ADDIS TODAY

The OLF, AFD and democratic and United Ethiopia: Are they antithetical?

2006-09-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Many Ethiopians welcome the formation of AFD with a sigh of relief over the Meles regime that thrives by pitting one ethnic group against the other. The recent interview by one of the top officials of the OLF in the Alliance for Democracy (AFD), Dr. Beyan Asoba with the US based Nesanet radio has stirred a lot of opinion and exchanges of ideas particularly among those who support and oppose the AFD.

Those who firmly oppose the joining of the pan-Ethiopian CUD in the AFD were jubilant as the interview by the OLF official provided ample ‘evidences’ about the ‘secret’ objective of the OLF behind the formation of the AFD, i.e. ‘to further its separatist agenda by undermining the pro-democracy and unity CUD’. Even the pro-EPRDF Aigaforum.com, which officially advocates for ethnic politics and the respect of the rights of the nations, nationalities, and peoples for self determination up to and including secession reported a ‘freighting’ breaking news in which it asserted that ‘the OLF does not recognize Ethiopian sovereignty as a precondition’.

On the other hand those who wished the AFD would constitute a new beginning of tolerance and reconciliation felt let down. One of the supporters of the AFD in a given circle even said that in the interview Dr, Beyan gave ‘ammunition’ to our critics.

I listened the interview and also followed the exchange of opinions on the interview in different circles and wanted to share my opinion about the interview and also the difficult task of the OLF in defining what it really wants in the post-EPRDF period in Ethiopia.

Firstly, I did not find the interview freighting or confirming the ‘secret’ agenda of the OLF in the formation of the AFD. What I saw in the interview was an angry Oromo politician who has been isolated from ‘Ethiopian’ politics for a long period and has been rehearsing for numerous times the ‘colonial’ thesis of Oromia which has been hashed and rehashed by the likes of Paul Baxter and Assafa Jalata. I think at this stage of the struggle the OLF should develop a forward looking ideology rather than lamenting about how a free and independent state of Oromia was colonized by Menelik one hundred years ago. I do not want to go into historical debates. That is not the purpose here. Even the purpose of the interview on Nesanet radio was not to debate about the history of Ethiopia or Oromia. Thus intermixing controversial historical and political statements with the political aspirations behind the formation of the AFD did not help meet the public relations objectives of the AFD, i.e. to expand its support base. In fact the OLF official was torn in between of ‘telling’ the OLF usually call the ‘Neftegna’ what they abhor to listen—the colonization of Oromia one hundred years back—by the way it is now more than one hundred years even by the counting of the ‘liberation discourse’ since Oromia was ‘colonized’ and also as the same time showing the commitment of the OLF about democracy and peace in the post-EPRDF period.

In addition to the ‘public relations’ disaster—such as denying the existence of pan-Ethiopian political organizations or ideologies, the interview showed an important problem which the OLF has been grappling for several years now. The OLF to play a central role in Ethiopian politics or even to achieve what it calls the ‘self determination’ of the people of the Oromo; the political space in Ethiopia should be democratized. The OLF to have meaningful role in the democratization of Ethiopia, it has to break from the ‘liberation’ and ‘colonial’ shell it created for itself. Breaking this shell would not be an easy ride-it would an agonizing process for a number of reasons. For instance, the OLF has promised ‘independence’ for its followers for many decades that reversing its old position requires time and most importantly assurances from the other Ethiopian political players such as the TPLF and the CUD that the Oromo would not be once again sidelined from the mainstream Ethiopian politics. Many Oromo and the OLF felt that they were fooled by the TPLF when they joined the Transitional Government.

Today, many ‘hard core’ members of the OLF still regard any cooperation with pan-Ethiopian political movements and for that matter with Ethiopian issues as unnecessary or treachery. The ‘hardcore’ OLF leadership—the faction led by the previous chairman of the OLF - Gellassa Dilbo for instance denounces the move which has been put forward by Daud Ibasa which is based in Asmara. One of the reasons for their split was the promotion of the idea of exercising the self determination (administration) of the Oromo within a federal arrangement which has been put forward by the younger leadership which is now in charge. For many insiders and close observers of the OLF the formation of the AFD by the initiation of the OLF was an important development in the path created by the current leadership of the OLF.

In fact, the Woyane radio Fana Afan Oromo program carries statements from the ‘hardcore’ OLF which denounces the formation of the AFD. In that propaganda, the present leadership of the OLF which joined the AFD is accused of ‘selling out’ the quest of the Oromo for statehood. It is indeed surprising that the ‘hard core’ unity forces and the ‘hard core’ separatist forces are opposing the AFD. This is natural as hardliners from both camps are afraid of change and also challenge.

The propaganda of the so-called unity forces also hampers the coming of the OLF to the center-stage of Ethiopian politics. This pro-unity forces seem to advocate for the reversal of the ‘old’ unitary order in Ethiopia. The creation of the Oromia regional state, the usage of the Oromo language for education and administration have been some of the major achievements for the Oromo for that matter for Ethiopia in the last 15 years.

Despite this opposition, from the two groups, the formation of the AFD and the decision of the OLF to engage with pan-Ethiopian political organizations should be supported and welcomed. The OLF should however even go further and demonstrate that a democratic and united Ethiopia where peoples or individuals would not be prosecuted because of their political objectives is not antithetical to the Oromo people and the OLF itself. In this respect, the denial of the presence of pan-Ethiopian political organizations and ideologies by the OLF and its officials as reported by Dr. Beyan is not only unnecessary but also destructive. Likewise, the dismissal of the ‘question’ of such nationalist movements like the OLF by the so-called pro-unity forces as ‘ unnecessary’ and ‘elitist’ does not only reflect the reality but also destructive. As lack of mutual recognition and tolerance between these seemingly opposed positions leaves the problem to be dealt with by the barrel of the gun, which the AFD was supposedly established to root out.

Indeed, it is important to note that what Ethiopia needs is to provide space for both who advocate a multiethnic struggle (like the CUD, EPRP, MEISON) and those who are organized on ethnic basis like the TPLF, ONC, OFDM, ONLF, OLF, SLM, etc. Patriotic and learned Ethiopians should advocate understanding and tolerance between these two views.

Finally, it is worthwhile to note that Ethiopia would neither democratize nor maintain its unity without answering the quest of the Oromo who have been the underdogs for centuries to reclaim their rightful place within a united and democratic Ethiopia . Likewise the OLF and the Oromo people cannot claim their rightful place or indeed without democratizing Ethiopia . That is why we should support the AFD and the coming of the OLF to the center stage of Ethiopian politics from the sidelines.

-------The writer can be reached for comments at ashebir_alemu@yahoo.com
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The TPLF and the Mekele Institute of Techonology (MIT): Admission only for 'pure' Tigreans

2006-07-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

For a long time much has been said about the Mekele Institute of Techonology(MIT). The MIT is a symbol of the grandiose TPLF agenda for Tigray. As the same time its instrumetn of divisng the people of Tigray from the rest of Ethiopia. For the people of Tigray and the so-called intellectuals abroad, the MIT is considered as an attemtp by the TPLF to provide world class technology and science education for the crime of Tigrayan youth. But the purpose of the TPLF is not at all about the educational and trainig values of the MIT is to but how the regime seeks to build a talented and technology savy Tigrean professionals for the future. Provision of scholarship for talented young people is good and should be encouraged. But the problem of the TPLF is its exclusionist policy and its lack of vision for both Ethiopia and for that matter for Tigray. The TPLF has so far only opened an elite school for the Tigray region. There are no other MITs in the other regions. This makes it the whole notion of the MIT discriminatory and ethnicist. What I recently found out the Institute was much worse than I expected. A certain bright young student from Tigray passed the intense competitive examiniations to get the scholarship and join the MIT along with other close to 240 students. This student was dismissed from school before he barely begins his study as the school authorities found out that he is from a mixed parentage of a Tigrean father and a Gondere mother. For all purposes, the young lad is a Tigrean, he was born and raised in Tigray. He speaks Tigrigna. But was not allowed to pursue his studies at the MIT just because of the heritage of his mum. How do you expect such TPLF officials who are the brain masters and managers of the MIT to farily and equitably adminster Ethiopia.

‘Ethiopiawinet’: Citizen vs. Subject?

2006-07-05T04:14:00.000-07:00

‘Ethiopiawinet’: Citizen vs. Subject?

Those who seek to sell their ideas on Ethiopian issues play their words in some very abstract terms—like ‘Ethiopianness’, ‘unity’, ‘self determination’ and tend to brand those people who differ from there preconceived definitions, as ‘enemies of Ethiopia’, ‘evil’, ‘secessionist’, ‘Banda’, ‘Neftegna’, ‘colonizer’, ‘oppressor’ etc. This makes our politics is very polarized and divided. I particularly focus here on the issue of ‘Ethiopiawinet’. For me all of these concepts—like ‘Ethiopianness’, ‘unity’ evoke different meanings and emotions from different group of people. That is natural and happens anywhere in the world. What makes our problem unique and interesting is the lack of willingness by different groups to listen to each other. The lack of willingness to compromise. Our history through out the last five decades has been a history of lost opportunities. Particularly because of lack of willingness to compromise and appreciate the position of the others. Sadly, the tendency of branding forces or individuals who differ from the opinions of others groups in biblical terms such as evil, devil is still continuing.

Coming to the point I raised at the beginning. As for me in Ethiopian politics those who are self appointed advocates of both ‘unity’ and ‘separation’ usually lament about their cause and do not consider what do these really mean to the other groups. This ‘sickness’ appears to be more profound in the so-called ‘unity camp’. I wonder why those who always lament about ‘Ethiopiawinet’ and ‘Andinet’ do not dare to consider what these really mean to others. Particularly for those who have been historically suppressed by the political center. What does ‘Ethiopiawinet’ really mean for the Ogaden nomad, whose people are under effectively military occupation (military administration) ever since the territory was incorporated into Ethiopia. What does Ethiopiawinet really mean to the Suri who are still condemned to continue their primitive life without getting any government social services? What does Ethiopiawinet really mean the over 85% of Ethiopian peasants who regularly suffer from famine and drought and their main stay for survival is food handout by international agencies. I believe it is time for us to tie the concept of ‘Ethiopiawinet’ with citizenship. We should all struggle to create Ethiopia which considers its entire people as citizens not subjects. Let our struggle be to get equal and fair citizenship. For me Ethiopia has a troubled history of citizenship. The vast majority of Ethiopians irrespective of their differences in terms of culture, ethnicity and religion, were/are simply subjects of the Ethiopian state. Not citizens! The struggle today is claim our equal citizenship right. For me the concept of ‘Ethiopiawinet’ is problematic unless it is streamlined in terms of citizenship. Even today, at the beginning of the 21st century, Ethiopian citizenship is an empty rhetoric. How would one become an Ethiopian without being a citizen? Bringing a citizen whose vote matters; a citizen who could influence decision making; a citizen who is equally and fairly and without discrimination is treated by the state and society should be the main agenda of any political struggle. If one considers ‘Ethiopiawinet’ in terms of this, the issue is problematic. Almost all ‘Ethiopians’ are mere tax paying subjects, not citizens. An ‘Ethiopiawinet’ without citizenship is bound to be challenged and can only be maintained by force of naked power. I believe the agenda for all political forces, ethnic based or not should be to expand citizenship to make all Ethiopians, Ethiopian citizens. That is why I support whatever little progress is made in terms of coming together between the ethnic ‘liberation’ movements and the pan-Ethiopian political organizations like the CUD. Some may have already branded me as ‘secessionist’, stooge of the OLF and Shabia. I do neither take offence nor care by such character assassination. That has been the culture for a long time. It may change some time in the future. This forum contributes its share by dispassionately discussing such complicated and difficult issues. As I have said earlier I do not personally support secession. That is my true feeling and conviction. I do not either believe that those forces which have secessionist objectives should be crushed and wiped out. That have been tried in Eritrea by the Haile Selassie and Derg regime, it did not work out. The only way out is discussion and compromise from both sides. The beginning for compromise is talking and working together.

Selam for all

Reply to critics of AFD

2006-07-04T00:24:00.000-07:00

I feel I share your belief that Ethiopian unity should be maintained. But I differ from you on how we should maintain the unity of the country which we all love. For me the way forward is all inclusive politics. A political system and culture which tolerates both those who are ethnically oriented and those who put their Ethiopianness first and dismiss ethnic politics. Maintaining the right balance is always difficult as has been seen from the experiences of India and Canada. But there is no way out. The policy of suppressing ethno-nationalist movements has been tried but did not work. Likewise complete ethnicization of politics as followed by Meles does not help the country. So the alternative is creating balance and understanding. That is why I am cautiously optimistic about the decision of the OLF to engage in national/Ethiopian politics. If you were following the policies of the OLF, you would notice the present dispensation is a major change from its policies in the past. The so-called unity forces should not be freighted when the OLF is coming to the center stage of Ethiopian politics. If the unity forces are genuinely committed to an all inclusive unity they should encourage the OLF and other 'liberation movements' when they decide to come to the center stage of Ethiopian politics. I see the AFD in this light. I do not think demanding the OLF to change its policies or objectives before it is accepted as a legitimate player in Ethiopian politics by the so called 'unity' camp is not fair or for that matter constructive. This is just a small beginning. There would be a long and difficult road ahead. The result of that process depends on the actions and interactions of all actors. That is my position on the AFD.

Yosef said, ' What I mean is the very agenda [of self determination/referendum] is illegal and wrong'. You are entitled to your opinion. But there is both theory and practice where groups within non-colonial countries using self determination and seceding from the established state. The question regarding such issues is not really about legality and morality, it is about what is available on the ground. The issue of power- and the interests of domestic players and international actors. That is why I support engagement of the OLF--encouraging its decision to play a role in Ethiopian politics. The decision of the OLF in joining the AFD is in quite contrast to its previous position which was not concerned about Ethiopian issues other than Oromia.

Meron asked me 'Why do you speak OLF and Oromo interchangeably' --this is a good question. I have been in Ethiopia since throughout the last fourteen years since the coming to power of the EPRDF. I left the country at the beginning fo this year. From my visits in several areas of Oromia and from my own observation the OLF has a wide following. Throughout the last fourteen years--there are regular and period student protests within Oromia-the youth and the educated people of Oromia to a large extent seem to support the OLF. That is why Meles who was so frustrated by the situation said that if you scratch a member of the OPDO (Meles's Oromo organization) you find an OLF. You also look at the situation of the Diaspora--do members of the Oromo community intermingle with the other members of the Ethiopian community. Whom do they support? I think the argument that the OLF does not have supporters of Oromia is illusory. But the real test the OLF is in the field of voting and democratic election. Let there be a democratic process in which the OLF and the other Ethiopian political forces including the Woyane fully and equally participate. All the anxieties about secession and others would be I think vanish, if we have an all inclusive political process. The alternative to this exclusion of those organizations which we think are less Ethiopian than others--this lead to the way to fight them- suppress them and this brings endless conflict.

The issue of referendum and Oromia independence-- I do not think that neither the Oromo nor the OLF would press on independence. The issue of Oromia is a make or break thing to Ethiopia. I do not think that would happen.

Gelila--you have branded the alternative of AFD is alternative of destruction and war. I ask you what your alternative is. But the alternative of many who avowedly oppose dialogue and cooperation is war and destruction. Some in the Diaspora and some of the veteran organizations fo the 1960s are now propagating such divisive and destructive propaganda 'secessionist' and 'pro secessionist'. I think their alternative and road map is--- Beat and defeat the TPLF next fight the OLF and defeat it, then fight the ONLF and defeat it, then fight the SLM and defeat it, then fight the EPLF and take back Asmara and the red sea, then fight with ----- and wow finally maintain the glory of Ethiopian unity and territorial integrity. God save us from this. God save the next generations from such politicians. Such politicians should learn from the history of Serbian nationalists and Slobodan Milosevic--who sought to suppress all the members of the Yugoslav federation and finally ended up losing all of them- even the tiny and blood related Montenegro.

FOCUS ON OLF AND KINIJIT - A GAME OF CHESS OR A NEW BEGINNING?

2006-06-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

The discussion about the AFD has been very polarized as any thing else in Ethiopian politics. The ambivalence of people about the effort of the CUD and the OLF to form a common front is natural, as this change is a major turnaround in Ethiopian politics. The politics in Ethiopia for a long time was framed in terms multiple but cross cutting dichotomies such as “Abyssinia colonizers” vs. “colonized southerners”; “ethno nationalist separatist movements vs. multinational unitarist forces”; “revolutionary democrats” vs. “ liberal democrats” etc.

Where is the place of the CUD and the OLF in these confusing and complex categories? The OLF is/was pursuing a separatist agenda on the basis of national self determination. While the CUD albeit its young age it is firmly established on the platform of Ethiopian nationalism—with the vision of a democratic Ethiopia where all of its citizens would be equally and democratically treated.

Both of these political approaches to Ethiopian politics have been tried but they are not as such able to address in a meaningful and effective way Ethiopia’s intricate political problems. That is why these seemingly contradictory approaches to Ethiopian politics should be synthesized or should be balanced. In addition to this, the existing division between multiethnic political organizations and nationalist movements like the OLF has helped the consolidation of the position of the TPLF/EPRDF rule. It is because of the rather mutual exclusionary approach of Ethiopian opposition forces that the minority government of Mr. Zenawi has managed not only to divide and rule the country but also pit the Oromos against the Amhara and other ethnic groups. The previous position of the OLF not to engage with non-ethnic based political parties in Ethiopia was advantageous to the TPLF minority regime. The OLF gradually but surely was coming to the center stage of Ethiopian politics over the last few years. The desire of the OLF not to be used by the TPLF minority regime was clearly exemplified by its rebuff to the invitation of Mr. Zenawi to enter into dialogue and create what was dubbed as the “anti Neftegna alliance” right after the electoral setback of the TPLF. Moreover, when top OPDO officials of the TPLF and their propagandists like Junedin Saddo, Aba Dulla Gemeda, Gemechu Megerssa and others were trying to incite the Oromo people in Arssi against the Amhara who live in the region by saying that we lost the election because of the Neftegna the OLF made clear to its members and supporters that the Oromo people do not have enmity with the Amhara people but only with political systems which oppressed them and urged people to desist from any inter-ethnic conflict. That was a major blow in the face of the Mr. Zenawi who was then clamoring for a major inter-ethnic conflict between the Oromo and the Amhara which would able to transform his brutal army and federal police as peacekeepers and mediators between these two difficult and ‘backward’ ethnic groups. Let me then come to some of the major criticisms against the AFD.

Firstly, the separatism of the OLF and the ONLF. Some demand the OLF should disassociate itself form separatism or even ethnic politics before it is considered as a legitimate player in Ethiopian politics. Some even think that the OLF is anti-Ethiopian. Some even suggest that the OLF should apologize for its earlier actions and policies. I think these types of demands are destructive. People who promote such ideas are those who are not interested to consider the OLF as an organization which has its own wide constituency and of course a cause/grievance. Why not we ask apology from the EPRP, MEISON and other organizations of the 1960s when they seek to play a major role in Ethiopian politics. Those who voice these demands are those who seek the kneeling down and surrender of the OLF. As a result criticisms of such individuals for that matter organizations should not be counted as they are not well intentioned and do not respect the position of the other.

But for those who are genuinely concerned, the key to all these questions could be found in the declaration of the AFD itself. The AFD is calling for the convening of a national conference-which could if properly handled lead to a multiple process of political democratization, national reconciliation and mutual understanding. In fact the OLF is sliding away from separatism. The decision of the OLF to call the meeting that led to the formation of the AFD is a clear testimony of this. Moreover, all the above issues would be considered more thoroughly once the process and the framework leading to reconciliation and national healing are underway. Such a process of national reconciliation and healing not only considers our history of violence in the immediate past but also unequal and unjust relationships between different ethnic groups of the country in our history. Such a process of reconciliation would help to create mutual confidence between different groups of people.

Secondly, the UDEF opposition: “civic organization”? The tug of war between those who support the AFD and the UDEF is going out of the proportion beyond what it really deservers. Let me just address one of the pillars of UDEF’s opposition not to endorse the AFD, i.e. the issue of civic organizations. The civic organizations should have a very strong role in Ethiopia’s transition to democracy. They should, however, first assemble themselves—at least those who operate in the Diaspora and voice their concerns collectively. The civic organizations should not enter into partisan opposition politics--they should serve as the conscience of the people—serve as watchdogs of public interest. Should civic organizations join political fronts and alliances? My answer is an empathic no! The moment they join political alliances they cease to be civic organizations. It would endanger their own survival and integrity. It is my sincere wish that the civic organizations should not be entangled in this unnecessary tug of war between the supporters of the AFD and the UDEF. It would be also helpful if the UDEF and the AFD could sort out their differences in a civil manner.

Thirdly, Isayas and the Eritrean factor--we Ethiopians for a long time unfortunately failed to agree among ourselves and work out the necessary political and legal framework which would provide security for all groups and make politics non-violent. The result of this failure is mass exile, seeking of refugee throughout the world. The lack of civic and political space in Ethiopia during the time of the emperor, the Derg and the TPLF has forced opposition political groupings to go to neighboring countries to pursue their objectives. The neighboring countries also either support or suppress such movements depending of their own interest. The EPLF, TPLF, EPRP, and many others in their history used neighboring countries and others to pursue their political objectives. Ethiopians hope for peaceful and democratic transition by the killing of innocent children on the streets of Addis Ababa by the Agazi tribal militia dashed the prospect of peaceful and democratic transition in Ethiopia. I think those who argue that peaceful and democratic transition under the tutelage of Mr. Zenawi is possible should join the UDEF in Addis Ababa and negotiate with Mr. Zenawi as leaders of the UDEF in Ethiopia. What is now needed is a coordinated and all round struggle. The armed opposition groups should strengthen their military activities and those who are still pursuing a non-violent struggle should also strengthen their activities. The operation of the OLF and the EPPF from Asmara should be considered in this context. These organizations cannot operate from anywhere else other than Asmara. The Eritreans have their own interest in supporting the OLF and the EPP. The interest of the Eritreans is undermining the TPLF. Eritrea being a small country would not fathom of ruling Ethiopia indirectly through the AFD or OLF. That could not happen. The best thing they could achieve from a change of Mr. Zenawi in Addis Ababa is the coming of a friendly or less hostile regime in Addis Ababa to Asmara. Those who are suspicious of the Eritreans I think should join the AFD and see from inside what is going to happen and engage in old rhetoric and propaganda war that the Shabia was responsible for all our woes. That is now history. We do not have to battle history but look the future.

It is in the context of my above discussion I consider the AFD. The AFD is a good beginning. It needs to further develop itself. The parties within the AFD need to work to develop mutual understanding and tolerance not only among themselves but also among their wide followers.

Zenawi’s Courts and Political Dissent: Ethiopian Judiciary without Justice

2006-04-28T01:33:00.000-07:00

I. Introduction

This month (May 2006), according to many reports, the trial of the unlawfully detained leaders of the Coalition of Democracy and Unity (CUD), Civil Society Organizations and Journalists will be started. The Western Embassies in Addis Ababa are giving contradictory statements. In the one hand, they demand the release of the political prisoners; on the other hand they talk of a “speedy, fair, and transparent trial” for the political prisoners. The Western governments, including the United States, consider the detainees as political prisoners. If then, could there be speedy, fair, and transparent trial for political prisoners? The answer is an emphatic no! No where in the world, from the Soviet Union to China, political prisoners were given a fair and transparent trial. In the first place, there could not be an independent judiciary in a country where people are detained for their conscious. These contradictory statements are exemplary testimonies of western hypocrisy in its dealings with the Ethiopian people. This western hypocritical position makes it necessary to revisit, how Mr. Zenawi used in the last fourteen years the judiciary as an important instrument of quashing political dissent and violating the rights of opponents and critics of the government.

Since the coming to power of Mr. Zenawi in 1991, we have been told over a thousand times that the golden era of justice has been ushered by the EPRDF. Despite this continued pretense, the Ethiopian people as ever are denied of justice. The justice system under Mr. Zenawi is not only corrupt but also dysfunctional. In its effort to completely subdue the judiciary to its wishes, Mr. Zenawi’s regime—summarily fired trained and experienced judges; opened a “law school” for its cadres at the “Ethiopian Civil Service College” ; and the government routinely intervenes in court proceedings that the judges cannot operate independently. The testimony of one ex-judge under Mr. Zenawi is in order:

"In coming to decisions, we have been forced to give wrong verdicts against innocent citizens. In 1995, I was appointed as a Federal High Court Judge. During my tenure on the Bench, I was ordered to pass verdicts of 15 years in prison, on three defendants accused of killing supporters of the party in power (The Ethiopian People's Democratic Revolutionary Front). But, to label people as criminals without any substantiated evidence is against my moral and professional standards. As a result, I was dismissed from office, having been informed by certain politicians who were entirely ignorant of any legal training, that I was "incompetent". They said that's why I had been dismissed"

In addition to lack of independence, the court system under Mr. Zenawi is completely dysfunctional. As a result, there are hundred of thousands of backlog of cases which are awaiting sentencing in both the regional and the federal courts. Because of the long litigation, thousands of business went bankrupt and more importantly societal peace disturbed as hundreds of thousands of offenders were let go unpunished for their crimes.

The record of the judiciary regarding political dissent is abysmally negative. The judicial system consistently failed in its conduct to adhere to the constitution and the numerous international conventions which Mr. Zenawi’s regime “jovially” acceded to. For the last fourteen years, it has been a standard practice for the government to arrest political opponents without proper court procedures. A close observer the judicial system in Ethiopia notes: “… for opposition political suspects …there’s no question of producing a legal warrant before arrest, and the ‘due process of law’ is conveniently ignored. That's why today, there are thousands of clandestine detention centers in Ethiopia. Amnesty International and other humanitarian organizations have at times exposed the human rights abuses, existing in such places. It's curious that the Meles government denies they even exist! But everyone knows that, daily; people are taken from their homes or work places, and dragged off to detention centers. Why? Because they support opposition political parties”

The court system in Ethiopia under Mr. Zenawi was engineered and tailored to be a partner in the violation of the human rights of the Ethiopian people and the leaders of the opposition and the civil society. The record of the courts itself testifies this. A quick look at how the courts dealt with people whom the regime branded as its opponents reveals the instrumentality of the courts in crushing political dissent.

II. Zenawi’s courts and Some Prominent Political Dissidents

1. Professor Asrat Woldeyes, President of the then All Amhara Peoples’ Organization, (APPO) [1992-1998]

Professor Asrat Woldeyes was arrested in 1992 and falsely accused of inciting inter-communal violence following an AAPO rally speech in Debre Berhan. Amnesty International all along maintained that the Professor was prisoner of conscience. Despite the trumped up charges by Mr. Zenawi’s government, the “independent” court gave Professor Woldeyes more than one prison sentence. While he was hospitalized in the Black Lion Hospital in 1998, Professor Asrat said to one US journalist the following about the charges and the performance of the court:

Well, I have multiple sentences. All those three charges... for which I have been sentenced, those sentences I have finished legally. In actual fact, given the date of parole, I have finished my prison sentence according to the law. I finished it about four months ago, five months ago. But I now have a fourth case, which is still going on after over two-and-a-half years. I am waiting for that sentence. That is why I am in prison. Because I have got a pending charge and because it is considered serious, I am not allowed to be out. The parole is given by the court and is dependent only on behavior in prison, not obeying rules and regulation, so nobody can deny me. Simply, politically, I am refused. All of my charges are the same charge, that I have opposed the government. Now in true legality, they should all be gathered under one charge, because it is one government and I am one person and the accusations are one. But they are divided purposely, so that I'll have multiple cases and so that I will stay in prison for the rest of my life. Everybody else who is in prison, his case takes only six months or one year, but mine is every month. I go to court, I have an appointment, but even then it is not finished, and it's two and a half years. I am still going every month to the court, except now while I've been in hospital.

The only crime of Mr. Woldeyes was opposing the policies of the regime and exercising his right of speech. What was the performance of the “independent court” in the multiple charges of Mr. Woldeyes—rubber stamping the false accusation of Mr. Zenawi. No shred of objectivity and impartiality was observed in the court’s treatment of Mr. Woldeyes case..

2. Dr. Taye Woldesemayat, President of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA) [1996-2002]

Professor Taye was arrested on May 30, 1996, and formally charged with terrorism and armed conspiracy against the government. The actual reason for his arrest, however, was his peaceful activities as president of the ETA. In the early 1990s, the ETA became a target of government repression when it peacefully protested against education policy changes made by the government. Following a three-year trial, during which no credible evidence was produced to support the charges against him; Dr. Taye was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.
Dr. Taye’s appeal hearing was postponed nine times until the verdict was finally handed down in May 2002. During most of his incarceration Dr. Taye was held under extremely harsh conditions which included lengthy solitary confinement, greatly reduced family visits, being handcuffed regularly, and being held in an unsanitary, overcrowded, and poorly ventilated cell with some 200 other prisoners. In September 2001, Dr. Taye was relocated to a private and more comfortable cell as a result of an agreement between the Dutch and Ethiopian governments. The Dutch authorities, who were working with the Ethiopian government to improve the education program in the Ethiopian prison system, reportedly agreed to provide funding for the program only if Dr. Taye was appointed its coordinator. Dr. Taye accepted the position with the understanding that he would be allowed to meet regularly with the teachers who would be assisting him in implementing the program.

Dr. Taye Woldesemayat was released from prison in Addis Ababa on appeal, after spending almost six years in prison. The Ethiopian government instructed its “independent court” to release Mr. Woldesemayat because of mounting international pressure. Subsequently, the Supreme Court “overturned” Dr. Taye's 15-year prison sentence given by the Federal High Court and subsequently he was released from jail on May 14, 2002. What was the performance of the courts in this case? Instrumentality to the regime—when instructed to give a harsh sentence by Mr. Zenawi the court gave a harsh sentence, and again when the international pressure was unbearable Mr. Zenawi instructed the court to reduce the sentence and release Dr. Woldesemayat, the court released the Professor.

3. Professor Mesfin Wolde-Mariam (Ex-Head of EHRCO) and Dr. Berhanu Nega (Ex-president of Ethiopian Economic Association) [2001-?]

Professor Mesfin Wolde-Mariam, founder and former head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council and Dr. Berhanu Nega, a prominent economist and former president of the Ethiopian Economic Association were detained by Mr. Zenawi’s regime on May 8, 2001 following student protests and riots in Addis Ababa in April 2001. For weeks prior to their detention, the two academics have been targets of blatant accusations by the government security and law enforcement apparatus and by the state media, and their detention only constituted a logical conclusion of these campaigns of character assassination.

According to the charges filed against Prof. Mesfin and Dr. Berhanu, they were arrested in connection with their presentation at a meeting at the auditorium of the National Lottery Administration where both allegedly “agitated AAU students into violence." As far as the AAU students are concerned there has not been any violence perpetuated by them. In fact, they were victims of violence, committed by police, who broke into the University campus. This is a well-established fact, and the Addis Ababa Police Commission has even admitted its action in this regard.

Professor Mesfin Wolde-Mariam and Dr. Berhanu were released on bail in June 2001 because of international pressure and media outcry. The case on which they were charged is not yet closed.
4. The TPLF Dissidents and the Seye Family and business persons [2001-?]

Mr. Zenawi’s government found a new and jovial strategy of quashing political dissent, i.e. accusing them of corruption. Following the internal power struggle within the TPLF and the emergence of the Mr. Zenawi’s group as a victor, a new legislation was rushed to ‘parliament’ which provided for the establishment of the “Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission” on May 24, 2001. Following the declaration of war on “corruption” by Mr. Zenawi’s regime, Mr. Seye Abraha and many members of his family were thrown into jail on corruption charges.
It was fairly clear to any observer of Ethiopian politics that the detentions of Mr. Tamarat Layne, ex-Prime Minister, earlier and Mr. Seye Abraha later were politically motivated. As many prominent officials of the government like Mr. Sebehat Nega and the regime’s top friendly business partner, Sheik Mohammed Alamoudi are officially and openly engaged in corrupt practices, corruption is not a “crime” in Ethiopia for politicians as far as they follow the official line maintained by Mr. Zenawi. In fact, the whole system is built on corruption, if one removes corruption from the system, the system would crumble down. The sole reason for the detention of Mr. Abraha and many members of his family is political and the fears of Mr. Meles’ group of the support which Mr. Seye may garner within the TPLF dominated army and Tigray, if he is left free.

Interestingly, when Mr. Seye was granted bail by the courageous young judges of the federal instant court, which includes, the one of the present CUD detainees, Brtukan Midekssa, the Federal Supreme Court which is presided by the President of the Electoral Board, Mr. Kamal Bedri overturned the bail given to Mr. Abraha and the Prime Minister, Mr. Zenawi rushed an amendment to Anti-corruption law to prohibit bail for those suspected of corruption. Mr. Seye is still in detention and the Supreme Court has not yet given its ruling, though Mr. Abraha was detained for more than five years now. For more than a dozens of times his trial was postponed because of “lack of judges”. What was the performance of the court in the case of Seye and his family members? It is revolting political loyalty to Mr. Zenawi.

5. Mecha and Tulema Development Association (MTDA) Leaders [2004-?]

The President of the Mecha and Tulema Development Association, Mr. Diribi Demissie and other leaders of the Association are under detention since April 2004. They were arrested on trumped up accusation of “terrorism” and “perpetrating violence”. The main reason for their detention was, however, the MTDA’s opposition of the relocation of the capital of the Oromia regional state from Addis Ababa to Adama and the summary expulsion of Oromo students from the Addis Ababa University in 2004. There are numerous credible reports which indicate that the leaders of the MTDA and the Oromo students who were arrested with them were tortured and maltreated. In one of their over delayed court appearance in the past two-three months, the detainees appealed to the court that they were regularly tortured by the prison officials, the presiding judge instructed the head of the prison, who himself was allegedly engaged in the torturing of the Oromo detainees to investigate the matter and report back to the court. This shows the extent to which the courts are part of Mr. Zenawi’s torture and terrorizing machinery. If the court has a shred of independence, it would have independently investigated complaints of torture within prisons. Even if Mr. Zenawi after his electoral fiasco in May 2005 decided to relocate back the seat of the regional capital of Oromia back to Addis Ababa, the MTDA remained banned and its leaders are illegally detained. What was the action of the court in politically motivated detention and torture of the officials of the MTDA? It condones their illegal detention and torturing by prison officials.

III. Conclusion

The track record of the courts under Mr. Zenawi shows that the judiciary is neither independent nor capable of providing impartial judgment for those who were branded as “anti-peace”, “anti-democratic” and “terrorist” by the government. The western governments well know of this fact. The problem with Ethiopian courts is not a problem of capacity building or computer file management system for which the Canadians invested millions of Dollars. The old adage about computing suffices here, “garbage in –garbage out”. The capacity building funds of the Canadians was used to expedite the retrieving of the garbage emitted by the political court of Mr. Zenawi. In a recent interview to a pro Zenawi News Paper, the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Menbere Teshay Tadesse, who is as the same time, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Constitutional Inquiry, Director of the Judges and Prosecutors Training Center, COMESA Judge and also a fourth year Ph.D. student in law said that Ethiopia is the first African country in linking the courts by a Wide Area Network. The computerization of the work of the courts might be good but does not qualitatively change their performance and make them independent.

In a country which is run by a dictator, in a country the whole security apparatus, i.e. the police, the secret service and the army are under the private possession of one man; in a country where there is no freedom of speech, assembly and association; in a country where there is no rule of law, there cannot be an independent court. As a result, the double talk of donors for the release of the political prisoners and at the same time their speedy, transparent, and fair trial is ludicrous. The trial of the leaders of the CUD, civil society organizations and the journalists is sham and the courts are sham. The decision of the opposition leaders not to engage in this fraudulent exercise is a right one. Boycotting the illegitimate “judicial process” is a peaceful resistance. The opposition leaders should continue denying legitimacy to the sham institutions of Mr. Zenawi. If the American Embassy is confident of the independence of Mr. Zenawi’s court, it may perhaps outsource some of the lingering cases of Guantanamo, Bagram and Abu Ghraib detainees to the tribunals of Mr. Kamal Bedri.

Building an “independent” court is only possible where is an all inclusive political dialogue about the future of democratization in Ethiopia. All Ethiopian political groups (CUD, UDEF, OLF, ONLF, TPLF, etc.) should come to the drawing board and find out a workable framework. This is the only way which leads the country out of the current malaise. Mr. Zenawi is a spent card; he lost all the opportunities to facilitate reconciliation and peaceful and democratic transition.

Bird Flue in Meles’s Inquiry Commission

2006-04-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

The last week has been a week of fiasco for the Meles regime. First, we saw the grilling of his Ambassador in the congressional hearing of March 28, 2005. Mr. Smith and the other representatives came up with the hard facts and were not ready to compromise themselves and cover up Mr. Zenawi’s abhorring human rights records. The hearing was also a good one as it provided us the opportunity to see the true colors of the State Department officials. Mr. Donald Yamamato’s defense of the indefensible was simply a good testimony to the failure of US foreign policy in the Horn of Africa. The Undersecretary and junior officials of the State Department who are given the task of managing US foreign policy in the Horn of Africa have miserably failed to come to terms with the reality. But the congressmen and women at least showed to us the vitality of American values of human rights and democracy. That is all Ethiopians want. We did not ask the US to come and liberate us, what we asked for the US officials is simply to reclaim their conscience and stop pampering a dying tyrannical regime which kills and incarcerates its youth. At least we saw that conscience in the person of Mr. Christopher Smith and the other representatives.

The next and most important news about Meles’s regime last week was the fiasco which happened to the carefully constructed ‘independent’ commission of inquiry which was established to investigate the violence in June and November 2005. Five out of the eleven members withdrew themselves from the commission tarnishing the findings of the commission, even before the report is published.

The eleven members of the commission inquiry which was established in December 2005 in order to whitewash the atrocities of Meles’s security forces were:

• Frehiwot Samuel (President of the SNNPR Supreme Court)
• Shiferaw Jamo (private consultant),
• Abuna Elsa (Bishop, Ethiopian Orthodox Church),
• Abel Musse (Catholic Church),
• Hikmet Abedlla (Business woman),
• Tamrat Kebede (formerly African Development Bank Employee),
• Sheik Elias Remedan (Deputy Chairman of the Ethiopian Islamic Council),
• Dereje Jenberu (Deputy President of the Ethiopian Mekane Eyesus Church),
• Gemechu Megerssa (former official of Ministry of Education and AAU),
• Abdu Seid (works for Pastoralist Concern Association of Ethiopia),
• Wolde Michaeal Meshesa (Deputy President of the Federal First Instant Court.

Last week it was announced that five of the eleven members of the commission withdrew themselves from the commission because of ‘health problems’. I wonder what type of ailment conspired against the commission. It must be the deadly strain of the H5N1 bird flue. Nothing else! The interesting part of the story was those five members of the commission who were afflicted by the ailment were the ones who seemed to have more independence than the other members of the commission.

The five members who felt the political sickness were: (1) Shiferaw Jamo, who is a respected economist and an independent consultant. Though he has strong connection with people like Girma Birru and other top cabals of the OPDO, he seemed to have maintained his sanity which led him to his present ‘sicknesses’. (2) Abuna Elsa is one of the monks of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, like other archbishops who are in the black gown he is unknown quantity. He might just have a rude awakening of what he is doing and feared for his soul. Abel Musse works for the Ethiopian Catholic Church, and as his Church was one of the few Ethiopian institutions which deplored Meles’s violence in those trying days, his position is understandable. Hikmet Abdella who is a business woman and Tamrat Kebede who worked in the past for the African Development Bank are relatively independent and might have decided not to undermine their names by supporting the white wash project of Mr. Zenawi.

Sources close to the works of the commission indicate that the report has already been written and absolves the Meles regime from the crimes it committed against the Ethiopian people and blames the CUD and other opposition forces for the killing of innocent civilians. Had it not been to the opposition of the members of the commission who have now left because of their ‘sicknesses’ the report would have been presented to Mr. Zenawi’s sham parliament. According to the same sources, on the advice of foreign consultants which Mr. Zenawi hired, it was agreed to include some slight criticism on the Police and the Security Forces. This is meant to provide credibility to the sham report.

The mass defection of the members of the commission is, however, an important development. It just shows that the commission was not independent and the members the commission who had differing opinions were coerced to go out instead of influencing the report. Like the Meles’s enquiry commission which was set up to investigate the Gambella genocide the findings of this commission are all too evident, white wash. Sham parliament and sham commission of inquiry!

A comment on Ambassador Fesseha Asghedom Tessema’s “Letter to Honorable Christopher Smith”

2006-04-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

I read with interest and amusement the letter which EPRDF’s Ambassador wrote to Congressman Christopher Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations, regarding the congressional hearing “Ethiopia’s Troubled Internal Situation” which was held on March 28, 2006.

Mr. Tessema to provide the veneer of a career diplomat to himself opened his rather slanderous letter by saying: “there are occasions, during the career of any diplomat, when one must express unpleasant truths for the benefit of the greater good.” Nevertheless this letter not only failed to come to terms with the realities in Ethiopia, but also damaged EPRDF’s clumsy diplomacy in Washington. This letter was certainly drafted by Mr. Zenawi’s propaganda machine in Addis Ababa and massaged by the handsomely paid American PR companies enlisted by EPRDF’s Washington Embassy. The letter, for example, says that Ethiopia is “a fourth major troop contributor to international peacekeeping” and “a staunch supporter and an active participant in the global war against terrorism.” These were picked and emphasized by the foreign PR consultants. But as Mr. Smith and many others have underlined being a contributor to peacekeeping and a partner in the war against terrorism does not give the EPRDF regime a license to kill its own people with impunity. That was the whole point of the hearing and the proposed legislation.

Leaving aside the issues discussed and the manner in which the hearing was conducted last Tuesday, the letter which Mr. Tessema wrote to Mr. Smith and made available to the general public simply testifies a consistent behavior by Mr. Zenawi’s government of vilifying and criminalizing anyone who dares to criticize the regime and its officials. In fact, Mr. Tessema’s letter could serve as an important exhibit in support of the draft bill “H.R. 4423 – the Ethiopia Consolidation Act.”

This is not for the first time an EPRDF official surpassed delicate norms of diplomacy and engaged in vilifying foreign dignitaries who aired their opinions about the Ethiopian regime. Since the fateful May 2005 elections, for example, several EPRDF officials were engaged in slandering their foreign critics. The first in the list was none other than Mr. Meles Zenawi himself. Mr. Zenawi vivified, demonized, and insulted the honorable Ms. Anna Gomez, who was the head of the EU-EOM by his “letter to the editor” to the government owned English daily, the Ethiopian Herald http://www.waltainfo.com/Conflict/BasicFacts/2005/Aug/state4.htm just because she dared to speak fractions of the atrocities committed by Mr. Zenawi’s men. The Prime Minster’s “letter” showed to the whole world the boundless arrogance of Mr. Zenawi and his intolerance to anyone who differs from his views. The second in the list was, Dr. Tekeda Alemu, the “permanent” State/Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Following the foot steps of his Prime Minister, Mr. Alemu vilified and questioned the academic integrity of the internationally acclaimed Africanist, Professor Christopher Clapham who wrote his opinions about the post-electoral crisis in Ethiopia [http://www.ethiomedia.com/fastpress/clapham_on_ethiopian_crisis.html.] [http://www.mfa.gov.et/View_Commentaries/Open%20Letter%20to%20professor%20Christopher%20Clapham.htm].

The third in the list was the ex-EPRDF Ambassador to Washington, Kassahun Ayele who again following his superiors in Addis Ababa wrote an open letter to vilify Professor Donald Levine who expressed his views about the post-electoral crisis in Ethiopia.

In addition to the officials of the government, media outlets which are directly and indirectly controlled by the regime are engaged in boring smear campaigns against those foreign officials and scholars who dared to speak out. The front page of the official website of the Washington Embassy of the EPRDF, for example, displays an article entitled “Contra-Clapham” by Paul Henze who is an ardent supporter of the EPRDF. The same website does not, however, display or contain Clapham’s article which Mr. Henze seeks to contradict. This again gives us a clear picture about EPRDF’s defensive and combative attitude towards freedom of speech. Moreover, the posting of Mr. Henze’s article shows the role of Ethiopian missions abroad. The Embassy resources and energy are used for partisan political purposes. That is why I preferred to call the “Ethiopian Embassy” in Washington as EPRDF’s Embassy.

All these letters of denunciation by the EPRDF officials starting from the Prime Minister to his Ambassadors demonstrate Mr. Zenawi’s intransigence and intolerance to freedom of speech. This is in fact the whole mark of dictatorship whether it is the brand of Idi Amin of Uganda or Chauchescu of Romania. As an optimist Ethiopian, I feel pity that we Ethiopians failed to reconcile and make peace by ourselves and still helplessly seek the support of others. I do, however, strongly feel that the struggle of the Ethiopian Diaspora to reveal the dictatorship of Mr. Zenawi and the suffering of the people of the country by his security forces is morally imperative and relevant. As far as the government at home remains intransigent and intolerant we should keep on the struggle and make clear the rogue behavior of the regime to its foreign benefactors from Washington to Brussels.

Commentary on the March 22, 2006 Court Room Drama

2006-03-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

This is just the beginning of the long soap of a badly written script. The script was not edited before the acting was started. That is why the official and grand sounding "Chief Prosecutor", Shimels Kemal started correcting his script after the soap has already started and the local and international spectators enjoyed the first three episodes. Meles’s lamentation about the irreversibility of the charges and the sole role of the courts to set free the accused flipped flopped as he decided to withdraw the charges against the journalists of the VOA. The charges against the VOA staff was lifted because of the embarrassment of officials of the US State Department of their “stupid dictator’s” uncalculated stepping out of the line, i.e. “charging US employees because their official duties”. This was too far the Americans to swallow. That is why Meles has to rescind the charges without giving any explanations.

I am happy for the fourteen year kid, Biniam Tadesse and the other defendants who were made free yesterday. The abrupt dropping of the charges with no explanation was a big disgrace to the judges and the court. The judges who of refused to provide bail for a fourteen year kid and decided that he be tried as an adult without thoroughly examining his underage claim did not even dare to ask the prosecutor why it has decided to lift the charges. That would have been necessary at least for official court records.

The whole episode of Biniam Tadesse would make a script for the Holly Wood about a kid who was stuck in the political game of men. The action of the court regarding the claim of Biniam about his underage was very entertaining. I never heard a court asking the opinion of a hospital to determine the age of underage prisoner. I was laughing when I heard that the authorities of the Black Lion Hospital wrote the court testifying that the kid’s age would be in the range of 14-16. The highest range, i.e. 16 was made to conveniently make the underage prisoner liable under Ethiopian criminal law. As far as my knowledge of medical science is concerned, the age of a human being could be reasonably “estimated” by studying bones dead human beings. Forensic anthropologists use such procedures to determine identity, sex, and age of dead persons. Archeologists use laser technology to estimate the ages and sex their findings. I would humbly ask our scientists at the Black Lion Hospital to tell the whole world their scientific breakthrough in identifying the age of Biniam in the range of 14-16. That could be published in the Journal Science which usually publishes breakthroughs in science. Shame on you!

Yesterday’s decision to lift the charges on VOA journalists clearly shows theatrics of the whole exercise. The judges and the prosecutors were carefully selected to execute the script written by Meles and co. Yesterday's show in the court also proved what the opposition leaders insisted from the very beginning sham accusations and sham court.

What would be the comments of the likes of Mr. Yamamato and Mrs. Frazer of the US State Department who were lamenting several times that what the US want from the Ethiopian government about the charged opposition leaders, journalists, civil society leaders and others, are: “transparency”, “speedy trials”, and “fairness”. They know from the very beginning that the trials are political and could not be fair. Regarding transparency, I think they should know ask the Ethiopian government the reasons for its decisions to lift the charges against the VOA staff. Explanation should have been made yesterday. If the government continues to withdraw charges without explanations the transparency of the whole exercise would be hampered, which appears to be the major concern of the US department.

The fact of the matter is that no one should expect the State Department officials to voice concerns for the sake of justice and democracy in Ethiopia. We Ethiopians should not expect evenhandedness and fairness from the Yammamato’s and Frazer’s of Bagram, Guantanamo and Abugrayb. I do not have a shred of doubt that these chaps would not object if Meles again unleashes a mass murder like Gambella as far as they feel that he is the best for them in the Horn of Africa. It is okay for these officials if Meles maintains “transparency” in his mass murders. The downgrading of American values of human rights and democracy in every part of the world by such officials in name of “security” is a saddening fact of life in today’s international world. Such hypocrisy is producing more enemies to the US in geometric progression. This is particularly true today as the US is directly by its troops and secret services and indirectly through the agency of ruthless dictators like Mr. Zenawi is day and night undermining and attacking the vary values on which the American democracy was built. These chaps do not understand why our leaders and people cherish human rights and freedom. It is just because everybody deserves them. We love human rights and democracy not to please officials of the State Department, just because we need them. These days, I feel that officials of the State Department need freedom to think beyond the cloud of fear, i.e. war against terrorism which is hanging in their head.

Coming back to the Court room drama in Addis yesterday (22.03.2006), did you know that Shimels Kemal who is now the “chief prosecutor” was prosecuting the opposition on the tribunal of the Radio Fana months before their arrest? Funnily he is still the head of the Ethiopian Broadcasting Agency which is in charge of regulating the non-existing electronic media industry. The poor chap started his career by falsely accusing the most popular, free, and professional radio station which serves the people of Ethiopia. Is it a bad omen? No! He gladly went into it. In fact to execute the whole drama a special court has to be established by carefully selected judges and new prosecutors who were not working for the federal prosecutor office before the beginning of this drama have to be recruited. Both the judges and the prosecutors are Meles ultra loyalists. It would be in their favor if these poor chaps happen to know that it is Meles's system and his pseudo prosecutors and judges who are being tried. The whole world knows that the trials are theatrics of fabricated charges. As these pseudo prosecutors and judges are willingly taking part in this tragedy, they should remember they would have a case to answer when moment of reckoning comes.

The Best Comment of AF today

2006-03-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

from: Addis Ferengi [Member]
Good evening all and thanks , I already feel better.

It is OK for me Belay, you are free to express your views but I really do not think there is any ethnic problem here just a governement, representative of a ethnic minority for sure, BUT terrorizing all of its citizens.

It is logical those who have benefited from the system, stay loyal longer. I do not say it is moraly right, I say it is understandable. By the way, according to EMF, top officials are defecting ;-)

Why the report was not published before? But the report was not published before because the European Union did not want it to be published! I hope it is clear. They were supporting Meles, they apparently do not, now. This is a good news. There are always individuals who fight the system even when they are part of it.

I am sure there are some in the Tigray community too.

During World War II, resistants in France represented maximum 3% of the whole population. The day of the Liberation, 99% were actually celebrating.

I am sure Tigray will celebrate too... soon...

Why conflicting accounts on the March 11, 2006 EEBC meeting on the Ethio-Eritrea boundary?

2006-03-15T08:10:00.000-08:00

TPLF’s dilemma over Eritrea:
Why conflicting accounts about the EEBC’s recent London meeting?

The recent London meeting of the Ethiopia Eritrea Boundary Commission (EEBC) was hailed as a ‘progress’ towards breaking the deadlock in resolving the boundary issue between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Credible international media outlets such as the BBC reported that Ethiopia has now agreed to accept the decisions of the EEBC without ‘reservation’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4798072.stm. The Secretary General of the UN also issued a statement which indicated that the two countries are moving towards the demarcation of the boundary http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/HMYT-6MUR3Z?OpenDocument.
The statement which was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ethiopian government few days after the London meeting, however, contradicted what has been stated as ‘progress’ towards the breaking of the deadlock. The statement declared that Ethiopia would take part in future meetings of the EEBC as long as they are consistent with its "five-point" peace proposal issued in November 2004. The so-called “five-point” peace plan of Ethiopia pleads for Eritrean compromise over Badme. If Eritrea agrees to relinquish its claim over Badme, Meles would allow swift demarcation of the borders. Eritrea has, however, insisted on the implementation of the rulings of the boundary commission which awarded Badme to it. Eritrea for the last several months has been demanding that the UN and other guarantors of the Algiers agreement to put pressure on Ethiopia. In this respect, the Eritrean government has put several restrictions on the UNMEE (UN Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea). In one of a rare incidents in the history of UN peacekeeping, the UNMEE which is deployed to help the parties to the conflict implement the Algiers agreement was successfully used by Eritrean foreign policy decision makers to demonstrate their disgust towards the UN and the major powers particularly the United States. The restrictions which Eritrea has put on the UNMEE seemed to have paid of by at least putting the stalled boundary issue to the forefront of the agendas of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The post-election political crisis in Ethiopia has also indirectly influenced the recent developments on the boundary issue. Because of massive violations of human rights and the government’s crackdown of the media and the opposition, international donors such as the UK, the World Bank and the EU have decided to review, reduce, or redirect their assistance to the EPRDF government in Addis Ababa. Many international donors are not also happy with the continued standoff on the boundary issue and insist that Ethiopia should accept and implement the decisions of the EEBC.

Eritrea’s position which snubbed the much trumpeted US initiative to break the deadlock between the two countries in January 2006 appeared undiplomatic at that time. It has however, helped the tiny country to force the boundary issue on the agenda of the UNSC. Following the collapse of the US ‘mediation’ effort, the so-called guarantors of the Algiers treaty recommended last February the convening of the two parties by the EEBC to talk how to resume the demarcation of the boundary, the Ethiopian government which at one time openly declared that it does not accept the decisions of the EEBC, and at other times said it would accept the ruling of the commission in ‘principle’ agreed to take part in the meeting convened by the EEBC from March 10-11, 2006 in London.

The Meles regime which has been beleaguered by the post-electoral crisis and also by the cutting of international aid feels that western donors could be more reluctant to provide more aid to a regime which is totalitarian at home and reneges on a treaty which itself signed internationally.

The TPLF follows a conflicting policy towards Eritrea. Some within the TPLF, which includes the Prime Minister and some his close associates, wish to normalize relations with Mr. Isiayas and restore the power axis between the TPLF and EPLF so that the hegemony of the TPLF in Ethiopian politics is maintained through the assistance of the EPLF. This group feels that the EPLF could help some sort of an agreement with nationalist forces like the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Moreover, this group thinks that normalizing relations with the EPLF also pays of in terms of restoring international credibility and ensuring the flow of international aid money. The same regime also tries to frighten those who are opposed to the EPLF by falsely accusing Ethiopian opposition forces of complicity with Eritrea. Nevertheless, many within the TPLF and the Tigrean people in general are opposed to any compromise over Badme and other territories. Many also resent any idea of unholy alliance between Meles and Isiayas.

The conflicting messages of the Ethiopian government about the recent meeting of the EEBC at London should be considered from this context. The Meles regime instructed its delegation to the London meeting to give an indication that Ethiopia now accepts the decisions of the EEBC without reservation. This was made to test the feelings of the people of Tigray and those within the leadership of the TPLF about their position about Badme. Soon after the news that Ethiopia has lifted its ‘reservations’ about Badme has been broadcasted by the international media, it became clear to the regime that any decision to give away Badme would meet severe opposition within the TPLF and the TPLF dominated army, that is why the Meles regime swiftly retracted its position of March 10-11, 2006 and issued a few days ago a statement which stated that Ethiopia will take part in the future meetings of the EEBC as long as the deliberations are consistent with its ‘five-point’ peace plan. The Ethiopian government also declared that its proposal is ‘the most realistic road map for peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the sole approach for success both with respect to the successful demarcation of the boundary and for normalization of relations between the two countries.’ The meaning of the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is Ethiopia is not willing to give Badme to Eritrea. It is also unlikely the Eritreans would change their position, i.e. no compromise over Badme.

Then the question is what would follow next. No one knows! Would the UN and other powers put pressure on Ethiopia to accept the rulings of the EEBC without qualification? Would the UN withdraw UNMEE from the border region before demarcation? Will there be a war between the two countries? There are a number of uncertainties. War should, however, be avoided at all cost. It would be devastating for both Ethiopia and Eritrea. There is, however, one important point, which has now become clearer, i.e. the inability of Meles’s regime to make peace with Eritrea. As far as autocratic regimes in Addis Ababa and Asmara feel that they would use their relations with each other to consolidate their power base within their respective countries by externalizing their problems, the possibility of bringing a durable peace would elude the Horn of Africa. That is why solution to the Ethio-Eritrea conflict would be found by addressing the long term interests of the two brotherly peoples.

Editorial: Observing the observers [Picked from the Reporter]

2006-03-13T01:48:00.000-08:00

Posted on Friday, March 10 @ 23:20:21 MST by editor

Addis Today Comment:

Amare Aregawi for a long time attempted to elude many Ethiopians who wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Many Ethiopians even if they knew that Amare is part of the system and a member of the Woyane mafia, they halfheartedly endorsed his paper as a good source of information. As for the source of information, he benefited because of his link to the ruling minority regime. But when the trying time came, Amare did not hesitate to blindly side with his true “side”, whatever it might mean to him. His paper now is as worthless as the government dailies like Addis Zemen and the Ethiopian Herald. Last Saturday’s (11.03.06) editorial of Amare http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3799 reveals his boundless fear about any one who speaks the truth and criticizes the minority regime in Addis Ababa. Last Saturday the wrath of Amare went to EU election observation team and its head, Anna Gomez. He wanted apology on behalf of his government from the EU. He forgot to comment the rather sleazy brandishing of team and its leader by his Prime Minister on the government English daily, the Ethiopian Herald. The letter to the editor of Mr. Zenawi was a very interesting document for those who would one day study his psychology and fear. The letter only demonstrated Mr. Zenawi’s childishness and extreme fear. The Reporter also repeated what the Prime Minister did few months back.

What Amare should ask is not apology and independent enquiry commission but Mrs. Gomez to be included in the list of those accused of genocide against the Tigray people and outrage against the constitution. You can do this. As far the trial proceeds with transparency and fairness as the Americans of Guntanamo Bay asked for.

Demarcation and Technical Advisors [Picked from Aiga]

2006-03-13T01:14:00.000-08:00

Addis Today: Comment

A very interesting self deception of a Meles loyalist about the so-called progress in the boundary saga between Ethiopia and Eritrea was published on the Woyane loyalist by Zeru Hagos http://www.aigaforum.com/zeru0603.htm It is clearly indicated by international correspondents like the BBC what happened important in last Saturday’s (11.03.06) meeting convened by the EEBC was the Meles regime's concession or change of its previous position regarding the ruling of the EEBC. The Woyane would now simply accept the rulings of the EEBC decision without reservation, meaning accepting the loss of Badme. As for the appointment of technical advisers, they would only be responsible to provide technical advise how to put the decision of the EEBC on the ground. Starting from the leaders of the mafia, Woyane loyalists do not have bounds for their lies. That is exactly what Mr. Zeru Hagos did.

YEKATIT 11, SIMPLY MARVELOUS [PICKED FROM WALTA]

2006-03-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

Addis Today Comment:

The Canadian Yohannes Gebresellassie, the development worker enjoyed the evening with TPLF loyalists and fear gripped local merchants which "contributed" money to strengthen the TPLF. Mr. Gebresellassie just because he felt happy at the occasion hosted by the Millionaire Sheik Alamoudi at the Sheraton he branded Yekatit 11, the day on which the TPLF mafia was established as a peoples' day. [http://www.waltainfo.com/Analysis/2006/Mar/10523.htm]. The poor Doctor thinks that just because he drank some beverages and ate good cuisine at the Sheraton the Ethiopian people should feel happy. The good doctor would not even comes to his mind that business tycoons providing the ruling party, which by itself is the country's largest business conglomerate is a political corruption of grand proportion, which is punishable by law.

By the way from where did you get the style of your desigantion, i.e. Yohannes Gebresellasie (Ph.D.) Canada. Is Canada affixed as a sir name, a place of your domicile or just to let the whole world know you carry the Canadian Passport? What does Yekatit 11 have to do with KaNaDa.? Or were you made in KaNaDa?

WHO IS MULUGETA ASRATE KASSA? IS HE DEAD OR ALIVE? [PICKED FROM ETHIOPIANS.COM] No need to comment on the poor little ex-prince

2006-03-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:16 pm Post subject: Ethiopians Should Know Who Speak on their Behalf on ET TV

http://www.ethiopians.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1014&view=next&sid=7ad7f03471f78c4bd6d39f184437d913

Ato Mulugeta Asrate Kassa who faced litigation for failing to settle a £40,000 loan he had taken from the widow of Emperor Bokassa of Central Africa, had few years ago posted notices in London pronouncing him self dead.

He has now miraculously resurrected from his tomb to criticize and defame different institutions and personalities. Hence public knowledge deserves to be furnished with answers for questions such as: Who is Mulugeta Asrate Kassa? How was he brought up? Is he dead or alive? And if alive, what is he likely up to now?

Mulugeta Asrate was born to Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa and Leilt Zuriash Mulugeta in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His father Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa was the son of Ras Kassa Hailu, Darge, Sahile Selassie (a great grand son of SahileSelassie, the King of Shoa). Leilt Zuriash, who now a welfare queen living on British welfare income in London, is the daughter of Ras Mulugeta who as the Minister of War died at the battle of Maichew in 1936.

Ras Mulugeta is remembered for paying heroic sacrifice for his country at an old age. Ras Kassa on the other hand is noted by many historians as having been the major factor behind Ethiopia's untimely military loss at Maichew.

This is because Emperor Haile Selassie had appointed Ras Kassa to liaise between the Emperor and his Commanders at the war front. Though very loyal to Emperor Haile Selassie, Ras Kassa didn't have military knowledge or past battle experience to enable him perform the important task assigned to him during that critical moment in history.

When Emperor Haile Selassie fled Ethiopia after being defeated by the fascist Italian invaders at Maichew, Ras Kassa Hailu was one of the few Aristocrats who was privileged to escort the Emperor to Jerusalem, Palestine. Having no more than basic church education, Ras Kassa who had no ability to assist in the diplomatic struggle was left in Jerusalem with all the gold and other assets he was able to run away with. His compatriots in Jerusalem have left memoirs that detail his geocentricism and his very stingy characteristics, which they claim prevented him from contributing for, or participating in any thing related to the liberation of Ethiopia or her interests.

Asrate Kassa, Mulugeta's father, who was in his early teens at the time, is remembered for having joined several schools in Jerusalem and Lebanon. However, the reputation he left behind is nothing more than a Play Boy because he was unable to pursue serious education in the numerous schools he was enrolled in. The above not withstanding, the other sons of Ras Kassa who were old enough to stand on their own feet had remained behind and courageously fought against the fascist invaders in whose hands they were
brutally executed.

When Emperor Haile Selassie was brought to The Sudan by Great Britain, which as ready to revenge against Italy by assisting the Emperor to re-enter his country, Ras Kassa Hailu was one of the companions selected by the Emperor for the long journey. Mulugeta's father, Asrate Kassa, who was unable to exploit the educational opportunities afforded him, and who unlike the other Ethiopian youth in Diaspora failed to participate in any thing patriotic, joined his father to The Sudan where he was enrolled for a one month training, which did not extend beyond basic military drill. As this was a military training in form, and not in content, the Emperor gave Asrate Kassa the rank of a Colonel when he handed out senior military ranks to his own two sons and others he wanted to see dressed in British military uniform. That was where and when Colonel Asrate Kassa befriended Crown Prince Asfawesen to whom he remained a loyal servant for the remainder of his life. Elders had a story to tell about what transpired when Colonel Asrate Kassa asked for the hands of Weizero Zuriash Mulugeta, because all relatives of Ras Mulugeta had held Asrate's father, Ras Kassa, accountable to what they consider the untimely death of their Patriarch at Maichew. According to the same sources it was the personal intervention of Crown Prince Asfa Wesen which made Asrate's marriage to Zuriash possible. After roaming with Crown Prince Asfa Wesen for some time, Colonel Asrate Kassa was appointed to replace one of the most respected Ethiopian officers of the time, Colonel Abiye Abebe, as governor of Wellega. That is where the very embarrassing civil service and political history of Mulugeta's father begins.

People who had the opportunity of attending Emperor Haile Selassie's court today remember the reputation of Asrate Kassa as that of a lire, corrupt, joker, play boy, looter, cheater, etc., but nothing to match the honour Emperor Haile Selassie had designed for him to enjoy. It is also evident that Asrate had not enjoyed the trust and confidence of his own father. When his father established the Ras Kassa Family Welfare Foundation he didn't consider Mulugeta's father worthy of its leadership. He had therefore to appoint his grand son, Dejazmach Amha Abera, President and Trustee of the Foundation.

Colonel Asrate Kassa had become a Dejazmach, a Leul Dejazmach and a Ras before being named a Leul Ras. He also held the positions of, among others, that of Governor of Arusi, Governor of Shoa, Vice President of the Senate and the Emperor's Representative in Eritrea. It is a very well documented fact that Asrate has been relieved of most of his appointments for some wrongdoing. As a matter of fact, many observers of the Emperor's Court use to say that Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa should be grateful to Leul-Ras Mengesha Seyoum, who in his years of maturity was recognized as hard worker and productive, because all titles bestowed upon Mengesha were also given to Asrate by Emperor Haile Selassie as a gesture of maintaining a balance or equity between the Tigre and Amhara Aristocracy. The position last held by Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa, before his demise in 1974, was Chairman of the Crown Council, where he had badly failed to earn the respect of his colleagues and as a result of which he was unable to be a factor during the most trying moments in the Emperor's Palace.

Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa was found to be nothing more than a spoiler as the complexity of the problems confronted by the Emperor's regime forced the true self of Asrate to surface. As is the case with a play boy during trying moments, Asrate was unable to read the clear writings on the wall. He foolishly assumed that there could possibly be a room for him if the most able Prime Minister, Aklilu Habtewold, was to resign. He agitated among Senior Army Officers to petition the Emperor against his consideration of General Abiye Abebe to replace Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habtewold as Prime Minister. When Lidj Endalkachew Mekonen assumed the Premiership, he instigated various groups to cause instability. Most evident at the time was Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa's fabrication of a story regarding a non-existent United Nations Fund for Ethiopian Soldiers who served in The Congo. It was revealed that he was secretly meeting with the Soldier's representatives and encouraging them to demand a non existent right, by falsely assuring them that he had persuaded the Emperor to instruct that they be paid though Lidj Endalkachew had become an obstacle in the implementation of the Emperor's orders.

The purpose in presenting the above is only to give a glimpse on who Mulugeta Asrate's father was. Otherwise, there is no need for much detailed writing as many books and articles have already been read about the personality of Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa. One of the necessary readings in this regard may be the book written by an eye witness in Amharic Ye-Ertra Enqoqilish (The Eritrea Puzzle). Likewise a lot can be written about the past and present wrongs of Mulugeta's mother who has exiled her self in London due to serious cardiac ailment. All this is by no means meant to endorse the manner in which the Military Junta, without due process, executed Leul-Ras Asrate in 1974. The evil Junta has, together with Mulugeta's father, mercilessly killed many patriotic and innocent historical figures for which deservingly it is now held accountable. Humanity should join hands in the condemnation of the Junta's barbaric deeds. However, it should also be understood that two wrongs don't make a right. Princely titles and other honours given by the ancien regime should not be instrumental to conceal the true self of the political actors of that period of Ethiopian history. When crooks and devilish mercenaries like Mulugeta Asrate attempt to hoodwink public opinion by hiding behind sentimental issues, it would be more than appropriate to daringly expose the truth about where they are trying to come from. Though a family institution plays a major role in ones personality formation, it will be difficult to conclude that personality traits are hereditary. Therefore, however much it may be easy to draw a parallel between Mulugeta and his parents, particularly between him and his father, one cannot rule out the possibility of finding other persons who may not have been as adversely affected in this same family. With this understanding in mind, some of the facts which are widely known about Mulugeta Asrate Kassa are presented below:

1) Mulugeta Asrate Kassa was a juvenile delinquent from early childhood. Like was the case with some children born to aristocratic families, the education given by Ethiopian schools was not found satisfactory for Mulugeta's development. Hence, his father got him enrolled in the London boarding school whose Head Master had to call and inform Asrate, only after a brief schooling period, that his son was no more attending the school. Apparently Mulugeta who was able to forge his father's signature and withdraw some £15,000 from his father's London bank account had told his friends that he had won lottery. His father flew to London and found Mulugeta enjoying the money with a British schoolmate who had taken Mulugeta home believing his lottery story was true. Because the school refused readmission in spite of the diplomatic pressure, Mulugeta's father had to bring him back to Ethiopia and intern him at the Tebase military camp in Debre Berhan for punishment. Mulugeta later joined the Sanford British Community School where upto date he is remembered for his lies, theft and other delinquent behaviour. Unlike the London school, the Sanford school in Ethiopia didn't dare expel Mulugeta inspite of negative influence on many young minds.

2) In spite of the many opportunities Mulugeta was blessed with by being born to a Feudal family, which has amassed lots of wealth, he was unable to pursue higher education. Assisted by his father, Ethiopian Television service employed him as a news caster a job he held until the military take-over. Some members of the military junta (The Dergue), who probably suffered from some sort of inferiority complex, were running after the wives and daughters of the high-ranking officials they had detained. Mulugeta, who lost no time to establish intimate contact with these corrupt soldiers became the satisfier of their sex appetite. There are many more stories about this immoral character and his soldier accomplices which for decency's sake need not be mentioned now.

3) One my find it difficult to believe that it was no other person, but Mulugeta him self, who through his newly won associates in the Dergue led the military squad, which arrested his father, to the Guenete Iyesus church, where according to some he was praying and according to others hiding. At the time Mulugeta's father, Leul- Ras Asrate Kassa, was feared because of his clandestine relationship with the soldiers who fought in Congo and widely spread rumours the he is likely to raise a fight instead of being arrested because he was armed to his teeth. The only favour made for Mulugeta by his associates in the Dergue was to allow him to drive his father in his own car to jail.

4) When after a few months the Dergue executed his father together with the 60 victims, it was Mulugeta who read the news of the execution, on Television, without any remorse or feelings of sorrow.

5) Mulugeta Asrate's role as facilitator of Aristocratic Sex to his clients in the Dergue had continued beyond his father's death.

6) Mulugeta Asrate today wants us to believe that he was a prisoner of conscience. This is a great insult to the genuine prisoners of conscience who had languished in the miserable prisons of the Dergue. Today it is proven beyond doubt that Mulugeta Asrate was imprisoned for collecting money from persons who had wanted to leave the country by promising them that he will secure them the necessary exit permit and visa through his connections.

7) While under detention, it is now public secret that Mulugeta had served the Security apparatus of the Dergue by spying and reporting upon the members the members of the Royal Family who were imprisoned with him. He is currently not in talking terms with most members of the Royal Family for the same reason.

Mulugeta is also not in good terms with his own sisters and brothers, because he was using his advantageous position to receive and consume by himself all the money and other provisions which were being sent to prison for the entire family.

9) Only Mulugeta can tell the number of women he got engaged with to exploit and the other persons he cheated in Addis Ababa upon his release from jail. He found this possible by his talent of fabricating stories about himself and his family. It was because of the difficulties emanating from this behaviour that he had to seek the assistance of the security apparatus (The Ministry for Internal Affairs) to run away from Ethiopia.

10) Mulugeta was therefore recruited by the Department of External Affairs of the said Ministry to spy upon the late Crown Prince (Atse Amha Selassie) and his environs. In spite of the fact that Mulugeta's assignment was discovered by the Crown Prince's Son in Law, who chased him away, Mulugeta succeeded to remain in the payroll of the Dergue until the Drgue's demise in 1991.

PART II

The answer to the question: “Who is Mulugeta Asrate Kassa?” has obliged a brief reference to his social background. This person who is widely recognised for the countless and shameful gross offences he has committed, and continues to commit, is not an airborne animal. With sentiments aside, he is a product of his parents, his family and his social environment. Hence, all references made to his parents and family should not be viewed beyond that context.

A close observation of Mulugeta Asrate Kassa’s case history and personality traits reveal a complex record of numerous anti-social offences committed by him over the years. An in-depth examination of the root causes and factors that have enabled this criminal character to roam at large, perpetually committing these offences, therefore becomes mandatory.

Starting with the Addis Ababa remand home for Juvenile Delinquents (Tebay Maremiya), Mulugeta Asrate Kassa was interned at different Police and Military camps for punishment aimed at correcting his defective behaviour. His admission to, and release fr om these institutions, was never done on the basis of established procedures. Nor were his stays in them long enough to effect meaningful changes on his criminal tendencies. What are the objective factors behind the contradictory positions taken by his parents? They need to be spelt out if our genuine objective is to know who Mulugeta really is.

Ethiopian sociological studies have concluded that juvenile delinquents who lead crime-related life to grow and become adult offenders are, in the majority of cases, victims of broken homes. Behaviourally speaking Mulugeta Asrate Kassa clearly falls under th is category. But on the other hand, in spite of the degree of intimacy in their relationship, Mulugeta’s parents are known to have lived together until their son’s majority age. Hence, defining Mulugeta as victim of a broken home, which includes the lack of adequate livelihood becomes difficult though lack of proper guidance and the inculcation of negative values in his attitudinal development are evident.

Such findings do naturally encourage an evaluation of the moral standard of Mulugeta Asrate’s parents. This by no means should be construed as more than an attempt to understand the causes for Mulugeta’s defective social behaviour. If an evaluation carried out in this regard associates Mulugeta’s parents with low morality and other negative social behaviours, it will enable us assume that Mulugeta is a victim of lack of positive role model in his upbringing. Therefore, a brief reference to popular knowledge may help ease the effort to solve the equation.

Many youngsters of Mulugeta’s age, who were attending the Haile Selassie I University when Wello was struck with severe drought in 1974, vividly recall their determination to give up some of their daily meal in order to feed the thousands of the dislocated peasants who had to walk to Addis Ababa in search of clemency from the various taxes that were being demanded from them. One such tax was “The Riste-Gult Dues” payable to the Ras Kassa family as a birthright.

At that tragic moment in Ethiopian history, the annual and belg rains have failed consecutively. These peasants were unable to harvest any grain or other food. With no grain in storage (gottera) they have also consumed the seeds they had set aside for next season’s planting. Their domestic animals have perished due to lack of grazing and water. They have already buried the weakest members of their families. The strongest among them had to abandon their habitat and walk to population centres, along the major roads, in search of food.

As this drought was hidden from public attention, tens of thousands of peasants have died from starvation and related causes. Food supplies and social services were mobilised to shelters and relief distribution centres much later. Upon receiving modest life saving supplies some of the drought/ famine affected peasants were ready to return and struggle to establish them selves on their farms. But returning to their villages meant confrontation with the representatives of the Ras Kassa family who mercilessly demand payment of the Riste-Gult dues. As an Imperial Proclamation relieving these peasants from state taxes for three years was proclaimed by the Emperor, the puzzle they were unable to resolve had remained the Ras Kassa family Riste-Gult dues.

When after a miserable days and nights walk these peasants reached Addis Ababa, their plight was brought to the attention of Mulugeta’s father, Ras Asrate Kassa. It is difficult to believe that he was unaware of their long journey when they were still enroute. He however named his cousin, Dejazmach Berhane-Meskel Desta, as negotiator on behalf of the family (tederadari) and demanded that the peasants who were stopped by police from entering Addis Ababa, send representatives to the Parliament building where Dejazmach Berhane-Meskel was serving as Senator. The peasants feared sending representatives for the negotiation, saying they know from experience the harsh punitive measures the family could apply on such individuals when amnesty from these dues is begged for.

The University Students who were already feeding these petitioners intervened and guided the entire group to what use to be known as the Constitution Square. This was the open field between the Grand Palace (Emperor Haile Selassie’s Office) and the Parliament Building. The presence of the large crowed of peasants on that field began attracting wider public attention by the day. Prominent persons like the late journalist, Ato Paulos Gnogno, and many more volunteers joined the students in the feeding programme, while the representatives of the petitioners, escorted by observers, held consecutive negotiations with the Dejazmach. This went on for days as Dejazmach Berhane-Meskel, who was given no mandate to decide, had to shuttle back and forth with guidance he was receiving form Ras Asrate Kassa. One of Ras Asrate Kassa’s demands was that these peasants return to the relief delivery centres in Wello, so that they receive the relief provision and use it to settle his Riste-Gult dues in kind.

This was a month after the Popular Revolution had erupted in February 1974. The entire country was in turmoil. Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu’s Cabinet had resigned and Lidj Endalkachew’s was in place. The Emperor’s Regime was fighting against many odds for its survival. But Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa who was engaged in underground machinations to destabilise Lidj Endalkachew’s cabinet would not flinch an inch and his negotiator would not return with any liveable offer. The matter was finally brought to the attention of Emperor Haile Selassie, through the personal intervention of his grand son Prince Michael Makonen. The Emperor determined that the Tax Amnesty Proclamation issued by Him includes Riste-Gult dues, reprimanded Ras Asrate Kassa, and the drought victims were sent of to Wello in buses hired by the Relief Operations Co-ordination Office.

The above is just one example to show the mindset of Mulugeta Asrate’s father. Many more stories can be told about Leul-Ras Asrate Kassa’s low moral standing and greedy character. However, as the purpose of this exercise is limited to the examination of the factors that have influenced Mulugeta Asrate’s defective personality formation, all the sad issues related to his father should be left for historians to handle.

Mulugeta Asrate Kassa’s current ambitions may be limited to embezzling charity funds by regaining a seat on one of the London based Ethiopian Community Boards. If given material reward, he is also likely to be used by the EPRDF as a stick to beat certain institutions and individuals it considers inimical. Which ever the case may be, this presentation will, on the basis of the introductory remarks above, continue to address the question it has raised, in spite of the social myth which has sheltered Mulugeta up to now. Hence, Who is Mulugeta Asrate Kassa? Is he alive?

1) As explained in part I of this presentation, Mulugeta had pronounced him self-dead in order to avoid the litigation charges filed against him by Princes Catherine Dengede, wife of Emperor Bokassa of Central Africa. Princes Catherine Dengede kept Mulugeta as her dependent in Geneva, introduced him to many influential personalities, assisted him open a restaurant when he moved to London and also facilitated him with a handsome loan. All this was because Princes Catherine Dengede trusted Mulugeta’s fabricated stories about him being Emperor Haile Selassie’s grand son and waiting to benefit from his frozen Accounts in Swiss Banks. Meanwhile Princes Catherine was able to learn who Mulugata really was before moving back to Central Africa. The departure of Princes Catherine Dengede has thus created an opportunity for Mulugeta to resurrect from his grave and prove that he was not physically dead.

3) Ato Meseret who went for a visit to London from Los Angeles, USA,was encouraged to stay with Mulugeta’s mother in her apartment. After a few days Ato Meseret was asked by Leilt Zuriash to buy her an overcoat, a request that he readily accepted. When Ato Meseret and Leilt Zuriash were about to leave for the store, Leilt Zuriash demands that Mulugeta join them. Ato Meseret who could not understand the role to be played by Mulugeta rejects the request. Mulugeta’s mother insists and Mulugeta joins the two to the store where the overcoat she desired was purchased by Credit Card. Leilt Zuriash recommended that the receipts be given to Mulugeta in case the overcoat needs to be returned. Mulugeta keeps the receipts and upon Ato Meseret’s departure uses Ato Meseret’s Credit Card Number to order other items valued $5,000. Because of the high amount involved Ato Meseret’s bank, Wells Fargo, calls Ato Meseret’s home in LA where the wife answered the phone to wonder what her husband has bought for $5,000. Ato Meseret who learnt about the incident upon his arrival, didn’t need much time to know that Mulugeta Asrate Kassa has presented himself as Meseret, and used the Number on his Credit Card Receipt to purchase items worth $5,000, while Ato Meseret was in the air on his way back home.

4) Ato Meseret is one among many relatives and family friends Mulugeta Asrate Kassa cheated by using their Credit Card Number. Another person who lost significant amount of money this way and disconnected all her relationship with the family is Weizero Mulumebet Faris. This suffices to explain one of the cheating methods of Mulugeta, by involving his mother, as the list is too long to enumerate here.

5) Another stilling method of the Mulugeta family is by use of Telephone Lines. People close to the Mulugeta Asrate Kassa family know how frequently Mulugeta’s mother, Leilt Zuriashe’s, telephone numbers change. This is because Mulugeta uses the identity of unsuspecting Ethiopians that reside in London to get a telephone line installed in his mother’s apartment in their names. In other incidences Mulugeta has obtained calling cards of other persons telephone numbers. Both, son and mother will call all over the world while the bill is mailed to the persons whose identity Mulugeta has used. Only because of the large bills involved do these persons discover that they were held responsible for installing a new telephone line in Leilt Zuriashe's apartment. Upon these persons refusal to settle the bill the line will be disconnected, only for another illegitimate line to be installed in another victim’s name. Among the victims of this method suffice to mention Ato Agbaw Webneh and Ato Demissew Beyene, both respected elders in the Ethiopian Community of London.

6) Ato Agbaw Webneh has been Mulugeta’s target at other instances. One widely known fact is a case involving furniture. Mulugeta Asrate Kassa uses the “Ethiopia Help Line” and claiming he is Agbaw Webneh, the son of the highly reputed patriot Ras Webneh (Amoraw) Tessemma, requests to be assisted by the provision of furniture as he is a new asylee resettling in London. The request gets approved right away and the suppliers call Mulugeta’s number and ask where the furniture were to be supplied. Mulugeta gives his own address and the furniture were supplied there. Few days latter the Ethiopia Help Line officials go for a home visit to check how Ato Agbaw was managing. Ato
Agbaw’s wife answers the door; the visitors come in and ask how they are enjoying their new furniture. The surprised wife says “what furniture?” and after a brief confusion the husband walks in and confesses that he has never applied for furniture and has also received none. The surprised visitors return to their office and check with the suppliers where the furniture was delivered. Obtaining the delivery address, they go straight to the place and discover some of the furniture, which was not yet sold, in Mulugeta’s apartment. A hunt was launched and whatever furniture was retrieved was returned to the donors.

Mulugeta Asrate Kassa is also a kleptomaniac. Mostly ladies complain that he has stolen money from their handbags when they visited the toilet. The numbers of persons from whom Mulugeta borrows money in his mother’s name and runs away from are too many to list. The cases with Kegnazmach Fasil Shiferaw, Weizerit Yeshiwork Shiferaw, Ato Tilahun Amare and Ato Kebede Amene can be mentioned as examples.

Mulugeta is very well known for cheating and stilling from older persons he gets closer to by pretending to assist them in translation and introducing them to the system. One such person was Weizero Ayelech Meshesha who took Mulugeta to her bank to assist her f ill the forms required drawing cash from her account. Mulugeta fills the form by doubling the amount requested by Weizero Ayelech and pockets half of the money when drawing the cash. Weizero Ayelech, upon receipt of her monthly bank statement discovers that Mulugeta whom she considered a close relative has robed her. She has been cursing Mulugeta as a thief, and a son of a thief, until her death recently. Mulugeta also collects Home Office Papers in the name of elderly persons he pretends to assist and sales these papers to other needy refugees. One such victim is Ato Demisew Beyene. The assets he robed from elderly persons by acting, as their funeral arranger, is said to be quite significant.

9) A major target of Mulugeta Asrate Kassa’s robbery, theft and cheating was the Imperial family of Haile Selassie I. His pretension as the viceroy of this family is now exposed in many quarters.

10) Upon the release of princes Tenagne Work and her daughters from jail, Mulugeta Asrate Kassa who pretended as her care -taker contacted the late King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for assistance. King Hussein decided that £2,000 be paid monthly to support the Princes Tenagne Work. After few months Mulugeta contacts King Hussein and requests that a car be bought for the princes. The King approves £9,000 for car purchase. After pocketing the princess’s monthly allowance and the money paid to buy her a car, Mulugeta contacts King Hussein again, to request another £9,000 claiming that the previous sum had to be used for medical expenses because the Princes who failed off the stairs of her house was badly injured and hospitalised. King Hussein's pursers got suspicious this time and contacted the Princes through the Ambassador of Jordan who discovered that the princes was unaware of the previous transactions and no person called Mulugeta, or Asrate, or Kassa, or all, had her delegation. This caused a great embarrassment to Prince Sadrudin Aga Kahn who was Mulugeta’s channel to King Hussein. Princess Catherine Dengede who for some times believed Mulugeta’s story of being the genuine grand son of Emperor Haile Selassie was responsible for introducing Mulugeta to Prince Sadrudin Aga Kahn in Geneva.

11) Following the death of Crown Prince Asfa Wesen Haile Selassie (Emperor Amha Selassie), Mulugeta Asrate Kassa issued public notice announcing that he has been appointed Private Assistant to Crown Prince Zere Yaekob. His first approach for grants was to the owner of the Virgin Atlantic airlines, which didn’t yield any thing. He then approaches the Crown Prince of Libya, who has attended Oxford University in UK with Prince Zere Yaekob, and who is living as a refugee in Geneva, Switzerland. The Libyan Crown Prince who believed Mulugeta’s story responded generously and waited to hear from his friend in order to do more. As nothing was heard from Prince Zere Yaekob the Libyan Crown Prince contacts the Ethiopian Crrown Prince to discover that the $10,000 he has forwarded through Mulugeta has not reached his friend. Mulugeta Asrate Kassa has also cheated others, including the Prince (Count) of Baden Baden in Germany, by presenting himself as the representative of the Prince Makonen family. In few quarters people still believe he is the grand son of Emperor Haile Selassie and hence a genuine Prince.

12) When the entire Royal Family became aware of Mulugeta Asrate Kassa’s intentions and notified all quarters to be aware, Mulugeta had to search for circles unaware of these developments. That was when he began involvement in the activities of the Ethiopian Community Centre. Many innocent Ethiopians believed his stories of being strongly connected to the British Royal Family and the British Aristocracy. They believed that Mulugeta was capable of mobilising great support for their Community. They were not aware of the fact that Mulugeta was chased away by members of their own Royal Family. Nor have they heard that Mulugeta had gone to the extent of borrowing Lord Ashley’s car and selling it, as the result of which not only him but also many members of the Ethiopian Royal Family and Nobility have been denied the benefits they were enjoying. Most importantly, they were not cognisant of the resentment entertained by the British Royal Family as consequence of The Crown Prince Asfa Wesen’s decision to move from London to Washington without consulting them. Ethiopian’s in London who had access to these informations were few and not close to the activities of the Community Centre. These new Ethiopian circles hence became fertile grounds for Mulugeta’s ill motives.

13) Mulugeta first succeeded to become a board member of the Camden based Ethiopian Community Centre, an institution he is currently trying to defame. Mulugeta was fired from his position in this Community for embezzlement of charity funds. Being as selfish as he is, he was not able to admit his guilt, nor care for the beneficiary members of the Community, when instead he brought unfounded charges against his colleagues in the Board. The Borough of Camden had to close the Community Centre for investigation, which was reopened only after Mulugeta was proven guilty.

14) Mulugeta then moved to the Saint Marry Church of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido faith in London. The congregation aware of his devilish deeds in the Ethiopian Community totally rejected his involvement. However upon the insistence of the head of the church, Aba Aregawi, as he used to be called at the time, Mulugeta became a member of the Church’s Executive Committee. In his capacity as an official of the Church Mulugeta assured and encouraged Aba Paulos, the controversial patriarch of the Ethiopian Church, to go and hold service at this Ethiopian Church in London. Aba Paulos, who was desperate because he was virtually chased out of every Ethiopian Church in the USA, believed Mulugeta and went to London expecting friendlier reception. Unfortunately to both Mulugeta and Aba Paulos, the congregation first warned Aba Paulos not go to their Church and when he showed up without their wish he and his escorts were attacked so badly that the London Police had to physically carry Aba Paulos into his car and drive him away. Mulugeta who was embarrassed by his underestimation of the congregation’s hatred towards Aba Paulos was forced to claim that a knife in the fight stabbed him. The Police rejected his claim by simply stating that no knife can stab a person without passing through his clothing. However, Mulugeta seems to have
succeeded to be believed by Aba Paulos.

15) His newly won friend, Aba Paulos, invites Mulugeta to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival Mulugeta was received at the Ghion Hotel as the patriarch’s personal guest, all his expenses covered by the Ethiopian Church. This was not enough for Mulugeta. He told his hosts that money he was expecting from London was delayed and borrowed 40,000 Bir from the church claiming that he badly needed it for charitable purposes. Mulugeta’s charitable activities were limited to the bars and clubs he boasted in. Having signed for another 40,000 Bir for expenses during his stay at the Ghion, Mulugeta left Ethiopia with out settling his debt with the Church, which so kindly hosted him.

16) Upon his return to London Mulugeta persuades Aba Aregawi to go to Ethiopia assuring him that he was called to be appointed Arch Bishop. Aba Aregawi, in spite of advice he received from several persons, delegates Mulugeta for administrative matters and also leaves the keys to his apartment with him. Aba Aregawi was indeed appointed Arch Bishop of London and returned as Abune Yohannes. Upon his return however, Aba Aregawi (Abune Yohannes) discovered that Mulugeta Asrate Kassa has abused his trust by forging his signature and drawing £6,000 from his saving Account. Mulugeta had also taken other funds on loan from the Church. It was also revealed that Mulugeta has raised funds in the Church’s name for his own use. Aba Yohannes, therefore, had to dismiss Mulugeta from all official functions in the church with the congregation’s unanimous approval. After he was fired from his responsibility in the Church, Mulugeta repeated what he did to the Ethiopian Community Centre, by telling the owners of the building unfounded stories that forced them to lock the doors of the Church until the truth was established.

17) The Church resumed service after a brief period of difficulties. In the process Aba Aregawi (Abune Yohannes) was found dead in his apartment. Many Ethiopians in London associate Mulugeta, in direct and indirect ways, with the death of their spiritual father. Meanwhile Mulugeta Asrate Kassa had become a Catholic until he was also thrown out of that church for a similar wrongdoing. He now hangs around the Ethiopian (EPRDF) Embassy in London serving as one of the co-ordinators of a forum established to solicit approval for Ethiopia’s loss as consequence of the Dan Hague Boarder Commission’s rulings. Religion wise he claims to be reborn by joining a Pentecostal church where he seems to have found temporary refuge.

CONCLUSSION

In parts I and II of this presentation an attempt has been made to objectively note the social back ground of Mulugeta Asrate Kassa. His life history has also been described based on tangible findings. His life under Emperor Haile Selassie was nothing more than that of a juvenile delinquent. With all the wealth and influence his family enjoyed, the best he could ultimately achieve was become newsreader on Ethiopian Television. After the Dergue's take-over he became a facilitator of Aristocratic Sex to the very people who executed his father. He may have gone a long way with the Dergue if his sex clients in the Dergue had survived. Meddling in exit visa issues without the existence of his clients did not serve him good. Even his jail life is full of corruption. He has not achieved much as the Dergue's spy in London. The Ethiopian Royal family in whose names he traded has rejected him. Starting with Princes Catherine Dengede of Central Africa in Geneva, all members of Royal Families and Aristocracies he came closer to have labelled him a thief and a cheater. All persons who know him in London look down upon him. He has been dismissed from the Ethiopian Community Centre on criminal charges. The Ethiopian Church in London has dishonourably fired him. He is now a fugitive, jumping from one church to the other. His reputation in most of the social circles in London is that of pathological lire and a kleptomaniac. No one sane Ethiopian in London will voluntarily associate himself with Mulugeta. His temporary hideouts are now the Ethiopian (EPRDF) Embassy and his newly found Pentecostal church in London. How long will he last in these quarters? Who then is Mulugeta Asrate Kassa? Can he really be considered alive only because he is not physically dead? It can now be assumed that these would no more be difficult questions to answer.

Of Meles and his foreign consultants

2006-03-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

Azeb: Oh. My dear Meles. Recently you really ignored me and the children. I am no longer in a position to bear this. Oh, my dear please relax a littlie bit. We can even take a small vacation in our farm in the countryside.

Meles: What is this lady talking about? You know that you are crossing that red line. You know that my time table is non-negotiable. Beyond that if there is any implementational problem, we can hire foreign consultants to look into it and compare the house hold of the prime minister here with other similar democratic and parliamentary countries such as the household of Tony Blair and others. Of course, the UNDP or the DFID would provide the funding.

Ethiopia - Meles led Woyane Clique Consolidate and Dominate Power [Picked from Eritrean site, interesting comment]

2006-03-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

Sophia Tesfamariam,

When Meles initially announced his list of Ministers, unaware of what the deceptive Prime Minister had up his sleeves, Allafrica.com in its 13 October 2005 report said this about Meles Zenawi's cabinets "ethnic mix":
".Five of the new ministers are members of the Oromo ethnic community, Ethiopia's largest with approximately 30 million people. Seven are from the Amhara community, the second largest ethnic group in the country. Three members, including the prime minister, are Tigrayan, who make up 6 percent of the population."
As was predicted and anticipated by all Ethiopians, the deceptive "appointment" of Ministers on 13 October 2005 with the right "ethnic" and "gender" mix, was exposed on 14 October 2005 when the Tigrayan Prime Minister Meles Zenawi unabashedly appointed his loyal lackeys to key Federal posts under the cover of "Advisors" with full Ministerial status. These appointments practically consolidated the power of the Tigrayan clique under the full command of one person-Meles Zenawi.

In short, real power in Ethiopia is now in the hands of 7 Tigrayans. As a matter of fact, the most influential, important and key Ministries in Ethiopia are directly and fully controlled, run, supervised and monitored by these 7 Tigrayans: Meles Zenawi, Samora Younis, Abay Tsehaye, Mulugeta Alemseged, Newaye-Kiristos Gebre-Ab, Seyoum Mesfin and last but not least, Bereket Simon, a de facto Tigrayan.

I will simply present the facts and the readers can make their own judgments, analysis and conclusions:

1.. Meles Zenawi, the Tigrayan Prime Minister, as Commander in Chief of the Ethiopian Armed Forces with the Tigrayan General Samora Younis as his Chief of Staff, has absolute control of the Ethiopian army. Therefore, Kuma Demekesa, from the Oromo ethnic group, is essentially a figurehead with a Defense Minister title- but no bite.

2.. Abay Tsehaye, founding member of TPLF, as Public Organization and Participation Advisor to the Prime Minister with the Rank of Minister, according to the new consolidated structure, will control, monitor, supervise and run the so-called Ministry of Federal Affairs. Its newly appointed Minister, Siraj Fegeta, from the Silte (Gurage) ethnic group, will report directly to Abay Tsehaye.

3.. Mulugeta Alemseged, a senior member of the TPLF, as National Security Affairs Advisor with the Rank of Minister will control, monitor, supervise and run the entire police and security apparatus in Ethiopia. As the National Security Advisor, he will condense and prepare daily, "intelligence" and "security" reports to Meles

4.. Newaye-Kiristos Gebre-Ab, a Tigrayan from Meles' village of Adwa, as Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister with the Rank of Minister will control, monitor, supervise and run all Ministeries associated with economic matters, in particular the Ministries of Finance, Revenue, Trade and Industry, Transportation, Mines and Energy etc. etc. Therefore Sufian Ahmed, Minister Finance and Economic Development, an Oromo; Melaku Fenta, Minister of Revenue, an Amhara; Girma Biru, Minister of Trade and Industry an Oromo; Junedi Sado, Minister of Transport and Communications, also an Oromo; Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister Mines and Energy another Oromo; will all report to Newaye-Kristos Gebre-Ab.

5.. Seyoum Mesfin, another Tigrayan, is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Because he is a trusted Meles disciple, there was no need to create a "Foreign Policy Advisor position with the Rank of a Minister" in the Prime Minister's Office. It should be recalled that Seyoum Mesfin served as TPLF's Foreign Minister for 14 years and has been Ethiopia's Foreign Minister for the last 14 years. He runs the Ministry as if it were his own personal fiefdom.

6.. Bereket Simon, (listed as an Amhara), but more TPLF than TPLF itself, as Public Relations Advisor to the Prime Minister with the Rank of Minister will control, monitor, supervise and run the Ministry of Information. Berhan Hailu, Minister of Information, an Amhara, will therefore, report directly to Bereket Simon.

As you can see, the stage is set. Power has been solidified and consolidated in the hands of the Tigrayans to "rule" Ethiopia for the next five years and beyond. This "supra" body completely dominated by the Tigrayan clique, under the guise of "Advisors with Ranks of Ministers", is now about to rule Ethiopia with an even tighter and ruthless iron fist, and is pursuing the policies of kill, imprison, intimidate, vilify etc, so that it can remain in power, by any means necessary.

America, Democracy and Human Rights in Ethiopia

2006-03-03T01:40:00.000-08:00

Many Ethiopians have a positive feeling for the US. Ethiopians are particularly grateful for America’s hospitability for thousands of Ethiopians who left their country during the evil days of the Derg. Given the country’s bad experience with a Soviet client Marxist regime which tormented the country for nearly two decades, Ethiopians give high value for human rights and democracy. Many also seriously believe that America is committed for the spread of democracy and human rights in the world. That is why Ethiopians are always baffled why the Americans provide all round support to a regime which represses and commits massive violations of human rights against them. Ethiopians in numerous occasions pleaded American foreign policy makers to adjust their policies on Ethiopia. Ethiopians wish Americans to have a balanced and constructive role. No body is asking the Americans to remove the Meles Zenawi regime. What Ethiopians ask the Americans is to put pressure on Meles so that there could be a national reconciliation and democratic peace.

While law makers within the US congress and civic associations are increasingly appreciating the actual situation within Ethiopia and are now asking the US government to play a constructive role towards better protection of human rights and democracy in Ethiopia, the State Department has chosen to close its eyes and ears to the massive violations of human rights by the regime they strongly support. This leads us to ask an important question. Does America really care for human rights and democracy in Ethiopia? There is no obviously definitive answer to this question. Some from the Congress are supportive of democratization and betterment of human rights. But the Administration has so far been consistent in dashing the hopes of Ethiopians by providing unqualified support to the minority regime in Addis Ababa. Even if we may led to believe that the US foreign policy on security issues does not necessarily change with change of presidents, the dominance of American politics since the beginning of the Presidency by Mr. Gorge Bush in 2000 by the so-called neo-conservatives has greatly weakened American stature as an advocate of human rights and democracy throughout the world. The failure of US foreign policy in the Horn of Africa is also a reflection of the neo-cons strategy of bartering their narrowly defined notion of security with American democratic and humanitarian ideals.

It looks in fact absurd to expect the American government which maintains prisons which are beyond the reach of law in Guantanamo Bay of Cuba, Abu Graheb of Iraq and at Bagram Airbase of Afghanistan to be interested about the human rights condition of Ethiopians. It has also recently been revealed the wide network of American CIA prisons throughout Europe. Horrendous stories of torture of those illegally kidnapped by the western intelligence agencies and shipped to countries like Egypt and Pakistan for torture are emerging in Western media outlets. Who knows the Americans might have some secrete facilities in Ethiopia too? It is still a big wonder why the Americans obsessively tied their interest in the Horn of Africa with the minority regime of Meles Zenawi. By doing this they are defeating their own policy of promoting American interest throughout the world, they are producing more critics and enemies to America than protecting its interests. This is the absurdity of US foreign policy which always baffles me. Why do you side with dictators like F. Markos, Meles Zenawi, Mobutu Seseko than millions citizens of these nations.

While it is still morally imperative and also important for Ethiopians to continuously request American foreign policy makes to live up to their rhetoric, it is also important to make our efforts sustainable and more productive. It is very important to strengthen our activities of lobbying. We Ethiopians should also take part in election campaigns of congressmen. It is very vital to strengthen our institutions which work for lobbying and advocacy. One model which we should try to emulate is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC] http://www.aipac.org . The AIPAC over the years managed to evolve as an important institution which influences American foreign policy on the Middle East.

Breaking News: Singer Abraham made Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to dance

2006-03-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

The hottest news of AIGAFORUM http://www.aigaforum.com recently stated that "Yekatit 11, the birth of TPLF was celebrated in Addis. The event was organized by the business community in Addis...The business community has raised 9,700,000 birr for the organization (for TPLF) and more than half of the fund was contributed by Sheik Mohamed Alamudin. Sheik Mohamed Alamudin and his company contributed around 5,400,000 birr. The celebration lasted almost the whole night. The event was lovely and the singer Abraham even made the Prime Minister dance for the occasion..... Sheraton Addis hosted Yekatit 11 Celebration."

It is very interesting that TPLF extremists allover the world were delighted by the news that their little dictator was made to dance by the artist Singer Abraham. When you are in blind love of a dictator this would be breaking news. Alas! AIGAFORUM and co.

Treason begins when the Woyane is in power

2006-03-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

The Woyane propagandists ranging from Amare Aregawi’s Reporter to the weird little ex-prince, Mulugeta Asrate Kassa are lamenting how treasonous for Ethiopians to travel to Eritrea and seek whatever assistance that Eritrea may provide them.

It is indeed the travesty of justice when the Woyane attempts to accuse its opponents of treason. Every body knows that the very ideological and institutional basis of the Woyane gang is treason. Deceit and treachery are the whole mark the Woyane. The Woyane denied Ethiopia's history and undermined Ethiopia's territorial integrity and unity. To achieve its destructive goal, it committed several treasons. It, for example, garnered support from radical Arab regimes such as Sudan, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Libya and others which were historically bent on removing Ethiopia from the coastal lines of the Red Sea.

During its time of insurgency the Woyane was also known for its betrayal. No one with a sane mind would envisage the way the TPLF slaughtered the leadership of one of its Tigrean rival, the Tigray Liberation Front (TLF). The unsuspecting members of the TLF leadership were slaughtered in their sleep by their hosts after they had a discussion with the TPLF to resolve their differences. That is indeed heinous crime of treason. Even on interpersonal relationship, Meles and his co. are treacherous. Look what happened to Meles's critics. Tamrat Layne and Seye Abrha are being incarcerated because of their criticism against Meles. For corruption, it is the pillar of the Woyane political system. The Woyane political system cannot stand without corruption for a single day. It is more difficult to find a non-corrupt official in the ranks of the Woyane. Almost all of them are corrupted to their neck.

The TPLF gang pretty much knows that they are forcing upon the Ethiopian people and the opposition the armed resistance option. I do not personally feel that armed struggle is a good option to push the country for reconciliation and democracy. But if the Woyane persists with its current intransigence, the only option that is left for change would be armed resistance. If one plans armed resistance it is natural that he/she would seek assistance from neighboring countries. If that is treason every guerrilla movement is treasonous.

What is good for every body in the country is move foreword in the direction of peaceful reconciliation and democracy. The Woyane gang cannot rule this country alone for ever. The Woyane was painting for over ten years the Oromo as terrorists. The Woyane Ministry of Foreign Ministry for several years attempted its best to get the OLF registered as a terrorist organization by the State Department of the US and other European nations. It miserably failed. Because of the post-electoral pressure, the TPLF feels that it is important to paint the resistance it is now facing as an Amhara terrorism. This is meant to frighten the Western donor nations and its own constituency of power, Tigray. So that both of them would continue to support the Woyane. Today, the Woyane is accusing the opposition of treason, terrorism, linkage with Eritrea and tomorrow it would come up with a new theory which will frighten more the terror worry Americans. The official and serious sounding, the Joint Federal Anti-Terrorism Task Force may announce that the CUD terrorists are sponsored by the Al-Qaeda and Osama Biladen.

Sachs and Zenawi Cheats in League

2006-03-02T01:18:00.000-08:00

Mr. J. Sachs who is the foremost lobbyist of the aid industry was yesterday praising Meles and in fact in league with a fertilizer company in Norway provided him an award. The reasons for the award of Mr. Zenawi was his commitment for reform and green revolution. Today, Sachs is lamenting that the disgracing of Meles and the cutting of direct budgetary aid in the coffers of Meles hurts Ethiopian poor. Mr. Sachs without commenting on the massive violations of human rights by Zenawi's minority regime after the May 2005 elections laments that the cutting of aid hurts the poor instead of Zenawi's regime and begs for the continuation of financial transfer to the coffers of Mr. Zenawi. This simply shows the partnership of Mr. Sachs with Mr. Zenawi in tyrannyThe Korea Herald Thursday, March 2, 2006 . It should be clear to the enlightened professor that without respect for human rights aid does not bring anything good as clearly demonstrated b y the Nobel Lauret, Amartya Sen.

Tigrean Chauvinism

2006-03-01T08:48:00.000-08:00

Addis Today Comment, 01.03.06

When the Amhara talk about Ethiopia, it is unbridled chauvinism. When the Tigreans talk about the greatness of Tigray as the mother of civilization in the Horn of Africa that is Revolutionary Democracy. Read the rather official looking http://www.tigraionline.com/ signboard posted below

TIGRAI
Tigrai is the mother of all civilizations in the horn of Africa It is the Source of the Geez fidel Christainity and Islam. Tigrai is the land of Qdoos Yaryed, Axum, Yeha and Wuqro Negash. Tigrai is the land of dauntless Emperors such as:Ezana, Kaleb, Armaha, Abraha, Elameda, ZeraYakob... Yowhaness; Ras Alula, General Hayelom and much more. Tigrai is The home of the Ark of the covenant, the land of the Just, brave, free and fair. We have nothing to apologize, be sorry or fear for in our history, but we have everything to be proud of !!.

The ugly side of the TPLF

2006-03-01T05:09:00.000-08:00

Addis Today Comment

What is posted below is taken from one of the Woyane websites paid by the TPLF. Some times it is very important to see how the Woyane thinking machine works by looking at their websites and propaganda outlets, this gives us clarity about their mission. In what follows the editor of Ethiomedia, which has proved to be the premier news and analysis medium of Ehiopia is being attacked just because he seeks to show what the TPLF gang is doing. He is particularly attacked because of his ethnic identity-for the TPLF any Tigrayan working against the TPLF is a traitor and has an identity crisis. If you take their own logic, every body who works for the TPLF without being a Tigrayan is a traitor and has an identity crisis. So how would they want to rule Ethiopia? These guys are as ever confused. ____________________________________________________________________________________
Ethiomedia - Depository of gossip

Abraha Hailu

http://www.ethioobserver.net/ethiomedia2.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The webmaster for Ethiomedia has an identity crisis of a peculiar brand. Respect as we know it is not only earned but should also be reciprocal. To bow for other groups who are well proven to be failures for the sake of "enhancing" ones own image is the lowest form of existence.

The man who runs Ethiomedia is a "Tigrean" by birth and yet contrary to the impeccable nature of Tigreans who are proud and secured in who they are as a people, this low-life continues to be ashamed of his identity and has opted to live his life as someone he is not.

In my entire life, I haven't come across a person who has sunk to the lowest only to please his masters at the expense of the Tigrean people. Since the construction of his site on the Web, he left no stone unturned to belittle and trash the TPLF and the Tigrean people while praising his masters by fabricating make-believe lies and inciting violence for our country Ethiopia.

Ethiomedia is nothing, but a tabloid run by a disgraced individual whose life has no context and meaning. The Tigrean people should not be trivialized by vagabonds like him.

Notice: Blatant personal attacks are not permitted. Each contributor of an article must maintain a valid e-mail address. Comment on ideas, not people. Those that consistently ignore these guidelines will be blocked from posting further comments. Please do not use vulgar or profane language or language intended to defame. ethioobserver may remove or exclude offensive language to ensure a civil and professional atmosphere for all participants. We promote ethics by encouraging honest interaction. With your cooperation, we can keep this website clean.

Open Letter to Transport Minister Junedin Sado

2006-02-27T03:07:00.000-08:00

Addis Today Comment,

A confused ex-ETC staff beging the attention of Mr. Sado, Mnister of Transport and Communication. Mr. Ewnetu, I assure you, Mr. Sado is more corrupt than your ex-boss Tesfaye Birru. Your information is, however, good for the general public. Poor decent looking Tesfaye is corrupted to his neck. That is it. In the Woyane camp, it is very hard to find a non-corrupt official.

_____________________________________________________________________________
By Ewnetu Tessema
Telecom engineer
February 25, 2006

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"Many excuses have been given so far but we know for sure any of them are not genuine. The most common and frequently used excuse is to attribute all failures to the incompetent and colorless subordinates of the CEO. Accordingly, during the last three years alone scores of his immediate subordinates have been removed from office. ETC has restructured itself 7 times within the last three years. The 8th is coming soon. The problems, however, are still there." - Ewnetu Tessema (Telecom engineer: Feb 25, 2005)
H.E Ato Junedi Sado (via Ethiomedia.com)
Minister for The Ministry of Transport and Communications
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Dear Sir,

I do foresee the bombshell this letter will bring to you as it comes from an “unfamiliar” person. But rest assured that it comes with the finest intention. Moreover it is not me who is unfamiliar to you, but my pen name. I have to tell you bluntly that close associates and relatives did advise me ‘sending an open letter to Your Excellency is an exercise in futility.’

The people who advised me not to waste my time in vain firmly believe that corruption in Ethiopia today is institutionalized. These hallowed friends and relatives of mine believe that I am a dreamer and all my actions like this one are tantamount to trying to get a dove out of a snake's egg. In a nut shell, they believe all political appointees at various hierarchical levels in the Ethiopian Government structure today are licensed robbers. They corroborate their argument by the famous Ethiopian saying: “A fish stinks from the head down.”

I have quite long ago accepted this contention after witnessing an untiring, but sterile and worthless, effort by a group of concerned Ethiopians to expose corruption and the corrupt officials at the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation. However, after a lot of thinking as to how to go about, I finally decided to send you this open letter for the record with a reasonable doubt that this letter may not be given the attention it deserves, rather may end up in your waste basket. However, it could be of some interest for you to know that I believe even dirty water can put out fire. This letter has no reflection on you personally. As you are a recent addition to the Ministry, it would be too early to judge you or assess your contribution as a Minister of this “Mega Ministry.” If you fail to address my concern, it is understandable.

1. Solutions, not threats, needed to resolve the crisis
It is almost three solid years since ETC’s employees started expressing their concern and nothing has been done to resolve the workers plight, except threats to fire everyone. The workers request is NOT for a review of wages against the rising cost of living. We have no personal motive or evil intention in our fight against the corrupt CEO and his entire “crew”, so called Deputy CEOs and some of his buddies at the middle level management.

We have been untiringly giving a fair warning for the last three solid years to the ETC’s Board of Directors led by H.E Ato Getachew Belai, but, to our disgust and disappointment, all he has done is to instill fear in the Labour Union, some of whom have since then put their head down in fear of vengeance. I assure you soon after this letter is posted on the ethiomedia.com the Labour Union will be instructed to write a letter against this open letter. At the moment, we hear the CEO is consulting the Board to transfer to the thorny rural areas everybody who is remotely suspected of being on the struggle against corruption. What type of management is this? We know all other similar companies in Africa are not doing this for they will never succeed in business if they do not respect the wishes of their workers.

Instead of using our time to make long term plans of resolving network problems, delivering bills on time, buying useful assets for the company and many other problems the subscribers are facing, the management adamantly decides, instead, to destroy workers' morale and future of the company.

2. Using a wrong stick and hitting what is carried by the donkey instead of the donkey*
Many excuses have been given so far but we know for sure any of them are not genuine. The most common and frequently used excuse is to attribute all failures to the incompetent and colorless subordinates of the CEO. Accordingly, during the last three years alone scores of his immediate subordinates have been removed from office. ETC has restructured itself 7 times within the last three years. The 8th is coming soon. The problems, however, are still there. The CEO is a “sacrosanct”. His deputies and all other subordinates are always at fault. This reminds me a provision in the Emperor Hailesselassie’s Constitution which reads “The King shall not be accused. The Ministers shall be responsible”. This provision could still be valid in countries like UK with a constitutional monarchy. But the King or the Queen is ceremonial, powerless and just kept as a uniting factor. It is only the Ethiopian Government in the world that has conferred such unlimited and unquestionable authority upon a Chief Executive Officer of ETC. It is very silly and very sickening. The CEO of ETC is also revered like some special creature with a divine power. Some employees jokingly say, “He is the truth and the truth is in him and all those who oppose him shall perish. Those who became his lap-dogs shall have an ever lasting life”. This is a real tragedy.

We should put it on record that there are so many problems at ETC which need the co-operation of workers rather than threats and mismanagement. We are requesting intervention from your ministry, customers and everyone concerned about seeing ETC prosper as a matter of urgency before it becomes an incurably sick company. It is a matter of time, we believe, that all we have achieved for over 100 years since Emperor Menelik II era goes down the drain.

At this juncture, we the employees of ETC sincerely wish to apologize to our valued customers who have to go through this and the whole nation which is being affected by the current nasty situation at the Ethiopian Telecom Corporation. We don't actually hope that Your Excellency, as one of the pertinent authorities, will find a way to solve this matter immediately.

The current CEO of the Ethiopian Telecom Corporation is installed by the appallingly mendacious, scandalous and corrupt Haile Asegde and the miserably naïve, unreliable, coward and incompetent Kassu Illala. Many presume his wife’s ethnic identity and her friendship with the ETC’s Board Chairman has also helped him to be a sole survivor of all crisis situations. Here readers should note that the ETC’s Board Chairman, Getachew Belai, has a blood relation with PM and/or Sebhat Nega. Getachew’s wife in turn is a personal secretary of the PM. Getachew and the wife of the CEO of ETC were same batch students at the Department of Statistics, Science Faculty (Arat Kilo), and moreover they are sort of “friends” for they were “helping” each other while they were studying 'STATISTICS' together. Huh, very sickening. I feel like living in a primitive feudal system that was prevalent some 300 years ago.

The CEO was never appointed on his individual merit; he is a lord of mediocrity and underachieving, never worked an honest day in his entire stay at the ETC as a CEO. And yet this same guy is freely enjoying an incredible protection despite the fact he is highly corrupt and has stashed huge amount of dollars in foreign banks, he is morally stunted, mental torturer of honest workers, incompetent, failure, a walking conflict of interest and a soulless prick.

3. Some strategies to fight corruption
Your Excellency,

Many developing countries in the world have developed a policy to protect “Corruption Whistle Blowers.” The so called developing countries did this after being politically crucified over charges of corrupt practice and mismanagement by donors and the international community. Ethiopia did same some years back. However, we need to have a new Policy aimed at beseeching with civil servants, contractors, consultants, foreign telecom companies and even the public at large to help out expose corruption and corrupt officials at the Ethiopian Telecom Corporation.

Secondly, there is no guarantee for whistle-blowers that there will be no act of vengeance for reporting criminal behaviors and/or for lending a hand to duly authorized audits or investigations or even to the so called “Anti Corruption Commission”, even though credibility gap between the Commission and ETC’s employees is unbridgeable in a near future. If the Commission wants to earn the trust of anti corruption activists, it has to undergo a comprehensive and intensive overhauling of its system. A mere change or replacement of a Commissioners does not suffice, as change of stoves does not sweeten or make a food tasty. The Commissioner rather should learn from what the Kenyan Anti Corruption Commissioner did recently.

Ethiopia did establish the so called “Anti Corruption Commission” (I guess at a ministerial level). This entity, however, always reports insignificant and laughable corrupt practice like the case of a medical doctor caught flagrantly taking 200 Birr (about 22 or 23 USD) as a bribe. I don’t mean such less than useless creatures should not be punished, if the story is true. I just want to say the so called “Anti Corruption Commission” is not focusing on millions of dollars being embezzled at the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation.

The so called CEOs of the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation is notorious for punishing staff in many boorish ways -- like thwarting promotion, transfer to thorny duty stations or finding excuses for early retirement. The Commission has not even once successfully defended corruption whistle blowers.

On another serious note, the human resource department has not so far activated any devise to make stronger the appeals and staff protection modus operandi when whistles start blowing. At present, the Human Resource Department (HRD) guys of ETC are literally domestic staffs of the CEO. Consequently, ETC has not introduced an internal equitable system to endow the staff with job security through career contracts.

A new office under the name ‘Ethics and Anti Corruption Office” has been set up, but it is a worthless additional bureaucracy that can’t make any anti corruption program effective. The so called “Anti Corruption Officer” is directly accountable to the CEO. He has first to report to the CEO any of his findings related to corruption. Besides, it is the CEO who evaluates his job performance. It is all ridiculous. It is all like entrusting milk to the custody of a cat. The so called Ethics Office should not by any means be accountable to the CEO. An office meant to act as a watch dog should not be under the control of the thief to be watched. The Ethics Officer’s promotion, salary increment etc should not be based on the recommendation of the CEO.

The so far freely spent (or thrown into the bush) over $2 Billion United States Dollars has been singled out by many ETC staff as a prime example of gross mismanagement and outrageous corrupt practice. The Ethiopian Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission found illicit, unethical and corrupt behaviour in all foreign purchases after the appointment of the current CEO of ETC. It is a puzzle for many that the Commission has not so far charged any one of them with corruption charges. Here I want to remind Your Excellency that even abuse of power is tantamount to corruption under the Anti Corruption Proclamation. I want to state here one undeniable fact that happened at the ETC and wish to appeal to your own sense of justice. The CEO of ETC on four different occasions signed contracts the amounts of which are three or four times higher than the bid offer of the supplier. What would Your Excellency say if a supplier wins a tender for $10 Million USD and yet the actual contract amount signed with this same supplier at the end of the day is $40 Million USD. I am quite positive you are very conversant with the specifics of the theory of economy of scale. If we issue a tender worth $40 Million USD instead of the $10 million USD, suppliers tend to dramatically reduce their unit price in their bid offer. If we buy equipment worth $40 million USD at a price quoted for a tender worth $10 Million USD, it is a clear case of corruption. It is at least an outrageous abuse of power. Abuse of power under the anti corruption legislation is deemed to be a punishable offence and a serious corrupt practice. Let me illustrate this with an example. If A wants to buy from B 5000 computers, the price for each computer could be 10000 Birr. But if A wants to buy from B Five hundred Thousands Computers, I assure you with a hundred and one percent precision that the price for each computer would be far lower than the 10000 Birr quoted by the supplier for a buyer who wants to buy only 5000 computers. It is here the theory of the economy of scale comes into play.

It is to be recalled the former Deputy CEO of ETC, who used to be the right arm of the CEO, had come under fire for mismanaging through direct abuse, fraud, waste and nepotism in doing out contracts, and lacking accountability and transparency in management. He mysteriously left Ethiopia. He is now residing in the USA with all the sudden fall of wealth (BONANZA) during his short-lived high position in the company.

The current policy and the de facto situation does not provide full assurance to staff members who are aware of corruption and fraud that their voices would be heard and that they would be protected from retribution.

It is regrettable ETC’s whistleblowers are not out of harm's way. There are too many untidy heaps that can easily expose honest employees to an exceptional menace and the system spins a honest anti corruption move into a trap against the whistle blower for there is no genuine political will on the part of the Government to fight and subsequently stamp out corruption. This is the only earthly reason that can be attributed to the fact that anti corruption activists are sent to jail repeatedly.

If Your Excellency wishes to receive valuable information regarding the corrupt practice at the ETC, I would be more than willing to work with you. I know it is a wishful thinking on my part, but I have to make the option available.

It would be, Sir, my pleasure to be able to cooperate with you on terms that you may wish so long as they are all genuinely designed to fight corruption.

The understanding to be reached between me and Your Excellency should be reliable and as soon as I receive your email (gce_etc@yahoo.com) , we should commence to fine-tune arrangements to jointly device a mechanism towards bringing this to fruition but in a manner that will not expose my identity. As we, in our group, belong to different groups, please feel free to write in Oromifa. Otherwise, English is one of the most wonderful international means of communication. It can excellently serve our purpose too.

Finally, I know the security or the intelligence unit is represented by one individual at the ETC’s Board of Directors. I am certain that what we are posting on the ethiomedia does not please him. We didn’t intend to do that either. We don’t have any intention of offending, pleasing or displeasing anyone. Our intention is to discharge our obligation as concerned citizens. The fact that Mr X or Y is implicated in a corruption probe should not enable that same individual to politicize the issue just to cover up his mess. I want to inform the Ethiopian “security” or “intelligence” unit that I am not in any way affiliated to any opposition political group. I know it is my birth right to be actively involved in politics. But, it is not my current choice. My choice at present is to fight corruption. It has come to my knowledge the CEO of ETC in cooperation with the Security have contacted the Internet Service Division (ISD) to identify who Ewnetu Tessema is. I have heard also that one or two unethical and greedy individuals in the ISD have gone out of their way and are secretly “trying” the impossible to track me down by my IP address. I despise you. I despise all those cheap individuals at the Internet Service Division for being positively disposed to criminalize freedom of _expression.

I am just one of the individuals in our group. I am not a serial killer or a terrorist to be hunted down. I know for sure ethiomedia is run by a group of professional journalists and/or academics with the highest moral standard and integrity. I rather advise the securities to verify the contents of my articles. I am more than willing to be crucified in public if you find any lie in all my articles I wrote so far about the corrupt practice and the corrupt officials of ETC. The ETC Board Chairman, Ato Getachew Belai, Knows this. The man from the Security in the Board, Ato Isayas, perfectly knows this. The entire Board Members, direct accomplice as they are, also know about the criminal group in the ETC. Last but not least, the entire employees of ETC also perfectly know about the criminal activities being committed everyday in the ETC. The most baffling problem we, anti corruption activists, are wrestling with every minute and every second is the fact that many high profile politicians, those close to the PM and most probably he himself are active members of this criminal group. It is like a MAFIA with a double face. I am quite certain that there comes a day when we will be rewarded in public and in a great ceremony for what we are doing today very secretly, under a very difficult circumstances and with great risk. In the worst case scenario, our name will go down in history as heroes and history will remember us for our heroic moves.

Best regards,

Ewnetu Tessema

CC: The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce -- Via Ethiomedia.com
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

The Labour Union of ETC -- Via Ethiomedia.com
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

To All Employees of ETC -- Via Ethiomedia.com
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* (I hope animal rights activists who know nothing about our “non motorized” transport system will not be offended. I wish to inform them when local people go to the market, their marketable gadgets are transported by themselves on foot or on the back of a donkey and a sluggish donkey gets whipped. The saying is better understood when viewed against this backdrop.)

The World Bank: A Partner for Good or A Fuel for Evil

2006-02-27T02:48:00.000-08:00

Dejen Radio & Ethiopian Commentator Editorial
November 28, 2005

Who is The World Bank’s Ethiopia representative, Isaac Diwan, trying to fool? We know with absolute certainty that he can never fool the Ethiopian people. He could sugar coat all he wants the destructive role he and the institution that he represents are playing in Ethiopia but no façade can mask their duplicity. Mr. Diwan may peddle evil for good, but we are not fooled.

First the façade. There is a technique all merchants in evil employ to hide their part in crime or their indifference to crime. And that technique is to come across as people of conscience whose heart goes out to the innocent civilians, the plight of the poor, and the mother of all façade, the plight of women, children and the elderly. If the tragedy happens to be massive political repression such as the situation in Ethiopia today, their popular line is the importance of democracy, rule of law, good governance, free press etc. The idea is to appear compassionate and principled in the midst of bank rolling dictatorship and the associated crimes not only against democracy but also against the very civilians, the poor, women, children, and the elderly they pretend to care. In such a mission of deception, the World Bank’s top dog in Ethiopia is not an exception.

In his recent interview with IRIN (Addis Ababa, 18 Nov 2005), Mr. Diwan tried to snow us with impunity. On the surface, the Moneyman’s viewpoint passes for considerate and compassion. And if we did not know the lifeline for the Meles regime, Mr. Diwan would have scored a home run with his deception. He would have gotten away with crocodile tears. But we Ethiopians know better. We know that the Stalinist dictatorship running supreme in Ethiopia today is courtesy, at the minimum, of the indifference by the World Bank and other institutions of the democratic West

In the IRIN interview, Mr. Diwan’s charade begins with the patented crocodile tears “…recent events are doubly painful, because of the loss of life…” That is not all. The moneyman in Addis Ababa had more charades in his bag. He also talked about “…great risks to the good development outcomes we have been seeing …” And when pressed to elaborate “what good development outcomes?” Mr. Diwan shamelessly peddled “…in the past two years, we have been seeing double-digit growth. We are seeing growth in agriculture and in the private sector. We have seen that past efforts in building roads are starting to give rise to dynamic small towns. We have seen a horticultural rose revolution. We are also seeing more efforts in new sectors like construction, tourism or the information and communication sector. There have been major gains in education and against malnutrition. The possibility that Ethiopia is turning the corner, getting on the path of long-term growth, is - or was - quite incredible…” That is not all folks. He is not finished. The moneyman had more tricks in his bag and more gimmicks in his lips. In the very same interview, he also told the world of the consequences of bad governance and how the deteriorating political climate in Ethiopia could “jeopardize growth…affect… the investment climate…” and how bad governance could result not only in the decline of growth “…but also stops being pro-poor…” You heard it folks. Incredible! The same old double-talk and the same old art of deception to hide the crime or to hide the indifference to crime not only against democracy but also against the Ethiopian people. If we did not know better, the good old money man would have snowed us into believing that he and his Bank have an ounce of humanity. But we Ethiopians have been around. Over three thousand years to be exact. We have seen it all, heard it all, and experienced it all. We Ethiopians may treat our guest like a king or a queen and our time-tested code of conduct may not dictate pleasure in shaming the pretender in the public square, our farewells are brutally honest. We may not chase our guests out of our home or confront them with their own humiliation, we do in fact make it plain at the hour of parting. In that, we Ethiopians are known to say a lot by simply washing off our sacred soil from the feet of those with bad intent or those without conscience. It would be a mistake for the likes of Mr. Diwan to take our great hospitality for weakness or our silence for ignorance. We know the reality of our country. In deed, it would be a mistake not to be aware of the sword behind the Ethiopian smile.

Mr. Diwan talks of his sorrow about the “loss of life” in Ethiopia. Could this really be true? In our view, it can never be. If in fact Mr. Diwan was sincere about the lose of life in Ethiopia, he would not have been selectively saddened by the “…recent events…of the loss of life…” If he was concerned about the loss of life in Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi did not start extinguishing the lives of Ethiopians only recently! Mr. Diwan and the World Bank that he represents were in Addis Ababa when the people of Awassa were mowed down en masse for expressing their grievances peacefully. Where was the World Bank when the European Union pressed the Meles regime for an “independent inquiry” into the massacre in Awassa? If the World bank had any concern for the loss of life in Ethiopia, it was not only Mr. Diwan who was present in Addis Ababa when the Anuak people of Ethiopia were mowed down to extinction but also the former President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn as well. And what did the latter have to say? The latter had nothing to say of the genocide but he had lavish words of praise to the perpetrator of the crime against humanity, Meles Zenawi. The former President of the World Bank said nothing of the genocide but he was eager to talk about the voodoo economics of Meles Zenawi “…My own opinion is that this government is now on an absolutely first rate path to growth…” If the World Bank had any concern about the loss of life in Ethiopia, the massacre of the students of Addis Ababa University did not take place far away from the its branch office in Addis Ababa. And yet, it is only today Mr. Diwan surfaced from his cocoon to shed crocodile tears about the recent event’s loss of life. In our view, be it Mr, Diwan or the Bank that he represents are now going public and pretending to be concerned about the loss of life in Ethiopia not because they give a damn of the genocides and the massive political repression in Ethiopia but because the situation in Ethiopia is no longer conduceive for the World Bank’s modus operandi- business as usual and in the dark. The Bank and its personnel are now going public with their pretension because the regime they praised as with “…an absolutely first rate path to growth…” is in fact a first rate not in economic growth and the development of democracy but in the mass murder of peaceful protesters. The Bank and its personnel are shading crocodile tears not because of the loss of life in Ethiopia but because their moral and financial support to one of the most grotesque regime in the continent of Africa if not in the world, has been brought before the court of not only the people of the world but also before the eyes of God.

The charade is not confined to “…recent events…of the loss of life…” Mr. Diwan and his former boss have tried to hoodwink us into believing that Ethiopia under Meles Zenawi is blessed with “first rate path to growth, ” which has resulted in “…in the past two years, we have been seeing double-digit growth. We are seeing growth in agriculture and in the private sector. We have seen that past efforts in building roads are starting to give rise to dynamic small towns. We have seen a horticultural rose revolution. We are also seeing more efforts in new sectors like construction, tourism or the information and communication sector. There have been major gains in education and against malnutrition. The possibility that Ethiopia is turning the corner, getting on the path of long-term growth, is - or was - quite incredible…” We wish what Mr. Diwan and his former boss Dr. James Wolfensohn, said were true. But we know better. We know that Ethiopia has not seen “a horticultural rose revolution” but the duplicity of Yara Foundation in marketing the phantom reality of “Green Revolution.” How could there be “a horticultural rose revolution” when the farmers of Ethiopia are relegated to landless serfs and as such subjected to what the UN’s Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (EUE) calls collective punishment of the farmers by the Meles regime (http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30663&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ETHIOPIA), and the agricultural policy is set by a headless Stalinist thug who in the past thirty two years has murdered about a million Ethiopians? And how could a regime, which holds the poor hostage to Yara’s fertilizer, be “pro poor?” We would like to alert Mr. Diwan and the Bank that he represents to what they already know but they selectively forget. It is not without reason that the EUE is condemning the Meles regime for the “collective punishment” against the poor. It is not without reason that the UNECA in its annual Economic Report on Africa, said land ownership should form the cornerstone of any agriculture-led development plan in Ethiopia, and that “land tenure and governance are among the most pressing areas requiring institutional reforms in Ethiopia." Mr. Diwan may waste his time manufacturing a smoke screen to justify his support for one of the most crazy dictator in the world, but the economic reality in Ethiopia testify not to “turning the corner” with “first rate path to growth” but to the absence of freedom and the rule of democratic law, both of which are globally known as the first rate prerequisite for development.

Incidentally, Mr. Diwan does not have any evidence for his claim of economic “turning the corner” in Ethiopia. The best he has to offer is similar to his “recent events…loss of life…” crocodile tears. All that “first rate growth path” and “turning the corner” snake oil has nothing to show for but a claim about what has taken place “in the past two years.” And what does Mr. Diwan and the World Bank have to say for the twelve of the fourteen years that Meles Zenawi has been ruining not only the economy of Ethiopia but also the lives and freedom of the Ethiopian people? Even if we were to believe the sham and shame nonsense of “the past two years,” the money man of the World Bank should have known that two out of fourteen data points do not represent a legitimate statistical trend. Claiming outliers or aberrations for a trend is not only Stalinist voodoo economics courtesy of Meles Zenawi but also the World Bank’s collusion in covering up a total failure in Ethiopia.

The World Bank’s top representative to Ethiopia did also talk of “major gains in education and against malnutrition” in Ethiopia. Here too, we know better. The “major gains in education” in Ethiopia the World Bank’s top dog touts is in conflict with what the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had to say. According to the IOM, “Ethiopia loses the most qualified professionals of all African countries.” Mr. Diwan’s rosy assessment of the educational achievement is further in conflict with the US Congressman Jim Kolbe testimony. The Congressman said “…brain drain from Ethiopia had robbed the country of much of its talent…the best brains and best entrepreneurs of a country like this end up coming to the United States and thus rob the people of Ethiopia of their talents…" And the reason for the brain drain in Ethiopia? According to Kibre Moges from the Ethiopian Economic Association, a leading think-tank in Ethiopia “…the main reason people go is politics…Across Africa…the main reason people go is political, the lack of development, democratization and human rights...” What good does it do, should we ask Mr. Diwan, to boast of major gain in education of children when we know for a fact that those already educated are being hunted to extinction by a run away Stalinist thug? What is the meaning of major gains in education of children when what awaits them as adults is joblessness, political repression on a massive scale, and eventually disposal as “bozene” by a Stalinist thug with pure contempt and hatred for those with education? We would like to alert the money man from the World Bank that in the Court of Meles Zenawi, the mission of education is not to produce a thinking population but to create the “new” man with Stalinist robotics. Meles Zenawi may tout education in order to have access to the resources of the World Bank but his deep-seated fear of intellectuals and scholars is well documented. As to Mr. Diwan’s remark of “major gains against malnutrition,” the realities on the ground are that there are ten to fifteen million Ethiopians without food this year. What is truly sad is that such a reality has been the case for the past fourteen years. And yet, the World Bank is telling us of “first rate path for growth” and “turning the corner” using indefensible statistical outliers.

Finally, let us look now at the mother of all charade peddled by Mr, Diwan. In the IRIN interview, he testified about the consequences of bad governance and how the deteriorating political climate in Ethiopia could “jeopardize growth…affect… the investment climate…” and how bad governance could result not only in the decline of growth “…but also stops being pro-poor…” Is Mr. Diwan trying to tell us that the bad governance of the Meles regime is a function of the violence since the hijacked election? Is he trying to tell us that there was good governance before the election but that since then it is deteriorating into bad governance? If the latter is the case, he is once again knowingly mistaken. May be he has forgotton the UNECA Report of 13 October 2004 (http://www.uneca.org/agr/), which in the words of the Reporter Magazine “The government of Ethiopia's failure to live up to its promises and commitment is again making the rounds…Despite all the rhetoric by officials and the drummed up propaganda, the ECA's governance report showed the government failing to equate with the sample average of 28 other African countries, in fact lagging so far behind that it is one of the three at the bottom of the pile. ..” Quoting the same report the UN’s Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported (http://www.irinnews.org/print.asp?ReportID=43642) that “…Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya and Swaziland are lagging in good governance…The four countries fell short in areas like corruption, political representation, economic management and respect of human rights…in Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad, Zimbabwe and Malawi, there are doubts about the commitment of government agencies to respect and implement the rule of law…" . As can be seen on the table below, “Ethiopia's overall performance with respect to good governance is dismal. In spite of the commitment to democracy and good governance expressed by the Stalinist thug, Meles Zenawi, the UNECA Report rated the governance in Ethiopia well below the group average…” In other words, the Meles regime is not with a “policy with a first rate path to growth” or one turning Ethiopia for the better but ruining Ethiopia into disrepair. Clearly, the ratings by the UNECA do not show a promising future for Ethiopia under Meles. Let alone for the Meles regime to turn the development and democratic woes in Ethiopia around, as an Albanian inspired thug, he cannot even rescue his own banishment into the dustbin of history. Let’s not deceive ourselves. The figures above clearly tell the whole reality. The “first rate growth path” which would “turn the corner around” is not the preservation of the Meles regime but its replacement.

We have advice to Mr. Diwan and the World Bank that he represents. Our advice is an obvious one. Not a rocket science but a simple common sense. We advise the World Bank to be governed by one standard. Follow the same rule of law, legal frame work, accountability, democracy, justice, ethics and moral code which has propelled the West into economic miracles in its dealings in Ethiopia. The World Bank must take note that the “first rate path to growth” is freedom from the shackles of tyranny. The reason for the economic miracle in the West, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and South Korea is nothing else but the ordination of freethinking with democratic law. And we know the reason why the Socialist East collapsed. No freedom, no development! Mr. Diwan and the World Bank may want to kid themselves into believeing that the Stalinist relic in Ethiopia is of different “breed,” but there can be no dispute that, just as in Stalin times, Ethiopians are being mowed down by the thousands, thrown into concentration camps, condmned to long prison terms without due process of law, and the educated are either being hang by kangaroo courts or forced in to exile.

We urge the World Bank and its personnel to open up their eyes. Meles Zenawi is ruling by apartheid. Compartmentalization not by the color of the skin but by language and ethnicity. Just as apartheid in South Africa, Ethiopians are being forced to carry a “Pass Card” to travel and live within their country. Article 39 of Meles’s constitution is not about embracing differences but about magnifying differences. It is not about appealing to the best of people but to their worst instinct. It is about divide and rule. And we know the products of the latter; we have learned it from the cataclysm in Rwanda. Meles Zenawi has already talked about Intrahamwee. He has labeled the opposition political parties as Intrahamwee and he has subjected them and their followers to the very intrahamwee justice he is accusing the opposition. It would be unforgivable not only in the court of global justice but also in the Court of God if we fool ourselves with talks of “first rate growth path” or “turning the corner around” nonsense when in fact the first rate growth path and turning the corner around so touted by Mr. Diwan and the World Bank is doing nothing but serve as fuel for a cataclysmic apocalypse in Ethiopia.

May be we can argue about whether or not two out of fourteen data points represent a trend or a statistical outlier. May be the World Bank does not understand the inhumanity behind Article 39. May be, despite the fact that Meles Zenawi has been the Founder and General Secretary of the Marxist Leninist League of Tigray (MLLT) for the past thirty two years, and may be, despite the fact that the MLLT has been and is the main Godless evil and power broker behind the TPLF/EPRDF or behind the current Stalinist onslaught upon the Ethiopian people, it is beyond the World Bank’s grasp to understand the evil nature of Meles Zenawi. But there can be no excuse for not knowing as to who is responsible for the imprisonment of the leaders and followers of the opposition political parties. Mr. Diwan and the World Bank cannot pretend as though duly elected political leaders and their supporters are not being gun down, tortured and condemned to malaria-infested concentration camps. The World Bank and its personnel cannot be oblivious to the fact that political leaders who can muster millions of Ethiopians to Masquel Square, and leaders elected by tens of millions of Ethiopians are imprisoned without the right to habeas corpus. It is time for the World Bank to open its eyes and see the horrendous crime against democracy in Ethiopia. We demand of the World Bank with the utmost urgency to take note of the crucifixion of democracy with a Stalinist sword in Ethiopia. It is time for the end of double standard. It is time for straight talk. It is time to do the right thing. It is time to call not only for real democracy in Ethiopia but also for the prosecution of Meles Zenawi for crimes against the Ethiopian people, and democracy. We call upon the World Bank and other democratic institutions of the West to play by the same standards played in their home turf. Ethiopians are not asking for charity. But the same standard of accountability practiced in the home front of the West. It is time for those who should know better to serve as partners in good and not as a fuel for evil in Ethiopia.

FM Seyoum Mesfin: The Filth behind the Façade!

2006-02-27T02:46:00.000-08:00

ETHIOPIAN COMMENTATOR Editorial

May 07, 2003

There can be no question that next to Sadam Hussein’s Foreign Minister, Tarik Aziz of Iraq, Meles Zenawi’s Foreign Minister, Seyoum Mesfin is the most unfortunate, disgraceful and a grotesque criminal alive today. Phenotypically, he is handsome, well dressed and with an aura of regal anchored on a semblance of solidity. But unmask the façade, or better said, simply watch him disembowel himself, and one is left with a man totally empty, a shell, phony, born liar, and an opportunist extraordinaire rigged to the core with credentials of filth and evil! Such that he is and he has been for the past twenty-nine years, we have come to learn thanks to the split in the TPLF leadership, which in effect resolved the filthy rotten from the naïvely pure. The split having lifted the curtain, with the façade gone forever, we have come to learn that indeed looks can be deceiving! It is now crystal clear that the thugs currently humiliating not only themselves but also our country have been all along not only a fraud but also hired killers. The Hague treason is just the icing on the cake!

Never mind of the mother of all lies of April 13, 2002. Seyoum Mesfin has lived not by honesty, honor and valor but by lies, deceit, treason and surrender. He did not earn the title of Eba (cattle dung) or Bihuk/lit (dough) from his peers in the TPLF for nothing! Until the split, we, Ethiopians have not had anything beyond the façade. We did not know about the dung and dough that make up the content of Seyoum. But truth may be slow incoming, it sure has its way of coming out. That it can never be suppressed and hidden, we need no further proof. Simply look at Seyoum and the rest of the gang in the "Palace Group." Look at them! Look at them burn in the hell of their sin! Look the payback of treason, deceit and murder! Look at the justice of truth in the works! Look at the murderers, rapists, liars, cheats and treasonous "empty kettles" disintegrate into ghosts, so light and grotesque they are offensive to the eye as they are repulsive to the mind!

Indeed, truth is dispassionately just, and merciless against those who live by lies and deceit, and treason and murder! Thanks to the split in the TPLF and April 13, 2003, we have witnessed truth in action; we have witnessed truth speak: we have witnessed a man self-decompose, burn into ashes in his own sin! On that fateful day of April 13, Seyoum Mesfin, looked into the eye of the Ethiopian people, he looked into the eyes of those fathers and mothers of our martyrs who fell defending the territorial integrity and honor of our country, looked into the eyes of our religious leaders, looked into the eyes of our learned men and women, looked into the eyes of our armed forces, and looked into the eyes of our students and lied the mother of all lies! That, he is a born liar unfit in any shape or form to let alone the office of the Foreign Ministry but to any office in Ethiopia, is abundantly clear. That, this good looking and handsomely dressed gigolo is a liar to the core, condemned to survive by peddling lies to his boss (another quintessentially, incurable liar) has become as obvious as coffee is to Ethiopians!

For the sake of history, posterity and so that it never fades away from the forefront of our thoughts and priorities, Seyoum Mesfin has lied to the Ethiopian people of having smothered Shaibia (his indirect boss) in the Courts of The Hague knowing full well that he had in fact betrayed Ethiopia, and knowing full well that he has done everything including hiring the most ill-informed foreign lawyers as though Ethiopia did not have the legal experts and scholars who could make her proud, and knowing full well that he has sentenced Mother Ethiopia to the Guillotine by withholding the oceans of evidence at Ethiopia’s disposal not only to prevail over the colonial treaties but also over the entire Eritrea! In deed, he lied the mother of all lies and he went further!

Who could forget his call for national carnival? We can never forget his call to Ethiopians to come out with drums, embilta, masinko, tsenatsil and krar to celebrate the victory at The Hague, knowing full well that he along with Meles Zenawi, Sibhat Nega, Birhane Ghebrechristos, Addisu Legesse and Samora Yenus have secured the demise of Ethiopia’s case at the hour when they chose to betray our armed forces and stopped them from marching unopposed into Asmara thereby ensuring the survival of Shaibia to slaughter Mother Ethiopia not at the battle field but at the table of their conspiracy! In deed he has lied and he did so not only to the living Ethiopians but to those martyred for the cause of national honor and the integrity of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity, and martyred too for democracy and justice knowing full well that the "Palace Group" of which he is the honorary liar extraordinaire had betrayed Ethiopia since he published the manifesto for the independence of Tigray in Sudan some twenty nine years ago! It is not with out good reason that the Ethiopian people have equated the Meles gang with Channel 2 Africa; they are indeed the most immoral, unethical, and savagely corrupt, as they are filthy to the core, and repugnant to sensibility of adults as they are toxic to the minds of the young!

But what every Ethiopian must know about Seyoum and his company of disgrace is not only about the lies, treason and murder! They are not only corrupt vagabonds with insatiable appetite for crime and the spoils of theft; they are sadist killers devoid of any respect and compassion for people, lawless outlaws without any notion of what justice and the rule of law mean, and mercenaries without an umbilical chord to God and country, ready, and willing to sell not only the country of their birth but these are mindless thugs who would never hesitate to sell their mother to quench their savage passion for money, power and physical and psychological gratification! Fellow Ethiopians, Seyoum et al, people they are not! They are not like the rest of us! These are the residue of the earth, so wretched and wicked, born they were not from the womb of Mother Ethiopia! They are devils endowed with the worst attributes possible. Such that they are we know now thanks to the split in the TPLF, which set off the floodgate, thanks to these vagabonds themselves, thanks to Shaebia, and thanks too to the Judges of The Hague for releasing the transcripts of the Court! Indeed truth has a way of coming out!

Do not think for a minute lying is Seyoum’s specialty. FM Seyoum Mesfin is not only distinguished by being a prominent liar. He is not only distinguished as the man who along with Meles and Birhane Ghebrechristos sold Ethiopia’s vital interests at the London talks. He is not only known for his diabolical role during the war against the disciples of Mussolini. And he along with Sibhat Nega, and Meles Zenawi, is not only well known for the murder and destruction of so many lives through out his career in the death camps and morgues of TPLF. What Seyoum Mesfin is most famous is what he did to the mother of his son, and to his four-year son! Bigger than his lying is the devil behind the smile and the three-piece suit, which he adorns to garner some façade of substance and respectability. Truth is always triumphant so says the old wisdom. With the curtain which had hidden the true make up of the TPLF leadership no longer closed, the rancid and putrid nature of the "Palace Group" of which Seyoum Mesfin is king of lies, deceit, treason and murder has become obvious.

The disregard for constitution and laws by Seyoum and company is not new. The trampling of the Constitution of the TPLF in 2001 was not their first. The trampling over the Ethiopian Constitution is not their first! Seyoum and company have been, from the very onset of the armed struggle, lawless governed by the law of the mafia (for a lack of a better word). They are even worst than the mafia; at least members of the mafia have respect for their spouse and solid rock patriotism to their country! Seyoum and company are unlike anyone; they live for nothing worthwhile but for their belly, sexual urges and a warm bathroom to empty their contents! We may hear them repeat terms and phrases of peaceful co-existence, international law, constitution, and self-determination but the cold reality is that these thugs are the scum of the earth incapable of understanding what these sublime terms and phrases mean and what they represent let alone for these mindless misfits to practice them! Let alone for these soulless hominoids to practice what is right and legal country wide, they have proved helpless practicing them within their family!

Seyoum Mesfin is on his third wife and counting. That is, excluding those in the brothels of Alexandria, Virginia, London and now Brussels courtesy of his other pervert extraordinaire and former ambassador to Washington, Birhane Ghebrechristos. No need to say much of the latter; Ethiopians in Washington, D.C. have already told it. Suffice it say that Birhane had even turned the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, D.C. into a playground for his insatiable appetite and pathological urge of sexual addiction! Like father like son, Birhane has changed wives too of whom the last one was reportedly brutally assaulted requiring major hospitalization before she had to flee for her life! The same is true of Meles Zenawi, Sibhat Nega, Samora Yenus, Tewodros Hagos and Arkebe Oukbay. The latter two along with Tekleweyni Assefa have even gone further and reportedly gang-raped Irish and Australian aid workers! Ethiopians must not be surprised when the "Palace Group" betrays everything that is Ethiopian. They cannot help it. They are innately condemned to live by crime and shame!

Finally, there can be no question that the split in the TPLF leadership has become an informational bonanza to Ethiopians. This is specially so for Tigrayans who from the very inception of the TPLF suspected of devils within the TPLF but have not had the smoking gun to prove it. To the credit of Meles Zenawi, he has provided that smoking gun when he opened up that Pandora’s box starring no other than himself supported with the cast of those in his "Palace Group." Thanks to Bonapartism and Tihadso, Ethiopians and especially so Tigrayans have come to learn in detail of the who is who, and the who did what of those in the leadership of the TPLF. And among the many discoveries and lessons unearthed includes the twenty-eight years long chains of capital crime committed by the "Palace group." It would be beyond the scope of this editorial to spell out the magnitude and depth of the crime committed by Seyoum and company but there is one, which every Ethiopians must know, and one, which vividly tells the content of Seyoum Mesfin.

As mentioned above, it is not their first for Seyoum and company to put out a constitution and to be the first to trample it. In the early years of the TPLF, Seyoum Mesfin authored a TPLF constitution and had it endorsed by Meles Zenawi, Sibhat Nega, and Abay Tsehaye. Among many things, this constitution made it a capital crime punishable by a firing squad for any fighter of the TPLF to engage in sexual encounter with his/her lover! In effect, the TPLF Constitution that Seyoum wrote and drove to implementation, outlawed love itself! And because of this law that Seyoum developed, many fighters of the TPLF lost their lives for engaging in what is the natural consummation of consenting adults in love for one another! Then Seyoum Mesfin long known not for bravery in the battlefield but for his animalistic passion for physical indulgence and as the architect of the Constitution, which outlawed sex, committed one of the most heinous, and cruel crimes not only to the mother of his son he assaulted into pregnancy but also to his four year old, to his blood and flesh son!

Her name was Gebri-ala. She was from Adwa but at the time of her fate of doom, she was a dedicated volunteer working around the clock at the office of the TPLF in Khartoum. It was also from this very office in which Gebri-ela worked that Seyoum Mesfin conducted the foreign relations function of the TPLF. So far no issue but then comes the horror. Hormone wired Seyoum, could not control his urge. Let alone the ideological jumbo-mumbo of the TPLF on women’s right could restraint him from committing the most heinous crime, even the thought of a firing squad from the TPLF failed to stop him! And so he went ahead and unleashed his savage inhumanity on this young woman. In violation of the most draconian law against sex that Seyoum wrote and implemented within the TPLF, he not only had sexual encounter with Gebri-ala but he committed sexual assault on her! Thanks to the split in the TPLF leadership, we have come to know that unable to control his urges and despite the death by a firing squad a sexual encounter would entail according TPLF rule that he wrote, the man who claimed to "struggle" for the right and dignity of people forced himself upon Gebri-ela and made her pregnant! But it was not the violation of the constitution he authored and the savage assault on a young Gebri-ela that is the worst part of the crime. The most evil and devilish part of his crime was what he did to Gebri-ela in trying to hide his crime against her, and against the constitution of the TPLF.

Worried that the TPLF would find out about his crime, he threw out Gebri-ela from the TPLF office knowing full well that she was penniless, had no where to go and knowing full well that she was about to give birth to his child! But homelessness, pennilessness and hunger were not the only scourge Gebri-ela had to endure. She had to endure Seyoum’s hounding and constant intimidation through his thugs so that she never is seen around Tigrayans and other Ethiopians. Homeless, hungry and isolated from her Ethiopian brothers and sisters, she gave birth alone and without the maternal support and care she needed and deserved! After the birth of her child, still hungry and with a baby, she struggled to survive until her son was about four, and then could no longer cop with the miseries of life courtesy of Seyoum Mesfin; she died leaving the four year old child behind and with no one to look after and care for him! And the tragedy does not end here.

The child now without a mother, and a father he did not know that he had, was left to the streets of Khartoum. Those who have a first hand knowledge of this tragedy recall when the child roamed from one home to another looking for his mother! They recall when the child would cry all the time pleading with strangers to take him to his mother, and pleading too for food and water! What is even more tragic of all is that Seyoum knew all along of his homeless son shedding tears of terror, grief, loss and hopelessness in the rough streets of Khartoum! Seyoum knew of his hungry son not only for the mother that he had lost but also for the nourishment, love and protection that the child did not have! Not only Seyoum knew the state of his son in the streets of Khartoum but he could see it with his own two eyes! But as a man without conscience, he chose his life over that of his young child! Instead of facing the will of that constitution he wrote against sex and coming through for his son, he chose to sacrifice his son!

But truth has its way of coming out. And the notion of the Guardian Angel must be true. Despite Seyoum’s attempt to hide the truth of what he had done, word quickly got out to the Tigrayan community in Khartoum that the homeless child who endlessly cried for his mother was Seyoum’s son! Horrified by the news and by the monstrosity of Seyoum Mesfin, and afraid as to what Seyoum may do to the members of the community who may consider taking the child to their home, people looked for alternatives to save the child. Thank goodness, this good earth of God has people of conscience too! It is comforting to know that the world is not inhabited by those heartless devils of the Seyoum variety. Without going into the background of the child, and by pretending not to have knowledge of the Seyoum connection to the child by simply saying the child belonged to a woman from Tigray, the members of the Tigrayan community pleaded with personnel in the office of the TPLF to take in the child and place him in sifra segenat (an orphanage run by the TPLF). Thanks to these people of conscience in the Tigrayan community and the other TPLF fighters in the office of the TPLF, Seyoum’s son was saved. Thanks to these compassionate people, Seyoum’s son was rescued and allowed to grow the grown-up man he has become now!

There is an Ethiopian wisdom, it may even be biblical, and that says that the human blood is sacred endowed with Godly powers. And according to this wisdom we learn that those who spill it are condemned to an inescapable fate of justice equal in magnitude to that which they committed. Meles, Sibhat Nega and Seyoum Mesfin have spilled an ocean of blood! Not of tens of thousands but of hundreds of thousands if not of millions of Ethiopians. And Gebri-ala is one of those millions! There is no question that Seyoum’s son who is now a grown up man in Addis Ababa will, sooner or later, ask questions of his mother. And if he does not hear it from his delinquent father, those who rescued him from the streets of Khartoum will certainly tell him. But until then let us simply watch the sacred blood wrongly and unjustly spilled speak with its Godly powers. Let us simply watch Seyoum melt like a candle! Let us simply watch the good old proverb become alive right in front of our eye that he who lived by the sword dies by the sword! The mother of all lies of April 13, 2002 is just the beginning. It is the tip of the iceberg. The Godly power of the human blood spilled has thus far brought the curtain down. And look how much we have come to learn. And more is on the way; Ethiopia will see more of God’s justice, for we know now when it comes to Seyoum and company, there is more sin and filth behind the façade!

TPLF: it's a family affair

2006-02-27T02:44:00.000-08:00

(Indian Ocean megazine 01/05/01 ETHIOPIA)

The crisis within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF, which holds key roles in the ruling EPRDF in Addis Ababa) has revealed several strong family ties between several of its leaders, notably among backers of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Sebhat Nega was able to re-integrate Tsegaye Berhe, who backed the dissidents within the TPLF's central committee at the beginning of the crisis, into the group of those who remained loyal to Zenawi with ease - because he is his brother-in-law… Kidusan Nega, Sebhat Nega's sister, also happens to be married to Tsegaye Berhe. Strong family ties also link another group of backers of the Prime Minister within the TPLF's central committee : Addis Alem Balema, the former Ethiopian ambassador to China, is married to the sister of Arkebe Iqubai, the new leader of the consortium of Tigrayan companies, EFFORT, where he took over from ousted dissident Seye Abraha. Arkebe's wife is also none other than the sister of Berhane Gebre Kristos, Ethiopia's erstwhile ambassador to the United States, who is now in the running for a ministerial post back home. Tirfu Kidane Mariam, a member of the central committee of the TPLF and a backer of the Prime Minister's faction within the party is married to Abay Woldu, another TPLF central committee member, named at the head of the party's propaganda committee as a replacement for Gebre Meskel Hailu, another dissident. Meanwhile, the chief of staff of the armed forces, Tsadkan Gebre Tensay, is united in matrimony to one of the female members of Sebhat Nega's family.

The crisis has also served to strain close relations between TPLF leaders. This is the case of Alemseged Gebre Amlak (one of the leading dissidents) and Mulugeta Alemseged (partisan to Zenawi). The two also happen to be related. Mulugeta's brother Afeworki was among the leadership in the previous Ethiopian government and was killed by a TPLF agent at the Thika refugee camp near Nairobi, Kenya, in 1994.

MELES CHARTING THE PATH OF THE TPLF TO ERITREANIZATION

2006-02-27T01:38:00.000-08:00

By: A. Mulat, London, UK"

[An old article by the now non-functional Ethiopiancommentator.com, it is revealing of how the Meles's gang plunders Ethiopia.]

In the actions of all men, and especially of Princes, where there is no court of appeal, the end justifies the means". Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince; 1505.

No other book on political conspiracy fits with the political maneuver of Meles as "The Prince" of Nicccolo Machiavelli (an Italian political writer, diplomat and military strategist) written as an advice to Princes who want to cling to power by might and deception. For both Machiavelli and Meles the actions taken to achieve a certain goal are justified as long as you achieve the goal. The action, as witnessed in our recent past, includes extra judicial killing (like the death of dozens of university students and youngsters), breaching of civil liberties and constitutional laws, arbitrary arrests, etc., the list can go on; and in Machiavellian or Meles-ian politics (I think they are synonymous), such wicked acts are considered to be just as long as you are eventually the winner.

The current Prince of Ethiopia is Meles Zenawi and his Machiavelli is Sibhat Nega. The Medici family of Florence were not impressed by "The Prince"; but Meles would even have stripped Sibhat off his cloak and gave it to Machiavelli. It is not my intention to provide analysis on the similarities between Machiavellian and Melesian politics in this article, just to give the reader some perspective ala Meles style; so back to the main theme: Eritreanization of the TPLF by Meles.

The people of Tigray, under the current Meles regime, are more enslaved than the Jews during the days of the Pharaohs, more maltreated than black South Africans during the days of apartheid; and are enduring every kind of barrenness. Against their will, they are made to sign a petition for the "recall" of their representatives. Against their will, 100% Eritreans were elected to represent them. For example, take the case of Tewodros Hagos. He was "elected" for the regional parliament in Mekelle against the will of the people. There was an open refusal from the supposedly his constituency and, as usual, the cadres were holding several meetings with the people to "convince" them that he will protect their interest. Despite of all of their attempts, the people refused and it is said that the people were saying, "we will shove away any one who is holding a shovel sign" (because Tewodros had a shovel symbol while running for election). And the result? You guessed it! He was elected as one of the representatives of the people of Tigray. What a mockery!

The case of Bereket Simon is similar. 100% Eritrean representing Amharas; and holding the second most senior position in the EPRDF. He will determine the political future of Ethiopia. Can you imagine Israel having half Palestinian as its Prime Minister and full Palestinian as the chief party ideologue of the ruling party of Israel? That is what Meles and Bereket Simon are to Ethiopia. Can you imagine a former Israeli MOSAD member becoming the foreign affairs chief of staff of Palestine? That is what Yemane Kidane (alias Jamaica) is to Ethiopia: former Shaebia fighter and now chief of staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and Commissioner of the Border demarcation to UNMEE on behalf of Ethiopia! Can't you, especially the cadres and the military, see how Ethiopian politics and Ethiopia is at great risk of peril?

What about Dr. Solomon Enqui; the cousin of both Esayas Afewerki and Yemane Kidane? Similar story! And interestingly, the uncle of Dr. Solomon was fighting siding with the Italians in Libya. How does that sound Dr.? Any relation or resemblance with your current role?

We also heard that you and the messenger of death Tekleweyn Asefa are organizing a conference for the "normalization" the people of Ethiopia with Eritrea under the facade of REST. The blood of the 123,000 young sons and daughters of Ethiopia who lost their lives defending their country from Eritrean aggression meant nothing to you. Does it? The mothers of Ayder School children are still crying. How dare you do this to the people of Ethiopia? How dare you throw filth to the fresh blood of our martyrs? What is going on folks? Wake up cadres and stop your non-stop "yes" to Meles and his death squads and start saying NO to Eritrean colonialism.

By the way, Meles did not pay tribute to Ayder Children. He has traveled to Tigray several times; but he did not care, and never went to Ayder, not even once. Dr. Negasu Gidada did, but Meles didn't. Does he care any way? After reading this I will not be surprised if his surrogates cut and paste footages to show us some video with Meles visiting Ayder and tell us Gebru's speech was actually Meles's. We are used to media cheating and Meles' conniving style of propaganda.

TPLF cadres! You have gone so low and you are enslaved to Meles. The people are reading you clear and loud. These days, many people living in many parts of urban Ethiopia have nicknamed the yes-men cadres of Meles, who are supporting his illegal and unconstitutional actions, "Lehiwotih Waga Sitt" ("value your life" like what is advertised for the promotion of condoms in Ethiopia). Indeed. You have compromised the constitution of the TPLF in order to get a friendly gesture from Meles. You are scared to death of the coercion of Meles and co. and you are saying YES for everything to satisfy the whims of Meles. You allowed and still allowing him to break the rules in order to make him the winner. The least you can do was (and you still can redress your mistakes) to make the game fair, decent and abiding by the rules. The constitution of the TPLF was breached in the name of saving the TPLF. The mandate of the Audit Commission was, among others, to serve as a conflict resolution instrument of the organization during the times of crisis. Why can't you challenge Meles while he single handedly disbanded the Audit Commission in the name of "saving the TPLF"? As one previous writer stated it, the worst enemy the TPLF and the people of Ethiopia ever had is Meles, and TPLF needs to be saved from this barbarous ruler whose rule stinks.

Meles was doing the groundwork for the recent coup at least a year before the assassination of General Hayelom Araya by an Eritrean assassin. Hayelom's death was not accidental; and definitely the assassin was not stoned, as some of the cadres want us to believe. I will not dwell on the events that lead to the death of the late General. However, what happened before his assassination is interesting. His most trusted guard, named Dawit, was killed by one of the guards of Meles at the Palace where Meles lives. The assassin was then rewarded for his "bravery" and was sent to the US to work at the Ethiopian Embassy. While in the US, he went to Texas for his personal purpose and a Spanish gangster killed him there. Do you think this is a coincidence?

How many times are we going to be fooled by coincidences? I have no doubt that Dawit was killed upon the order of the notorious Eritrean Samuel, who is the personal security chief of Meles. It is said that he has more authority than any official working in the Prime Minister's office; including those having a ministerial portfolio. Samuel is 100% Eritrean, trained by the EPLF as a special commando, and hand picked by Esayas to protect Meles. Why should Meles have an Eritrean as the chief of security of the Palace? Coincidence? You can have your own judgement.

There were also two attempts to assassinate Siye Abriha, one before and the other after the death of Hayelom. How about this? A well thought Eritrean ploy planned by Esayas and executed by his stooge Meles or a mere coincidence?

Let me tell you another distressing story. When the war started, the Ethiopian Government through the active leadership of the Guardian-12, started expelling EPLF members, and other Eritreans who were considered to be a security threat to Ethiopia. There was a desk at the National Security Office responsible for identifying who should and should not be expelled based on available information. The desk had full information about who participated in the referendum, list of people trained at Sawa, shoddy businesses of the EPLF in Ethiopia, etc.; and all kinds of intelligence reports pertaining to Eritrea were filed at this particular desk. Surprisingly, the head of the Eritrea desk was found shot dead in his office; his office was ransacked and most of the sensitive information was missing. Then, all of us know what happened after that. A significant number of the real Shaebians were left untouched in Ethiopia, and petty traders, who are not a security threat as such, were expelled. Meles and Kinfe strategically positioned the most corrupt and pro-Eritrean cadre named Getachew to make sure that the real Shaebians are not expelled. He now owns a muti-story building in Addis Ababa. By the way, Getachew was sent to the US for a study as a reward and recently went back to Addis Ababa when the G-12 were suspended in order to organize the security by loyal pro-Eritreans and Eritreans.

That is not all. Immediately after the suspending of the G-12, several Eritreans in Addis Ababa were given their jobs back with two years retroactive payment of their salary! Do you want a proof for this? Ask any one in Addis Ababa and they will tell you including the pompous remarks of the Eritreans when they were given back their job. Wake up men! You are enslaved and start cutting off the chains of slavery. What is Meles up to? What does he want out of Ethiopia? The recent meeting between Meles and Esayas in Saudi Arabia might have changed the border agreements a bit, and they might have discussed about the future of Ethiopia (this is my speculation). But, I would be surprised if we do not see variations on the content of the border-related agreements through time. Just watch carefully, and we will see. In the very near future, Meles and co. would bably make their way to Swiss leaving a bloody Ethiopia behind. They are making the necessary groundwork to ensure that they have adequate financial resources outside of Ethiopia.

The financial maneuvers of Meles/Sibhat and co. are mainly made from London. I also happen to live in London; and as an ex-supporter of the TPLF I had the opportunity to follow what they were doing over the last four years. The eldest son of Sibhat's sister was trained in the UK as a chartered accountant and Sibhat paid his full time tuition from the resources of the TPLF. After completing his studies, he became the manager of Tower Trading Company (TTC). The TTC is an UK based TPLF owned company and is responsible for money laundering of the Meles Sibhat duet. Sibhat is the head of finance of the TPLF and EPRDF; his nephews is the manager of the TTC, and tell me that this is a coincidence and they are not up to something which is nasty. Then you are up for a rude wake-up. My plea to the military and some of the judicious cadres? Please open your eyes and start saying NO to injustice. Say NO to the strangulation of Ethiopia by Meles/Sibhat and co. Say NO to work for the interests of alien country-Eritrea. Say enough is enough to Meles and start healing the wounds of your people. The unholy alliance of Eritreans in power in Ethiopia is not a mere happenstance

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ETHIOPIA AFTER MELES

2006-02-24T09:58:00.000-08:00

“THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION”

Just before the May 2005 elections, the Woyane rule seemed invincible. But in such a short time because of the popular struggle, the regime which appeared to be strong and confident is now rocked to its core. Though what has been achieved so far is not easy by any standard, we need to strengthen the struggle. The struggle should be sustained and organized. Sustained and organized struggle is important for an orderly and peaceful transition. In addition to putting pressure on the Meles regime to release the political prisoners and open political dialogue, it is also high time to broaden the agenda of the opposition to the rather immediate task of peaceful and democratic transition. All Ethiopian opposition forces within the country and outside should create forums to deliberate about challenges of the transition to the post-Woyane era. To break a discussion on the post-Meles Ethiopia, I like to share my thoughts about the role of the army in the ongoing process of transition.

The Woyane regime which invested so much in controlling the Ethiopian people through webs of security and intelligence apparatus and government bureaucracy has now become completely dependent upon the brute force of the Agazi ethnic militia and the Federal Police. The commanders of the army have so far lost all the opportunities to stand with the people. They also stained the name and honor of the army. Nevertheless, as insiders to the army note a significant number of the officer corps within the army is opposed to the actions of the Agazi and the routine usage of the army to quell peaceful dissent. Even if the army looks monolithic and firmly under the control of the Woyane from the outside, there is growing dissent within the army. The repeated defections of the members of the Ethiopian Air Force testify the growing anxiety within the army. One may wonder why the army allowed itself to be used as an instrument to slaughter young men and women by the Woyane. This is mainly because of Woyane’s use of ethnicity and patronage to divide the army. The Woyane also carefully installs men loyal to itself on important positions starting from logistics to operations. In contravention to international norms of military science, military officers higher in rank are in many cases accountable to their junior Woyane loyalists. The other important reason which explains the failure of the army to stand with the people is the lack of effective organizational and mobilization work by the opposition forces within the army. There is no communication infrastructure between the officers of the army and the opposition parties. Moreover, officers who wish to stand with the army could not communicate among themselves. The opposition has not so far done much within the army. There is heightened suspicion within the army because of pervasive spying and merciless action on those who are suspected of dissent. The tight control of the Woyane on the army is, however, waning. This is particularly because of the repeated usage of the army in different parts of the country to crush peaceful protests. The natural question of why my own sisters and brothers are opposing this government is slowly but surely creeping into the ranks of the military.

There are three important scenarios for the army in the process of Ethiopian transition into the post-Woyane order.

• Scenario One: Cessation of using the army to crush dissent and political dialogue
The first scenario is a rather optimistic but near very difficult to achieve. In this scenario, the commanders of the army will decide not to take part in crushing peaceful disobedience of the Ethiopian people and ask the political leadership, i.e. the Woyane to open political dialogue with all opposition parties. This means the army retrenches itself from being used as instrument of the regime to crush its political opponents. This scenario is very difficult to attain because of the nature of the army. The prevalence of such a scenario could be a major step forward for maintaining peace and stability in the country and also saves the country from unnecessary bloodshed. Such a scenario seems impossible. It has, however, happened in different countries which suffered from tyranny. People’s power which defeated the tyrannical rule of F. Marcos in February 1986 in the Philippines was made possible because of the refusal of the army to fire on peaceful protestors. Who thought that people who were not armed would eventually defeat the brutal regime of Marcos which lined up its tanks in the streets of Manila? The Philippine army at long last decided to side with the people. By siding with the people it saved the country and itself.. All opposition parties and peace loving peoples should seek to underline to the members of the army that the country’s and their interest will be best served by if the army helps the realization of the aspiration the Ethiopian peoples for equality and justice.

• Scenario Two: coup d'etat by Woyane loyalists

The continued popular resistance is creating anxiety among groups which are closely associated with the Woyane. These groups feel that it is only the Woyane which could protect their business, political and economic interests. It is an open secret that within the ranks of the Woyane Meles is castigated for the strengthening of the opposition by providing them some opportunities to campaign in the May 2005 elections. In fact the hard-line which Mr. Meles followed on the detained opposition leaders is partly to satisfy his critics within his constituency of support. The likelihood of this scenario would be also very high if another round of war breaks out between Eritrea and Ethiopia. No one, even ardent advocates of the Woyane regime would be willing to go to another war against Eritrea under Mr. Meles’s leadership. This is because of Meles’s treasonous acts during the war and the fiasco surrounding Badme which still hangs high among Tigrean nationalists. What happens if there is a coup against Meles? The coup makers might bring back the former leaders of the TPLF to the helm of leadership and seek ways to legitimize their rule by forging a sham broad based government. Alternately, the coup makers might establish a military rule. Any regime which is installed by a coup with the intention of protecting the riches of the Woyane circle cannot withstand the popular resistance. If the leaders of the coup eventually realize that the only way out from the crisis is national reconciliation and democratization, there could be a possibility for a peaceful and orderly transition. In the contrary, if the coup makers seek to protect the interests of the Woyane group and try to liquidate opposition, there would be widespread violence and bloodshed. Any coup, however, speeds up the process of transition to a post-Meles Ethiopia

Scenario Three: disintegration of the army

The continued popular resistance and defiance will certainly puts pressure on the army. The more the army is used to quell peaceful dissent, the more it would become unstable inside. The more blood the army spills, the more opposition within the army. What makes this scenario possible? The tight control that the Woyane has on the army might make collective action difficult. In addition to the problem of collective action, the worsening economic condition will make the salary and benefits that the Woyane provide to the army less attractive. Some of the early signs which were exhibited since June 2005 will be strengthened. More defections to neighboring countries and armed resistance movements like the OLF and EPF. In this scenario there will be more insubordination and army mutinies here and there. Economic demands which the Woyane regime cannot accommodate will be put forward by units of the armed forces. This is obviously a very dangerous scenario which should be avoided. It would threaten peace and security. It may even lead to a civil war. As the army which the Woyane built is effectively an ethnic militia, the army could disintegrate and the members of the army may shoot at each other.

Considering the different but difficult scenarios that might await the army in the transition towards a post-Woyane Ethiopia, all opposition forces should devise important strategies which could help the army to play a positive role in the process of the transition which is already started. It is not enough to make calls to the army not to kill innocent civilians. It is high time to make the army a positive force of change. To this end it is necessary to penetrate the army and find officers and soldiers who are friendly to the people. Strengthen the propaganda work on the army using whatever possible means of communication. This is an important challenge for all opposition forces and those who seek a better Ethiopia in the future.

Mulugeta Asrate Kassa: The Royal Condom in the Service of the Woyane

2006-02-10T03:35:00.000-08:00

One of the most interesting outcomes of the stealing of the results of the May 2005 elections by the Woyane is the type and character of its propagandists. The Woyane propaganda machine echoes not only the words of its ideologues who day and night work to perpetuate the rule of the minority regime in Ethiopia but also many confused freelance propagandists. The Woyane ideologues write and disseminate their cheap propaganda in the name of the Oromo, Amhara, Somali and others through the government owned media and Woyane internet websites.

The other groups which have been enlisted by Mr. Zenawi’s propaganda machine include a number of personalities who joined the effort of the TPLF to maintain its minority rule over the Ethiopian people after it was disgraced by the May 2005 elections. Those who run the propaganda machine of the Woyane could be grouped into three. The first group has joined the Woyane propaganda machine to get more money. Money is of course a classical instrument of treachery. The second group joined the Woyane propaganda machine thinking that it is only the TPLF minority regime which could protect its interest and wealth which is acquired through shoddy business dealings. The third group joined the propaganda foray against the Ethiopian people thinking for some bizarre reasons.

One of the prominent members of the latter group is the sick ex-little prince who laments from London in support of the Woyane. Many seriously doubt the stability and the mental state of the ex-prince. He usually laments about the revolution in 1974 and the atrocities of the Derg and jumps to associate the present opposition particularly the CUD with the Derg. It is true that he has scores to settle with the Derg as he suffered at the hands of the officials of the Derg. The ex-prince’s lamentation about the Derg is not, however, limited to the Derg. He rather seemed to have scores to settle with the Ethiopian people which rebelled against the monarchical rule in 1974. It is an urge for a blind revenge against the people of Ethiopia who rebelled against the monarchy which makes the ex-prince an advocate of the minority Woyane regime. The Ethiopian people have sympathy regarding the atrocities committed on the royal family and the officials of the emperor by the military regime. The Ethiopian people would, however, never regret of their revolution against the monarchy. I am sure that the Woyane which itself rebelled against the feudal regime laughs whenever the little prince laments supporting its minority rule. Mr. Asratekassa could write well composed diatribe in praise of the Woyane day and night but that would not save Mr. Zenawi’s rule from its imminent demise. The Woyane also would not provide the little ex-prince a penny for his premier service. Your Highness Prince Asratekassa you have lost in 1974 and ever since then you are a simple loser. Losers usually talk a lot, but they do not matter. Keep on writing your diatribe in support of the Woyane, you should, however, know that you do not really matter for both the Woyane and the Ethiopian people. The Woyane will use you like a condom as they use their PDOs. They will discard you when your service is finished. The service of a royal condom could be a bit sensational but when its service ends it will be thrown away like any other condom. A condom is a condom.

Ethiopian protest demonstrations in Europe and USA: Why are they morally imperative?

2006-02-06T05:06:00.000-08:00

For many people who have not closely observed Ethiopian politics it might be difficult to understand the purposes of the series of public demonstrations which Ethiopians are staging in Europe and USA. Some may even think that as democratization comes from domestic processes within nations, such demonstrations in foreign countries do not contribute much to the process of democratization in Ethiopia. This is generally true. The inside and outside distinction in the Ethiopian case is, however, very blurred. The challenge of democratizing an authoritarian state which is heavily financed by western nations and their financial institutions requires a sustained and coordinated struggle from both within and outside of the country.

Junior and mid level officials of the State Department of the USA who are in charge of charting US foreign policy on Africa are not happy about the political activism of the Ethiopian Diaspora in the United States. They, therefore, deliberately echo the idea that democratization comes out of domestic processes and try to downplay the role of the Ethiopian Diaspora in the politics of Ethiopia. The former US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mrs. Aurelia E. Brazeal went even further and branded Ethiopian voices in the USA as “extremist” and “hatemongering”. Surprisingly, Mrs. Brazeal chose the exact vocabulary which Mr. Zenawi’s propaganda machine uses to demonize its critics within and outside of Ethiopia.

We should then ask why US diplomats in charge of Ethiopian policy are lukewarm about Ethiopian demonstrations in Washington D.C. and other European capitals. This is because Ethiopian protest rallies in the USA are reminders of the failure of US foreign policy in the Horn of Africa in general and in Ethiopia in particular.

The series of Ethiopian protests ranging from candle vigils to public demonstrations are morally relevant for several reasons which I would outline below.

Stop subsidizing repression is the main message of the demonstrations.

The Ethiopian Diaspora is not asking Europe and America to take control of Ethiopia and democratize it. That is indeed out of the question. Ethiopians are protesting in Europe and America to demand the stopping of subsidizing repression by European and American powers in Ethiopia. Like subsidy in agriculture distorts the global agricultural market, subsidy that Europe and America provide to Mr. Zenawi distorts the process of democratization in Ethiopia. Once this subsidy is stopped, Mr. Zenawi will be obliged to enter into an earnest and all inclusive political dialogue with the Ethiopian opposition, including those who wage armed struggle against the regime such as Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and others.

European and American subsidy to Mr. Zenawi is morally repugnant as four out of the ten bullets fired by Mr. Zenawi’s ethnic militia is paid by European and American tax payers’ money. This really makes the continued protests in Europe and America morally imperative. In fact, the Ethiopian Diaspora should strive more to get the attention of lawmakers and opinion makers within Europe and America to underline the fact that European and American tax payer’s money is used to pamper a cruel tyrant.

The failure of US foreign policy in the Horn of Africa

Mr. Zenawi, a leader of a minority regime in Ethiopia was picked by US foreign policy decision makers as an ally of the USA in its war against terrorism. Mr. Zenawi allowed US troops to roam the vast territory of the Ogaden as part of his partnership with the US. Despite this minor military partnership, US foreign policy in the Horn of Africa has failed in attaining its stated objectives, i.e. regional stability/security and democratization. On both counts, Mr. Zenawi’s intransigence greatly contributed to the failure of US foreign policy.

In the case of regional security, Mr. Zenawi’s refusal to accept the decisions of the Ethiopian Eritrean Boundary Commission (EEBC) has endangered regional security. The firm position of the Eritrean government regarding the implementation of the decisions of the EEBC and the continued belligerence of Mr. Zenawi to international rule of law has lingered insecurity in the entire sub-region. The approach of the United Nations Security Council and the USA which is targeted to appease Mr. Zenawi rather than putting pressure on the resolution of the boundary dispute may once again send the two poor nations into a dangerous war. The ineptitudeness of US foreign policy decision makers in charge of Horn of Africa to understand the complexities of the region was made crystal clear when Eritrea snubbed the much trumpeted mediation effort of the USA in January 2006. Some might wrongly think that the refusal the poor and tiny Eritrean head of state to receive and talk to the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Mrs. Jendayi Frazer indicates the new nation’s diplomatic immaturity and its leader’s arrogance. The fact of the matter was, however, the US has failed to put the required pressure so that Mr. Zenawi allows the EBBC to resume its activities.

On the democracy front, Mr. Zenawi was a failure from the very beginning. The May 2005 elections were made relatively open because of the insistence of the European Union and other multinational donors. The massive violation of human rights and the clamping of the media and the opposition after the May 2005 elections is, therefore, a crystal clear testimony of US foreign policy failure regarding its democratic rhetoric.

The Ethiopian voices in Washington are annoying mid and junior level US diplomats in the State Department, as these “noises” herald their repeated failures to the wider audience within the USA including congressional lawmakers and the media.

Shunning Mr. Zenawi from the international stage.

The other and equally important objective of Ethiopian protests in Europe and America is the revelation of the true colors of Mr. Zenawi at the international level. Wherever Mr. Zenawi travels in Europe and America, he should be haunted by the spirits of the young protestors which his ethnic militia slaughtered. Wherever Mr. Zenawi goes, the brothers and sisters of the fallen Ethiopians would remind him that his heinous crimes will never be forgotten. In whatever city which hosts the cruel tyrant Ethiopian voices of reason would echo. Whatever head of state who would be willing to honor Mr. Zenawi will be made to know that he is dining and wining with a child killer. The Ethiopian protest rallies in Europe and America have greatly helped in tarnishing Mr. Zenawi’s carefully painted “image” by Western public relations companies and lobbyists as “reformer”, and “new breed of African leader”. The continued protests and revelations would lead to the shunning of Mr. Zenawi from the international stage which he likes and incessantly craves for.

Finally, Ethiopians are not demonstrating to urge the US and Europe to send their troops and help democratize Ethiopia, they are just demanding the ending of “subsidizing repression”. If the international community is serious about human rights and peace in Africa, Zenawi and his staunch allies like Beshir of Sudan should be indicted by the International Criminal Court like Joseph Konny of the Lord Resistance Army. After all, they are all killers of children.

BACKDOOR DEALINGS WITH THE TPLF WOULD NOT STOP THE ETHIOPIAN INTIFADA: A NOTE ON THE SECRET TPLF/EPRDF NEGOTIATION WITH EX-LEADERSHIP OF THE UEDF.

2006-02-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

The ex-chairman of the UEDF, Dr. Beyene Petros gave a press release on Friday, January 27, 2006 claiming that the legal leadership of the UEDF is the one which operates in Addis Ababa and led by himself and branded any UEDF press releases and activities outside of Ethiopia as illegal. Dr. Beyene in an interview he gave to the Amharic service of the DW on the same day reiterated that the legally registered UEDF is the one which operates under his leadership in Addis Ababa. He further stated in the interview that the leadership in Addis Ababa has so far avoided friction with those member organizations of the UEDF which operate outside of the country and advocate "violence" for the sake of furthering the struggle of the Ethiopian people. But because of the recently held "illegal" General Assembly of the UEDF in Washington and its decisions, Dr. Beyene reiterates the UEDF in Addis Ababa decided that from now on any statement or press release which is made in the name of the UEDF from outside of the country is not legal and does not represent the UEDF.

Dr, Beyene's press release and the interview he gave to the DW was not totally unexpected considering the position he and the ex-vice Chairman of the UEDF, Dr. Merera Gudina took regarding joining of the TPLF/EPRDF theatrical parliament defying the wishes of the majority members of the UEDF. What is indeed surprising and per haps sinister is the presentation of those member organizations of the UEDF which operate outside of Ethiopia as advocates of violence as implicitly hinted by the interview which Dr. Beyene gave to the DW Amharic program on Friday, Jan. 27, 2006. Dr. Beyene timidly used the exact language used by the TPLF to brand political organizations which operate outside of Ethiopia as an "anti-peace" or even "terrorist."

The current position of Dr. Beyene and his co. in Addis Ababa could only be explained by the secretive and behind door negotiations which the ex-UEDF leadership is holding with the tyrannical regime of Mr. Meles Zenawi. This has been several times reported by the pro-TPLF newspaper, the Reporter. According to close sources to the ongoing negotiations, the ex-leadership of UEDF in Addis Ababa acquiesced to the TPLF's pretension that the demand that all political prisoners should be released for a genuine and all inclusive dialogue as not acceptable. Sources in the diplomatic community also hinted the reluctance of that the ex-UEDF leadership to insist the unconditional release of all political detainees before resumption of genuine dialogue with visiting foreign dignitaries and resident diplomats in Addis Ababa. A diplomatic source which wished to remain anonymous recently indicated that the Dr. Beyene group is not seriously pursuing some of the demands the opposition raised as cardinal for the fostering of democracy in Ethiopia during the ill fated negotiations before the November crisis. Dr. Beyene his associates would settle at some cosmetic changes in the organization of the National Electoral Board and the reinstalling of Dr. Merera Gudina to the leadership position of the ONC. That is why the implementation of the installation of Ato Tolesa Tesfaye as head of the ONC was put on hold by the speaker of the TPLF/EPRDF parliament. This is despite the alleged verdict of the "Federal High Court" to endorse the decision of the Electoral Board that gave the position of Chairman of ONC to Ato Tolesa Tesfaye. The TPLF is using the issue of ONC leadership as a carrot for the ex-leadership of the UDEF to disassociate itself from those organizations which operate outside of Ethiopia. Close sources to the secret negotiations between the Dr. Beyene's group and the TPLF in Addis Ababa have also noted that the press release which was issued by the name of the UEDF on Friday, January 27 was in a bid to comply to TPLF's demands in the ongoing secret negotiations.

The current backdoor dealings which are being conducted by the ex-leadership of the UEDF and the TPLF should be denounced as they could be counter productive and to democracy and reconciliation in Ethiopia. The ex-leaders of the UEDF should be also recognize that their partnership in sham negotiation with the TPLF to provide the tyrannical regime of Meles Zenawi legitimacy in the eyes of donors would severely undermine their credibility. Backdoor and secret dealings are not what people expect from opposition leaders by the time young school children are paying sacrifices for a genuine and substantive changes in the country. At this particular moment, the ongoing backdoor negotiation would only help the beleaguered regime to get off the hook of the mounting international pressure. It would not, however, dampen the popular resistance, the Ethiopian Intifada which is engulfing the country like a bush fire.

The lamentation by both Dr. Beyene and Dr. Merera that the legally registered UEDF only operates in Ethiopia and the UEDF cannot hold its General Assembly and change leadership without their participation and blessing as expressed in their numerous interviews and recent official press release is self serving. Asy body knows, ever since the formation of the UEDF, the duo were appointed to the position of chairmanship of the UEDF in Washington, by the same General Assembly which decided to remove them from their respective positions recently. The notion which is being propounded by the duo that the recent meeting of the UEDF's General Assembly in Washington and the change of the leadership and any other ongoing activities of the organization from outside of Ethiopia are illegal is self-serving and is only made to please the TPLF. Finally, it should be underlined that backdoor dealings of the ex-leadership of the UEDF should be denounced. The salvation to Ethiopia today is only from an all inclusive dialogue which includes all Ethiopian political parties and the armed national resistance movements like the OLF, ONLF and others. To bring peace to Ethiopia, we should go to the drawing board. A NEW AN ALL INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE IS NEEDED. BACKDOOR DEALINGS IN ART KILLO WOULD NOT SERVE BOTH ETHIOPIA AND THE EX-LEADERS OF THE UEDF. BACKDOOR DEALINGS WITH THE TPLF WOULD NOT STOP THE ETHIOPIAN INTIFADA WHICH IS ENGULFING THE COUNTRY LIKE A BUSH FIRE.

The Litmus Test of Crisis and the Expiry of Some Opposition Leaders, Beyene, Merera and Lidetu

2006-02-06T05:01:00.000-08:00

There is a long held view that times of national crisis provide the best litmus test for political leaders and individuals to show where they really stand, whether they are up to their own pre-crisis political rhetoric. The political crisis in which our country is engulfed since the stealing of the results of the May 2005 election by the Woyane has amply demonstrated this saying. We have literally seen the quick and sudden expiration of political leaders from national political leadership roles when they defied popular wishes and attempted to provide a veneer of legitimacy to the Woyane.

People were angry when they saw on their TV screens in the Woyane parliament Beyene Petros and Merera Merera. This was just because of the expectation that these individuals one day would have a leadership role at the national level leading the beleaguered country to national reconciliation and peace. These leaders, however, were shortsighted and what they saw was what was immediately in front of them, ranging from the threat of detention by the Woyane to the survival of their organizations. In the case of Mr. Merera the survival of the Oromo National Congress which is dear to him like a child seemed at the forefront of his reasoning to grudgingly join the Woyane parliament. Both Beyene and Merera by denigrating the wishes of the majority members of the Ethiopian Union of Democratic Forces joined the parliament and helped to undermine the somewhat loose political alliance which came into light after several years of struggle. Merera’s joining of parliament has not, however, helped rescue the ONC from being snatched by OPDO thugs implanted within his own ranks.

In a rather absurd twist, the sudden and quick collapse of the potential leadership role of these opposition politicians was advantageous to the popular struggle. These politicians by joining the Woyane parliament willfully signed their expiration from national political leadership roles. To add more credence to their sudden and quick expiration from the national psyche they are now having “closed door” negotiation with Mr. Zenawi. This means they have once again allowed themselves to be used by Mr. Zenawi. Zenawi is having the so-called dialogue with Merera and Beyene to buy time and to lessen the pressure that is gaining momentum on his regime by the western donors. It is no forgivable that these individuals are now dealing behind doors with the Woyane, while young school children almost in all corners of the country are demanding the release of political prisoners, the renegotiation of the political framework. The disastrous failure of these politicians in the acid test of crisis is a welcome to the Ethiopian people, and particularly for those who have immensely invested on them for the last many years. They are no longer leaders of the Ethiopian people, they are just leaders of themselves. The people of Ethiopia should leave them alone in “their” parliament and mend the damages they caused and continue the struggle. Their joke that they can struggle from inside is over.

The most remarkable and indeed agonizing expiration from national political leadership happened to the promising and articulate Lidetu Ayalew. Lidetu Ayalew managed to successfully undue his credibility and the mass support in a matter of few months. Why Lidetu consistently and continuously wanted to fail the acid test of crisis is only known to him. Is it because of fear, money, greed, etc. time would tell. Lidetu and his trumpeters have however committed unforgettable and unforgivable offense against the Ethiopian people. This is despite the fact that leaders of the CUD and the Ethiopian people gave more than two chances for Lidetu and his co. to restore their credibility of Lidetu. Lidetu, however, kept on rampaging the unity of the opposition and moral strength of those who are opposed to tyranny of the Woyane. Lidetu might have afraid of being overshadowed by some more articulate members of the CUD, he might as well have some conflicting views with Hailu Shawel, but the manner in which Lidetu harmed the popular struggle cannot be justified by differences how to go about addressing electoral irregularities and also meager of the political parties that formed the CUD.

Sadly, Lidetu and the few guys who stood with him in the name of EDUP-Medihn have consistently defied the popular will and determination to ensure the electoral victory of May 2005.

First, when the CDU was negotiating how to address the problem of irregularity and more importantly at the time of the first popular protests against the Woyane in June 2005, Lidetu undermined the credibility of the CDU by publicly accusing the CUD leadership. This greatly undermined the spirit of the Ethiopian people who was in fact willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice that is life in the struggle to ensure democracy and freedom.

Second, Lidetu and his trumpeters committed what is still treasonous in the eyes of the Ethiopian people when they in league with the Woyane and its agents like the Reporter gave an excuse for the Woyane Electoral Board to deny the registration of the CUD as a unified party. No body would forget and forgive Lidetu and his trumpeters for undermining the dream of the Ethiopian people for a strong and united opposition party. Simply put it is treasonous. Again this coincided the second round of popular protests since May 2005. The decision of Lidetu to implement the meager of the CUD was timed to dampen the nation wide popular peaceful protests called by the CUD.

Third, after helping the Woyane to foil the implementation of the registration of the CUDU as a unified party, Lidetu and his trumpeters moved for the third time to undermine the third round of protests in December and January. This time by organzing with the help of the Woyane and its agents like the Reporter a faked General Assemby of the dissolved and EDUP-Medhin. Every body knows that after the mearger of the members of the CUD, there is no longer a party called EDUP-Medhin. The faked General Assembly is yet another Woyane theater like the theater the Woyane commissioned few months back to unseat Merera Gudina and install Tolesa . It was reported by the reporter that “the long awaited general assembly of the EDUP-Medhin” was held Thursday, January 5, 2005”. The faked general assembly was only eagerly awaited by the Reporter and the Woyane not by the people of Ethiopia or even the former members of the EDUP-Medihn. One thing which is consistent in the last few months in the actions of Lidetu and his trumpeters is whenever the Woyane moves to crush popular protests by bullets and bayonets, Lidetu would join them by killing the spirit of the people.

To sum up, the sudden and quick death of these political leaders might have a negative impact in the short run on the struggle for freedom and democracy. It is, however, a bless in disguise. These people from now on would never full us around. After their use to the Woyane is over, the Woyane will also discard them into oblivion. Merera though tried to justify his joining of the parliament to save his ONC, the ONC is now snatched and is given to Tolesa by the Woyane Electoral Board and Courts. This week the Woyane High Court decided to affirm the decision of the Woyane Electoral Board to give ONC to Mr. Tolesa . Poor Mr. Merera Gudina still reiterates that he would go the Mr. Kemal Bedri’s bench at the Supreme Woyane Court to get justice. What a pity! What else does show the expiry of Merera’s aspiration for national leadership than this? Mr. Beyene Petros has many political parties but not many followers. His link to the source of major support from the Diaspora is severed as he and Merera defied the wishes of the majority members of the UEDF and joined Woyane’s parliament. As he would not provide any change to his electorate at the local level, he would also loose out at his locality. Mr. Lidetu Ayalew and his trumpeters might publish books, videos, and others, these would not however, help them regain their lost popularity. They have gone out from the psyche of the Ethiopian people. New leaders would emerge and the struggle, however it is bitter would continue and finally triumph. History would never forgive and forget those who let the people down from the side of the opposition. Historical judgment is in fact more bitter to those who have betrayed the trust of the people than the greedy and merciless rulers the people are fighting against. Good bye Beyene, Merera and Lidetu from our psyche.

Open Letter: Few Questions to Professor Abiyi Ford

2006-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

I read your explanation about the media coverage of your statement on the role of the Diaspora in Ethiopian development. It is sad that the interview you gave to “Capacity”, magazine of Walewa’s Ministry of “Capacity Building” was construed by the state media as if you admonished the Ethiopian Diaspora which is now trying its level best to expose the massive onslaught of the Zenawi regime on the Ethiopian people, leaders of the opposition, journalists and the youth. As Dean of the nascent School of Journalism and Communication at the Addis Ababa University you should have been aware of the danger of being "used" by the state propaganda machine when you gave an interview on such a sensitive topic to a magazine of Walwa's Ministry, which I am certain not readeable even by cadres of the ruling party. You should have known that it is the task and mainstay of the state propaganda machine to misinform and disillusion the people of Ethiopia.

Leaving aside the way the government media tried to use your “innocent” statement for political advantage. I would like to pose few questions to you. Though you tried to distance yourself from the government and the ruling party by writing a letter of explanation, I do still feel that as Dean of the Graduate of School of Journalism and Communication at the Addis Ababa University, some of your decisions dot not lend credence to your recent statement. As a close observer of the nascent school of journalism, I have so far did not want to share my doubts to the general public about the partiality of the school and its Dean to the ruling party but your letter of explanations motivated me to ask you these questions.

Why the media coverage report of the School of Journalism and Communication which was issued few days after polling day (May/June 2005) was made deliberately to give a positive picture to the government? Nothing has been said in the report about the media blackout of opposition parties which was ordered by the ruling party just few days after polling day. The report neither mentioned how the ruling party used news and other programs of the electronic media as means of election campaigning.
Why the School of Journalism decided not to make public the findings of its students who observed the elections. We knew that the students’ reports amply demonstrated that there were irregularities in the elections and human rights violations of opposition candidates and their supporters. Don't you think that withelding the publication and distribution of such a report is siding with the ruling clique of Zenawi and co.
Why the School of Journalism and the esteemed Dean who is laboring to bring ethical journalism in Ethiopia kept quiet when the state electronic media is behaving as Gobbles propaganda machine and unfortunately the majority of “professionals” which work for this propaganda machine are students of the School of Journalism.

Comments on John Markakis's "Amhara: What is in a name?" *

2006-02-06T04:52:00.000-08:00

It was with a great surprise that I learnt that the distinguished Ethiopianist John Markakis accepted the invitation of the TPLF/EPRDF and presented a paper at the Silver Jubilee of the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), only a few weeks after the TPLF/EPRDF security forces unleashed their attacks on peaceful protestors in many parts of Ethiopia.
The timing of Mr. Markakis’s presentation on a political platform that was carefully crafted by the TPLF reveals the true color of the presenter himself. His long business-like association with the TPLF regime as a lobbyist and as an academic providing “analytical” justification to the minority rule of TPLF and its sham institutions and structures to western donors and institutions was unmasked by the Bahir Dar Symposia.

Mr. Markakis presented a paper as a palace historian on the Jubilee anniversary of ANDM, attended the inaugural of the 40 Million ETB Monument for TPLF/ANDM Martyrs' paid by Sheik Mohammed Alamoudi. The ANDM anniversary and festivities were held in a town whose residents are angry because of the detention of their leaders and the killing of their children by TPLF forces. Mr. Markakis gave a paper in a town which was swarmed by TPLF Agazi Special Forces. Mr. Markakis gave a paper on the anniversary of an organization which does not still have recognition from the people it claims to represent. More interestingly, Markakis was one of the cohorts of the festivities of the anniversary, while many genuine academics working on Ethiopia are expressing their criticism about the violent ways the TPLF deals with its opponents and popular protests.

Markakis attempted to outline the long and complicated history of the Amhara people of Ethiopia from the prism of the ideology of the TPLF. That is why he made some grave errors and at times willingly deceived the historical facts to meet the wishes his bosses.

At the beginning of his short essay, Markakis reiterated that the image to which the name of the Amhara is attached appeared to be “…compact, firm, composed of pure, homogeneous matter, undifferentiated, united, undivided; in effect a monolith.” This is a very broad statement and is not applicable to any group of people. Considering a given group of people as “homogenous”, “pure” and “monolith” is at least problematic and at has a sinister motive. In the case of the Amhara, Despite there are so far no writers who claim that the Amhara view themselves as described as “compact”, “composed of pure”, etc. Such claim of ethnic purity was promoted by the Nazis of Germany. It is Fascists and Nazis who talk about ethnic purity not the Amhara people who are proud of their intermarriage and mixture with other nationalities of the country.

The most interesting statement in Markakis’s paper is the one which says “a political party that bears [the Amhara] name is unavoidably burdened with a heavy legacy from the past. The weight of this history is like a chain that binds a party to the past, forcing it to confront the yesteryear rather than address the future. When it comes to political contests on the national stage, this is a huge handicap. To use an analogy from boxing, the party is compelled to fight with one arm tied behind its back.” This statement reveals the true intention of both Markakis and his TPLF pay masters which have hired the eminent professor at their Ministry of Federal Affairs, where he is advising the TPLF minority regime how it could effectively entrench its power over the Ethiopian people through divide and rule. In this statement Markakis bluntly concludes that the Amhara should not have a political role in the present and the future of Ethiopia because of their “crime” of building the Ethiopian empire. This indeed accords well with the “Neftegna” singing of the TPLF and its surrogates.

The other assertion in which Mr. Markakis willfully deceived his readers is where he described the evolution of the “Amhara region”. Markakis asserted that the historic “ancien Amhara” province used to include Wollo, Shoa, Gojam, and Gonder. I am not sure that the medieval region of Amhara used to consist of the four provinces that are mentioned above. So far, there are no reliable historical sources which provide information about the exact geographic extent of the ancien Amhara province. Mr. Markakis pointed out that the ancien Amhara was reconstituted after by regionalization of Ethiopia after the coming to power of the TPLF in 1991. I do not know why the imminent professor evaded from mentioning the Amhara region which was created by the Italians (1935-1940).

In fact the there are several parallels between the Amhara region created by the Italians and the Amhara region created by the TPLF. I am sure it is clear to Mr. Markakis there are many parallels in the Amhara policy of the Italians and the TPLF. Both the Italians and the TPLF criminalized the Amhara because of their role in the past as empire builders. This was given analytical justification by Markakis paper at the Bahir Dar Symposia. Both the Italians and the TPLF followed a policy of inciting others against the Amhara. Mr. Markakis’s decision to exclude the Italian Amhara policy and the formation of the first Amhara region by the Italians not only show his academic dishonesty but also his sinister motive. After all, he belongs to those European scholars whose academic careers to a significant part depended on Amhara bashing. Markakis and his formers students at the then HSIU uncritically imposed truncated Marxian ideology and Soviet historiography to misdiagnose the Ethiopian society and ended up in giving wrong prescriptions, the result is ethnic animosity and ethnic bigotry. Wallelegn Makonnen’s application of Leninist characterization of Russia as “prison of nationalities” to Ethiopia is still uncritically celebrated by Markakis with no objective assessment of the positive or negative implications of the leftist ideology on Ethiopian contemporary quagmire. If Wallelegn was alive today, I do not think he would appreciate the monument erected by Sheik Alamoudi for Amhara martyrs which includes himself and the festivities for the anniversary of ANDM.

The other equally important misrepresentation in the paper of Mr. Markakis is the narration regarding the “transformation” of EPDM to ANDM. Markakis argues that EPDM was changed to ANDM to fit the ethnic federal model. I am sure that it is well known to Markakis from the very beginning that EPDM was sponsored by the TPLF and it is the TPLF which makes and unmakes its satellite organizations. It is therefore the TPLF which decided to change the name tag of EPDM to ANDM to facilitate its own control of power at a national level.

Indeed as pointed out in Markakis’s paper, the Amhara like other nationalities of the country are divided in political ideologies and organizations. But the argument that because of their past they should not play a role in Ethiopian politics is a mere academic justification for entrenching TPLF’s hegemony in Ethiopian politics. The TPLF indeed made a good investment when it decided to put on its payroll list people like John Markakis and Paul Henze. While Paul Heze is less sophisticated and archaic in his writings and presentations, Markakis has so far been subtle and sophisticated until he was unmasked by attending the anniversary of ANDM by a time when let alone expatriates but also Ethiopian officials are disdained to publicly seen with TPLF officials.

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[*] Presented to the symposium organized by the Organizing Committee of the 25th Silver Jubilee of the Amhara National Democratic movement - ANDM

A visit to Addis Ababa’s Emmanuel Hospital for the Mentally Ill

2005-08-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia a country of over 70 million people, believe it or not has only one hospital, which specialized for the treatment of the mentally ill. This sole hospital is neglected for several years. It is at the centre of the Addis Ababa and where the city’s largest grain market is located. Moreover, besides the Hospital there is a large Orthodox Christian Church called St. Emmanuel. The surrounding of the Hospital a very crowed place where there is noise coming from the lorries which load and unload grains at the grain stores and also from the loudspeakers of the Church make the location of the hospital absolutely wrong for the mentally ill.

The Hospital has few beds; it is the only place in the entire country where mentally ill could be hospitalised. Even if there attempts recently to provide services for psychiatric patients at local hospitals. The service is inadequate. The personnel who treat patients are nurses trained at the sole hospital for about two years. These nurses could only treat minor cases. As a result the sole hospital is still inundated with several hundred of destitute sick people from the countryside. Because of the negative cultural attitude for the mentally ill, their parents bring them the hospital for many of them after it is too late. Traditionally bringing a mentally disturbed to the hospital is a last resort. People tend to take the mentally ill to traditional healers, churches and mosques before they try out their last hope at the health facilities. Because of all these the doctors at the Emmanuel Hospital in the main treat patients with chronic aliments.

My today’s visit accompanying a patient to St. Emmanuel reminded me of several things. Our country’s level of degrading poverty, the poor attention given to the health sector in general and the mentally ill in particular, our backwardness in terms of dealing with the mentally ill and several more other things. Why Ethiopia has only one specialized hospital for the mentally ill? Why we including our leaders liken the Emmanuel Hospital as a place where we dump the mentally ill. I remember once listening to PM while saying “that is Emmanuel Option”, i.e. that is the option of the mentally ill. This morning when I arrived at the OPD of the Hospital, the small compound of in front of the Hospital’s registrar is full of people moaning, shouting, and singing. Some are chained. Many of them come from the countryside. Three to four relatives accompanied them. Even if the hospital medical staff seem dedicated, the hospital is overwhelmed. Not all of the patients could get the chance to see a doctor. I heard an old man who accompanied his son saying that he was asked to come tomorrow. It was hard for this to add few more nights in the rather noisy shabby hotels of the area where he hired a room. The condition of the young man whom he accompanied is not also predictable.

I left the Hospital this afternoon wondering why we do not have mental hospitals at least in four or five regional towns of the country in order to avoid a painful and agonizing journey for our folks from the countryside. Some come to this hospital as far as Borena. We also need to change our attitude to the mentally ill. The change of attitude should start right at the top from political, business, and religious leaders. More importantly we need to show sympathy towards the mentally disturbed that roam our towns and localities. We need to teach our children that it is wrong to insult, frighten, abuse, and attack the mentally ill. I in fact feel that mental illness in Ethiopia is worsens by the people of cities and localities. Because of lack sympathy and the tendency to entertain us by reactions of the mentally ill when unscrupulous young people attack them.

Andreas Eshete and the Graduation of Addis Ababa University’s Class of 2005

2005-07-25T02:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 23, 2005 it was graduation day at the Addis Ababa University. The graduation ceremony was, however, different many other graduation ceremonies held at the X-Mass Hall. Since the appointment of the dwarf Andreas to head the university, the main vocation of the cabal of cheats, which Andreas collected around him, are pomp and glare of graduation ceremonies. This group is particularly in the trade of literally selling out of honorary doctorates to people like Sheik Alamoudi, who literally bought the government of Ethiopia and his intentions became clear during the electoral campaign during May 2005, ECA's executive secretary KY Amako who gave a job for the wife of one of the top guys of the university, the controversial late Kilfe Wadajo who helped Meles write EPRDF’s constitution and Mohammed Shanoun. With almost all of these awardees Mr. Eshete has more than professional relationship. Some were his business associates like the late Kifle in the dubious Inter Africa Group. It is also an open secret that Eshete and his cronies have free access to Addis’s most luxuries Sheraton Hotel partly because of the degree of honour, which Sheik Alamoudi received from Andreas Eshete.

The little fellow run deep in crisis waters with the students whom he wanted to patronize and mobilize against the faculty whom he despises like his paymasters at the grand palace when he lied to the world regarding their hunger strike against electoral frauds of the May 15, 2005. In the eyes of the Ethiopian people, Andreas is a compulsive liar. He lied on several occasions. The most ugly one being his denial that Ethiopians were not looted and deported from Eritrea after Isayiyas’s forces took control of the former Ethiopian province in May 1991. Eshete was given an eye withness account on ETV and vigoursouly denied that Ethiopians were not harassed and looted after the Ethiopian army was defeated in Eritrea. That was a big lie, which is still fresh in the memories of thousands of displaced people who are still scattered at shanty camps the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Andreas’s record as a university president is also tainted by controversies. He for example became the first Addis Ababa University president for sanctioning a suspension and dismissal decision on a particular ethnic community. Some few years back Eshete decided to suspend and dismiss some 400 Oromo students because of their protest over the removal of the capital of the Oromia regional state from Addis Ababa to Adama. Now because of electoral losses in Addis, the EPRDF government has decided to return back the Oromia council to Addis Ababa, but no body accepted responsibility for the fate of students who were forced to discontinue their studies and others who are still jailed because of their opposition of the decision.

On graduation day for the class of 2005, students who were congregated at the X-Mass Hall shouted when Andreas was about to make a speech on the yearly convocation of the university. Their peaceful protests continued for minutes and Andreas was forced to cancel his speech. This is a good awaking for Andreas and the cabal of cheats whom he made the university to be swarmed by. The funny aspect of this year’s award of honorary degrees is the award given to Sendu Gebru. The women may qualify for this award but the fact that her son is a vice president of the university puts great doubt in the process that led to the decision by the university to bestow the honour on the mother of the university’s vice president. The other awardee, Professor Lemma W/Sembet is a successful academician abroad but his contribution to Ethiopia is little that is why he is not known by the common folk here.

Ambassador Teshome Toga and the Ethiopian Football Federation

2005-07-22T04:13:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, July 15, 2005 the long saga that plagued the Ethiopian Football Federation was over with the election of a new executive committee and also re-election the resilient Dr. Ashebir W/Giyorgis as president of the Federation. For the first time in its 54 years history, the Ethiopian Football Federation managed to adopt its Charter and bylaws with no intervention from the country’s sports ministry. This is mainly because of the resilience and also tiresome struggle of Mr. W/Giyorgis. Mr. Toga and Mr. Melaku Petros, Minister and Vice Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports left no stone unturned to foil the bold move of the Normalization Committee of the Ethiopian Football Federation, which was constituted by FIFA after the crisis which was began when the arrogant Vice-Minister of Sports Mr. Petros dismissed the previous Football Federation in contravention to the then existing bylaws two years ago. Since then there was no peace in the Ethiopian Football Federation.

The secret for the success of the normalisation committee lies mainly in the resilience of Mr W/Giyorgis and also an implicit support from high in the government, possibly from the office of the Prime Minister. That is why Mr. Toga who was bent on foiling the adoption of the new bylaws of the Federation and who was writing harsh letters to the President of FIFA was there at the ceremony held to welcome Mr. Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA at the Addis Ababa Stadium on July 20,2005. The wounded Toga also availed himself in the meeting held between Mr. Blatter and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, on Thursday July 21, 2005. After all these the Sport’s Ministry is said to have decided not to give recognition to the new leadership of the Federation. If indeed the Ministry is going to do that FIFA would take harsh measures and all the projects earmarked for Ethiopia would be cancelled.
Mr. Toga if he has dignity and respect for himself, he should apologize for what his ministry done for the last two years against the development of Ethiopian sports or if he cannot implement what he feels important he should accept failure and resign. The main attention of the Ministry was on the Football Federation, which refused to heed the interventions of the ministry. In the meantime, the Athletics Federation, which is headed by an appointee of the Government, Mrs Bisrat Gashawtena who is a vice-Minister of Social Affairs is heading towards disaster. There is no peace between athletes and the authorities of the federation. The project for the establishment of the Center of Athletics did not materialize, even if people were enthusiastic to provide financial contribution in the wake of dramatic victories of Ethiopian Athletes at the Sydney Olympics. This alone shows the failure of the Sports Ministry and its head Mr. Toga. We advise Mr. Toga to take his hands off the Ethiopian Football Federation and sort out the mess at the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, make the bylaws and charter of the Athletics Federation compliant with international standards. Stop appointing politicians as leaders of federation. The top places in the country’s sports federation should not be allocated for politicians like Mrs. Gashawtena who do not seem to have any interest in sports. Let those who have interest in sports take the mantle of leadership. Let us stop considering appointments in Sport Federations as additional bonuses for political appointees.

Meles needs more crimes to win the Nobel Prize?

2005-07-21T02:12:00.000-07:00

It is with disbelief and shock Addis was greeted this week the decision of the Norwegian based YARA foundation to bestow its prize on Mr. Zenawi. Normally fellow citizens would be jubilant when their leaders are internationally honoured. They in fact feel they have part in the progress that was acclaimed internationally. This is not, however, unfortunately possible under the present conditions of Ethiopia. Leaving aside the value judgement of the jurors of the foundation and its Board Chairman, Mr. Jeffry Sachs, on almost all of the points, which were considered for the award, Mr. Zenawi’s record is a failure.

On the issue of food security, more people are now dependant on food aid than ever. In 2003/4 about 14 million people in the country were stricken by famine and they survived by food aid. The government agricultural development programmes in in disarray and collapse. If one visits a subsistent farmer in the northern highlands, he/she could easily found it for himself/herself. The peasants are fed up by a series of failed agricultural development strategies. Some of these strategies are changed so dramatically and frequently that there is no any trust between agricultural extension workers and the peasants. Agricultural development strategies such as family extension, modern beekeeping, water harvesting, land zoning and others are being changed in a very dramatic fashion that no body knows which one of these are good to certain localities. As a result, Mr. Zenawi’s “green revolution” strategy is a failure. In fact, the political situation in the rural areas does not create conducive atmosphere for food security. There is massive abuse of power and violations of human rights by local officials. There is no tenure security for the subsistent farmer. Local officials could evict peasants from their plots at any time. There is forced labour.

The state repressive machinery has been extended to the local level in the name of popular participation and mobilization. The peasants do not have say in the decision-making processes that affect their life. The recent African Watch Report on State Repression Mechanisms in the Oromia region reflects the situation in the other three highland regions of the country, i.e. Tigray, Amhara, and Southern Region.

Ethiopia is still a country where there are massive and systematic state sponsored violations of human rights. I am sure that Mr. Sachs and members of the YARA foundation are aware of the several empirically based reports of African Watch, Amnesty International, Ethiopian Human Rights Council, and the US State Department Reports on state sponsored violations of human rights. Even the African Union’s recently launched Governance Report put Ethiopia below the average of dozens of African countries whose governance and democratic performance was evaluated as part of the NEPAD peer review mechanism. It is very hard then to understand why our “ruler” was honoured by the YARA foundation for his “efforts” in ensuring food security and better governance. Is it because of the warm and cordial relationship that Mr. Zenawi maintained with western leaders like T. Blair, J. Mr. Sachs, J. Stigliz and others. If that is the case, the award should have been given for his individual charm and friendship than as a prime minister of a country, which still largely suffers because of lack of accountable and democratic government. In fact the timing of the award totally discredits the intentions of the award givers, if at all they have good intentions. The award decision was made less than two months after the June 8, 2005 killing of more than 36 peaceful protestors in the streets of Addis Ababa. Under an emergency rule declared by the Prime Minister on May 15, 2005, the security forces were under his direct and personal control when they were ordered to shoot and kill protestors on June 8, 2005. School children and the elderly were murdered in the guise of maintaining “law and order”. We have not even finished our mourning when the news reached us from Oslo the man whom we feel is responsible for the killings is honoured by the YARA foundation. I am sure that Mr. Sachs and the members of the foundation are well aware of the fact that Mr. Zenawi has so far neither apologized for the killings nor allowed independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the blood bath. The results of the elections, which led to the the July 8 protests are not yet known. That is more than two months after the election was conducted on May 15, 2005. Considering all these problems, Addis Ababans did not greet the news of the decision of the YARA foundation to provide its award to “our beloved little emperor” with happiness and elation, we rather received the news with shock and disbelief. That is because people like Mr. Sachs who seemed to be concerned about poverty reduction refused to listen our agony and pain.

I think it would be important here to underline the fact that the West in general approaches African problems in a very arrogant and patronizing manner. They come and tell us this leader is good and that leader is bad. In fact, the very pretension of the Europeans and Americans to come and tell us our leader is good shows their contempt to our societies’ intellect of what is good and bad. Some times their patronizing approach towards Africa reaches the level of racism, i.e. we know what is good for you and you poor black Africans do not know what is good for you. That is indeed racism! In the Ethiopian case too, western leaders and their opinion makers are telling us that you are generally bad and stupid but fortunately you have this “bright and intelligent” leader who is a beacon of hope not only for you “arrogant” Ethiopians but also for the whole of Africa. Don’t you think that is arrogant and self-serving? Even when we are saying by our votes our leaders are not good, Europe and America would say no you are wrong; your leader is extremely intelligent and without him you do not have hope. The YARN foundation’s decision to give the award to Mr. Zenawi is a good example of this Western attitude towards Ethiopia and Africa. What is strange in the relationships of Europe and Africa in the last four decades, all leaders that the westerners acclaimed as the good guys such as Mobutu, Savimbi, Mubarak, Musevini, Afeworki, Zenawi, and others are a wrong pick. They are all bloody dictators and are involved in violent repression of their citizens.

More cynically Addis Ababans are now saying if Mr. Zenawi could get an award from the YARA foundation by killing only 36, he would get the Nobel Prize from Oslo by killing more Ethiopians. We are such expendable creatures. Aren’t we? Mr. Sachs! Shame on you and your fellow YARA foundation members.

A visit to Aids Clinic in Addis Ababa

2005-07-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

No wonder why Ethiopia still is one of the few countries which is not able to use the funds allocated to fight HIV aids. The country's record in the effective utilization of funds allocated by the World Bank and also by the so-called MDG is abysmal. The number of people who have the opportunity to get treatment is one of the lowest in the world. The country has one of the largest HIV positive populations in the world, the number of people who could afford to buy Aid drugs is, however, miniscule. More or less all HIV programmes in the country depend on external aid. While there could be shortage of funds to fight this immense problem, the capacity of the country to utilize the funds already allocated is annoyingly very limited. There is a long bureaucratic red tape one has to surmount to have access to the treatment programmes of few government hospitals. An aids patient needs to produce a letter that proves his/her destitution from Kebele administrations. This requires quite a long time. Three people have to sign on the form. A clearance from NGOs working on HIV prevention is needed. For helpless and abandoned aids patient who is crippled by the ailment, these bureaucratic hurdles take their own toll. After having fulfilled all these papers there are jurisdictional issues. A hospital with which the patient started his medication could refuse to provide the drugs on the ground that the patient’s residence is not in its jurisdiction. Then when the hospital which has the jurisdiction is found one has to wait for a month or so in the waiting list. By the time the patient is fortunate enough to have the drug he or she would be days away from death.Health workers and the government day and night preach no discrimination and isolation of aids patients. These are so far empty rhetorics. Many of the country’s government hospitals do not provide the little support and care for aids patients. Once HIV case is confirmed, many of the government hospitals implicitly discourage the patient from coming to the hospital.
I visited this week an Aids Clinic at the ALERT Hospital in Western Addis Ababa. The visit was a heart wrenching experience. You would see a child as old as six seven and an old man or women as old as you can guess tirelessly waiting for their turn in fornt ofthe doctors' offices. The majority of the sufferers are in their 20s and 30s. The Clinic is overwhelmed by the large crowd, which needs its services. The Clinic has few beds for HIV and TB cases. It is like winning a lottery for the critically ill aids patient to get hospitalised in government hospital in Addis. This is because the hospital does not have adequate resources. It has few beds. Their laundary does not work. No good logistical support, as the hospital staff told me. There is shortage of blankets and bedsheets and other supplies. It is at this point that I recalled the widely publicized report on the inability of Ethiopia to adequately use the aids funds provided by the World Bank and the so-called MDG programme. It is also a public knowledge that the money allocated for anti aids activites is squandered by government and NGO officials in the name of workshops and seminars. Some even allege that in some regions AIDS prevention money was used to meet per dime and fuel expenses of regional and local cadres during the May 2005 elections. This needs further investigation. One thing, which, however, certain is our inability to utilize the money allocated for aids. Particularly there is still little attention to treatment. One may argue that prevention is more important than treatment. I agree! But we need to harmonise treatment with prevention if we genuinely want to arrest the aids pandemic. If there is no adequate and transparent aids treatment programme, people would not be willing to test to know their HIV status. If people do not get tested, the possibility of changing the behaviour of the most vulnerable sections of the society is limited. There is a dialectical link between prevention and treatment. They should go hand in hand. With the present lack of coherent and bold initiative by the government to have a holistic approach in the fight against aids, the task of scaling down infection rate seems disturbingly insurmountable. It What is needed is not more workshops and meetings, it is rather practical actions. Mrs. Berhane, who is head of the "Tilla" Aids advocacy NGO, when asked last week on the Amharic VOA programme about her hope, she simply said. “ I hope one day our government will wake up and see our problems; see our daily struggle with death; see how difficult the treatment scheme in this country is”. I also hope that we all awaken up to contribute our share in the fight against aids, which is literally eating up our youth.

Radio Fana’s Assault on the Ethiopian Free Press

2005-07-20T01:53:00.000-07:00

The teleconference programme of the Radio Fana for the last three weeks (On Sunday Mornings From July 2-16, 2005) hosted a live talk show on the private press in Ethiopia. The panellists were carefully selected so that they would air the views of the government. The main panellists included Mr. Shimeles Kamal who is the head of the Broadcasting Agency of Ethiopia. Mr. Million Assafa, a lawyer by profession. Mr. Million avails himself frequently for almost any Radio Fana programme which needs a lawyer-cum propagandist. This guy also represented the Election Board in its legal dispute with the main opposition, the CUD at the Supreme Court. A journalist named Isayas from ADDIS FORTUNE was also participant. There were other panelists whose names I could not remeber.The whole exercise was intended to defame the private press. In fact the discussions were accompanied by the recent campaign launched by the government agains the private press. The radio Fana programme is part of what the Prime Minister has labelled on his recent “interview” with ETV a political measure to be taken on the “rebellious” private newspapers. The decision of Radio Fana to host such a discussion marks a blatant disregard to the conscience of the Ethiopian people. How could a ruling party’s (EPRDF) radio station which is “illegally” established and has all along been used as a propaganda weapon of the ruling party provide an independent forum to discuss the state of the private press in Ethiopia. Any one who wants to criticize the private press of biased and unbalanced reporting should itself be scrupulously independent and balanced. Some listeners who phoned into the programme mentioned this point. The host, Samuel, was however, insisting that because of the mere fact that some listeners who had differing views were allowed to air there views on the live programme, the Radio is balanced. That was of course farfetched. The decision of the editors of the private press not to participate in the discussion was a right one.It was also sad to see Mr. Shimeles, slurring and tormenting the private press. His agency which is responsible to provide licenses for radio and TV has not yet issued a single permit for an independent operator. The BBC and VOA are still refused to air their programmes in FM. This shows how the regime in Addis is paranoid about the free press. Ethiopia does not still have a private radio and TV that is after 14 years since the country declared press freedom. Whereas the laws prohibit political parties from operating radio and TV, the ruling party has RADIO FANA in addition to the government TV and Radio. The person who is responsible to suffocate press freedom in the name of regulation was sitting at the studio's of the Radio Fana and blanket accusation the private newspapers. It was annoying.The most bizarre panellist was of course, Mr. Zerihum Teshome. Mr. Zerihun was once a lecturer at the Addis Ababa University. He was among the 42 university teachers who were fired by the TPLF at the beginning of the 1990s. He then became a refugee in the US. During the Ethio-Eritrean war he made peace with the TPLF in Washington by joining the propaganda warfare against the Eritrean regime in Asmara. He for example attacked Martin Plaut of the BBC for his reporting on the decisions of the Boundary decision. Mr. Plaut reported that Badme was awarded to by the Ethio-Eritrean Boundary Commission to Eritrea. That was a right reporting on the basis of the ruling. Zerihun to please his paymasters literally insulted Mr. Plaut. Zerihun’s utterances are still available on WALTA’s homepage. Zerihun was travelling far to justify the false victory claim of the foreign minister, Mr. Seyoum Mesfin in his press conference few hours after the release of the decision in the Hague.Zerihun is married to Mrs. Mimi Sebhatu who retired from the VOA and came back to Addis. His experience so far in Journalism is because of his association with his wife. Mr. Zerihun’s association with the EPRDF gained new height during the somewhat failed attempt of Mr. Bereket Simmon's (EPRDF's propaganda minister) attempt to rush the ratification of a draconian press law some three years back. The duo Mrs. Mimi and Mr. Zerihun gave their implicit support to Mr. Bereket during the long saga of the draft press law which outraged the proponents of free press at the international level. At one point during the saga, it was reported that Mr. Zerihun was hired as a consultant for Mr. Bereket Simmon. More importantly so, the head of EPRDF’s Organization Affairs, Ato Tesgaye Mamo who is also one of the top officials of the Southern Region gave a lucrative behind the door contract for the establishment of Awassa FM for Mr. Zerihun and his wife’s dubious company. They made millions of dollars through this shoddy business deal, which is unreported even by the private press.Right after the holding of the May elections, the government shut off the opposition parties from TV and radio. The only choice for the public to follow current developments and how the election was progressing was through the private newspapers. The killing of dozens of civilians by government militias was well reported and documented by the private press. The private press also reported electoral rigging and malpractices. During this time, Mr. Zerihun and his wife launched a new Newspaper called “IFTIN”. This newspaper was intended to counterbalance the “support” the private press gave to the opposition. In its maiden issue, this newspaper printed a minute of one of the closed meetings of the CUD. This might be intended to present differences within the leadership of the CUD as a major division. This could be a propaganda asset for the EPRDF. It did, however, clearly showed that IFTIN has some good connections with the secret services of the regime. It tarnished its image automatically as government owned "free" newspaper.On radio Fana's talkshow Mr. Zerihun appeared as a journalist and made ugly remarks and accusations on the private press and Kifle Mulat, President of the Ethiopian Free Press Association. He accused the private press and their organization of ineptitude, treachery, etc. In the first place, Mr. Zerihun is just a new comer to the media as an accomplice of the EPRDF. It is not yet known whether he is a good accomplice or not. His newspaper IFTIN is just new. No body knows how long it is going to weather the competitive private press market. From the chilly reception of public one doubt how long the government provides a handout to IFTIN. People would not budy such a newspaper as the government views are known by its radio and TV and also newspapers. Secondly and most importantly, Zerihun cannot accuse the private press of treachery. He himself is just another addition to the long list of Ethiopian Banda who rallied to the EPRDF. The list is long and includes many "scholars" rejected by foreign institutions because of their sheer lazyness and also addiction to alochol and others. More importantly, “BANDANET” is not new to Ethiopia. People could sell their conscience if they feel that they could fill their unassailable belly. But there is nothing to be proud of being a Banda. The main reason for bandanet is “hod”. The desire to have access to government and other resources by putting first ones selfish interest before his country and people. In fact bandanet is treason against family, friends, and the country as whole. Mr. Zerihun you have just started a new career as a Banda. That could help you to augment your desire for drinks, khat and others. If that is fine for you, good! Carry on! But we plead that you take your dirty hands off the private press and Kifle Mulat who paid a sacrifice for the development of the free press in Ethiopia.

The Falwed Process of Probing the "Flawless" Elections of Ethiopia

2005-07-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

It is more than two months since the "historic" May 15, 2005 elections. Final results are not yet available. The probing process launched by the Election Board has faced controversies as the ruling party has not created a favourable environment. In fact, the electoral controversy and the probing of electoral malpractices is giving new opportunities for the regime. Top ministers who lost the elections are now getting chances to re-run the elections in their localities in their favour. The Ministers include, the Propaganda Minister, Mr. Simon, the Defense Minister, Mr. Gemeda who ordered troops to loot a ballot box in the south eastern part of the country at a placed called Ittaya.

July 20, 2005