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As a candidate for President in the 2008 elections I have been =
considering many issues, both domestic and foreign and have found that =
in currently reviewing my position on the current political unrest in =
Ethiopia there are many things to consider.It is im****tant to understand =
that Ethiopia is unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian =
monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of =
the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974, a military =
junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since =
1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, =
uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime =
was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the =
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A =
constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty =
elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the =
1990's ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. Final demarcation of =
the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an =
international commission's finding requiring it to surrender territory =
considered sensitive to Ethiopia.
This Eastern African nation, west of Somalia is slightly less than twice =
the size of Texas. It has no coastline and no maritime claims. The =
climate is influenced by tropical monsoons with wide topographic-induced =
variation. The geography is mostly high plateau with central mountain =
range divided by Great Rift Valley. The countries natural resources are =
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, =
hydropower. The country has suffered through several evironmental issues =
including deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; =
water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor =
management. But is a party to several international treaties on the =
environment including Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto =
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone =
Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, =
Law of the Sea. Being landlocked Ethiopia's entire coastline along the =
Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May =
1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, =
rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops =
are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and =
castor bean. So that Ethipoia has been in the past and could be in the =
future a major part of the developement of the Economy of Africa.
In dealing with this nation as President I need to make myself more =
familiar with the complicated structure of the Federal Democratic =
Republic of Ethiopia or as they call it there "Ityop'iya Federalawi =
Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik". In the countries capital Addis Ababa (which is =
8 hours ahead of Wa****ngton, DC during Standard Time) sits a federal =
republic with 9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and =
2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); =
Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire =
Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), =
Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch =
Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples). =
Ethiopia being the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the =
oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years. Their latest constitution =
was ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995. With a legal =
system of a currently transitional mix of national and regional =
courts.The president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are =
recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's =
Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits to =
the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates =
selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council. The legal age =
to vote in Ethiopia is 18. The Legislative branch currently constists of =
a bicameral Parliament including the House of Federation (or upper =
chamber) (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve =
five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives (or lower =
chamber) (547 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from =
single-member districts to serve five-year terms) elections: last held =
15 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote =
- NA; seats by party - EPRDF 327, CUD 109, UEDF 52, SPDP 23, OFDM 11, =
BGPDUF 8, ANDP 8, independent 1, others 6, undeclared 2.
As I am sure you can imagine there are a lot of political parties to =
deal with in Ethiopia. Such as the Afar National Democratic Party or =
ANDP; Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF =
[Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP =
[TEMESGEN Zewdie] (contains elements of the former CUD); Ethiopian =
People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an =
alliance of Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM, Oromo People's =
Democratic Organization or OPDO, the South Ethiopian People's Democratic =
Front or SEPDF, and Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front or TPLF); Gurage =
Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM; Oromo Federalist Democratic =
Movement or OFDM [BULCHA Demeksa]; Somali People's Democratic Party or =
SPDP; United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]; and =
dozens of other small parties. Not to mention the political pressure =
groups and leaders like Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; =
Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF =
[DAOUD Ibsa].
Ethiopia also participates like many countries do in world organizations =
such as ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, =
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM =
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, =
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, =
WMO, WTO (as an observer conutry).
Ethiopia's economy is poverty-stricken and it is based on agriculture, =
accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of ex****ts, and 80% of total =
employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and =
poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy =
with ex****ts of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low prices =
have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The war =
with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the =
economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia =
qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) =
initiative, and in December 2005 the IMF voted to forgive Ethiopia's =
debt to the body. Under Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government =
owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system =
continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are =
unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in =
2002, leading to a 3.3% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns =
helped agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004-06. I mean how does =
the world expect a country to thrive on revenues of only $2.679 billion =
and expenditures of $3.388 billion; including capital expenditures of =
$788 million (2006 est.)?
The economy and evironmental factors are one thing but international =
disputes are another factor that has had negative impact on Ethiopia. In =
one such case Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 =
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but =
neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the November =
2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and =
Eritrea (UNMEE), which has monitored the 25-km-wide Tem****ary Security =
Zone in Eritrea since 2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite =
Eritrean restrictions on its operations and reduced force of 17,000; the =
undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a =
political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and =
southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern =
Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007; =
"Somaliland" secessionists provide ****t facilities in Berbera and trade =
ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered =
efforts to demarcate the ****ous boundary with Ethiopia. As a result =
there has been a great refugee crisis as well that also impacts the =
country to a great degree. Here is the breakdown on refugees: refugees =
(country of origin): 73,927 (Sudan), 15,901 (Somalia), 10,700 (Eritrea)=20
IDPs: 100,000-280,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000 and ethnic =
clashes in Gambela; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces) =
(2006).
Also drugs have played a big part in the problems for The Federal =
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia because it is a transit hub for heroin =
originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as =
well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat =
(khat) for local use and regional ex****t, principally to Djibouti and =
Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed =
financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering =
center.
So now you can see why I struggle each day as I review my position on =
the current political unrest in Ethiopia. Because even if I do not =
become President I would still like to play some small role in helping =
this once wonderful producer of cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, =
cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, qat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, =
goats and fish regain her former greatness! I would like to see all the =
Ethiopian workers happily back at work in their jobs in the food =
processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, =
and cement making industry! I can't wait until America is once again =
buying the coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, and =
oilseeds that only a great nation like Ethiopia can provide. I would =
like to see the Christian's (60.8%) and Muslim's (32.8%) traditional =
peoples (4.6%) and others (1.8%) of Ethiopia get along and work together =
to not only help themselves but to be able to one day give back to the =
world that which the world has given them. This is why I struggle so =
deeply all the time considering not only the political but all forms of =
unrest that for so long has lingered like a dark cloud that would not =
rain over the country that is Ethiopia. =20
=20
--=20
Thanks!
Kurt Kemp
Checkout The Kurt Kemp For President in 2008 Campaign Website on Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/kurtjkemp
My BlogSpot Blog On:
http://kempforpresident2008.blogspot.com/
kurtjkemp2002@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it."
---- Lt. John B. Putnam Jr. (1921-1944)
------=_NextPart_000_040C_01C7C6B1.550D1420
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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As a candidate for President in the =
2008 elections=20
I have been considering many issues, both domestic and foreign and have =
found=20
that in currently reviewing my position on the current political unrest =
in=20
Ethiopia there are many things to consider.It is im****tant to understand =
that=20
Ethiopia is unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian =
monarchy=20
maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the =
1936-41=20
Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974, a military junta, the =
Derg,=20
deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and =
established a=20
socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, =
and=20
massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a =
coalition=20
of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front =
(EPRDF).=20
A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty =
elections=20
were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the 1990's ended =
with a=20
peace treaty in December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is =
currently on=20
hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's =
finding=20
requiring it to surrender territory considered sensitive to=20
Ethiopia.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>This Eastern African nation, west of =
Somalia is=20
slightly less than twice the size of Texas. It has no coastline and no =
maritime=20
claims. The climate is influenced by tropical monsoons with wide=20
topographic-induced variation. The geography is mostly high plateau with =
central=20
mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley. The countries natural =
resources are=20
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, =
hydropower. The=20
country has suffered through several evironmental issues including=20
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water =
shortages in=20
some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management. But is a =
party to=20
several international treaties on the environment including =
Biodiversity,=20
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, =
Endangered=20
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not =
ratified:=20
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea. Being landlocked Ethiopia's =
entire=20
coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of =
Eritrea on=20
24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water =
volume,=20
rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops =
are=20
believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and =
castor bean.=20
So that Ethipoia has been in the past and could be in the future a major =
part of=20
the developement of the Economy of Africa.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>In dealing with this nation as =
President I need to=20
make myself more familiar with the complicated structure of the Federal=20
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia or as they call it there "Ityop'iya =
Federalawi=20
Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik". In the countries capital Addis Ababa (which is =
8 hours=20
ahead of Wa****ngton, DC during Standard Time) sits a federal republic =
with 9=20
ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 =
self-governing=20
administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* =
(Addis=20
Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela =
Hizboch=20
(Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale =
(Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern =
Nations,=20
Nationalities and Peoples). Ethiopia being the oldest independent =
country in=20
Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years. Their =
latest=20
constitution was ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995. =
With a=20
legal system of a currently transitional mix of national and regional =
courts.The=20
president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are =
recommended by the=20
prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; =
for other=20
federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's=20
Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal =
Judicial=20
Administrative Council. The legal age to vote in Ethiopia is 18. The =
Legislative=20
branch currently constists of a bicameral Parliament including the House =
of=20
Federation (or upper chamber) (108 seats; members are chosen by state =
assemblies=20
to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives (or =
lower=20
chamber) (547 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from=20
single-member districts to serve five-year terms) elections: last held =
15 May=20
2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote - NA; =
seats by=20
party - EPRDF 327, CUD 109, UEDF 52, SPDP 23, OFDM 11, BGPDUF 8, ANDP 8, =
independent 1, others 6, undeclared 2.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As I am sure you can imagine there are =
a lot of=20
political parties to deal with in Ethiopia. Such as the Afar National =
Democratic=20
Party or ANDP; Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front or =
BGPDUF=20
[Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party or CUDP =
[TEMESGEN=20
Zewdie] (contains elements of the former CUD); Ethiopian People's =
Revolutionary=20
Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an alliance of Amhara National =
Democratic Movement or ANDM, Oromo People's Democratic Organization or =
OPDO, the=20
South Ethiopian People's Democratic Front or SEPDF, and Tigrayan =
Peoples'=20
Liberation Front or TPLF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement or =
GNDM;=20
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM [BULCHA Demeksa]; Somali =
People's=20
Democratic Party or SPDP; United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF =
[BEYENE=20
Petros]; and dozens of other small parties. Not to mention the political =
pressure groups and leaders like Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or =
EPPF;=20
Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF =
[DAOUD=20
Ibsa].</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Ethiopia also participates like many =
countries do=20
in world organizations such as ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, =
IAEA,=20
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, =
IOC, IOM=20
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, =
UNESCO,=20
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO =
(as an=20
observer conutry).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Ethiopia's economy is poverty-stricken =
and it is=20
based on agriculture, accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of ex****ts, =
and 80%=20
of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent =
drought and=20
poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy =
with=20
ex****ts of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low prices have =
seen many=20
farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The war with Eritrea in =
1998-2000=20
and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee=20
production. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from =
the Highly=20
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in December 2005 the IMF =
voted to=20
forgive Ethiopia's debt to the body. Under Ethiopia's land tenure =
system, the=20
government owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; =
the=20
system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as =
entrepreneurs are=20
unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in =
2002,=20
leading to a 3.3% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns helped =
agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004-06. I mean how does the =
world expect=20
a country to thrive on revenues of only $2.679 billion and expenditures =
of=20
$3.388 billion; including capital expenditures of $788 million (2006=20
est.)?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The economy and evironmental factors =
are one thing=20
but international disputes are another factor that has had negative =
impact on=20
Ethiopia. In one such case Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the =
2002=20
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but =
neither=20
party responded to the revised line detailed in the November 2006 EEBC=20
Demarcation Statement; UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea =
(UNMEE),=20
which has monitored the 25-km-wide Tem****ary Security Zone in Eritrea =
since=20
2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite Eritrean restrictions =
on its=20
operations and reduced force of 17,000; the undemarcated former British=20
administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to =
rival clans=20
within Ethiopia's Ogaden and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian =
forces=20
invaded southern Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in =
January=20
2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide ****t facilities in Berbera and =
trade=20
ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered =
efforts=20
to demarcate the ****ous boundary with Ethiopia. As a result there has =
been a=20
great refugee crisis as well that also impacts the country to a great =
degree.=20
Here is the breakdown on refugees: refugees (country of origin): 73,927 =
(Sudan),=20
15,901 (Somalia), 10,700 (Eritrea) <BR>IDPs: 100,000-280,000 (border war =
with=20
Eritrea from 1998-2000 and ethnic clashes in Gambela; most IDPs are in =
Tigray=20
and Gambela Provinces) (2006).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Also drugs have played a big part in =
the problems=20
for The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia because it is a transit =
hub for=20
heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for =
Europe, as=20
well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat =
(khat)=20
for local use and regional ex****t, principally to Djibouti and Somalia =
(legal in=20
all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system =
limits the=20
country's utility as a money laundering center.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So now you can see why I struggle each =
day as I=20
review my position on the current political unrest in Ethiopia. Because =
even if=20
I do not become President I would still like to play some small role in =
helping=20
this once wonderful producer of cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, =
cotton,=20
sugarcane, potatoes, qat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats and =
fish=20
regain her former greatness! I would like to see all the Ethiopian =
workers=20
happily back at work in their jobs in the food processing, beverages, =
textiles,=20
leather, chemicals, metals processing, and cement making industry! I =
can't wait=20
until America is once again buying the coffee, qat, gold, leather =
products, live=20
animals, and oilseeds that only a great nation like Ethiopia can =
provide. I=20
would like to see the Christian's (60.8%) and Muslim's (32.8%) =
traditional=20
peoples (4.6%) and others (1.8%) of Ethiopia get along and work together =
to not=20
only help themselves but to be able to one day give back to the world =
that which=20
the world has given them. This is why I struggle so deeply all the time=20
considering not only the political but all forms of unrest that for so =
long has=20
lingered like a dark cloud that would not rain over the country that is=20
Ethiopia. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><BR> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV></FONT></DIV><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>
<DIV><BR>-- <BR>Thanks!<BR>Kurt Kemp<BR>Checkout The Kurt Kemp For =
President in=20
2008 Campaign Website on Myspace<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.myspace.com/kurtjkemp">http://www.myspace.com/kurtjkem=
p</A><BR>My=20
BlogSpot Blog On:<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://kempforpresident2008.blogspot.com/">http://kempforpresiden=
t2008.blogspot.com/</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:kurtjkemp2002@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
">kurtjkemp2002@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
><BR>"C=
ourage is=20
not the lack of fear but the ability to face it."<BR>---- Lt. John B. =
Putnam Jr.=20
(1921-1944)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_040C_01C7C6B1.550D1420--
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