 Dr. Taye Woldesemayate received his Ph.D. in political science from University of Missouri-Columbia in 1988. His terminal degree could have allowed him to live a comfortable life any where in the West. He gave up that opportunity for the love of his people and his motherland Ethiopia. In 1989, Dr. Taye took a post as Assistant Professor in Political Science and International Relations at Addis Ababa University.
In 1992, at its General Assembly, the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA) elected Dr. Taye Woldesemayate President. Along with his newly elected officers he set out a plan to protect their profession and members interest. A year later the new regime in Ethiopia summarily dismissed 42 of academics from Addis Ababa University, thereby removing the entire ETA Executive Leadership of the AAU (Addis Ababa University) branch, including Dr. Taye. Shortly after passing the immigration checkpoint at Bole International Airport, security men surrounded Dr. Taye in May 1996 and arrested him without a warrant. One of the charges against him was “Conspiracy to overthrow the governments”. However, Dr. Taye maintained his innocence. His crime remains to be his allegiance to his professional association. In early January 2000, Amnesty International officially named Dr. Taye Woldesemayate “ Prisoner of Conscience”. The outpouring plea from many international organization including trade unions such as International Labor organizations and Education International won him his freedom after six year of imprisonment. The court freed him without explanation. At its second Conference (1998), Education International presented the “Education International Human and Trade Union Award to Dr Taye. Dr. Taye is also a recipient of the Dutch Labor Union award with “febe Elisbeth Valasques” involving highly valued work of art. |
Honored Members 
