rule that lasted until 1990.

   The only covert operation that succeeded fully is the one in Ethiopia. TPLF came to power in Ethiopia in 1991. At about the same time Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia and became independent nation.

   Prince Bandar ended his service as an ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States in 2005 and went back home where he was appointed Secretary-General of the National Security Council by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on 16 October 2005. The last official sighting of Bandar in public seems to have been on 10 December 2008, when he met the king in Jeddah. Recently there have been number of rumor surrounding his disappearance or whereabouts.

   Despite Ethiopian government’s accusation, the human right watch groups continue to expose human right abuse. The most recent such action was done by WikiLeak which printed 400, 000 page report on human right abuse by USA and the Allies against civilians in Iraq. Transparency International also published its 2010 Corruption Perception Index. Ethiopia stands 116th out of 178 ranks. United States stands 22nd.

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