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1. House refers, ratifies proclamations
2. House Speaker Consults On Return of Axum Obelisk
3. Better Harvest Expected Than Last Year
4. Council demands extension programme launching in Afar
5. Journalists Urged To Expose Corruption, Abuse Of Power
6. Public Comments On Registration And Licensing for Businesses
7. Organization banned from operating in Tigray
8. A History of Early Twentieth Century Ethiopia (7)
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Ethiopian News Agency (PANA)
February 28, 1997
House refers, ratifies proclamations
ADDIS ABABA (ENA) - The House of Peoples' Representatives yesterday
discussed and referred the bill to amend the proclamation providing
for the establishment of the mass media and ratified a loan agreement.
In its 35th regular session, the House discussed the article which
states that the Ethiopian Radio and television, Press and News
agencies can issue directive concerning salary scale employment and
administration of journalists, production and technical staff and
referred it to the Mass Media and cultural Affairs Standing Committee.
The draft proclamation further indicates that the agencies could
employ, and administer as well as fix salaries and allowance of
journalists, production and technical staff in accordance with the
directives issued by the board and administer the administrative staff
in accordance with civil service laws.
The Agencies could not employ gifted workers as the nature of the
occupation dictates besides academic qualifications for provisions
addressing such a particular case were not made in the code for civil
service administration, according to the draft bill.
The bill takes into consideration the need on the part of the agencies
to employ competent and talented media men particularly journalists
and technical staff.
General managers of the agencies, could, in line with directives given
by the board, hire professionals fixing their salary and allowances.
Workers in the administrative section will operate under the civil
service law since their job does not demand specials talent and
professional skill, the draft bill indicated.
The House has also ratified the draft proclamation to amend provisions
in the Civil Code. Accordingly banks are allowed to directly sell
collaterals on conditions that debtors fail to repay loans.
The loan agreement between Ethiopia and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development was also unanimously adopted by the House.
The interest-free loan with a ten year grace period will be repayed in
forty years.
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Ethiopian News Agency(PANA)
February 27, 1997
House Speaker Consults On Return of Axum Obelisk
ADDIS ABABA (ENA) - House Speaker Dawit Yohannes urged yesterday the
national committee for the return of the Axum Obelisk scheduled to fly
to Rome Saturday, to discharge responsibilities in recognition of the
peoples' demand for the reinstitution of the relic.
During talks with members of the committee, House speaker Dawit said
the Italian government has shown good will for the return of the
obelisk, urging members of the delegation to exert their utmost effort
for the realisation of the hitherto campaign.
The delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Tekeda Alemu is
expected to begin talks with senior Italian officials in Rome on
Monday.
The delegation comprising representatives of ministries of justice,
information and culture, the House of Peoples' Representatives as well
as the mayor of Axum town and renowned personalities.
Members of the delegation are expected to reach consensus on Italy's
responsibility in returning the obelisk now standing in Rome in front
of the building of the UN World Food Programme.
Italy's foreign minister is expected to attend the opening of the
meeting, it was reported.
The Ethiopian delegation has also as its member Engineer Kidane Wolde-
Giorigis who in 1963 EC flew to Rome to study the condition of the
obelisk and seek ways for its return.
The Axum Obelisk was looted in 1937 upon orders by the then fascist
Italy leader Benito Mussolini.
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Ethiopian News Agency (PANA)
February 27, 1997
Better Harvest Expected Than Last Year
by Kisut G/Egziabher
AWASSA - The Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regional
State (SNNPRS) expects to reap 17.67 million quintals of agricultural
products during this harvest season - representing a 31.3 per cent
growth over that of last year.
Submitting the latest six-monthly report to the 4th regular conference
of the regional state which was opened here yesterday, SNNPRS
President Abate Kisho said that the expected harvest was to be
collected from 4,504 half-hectare extension package demonstration
sites and 1.44 million hectares of land tilled in the traditional way.
Ato Abate attributed the success to the newly adopted extension
package scheme and described it as a positive sign of the regional
state's irreversible drive towards attainment of self-sufficiency in
food.
According to Ato Abate, peasant farmers embraced in the package reaped
an average of 55,31, and 12 quintals per hectare of maize, wheat and
"teff", respectively. He nonetheless singled out delayed debt
repayment by farmers as the main obstacle to the implementation of the
overall agricultural extension package, to which he called for a quick
solution. He said that over 16 million birr was still in arrears.
During the next crop season the extension package has been so designed
as to include oil seeds, pulses, spices, fruits and vegetables as well
as poultry among others it was learnt.
The report disclosed that the regional investment bureau has since
1984 EC, issued a number of entrepreneurs with licences for 242
projects with a total capital outlay of 1.03 billion birr. Many of the
licensed projects cover agriculture, agro-industries, construction,
trade and real estate as well as hotels and tourism.
The majority of the projects are reportedly still in the formative
stage and that when they begin operation the are expected to
generate employment for some 39,800 people.
Ato Abate reminded participants of the November 1996 Investment
Promotion Workshop, which this regional capital hosted, had served its
intended purpose. According to him, following the convening of said
workshop, 90 investors applied for new licences of whom 37, with a
total capital outlay of 102.7 million birr, have already been granted
the necessary documents.
The regional president revealed that some people in the Agriculture,
Works and Urban Development as well as Water, Mines and Energy
Resources Development Bureau have been suspected of embezzling public
fund and properties and that their cases have reached the courts. He
said that the police have been investigating more such cases.
Ato Abate's report covered a wide range of issues in the economic,
political and social sectors. The afternoon session was devoted to
discussing the economic aspects of the report.
The conference will continue discussion of the political part of the
report, on justice and security in particular; it also deliberates on
two draft proclamations for the establishments of judicial,
administrative council and rural road fund.
Yesterday's opening session was attended by some senior Federal
government officials who represent the region.
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Ethiopian News Agency (PANA)
February 26, 1997
Council demands extension programme launching in Afar
AYSSAITA (ENA) - Members of the Ayssaita woreda council demanded the
launching of the agricultural extension programme in Afar National
Regional State in view of its significance for food self-sufficiency.
In a statement they issued at the end of a day-long conference held
last Saturday, members of the council said the woreda economic
development office should be strengthened in manpower in a bid to
organize farmers in the region for the extension programme.
They said, through the Ayssaita Woreda boasts wide fertile land, the
efforts made to harness the Awash River for irrigation development is
insignificant.
According to Ato Mehammed Al Hamid, head of the regional agricultural
bureau, preparation is underway to launch the programme in the region
as of next year.
Meanwhile, the property administration and general services section
head under the regional department of agriculture disclosed that
agricultural machinery the afar people received from the federal
government are exposed to damage due to mishandling.
According to the head, the equipment exposed to damages include
tractors and their parts, water pumps, generators, mills and welding
machines used by the former state farms in Ayssaita, Date Bahri and
Middle Awash.
The head said eventhough the Afar agricultural development task force
set up in the second half of 1994 took charge of the machinery in
Ayssaita and Date Bahri, it is now impossible to correctly figure
their number because of the dissolution of the force after its subsidy
was suspended.
Similarly, the task force set up by the regional council to administer
the agricultural machinery in Middle Awash failed to get 110,000 birr
it requested for storing the equipment at a spot.
Ato Musa Ahmed, agricultural department head of zone 3, said machinery
worth over seven million birr are exposed to damages in Defen Belhamo
and Meteka warehouses.
Among the items exposed to damages because of mishandling some water
pumps are illegally used by individuals, the head added.
Ato Awol Arba, economic sector head of the regional council, said a
task force will be set up to collect the said machinery and conduct
study on ways of developing 15,000 hectares of land.
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Ethiopian News Agency (PANA)
February 26, 1997
Journalists Urged To Expose Corruption, Abuse Of Power
ADDIS ABABA (ENA) - Region 14 Journalists Association underscored here
Saturday that the fight against corruption and abuse of power to
render possible the nurturing of a democratic culture will not be
successful without conscientious participation of journalists.
In a statement he made at a programme organized to introduce members,
association chairman Tadesse Gebre-Mariam said journalists should
upgrade their professional skill to enlighten the people in the
endeavour to build a new democratic society.
The establishment of the association is a step forward in ensuring the
public right to information and of the journalist to gather the same,
he said, adding the profession could deserve public respect only when
members discharge responsibilities entrusted to them.
The journalists, in a bid to foster development endeavours in the
country, should enlighten the public on socio-economic activities,
policies and regulations issued to facilitate the implementation of
the development strategy.
The regional association, he said, has registered achievements in
safeguarding the rights and benefits of members over the past six
months.
The association plans to form research, education and recreation
committees, the chairman said and called on members to join hands to
this end.
Veteran journalists Negash Gebre-Mariam, Mamo Widneh and Mairegu
Bezabih on the occasion urged journalists to impart accurate, balanced
and fair information through persistent efforts aimed at achieving
professional efficiency.
Artistic performances were staged on the occasion alongside tradi-
tional and modern songs by the Kistane Band.
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Ethiopian News Agency (PANA)
February 26, 1997
Public Comments On Registration And Licensing for Businesses
by Kisut G/Egziabher
ADDIS ABABA - The Parliamentary Economic Affairs Standing committee
organized a public-hearing session here yesterday during which
concerned and interested bodies commented on the newly drafted
proclamation concerning commercial Registration and Business
Licensing.
On hand to elaborate on the bill was Trade and Industry Minister
Kassahun Ayele, who said that making the commercial code consistent
with the free market economic policy and removing needless hurdles
which the business community face were the major objectives of the
proclamation.
According to him the relevant law still in force was the commercial
code of 1960 and most of the regulations, particularly those adopted
the Derg regime, remain attuned to the command economy.
Ato Kassahun described the bill as a viable instrument for creating a
conducive business environment for the law abiding business community
and for curbing illegal ones.
According to the draft proclamation, business licences for all sectors
except seven will be issued only by the pertinent institutions of the
trade and industry sector, unlike in the past when a number of
government offices were involved. Licences for the seven sectors will
be issued by various offices owing to the specific nature of the
activities which require special technical knowledges.
The draft proclamation provides: "Any person shall principally
register only once eventhough he carries on different commercial
activities in different regions."
According to Ato Kassahun, registration fees which used to exceed a
million birr, depending on the size of the capital invested, were
limited to no more than 200 birr under the new proclamation. As to
Efficiency, he said that an applicant bearing all the required
documents must get his licence within five working days.
The draft proclamation was approved by the Council of Ministers and
referred to the House of Peoples' Representatives.
At yesterday's session, participants representing federal and regional
investment bureaux, the Chamber of commerce as well as the business
community at large, raised various question on which Ato Kassahun,
together with three other colleagues elaborated.
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Ethiopian News Agency (PANA)
February 24, 1997
Organization banned from operating in Tigray
Adigrat (ENA) - The Nazareth Children Centre and Integrated Develop-
ment Organization was banned from operating in Tigray Eastern Zone for
failure to meet provisions in the agreement it signed, zonal disaster
prevention and preparedness department said.
The department said the welfare organization's performance through
1985 to 1988 E.C. in its area of operation in Ganta Afeshumu Woreda of
the zone has been proved to be insignificant.
Initially the organization has singed agreement to provide the farmers
with seed, fertilizer and agricultural implements but did nothing
during the three years except in the first year of operation, the
department said.
The organization signed agreement with government authorities in 1987
E.C. to build six health posts but build none, Ato Mewcha G/Medhin,
head of the department said.
He added that the organization claims to have spent over 2 million
birr for development activities in the area but the actual performance
does not prove the expenditure.
The organization was repeatedly warned to abide by the agreement
reached earlier but has failed to do so and thus a decision was passed
to terminate the operations of the organization in the area which was
later approved by the regional disaster prevention and preparedness
bureau, he said.
A representative of the organization in Adigrat said the failure to
build the health posts was due to incompatibility of the budget
it has allotted and the standard set by the regional health bureau.
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Addis Tribune (Addis Ababa)
February 21, 1997
A History of Early Twentieth Century Ethiopia (7)
by Dr Richard Pankhurst
Addis Ababa - The Italo-Ethiopian Scenario, 1935
Ethiopia, the victor of the battle of Adwa in 1896, was by the early
twentieth century the only state in Africa to have survived the
European Scramble for the continent. The country was, however,
dangerously situated between two Italian coastal colonies, Eritrea and
Somalia. These territories could scarcely be developed in isolation
from the Ethiopian hinterland, or expanded other than at Ethiopia's
expense.
Adwa had been a turning point in the history of Ethio-Italian
relations. Italy, prior to the battle, had sought to gain control of
Ethiopia, first through Article 17 of the Wechale Treaty, and later
through military action. After the battle the Italians turned, no
less assiduously, to economic penetration. Such Italian ambitions had
been accepted, as we have seen, by Ethiopia's two colonial neighbours,
Britain and France, who, by the Tripartite Convention of 1906, had
recognised an Italian economic sphere of influence linking Eritrea and
Somalia, west of Addis Ababa. The French, who regarded Ethiopia as
important for the prosperity of their Somaliland protectorate, and
wished to be in good relations with Ethiopia's ruler, later veered
away from the 1906 formula as far as Italy's sphere of influence was
concerned. The British, on the other hand, continued as late as 1925
to accept the principle of an Italian sphere of influence over most of
Ethiopia in exchange for Italy's support for a proposed British dam at
Lake Tana.
The Rise of Fascism
Italy's colonial ambitions in Africa were almost inevitably affected
by Benito Mussolini's seizure of power in 1922, and the resultant
emergence in Rome of a militaristic, and intensely chauvinist, regime.
It was only a matter of time before the fascist state would shift
Italian policy once more from economic to military penetration, and
call on the people of Italy to "revenge Adwa", by embarking on a new
war of conquest.
Relations between the two countries were, however, at first
superficially cordial. When Ras Tafari visited Rome in 1924 he was
warmly welcomed by Mussolini. The fascist dictator, as his wife Donna
Rachele recalls, then foresaw a "great future for Italy in Abyssinia",
and conceived the idea of "developing Abyssinia with Italian labour".
He found his Ethiopian visitor "a clever and cultured man", with whom
he believed he could 'get on very well'. With this in mind the Duce
sponsored the 1928 Treaty of Friendship and Arbitration in the hope of
achieving rapid Italian economic penetration through the port of Asab
and a proposed Italian road to Dase. When, however, it became apparent
that the Ethiopian Government would not accept any infringement of
its sovereignty, the Italian fascists turned their thoughts from
peaceful pressure to outright war.
De Bono
The first steps for the new invasion were taken by Marshal Emilio De
Bono, an elderly fascist holding the post of Minister of the Colonies.
On 22 January 1930 he wrote a confidential letter to the President of
the Italian Council of Ministers, asking for a major increase in the
budget for the Italian colonies bordering Ethiopia. It would be
"harmful to embark on large expenditure", and "ridiculous to speak of
the Romanity of the Empire", he added, "if expansion [his emphasis]
beyond the confines of the Fatherland was not considered possible".
The idea of a military operation was warmly accepted by Mussolini, who
argued that war could rejuvenate the Italian people, and be an
objective in itself. Accordingly, in the Spring of 1932, he despatched
De Bono to Eritrea "to see how matters stood there". On the minister's
return the two fascist leaders agreed that their country's "colonial
future must be sought in East Africa", where Italy had a "hinterland"
i.e. Ethiopia, "which could be profitably exploited". De Bono
thereupon drew up a "definite programme" in relation to the
"possibilities of war" which, he later recalled, "had to be regarded
not only as possible, but as always increasingly probable".
De Bono's Revelations
De Bono, in 1932-3, wrote memorandum after memorandum requesting
increased military personnel and supplies for Eritrea and Somalia, and
had several secret conversations on Ethiopia with his fascist master.
Discussing his own attitude in 1933, he recalls: "It had been my
proudest dream to end my public career as a soldier on public service.
Of course, it was not yet possible to say in 1933 - the year in which
we began to consider what practical steps must be taken in the event
of war with Ethiopia - whether there would or would not be a war in
that country; but I made up my mind to lose no time, and one day I
said to the Duce: 'Listen: if there is to be a war down there - and
you think me worthy of it, and capable - you ought to grant me the
honour of conducting the campaign'. The Duce looked at me hard, and at
once replied: 'Surely!' 'You don't think me too old', I added. 'No',
he replied, 'because we mustn't lose time'.
"From that moment", De Bono continues, "the Duce was definitely of the
opinion that the matter would have to be settled no later than 1936,
and he told me as much. I confined myself to replying: 'Very good!' -
without expressing the faintest doubt as to the possibility that this
could be achieved [De Bono's emphasis]...
"It was the autumn of 1933. The Duce had spoken to no one of the
coming operations in East Africa; only he and I knew what was going to
happen, and no indiscretion occurred by which the news could reach the
public".
Fascist strategy from 1933 onwards was based, De Bono explains, very
largely on political subversion in Ethiopia, designed at achieving the
country's complete disintegration. He informed the Duce that this
would "not be a very difficult task", provided they worked "well on
political lines", and that disintegration 'could be regarded as
certain after a military victory on our part'". Mussolini, he adds,
"thought as I did, and ordered me 'to go full speed ahead', I must be
ready as soon as possible.
"'Money [De Bono said] will be needed, Chief; lots of money'.
"'There will be no lack of money', the Duce replied".
Political Subversion
Italian agents were thereafter actively engaged in the attempted
subversion of Ethiopian chiefs, and nobles, who were given lavish
bribes. Action was also taken to forment ethnic tension, particularly
in militarily strategic areas in the north and south of the country,
notably in eastern Wallo, Ogaden and Hararge. Emperor Haile Sellassie
commented at the time that he knew that many of his chiefs were
accepting Italian money, but was confident that when the testing time
came they would not betray Ethiopia. Later he declared, with unusual
bitterness, in his Autobiography, that the Italians had "always been
the bane of the Ethiopian people".
The Changing Stance of France
The rise of Hitler and nazi Germany's attempt to overturn the
paramount world position of Britain and France, the victors of
World War I, or "satisfied powers" as he called them, had important
implications for Ethiopia. The French, and to a lesser extent the
British, came to see "dissatisfied" nazi Germany as a potential threat
to their hegemony. They therefore became increasingly reluctant to
take any stand against Mussolini, lest it drove him into the hands of
the Germans, to whom he was, however, already linked by a common
militaristic, and "fascist" doctrine.
Such thinking led to a major re-orientation on the part of France.
Hitherto, as we have seen, she had regarded Ethiopia as a valuable
'hinterland' for Jibuti, and had supported Ethiopian independence
against the predatory pressures of Italy, and to a lesser extent
Britain. The French Government, becoming increasingly concerned with
the situation in Europe, now, however, changed its policy. To please
Mussolini, it began to withdraw opposition to Italian expansion in
Ethiopia, and proposed that Italy in return should waive its interests
in the French colony of Tunisia.
Next Week: The Wal Wal Incident, and Anglo-French Connivance with
Mussolini's Projected Invasion.
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