A list of affiliates belonging to the All Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) in Ethiopia and information on whether certain North American organizations are authorized to verify and confirm membership in the AAPO could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The following information, however, may be of interest.

In August 2002, the AAPO changed its name to the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) (Walta Information Centre 14 Aug. 2002; see also Financial Times 24 Sept. 2002). In 2004, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy in Ethiopia (CUD) was created by the merger of four political parties: the AEUP, the Ethiopian Democratic League (EDL), the Ethiopian Democracy Unity Party-Medhin (EDUP-M), and the Rainbow Alliance/Movement for Democracy and Social Justice (AI 29 Apr. 2005, 3). The AEUP Web site indicates, on 24 September 2005, that the CUD had "transformed from a coalition of four parties into one party and has elected its leadership" (AEUP n.d.; see also The Reporter 6 May 2006). Following its official recognition by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the CUD became known as the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) (ibid.).

On 22 May 2006, the Ethiopian Review published a statement by the leadership of the CUDP, which was written from Kaliti Prison (Ethiopian Review 22 May 2006; see also AI 2 May 2006, 10). The jailed CUDP leadership indicated the need for an international committee to "fill the leadership gap" (Ethiopian Review 22 May 2006). The statement also called for the creation of an international leadership committee with the mandate to "be an overarching body whose responsibility is to direct and lead Kinijit [CUD] organs, continental chapters and support groups" (ibid.). On 26 May 2006, the Ethiopian Review published a number of resolutions made by the international leadership committee of the CUDP (ibid. 26 May 2006). These include a resolution committing "[s]upport organizations established in all regions [to] work hand in hand and in a coordinated manner with the newly formed international leadership" (ibid.).

The Kinijit for Unity and Democracy in Ethiopia Web site locates the North American Kinijit support office in Silver Spring, Maryland, and provides contact information for it and 23 support chapters (n.d.). The support chapters are in the following North American cities (Kinijit for Unity and Democracy in Ethiopia n.d.):

• Atlanta
• Ohio

• Boston
• Oklahoma

• Calgary
• Philadelphia

• Chicago
• Sacramento

• Dallas
• San Diego

• Denver
• San Francisco

• Fresno
• San Jose

• Kentucky
• Seattle

• Las Vegas
• Tampa

• Los Angeles
• Toronto

• Memphis
• Vancouver

• Minneapolis
• Washington, DC

Oakland

The Kinijit Web site provides a telephone number for the Toronto support chapter of the CUDP (ibid.), that corresponds to the telephone number for the Toronto-based All Amhara People's Cultural and Relief Organization (AAPCRO) (ibid.). Upon attempting to contact the APPCRO, the Research Directorate reached the Kinijit Ethiopian Cultural and Relief Organization in Toronto (KECRO) instead (KECRO 20 Oct. 2006).

According to KECRO representatives, the KECRO was formerly known as the All Ethiopian Unity Cultural and Relief Organization (AEUCRO), a name that reflected its ties to the AEUP prior to the creation of the CUDP (KECRO 20 Oct. 2006; ibid. 15 Nov. 2006). Despite changing its name, the organization's location, telephone and fax numbers remain the same as when it was called the AUECRO (ibid.).

A board member who is also the secretary of KECRO explained in correspondence with the Research Directorate that, in Ethiopia, the CUDP is also referred to as the Kinijit for Unity and Democracy in Ethiopia, because kinijit is the Amharic word for coalition (KECRO 19 Oct. 2006). According to the representative of KECRO, following the CUD's consolidation, members of the AEUP automatically became members of the CUDP, although some exceptions may exist (ibid.).

Attempts made by the Research Directorate to contact the CUDP were unsuccessful. The KECRO representative explained that CUDP offices in Ethiopia had been closed down (KECRO 19 Oct. 2006; AI 2 May 2006, 4; The Reporter 6 May 2006) and that CUDP leaders were in detention (ibid.; KECRO 19 Oct. 2006; UN 27 Mar. 2006, para. 345; ibid. 21 Mar. 2006, Para. 74). In its 2 May 2006 report on prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia, Amnesty International (AI) indicates that defendants on trial for "treason" include 39 CUD leaders, 25 other CUD officials, 7 CUD members and 4 CUD parties (26). Additionally, AI reports that CUD members and officials are being held for political offences and could face trial in federal and regional courts in various regions of Ethiopia (AI 2 May 2006, 10).

Information on whether support chapters are authorized to verify and confirm membership in the organization could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP). N.d. "Home." http://www.aeup.org/new/index.asp [Accessed 10 Oct. 2006]

Amnesty International (AI). 2 May 2006. Ethiopia: Prisoners of Conscience on Trial for Treason - Opposition Party Leaders, Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. (AFR 25/013/2006) http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AFR250132006ENGLISH/$File/AFR2501306.pdf [Accessed 19 Oct. 2006]

______. 29 April 2005. Ethiopia: The May 2005 Elections and Human Rights. (AFR 25/002/2005) http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AFR250022005ENGLISH/$File/AFR2500205.pdf [Accessed 19 Oct. 2006]

Ethiopian Review [Annandale, Virginia]. 26 May 2006. "Ethiopia: Opposition Urges Nationals to Back Jailed Leaders." (Factiva/BBC Monitoring Africa)

______. 22 May 2006. "Ethiopia: Detained Opposition Chiefs Endorse New 'International' Leadership." (Factiva/BBC Monitoring Africa)

Financial Times [London]. 24 September 2002. Nita Bhalla. "Ethiopia: Many a Thorn in the Side." (Factiva)

Kinijit Ethiopian Cultural and Relief Organization in Toronto (KECRO). 15 November 2006. Correspondence from the President.

______. 20 October 2006. Correspondence from a representative.

______. 19 October 2006. Correspondence from a representative.

Kinijit for Unity and Democracy in Ethiopia. N.d. "Contact Us." http://www.kinijit.org/content.asp?contenttype=Contact Us [Accessed 6 Oct. 2006]

The Reporter [Addis Ababa]. 6 May 2006. "'We Must Be Able to Ensure that the People of Ethiopia Are Able to Reap the Fruits of Liberal Democracy.'" http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid-5188 [Accessed 10 Oct. 2006]

United Nations (UN). 27 March 2006. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Commission on Human Rights. Civil and Political Rights, Including the Question of Freedom of Expression: The Right to Freedom and Expression - Report of the Special Rapporteur, Ambayi Ligabo - Addendum - Summary of Cases Transmitted to Governments and Replies Received. (E/CN.4/2006/55/Add.1) http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/121/12/PDF/G0612112.pdf?OpenElement [Accessed 15 Nov. 2006]

______. 21 March 2006. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Commission on Human Rights. Civil and Political Rights, Including the Questions of Torture and Detention: Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - Report of the Special Raporteur, Manfred Nowak - Addendum - Summary of Information, Including Individual Cases Transmitted to Governments and Replies Received (E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.1) http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/119/42/PDF/G0611942.pdf?OpenElement [Accessed 15 Nov. 2006]

Walta Information Centre [Addis Ababa]. 14 August 2002. "Political Party Adopts New Name." (Factiva/BBC Monitoring Africa)

Additional Sources Consulted

Publication:

Political Parties of the World.

Internet sources, including: European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Crisis Group (ICG), Political Parties of the World, ReliefWeb, United Nations (UN) Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).