The human rights situation in Ethiopia
Instead greater extent , it appears that there is Norway Erik Solheim is the isolated , the only one who "did not see a systematic pattern" of violations of human rights.
Member of Parliament Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide had yesterday an interpellation in Parliament for the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim . Interpellation is commented in today's Aftenposten Christopher Rønneberg . Here you can read Eriksen SØREIDE main post.
Ole Michael Bjorndal - 29.02.2012 at . 15.12 Print
Below you can read Ine Marie Eriksen SØREIDE keynote speech during yesterday's interpellation debate in Parliament on the human rights situation in Ethiopia. The entire debate can be read on the Parliament website here
Main Post Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide
17 January last year , I traveled an interpellation debate on a highly critical report on Ethiopia by Human Rights Watch . The Minister said that Ethiopia " was perhaps Africa's greatest development success " and that it "is not a systematic pattern" of violations of human rights. Since then it has just acquired even more reports and revelations of the human rights situation worsens, and the organization " Freedom House " has downgraded the country from " partly free " to " non-free " .
In interpellation debate also said the Minister that "there is a consensus , unanimous view of ALL countries that Human Rights Watch report, " Development without Freedom : How Aid underwrites repression in Ethiopia " is not a reasonable picture of the situation . It believes the United States. It believes all our related western countries " .
However, the United States believes that the report provides a fair picture of the situation . The U.S. has since 2005 repeatedly pointed out that the report reveals . The embassy memo from the U.S. Embassy in Addis said : " The allegations about a politicization of foreign aid to Ethiopia , including humanitarian relief , consistent with reports from organizations , opposition politicians, the media and members of the international donor community" . As the United States points out, parts of other donor countries this perception.
The question is whether the Minister still believes that Norway's views on human rights and democracy situation in Ethiopia is in line with the perception of blue . a U.S. and EU?
Since previous interpellation debate has also Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi visited Norway . In October 2011, he was here in connection with the conference " Energy for all " . Ethiopia has recently achieved excellent results in terms of economic growth. However, the development in terms of basic human rights gone the opposite way .
Meles was greeted with pats on the shoulder of the Prime Minister and the Minister . But Meles was also met by many and loud protesters when he attended the conference. Many of them have even fled the regime. One of them , Adam Mulualem Zerikum , fled Ethiopia because he was oppositional . Aftenposten said, " Meles has imprisoned a hundred dissidents and journalists. He has created an impossible climate for foreign organizations to work in, because they are not allowed to talk about human rights. It is shameful that Norway invites a dictator here in Oslo. Norway must do as Sweden, and reduce ties with Meles Zenawi , and not strengthening them as you do now. "
While becoming more and more alarming reports coming that regime misusing aid to suppress opposition and dissidents , critical and independent journalists are imprisoned, that food aid only awarded to those who say they support the regime , foreign aid organizations can not operate in the country, that it has been illegal to drive public awareness about human rights and that there is widespread election fraud continues the Norwegian government with beating and Stoltenberg to cheer Meles of Ethiopia's economic progress . Human rights violations , we hear little about , however .
This past year we have seen a steady tightening of Meles ' regime , where terror laws used to crush the opposition, where dissidents are imprisoned and tortured , where human rights organizations such as Amnesty International expelled from the country - and where two Swedish journalists were recently sentenced to 11 years in prison for alleged terrorist activities then they should document the conditions for opposition. Unlike Norway expressed both U.S. and EU concern over the verdict . A handful of Ethiopian journalists and opposition politicians have also been convictions for so-called terrorist activities under the new anti - terror law , Ethiopians are sentenced from 14 years to lifetime imprisonment. Tom Rhodes of the Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) says about the second half of 2011 that: " The government has in the last four months spent widespread terror laws to arrest independent journalists in an attempt to eradicate the last critical voices in the country" .
The situation in Ethiopia has thus only escalated when it comes to human rights. Now in March, ruling against any and twenty second Ethiopian dissidents and human rights activists . Anti - terror law is beginning to seem like a strong repressive instrument against ordinary opposition and civil society activities. The U.S. has also spoken very critical about this. In addition, five of the UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights ( including freedom of speech , terrorism and human rights , and freedom of association ) a unique joint statement in early February where they directed strong criticism against Ethiopia and how anti - terror law is being implemented.
Another clear trend that many of the donors ( including Finland) discovered by chance , the strong degree of forced eviction - called " villagization - programs " . Regime should be forced to move 1.5 million people in four regions. Many have fled to refugee camps in Dadaab and Nairobi. it is the peripheral regions most affected - regions where staying minorities who have always been marginalized and oppressed by the central highland Ethiopia. thus continuing a century- long tradition , which in turn will create resistance and conflict between the periphery and the center .
It is particularly the pastoral / nomadic groups affected ; central government they see as a threat to the nation state . At the same time , these Muslims and not seen as so-called " real" Ethiopians . Western donors have a particular responsibility to carry out independent investigations to clarify whether our aid money is used for such forced relocation .
Human Rigth Watch has released the report , "Waiting Here for Death ' : Forced Displacement and' Villagization 'in Ethiopia 's Gambella Region , " which undergoes the first year of the forced relocation of one of the four regions , Gambella . The move shows the basis obsessive character , loss of livelihoods , the deteriorating food situation , and ongoing abuses by the armed forces against the people moved.
" The Ethiopian government's villagization program does not improve access to services for Gambella indigenous peoples and minorities , but undermines Instead, their livelihood and food security ," said Jan Egeland . Egeland dare be known to most people here at home, and now Europeans head of Human Rights Watch .
BBC World Service sent 17 January this year, an outrageous report from Gambella about the conditions in Ethiopia develops. The BBC reported the forced relocation of people and land grab by the government. The soil in these areas is sold or rented granted to foreigners, while Ethiopians need food aid . Today, 13 million Ethiopians receive food aid .
There are reports of serious human rights abuses , whether coercion, violence , rape - of " Stalin methods " which the reporter called it.
The Oakland Institute, which monitors many African countries for signs that people and groups of people moved from their lands , expresses itself also highly critical of the report .
BBC also interviewed Jan Egeland, who expressed strong concern for the conditions. Human Rights Watch visited 16 provinces of Ethiopia in hiding after being thrown out of the country in 2010.
Survival International came recently with a concern report points out the major problems now with displacement / villagization in the Omo Valley ( the most " ethnic" area of Ethiopia ) .
They conclude : " The Ethiopian government is responsible for some of the most violent and obvious abuse of human rights Survival International has seen in many years . By camouflaging the theft of land " development" expects regime to get away with these atrocities . "
The concern is that international observers ( be they diplomats , aid workers or independent experts ) , not access to make independent evaluations of the policy effects.
Finland's International Development Heidi Hautala , from Solheim's sister party , and a renowned defender of human rights , is highly critical of the regime in Ethiopia.
After she came back from Ethiopia, compared she Ethiopia and Zanzibar growth to show the point: " In Ethiopia , she said, the trend has been well measured by several indicators : Children can go to school and clean water is available. But free speech has shrunk , and with their own words , live human rights organizations in an atmosphere of fear. In Zanzibar , the atmosphere was the opposite : Development goals still need work, but civil society organizations were full of energy and vigor. "
Hautala said that she was amazed how the regime in Ethiopia believed that any human rights organization that has received foreign funding is considered to be a political opponent or competitor.
It observed a growing level of unease and uncertainty among international diplomats and donors to Ethiopia. Many are now voicing the question of " are we fooled by Meles ? "
President ,
During the debate on Ethiopia last year , showed Solheim British authorities and that from Right should agree the assessments they make . Mr President, we have been in the UK discussed Ethiopia with DfID and that we disagree with DfID about Ethiopia .
President ,
Land near us expressing great concern about the human rights situation in Ethiopia - for civil society, for journalists, for indigenous people . Sweden uses about half of what Norway is doing in aid to the country, but only channeled through organizations like the Red Cross , Doctors Without Borders , Plan and UN agencies . Norway , however, has accepted Meles ' principle of providing support directly to him. Finland expressed great concern over the trend is moving in the wrong direction . United States points out that " the allegations about a politicization of foreign aid to Ethiopia , including humanitarian relief , consistent with reports from organizations , opposition politicians, the media and members of the international donor community" .
Instead greater extent , it appears that there is Norway Erik Solheim is the isolated , the only one who "did not see a systematic pattern" of violations of human rights. The only one who believes that " there is a consensus , unanimous view of ALL countries that Human Rights Watch report, " Development without Freedom : How Aid underwrites repression in Ethiopia " is not a reasonable picture of the situation . Believes the United States. It believes all our related western countries " .
It's just not right , Mr. President.
http://www.hoyre.no
Instead greater extent , it appears that there is Norway Erik Solheim is the isolated , the only one who "did not see a systematic pattern" of violations of human rights.
Member of Parliament Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide had yesterday an interpellation in Parliament for the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim . Interpellation is commented in today's Aftenposten Christopher Rønneberg . Here you can read Eriksen SØREIDE main post.
Ole Michael Bjorndal - 29.02.2012 at . 15.12 Print
Below you can read Ine Marie Eriksen SØREIDE keynote speech during yesterday's interpellation debate in Parliament on the human rights situation in Ethiopia. The entire debate can be read on the Parliament website here
Main Post Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide
17 January last year , I traveled an interpellation debate on a highly critical report on Ethiopia by Human Rights Watch . The Minister said that Ethiopia " was perhaps Africa's greatest development success " and that it "is not a systematic pattern" of violations of human rights. Since then it has just acquired even more reports and revelations of the human rights situation worsens, and the organization " Freedom House " has downgraded the country from " partly free " to " non-free " .
In interpellation debate also said the Minister that "there is a consensus , unanimous view of ALL countries that Human Rights Watch report, " Development without Freedom : How Aid underwrites repression in Ethiopia " is not a reasonable picture of the situation . It believes the United States. It believes all our related western countries " .
However, the United States believes that the report provides a fair picture of the situation . The U.S. has since 2005 repeatedly pointed out that the report reveals . The embassy memo from the U.S. Embassy in Addis said : " The allegations about a politicization of foreign aid to Ethiopia , including humanitarian relief , consistent with reports from organizations , opposition politicians, the media and members of the international donor community" . As the United States points out, parts of other donor countries this perception.
The question is whether the Minister still believes that Norway's views on human rights and democracy situation in Ethiopia is in line with the perception of blue . a U.S. and EU?
Since previous interpellation debate has also Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi visited Norway . In October 2011, he was here in connection with the conference " Energy for all " . Ethiopia has recently achieved excellent results in terms of economic growth. However, the development in terms of basic human rights gone the opposite way .
Meles was greeted with pats on the shoulder of the Prime Minister and the Minister . But Meles was also met by many and loud protesters when he attended the conference. Many of them have even fled the regime. One of them , Adam Mulualem Zerikum , fled Ethiopia because he was oppositional . Aftenposten said, " Meles has imprisoned a hundred dissidents and journalists. He has created an impossible climate for foreign organizations to work in, because they are not allowed to talk about human rights. It is shameful that Norway invites a dictator here in Oslo. Norway must do as Sweden, and reduce ties with Meles Zenawi , and not strengthening them as you do now. "
While becoming more and more alarming reports coming that regime misusing aid to suppress opposition and dissidents , critical and independent journalists are imprisoned, that food aid only awarded to those who say they support the regime , foreign aid organizations can not operate in the country, that it has been illegal to drive public awareness about human rights and that there is widespread election fraud continues the Norwegian government with beating and Stoltenberg to cheer Meles of Ethiopia's economic progress . Human rights violations , we hear little about , however .
This past year we have seen a steady tightening of Meles ' regime , where terror laws used to crush the opposition, where dissidents are imprisoned and tortured , where human rights organizations such as Amnesty International expelled from the country - and where two Swedish journalists were recently sentenced to 11 years in prison for alleged terrorist activities then they should document the conditions for opposition. Unlike Norway expressed both U.S. and EU concern over the verdict . A handful of Ethiopian journalists and opposition politicians have also been convictions for so-called terrorist activities under the new anti - terror law , Ethiopians are sentenced from 14 years to lifetime imprisonment. Tom Rhodes of the Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) says about the second half of 2011 that: " The government has in the last four months spent widespread terror laws to arrest independent journalists in an attempt to eradicate the last critical voices in the country" .
The situation in Ethiopia has thus only escalated when it comes to human rights. Now in March, ruling against any and twenty second Ethiopian dissidents and human rights activists . Anti - terror law is beginning to seem like a strong repressive instrument against ordinary opposition and civil society activities. The U.S. has also spoken very critical about this. In addition, five of the UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights ( including freedom of speech , terrorism and human rights , and freedom of association ) a unique joint statement in early February where they directed strong criticism against Ethiopia and how anti - terror law is being implemented.
Another clear trend that many of the donors ( including Finland) discovered by chance , the strong degree of forced eviction - called " villagization - programs " . Regime should be forced to move 1.5 million people in four regions. Many have fled to refugee camps in Dadaab and Nairobi. it is the peripheral regions most affected - regions where staying minorities who have always been marginalized and oppressed by the central highland Ethiopia. thus continuing a century- long tradition , which in turn will create resistance and conflict between the periphery and the center .
It is particularly the pastoral / nomadic groups affected ; central government they see as a threat to the nation state . At the same time , these Muslims and not seen as so-called " real" Ethiopians . Western donors have a particular responsibility to carry out independent investigations to clarify whether our aid money is used for such forced relocation .
Human Rigth Watch has released the report , "Waiting Here for Death ' : Forced Displacement and' Villagization 'in Ethiopia 's Gambella Region , " which undergoes the first year of the forced relocation of one of the four regions , Gambella . The move shows the basis obsessive character , loss of livelihoods , the deteriorating food situation , and ongoing abuses by the armed forces against the people moved.
" The Ethiopian government's villagization program does not improve access to services for Gambella indigenous peoples and minorities , but undermines Instead, their livelihood and food security ," said Jan Egeland . Egeland dare be known to most people here at home, and now Europeans head of Human Rights Watch .
BBC World Service sent 17 January this year, an outrageous report from Gambella about the conditions in Ethiopia develops. The BBC reported the forced relocation of people and land grab by the government. The soil in these areas is sold or rented granted to foreigners, while Ethiopians need food aid . Today, 13 million Ethiopians receive food aid .
There are reports of serious human rights abuses , whether coercion, violence , rape - of " Stalin methods " which the reporter called it.
The Oakland Institute, which monitors many African countries for signs that people and groups of people moved from their lands , expresses itself also highly critical of the report .
BBC also interviewed Jan Egeland, who expressed strong concern for the conditions. Human Rights Watch visited 16 provinces of Ethiopia in hiding after being thrown out of the country in 2010.
Survival International came recently with a concern report points out the major problems now with displacement / villagization in the Omo Valley ( the most " ethnic" area of Ethiopia ) .
They conclude : " The Ethiopian government is responsible for some of the most violent and obvious abuse of human rights Survival International has seen in many years . By camouflaging the theft of land " development" expects regime to get away with these atrocities . "
The concern is that international observers ( be they diplomats , aid workers or independent experts ) , not access to make independent evaluations of the policy effects.
Finland's International Development Heidi Hautala , from Solheim's sister party , and a renowned defender of human rights , is highly critical of the regime in Ethiopia.
After she came back from Ethiopia, compared she Ethiopia and Zanzibar growth to show the point: " In Ethiopia , she said, the trend has been well measured by several indicators : Children can go to school and clean water is available. But free speech has shrunk , and with their own words , live human rights organizations in an atmosphere of fear. In Zanzibar , the atmosphere was the opposite : Development goals still need work, but civil society organizations were full of energy and vigor. "
Hautala said that she was amazed how the regime in Ethiopia believed that any human rights organization that has received foreign funding is considered to be a political opponent or competitor.
It observed a growing level of unease and uncertainty among international diplomats and donors to Ethiopia. Many are now voicing the question of " are we fooled by Meles ? "
President ,
During the debate on Ethiopia last year , showed Solheim British authorities and that from Right should agree the assessments they make . Mr President, we have been in the UK discussed Ethiopia with DfID and that we disagree with DfID about Ethiopia .
President ,
Land near us expressing great concern about the human rights situation in Ethiopia - for civil society, for journalists, for indigenous people . Sweden uses about half of what Norway is doing in aid to the country, but only channeled through organizations like the Red Cross , Doctors Without Borders , Plan and UN agencies . Norway , however, has accepted Meles ' principle of providing support directly to him. Finland expressed great concern over the trend is moving in the wrong direction . United States points out that " the allegations about a politicization of foreign aid to Ethiopia , including humanitarian relief , consistent with reports from organizations , opposition politicians, the media and members of the international donor community" .
Instead greater extent , it appears that there is Norway Erik Solheim is the isolated , the only one who "did not see a systematic pattern" of violations of human rights. The only one who believes that " there is a consensus , unanimous view of ALL countries that Human Rights Watch report, " Development without Freedom : How Aid underwrites repression in Ethiopia " is not a reasonable picture of the situation . Believes the United States. It believes all our related western countries " .
It's just not right , Mr. President.
http://www.hoyre.no
No comments:
Post a Comment