Ethiopia May Charge More Oromo Rebels, After Fighters Sentenced Over Plot - Bloomberg

Ethiopia May Charge More Oromo Rebels, After Fighters Sentenced Over Plot

By William Davison - Jun 10, 2011 2:19 PM GMT+0200

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Ethiopia is “highly likely” to charge another 121 Oromo rebels with terrorist offences after 14 people were sentenced yesterday over their involvement in a plot to bomb an African Union summit, a government spokesman said.

The Supreme Court yesterday jailed four of the accused for life, while six received 25-year prison terms, one got 14 years and three others were incarcerated for nine years, State Minister of Communications Shimeles Kemal said in a phone interview from Addis Ababa, the capital. All 14 were convicted of involvement in a plot to set off bombs at the AU’s headquarters in the city during a summit in January.

“All of the defendants were members of the Oromo Liberation Front,” Shimeles said yesterday. “Some of them were assigned to go to Eritrea for the purpose of carrying out the operation to terrorize the summit as well as demolishing hotels and entertainment sites.”

Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. The OLF has waged a 38-year campaign for autonomy in Oromia, the biggest of Ethiopia’s nine federal states. Cases are still being put together against 121 OLF fighters arrested in March, some of whom were trained by the Eritrean government, Shimeles said.

“It’s highly likely they may be charged in accordance with the anti-terrorism proclamation,” he said.

Regional Destabilization

In April, Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said it will back Eritrean rebels trying to overthrow the government of Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki unless that country changes its policies of regional destabilization. Eritrea’s ambassador to the AU, Girma Asmerom, denied the charge and said the stance was “pure aggression and a declaration of war.”

The two countries fought a 1998-2000 border war in which an estimated 70,000 people were killed, according to International Crisis Group, the Brussels-based advocacy organization.

The OLF denied its forces had anything to do with a plot to attack the AU summit and said its fighters are trained in Oromia, not in Eritrea.

“The OLF did not and will not plan to bomb the AU headquarters,” Beyan H. Asoba, spokesman for the rebel group, said in an e-mailed response to questions yesterday. “As a matter of policy, the OLF does not target civilian populations and property in its military operations.”

In March, Oromo opposition parties said that 69 of their activists or sympathizers had been arrested by the government that month.

“Generally the government’s strategy is the marginalization of the opposition using the anti-terrorism law. They use it against the opposition whether they are legal like us or operating outside the legal framework,” Merera Gudina, chairman of the Oromo People’s Congress, said in a phone interview from Addis Ababa yesterday. “For sure I know the members have nothing to do with Eritrea or illegal activities.”

The mobile phone of Ambassador Girma was switched off when Bloomberg called seeking comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: William Davison in Addis Ababa via Nairobi atpmrichardson@bloomberg.net.

Ethiopia Buying 200 Tanks From Ukraine for $100 Million

Ethiopia Buying 200 Tanks From Ukraine for $100 Million

Ethiopia has signed a $100 million deal with Ukraine to buy more than 200 tanks. UKRINFORM news agency reports that Ukrspecexport SC signed the deal with the Ethiopian Defense Ministry to supply 200 T-72 tanks. The upgraded version of T-72, the T-20 tanks are equipped with modern technology. The company claims that the tanks are equipped with upgraded guided weapons, reactive armor system for improved battlefield survival, and modernized propulsion system. This is the eighth largest contract signed by Ukrainian’s state-controlled arms exporter in 15 years since its establishment following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The tanks were originally manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1970s before its collapse. These tanks were known as Soviet Union's premier weapons systems and had high demand in the Asian, African, and Middle Eastern nations. The arms exporter expects that one of its biggest deals will have a great social and economic impact in Ukraine and that the contract would be a harbinger of attracting new orders for the country’s defense establishment. It is likely to boost capacity of Ukrainian businesses, increase revenues, and generate jobs. Further, under the deal, Ukrspecexport will be responsible for the repairs and upgrades of the tanks supplied to Ethiopia, which will further boost Ukrainian businesses. This is the second such military deals Ethiopia has signed in the recent past. Earlier, it signed a contract with Israel for the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles. The deal also includes Israeli manufacturer BlueBird’s help in setting up maintenance facilities for UAVs. Due to its fragile borders and active neighbors like Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, the need for securing borders becomes intense. Ethiopia often accuses Eritrea of sponsoring violence in the country. Skirmishes and small violence incidents are a common occurrence on the Ethiopia-Eritrean border. Ethiopia and Eritrea were engaged in a border war between 1998 and 2000, which claimed more than 70,000 lives. Since then, Ethiopia has been engaged in securing its borders. Government critics find fault with the administration’s military deals, saying that expenditure on procuring weapons is not rational for a country dependent on foreign aid and fighting poverty. Ukraine and Military Supplies After the dismemberment of the Soviet Union, important military production infrastructure was left in Ukraine. The country continues to supply tanks, aircraft, and other important Soviet military hardware at low cost to other countries. Under deepening economic crisis, the country looks forward to military hardware sales to revive its condition and create employment. Ukraine-Russia Relations The relations between Ukraine and Russia seem to be getting strained as a result of Ukraine's further integration into the EU. Ukraine-Russia relations were at the lowest ebb during the earlier Yushchenko regime. Ukraine even went to support Georgia against Russia over South Ossetia. Even Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine. However, with the return of Viktor Yanukovych to power, the relations improved. But the people of Ukraine are divided over their ties with Moscow. The industrially developed West Ukraine looks for integration with EU while the agricultural east favors stronger bonds with Russia. Political leaders are also divided on the subject and there is no consensus in the country over its foreign relations. Integration with EU is looked at by political leaders as a more important option to save the country from an impending economic disaster.

Ban Ki-moon arrived in Bahir Dar Ethiopia-

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from Abuja, Nigeria, in the evening of Tuesday, 24 May. That night, he had a working dinner with Tedros Ghebreyesus, Minister for Health of Ethiopia.

The next day, the Secretary-General visited two health facilities in the Amhara State region of Ethiopia: the Ambo Mesk health post and the Merawi health centre. At the health post, a small community facility that is the first lifeline to medical needs, he met with health extension workers who are providing essential services to communities previously living without ready access to such care. He also met with the villagers who benefit from these services.

He said the health extension programme was very important considering the long distances villagers have to travel to get care and the lack of transportation. He said that through this, needless deaths could be avoided and that the lives of many children and women could be saved by training health workers and midwives.

The Secretary-General then toured a larger health centre, a few kilometres away, which supports the health post by providing it with supplies and on-the-job training. He talked with doctors and nurses about their work as well as with some of the patients at the centre.

The Secretary-General then headed to Addis Ababa to take part in the opening of the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on the state of peace and security in Africa. In his speech, he said that this was a time of historic developments on the continent. (See Press Release SG/SM/13599)

On Côte d’Ivoire, he laid out the priorities set by the Government, such as the demobilization of militias, the collection of illicit weapons and national reconciliation, and said the United Nations would work closely with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international partners to support the Ivorian Government in these critical areas.

On Sudan, he said that key post-independence arrangements had to be agreed by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP) if the establishment of a new State in the South on 9 July was to be peaceful.

On Somalia, the Secretary-General said the peace process was at a critical juncture and that the Transitional Federal Institutions must deliver on the political and development tracks.

Finally, on Libya, he welcomed the spirit of collaboration that has characterized the efforts of the United Nations and the African Union, and said there was a shared resolve to bring an end to the crisis and usher in an era of democracy and peace.

The Secretary-General met with the following officials on the margins of the Summit: Kgalema Motlanthe, Deputy President of South Africa; Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea; Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal; Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia; Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi; and Jean Ping, Chairman of the African Union Commission.

The main issues discussed were Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Côte d’Ivoire. On Libya, they discussed the attitudes at the African Union on the situation there and the likely outcome of the Summit. With the President of Burundi, the Secretary-General discussed that country’s contribution to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the political developments there. With the South African Deputy President, the Secretary-General also discussed climate change and sustainable development. The large gathering of African leaders in Addis Ababa also allowed the Secretary-General to have a series of useful informal conversations.

The Secretary-General left Addis Ababa for Paris, France, in the evening of 25 May.

Kenya: Raila Says Military to Flush Out Ethiopians-allAfrica.com

The military has been ordered to flush out the 2,500 Merille tribesmen from Ethiopia who have been attack communities living along the common border.
The government has also given notice to the Ethiopian government to relocate the Merilles voluntarily or they face forceful eviction from the Kenyan security agencies. The Merille are responsible for killing more than 40 people during an attack two weeks ago.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga told Parliament that a Cabinet sub-committee chaired by President Kibaki had met on Tuesday and authorized the forceful relocation of the Merilles if they did not leave willingly. "The Merilles have already been told to move through a notice. If they do not move they will be evicted," Raila said.
Raila said an estimated 900 of the total population of the Merilles who have pushed out the Turkanas and other communities from the areas near the Lake Turkana are armed militiamen while the rest were farmers. The Merilles are now living 17 kilometers inside the Kenya border.

Raila attributed the invasion of the Merille and their continued stay in the area to a collapse of security at the Kenyan borders. "We spend millions on our military. We train, promote and retire our soldiers who never go to any war!,"Raila said during the PM's weekly address. He said serious measures had been put in place including the upgrading of Todonyang Police post into a fully fledged police station.
Raila said the government had also taken other measures to protect the country's borders. These included the deployment of the military and the police to Migingo and Ugingo Islands where Kenyans are at the mercy of Ugandan forces which have seized the islands and established control.
He said the military had despatched a plane to the islands for surveillance purposes and had established that no Ugandan flag was hoisted there as alleged by some of the residents and fishermen from the area.
MPs blamed the government for doing nothing to secure the country's territories despite frequent aggression by neighbours with expansionist tendencies. "This is a shocking admission of government failure on a section of its citizenry. How much has the government set aside for the plans to improve security," wondered Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara.
Mandera East MP Mohamed Hussein said the idle Kenyan military should be put to use to scare away external aggressors targeting the Kenyan borders. Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi wondered what the National Security Intelligence was doing to protect Kenyans from further attacks.

Ruth Gruber, From Exodus to Ethiopia: Honored at 99 for Decades of Photography - NYTimes.com

Ruth Gruber, From Exodus to Ethiopia

By JAMES ESTRIN

Ruth Gruber is a pioneering correspondent and humanitarian who recorded the expansion of the Soviet gulag system and the unending trials of Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. Her own life is chronicled in the 2007 memoir,Witness: One of the Great Correspondents of the 20th Century Tells Her Story” (Random House, 2007).

At 99, she is being duly recognized as an accomplished photojournalist, too. This month, she won the Cornell Capa Award from the International Center of Photography. (At the same event, Elliott Erwitt won the Lifetime Achievement Award.) An exhibition of Ms. Gruber’s photos from the Soviet Arctic, Palestine, Ethiopia and the Alaska Territory opens Friday at the center, in mid-Manhattan.

She began carrying a medium-format Rolleicord as a correspondent for The New York Herald Tribune in the 1930s. “I just put one finger on the shutter and I found I was really enjoying it,” she said. “Now I could make my own pictures that also told the story.”

James Estrin/The New York TimesRuth Gruber at home in Manhattan this week.

The centerpiece of her work is her coverage of a 1947 debacle in which British authorities not only refused to permit 4,500 Jewish refugees into Palestine but forced them to return to Europe and debark in Germany. The refugees had reached Haifa on a passenger ship called Exodus 1947. There, they were transferred to three smaller steamers, including the Runnymede Park, which Ms. Gruber visited.

Ms. Gruber said only three journalists were allowed aboard the ships where the refugees were being held. She was the only one to bring a camera. In an interview this week at her Manhattan apartment, she described the grim scene:

I took countless pictures of them because I couldn’t believe what they had done. Nobody could destroy them. They survived the death camps, the D.P. camps, the broken-down ship [Exodus 1947] and now this ship.

The people began to talk to me. Many of them spoke English. They said, ‘Go below and see our floating Auschwitz.’ There was a prison gate. I went down to the hold. It was dark. There were no beds, there were no sheets. Only people on the floor, crowded together. They slept on the floor, crushed together.

When they heard an American young woman — a Jew — had come, they handed me phone numbers, asking me to call their relatives and tell them they were alive. I told them I would.

They saw my camera and they yelled: ‘Take pictures! The world has to know how they’re treating us! Take pictures!’

It was dark. The British had transformed this ship into a prison ship, with a little prison window. Briefly, light came through the window on all the people, and it was easy to shoot them holding their babies. Every man, every woman wanted a baby because that meant their lives were being healed, that they were human beings again.

There was a woman holding a baby and I asked if I could hold it. I crushed it to me. I don’t know who needed to be held more — the baby or me.

After she was told to leave the ship, the British consul general demanded the film from her camera. She refused to yield it. She filed a story to The Herald Tribune in Paris and brought the film there the next day. The pictures were distributed around the world, focusing attention on — and building sympathy for — displaced persons.

Ms. Gruber tried to follow the people she had met on the Runnymede Park. Told by the British that they would be landing on Cyprus, Ms. Gruber flew there and spent a week awaiting their arrival, taking pictures as she did so.

“They never came,” she said. “They were sent back to Germany by the British government. Nobody got to Cyprus. It was a lie.”

Kenya Govt intensifies patrols along Kenya-Ethiopia border Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: - KBC News

(File photo) President Mwai Kibaki has assured wananchi that Kenyan security officers have intensified patrols along the Kenya-Ethiopia border with a view to forestalling a recurrence of violence in the area. Noting that early this month the country lost several lives during a cross-border conflict on the Kenya-Ethiopia border, President Kibaki said his Government responded promptly to this security challenge by deploying additional security personnel in the affected border area. "Following this deployment, peace and security has since been restored," the Head of State said. The President was speaking Friday at the Recruits Training School in Eldoret where he presided over the passing out parade of newly qualified Armed Forces recruits. President Kibaki pointed out that recently he also held discussions on the border conflict with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia in Kampala and agreed on the need for a joint ministerial meeting which will seek ways of restoring any beacons that may have been destroyed along the Kenya-Ethiopia border. In this regard, the President expressed confidence that the joint ministerial meeting of the two countries will resolve outstanding border issues and facilitate harmonious co-existence of the various communities living along common borders. President Kibaki, at the same time, urged security officers deployed to the border to remain vigilant in order to ensure peace and security are maintained in the area at all times. He also called on local leaders in the region to engage in peace initiatives involving elders between communities living along the border so as to resolve conflicts that are linked mainly to resource sharing. "We are aware that since the 1990s, revenge attacks between the two communities along our common border with Ethiopia have been cyclical," President Kibaki said. Besides the border with Ethiopia, President Kibaki observed that the situation in Somalia also continues to pose challenges to Kenya's national security. Said the President: "These challenges have been worsened by the proliferation of small arms as well as the recruitment of Kenyan youth into radical insurgent groups." In view of these threats, the Head of State said the Government has stepped up security measures to forestall any acts of aggression and ensure the security of Kenyans. He disclosed that adequate officers have also been deployed to secure the border with Somalia and ensure fighting does not spill over into Kenya. President Kibaki, therefore, asked members of the public to complement the efforts of the Government by volunteering information that will lead to the pre-emption of crime and the apprehension of criminals. Regretting the recent death of five children from a bomb explosion in Kajiado district, President Kibaki said the military and other security forces must ensure that the training fields remain secure after training. "I have, therefore, instructed that steps be taken to ensure unexploded bombs are removed from the training fields after firing exercises," President Kibaki said. Recognize that the security challenges the country is facing transcend across borders and require transnational strategies to overcome, the President said the Armed Forces have continued to cooperate with other countries at the regional and international level in addressing security challenges. Regionally, President Kibaki said the Armed Forces are actively engaged in the activities of the East African Standby Brigade with a view to building capacity in conflict preemption and management in the East African region. At the international level, the President said the Kenyan Armed Forces have continued to take part in peacekeeping operations. "Presently, our Armed Forces have deployed over one thousand personnel on peacekeeping and other international humanitarian work throughout the world. These commitments have earned our Armed Forces a proud reputation internationally," President Kibaki said. Commending the Armed Forces for the civilian and humanitarian services they have continued to provide, the President said the Government appreciates their efforts and will continue to extend the necessary support needed to enable the country's security apparatus to discharge security services adequately. To the newly qualified Armed Forces recruits, President Kibaki congratulated them and wished them success in their new career and in all their future endeavors, encouraging them to uphold the same strength of character and determination they demonstrated in the course of their training. "You are also expected, to maintain high levels of professionalism and discipline. Above all, you are expected to maintain the highest standards of loyalty to the Government and people of Kenya," President Kibaki told the newly qualified Armed Forces recruits. Earlier after he arrived at the Armed Forces Recruit Training School, the President officially opened a newly constructed kitchen. The occasion was also attended by Forestry and Wildlife Minister Dr. Noah Wekesa, Defence Assistant Minister David Musila, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, the Chief of General Staff Gen. Jeremiah Kianga, service commanders and parents and relatives of the newly qualified recruits among others.

Nyota confirms new gold exploration targets north of Tulu Kapi - Proactiveinvestors (UK)

Nyota Minerals (LON:NYO,ASX:NYO) has found multiple new gold targets on its northern licences in Ethiopia, around 100 kilometres away from its flagship Tulu Kapi mine development project.

It highlighted three of the most substantial targets in a statement to the stock exchange this morning. The main targets are Boka-Sirba, the Quartz Vein (QV) target and the Mole-Fadumi target.

These targets were initially picked out from airborne geophysics data and were subsequently confirmed through a substantial reconnaissance field programm. Nyota said it has confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation, and base metals, in a large number of heavy mineral concentrate samples.

"Nyota believes that the scale of the individual targets discovered together with the confirmed presence of both gold and base metal mineralisation is significant,” chairman Melissa Sturgess said.

“No assay results have been received to date but the exploration team have clear evidence of gold present at all of the major targets complemented by active artisanal mining.”

A variety of samples – taken from stream sediments, rock chips and soil – have been submitted for assay.

Sturgess emphasised Nyota’s ‘twin focus’ which is still set on building the Tulu Kapi production profile and exploring the group’s other licence areas to provide the medium and long-term growth potential.

She added: “The discovery of potentially large, previously unrecognised gold and base metal targets to the north of Tulu Kapi in conjunction with the multiple gold targets already discovered in and around Tulu Kapi, strengthens the company's view that its large landholding sits within a new gold province in western Ethiopia."

The northern licences comprise four separate exploration areas - Bambasi, Mendi, Gombe and Dura – and collectively they cover about 3,200 square kilometres.

The three individual targets named in this morning’s statements were found within broader target areas, Nyota said. The group noted other targets of merit namely Bendokoro North, Daleti-Urungu and Wawu North.

It also highlighted that from a geological point of view the structurally complex, with multiple styles of mineralisation recorded to date.

Once the assay results are in Nyota plans to prioritise a group of targets for a drill programme which could get underway in the fourth quarter of 2011, after Ethiopia’s wet season.