The press freedom organization added: “Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his government have been tightening their grip on news and information in the last months. Ethiopia has joined the list of sub-Saharan countries that are keeping a close eye on the media and are trying to control or influence editorial policies. Due to their increasing intolerance, the authorities are doing everything they can to stifle the critical impulses of journalists and to make life difficult for the private media.”
Journalist in the government’s sights
Eskinder Nega (picture), a former journalist jailed along with his wife in 2005 for supporting the protests that followed legislative elections, is again under pressure from the authorities.
On 11 February, police officers briefly arrested him as he left an Internet cafe and took him to central police headquarters. Because of several articles posted online, Eskinder Nega has been accused of tacitly calling on the country to rise up against the government, following the examples of Tunisia and Egypt.
The police commissioner described the articles as “inciting street demonstrations” and “a call for the suspension of parliament.” It was also reported that he warned Nega that he would be the first person the police would look for if any kind of violence broke out in the country. “We are not forbidding you to write what you want, but we are issuing you with a serious warning,” he reportedly added.
Prior to 2005, Nega was a press proprietor who owned four Amharic- language weeklies:Satenaw, Minilik, Askual and Ethiop. On his release in 2005 he was stripped of his right to run a newspaper. This ban still applies.
Avalanche of charges against weekly newspaper Fitih
The state prosecutor has brought more than 30 charges against the Amharic-language weeklyFitih. On 22 January, the editor, Temesgen Desalegne, was summoned by police to hear the charges against him. Accusations included “tarnishing the image of the ruling coalition.” He was released after posting bail of 500 US dollars.
Fitih recently also faced a libel suit by a parliamentarian, Asheber Woldegiorgis. A year ago, the newspaper was prosecuted by the Ethiopian Broadcast Agency, a state body in charge of issuing licences.
This is the first time since 1991 that a newspaper in Ethiopia has been facing more than 30 charges. Fitih’s publisher, Mastewal Birhanu, describes the situation as an “attempt to suppress the right of expression in the country.”
Tip of the iceberg
Reporters Without Borders fears that the cases of Fitih and Nega are just the tip of the iceberg. Harried, intimidated and disheartened by the “warnings,” journalists have begun to censor themselves.
Reporters Without Borders is also puzzled by certain cases of websites being blocked and suspects they are being deliberately censored. The Facebook page of Addis Neger, an Addis Ababa-based weekly that voluntarily suspended publication in December 2009, is mysteriously unavailable.
Reporters Without Borders strongly urges the Ethiopian government to do everything it can to allow the private press to do its job without fear of intimidation, financially damaging law suits and self-censorship. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind the government of Ethiopia of a number of pledges it made to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of the press. We remain hopeful to see these pledges translated into action immediately.
MFI related deaths hike
© By Ankober Zuta , Blogger of Debre Birhan Blogspot
12-03-2011
Her eyes glitter.
“Well it is a long story” she says creaming her strawberry lips by her tongue. Cracking due to the blazing sun and lack of lip balm, ‘chap sticks’, Senayet’s lips were still as deliciously beautiful as Angelina Jolie’s.
‘Well it is a long story. I had taken a loan of 5000 birr ($300) to kick start my business from a local government owned Micro Finance Institution” Senayet explains. I am utterly taken by her unspeakable chocolate beauty. I am trying to recollect my attention to the issue. Hahaha
“And then?”I ask.
“And then what?” she replies my question by question.
“I mean what got you into this business; cleaning of a Hotel? “I enquire again.
“I told you. I was unable to repay the money I borrowed from the Micro Finance institution. Therefore, they took my property which I showed as a collateral as I was unable to repay my loan within the agreed time”.
I had met beautiful Senayet , 9 years ago when I was 11 years ago when I was studying at Bahir Dar University, around 550KM from the Capital, Addis Abeba. I and my friends used to get along with her as she had a long curly hair, beautiful face and engaging character. I still recall her everything and stories.
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A ventured undercover investigative reporting between this writer and an associate in Ethiopia reveals these untold facts about the ‘killing aspect’ of these ‘poor saver’ micro finance institutions.
Andhra Pradesh, one of India’s most populous states, and Banagladesh, both famed for prospering the poor via micro finance institutions, saw their rough times as the institutions were hit with reports of embezzlement, repressiveness and firing of Mohammed Yunus as Managing Director of the Grameen Bank. But What does it look like in the Ethiopian case?
Foreign Participation
Monetary and Banking Proclamation No. 84/1994 of the Ethiopian Business Law precludes a foreign national from undertaking banking business in Ethiopia, and no person is permitted to own more than 20% of a banking company’s shares. Financial foreign investment, including the banking business in whatever form, is prohibited.
Our investigation done on 10 micro finance institutions (MFIs), said to be founded by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) reveals the indirect involvement of foreigners in micro finance in Ethiopia. The first investigation was done on all MFIs in Ethiopia which don't have government support and depend on donor support as their major source of funding. Gasha Micro-Financing S.C, which pulls 80% of its funding/ownership from NGOs, Asser Micro-Financing S.C, which pulls over 97% of its funding from NGOs, Meklit Microfinance Institution S.C, which pulls 91% of its funding/ownership from NGOS and two other Institutions had the direct and indirect involvement of foreigners. The seed money of most of these MFIs were garnered from foreign NGOs .These NGOs still have shares and stocks within the MFIs making them beneficiaries from dividends of profits.
The foreign ownership and breach of Proclamation No. 84/1994 is further explained in the fact that these NGOs administered by Ethiopia personnel are accountable partially to these funders.
The Ethiopian government usually states the reason for banning foreign involvement in the financial sector saying it is due to the fact that foreign bank competition with infant domestic banks may be detrimental to the domestic banks rather than making them efficient. However, except the government owned ‘independent’ MFIs, the few true MFIs which are fully owned and run by individuals members/shareholders such as AGAR, Wisdom Micro-Financing Institution S.C, Africa Village Financial Services S.C and Meeket Microfinance Institution S.C have been going through unfair competition and regulatory up and downs.
Party machine MFIs
The MFIs we section in this category are all owned and run by regional governments and party members of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRDF).These are namely Amhara Credit and Saving Institution S.C, Addis Credit and Saving Institution S.C., Benishangul Gumuz Micro finance S.C, Dedebit Credit and Saving Institution S.C., Diredawa Micro finance Institution S.C, Omo Micro finance Institution S.C, and Oromia Credit and Saving Institution S.C. They all act and reach the mass and international community as ‘independent’ MFIs , however, the populous we interviewed in the Amahra and Oromia region perceive them rather as ‘partial’. These MFIs received their major funding (seed money) from their respective regional governments and endowments . The regional governments and their top cadres are the major shareholders in these MFIs making them the highest profit makers out of these so called ‘pro poor’ MFIs.
Mekonnen Yelewumwosen, the CEO of ACSI and Dr.Woldaye Ameha, of The Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI) are the two big fame and money makers out of these MFIs.
Established as private share companies, Regional governemnt owned Ethiopian MFIs nominally state ‘the dividends are not distributed to shareholders’ however; there were tangible cases of dividend distribution to the major shareholders. Some of the big names in the MFIs business also own larger shares in various private and governmental MFIs.
“Most the above listed MFIs operate closely with Kebele Administrations, with some of them having offices shared with Kebele administrations. They have showed high level of dependency on Kebele authorities than operating independently. All of them call customers for loan appraisal, disbursement and collection, which 53 resulted into overlapping of service providers and looting of customers.” A recent report revealed.
We have also been able to document words of discrimination, coercion and repayment harassment from clients who weren’t willing to support or join the ruling party or were unable to repay on time.
“My application for credit was evaluated by Credit and savings Committee, which is composed of two Kebele (Governmental district office) Committee members and three representatives from various community associations (including the women and youth associations, elders) and one ACSI employee. It really gave me unease because I had fallen out with the Kebele official once when he tried to force my wife to vote for him in the local elections. As can be expected ,they didn’t approve my credit application” Kagane (not a real name), farmer in Finote Selam, Northern Ethiopia laments .Credits are given to coopertaive assocations or individuals making the major form of evaluation criterion 'political opinion' than other logistical requirements.
Failure of Loan Repayment
There is a short period of loan, that is, a maximum of 12 months and group guarantee and possessions are taken as collateral and loan size of 5000 Birr for micro credits. "The step in getting back loans from the poor farmers has two steps," a researcher explains. "It begins with family and group pressures. If this fails the MFIs revert to using Kebele Courts."
The Kebele Courts have been used by the state apparatus to punish dissenters and failed debtors. Headed by untrained party loyal jury, these Social Courts pass decisions that includes confiscation of the property of the debtor to settle repayments and even arrest. In both the studied regions; Amhara and Oromia, credit clients have expressed their dissatisfaction, resentment at the ‘irrational’ and ‘nepotistic decisions’ of the Courts.
Although not officially recorded, up to 100 clients of government owned MFIs have committed suicide since 1996.Thousands went into a life of begging, prostitution or lost their properties due to severe measures taken by the Kebele Courts as most failed or ‘refused ‘to pay loans on time .Besides these punishments, many of those who failed to repay their loans recount of being subjected to severe and continuous psychological trauma by the Committee, Group and Court members, portarying them as indecent and ‘milkers’ to their peers.
Does micro finance really work for the poor?
There are many success stories of Ethiopians who have succeeded in making their own fame and wealth out of the credits they received from these MFIs. Lives have been truly changed. Out of these successes most have gradually been recruited by the ruling party to serve both as cases of successful capitalists for the Western neoliberal donors and double agents within their communities. Regardless, of this merits, MFIs demerits have been unreported by most media making them saintly and perfect.
“The regime uses MFIs to present itself as a capitalist, liberal government, pro poor, and socially responsible as well while it fundamentally uses them as grassroots organisations of spying and controlling the community.” Says an Ethiopian, Associate Professor of Development Studies, opting to remain anonymous.
MFIs are sarcastically described in the colloquial of clients and non clients of MFIs in Amhara and Oromia regions respectively as ‘Wedo Eda’,‘Eyayu Gedel’ and ‘Bollo Senee’ both literally translated as ‘entering a hole’. This describes how MFIs are viewed within the local community, explaining their ‘suicidal’ nature.
Wrap up
According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs report of 2006 on 26 MFIs in Ethiopia the combined outreach in terms of number of clients accessing both credit and saving products in September 2006 reached close to 1.5 million. Outstanding loans and saving mobilized respectively reached over two billion and close to 755 million birr. This shows how increasingly penetrative and useful options of micro and small finance ,MFIs have become, still with the disadvantages and negative impacts sugar coated.
In general outlawed foreigners involvement; feelings of resentment, favouring ,manipulation and discrimination and enrichment of few by MFIs ; abusive and extrajudicial and inhuman decisions and enforcements by Kebele (District) Courts dominate the untold stories of Ethiopian MFIs resulting in the suicides and total bankruptcy of the MFIs clientele that were unable to payback their loans.
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I have no idea where Senayet is at now; alive or dead. But that young lady of early 20s was destroyed due to her mere inability to repay her loans to a governmental MFI. She could still be cleaning those big, dark and hot offices of the Hotel.
Tariku Chimdesa contributed to this story by doing two weeks undercover observation and study from Ethiopia.
Peaceful Demonstrations in 2005
Gamu-Gofa was a province in the southern part of Ethiopia, named after two of the ethnic groups living within its boundaries, the Gamo and the Goffa. This province is bordered on the west and north by Kaffa, on the north and east by Sidamo, on the southeast by Lake Chew Bahir, and on the south by Kenya and Lake Turkana.
Gamu-Gofa province came into existence as a result of Proclamation 1943/1, which created 12 taklai ghizats from the existing 42 provinces of varying sizes. With the adoption of thenew constitution in 1995, Gamu-Gofa was reorganized into the Semien Omo and Debub Omo Zones of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia.
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 1,593,104, of whom 793,322 are men and 799,782 women; with an area of 11,010.99 square kilometers, Gamo Gofa has a population density of 144.68.
Various Ethiopian and foreign based dissident journalists and media have been reporting that Ethiopia could be the next country to experience the popular uprisings of Northern Africa.
Addis Abeba, the capital city of Ethiopia is under the strict surveillance and monitoring of security personal serving the incumbent .All forms of communication are also filtered by Chinese and regime's loyal Communication experts.
By Ankober Zuta , Writer of DebreBirhan BlogSpot
03-03-2011
Last week (http://debrebirhan.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-ethiopia-is-next-stop-of-revolution.html) this Blog had reported that Ethiopians were the second top followers or searchers of the Egyptian revolution based on an analysis done on Google Insight over the last 30 days.
Today ( http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=Libya&date=today%201-m&cmpt=q) a similar keyword search done on the followership and search of the regional interest on the current Libyan revolutionary political crisis indicated that Ethiopians are the second largest searchers of the Libyan Protest/uprising within the last 30 days on Google, following Libyans themselves. The other countries that had attentively followed the Libyan protests respectively were Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Philippines, Singapore and Turkey. Most of these countries have a historical, economic and regional interest and relationship with Libya that could make them all worried about the incidents in Libya. However, Ethiopians, who have little or no form of relationship with Libyans, were the second top people in the world to have an interest in the affair.
As was stated in my pervious piece, the fact that Ethiopians are so soaked up with the current ‘interplanetary revolutions’ while in a frustratingly slow and low internet connection and distribution level, is due to the nastiest economic and political repression that they are in and their ardour for a pressing enlightenment.
By Ankober , Writer of this Blog
2-03-2011
Today we mark the 115th celebration of the battle of Adwa, the day in which a Black country defeated a white Western colonising country, Italy, for the first time in the history of the world.
Raymond Jonas, in his book, The Color of Africa: Black and White at the Battle of Adwa as it appeared on blackpast.org says “The battle of Adwa of 1 March 1896 was a stunning victory for Ethiopia but a rout and a disaster for Italy. Adwa – the story of Africans seeing to their own freedom – played out against a background of almost unrelenting European expansion into Africa. The success of Ethiopia’s forces assured that Ethiopia would be the only African country successfully to resist European colonization before 1914. It also resonated powerfully in post-Emancipation America where hierarchies of race and ethnicity were only beginning a process of challenge and renegotiation.”
While Wikipedia puts it as “the Battle of Adwa (usually known as Adowa, or sometimes by the Italian name Adua) was fought on 1 March 1896 between Ethiopia and Italy near the town of Adwa, Ethiopia, in Tigray. It was the climactic battle of the First Italo-Ethiopian War.”
In the country that I am living now, thousands of miles away from Ethiopia, few African mates congregated to mark the day.
Indeed, like most of my African sisters and brothers, I feel proudly super due to the Battle and my King Menelik II.
May God Bless his Soul!!!
Sebhat Nega’s duplicity
Born in 1934 in Adwa , Chairman of the TPLF (Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, 1979-89) and founding member ‘Godfather ’ of the TPLF/EPRDF,Sebhat aka 'Aboye Sebaht', had a long interview (http://www.ethio-civility.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=177:live-interview-with-ato-aboy-sebhat&catid=40:audio&Itemid=56)with a pro-EPRDF Website and Voice Room ,Ethiopians Forum for Political Civility last year on the 13th February 2010.The interview on Adwa begins on the 88th minuite.
Of all the topics he was interviewed was about Adwa, and its historic significance. He begins by saying that his party (TPLF) always has grieved about the Nile issues.
‘’Adawa’’ he said “Europeans attempt of scrambling the continent of African was ….futile. During the 100th celebration of Adwa, in Adwa Province Tigray, a cornerstone was laid to build an infrastructure and memorial in Adwa to mark the history. However, this initiative was less implemented. The victory of Adwa, is a very, very miraculous history. What the Battle thought me was the unity of the then rulers.”
He then begins to contravene himself and says that King Menelik had “insulted’’ Ras Alula .He blames Atse Menelik. He puts Ras Alula as innocent…He says when Atse Menelik learnt that Italians were going to invade Ethiopia, he sought pardon from the Grandson of Ras Alaula , Ras Mengesha and beseeched him to go to war with him.He says that the Tigreans/Ras Alula’s were generous enough to assist the king they ‘saw differently ‘, i.e. Menelik and stand with their ‘Boss’ ,King Menelik.
He announced that Adawa Foundation will be established and will have branches in United States of America as well.
So what then?, if you ask me…
One : I feel this spinner of Meles Zenawi and the Ethiopian regime , has been hypocrite. Biniam Weldegebreil in his 2004 Masters Degree thesis “Memories of the Victory of Adwa: A Focus on Its commemoration. (1941-1999)” states that the Adwa Battle/Day was interpreted by Tigrean People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in its won version that saw Ethoipia's history as of just 100 years.The TPLF/EPRDF's interpretations and ways of celebration of Adwa until 1996 was highly opposed by the Ethiopia mass and opposition parties.
He also says "The President of the then Transitional Government, Ato Meles Zenawi, in his speech addressed to the Ethiopian people on the eve of the Adwa Victory Day in 1993, underscored that the Ethiopian people had no conflict over resources as had been exhibited in Adwa, all Ethiopian people would rather demand to come out from slavery and oppression."
Therefore, I feel that Sebhat’s Party which had the ideologically and intrinsic conviction that Adwa Day, was a history of the Shewan Monarchy vis-à-vis Empereor Menelik, has no moral or political power and outstanding to revert now and say ,Adwa deservers respect and bigger commemoration.
As to Biniam (2004) With the demise of the Darg, the political philosophy of the ruling regime brought about change in the commemoration as well as in the interpretations of the Victory of Adwa. EPRDF did not seem to take notice of the values of national symbols like the Victory Day of Adwa. In the first three or four years, after it took power narratives of the Victory were not published in the newspapers and its memories were not told in the government media.
“Moreover, unlike the earlier regimes, when the commemoration was presided over by higher officials, the top leaders of the EPRDF showed their ambivalence by not presiding over the celebrations. The Centenary celebrations in particular showed vividly the ambivalence of the government. The government handed over the responsibility of celebrating the Grand National Centenary to a third party and allotted a very insignificant amount of money to its celebrations. The opposition, on the other hand, took an extreme stand rejecting the Centenary celebrations at Adwa where Ethiopians got the resounding victory in 1896. The controversy between the government and the opposition made the Centenary celebrations highly politicized.” He adds.
Such a regime or Party Head is now after 20 years learning from its mistakes?
Secondly: I get sick to listen to a veteran, elderly, active politician promoting and reminiscing racist and tribal tones. Sebaht Nega, I don’t know where he got it, believes that Ras Alula (the then Tigrean King) was degraded and ‘insulted’ by Emperor Menelik and is also holding a grudge at Him (Amharas) until now. And it is this fatherly figure of the Ethiopian ruling party/politics that is ruling us. What a shame! This tells me there is yet a rotten hatred and resentment within the ruling party against certain tribes.
As a young man and part of the new Ethiopian generation, I say down to racism and hatred based administration.
Thirdly: I see his 11th hour wake up move and preparation of upholding the Day and the place, only as an attempt of developing the province of Adwa, his and Meles Zenawi birthplace. I have no problem with the economic development of the area but is baffling to witness these old Aradas acting street smarts.
One year has elapsed since he announced the launching plans of Adwa Foundation; there is no tangible Foundation yet. Adawa is as it was 115b years before; as is Ethiopia in all forms.
It is Ethiopia’s youth time to hold the wheel; move our nation and continent with the faster gear.
Happy Adwa Day to all of you!!
