ቴድሮስ አድሃኖም የት ናቸው? – አንዳርጋቸው ጽጌ ‹‹በእንግሊዝ ቅበሩኝ ››

• 2010

   
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ከዳዊት ሰለሞን

የሶስት ልጆች አባት የሆኑት የግንቦት ሰባቱ ዋና ጸሐፊ አንዳርጋቸው ጽጌ ፍርድ ቤት ሳይቀርቡና ያሉበት ሁኔታ ሳይታወቅ 16 ወራቶች ተቆጥረዋል፤ በወህኒ ቤት እንዳሉም ሊገደሉ እንደሚችሉ መናገራቸው ተሰምቷል፡፡

አንዳርጋቸው ይበሩበት የነበረ አውሮፕላን የመን ሰንዓ ማረፉን ተከትሎ ታፍነው ለኢትዮጵያ መንግስት ተላልፈው የተሰጡት በወርሃ ሰኔ 2014 መሆኑ አይዘነጋም፡፡ለአንድ ዓመት ያህል ድብቅ በሆነ እስር ቤት ውስጥ ለወራቶች ምርመራ ሲደረግባቸው የቆዩት አንዲ በቅርቡ ወደ መደበኛ ወህኒ ቤት መዘዋወራቸው ቢነገርም እስካሁን በውል ያሉበት ሁኔታ አይታወቅም፡፡ይገኙበታል የተባለው የቃሊቲ ወህኒ ቤት ኃላፊዎችም አንዳርጋቸውን ለምስክርነት ጠርቶ ለነበረ ፍርድ ቤት አንዳርጋቸው በወህኒ ቤቱ እንደማይገኙ አስታውቋል፡፡

አንዳርጋቸው በሌሉበት በቀረበባቸው ክስ በሁለት አጋጣሚዎች የእድሜ ልክና የሞት ፍርድ የተላለፈባቸው መሆኑ አይዘነጋም፡፡እጃቸው ከተያዘበት ወቅት ጀምሮም የአንዳርጋቸው ቤተሰቦች ያቀረቡት የጉብኝት ጥያቄ አልተሳካም፣ጠበቃ ለማቆም የተደረገው ሙከራም እንዲሁ ፣በህግ ፊት እንዲቀርቡ ባለመደረጋቸውም ከዚህ ቀደም የተላለፈባቸውን ፍርድ በምን መንገድ ሊተገብሩት እንዳሰቡ አሳሪዎቻቸው ግልጽ አላደረጉም የእንግሊዙ የሰብአዊ መብት ተሟጋች ድርጅት ሪፕራይቭ ጠበቆቹ አንዳርጋቸውን እንዲጎበኙ ያቀረበው ጥያቄ ተቀባይነት ሳያገኝ ቀርቷል፡፡

አሁን አንዳርጋቸው በቅርቡ ሊገደሉ እንደሚችሉ ስጋት የገባቸው በመሆኑ ለእንግሊዝ መንግስት ‹‹በእንግሊዝ ስርዓተ ቀብራቸው እንደሚፈጸም እንዲያረጋግጡላቸው ጠይቀዋል፡፡ለንደን ለሚገኙ ልጆቻቸው ባስተላለፉት መልእክትም ‹‹ጎበዞች››እንዲሆኑ መክረዋል፡፡

በቅርቡ በጣም ውስን ለሆኑ ደቂቃዎች በኢትዮጵያ የእንግሊዝ አምባሳደርን ያገኙት አንዳርጋቸው ለአምባሳደሩ
–የኢትዮጵያ ባለስልጣናት ለወራት ከወህኒ ቤት ክፍላቸው እንዳይወጡ መከልከላቸውን
–የእስረኛ ቁጥር እንዳልተሰጣቸውን አሳሪዎቻቸው የእስር ምክንያታቸውን ወይም የተወነጀሉበትን ጉዳይ ያልነገሯቸው መሆኑን
–ጠበቃ ለማግኘት ጠይቀው መከልከላቸውን
— በህመም ላይ የሚገኙ ቢሆንም ህክምና እንዳያገኙ መደረጋቸውን

የተባበሩት መንግስታት ድርጅት የአንዳርጋቸውን ኢሰብአዊ አያያዝ በመቃወም እንዲለቀቅ ጠይቋል፡፡የእንግሊዝ መንግስት ግን ምንም እንኳን የኢትዮጵያ መንግስት አጋርና አንዳርጋቸው ዜጋው ቢሆኑም በቤተሰቦቻቸው እንዲጎበኙና መደበኛ የሆነ ክስ እንዲመሰረትባቸው አልጠየቀም፡፡ባሳለፍነው ሳምንት የእንግሊዝ የውጪ ጉዳይ ሚኒስትር ግራንት ሻፕስ የኢትዮጵያ መንግስት አቻቸውንና ሌሎች ባለስልጣናት ወደ ለንደን በመጋበዝ የንግድ ልውውጥ ስለሚደረግበት ሁኔታ መክረዋል፡፡

በሁለትዮሽ ግኑኝነቱ ወቅት ሻፕስ መንግስታቸው ከኢትዮጵያ ጋር በአጋርነቱ እንደሚቀጥል አስታውቀዋል፡፡የውጪ ጉዳይ ሚኒስትሩ ዋና ጸሐፊ ፊሊፕ ሃሞንድ ከዝግጅቱ መጠናቀቅ በኋላ ለኢትዮጵያ ባለስልጣናት የአንዳርጋቸውን ጉዳይ እንዳነሱባቸው ቢናገሩም ከእስር እንዲፈቷቸው ግን አልጠየቁም፡፡

በሪፕራይቭ የሞት ቅጣት ተከራካሪ ቡድን አባል የሆኑት ማያ ፎ ‹‹አንዳርጋቸው የሶስት ልጆች አባትና እንግሊዛዊ ነው፡፡ለ16 ወራት ያህል በኢትዮጵያ ባለስልጣናት ለእስር ተዳርጎ ቶርቸር ተፈጽሞበታል፡፡በሌለበትም ሞት ተላልፎበታል፡፡ወደ እንግሊዝ የሚመለስበት ብቸኛው መንገድ ስርዓተ ቀብሩ ሲፈጸም እንደሆነ እንደሚሰማው መናገሩ በጣም አስደንጋጭ ነው፡፡አንዳርጋቸው ከህገ ወጥ እስሩ እንዲለቀቅ ከመጠየቅ ይልቅ የእንግሊዝ ሚኒስትሮች ልዩ የንግድ ትርኢት ባሳለፍነው ሳምንት ማዘጋጀታቸው አስገራሚ ነው፡፡ግዜው ሳይዘገይ የእንግሊዝ ውጪ ጉዳይ ሚኒስትር አንዳርጋቸው እንዲለቀቅና በለንደን የሚገኙትን ቤተሰቦቻቸውን እንዲቀላቀሉ በአስቸኳይ መጠየቅና መጫን ይኖርባቸዋል››ማለታቸው ተሰምቷል፡፡

የኢህአዴጉ የውጪ ጉዳይ ሚኒስትር ቴድሮስ አድሃኖም አንዳርጋቸው የአዳማውን አዲስ የፍጥነት መንገድ መጎብኘታቸውንና ላፕ ቶፕ ተሰጥቷቸው መጽሐፍ እየጻፉ እንደሚገኙ ለቪኦኤ በሰጡት አስገራሚ ቃለ ምልልስ መናገራቸው አይዘነጋም፡፡

- See more at: http://www.zehabesha.com/amharic/archives/47735#sthash.9ZeogJna.dpuf

What Africa Expects Out of India

Africa and India are on the rise. It may be our time to look across the shared blue waters of the Indian Ocean to see the potential in the expansion of our historic ties, particularly in the area of trade. This is exactly the outcome Africans hope from the Third India-Africa Forum Summit being held this week.

Governments of 54 African countries are sending heads of state, ministry leaders and other representatives to participate. The African Union will be represented and there will be business leaders from across the continent.

We applaud this initiative and hope for its success in bringing greater economic growth and global integration to not only Africa, as recently expressed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, but to the people of India as well.

For such partnerships, the outcome must be balanced, offering incentives that will create the foundation for its sustainability. For such a partnership to work, what we expect from India will be determined not only by our Indian partners, but to a large extent, by our fellow Africans.

Most countries in Africa, like India, have a history of colonization; yet, India has made impressive progress towards democracy. At its independence, India’s culturally diverse, multi-lingual and religiously pluralistic people were able to form a government that has brought peaceful and sustainable democratic change to the country.

Africans believe Gandhi’s time spent in South Africa shaped him for his noble work in India and in turn, he also influenced Nelson Mandela. However, Africans also ask why we have not achieved the same throughout the continent.

The simple answer is the lack of freedom. Authoritarian African leaders throughout the continent block the doors to genuine democratic change and act as gatekeepers to economic opportunity and benefits for the majority. Good governance, impartial justice, the rule of law, respect for human rights, strong institutions, accountability and transparency do not exist in most places other than in the dreams of the people.

India was led by a minority coloniser, while the majority was suppressed, but over the last years, much has changed for the better. There may still be areas needing improvement. However, when compared with some African countries, there are stark differences.

What’s made legitimate

As a result, what the people of Africa expect from India will depend on who is allowed at the table. If the people are excluded, doing business with dictators can become extremely risky.

A country’s national interest should serve the best interests of the people. The India-Africa Summit will hopefully improve the lives of Africans, not their leaders alone.

A primary foundation for a thriving and expanding economy is the freedom to participate, under girded with the investment in enhancing the human capacity of its people. Do the African leaders coming to this Summit have that kind of foundation in place in their countries? If they do not, then the people of Africa will get more empowered strongmen, enriched through crony-capitalism.

Consider the example of Ethiopia, where an ethnic minority-based government – representing only 6% of the people – controls every sector of the society. This was re-emphasized in May 2015 when the government claimed it democratically won the national election with 100% votes.

They won every seat in Parliament, leaving not even one member of the Opposition. The judiciary there is not independent, but controlled by the government. To participate in business, one must be part of a patronage network where ethnicity and party affiliation will either admit you or block your participation. Anti-terrorism law is used in the country to target democratic voices. Another law has decimated civil society by shutting down 2,600 organisations.

Despite democratic rhetoric, reforms are a threat to the elites’ tight hold on power on access to the economy and its benefits. Censorship, political prisoners and human rights violations are widespread. Land grabs and forced evictions to make land available for crony and foreign investment have been documented by major human rights organizations and study groups.

In such cases, foreign business partners encounter far greater risks than when dealing with a more just government. When one views the economy in China, the restrictiveness of the society creates greater instability. Whereas business partners in free societies, where the government is not afraid of its own people or is not in competition with them, is far more attractive for investments.

The India-Africa Summit should not lead to choosing those corrupt dictatorships – where a few thrive and the majority struggle to survive – as business partners. They will not eradicate extreme poverty or bring peace, security or stability.

Indian interest vs African reality

What India has sought most from Africa are commodities such as crude oil, gas, metal ores, gold and other precious metals, fertilizers and agricultural produce for export to India from the recent expansion of Africa-based, but Indian-owned agribusinesses.

Often, there are negative effects on the ground to the very people who need to escape extreme poverty, but they remain unseen or purposely concealed. The benefits of such exports create few jobs and fail to improve education, health care, economic inclusion or infrastructure except where it is necessary to bring the products to buyers.

How can a middle ground in politics develop when the people of Africa are generally left out of upward mobility? Much of the profits leave the continent in illicit capital leakage, ending up in the private accounts of its leaders.

Even the International Monetary Fund advised Ethiopian authorities to act more decisively to “strengthen the business climate and enhance external competitiveness.” In its September 2015 report, the IMF suggested “easier private sector access to credit” be given and expressed concern over the “acceleration of public-sector borrowing and the crowding out the private sector.”

The report also suggested the “opening (of) some strategic sectors to foreign investment (to) improve the provision of critical sectors” and called for “improvement in Ethiopia’s statistical capacity.” Was it questioning Ethiopia’s claims to double-digit economic growth?

The way forward

How will the India-Africa Summit deal with this reality? Will it try to counter these problems, wherever they occur, to the benefit of the African people? Will Indian law help guard against corruption, bribery, human rights violations and in general, protect the rights of the people where there is no rule of law, whether operating in India or in another country? Will Indian business partners contribute to greater equity? Will they advance the present system of injustice?

African leaders have to accept the reality that their No. 1 job is to protect and enhance the lives of their citizens. Their human rights have to be protected, humanity has to be put before ethnicity, political affiliation, religion or any other differences.

No one can claim to work for the betterment of a nation without caring for the well being of all people. No one is free until all are free. Caring about each other is the foundation of a flourishing, free and just society.

Yes, Africa is rising, but is it rising for the people or for a few? Unless the growth trickles down to people, it will not be able to lift people out of poverty. If people are not equipped and empowered, how will they join in global partners like Indians wanting to do business with them?

What African leaders need to learn from India is how a diverse country has become a strong functioning democracy with he help of good governance, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and a robust economy. A healthy country is like a healthy family: it starts with caring for your own. These are the kinds of partners who will contribute to the betterment of not only Ethiopia, but also to India and its beautiful people.

Source: http://ecadforum.com/

Foreign Minister dictates orders to VOA at night

Monday, October 26, 2015 @ 10:10 AM ed

By Abebe Gellaw

The stormy relationship between the Voice of America (VOA) and the TPLF-led Ethiopian government has recently taken a strange twist after Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom and Ambassador Girma Birru managed to sneak into the headquarters of the U.S. broadcaster at night and convened an unauthorized editorial meeting with some staff members. During the backdoor meeting, the officials of the dictatorial regime tried to dictate guidance to the broadcasters and critiqued the quality of VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia, reliable sources  confirmed to this investigation.

The  gathering, which was held behind the back of VOA executives, was held in the editorial meeting room of the Horn of Africa section, located at 330 Independence Avenue, Washington D.C. Strangely enough, the engagement was held out of work hours on a weekend night , Saturday, September 26th, from 7 pm to nearly 9 pm.

Silencing critics

Organized and facilitated by VOA Amharic broadcaster Solomon Abate, along with Betre Siltan from the Tigrigna service, the bizarre meeting between the diplomats and a group of seven VOA staff members–including two technicians, is now being branded inappropriate and disturbing.

In view of the regime’s aggressive tactics to  silence critical media coverage at home and abroad, such a meeting with the top officials of a tyrannical regime with a hostile agenda towards VOA has been troubling for those who felt that it violated the legally-mandated VOA Charter and Journalistic Code.

The scandalous meeting was said to be dictated by the need to build trust and cooperation between the journalists and the repressive government, which annually tops almost every list of press freedom violators. During the talks, the top TPLF emissaries availed themselves of the opportunity to exert undue influence  to alter the tone and content of VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia by making pleas and veiled threats, said reliable sources who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The foreign minister, who forbade any recording of the intimate discussion, complained that giving platform to critical voices and dissidents including Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 could be tantamount to destabilizing the government. He criticized VOA for focusing on “negative” stories.

Big brother watching

After taking a few questions, the minister expressed his displeasure that the interview he gave to VOA Amharic last July was criticized on VOA by critics of government policies. He told them that such a practice was wrong and should not have happened.

In his controversial VOA interview, the TPLF minister had misrepresented that President Obama   endorsed the last elections as democratic contrary to the reality. He also said that prominent dissident Andargachew Tsigie, who was kidnapped last year in Yemen and reportedly tortured in Ethiopia, was being treated well and was even allowed to admire “development” projects. He even claimed that Adargachew was given a laptop to write a book.

Both the minister and the ambassador expressed the government’s readiness to work closely with VOA and facilitate any supports and assistance the journalists may need to bring out positive stories and images, the sources said.

The officials told the gathering with seven VOA employees that VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia should focus on promoting positive progress rather than airing “negative” stories and views, a reference to sensitive issues related to human rights violations, abuse of power and corruption. After listing down some of the progress and improvements he claimed to have been made in the last few years, the foreign minister  also invited the journalists to go and see the reality for themselves.

They hinted that the Ethiopian government constantly receives information about VOA’s internal activities. The foreign minister was quoted as saying that they know who does what at the section and told the VOA employees  to re-examine themselves and do soul searching.

“There are rules, procedures and codes of ethics that need to be adhered to in these kinds of engagement. It was unusual for a foreign minister to come to VOA newsrooms to chair an editorial meeting with a few people at night when everyone went to bed,” says a staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The source said he and a number of staffers felt disappointed with such a meeting that undercut the official channels and undermined the independence of VOA.

“If there is any need to complain about VOA programing or negotiate any deals, the officials should have followed the official procedures and channels instead of convening an editorial meeting at night with a selected group of VOA journalists, who are U.S. federal government employees,” the source noted.

“We are supposed to be independent journalists working for VOA. Why should the foreign minister or the ambassador come to VOA and dictate us how to do our jobs or give us instructions?  It is not only inappropriate but also insulting to our intelligence and professional integrity,” another source added. “I strongly believe that VOA should continue its work with no fear or favor,” noted the source.

They pointed out that VOA, as an independent media outlet, has a mission of holding the powerful accountable with factual and truthful reporting. “Nobody can compromise or change the legally-mandated VOA charter and code of ethics.”

Another source indicated that the dubious meeting had the indirect effect of “big brother is watching you.” Some people are very concerned over the incident that calls for a thorough investigation to find out how and why this happened in a federal government building which was supposed to be a very safe and secure place of work.

The officials told the VOA employees that the doors of the Ethiopian Embassy were wide open to them. But a couple of the attendees are said to have already regretted attending the meeting as they claimed to have been misled to believe that the officials were available for a studio interview rather than chairing an editorial meeting.

Abebe Hailu, President of the Ethiopian-American Council expressed dismay and disbelief. “The current development in VOA is very alarming as it undermines the integrity of VOA.   As Ethiopian-Americans, we are also patriotic tax-paying citizens of this remarkable nation, the United States of America,” he said.

And that gives us somewhat of an reason to urge that VOA and its staff members not to  afford a chance to be dictated by foreign entities.    We strongly believe the incident must be investigated by the Inspector General,” he noted.

A history of tension

The regime is widely criticized for extrajudicial killings, torture, abuse of power, corruption, mass displacement, land grab,  discrimination and other forms of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity. During the aftermath of the 2005 elections turmoil, the regime had even filed treason and genocide charges against four veteran VOA broadcasters, among so many others, which were dropped after the U.S. government intervened in the matter.

During a visit to Ethiopia of three members of the Broadcasting Board Governors (BBG), which oversees VOA and other U.S. international broadcasters,  in June 2011, the tyrannical regime reportedly submitted a lengthy complaint against VOA and a blacklist of dissidents that it wanted to be banned from VOA airwaves. Former VOA Horn of Africa Chief David Arnold had revealed that the regime wanted VOA to deny platform to a number of critics and dissidents. But Arnold was mysteriously suspended after disclosing the demands.

In 2010 the late dictator Meles Zenawi compared VOA to the infamous Radio Mille Collines of Rwanda, which incited the tragic genocide that devastated the nation.

“We have been convinced for many years that in many respects, the VOA Amharic Service has copied the worst practices of radio stations such as Radio Mille Collines of Rwanda in its wanton disregard of minimum ethics of journalism and engaging in destabilizing propaganda,” he had said after openly ordering the jamming of VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia.

His accusation was quickly rejected by the U.S. State Department as “baseless and inflammatory”. The State Department replied to the accusation by demanding the government to protect fundamental rights of freedom of expression.

Codes of ethics

VOA code of ethics prohibits employees or contract workers from working for any other state or media outlets without specific VOA authorization. It also emphasizes that in providing accurate information and news to those living under repressive regimes. “Broadcasting accurate, balanced and complete information to the people of the world, and particularly to those who are denied access to accurate news, serves the national interest and is a powerful source of inspiration and hope for all those who believe in freedom and democracy,” VOA journalistic code underlines.

Last year BBG joined BBC, Deutsche Welle and France 24 in condemning the TPLF-led regime for jamming their broadcasts, including VOA, in flagrant violation of well-established international rules and procedures on operating satellite equipment.

“The interference is contrary to the international regulations that govern the use of radio frequency transmissions and the operation of satellite systems, and inhibits the ability of individuals to freely access media according to Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights,” they noted in a joint statement.

“They are disrupting international news broadcasts for no apparent reason. This is a deliberate act of vandalism that tarnishes their reputation,” said Liliane Landor, acting Director of the BBC World Service Group.

Shifting strategy

Allergic to critical voices and media coverage, the regime has tried everything in its power to stop and disrupt Voice of America broadcasts for over two decades. Despite all the efforts, including jamming VOA’s shortwave and satellite broadcasts to Ethiopia, as well as putting diplomatic pressure, it failed to produce the desired effect.

Ethiopia, which tops annual lists of repression, ranked 4th in CPJ’s 2015 rank of 10 Most Censored Countries, just behind Eritrea, North Korea and Saudi Arabia. “In Ethiopia–number four on CPJ’s most censored list–the threat of imprisonment has contributed to a steep increase in the number of journalist exiles. Amid a broad crackdown on bloggers and independent publications in 2014, more than 30 journalists were forced to flee,” CPJ research shows. CPJ blamed the 2009 anti-terrorism law for criminalizing any reporting and freedom of expression.

Notwithstanding all the effort, TPLF’s strategy of jamming and filing false charges against journalists and  dissidents has failed to bear any fruits. But its latest effort to directly talk to journalists at VOA and other independent media outlets will undoubtedly have an impact on the Horn of Africa section as the regime is expanding its support network from within and dangling carrots and sticks. It seems there are some who are lured by the dangling carrots in exchange for taking assignments beyond their journalistic duties.

VOA has not yet replied to a list of questions submitted by this reporter on the secret meeting which allegedly had an effect of interfering with VOA broadcasts to Ethiopia through direct and questionable contact from within the newsroom.                                                                                      source     abugidainfo.com 

A High Level Ethiopian Delegation Sent to Russia to Muzzle ESAT Fails

Home » News » A High Level Ethiopian Delegation Sent to Russia to Muzzle ESAT Fails

(ESAT News) – In a desperate attempt to silence an independent Ethiopian TV and radio broadcasting service, the Ethiopian government has reportedly sent a high level delegation to Russia. It was found that the primary mission of the delegation was to demand the Russian government to drop from its satellite the broadcasting of news and programming by the Ethiopian Satellite Television and Radio, known popularly as ESAT.

The Ethiopian delegation, that comprises senior officials from the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, has unsuccessfully tried to convince the Russian government that broadcasting of news and programming from ESAT were a threat to the peace and security of Ethiopia.

ESAT, which has millions of loyal viewers and listeners in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora, is funded by individual monthly contributions and fundraising events by Ethiopian communities worldwide. But the ethnocentric regime and its cronies falsely allege that ESAT is funded by a political organization bent on destabilizing the country.

The Ethiopian government, one of the top jailers of journalists, as has been documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters without Borders, Article 19, Human Rights Watch and other press freedom organizations, has gone as far as asking the Russian government to deny ESAT the use of its satellite. The demand, however, has fallen on deaf ears.

Known for muzzling independent press and dissenting views, the regime in Addis Ababa had installed jamming equipment in its embassy in Moscow. Russian authorities found Ethiopian government’s jamming attempt on Russian soil to be against the law of the land. The Russian Satellite company, after doing its due diligence, has also reportedly rejected demands by Ethiopian authorities to stop its business dealings with ESAT. The Ethiopian government has in the past used diplomatic pressures as well as offering huge payments to satellite companies to thwart the broadcasting of alternative news from ESAT.

The Ethiopian government has so far made over 20 attempts in the last five years to jam and stop ESAT’s broadcasting. According to reports by the Washington Post and the Associated Press, the regime in Ethiopia has also used cyber attack and espionage against ESAT management and journalists to obstruct ESAT’s broadcasting.

ESAT, established five years ago, has now become the only independent news outlet for Ethiopians, who would otherwise be under an information blackout. Telephone messages reaching ESAT from its listeners and broadcasted daily indicate the support form Ethiopians at home and abroad for the continuation ESAT as an alternative news broadcasting service. The listeners also vent their indignation against the regime in Addis for using its meager resources and spending millions of dollars on jamming of satellite broadcasting and cyber espionage to muzzle a news media while millions of Ethiopians are in need of food aid after crops wither again this year.                                                                                           source  http://ecadforum.com/

Britain Stands “Shoulder To Shoulder” With Ethiopia Despite British Man On Death Row

Ministers lobbied behind the scenes while putting on a united front with the country at a trade event.

(BuzzFeedNews) – Last June, he was snatched by Ethiopian security forces at an airport in Yemen while he was waiting for a flight to Eritrea, and taken to Ethiopia having been sentenced to death in his absence for allegedly plotting a coup and planning to kill Ethiopian officials. He denies the claims.

Tsege has lived in the UK since 1979. The Mail on Sunday reported that his problems began because he “fell out with his university friend ex-Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, after he exposed government corruption and helped establish a pro-democracy party.”

The campaign group Reprieve claims that he has appeared on Ethiopian TV “looking ill and gaunt” and is worried that Tsege could be executed “at any time.” It also claims that he was illegally rendered, and was “sentenced to death during a mass trial in violation of basic fair trial standards”.

BuzzFeed News has obtained documents that explain how Britain is showing a publicly united front with Ethiopia while lobbying behind the scenes to secure justice for Tsege.

In September, Foreign Office minister Grant Shapps sent a letter to campaigners in which he wrote that the British government took Tsege’s detention and welfare “very seriously”.

He added: “We are deeply concerned that Mr Tsege has been held in Ethiopia for the past year without a legal process to challenge his detention, and we consistently raise these concerns with the Ethiopian authorities. We are disappointed that, despite repeated requests at the highest levels, we have only been allowed four consular visits during the past year.”

Shapps went on to describe a number of occasions when the British government had lobbied the Ethiopian government over Tsege’s case:

“The Foreign Secretary subsequently spoke to the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on 30 June, and informed him that the lack of progress risked undermining the UK’s valued bilateral relationship with Ethiopia. The Secretary of State for International Development raised our concerns with the Ethiopian authorities on 16 July, during her visit to Ethiopia.”

He lists further occasions, including an approach by David Cameron, before concluding:

“As a result of our ongoing lobbying, Mr Tsege has been transferred to a federal prison. While we welcome this news, the British Government will continue to press and urge the Ethiopian authorities for regularised consular access, assurances that he receives appropriate medical treatment and a legal process by which he can challenge his detention.”

Yesterday, Ethiopian foreign minister Tedros Adanhom was in London for the UK Ethiopia Trade Investment Forum, an event supported by the Foreign Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills.

Shapps delivered the keynote address at the forum. He is understood to have said that “the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ethiopia in transformational change”.

However, behind the scenes, his department continued to lobby for Tsege’s release.

In response to a request from BuzzFeed News, foreign secretary Philip Hammond released a statement:

“I have again raised the case of Andargachew Tsege and made it clear that the way he has been treated is unacceptable. I welcome the improvement in access to him, following the British Government’s intervention, but it must be more regular and it must include access to a lawyer.

“I am still not satisfied that Mr Tsege has been given an ability to challenge his detention through a legal process, something we are now pursuing further. The Foreign Office will continue to provide consular support to Mr Tsege and his family.”

The latest ministerial action may be due to pressure from diplomats. In February the Mail on Sunday obtained documents that highlighted diplomats’ frustration at political inaction over the abduction, which they felt was illegal.

The Mail reported:

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond’s office said he could not ‘find time’ for a phone call to raise the issue and did not want to send a ‘negative’ letter.

In one email, an exasperated official asks: ‘Don’t we need to do more than give them a stern talking to?’

Regarding Tsege’s extradition, one Foreign Office official wrote: “It feels a bit like I’m throwing the kitchen sink at the Yemenis but I want them to think twice before they do this again.”

The same official noted a prominent Ethiopian minister had given assurances over Tsege’s treatment – but added: “I wouldn’t take them with complete confidence.”

The officials also called into question the evidence that had led to Tsege being branded a terrorist: “All we have seen are a few pictures of him standing in an Eritrean village – hardly proof that he was engaged in terrorist training.”

Maya Foa, head of the death penalty team at legal charity Reprieve, said: “Grant Shapps’ promise to stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Ethiopia will be cold comfort to Andy Tsege’s desperate family in London. Even the UK’s limited requests for proper consular access have been flatly ignored by our allies in Ethiopia.

“Andy is a British father who is the victim of a series of terrible abuses by the Ethiopian government – from kidnap to torture to an in-absentia death sentence. The UN itself has demanded Andy’s return to the UK, as have thousands of members of the British public.

“The government must do the same, and call for Andy’s immediate release – today seems to have been a missed opportunity to do so.”

Alan White is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.

Contact Alan White at alan.white@buzzfeed.com.                                                       source http://ecadforum.com/ 

SMNE’s Open Letter to Ernst & Young Ltd. Is Misinformation from EY’s East Africa Management Office Blocking the People of Ethiopia from Economic Participation and Putting Foreign Investors in Ethiopia at Risk?

“The people of Ethiopia are being bled dry. No matter how hard they try to fight their way out of absolute destitution and poverty, they will be swimming upstream against the current of illicit capital leakage.”

Mr. Mark A. Weinberger
Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ernst & Young Ltd.

Roger F. Dunbar
Global Vice-Chairman, Ernst & Young LLP

Dear Mark and Roger

The question addressed in the above title is a serious one for the people of Ethiopia as well as for EY and the clients you serve. We believe misinformation, skewed to the benefit of a few, is closely related to the continued poverty and oppression of most Ethiopians. We are not talking about robbing the rich to pay for the poor, but about a regime in Ethiopia with a verifiable history of robbing the poor of the few opportunities they have to work their way out of poverty so as to advance their own interests.

Right now, avenues typically available to hard-working people are solidly blocked by a minority ethnic and crony- based regime that is wildly and dangerously advancing only their own interests. Fewer than 6% of Ethiopians can participate. Working hard will not open the doors—only the proper ethnic and party connections.

The above-mentioned quote points to the problem of illicit capital leakage that has resulted as those in power become rich due to the lack of transparency, accountability and a closed-door economy, which is open only to themselves. It is one of the ways the majority of Ethiopians are blocked from escaping destitution and poverty despite boastful claims of a rapidly expanding economy.

Another way they are being blocked is through those representatives of regime power holders in key places who provide misinformation to other stakeholders, like EY and their clients, all to their own advantage. A key component to make it work involves gatekeepers, like found in the EY East Africa Management Office, who will ensure that no one but their own cronies and patrons will enter in.

We hope to enlighten EY to some of the concerns from the ground so you might take a strong moral stand against complicity in such an apartheid system. As an important global firm, taking a moral stand that will have a positive impact on the people of Ethiopia, Africa and beyond is a good business decision.

I am writing to you on behalf of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE), a non-political, non-violent, grassroots social justice movement representing the diverse people of Ethiopia. My name is Obang Metho; I am the Executive Director of the SMNE. Much of our organizational work is based in Washington DC, with activists in North America, Europe and Africa, as well as within Ethiopia where we have many close contacts with Ethiopians on-the-ground.

I come to you first and foremost as a human being who believes that the future well being of our global society rests in the hands of those among us who can put humanity before ethnicity of any other distinctions that divide and dehumanize other human beings from ourselves; inspiring us to care about these others; not only because of the intrinsic God-given value of each life, but also because none of us will be free until all are free. These are the underlying principles of the SMNE.

The focus of this letter is to express concerns regarding EY’s East Africa Managing Partner’s activities in Ethiopia, presently under the leadership of Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, particularly in regards to serious issues we recommend you investigate pertaining to the reliability of statistics, information, advice and analysis you are receiving in regards to investment, the economy, its financial practices, the dependability of your partners and the state of security in Ethiopia. You may discover serious indications of entrenched self-interest on the part of Mr. Negatu, EY’s East Africa office he manages and those in positions of power or among the patronage networks within Ethiopia, all of which may be difficult to ascertain without extreme due diligence.

Ethiopia is a country where transparency and accountability are non-existent. The current regime of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has a track record of nearly absolute control over the flow of information. It has made it nearly impossible to independently verify many of the claims coming out of Ethiopia regarding its double-digit economic growth and numerous other statistics now being used to attract foreign direct investment. You may not realize that Ethiopia is the fourth worst country in the world in regards to censorship, preceded only by Eritrea, North Korea and Saudi Arabia according to the recent study by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Those who challenge the government spin regularly face repercussions such as the loss of jobs, benefits, perks and opportunities as well as harsher consequences involving threats, harassment, beatings, arrests, torture, imprisonment and sometimes death. This has led to Ethiopia’s disreputable standing of having the second highest number of political prisoners in Africa according to Freedom House. As a result, as you attempt to provide accurate information regarding Ethiopia’s investment climate and to carry out your business effectively, we encourage you to consider, and possibly investigate more thoroughly, some of the following concerns.
Our Concerns:

Over the past 14 years, we believe your EY Managing Partner led by Zemedeneh Negatu has consistently painted an unsubstantiated and false picture of the investment climate in Ethiopia, far removed from the realities on the ground. Additionally, we believe the political and market risks involved in doing business in Ethiopia are significantly underestimated. In doing so, we believe Mr. Negatu is not only violating a professional code of conduct; but also, the firm’s well established value of good corporate governance, both of which could jeopardize the interests of present and prospective clients of EY and the firm itself.

EY’s presence in Africa is an excellent opportunity for Africa’s long-term economic development; but, in the absence of institutional transparency and market integrity among many countries on the continent, the firm’s contribution to the long term economic integration of Africa would be greatly diminished. Instead, in this volatile region, where a high level of corruption is the norm, failing to strengthen oversight in monitoring the activities of EY’s Managing Partners may be shortsighted, risking EY’s long-term interests and eminent standing.

This opinion is based on an extended time of observation of your East African Managing Partner by SMNE’s economic advisory team; leading us to the conclusion that Mr. Negatu’s positions appear to be highly biased in favor of the ruling party’s own interests and that of their patronage networks. These patronage networks are largely ethnic-based, in alignment with the ethnicity of those who dominate the current government. Although four ethnic-based parties make up the larger coalition party of the EPRDF; in fact, the government and most every sector of Ethiopian society are controlled by the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) through their TPLF Central Committee—the real power in Ethiopia. This should be kept in mind as EY examines the financial infrastructure of the country and its longevity. Some believe rumors of internal conflicts within the TPLF Central Committee and simmering tensions among the majority who are blocked from economic participation could disrupt the balance causing unknown consequences.

Relying on information that could be highly biased could easily undermine the interests of your clients. In fact, one might view Mr. Negatu’s omission of facts and risks on the ground as another indication that he is representing the economic interests of regime power holders rather than as someone serving the interests of EY and its clients.
In other words, EY’s brand and reputation may be a profitable means to lure Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to corporations owned by the ruling party and other cronies regardless of the risks. You may find it in EY’s best interests to examine the following concerns, some more directly pertaining to Mr. Negatu and others more generally, so as to avoid future problems, including potential violations of the law or codes of conduct contradictory to your own values, policies and best practice that could affect EY’s brand and image.

Possible concerns to be examined by EY:

In public statements made by Mr. Negatu, he makes it appear that he serves the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), the ruling party affiliated corporations, and foreign and domestic private investors all at the same time. In doing so, he assumes multiple roles in addition to acting as an EY representative. Do these create a conflict of interest to EY and its clients? Do they conform to your code of ethics?

For example, can someone represent the GoE, a questionable expatriate private equity fund, local investors affiliated with the ruling party, foreign investors and one’s own investments at the same time? Can that same person make a pitch to multiple audiences, including the Corporate Council on Africa and the Ethiopian Diaspora Investment Forum, while representing EY?

Would Mr. Negatu, while promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Diaspora investment on behalf of the Ethiopian Government, be required to disclose what could be seen as a serious conflict of interest: that the ruling party known as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) operates over 100 corporations in key industries from which many in the government and within their patronage networks can personally benefit? Would a failure to disclose the risk to investors be considered a dereliction of company ethics and a violation of professional conduct? Would it be considered illegal under the law?

In a June 16, 2013 IPS report titled: “Examining the Depths of Ethiopia’s Corruption”, the researchers indicate the extent the ruling party is involved in corruption; but yet, it appears that this risk is not addressed by Mr. Negatu despite the potential risks to investors. Is it a conflict of interest to EY that the office of EY’s Managing Partner has been housed in a building [Mega Building], which is reportedly owned by the ruling party since its initial operations began in Ethiopia? Does this maintain EY’s basic code of professional integrity and transparency?

We in the SMNE seek to inform companies like EY, who hold to strong international business practices, so as to better enable you to internally investigate these concerns and take corrective actions when necessary to protect your interests and reputation. We have found that foreign companies can more easily be misled by their local partners and representatives. One good example with a very positive outcome was in the case of H&M who we notified last year over some concerns.

After further investigation, H&M found areas of concern and took positive action; including disassociating themselves from some of the corrupt practices of the government as well as from some TPLF party-affiliated businesses.

We at the SMNE are working towards the advancement of a healthy business climate where legitimate and transparent investment, with all the checks and balances in place, can encourage firms like your own to “do business” under win-win conditions. You should have the right information upfront to give you greater assurance there will be no deal-breaking surprises later on that seriously affect the outcome.

Firms that maintain high corporate standards for business practice, including transparency and accountability, will fare the best, but it is still risky when doing business with those like the TPLF/EPRDF who are used to setting all the rules in their own favor, ignoring the rule of law or manipulating it to their advantage, and breaking contracts and covering up or minimizing risks at the front end. Such groups may not uphold the same professional or legal standards, believing they are untouchable due to their connections and the lack of strong institutions to make them accountable. Such an atmosphere of impunity can be used by unethical power holders against foreign and domestic investors and partners when interests collide or when the “deal” did not work out as favorably as expected. This has already occurred in Ethiopia in cases like that of Karuturi Global Ltd.

When working with the GoE or those aligned with them, we believe it will require a higher degree of scrutiny and verification of facts and conditions in order to maintain high standards of integrity and to better protect EY. However, this model of best practice will also help EY ensure a sustained and welcome presence in Africa. Companies who operate with transparency and high standards of ethics will contribute to the betterment of all involved.
In light of the above, we make the following recommendations to EY:

• To conduct a thorough assessment/investigation of these concerns in regards to Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu and EY’s East Africa Managing Office, currently under his leadership
• To appoint an independent body to examine East African Managing Partner’s books and Mr. Negatu’s business activities on the ground in Ethiopia, in the Middle East, Asia and in the US
• To also require a disclosure of his associations with all the ruling party-owned and regime-affiliated corporations on the ground in Ethiopia, as well as in the US, Europe, Middle East, Asia and other locations.
• To require that Mr. Negatu and/or his emissaries cease from promoting all FDI in Ethiopia where such promotion favors or is in collusion with the ruling party-owned and affiliated corporations, although few other options exist.
• To stop Mr. Negatu from using EY’s brand in association with his role as a representative of the Ethiopian government’s foreign investment promotion effort; in particular, where it is used to mislead investors to the reality of the economy. The Video presentation at the Turkey-Ethiopia Business Forum on 27 April 2015, in Istanbul, Turkey is the latest example.
• To require that Mr. Negatu disclose his personal business activities and his association with Fairfax Africa Fund LLC, established in McLean, Virginia and led by the former EY East Africa Managing Partner employee in Addis Ababa, Yared Berhane, regarding the investment of millions of dollars in Ethiopia and East African countries.

According to the news, the latest investment offer of Fairfax Africa Fund was the Ethiopian Crown Cork & Can Manufacturing Industry S.C. (ECCCMI), from the government’s Privatization & Public Enterprise Supervising Agency. David Johns, Director of Fairfax is a newly hired US national who may be a front to make it appear that the fund is an American investment, when in actuality; it is believed to be a ruling party-affiliated business. The website, All Africa, reported that Mr. Negatu was the principle representative of the fund in the purchases of ECCCMI. Interestingly, he was invited to speak at the Fairfax Africa Fund’s organized event: “Collaborative Investing by the Ethiopian Diaspora in the U.S” on at least two occasions in California in February of 2012.

These are a few steps that may be critically important to take at the earliest opportunity and in the near future so as to restore order and integrity in EY’s East Africa Managing Partner, mindful of both your clients’ and your own long-term interests. We hope you will take our concerns to heart by further investigating the situation so you might ensure that any questionable activities are corrected.

We believe this situation has been problematic for over a decade and hope you will act with decisiveness at this time. If you are interested, we will continue to provide you with more information when deemed important so as to help you with this process.

In conclusion, we look forward to hearing a response from you regarding these concerns as well as to answer any questions and offer assistance where useful. We thank you for any future efforts you make to address these issues and hope you will be an example of a company with the highest of business standards so you might help break down some of the key blocks to a better future for the people of Africa.

Best Regards,

Obang Metho,
Executive Director SMNE

910- 17th St. NW, Suite 419.
Washington, DC 20006 USA
 
Email: obang@solidaritymovement.org 
Website: www.solidaritymovement.org          source 

SMNE’s Open Letter to Ernst & Young Ltd.

Is Misinformation from EY’s East Africa Management Office Blocking the People of Ethiopia from Economic Participation and Putting Foreign Investors in Ethiopia at Risk?

“The people of Ethiopia are being bled dry. No matter how hard they try to fight their way out of absolute destitution and poverty, they will be swimming upstream against the current of illicit capital leakage.”

Mr. Mark A. Weinberger
Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ernst & Young Ltd.

Roger F. Dunbar
Global Vice-Chairman, Ernst & Young LLP

Dear Mark and Roger

The question addressed in the above title is a serious one for the people of Ethiopia as well as for EY and the clients you serve. We believe misinformation, skewed to the benefit of a few, is closely related to the continued poverty and oppression of most Ethiopians. We are not talking about robbing the rich to pay for the poor, but about a regime in Ethiopia with a verifiable history of robbing the poor of the few opportunities they have to work their way out of poverty so as to advance their own interests.

Right now, avenues typically available to hard-working people are solidly blocked by a minority ethnic and crony- based regime that is wildly and dangerously advancing only their own interests. Fewer than 6% of Ethiopians can participate. Working hard will not open the doors—only the proper ethnic and party connections.

The above-mentioned quote points to the problem of illicit capital leakage that has resulted as those in power become rich due to the lack of transparency, accountability and a closed-door economy, which is open only to themselves. It is one of the ways the majority of Ethiopians are blocked from escaping destitution and poverty despite boastful claims of a rapidly expanding economy.

Another way they are being blocked is through those representatives of regime power holders in key places who provide misinformation to other stakeholders, like EY and their clients, all to their own advantage. A key component to make it work involves gatekeepers, like found in the EY East Africa Management Office, who will ensure that no one but their own cronies and patrons will enter in.

We hope to enlighten EY to some of the concerns from the ground so you might take a strong moral stand against complicity in such an apartheid system. As an important global firm, taking a moral stand that will have a positive impact on the people of Ethiopia, Africa and beyond is a good business decision.

I am writing to you on behalf of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE), a non-political, non-violent, grassroots social justice movement representing the diverse people of Ethiopia. My name is Obang Metho; I am the Executive Director of the SMNE. Much of our organizational work is based in Washington DC, with activists in North America, Europe and Africa, as well as within Ethiopia where we have many close contacts with Ethiopians on-the-ground.

I come to you first and foremost as a human being who believes that the future well being of our global society rests in the hands of those among us who can put humanity before ethnicity of any other distinctions that divide and dehumanize other human beings from ourselves; inspiring us to care about these others; not only because of the intrinsic God-given value of each life, but also because none of us will be free until all are free. These are the underlying principles of the SMNE.

The focus of this letter is to express concerns regarding EY’s East Africa Managing Partner’s activities in Ethiopia, presently under the leadership of Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, particularly in regards to serious issues we recommend you investigate pertaining to the reliability of statistics, information, advice and analysis you are receiving in regards to investment, the economy, its financial practices, the dependability of your partners and the state of security in Ethiopia. You may discover serious indications of entrenched self-interest on the part of Mr. Negatu, EY’s East Africa office he manages and those in positions of power or among the patronage networks within Ethiopia, all of which may be difficult to ascertain without extreme due diligence.

Ethiopia is a country where transparency and accountability are non-existent. The current regime of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has a track record of nearly absolute control over the flow of information. It has made it nearly impossible to independently verify many of the claims coming out of Ethiopia regarding its double-digit economic growth and numerous other statistics now being used to attract foreign direct investment. You may not realize that Ethiopia is the fourth worst country in the world in regards to censorship, preceded only by Eritrea, North Korea and Saudi Arabia according to the recent study by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Those who challenge the government spin regularly face repercussions such as the loss of jobs, benefits, perks and opportunities as well as harsher consequences involving threats, harassment, beatings, arrests, torture, imprisonment and sometimes death. This has led to Ethiopia’s disreputable standing of having the second highest number of political prisoners in Africa according to Freedom House. As a result, as you attempt to provide accurate information regarding Ethiopia’s investment climate and to carry out your business effectively, we encourage you to consider, and possibly investigate more thoroughly, some of the following concerns.
Our Concerns:

Over the past 14 years, we believe your EY Managing Partner led by Zemedeneh Negatu has consistently painted an unsubstantiated and false picture of the investment climate in Ethiopia, far removed from the realities on the ground. Additionally, we believe the political and market risks involved in doing business in Ethiopia are significantly underestimated. In doing so, we believe Mr. Negatu is not only violating a professional code of conduct; but also, the firm’s well established value of good corporate governance, both of which could jeopardize the interests of present and prospective clients of EY and the firm itself.

EY’s presence in Africa is an excellent opportunity for Africa’s long-term economic development; but, in the absence of institutional transparency and market integrity among many countries on the continent, the firm’s contribution to the long term economic integration of Africa would be greatly diminished. Instead, in this volatile region, where a high level of corruption is the norm, failing to strengthen oversight in monitoring the activities of EY’s Managing Partners may be shortsighted, risking EY’s long-term interests and eminent standing.

This opinion is based on an extended time of observation of your East African Managing Partner by SMNE’s economic advisory team; leading us to the conclusion that Mr. Negatu’s positions appear to be highly biased in favor of the ruling party’s own interests and that of their patronage networks. These patronage networks are largely ethnic-based, in alignment with the ethnicity of those who dominate the current government. Although four ethnic-based parties make up the larger coalition party of the EPRDF; in fact, the government and most every sector of Ethiopian society are controlled by the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) through their TPLF Central Committee—the real power in Ethiopia. This should be kept in mind as EY examines the financial infrastructure of the country and its longevity. Some believe rumors of internal conflicts within the TPLF Central Committee and simmering tensions among the majority who are blocked from economic participation could disrupt the balance causing unknown consequences.

Relying on information that could be highly biased could easily undermine the interests of your clients. In fact, one might view Mr. Negatu’s omission of facts and risks on the ground as another indication that he is representing the economic interests of regime power holders rather than as someone serving the interests of EY and its clients.
In other words, EY’s brand and reputation may be a profitable means to lure Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to corporations owned by the ruling party and other cronies regardless of the risks. You may find it in EY’s best interests to examine the following concerns, some more directly pertaining to Mr. Negatu and others more generally, so as to avoid future problems, including potential violations of the law or codes of conduct contradictory to your own values, policies and best practice that could affect EY’s brand and image.

Possible concerns to be examined by EY:

In public statements made by Mr. Negatu, he makes it appear that he serves the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), the ruling party affiliated corporations, and foreign and domestic private investors all at the same time. In doing so, he assumes multiple roles in addition to acting as an EY representative. Do these create a conflict of interest to EY and its clients? Do they conform to your code of ethics?

For example, can someone represent the GoE, a questionable expatriate private equity fund, local investors affiliated with the ruling party, foreign investors and one’s own investments at the same time? Can that same person make a pitch to multiple audiences, including the Corporate Council on Africa and the Ethiopian Diaspora Investment Forum, while representing EY?

Would Mr. Negatu, while promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Diaspora investment on behalf of the Ethiopian Government, be required to disclose what could be seen as a serious conflict of interest: that the ruling party known as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) operates over 100 corporations in key industries from which many in the government and within their patronage networks can personally benefit? Would a failure to disclose the risk to investors be considered a dereliction of company ethics and a violation of professional conduct? Would it be considered illegal under the law?

In a June 16, 2013 IPS report titled: “Examining the Depths of Ethiopia’s Corruption”, the researchers indicate the extent the ruling party is involved in corruption; but yet, it appears that this risk is not addressed by Mr. Negatu despite the potential risks to investors. Is it a conflict of interest to EY that the office of EY’s Managing Partner has been housed in a building [Mega Building], which is reportedly owned by the ruling party since its initial operations began in Ethiopia? Does this maintain EY’s basic code of professional integrity and transparency?

We in the SMNE seek to inform companies like EY, who hold to strong international business practices, so as to better enable you to internally investigate these concerns and take corrective actions when necessary to protect your interests and reputation. We have found that foreign companies can more easily be misled by their local partners and representatives. One good example with a very positive outcome was in the case of H&M who we notified last year over some concerns.

After further investigation, H&M found areas of concern and took positive action; including disassociating themselves from some of the corrupt practices of the government as well as from some TPLF party-affiliated businesses.

We at the SMNE are working towards the advancement of a healthy business climate where legitimate and transparent investment, with all the checks and balances in place, can encourage firms like your own to “do business” under win-win conditions. You should have the right information upfront to give you greater assurance there will be no deal-breaking surprises later on that seriously affect the outcome.

Firms that maintain high corporate standards for business practice, including transparency and accountability, will fare the best, but it is still risky when doing business with those like the TPLF/EPRDF who are used to setting all the rules in their own favor, ignoring the rule of law or manipulating it to their advantage, and breaking contracts and covering up or minimizing risks at the front end. Such groups may not uphold the same professional or legal standards, believing they are untouchable due to their connections and the lack of strong institutions to make them accountable. Such an atmosphere of impunity can be used by unethical power holders against foreign and domestic investors and partners when interests collide or when the “deal” did not work out as favorably as expected. This has already occurred in Ethiopia in cases like that of Karuturi Global Ltd.

When working with the GoE or those aligned with them, we believe it will require a higher degree of scrutiny and verification of facts and conditions in order to maintain high standards of integrity and to better protect EY. However, this model of best practice will also help EY ensure a sustained and welcome presence in Africa. Companies who operate with transparency and high standards of ethics will contribute to the betterment of all involved.
In light of the above, we make the following recommendations to EY:

• To conduct a thorough assessment/investigation of these concerns in regards to Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu and EY’s East Africa Managing Office, currently under his leadership
• To appoint an independent body to examine East African Managing Partner’s books and Mr. Negatu’s business activities on the ground in Ethiopia, in the Middle East, Asia and in the US
• To also require a disclosure of his associations with all the ruling party-owned and regime-affiliated corporations on the ground in Ethiopia, as well as in the US, Europe, Middle East, Asia and other locations.
• To require that Mr. Negatu and/or his emissaries cease from promoting all FDI in Ethiopia where such promotion favors or is in collusion with the ruling party-owned and affiliated corporations, although few other options exist.
• To stop Mr. Negatu from using EY’s brand in association with his role as a representative of the Ethiopian government’s foreign investment promotion effort; in particular, where it is used to mislead investors to the reality of the economy. The Video presentation at the Turkey-Ethiopia Business Forum on 27 April 2015, in Istanbul, Turkey is the latest example.
• To require that Mr. Negatu disclose his personal business activities and his association with Fairfax Africa Fund LLC, established in McLean, Virginia and led by the former EY East Africa Managing Partner employee in Addis Ababa, Yared Berhane, regarding the investment of millions of dollars in Ethiopia and East African countries.

According to the news, the latest investment offer of Fairfax Africa Fund was the Ethiopian Crown Cork & Can Manufacturing Industry S.C. (ECCCMI), from the government’s Privatization & Public Enterprise Supervising Agency. David Johns, Director of Fairfax is a newly hired US national who may be a front to make it appear that the fund is an American investment, when in actuality; it is believed to be a ruling party-affiliated business. The website, All Africa, reported that Mr. Negatu was the principle representative of the fund in the purchases of ECCCMI. Interestingly, he was invited to speak at the Fairfax Africa Fund’s organized event: “Collaborative Investing by the Ethiopian Diaspora in the U.S” on at least two occasions in California in February of 2012.

These are a few steps that may be critically important to take at the earliest opportunity and in the near future so as to restore order and integrity in EY’s East Africa Managing Partner, mindful of both your clients’ and your own long-term interests. We hope you will take our concerns to heart by further investigating the situation so you might ensure that any questionable activities are corrected.

We believe this situation has been problematic for over a decade and hope you will act with decisiveness at this time. If you are interested, we will continue to provide you with more information when deemed important so as to help you with this process.

In conclusion, we look forward to hearing a response from you regarding these concerns as well as to answer any questions and offer assistance where useful. We thank you for any future efforts you make to address these issues and hope you will be an example of a company with the highest of business standards so you might help break down some of the key blocks to a better future for the people of Africa.

Best Regards,

Obang Metho,
Executive Director SMNE

910- 17th St. NW, Suite 419.
Washington, DC 20006 USA
 
Email: obang@solidaritymovement.org 

Website: www.solidaritymovement.org                            source  

SMNE’s Open Letter to Ernst & Young Ltd.

Is Misinformation from EY’s East Africa Management Office Blocking the People of Ethiopia from Economic Participation and Putting Foreign Investors in Ethiopia at Risk?

“The people of Ethiopia are being bled dry. No matter how hard they try to fight their way out of absolute destitution and poverty, they will be swimming upstream against the current of illicit capital leakage.”

Mr. Mark A. Weinberger
Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ernst & Young Ltd.

Roger F. Dunbar
Global Vice-Chairman, Ernst & Young LLP

Dear Mark and Roger

The question addressed in the above title is a serious one for the people of Ethiopia as well as for EY and the clients you serve. We believe misinformation, skewed to the benefit of a few, is closely related to the continued poverty and oppression of most Ethiopians. We are not talking about robbing the rich to pay for the poor, but about a regime in Ethiopia with a verifiable history of robbing the poor of the few opportunities they have to work their way out of poverty so as to advance their own interests.

Right now, avenues typically available to hard-working people are solidly blocked by a minority ethnic and crony- based regime that is wildly and dangerously advancing only their own interests. Fewer than 6% of Ethiopians can participate. Working hard will not open the doors—only the proper ethnic and party connections.

The above-mentioned quote points to the problem of illicit capital leakage that has resulted as those in power become rich due to the lack of transparency, accountability and a closed-door economy, which is open only to themselves. It is one of the ways the majority of Ethiopians are blocked from escaping destitution and poverty despite boastful claims of a rapidly expanding economy.

Another way they are being blocked is through those representatives of regime power holders in key places who provide misinformation to other stakeholders, like EY and their clients, all to their own advantage. A key component to make it work involves gatekeepers, like found in the EY East Africa Management Office, who will ensure that no one but their own cronies and patrons will enter in.

We hope to enlighten EY to some of the concerns from the ground so you might take a strong moral stand against complicity in such an apartheid system. As an important global firm, taking a moral stand that will have a positive impact on the people of Ethiopia, Africa and beyond is a good business decision.

I am writing to you on behalf of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE), a non-political, non-violent, grassroots social justice movement representing the diverse people of Ethiopia. My name is Obang Metho; I am the Executive Director of the SMNE. Much of our organizational work is based in Washington DC, with activists in North America, Europe and Africa, as well as within Ethiopia where we have many close contacts with Ethiopians on-the-ground.

I come to you first and foremost as a human being who believes that the future well being of our global society rests in the hands of those among us who can put humanity before ethnicity of any other distinctions that divide and dehumanize other human beings from ourselves; inspiring us to care about these others; not only because of the intrinsic God-given value of each life, but also because none of us will be free until all are free. These are the underlying principles of the SMNE.

The focus of this letter is to express concerns regarding EY’s East Africa Managing Partner’s activities in Ethiopia, presently under the leadership of Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, particularly in regards to serious issues we recommend you investigate pertaining to the reliability of statistics, information, advice and analysis you are receiving in regards to investment, the economy, its financial practices, the dependability of your partners and the state of security in Ethiopia. You may discover serious indications of entrenched self-interest on the part of Mr. Negatu, EY’s East Africa office he manages and those in positions of power or among the patronage networks within Ethiopia, all of which may be difficult to ascertain without extreme due diligence.

Ethiopia is a country where transparency and accountability are non-existent. The current regime of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has a track record of nearly absolute control over the flow of information. It has made it nearly impossible to independently verify many of the claims coming out of Ethiopia regarding its double-digit economic growth and numerous other statistics now being used to attract foreign direct investment. You may not realize that Ethiopia is the fourth worst country in the world in regards to censorship, preceded only by Eritrea, North Korea and Saudi Arabia according to the recent study by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Those who challenge the government spin regularly face repercussions such as the loss of jobs, benefits, perks and opportunities as well as harsher consequences involving threats, harassment, beatings, arrests, torture, imprisonment and sometimes death. This has led to Ethiopia’s disreputable standing of having the second highest number of political prisoners in Africa according to Freedom House. As a result, as you attempt to provide accurate information regarding Ethiopia’s investment climate and to carry out your business effectively, we encourage you to consider, and possibly investigate more thoroughly, some of the following concerns.
Our Concerns:

Over the past 14 years, we believe your EY Managing Partner led by Zemedeneh Negatu has consistently painted an unsubstantiated and false picture of the investment climate in Ethiopia, far removed from the realities on the ground. Additionally, we believe the political and market risks involved in doing business in Ethiopia are significantly underestimated. In doing so, we believe Mr. Negatu is not only violating a professional code of conduct; but also, the firm’s well established value of good corporate governance, both of which could jeopardize the interests of present and prospective clients of EY and the firm itself.

EY’s presence in Africa is an excellent opportunity for Africa’s long-term economic development; but, in the absence of institutional transparency and market integrity among many countries on the continent, the firm’s contribution to the long term economic integration of Africa would be greatly diminished. Instead, in this volatile region, where a high level of corruption is the norm, failing to strengthen oversight in monitoring the activities of EY’s Managing Partners may be shortsighted, risking EY’s long-term interests and eminent standing.

This opinion is based on an extended time of observation of your East African Managing Partner by SMNE’s economic advisory team; leading us to the conclusion that Mr. Negatu’s positions appear to be highly biased in favor of the ruling party’s own interests and that of their patronage networks. These patronage networks are largely ethnic-based, in alignment with the ethnicity of those who dominate the current government. Although four ethnic-based parties make up the larger coalition party of the EPRDF; in fact, the government and most every sector of Ethiopian society are controlled by the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) through their TPLF Central Committee—the real power in Ethiopia. This should be kept in mind as EY examines the financial infrastructure of the country and its longevity. Some believe rumors of internal conflicts within the TPLF Central Committee and simmering tensions among the majority who are blocked from economic participation could disrupt the balance causing unknown consequences.

Relying on information that could be highly biased could easily undermine the interests of your clients. In fact, one might view Mr. Negatu’s omission of facts and risks on the ground as another indication that he is representing the economic interests of regime power holders rather than as someone serving the interests of EY and its clients.
In other words, EY’s brand and reputation may be a profitable means to lure Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to corporations owned by the ruling party and other cronies regardless of the risks. You may find it in EY’s best interests to examine the following concerns, some more directly pertaining to Mr. Negatu and others more generally, so as to avoid future problems, including potential violations of the law or codes of conduct contradictory to your own values, policies and best practice that could affect EY’s brand and image.

Possible concerns to be examined by EY:

In public statements made by Mr. Negatu, he makes it appear that he serves the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), the ruling party affiliated corporations, and foreign and domestic private investors all at the same time. In doing so, he assumes multiple roles in addition to acting as an EY representative. Do these create a conflict of interest to EY and its clients? Do they conform to your code of ethics?

For example, can someone represent the GoE, a questionable expatriate private equity fund, local investors affiliated with the ruling party, foreign investors and one’s own investments at the same time? Can that same person make a pitch to multiple audiences, including the Corporate Council on Africa and the Ethiopian Diaspora Investment Forum, while representing EY?

Would Mr. Negatu, while promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Diaspora investment on behalf of the Ethiopian Government, be required to disclose what could be seen as a serious conflict of interest: that the ruling party known as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) operates over 100 corporations in key industries from which many in the government and within their patronage networks can personally benefit? Would a failure to disclose the risk to investors be considered a dereliction of company ethics and a violation of professional conduct? Would it be considered illegal under the law?

In a June 16, 2013 IPS report titled: “Examining the Depths of Ethiopia’s Corruption”, the researchers indicate the extent the ruling party is involved in corruption; but yet, it appears that this risk is not addressed by Mr. Negatu despite the potential risks to investors. Is it a conflict of interest to EY that the office of EY’s Managing Partner has been housed in a building [Mega Building], which is reportedly owned by the ruling party since its initial operations began in Ethiopia? Does this maintain EY’s basic code of professional integrity and transparency?

We in the SMNE seek to inform companies like EY, who hold to strong international business practices, so as to better enable you to internally investigate these concerns and take corrective actions when necessary to protect your interests and reputation. We have found that foreign companies can more easily be misled by their local partners and representatives. One good example with a very positive outcome was in the case of H&M who we notified last year over some concerns.

After further investigation, H&M found areas of concern and took positive action; including disassociating themselves from some of the corrupt practices of the government as well as from some TPLF party-affiliated businesses.

We at the SMNE are working towards the advancement of a healthy business climate where legitimate and transparent investment, with all the checks and balances in place, can encourage firms like your own to “do business” under win-win conditions. You should have the right information upfront to give you greater assurance there will be no deal-breaking surprises later on that seriously affect the outcome.

Firms that maintain high corporate standards for business practice, including transparency and accountability, will fare the best, but it is still risky when doing business with those like the TPLF/EPRDF who are used to setting all the rules in their own favor, ignoring the rule of law or manipulating it to their advantage, and breaking contracts and covering up or minimizing risks at the front end. Such groups may not uphold the same professional or legal standards, believing they are untouchable due to their connections and the lack of strong institutions to make them accountable. Such an atmosphere of impunity can be used by unethical power holders against foreign and domestic investors and partners when interests collide or when the “deal” did not work out as favorably as expected. This has already occurred in Ethiopia in cases like that of Karuturi Global Ltd.

When working with the GoE or those aligned with them, we believe it will require a higher degree of scrutiny and verification of facts and conditions in order to maintain high standards of integrity and to better protect EY. However, this model of best practice will also help EY ensure a sustained and welcome presence in Africa. Companies who operate with transparency and high standards of ethics will contribute to the betterment of all involved.
In light of the above, we make the following recommendations to EY:

• To conduct a thorough assessment/investigation of these concerns in regards to Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu and EY’s East Africa Managing Office, currently under his leadership
• To appoint an independent body to examine East African Managing Partner’s books and Mr. Negatu’s business activities on the ground in Ethiopia, in the Middle East, Asia and in the US
• To also require a disclosure of his associations with all the ruling party-owned and regime-affiliated corporations on the ground in Ethiopia, as well as in the US, Europe, Middle East, Asia and other locations.
• To require that Mr. Negatu and/or his emissaries cease from promoting all FDI in Ethiopia where such promotion favors or is in collusion with the ruling party-owned and affiliated corporations, although few other options exist.
• To stop Mr. Negatu from using EY’s brand in association with his role as a representative of the Ethiopian government’s foreign investment promotion effort; in particular, where it is used to mislead investors to the reality of the economy. The Video presentation at the Turkey-Ethiopia Business Forum on 27 April 2015, in Istanbul, Turkey is the latest example.
• To require that Mr. Negatu disclose his personal business activities and his association with Fairfax Africa Fund LLC, established in McLean, Virginia and led by the former EY East Africa Managing Partner employee in Addis Ababa, Yared Berhane, regarding the investment of millions of dollars in Ethiopia and East African countries.

According to the news, the latest investment offer of Fairfax Africa Fund was the Ethiopian Crown Cork & Can Manufacturing Industry S.C. (ECCCMI), from the government’s Privatization & Public Enterprise Supervising Agency. David Johns, Director of Fairfax is a newly hired US national who may be a front to make it appear that the fund is an American investment, when in actuality; it is believed to be a ruling party-affiliated business. The website, All Africa, reported that Mr. Negatu was the principle representative of the fund in the purchases of ECCCMI. Interestingly, he was invited to speak at the Fairfax Africa Fund’s organized event: “Collaborative Investing by the Ethiopian Diaspora in the U.S” on at least two occasions in California in February of 2012.

These are a few steps that may be critically important to take at the earliest opportunity and in the near future so as to restore order and integrity in EY’s East Africa Managing Partner, mindful of both your clients’ and your own long-term interests. We hope you will take our concerns to heart by further investigating the situation so you might ensure that any questionable activities are corrected.

We believe this situation has been problematic for over a decade and hope you will act with decisiveness at this time. If you are interested, we will continue to provide you with more information when deemed important so as to help you with this process.

In conclusion, we look forward to hearing a response from you regarding these concerns as well as to answer any questions and offer assistance where useful. We thank you for any future efforts you make to address these issues and hope you will be an example of a company with the highest of business standards so you might help break down some of the key blocks to a better future for the people of Africa.

Best Regards,

Obang Metho,
Executive Director SMNE

910- 17th St. NW, Suite 419.
Washington, DC 20006 USA
 
Email: obang@solidaritymovement.org 

Website: www.solidaritymovement.org                     source   ecadf