Apache attack helicopters

Ten Apaches delivered to Cairo after part lifting of aid freeze to the country, according to senior US official.

The United States has delivered 10 Apache attack helicopters to Egypt in recent weeks after lifting part of a freeze on aid to the North African nation, a US official said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry had promised Cairo’s new leadership that the aircraft – aimed to join operations in the Sinai Peninsula – would be delivered soon.

“They got there a few weeks ago,” a US senior administration official told AFP news agency on Saturday.

Kerry announced in June that he was “confident” Egypt would receive the helicopter gunships soon, and reiterated that in a phone call to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

The US annually allocates some $1.5bn in aid to Egypt, including $1.3bn in military assistance.

That was frozen in October 2013 on condition that democratic reforms be enacted after the July 2013 military-led overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi and subsequent crackdown on his followers.

Washington said in April it planned to resume some of the annual aid for “counterterrorism” efforts in the Sinai Peninsula.

‘Human rights violations’

US President Barack Obama spoke to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and expressed concern over mass trials and the continued detention of journalists and peaceful activists.

During a telephone call, the White House said, Obama encouraged Sisi to “invest in the political, economic, and social aspirations of the Egyptian people”.

Egypt’s military has been battling an insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula since it overthrew Morsi.

The government declared a state of emergency in parts of northern Sinai after an October 24 suicide attack near El-Arish killed 30 soldiers in the deadliest assault on security forces since Morsi’s ouster.

Rebel groups claim their attacks are in retaliation for a government crackdown targeting Morsi’s supporters that has left hundreds dead and thousands jailed.

Source: AFP

Getnet Enyew

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Inspirational Poem about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by multi-talented Ethiopian artist and poet laureate, Getnet Enyew, at Guba, Benishangul Gumuz regional state.

Awramba Times (Dedebit, Tigray) – A group  of Ethiopian journalists and artists, along with high level TPLF-EPRDF officials , is currently visiting the triumphs of the Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF) and historical destinations in Tigray from December 22 to 25, 2014, as part of the overall preparations of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Armed Struggle by TPLF .

The group also visited Dedebit, the first military base of TPLF in north western Ethiopia.

Please watch Bereket Simon’s exclusive interview with the Awramba Times about the triumph of the TPLF arm struggle and its role for Today’s Ethiopia

Awramba Times interviews ambassador Seyoum Mesfin on the 40th anniversary of the Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF)

Shimeles Kemal

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Senior Ethiopian official described the death of a Briton tourist in Ethiopia’s north-western city of Bahir Dar as an accident.
Shimeles Kemal, state minister of government communication office said the suspect had not known his gun was loaded and that the incident happened in a church.
In his recent interview with Sky News, Shimeles said “It appears that a resident of Bahir Dar, who was licensed to carry a gun, accidentally discharged his gun while changing the gun position from one shoulder to the other.”
A spokeswoman for the UK Foreign Office on her part told the guardian that her government has confirmed the death of its national in Ethiopia and providing consular assistance to the families.

We Are All Woyenti: Bereket Simon’s Astonishing Testimony About TPLF (Video)

[From Left to Right] Dr. Kasu Elala, ato Addisu Legesse, ato Sibhat Nega and ato Abay Tsehaye (Photo Awramba Times)

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Journalists, Fanuel Kinfu and Dawit Kebede discuss on recent visit of artists and media personalities in Tigray. The visit was organized in preparation to the 40th anniversary celebration of the armed struggle by the Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF). Please watch the video below

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – High ranking government officials including General Samora Yenus and house speaker H.E Abadula Gemeda, along with journalists and Known personalities, getting down energetically to Neway Debebe hit music ‘Hageren Alresam’ in Mekelle on Wednesday. Please watch below

Hailemariam Desalegn

The Ethiopian Prime Minister, HaileMariam Desalegn, has called on African countries to withdraw their membership from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the organisation is only serving the interests of Western nations.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while receiving the Sudanese State Minister for Information, Yasser Yusuf, who concluded a three-day visit to Addis Ababa on Monday.

Desalegn said that he totally agreed with the call on African countries to pull out of the ICC.

The prime minister had noted that the ICC had become a tool that serves the interest of the countries who, ironically, refused to be members of the court.

He expressed happiness that Ethiopia was not member of the court, because “the court is not the place for justice as all permanent members of the UN Security Council have stayed away from the court, but still use it to implement their political will’’.

He called for the need to revitalise the cooperation and exchange of programmes, information and news between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Desalegn urged the media to play a major role in reflecting the development and concerns of the people in the two countries.

He underscored the need to reflect on what was common and promote the economic, political or developmental interests of the two nations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sudanese minister had signed various agreements with the Ethiopian Government, including a news exchange between the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) and the Sudan News Agency (SUNA).

The two nations also agreed on exchanges between the countries television and radio stations as well as sharing experiences on various cultural, technical and professional fields.

The Sudanese minister was hosted by his Ethiopian counterpart, Ridhwan Hussein, who took the Sudanese delegation on tour to various information and media institutions in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Capital. (NAN)
Source: Leadership.ng

General Samora Yenus, chief of staff of Ethiopian national defense forces (Photo: Awramba Times)

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – General Samora Yenus, chief of staff of Ethiopian national defense forces, has strongly criticized Ethiopian opposition groups for disregarding values of Ethiopian national interests.

After explaining how Derge Army Core 604 was defeated in Shire two decades ago, the four-star general commented in a question-and-answer session that Ethiopian opposition groups don’t respect values of basic national interests.

“EPRDF welcomes genuine opposition groups. However our opposition groups are literally selling out the national interests of the nation to external forces. Some of them are even publicly declaring to dismantle the Ethiopian national defense forces” General Samora added. Please watch below.

A much-delayed $1.8 billion dam project under construction along Ethiopia’s Omo river could begin generating power by June and be fully operational by early 2016, an official said on Thursday. Gilgel Gibe 3 will nearly double the country’s energy output, helping to resolve chronic power outages and sustain a booming economy. Work started in 2008 and was due to be completed around three years later, but the project has faced funding shortages over concerns about its environmental impact.

“88 percent of the work for the Gibe 3 hydropower project has already been completed,” Azeb Asnake, chief executive officer of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, told Reuters. Two of ten units would be ready by June, Azeb said, while one additional unit would come on line each month after that. Upon completion the project will generate 1,870 MW of power.

Ethiopia plans to spend a total of $12 billion to tap the rivers that cascade down its craggy highlands over the next two decades in a bid to beat energy shortages and become Africa’s biggest power exporter. The country’s economy is expanding by 9 percent a year, and the dam is part of an infrastructure plan aimed at sustaining that growth. A bigger project, the 6,000 MW Grand Renaissance Dam, is being developed along the Nile.

Power outages are common in this country of over 90 million, where a majority still rely on subsistence agriculture. Addis Ababa’s nascent manufacturing sector is also attracting firms from China, Turkey and India to produce clothes, shoes and other basic goods, but frequent blackouts hamper economic activity. Ethiopia already exports power to neighbouring Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti, and it has signed agreements with Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan, as well as Yemen.

Source: Reuters

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Millions of Ethiopian Muslims are celebrating the birth of their prophet, Muhammad, with a mass gathering prayer ceremonies and spiritual songs honoring the Prophet in various parts of Ethiopia.
Mawlid, a day of observance which occurs on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in Islamic calendar, falls between the evenings of 13 and 14 January.
Prophet Muhammad was born in AD 570 and is thought by Muslims to be a messenger and prophet sent by God. His birthday is observed by prayers at mosque and charity for the poor.
Muhammad’s birthday is marked in different ways in different Muslim nations. Sufi Muslims in some countries such as Libya take out processions to mark the day. People wear traditional dresses to take part in these processions that often include singing and chanting of hymns and beating drums.
Pakistan marks the day with a public holiday, gun salute and by hoisting national flag on all public buildings.
In Ethiopia, Muslims celebrate the holiday, in the morning at mosques with prayers and spiritual songs. Afternoons are dedicated to family gatherings and visits to family members or relatives.

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Ato Sibhat Nega, veteran TPLF fighter and former chairman of the organization said, the Hawzen Massacre that took place in north Ethiopia on 22nd June 1988, was backed by the Israeli government.

The massacre, which is considered to be the most racist and unthinkable atrocity Ethiopia has ever seen, took the life of nearly 3,000 innocent inhabitants when the Derg Air Force bombed the open air marketplace of the town. Please watch remarks of ato Sibhat Nega and ato Bereket Simon on the subject.

Opposition media reports alleged that four pilots in an airbase in eastern Ethiopia had defected to Kenya

The Ethiopian government on Friday denied reports about the defection of four Air Force pilots to neighboring Kenya.

“This report is a baseless fabrication,” Ewnetu Blata, State Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office, told The Anadolu Agency.

“I can confirm that the report is untrue,” Ewnetu said.

Media reports alleged that four pilots in an airbase in eastern Ethiopia had defected to Kenya.

Last week, the Ethiopian Defense Ministry accused Eritrea of hijacking an Ethiopian helicopter.

The ministry said in a statement that an Ethiopian helicopter – that has disappeared since Friday – was forced to land in neighboring Eritrea.

It said the helicopter was on a training mission when the Ethiopian pilot forced a trainee and a technician on board to head to Eritrea.

Source: World Bulletin/News Desk

EBC Police Program Reveals New footage on Andargachew Tsege

(From left to right) Artist Yilma Gebreab, talk show host Yoseph Gebre, Artist Netsanet Melesse, Diretube managing Editor Binyam, Mulatu Astatke and Abraham Wolde – photo credit Diretube

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Diretube, the leading Ethiopian entertainment website announced 11 awardees in various distinguished categories.
At the Awards dinner ceremony, held at the Sheraton Addis on Monday, 11 artists and known personalities in attendance have been honored and presented the annual diretube award. Click here to read

In reaction to the deadly attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, President Obama said the United States would provide France with “every bit of assistance” in fighting terrorism.
Video by Pierre Kattar

Meron Getnet

Live performance of Meron Getnet’s controversial poetry “Athid”

Habtamu Ayalew

Awramba Times (Addis Ababa) – Habtamu Ayalew, former public relations head of the opposition Andnet party spoke out about press freedom and developmental state, two months ahead of his arrest on terrorism-related charges. Please watch below

Dr. Bernard Anderson

Dr. Bernard Bradley Anderson
(September 21, 1944 – January 2, 2014)

Dr. Bernard Bradley Anderson was born to his parents the Andersons in St. Catherine parish, Jamaica, where he grew up on the family’s citrus farm. When he was of school age, he attended the prestigious Wolmer’s Boys’ School, the oldest school in the Caribbean. He came to the United States in the early ’60s and attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. and earned a Bachelor’s degree graduating at the top of his class and was duly admitted to the School of Medicine. He showed exceptional fortitude supporting himself financially through medical school by working as a concierge at an apartment complex in Washington during the night and taking a full course load during the day.
Bernie, as he was affectionately called by friends and family, exhibited altruism, benevolence and competence while he was still in medical school by establishing the first residency review program at the university to help fellow medical students pass the residency examination. In the early ‘70s, after graduating from medical school and being fully-certified as a surgeon, Dr. Anderson returned to Jamaica to serve at Kingston Public Hospital, an institution that provided free medical care to the indigent and the underserved. He also taught medical students some of whom became his closest and life-long friends.
As a teacher, Dr. Anderson invested as much time working to instill virtues such as selfless service in his students and imbue them with compassion as he did imparting his laudable medical skills. Former students fondly remember how he taught them to have no ambition as it can potentially engender putting one’s self interest first and that of the patient next. Selfless service, humanism, compassion and ethics weren’t virtues that Dr. Anderson only inculcated his students with but were guiding principles for everything he did and stood for. To those who knew him since his days at Kingston Public Hospital, his exceptional surgical skills and unbridled humanism were evident early in his career while working under very challenging conditions and took on the most difficult cases, the ones that most doctors shunned or were unable to deal with.

At the completion of his dedicated service at Kingston Public Hospital, he returned to the United States to serve at yet another institution located in an underserved community, the former D.C. general hospital where his considerable surgical and leadership skills catapulted him to the position of chairman and director of surgery. Under his tutelage, the hospital regained its status as, and went on to become one of the top trauma centers in the city and the only one located east of the Anacostia River.

Dr. Anderson made the Pennsylvania avenue portion of Southeast Washington his home and opened his private medical practice on Rhode Island Ave. NE, to meet the unmet medical needs of the community and provided his services to the neediest, often free of cost. His generosity extended beyond serving the underserved at a great personal cost to him and into the realm of philanthropy. Among his many donations, his gift of $100,000 to his alma mater is notable in that he made the donation without seeking any kind of formal recognition or time in the limelight.

Dr. Anderson was much more than a compassionate and highly competent surgeon but a renaissance man in his own rights. He holds patents to two inventions; Internal by-pass shunt apparatus for the inferior vena cava (Patent number: 6325776) and Method of using a dedicated internal shunt and stent for the inferior vena cava (Patent number: 6148825). He was an accomplished architect who designed the Azezo hospital in northern Ethiopia. He is a published author of Limbic glimpses, a collection of poems which was illustrated by his mother. He is also an exceptionally talented craftsman who built boats. Among his many accomplishments, the one he poured his heart and soul into is the investment he made in a multitude of people, among whom are those that he raised or was a father-figure to. He played a significant role in the upbringing of his niece and nephew as well as step in to assist other family and friends in their times of need.

Dr. Anderson’s passion to ease the pains of the ailing was almost innate and sharing their pain a fervent desire that he espoused from the time he was a very young man. He also aspired to one day go to and serve in Ethiopia, the land where humans originated and Marcus Garvey viewed as the “Promised Land”. His lifelong dream began to take shape and the prospect of travelling to Ethiopia was conceived thanks to a shared vision he had with his partner in life, Sister Imawaysh Gerima. On a visit to Tanzania and Kenya, he was saddened to see the lingering effects of decades-long colonialism. Upon arrival to Ethiopia, the sight of abject poverty and immense human suffering didn’t break his will but intensified his zeal to serve. Those who met him during his visit at the Black Lion teaching hospital and St. Gabriel private hospital in Addis Ababa saw the potential in him and asked him to join their ranks.

While on a visit of rural Ethiopia, he was heartbroken to see people who are so deprived of basic medical care that they’ll trudge for days on end to come to a medical facility and wait for weeks to get rudimentary care. He chose the historic town of Gondar in northern Ethiopia as his home away from home and the half-a-century old Gondar hospital and medical college became his institution of choice for his tireless service. True to his deeply held belief in and dedication to serving the needy, Dr. Anderson blended in with the community and became its most dedicated servant. This famed surgeon who could have affiliated himself with the most prestigious medical institutions anywhere chose to serve at the foot of the poor and suffering masses of Gonder and its vicinity. He spent a considerable amount of his own funds to build a shelter for those who have come from far and away in search of healing but were rendered homeless for lack of shelter while awaiting medical help. The hundred-bed Azezo hospital was built by Dr. Anderson and his wife to alleviate the chronic shortage of medical establishments in the area.

The ever-generous, ever-altruistic Dr. Anderson didn’t seek the comfort of life but chose to serve the less fortunate by being amidst them. His kindness was rewarded with the love and profound admiration of those that he served. His selfless service to those in need earned him an undying love and a permanent place in the hearts of all that he so sacrificially served.

Dr. Anderson never shied away from human suffering but showed courage and compassion in confronting it. He worked tirelessly and without much respite all his life. He loved Ethiopia and its people. He embraced its ancient values and made it a part of his spiritual life. He was baptized according to the Ethiopian Orthodox faith and made it his will that his final rites be conducted in the centuries-old Ethiopian Orthodox Church tradition and his body be laid to rest in its ancient soil.
By living his life virtuously, Dr. Anderson taught us to live in the service of the less fortunate. He taught us that we can achieve greatness and overcome the pitfalls of self-absorption by being a humble and respectful servant of the suffering masses of humanity. Through his lifelong dedication to service to the indigent, he showed us the converging point of words and deeds is where one’s humanity is demonstrated. Even as we miss his larger-than-life persona and irreplaceable presence, we are keenly aware that he has finished his race and accomplished his mission. He has led us to the land of service, kindness and magnanimity.

Dr. Anderson was a force of nature for good who graced us with his presence but has to leave us to go to his heavenly abode.
Ethiopia, the land that he so loved and sacrificed so much for, will raise its hands high up in the air and praise him.
Dr. Anderson was a father of two sons.
May his soul rest in peace. Click here to read the Amharic version of the Obituary