7 die in Ethiopian religious clashes 
Harar, January 24, 2001 
Web posted at: 9:07 AM EST (1407 GMT) 

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Reuters) -- Seven people were killed and 12 others injured in clashes between Christians and Muslims in the eastern Ethiopian town of Harar, an independent weekly newspaper reported on Wednesday. 
Efoyta newspaper said the violence, which culminated in a gun fight, erupted on Friday when a procession by Orthodox Christians to mark Epiphany passed noisily by a mosque. 
Cars carrying blaring loud speakers accompanied the procession which interrupted Friday prayers at the mosque, triggering the fighting, the newspaper reported. 
The two sides fought each other on the streets until they were subdued by the security forces.  The newspaper said all the dead, including one member of the security forces, were killed by gunfire. It was not clear whether the rioters or the security forces opened fire first. 
The clashes were not reported in the state-owned media.  Police detained 12 people and a joint committee of Muslims and Christians was investigating the cause of the violence, Efoyta said. 
Ethiopia's population of more than 60 million is split roughly equally between Muslims and Orthodox Christians. The country is proud of its history of religious
tolerance.

Harari forms HIV/AIDS Council 
 Harar, January 15 (WIC) 
    An HIV/AIDS control and  prevention council was established last Saturday in the Harari Regional State. The Council, which has 50 members, will coordinate efforts aimed at combatting the disease. 
        Members are drawn from governmental and non-governmental organizations, mass organizations, Edirs (local self help associations), and religious institutions and others already involved in HIV/AIDS prevention  efforts. 
       Speaking at the inaugural,  Ato Fuad Ibrahim, Chief of the State Administration, noted  that the disease was taking a heavy toll on the state because of lack of appropriate prevention programmes.

 The council  will start its work by extending its structure down to the Kebele level, beginning next week, it was learnt. 
Harar Sport and Cultural Event 2001
A Yonis- HSCF Executive Committee January 6 2001 Atlanta
As you all may have been aware by now, the organizing committee of the 6 th Harar Sports and Cultural event in Memphis, citing circumstances beyond its control, has voluntarily decided to withdraw its bid to host the 2001 Harari festival.
         The executive committee of the Harari Sports and Cultural Federation, though saddened by the unfortunate turns of events, has accepted the request of the Memphis organizing committee and after consultations with the board of directors of the Federation, has awarded the 6th Harari Sports and Cultural event to the city of Toronto, Ontario.  The event is tentatively scheduled to open on Monday, July 2 , 2001, and will close at the conclusion of the annual gala on Saturday, July 7, 2001.
          See you in Toronto.

Melbourne Junior Summer Competition (Final)
Mahdi M Abdullahi -Melbourne-  December 23, 2000
The unstoppable Biraq demolished Shahan who were hopless in round 5 & 6. Shahan couldn't answer to the Biraqs' merciless attack, and were forced  a sa result to crown Biraq before the end of the competetion.  Biraqs, based on points, are titled the champions of the year despite the fact they meet this Sunday to complete the fixture.

CONGRATULATIONS  BIRAQ !

Result Table
            Soccer   Penalty-Shoot-out Total
Biraq      7         10                           17
Shahan    5          2                            7

Entrepreneur  making preparation to build a hospital- 
HARAR (ENA)Dec,22 - 
An entrepreneur is making preparation to build a hospital in Harari State at a cost of over 8.3 million birr, the state's investment office said.
An expert with the office, Hanim Bikri, said the investor has already obtained 8,000 sq.meters of land for the construction of the hospital.
    The office has provided various incentives for entrepreneurs interested in engaging in the health sector, Hanim Said. She said, the incentives included one-third reduction of land rent payment and duty-free import of medical equipment into the state.

Harari Sport and Cultural Federation 2001 Event
Atlanta - HSCF - Dec. 7, 2000  harari-list

TO: All Hararis
From: HSCF, Atlanta

Dear Hararis:

As many of you may recall, the 2001 July event was scheduled to be hosted by the Harari Community in Memphis, Tennessee. Nonetheless, Harari Community representatives in Memphis have informed us that they have decided not to go ahead with organizing the event of the year 2001 due to some unfitting circumstances. 

Ther are several requests on the table and the Harari  Sports and Cultural Federation ( HSCF) executive committee, in consultation with board members, is considering these requests to reach to a conclusion. In the the near future, we will announce a new  host city of the upcoming event of 2001.

HSCF Executive Committee
Atlanta
 

Updates on Melbourne Junior Summer Competition (Round 3)
Mahdi M Abdullahi -Melbourne-  December 6, 2000
This competetion flys on the high as it is able to attract a lot of junior hararians. The show has been stolen from Shahan for the second consecutive weeks by Biraq. Biraq thrashed Shahan 6-0  in round 4 last Sunday. It was another disappointment week for Shahan.

Despite Shahans' attacking philosephy which able to put early pressure on the opponent,  it was all Biraqs' one way traffic. So the win in both actions (soccer & penalty shoot out) by Biraq put them 6 points clear from the despairing Shahan on the table.

Result Table
                        Soccer          Penalty-Shoot out       Total

        Biraq           5                         6                        11
        Shahan        3                         2                        5

This competetion will last for the whole duration of the month of Ramadan before we announce the winner at the Presentation Day of Abadir.

Updates on Melbourne Junior Summer Competition (Round 3)
Mahdi M Abdullahi -Melbourne-  November 27, 2000
Biraq, who paraded their two new players before the game started beat Shahan, who looked ill due to last week lose in penalty shootout. Biraq took a lead 10 minutes into the first half when their new striker slot the ball underneath the goalkeeper.  However, the desperate Shahan despite their pushed for equalizer found themselves trailed  by 3. Just before the dying seconds in the first half, Shahan were able to pull one back. In a second half, It was all Biraqs' show and managed easily to seal the match 6-3.

As for penalty shoot out,  Shahan were again let down by their inexperienced goalkeeper lost 3-5 to their counterpart Biraq.

Result Table
                        Soccer      penalty shoot out       Total
        Biraq          3                   4                        7
        Shahan       3                   2                        5

This competetion will last for the whole duration of the month of Ramadan before we announce the winner at the Presentation Day of Abadir.

Updates on Melbourne Junior Summer Competition (Round 2)
Remzi Ibrahim -Melbourne-  November 23, 2000
SHAHAN won 6-5 on a closely contested match against BIRAK on Sunday.  BIRAK bounced back on the penalty kick out competition though winning 6-3.
The competition will continue this Sunday.

Council Undertake 106 Mln. Birr Projects
HARAR (ENA) Nov 22-  The Harar town council, Harari State, has planned to construct various social and economic infrastructure facilities with an outlay of over 106 million birr.
Council chief, Nebil Mohammed, said office housing, environmental health, natural resources and relics conservation and roads projects are planned to be carried out in the coming five years in the town. He said, residents of the town would directly participate in the implementation of the projects. The council in the past four years has carried out similar projects in the town at cost of over 31 million birr.

ESRDF Allocates 11 Million birr to Undertake Projects in Harrari State
Harrari, November 18 (WIC) - The Harrari Branch Office of the Ethiopian Social Rehabilitation and Development Fund (ESRDF) announced that it has earmarked a sum of eleven million birr to undertake capacity building and other projects.
Ato Djabir Ahimed, Head of the Social Sector Department with the Branch Office, said yesterday that some nine education and nine water projects, among others, will be executed in towns and rural areas of the State.
According to Ato Djabir, six capacity building trainings will be undertaken in addition to the execution of six health and environmental protection projects. He said that bids were issued to launch the projects, adding that, the projects, upon commissioning, will benefit 70,000 people.
It is to be recalled that ESRDF had last Ethiopian year executed two education, three potable water, two health and environmental projects with an outlay of half a million birr benefiting 26,000 people.
Updates on Melbourne Junior Summer Competition (Round 1)
Mahdi M Abdullahi -Melbourne-  November 10, 2000
  Last week, the Junior Summer Competitions were underway as scheduled.  The competitions include soccer match & penalty shoot-out. The 1999 cup holder, SHAHAN, eager to repeat their success this year. Where as  their rivals, BIRAQ, want to prove otherwise. The two teams started  their first round last week, and each  experienced the highs & lows during the 90 minutes match.  At one stage SHAHAN were leading  5-1 which made them think it was all theirs. However, the comeback of  BIRAQ with a mindset of death or live were able to change the score board  to 7-7. As for penalty shoot-out, it is all SHAHANS' beating the BIRAQ 7-5.  The question left for us to ask is that can BIRAQ has an answer when they meet next week.

BUREAU FORMULATES PLANS TO UP-GRADE TOURIST SITES
HARAR (ENA) NOV. 16 -  The Harari State Transport, Industry and Tourism Bureau said it has mapped out plans to up-grade tourist sites in the state. Tourism Promotion department head with bureau, Abdulnasir Idris told ENA yesterday that the bureau envisaged to attracting more tourist through preserving the historical and cultural heritage and developing infrastructures.    He said the historical Jegol Castle, the Five Doors of the walled city of Harar, the residential house and the museum of the renowed French Poet and the place where the late Emperor Haille-Sellasie 1st and his wife honey-mooned were among the tourist sites in the state. The state has secured over 3.3 million birr from foreign and local tourist who visited the historical sites in the state during the last five years the head added.

UPdate on Melbourne Summer Competetion (Juniors)
Mahdi M Abdullahi - November 10, 2000
The Melbournian juniors are enjoying their soccer competetion inunprecedented manner. Their warmup stage has come to end between SHAHAN & BIRAQ last Sunday. And during this time, neither has conceded a defeat which indicates how fierce the preparation was for these two teams. The real competetion starts this week on Sunady.
 To mark up last Sunday as the end of  warm up stage, The Juniors team, composed of best players from SHAHAN & BIRAQ, confronted the Seniors that include well known players from ABADIR SC.  Surprisingly,  the Juniors humiliate the Seniors in style by winning 3-2. WHAT A WIN FOR THESE YOUNG PLAYERS !

Abadir School of Dallas is celebrating " Kalam Masber"
Dallas- October 27, 2000 - Harari-liast
For the upper class, they just completed first "JUZ" of Quran. We would like very much for all the Hararian community and Muslim friends to join in this momentous occasion.  It will be a great honor and joy if you all come and give the kids your moral support and encouragement. We hope that younger ones  will follow in the footsteps of their elders.  We ask all the parents of the kids to dress them to fit the occasion.  Parents of the upper class please bring refreshments such as soft drinks, candies, cookies, cameras, or video cameras are also welcome. 
Program:
Sunday, November 5, 2000 at 10:30 a.m. each student will read sura of his or her choice, and they all will read together Sura "Al-Naba". Izer Ibrahim Mizan will give us blessing, The whole event should be completed by noon. Please everyone come at 9:30 a.m. at IDEA MIDRASA.

Thank you 
Ibrahim Berkhadley
Abadir School Director

Dallas Harari Community Elected New Officers
 Dallas- October 22, 2000 
The Harari Community of Dallas (Afocha) conducted a general meeting on August 27, 2000 and addressed several issues concerning the challenges that face the afocha.  Elections were also held at that meeting and new officers elected. 
We would like to reiterate that the current afocha was founded on the basis of “Kibaragn, ikabrakhakh.”  Death hangs in our neck like a sword.  At anytime any of us could transition from this world to the next.  That is the reality of life. 
When someone dies, the process of acquiring land for burial and preparing the body to be buried in accordance with Islamic/Harari traditional way could overburden family members of the deceased financially as well as emotionally.  It is the realization of this fact that was the catalyst in the creation of the afocha in its current format by dedicated Harari brothers, among whom was Nabil Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on his soul). 

At the meeting the afocha decided to implement some changes and discussed various other issues, and they are as follows: 

·       Harari sisters will be eligible to join the afocha, as well as being able to be nominated and elected as officers and committee members.  Therefore, all Harari women that are gainfully employed and do not have the coverage through their husband are encouraged to join as active members. 

·       The monthly due will remain at $10/month for both individual and familycoverage, until further assessment is done. 

·       Afocha dues should be paid per every six months or per every year. 

·       As before, students and those that are unemployed are automatically eligible to receive coverage from the afocha. 

·       Members are encouraged to pay their dues on time.  Those who do not pay on time and regularly put a great deal of strain in the availability of fund in case of emergency. 

·       Those that are behind excessively will be given warning, and eventually their memberships terminated. 

·       Efforts will be made to make more people aware of the activities of the afocha, and to increase the membership. 

The new officers that were elected on that day are as follows: 

Abdulmajid Mohammed, Chairman 
(214)373-7966 
Abdullahi Gatur, Treasurer 
(214)503-7189 
Mohammed Hassen, Secretary 
(972)702-8037 

Please feel free to contact the new officers if you have any questions about membership or in case of emergency.  Also, please extend your assistance to them when requested.  They look forward to working with each one of you and to serve the Harari community as best as they could. 
Sincerely, 
Harari Community of Dallas 
                         Harari Community of Dallas 
                         P.O. Box 823492 
                        Dallas, Texas 75231 
Harari Manuscripts Long Missing Return 
Our University Correspondent reports: - Addis Tribune - 
The Ethiopian scholarly community is becoming increasingly conscious of the cultural loss which has resulted from the looting of country’s heritage: hence the agitation for the return of the looted Aksum obelisk, and for the return of the Maqdala treasures. 
A most auspicious event occurred on Wednesday when four eighteenth century Harari manuscripts (commentaries on the Qoran, Islamic laws, poetry, and medicine) were returned to the country. This took place thanks to the scholarly awareness of an American couple, Dr and Mrs Mike Dow, formerly of the College of Agriculture at Alemaya. Concerned at the disappearance from Harar in the 1970s of so many manuscripts, they arranged with an Irish professor at the Harer Teacher Training Institute, Dan O’Dawd, to purchase these four important volumes – with the specific aim of returning them for safe-keeping in their land of origin. 
The Dows were encouraged to do this by professor Richard Pankhurst, of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. 
This valuable act of restoration had the blessing of Janet Stanley, of the Smithsonian Institution, who arranged for the manuscripts to be brought back by Woizerit Meskerem Assegued. At the ceremony, held in the presence of Professor Baye Yimam, Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, she handed these valuable works over to Ato Ahmed Zakaria, Curator of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies Museum, and a notable scholar of Harari history and civilization. It is planned to have the four manuscripts copied so they may be consulted at both the IES and the newly established Harar archives. 
The Dows deserve warm congratulation, and it is hoped that their dedication to culture will be an inspiration to others. 

More Than a Million Birr Prize Given to Athletes
ADDIS ABABA, October 13 (WIC) – Seven Regional States have given money prize to members of the victorious Ethiopian athletics team, which come home after a successful showing at the 27th Sydney Olympics. 
The regional sates provided a total of more than 1 million Birr, which was shared among the athletes, coaches, team leaders and other members of the team.  Gold Medallists were each given 15,000 Birr, while those who won Silver medals got 13,000 Birr each.  The Bronze medallists each won 11,000 Birr. 
The prize, which was handed over to the athletes at an event hosted by the Oromiya State council, was contributed by the Tigray, Afar, Oromiya, Harari, Somali, Benishangul-Gumuz and Somali Regional States. 
Oromiya contributed the largest share of the money prize, amounting to 250,000 Birr, followed by Somali State, which gave 225,000 Birr.  Tigray and Gambela each donated 200,000 Birr to the prize fund. 

INSPIRED LADS FINISH 34KM ADVENTUROUS MARATHON
HARAR (ENA) OCT. 12 - Four children who lost their way back home after finishing a -34 kilometer self initiated friendly run race on the Harar- Babile road were retrieved back home by a search, Police said. 
The children after begin brought back to their homes said they had got the inspiration from the athletics mega-star Haile G/Selassie. " We want to replace him," they said. The lads, three of , 11 and the other, 8 departed Harar at 9.00 am Sunday to reach an uncrowded destination in Babile at 4:00 pm 

HARARI 'EDIR' DONATES 30,000 BIRR WORTH NUTRITION FOOD, CLOTHES
Dire Dawa (ENA) Oct. 8 - Members of the "Melesai Edir" of the Harari people here in the metropolis have donated 30,000 birr nutritious food and clothing for draught-hit citizens in the Somali State, the state's disaster prevention and preparedness and labor and social affairs bureau said. 
Bureau representatives, Bilal Tahir said the donation includes 115 cartons of cerifam milk and 120 dozens of T-shirts. He said the grant would be properly channeled to the needy adding that the job of the -edir (self- help association) would help improve the relation between Harari and Somali peoples. 

HARARI STATE COUNCIL ELECTS PRESIDENT, APPROVES BUDGET
Harar (ENA) Oct. 8 - The new council of the Harari people's state has elected former head of the state's education bureau, Fuad Ibrahim, as the new head for the state administration and approved 763 million birr budget for the 1993 E.C. fiscal year. The council members have also elected the former head of the state's agriculture bureau, Abdulaziz Mohammed as deputy head of the state administration while Murad Abdullahi was elected as secretary of the state council. Members of the council have also elected four executive committee members responsible for justice and security, town administration, economic as well as social sectors. Nuria Abdulllahi the former head of the state administration, has become one of them members of the state's judge's administrative council. The council has approved 76,6975,620 birr budget for the 1993 E.C. fiscal year, of which 46 million birr has been allocated for the ecurrent budget while the balance goes to the capital budget, the state's finance bureau head, Abdullahi Mohammed said. 

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INAUGURATED
HARAR (ENA) OCT. 7 - Various development projects undertaken at a cost of half million birr  by the Harar Town Council went operational. Council Head Nebil Mohammed said the completed projects included among others, the installation of street traffic lights, the construction of alleys and public latrines. 

Over 900 Engaged in Illegal Trade in Harar
By Our Staff Reporter - Addis Tribune - 
Relevant study has indicated that 909 illegal traders with an aggregate capital of over 10 million birr have been operating in Harar town, the Harari State industry, transport trade and tourism bureau said. 
Bureau head Aref Mohammed told ENA Thursday that according to the study conducted by the bureau over the past three years the traders have been engaged in contraband and other unlicensed business activities in the town. He said the bureau had finalized preparations to fight the ever-increasing illegal trade in collaboration with the state's finance and agricultural bureau as well as the town's municipality. 
Meanwhile the bureau said it had licensed 129 businesspersons with an aggregate capital of 1.2 million birr during the previous Ethiopian budget year, while revoking the licenses of 268 tax evaders. In another development the Nazareth customs Office in Oromia State said it had intercepted various contraband estimated at over three million birr over the past three months. Among the intercepted contraband were video decks, tv sets, radios, tape recorders, electronic appliances and cosmetics.