Oromos harasment by TPLF

The Advocates for Human Rights’ report, Human Rights in Ethiopia: Through the Eyes of the Oromo Diaspora, documents the experiences in Ethiopia of members of the Oromo diaspora throughout three successive political regimes. The long arm of human rights violations reaches directly into diaspora communities, including the Oromo, who reported a widespread belief that e-mail communication to Ethiopia is read by the Ethiopian government, that telephone conversations are overheard, and that the Ethiopian government monitors the activities of diaspora members in the United States. Oromos interviewed for the report also described decades of human rights violations in Ethiopia, including arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, torture, and extra-judicial executions. Reports of widespread surveillance and interference with rights to freedom of association, assembly, expression, conscience, and the press were pervasive. Oromos reported that the current Ethiopian government’s federal system has served to isolate ethnic communities, including the Oromo, leaving them even more vulnerable to human rights violations.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The history of Ethiopia is steeped in human rights abuses by the government against its people, including members of the Oromo and other ethnic groups. Ethiopian regimes, from the Abyssinian empire to the present, have sought to consolidate power by repressing the political and cultural activities of the Oromo people and that of the many other ethnic groups which make up Ethiopia’s population. The Abyssinian empire, backed by European arms, sought to colonize the territory traditionally held by the Oromo and other ethnic minorities. The Marxist Derg, which seized control from Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, was dominated by Mengistu Hailemariam. Mengistu ruthlessly eliminated rivals, consolidated power, and erected a state security apparatus that continues to be used today.

The current Ethiopian government, which came to power in 1991, is no exception. The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (“EPRDF”), dominated by members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (“TPLF”), moved quickly to identify and eliminate its rivals. It called for its most likely challenger, the Oromo Liberation Front (“OLF”), to participate in a new coalition government. The EPRDF’s move not only allowed it to appear open to political power-sharing in the regime’s early days, it brought the OLF leadership and members into the open. By 1993, when the OLF finally split with the EPRDF, OLF leadership and members had been identified. By the end of 1993, the EPRDF had arrested approximately 20,000 suspected OLF members, driven most OLF leadership into exile, and effectively neutralized the OLF as a political force in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government has built on its predecessor’s infrastructure of repression. Torture of dissidents by the current regime, including extreme physical violence and psychological torture, was reported by those interviewed for this report. Sexual violence also was reported. In addition, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, and confinement in inadequate prison conditions reportedly have continued under the EPRDF. Basic protections of due process, including notice of charges against those accused, are absent, and the judiciary faces pressure from the government.

The state surveillance apparatus erected under the Derg continues to result in restrictions on Ethiopians’ rights to freedom of association, privacy, movement, and property. Alleged ties to the OLF may serve as justification for arrest, detention, firing, expulsion, or confiscation of property. The government continues to monitor Ethiopians and conduct surveillance through the neighborhood associations, or kebeles, that were established by the Derg and served as the local apparatus of state security. A perception that all communications by phone, post, or email are monitored by the government is nearly universal. New restrictions have been placed on foreign funding of non-governmental organizations. Press restrictions and intimidation of the press continues. Elections held in 2005 and 2008 were marred by violence and intimidation.

The EPRDF’s main political strategy has been that of ethnic federalism as a means of amassing control. This policy has provided a veneer of autonomy to Ethiopia’s ethnic groups while eroding those groups’ political power and potential for challenging the EPRDF and further consolidating state power. The policy of ethnic federalism has had a negative impact on the basic economic, social, and cultural rights of Ethiopians.

The government’s tactics have extended to the educational system, where Oromo teachers and students face harassment and intimidation on suspicion of association with the OLF. Reports of monitoring, termination, or arrest of Oromo teachers and students were common. The mandatory use of the Oromo language in schools, reversing the decades old policy prohibiting instruction in any language other than Amharic, has not apparently lessened government suspicion that people who speak or write in the Oromo language support the OLF. The requirement of instruction in Oromo has also reportedly led to a decrease in educational opportunities for Oromo students, who are now at a disadvantage in the higher education system where Amharic or English is required.

Another impact of the Ethiopian government’s ethnic federalism policies has been the relocation of Oromo farmers. A belief that the relocation programs have economically benefited Tigray and Amhara people to the detriment of the Oromo was reported. The forced relocation has also placed resources in the Oromo region under strain, resulting in denial of rights to adequate shelter, water, food, and health care.

As Ethiopia moves toward national elections in 2010, the people of Ethiopia have the opportunity to hold the government accountable for its human rights record in Ethiopia. At the same time, the Government of Ethiopia has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to ending decades of human rights violations and respecting its obligations to uphold international human rights standards.

Recommendations
• The Government of Ethiopia should immediately cease the use of torture in its prisons, kebele offices, and other places of detention.
• The Government of Ethiopia should ensure that all persons detained by the Government are immediately brought before a competent and independent judicial authority to determine the lawfulness of their detention.
• The Government of Ethiopia should respect the right of all persons to assemble and to associate with others, and to ensure that all persons have the ability to meaningfully participate in the electoral process. The Government should take particular care to ensure that these rights are respected during the lead up to the elections in 2010.
• The Government of Ethiopia should ensure that all persons in Ethiopia, regardless of their ethnicity, have equal access to educational opportunities.
• The Government of the United States should ensure that military and other aid to the Government of Ethiopia is not used to support repression of ethnic groups or political opponents.

Read full report here:

http://www.advrights.org/uploads/oromo_report_2009_color.pdf

Picture of the week

Did you ever see Emyee Menelik's Tomb?Then you will have to as soon as we free Ethiopia from the tyrant Meles and his co.

The Tombs of Emperor Menelik II (left) and his daughter Empress Zewditu(right) In the Crypt of the Ta'eka Negest Ba'eta Le Mariam Monastery Church, built by Zewditu in her father's memory.

Over 1000 Ethiopians sneak into Yemen

Editor's Note: The number of my "once precious" people, flocking out of Ethiopia is mounting at an unprecedented number.Most of these Ethiopians fleeing from the political,racial and economic torture by the regime head either out through the bordering countries such as Somalia or Sudan.Those going via Somalia ending up in Yemen to yet another persecution.DebreBirhan likes to advise fellow Ethiopians to use Eriteria as their stepping stone,which is currently accepting Ethiopians persecuted and want to run away, with open hands.

SANA'A, Dec. 06 (Saba) - Over 1000 Ethiopians sneaked by several smuggling boats into Yemeni coasts last November, Interior Ministry has reported.

The security authorities in the coastal provinces said the number of Ethiopians who sneaked into the Yemeni lands last month reached 1,048 persons, including 100 women.

Interior ministry voiced its concerns from the escalating flow from Ethiopia, ordering the security authorities in the coastal provinces to close of coastal inlets the Ethiopians interred Yemen from.

Nominate Bertukan for Nobel Peace Prize

Dear Ethiopians,

DebreBirhan is working with some institutions and academics in Norway to nomainte Judge Bertukan Mideksa for the Nobel Peace Prize.And you are requested to send your nominations or initate her nomination on your behalf or your institution.This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner was President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. Aung San Suu Kyi AC of Burma ,who has much similarity with Judge Bertukan Mideksa , has been an awardee of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.

These are the organs or individuals that can nominate her for the Prize:

The right to submit proposals for the Nobel Peace Prize shall, by statute, be enjoyed by:

1. Members of national assemblies and governments of states;
2. Members of international courts;
3. University rectors; professors of social sciences, history, philosophy, law and theology; directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes;

4.	Persons who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize;
5.	Board members of organizations who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize;

6.	Active and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; (proposals by members of the Committee to be submitted no later than at the first meeting of the Committee after February 1) and
7.	Former advisers appointed by the Norwegian Nobel Institute.

The Nobel Peace Prize may also be awarded to institutions and associations.

Fellow Ethiopians,

For further reading visit the Organisation's website:

nobelprize. org/ index. html

Or e-mail the organisation

at:

comments@nobelprize.org

Addis Neger Journalists fled

By Ankober

Addis Neger was one of the few truly independent newspapers found in Ethiopia. It started two Years ago by Mesfin Publishing agency .Addis Neger was until last week a Politics, Social Issues and Economic centered Newspaper out every Saturday.

The newspaper was run by a young UK law graduate, Abiy Teklemariam who was a publisher of a similar newspaer called,Meznagna during the 2005 election till it was shut down post the election.

"AddisNeger had created a new kind of thinking and eneligthnment within the society especially the youth" comments a third year Sociology student from the Addis Abeba University .

However , inspite of its short succces, the paper's journalists have reportedly fled the country due to endless harrasment by the government.The names of the journalists said to have fled so far are: Abiye Teklemariam,Mesfin Negash ,Girma Asfaw,Abraham Begizew and Tamerat Negera.

The famous Amharic weekly paper did widely report on the scandal inside the Orthodox Church's executive committee. Journalist Abraham Begizew was as a result taken to a police station before being released on bail same year. Abraham was previously attacked and beaten by unidentified men under daylight .He was lead investigator of the crisis in the Addis Ababa Diacese.

According to local papers, the Addis Neger Editor-in-Chief Tamerate Nagera was also jailed briefly. The previous Editor of the newspaper faced similar issues last year as he was imprisoned briefly over the paper's coverage of the controversial trial of singer Teddy Afro. Addis Neger was said to have the largest newspaper circulation in the country.

Woyanee to Make exclusive discussion on the election with its top 'leaders'

High ranking members of TPLF/EPRDF are set to meet on 4 December, 2009 to exclusively talk on the upcoming election and the new decsions made regarding the so called 'peaceful opposition parties' and code of conduct. According to DebreBirhan's sources the meeting will be led by Bereket Simon.

The talk is 'mainly going to be on the issue of violenece that TPLF/EPRDF is scared will happen around the election.It was reported that TPLF/EPRDF intellegence has been alerted of a possible violence being organised if the election fails to be free and fair.

However, Woyanee's PR said the training is aimed at creating conducive situations for the provision of similar trainings to members and supporters of the Front.

The Union of Oromo Students,Oromo Community in Europe to flood Copenhagen

DEMONSTRATION IN OPPOSITION TO THE UNJUST REPRESENTATION OF MELES ZENAWI ON COP 15 UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENECE AT COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Meles Zenawi is one of the most repressive dictators and violators of human rights in Africa! He has, also, the worst environmental degradation records during his regime.

In Ethiopia, inequitable and unjust land use policy and investment policy of environmental unfriendly industrial development by the dictator and human rights violator Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is harmfully affecting the poor local community to prevent and/or adapt to the climate changes. He is liable for the environmental degradation, such as poisons of Lake Koka, forest fire in Oromia, unsustainable mining and environmental unfriendly flower industry in Oromia region.

Thus, in order to bring the truth of these harmful impacts and the liability of the dictator Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia to the public the Oromo Community residing in different countries of Europe will hold demonstration on THURSDAY DECEMBER 17, 2009 at Bella Centre (Center Boulevard 5, DK-2300 København S from 10am to 5pm), COPENHAGEN on COP15 UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE where representatives from all over the world attend the conference.

The Oromo make up a significant portion of the population occupying the Horn of Africa. They are the only largest ethnic group in Ethiopia. The Union of Oromo Students in Europe is a student organization based in Germany, founded in 1974.

Zambia beats Ethiopia, through to quarterfinals

CHIPOLOPOLO edged closer to the quarterfinals of the Orange CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup after a 1-0 win over Ethiopia at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi this afternoon.

Herve Renard's side now lead Group A with a maximum six points from their opening two matches after beating hosts Kenya 2-0 in their opening game last Saturday at the same venue.

Chipolopolo took the lead in the 30th minute through striker James Chamanga who finished off an effort after Ethiopian goalkeeper Assefa Dawit fumbled with the ball.

The goal was Chamanga's third of the tournament following his brace against Kenya over the weekend as Chipolopolo head into their final Group A match against Djibouti tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the first half hour of the opening half against Ethiopia was an even affair.

Sebastian Mwansa also wasted a chance with a poorly taken free-kick in the 10th minutes from the edge of the penalty area.

Ethiopia had a chance to level scores five minutes before the break after an Emmanuel Mbola handball but goalkeeper Jacob Banda saved the resultant penalty.

And Kenya were by press time in action against Djibouti at the same venue in the second kickoff in Group A.

Both Kenya and Djibouti were on zero points after losing 2-0 and 5-0 to Chipolopolo and Ethiopia respectively in their opening Group A matches

WOYANE FACILITATED IVORY TRDAE CAUGHT BY INTERPOL

Editors Note: The sale of treasures that was started by selling Lucy has gone up to a greater level by including ivory and other treasures but this one was red handed by Interpol.These illegal sells are facilitated by the woyanee led government in Ethiopia.

AUTHORITIES IN six African countries seized more than two tonnes of ivory and arrested 100 people as part of an operation that has been described as one of the biggest ever to crack down on wildlife crime, international crime fighting organisation Interpol announced yesterday.

Operation Costa is part of wider Interpol efforts both to stop illegal trade in ivory, horns, skins and animals, and also to help African countries – in this case, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda – get better at fighting crime that cuts across borders.

The operation “clearly shows the ability and will of law enforcement to effectively tackle wildlife crime”, Peter Younger, manager of the Interpol wildlife crime programme, said in a statement.

A similar Interpol operation last year resulted in 60 arrests and the seizure of one ton of ivory.

Conservationists say poaching for ivory and rhinoceros horns has been on the rise in east Africa, driven by demand in Asian countries such as China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Some make a link with the growing number of Chinese living in Africa as their government expands business ties across the continent.

Most international trade in ivory has been banned since 1989.

Officials say poaching is on the rise in part because of a 2007 decision by countries that are signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to allow southern African nations a one-time chance to sell off ivory stocks.

“The appetite in Asia was whetted and the market has not been able to fulfil the demand by the one-off sales,” said Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto.

“It creates a demand that cannot be met.”

Kenya says it lost 47 elephants in 2007 and 216 so far in 2009, though some of those deaths are attributable to drought.

The country’s elephant population has grown to 35,000 from 16,000 in the late 1980s, and continues to rise at 4 per cent a year, but Mr Udoto said it would be rising by 10 per cent each year without poaching.

“The incidence of elephant killing and ivory trade have shot through the roof,” Mr Udoto said.

Sebhat Nega becomes the new Board Spiner of Wegagenn

The bank, that is an offshoot of EFFORT in its 16th ordinary meeting , elected new board members for the next two years, namely: Sibhat Nega, Mulualem Berhanu, Tefera Mola, Ambasel Trading Enterprise, Teferi Zewdu, Teklu Geleta, Hailu Mola, Tomas Gebremariam and Abishu Hussein.

Our Sources disclosed that Sibhat Nega was elected to spine the bank and is a given a duty of handling the profits of the bank.

And funnily despite the last fiscal year being a tough one for financial institutes, Wegagen Bank (WB) has announced it has recorded a 30.1 percent growth in profits.

Inflation, the forex crunch, and regulatory interventions aimed at reducing the money supply to curb the rising prices were some of the factors that made 2008/09 a tough environment for the nation's banks.

However, amid these challenging internal and external situations, the bank managed to record a net profit of 180.6 million birr net profit - one of the highest among the private banks.

Total deposits amounted to 3.7 billion birr, an increase of 769 million birr, or 26 percent, from last year, while total loans and advances stood at 2.1 billion birr, in line with the credit cap set by WB's board.
Total assets reached 5.1 billion birr, registering a billion birr increment, or a growth of 24 percent compared to last year.
The bank has 48 branches and a forex bureau and it is also working with 11 international money transfer companies.
Having commenced operations with a paid up capital of 30 million birr, which was raised by 16 shareholders, the number of Wegagen's shareholders has reached 1,257, while the paid up capital was 517.6 million birr at the end of last fiscal year. Including reserves, WB's capital has grown to 701 million birr.

In addition the bank is constructing a 20-storey new headquarters complex in the Stadium area of Addis Ababa that it got from woyanee free of lease.
Following this report, the board of the bank has offered a two month salary bonus and salary increase to all its employees.

Ethiopia: 6 high ranking officers defected

Six high ranking military officers of the Woyanne regime in Ethiopia have defected, Ogaden Online reports.

Recent attacks by the Ogaden National Liberation Front's (ONLF) army may have played a role in the defection of these high ranking officers, the report adds.

All six officers who were based in a military garrison around Addis Ababa from where they had been scheduled to be deployed in Ogaden.

The names and the ranks of the officers who defected are 1. Col. Tadesse, 2. Cap. Abraha, 3. Cap. Haylo, 4. Lt. Daud, 5. Lt. Gebre, 6. Lt. Yohannes

Aside from the defections, Ogaden Online reports that there is an increased infighting within Woyanne militias "following the spectacular losses" in the hands of the ONLF fighters in the many parts of Ogaden in recent fights.

Human Rights Defenders Under Siege in Ethiopia

Soon to be Implemented, Ethiopia’s Civil Society Law is the Most Restrictive of its Kind in Sub-Saharan Africa; Law Draws Inspiration from Similarly Repressive Laws in Zimbabwe, Russia and Singapore

Chicago, Ill. – The Northwestern University School of Law’s Center for International Human Rights, in a report released today has found that Ethiopia’s new Civil Society Law violates Ethiopia’s human rights obligations by effectively silencing independent civil society organizations, particularly human rights defenders and advocates of democratic governance that provide critical services to Ethiopia’s most vulnerable citizens.

The report, entitled Sounding the Horn: Ethiopia’s Civil Society Law Threatens Human Rights Defenders, concludes that the new CSO law violates Ethiopia’s human rights obligations as well as the Ethiopian Constitution and thus should be rescinded immediately. Upon implementation of the new law in January 2010, all foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be prohibited from engaging in activities pertaining to human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, disability rights, citizenship rights, conflict resolution or democratic governance. Even local NGOs that receive more than ten percent of their funding from foreign sources are considered “foreign” under this law. The report finds that: “Since the vast majority of domestic human rights NGOs in Ethiopia receive the bulk of their funds from foreign sources, the new CSO law will force them to either close their doors or drastically alter the scope of their work.”

The Ethiopian government has long been hostile to human rights defenders. For decades the government has harassed civil society organizationsand their leaders. In fact, the director of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA) recently fled the country after the government retaliated against the EWLA for its description of the government’s human rights record.

Unless the Ethiopian government repeals the CSO law, it will be implemented one year after its enactment, on January 6, 2010. The report calls upon the Ethiopian government to rescind the law as soon as possible.

DebreBirhan has managed to get the full report of the research. Click on the first link on the right hand side of the page to read the full report:

http://www.law.northwestern.edu/humanrights/

KENENISA PLEADS BERTUKANS RELEASE

MESSAGE TO THE ETHIOPIAN YOUTH

DEAR ETHIOPANS

This is a national call to the Ethiopian youth.

Our Fathers have been so zelous and courageously patriots in their days .Then our nearer fathers were so highly infatuated with the ideologies of Marx, Lenin,Socialism and bla bla and they have even sacrificed their life for this cause.

What has today's youth done?

What are the ideologies of todays YE ARADA LIJOCH and lijagerdoch?

Our ideology today is No to racism and hatred.

We , the youth of today's Ethiopia are ready to overthrow Meles Zenawi's dictatorial scum.We are not fighting for Lenin or Karl Marx; today we are fighting for our basic freedom,human rights, love and peace>>>ONE LOVE.

Are you ready to remove Meles Zenawi's era and replace it with the new age politics/government of PEACE,LOVE AND FREEDOM?

Then do these three things:

1.Ask yourslef who your best/loyal friend is, she/he could be your girl/boyfriend.

2.Without telling anyone, form your own network of freedom .

3.Two of you in the network, can assist real freedom fighters like www.Ginbot7.org/ or EPPF or any other group in anyway you can and then enjoy your FREEDOM.

YE ARADA LIJOCH HOY,,,,

Secure Your own Freedom Yourself

HAGER Force demolishes Harar Base

Hager Force, a newly established squad of 1000 strong military commandos has demolished a Woyanee military base in Harar.As to DebreBirhan's sources the squad was able to amass armaments from the base by attacking the soldiers located in the military base.Hager Force is on a wise preparation to conduct a blitzkrieg attack on Meles's colonizing ''government''. The public is asked to give financial and strategic informations to all pro Ethiopian Unity Forces by Hager. Below is a Report by IOC regarding the issue. According to information received by The Indian Ocean Newsletter, a deadly skirmish occurred on 16 November in a place known as Jaketa, situated between Harar and Babile in the east of Ethiopia. It pitted government soldiers of the South Eastern Command against unidentified rebel forces and is believed to have made several tens of victims among the government troops. Many of the wounded soldiers were treated at the Hiwot Fana Hospital and other hospitals in Harar. Although no organisation has yet officially claimed responsibility for this action, it is highly likely that those involved were Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels, the most active group in this region. However, according to some witnesses, several of these attackers spoke to each other in the Amhara language, which is not so common in the ranks of the ONLF. They may have been instructors from outside this region of Ethiopia. This military confrontation occurred after arms were stolen in Harar at the beginning of the month, a theft attributed to ONLF rebels .

ETHIOPIAN REGIME TO KILL 40 ETHIOPIANS

-THE GALLIBLE WORLD NEEDS TO WAKE AND TAKE MEASURE

-COUNTRY GOING INTO APOCALYPSE

VOA's Peter Heinlein reported the following:

ADDIS ABABA — Prosecutors in Ethiopia are seeking the death penalty for 40 people found guilty of conspiring to overthrow the government. Twenty-seven of the defendants were tried and convicted last week. Thirteen others, most of them living in exile, were earlier found guilty in absentia. This VOA correspondent was in the courtroom as the 27 in custody pleaded for reduced sentences.

One by one, the 27 convicted conspirators were given a chance to explain to a three-judge panel why they should not be executed for planning a campaign of violence aimed at bringing down Meles Zenawi's government.

The group was convicted of five charges. Among them were trying to incite rebellion within the army, plotting to kill senior government officials and destroy strategic facilities.

All were said to be members of the outlawed Ginbot 7 Movement led by exiled political leader Berhanu Nega.

Berhanu, now a university professor in the United States, was among the 13 convicted in absentia. He has denied the existence of a plot, but has repeatedly called Meles's government 'illegitimate' and said it should be removed by any means.

Many of 27 convicted last week are current or former military officers. Speaking to the court, they pointed to their decades of decorated service. Some spoke of fighting with the forces that overthrew the previous Marxist regime. Several listed the medals they had won and the wounds they suffered fighting for Ethiopia in its Woyanne's war against Eritrea a decade ago, or serving in Somalia, or in the counterinsurgency campaign against rebels in the independence-minded Ogaden region.

Two defendants, both former army majors, admitted their guilt and threw themselves on the mercy of the court.

Ethiopia's inJustice Ministry spokesman Mekonnen Bezabeh says while the death penalty is being sought for all 40, the two who pleaded guilty would get special consideration.

"We asked the court for the death penalty, but we also asked the court to minimize the penalty for two persons who told to the court their activities," Bezabeh said.

The other defendants, including the lone woman among the 40, maintained their innocence throughout the trial, though some said they respect the court's decision.

Several defendants, including the few represented by attorneys, questioned whether the death penalty is appropriate in a case where the charge is simply planning a coup, not carrying it out. Presiding judge Adem Ibrahim was silent on the matter, but Justice Ministry spokesman Mekonnen said the cumulative weight of all the charges calls for the maximum punishment.

"According to our procedure law, if there are so many charges, each penalty will be added and they will be penalized the sum of the penalties, so when we see their convictions, by acting contradiction with the constitution, and also they conspired to make a crisis between army forces, the penalty would be the highest penalty point, which is the death penalty," Bezabeh said.

Those facing the maximum penalty include Melaku Teferra, a senior member of Ethiopia's opposition UDJ, or Unity for Democracy and Justice Party. Melaku was among the scores of political leaders convicted of inciting post-election violence in 2005, then later pardoned.

In outlining the charges Tuesday, Chief Prosecutor Berihun Tewoldeberhan singled out Melaku, saying he should have learned from his past mistakes.

Melaku is one of two top UDJ officials in prison as next May's elections approach. The party's main leader, Birtukan Mideksa, was also among those jailed after the 2005 election and then pardoned. But she was sent back to prison last December and ordered to finish serving a life sentence after denying that she had asked for the pardon.

Meles denies food to opposition members

Ethiopian opposition parties said on Wednesday that their members were being refused food aid to force them to join the ruling party before national elections are held in May next year.

The Ethiopian government says 6.2 million people will need emergency foo

d this year and has appealed to the international community for help.

Another 7 million Ethiopians are part of a long-running food-for-work scheme, which means more than 13 million of the country's 80 million people rely on aid to survive.

"Our members can't get on the food-for-work scheme," Gebru Asrat, spokesman for the opposition coalition Medrek, told Reuters. "Only ruling party members can now join the programme, so it forces desperate people to leave the opposition."

People who joined the ruling party would not be able to work for the opposition or stand as opposition candidates.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's administration rejected the opposition complaint.

"It's simply a ridiculous and outrageous thing to say," Bereket Simon, government head of information, told Reuters.

He said the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party had fewer than half the number of people currently enrolled in the food-for-work scheme.

Aid workers say a five-year drought is afflicting more than 23 million people in seven east African nations, with Ethiopia worst affected. Ethiopia's latest appeal came on the 25th anniversary of the 1984 famine that killed more than 1 million.

"PROGRAMME FOR POOR, NOT POLITICS"

"The government is trying to control what parties people join," Medrek's Gebru said. "Food aid should not be used as a political weapon."

Medrek is a coalition of eight parties and is seen as the most serious threat to Meles' nearly 20 years in power.

The prime minister has agreed a "code of conduct" for the elections with three parliamentary opposition parties -- two of which opponents say are government "satellites".

Medrek refused to sign that agreement, demanding bilateral negotiations with the government on issues that they say were left out of the deal, including reform of the electoral board.

The government strongly denied the allegations of food being withheld from the opposition. "That programme is designed to help the poor in our society. Ethiopia doesn't discriminate on political grounds when distributing food," Bereket said.

Security forces killed about 200 protesters after the opposition said the government rigged elections in 2005. Seven policemen were also killed. Most analysts agree Meles' EPRDF will win easily at the ballot box next year.

The opposition says this is because candidates are routinely intimidated and jailed -- mostly in remote areas outside the capital Addis Ababa. The government says the opposition has no chance of victory and just wants to discredit the poll.

Ethiopia has never had a peaceful transition of power. Meles took over in 1991 after a rebel group led by him and others overthrew a communist regime.