Ethiopian Action for Unity and Democracy

PRESS RELEASE
Action for Unity and Democracy
ተግባር ለአንድነትና ዴሞክራሲ

Action for Unity and Democracy (AUD), a new political movement that was created after the merger of Ethiopian Democratic Action League (Tegbar) and Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) Youth League, is preparing to engage the people of Ethiopia on a discussion about knowing the enemey and what it takes to defeat it.

Tegbar believes that Meles Zenawi’s Tigray People’s Liberation Front (Woyanne) is the most destructive enemey of Ethiopia. Enabling ourselves to defend and fight for our freedom against Woyanne, in collaboration with other Ethiopian patriotic organizations, is the primary objective of Tegbar.

To carry out its objective, Tegbar is in the process of initiating talks with patriotic Ethiopian organizations who came to the same belief that Woyanne is the #1 enemy of Ethiopia and must be stopped from brutalizing our people using any means available to us.

Tegbar seeks to get support from friendly forces, such as the Government of Eritrea, as well as international human rights oranizations, the U.S. Congress, the European Parliament, and other governments around the world that are sympathetic to the plight of Ethiopians.

Tegbar is ready to work with armed and unarmed groups within and outside Ethiopia that are actively working to stop Woyanne.

We are encouraged by the positive response we are receiving so far from Ethiopians around the world for our plan to focus the struggle for freedom and unity in Ethiopia squarely on the root cause of our misery — Woyanne.

Tegbar expresses its solidarity with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) that is hitting back the Woyanne warlords who are torturing, raping, and murdering fellow Ethiopians in the Ogaden region. The struggle being waged by ONLF should be used as a role model by Ethiopians around the world in defending ourselves from the fascist regime.

For more information regarding Tegbar please visit www.tegbar.org

Tegbar acting spokesperson, Ato Tsegaye Shimeles, will give a press conference Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007, at 5 PM, to further explain the objectives and vision of Tegbar. The interview can be heard live at Ethiopian Review Radio Network.

PRESS RELEASE

The executive committees of Ethiopian Democratic Action League (Tegbar) and the Ethiopian People Patriotic Front’s Youth League (Youth League) have agreed to merge their organizations and create a unified political movement.

The primary objective of the merged group is to enable the people of Ethiopia defend ourselves from the repression and atrocities of the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (Woyanne) by any means available to us. To this end, the new movement seeks to work with all Ethiopian organizations who have similar objectives.

The movement fully supports and stands in solidarity with the newly created alliance, Unity of Ethiopians for Democratic Change (UEDC).

The movement strives to establish mutually beneficial relations with the Government of Eritrea, and other neighboring countries, as well as the European Union and U.S. Government, particularly the U.S. Congress and European Parliament, which appear to be sympathetic to the plight of the people of Ethiopia.

The movement’s leading demand is: The illegitimate, criminal regime of Meles Zenawi must be removed and be brought to justice!

The name of the new organization and its program will be released after ratification by members.

For further info:
tegbar@gmail.com

Tegbar League-Ethiopia is calling on all foreign companies that are operating in Ethiopia to cease their operations in the country from Aug. 20 until Sep. 12, 2007… READ MORE

Press Release
Tegbar League Addis Abeba Leadership Committee
For further info: tegbar@gmail.com

March 20, 2006, ADDIS ABEBA – Today, Tegbar League Committees in Ethiopia have launched a peaceful civil disobedience campaign against the Meles dictatorship. The primary purpose of this nonviolent action is to pressure the government to respect the people’s vote and to demand the release of all political prisoners.

In the coming days, Tegbar coordinators in Ethiopia will organize nonviolent actions such as blocking major roads, work slow down, boycott of schools, and boycott of products that are produced or sold by EPRDF-affiliated companies. These nonviolent actions are intended to systematically make the country ungovernable and paralize the Meles regime. There will be no public demonstration and direct confrontation with the blood thirsty Federal Police and Meles Zenawi’s death squad.

Tegbar will make a persistent effort to forge alliances with all pro-democracy groups in this nonviolent civil disobedience movement.

Since we are facing a fascist regime, we will take extra care not to expose our activists to danger. It is a bitter struggle for freedom against a regime that doesn’t hesitate to gun down 10 year-olds. But in the end, the aspiration of the people of Ethiopia for freedom and democracy will be realized.

FEBRUARY 22, 2006, ADDIS ABABA – Tegbar League chapters in Ethiopia are launching a campaign of peaceful civil disobedience through out Ethiopia from March 20 to 24 (Megabit 11 to 15). The plan is for Tegbar League chapters in Ethiopia, in collaboration with other organizations, to conduct various opposition activities in every city, town and village.

Tegbar League is calling on the people of Ethiopia to intensify the struggle against the brutal dictatorship by waging an all out campaign during these five days using every means available to us.

Tegbar coordinators are stressing the point that all opposition activities must be peaceful and avoid direct confrontation with Meles Zenawi’s blood thirsty Federal Police and special forces as much as possible.

Tegbar members around the world and other freedom loving Ethiopians are asked to support the five-day campaign by providing material, as well as moral support.

The purpose of the campaign is to persuade the Meles regime to accept the CUD’s 8-point proposal outlined below:

1. The unconditional release of all political prisoners.

2. The establishment of an independent judiciary.

3. The establishment on an independent Election Board composed of representatives of all parties.

4. Access for the opposition parties to the mass media, particularly TV and radio.

5. Independent investigation into the torture and murder of thousands of peaceful protestors and unarmed civilians.

6. The army and police force that is independent of any political party.

7. The reinstatement of parliamentary rules that has been changed after the May 2005 elections to silence the opposition, and the return of of
all revenues that have been taken away from the City of Addis Ababa.

8. The establishment of an independent commission that will overlook the implementation of the above demands.

For further info: tegbar@gmail.com
Flyer in Amharic
Flyer in Afaan Oromo

Addis Ababa, Jan 29, 2006 – The nationwide boycott of exams and classes that is called by Tegbar Student Association, in collaboration with Tegbar League in Ethiopia, is going strong. Students and teachers in elementary and high schools through the country are heeding the call and walking out of classes. In Addis Ababa, despite an all out attempt by the Meles security forces to thwart the boycott by conducting mass arrest of students, a large number of students boycotted classes, and many schools were forced to postpone exams last week. In Dessie, Ambo and other cities, students walked out of classes since last Monday.

Tegbar League in Ethiopia calls on all students and teachers through out Ethiopia to show solidarity with the tens of thousands of opposition party members, leaders, journalists, and students who are languishing in jail for voicing dissent.

In line with the call by the CUD leaders from prison to continue and intensify the struggle, Tegbar League urges all Ethiopians to confront the Meles dictatorship every where and every time using methods of expressing dissents that are within the constitution, such as peaceful protests, civil disobedience, boycotts, etc.

Meles Zenawi’s repressive regime must be confronted and challenged until it accepts the following demands that are put forward by the CUD:

1- The release of all political prisoners.

2- The establishment of an independent judiciary.

3- The establishment on an independent Election Board composed of representatives of all parties.

4- Access for the opposition parties to the mass media, particularly TV and radio.

5- Independent investigation into the torture and murder of thousands of peaceful protestors and unarmed civilians.

6- The army and police force that is independent of any political party.

7- The reinstatement of parliamentary rules that has been changed after the May 2005 elections to silence the opposition, and the return of of all revenues that have been taken away from the City of Addis Ababa.

8- The establishment of an independent commission that will overlook the implementation of the above demands.

Please print and distribute these flyers:
* Amharic
* Oromigna

Addis Ababa, Jan 19, 2006 – Tegbar Student Association, in collaboration with Tegbar League in Ethiopia, made a call today to all students and teachers through out the country to boycott the national high school exams that will be given next week.

The association also called on college students to boycott classes during this time.

Tens of thousands of flyers were distributed throughout Addis Ababa today during the Timket celebration. A similar pamphlet is being circulated in Amharic and Oromigna in other cities through out the country.

Tegbar League’s demands are the implementation of CUD’s 8-point peace proposal:

1- The release of all political prisoners.

2- The establishment of an independent judiciary.

3- The establishment on an independent Election Board composed of representatives of all parties.

4- Access for the opposition parties to the mass media, particularly TV and radio.

5- Independent investigation into the torture and murder of thousands of peaceful protestors and unarmed civilians.

6- The army and police force that is independent of any political party.

7- The reinstatement of parliamentary rules that has been changed after the May 2005 elections to silence the opposition, and the return of of all revenues that have been taken away from the City of Addis Ababa.

8- The establishment of an independent commission that will overlook the implementation of the above demands.

A large protest march is being organized in Washington DC jointly by all Ethiopian civic and political organizations, including the support committees of the two major parties, CUD and UEDF. The purpose of the march is to appeal to the U.S. Government to stop supporting Meles Zenawi’s dictatorial regime that’s torturing and murdering members of opposition parties and innocent civilians.

Currently, the Meles regime is detaining over 100,000 political prisoners in disease-infested concentration camps. Many are dying from malaria and other diseases in these camps. Tegbar civic group, one of the organizers of the January 12 march, urges all Ethiopians and friends of freedom in the United States to participate in the march, which will start in front of the U.S. Department of State at 7 AM. American civil rights leaders and members of the U.S. Congress are invited to address the march.

Ethiopian-Americans and friends of Ethiopia who come for the demonstration through out the U.S. will make appointments with their congressional representatives to brief them about the atrocities in Ethiopia by the U.S.-backed regime of Meles Zenawi and appeal to them to take action. It’s expected to be the largest Ethiopian protest march ever in the United States. We expect a turn out of over 50,000 Ethiopians and concerned Americans.

For more information or to help organize the march, please send email to tegbar@gmail.com.

Press Statement
February 19, 2001

TPLF’s 10 Years of Disastrous Rule in Ethiopia On May 27, 2001, the dictatorial regime of Tigray Liberation Front (TPLF) in Ethiopia will celebrate its 10th anniversary in power. Ethiopian United Action Team, a coalition of Ethiopian civic associations and political parties, on its part, will organize a worldwide campaign to expose the TPLF regime’s 10th years of disastrous rule. As part of this campaign, United Action is organizing marches in Washington DC and London. The march in Washington DC will take place on Friday, May 25, 2001. Detailed about the march in London will be announced shortly.

Ethiopia Under Murderous Dictatorship of Meles Zenawi: Since taking power in May 1991, Meles Zenawi and his ruling party in Ethiopia, the Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF), have brought unspeakable agony and suffering upon millions of Ethiopians. The TPLF regime is anti-Ethiopia tribalist that engineered the break up of Ethiopia through his ethnic apartheid policies. Meles Zenawi’s TPLF regime is one of the worst violators of human rights that systematically murdered Ethiopian civil rights activists like Prof. Asrat Woldeyes, Assefa Maru, and Kebede Desta, and locked up thousands of innocent Ethiopians, including journalists, political and labor leaders like Dr Taye Woldesemayat, Fit. Mekonnen Dori, and others in disease-infested jails. The regime is a ruthless dictatorship that summarily fired 42 professors from Addis Abeba University for criticizing some of the regime’s policies and gunned down university students for protesting its policy towards Eritrea. Currently there are over 15,000 prisoners of conscience languishing in disease-infested jails under terrible inhumane conditions. The regime’s innumerable human rights violations are documented by Ethiopian and international human rights organizations,
including the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Human Rights Watch.

The TPLF regime is responsible for numerous tragedies in Ethiopia during the past ten years, from the mishandling of food distributions causing millions of people to face famine, to dismantling health centers and neglecting the country’s health care system causing the death of tens of thousands people from malaria, AIDS, and other diseases that are rampant through out the country.

A call for worldwide action: Ethiopian United Action Team calls on the international community to join
us in condemning the TPLF regime atrocities in Ethiopia, and to help us bring an end to the misery of our people.

ETHIOPIAN UNITED ACTION TEAM
(member organizations listed in alphabetical order):

Ethiopian Democratic Action League (TEGBAR) www.tegbar.org
Ethiopian Medhin Democratic Party (MEDHIN) www.medhin.org
Ethiopian National Congress (ENC) www.ethiopiannationalcongress.org
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) www.eprp.org
Ethiopian Political and Civic Organizations Joint Task Force (Washington DC)
Hibre Hizb
Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Coalition

For immediate release
January 19, 2001

The regime of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Ethiopia led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is coming up with more excuses to attack and disqualify opposition candidates. Last week, the regime disqualified 700 of the 1,400 candidates representing the All Amara People Organization (AAPO) and accused Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) of deceiving individuals into becoming its candidates.

Yesterday, January 18, the government controlled news agency, ENA, reported accusations by officials of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a party created and led by Meles Zenawi’s TPLF, that “some political parties were engaged in collecting candidature endorsement signatures claiming that they belong to the EPRDF.”

“The parties were also registering citizens as their candidates without their will and knowledge,” ENA quoted the EPRDF statement as saying.

ENA also reported that “two candidates of EPRDF in Woreda Seven of the capital said they had been bullied and beaten by EDP candidates.”

Both EDP and AAPO strongly deny these accusations. As we stated in our January 8 press release, such accusations are pretexts for attacking the opposition candidates to make sure that they don’t win seats in the upcoming local election.

We once again call on the international community, particularly those countries and international institutions that are giving financial backing to Meles Zenawi’s regime in Ethiopia to suspend their support until the regime stops its anti-democratic practices, release all prisoners of conscience and improves its human rights condition in Ethiopia. The continued support to this dictatorial regime will only embolden it, leading Ethiopia into further political crises and economic decline.