Calais, France refugee camp Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Politicians who talk about the ‘swarm’ of migrants should look at the powerful pictures of a church for Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians in the camp and reflect

The Ethiopian Orthodox church in Calais. Photograph: Rob Stothard/Getty Images

(The Guardian) One of last Sunday’s prescribed readings for the Church of England was from the book of Exodus. Up and down the country, churchgoers will have heard how the people of Israel had escaped from political oppression in Egypt and were on their way to the promised land. In this 40 years of wandering – often vulnerable, cold and feeling unwelcome – they built a so-called “tent of meeting” for God. It was, the Bible says, located just outside of the camp. As the C of E faithful listened, I wonder how many made the imaginative link with Calais? There, Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians stuck in the port’s “jungle” camp have used the materials at hand to build a church to worship in as they await their uncertain fate.

Both the ancient and modern refugees crossed dangerous waters seeking a better life. Both migrants in a hostile and unwelcoming environment. Perhaps people called them names and thought of them as a “swarm”, in the style of David Cameron. Though the only reference to swarm in Exodus is the “swarm of flies”. Little wonder people felt insulted by that.

Christianity has existed in the Horn of Africa since the first century AD. And Judaism from long before that – with many believing that one of the lost tribes of Israel settled in Ethiopia. Which is why, in 1991, when they were under threat, the Israeli government airlifted 14,500 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours. But there seems to be no equivalent sense of solidarity that western Christians have with their Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ. Back in April, a group of Ethiopian Christians, en route from Addis Ababa via Libya, were caught by Isis militants and beheaded on the beach. According to their families, some of them were hoping to come to the UK. But we don’t want them.

Cameron is happy to call this a Christian country when there is electoral advantage to be had out of it. But he is a fair-weather friend who refuses to make the connection with Christian migrants when there is not. For an expert on immigration law once stood up to ask Jesus: “And who is my neighbour?” And Cameron knows that the people of middle England did not like his reply.

Community rallies around Ethiopian woman facing deportation

Yeshiwork Abrha fears deportation to Ethiopia. Photo: Simon O’Dwyer.

Anglican church parishioners in Melbourne’s inner south have launched a desperate campaign to stop the deportation of Ethiopian woman Yeshiwork Abrha​, who fears she will be killed if the federal government sends her home.

Last week, The Age reported on Ms Yeshiwork’s  desperate bid to stay in Australia. She says she faces certain incarceration or worse if she is forced to leave the country.

Ms Yeshiwork had been ordered to report to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection last Thursday, after failing in her bid for a protection visa, and having pleas for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to intervene ignored. Then, the department extended her bridging visa for seven days to give her time to prepare her travel documents to leave.

Ms Yeshiwork’s lawyers on Monday launched a last-ditch effort to have her deportation halted while they are given the chance to review her case, and on Thursday Albert Park MP Martin Foley wrote to Mr Dutton, imploring him to let her stay.

“She has the support of many in our community, including UnitingCare, the Salvation Army and the Anglican archdeacon,” Mr Foley wrote. “In these circumstances I implore the federal minister to exercise his discretion … [and] grant Ms Abrha a protection visa to ensure she is protected from persecution as a political asylum seeker.”

Anglican Parish of the Park members have circulated a petition, which on Wednesday had more than 300 signatures calling for her to be allowed to stay, and Archdeacon Ray McInnes has lobbied Mr Dutton on her behalf.

Ms Yeshiwork is an active member of the pro-democracy opposition group Ginbot 7. In 2011, the government declared it and four other opposition groups to be terrorist organisations, forcing thousands to flee Ethiopia.

At the 2011 census, there were 8453 Ethiopian-born Australians living in the country, most of whom in Victoria. The vast majority are political refugees.

Ginbot 7’s leader, Andargachew Tsege –€“ for whom Ms Yeshiwork worked in Ethiopia – wrote to the Refugee Review Tribunal on her behalf in 2012, in a letter seen by Fairfax Media.

He wrote: “Ms Yeshiwork is one of our active member [sic] in Melbourne, Australia which is known by the international security tentacles [sic] of the Ethiopian regime operating from each Embassies around the world [sic]…We strongly believe that if forced to return to Ethiopia she would gravely suffer in the hands of the agents of the repressive regime”.

Two years later, Mr Andargachew​, a British citizen, was abducted by Ethiopian security forces during a stop-over in Yemen, and taken back to Ethiopia. He has been on death row in Ethiopia ever since.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Semayawi and Andinet Support Groups Merger August 5, 2015

emayawi Andnet (Semayawi) Support North America, Press Release

Semayawi (Blue) Party is one of the foremost pro-democracy political parties in Ethiopia that is conducting a non-violent struggle to establish a democratic system of government in a country that has been ruled with an iron fist by a totalitarian regime for the past 25 years. The party’s main principle of non-violent struggle to democratize Ethiopia enjoys broad public support. It is to be remembered that after the regime illegally banned the once strong Andenet Party, most of its members joined Semayawi Party in order to continue their struggle.

Following their footsteps and recognizing the need for unified support, Andenet and Semayawi Support Groups have been fundraising in support of Semayawi Party during its campaign for election. In addition to this collaboration, the groups have been working towards merger. Today, we gladly announce that Semayawi Support North America and Andenet DC Metro Support Chapter have finalized the process and completed the merger. The new unified support group will operate under the name Semayawi Andnet (Semayawi) Support North America (SASNA).

Semayawi Andnet (Semayawi) Support North America (SASNA) mission is to provide all rounded support to Semayawi Party; to provide a forum for Semayawi supporters and other like-minded individuals in North America to get involved in the struggle; to disseminate research articles and/or materials and information which have relevant bearings on Ethiopia, Semayawi supporters, and the Ethiopian Diaspora in North America.

As the repression level of the TPLF/EPRDF regime continues, the need for more intensified struggle for freedom becomes necessary; and for these efforts to succeed, the support of Ethiopians in the diaspora will continue to play a vital role. It is our belief that SASNA will serve as an instrument in supporting the effort of non-violent opposition political parties in promoting democracy, human rights, free press, good governance, free market, and national unity.