Comments on: Watch: UW students Imprisoned in Ethiopia

By: Asrade

Asrade — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:16:57 +0000

I can’t believe how clueless these students are! They should be applauded for trying to do a good deed, but going to a country without obtaining the right visa and work permit borders on insanity! I think we all know what the US government will do if an Ethiopian came over to the US on a tourist visa and started teaching at some school …

By: Matt Andrea

Matt Andrea — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:13:07 +0000

I have read several different accounts of this sorry episode. (The students who participated in this program, all of whom were rounded up, detained and deported, came from several different colleges and universities. They are now publishing accounts in their various school papers.) A particularly good account appeared in today’s online edition of the George Washington University Hatchet. Check it out.

http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2009/09/10/News/Detained.Three.Days.In.Ethiopia-3767685.shtml#4

By: Taitu

Taitu — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:12:43 +0000

The reason is simple they don’t want the people educated/informed this is typical of dictators. Don’t expect a rational explanation for there is none.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:04:51 +0000

Hello Zatu!! “if a country exits it has its own law”. During Hitler era Germany had its own law. During Ethiopia Dreg era the country had its own law. This days the dictator in Addis has its own suppressive law. Any fascistic head of state can write a law to subjugate its own people. Or people write their own law to keep peace and order of their country. Do you see the relevance of the article now??? Or do you need help to fix your logic machinery??

Amelia

By: Zatu

Zatu — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:24:58 +0000

If a country exits it has its own law. Interrogation, custody, deportation are instruments to apply and interpret the law. Without passing any judgment to both parts of the parties, it sounds the problem is handled properly and she is home in peace. I do not see the relevance of the article.

By: Duri

Duri — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:47:45 +0000

There must be a method to the madness of the authorities in Ethiopia as to why these students were arrested and deported. The story says the American Embassy in Addis is envolved in arranging / facilitating their departure out of Ethiopia. I heard a story of them being in the country without the proper visa in the first place (they came in as tourists?.) I bet, if this were totally a story of the Ethiopian government going biserk, we would have heared from the Embassy laoud and clear. The hush- hush by the Ebassy leads me to believe that the students may have been on the wrong side of the law. Just my observation!

Cheers,

By: mahlet

mahlet — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:08:09 +0000

It is so sad to see how our country turned up… you can see that the government is planning something for the upcoming election because they are so paranoid and they are making blank accusations…

By: Confused

Confused — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:33:14 +0000

What is the official reason the authorities gave for the arrest and deportation? There has to be reason. The students are obviously kind and decent people, but they may have unknowingly broken some law. Otherwise, I find hard to believe they will just be arrested and deported for no reason. The reporter failed to ask and get an answer for the most important question. What sparked the confrontation?