Mesfin Woldemariam
Encyclopedia
Mesfin Woldemariam is an Ethiopia
n peace activist and philosopher, who has been actively engaged in a peaceful movement to bring justice, equality and peace for all the people in his country. He is a founding member of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC), and later founded the Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice
.
Professor Mesfin Woldemariam has won numerous awards for his struggle for equality and justice to the disadvantageous in his country. In 2006, he was nominated for the Sakharov Prize
, the highest European Unions prize for human rights defenders.
, Mesfin received his early education at Teferi Mekonnen School, and was a student of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, receiving ordination as a deacon in 1946. He completed his further education in London in 1951, and won a scholarship to study abroad. He received his B.A. from Punjab University, Chandigarh in 1955 and his M.S. from Clark University
in the United States in 1957.
Mesfin was professor of geography at Haile Sellassie University (now Addis Ababa University
or AAU), and for a time the head of the geography department. He was also a senior Fullbright scholar in 1971, 1986 and 1987. He retired from AAU in 1991.
held a day-long panel discussion at the hall of the National Lottery on academic freedom
. They were arrested on the allegations that this panel incited a student protest at AAU the next day, but released on bail 5 June and neither were ever tried.
In November 2005, the government of Ethiopia detained Mesfin on charges of treason
, genocide
, and outrage against the constitution, along with other leading members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
(CUD). This charge was considered to criminalize actions of free speech, freedom of association and freedom of expression that are guaranteed by international human rights laws, and has been condemned by many international observers including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and European Union. He was held at Kaliti prison. During his incarceration, Professor Mesfin took part in two hunger strikes in December 2005 and January 2006, protesting his detention and trial. He later contracted pneumonia, collapsing in his prison cell August 18, and was taken to the hospital. The court was supposed to deliver the verdict on February 19, 2007. However, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, and 37 others were pronounced guilty on June 11, 2007.
This judgment occurred after Professor Mesfin refused to defend himself, insisting that the arrest, charges, detention and trial was politically motivated and that the trial was not likely to be fair. Along with 37 others, he was convicted on the basis of the prosecution evidence and prevented from making a statement in court after the prosecution case ended. The prosecutor is said to have presented video and audio evidence. The judge ruled that as they had not submitted a defense and were guilty as charged.
Professor Mesfin, along with the 37 other Ethiopian opposition party officials, prominent human rights defenders and journalists on trial with him, were freed on July 20, 2007. They received a pardon and had their political rights restored four days after most were sentenced to life in prison and others to prison terms of up to 15 years. Despite previous denials, his CUD party leaders who were released admitted that they played a role in the post election violence and accepted partial responsibility. Referring to the apology letter that Mesfin Woldemariam and other CUD leaders signed, Hailu Araaya, a CUD spokesman told VOA News during a visit to Washington D.C. that it was signed voluntarily.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n peace activist and philosopher, who has been actively engaged in a peaceful movement to bring justice, equality and peace for all the people in his country. He is a founding member of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC), and later founded the Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice
Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice
The Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice is a political party in Ethiopia. It was founded by Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. At the last legislative elections which were held on 15 May 2005, the party was part of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy that won 109 out of 527...
.
Professor Mesfin Woldemariam has won numerous awards for his struggle for equality and justice to the disadvantageous in his country. In 2006, he was nominated for the Sakharov Prize
Sakharov Prize
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1988 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought...
, the highest European Unions prize for human rights defenders.
Early life
Born in Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Mesfin received his early education at Teferi Mekonnen School, and was a student of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, receiving ordination as a deacon in 1946. He completed his further education in London in 1951, and won a scholarship to study abroad. He received his B.A. from Punjab University, Chandigarh in 1955 and his M.S. from Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
in the United States in 1957.
Mesfin was professor of geography at Haile Sellassie University (now Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University is a university in Ethiopia. It was originally named "University College of Addis Ababa" at its founding, then renamed for the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in 1962, receiving its current name in 1975.Although the university has six of its seven campuses within...
or AAU), and for a time the head of the geography department. He was also a senior Fullbright scholar in 1971, 1986 and 1987. He retired from AAU in 1991.
Political activism
Responding to a student petition, on 8 April 2001 Professor Mesfin and Dr. Berhanu NegaBerhanu Nega
Berhanu Nega was elected as mayor of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the Ethiopian general elections, 2005. He is a founding chairman of the Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice and a Deputy Chairman of Coalition for Unity and Democracy , for whom he served as chief election...
held a day-long panel discussion at the hall of the National Lottery on academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
. They were arrested on the allegations that this panel incited a student protest at AAU the next day, but released on bail 5 June and neither were ever tried.
In November 2005, the government of Ethiopia detained Mesfin on charges of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, and outrage against the constitution, along with other leading members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
Coalition for Unity and Democracy
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy is a coalition of four existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005. Its leader is Dr...
(CUD). This charge was considered to criminalize actions of free speech, freedom of association and freedom of expression that are guaranteed by international human rights laws, and has been condemned by many international observers including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and European Union. He was held at Kaliti prison. During his incarceration, Professor Mesfin took part in two hunger strikes in December 2005 and January 2006, protesting his detention and trial. He later contracted pneumonia, collapsing in his prison cell August 18, and was taken to the hospital. The court was supposed to deliver the verdict on February 19, 2007. However, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, and 37 others were pronounced guilty on June 11, 2007.
This judgment occurred after Professor Mesfin refused to defend himself, insisting that the arrest, charges, detention and trial was politically motivated and that the trial was not likely to be fair. Along with 37 others, he was convicted on the basis of the prosecution evidence and prevented from making a statement in court after the prosecution case ended. The prosecutor is said to have presented video and audio evidence. The judge ruled that as they had not submitted a defense and were guilty as charged.
Professor Mesfin, along with the 37 other Ethiopian opposition party officials, prominent human rights defenders and journalists on trial with him, were freed on July 20, 2007. They received a pardon and had their political rights restored four days after most were sentenced to life in prison and others to prison terms of up to 15 years. Despite previous denials, his CUD party leaders who were released admitted that they played a role in the post election violence and accepted partial responsibility. Referring to the apology letter that Mesfin Woldemariam and other CUD leaders signed, Hailu Araaya, a CUD spokesman told VOA News during a visit to Washington D.C. that it was signed voluntarily.
External links
- Official website dedicated to Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam by his Children
- A call for immediate release of Prof. Mesfin W/Mariam by Amnesty International
- American Association of University Professors (AAUP) letter Regarding Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam and Prof. Berhanu Nega
- Help free Prof. Mesfin Wolde-mariam by Amnesty International
- Free Mesfin
- Society of Ethiopians Established in Diasporia (SEED) entry on Mesfin Woldemariam
- AAAS Program on Science and Human Rights Alert on Mesfin Woldemariam's arrest
- Call for the Immediate Release of Prof. Mesfin Wolde Mariam and Dr. Berhanu Nega (2001)
- The Ethiopian Human Right's Council Website
- Advocacy Ethiopia: Dedicated to the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Ethiopia
- http://arefe.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/rebel-with-or-without-a-cause