April 9, 2007
Ashenafe Mekonen
This is the first photo that I have come across of Ashenafe Mekonen, the tour guide kidnapped alongside five European travellers in Ethiopia's remote Afar region in early March.
The five Europeans - three Brits, one Italian and one French woman - were released two weeks later after diplomatic pressure from their governments.
But nothing has been heard of Ashenafe and eight other Ethiopians taken with him.
Ashenafe is in his early 20s and was orphaned by the 1984 'Live Aid' famine in Ethiopia. He was brought up in an orphanage in central Ethiopia before moving to Addis to start working as a freelance guide/cook in the travel industry. His many friends in the capital are clubbing together to pay his rent until he returns.
The other captives include Ashenafe's friend Debash Baye, another Addis man who was working as a mechanic, and seven Afar men. One of those Afar men in believed to have volunteered to go with the captives to show solidarity with them.
Anyone wanting to join a non-political campaign to press for Ashenafe's release can send an email to the 'Free the Ethiopian Captives Committee' at freetheethiopiancaptives@gmail.com.
Posted by aheavens at April 9, 2007 8:04 AM
Comments
First, thanks a million for adding me to your blogroll. It's an honor. More importantly, it's effective! I'm already getting new readers. Thanks!
Second, Can I cross-post this story, urging my readers to help pressure for the release of the Ethiopian hostages? This story has died in the States.
What should an email say?
Best,
Swerl
Posted by: swerl at April 10, 2007 5:18 AM
It is really sad that they are still not released. Thank you for keeping them in the spot light.
Posted by: Yemi at April 10, 2007 8:26 AM
I stumbled upon your blog, quite literally, and have found something completely delightful.
As a 1st generation Ethiopian-American with a die-hard activist for a mother, its nice to see people other than Ethiopians noticing the injustice taking place back home.
But I guess with so many degrees of genocide taking place in Africa, I was just wondering why Ethiopia?
Posted by: Emnet Getahun at May 17, 2007 6:14 AM