Committee on Human Rights of Scientists of the New York Academy of Sciences

Human Rights

March 9, 2007

Hon. Siraj Fegeta
Minister of Federal Affairs
P.O. Box 5608
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dear Minister:

I am writing to you as Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of Scientists of the New York Academy of Sciences, an independent, non-profit organization of nearly 26,000 scientists and supporters worldwide. The committee is appealing to you to use your good office to release Professor Mesfin Woldemariam from Kaliti prison on humanitarian grounds, taking into consideration his age (he is seventy-six years old), and his poor health.

Professor Mesfin is the recipient of the 2006 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award of the New York Academy of Sciences. He was given the award for his leadership in advocating for the disadvantaged and in promoting human rights, civil society, and a peaceful transition to democracy.

We believe that the harsh prison conditions and his poor health combined with his age could have grave consequences for Professor Mesfin. It seems to us that he was arrested solely for exercising his rights to freedom of expression, of association, and to peacefully assemble, as held up by Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to which Ethiopia is a state party.

I respectfully await your response to this matter of great importance to the international scientific community.

Sincerely,

Eugene Chudnovsky
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

This letter has also been sent to Condoleezza Rice, Rep. Donald Payne, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Sam Brownback,Senator Russ Feingold, Senator Richard Lugar, and Rep. Tom Lantos

March 9, 2007

Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madam Secretary:

I am writing to you as the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of Scientists of the New York Academy of Sciences to request your intervention with the Ethiopian government concerning Professor Mesfin Woldemariam.

A retired geography professor, Mesfin Woldemariam is Ethiopia's most prominent human rights defender. He has been detained since November 1, 2005, and is among 76 opposition party leaders, journalists and human rights defenders on trial on charges of "outrage against the Constitution," "obstruction of the exercise of constitutional powers," "inciting, organizing or leading armed rebellion," and "attempted genocide" in connection to the demonstrations against alleged fraud in the May 2005 elections in Ethiopia. He has been in poor health for some time and prior to his arrest had been confined to bed for two months with back and leg problems. He carried out two hunger strikes in December 2005 and January 2006 in protest at his detention and trial.

Professor Mesfin was the 2006 recipient of the Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights of Scientists Award of the New York Academy of Sciences. He received this award for his leadership in advocating for the disadvantaged and for promoting human rights, civil society, and a peaceful transition to democracy. Amnesty International considers Professor Mesfin, aged 76, a prisoner of conscience.

It is feared that if Professor Mesfin continues to be held in Kaliti prison, his current and pre-existing medical problems combined with his age could have grave consequences for his health. We urge you to ask the Ethiopian authorities to release Professor Mesfin on humanitarian grounds.

Founded in 1817, the New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization of nearly 26,000 members worldwide committed to advancing science, technology and society.

Sincerely,

Eugene Chudnovsky
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

November 8, 2005

His Excellency Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Prime Minister's Office
PO Box 1031
Addia Ababa, Ethiopia

Your Excellency:

The Human Rights Committee of the New York Academy of Sciences is concerned about the detention on November 2, 2005 of two academics, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, a geographer, and Professor Berhanu Nega, an economist at the Addis Ababa University.

The detentions followed non-violent protests organized by the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) over the contested May 2005 general election. Amnesty International has declared Professor Mesfin and Professor Berhanu prisoners of conscience, detained solely because of expression of their political beliefs, which they were engaging in peacefully.

We are calling for the immediate release of Professors Mesfin and Berhanu and we are urging the authorities to give them all necessary medical care while they are in detention.

I respectfully await your response to this matter of great importance to the international scientific community.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, nonprofit, global membership organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. Established in 1817, the Academy is the oldest scientific organization in New York, and the third oldest in the nation. It is an international organization with nearly 25,000 members in more than 150 countries.

Sincerely,

Eugene Chudnovsky
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

June 27, 2002

His Excellency Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's Office
P O Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Your Excellency:

I am writing to express the concern of the New York Academy of Sciences' Committee on Human Rights for the safety of Professor Ephraim Mammo, retired president of the Alemayehu University in Harar and hundreds of students and others arrested in the past two months in the Oromia region, as part of a continuing pattern of detention connected to the peaceful rally by Oromo students protesting regional governmental policies.

We are calling for an investigation into allegations of torture during incommunicado detentions or "disappearances". We request that the detainees be given immediate access to their families and legal representatives, any medical treatment that they may need, and access to an appropriate international humanitarian organization such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

We are urging that those arrested be either charged with recognizable criminal offenses and given a prompt and fair trial, or be immediately released.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

April 12, 2001

His Excellency Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's Office
P O Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Your Excellency:

I am writing to express the concern of the New York Academy of Sciences' Committee on Human Rights concerning fifty students at the Addis Ababa University. On April 11, 2001 several heavily armed troops stormed the university where the students were holding a peaceful demonstration demanding academic freedom and political rights. According to medical officials, the students suffered head injuries and broken arms and legs.

Under the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (notified by Ethiopia on June 11, 1993):

Everyone has the right to freedom of expression (Article 19.2)
Everyone has the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly (Articles 21 and 22)
Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person and to freely take part in public affairs and political life (Article 9 and 25)

We are urging the government of Ethiopia to reflect its obligations under the international human rights covenants to which it is a state party.

I respectfully await your response to this matter of great importance to the international scientific community.

Sincerely,

Joseph L. Birman
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights of Scientists

CC: His Excellency, Berhane Gebre-Christos, Ambassador to the United States of America