Fundamental rights and freedoms
All persons are equal before the law and guaranteed equal effective protection, without discrimination on grounds of race, nation, nationality, or other social origin, color, sex, language, political or other opinion property, birth or other status. Every one has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion freedom, either indi...
every one the right to recognition any where as person
.
Supporting the struggle to build a democratic system that
ensures the equality of citizens, the rule of law and human rights in Ethiopia
is the main mission of the Democratic Change in Ethiopia Support Organization
in Norway (DCESON). The DCESON is firm in its opposition to and condemns the
ethnic dictatorship the Tigray People`s Liberation Front (TPLF) has imposed and
actively supports the struggle to end repressions and violations of human
rights in Ethiopia. The organization will continue its support until Ethiopians
will be able to exercise their free and sovereign political power and build an
inclusive system that ensures equality, justice and freedom.
It is to be recalled that the 9 opposition parties jointly
called and organized a legal and peaceful demonstration that was to be held for
24 hours on the 6th and 7th of December 2014, in Addis Ababa. However, the
dictatorial TPLF/EPRDF regime has resorted to the use of force to thwart and
disrupt the demonstration because it saw as a threat the united steps the 9
opposition parties had taken to organize the joint demonstration.
The reaction was the ethnic regime was as expected. The regime
had intimidated and harassed the leadership of these opposition parties prior
to and during the demonstration.
The security forces of the regime had brutally beaten, injured
and arrested the leaders of the opposition parties, participants of the
demonstration. Members of the Muslim community who took part in the
demonstration were rounded up, arrested and subjected to the brutal mishandling
at the hands of the security forces of the regime. Around 300 peaceful
demonstrators were thrown into prisons and experienced severe beatings.
Therefore, the DCESON strongly denounces the racist regime for using brutal
force against the leaders of the peaceful opposition, and demonstrators. At
this juncture, the DCESON would like to reiterate to the leaders of the 9
opposition parties that it is closely following their demanding struggles and
will continue to support them in their struggle for democracy and freedom in
Ethiopia.
Victory to the people
of Ethiopia,
Democratic change in
Ethiopia support organization in Norway (DCESON).
On Saturday 6 December2014, the ethnic
based Ethiopian government security forces have arrested leaders of Blue and
other Party leaders, members and supporters at the start of a peaceful public
rally to demand free and fair election. Detainees have been harshly beaten by
sadistic security forces—some very severely.
Blue Party Chairman Eng. Yilkal Getnet
and leaders of other parties along with senior party members have been detained.
This protest rally was organized by a coalition of opposition political parties
fully in compliance with the law.
This is a clear manifestation of the
governing party’s total dictatorship and absolute intolerance for a peaceful
decent At this point; we estimate that it’s at
least over300 people where they have been detained.
.” articles 29 and 30, grants democratic rights to Ethiopian
citizens without distinction [1]. Under these articles, the right of
thought, opinion and expression, the right of assembly, demonstration and
petition are the legitimate rights of Ethiopians through which they can express
their opinions and dissatisfactions with the performances and activities of
their government. The UN Human Rights council 19thSession (A/HRC/19/L.17), on
March 19, 2012 and 25th
Session (A/HRC/25/L.20,)
on March 24, 2014 Resolutions
#2 calls upon governments to uphold their responsibilities
to promote and protect human rights in the context of peaceful protests “
States have the responsibility, including in the context of peaceful protests,
to promote and protect human rights and to prevent human rights violations,
including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, arbitrary arrest and
detention, enforced disappearances, and torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment, and calls upon States to avoid the abuse of
criminal and civil proceedings or threats of such acts atALL times;”However, in the past two decades, the current Ethiopian
government has failed to protect the constitutional rights of citizens. Since
the current government came to power in 1991, thousands of citizens who held a
political agenda different from the ruling party were systematically jailed,
abducted or killed. Journalists and human rights activists who were/are
critical of the government were charged with treason and thrown into Ethiopian
prisons.
Students and teachers, those who demanded their fundamental
rights on university campuses and high schools and elsewhere, who peacefully took
to the streets to demand their rights, werebeaten, arrested and detained or
even killed.
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa has been reporting in
different ways on the systematic human rights violations by the Ethiopian
government and its security agents against peaceful demonstrators. Targeted Human Rights
Violation in Oromia regional
Despite
Norway’s assistance and the long history of relation with Ethiopia, Ethiopia is
now one of the worst countries in terms of human rights and poverty. In
Ethiopia, there is increased and serious human rights violation, especially
during the last 24 years of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) rule.
As the
international human rights organizations repeatedly reports, the repression in
Ethiopia is getting worse from time to time. To date the opposition parties,
free media and freedom of expression are almost non-existent. The EPRDF
government has silenced the Ethiopian people using the draconian proclamations,
particularly the ‘Antiterrorism law’, ‘the media law’ and ‘the NGO law’.
Hundreds of free journalists, opposition leaders and activists are languishing
in the notorious prisons accused for terrorism. Torture and related
mishandlings are rampant in the country.
The police,
judiciary, military, election commission and media are not independent, and are
totally controlled by the ruling party. The opposition has only one seat in the
parliament.
The Ethiopian
institution of the Ombudsman was supposed to be independent, objective and a
critical element for the implementation of justice. This institution however is
fully controlled by EPRDF and leaders, like Mrs Foziya Amina, are members of
the Central Executive of EPRDF. Hence, no opposition or other victim of the
ruling party expects justice from the entire Ombudsman service run by members of
the ruling party. Despite this fact, Norway is one of the countries that fund
the symbolic Ethiopian Ombudsman through UNDP.
As the
crackdown increases and the political space for the opposition is getting
narrower, a number of oppositions could not operate in the country. One of the
very few strong opposition parties registered in the country and trying its
best facing the daily hurdles is the Blue party. This party has faced a number
of crackdown attempts by the ruling party.
Recent peaceful demonstration
arranged by 9 opposition parties on 06/12/2014, the repression escalated after
brutal police suppression of the protests. Youth protesters and leaders of the
Blue Party are severely injured, some with a head injury and several with
broken arms or legs. They are denied access to medical treatment and separately
put in dark cells. Chairman of the Blue Party,Yilkal Getnetis one of
them whom were brutally beaten by the police.
There are many other protesters who are badly injured
following the police brutality. There are several women among the injured
members and leaders of the Blue Partyand other political leaders
and member of the general public are detailed
We are deeply
concerned by the continued detention of members of the Blue Party leadership
and members and the narrowing of the political space in Ethiopia. The Blue
Party of Ethiopia intends to make a complaint to the Ethiopian Institution of
the Ombudsman (EIO), but as described above, the EIO cannot consider any
complaint impartially and independently. Repeated attempts to crack down the
Blue Party have become a tool to intimidate critics and weaken Political
dissent. As a self-proclaimed Democratic Party, the current ruling EPRDF must
put an Immediate end to police intimidation against the Blue Party.
We therefore,
kindly urge your government to use your bilateral relations with the Ethiopian
government to comply with the Ethiopian government’s human rights obligations
and to drop all cases against the detainees and unconditionally release them.
Additionally, put pressure on the ruling government and party to free the
people and the opposition to exercise its basic rights for peaceful assembly,
expression and association.Please accept the assurances of our highest consideration
እንዲሁም ሰልፈኞችየተለያዩመፈክሮችንበመያዝበታላቅድምጽናስሜትለኢንባሲውአሰምተዋል።ከአሰሟቸውመፈክሮችመካከልለአብነትም “ Britin were is your citizen, Free Andrgachew Tsige,
Andargachew is our icon of democracy, where is your action , stop
discrimination among citizens, Yes, we are all Andrgachew Tsige, Brtain dont
support terrirost regim in Ethiopia” የሚሉትይገኙበታል::
As we know, Ethiopia is a home to golden diversty of
peoples, cultures, religions and langudges. Ethiopia is as the origin of
humanity that has a unique cultural heritage, own alpthabet, calander and where
it has preserved its long independence through the patriotic struggle of its
citizens. We shall remember that Ethiopia served as a symbol of African
independence throughout the colonial period, and was a founder member of the
United Nations and the African base for many international organizations and country
that possesses a long history ranking among the great civilizations of the
world.
But currently, it has not been possible to have human and
democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution fully respected. The question
of nations and nationalities is not properly addressed and resolved. In fact,
the issue is presently being used as a tool for dividing and ruling the people.
Citizens are being deprived of the opportunity to live, work and to do any kind
of activities in the country whether socially, economically and politically.
The integration process among the nation, nationalities and peoples are being
disrupted. Now a day’s, Ethiopia is among the most backward countries in the
world in three aspects which is political, economical and social growth because
of the TPLF dictatorship.
It’s known that TPLF is a dictatorship ruling party and has
never showed let down peacefully, and Woyane is doing shameful activities
throughout the country since they took power through armed struggle. Such as,
many journalists, politicians, activists, bloggers, religious have been
imprison, thousands of peoples are dying and many people’s migrating every day,
no single human right respected by TPLF.
As the nature of TPLF I have doubt that nonviolent struggle
would be successful in Ethiopia. I never shared the illusion that the TPLF will
accept the verdict of the ballot-box and step down from power peacefully rather
the TPLF play the democratic game under the name of democracy. Murdering,
genocide, criminal, dictatorship, corrupting, selfishness, futureless, narrow
thinking and no need solid unitary as a country (means follow dividing ruling
system) are the main Characteristics of TPLF.
Due to the nature of TPLF,
I just to reflect a few points of
view on the question of peaceful or armed struggle as methods of achieving
a political goal like to bring freedom, justice and democracy in
Ethiopia. In other words, the very challenging question is whether to
apply peaceful or armed; or the combination of the two based on a given
internal political reality, and external circumstance to bring sustainable
democracy. Needless to say, this had been and continues to be an unavoidable
challenge in a country like ours which has never experienced a political
transformation characterized by a well- thought, well-planned, well-organized
and persistent popular uprising and disobedience in line with the fulfillment
of the interests of the general public.
I sincerely believe that we should be seriously concerned
about our tendency of approaching the question of which method of political
struggle should we apply in a very categorically defined fashion. Although
raising the question of how to approach a given political struggle that aims at
the realization of a democratic political system has never been uncommon, its
intensity and urgency varies from time to time, and from situation to
situation. Because of our political culture which is characterized by
mere inheritance, conspiracy within royal families and a bloody fight between
or among groups (civil war), we are not yet fortunate enough to listen to each
other’s arguments and counter- arguments in such a way that our differences on
using not the same tactics or methods should not hamper our journey toward the
same goal.
I strongly believe that it is absolutely necessary to
seriously consider the advantages and disadvantages of a given method of
getting the goals and strategies we set accomplished in a real sense of
constructive way of doing things accordingly the Ethiopian political situation.
In other words, it is imperative to make sure that the methods being used
by various political groupings (surprisingly there are more than 90 national
and regional political parties) which are engaged in the struggle for the
realization of a truly democratic society complement each other in pursuing for
mutually respectful and shared prosperity. Is this line of thinking as
easy as anything?
Absolutely not! And this is mainly because of our political
history and which has been and still is characterized either by very deceptive
monarchial rulers or get it at a bloody gunpoint like TPLF. And this very
unfortunate political culture of ours has a lot of to do with the argument that
it is nonviolent/peaceful resistance not armed struggle that is ideal to bring
about sustainable democratic change. Yes, there is no doubt peaceful public
struggle is so desirable. The very challenging issue is when it comes to the
question of what kind of ruling power we face – with a sense of civility and
responsibility or otherwise?
How the people are
ready and determined to pay the sacrifices required forcing the brutal
responses by the ruling elite even in the process of peaceful struggle; how
various opposition political forces are willing and able to pull their efforts
together and shake the balance of the existing political power?
Are the foreign powers (governments) interested and
courageous enough to abandon “their bad guys “and choosing people’s interests
over dictatorial regimes? To my understanding, the responses to these and all
other critical questions are not encouraging at all.
Unless we want to remain wishfully optimistic, it is very
unwise to waste our energy and time by continuing arguments and counter
arguments to the extent of condemning each other’s tactics applied to get the
same goal done. I am not saying debating or arguing on the prospective and
consecutive of peaceful resistance and armed struggle or on how to effectively
use both of them is a bad idea. What I am trying to say is that it is
critically desirable to focus on how to make those methods of struggle vibrant
forces toward achieving the same goal – the realization of genuine democratic
society and fundamental human dignity. I understand that opposition political
parties which are operating legally and pursuing peaceful resistance cannot
openly recognize the use of armed struggle.
I know very well that doing so is
suicidal as far as the very behavior and practice of the illegitimate ruling
circle is concerned. Yes, in a truly democratic system expressing one’s idea
freely is a not only a political freedom but it is also fundamental human
freedom. Sadly enough, it is a crime (terrorism) in our country, and we are
witnessing the untold sufferings of innocent journalists and members
/supporters of political opposition parties. But, I strongly believe that
although it is suicidal for those political parties to openly
recognize those political forces which believe in the use of both methods
of struggle ,they should not undermine ,if not condemn each other .
Indeed, I have fully agreed with the nonviolent struggle
because of the merits of it. Whatever it is your argument, Ethiopia is required
a systematic and friutfull struggle to bring freedom, justice, democracy and
all human rights respected. What is needed is political work to influence the
army and bureaucracy to make them less obedient instruments of repression, or
to become sympathizers of civil disobedience
.
The peaceful struggle may be painfully slow for the
impatient. Yet, it is may or may not the only choice which truly induces
the utilization of untapped artistic, cultural and intellectual wealth of the
nation for the material and political maturity of citizens, essential elements
for a successful establishment of a dynamic and democratic social order.
Nonviolent action used to:
Dismantle dictatorships
• Defend against foreign invasions
• Expel foreign occupation
• Provide an alternative to violence in extreme ethnic conflicts
• Challenge unjust social and economic systems
• Develop, preserve and extend democratic practices, human rights, civil
liberties and freedom of religion
• Resist genocide since carefully applied the methods of nonviolent action or
“nonviolent weapons.” The Albert Instinet institution has recommended almost
nearly two hundred methods of nonviolent struggle. (See on aeinstein.org, list
of 198 methods of nonviolent action and also The Politics of Nonviolent Action,
Vol. 2)
Three broad classes of nonviolent methods are:
Nonviolent protest and persuasion, (like formal statements,
wider audience, symbolic public acts)
2. Noncooperation and, (social, economic boycotts & strike, political
noncoorperation)
3. Nonviolent intervention, (physiological, physical, social, economic and
political intervention)
Like others, Ethiopia has tried to bring freedom, justice,
democracy and human rights respected by nonviolent struggle in different time
but could not successful due to our politics nature as I mentioned above . For
example, different kinds of revolution, during 2005 election, the movement of
Muslims, many opposition parties doing that still now.
Finally, I recommend that calling and wake upping the
peoples, farmers, workers, business men, students, teachers, polices and
defense force to struggle for themselves that freedom and justice, education
and health, academic and political freedom, pursuit of prosperity and other
rights are our rights that we are entitled to as citizens. They are by no means
any acts of generosity given to us by the rulers who have imposed their will on
us. These are rights that we should never relinquish to anyone. And I encourage
values such as civil dialogue, tolerance, understanding and respect for competing
views not only to narrow differences but also to nurture and sustain the unity
of shared purpose to bring freedom and democracy in Ethiopia by choosing the
most convenient struggle methods.
The event that
included public meeting and fund raising for the Ginbot7 movement for
justice, freedom and democracy was successfully held in Norway, Oslo.
This event was part
of the worldwide one planned to be held in 26 countries and major cities and held
on August 31 starting at 15:00 (3:00 p.m.). This colorful event was
organized by the Democratic Change in Ethiopia Support Organization in Norway
(DCESON) and Ato Abebe Bogale the deputy chairman of Ginbot 7 was the guest.
Many Ethiopians
living in Oslo and its environs attended the event. The programs of the day
began by the participants singing the song of the Ginbot7 popular force and Ato
Abi Amare the head of the public relations part of the DCESON, welcomed the
participants. A minute of silence was observed for all the victims of the
brutal TPLF rule for 23 years.
The first speaker
was Ato Debasu Melesu the chairman of the taskforce and conveyed 3 main
and strong messages. His first message was to Ato Andargachew Tsige and noted
the suffering of the latter in the hands of the TPLF and assured him that
the struggle will be intensified and the goal he has been struggling
for will be achieved.
He also stressed
that we will make your and our enemies, the TPLF pay for it. His second
message was to all who have decided to fight the TPLF and taken up arms and
said that we Ethiopians are by your side and you will win. The third
message was to the TPLF and he urged them to overcome their inferiority
complex and end the imprisonment, persecutions, killings and brutal
torture of Ethiopians, Ato Debassu`s speech was followed by the video
presentation of the objectives, visions, and missions of Ginbot 7.
The next speaker
was Ato Yohannes Alemu chairman of the DCESON and stated that similar events
are being or to be held worldwide. He is pleased with the DCESON`s work to
organize a similar event in Norway. Moreover, he mentioned about the worsening
misrule of the TPLF and its aggravated violations of human rights and
repressions in Ethiopia, The only option and solution to these repressions
and violations is the removal of the TPLF from power and we all should continue
the struggle and participate with concrete actions to attain this
goal (removing the TPLF from power).
He pointed out that
the time for action has come and we should seize it. In the end he thanked all
who contributed to organizing the event. The next speaker was ato Abebe Bogale
who was the guest of the day. He mentioned that this event is part of the
worldwide one being or to be held in different countries and the messages
to be conveyed on are the same (I am also Andargachew Tsige).
He explained the meaning and significance of
the rallying motto `I am also Andargachew Tsige` to the participants. Our
fellow Ethiopians are fleeing in large numbers to the Arab countries and
the rest of the world. The root cause of this flight is the racist and
repressive rule of the TPLF and thus it is the responsibility of all Ethiopians
to get rid of this dictatorial rule. He also dealt with the reasons for the
prolonged rule of the TPLF in Ethiopia.
He went on and said that the TPLF has formed
women`s, youth etc. organizations and offers members some benefits to prolong
its rule. The young have a special responsibility to remove the TPLF from
power. The recent merger agreements among Ginbot 7, patriotic front and Amhara
people`s movement will be finalized and the struggle will be stepped up.
