| Somali militant group claims bombing of Ethiopians "This is a message to the Puntland authority which had extended a welcome and showed affection to the long-time enemy Ethiopians," the Web site, informing Muslim society to keep away from the infidels of Ethiopia whether they are in military dress or not..More |
Ethiopians, Eritreans Face Double Suspicion in
Post-Bomb Uganda
16 July, 2010 | Peter Heinlein
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
countries for burial. Members of the Ethiopian and Eritrean expatriate
communities face suspicion from all sides, in a city shaken by the
realization that it is the latest front in Somalia's war.
A crowd of about 100 mourners gathered at Kampala's tiny Ethiopian
Orthodox church Friday to remember 32-year-old Getayewakal
Tessema, the only Ethiopian killed in the Kampala terror blasts.
Eritreans in the Ugandan capital held a similar service for six members
of their community who also died in the attack on an Ethiopian
restaurant, where fans were watching the World Cup soccer final.
The bodies were later taken to Entebbe airport for shipment home.
Members of the small Eritrean and Ethiopian expatriate communities
expressed thanks to the Ugandan government for its help in returning
the bodies and for the security provided in the hours immediately after
the bombings, when anti-foreigner sentiments briefly flared in Kampala.
But the representative for Ethiopian refugees in Kampala, Aman Abile
Dure, says Ugandans' normally hospitable attitude toward outsiders
changed abruptly when Somali insurgents took responsibility for the
bombs, and word spread that police had arrested several foreigners.
"Sometimes when you lost something, you may suspect everything,"
said Aman. "Because Uganda has not been used to such a problem. And
then when someone is taking responsibility of such things they may
suspect, but not all Ugandans. Ugandans are good people for us."
Aman says the World Cup bomb attacks put Ethiopians in Uganda in an
peculiar situation. On one hand, the Ethiopian restaurant appears to
have been hit because of Ethiopia's deep involvement in Somalia's war in
support of the western-backed transitional government.
On the other hand, the bombings led many Ugandans to see Ethiopians
and others from the Horn of Africa as the source of their troubles.
Immediately after the bombings, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza
Besigye described the position of Ethiopians as "a double edge".
"I have heard many reports so far that anybody who looks like a Somali
is being attacked," he said. "And unfortunately some of those people are
being attacked [are] Ethiopians who are on the other [side of the] fence
of the struggle."
Ethiopians and others with lighter skin and thin features, normally
associated with the Horn of Africa, say they have been staying off the
streets of Kampala in recent days. Ethiopian community leader
Banteyehu Haile says it is regrettable but understandable given the fear
that raced through Kampala when people realized they were being
targeted by Somali insurgents.
"It's very sad," he said. "Uganda is a very nice country. People are
hospitable. We had enjoyed everything to date, but suddenly this thing
happens. So it's really very depressed.
As days go by, Ugandan tempers are clearly cooling. Attacks against
foreigners have stopped.
Ethiopian community leaders Friday reported what could be good
news. They were called to the Ugandan prime minister's office and
asked to produce documents about four Ethiopians held in connection
with the bombing case. A community spokesman said the tone of the
conversation indicated the four could be released within days.
Courtesy
Post-Bomb Uganda
16 July, 2010 | Peter Heinlein
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Ugandan police inspect
the destroyed
Ethiopian Village
restaurant in Kampala
after twin bomb blasts
tore through crowds
of football fans, killing
64 people, 11 Jul 2010
- The bodies of seven
Ethiopian and Eritrean
countries for burial. Members of the Ethiopian and Eritrean expatriate
communities face suspicion from all sides, in a city shaken by the
realization that it is the latest front in Somalia's war.
A crowd of about 100 mourners gathered at Kampala's tiny Ethiopian
Orthodox church Friday to remember 32-year-old Getayewakal
Tessema, the only Ethiopian killed in the Kampala terror blasts.
Eritreans in the Ugandan capital held a similar service for six members
of their community who also died in the attack on an Ethiopian
restaurant, where fans were watching the World Cup soccer final.
The bodies were later taken to Entebbe airport for shipment home.
Members of the small Eritrean and Ethiopian expatriate communities
expressed thanks to the Ugandan government for its help in returning
the bodies and for the security provided in the hours immediately after
the bombings, when anti-foreigner sentiments briefly flared in Kampala.
But the representative for Ethiopian refugees in Kampala, Aman Abile
Dure, says Ugandans' normally hospitable attitude toward outsiders
changed abruptly when Somali insurgents took responsibility for the
bombs, and word spread that police had arrested several foreigners.
"Sometimes when you lost something, you may suspect everything,"
said Aman. "Because Uganda has not been used to such a problem. And
then when someone is taking responsibility of such things they may
suspect, but not all Ugandans. Ugandans are good people for us."
Aman says the World Cup bomb attacks put Ethiopians in Uganda in an
peculiar situation. On one hand, the Ethiopian restaurant appears to
have been hit because of Ethiopia's deep involvement in Somalia's war in
support of the western-backed transitional government.
On the other hand, the bombings led many Ugandans to see Ethiopians
and others from the Horn of Africa as the source of their troubles.
Immediately after the bombings, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza
Besigye described the position of Ethiopians as "a double edge".
"I have heard many reports so far that anybody who looks like a Somali
is being attacked," he said. "And unfortunately some of those people are
being attacked [are] Ethiopians who are on the other [side of the] fence
of the struggle."
Ethiopians and others with lighter skin and thin features, normally
associated with the Horn of Africa, say they have been staying off the
streets of Kampala in recent days. Ethiopian community leader
Banteyehu Haile says it is regrettable but understandable given the fear
that raced through Kampala when people realized they were being
targeted by Somali insurgents.
"It's very sad," he said. "Uganda is a very nice country. People are
hospitable. We had enjoyed everything to date, but suddenly this thing
happens. So it's really very depressed.
As days go by, Ugandan tempers are clearly cooling. Attacks against
foreigners have stopped.
Ethiopian community leaders Friday reported what could be good
news. They were called to the Ugandan prime minister's office and
asked to produce documents about four Ethiopians held in connection
with the bombing case. A community spokesman said the tone of the
conversation indicated the four could be released within days.
Courtesy
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