From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Sat Jul 25 2009 - 00:06:11 EDT
Conference: Breaking Silence on Genocide in Ethiopia
Written on Friday, July 24th, 2009 at 4:17 am by ethioforum
Conference entitled "Breaking the Silence on Genocide, Tyranny and
Dictatorship in Ethiopia" will be held at the Washington D.C. Marriott
on Sunday, July 26, 2009, 2:00 to 5:00 PM, scholars and human rights
activists announced. Dr. Gregory Stanton, the founder and president of
Genocide Watch is among the speakers at the conference. The oganizers
call anyone who cares about stopping genocide, injustice and the misery
of Ethiopians.
Read the detailed program below:
Opening Statement
Obang Metho, Executive Director of the Solidarity Movement for a New
Ethiopia
"Evidence of Genocide for the ICC"
Documentary short film of Anuak genocide, produced by the SMNE
Why Does the Anuak Massacre Meet the Definition of Genocide?
Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch and Head of the
International Campaign to End Genocide
The Unchanging Harvest of Dictatorship
Short film clip
What is the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia?
Mr. Ahmed Hussein, SMNE Steering Committee Member
Why Fight Corruption?
Ms. Lemlem Tsegaw, SMNE Steering Committee Member
How Can Africans Free Africa from Dictatorship and Corruption?
Dr. George Ayittey, Professor, Distinguished economist and President of
Free Africa Foundation
The Legal Case of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity in Ethiopia
Dr. Paul Williams, PhD, Attorney & Executive Director of Public
International Law & Policy Group (PILPG)-the law firm handling the human
rights case involving the Anuak genocide
Panel Discussion: Q & A to the speakers from the audience
Dr. Gregory Stanton is the founder and president of Genocide Watch, the
director of the Cambodian Genocide Project, and is the founder (1999)
and Chair of the International Campaign to End Genocide. He is the
President (2007-2009) of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars. When he worked at the State Department, he drafted the United
Nation Security Council resolutions that created the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He also has been deeply involved in the
U.N. Cambodian government negotiations that brought about the creation
of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal that just recently succeeded, after over 20
years of work, in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Most Ethiopians
now know about Dr. Greg Stanton since he wrote a letter to the United
Nation High Commissioner of Human Rights to request an investigation
into the pattern of gross human rights violations in Ethiopia and stated
that the massacre of the Anuak in December of 2003 by the Ethiopian
military and civilian militias, met the definition of genocide. He will
discuss why this case meets the definition of genocide and crimes
against humanity and how to make sure that those complicit in these
crimes and other mass killings like in Awassa, in the Ogaden, in Oromia,
in Afar, in Addis Ababa, in Benishangul-Gumuz and in other regions of
the country are held accountable.
Ahmed Hussein is an executive member of the steering committee of the
SMNE. He will elaborate on the principles of the SMNE and how to apply
them in reversing the ethnic policies of ethnic federalism that have led
Ethiopians to become increasingly more divided and alienated from each
other; something that is now threatening the survival of Ethiopia as a
nation.
Lemlem Tsegaw is an executive member of the steering committee of the
SMNE. She comes from a background in public administration and has
delved into the issue of corruption in Ethiopia. She will be talking
about how it is imperative to fight the corruption in Ethiopia in order
to move ahead as a society.
Dr. George Ayittey is a renowned Ghanaian scholar, activist, and author
of Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future. He is the
founder and president of the Free Africa Foundation and a professor in
residence at American University in Washington D.C. He has spoken widely
on the view that "Africa is poor because she is not free." He has been
named to Foreign Policy's 2008 list of the World's Top 100 Public
Intellectuals. On this day, he will speak to Ethiopians about what we
and other Africans can learn from Ghana and how Africans must work
together to address this crisis in the continent caused by dictators who
set up what he calls "vampire states" that suck the blood from the
people. He will speak about the destruction Meles Zenawi has inflicted
on Ethiopia and some ways to stop tyrannical regimes.
Dr. Paul Williams is co-founder and Executive Director of Public
International Law and Policy Group (PILPG). Since 1995 PILPG has
provided pro bono legal assistance to states and governments involved in
peace negotiations, drafting post-conflict constitutions, and
prosecuting war criminals. In 2005, Dr. Williams, as Executive Director
of PILPG, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by half a dozen of his
pro bono government clients. Dr. Williams has authored four books on
topics of international human rights, international environmental law
and international norms of justice, and over two dozen articles on a
wide variety of public international law topics. Paul Williams and PILPG
are the lawyers working on the Anuak case. He will provide an update of
the case and an overview of what they do.
Obang Metho:: The meeting will be moderated by Obang Metho, the
Executive Director of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE)
who will provide a summary at the end of the forum and next steps to be
taken like the upcoming March to Stop Genocide and Dictatorship in
Ethiopia/Africa scheduled for September 3, 2009. He will encourage
Ethiopians and Africans that if we really want true change, peace and
security, that Africans must be in charge, guided by the principles of
putting humanity before ethnicity and working for the benefit of all for
"no one will be free until all are free." He will elaborate on how to be
in charge of our destiny and our future.
"Breaking the Silence on Genocide, Tyranny and Corruption in
Ethiopia"Washington Marriott, 1221 22nd Street NW, DC20037
Sunday, July 26, 2009
2:00 PM to 5:00 PMAnyone who cares about stopping genocide, injustice
and the misery of Ethiopians and Africans will benefit from listening to
these scholars and human rights activists.
Admission will be $20 per person to cover the costs of hosting this
event.
http://ethioforum.org/wp/archives/1260
Conference
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