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FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
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INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002812 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ETRD ECON PREF KHIV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA:  BI-WEEKLY REPORT OCTOBER 13 2006 
 
¶1. The following reports compiled over the last two weeks 
illustrate the variety of economic, political, and social 
developments occurring in Ethiopia. 
 
POLITICAL 
--------- 
 
President Girma Outlines Commitment to Good Governance at 
Opening of Parliament 
 
¶2.  President Girma Wolde-Giorgis addressed the opening of 
the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of 
Federation October 9 to outline the government's commitment 
to building a democratic system in which good governance 
prevails.  The President admitted that the Ethiopian 
democratic culture is a nascent stage but said that measures 
will be taken to overcome the current challenges.  As an 
example, he pointed out that a new press law will be reviewed 
for consideration and adoption, which should address past 
issues related to freedom of expression.  He also said that 
the rights and responsibilities of NGOs were not to date 
clearly defined and a proclamation will be submitted to the 
House to clarify their role.  President Girma listed numerous 
other matters to be addressed in the upcoming parliamentary 
session, including a bill to amend the activities of the 
National Electoral Board, anti-terrorism draft legislation, 
the establishment of a commodity exchange system, and a law 
to establish a women's fund. 
 
Government to Adopt New Anti-Terrorism Legislation 
 
¶3.  In his opening day speech to Parliament October 9, 
President Girma Wolde-Giorgis announced that the GOE plans to 
adopt new anti-terrorism legislation in response to growing 
national, regional and international threats.  The President 
said the proposed bill is expected to be drafted and ratified 
by Parliament in the coming months and will focus on 
coordinating anti-terrorism at the national level and 
terrorist finance.  This anti-terrorism bill will be the 
first of its kind for Ethiopia and has been developed with 
USG assistance. 
 
Eight People Killed in Religious Disturbances 
 
¶4.  Eight people were killed and over 100 houses and two 
churches were burned in clashes between Muslims and Orthodox 
Christians in Dembi, Oromiya region.  The conflict began on 
September 26, the eve of the Ethiopian Orthodox holiday of 
Meskel, during which Christians light a traditional holiday 
bonfire.  Local Muslims complained that the resulting smoke 
was seeping into the nearby mosque and asked the Christians 
to extinguish the fire.  The Christians refused and in an 
ensuing argument, a Christian man was hit by a rock allegedly 
thrown by a Muslim.  Angered by the act, his son retrieved an 
automatic weapon and opened fire on Muslims, killing four and 
wounding five.  The following day at the burial ceremony, 
Muslim demonstrators demanded that the shooter be put to 
death, to which police responded that the suspect had been 
apprehended and just would take its course.  Dissatisfied, 
the Muslim demonstrators went on a rampage and burned over 
100 huts and two churches.  The violence continued until 
October 4, at the end of which an additional four people had 
been killed and 1,500 displaced.  Police arrested over 20 
suspects involved in the clash.  Police are currently 
investigating and charges are expected to be presented by 
October 20.  According to police reports, most those detained 
are Muslims belonging to the conservative Quaricha sect. 
Elders and religious leaders are working to reconcile the two 
communities. 
 
Preparations for Local Elections 
 
¶5. According to the private bi-weekly newspaper "Reporter," 
the National Electoral Board (NEB) said that preparations are 
underway to conduct urban zonal, woreda (district), and 
kebele elections this year.  Acting Registrar of the NEB 
Mekonnen Wondimu reported that printing documents for the 
elections, budget allocation, collecting detailed data 
regarding voting centers, and other related work are moving 
forward.  As the current NEB board's mandate expires November 
9, Mekonnen said that election preparations would start 
immediately after a new board is named. 
 
Ethiopian Federal Police Arrest 81 ONC Members 
 
¶6. On August 23 and 24, Ethiopian federal police arrested 81 
opposition Oromo National Congress (ONC) party members in the 
village of Tikur Inchini, in the Ambo zone of the Oromiya 
region.  The arrests were the result of series of 
disturbances since May 2005 allegedly organized by ONC 
members.  The reported disturbances included numerous attacks 
on ruling party members or those suspected of being 
associated with the government, as well as a number of public 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002812  002 OF 003 
 
 
disturbances and acts of vandalism intended to incite unrest. 
Following their arrest, the 81 detainees were charged with 
attempting to overthrow the local government, as well as 
treason.  Their trial was anticipated to begin in early 
October.  Under Ethiopian law, individuals charged with 
treason typically not granted bail, however, by October 11 
the majority of the detainees had been released on bail of 
6,000 birr/person.  Those that remain in detention are 
attempting to raise the necessary funds.   Upon release the 
detainees were not given instructions on future court 
appearances or information on the status of their case. 
Though the prosecution may continue the case at a later date, 
this is not an unheard of police procedure -- arrest, charge, 
let out on bail, and allow case to drop -- as a possible 
means of intimidation. 
 
Charge Celebrates FGM-Free Zone in Southern Ethiopia 
 
¶7. Charge attended the third annual Celebration of Whole Body 
and Healthy Life and Freedom from Female Genital Excision 
October 8 in the Kembatta-Tembaro zone in Southern Ethiopia. 
The event celebrated the end of female genital mutilation in 
the Kembatta Tembaro zone and reaffirmed the community's 
commitment to continue to combat harmful traditional 
practices.  Charge toured a mother-child health center, a 
self-help center, and a new women's business center designed 
to strengthen development capacity.  The visit culminated in 
a moving rally in which thousands of community elders, men, 
women, and children honored the rebirth of positive 
traditions including arts and dance.  KMG has been the 
recipient of two grants through the Ambassador's Democracy 
and Human Rights Fund, receiving a total of over $15,000 in 
2002 and 2004.  Since January 2004, the organization's eight 
offices in Kembatta-Tembaro zone have reported no known 
incidents of the centuries-old practice of genital excision, 
which was nearly universal when KMG opened. 
 
DEVELOPMENT 
----------- 
 
USAID Obligates Over $258 Million in FY2006 
 
¶8. USAID obligated over $258 million in program funds during 
FY2006, including over $100 in food aid.  By far the largest 
amount of bi-lateral aid was in the health sector, including 
HIV/AIDS.  USAID Ethiopia notified $130 million, which 
includes PEPFAR and a small amount of food aid that may 
increase during the year, in the FY2007 Congressional Budget 
Notification.  USAID is working with other USG agencies at 
post on the FY2008 budget in line with the operational plan 
process. 
 
Gambella Conflict Resolution Project Hold "Peace Concert" 
 
¶9. USAID's mission director visited Gambella and reported 
that USAID funded NGO PACT has been effective in bringing 
together different ethnic groups for its conflict prevention 
project.  For the first time in many years, elders of local 
groups are sitting down together to solve ethnically related 
problems and issues, and are developing strategies to stop 
them from developing in the future.  PACT arranged a "Peace 
Concert" October 6 which drew upwards of 20,000 people from 
different ethnic groups in the area. 
 
EU President Barrosa Visits Addis 
 
¶10. EU President Jose Manual Barrosa held talks with Prime 
Minister Meles October 2.  He told journalists the commission 
would provide 155 million euro for the implementation of 
Ethiopia's road sector development program.  Barrosa said the 
commission has been providing significant support for 
development activities in Ethiopia.  Describing the 
development cooperation between the commission and Ethiopia 
as exemplary, Barrosa indicated that Ethiopia takes the lion 
share of the European Development Fund's development aid in 
Africa.  Barrosa said his talks with Meles were open and 
positive. 
 
PEPFAR 
------ 
 
National Antiretroviral Treatment Program Surpasses 50,000 
Mark 
 
¶11. The PEPFAR-supported National Antiretroviral Treatment 
(ART) program has resulted in the treatment of over 50,000 
people.  Of these, 39,984 people are still currently on ART 
at 159 health facilities around Ethiopia.  Overall, close to 
50 percent are women and four percent children.  To date, 
only 0.13 percent have required second line drugs indicating 
low levels of treatment failures to first line drugs.  This 
is also supported by preliminary results from a threshold 
antiretroviral drug resistance survey that detected no 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002812  003 OF 003 
 
 
resistance virus. 
 
REFUGEES 
-------- 
 
Influx of Somali Asylum Seekers Into Ethiopia 
 
¶12. UNHRC reported an influx in Somali asylum seekers into 
Ethiopia.  As of October 6, there were 1,350 families 
(approximately 3000-5000 individuals) of possible refugees 
located at five locations in the Bare District along the 
Somali border.  According to the initial assessment done by 
UNHCR staff, the asylum seekers are fleeing inter-clan 
conflict and fear of future conflict between the Ethiopian 
army and the Union of Islamic Courts. 
 
Refugee Coordinator Holds Successful Donor's Coordination 
Group Meeting 
 
¶13. The Refugee Coordinator's office held its second Donor's 
Coordination Group Meeting October 3 with a focus on Somalia. 
 Representatives from the GOE, five foreign missions, UNHCR, 
UNOCHA, the African Union, and two NGOs attended.  UNHCR, 
UNOCHA, GOE's Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs, and 
IRC gave presentations on the current situation in Ethiopia 
and Somalia as well as contingency planning options for a 
possible future influx in refugees. 
HUDDLESTON