15/03/2008

MARCH 1995—MARCH 2008

SOCEPP ’S 13 YEARS

SOCEPP has tried to fulfill its objective and mission of reporting on the human righys sitiuation with an emphasis on the plight of political prisoners ”forgeotten” by other human rights bodies for one reason or another. In the past 13 years, SOCEPP has gained credibility as an effective force within the human rights struggle world wide.

 It would be a failure on our part if we were not to mention the very many difficulties and obstacles that SOCEPP had to overcome in order to accomplish its tasks.The EPRDF murdered in Addis Ababa one of SOCEPP’s steadfast reporters and members, lawyer Tesfaye Tadesee. Government supporters spread all kinds of rumors and accusations against the organization. And then a few irresposnible individuals in Toronto, Canada, even went as far as taking its name and illegally calling themselves SOCEPP Canada. Yet, SOCEPP has been able to overcome all these obstacles and to continue thanks to the support of concerned Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia. It has in the past years published numerous communiques, issued brochures, translated important human rights documents, helped families of political prisoners and publicized the plight of Ethiopians whose basic rights continue to be trampled upon by the repressive regime led by Meles Zenawi. SOCEPP has focused on ethnic minorities,women and children—all victims of the human rights violation-, on the plight of Ethiopian women in the Middle East, on the suffering of Ethiopian refugees in the Sudan,Yemen,Djibouti and Kenya and called upon the world to heed their cries and to raise a helping hand.

 Thus, SOCEPP observes its 13th year of existence and activity with a vow to intensify its struggle even more as the human rights situation in Ethiopia has worsened. SOCEPP needs all the help it can get and all of you who would like to send cheques or money order addressed to SOCEPP please use the following address:

 SOCEPP bank account no. 1281468-90

Commerzbank AG (BLZ 37040044)

Hohenzollernring 71-73

50672 KOLN, Germany

SOCEPP