Reporter's Notebook Comments

• The writer does a fine job of painting a picture of the various ways that corruption intersects the lives of Ethiopians in Addis Ababa. By focusing on a few high profile cases, the author demonstrates how the very episodic and often politically driven fight against corruption becomes part of the political and social discourse.
  
  The notebook would be stronger if it had been clearer on the political circumstances surrounding the high profile trials of Tamrat and especially Seyee. There is a pattern of senior government officials who fall out with the ruling circle finding themselves charged with corruption. The slow pace of prosecution and the general perception that the courts themselves are corrupt does not increase public confidence.
  
  The author focuses on the important context for corruption as it is experienced by small and medium business owners. Corruption in the business world is worth highlighting because it stifles investment and is a major hurdle to private development. The notebook does not cover the petty corruption of local officials in the neighborhood and rural kebelles (local government). These small bribes to local functionaries play a critical role in the ruling party's system of control, and are a source of considerable popular resentment.
  
  The Negussie mentioned in the Abate and Bitew case is not identified and the timing of that case is not specified.