N E G A S H I - OJ

We all have been alarmed by recent provocative actions of Fanatic Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia. Some have already described it as a soft “coup d’etet”. But most has not been convinced that this has gone far to the extent of an “all-out war declaration”. It seems that with more material becoming available we are increasing confronted with the hard reality that indeed that is the case. Watch the materials below and tell me if we can take it otherwise.

Materials below are new additions and be sure that you listen both to the end:

The recent up-surge of verbal and physical attacks on Muslims and call for open confrontation urges all peace-loving Ethiopians to revisit the circumstances that resulted in the killing of dozens of innocent Ethiopians and the loss of property in Jimma back in 2006. Can it be part of the overall plan to arrive at what we are seeing today in the streets and churches of Addis and other cities?

In the mean time, it is our obligation to praise the great majority of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians we are giving but deaf ears to the fanatics and continue with their determination not to be instruments for distruction and chaos. Fanaticism in any of its form, religious, political or otherwise, is to be faught against.

The following are audio recordings of Quran Tefsir by Shaykh Seid Ahmed Mustefa. Before I continue with digitalising this material, I just want to get a feedback on the quality. Please drop me your comment.

A visiter to this blog had left the following bit of information about the situation in Gonder under one of the postings. As every Ethiopian need to be informed of the situation, I have decided post it here without editing it. Let me use the opportunity to thank my contributor, bro./sis. <faith> for this piece of information and call upon all others to contribute their share to our information pool.

Radio Negashi has also an update on its last Sunday (25 January 2009) broadcast. Muslims alerted the world of the situation back in December, 2008 but the situation remained tense even after 6 weeks.

“I have just finished talking with my folks, in Gondar, where the situation is extremely volatile. muslim owned stores are being stonned as are innocent muslims who are significant minorities. It seems like this unprecedented anti-muslim hysteria is being fanfared by some rogue elements of the Orthodox community. i am sure the majority is a silent observer. It seems that there are other parties who are instigating this restive atmosphere. The demarcation of border between Ethiopia and Sudan and the alleged ceding of land by Ethiopia to Sudan being one. one cannt underestimate the latest census which is highly cotroversial and made Ethiopia a majority Crhistian Nation. add to that the massive anti muslim propoganda being waged by Western Nations we have a recipe for disaster, unless we, both Muslims and Christians, are determined to walk the higher ground.

“When all is said and disected, we can never forget that Muslims and Christians, despite serious setbacks in our immediate past, have coexisted peacefully. There has to be a serious effort to get the elders of both communities in Gondar and beyond to come to the table and address this serious challenge. we cannt allow hooligans and anarchists ravage our towns. aboveall, we have to be suspicious of those Deep South preachers whose congregation was engaged in lynching and maiming fellow black americans in the recent past to attempt to determine our path. We, Ethiopians, be it of Muslim or Orthodox faith have coexisted for Centuries and nothing else should matter.

“We understand the upcoming election of 2010 might have to do something with what is occuring in Gondar and elsewhere. It will be naive and immature for any political organisation to try to instigate religous annimousity. buyer be ware.

“Above all, as i gather from events in Gondar, there seems to be lack of rule of law as mobs are ravaging our citizenry. We, Ethiopians, know better than being mobbed and we have to talk to our friends and collegues, from the expatriate community, in the West to influence their relatives to restrain. The Federal Govt of Ethiopia should institue the rule of law in Gondar. Moreover, Addis Abbaba and the City of Gondar have to weigh in on the elders and religious figures to exert influence on the hooligans to slow down.”

The ever increasing defiance by Fanatic Christians in Ethiopia is seen as a test for the government of Ethiopia; whether it is in full control of the country or not.  Fanatic Orthodox and Evangelical Christians declared Ethiopia as “a Christian State“, a rotten propaganda that has no place in the modern World. They also went to the level of defining as to who can be considered as an Ethiopian. They are openly stating that “???????? ????? ???? ????? ??”,  an position that can only be seen as an expression of extreme frustration. These and other similar proclamations from those fanatic segments of the two religious institutions are in direct contradiction to many articles of the Ethiopian Constitution. This is being seen as an acid-test of the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law in Ethiopia.

The government, worried about this startling step taken by “some individuals and groups“, issued a statement and called all concerned, individuals and religious leaders, to take responsibility for their actions and cooperate with law enforcing authorities to expose and

Officials including the Minister of Federal Affairs, Mayer of Addis Ababa, Federal Police Commissioner held serious of meeting with the various religious institutions and authorities in the country and deliberated on the alarming situation. On Thursday, January 22, the officials met leaders of the Muslim community and urged them to make maximum restraint in the face of unfolding provocative actions by zealots. The leaders of the Muslim community told these government officials that they have been under intense and continuous provocation for months and years now. With the latest development in Gonder and in other big cities including the capital, the situation has now gone beyond what they could tolerate. They added that should the government fails to take its responsibility,  things would go beyond any ones power to do any thing s about. The Muslims leaders made it clear that the latest provocative actions are can not be seen as a simple inter-religious friction. They are direct challenges to the constitution and the supremacy of the law. In this event, they told the officials that they expect the government to take a decisive action and prove to all peace-loving Ethiopians that it is indeed the one that is in control of the country. Failure to do so, they warned, would make the government  a collaborator. Leaders of the Muslim community used the occassion to assured the government that Muslims are in no way to be sources of disturbance and, as leaders, they too would assume their responsibility. On the same evening, the grand Mufti Shaykh Omer Idris called upon the Muslim community not to be agitated by the deeds of some fanatics but remain vigilant.

The same officials met with the leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church the next day, January 23, 2009, and hoping to hold a similar constructive deliberation. However, things did not go as these government officials planned. In stead of holding a constructive discussion, the officials were confronted with defiance. The Orthodox Christian leaders, blaming the government for ever issuing a statement, demanded for it to be corrected. This position of the respected Orthodox Christian leaders, a position that proves to all Ethiopians that the latest provocative actions are not just works of  individuals or small groups but have full support from the Church and its leaders, prompted government officials to take a firm stand.

Dr. Shiferaw T/Mariam, Minister of Federal Affairs, to told the leaders of Church to assess their own house before they blame others of any wrong doing or try to give advice to others.  The Director of the Federal Police, Ato Workineh Gebeyehu, telling the leaders that the government has detailed information about the culprits demanded the Church to evaluate itself very carefully for direct or indirect roles it has been playing with its full knowledge or otherwise: “???? ????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ?????. On his part Ato Kuma Demekisa, Mayer of Addis Ababa, told the respected leaders of the Orthodox Church that it will not be helpful to cover up things and claim one’s purity. They have to have the courage to say the dark - dark and the white - white.

????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ?/? ???? ?/???? “?????? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ??????” ?? ??????????

????? ????? ????? ?? ?? 14 ?? 2001 ?.? ???????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???????

“????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??” ??? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???? “???? ???????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??” ??? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????

??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????????

????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ????????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? 14 ?? 2001 ?.?. ???????? ????? “?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??” ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ????????

“????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ??????” ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ????????? ???? ??????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????????

?????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ????????

Please visit the Reporter for a full coverage, though as usual the newsletter could not have the courage to put things in their perspective or specify names. I will share you my analysis of the mind setup and strategy of the Fanatics Christians in Ethiopia as it becomes ever clear lately.

The text on the t-shirt declares: “Ethiopia is the Island of Christianity“. This is old propaganda that was effectively used by various warlords to oppress those Ethiopians who did not subscribe to that faith.

[NEME] The Ethiopian Government issued a statement about the increasing religious tension in Ethiopia. In a statement carried by the government controlled television - ETV, the Ministry of Federal Affairs expressed its being worried about ” the unconstitutional action of some individuals and groups under the cover of religion” and called upon the public and religious leaders to work with law enforcing agents. Click here to listen to the Statement.

The religious related attacks in Ethiopia specially against Muslims and their interest have been in the rise since 2001. In Awassa University a fanatic that belongs to the Orthodox Church and member of the ruling political party (TPLF) used the Muslims Holy Quran for cleaning himself. In Kemissie Fanatic Evangelical Christians duplicated what had happened in Denmark. A serious of attacks on Mosques in Southern and Western Ethiopia had led to frequent deadly clashes. The worst of all was the one that happened in Jimma zone in 2006 following a coordinated provocation by Fanatic Christians and launched action to burn Mosques in various towns  in the region.

The attack on Muslims by fanatic Christians of various denominations has intensified since the 2007 population and housing census. The situation has gone to an alarming scale since the preliminary result of the census was made public and put the religious composition of the country to be 62,8% (Christians) and 33,9% (Muslims).

Muslims in Gonder are told to leave the town as they are not “Ethiopians”. Orthodox and evangelical extremists particularly in the capital and other big cities are transmitting similar messages

The Reporter, an Amharic Newsletter, reported (January 14′09) about the arrest of many fanatics who were distributing provocative papers in a largely Muslim dominated area in the capital - Adere Sefer. According to the paper this action had urged the Addis Ababa Islamic Council to issue a statement calling upon the faithful to be patient and not to be instruments to the Fanatics who are allergic to religious equality and tolerance in the country.  Another provocative action in Dire Dawa turned deadly and clashes between the followers of Orthodox Christian and Muslim youth led to the death of one person and left at least 20 Ethiopians seriously wounded.

In a statement issued regarding the census result, Ethiopian Muslims in Diaspora called upon Ethiopians of all faith, race, sex and age to condemn the increasing provocative actions of fanatics and join hands for working for understanding, tolerance and co-existence among Ethiopians of all faith.

“The borders with Israel must be redrawn and the occupation, which began 60 years ago, must end.”

“Peace is only possible if it embraces justice. If the world grants the Palestinian people their human rights there will surely be peace in the Middle East.”

Father Musallam, head of the Catholic Church in Gaza reported to have said.

I was browsing the net when I was led to a video resource page of the BBC. I am so surprised that a unique information she released in this interview (that described her first assassination attempt) did not make a headline. Could it be that it was me who was not around by then? If what this late lady had to say is to be trusted, is Obama’s vow to go after the man meant to keep the TM legally registered to spread choas and terror in the world?

The whole interview is about 13 minutes - you don’t to listen the whole story. Just listen from 4:40 to 5:10 and tell me if you too are amazed. Here is the link to the video on BBC site. It was taken from Aljazeera TV.

by Bedru M.

[NEME] According to information first brought to us by NEGASHI OJ and which I later confirmed from other internal sources, the intruction to replace Ato Elias Rediman and all his Co’s from the Federal Majlis as well as all of those from the AA Majlis has come from the political leadership. Though this development can be seen as a positive step, given that it is to give the Muslim Community respite from the terror perpetrated by the most hated anti-Muslim and anti-Islam man, Ato Elias, doubt remains as to where this step is heading.

The transition of power is happening after all arrangements were made as to whom the trust is to be given to lead the institutions. The Muslim community is in no way to get the chance to choose its leaders and govern its own institutions. Once again the political cadres are deciding on its fate. This is alarming to all concerned and shade doubt on the move.

Individuals who are to replace the outgoing members of the two councils were selected by a secrete underground mission operating for about a year now. Sources indicated that this group reports directly to the Prime Minister and managed by the Security Agency of the country. Its plan to install another “loyalist” in the sole institute of the Muslims community was postponed because the list of people whom the group gathered, fulfilling a list of pre-defined criteria, were branded as “Wahabis”. The criteria for consideration included: being sympathetic to the EPRDF, age 37 and above, holder of at least a diploma, preferred by the people. Being a non-Wahabi was an additional criterion at the beginning; it was dropped later on despite it appears to have been taken up once again in the final selection.

The group had taken months of intensive underground work to collect names of individuals who could fulfill the above criteria. By the time it finished its work and presented its report with a list of prospective candidates to the PM and the security agency, most of the names included in the list were classified as “unfit”. The group was then given another time to bring a list that will be acceptable to the political cadres. It seems the time has now become mature to move and implement this month’s long effort and well articulated plan.

As already reported a fake meeting of Addis Ababa Woreda representatives is planned for January 24, 2009. The already selected individuals will then be advanced for nomination and the assembly will then be a cover-up to the action of political cadres.

The news that Mufti Omer Idris, the chair of the out-going Addis Ababa Majlis and a leading figure in bringing Muslim scholars together, will join the new leadership at Federal level might raise hope for things to take a positive course. However, the issue of the Muslims’ institutes as Majlis is beyond individuals. It is also a matter of civil and religious rights. If he is to assume any position as a government appointee, his primary responsibility will then be to address the will of the body that appointed him and will not necessarily be the issue of the community. As unelected individual, he will lack the legitimacy to effect any real change. Though he can be fit for any position at that level, he will not have the power to stand for his opinion and the cause of the Muslim Umma because of the fact that as appointee he will be obliged to follow a pre-defined path, a path that takes care of the vision of the politicians and their security machine.

It has to be born in mind here that whatever Ato Elias did in terrorizing our community, he did it in the course of fulfilling his responsibilities and with full knowledge and prior approval by the body he was put to serve. The process that led Ato Elias to be at the head of the Muslim community is bounce agains in the making. What guarantee do we have now for the result this time to be any different from the past?

As long as the community’s right to choose its leaders and manage its affairs as it sees appropriate, independent of those in the political power, is respected, there will remain suspicion as to the purpose of any move. The Muslim community has enough experience of this type. Changing just individuals who are preferred by the political elite will not bring a real change in the performance of the institutes. Institute occupied by unelected leaders will never be of that productive - neither to the community nor to the country.

Information that reached NEGASHI OJ indicated that Ato Elias Rediman and all his Co’s are discharged from their position in the Federal Majlis. In this major development, all the current members of the Federal and Addis Ababa Majlis are to be replaced by new ones. Meeting of Woreda representative is planned for January 24, 2009 and it is hoped that this assembly will elect the new leadership for the Addis Ababa Majlis. Reconstitution of the Federal Majlis leadership will then follow.

Mufti Omer Idris, the current chair of the Addis Ababa Majlis and a proponent of Muslim unity, also chair of Addis Ababa Ulema Unity Forum, will join the new leadership at Federal level. It is to be recalled that Ato Elias removed him from his position as vice-chairman of the Federal Ulema Council following his willingness to work for the unity of the umma.

It is not clear yet how this major develpment came about at this moment. Sources indicates that the change is sunctioned by the countries political leadership. The same source added that though the new development can be seen as a step in the positive direction, given the anti-Islam, anti-Muslim stance of Ato ELias and his co., the problem of the Muslim community will not be fully addressed until it gets the chance to freely elect its leaders and manage its affairs independent of the political will, as the Ethiopian Constitution stipulates.

The news that the grand Mufti will be a member in the new Federal leadership ignites hope in the Muslim community given that he has been at the forefront of bringing Muslims together and his determination to resolve differences with discussion. It is further suggested that Muslims both at home and in the Diaspora should then positively engage the new leadership so that it can leave upto its responsibilities.

Negashi hopes to bring more information on this major developmente soon, insha Allah. In the mean time if you too have some info. to share here, please comment or contact me at negashi@ethiopianmuslims.net.