Worldwide Indignation Against the Inhuman Abyssinian Tyranny (Fake ‘Ethiopia’)

In two previous articles, entitled "Hitler-styled Law on Charities Reveals the Racist Nature of the Pseudo-Ethiopian Colonial State" and "Law on Charities: Devastating Criticism of the Fake ‘Ethiopian’ Tyranny by Amnesty International", I expanded on the tyrannical and racist nature of the Abyssinian state, republishing a feature released by IRIN, and a comprehensive report composed by the leading humanitarian NGO Amnesty International (Document - Ethiopia: Comments on the Draft Charities and Societies Proclamation).

Many other humanitarian organizations and worldwide alliances have focused on the criminal attempt of the racist, Amhara and Tigray-led regime of Abyssinia, and denounced it repeatedly.

In the present article, I republish three documents from the pioneering NGO CIVICUS. The first consists in a feature elaborated by Ingrid Srinath, CIVICUS Secretary General, under the title ‘Disabling by Design? - The Ethiopian Charities and Societies Proclamation’; the second is a Press Release under the title ‘Draft law threatens to criminalise Ethiopian civil society’; and the third represents the section About Us from the CIVICUS website. As CIVICUS published further material on this most pre-occupying issue, in forthcoming articles I will reproduce more comprehensive documents compiled by CIVICUS on the tragic situation in which the civil society has been confined in the world’s most tyrannical regime, Abyssinia.

Disabling by Design? - The Ethiopian Charities and Societies Proclamation
By Ingrid Srinath, CIVICUS Secretary General

http://www.civicus.org/content/CIVICUSnewSecretaryGeneral.9.htm

From the desk of the Civicus Secretary General
Issued Date: e-CIVICUS 403, 21 August 2008

Dear friends and colleagues,

A major part of our work at CIVICUS is to support and encourage the growth of an enabling environment for civil society to operate. In doing this, we engage with national governments, particularly on legislation that negatively impacts civil society freedoms. Ethiopia has recently released a third draft of its Charities and Societies Proclamation. Sadly, despite the interventions of both national and international civil society groups, the current draft fails to redress the most seriously disabling provisions of previous versions. While some of the most arbitrary clauses have been modified, the Proclamation falls substantially short of internationally accepted standards, by providing legal cover to disproportionate, discriminatory and disabling actions against a broad range of civil society actors.

This proposed legislation is just the latest in a series of similar attacks on civil society freedoms globally. In 2007 alone, CIVICUS’ Civil Society Watch programme documented 87 countries that have increased restrictions on civic expression and engagement. In virtually every case, the new constraints have sought justification in amorphous threats to national security, often as part of the so-called war on terror. This fig-leaf has been cited by overtly repressive governments and ostensibly democratic ones alike, to impose restrictions and seize powers that threaten legitimate democratic dissent. From Guantanamo to Gujarat, citizens have first been sold the notion that the security of their homes and families necessitates the sacrifice of liberty and privacy. Experience in the large majority of these cases shows that these powers have been abused and misused to target, not just opponents of the current regime, but basic freedoms of association and expression by ordinary citizens.

These difficult times call for civil society everywhere to stand in solidarity with our colleagues across the globe, in their struggle to protect their basic democratic and human rights. Or, as the tide of repression rises around us, we will, as Martin Luther King. Jr. reminded us, "remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends".

With gratitude, faith and solidarity,

Ingrid Srinath,
CIVICUS Secretary General

To send your comments, suggestions or contributions of articles to e-CIVICUS, e-mail editor@civicus.org.

For previous articles from the Secretary General, see details below:

- China: Double double talk

- View from civil society: Key political challenges for social justice in Africa

- What now, Mr. Lamy?

- "If CIVICUS didn’t exist, we’d have to invent it"

- Beyond G-8: At the table? On the table? Whose table?

- Beyond G-8: Civil society challenges

- Recalling the Day of the African child

- CIVICUS 2008 World Assembly, a unique opportunity to effect real change

- CIVICUS new Secretary General appointed.

Draft law threatens to criminalise Ethiopian civil society

Press Release - Ethiopia
http://www.civicus.org/csw/csw-take-action/4/446-ethiopiapressrelease210808

21 August 2008 - Under a draft law, Ethiopia could see severe restrictions on civil society and even closures of organisations working on contentious issues, such as human rights and governance, cautions CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation in a recent analysis.

"We appeal to the government to stop the introduction of the bill in its current form. If enacted, many organisations will be forced to choose between ending their work on vital issues or facing closure and possible imprisonment", said Ingrid Srinath, CIVICUS Secretary General.

The government has released three consecutive drafts of the Charities and Societies Proclamation over the last few months. While the recent draft, due to be introduced to Parliament in October, makes some improvement on the last two, it retains many draconian provisions.

The government has stated that the intention of the bill is to increase civil society organisations' (CSOs) transparency and accountability to stakeholders, but local and international groups have expressed concern that it will instead serve to silence dissent.

CIVICUS' report lists a number of concerns regarding the law, including:
- The Proclamation prevents CSOs that receive more than 10% of their income from foreign sources from working on issues of public importance, including human rights, gender and religious equality, children's rights, the rights of the disabled, conflict resolution and judicial reform. Given the lack of domestic fundraising opportunities, most organisations rely on funds from abroad.

- The Proclamation permits excessive government interference in the functioning of CSOs, through the power to carry out random investigations at will. Among other requirements, CSOs must provide the government with seven days notice of any general meeting.

- By creating a web of exhaustive reporting procedures, the Proclamation gives the government a convenient way to intimidate CSOs. Mandatory annual reporting, requirements to keep meticulous financial records as well as re-registration every three years, leaves ample room for possible procedural delays and intimidation by the authorities.

- Once a CSO is denied registration, or fails to apply, the organisation is then declared unlawful. If members and supporters continue their involvement with the CSO, they risk severe punishments, including three to fifteen years in prison. According to international standards, the decision to officially register should be voluntary not imposed by the government. Such harsh repercussions for breaching the provisions of the law could deter the free participation of individuals in civil society activities.

- CSOs have limited rights to appeal against decisions taken under the Proclamation. For example, if a CSO is denied registration, it will not be able to ask for a judicial review of the facts on which the government has based its assessment. Aside from amounting to a denial of justice, it could also allow authorities to arbitrarily silence independent groups and individuals.

If the current draft of the Proclamation is passed, the already narrow space for civil society in Ethiopia could be even further restricted. In recent years, political opposition, media and civil society activists have been systematically harassed and even imprisoned because of their criticism of the government.

"The government must listen to the concerns of the country's civil society. Their activities contribute immensely to the people of Ethiopia. But, sadly, rather than promote this vital work, this bill threatens to criminalise it", says Srinath.

The Proclamation, if permitted to pass, would violate Ethiopia's commitments to international and regional human rights agreements, as well as its own constitution. Article 31 of the Constitution specifically guarantees, "Every person has the right to freedom of association for any cause or purpose".

An analysis of the Proclamation is available at
http://www.civicus.org/csw_files/AnalysisEthiopiaCharitiesProc140808.pdf

Note to the Editor

For more information, visit www.civicus.org or contact Julie Middleton at +27 82 403 6040 or cswatch@civicus.org

What/Who is CIVICUS
http://www.civicus.org/who-we-are

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance of members and partners which constitute an influential network of organisations at the local, national, regional and international levels, and span the spectrum of civil society including: civil society networks and organisations; trade unions; faith-based networks; professional associations; NGO capacity development organisations; philanthropic foundations and other funding bodies; businesses; and social responsibility programmes. CIVICUS has worked for over a decade to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens' freedom of association are threatened. CIVICUS has a vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world. This is premised on the belief that the health of societies exists in direct proportion to the degree of balance between the state, the private sector and civil society. CIVICUS provides a focal point for knowledge-sharing, common interest representation, global institution-building and engagement among these disparate sectors. It acts as an advocate for citizen participation as an essential component of governance and democracy worldwide. CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people and it gives expression to the enormous creative energy of the burgeoning sector of civil society.

Mission:
CIVICUS is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.

Vision:
A worldwide community of informed, inspired, committed citizens engaged in confronting the challenges facing humanity.

CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people. It recognizes that for effective and sustainable civic participation to occur, citizens must enjoy rights of free association and be able to engage all sectors of society.

Values:
- Justice and Equality - CIVICUS believes in the equality and dignity of every person, and that all people should be free to exercise their rights as citizens as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

- Reciprocity - CIVICUS exists to ensure that people treat one another with the respect with which they themselves wish to be treated. Civil society cannot thrive without mutual respect.

- Knowledge - CIVICUS recognises that to increase its global awareness of civil society and before it can assist or take action, it needs to form alliances with other concerned bodies to increase its influence and knowledge.

- Vision - CIVICUS is realistic about conflict in today's world, but remains optimistic that most people, organisations, governments and businesses will work together for the benefit of all.

- Principled Courage - CIVICUS will always promote civil justice and pledges to act in a manner that honours the principles of democratic civil society.

Objectives:

The three main objectives that inform our mission are:
- Civic Existence - to promote the rights of citizens to organise and act collectively towards defined goals for the public good.

- Civic Expression - to increase the effectiveness and improve the governance of civil society organisations, as well as their capacity to set and achieve their individual and collective goals.

- Civic Engagement - Engagement - to foster interaction between civil society and other institutions in order to increase the voice of citizens in public life.