Analysis: Did DFID properly investigate
Ethiopian aid allegations?
22 September, 2011 | by Angus Stickler
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
on our journalism with accusations of impartial reporting promoting
the views of terrorists.
However, it is the response of the British government that causes
more disquiet.
Last night Newsnight aired another piece following several further
developments suggesting a crackdown by the Ethiopian government
on opposition members as well as people believed to have
contributed to our report.
Answering the charges
The International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell
appeared on the programme to answer the allegation that DFID has
turned a blind eye to these abuses by continuing to provide millions
of pounds in aid to Ethiopia.
It started well with the secretary of state saying that the programme
aired serious allegations that need to be answered, and that he
would personally raise them with Prime Minister Zenawi and his
officials, pressing for an open and independent investigation.
These are grave allegations concerning atrocious human rights
abuses and the systemic misuse of aid – British taxpayers’ money –
for political purposes. It doesn’t get more serious than this.
It was what followed that smacks of obfuscation.
Mr Mitchell’s opening gambit was that no British development
support goes through the Ethiopian government, giving the
impression that our aid was in safe hands.
Related article: Ethiopia Aid Exposed – Abuse and terror in
the Ogaden
It was only when pushed on the issue that he admitted that the
department in fact relies on ‘regional implementation’. And this is
where his argument breaks down.
In a virtual one party state there is no distinction between central
and local administrations. They are essentially one and the same: the
orders come down from on high, and all are expected to toe the line.
It was pointed out to Mr Mitchell that the allegations are centred on
the distribution of aid at just such a local level.
But it was his subsequent assertion that was more remarkable.
Mitchell stated that British officials had already investigated similar
allegations on the ground and found no evidence of systemic
manipulation of aid.
Desk-based investigations
It was only later that officials confirmed that Mr Mitchell was
referring to a report compiled by British officials for the
Development Assistance Group (DAG) – a consortium of
international donors. This was a desk-based study compiled in
Addis Ababa, looking at programme systems and safeguards on
paper. It clearly states that it did not seek to prove or disprove
allegations of distortion.
The report itself also recommended that it should be followed up
with a field investigation
Related article: Ethiopia aid exposed – Voices of the
tortured
Again these are important issues – not only about the misuse of
taxpayers’ money – but horrific allegations of human rights abuses
including mass detentions, extrajudicial killings, torture and rape.
Either Mr Mitchell has been ill-advised or he is playing politics:
clouding the issue over our government’s support of a regime
seemingly intent on crushing dissent. The British public deserves
better.
Click here to read the Bureau's investigation in full.
Read the minister’s full interview here.
Courtesy
Ethiopian aid allegations?
22 September, 2011 | by Angus Stickler
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Last month a joint,
undercover investigation by
the Bureau and Newsnight
revealed sickening human
rights abuses and the
systematic misuse of aid by
the Ethiopian government.
- The response from officials
working for Prime Minister
on our journalism with accusations of impartial reporting promoting
the views of terrorists.
However, it is the response of the British government that causes
more disquiet.
Last night Newsnight aired another piece following several further
developments suggesting a crackdown by the Ethiopian government
on opposition members as well as people believed to have
contributed to our report.
Answering the charges
The International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell
appeared on the programme to answer the allegation that DFID has
turned a blind eye to these abuses by continuing to provide millions
of pounds in aid to Ethiopia.
It started well with the secretary of state saying that the programme
aired serious allegations that need to be answered, and that he
would personally raise them with Prime Minister Zenawi and his
officials, pressing for an open and independent investigation.
These are grave allegations concerning atrocious human rights
abuses and the systemic misuse of aid – British taxpayers’ money –
for political purposes. It doesn’t get more serious than this.
It was what followed that smacks of obfuscation.
Mr Mitchell’s opening gambit was that no British development
support goes through the Ethiopian government, giving the
impression that our aid was in safe hands.
Related article: Ethiopia Aid Exposed – Abuse and terror in
the Ogaden
It was only when pushed on the issue that he admitted that the
department in fact relies on ‘regional implementation’. And this is
where his argument breaks down.
In a virtual one party state there is no distinction between central
and local administrations. They are essentially one and the same: the
orders come down from on high, and all are expected to toe the line.
It was pointed out to Mr Mitchell that the allegations are centred on
the distribution of aid at just such a local level.
But it was his subsequent assertion that was more remarkable.
Mitchell stated that British officials had already investigated similar
allegations on the ground and found no evidence of systemic
manipulation of aid.
Desk-based investigations
It was only later that officials confirmed that Mr Mitchell was
referring to a report compiled by British officials for the
Development Assistance Group (DAG) – a consortium of
international donors. This was a desk-based study compiled in
Addis Ababa, looking at programme systems and safeguards on
paper. It clearly states that it did not seek to prove or disprove
allegations of distortion.
The report itself also recommended that it should be followed up
with a field investigation
Related article: Ethiopia aid exposed – Voices of the
tortured
Again these are important issues – not only about the misuse of
taxpayers’ money – but horrific allegations of human rights abuses
including mass detentions, extrajudicial killings, torture and rape.
Either Mr Mitchell has been ill-advised or he is playing politics:
clouding the issue over our government’s support of a regime
seemingly intent on crushing dissent. The British public deserves
better.
Click here to read the Bureau's investigation in full.
Read the minister’s full interview here.
Courtesy
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