Ethiopian Action for Unity and Democracy

Dec 30, 2005 – The 48-hour vigil that started yesterday has ended today after State Department officials left early for the New Year holiday. The participation was greater than anticipated by the organizers.

The purpose of the vigil was to show support to the brave Ethiopians at home who are fighting for their freedom against the U.S.-backed regime of Meles Zenawi, and to also appeal to the U.S. Government to stop supporting the fascist regime. There will be more vigils like this in the coming few days.

Dec 29, 2005, 2:00 PM – The vigil continues in front of the State Department. An official from the State Department met with representatives of the protestors earlier today.

Dec 29, 2005, 10:03 AM – The 48-hour vigil that was called by Tegbar Civic group, and Ethiopiawinet Dimts Radio, in collaboration with Negat Radio, Ethiopian Review, Ethiopian Diaspora Discussion Forum and other civic groups is underway in Washington DC at the U.S. Department of State. The vigil started at 8 AM this morning. It’s raining and cold, but several Ethiopians have showed up to express their solidarity with fellow Ethiopians at home who are fighting against the fascist regime of Meles Zenawi. The protestors are appealing to the U.S. Government to keep its promise: stand by people who struggle for their freedom. That’s what Ethiopians are doing. We are refusing to live under the brutal, corrupt dictatorship. We hope the vigil will remind the U.S. Government its stated policy, while expressing solidairity with the brave fellow Ethiopians at home.

For any question or to support us, please write to tegbar@gmail.com

The fascist regime of Meles Zenawi continues to brutalize and terrorize the people of Ethiopia. Peaceful, unarmed protestors are being savagely beaten up and taken to disease-infested concentration camps. Many are being murdered.

This is going on while most of the world media is giving a blind eye and the U.S. government continues to give support to the terrorist regime. Concerned Ethiopians and friends of freedom around the world need to speak out to stop the atrocities in Ethiopia.

Those of you in the Washington DC area, please join us at the 48-hour vigil that will be held in front of the U.S. Department of State starting at 8 AM Thursday, Dec 29. Let’s express our solidarity with Ethiopians back home, particularly the brave students and teachers, who are struggling for freedom against the fascist regime. The vigil is organized by Ethiopian political and civic groups in the Washington DC area, including Tegbar.

For more information, please write to tegbar@gmail.com.

Tegbar, a worldwide Ethiopian civic group, sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today asking the implementation of the European Union resolution that calls for the investigation by the U.N. of the ongoing human rights atrocities in Ethiopia… full text of the letter

Tegbar civic group’s delegates met with advisors of the U.S. Congress International Affairs Committee today in Washington DC.

The delegates informed the Congressional advisors about the atrocities in Ethiopia. According the Tegbar delegates, the Congressional advisors were receptive and expressed grave concern about the gross human rights violations by the U.S.-backed regime of Meles Zenawi.

Representatives of Tegbar civic group in Washington DC met and discussed H.R. 4423 with advisors of Congressmen Donald Payne and Chris Smith yesterday at their offices in Capitol Hill. Congressmen Smith’s advisors told Tegbar that the bill has so far only two sponsors, but needs at least 21 to comfortably pass through Congress.

Tegbar representatives have been advised to try to get more sponsors for the bill. Tegbar’s Congressional Relations Team will hold a meeting tomorrow night to discuss strategies on how to help get the bill pass. We appreciate any suggestion or ideas on this matter.

Please write to us at tegbar@gmail.com

President George Bush will give a televised speech tonight (Dec 18) at 9 PM from the White House.

Tegbar calls on all Ethiopians in the Washington DC area to join the nightly vigil tonight and make it a large protest rally.

Let’s give voice to Hailu Shawel and the tens of thousands of Ethiopians who are languishing in concentration camps through out Ethiopia. Join us at the White House tonight starting at 7 PM.

The European Parliament on Dec 15 issued a resolution calling for “the immediate establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry, optimally under UN responsibility, to investigate the human rights abuses and to identify and bring to justice those responsible.”

Tegbar’s Washington DC group at its meeting today decided to organize a petition drive urging the United Nations to accept the proposal by the European Parliament and appoint an investigative body to investigate the ongoing atrocities by the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia.

As reported by Ethiopian and international media, there are currently tens of thousands of Ethiopians who are languishing in disease-infested jails accused of supporting opposition political parties.

Tegbar’s Washington DC group also decided to propose to other civic and political groups to organize a large rally in front of the United Nations in New York some time in February.

Tegbar will hold a town hall meeting in Washington DC on Sunday, December 18, at 4 PM.

Place: Unification Church, 1610 Columbia Road.

For more info, tegbar@gmail.com