Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Criminal complaints filed against Ethiopia in UK and USA for spying on members of the Diaspora

The case is the latest sign that the government of Ethiopia, an American ally with a history of repressing political opponents, journalists and human rights activists, has used sophisticated Internet technology to monitor its perceived enemies, even when they are in other countries.
“The Ethiopian government appears to be doing everything it can to spy on members of the diaspora, especially those in contact with opposition groups,” said Nate Cardozo, a staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group based in San Francisco that prepared the suit. Ethiopian officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment Tuesday morning. Last week, for a separate story about the government’s alleged use of spyware against Ethiopian journalists working in the United States, a government official said, “The Ethiopian government did not use and has no reason at all to use any spyware.”
Tuesday’s suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, takes the unusual step of not naming the plaintiff, who alleges in an affidavit that revealing his identity would endanger him, his children and members of his family still in Ethiopia.
The man first came to the United States 22 years ago, won political asylum and now is a U.S. citizen living in Silver Spring, MD. He provides “technical and administrative support” to an Ethiopian opposition group, Ginbot 7, but is not a formal member of that group, the affidavit says. The suit uses a pseudonym, Kidane, which is a common name in Ethiopia. A judge must permit the use of a pseudonym in the suit.
“I would be extremely hesitant to continue to seek legal redress in this case should I be denied this request to proceed pseudonymously, as I fear the litigation would put my life and the lives of my family at substantial risk,” Kidane wrote in the affidavit.
Computer researchers tracking the spread of spyware have named Ethiopia among a list of dozens of countries that use such products. They typically can read e-mails, snatch documents and contact lists, record video chats, and remotely activate cameras and microphones, making a computer capable of spying on targets in their homes or work places. The market for spyware operates with few international restrictions, though using it can violate a range of laws.
Hidden files discovered by forensics experts show the hacking of Kidane’s computer began in October 2012, when he downloaded what appeared to be a Microsoft Word file attached to an e-mail, the suit alleges. The document, in Ethiopia’s Amharic language, contained a desperate plea from another Ethiopian expatriate requesting Kidane’s help in protecting a relative in danger. It also contained FinSpy, which gradually took hold of Kidane’s computer.
More than four months later, in March 2013, an independent research group published areport detailing evidence that Ethiopia was using FinSpy, produced by Gamma Group, a spyware maker based in Britain and Germany. That report, by Citizen Lab at University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, singled out a server based at Ethiopia’s state-owned telecommunications company as controlling the spyware.
Five days after that report was issued — prompting widespread news coverage — the server in Ethiopia went offline and the hackers who had taken control of Kidane’s computer attempted to remove all traces of FinSpy from his machine, the lawsuit alleges.
But the attempted removal was incomplete, leaving behind the hidden files that forensics researchers for the Electronic Frontier Foundation eventually found.
Gamma Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment filed through its Web site, which describes the company as an “international manufacturer of surveillance & monitoring systems with technical and sales offices in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.”
The lawsuit, prepared in conjunction with private firm Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, seeks a court declaration that the Ethiopian government was behind the hacking of Kidane’s computer, as well as attorney’s fees and $10,000 in damages, the maximum allowed under the U.S. Wiretap Act.
Privacy International, an advocacy group based in Britain, filed a criminal complaint there Monday urging investigation of the alleged use of FinSpy against an Ethiopian political refugee based in the United Kingdom. Last week, Citizen Lab issued a report detailing evidence that the Ethiopian government had used a different brand of spyware, produced by an Italian company called Hacking Team, against journalists working for Ethiopian Satellite Television, a news service with offices in the Washington area.

Egypt to officially demand halt in construction of Ethiopian dam

The minister of irrigation says unless Ethiopia offers a mutually agreeable solution, Egypt may demand the Ethiopian government to stop the construction of the Renaissance Dam


Marina Barsoum


Renaissance Dam
Ethiopia's Great Renaissance Dam is constructed in Guba Woreda, some 40 km (25 miles) from Ethiopia's border with Sudan, June 28, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)



Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Motteleb told Al-Ahram daily newspaper that Egypt may in a few days send an official statement demanding that construction of the Ethiopian dam be halted until a mutually agreeable solution is found.
Irrigation Ministry spokesperson Khaled Wassef told Ahram Online that four attempts to negotiate the matter, the last of which proved an utter failure, have already been extended by Egypt.
Abdel-Motteleb also told Al-Ahram daily that should the Ethiopian government offer new solutions, Egypt would nevertheless welcome a new round of negotiations. 
"All proposals submitted by Egypt to the Ethiopian government have been obstinately rejected and without explanation," Wassef added.
The planned Grand Renaissance Dam is a $4.2 billion hydro-electric dam on the Blue Nile, one of the main tributaries of the Nile.
The project has been a source of concern for the Egyptian government since May last year, when images of the dam's construction stirred public anxiety about possible effects on Egypt's share of the Nile water, the country's main source of potable water.
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan formed a tripartite technical committee to study the possible effects of the dam and try to generate consensus. Ethiopia maintains that Egypt's water share will not be negatively affected by the successful completion of the project.
In recent meetings in Khartoum, the tripartite committee was scheduled to formulate a document that entails "confidence building measures" between the countries, and also to form a special international conflict-resolution committee.
However, the tripartite committee's success was thwarted last December when Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir announced his support for the dam during a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Wassef has earlier said that the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam faces financial as well as technical problems, and that the Ethiopian government's statements that the project has been 30 percent completed are a "media show" for its own political gains. 
Egypt has demanded that Ethiopia submit construction plans for the dam for assessment by international experts.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Irrigation Minister Alamayo Tegno said his country is committed to the recommendations of an international committee of experts.




Godina Jimmaa Magaalaa Jimmaa Keessatti Barruuleen Warraaqsaa Uummataaf Bittinfame.

Gaafa  Guraandhala 14/2014 Godina Jimmaa Magaalaa Jimmaatti Barruu Warraaqsa FDG Qeerroon Bilisummaa Oromoo uummataaf bittineesseen walqabatee mootummaan abbaa irree uummata goola jira. Gaafa Gurraandhaala 13,2014 galgala barruun warraaqsaa waamicha FDG magaalaa Jimmaa fi Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaa keessatti uummataaf sirriitti bittineeffamuun akka namni hundi hubachuun dhimma bilisummaa isaf ofiin ka’ee gamtaan falmatuuf waamichi godhame uummata qaqabee jiraachuun isa mirkana’era.
Mootummaan abbaa irree Wyyaanee EPRDF FI TPLF’n durfamu sochii warraaqsaa FDG Qeerroon bilisummaa Oromoo gaggeessuuf jirutti barraaguun namoota manneen kompiteraa fi Copy Magaalaa Jimmaa keessa qaban maqaa qorannoo jedhuun qabee waajjira poolisaa magaalaa Jimmaatti guuree darara jiraachuun beejamee jira.Keessaattu ilmaan Oromoo manneen Compitera magaalaa Jimmaa keessaa qaban waraqaan FDG isin biratti baay’ifamee bittineeffamee jira, computer keessaan waraana nurraatti labsa jira jechuun manneen kompitera hedduun humna poolisaan sakkata’amaa jiru. manneen komputera nannoo Yuunivarsiitii Jimmaatti argaman kanneen cufaama jirachuunis hubatamera.
Kana malees gama biraan uummaannii Oromoo jirattootni magaalaa Jimmaa hedduun konkolaataa poolisaan qabamanii mana hidhaa waajjira poolisaamagaalaa jimmaa galfamaa jiraachuu odeessii sa’a kanatti nu qaqqaba jiru saaxilee jira. Mootummaan Wayyaanee sochii uummataatti rifachuun tajajiloota akka Network fi ibsaa elektirikaa balleessa jirti. Maqaa namoota qabamanii ammatti waan nu hin geenyeef amma qorannee kan gabaasnu ta’uu ni hubachiifna.

Yuunivarsiitii Haromaayaa keessatti diddaan jabaachuu irraa mootummaan Wayyaanee hojjettoota mana hidhaatti guuraa jirti. Dhaadannoon barattootaan itti fufe.


Gurraandhala 18,2014 Haromayaa
OromiaALutaContinua2011FDGDiddaan Uummata Oromoo mootummaa wayyaanee irratti gaggeeffamu jabaachaa dhufuun Yuunivarsiitii Haramaayaa keessatti barattootni nyaata lagachuun sirna mootummaa wayyaanee mormuu itti fufan. Dhaadannoowwan mootummaan wayyaanee hidhaa fi ajjeechaa haa dhaabu, kanneen ajjeesanis seeratti haa dhiyaatan jedhus jabaatee itti fufee jira. Mootummaan abbaa irree wayyaanee gocha kanaan kan baarage hojjettoota mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Haramaayaa dhalootaan Oromoo tahan kan barattoota qindeessu isini jechuun mana hidhaatti ukkaamsaa jiran. Yeroo ammaa kanas barattootnii fi hojjettootni mooraa Yuunivarsiitii mana hidhaatti kan ukkaamsaman yoommuu tahu dorgommii tapha kubbaa miilaa Yuunivarsiitiilee keessatti gaggeeffamaa jirus waraanaan tiksuun yeroon xumuranii bahuuf tattaafachuu irraan darbanii Mooraa Yuunivarsiitii Haramaayaa dame Harar keessattis dafanii xumuruuf eegalanii jiran. Ilmaan Oromoo diddaa kana keessa mana hidhaa mootummaa wayyaanee keessatti ukkaamsaman
1. Obbo Abdurhaman Mohaammed Itti gaafatama Shiiftii nyaataa
2. Kamaal Ahmed hojjetaa mana nyaataa
3. Gizaachoo Damissee hojjetaa mana nyaataa
4. Raffisaa Geetachoo barataa Water Engineering waggaa sadaffaa keessatti argamu.
Mootummaan Wayyaanee shira kamuu dalaguun diddaa dura dhaabbachuuf yaalus diddaan Barattootaa fi Uummataa daran jabaatee itti fufee jira.

Mootummaan Wayyaanee itti gaafatama Miidiyaa Oromiyaa aangoo irraa darbite. Pirezedaantiin Oromiyaas aangoo lakkise.


Gurraandhala 18,2014 Finfinnee
Mootummaan Wayyaanee amanamtoota isaa baroota dheeraaf alagaa tajaajiluun uumata Oromoo kanneen ganan aangoo irraa darbuu irratti argama. Akka kanaan itti gaafatama Miidiyaa Oromiyaa kan ture Obbo Masfin Darajjee aangoo irraa darbamee jira. Mootummaan Wayyaanee haala kana keessatti tasgabbii dhabinsa irraa kana dalagaa kan jiru yoo tahu Uummatni diiddaa gaggeessaa jiraachuun itti fufee jira. Bakka Masfin kanas nama Tamasgeen Baayisaa bakka buusanii jiran. Pirezedaantiin Oromiyaa Obbo Alamaayyoo Atoomsaas xalayaa hojii dhaabuu galchuun hojii lakkisanii jiran.

Ethiopia Denies 'Hijacker' Co-pilot Faced Persecution

Swiss authorities detained the hijacker of an Ethiopian Airlines flight that was forced to land at Geneva's international airport, Feb. 17, 2014.
Swiss authorities detained the hijacker of an Ethiopian Airlines flight that was forced to land at Geneva's international airport, Feb. 17, 2014.



Marthe van der Wolf


ADDIS ABABA — The Ethiopian government says the co-pilot who commandeered an Ethiopian Airlines plane on Sunday was not facing persecution in his home country.

The 31-year-old suspect, Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn, requested asylum after taking the plane to Geneva, Switzerland. Hailemedhin is now in Swiss custody.

Ethiopian government spokesman Redwan Hussein says the co-pilot's actions do not make sense, as he had no criminal record in Ethiopia.

“As it is an Ethiopian Airlines pilot, he has several opportunities to apply for any airlines, withhold his dignity, and also he has a host of visas, including the Shengen-state visas.  So he does not have to hijack his own plane and [get] himself into hot water," Redwan said.

The co-pilot, who had no medical record, had been working for Ethiopian Airlines for five years.
 

Flight Path of Hijacked Plane.Flight Path of Hijacked Plane.
When the other pilot went to use the restroom on Sunday's flight, he locked the door and hijacked the plane.

If tried and convicted, the co-pilot could face up to 20 years prison in Switzerland.

Redwan says there is no bilateral extradition treaty between Ethiopia and Switzerland.

“Because this criminal act is a threat posed for all international community and for all countries, the Ethiopian government would actually mull it over as to how to go about it and we will let you know which action that we are going to take," he said.

The plane carried 193 passengers.  None of them were hurt and no violence was used during the hijacking.

Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s fastest growing airline and made a profit of $143 million in its last fiscal year.



=>voanews



ONLF Statement – The Ethiopian Regime falsely Claims reforming the Gestapo-like Liyu police in Ogaden

February 17, 2014
The British Government halted last year a support fund to the Liyu police after British media highlighted that the Liyu police committed Human Rights violations in Ogaden. The Liyu- Police is a Janjaweed-style Militia organized trained and armed by the Ethiopian regime in Ogaden. The Ethiopian Army recruited the Liyu Police, by forcing the rural population to exchange food aid for boys. After they were recruited and trained, the Ethiopian government funded them through donor grants under the dubious development programs that the Ethiopian regime uses to divert attention from international scrutiny of its undemocratic rule.
Since the formation of the Liyu Police, the human right violations in the Ogaden escalated. Thousands of women are raped publicly, more than fifty thousand civilians are in makeshift detentions allover the Ogaden. Thousands of men and women were summarily executed. The trade and aid embargo was further tightened and today there is man-made famine in the Ogaden with civilians dying of hunger, especially children and the weak.
However, the story of the massive human rights violations committed by the Liyu Police slowly reached the international community and funds from donors, especially Britain and the EU started to dry up. Since then, the Ethiopian regime and its administration in the Somali, territory under its rule had mounted a concerted effort to rebrand the Liyu-police as a force for development and attainment of rule of law. Initially they staged elaborate photo sessions showing the killer Liyu Police vaccinating  livestock in villages. Most of those villages are already ghost settlements whose inhabitants were either killed, detained or escaped to Kenyan refugee camps. Further staged media events showed the Militia helping farmers harvest their crops or giving medicine to ill children.
After this staged public relations stunt, the Ethiopian regime sent a high level delegation to London and Brussels to acquire more funds for the Liyu police so that they could continue their systematically planned killing sprees in Ogaden killing field and torture chambers.
Last week, the Ethiopian regime Army commander that controls the Ogaden and its administration and the head of the Ethiopian administration in the Somali Ogaden occupied Territory, held a seminar purporting to educate the Liyu-Police, the prison and the Justice services in Ogaden. This was intended to satisfy donor’s condition that the Liyu-police and the Justice system abide by the rule of law and respect the Human rights of the people.
Unfortunately, the reason why these institutions violate the Human rights of the people is not due to lack of knowledge, but rather, a deliberate policy of the Ethiopian government, that specifically formed and trained these groups to suppress, weaken, and destroy the dignity and  the humanity of the Ogaden people so that they could willingly accept slavery under Ethiopian rule.
Retraining the Liyu-police, the Ethiopian army or the Justice system in that country will not change the crimes those entities commented against the Somali people in Ogaden. This groups stand for what the Gestapo stood- the extermination and dehumanization of a whole race- the Somali people in Ogaden.
ONLF


Afaan Publications: Campaign winners and 2014 plans!

Extended update – campaign winners and 2014 plans!


Highlighting the Achievements of Oromo Women in Our Lives: She Sings Compassion, Is Courageous, and Lives by Example – Featuring Aad. Mergitu Argo

By the Editorial Board of OromoTV.com
Aad. Mergitu Argo
Aad. Mergitu Argo
We often feel the need to use words like hero along with other powerful words to describe deserving people with the courage and audacity to pursue their life-long dream and bring change to their community. But often times, we tend to overuse such terms of endearment or reserve it exclusively for heroic acts of bravery. However, some people are beyond deserving of being called heroes. They embody the spirit and the courage as well as hard work and dedication it requires to be called a hero. This individual may not be the athlete who won accolades or the soldier who saved his comrade from enemy fire. Nonetheless, she is someone who works day in and day out to fulfill the needs of her community. Therefore, the administrators of OromoTV.com would like to shine light on everyday heroes like Mergitu Argo. We are both honored and humbled to meet an amazing individual who works for the greater good of the Oromo people both in her immediate community and beyond. As we extend our gratitude and appreciation to Mergitu Argo for all that she does for the Oromo people of Seattle, Washington, as well as the greater North America, we would like to showcase her deep involvement in her community. Although, we may be familiar with the likes of the recent phenom, Toltu Tufa; we rarely get the opportunity to meet incredible women who work hard to improve the lives of Oromos. Through informative articles, based on recommendations we receive from our visitors, we will continue to shine positive light on incredible women like Mergitu Argo.

Read the Full Article (OromoTV.com)