Ethiopia: Kangaroo Justice for Two Swedish Journalists

Alemayehu G. Mariam Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye in Kangaroo Court  The old adage is that “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Could it be said equally that arrogance excuses ignorance of the law? Dictator-in-chief Meles Zenawi recently proclaimed the guilt of freelance Swedish journalists Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye on charges of “terrorism” while…

Out of Touch in the Horn of Africa?

Originally appeared in the Huffington Post on  2/20/2011 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alemayehu-g-mariam/out-of-touch-in-the-horn_b_825795.html The Berlin Conference of 2009 In 1884, the Berlin Conference was convened by the European imperial powers to carve out colonial territories in Africa. It was called the “Scramble for Africa”. In 2009, another Berlin Conference was convened by a high level group of diplomats (referring…

Ethiopia: Beware of Those Bearing Olive Branches!

Alemayehu G. Mariam Beware of Those Who Bear Olive Branches “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,” goes the old saying. I say beware of those bearing fake olive branches. In many societies, “extending an olive branch” symbolizes an act of reconciliation, goodwill and peace. In ancient Greece and Rome, people gave each other olive branches as…