Ethiopian Review Readers Forum

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Aug 19, 2005 - 10:42PM

To the President of Columbia University regarding Yara

Ethiopian-Americans for Democracy
hagerwedad@yahoo.com

August 19, 2005

President Lee C. Bollinger
Office Of President
202 Low Library Mail Code: 4309
Columbia University
New York, NY 10027

bollinger@columbia.edu

Dear President Bollinger:
We have learned with great dismay that distinguished members of Columbia University are associated with the selection of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, for the first African Green Revolution Yara Prize. Yara International ASA, a Norwegian supplier of fertilizers, sponsors the prize. Professor Jeffrey Sachs will present the prize at an award ceremony in Oslo, Norway on September 3, 2005. Dr. Pedro Sanchez, Director of Tropical Agriculture at the Earth Institute, is also a board member of the Yara Foundation and Prize.
In the face of the recent massacre of over 36 peaceful demonstrators in Addis Ababa by direct orders of Mr. Zenawi, the well-documented election frauds executed by his regime, and the reckless economic policies that he has implemented to advance his ethno-centric agenda, we are writing this letter to request that Columbia dissociate its name from this infamous event. Columbia’s association with the award is inconsistent with its cherished principles of promoting truth, justice and human welfare.
When the people of Ethiopia rejected the tyrannical regime of Meles Zenawi in the historic elections of May 15, 2005, the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency and used the state machinery toward blatant vote rigging and suppression of human rights. On June 8, he ordered the massacre of over 36 peaceful demonstrators in Addis Ababa, and subsequently imprisoned thousands of university students and other members and supporters of the opposition.
Horrified by the brutal nature of the actions taken by Mr. Zenawi, the world protested swiftly and in no uncertain terms. Peter Takirambudde, Executive Director of Sub-Saharan Africa for Human Rights Watch, declared, “… the authorities have intensified the repression they have used to keep themselves in power for 13 years.” The European Parliament condemned the killings, as did the UN Secretary General and several members of the US Congress. In an unprecedented reaction to the massacre, the United Kingdom suspended aid to the regime. As recently as August 17, Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the US House of Representatives Sub-committee on Africa, in an interview with IRIN, affirmed, “The people of Ethiopia, no less than anybody else in the world, deserve to have their ballot counted and not be subject to being defrauded.” Notwithstanding the positions taken by the international community, Mr. Zenawi has continued to this day his harassment of opposition leaders, suppression of basic human rights, and systematic killings, imprisonment and torture of peaceful protesters.
President Bollinger,
Columbia’s reputation and commitment to the advancement of truth, justice and human rights are at stake. As a national leader who has committed his professional career to the promotion of free speech and other fundamental human rights, we trust you will appreciate the gravity of associating this esteemed institution that you lead with the recognition of a tyrant. We, therefore, request that you uphold the lofty ideals that you and the university symbolize, take an unswerving stand on the side of truth, democracy and justice, and promptly dissociate Columbia’s name from this iniquitous event.
Respectfully,
Ethiopian-Americans for Democracy

Cc:

Alan Brinkley, Provost (ab65@columbia.edu)
Office of the Provost
Columbia University in the City of New York
205 Low Memorial Library, Mail Code 4313
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
Fax: (212) 932-0418

The Trustees of Columbia University
211 Low Library,
535 West 116th Street, Mail Code 4324;
New York, NY 10027
(212) 222-1017 (FAX)

Jeffrey D. Sachs
Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management and Director of the Earth Institute
314 Low Library 535 West 116Th St Mail Code: 4327
Fax: +1 212-854-8702
E-mail: sachs@columbia.edu

Yihem Yalfal

Aug 20, 2005 - 6:36AM