CPJ Special Report

The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors

The world’s worst online oppressors are using an array of tactics, some reflecting astonishing levels of sophistication, others reminiscent of old-school techniques. From China’s high-level malware attacks to Syria’s brute-force imprisonments, this may be only the dawn of online oppression. A CPJ special report by Danny O’Brien.

A security line outside Google's Beijing office. (AP/Andy Wong)

Published May 2, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO

In reporting news from the world’s most troubled nations, journalists have made a seismic shift this year in their reliance on the Internet and other digital tools. Blogging, video sharing, text messaging, and live-streaming from cellphones brought images of popular unrest from the central square of Cairo and the main boulevard of Tunis to the rest of the world.Yet the technology used to report the news has been matched in many ways by the tools used to suppress information. Many of the oppressors’ tactics show an increasing sophistication, from the state-supported email in China designed to take over journalists’ personal computers, to the carefully timed cyber-attacks on news websites in Belarus. Still other tools in the oppressor’s kit are as old as the press itself, including imprisonment of online writers in Syria, and the use of violence against bloggers in Russia.

To mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists is examining the 10 prevailing tactics of online oppression worldwide and the countries that have taken the lead in their use. What is most surprising about these Online Oppressors is not who they are—they are all nations with long records of repression—but how swiftly they adapted old strategies to the online world.

In two nations we cite, Egypt and Tunisia, the regimes have changed, but their successors have not categorically broken with past repressive practices. The tactics of other nations—such as Iran, which employs sophisticated tools to destroy anti-censorship technology, and Ethiopia, which exerts monopolistic control over the Internet—are being watched, and emulated, by repressive regimes worldwide.

INFRASTRUCTURE CONTROL

Key country: Ethiopia

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi tightly controls online news media. (AP)

Telecommunications systems in many countries are closely tied to the government, providing a powerful way to control new media. In Ethiopia, a state-owned telecommunications company has monopoly control over Internet access and fixed and mobile phone lines. Despite a management and rebranding deal with France Telecom in 2010, the government still owns and directs Ethio Telecom, allowing it to censor when and where it sees fit. OpenNet Initiative, a global academic project that monitors filtering and surveillance, says Ethiopia conducts “substantial” filtering of political news. This matches Ethiopia’s continuing crackdown on offline journalists, four of whom are imprisoned for their work, according to CPJ records. Ethiopian government control does not simply extend to phone lines and Internet access. The country has also invested in extensive satellite-jamming technology to prevent citizens from receiving news from foreign sources such as the Amharic-language services of the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Tactics in practice:

> Suppressing news of Middle East unrest

> Controls over all media

The other nine tactics were :

web blocking in Iran, precision censorship in Belarus, denial of access in Cuba,attacks on exile-run sites in Burma,malware attacks in China,state cyber-crime in Tunisia ,internet kill switches in Egypt of Mubarak, detention of bloggers in Syria and violence against online journalists in Russia.

Egyptian delegation in St.George Church

'St George Church, Kidus Giorgis, Addis Ababa,

Prayers made in Arabic in the Church

1/04/2011

By Anko Zuta,De Birhan Blogspot Staffer

Twenty third of every month is the saintly day of St. George in the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians calendar. And today (23/8/2003 ,Eth.Cal.) was the annual saintly celebration of St. George in Ethiopia. It was celebrated in the attendance of huge number of Addis Abeba residents in the Arada Saint George Church, Addis Abeba. The event was different from the celebration of the previous years, in that those who were in attendance were members of the popular Egyptian public diplomacy delegation that arrived in Addis Ababa, on Friday 29 April, 2011. The 48-member Egyptian delegation, Mahmoud Drir, Ethiopian Ambassador in Egypt and Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church were were the dignitaries in the Church. As part of the Day's celebration,prayers were made both in Amharic and Geez. Also ‘prayers and preachings' were made in Arabic , led by an Egyptian member of the delegation. Some members of the congregation expressed their confusion when they heard prayers in Arabic in an Orthodox Church. Some also said that they were unhappy in the manipulation of holy places for political purposes. A priest in St.George Church said ‘the joint program was organised between the Delegation and the Church in an attempt to show the age-old relationships and brotherliness of the two nations and that all issues would be solved in a peaceful manner and discussions’.

The Egyptian delegation includes three presidential candidates, a number of prominent political figures, including Osama Al Ghazaly Harb, the head of Al Gabha party, Alsayed Elbadawy the head of Al Wafd party, Hussein Ibrahim of the Muslim Brotherhood, Abdel Hakim Abdel Nasser the son of former president Gamal Abdel Nasser, journalists , and representatives from the January 25 Revolution Youth. The Egyptian Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf will arrive in Addis Abeba next week.

Security was tight near Saint George Church today when liturgy, mass and speeches were taking place.

The TPLF Manifesto of February 1976 - The Republic of Greater Tigray (Audio)

Dear Readers,

The Tigrean People's Liberation Front's (TPLF) Manifesto of February 1976 - The Republic of Greater Tigray is being circulated in Ethiopia and abroad currently.The Document , supposedly hand written by the current Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 19 75,contains jingoistic and ludacris goals and theoretical programs.

Here is the audio as read by Janamora of ECADF.

http://www.box.net/shared/0k5o4dbgl5

Soldier kills four , himself

By Anko Zuta , De Birhan Blogspot Staffer

27-04-2011

Unconfirmed reports from Addis Kidame town of Faggeta Lekoma District in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia state that an active member of the Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) blasted two grenades killing himself and four others .The incident killed another retired soldier and two children yesterday.

The source said that the illicit arms trade in the country and bad governance and management of logistics within the EDF is leading to growth of crime and illegality in the country.

Those who have been victimized were namely :

Metadele Getnet
Teguaded Getnet
Aberashe Ejigu
Eseynat Ejigu

The cause of the fatality has not been established so far.

Details to come...

A modern-day Pessah miracle

By NICOLE HYMAN , The Jerusalem Post

04/27/2011 11:52

The exodus of Jews from Ethiopia

Pessah is more than a time for forsaking bread and treasure hunting any and every possible crumb. It’s more than just seven days of munching on crisp, cracker-like matza and remembering what it must have been like to be liberated from slavery in Egypt.

Pessah is a perfect time to remember the exodus of Ethiopian Jews. And there’s no better way to enrich the Seder than with the story of this modern-day exodus.

The story of Ethiopian Jewry's arrival in the Promised Land makes us realize how fragile the freedom of the Jewish people is. It’s these memories and ideas which color the ways in which Ethiopian Jews celebrate Pessah today.

Like other Jews, Ethiopian Jews begin their Pessah preparations by cleaning their homes and getting rid of any hametz. What is unique to their Pessah preparations, however, is that they break all old dishes and purchase new ones for the holiday. This is because in Ethiopia it was difficult to make their dishes kosher, explains Rabbi Yosef Hadane, the chief rabbi of Ethiopian Jews in Israel.

During Pessah, Ethiopian Jews eat matza like Jews elsewhere. But unlike other Jews, in the Ethiopian community matza is baked daily and only enough to last for one day is made.

In addition to not eating grains and certain legumes, some more traditional Ethiopian Jews also avoid milk and live off matza, water and salads for the seven days of the holiday. This is to distinguish between the food ordinarily eaten on a daily basis and food eaten over Pessah.

Ethiopian Jews used to sacrifice a baby goat or sheep at the beginning of Pessah. The whole family would gather for the sacrifice, taste the meat and eat matza. The meat that was left over from the sacrifice was then burnt and buried.

This marked the beginning of Pessah, explains David Molla, an oleh from Ethiopia who is the manager of the Mevaseret Zion Absorption Center for Ethiopian olim.

Most Ethiopian Jews in Israel have since abandoned this practice, however.

“We miss this tradition very much,” says Molla, “but we understand that there is a need to fit in with life in Israel.”

Molla says he remembers celebrating Pessah in Ethiopia and that it was a very important holiday. It was a time when the entire family got together. If there were members of the family you hadn’t seen in months, you’d see them over Pessah, he says. He now celebrates the holiday like other Jews with a conventional Seder, Haggada and lots of family.

But not all Ethiopian Jews in Israel are fortunate enough to have their family members gather around their Seder tables. The contested Jewish identity of the Falash Mura, Ethiopians who converted to Christianity yet claim Jewish ancestry, means that there are Ethiopian families who have been separated.

Some members have made aliya, while others remain in Ethiopia. Getinet Chekol is one such Ethiopian Jew. He made aliya with his wife three months ago. Half his family is still in Ethiopia.

“I am free in Israel but I cry every day because my family is in Ethiopia,” he laments.

He hopes his family will come to Israel soon.

“I don't think aspects of traditional Jewish Ethiopian culture have been lost in adapting to life in Israel,” says Rabbi Hadane. “While there are differences in how the holidays are celebrated, the principle is the same.”

The story of the Ethiopian Jews’ exodus is a modern-day miracle, says Hadane.

“Operation Moses and Operation Solomon are unbelievable. It is very important for us and for everyone to understand that God did not forget His people even in a village in Africa. He freed them from exile, and brought us to Israel,” Hadane says.

Rabbi Menachem Waldman, an Ethiopian-Jewish history expert, has written a Haggada which documents the heroic escape of Ethiopian Jews out of Ethiopia.

This tells the story of how the Ethiopian Jewish community got their freedom. It includes accounts of their exodus, prayers specific to Ethiopian Jews as well as an explanation of Ethiopian Jews’ unique Pessah traditions and customs.

The Haggada is not only aimed at the Ethiopian Jewish community. It is a useful addition to any Seder, as it helps other Jews understand the story and connection of this ethnic group to Judaism.

Hadane emphasizes that while it is important that the account of Ethiopian Jewry's liberation be told, he sees this as only one chapter in the larger story of the relations between Jews and their God across all generations.

“It is important that the story of all Jews, not just Ethiopian Jews, be told,” he says. “When we talk about the miracle of the Ethiopian Jews we talk about the miracle of God and all His people.”

Nicole Hyman is a South African freelance journalist based in Tel Aviv.

www.nicolehyman.net

Meles Zenawi’s belligerence against Egypt Vs Egyptian's investment in electricity

*Egyptian Company receives over two million square metres of land in Mojo to invest in electric cables

21-4-2011

By Anko Zuta,De Birhan Blogspot Staffer

The politics of Dam/ hydraulic is very interesting .One of my relatives is one of the few Ethiopia/African scientists (bragging hahahah). On a serious note, I advise those of you who have yet to do your dissertations, thesis and papers to do it on this subject, especially the Nile River as a case.

Amidst the continuous propaganda and campaign on the damming of the Abay River , a low key but a strategically thought of belligerence against Egypt is being struck by the Meles' regime security and propagandists . One of them is that the damming of the Abay River is a matter of national interest and security and that we all MUST be wary and protectors and defenders of any threat that comes from the Egyptians against our sovereignty. These 'servants' of the regime spread the rumour of military attack from the Egyptians against Ethiopia. In spite of all these Machiavellian rhetoric and ‘patriotic’ preparations, the Meles’ regime has been accepting and legalizing Egyptian public and semi-public corporations and companies to make large scale and strategic investment in different regions of Ethiopia. Elsewedy Cables Ethiopia PLC.: This Company, which works in a closer partnership with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (the Corporation that builds the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile), has been granted two million square meters of land to build a grand electrical cables industry zone in the Wonji town of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia last month. Amazingly enough, the Company has committed itself to make an ambitious investment of $ 50,000,000 in Ethiopia, “Due to the huge demand of cables and energy sectors in Ethiopia and the surrounding markets, Elsewedy Cables Holding Co. has taken the strategic decision to invest $ 50,000,000 USD inElsewedy Cables Ethiopia PLC, the first cables manufacturing plant”. The Company’s statement read.

El Sewedy Cables Ethiopia Plc, is an affiliate of the international company, Elsewedy Group, and produces Low Voltage Cables, Medium Voltage Cables, High Voltage Cables,Overhead Conductors, Special Cables, Fiber Optic Cables, Copper telecom cables, Telecom Accessories and Winding Wires. Likewise, many Egyptian companies most owned by the Egyptian government and private entrepreneurs are leasing land to invest in hotels, construction, manufacturing and etc.

What makes most of the investments sarcastically ironic is that they are mostly partnership investments contracted with EEPCo and the government that accuses them of ‘negative energies ’ and conspiratorially intended purposes that extends up to barring the Government from accessing international funding. This ongoing investment also makes it clear that the government has never had the building of the Dam within any of its plans. Since the incumbent came to power, it had built around five mega dams although none of them have so far been quenching the local electricity thrust or were exported. In the middle of these mega dams, Addis Abeban’s still find it hard to have power without termination.

Time for WITNESS to arm Ethiopians with the new technology

19-04-2011

By a Guest Blogger

Interview

With a TPLF/EPRDF insider in the Diaspora

The drums of war against Eritrea and perhaps Egypt are being beaten by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRDF).The political clout and motion is rapidly changing within the government and the country. While a growing number of Ethiopian youth are in preparation of staging an ‘Arab’like revolution in Ethiopia under the motto of ‘Beka’ (Enough),the Meles’ ‘sultanate’ is also tactically rerouting the Movement into other issues of border war with Eritrea, Damming of the Abay River, and Growth and Transformation Plan. Two weeks ago, I had an online conversation with one of my informers from the TPLF/EPRDF party, whom I recurrently draw on either to balance a tip that I have got or to seek fresh information. For the safety of my interviewee, I prefer to nickname him as Ato EPRDF hereafter. I have never published any of the interviews I had done with my sources from the ruling party, however, I decided to post it this time, presumptuous that it would proofer a little insight about the positions of the ruling party to my critical readers. The source is well informed, up-to-date, 'key' and insider of the TPLF/EPRDF. Following is the unflattering opinion he shared with this Blogger (Anko Zuta) on various issues of political interest.

17-04-2011

De Birhan: I wanted to know what you make of the strategic shift towards Eritrea and the overall political situation in Ethiopia.

Ato EPRDF: I think the political situation in Ethiopia is alright. I think the change in strategy is good, but I don’t know how they are going to do it.

De Birhan : It appears as if the main rhetoric was first diplomacy, finally War.

Ato EPRDF: I know our government is arming and supporting Eritrean opposition groups, they have been doing that for a while, but it hasn't brought any significant change.

De Birhan: some say it is just "displacing the attention of the population to the outside world''.

Ato EPRDF: That could be it.Ethiopia could be denounced if it took direct action against Eritrea by the international community and our funders. So I am doubtful.

De Birhan: Well the Foreign Minister has made the diplomatic readiness to avert that by lobbying the United Nations. Didn’t he? While there is no premises to go out on a limb.

Ato EPRDF: I think the Ethiopian government has credible evidence to support its accusation against Eritrea, they attempted even to disrupt the AU meeting in Addis Ababa. And nowadays it’s difficult to trust the UN and the Security Council; we don’t know how the big nations may act/respond if we go to attack them.

De Birhan: Well strategicwise we are less useful so don't worry. But isn't UN's 2009 embargo on Eritrea being implemented?

Ato EPRDF: We are important strategically and diplomatically man.No war no peace policy,we have now will do its trick in years to come and is a better scenario, that’s better than war. UN'S Ruling is not implemented.Eritrea showed some positive move; they pulled their troops from Djibouti...the EPRDF lost a golden opportunity to oust Shaebiya in 1998...now it’s too late too good. The Ethiopian government shouldn’t even have transferred the border issue to a foreign commission...We should have had crushed Shaebiya. Control the land and ignore Shaebiya for good till it attempts to retake it.That should have been our move.

DE Birhan: So war now?

Ato EPRDF : I don’t think so...Ethiopia is in difficult situation, the country is trying to strike a good balance between local demands and international expectations, imagine our government receives billions of dollars in form of aid and loan, if we start a war it can all stop, and we can go back to square one.

De Birhan : do you fear an uprising in Ethiopia?

Ato EPRDF: no not at all...I expect Dr. Negede or the other leaders of the opposition to go to Meskel square and set themselves on fire to trigger a carbon copy of jasmine revolution,,,

De Birhan : hahaha Would they? Doubtful I am.

Ato EPRDF: you know we have nine regions now, so it’s impossible to see drastic change in Ethiopia through the Jasmine style of revolution. In Tunisia people sacrificed their lives and brought down the government, in Ethiopia the opposition groups don’t want to pay a price for change...they expect the youth to go and die.

De Birhan : well I get communication that there are similar types of self organised youth in Ethiopia too.

Ato EPRDF: In Addis people can organise a rally against the City Administration or against their representatives in the parliament...There will be no Bengazzi and Tripoli in Ethiopia. I don’t think such thing will happen in Ethiopia, we are not new to civil wars as you know there are potential predators that can hijack the situation, we have Islamist extremists, OLF,ONLF and all sort of armed rebellion groups. A rebellion starts in the brain...there are some people in Addis who wish for a revolution, if they really want to pay sacrifice and bring a change...they can do it....100% who ever manages to mobilise the public will succeed but I feel they won’t pay the sacrifice.

De Birhan: Do you think the Government will act ruthlessly? Shoot them?

Ato EPRDF: No. Due to the above reasons I explained.

De Birhan : And the army?

In Egypt, Tunisia the army took over...what’s going to happen in Ethiopia....will the army agree to remove Meles from power, will they agree to remove the EPRDF from power....? What’s the structure and background of our armed forces and how are they viewed by the people....?

De Birhan : Would the army stand with Meles forever?

Ato EPRDF : as we have a federal government, if the public in Addis Ababa wanted a change then the City Administration can be disbanded...and another election could be held. But I don’t expect rebellion in certain regions of Ethiopia. Some will definitely show support, not everyone is dissatisfied with the government. In the presence of article 39 any violent path could lead to the fragmentation and blood shade of the country. I hope true democracy and tolerance are the only choices we have to stay under one Ethiopia...in Libya; the war now is partly tribal. Without our army, security forces etc...the opposition groups can’t do a thing, and their main enemy is Ethiopian army...for them Ethiopian army is Weyane army which ousted the Dergue.

De Birhan: The ‘democraticness’ and tolerance is at your hand, I hope Ambesayee. But from where will change come from?

Ato EPRDF : only the OLF, IFLO, ONLF,EPPF etc...can bring real change provided they manage to destroy the current army, but those groups seem to be incapable and divided....otherwise change if it happens will be from within and it won’t be drastic...it will be symbolic...

De Birhan : Thank you!

Ato EPRDF : Ok w.c.

The Name of the Grand Millennium Dam changed

The Ministerial Cabinet meets

The renamed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Millennium Dam on the Blue Nile

By Anko Zuta,Blogger of De Birhan Blogspot

15-04-2011

I remember discussing with one of my friends after a history class (I loved history and always scored 99 or 100), when I was in high school in Addis about the Abay River . During those years, Ethiopia and Eretria were in high time of border war. He asked me, "would you go to war if Egypt was to invade us for the sake of the Abay River?" I replied “ABLSOLUTELY” with high valour and fervour, same was his reply. We were just teens then, and I still can sense it after over a decade how ‘ticklish’ the matter was and will always be. The political dough that was almost to explode into protest and revolutionary u-turn in today's Ethiopia is seemingly being quelled by the very systematic and strategic politico-developmental ‘propaganda’ centred around the renamed The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Millennium Dam Project on the Nile Dam of the Meles 'sultanate'.Meles' 'sultanate' has been capable enough to mysteriously divert the full focus and attention of Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora into the the Damming of our River,Abay. The Ministers Cabinet that met today in Addis Abeba sent out this press release , “to keep the heat of people’s emotion and attention on the construction of the Dam, a National Council has been established today April 15,2011 to undertake the PR and other works of the Project'' . The Project has been also renamed 'The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Millennium Dam Project' at the meeting . As to Garth S. Jowett, Garth Jowett, Victoria O'Donnell (2006 ) changing names is one of the techniques of the art of propaganda. They offer this similar historical anecdote,“Operation Desert Shield” was changed to “Operation Desert Storm” when U.S. forces invaded Iraq in January 1991. Changing Shield to Storm enabled people to alter their perception of the U.S. military operation from “protective” armies to “raging” forces. This proves that EPRDFites strategy has also justified itself. The whole mission of the newly established Council would be keeping the talk and attention of Ethiopians on the Dam and the Dam only. No revolution, protest, food and fuel price or so talk. Just the Dam. Just after two decades of rule ,the EPRDFites have now come to the agreement that they should use the unity, Ethiopianism, Abayism and patriotism principles of solidarity as rhetorical and propagandistic ways of propagating their iron fist rule. Ethiopians have no compromise on the above listed principles though the whole thing is Gray Propoganda. The huge focus of the regime on media campaign and propaganda than wearing fingers to the bone, demonstrates the scheme behind the Dam i.e. ATTENTION DIVERSION. Damming the Nile would have been the last attention diverting ‘issue’ that the regime could have used and they DID.I don’t know what they will generate when the unbreakable days come soon .Today, more than other times State Media in Ethiopia are in a continuum that is so difficult to say whether they are doing ‘developmental journalism ‘or ‘propaganda journalism’.

“… propaganda is a form of communication and

it uses both informative and persuasive communication concepts to

promote its own objectives by controlling the flow of information, managing

public opinion, and manipulating behavioural patterns. Propaganda is a

subset of both information and persuasion. Sharing techniques with information

and persuasion but going beyond their aims, propaganda does not

seek mutual understanding or mutual fulfilment of needs. Propaganda

deliberately and systematically seeks to achieve a response that furthers the

desired intent of the propagandist.” Garth S. Jowett, Garth Jowett, Victoria O'Donnell (2006 ).

As to sources Meles Zenawi has bestowed the Council that was established today to apply its maximum effort of ‘keeping the momentum at any cost’ in the month of May, the month that Ethiopian democratic forces are preparing to peacefully protest the ‘undemocarticness’ in the country. This includes organizing grand music concerts, advertisements, and infotainment programs on the media, rallies and similar attention grabbing projects. They(the National Coucil appointed by the Prime Minister ) are promised ‘huge sum of money’ by the Prime Minster, which will partly be funded by Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi to the execution of the Campaign. The Council will incorporate artists, journalists, advertisers, business people, and athletes and other dignitaries such as Haile Gebresellasie, Serawit Fikre, and Wubishet Werkalemahu.

Many more projects of ‘keeping the momentum’ or attention diverting methods, to better call them, are also in the pipeline.

The military and the youth are targeted.

Sources are also indicating that a 'Millennium Renaissance Great Run' ,where over one hundred thousand people would take part,is set to be held in Addis Abeba, bearing the slogan 'Engenebawalen' meaning 'we will build it'.

At a time when the 2011 'interplanetary revolutions'have reached sub Saharan Africa : Uganda and Swaziland, the countering strategies planned by Ethiopian opposition forces and youth movements,are to be seen.

Horizontal Inequality!!!!

Will there be equality when an African brother of mine works in a Western toilet literally as a ‘’tissue paper ‘’?

By ©Anko Zuta, Blogger of De Birhan Blogspot

08-04-2011

‘Inferiors revolt in order that they may be equal, and equals that they may be superior’

Aristotle

In the platforms of academic and democratic liberalism arguments one of the forerunning arguments is what? Group and Individual rights. Liberal democracies such as the United States of America and most Western European countries including this country, I am living in uphold the values and status of individual rights. Liberal democracy is basically about individuals’ right. This has its own critics too “... criticism of liberal democracy is that it can only protect individual freedoms. It cannot protect minorities from prejudice or oppression, especially if it is an accepted form of behaviour for the majority” (brainz.org).

Off all the types of democracies and ideologies currently on the plate; I prefer to be a LIBERAL. Until another one with better options comes or I create MY OWN. But my contention here is on the two types of inequalities: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal inequality is about the inequality of groups while the Vertical one measures the inequality between individuals.

I like most of my Ethiopian friends and age mates, citizens of the world who love justice and equality fight to see an equal Ethiopia, world. The type of inequality in Ethiopia is horizontal-it is not vertical. Women against men, matures against youngsters, and majorly ETHNIC inequalities.

I will be making reference of Gudrun Østby’s 2005 paper entitled “Horizontal Inequalities and Civil Conflict*” hereafter to substantiate my points.

Stewart (2002) in (Østby, 2005) defines horizontal inequalities as ‘systematic inequalities between culturally formed groups’ It also can be of gender, age cohorts and rural vs. urban groups.

Horizontal inequalities are caused by deliberate agency or other factors(Østby,2005).There are many cases in which various kinds of group inequalities seem to have provoked civil conflict – territorial as well as governmental. The conflict between the Senegalese government and the Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamançe (MFDC) may serve as an example where the Dioula ethnic group felt discriminated and less benefiting from their own riches.

The Ugandan civil war when the Baganda group was favored compared to the disadvantaged northern and eastern regions is the second.

In today’s Ethiopia also where members of the Tigrean ethnic group control the social, economic and political power and richness of the country widening the horizontal inequality gap with other major ethnic groups, is the third example very likely to lead into a conflict.

As Østby the effect of these collective grievances caused by continuous horizontal inequalities result in conflicts and civil wars. Members of disadvantaged groups are likely to feel frustration and antagonism, especially when their relative deprivation is the result of actual exploitation and discrimination, which is apparently often the case (for example in Senegal and Uganda).

As we had seen in many Arab countries recently “due to overt discrimination policies or not, the unequal access to economic resources by different ethnic groups can reduce the welfare of the individuals in the relatively deprived groups, provoking collective grievances, and in the worst case, rebellion against the more privileged groups, or the state” (Østby,2005) , protests of the mass due to horizontal inequalities resulted in revolutions.

Ethiopia is one good case where horizontal inequality in politics (political inner circle and top military brass staying under one ethnic group), age, and economy (access to resources and business monopolization held under one ethnic group), social (better educational and health opportunities to one ethnic group) are overt.

“If this is the case, one cannot assume that it is only resentment by the deprived that causes political instability. The relatively privileged can also attack the unprivileged, fearing that they may demand more resources and political power. Both types of reactions point in the direction that a society of high horizontal inequalities has a higher risk of civil war than societies without such inequalities. Furthermore, group leaders may use horizontal inequalities in order to achieve their own political or economic goals” (Østby,2005).

The African in Europe

Last week a good friend of mine (C) had chastised me to go to a night out with her. We went to various clubs, drunk and chilled. In one of the clubs, we danced and drunk a lot, thus I needed to make my nature. When I went to the toilet, I met a young African man sitting in a chair simply between the ‘urines and excretions’. After I finished urinating and washing my hands, this man came towards me sprayed a good perfume, gave me a tissue and offered me chewing gum. For this service, he requested a contribution- I offered him €2.He was doing the same with everyone that came in to the toilet. A weird job ,ain’t it?

I never had imagined in my life that a man would work such a job. Is it creativity? Or inequality? Indeed, this man might make good money by caring for drunken men but can you imagine how dehumanizing such a job is.

In my little research, I have found out that there are over 20 Africans who do this job in many of the pubs and clubs in this town (I won’t tell you it’s name but obviously in Western part of Europe).They go to this clubs carrying their tissue papers, fragrances, and confectionaries around 10pm . They spend the whole night doing this job to club goers who drop into the toilet to make their nature in the middle of partying.They pour all they have as soon as you finish peeing or excretion: fragrance,soft tissue, chewing gum,and all that makes you look fresh when you return to the hall/club.All they take is donation from you.The young African man stays clenched in the corner of the pub until it closes.How would an African party goer feel free to party in a club where another African is doing an 'enslaving' job?

Ade (not his real name), is one of these men who work in the toilets. He comes from Nigeria and he has lived in Europe for over 8 years moving from one country to another as he was unable to get a residence permit. He is an illegal resident in this country too.

I asked him how he got into this business “I have to survive.” Was his answer. Many young Africans who have been denied legal residence or asylum in Europe are engaged in such degrading and dehumanizing jobs. While the females do prostitution. I don’t really know when this inequality thing will be resolved. I don’t really know what the Club owners feel when they let them do this business? Do they tax them? Do they know that they are indirectly contributing to the racial and social degradation of these young Africans and others? Allowing them to work in the toilet in the middle of the night literally as ‘human tissue papers’!

I am one of these Africans in Europe who had run away detesting these horizontal inequalities and related injustices. I had hoped that I would be able to see a vertically unequal West, before my coming here. That was partly drawn upon my head by the Western media or books. Relatively speaking it is true. There is a vertical inequality amongst the native Europeans. The difference is mainly personal – a matter of quality and qualifications. But when it comes to foreigners – the inequality is horizontal. Particularly in the case of Africans. We Africans are horizontally-socially, politically and economically segregated or unequal. In the middle of multiculturalism, interculturalism and integration talks-Africans still grapple with the unwinnable battle of entering the circle of vertical inequality. Mind you here, the horizontal inequality is way better here than it is in Africa.

… simple inequality between rich and poor is not enough to cause violent conflict. What is highly explosive is … ‘horizontal’ inequality: when power and resources are unequally distributed between groups that are also differentiated in other ways – for instance by race, religion or language. So called ‘ethnic’ conflicts occur between groups which are distinct in one or more of these ways, when one of them feels it is being discriminated against, or another enjoys privileges which it fears to lose (Kofi Annan, 1999).

Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led regime in Ethiopia and negligent policy and decision makers in Europe continue to perpetuate horizontal inequality.

And we live.

©Anko Zuta

News Update : Bewketu Seyoum's attackers apprehended

Bewketu Seyoum

Dispute solved via 'restorative justice'

09/04/2011

A day ago this Blogger had reported that Bewketu was violently attacked by unidentified gangs.Reports from Addis Abeba state that one of the suspects (a Deacon),that attacked Bewketu Seyoum a day ago, has been apprehended by Addis Abeba Police. Tadias Addis Radio Program on Sheger FM reported that the issue was resolved via ''restorative justice'' system. "The attacker (unnamed for legal reasons), solicited an apology from Beweketu.Bewketu accepted the apology". The attacker ,who is said to have written two religious books , testified that 'emotions' were behind his acts.

By Anko Zuta,De Birhan Blogspot

08-04-2011

The young Ethiopian poet,author, journalist and comedian Bewketu Seyoum, has been attacked by a gang in Addis Abeba due to an article he wrote on Addis Gudaye Newspaper titled '' Eger Albaw Balekinfe'' (The winged legless).Beweketu suffered major injuries in his lips and teeth.

The article he wrote on Addis Guadye revolved around '' prosperity'' and the attackers allegedly used one of the terms he used in his article '''teklahamnotawi'' as a pretext of attacking him.The attackers approched him as '''religious conservatives'' who didn't like the Saint's representation in the article. Saint Teklahaymanot was an Ethiopian Orthodox Saint remembered for his miracles and saintly life.

The young psychology graduate,Bewketu has been winning the hearts and minds of his audience for his humorous poems and essays that were critical of the Ethiopian government's policies and bad governance.

Although,he had gone to the nearest police Station to report the incident , the police requested that he bring the name of his attackers so that he can file charges. "How would i be able to know the names of my attackers who have beaten me fast and run.They have also warned me that they know my address and will attack me again"he lamented.

In a repressive Ethiopia,a growing number of gangs and mafia are attacking journalists and dissenters in an attempt to quell their voice.The government, one of these attackers,has neglected/failed to protect journalists.

The following response has been given to Bewketu's article by Priest Wendemsesha Ayele (http://www.dejeselam.org/2011/04/blog-post_09.html).

Bewketu has published two much-acclaimed collections of poems in Amharic, Nwari Alba Gojowoch (Unmanned houses, 2001) and Yesat Dar Hasaboch (Fireside Meditations, 2009), also a book of short stories, two novels and a collection of humorous stories on CD.

Below is one of his nicest poems as was translated by Chris Beckett

Elegy

The fall of every leaf diminishes me,

so when I hear a rustle

I send my eyes out of the window

to look at the trees in the yard.

Alas! where there were woods,

now I see flag-poles standing.

Men have swept nature’s nest away

to build their cities.

The melody of the nightingale

has lost its immortality

and I am sitting on a dead land,

writing my elegy in the sand.