Makonnen Bishaw, prominent human rights advocate and professor, passed away

Dr Makonnen Bishaw was a distinguished scholar and had served as secretary general of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO). He and Prof. Asrat Woldeyes, who represented Addis Ababa University at the 1991 Transitional Government Conference, were the only two individuals who rejected the Woyanne ethnic-apartheid charter. Both of them were later dismissed from Addis Ababa University by the Woyanne junta, along with 40 other scholars. As a student Dr Makonnen [also spelled 'Mekonnen'] served as president of the National Union of Ethiopian University Students.

After being dismissed from Addis Ababa University, Dr Makonnen continued to produce major scholarly works and articles that expose the Meles dictatorship, including the education crisis in the country.

In 2002, after stepping down from his position as secretary general of EHRCO, Dr Makonnen became head of the Ethiopian Democratic Action League's (Tegbar) team in Addis Ababa. He was a keynote speaker at the Feb 2002 Tegbar conference in Washington DC.

In 2003, Dr Makonnen Bishaw was elected as secretary general of the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) and worked with Ato Hailu Shawel, the president, to prepare the party for the May 2005 elections.

Dr Makonnen died on the afternoon of February 20th in a Minnesota Hospital after long bout with diabetes and intestinal sickness.