November 10, 2005
His Excellency Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia
Prime Minister’s Office
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax 011-251-1-552-020
Your Excellency:
I write on behalf of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a national organization of college and university professors in the United States, to respectfully urge you to immediately release Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and Professor Berhanu Nega. We understand both men were detained, along with many other members of civil society, following political protests on November 1 and 2 in Addis Ababa.
These actions do not coincide with your government’s stated mission to defend democracy and support democratic institutions. The turmoil that has resulted from last May’s disputed elections can only hold back Ethiopia’s emergence as a leader in Africa and the world. Why would a country such as yours want to stifle critical voices? It has been widely demonstrated that dialogue between political leaders and parties, not force or violence, is the way to sustain a healthy multiparty democratic system. We therefore respectfully advise you to engage in dialogue with political opponents to defuse the tense situation that erupted in violence last week.
As scholars, we worry especially about impediments to the free exchange of ideas—one of the most basic values of higher education. Since its founding in 1915, the AAUP has defended the free exchange of ideas among scholars. Our members understand that such freedom is essential to the development of modern society. We therefore respectfully urge you to undertake systemic reforms to improve the quality and integrity of Ethiopia’s institutions of higher education in order to protect academic freedom and freedom of expression.
The international scholarly community is concerned about the health and well-being of those detained, including Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and Professor Berhanu Nega. We have been told that Professor Mesfin has serious health conditions that require regular therapy. In accordance with international standards, we urge you to ensure that he and his fellow detainees have access to medical care and medications in detention.
In closing, we express the hope that the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will fully implement Ethiopia’s human rights obligations. We would also like to offer you, upon request, a copy of the AAUP’s policies and documents that enshrine and codify the principles of academic freedom in higher education.
Sincerely,
Roger W. Bowen
General Secretary