Ethiopia: Update to ETH24418.E of 24 June 1996 on the procedure for joining the All Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) and whether the All Amhara People's Cultural and Relief Organization in Toronto (AAPCRO) still verifies claims of AAPO membership and issues membership letters
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 3 June 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ETH42731.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ethiopia: Update to ETH24418.E of 24 June 1996 on the procedure for joining the All Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) and whether the All Amhara People's Cultural and Relief Organization in Toronto (AAPCRO) still verifies claims of AAPO membership and issues membership letters , 3 June 2004, ETH42731.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c0723.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The All Amhara People's Organization (AAPO) has been replaced by the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) (Ethiopian Association in Toronto 25 May 2004; Ethiopian Reporter 30 July 2003; ibid. 2 Oct. 2002).
In a 31 May 2004 telephone interview, a representative of the AEUP in Addis Ababa explained that people wanting to join the party could apply at any of the party or supporting organization's offices within their region or at the headquarters in Addis Ababa. He indicated that membership fees varied according to the financial situation of prospective members (AEUP 31 May 2004). He also agreed that support organizations in Canada and the United States occasionally contacted the main party headquarters in order to verify membership of people (ibid.).
The All Amhara People's Cultural and Relief Organization (AAPCRO) has changed its name to the All Ethiopian Unity Cultural and Relief Organization (AEUCRO) (AEUCRO 31 May 2004). A blank letterhead sent to the Research Directorate by the AEUCRO displays the old name (AAPCRO) and a different address from that given in the original interview with the president of the AEUCRO (26 May 2004). However, in a follow-up interview on 31 May 2004, the president of the AEUCRO explained that the office of the AAPCRO (or AEUCRO) has been located on Westmoreland Street in Toronto for several years, but the letterhead has always displayed the P.O. Box address on Dufferin Street instead of the street address of the office. According to him, the letterhead retains the old name (AAPCRO) and the P.O. Box address since the organization has not yet arranged for a new letterhead to be printed (AEUCRO 31 May 2004).
In a 26 May 2004 telephone interview, the president of the AEUCRO explained that the Toronto office is the only supporting organization in Canada that verifies claims of membership in the new AEUP and issues membership letters. In order to verify membership, the Toronto office contacts the Addis Ababa office of the AEUP (AEUCRO 26 May 2004). The representative of the AEUP in Ethiopia agreed that supporting organizations such as the AEUCRO often contact the headquarters to confirm membership (31 May 2004).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
All Ethiopian Unity Cultural and Relief Organization (AEUCRO) in Toronto. 31 May 2004. Follow-up telephone interview with the president.
_____. 28 May 2004. Correspondence to the Research Directorate.
_____. 26 May 2004. Telephone interview with the president.
All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 31 May 2004. Telephone interview with a representative.
Ethiopian Association in Toronto. 25 May 2004. Telephone interview with a representative.
Ethiopian Reporter. 30 July 2003. Abraham Gelaw. "AAPO Says Its Request to Participate at All-Party Conference Unfairly Turned Down." _____. 2 October 2002. Zerihun Taddesse. "What's in a Name? Issues of the AAPO-AEU Controversy." Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sources and associations contacted: Abyssinia.ca, Africa Guide, Association for Higher Education and Development (AHEAD), Contemporary Africa Database, Ethio-America Community Service Agency, Ethiopian Community Development Council, Ethiopian Community of San Diego, Ethiopian Human Rights Council, Ethiopian related news and information, Ethiopian Social Services, Ethiopian Student Association (University of Toronto), Ethiopians for a Better Tomorrow (EFBT), Ethioviews, Ethioyellowpages, MediaEthiopia.com, Tigrai net.
