Sen. Mark Begich, an Alaska Democrat, published a statement Monday in the Congressional Record, the official daily journal of the U.S Congress, following the Camp David G8 Summit last weekend during which President Barack Obama convened four African leaders, including Meles of Ethiopia, for talks on food security in Africa.

Sen. Mark Begich and Rep. Edward Royce (Right)

In a letter to Obama, CPJ urged the president to engage Meles on ending Ethiopian censorship practices–such as suppressing independent reporting and denying media access to sensitive areas–that undermine international responses to food crises.

“I want to take this opportunity to address the necessity for the United States to help foster stable and democratic nations as partners as we build multilateral coalitions to tackle global issues,” Begich said in his statement. Ethiopia is a key partner of the United States in counterterrorism and regional stability and a major recipient of U.S. humanitarian assistance. Recalling Obama’s 2011 commitment to a G8 declaration on democracy, Begich declared that “as the events in North Africa and the Middle East have shown, supporting reliable autocrats who are helpful on matters of security and economics at the expense of human dignity, basic democratic rights, and access to economic opportunity is more perilous than ever to long-term U.S. national security interests.”

Begich called for the end of the persecution of independent journalists and dissidents rounded up in Ethiopia in the wake of the Arab Spring. “To foster the benefits of a diverse citizenry, the many political prisoners and journalists should be released,” he said. The senator urged colleagues in the U.S. Congress to join him in helping the citizens and government of the Horn of Africa country achieve a national consensus on the value of the free flow of information and make press freedom, as outlined in Ethiopia’s constitution, a reality. “Such are hallmarks of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and they provide a return of accountability and transparency to both American taxpayers and Ethiopian citizens,” he added.

On Friday, Rep. Edward Royce sent a public letter to Meles in which he expressed “deep concern with the Republic of Ethiopia’s disregard for press freedom.” Royce, a California Republican who chairs a House subcommittee on terrorism, said “national security must not cripple press freedom.” Expressing concern over the prosecution of 11 journalists on terror charges, Royce said that “the judicial process clearly fails to meet international standards,” citing as an example the government’s use of national public media to pressure the courts.

Over the weekend, hundreds of Ethiopian expats gathered near Camp David to protest the country’s slide into authoritarianism, according to news reports. Washington is home to one of the largest Ethiopian diaspora communities in the world, a population that includes three Ethiopian journalists charged in absentia with terrorism in relation to their work, according to CPJ research. A fourth journalist, now languishing in a prison in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, was educated in the Washington area before returning to Ethiopia and launching one of the country’s first independent newspapers. The former editor of another independent Ethiopian paper also lives in Washington after fleeing his homeland in the face of government intimidation.
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Mohamed Keita is advocacy coordinator for CPJ’s Africa Program. He regularly gives interviews in French and English to international news media on press freedom issues in Africa and has participated in several panels. Follow him on Twitter: @africamedia_CPJ.

ESAT news analysis on Meles Zenawi humiliated incident at G8 meeting may 20 2012.

ADDIS ABABA – Unofficial committees within Ethiopia’s 30-million strong Muslim community are organizing demonstrations to protest what they say is government interference in Islamic affairs. Tensions are rising as the government tries to preempt what it sees as the rise of a hardline strain of Islam.

Worshippers arriving for Friday prayers at Addis Ababa’s Awalia mosque found a notice posted at the entrance, which read: “They managed to get in through the back door before. Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The notice was signed by a mosque committee opposed to what it says has been a quiet government takeover of Ethiopia’s Islamic Affairs Supreme Council.  The committee is demanding elections for new council members, to be held in the city’s mosques.  They rejected a suggestion that the vote be held in neighborhood government halls called kebeles.

Standing at the entrance to the mosque, Ibrahim Hassan who teaches computer science at the Awalia Mission School, says holding the election in kebele halls would open the door to mischief.

“It should be inside the mosques, not in the kebeles because if it carried out in the kebeles there will be corruption, or some of the government authorities may participate.  That is not fair.  It is related to religion.  There must not be interference of government in such tasks,” he said.

Awalia mosque has been at the center of protests against what many Muslims see as government efforts to ban the teachings of the conservative Salafist sect of Islam.  The Islamic Supreme Council recently fired several teachers at the Awalia mission school and shut down an Arabic language teaching center.

Teacher Ibrahim accuses the council of trying to indoctrinate Ethiopian Muslims into the little known al-Abhash sect that preaches non-violence, as opposed to the more militant Salafist brand of Islam.

“They think that the committee may be terrorists,” he said. “They consider us terrorists, but it represents all the Muslim communities.  They said that [some] Salafists are members of al-Qaida, but in Ethiopia all of the Muslims are not members of al-Qaida, they are simply regular Muslims.”

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi last month signaled a crackdown on those he accused of “peddling ideologies of intolerance.”  In a speech to parliament, he said a few Salafis had formed clandestine al-Qaida cells in the southern part of the country.

Days later, four protesters were killed and many others injured in the southern state, Oromia when they tried to prevent police from arresting a Muslim cleric accused of promoting a radical ideology.

Last week, five men, including one Kenyan national, were arraigned in Addis Ababa’s federal court on charges of operating an al-Qaida cell out of a mosque in Oromia.

In another incident this month, Ethiopian authorities expelled two Arab men said to have been visiting from an unnamed Middle Eastern country.  The two were detained after making what police called “inflammatory statements” and distributing materials at Addis Ababa’s main Anwar mosque.

And last Friday, dozens of young men were reported to have stood outside Anwar mosque with tape over their mouths in a silent protest.  Young men standing at the entrance to Awalia mosque at last Friday’s prayers said another big demonstration is planned for this week.

More than half of Ethiopia’s roughly 90 million people are Christian, while an estimated 35 percent are Muslim.  The Horn of Africa nation has long prided itself on its religious tolerance.

Source:VOA

www.ethsat.com – Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) ESAT is the first independent Ethiopian Satellite Television service and Radio Station who broadcast to Ethiopia and the rest of the world.

The great Ethiopian won the 10k race clocking a world leading time of 27:39. After this amazing display of the 39-year-old another Olympic Games appearance look like a realistic prospect now. It was the fifth win in Manchester for Gebrselassie after victories in 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Behind him his fellow Ethiopians Tsegaye Kebede and Ayele Abshero took second and third, both timed at 27:56. While Gebrselassie’s performance was quite a surprise this was not the case regarding the women’s winner: Kenya’s Linet Masai dominated the race, winning comfortably in 31:35. Nadia Ejjafini (Italy) clocked a personal best of 31:52 for second while Doris Changeiywo (Kenya) ran 32:04 for third.

The Bupa Great Manchester Run is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. A record number of 40,000 runners participated in what was one of the world’s biggest races at the distance.

Men’s Race: Gebrselassie rushed through 5k in 13:31

In almost ideal weather conditions with overcast skies, a temperature of 11° Celsius at the start, very little wind and no rain a fast race developed right from the outset. A small gap opened early, when Gebrselassie pushed the pace together with Kebede and Ethiopia’s newcomer Abshero. In contrast to the other two much more experienced runners 21-year-old Abshero was selected for the Olympic Marathon after his world lead performance in Dubai with 2:04:23. When the 3k mark was reached in 8:05 Patrick Makau, the Marathon World record holder (2:03:38), had closed the gap and was among the three Ethiopians.

But those four were not running together for long. Although the pace was quick it was not quick enough for Gebrselassie. The veteran runner in this group moved ahead and away around the 4k mark, then passed the 5k mark in a superfast 13:31. At this point he was already eight seconds ahead of Kebede, Abshero and Makau, who were working together to reduce the gap. But there was no chance for this trio of world-class marathoners.

After seven kilometres Gebrselassie was more than ten seconds ahead. The two-time Olympic 10,000m champion (1996 and 2000) then had a decisive advantage of 15 seconds at 8k (21:58). Behind him Kebede and Abshero were now in a fight for second, which was going right to the finish line with Kebede just ahead. Makau had lost contact after the 7k mark and eventually finished fifth with 28:21 close behind Stephen Kiprotich of Kenya (28:19).

“The race was okay for me. I was surprised that the pace was so fast at the beginning,” said Makau, who surprisingly had not been selected for the Olympic Marathon. “Of course I was very disappointed.” But Makau will still do Marathon training leading towards the Olympics in case one of the three nominated runners gets injured or there is a change.

While Gebrselassie did not succeed trying to qualify for the Olympic marathon he could still make it to the London games. His performance in Manchester must be regarded as one of his best races in recent years. With his winning time, that exactly matches his Manchester time of 2009, he improved the world leading time by eight seconds. The reigning Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) clocked 27:47 in Dublin last month. Gebrselassie has won 17 of his 19 races at 10k during his career.

And Manchester could have been the start of an amazing turn around regarding the Olympics. When competing in Vienna’s Half Marathon a month ago Gebrselassie said that he will go to London as a spectator and that Henegelo’s 10,000m race on 27 May will be the final one of his career. But now it looks as if the Ethiopian selection race next Sunday could lead to Gebrselassie snatching a place for what would be his fifth Olympic Games.

“I wanted to run fast today and next week my goal is to run sub-27 minutes in Hengelo,” he said. He confirmed that the Ethiopian federation has said that first three of the Hengelo race will be nominated for the Olympics. “When I am in the top three I will have to go,” he answered when asked if he would run in London if selected. But he also said: “There will be a lot of stars running in the Olympics. It will be difficult to beat them. So I don’t know what would be possible. To get into the top three and win a medal that would be wonderful.”

Read More on IAAF.org

www.ethsat.com – Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) ESAT is the first independent Ethiopian Satellite Television service and Radio Station who broadcast to Ethiopia and the rest of the world.

An impressive Dibaba totally dominated the race from the moment the pacemaker dropped out with a composed surge to the line, clocking 3:57.77, a national record, a meeting record and the fastest in the world for two seasons.

With the world indoor title already in her pocket, this youngest of the Ethiopian Dibaba sisters is destined for great things.

Dibaba’s compatriot, Abeba Aregawi was second in a personal best time of 3:59.23, with Moroccan Ibtissam Lakhouad third in 4:01.69 and Kenyan Helen Obiri fourth in 4:03.15.

World bronze medallist, Milcah Chemos of Kenya, set a new meeting record of 9:15.81 which is also a new world lead for 2012. In second was Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia just a few steps and a second behind, while third was Kenya’s Lidya Chepkurui in a personal best 9:22.66

Milcah Chemos had a fine 2011 in the steeplechase, but failed at the final hurdle in the world championships when she could manage no higher than the bronze medal position. Here, though, she took over where she left off before Daegu with a gutsy win, the fifth fastest of her career.

She often looked uncomfortable in the rainy conditions, but it was when she came under greatest pressure from Ethiopian Sofia Assefa in the final straight that she relaxed the most to cruise to victory.

Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet was probably the most unrecognisable of the contenders for 5000m honours here. He had a road time of 13:14 from Carlsbad this season, but little else to indicate he was capable of winning. In the event, he not only won but set a meeting record of 13:11.00 and left in his wake a raft of East African talent including Olympic champion and fellow-countryman, Kenenisa Bekele.

World youth champion, Leonard Kosencha of Kenya, took the men’s 800m in pouring rain in 1:46.04 with fellow Kenyan, Timothy Kiptum second (1:46.20) and South African Andre Olivier third (1:46.74).

American Janay DeLoach’s sets a meeting record in the Long Jump, 6.73m, which represents the tenth longest of her career for the world indoor silver medallist. Spare a thought, though, for Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare who led for most on the competition with 6.64m only to be denied in the final round on this her season debut.

Nigeria’s Okagbare was third in the women’s 200m, equalling her personal best 22.71 secs in windy conditions.

The race was virtually a re-run of the world championships in Daegu as the American Carmelita Jeter pressed hard only for the Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown to show impressive strength to win in 22.50 to 22.62 over the stumbling American.

There were impressive wins in the 400m for Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills (50.00) over World Champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana (50.83).

SELECTED RESULTS:

1500m Women

Genzebe DIBABA (ETH) 3:57.77, WL, MR, NR
Abeba AREGAWI (ETH) 3:59.23, PB
Ibtissam LAKHOUAD (MAR) 4:01.69
Helen OBIRI (KEN), 4:03.15
800m Men

Leonard Kirwa KOSENCHA (KEN) 1:46.04
Timothy KITUM (KEN) 1:46.20, SB
Andre OLIVIER (RSA) 1:46.74
3000m Steeplechase Women

Milcah Chemos Cheywa (KEN) 9:15.81 WL, MR
Sofia Assefa (ETH) 9:16.83
Lydia Chepkurui (KEN) 9:22.66, PB
Mercy Njoroge (KEN) 9:26.50
Long Jump Women

Janay DELOACH (USA) 6.73m MR
Blessing OKAGBARE (NGR) 6.64m
Funmi Jimoh (USA) 6.53m

Read the full Press Release below

Washington, DC — Friday the G-8 leaders will begin a summit at Camp David, MD, with discussions focusing on the global economic recovery and food security in the developing world, with President Obama having invited the leaders of Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania to discuss food security, but the presence of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is causing growing concern because of the land grab issue in his country and unaddressed human rights abuses there.

“Several years ago, I introduced legislation to sanction the Ethiopian government for the killing of peaceful protesters in 2005 and its broader violations of human rights,” said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights. “Not only do human rights violations continue in Ethiopia, but the government has now added the element of displacing their own people in favor of foreign interests farming Ethiopian land instead of their own citizens. Having Ethiopia at the table to discuss food security is counter-productive based on their land policies.

U.S. Representative Christopher H. Smith

“The only way the inclusion of Ethiopia at the G-8 summit makes sense is if this forum provides an occasion to have a serious discussion with Meles about his unacceptable treatment of Ethiopian citizens, including policies that have made more of his people’s food insecure,” Smith said.

According to recent human rights reports, the Ethiopian government is forcibly relocating 70,000 people from the Gambella region in the southwestern part of the country to make land available for foreign investment in agriculture. Those displaced Ethiopians now face a lack of food, new farmland or available health and education services for their families. An estimated 5,000 Anuak people has been forced to flee to Kenya and 8,000 Anuak are now refugees in South Sudan.

Previous State Department human rights reports have consistently cited Ethiopia for such human rights violations as unlawful killings, torture and other abuse of detainees, arbitrary arrest and detention, illegal searches and the use of excessive force by security services in counterinsurgency operations. The new State Department human rights report will be released shortly and is not expected to indicate a reduction of human rights violations in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Federal High Court on January 19, 2012, convicted three Ethiopian journalists, an opposition leader, and a fifth person under an anti-terrorism law that one human rights organization claims violates free expression and due process rights. The ruling comes one month after two Swedish journalists were sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of “rendering support to terrorism,” based on their having illegally entered Ethiopia to investigate and report on abuses in the country’s Ogaden area.

You can contact Rep. Christopher H. Smith with the following addresses.

www.ethsat.com – Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) ESAT is the first independent Ethiopian Satellite Television service and Radio Station who broadcast to Ethiopia and the rest of the world.

Meles Zenawi humiliated in the presence of world leaders at G8 Symposium Advancing Food and Nutrition Security at Ronald Reagan Building, USAID, in Washington DC. on May 18, 2012