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Ethiopia Dismisses Human Rights Watch Report

   Government   communications   minister   Bereket   Simon   says   food
   distribution in Ethiopia is based on humanitarian needs not political

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 21 October 2010

Photo: Africa24 Media/Camerapix/Mohamed Amin/Duncan Willets

   Food distribution

   Ethiopiaâs  government said the distribution of international food aid
   is done based on humanitarian needs, not political consideration.

   In  a  report  this  week,  the private Human Rights Watch accused the
   government  of  denying  food  and  other aid to opponents to suppress
   political dissent.

   Government  Communications Minister Bereket Simon told VOA Human Human
   Rights  Watch is a frustrated, self-appointed kingmaker institution in
   the  United  States  that  has  failed to bring about regime change in
   Ethiopia through elections.

   âThis  is  a  report  by  some  highly  frustrated  and self-appointed
   kingmaker  institution in the U.S. Just because what they dreamt of in
   Ethiopia  didnât  take  place,  they  are  doing  whatever they can to
   tarnish the image of the country,â he said.

   Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi

   The   report,   released  Tuesday,  said  local  Ethiopian  government
   officials  denied  opposition  supporters  access to seed, fertilizer,
   agricultural land, credit, food aid, and other resources.

   Human  Rights  Watch said the report was based on interviews with more
   than 200 people in 53 villages between June and December 2009.

   But,  Simon  said  the report is based on hearsay because Human Rights
   Watch has no offices in Ethiopia.

   âIn  the  first  place,  Human  Rights  Watch doesnât have presence in
   Ethiopia.  Usually,  they  do such work from remote, and the fact that
   they  donât  have  a  base  in  Ethiopia  tells  you  that  they  have
   accumulated heresies,â Simon said.

   He  denied  the Ethiopian government has refused opposition supporters
   access to seed, fertilizer, agricultural land, and loans.

   âThis  is  a  government  which  has created the biggest micro-finance
   institution  in Africa; this is a government which has created so many
   local  banks  that  are  taking  care  of  the  financial  demand  for
   investment;  this  is  a  government  which is working hard to improve
   agricultural production,â he said.

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