Foreign Affairs Committee on April 27th, 2010

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Could I just make a comment?

I know the government is listening. Every embassy does a report on human rights in the country, and if they haven't done so in Addis—maybe they have. To evaluate the capacity and what we've just heard today in terms of a human rights commission that somehow isn't able to identify the jailing of tens of thousands of people or the disappearance of journalists or an ombudsman who seemingly doesn't follow up, I would hope that—and this is a public hearing—the embassy would actually take note, if they haven't done so already, because clearly we don't want to be supporting that kind of process if it's not effective.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We'll finish up with Mr. Lunney.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Thank you.

My first question was actually replied to. I think Mr. Van Kesteren had a question, Mr. Chair.

My first question was to do with aid and some of the confusion about the change in the law. I'm wondering whether that had anything to do with our redirecting our aid through NGOs like the UN and some of our Canadian NGOs. I think you've already addressed that fairly substantially. I'm not sure you'd have more to answer on that.

I wanted to ask two things. One, I think you said there were 200 killed in 2005 and I think you mentioned—if I got the number right—40,000 to 50,000 jailed. Was that in 2005 or is that current?

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

That was in 2005. The current number of political prisoners is in the thousands--thousands.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

There's some concern about Ethiopians even in Canada. Right now I think there have been a number of murders in the community. Did I read that correctly? In Alberta?

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

Those are Somalians.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Somalians. Excuse me for confusing your neighbours.

Mr. Aklilu Wendaferew—if I'm saying that right—thank you. You've informed us significantly on this particular challenge, some of us who are not as adept as some of our colleagues on all of the intrigues in your neighbourhood.

Is there concern in the Ethiopian community in Canada about speaking out, and are you putting yourself at risk? Are you concerned about that? Could you tell us a little about yourself? My information here doesn't tell me much about you and your story.

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

Yes, there is a risk. Am I putting myself at risk? Yes, I am. Yet I know someone has to take risks to secure freedom. That has to be done. I promised myself when I came to this country 23 years ago that I would continue to do that regardless of the consequences.

I came to Canada in 1988, just to tell you, because you asked me to tell you a little about myself. I came as a young person. At that time young people were being harassed left and right in Ethiopia. It was very difficult for a young person to think independently. Our neighbours, our friends, and schoolmates were being killed all over. That time was called the Red Terror in Ethiopia, one of the worst times in the history of our country.

I left shortly after that and I said, no, I can't live under these conditions. I went to Sudan as a refugee and then came to Canada, sponsored by the government as a landed immigrant. I'm very grateful. I'm highly appreciative of my new country. Since I came here I've been very blessed with a lot of things.

I went to university and finished my first degree at the University of Western Ontario in social work. Then I went further and did my master's in social work at the University of Toronto. Then I studied again, additional postgraduate ethnic and pluralism studies. I did another certificate in non-profit management at the Schulich School of Business. Since then I have been practising social work. I've been a social worker, a family counsellor, a program manager, and a number of things. Now I'm assistant executive director of one of the social service agencies in downtown Toronto, Good Shepherd Ministries, working with the homeless and disadvantaged people here in our homeland, Canada. I have been active in human rights advocacy because that is the value that drove me out of Ethiopia and that's the value that I cherish here in Canada.

Am I risking myself? Yes, I am, absolutely. I know that. It is a heavy risk. There is a possibility they will find an excuse to jail one of my brothers or sisters who are still in Ethiopia. That may happen. It's very likely. But so be it. Someone has to pay, and people are paying a price. I cannot be intimidated by a brutal government in Ethiopia when I'm living in a free country like Canada. That's why I'm speaking out very honestly. This is it, because I have the luxury of living in Canada in a democratic society and I should not be intimidated by some repressive regime back in Ethiopia. That would be against my personal ethics and it would be a disaster if I was to do that. That's why I'm doing this. There are very serious risks.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

I'm sure the chair will thank you, but I would like to express my appreciation for your testimony. It's been very helpful.

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

Thank you, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Do you have a question, Mr. Van Kesteren?

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for coming. You have a fascinating history. I don't know much about it, but I do know it's an ancient history and you have suffered greatly with European oppression. I think the Italians took away the ancient regime. From that, you've moved on. You talked about the Red Terror.

I'm curious. We mentioned today the influence of China. Of course, the Soviet Union is no longer in existence. The west obviously understands the importance of the geography of your position. You're surrounded by Muslim neighbours.

I get a lot of my information, strangely enough, from my taxi drivers. There are a number of Ethiopian taxi drivers, immigrants here, who shuttle us back and forth to the airport. In one of my conversations, I asked about life in Ethiopia and what's happening. There is some stability. They talk about some of the things you're talking about, but they also mention that there seems to be a role or an influence that is starting to come from Saudi Arabia. You've mentioned the other powers. We all know that there is another war going on, and it's not often talked about. I wonder if you would comment on that. One of the things he said, which was interesting, was that many Saudis, or those who are influenced by the Saudi Arabians, are marrying a lot of the young women because they are allowed larger groups in marriage, and that there seems to be a shift taking place from a traditionally Christian country to a Muslim country.

Is there, in essence, another war that's going on too? Tell us a little bit about the influence that Saudi Arabia has and the pressures the country is feeling as a result.

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

Maybe my friend can help me.

Thank you for articulating some of the history. There is a lot of good history in the country and with the people, just as there is in any other country, very honestly. There are very good things, so we have to acknowledge that. At the same time, concerning the Muslim-Christian diversity within Ethiopia, the country has been very much a blessed country with diversity, and for centuries Muslims and Christians have lived side by side in peace. In fact, there are a substantial number of Jews also within the Ethiopian community, and we have lived together very much in harmony.

Yes, there has been systemic repression, systemic discrimination from time to time. I acknowledge that, but that fabric of unity, of oneness, of togetherness is amazing. It is so mixed. You will find a family that has a Christian father, a Muslim mother, and offspring of a Christian father and a Muslim mother. It is very much mixed in our country.

In the last little while, politically--

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

I'm sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to say that nature hates a vacuum. There has been so much turmoil, and I think that in Ethiopia today there definitely is a vacuum as to what is traditional. I agree with your...but you know better than I do how you've managed traditionally, and you've managed very well with those three.

We talked about China. We talked about pressures. Are you feeling any pressure from the Saudis? Is there anything?

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

Very honestly, I don't want to mislead this committee in any way. I'm not very versed with that, but I would say there's a lot of going back and forth. I have read some articles about Wahabism and things like that, the possible spread of Islam in that part of the world and fundamentalism and those kinds of things. But one thing I really want to say again and again is that within the political system, within the political parties, there is so much diversity.

In fact, very honestly, if you look at the opposition and the governing party, you'll see more diversity, more possibility for stability within the opposition. The opposition has people from all over the country, from all ethnic groups, including Meles' own region, Tigray. For example, his own defence minister in the past, Seye, is now part of the leadership of the opposition. The former president of the country has abandoned him and is now a member of the opposition. The former governor of the province of Tigray, where Meles came from, has now abandoned them and has come to the opposition.

There is much diversity within the opposition, religious and otherwise, so the opposition can continue to create stability within the country, I would say.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I'll just wrap it up here. It was a “short” question—but it wasn't short.

[Solomon Workneh, As an Individual]

Yes, anything that involves religion can never be short.

Actually, there is a trend of fundamentalism developing. It's an international trend; it's not just an Ethiopian phenomenon, but it is all over. Muslims everywhere have tried to harden their positions. That is also reflected in Ethiopia.

When I grew up, I didn't see Muslim women covering their heads. Now it is the thing to do for Muslim women. It's a general trend, the way I see it. But Saudi Arabia does play a role, in the sense of encouraging the Muslim population to assert itself, possibly. This is what makes it a little more different from the past. Mosques are being built everywhere in major Ethiopian cities. There were mosques in the past, but not as many as there are now.

However, the population is pretty well integrated with each other; Christians, Muslims, and even the very few Jews live together really. There is much more cooperation and much more integration in the population.

Article 29 of the constitution of this regime allows any ethnic group to secede. This regime cursed the flag that Ethiopians grew up with, but people are supporting each other and are sitting strong. Really, nobody ever makes a claim to secede.

Of course, there is the Ogaden movement and the Oromo movement. If you were to handle it politically, these movements could be pacified and could become good players in society. But the lack of democracy in the current system is causing much to be astir, and would even in the most established societies, I imagine.

Thank you for asking.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

I want to thank you, Mr. Workneh, as well as Mr. Wendaferew, for being here today. We really appreciate your insights into what's happening in Ethiopia.

Thank you very much.

[Aklilu Wendaferew]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

The meeting is adjourned.