Ethiopian Action for Unity and Democracy

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

Tegbar civic group’s Washington DC Chapter will hold a town hall meeting on Sunday, Jan 22, in Washington DC starting at 4 PM.

Guest speakers will be prominent journalist Mulugeta Lule and popular artist Tamagn Beyene. Ato Mulugeta Lule will discuss how pro-democracy forces can influence the U.S. policy towards Ethiopia. Ato Tamagn will discuss the role of civic and professional groups in the struggle for freedom and democracy.

Tegbar League team leaders will present reports on HR4423, petition to Kofi Annan, and other activities, and also discuss future plans.

The meeting will be moderated by Ethiopian Review publisher Elias Kifle.

There will be petition signing and membership registration programs during the meeting.

The meeting will be held at the Unification Church, 1610 Columbia Road, Washington DC, starting at 4 PM, on Sunday, January 22. Every one is invited.

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.

Jan 18, 2006 – “We are both very surprised as well as very disturbed by the silence of the Washington Post regarding the escalating government violence and political oppression in Ethiopia…” continue reading >>

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.