First ever Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Day celebrated with pomp
Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Day was celebrated Friday in various towns of regional states by holding public gatherings and panel discussions.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and People's Day is a day in which various nations and nationalities would promise to stand in unison to extricate the country from abject poverty and build democracy.
President Girma Woldegiorgis laid a cornerstone for a permanent cultural center to be constructed.
Individuals and organizations who have outstanding contribution for promoting the identities of various nations and nationalities were decorated Friday with thousands of members of the various nations and nationalities in the country in attendance.
Addressing the crowd gathered at Convention Center for the celebration, the first of its kind, Meles said the Day would help the different nations, nationalities and people in the country to strengthen bond among them.
He said the national constitution has enabled the various nations and nationalities in the country to enjoy their democratic and human rights, which itself are historic.
Meles said the Day has also enabled the different nations and nationalities to exercise their democratic rights while enjoying equality of nations and nationalities.
We are not fighting Islamist: Ethiopia
thiopian troops spark fresh fighting: UIC
By Groum Abate
There have not been any clashes with the Islamists, said an official spokesperson with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but added the result would be a foregone conclusion if there have been any.
The UIC are talking too much and if they go to war with us they know as much as we do what will happen to them, said the spokesperson to Capital .
He clarified the clash that occurred Friday was between the UIC and the Somali government.
Somali government fighters, backed up by Ethiopian troops, have attacked Islamist positions sparking heavy fighting, the BBC reported Friday quoting an Islamist leader.
The clashes have occurred in Dinsoor, 110 kms south-west of government base Baidoa. Islamist leader Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed called on all Somalis to "stand up and defeat the enemies".
The fighting come two days after the UN approved plans to send peacekeepers to Somalia was rejected by the Islamists.
If the Ethiopian involvement is confirmed, it would be the first time that Islamist and Ethiopian troops have come into direct contact.
Deputy Defence Minister Salat Ali Jelle confirmed the fighting to the BBC but denied that Ethiopian troops were involved.
The BBC's reporter in the capital, Mogadishu , says local villagers report seeing Ethiopian troops.
He says telecommunications to Dinsoor have been cut off.
An Islamist commander in the area, Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal, told the AFP, "I don't have the exact toll, but I am told many people have died, adding that the attack had been repelled”.
"Our forces have been raided by Ethiopian troops, so people get up and fight against the Ethiopians," he said after Muslim Friday prayers in Mogadishu .
Ethiopia has denied repeated claims that its troops are fighting alongside government militia but admits to having hundreds of military trainers in Baidoa, the only town the government controls.
On Thursday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said African nations who will contribute to the proposed force should persuade the UIC that it would not be an "invasion force".
"It is important that we get the Somalis to understand that the force is coming in to help," he said.
The resolution proposes sending an African protection force to Baidoa and easing an international arms embargo on Somalia to help the government re-arm.
The US-led resolution, adopted unanimously by the 15-nation Security Council, said the government represented "the only route to achieving peace and stability" in Somalia , which has been without effective central government since 1991.
The Islamists have also accused Ethiopia of shelling the town of Bandiradley , 630 kms north-east of the capital, Mogadishu , which is the most northern town they control.
One pro-government fighter was reportedly killed in the clashes.
The US , Ethiopia and the Somali government also fear the Islamists are offering shelter to al-Qaeda operatives, a charge they deny.
A recent UN report accused several countries, including Ethiopia and Eritrea , of breaking the weapons ban.
ADB to move into Nani towers
By Tedla Yeneakal
The African Development Bank (ADB) is negotiating with Ethio- Saudi business tycoon Sheik Mohammed Al-amoudi, owner of the tallest building in the country for rent, sources disclosed.
Nani towers, a 22- storey building in front of Ghion hotel is close to completion at the cost of 350 million birr. The dark-blue glass and aluminum framework alone is estimated at 40 million birr. Construction was launched in May 1998 on a 2800 sq meters plot but was halted sometime due to a row over allocation of resources.
According to sources, the ADB will make Nani its headquarters and is expected to move into the building in January 2007 after it is officially inaugurated. The building was launched to house all the Midroc conglomerates including a shopping mall.
ADB officials based in Addis Ababa declined to comment on details of the arrangements. However, according to sources, ADB officials were in Addis Ababa in September to reach a consensus with Midroc Ethiopia on the rental processes the details of which is not known.
Hailegebriel Gebre Sellasie, a consultant of Sheik Al-Amoudi, drew up the architectural design of the building and a Saudi based consultancy firm, Innovators, owned by the Sheik himself is also working in the project.
The African Development Bank is a regional multilateral development bank, engaged in promoting the economic development and social progress of its Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in Africa . The bank, established in 1964, started functioning in 1966 with its Headquarters in Abidjan , Côte d' Ivoire . Its shareholders are the 53 countries in Africa as well as 24 countries in the Americas , Europe, and Asia .
The bank's operations cover agriculture, public utilities, transport, industry, the social sectors of health and education, and concerns cutting across sectors, such as poverty reduction, environmental management, gender mainstreaming, and population activities. Most bank financing is designed to support specific projects. However, the bank also provides program, sector, and policy-based loans to enhance national economic management. The bank also finances non publicly guaranteed private sector operations. It actively pursues co-financing activities with bilateral and multilateral institutions.
The bank's highest policy-making body is its Board of Governors, consisting one for each member country. The board issues general directives concerning the operational policies of the bank. Amendments to the bank's agreement, the admittance of new members, and capital increases require the approval of the bank's governors. With the exception of certain powers specifically reserved to it under the Agreement, the Board of Governors has delegated its powers to the Board of Directors.
In accordance with Article 32 of the Agreement Establishing the Bank, the Board of Directors is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the bank. It is composed of 18 Executive Directors who are elected every three years, 12 representing the RMCs and 6 representing non-regional members. The Board of Directors approves all loans, guarantees, equity investments, and borrowings; it also sets policy guidelines for Bank operations, including operational and financial, and borrowing programs.
Guido Heremans - New Djibouti Port Chief
By Mina Yirga
Guido Heremans has been appointed the Director General of Djibouti Port with effect from December 1, 2006, replacing the retiring David Hawker.
Heremans new responsibilities include the port's activities, construction, commissioning, and operation of the new Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) a ccording to information reaching Capital.
David Hawker has been managing the port for the last two and half years and would assist the current general manager as an advisor.
Thierry Vandenkerckhove is appointed as the new general manager of the Djibouti International Airport .
DP World manages the Port of Djibouti , which is located 11 Km away and manages the US$130 million, Doraleh oil terminal, officially opened February last.
DP World's latest project in the Port of Djibouti is the 400 million dollar DCT and will enable the terminal operator to handle an additional 1.5 million TEU annually.
The President of Djibouti, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, together with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, officially launched construction of the new terminal in November last.
In 2000 the government went into partnership with Dubai 's DP World, one of the world's largest container port operators.
The Dubai government-controlled DP World became one of the world's top three container port operators after its 6.9-billion-dollar acquisition of Britain 's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co earlier this year.
Djibouti as a main maritime passage and a main trading route between East and West dates back 3500 years, the time of maritime explorations of the Red Sea . Between 1960 and 1970, port activity was developed as part of an international maritime exchange network. The Red Sea had become one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and Djibouti found itself acting as its service station.
Located at the southern end of the Red sea on the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti is not only seeking to be East Africa's first port but a key staging post between the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal shipping route through to the Indian Ocean.
Djibouti 's strategic location enabled the port authorities to successfully raise to the challenge of turning the port into a regional hub for the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and in a wider context the three continents of Europe, Africa and Asia .
Transport giant Yegeta starts Kia
By Tedla Yeneakal
Yeshiareg Zewdie, owner of one of the biggest transport companies has started another new venture, Kia transport. She signed an agreement with Ethio-Investment Group for the purchase of 20 Scania trucks at a cost of 2 million birr each.
The new company Kia, named after Yeshiareg's son is her second company that will engage in the transport business alongside Yegeta Trading, which is already involved in transport, trading and manufacturing.
She has major contracts with more than her 45 fuel trucks to transport oil products from the Port of Djibouti .
Yeshiareg's 18 trucks have already started business, while two are awaiting formal licenses, sources said.
Yeshiareg was imprisoned for more than four years with an allegation of corruption and was set free by the court a year ago. Back from prison she faced another charge from the Awash Bank for a claim of 28 million birr payment from her and African Insurance Company, which entered a deal with her as a guarantee to the loan.
Yeshiareg was not available for comments despite several attempts.
Nile Media Network-Ethiopia Chapter launched
By Andualem Sisay
Ethiopian journalists working in both private and state owned media founded Thursday the Nile Media Network-Ethiopia Chapter in Hilton Addis.
Journalists of nine Nile Basin countries formed an independent media group works in collaboration with the Nile Media Network on December 22, 2005 in Alexandria, Egypt said Ato Amare Aregawi, its Chairman.
The network aims to inform and educate about the prospects of the Nile Basin cooperation and its benefits apart from equitable utilization of the common water resources.
30 journalists attended a two-day workshop of the Nile Basin Initiative December 6-7 at the end of which the Ethiopia Chapter of the network was formed.
Nile Basin Initiative mooted the idea of the Nile Media Network to deliver accurate information of the activities of the Initiative to the public of the Nile River countries.
Each country chapter receives an annual budget of about 30,000 USD from the Nile Basin Initiative. Except Eritrea , every Nile River Basin country has formed its own country chapter of Media Network
After an intensive first phase of 1997-1999 intensive dialogue among members to develop a platform of trust and a shared vision, the Nile Basin Initiative as a partnership was launched in 1999 by the riparian states of the River Nile through the Council of Ministers of the water affairs in the Nile basin states.
During the second phase (1999-2001) a strategic planning was developed and donor support mobilized, most notably at the International Conference for Cooperation on the Nile (ICCON) held in Geneva in 2001 where the development partners committed about USD 130 million to the Initiative.
The major objective of the Nile Basin Initiative is to avoid conflict among the Nile Basin member states on the usage of the river in cooperation on a win-win basis.
The Initiative is funded by the Nile Basin Countries, African Development Bank, Global Environment Facility, Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, United Nations Development Program, and government of Canada , Denmark , Finland , Germany Italy, Netherlands , Norway , Sweden and the United States .
The Initiative has accomplished a lot facilitating discussions among member states and project designing. The 1959 Agreement signed between Egypt and Sudan to use 100% the Nile River is not yet replaced to enable ten riparian states of fair use.
Ethiopia , Sudan , Egypt , Kenya , Rwanda , Burundi , Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eritrea (as observer), Tanzania , and Uganda are the ten Nile Basin Initiative Countries.
Awards for Corruption watchdogs
By Tedla Yeneakal
The Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (FEACC) is reviewing its structure to award corruption watchdogs and further strengthen their safety after they tip the Commission on corruption suspects.
Berhanu Assefa, Principal Consultant of the Public Relations Department at the Commission told reporters that the Commission is currently undertaking a study to award watchdogs, who have contributed significantly in the Anti-Corruption war.
“We are looking for the appropriate way to award individuals, who have constantly tipped the Commission to unearth corrupt practices,” he said. “We are pushing for a new law to be put in place for awarding watchdogs and further strengthen their safety.”
FEACC, since its establishment five years ago, investigated a number of alleged corruption cases and passed charges against more than 100 people who received from one to 19 years imprisonment. The FEACC was given the right to protect the safety of watchdogs, to the extent of standing in support of them to fight for their rights if they are fired from their jobs in the process of tipping the Commission.
The Commission announced last week that it has been undertaking a study since late September in five select sub-cities in Addis Ababa mainly aimed at working out procedures related to land administration and other city related works.
Messay Besefat, Director of the Anti- Corruption & Investigation Department with the Commission told reporters that the study was necessitated because of the increased tip from the public and media especially in the land administration departments of the selected sub cities.
Kolfe Keranio, Nefas Selk- Lafto, Akaki-Kaliti, Bole and Yeka Sub cities are the five selected sub cities where the study is being undertaken.
According to the director, so far the Commission has been gathering relevant information in two rounds separately focusing in each on land and house administration separately.
The Commission was established with a three-pronged motive to attack on corruption, namely prevention, investigation and prosecution. The International Anti Corruption Day was celebrated, yesterday, December 9 and the FEACC marked the day with several events.
Teachers salary row hits Nazreth School
By Groum Abate
The Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat has temporarily closed down Nazreth School after the teachers and the management of the school had a dispute over salary increment and the teachers provident fund.
The secretariat closed the school Dec 5 notifying parents, teachers told Capital . The teachers had set up a committee to negotiate with the management of the school on the issues of salary increment and their right of their provident fund.
Even while the dispute could not be resolved till Dec 9, the announcement for school reopening Dec 12 came out.
Contained since last academic year, the dispute centers around the staff salary increment request, which the school management rejected, according to sources inside the school.
Discovering that their November pay roll prepared minus the provident fund (15%), which is against the practice, the staff refused to collect their salary.
A week later, the management unable to settle the dispute resorted to closing the school finally.
At this juncture, representatives of the sub-city's Education Bureau mediated the case, whereby the school agreed to incorporate the staff provident fund in the payroll after which the staff decided to report for duty.
Nonetheless, the administration failed to comply with the agreements reached and opted for the school's closure instead, for an unspecified period of time, while the staff, which had not yet collected salaries, are still on duty.
The administration decided to withhold the provident fund until the ongoing increment negotiation between the management and the labor union settled, according to the teachers.
The talks between the two parties, started last academic year, however, remained inconclusive till date. The officials in the secretariat have decided to appoint a board to administer the school, which shall work hand in hand with stakeholders including the school's parent committee in order to bring about conducive teaching learning atmosphere.
The teachers also told Capital that a new headmaster has been appointed on Friday December 8. According to them the dispute started when the secretariat announced that it will call on teachers for a meeting after they submitted their signed appeal to the management of the school.
However, after two weeks the secretariat posted a notice for parents that the school terminated the learning process for unspecified period of time.
The teachers feel that the school has never seen such a drastic action to the extent of closure so far. According to the letter posted on the school premises for parents, the learning process was disrupted because of some teachers' illegal deeds.
Nazareth School is administered by The Daughters of the Heart of Mary a congregation of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. The school was founded by members of the congregation that has been serving in the country since 1952. The Daughters of the Heart of Mary are engaged in educational, medical and catechetical works.
The Society of The Daughters of the Heart of Mary was founded in France in 1790 at the height of the French Revolution, through the dual inspiration of Mademoiselle Adelaide Champion de Cice and Father Pierre Joseph Picot de Cloriviere S.J., with the aim of preserving religious life in troubled times.
The Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat (ECS) in its present form was established in 1965 and got its first organizational structure in 1971. The Archbishop of Addis Ababa is the de facto Chairman of the administrative board of ECS and is recognized by the Ethiopian Government as the head of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia . Between 1974 and 1985 ECS's main focus was gathering and distributing food and medicines in the form of emergency relief.
Entrepreneurs Challenges in the new millennium
By Andualem Sisay
Running socially responsible and competitive business in the new millennium is a key to business success , was the motto for the up coming Ethio-Millennium last Christmas Trade Fair organizers. Yoda Promotion Service and Dassouki Afro Arabian Agency held a one-day workshop at the Hilton Addis Tuesday.
“The purpose of the workshop was to provide ideas to innovators and inventors in the new millennium to overcome the challenges they would face and be active in the development of the country,” said Ato Wudneh Mulugeta, Yoda Promotion Owner and Manager and organizer of The Ethio-Millennium last Christmas Trade .
W/ro Mulu Solomon, President of Women…. said that the world has been changing by entrepreneurs, not politicians. What the politicians do is create enabling environment for change.
The features of Ethiopian Business in the new millennium, Innovations lead the millennium, and Business competitiveness and social responsibility were the papers presented on Tuesday's workshop along with the experiences of various Ethiopian businessmen.
The experience of Ato Daniel Mebratu, President of Ethiopian Inventors Association and Owner and Manager of DAN Technocraft caught the attention of most participants. “Many local manufacturers are getting out of the market not because of mismanagement or lack of quality of their products, but due to the challenges they face,” Ato Daniel said.
For the sake of personal accumulation of wealth, it is better to be importer than trying to be a manufacturer in Ethiopia from his experience. Getting easy loans from banks, inability of the government to protect local manufacturers from dumps of cheap foreign products are the reasons for such a decision.
He also mentioned the sabotages he faced during auction of lifts for buildings. According Ato Daniel, the price of one imported lift before DAN Technocraft began manufacturing it locally was up to 150,000 USD . After DAN dropped the price to 30,000 and 40,000 with similar quality, the price of one imported lift is equal to the price of two lifts of DAN Technocraft's. “Although our locally manufactured lifts are internationally certified and cheaper, some individuals set deliberate criteria that exclude us from participating in bids.”
This discouraging situation for local manufacturers who are trying to introduce new technologies in the country and create employment opportunities should not have to be continued in the new Millennium, according to Ato Daniel. In addition to changing our attitude towards locally manufactured products, “A responsible office has to be formed in the Ministry of Trade and Industry for solving the problems of local manufacturers and enhance the working environment.”
DAN Technocraft, which began manufacturing office equipments some 30 years ago, is the first to manufacture lifts in Ethiopia and is working towards exporting its products to other countries.
Micro financing to double in Ethiopia
By Andualem Sisay
The Micro-finance institutions in Ethiopia will access about 5 billion birr from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in three years time, said Ato Neway Gebreab Chief Executive Economic Advisor of the Prime Minister.
In his keynote address to the African Microfinance Institutions Network (AFMIN), Monday at the UNECA, he stated that these supports of the government to Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) will double their outreach in Ethiopia in the coming three years.
Currently, 27 licensed MFIs give banking services to some 1.7 million active clients to “economically empower the poor households”. With a total capital of 800 million birr they have loaned more than 2 billion birr to their clients, according to Dr. Wolday Amha, Chairman of AFMIN. Amhara Credit and Saving Institution (ACSI) and Debit Credit and Saving Institution (DECSI) are the biggest delivering banking services to the productive but resource starved people in rural and urban areas of Northern Ethiopia .
Microfinance was introduced in Ethiopia ten years ago after the ratification of Microfinance Law 40/96. The biggest amount of loan these institutions could give to an individual was 5,000 birr. As per a recent revision of the law a week ago the institutions can loan up to one percent of their capital. Elaborating on the revision, Dr. Wolday says: “Since most big banks loan to the rich and MFI serve the very poor, we needed to figure some means to address the needs of those engaged in small business.”
MFIs in Ethiopia are under the regulation and supervision of National Bank of Ethiopia . Rural Financial Intermediation Program was established with a total fund of 87 million USD on loans from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), African Development Bank and the Ethiopian government, to provide loan fund and build the capacity of MFIs and rural saving and credit cooperatives said Ato Neway Gebreab.
The AFMIN is a regional association of 21 country-level microfinance networks in the continent representing more than 500 MFIs serving over 10 million clients.
Beginning in 1997, African microfinance leaders, with support from Women's World Banking and UNDP, work to establish, reorganize or strengthen country-level microfinance networks dedicated to building shared performance standards, institutional capacity and policy change in the microfinance industry.
In Africa , where 300 million people (almost half of the total population) live in extreme poverty, only 4% of the populations have a bank account.
Rotary Entoto donates books to Tiya School
By Mina Yirga
The Entoto Rotary club, one of the six Rotary clubs in Ethiopia , has donated books worth 25,000 birr to the Tiya Elementary school last Sunday. The books were obtained from MaC Milan McGraw Hill , USA .
Rotarian Abdourahman Elmi Ismael, President of the Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Entoto, and Rtn. Diego Sanchez club member delivered the books to Tiya. “Education is an important tool in the fight against poverty. We have now been able to get first hand information about Tiya town and its advancement in many sectors.
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Entoto we promise to work with the school and the woreda as much as possible to assist the school with required educational materials,” said Rtn. Sanchez noting that it is however important that the school uses the books properly and advise the club of its real need.
The Gurage Zone Education bureau expressed their heart felt appreciation for the donation of books.
They explained that with the opportunities provided by the government, the Woreda has been able to increase educational standards in the area fully realizing the importance of education for development.
A total of 31,729 out of which 14,250 are girl students, are enrolled in different schools in the Woreda. This is a multifold increase from 10.2% in 1985 EC to 89% in enrolment indicating a positive attitudinal change of the society.
The school director, the zonal education bureau representative, and members from the Entoto Rotary club attended the handing over ceremony.
Tiya is a town in southern Ethiopia located in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa . The Sodo woreda is divided into 55 kebeles of which Tiya town is among the four urbanized kebeles.
Tiya is known for its nearby archeological site distinguished by numerous steles which mark a large, prehistoric burial complex. The archeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980. Other neighboring points of interest include Melka Awash and the Hare Shetan Crater Lake.
AAU strides for a professional association, graduate program
By Endale Assefa
Dr. Workneh Kelbessa , chair man of the philosophy department in Addis Ababa University said, “AAU will establish graduate program in Philosophy and a new professional association of Ethiopian philosophers next year.”
Asked about the significance of the establishment, Dr. Workneh said that it would help philosophy graduates to acquire more skills that are applicable in a full range of enterprises including business, civil society organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions and of course, education.
While AAU was celebrating ‘The World Philosophy Day' for the third time on November 16th , 2006 the chairman disclosed that Philosophy as an academic discipline provides individuals with some powerful and fundamental skills along with an overall disposition towards life beyond the parameters of the academic discipline itself.
The Philosophy Day was celebrated with lectures and a thorough, wide ranging and sometimes controversial discussion of progress, culture, conflict and Democracy. It also treated ensuing questions and discussions concerning the relation between theology and philosophy to how to overcome real and seemingly incommensurable differences in effectively addressing such concrete issues as ‘ethnic conflict' and ‘democracy'.
The ceremony also entertained a full program of music, lectures and open discussions with the aim of enhancing a better understanding with in Ethiopian society of essential role philosophy plays in human development.
Landmark victory in FGM case
KMG-Tope s tatement on Khalid Ahmed's case
By our staff reporter
November 2 nd , 2006 was a day that stirred mixed emotions among those of us fighting Female Genital Excision (FGE) around the world says Bogalech Gebre Founder of Kembatti Mentti Gezzimma –Tope (KMG). It was a landmark day, on one hand, because, according to news reports, Khalid Adem, an Ethiopian living in the United States, was convicted of cruelty to a child and aggravated battery for circumcising his daughter; but the tragedy also shocked us how a little girl, at the age of 2 was traumatized, supposedly by her own father and that she would continue to be distressed throughout her life, for she believes, her dear father is being imprisoned because of her, on the other hand.
Following is the statement from KMG –Tope on the issue:
‘We are rejoicing not because a man is punished and sentenced for 10 years; but the very fact that the world is taking very seriously, the issue of millions of young girls being mutilated alive, every year.
The message this case sends around the world, on the violation of a child's human rights; particularly to Africa . In Ethiopia , for instance, parents consider children as their own property; a father being punished for normally what he would consider his own private affairs, is exemplary;
The severity of the sentence of 10 years again is commendable to countries like Ethiopia where the law against Female Genital Excision/Mutilation (FGE/M) is not deterrent.
The punishment in Ethiopia for someone who does mutilation , or participates in the process is a light imprisonment of three months or 500 Birr. Imagine, a girl can bleed and die; a child is traumatized throughout her life as a result of this practice, yet, the punishment does not match the crime, and most importantly, it is not preventive.
While hailing this as a landmark victory for those fighting the practice, the question still remains: Does this case pose a deterrent for parents who consider performing this wrongly felt, “necessary” rite-of-passage on their children? Whose responsibility is it to ensure that the rights of these often-silenced members of society (female children) are protected?
In the United States , this trial is an example of how a strong legal and human rights system can ensure the protection of the rights of the voiceless and powerless. But thousands of these rituals happen around the world every year, usually because of lack of information and awareness and misconceptions about the harmful effects of such a practice. In Ethiopia , harmful customary practices such as FGE, bridal abduction and rape rob girl children of their rights to their bodies and life free from mental and emotional trauma.
In cases parents are unable to fulfill this responsibility it must fall on the neighbors, communities and governments to ensure the rights of these children are protected. Unfortunately when one man is convicted of circumcising his daughter in the U.S. , hundreds of Ethiopian circumcisers, medical professionals go unpunished in spite of the law being against them.
In July 2003, the African Union adopted a Protocol to the African Charter on People's and Human Rights in Maputo, Mozambique that covers a broad range of women's rights, including the elimination of gender–based discrimination against women, the right to dignity; the right to life, the integrity and security of the person . Article 5 of the Protocol requires that all forms of FGM be condemned and prohibited. Yet, among those 53 African States who adopted, many are yet to ratify including Ethiopia .
FGM/E is the partial or complete removal of external female genitalia for cultural beliefs or religious misconception. The World Health Organization estimates 120 million girls have undergone the practice, and over two million undergo the ritual every year. FGM is most common in African, and Ethiopia contains one of the highest percentages of women who have been excised.
Towards this, KMG–Tope, a women's self help in Ethiopia is working for the elimination of FGE/M and other harmful customary practices that violates the human rights and bodily integrity of girl child.
KMG has shown that change to cultural norms is possible, if there is commitment to action, and people are sensitized about the harmful effects of such practices. Just recently, hundreds of un-excised girls marched proudly during the annual celebration organized by communities themselves- "Whole Body Healthy Life-Freedom from Female Genital Excision" in Kembatta-Tembaro zone, denouncing the practice and claiming their right to whole bodies. This small transformation has proven the practice is not only drying up in some areas but has the potential to be eliminated in others.
We can only hope that the awareness and interest generated by Khalid Adam's case will encourage those men and women in countries where the practice goes unchecked, to raise their voices in unison against the practice. Let the screams of the victims that have been muffled all around the world be heard.'
Find out who circumcised my daughter?
Khalid's passionate plea from the prison
By Andualem Sisay
“It has been weeks since I started serving 10 years of prison time for the crime I did not commit. I have done everything possible to fight this false allegation that put me in prison and tarnished the image of my country, Ethiopia ,” writes Khalid. His brother Adle Ahmed gave to Capital a copy of the letter written from prison and titled The Truth Shall Set Me Free . Khalid is charged with FGM, circumcising his own two year old daughter in the US .
“Never did I circumcise (mutilate) my daughter. Never did I in my life witness such an act. …I have always stood against such practice since I first heard it once existed, that was some 20 years ago. Nevertheless, my ex-wife and her family were extremely smart in their plot. They claim, since I am from Ethiopia , I performed such an act on my daughter (while coaching my daughter to believe so),” the letter states. According to the letter, Fortunate (Khalid's ex-wife a South African by nationality) and her family claim that Khalid circumcised his daughter in 2001 and that they found out about it in 2003.
“Mind you, prior to the allegation we have been in a custody battle for almost three years. All along, my ex-wife has been denying me visitation right to my daughter. Is it earthly possible this could take place on a child of two years and a mother and grandmother (Pediatric Nurse) would not find out for 16 months? Why would my ex-wife research and collect data on FGM for months way before she brought up this false allegation unless for the purpose of setting me up in this evil plot? Why would I as a father let a friend of mine hold the leg of my daughter (as they claim) while I perform such a humiliating act? …who is my friend? What is his name?” Khalid asks in his letter.
“The truth is simple: only do they know how, when this has happened, not because of culture or any belief rather for their own evil purpose. (For now they succeed brilliantly)….I still plead with the district attorney's office, law enforcement agencies to seek the truth.”
“…Am I the only Ethiopian who has daughter in the United States ? My family and friends who have daughters here in the US and Ethiopia , are they performing these on their daughters in 21 st Century? Since we all are from Ethiopia ? I personally took a polygraph test (lie detector) test and passed, and I am still to take FBI or GBI monitored polygraph test to the truth of the fact. (What else does an innocent person can do?). I still firmly believe someday the truth shall set me free. Even though they severed a father and daughter relationship, my love for my daughter knows no limit till eternity!” The letter ends with Psalm 37:1-7 from the Bible and Surah 4:135 from the Quran.
Anti-FMG activist working in the rural areas of southern Ethiopia , on conditions of anonymity commented to Capital that never in the history of Ethiopia she has heard or come across a father circumcising his daughter. It is also unbelievable to hear that her mother did not know for two years that her child was circumcised since the pain will not stop in five days, she further added. Though does not want to comment about the court proceedings, she was happy to see the whole world noticing FGM because of this case.”
Adle Ahmed, Khalid's brother said that his family was against FMG practice. None of our sisters or children of our sisters are circumcised, he added. There is no hard or soft fact that my brother circumcised his own daughter. This was just a nasty divorce fight that ended up in Khalid being framed by his wife for something he didn't commit. The court or the public should not only give ears to the advocates of anti-FGM organizations and consider my brother as guilty by denying him the chance to present the ten evidences that will set him free. “We need the American government and all those who are against FGM practices like our family to see the truth of the case and allow my brother to prove his innocence by carefully looking into all his evidences.”
According to Adle the court took in to account only the words of his child which lacked consistency, the words of Fortunate (her mother) who noticed circumcision after two years while changing her diapers every day and the voice of anti-FGM advocates, and the fact that Ethiopia and Somalia are the countries where FGM is still practiced.
Currently Ethiopian communities in the United States are raising fund to hire lawyers and appeal afresh to restart the case, said Adle Ahmed.
Note: Capital welcomes lawyers, physiologists, anti-FGM activists and other experts' professional opinion on Khalid's case.
Mugher, Sinoma sign over $129 mln deal
By Groum Abate
Mugher Cement Enterprise and the Chinese Sinoma International Company signed Tuesday an agreement for the construction of the third production line that would be carried out with an outlay of 129.97 million dollars .
Tefera Abebe general manager of Mugher cement factory at the signing ceremony held at the Sheraton Addis, said though the enterprise has taken steps to meet the country's demand for cement, the ever-increasing construction activities necessitated the immediate implementation of the expansion project.
Tefera said the third line expansion project would help ease shortage of cement, which is the major problem the country's construction sector is currently facing.
The project has the capacity to produce 900,000 tons of clinker and 1.4 million tons of cement annually.
Preparations are underway to install the clinker production machinery at Mugher, while the cement mill would be installed on 20 hectares of land around the area commonly known as Tatek 10-kms west of Addis Ababa .
The expansion project would commence in mid-December 2006 and would be completed after 21 months the contract indicated.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin, who is also board chairman of Mugher Cement Enterprise, said the expansion project is vital since Mugher, the country's major cement factory, would be able to meet the ever growing demand for cement which resulted from the booming of the construction sector.
Seyoum said the demand for cement has called for the participation of private investors in the sector and added that the government would provide necessary assistance for the sector. He said the project would help ease the problem within two years.
Vice Chairman of Sinoma International Company, Eng. Wu Shoufu said the signing of the agreement following the Sino-African Cooperation Summit shows the growing friendship between China and all African countries.
Stop defaming us - UEDF
By Andualem Sisay
United Ethiopian Democratic Front (UEDF) calls for government officials and media to stop labeling the party with Somalia Islamic Courts Union (SICU) and misrepresenting the party's decision in the parliament on the current situation in Somalia .
‘It is our constitutional and democratic right to disagree on issues or decisions that we are not convinced', stated a press statement of UEDF Thursday. Labeling us with SICU due to our position in the current Somalia issue at the parliament is violating our constitutional and democratic rights,” said Prof Beyene Petros, Chairman of UEDF. “The constitution gives us the right to take such defamation to the court. Therefore, we warn individuals or institutions to stop defaming and misrepresenting our decision in the parliament.”
Journalists attending the press briefing, in the party office asked many questions to its representatives. “I am personally on the side of the Oromo people and I represent Ethiopian people at large,” said Dr. Merera Gudina of Oromo National Congress, member of UEDF while answering a query, in which side was the UEDF?
There were three major concerns of the party that led them to deny vote for the parliament's resolution.
First was the failure to take proper precaution to protect our country from a propaganda campaign implying that “ Ethiopia has declared war on Somalia ”.
In Somalia, numerous regional and international interests are being reflected competing against each other, and many forces are standing beside Islamic Courts Union and we should not unwillingly drag our country into permanent war situation was the second concern.
The final concern of the party was the ideas which have ambiguous interpretation in article 1 (C and D) on the draft resolution by the EPRDF, “and especially the fact that international opposition and outside aggression and attack are mixed; we have a concerned that this situation will expose our country to the danger of internal division.”
“While these are the facts both the mass media which is under the full control of EPRDF and some pro-EPRDF private mass media are misinterpreting the position assumed by UEDF. ...like wise, some senior officials of the government, have been saying that they could not view our position any different from ‘treason'. We believe that such irresponsible position would amount to provocations that would undermine political freedom in our country.”
The statement urges all Ethiopians and international community to understand UEDF's positions in its proper sense
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