The principal complaint of the Ethiopian passengers is that they were denied boarding because of Ethiopian heritage. Without any request for volunteers to forfeit their seats on the flight, the Ethiopian passengers asked for justification on why they were singled out to stay behind. After proving their equality to all other passengers on the flight (i.e. foreign passport, foreign currency, and boarding pass) it was clear that the only remaining difference was national heritage.

Following a face-to-face apology by Ethiopian Airlines, a public relations manager published a public apology letter acknowledging that the passengers were mistreated yet completely denying that the treatment was discriminatory.

By restating the facts from January 24, 2007, the petition enforces that the decision by Ethiopian Airlines management in Bahir Dar was based on prejudice and presents six demands to the airlines.

1. Present the written policy of Ethiopian Airlines in the event of overbooked flights
2. Disclose employee training materials on customer service
3. Confirm what corrective action(s) has/have been taken to prevent recurrence
4. Announce all disciplinary/punitive actions enforced upon the Ethiopian Airlines manager at the Bahir Dar Airport
5. Display a list of customer’s rights where employees of Ethiopian Airlines interact with their customers
6. Reissue an apology in writing to the Bahir Dar Passengers acknowledging the discriminatory treatment that took place in Bahir Dar

With deadlines associated to each demand, the Bahir Dar Passengers appeal to all Ethiopians and all people who detest acts of discrimination to endorse this petition so that Ethiopian Airlines will eliminate this practice from their internal operating procedures. As this is not an isolated incident, we present these demands as a means to push Ethiopian Airlines forward in hopes that changes can be made before many Ethiopians, Africans, friends of Ethiopia, and welcomed tourists arrive to celebrate the Ethiopian Millennium.

The full text of the petition including applicable deadlines for the demands is posted at the following link:
http://www.esai.org/myESAi/viewtopic-t-10133-amp;start-45.html

NOTE: This petition does not endorse anti-governmental sentiments, allow religious criticism, tolerate disrespect of ethnicities or initiate any legal action against Ethiopian Airlines. Any comments by those who endorse the petition must honor these terms or understand that their signature may be deleted for violation of these premises.

As of March 31, 2009, the following update has taken place in response to complaints.
EAL provides it's policy for denial of boarding and compensation.
EAL main page-->Information & Services-->customer support
http://www.ethiopianairlines.com/en/info/faq.aspx
select customer rights from the drop-down menu

This is a good resolution to the petition. further details are cosmetic...to see the information consolidated within separate documents as well as in its current form of FAQ. The FAQ makes it easy to find...and the report will give full context within a "Contract of Carriage" or "Customer Service Commitment" document.

This petition is being circulated by the Horn Institute of Peace and Social Justice in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The current regime, with its wrongful and completely unpopular policy of ethnic cleansing, has recently been on a mission of unjustly forcing an entire population of 78,000 in the Southern Region. People are being forced to evacuate and leave their land and property. The affected region constitutes twenty two districts in Benchi Zone, Gurafarda Woreda.

The population has been strongly protesting against EPRDF’s unlawful acts and such atrocities. However, in spite of the legal requests and outcry from the opposition, the Zenawi government has chosen to go ahead with its ill-advised abuse of its authority and use of its military force against good and law abiding citizens.

You can add your signature to letter through this petition.

Sign and share widely!

Thanks!

The video, first aired by Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) last week, sparked outrage by showing a man abusing Alem Dechasa as she cried on a street outside the Ethiopian embassy in Beirut. Reports of domestic worker abuse are widespread, with many allegedly locked in employers’ homes.

Rola Abimourched, program coordinator at KAFA (Enough) Violence and Exploitation, told Al Jazeera that Dechasa's case may increase scrutiny into the problem.

"This case may indicate the larger issue of migrant domestic workers' vulnerability to abuse in Lebanon, which puts the whole system in question. Namely, the sponsorship system which ties the domestic worker to one employer and does not guarantee her basic human rights.

The Mother and Child African Relief Organization (MACARO), a non-profit organization registered in New York (1992) under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code, is accorded special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (1997), and is also registered in Freetown, Sierra Leone as an International Non-Governmental Organization.

In addition, the process of registering the organization in Monrovia, Liberia is now in progress.

The organisation wishes to promote HIV/AIDS education and the relief of poverty.

We are very disturbed about rumors and stories in Finfinne that Jimmaa Times has not been given license despite filing application for many months. The fact that the only Afaan Oromo newspaper in Ethiopia is still the government controlled “Bariisaa” newspaper once again shows how Oromo people CONTINUE to be marginalized and oppressed in the country!!

According to the habesha/Orthodox calendar, it was in the year 1999 that oppressed people of the country saw the Jimma Times website become a rare Ethiopia-based media that is independent, allowing diverse views and news. It would be another BIG mistake by the Ethiopian regime to ban the country’s first independent newspaper that would also distribute News in the ONLY language 35 million Oromo people understand.

Unlike some other newspapers in Ethiopia that are established by politicians, all friends of the newspaper know that the Jimma Times newspaper is owned by NON-Political businessmen and philanthropists. Despite the undemocratic and restrictive nature of the country’s “Press Law,” it is more depressing to witness even newspapers planning to obey the “Press Law” are being denied license by the government!

We, the undersigned, demand the regime to stop denying the Jimaa Times workers their basic rights and to grant them their license as soon as possible!

The Europeans were released in Asmara 12 days later, the 9 Ethiopians are still held captive. Are they being ignored because they are expendable Ethiopians?