This thread is used only by the committee to post updates on the effort to stop the Yara Foundation's award to Meles Zenawi.

August 1, 2005

Anti-Yara prize committee in Norway invites all concerned Ethiopians to contribute on our effort to stop the award to Meles. We are looking for informations, references and contributions on the following lines:

1.Research and statistical datas:
As you can see from the prize donor YARA it asserts that agriculture has improved by saying :-

“The results are among the most promising for achieving the Millennium
Development Goal of cutting world hunger in half by the year 2015. During
the past decade Ethiopia has more than doubled its food production; from
6.3 million metric tons in 1993, to 14.3 million tons in 2004. Ethiopia’s
GDP grew at an average of 5.8 % annually, with agriculture growing at an
average rate of 3.1 % in spite of the severe droughts of 1998 and 2001.
During the last three years, agricultural production has grown at 8 % per
annum. In spite of the fact that about 40% of the population is chronically
malnourished, Ethiopia’s food security program aims at enabling 4-5 million
chronically food insecure to attain food security within 3-5 years, a major
step towards accomplishing the Hunger Millennium Development Goal.”

We want to challenge Yara that this is not the fact on the ground based on researched data and assesments and evaluations made by other credible institutions.

We also want to show that the strategy (if there was any well thought strategy) was a failure.

2.Economic relations :
We want to show that the suppliers and distributors of fertilizers and also the loan institutions were owned by the EPRDF and that it was used as a means for economic exploitation by the ruling elites and as a political tool and as a result its consequences on the farmer. We need concrete evidences.

We want also to show YARA has an economic stake/interest on the process and nullify the award.

3.Legal advise and support.
If the economic interest of YARA is clearly verified then we will explore the possibility of bringing the case to court as a corruption case.

4.Politically we want to convey that Meles is an obstacle for political change and democratic system contrary to what Yara asserts as

“He has brought about political change in Ethiopia, and placing the rural poor first in the country’s development strategies.”

5. Advise and cooperation on how to coordinate our actions

The time for the award cermony is planed for September 3. So we will be grateful if all contributions are submitted before mid August.


For further contacts:

Mulualem Adam Zerihun
Tlf. +47 23216418
Mobile +47 41509453
E-mail: adam.zerihun@vetinst.no
Or mulualemad@yahoo.com

To all Ethiopians world wide

1. The reported Yara's regret on the award is a hoax. What ever the Intentions of this hoax report authors is it was a very bad move. It has the potential of distracting Ethiopians and discrediting the sightes and news outlets that caried it. Infact an internal Yara e-mail we Come into possession defended the award and tried to ridicule the opponents of the award. We will make available the translation as soon as possible. We would like to call upon all Ethiopians and Ethiopian media outlets to process information through this committee regarding the Yara case
before acting on it.

2. On August 3rd deliberation the committee has decided to continue it's work on exposing the absurdity of this award to the butcher Meles
Zenawi. There are various task forces that are working on different aspects of the issue. These are:

a. Legal matters taskforce,
b. Financial matters taskforce
c. Information gathering taskforce
d. Diplomatic initiative taskforce
e. Practical action taskforce.

3. The committee has decided to carry out the fallowing action plan, and calls upon all Ethiopians world wide to join Ethiopians in Norway in exposing Meles and his backers.

The following action plan is agreed upon to the day of the award

a. From 8th to 14th August: e-mail campaign. Every one who have the access will send an e-mail (preferably a standard message). A petition letter to the Norwegian King, parliament, and the board of directors of Yara will be composed and runs through out the campaign.

b. From 15th to 19th August: telephone campaign. Calling Yara directly from all over the world and registering our disapproval the 2005 Yara award.

c. On 19th August: International demonstration in front of Norwegian embassies all over the world. This action is very important, because the Norwegian government is the biggest share holder in Yara, and Norwegians respond more readily when there is something that draws an international attention. Especially actions that are taken on their embassies and interests abroad usually gets a huge media coverage in Norway. Resident Ethiopians of major metropolitans where Norwegian embassies are located
(Washington, London, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, Paris, Rom...etc should especially be more vocal, do more than just demonstrate, with in the frame work of the law to draw as much attention as possible. Of course
Ethiopians who live on other major and minor cities and where ever Norwegian interest located should show clearly their disappointment and dismay. The people of Ethiopia are gagged and muzzled by brute force.
Lets be their voice and show the world and especially forces that provide political and financial support what the Ethiopian people want.
We should make not only Yara but all other state and private institutions be aware of that they are backing a murderer and an enemy of the Ethiopian people. We should send a clear signal that of our indignation.

d. From 20th August More actions and preparation for a demonstration to be held on 3rd of September the day of the award. Every Ethiopian in Scandinavia and beyond is invited and should make it his/her duty to
attend this event. We anticipate this to be the biggest event in Scandinavia. Therefore those who will travel to Oslo should start planning and coordinating transportation and accommodation with the committee in Norway as soon as possible. We would like to know the
number of people that will be attending this event as early as possible since we have to provide this information well before the day of the demonstration to the police so that they will arrange the necessary
security measures.

4. Though the effort that is being made world wide by individuals at the moment is commendable it would be more fruitful if it is coordinated and focused for maximum effect. Therefore we would like to call up on all Ethiopians to use this committee to direct your effort. We are at the moment on the process of involving Norwegian organizations and parliamentarians on the case. This does not mean that people should stop their individual effort, or directly contacting yara. But it is also important to be part of this programme.

5. We would like to call all Ethiopian web pages and media outlets to place the information page and the discussion forum on a prominent visible position so that Ethiopians easily can access it and participate
on the planed action. Remember this is an opportunity to expose what really Meles is and not only to Yara and Norway.

Contact addresses and discussion forum

committee Information page
http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/3267868175/show/438831
This is where the committee postes information and updates, please do
check it from time to time.

Discussion forum
http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/3267868175/show/435748
You can express your oppinion at this forum.

Spoksperson
Ghidey Zeratsion
telefon +47 97083636
ghzer@online.no

or

Zerihun, M. Adam
telefon +47 41509453
E-mail: m-zerih@online.no

1. PARTICIPATE ON THE E-MAILCAMPIGHN THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. IT WILL CONTINUE TILL THE END OF THE WEEK TO send copy of your e-mail to

2. PREPARE FOR A *DEMONSTRATION* FOR *19TH, AUG*. INFRONT OF *NORWAGIAN EMBASSYS *all over the world.
Please report on the progress you are making with the preparation to the contact persons or the email adress above.

The anti-yara-award-2005 comitee
oslo

Aftenposten, Aug 27 2005

The government, headed by Prime Minister Bondevik, says ”no thanks” to the invitation, now that the giant fertilizer Yara (previously Hydro) celebrates itself by awarding a prize to the dictator of Ethiopia. The artists Sissel Kyrkjeboe and Mari Boine are considering the same.

(Article by Gunnar Magnus, translated by - Anti Yara-Award Committee).

He is one of the most hated persons in Ethiopia.

This is stated about Meles Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia, by associate professor Kjetil Tronvoll at the Norwegian Center for Human Rights. As the boss of the government owned agricultural association, the same man is an important customer for the artificial fertilizer products from Yara (previously the firm of Hydro).

As a part of the anniversary celebration the intent of Yara is to award the newly established Yara-Prize of more than one million Norwegian Crowns (about U.S.Dollar 150,000.-) to Zenawi. This is to take place in a spectacular arrangement in the Oslo Concert Hall. The justification for this prize is that Zenawi has taken “decisive steps in the direction of increased food production and to reduce poverty in one of the poorest developing countries of the world”. It will also be emphasized that he has brought political changes to Ethiopia, and he is praised for his engagement and inspiring leadership.

There are between 10,000 and 30,000 political prisoners in the country, according to Kjetil Tronvoll. He reports that there is torture in the prisons, that there are political murders, and an inadequate system of justice. Around 4,000 members of the opposition parties were arrested and their leaders placed under house arrest after the elections.

Other African countries have human rights problems as well. But Tronvoll makes it clear: This is one of the worst in its class. Here there are documented abuses on a large scale.

Yara has invited the Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and the political leadership in the Department of Foreign Affairs (UD), the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Trade to the award ceremony. But neither the prime minister nor any of the other ministers intend to be present. This is confirmed by the Oslo newspaper Aftenposten in an inquiry by phone to the respective departments.

Leiv Lunde from the Department of Foreign Affairs will probably be the only political leader of a department who is going to be present. Lunde confirms that there have been several discussions in his department whether or not to attend.

Is this a signal that the official Norway is going to be represented by only one governmental secretary?

Jan Peterson is pre-occupied, and Hilde Frafjord Johnson is visiting Tanzania at present, according to Lunde. And the Aftenposten newspaper is informed by the prime minister’s office that it is not appropriate for any of the other ministers to accept now that Mr. Bondevik himself says “no”.

A Mixed Reception.

Arne Cartridge, the director of communication in Yara, confirms that the invitations that have been sent out have received a mixed reception.

He states: “I do not wish to go into detail regarding the invitations, but they are given to representatives of the official Norway, voluntary organizations, and a broad spectrum of Norwegian society. Some do not wish to be present, some are pre-occupied with elections, but a number have accepted. We believe that there will be around 800 persons present in the Oslo Concert Hall”.

Sissel Kyrkjeboe and Mari Boine are two of the best known artists, who according to plan are to entertain during the award ceremony in the Oslo Concert Hall next Saturday. According to their managers Arne Svare and Paal Gjersum the two artists intend to use the weekend to decide whether or not to attend, since they have been informed – among other from exiled Ethiopians – about Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s disputed position in Ethiopia.

Source: Aftenposten, updated August 27, 2005.
URL http:/www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/okonomi/article1103955.ece

References


Aug. 10, 2005
A note from Ant-YARA Award Group in Norway:
As to our experience it is not easy to find and sort out references that could be directly relevant to our case in a short time. Here are some references that could help any one who wants to protest, write or make a case. While appreciating those who contributed to this effort, we also encourage others to contribute to these lists of references by mailing to us.

Best Regards
Ghidey Zeratsion
ghzer@online.no




"Yara aims to play an active role in enabling a green revolution in
Africa. Based on the UN's recommendations, we want to demonstrate
that it is fully possible to combine a commitment to sustainable
development and the fight against poverty, with commercial
objectives", says Yara's President and CEO, Thorleif Enger. http://www.dn.no/finans/hugin/article501114.ece

While we applaud Yara’s commitment to support of the Green Revolution in Africa, we must also point out that the first award is given to the wrong person. At this crucial point in Ethiopian history, when the oppressed people are showing their determination to throw off the yoke of illegal tyranny by legal means and through due democratic process, the prize is at variance with the expressed ideals, and certainly does nothing to dispel the impression that Yara & Co, along with a number of other aid organizations, seem to be making an industry of others’ misery.

Who Yara is:
- http://www.yara.com/en/index.html
- Prize to Meles
http://www.yara.com/en/about/yara_centennial/green_revolution/
yara_prize_winner_inter.html
- Its History http://www.yara.com/en/about/history/index.html
- Separation from Hydro : http://www.yara.com/en/about/history/1999_2003/2000_1.html


Economic stakes of Norsk Hydro/YARA in Ethiopia:

Currently: Fertilizer supplier, mining contract
Hydro has signed a potash exploration agreement with Ethiopia in 1997. the agreement grants Hydro an exclusive license and exclusive right to explore for potash in the Dallol region. http://apec.kigam.re.kr/Resources/Non-M/POTASH.pdf

Hydro has loaded 32,000mt to ethiopia July 2002 http://www.afamin.net/documents/AFM_Jul02_en.pdf

According to AISCO(Agricultural Inputs Supply corporation) often the two suppliers of fertilizer to ethiopia are Norsk Hydro and Jordan Phosphate Mining Corporation(JPMC). http://www.aec.msu.edu/agecon/fs2/ethiopia/wp5.pdf
In 2002: Following a Japanese aid tender floated in August 2001 Hydro has reportedly shipped 20,000 mt of Western European urea into Ethiopia. A new IDB tender for 25,000 mt has been floated with closing on February 7. http://www.afamin.net/documents/AFM_Jan02_en.pdf

Fertilizer use in Ethiopia prospects:


Results of the publicised 1996/97 bumper yields:
- 65% produced no excess garin for market and were forced to pay their debts by selling other properties forcing them to destitution
- 35% produced excess grain for market but the prices of grain were very low that they have to sell other properties to cover their expenses. UNDP report http://www.ocha-eth.org/Archive/DownloadableReports/FERTLZ96.pdf
UN report : http://www.ocha-eth.org/Archive/DownloadableReports/
SidamaReport062002.pdf
IRIN news: http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=28298

- People killed, detained because they failed to pay debt:
Human Right Watch http://hrw.org/reports/2005/ethiopia0505/ethiopia0505.pdf


About allocating 15% of the budget:


About GDP results portrayed by YARA and the facts:
- Vulnerable population in 2005 USAID report: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_
assistance/countries/ethiopia/fy2005/ethiopia_ch_sr05_07-27-2005.
pdf
- Statistics http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_library/country_profiles/Agr_cou_231.pdf
- Concept paper to World Bank : http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTETHIOPIA/Resources/PREM/
Ethiopia_CEM-CNote-Final.pdf
-

About political changes portrayed by YARA and the facts:

Human Rights Watch:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/ethiop9833.htm
http://hrw.org/doc?t=africa&c=ethiop
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/01/21/ethiop6983.htm
A paper presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the African
Studies Association, Nashville, TN, 16-19 November 2000
Published in Pan-Ethiopia Forum, Ethiopia Policy Inst. 2000-2001
http://fp.okstate.edu/vestal/Ethiopia/human_rights_abuses_in_
ethiopia.htm


Amnesty International:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/eng-eth/index
US state Department Human Rights Report:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41603.htm


Different papers on Ethiopian Economy:
http://www.aec.msu.edu/agecon/fs2/ethiopia/

(Article written by Anders Sundnes Loevlie , translated by Anti Yara Award Committee).
Source Dagsavisen, Norway)

August 28, 2005

Mari Boine og Sissel Kyrkjeboe may decide to cancel their performances in the Oslo Concert Hall when Hydro (Yara) intends to award a prize to the prime minister of Ethiopia next week. That prime minister is associated with political violence, serious breaches of human rights, and corruption.

Today, Hydro is celebrating itself with a magnificent peoples’ festival in the Frogner Park in Oslo. Among the artists, who are to perform before ten thousands of those present we find Sissel Kyrkjeboe. According to plan, she is also expected to perform when Hydro’s daughter company Yara awards the prize named “African Green Revolution Yara Prize” in the Oslo Concert Hall next weekend, together with Mari Boine, among others.

But it may now happen that the two artists will decline to do so after all. The reason is that exile Ethiopians have requested that the two well known artists not to attend the award ceremony. Indeed, the award is to be given to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, who is suspected of seriously violating human rights. He has also been accused of election frauds which were held May 2005, and during which around forty people were killed when the prime minister’s private army attacked demonstrators.

Mari Boine is considering cancelling her appearance, but she refuses to comment the case before the final decision has been taken, according to her manager Paal Gjersum.

Sissel Kyrkjeboe’s manager Arne Svare also hesitates to comment this issue.

-We have not yet made any final decision. There is no information yet that ought to make Sissel drop the concert. But we are aware of the criticism against Mr. Zenawi, and we are now working to obtain information from all of those involved, according to Arne Svare.


Making Fools of Them.

One of those, who are involved in this issue, is Mr. Petter Eide, the Director for Amnesty in Norway.

- Yara has made a giant blunder by giving this award to Mr. Zenawi. They have made themselves looking like fools, he says.

Eide was himself invited to the award ceremony, but he will not attend. He is also of the opinion that Sissel Kyrkjeboe and Mari Boine ought to do the same.

It is his opinion that they ought to inform Yara that they do not feel comfortable, and ideally they should not participate.

Mulu Alem Adam, the leader for the Ethiopian Association in Norway, is of the same opinion.

-This award ceremony is a shame. Both artists and politicians ought to distance themselves from this award. This is no time to sing before the Ethiopian prime minister. How is it possible for him to sit there listening to concerts, while the Ethiopian people are dying? Mr. Adam asks.

According to Yara, this award is given to Mr. Zenawi for him showing great leadership, and for having strengthened agriculture in Ethiopia. But experts are still raising questions regarding Mr. Zenawi’s agricultural policies. Many people do not wish to have their names known; for fear that they may be denied visas to Ethiopia in the future. They point out that there have never been so many people who lack food in Ethiopia as there are today.

- It is totally absurd to give this award to Mr. Zenawi. A number of well documented abuses and breaches of human rights have been demonstrated – ranging from imprisonment without lawful court decisions to torture, murder, and disappearances. In addition, there are serious questions regarding the purely qualified considerations for this award, according to Kjetil Tronvoll, associate professor at the Center for Human Rights in the University of Oslo.

http://www.dagsavisen.no/kultur/article1713130.ece?service=print Aug. 28, 2005.


organization Anti Yara award committee
Tel +47 975 64 503

This is one of the many multinational (western companies) atrocities against the African continent. A small country like Norwegian with population with less than that of in Addis Ababa has been part of the atrocities committed by wrong TPLF cadres in the past by giving supports the way as Yara is doing to the worst tyranny (meles) Africa has at the moment. Our death and weakness is their good life. Our strength and hope is their weakness and despair.
This profit hungry criminal company (Yara that has a strong benefit relationship with the Norwegian people- through job and tax) is still looking criminals like meles to stay on power to benefit the company at that matter the Norwegian people at tremendous cost of the Ethiopian people. This profit hungry and inhuman company (Yara) will be the symbol to all humanity for their fight against the western companies that are exploiting especially Africa with limitless human and environmental disasters. The Norwegian people image will be badly tested if they will support this criminal company to award a criminal who leads the 75 million people with hunger, terror, diseases and death. If this award goes at it is planned, all Africans and the rest of the world victim population will seriously stand against multinationals as their secret agenda reveals unwisely and miscalculation Yara relationship with Meles Naziawi with is the worst so called leader Ethiopia ever has when Ethnic policy is his way of leading the country to total darkness.
I hope those singers, politicians, students or other Norwegian people will stand against their company that is playing very dirty games far away thousands kilometres in others matter and as a result millions are living with pain and dying in vain. Stop supporting a tyranny to your business interest against the interest of poor Ethiopians (African) farmers. I hope other international fertilizer companies will accuse yara internationally to get its clients and they also will help the Africans to damage the Norwegian image in Africa and affect them with any relationship in Africa. When you give prize a killer who is calling himself a leader, there should no other be another explanation about the people of Norwegian who really they are. If you chose one criminal over the 75 million Ethiopians, watch out. You may act rich and powerful by exploiting others using your company as best tools, but as human you are not more than that. If you go with your crime against the interest of the Ethiopian people, your crime against Ethiopian will down to generations and you will regret at that time. Soon rather than latter the rest of Africa will see you who really you are with the atrocity you are preparing to commit against Ethiopia in public with big celebration. You have to know only in the amount of time you plan to celebrate to prize their enemy, at least thousands of Ethiopian is dying from human made (leadership failure) causes. Watch out about your action. As human we are equal. If you do something negative against us today, you will get it back with interest latter.

Email: Justice@hotmail.com

Aug 29, 2005

On the third of September, 2005, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia will come to Oslo to receive Yara’s first African Green revolution prize.

The awarding by Yara of their first African Green Revolution Prize to PM Meles Zenawi has become a controversial issue in the Norwegian political arena in the last few weeks. Both Yara and relevant Norwegian authorities have been under pressure from organisations and individuals in Norway and abroad to withdraw the award.

After many appeals to Norwegian politicians and public and private institutions, the Norwegian government, to Ethiopian people’s joy and relief, has distanced itself from the award and will boycott the ceremony.
“Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik of Norway says no to Yara’s invitation to attend the presentation of a prize to Ethiopian dictator,” is the front-page headline of Norway’s most prestigious daily newspaper Aftenposten. At this point we feel it appropriate to express our gratitude to PM Bondevik for taking the side of right and justice.

According to Aftenposten all cabinet ministers invited have declined to attend, including the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Trade and Industry (whose ministry is a major shareholder in Yara).
The only representative of the Norwegian government who is planning to attend the ceremony is Ministerial Secretary Leiv Lunde of the Foreign Ministry. Lunde said that there had been much discussion as to whether a representative of the Foreign Ministry should attend or not. At this point we may reasonably wonder why a representative of the Foreign Ministry should attend the awarding of the prize when the PM himself has declined. Does this mean that there is some kind of conflict between political principle and foreign trade?

Another widely read Norwegian newspaper, Dagsavisen, reports that two of Norway’s most celebrated artistes, Sissel Kyrkjebø and Mari Boine, who were scheduled to entertain the invited guests at the ceremony in Oslo Concert House, will shortly cancel the agreement they have entered into with Yara. Their sudden decision came after many Norwegians and Ethiopians had informed them of PM Meles Zenawi’s true colours.

Arne cartridge, Yara’s media spokesperson, said to Aftenposten, “We have invited around 800 guests to participate in the ceremony”. He also stated that the invitations they had sent had met a mixed reception, and added that he did not wish to go into detail.
This is the writing on the wall for PM Meles Zenawi, and the message is clear. Time is running out for Meles and his ruling party, who cannot carry on conning donors with their fake façade of democracy in Ethiopia.

Does Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have the guts to come to Oslo in such an atmosphere?

Oslo August 28, 2005
The anti 2005 Yara-award committee Norway

Appeal to the Norwegian Government to urge Yara Foundation to reconsider its decision to award the first African Green Revolution Prize to PM Meles Zenawi

The recent decision by the Board of the Yara Foundation to award the first African Green Revolution Prize to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has angered Ethiopians across the globe. According to Yara's President and CEO, Thorleif Enger :
"Yara aims to play an active role in enabling a green revolution in Africa. Based on the UN's recommendations, we want to demonstrate that it is fully possible to combine a commitment to sustainable development and the fight against poverty, with commercial objectives".

It is obvious, there are a dozen of African countries, which managed to be food self sufficient and accelerating their growth through appropriate agriculture technology and policy. Yaras board of directors could have picked among various institutions, personalities or statesmen, contributed to this effect, as the best candidate for this prize, but it seems the “commercial objective” has taken precedence over all others, and the decision have fallen to award one of the most brutal human right violator on earth. And this is morally and ethically unacceptable.

The Anti-YARA award committee is established in Oslo and coordinates all Ethiopians across the globe against the award to PM Meles. Its objective is to expose this act of doing business on human misery and stop YARA from promoting a liar, an evil manipulator and a murderer as a saint and give him a face-lift to prolong his evil regime and the misery of the Ethiopians.

It is a reality of today’s world that the single most important factor for any individual in a developing world to stay/not-stay on power is the political and public relations as well as financial support given/withdrawn from western countries and institutions. With this in mind, the undeserved recognition and promotion of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi by YARA has a direct influence on prolonging his stay on power therefore, prolonging the misery of the Ethiopian people.

We will present below facts and figures collected by independent researchers and experts that despute YARAs claims of achivement by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi and as aresult rewarding him.

Due to inaccessibility of the country to independent investigators, it is not possible to present the complete picture of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi’s crime against Ethiopians. Only time will reveal the magnitude of misery Ethiopians have gone through under his brutal rule. There is multitude of documented evidence that we were unable to include in this paper due to lack of resources that would show interested parties that not only this award is undeserved, but it is also a cruel joke and travesty on humanity.

Concerning reliability of the documents provided by the government and used by Yara to support its claims, a study document ‘Is Poverty Really Falling in Rural Ethiopia’ by S. Devereux, et al., 2003 clearly indicates how official statistical data in regard to GDP growth and poverty reduction are entangled with anomalies:
A. The methodological foundations of the panel survey data from which these positive trends are so small and unrepresentative that there is no basis for extrapolating national poverty rates.
B. The conceptual approach preferred by these studies: poverty estimates based on levels of current consumption are heavily determined in Ethiopia by seasonality, annual rainfall and food aid receipts.
C. Alternative sources of data on changes in well being in Ethiopia: recent qualitative studies report that the poor perceive themselves as poorer and more vulnerable than ‘official’ poverty headcount figures suggest.

Related studies indicated that it is very difficult to reconcile setbacks with official narrative of rising prosperity in rural Ethiopia; and generalisations about improving national poverty trends need to be complemented with a disaggregated analysis that reveals rather than conceals the large pockets of chronic poverty and a deepening livelihoods crisis in many parts of rural Ethiopia.

In this regard we question the validity of YARA’s assertion on their statistical presentations. While most statistical data show an average agricultural GDP growth of 1.6% during prime Minister Meles’ regime YARA asserts it has grown by 3.1% and hence claiming doubling of production during this period. Though we cannot deny better yield with the use of fertilizers, the results do not show better growth than the previous decade and has miserably failed to promote the living standard of the people not alone to qualify for a ‘green revolution’. It is also blemish to conclude production has doubled from the basis that gross production has grown from 6.3 to 14.3 million tons without considering the annual population growth of 2.7% in Ethiopia. Generally agricultural results in Ethiopia are more affected by rain and expansion of farmland rather than by use of fertilizers. This is what most of the researchers and facts confirm.

On the contrary to Yaras claims the number of people requiring food assistance has grown substantially under Prime Minister Zenawi. According to (UN/OCHA 1995-2003) in 1994/95 the number of people requiring food assistance was estimated to be 4 million, in 1999/2000 this number hiked to 10 million, in 2002/03 it reached over 14 million. Currently, over 12 million Ethiopians are estimated to be ‘drought-affected’, including 5.4 million ‘chronically food insecure’. However, this number represents only those qualifying for ‘emergency assistance’.

Therefore Yaras claim of increased food production in the country is at best questionable and at worst is based on fraudulent government data.

Political repression and fertilizer market monopoly:

It is undeniable that inorganic fertilizer boosts crop production, and is of a paramount importance for Ethiopian agriculture. But as you will see below, Prime Minister Meles Zenawis’ agriculture policy is driven more to increase the revenue of companies, owned by his Party, like Guna Trading House S.Co and Ambasel Trading House P.L.C and others that monopolize the fertiliser market rather than improving the agriculture sector.

According to a report by Rahel Kassahun (Ethiopia’s Recent Growth Performance: Survey of Literature, August, 2003), problems related to policy issues are the measure and key obstacles for rural development in Ethiopia.

“Rural policies seem to be reduced to policies to increase farm output via chemical fertilisers. Despite the acclaimed success in terms of yield increase due to the extension program, much of the growth in cereal production in the 1990s is a result of expansion of total area under cultivation.” The report claims further “…the fertiliser market structure is neither competitive nor transparent. Currently, very little competition takes place, with extensive vertical integration of fertiliser distribution and virtual local monopolies. Firms with close regional government connection control most of the fertiliser market. Secondly, the organization of fertiliser credit is such that virtually all loan administration is controlled by the local government agencies. Input supply and credit are usually dealt with in the same transaction and local governments allow only their preferred suppliers to conduct sales on credit.”

Since the publication of this report, few remaining fertiliser suppliers have been forced out of the market by intimidation and unfair trade practice and to day fertiliser market is a 100% monopoly of a a governing party affiliated componies directly controlled by prime minister Meles Zenawi. As a result of the repressive policy companies, that built over 40 years experience, and managed to survive even the communist regime of the Dergue, such as Amalgamated pt ltd have been forced to abandon their workers and their clients and it’s CEOs have been forced in to exile.

Prime Minster Meles Zenawis’ agriculture and fertiliser policy on farmers, environment and the future of food security is criminal and irresponsible.
A. It totally ignores and discourages the use of locally available organic fertilizer as an alternative and supplement, there by destroys valuable local knowledge and increases the dependency of farmers on costly imported agriculture inputs.
B. Land degradation and negative environment impacts in relation to aggressive use of inorganic fertilizer are totally untouched issues.
C. It compels poor farmers to buy fertilizer or pay back loan for fertilizer at the cost of them being destitute.
The UN’s Emergency Unit for Ethiopia (EUE), 2003 said in one report: ‘Forcing farmers facing serious food shortages to pay back money borrowed to improve their land was immoral. In some parts of the country, farmers who have not been unable to meet the repayments have been jailed. Interest on loans taken out by farmers can be as high as 12.5%- higher than bank rates- for agricultural extension packages of improved seeds and fertilizer’.

It is also stated, in many different study documents that 65% of Ethiopian farmers who used fertilizers produced no excess grain to sell and hence unable to pay their fertilizer loan. As aresult farmers are forced to sell their assets, like animals, if they have, or chop trees and produce charcoal for market, and if failed to settle the due, are sent to prison. This situation has left many to be destitue and unable to farm the next year.
D. Ethiopian farmers are expected to be loyal supporters of prime Minster Meles Zenawi and his party. Non-compliance has catastrophic consequence to the farmer. Fertiliser would not be granted, which means of starvation of the affected farmers family next year. Those who have fertiliser debt would be requested to pay their debt immediately. On non-compliance the farmer would be thrown to jail, his property would be confiscated and his family would be exposed to starvation.

Ethiopian Human Rights Council reports that not only individuals but also masses of people in districts that voted for opposition candidates are jailed by federal police
force that is directly controlled by Prime Minster Meles Zenawi with an excuse of collecting their fertiliser debt. As a result people have been beaten, disappeared, murdered; property and houses of farmers suspected of being opposition sympathiser or members have been deliberately burned.

Prime Minster Meles Zenawis Rural policy:

Many analysts have concluded that the country‘s agricultural sector is devoid of private property rights, meaningful land reform, entirely based on tenancy to the state, entirely rain dependent, characterized by dwindling farming plots for each successive farming generation ; in essence laden with all the ingredients that negate meaningful increase in productivity per capital and the resulting reduction in poverty.

Even the multi-year food security program, which targets the 5.4 million chronically food insecure is, in fact, a donor-driven program whose impact is yet to be evaluated. On the contrary, a massive ‘resettlement campaign’ carried out by the government in 2003 turned out to be a complete disaster. Despite strong criticisms from local and foreign experts, the government latched onto the resettlement scheme without adequate preparation and planning going into it. In this campaign, hundreds of thousands of desperate farmers, lured by illusory promises of better school and roads at their ‘new homes’, joined the scheme only to find themselves in areas infested with malaria and other unfamiliar diseases devoid of basic facilities and infrastructure. Regrettably, some died, as they were totally unprepared for the harsh environment. Ironically, among those who survived, many continued to receive food aid in their new settlements.

Yara foundation also claims that PM Meles has allocated 15% of the budget for agriculture, exceeding the goal of 10% established by the African Union. It should be noted that his extensive and intricate network of rural cadres who are daubed by the regime and yara as “bare foot extension workers” and security personnel are the major beneficiaries of the budget allocated nominally for rural development.

Contrary to the unfounded claims of Yara Foundation, the foregoing facts demonstrate that food security in Ethiopia deteriorated significantly over the last ten years. The level of malnutrition is unheard of anywhere else. Food security in Ethiopia is not always prompted by low level of production. In fact, the overall lack of appropriate market strategy in the country is making farmers in surplus producing areas all the more vulnerable, as they are forced to sell their produce at a throw-away price. For instance, the widely-referenced ‘agricultural bounty’ of 1996/1997 did not prevent million of Ethiopians from being food insecure. During this period, farmers had to sell a 100kg of maize for a little over a dollar, unable to recover even their production costs, including huge fertilizer loans. As stated earlier 65% of those who used fertilizers were not able to produce excess grain for market and the remaining 35% were forced to sale at a lose. All were made slaves of debt most went bankrupt and destituted. Where is then the succcess YARA is fanfaring?. Yet, over five million people were still in need of food aid.








Human rights and good governance:

Ethiopia is still a country where there are massive and systematic state sponsored violations of human rights. We are sure that Mr. Sachs and members of the YARA foundation are aware of the several empirically based reports of African Watch, Amnesty International, Ethiopian Human Rights Council, and the US State Department Reports on state sponsored violations of human rights. Even the African Union’s recently launched Governance Report put Ethiopia below the average of dozens of African countries whose governance and democratic performance was evaluated as part of the NEPAD peer review mechanism. It is very hard then to understand why prime Minster Zenawi was honoured by the YARA foundation because “he has brought about political change in Ethiopia”.

Is it because of the warm and cordial relationship that Mr. Zenawi maintained with western leaders like T. Blair, J. Mr. Sachs, J. Stigliz and others? If that is the case, the award should have been given for his individual charm and friendship than as a prime minister of a country, which still largely suffers because of lack of accountable and democratic government. In fact the timing of the award totally discredits the stated intentions of the award givers to empower people with a voice. The award decision was made less than two months after the June 8, 2005 killing of more than 40 peaceful protestors in the streets of Addis Ababa. Under an emergency rule declared by the Prime Minister on May 15, 2005, the security forces were under his direct and personal control when they were ordered to shoot and kill protestors on June 8, 2005. School children and elderly were murdered in the guise of maintaining “law and order”. We have not even finished our mourning when the news reached us from the country where we are residing, Norway. The man whom we feel is responsible for the killings of unarmed youth and children is honoured by the YARA Foundation.

Our demand:

To day our world is marred by war, terrorism and other man made disasters which exasperated natural calamities. The need to protect human life and dignity collectively should be the prime directive of any responsible individual and institution. Promoting one of the worst human rights violators in the world is a reprehensible act that should be unacceptable in a civilised world.

While we applaud and support Yara’s commitment to support the Green Revolution in Africa, we must also point out that the first award is given to the wrong person. At this crucial point in Ethiopian history when the oppressed people are showing their determination to throw off the yoke of tyranny by legal and democratic process, the prize is at variance with the expressed ideals of YARA, and certainly does nothing to dispel the impression that Yara & Co, along with a number of other aid organizations, seem to be making an industry of others’ misery.

We therefore appeal to the Norwegian Government, who owns 36% of YARA, to urge Yara to withdraw the recognition and award to PM Meles and put pressure on Ethiopia’s tyrannical government to abide by democratic principles.

Oslo, August 15, 2005
The Anti-2005 YARA-Award committee, NORWAY
Ghidey Zeratsion
Tel. +47 97083636 /+47 23320278

Update from Anti 2005 Yara Award committee

The Anti Yara 2005 Award committee mobilised all concerned individuals from Norway and around the globe and prepared a document which encloses economic and political facts of Ethiopia contrary to Yara’s claim and reasons for awarding PM Meles Zenawi. This document is distributed to Yara ASA, Foreign ministry of Norway, Ministry of trade and industry (main share holder of Yara), various political parties and others.

The committee gave interview to various newspapers and mobilised Norwegians to stand by our side in stopping the award.

A lobby taskforce of the committee had a 3 hours long discussion with the YARA AS leadership. During the discussion the taskforce challenged the Yara leadership with documented facts that show economic growth in Ethiopia is far below the figure indicated in the press release of Yara and human right records of Ethiopia is one of the worst according to the report of international human right institutions. And finally the taskforce expressed its view that this award is nothing but a bribe to a commercial partner Meles to pave the way for wider fertilizer market in Ethiopia.

During the discussion, Mr. Arne cartridge, representing Yara, tried to defend the decision, but finally explained that the decision was made by the board members of the Yara Foundation and not by Yara AS, and that his colleagues at the head quarter had no influence on the process of nomination. Further he promised us to convey the minutes of the discussion to the board.

The taskforce has also conducted a fruitful discussion with the representative of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gunar, and the discussion was concluded with common understanding. According to one reliable source, the Ministry had written a letter of complaint to Yara about the decision made to award PM Meles.

We have in addition addressed the issue to different Norwegian political parties. Their response was very positive. Many of them have sent their reaction to Yara on the award to PM Meles.

On august 19, 2005, Ethiopians from different parts of Norway and many Norwegians demonstrated in Oslo against the award. The demonstration started from the center of the city to the Yara head quarter, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (main share holder of Yara) and the parliament.

The next big demonstration will be on Sept. 3, 2005, which would be joined by many Ethiopians from neighbouring Scandinavian countries. This demonstration is also to put pressure on Ethiopian tyrant Meles to respect people’s voice and abide by the newly released EU election observers report.


The anti 2005 Yara Award Committee- Norway
August 26, 2005

Questionable Facts and Figures behind the Yara-Prize.
(Published 8-30-2005)

The fertilizer giant Yara offers an award for “green revolution” in Africa to the controversial prime minister, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Based on numbers collected from a research institute under the control by the Ethiopian prime minister himself, and not by international organizations, such as the FAO or the World Bank.

By Pia A. Gaarder, Norwatch; (Norwegian language)
(Translated into English).

The first Yara award for “green revolution” in Africa has been met with a storm of criticism from human rights organizations and from Ethiopian exile groups. Yara claims that they wish to focus upon positive efforts in Ethiopian agriculture, but they have done this by honouring the very controversial prime minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi, who is well known for his breaches of human rights. Mr. Zenawi arrives in Oslo, September 3, in order to accept the award and a check for around one million Norwegian Crowns (U. S. Dollar 200,000.-).

But even though Yara has made a controversial political decision, then it is the figures for the positive development in Ethiopian agriculture that is emphasized in the justification for the award, numbers which are rather questionable. Why Mr. Zenawi receives the Yara award, as stated in Yara’s home page and the press release, it indicates among others that the agricultural production throughout the last three years in Ethiopia has increased with around eight percent annually. Furthermore, it states that Ethiopia throughout the last ten years has more than doubled its food production; from 6.3 million tonnes (1993) to 14.3 million tonnes (2004).

Norwatch has for an extended period of time attempted to find out from where these exceptionally positive figures for agricultural development in Ethiopia derive. By now it is clear that these figures no not coincide with those from the greatest authority in the field, the World Food Bank Organization (FAO), but instead from a government controlled research institute in Addis Ababa, named EARO – Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization. This is a research institute that is under the direct control by Mr. Zenawi’s own government.

In other words, the award winner’s own research institute has provided the information which is included into the justification for the selection of the award winner. Furthermore, the Yara figures paint a rosy development, which cannot be found in any of the data possessed by FAO.


No Agricultural Revolution.

The world’s food production organization, the FAO, actually operates with quite different figures than those provided by Yara’s press release. Norwatch has been given an Ethiopian statistics report from FAO’s African office in Ghana. This indicates that no agricultural revolution has taken place in Ethiopia under Mr. Zenawi’s rule.

The production of important food products, such as grain, vegetables, fruits, beans, and legumes have increased with around one and a half percent annually on the average during the last few years (2002 – 2004), according to FAO’s own calculations. This is far below the growth in the population, which stands at around 2.36 percent. And this is far away from Yara’s claim about an annual growth rate of eight percent.

The only kind of agricultural products that have experienced a great expansion is that of sugar cane (+4.9 percent), and products made for export, such as cotton (+20 percent), and sesame seeds, which are used for oil production (+25.7 percent). But the volume of cotton and sesame seeds is small, and as a whole, these do not affect the statistics significantly.

With regard to meat, milk, and eggs in Ethiopia, the production has declined the last three years at the average of two to three percent annually.


Increased Growth in Population.

Norwatch’s analysis of figures from FAO’s base of statistics (FAOSTAT) reveals that if we consider the production volume for the group important food products, such as grain, sugar, vegetables, roots, and legumes during the last three years, there has been a decline of a couple of percents during 2002, and almost one percent during 2003. However, there was an increase of slightly above four percent during 2004. We find roughly the same development if we include all other agricultural products into our calculations (-1.98 percent, -0.58 percent, and +4.28 percent).

However, there is an indication of increase in the agricultural production from 1993 to 2004 of around 60 percent. In other words, the figures reveal a strong growth pattern, even though the growth does not represent “more than a doubling of the production of food” according to Yara. On the other hand, the agricultural production was particularly sluggish in Ethiopia during the years 1993 to 1995, since the country had just emerged from the war with Eritrea (which received independence in 1993).

If we consider the year 1996 as a point in time that the agricultural production had again increased to a more normal level, then the development reveals a very different pattern. This is because since 1996 no great development in the food production in Ethiopia has taken place. The increase in volume is totally less than fifteen percent. This corresponds to barely 1.9 percent annually – again far below the rate of population growth.

A number of different statistics and uneven weighting of the components therein are the basis for the statistics. According to Yara’s own background material used for the award, and which Norwatch has received, the World Bank operates with a decline in agricultural production in Ethiopia of 2.3 percent in 2002 and as much as 12.3 percent in 2003. In other words, Yara itself possesses data, which stand in sharp contrast to the numbers given in the justification for the award.

Even though FAO’s data base FAOSTAT is an authority in the field, then FAO has also access to a number of different reports as well. This makes it possible to operate with different figures with regard to the development (different time periods, more or without the products for exports, etc.). But none of the reports in the possession of FAO that have been made accessible to Norwatch, reveal figures that resemble the rosy development described by Yara in their justification for the award. Rather to the contrary.


An Institute Controlled by the Government.

Just because of the disagreement between the various figures, Norwatch desires to find out from where and how Yara has derived its numbers. The first answer from Yaras chief director for communication gives the impression that the sources were centrally placed international organizations:

-With regard to sources a number of different series of sources have been utilized as parts of the discussion. This, combined with personal interviews and accumulated knowledge among the four expert representatives in the award committee provided the basis for the decision. The primary sources are: the World Bank, UNDP (Human Development Report 2004), FAO (among other The State of Food and Agriculture 2003 – 04 and Earth trends). In addition, there is material collected by the Millennium Project, as well as material provided by those who nominated the different candidates.

After yet another week with several contacts, and through which Norwatch pointed out to Yara that these numbers cannot be found with FAO, it was revealed that the figures in the justification for the award do not derive from the above mentioned international institutions, but from an Ethiopian organization named EARO:

-With regard to your inquiry in connection with the food production, these figures derive from the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, EARO, Cartridge writes to Norwatch in an e-mail.

EARO is shown to be a research institute, which is controlled by the Ethiopian government. Its home page states that it was founded by decree, June 1997, and that it is placed directly under the control of the agricultural department.

In other words, the impressive figures regarding the growth in food production do not derive from the greatest authority in the field, the World’s Food Production Organization – FAO. Nor do they derive from the World Bank or the development program of the UN, UNDP, but from an Ethiopian research institute controlled by the government of the same person, who receives the award for his extraordinary contribution to fight hunger in the country.


In general.

By the time Norwatch published this article we have not received any answer from the company director for communications of Yara, Mr. Arne Cartridge, with regard to why Yara in their justification for the award has chosen to use the numbers from EARO, which is directly under the control of Mr. Zenawi’s own government – and not the figures from either FAO or the World Bank. Nor is there any answer to the question if the idea of fetching numbers from an institution, which lies directly under the award winner’s own government, without being clearly affected by a problem of prejudice.

Mr. Cartridge emphasized during earlier contacts that the figures for agricultural development were not a major factor in awarding Mr. Zenawi the prize.

-The basis for the figures is not the main reason for selection of award winner. While statistics and figures play an important role as the foundation for the decision, it is important not to get confused by numbers. The “Yara Prize for a Green Revolution in Africa” establishes a focal point upon an overall approach and the initiatives and programs which have been started. What Yara wishes to accomplish this year is to start a debate about what must be done in order to improve the surety of food availability in Ethiopia, and for the future to eliminate hunger and poverty, to which the country has been exposed, Mr. Arne Cartridge tells Norwatch.

Mr. Cartridge states that Mr. Zenawi receives the award because Ethiopia has made the fight against poverty and hunger into a major issue in the political agenda.

-Ethiopia has progressed far compared to neighboring countries, such as Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan. And the Board decided that Ethiopia deserved publicity around the matters that they have accomplished. But all of this has become quite lopsided, completely because of focus upon negative political issues in Ethiopia. We cannot forget that Ethiopia was a feudal society only fourteen years ago, and that the process of democratization takes time, according to Mr. Cartridge.


Evidence of Self-Criticism.

-If Yara wanted to emphasize the positive initiatives taken in Ethiopia, was it then not possible to select an independent institution or an agricultural expert, who then may have contributed much? Why select an approach which provides a great political reward to such a controversial statesman?

-This has been a lengthy and difficult discussion. The Board wished to emphasize the political aspects of the struggle against poverty and hunger this year. We wanted this year to emphasize that the countries themselves make the political decisions in order to defeat poverty and hunger. Another time we may emphasize something else, according to Mr. Cartridge.

-But does not Yara have anything to criticise itself for in connection with this award?

-We knew that the selection of award winner was controversial. First of all, we have to receive criticism in connection with the selection of an award winner this year, and we have to accept that. Second, we have to consider if we have made a poor effort with regard to the selection that we have taken, and our method of communicating this. We are open for this, Mr. Cartridge underscores.

However, Mr. Cartridge is clear about one issue:

-We have done an inadequate job in presenting this debate properly.

URL
http://www.norwatch.no/index.php?artikkelid=1375&back=1

About Norwatch

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August 30, 2005
From the Anti 2005 Yara Award committee Norway