SUMMARY It is September, so it must be the month for the Ethiopian government to confound everyone. The other months for confusion are: October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July and August. In April 2002, the Meles government characterized the Boundary Commissions ruling as total victory for Ethiopia because it was sure (for reasons known only to itself) that Badme was east of the common border; a year later (April 2003), when the Boundary Commission clarified all ambiguities and said Badme lies in Eritrea, the Meles government expressed regret but said it would not reject the ruling; it would just seek adjustments. For months, Meles borrowed a page from his former friend Isaias (who explained Eritrean land lost in the central sector as insignificant and, besides, the people would be offered government help in resettlement, so what is the big deal?) and tried to play down the loss of Badme. The war was not about land, it was about reversing aggression, said Meles. Then: I'd love to accept the ruling, but my people won't let me. And now: the border ruling is unjust, illegal, irresponsible, miscarriage of justice, etc. etc. and Ethiopia has no choice but to reject it.in the interest of peace. Of course. Champagne bottles were uncorked at the epicenter of Ethiopian patriotism: Washington, DC restaurants, the Ethiopian Internet and elite American universities where fire-breathing Ethiopian academics hold court. Also this week, an Ethiopian passenger train traveling between Djibouti and Dire Dawa was bombed: two innocent people were killed and nine injured. The government blamed it on an armed opposition group, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), one of two Ethiopian opposition groups that the Eritrean government is pinning its hopes on for the inevitable demise of the Ethiopian government. The OLF denies the charge: "The Ethiopian government has been very clever in cashing in on the war against terrorism," quotes IRIN an OLF spokesperson, "But this incident has nothing to do with us and we never target civilians." Meanwhile, Ethiopias other armed insurgency, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) is issuing a communiqu to announce about its gathering momentum. According to Voice of the Ogadeni People, there were.well, there were more clashes, more killings, more death, more celebrations When he is not warning the UN of the inevitability of war, Meles promises, never, never, never again will we have war. Proof? Ethiopia dembolized 63,000 combatants in Tigray. Each soldier got USD $29 each so they could start their animal husbandry, retail trading, metal and wood works and other income-generating small businesses, according to Walta. Their warsay-yekaalos actually get paid a salary and get to go home. Meanwhile, the United States of Ethiopia has pledged 1,300 peacekeepers to Burundi, of which over 200 have already arrived, according to the local media outlet Bonesh FM, Bujumbura. Things are more heartening in the Sudan. Well, at least for now. There is talk of ceasefire. An opposition figure is quoted by Sudans Al-Anba: "We have no greed for resources or power. We support the agreement totally even if it comes in a form of partnership between the government and the movement [rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement] and we become sidelined, we will not object it." Imagine that: a politician actually placing the nations interest over his. Suspend your cynicismfor a week! Meanwhile, also in Sudan, President Al-Bashir attended the centennial celebration of Sudans press. He praised their role and expressed his eagerness to see them grow. Not attending the centennial celebrations were the journalists whove been arrested and the newspapers that have been shut down. It is all lovey-dovey in the Sudanat least for now. In neighboring Uganda, things are not so rosy. The Lords Resistance Army rejected the Ugandan governments offer of amnesty. President Museveni "has no moral authority" to grant the rebels amnesty, according to a spokesperson, instead, it is the people of Uganda and the LRA that should give Mr Museveni amnesty. So, there you have a common ground, at least, they are just arguing about who should give it and who should take it. In Somalia, Djibouti pulled out from its mediation role. Why? Ambassador Gulad said Djibouti would never support something that would lead Somalia into a new bloody war. And how critical is Djiboutis presence? Ambassador Gulad said this matter [Djibouti's withdrawal] would create new dilemma in the peace process, adding that the Djibouti government had reached the point of pulling out from the talks. Not to worry, the United States of Ethiopia has got your back covered, Somalia. Ambassador Abdulaziz Ahmed told IRIN he did not understand why Djibouti had withdrawn from the process. "But it really doesn't matter who pulls out of the technical committee at this stage. We have entered the phase of power-sharing, and the process is in the hands of the Somalis themselves. The technical committee is not so much involved any more and their [Djibouti] withdrawal will not have an impact." And now you are updated on The Nations In The Hood.
Ethiopia: Prime Minister Meles's letter to UN Security Council BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 28, 2003 subheadings inserted editorially Prime Minister Meles Zenawi [has] said the decision of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission, EEBC, on Badme and parts of the central sector is totally illegal, unjust and irresponsible. The prime minister said in a letter addressed to the [UN] Security Council that the colonial treaties which are the basis of the Algiers agreement, and which should have been the key basis for the delimitation and demarcation of the boundary leave Badme inside Ethiopia. Solomon Kebede has more from ENA [Ethiopian News Agency]: Border ruling illegal, irresponsible [Solomon] Meles's letter noted that despite the overwhelming evidence produced by Ethiopia proving that Badme had always been administered by Ethiopia, the commission chose to base its decision on state practice and awarded Badme to Eritrea. Meles said the commission's decision which was allegedly based on a state practice also ended up splitting a single village and even a single homestead between the two countries. Its decisions in some parts of the central sector are equally unjust and irresponsible. Blatant miscarriage of justice He said it does not require great wisdom to see how symbolically important the village is for the people of Ethiopia, who have paid so much blood to reverse the Eritrean aggression and liberate Ethiopia's land, including Badme. It is unimaginable for the Ethiopian people to accept such a blatant miscarriage of justice, he said, adding that the decision is thus a recipe for continued instability and even recurring wars. The prime minister said the boundary commission admits that there are, indeed, anomalies in its decision, but states that it is unable to correct them unless the parties give it an additional mandate. He said the commission cannot be unaware of Eritrea's total rejection of dialogue on demarcation. He said nothing worthwhile can be expected from the commission to salvage the peace process. Instead, it seems to be determined to continue its disastrous stands whatever the consequence to the peace of the region. Another round of fratricidal war The prime minister said as the commission's decision could inevitably lead the two countries into another round of fratricidal war, the Security Council has an obligation, rising out of the UN charter, to avert such a threat to regional peace and stability. Ethiopia hopes that the Security Council, the witnesses and guarantors of the Algiers agreement and the [UN] secretary-general will help the two parties achieve the objective and purpose of the Algiers agreement and break the present deadlock. Meles said, accordingly, Ethiopia, when reaffirming its commitment under the Algiers agreement, stands ready to enter into a formal commitment to reject the use of force as a means of resolving disputes and calls upon Eritrea to do the same. Ethiopia supports the suggestion made by the secretary-general of the UN contained in his 23 June and 4 September 2003 reports to the Security Council, as well as what is referred to in operative paragraph as Security Council Resolution 1507/2003 with respect to assistance by the international community to help the two parties meet their joint obligations for durable peace between them. Call for alternative mechanism It is crucial that the Security Council set up an alternative mechanism to demarcate the contested parts of the boundary in a just and legal manner so as to ensure lasting peace in the region. The prime minister said the alternative mechanism's mandate can be limited to the contested parts of the boundary. Meles said Ethiopia is willing to consider any ideas that could lead to a just and legal process of demarcation of the boundary and can, therefore, ensure lasting peace in the region. Source: Ethiopian TV, Addis Ababa, in English 1930 gmt 27 Sep 03 BBC Monitoring
Ethiopia: Ministry blames Oromo Liberation Front for Friday's train attack BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 29, 2003 The Ministry of Information has said that the attack on the passenger train that was travelling from Djibouti to Dire Dawa [in southeastern Ethiopia] last Friday [26 September] was carried out by the Oromo Liberation Front, OLF.It is to be recalled that two people were killed and nine others injured in the attack on innocent citizens perpetrated by the OLF. The statement, which said that this was not the first time for the OLF to carry out such anti-peace and anti-people terrorist attack, also said that the OLF had in several occasions attempted to carry out similar attacks in Dire Dawa and other various towns and localities including Addis Ababa but have been foiled by security personnel. The statement also said that such several attempted attacks by the OLF aimed at disrupting the ongoing development efforts by the government and people of Ethiopia with the view to bringing about development and building a democratic system had been thwarted by the joint efforts of the people and security officers. It also said that neither the OLF nor other similar anti-peace forces have the capability of distracting us from our cherished goals of building our country and that the people and security personnel are ever ready to ably combat the ant-peace and anti-people terrorist forces who are bent on disrupting the peace and security of our people and our activities of building our country. Source: Ethiopian TV, Addis Ababa, in Amharic 1730 gmt 29 Sep 03
ETHIOPIA: Rebel group denies planting bombNAIROBI, 29 Sep 2003 (IRIN) - The rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has denied any involvement in a bomb blast in Ethiopia which killed two people and injured nine last week.
The bomb exploded on Friday as the train was nearing the town of Adiquala, about 190 km from the Djibouti border.
The device had been planted under the seat in a second-class carriage of the passenger train which was travelling from Djibouti.
A government spokesman on Monday blamed the rebel group for the incident, but OLF spokesman Lencho Bati told IRIN his group never targeted civilians.
"The Ethiopian government has been very clever in cashing in on the war against terrorism," he said. "But this incident has nothing to do with us and we never target civilians."
He noted that a bomb blast on the same line last year, for which the OLF claimed responsibility, was aimed at a military target.
"That was a warehouse and was a legitimate military target," he said.
The OLF has been fighting for greater autonomy ever since it broke away from the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and took up arms in 1992. It says the Oromo people - Ethiopia's largest ethnic group - have been treated as second class citizens for years.
Ethiopia: Over 63,000 demobilized soldiers being rehabilitated in north BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 28, 2003 Mekele, 27 September: The Tigray Regional State [northern Ethiopia] Demobilized Soldiers Rehabilitation Office [has] disclosed that over 63,500 demobilized soldiers have begun rehabilitating themselves with a grant of 254m birr [over 29m dollars] offered by the regional government. Office Head Fisehaye Alemayehu told WIC [Walta Information Centre] that the ex-soldiers were now engaged in animal husbandry, retail trading, metal and wood works and other income-generating small businesses. He said as part of the effort to support the rehabilitation of the demobilized soldiers, administrative bodies, at various levels, have provided plots of land, market places and shop both at nominal prices and for free. Various technical and professional training were offered to the ex-soldiers prior to their engagements in businesses, he said. The regional government was also planning to pursue its support until the demobilized soldiers could make a living by themselves. Beneficiaries of the rehabilitation programme said that the support has enabled them to run their own business and support their family. [Passage omitted] Source: Walta Information Centre web site, Addis Ababa, in English 27 Sep 03 BBC Monitoring
Ethiopia: Rebel group says armed struggle "gathering momentum" BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 27, 2003 Reports from the front-line [southeastern Ethiopia] say that bitter battles have taken place between fighters of the Ogaden National Liberation Front [ONLF] and Ethiopian colonial forces. ONLF's mission to seek independence is the cause of the ongoing fighting between the two sides. ONLF combatants are resolute in their quest for independence of the Ogaden people. ONLF fighters also want a referendum held to determine the destiny of their people, but Ethiopian government forces do not want a referendum held. Whatever the case, the two sides have been involved in unremitting battles that have been gathering momentum daily. [Passage omitted] The latest battles took place at the following places and dates: On 4 September 2003, colonial Ethiopian forces and ONLF liberation fighters clashed at a place called Wab, located between Baka and Birqod. Two Ethiopian soldiers were killed and three others were wounded in the fighting. On 9 September 2003, Ogaden liberation fighters launched a surprise attack on a group of repressive Ethiopian forces stationed at El Ogaden in Korahey District, killing two soldiers and wounding four others. Source: Radio Freedom, Voice of the Ogadeni People audio web site in Somali 26 Sep 03 BBC Monitoring
Some 226 Ethiopian peacekeepers arrive in Burundi BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 27, 2003 [Sound of aircraft engine] We are at the Bujumbura international airport. Two hundred and twenty-six Ethiopian troops have just arrived. Nine hundred more men are expected to arrive on Tuesday [30 September] and Sunday [5 October]. Ethiopia is going send a total of 1,300 troops to be part of the African mission to Burundi. They were received by Ambassador Mamadou Ba, resident representative of the African Union in Burundi together with South African and Mozambican officers of the African Mission. Ambassador Ba officially handed over the flag of the African Union to the first Ethiopian contingent after a short parade. [Sound of trumpets] After his welcome speech, Ambassador Mamadou Ba said it was not tourism but an effort to do everything to prevent war and restore peace by helping Burundians to rediscover peace, adding that more demobilization camps would soon be set up. [Passage omitted] Ambassador Mamadou Ba accorded an exclusive interview to Radio Bonesha: [Ba] I welcome them to Burundi on behalf of the African Union. As I said, they are not here to wage war. They are here to help in consolidating the efforts being made to achieve peace. I told them that obviously they were not here for tourism and it would not be easy. The work that they have been called up on to do here would not be easy but together we are would like to be able to do the work. I think it is particularly significant. It an expression of African solidarity towards Burundi. They are here to monitor the demobilization but there is for the moment a deadlock in the Burundi crisis. [Passage omitted] Obviously, their work will depend on what politicians and diplomats will have achieved in the talks. Source: Bonesha FM, Bujumbura, in French 1630 gmt 27 Sep 03
Sudan: Government keen to support press - president BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 29, 2003 Khartoum, 29 September: President of the republic [Staff Lt-]Gen Umar al-Bashir has praised the important role which being played by the Sudanese press, stressing the state's keenness to support the press in performing its work. In a press statement to Suna on the centennial anniversary of the Sudanese press, President Al-Bashir has hailed the pioneer journalists who laid down the bases for a Sudanese press which enshrines the lofty values, impartiality and the supreme interests of the country. He appreciated the increase in the number of the Sudanese newspapers, which reached 14 political and 13 specialized newspapers. President Al-Bashir called on the press to give more concern to the major causes of the nation. He pointed out that the coming era of peace necessitates work for realization of full national accord toward guaranteeing durable and comprehensive peace. Source: Suna news agency, Khartoum, in English 1431 gmt 29 Sep 03
Sudan: Ruling party appeals to members, all other parties to support peace deal BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 29, 2003 The secretariat of the [ruling] National Congress [NC]has expressed its support for the framework agreement on security and military arrangements between the government delegation, headed by the first vice-president, Al-Ustadh [honorific] Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha, and the people's movement's [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] delegation led by Col John Garang, in Kenyan town of Naivasha. The secretariat described the agreement as a strong foundation for the peace process in the country. In a statement issued after holding an emergency meeting yesterday, the secretariat pointed out its initiatives in order to achieve this goal which is considered one of the principles of the NC. The secretariat called on members join the peace process. The NC also appealed to all political parties and civil society to play their historic role in realization of peace and stability in all parts of the country. Source: Republic of Sudan Radio, Omdurman, in Arabic 0400 gmt 29 Sep 03 BBC Monitoring
Ugandan rebels reportedly reject government's amnesty offer BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 29, 2003 September Rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army [LRA] have rejected government's offer of amnesty to end the rebellion in northern Uganda. However, the Amnesty Commission says that the Joseph Kony-led LRA rebels are still the biggest single group to have taken advantage of the three year-old amnesty. LRA commander, Brig Sam Kolo, called The Monitor on Thursday [25 September] to say that President Museveni "has no moral authority" to grant the rebels amnesty. He said that, instead, it is the people of Uganda and the LRA that should give Mr Museveni amnesty. Parliament passed the Amnesty Act in 2000, pardoning rebels who give up fighting and report to the Amnesty Commission. But Kolo claimed that Museveni needs amnesty for his role in wars in DRCongo, Rwanda and Sudan, which left many people dead. "It is unfortunate that Museveni has never accepted having killed the people of Uganda even during his five-year guerrilla war," Kolo said. "He considers himself clean and holy. This amnesty is useless for LRA." Amnesty Commission spokesman, Mr Moses Draku, said more than 3,000 LRA rebels have "reported" to the commission since it started work in July 2000. "Even if the LRA leaders say they oppose the amnesty, that does not stop the [amnesty] law from operating," Draku said on phone. "Some more [rebels] will take advantage of this law." Kolo denied that the LRA is receiving any arms from Sudan, as claimed by the Uganda government. He claimed that the Sudanese army joined the UPDF [Uganda People's Defence Forces] to attack LRA positions in southern Sudan on 22 March last year. "The statement by government that LRA gets support from Sudan is intended to deceive the world so that Museveni continues [arming] his friends the SPLA" But the Uganda army (UPDF) spokesman, Maj Shaban Bantariza, said the UPDF has not carried out any joint operations with the Sudanese army, even if the Operation Iron Fist protocol provides for them. President Museveni has repeatedly said that Sudan continues to arm the LRA despite allowing the UPDF to flush them out of southern Sudan. Kolo told The Monitor that the LRA has its armoury inside - and gets its support from - Uganda. Pressed further, however, Kolo said they get support from "countries that do not support dictatorships and undemocratic governments" but not from Sudan. The Monitor could, however, not get a comment from President Museveni's spokesperson. Ms Mary Karooro Okurut could not be reached on her mobile phone while Mr Onapito Ekomoloit was reportedly out of the country. The Minister of Information James Nsaba Buturo was attending a function, according to his bodyguard who answered his mobile phone. Source: The Monitor web site, Kampala, in English 29 Sep 03 BBC Monitoring
Sudan : Opposition party welcomes peace deal between government, rebels BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 29, 2003 The opposition Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] has welcomed the security and military arrangements agreement. In a statement to Al-Anba newspaper, the secretary of the National Democratic Alliance [NDA] (inside Sudan) and an official of the NDA's political bureau, Al-Ustadh [honorific, Ali Al-Sayyid, welcomed the agreement. "We are for peace from whichever direction it comes from. The priority is to end the war, so long as an agreement is reached, one which would guarantee a democratic transformation, then that will be enough," he told Al-Anba. "We have no greed for resources or power. We support the agreement totally even if it comes in a form of partnership between the government and the movement [rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement] and we become sidelined, we will not object it," he said. He however said, "All of us would like to see all political parties taking part." Ali Al-Sayyid considered the agreement a positive step towards arriving at a comprehensive peace agreement. [Passage omitted] Source: Al-Anba, Khartoum, in Arabic 28 Sep 03 BBC Monitoring
Djibouti reportedly pulls out as mediator in ongoing Somali peace talks BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Sep 27, 2003 The Djibouti government which is one of the front-line states involved in the mediation of the ongoing Somali peace talks in Kenya last night announced that it had officially withdrawn its membership from the IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] technical committee, designated to coordinate the peace talks. The Djibouti envoy at the peace talks, Ambassador Isma'il Gulad, said the Djibouti government had officially ceased to be a member of the IGAD technical committee. Explaining further why Djibouti withdrew at this time, when the talks were entering the third [final] phase, Ambassador Gulad said Djibouti would never support something that would lead Somalia into a new bloody war. He said he had already submitted a written statement to the Kenyan foreign minister regarding Djibouti's stance on the Somali peace process, saying that it was not moving in the required direction. He said it was important that both IGAD committee and the front-line states [Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti] have a common stand on the matter. Concluding his statement, Ambassador Gulad said this matter [Djibouti's withdrawal] would create new dilemma in the peace process, adding that the Djibouti government had reached the point of pulling out from the talks. Source: Ayaamaha, Mogadishu, in Somali 27 Sep 03
Ethiopia Says Djibouti Pullout Will Have No Impact
September 29, 2003
Posted to the web September 29, 2003
Nairobi Djibouti has pulled out of the Somali peace talks saying the technical committee, which is meant to steer the conference, is no longer neutral. The technical committee of the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) grouping - which is mediating the talks - is made up of Somalia's neighbours: Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. Ismail Goulal Boudine, Djibouti's ambassador to the Somali peace talks which have been underway in Kenya since October 2002, told IRIN on Monday it was "very clear" that the peace process had "deviated from its original objectives". The technical committee was biased, he said, accusing the committee itself of "derailing" the peace process. And the conference itself was no longer an all-inclusive forum and could therefore not decide on crucial issues such as power-sharing and the creation of a broad-based government for the war-ravaged country. "The process as it is will not yield positive results for Somalis," he told IRIN. "We will not be party to further fighting and bloodshed in Somalia." "If the situation changes we can come back. At the moment we are awaiting a response from the Kenyan authorities or the international community," he added. But his Ethiopian counterpart, Ambassador Abdulaziz Ahmed told IRIN he did not understand why Djibouti had withdrawn from the process. He noted that Djibouti had pulled out on previous occasions and had then returned to the talks. "We are supposed to work together," he stated. "But it really doesn't matter who pulls out of the technical committee at this stage. We have entered the phase of power-sharing, and the process is in the hands of the Somalis themselves. The technical committee is not so much involved any more and their [Djibouti] withdrawal will not have an impact." He said accusations of bias should have been addressed by the Somalis themselves. The majority of delegates, he added, had not made any comment. His comments were echoed by Kenyan officials who stressed that the technical committee was "just a facilitator". All efforts were being deployed, one observer added, to urge Djibouti not to leave and to bring back the Transitional National Government (TNG) president Abdiqassim Salad Hassan and some prominent faction leaders. They left the talks earlier this month, saying a transitional federal charter - supposed to be the blueprint for the future of Somalia - had been foisted upon them with no prior discussion. |
