Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) Declares Commitment to Work with Others towards a Democratic, Multi-national Ethiopia:

Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) Declares to Work with Multi-national Ethiopia

Is this the Same “New Ethiopia” We in the SMNE Envision? 

 

 

On March 30, 2013, I had the privilege of watching history in progress while attending the first meeting of the newly formed Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) as an observer. Those involved included most of the founding leaders of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).

As they announced their new vision, direction and organization to more than 500 people attending the meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota,

 I was deeply struckwith the vastly different message I was hearing that day—calling Oromo to work together for one Ethiopia—from what I had heard at their 2006 OLF meeting where their secessionist goals and strictly Oromo agenda dominated every aim. I can only think that this transformation has been brought about by a renewed hope among its leadership that the great people of Oromia can contribute to the creation of an Ethiopia for all its precious people.

I believe the ODF, and its new vision, could be part of the answer to the serious division among the Ethiopian opposition groups. This is a good beginning and worth applauding. During the meeting, ODF leadership clearly explained their objectives as advocates not only for the Oromo, but also for the “freedom and justice for all individuals and nations.” They explained that the change in focus was “motivated by the universal principle that struggling for justice for oneself alone without advocating justice for all could ultimately prove futile because ‘“injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”’


I do believe it is legitimate to protect the rights of your own ethnic people; exposing injustices and working towards the resolution of these grievances, especially in a country where no one speaks on behalf of others; however, we will know we have a much healthier society when we advocate for the rights of others and readily correct wrongs.



These others can be from tiny subgroups of people or from large majority groups. They can be fellow members of our society that agree with us or those who dispute our positions. In a free society, those unlike us still deserve respect and equal rights. This is why it was so gratifying to hear Oromo leaders say they will not be speaking only for Oromo, but for everybody; and that from here on, the ODF will be a body that will work with others to bring lasting change to all Ethiopians.


Some in the audience challenged this new position. One man summed up the opinion of a number of attendees as they sought to better understand the change of direction. The man asked, “For the last 40 years, we’ve been told that Ethiopians in power were colonizers and imperialists and we have been dreaming about having our own country, but now you are saying we can work from within? Why the change the course we have been on?”

One of the leaders, Mr. Leenco Lata, respectfully explained, “I cannot preach what is unachievable. It cannot work in Ethiopia. If Oromia was to become a country, the entire region would be in chaos. Oromia is everywhere.  What are you going to do with Gambella, Southern Nations and Benishangul?


It will be best to fix the country from within so we all have a democratic country in which to live. The Oromo don’t have to think like

we are a victim or act like we are a minority. We are not a minority but a majority. We will not forget the historical chapter, but we have to start a new chapter where we work together with everybody to create an Ethiopia for everybody.”


Mr. Leenco explained to the audience that all Oromo might not be convinced of the need to change directions, but that the leadership planned on talking with those holding different opinions in order to hopefully convince them to come on board. If convinced, they could go forward to start reaching out to other Ethiopian groups with the goal of coming together so all stakeholders could be party to formulating a plan that would work for everyone.


Another leader Mr. Dima, explained that in the previous Ethiopia, as well as under the TPLF/EPRDF, one group defined the direction of the country for everyone else and that this was wrong. He called the EPRDF a façade because although it is a large group of people that pretended to be for everyone, others outside the TPLF were never consulted. He said that Ethiopians should not make the same mistake, but instead must reach out to stakeholders so all could be involved in forming a plan as to how to bring about a more democratic Ethiopia for everybody. He emphasized the need to gain the consensus of the people to form a movement from within the country—not from a neighboring or other country—which would bring the heart of the struggle to Ethiopia so that change could come from within.


Following the presentation, I came forward to give a response during the question and answer period. I enthusiastically complimented the leadership who were presenting this new direction as well as the way the entire discussion was conducted. The leadership and the public had shown real respect towards each other even as questions were asked, positions challenged and explanations given. It was very encouraging. I wish I could have understood the language, (Afaan Oromo/Oromiffa) but thankfully, I found an Oromo brother from Melbourne, Australia who translated the entire discussion for me.

I told them what began there in this room as a dialogue should be demonstrated in action by talking with others. Other groups should follow suit—regional groups, women, religious groups and youth representing diverse groups. The time to start talking is long overdue no one should wait for an invitation. Be the one to start the conversation. For example, even though I was invited to this meeting; even without an invitation I still would have come had it been possible because this was such an important meeting. Its outcome would affect me as an Ethiopian. I called on them to think out of the box; realizing no one has to stay in their ethnic enclaves. I encouraged them to not wait for an invitation to enter the discussion.


I suggested, “The next step would be to have a workshop—a national level dialogue—where representatives from different groups could carry on a dialogue. Those speaking from the podium should share the same stage. Let the people have a debate where disagreements can be respectfully voiced, like what just took place at this meeting. This is something the SMNE and others willing to work in collaboration, like the ODF, can pursue.”

As the ODF leaders continue to meet with others to explain their new direction, they are well aware that there may be skeptics among the public or those among the Oromo who do not agree with them; however, as this new vision is practically enacted, it can become a model for other ethnic-based groups, also struggling for freedom and justice, who might be willing to join together if they had a voice.

When this happens, a New Ethiopia for all Ethiopians will be the mindset of a country that, with God’s help, will mobilize an inclusive peoples’ movement. This also means that ethnic-based groups will become civic groups rather than political parties, competing for dominance against other ethnic groups.

Freedom and justice can never be accomplished through one ethnic group, even a large one. Neither can it be achieved through multiple factions working on their own goals, independent of others. Instead, meaningful change will require the improved collaboration between the many diverse groups seeking an inclusive democratic state. Even though we are diverse people, we Ethiopians have more in common than our differences. Not only do we share the land, we share the same blood through our ancestors who have lived in this land for millenniums. The diversity of Ethiopians in terms of ethnicity, culture, language, history, religion and language is what I call the garden of Ethiopia and what we hold in common is a desire for one healthy family of Ethiopians.


THE TPLF/EPRDF and other narrow-minded, ethnic-centered politicians have tried to overlook the value of all the people of Ethiopia, whether intentionally, for their own self-interests, or because they feared there was no future for them unless they were in power; however the world is changing. People are able to come together in ways never before possible. Improved technology and communication help, but collaboration, undergirded with respect towards others, brings about a better outcome, greater harmony and more sustainable relationships.


The TPLF/EPRDF’s whole system of ethnic-based hegemony cannot survive when groups such as the ODF refuse to play by those rules any longer. The TPLF/EPRDF’s apartheid model is dependent on division, suspicion and tribal competition and it will take a blow as the Oromo, Amhara, Ogadeni and other Ethiopians begin to advocate for the rights of the other. The people of Gambella as well as the people of Afar are said to be holding dialogues within their own communities regarding similar initiatives to advocate for the rights and inclusion of all Ethiopians, including the minorities and marginalized. This is a movement of thought and it now includes many in the Ethiopian religious communities.


Diverse religious groups have been the target of regime control for years, but now there are strong indicators that the TPLF/EPRDF’s control is faltering. Muslims are joining together with Christians to find a way to work together for the common good. This includes freedom of religion and expression for all Ethiopians. Civic organizations are also trying to create bonds with each other to advance shared goals. These developments should be a strong sign to regime power-holders that change is coming. The TPLF/EPRDF supporters are indeed on the wrong side unless they join with others in the transformation of Ethiopia into a “genuinely democratic multinational federation” that the ODF is talking about.


This new ODF initiative is what was envisioned four years ago when the SMNE was established. Our history of having an Ethiopia for only one or a few tribes—while all the rest struggle—must be ended. The only Ethiopia that will bring sustainable peace and prosperity is one where the humanity of each and every person, regardless of any differences, is not only valued, but also cared for, nurtured and protected. One’s own freedom, justice and empowerment are only sustainable when the same is given to others for “no one is free until all are free.”


The widespread application of these principles will make Ethiopia a home rather than the prison described by the ODF that makes us hunger for personal and collective freedom. Lasting change requires much dialogue, acknowledging the grievances of other people, the restoration of justice, the empowerment of our citizens at every level and reconciliation. Our goal is not to defeat, crush or root out the enemy as was said during the Dergue, but we must work to find ways to transform our country.


Through such dialogue we can talk about why the majority of various ethnic groups will not end up having their particular language as one of the national languages of the country because we have over 80 different languages. In the case of the Oromo language, it makes strong sense that it becomes a second national language because forty million of our people speak it. English may become another of its languages. There are examples of some countries functioning well with more than one language, like Canada or Switzerland; however, it is important to keep in mind that language is meant to be an instrument to advance communication. Through dialogue we can find ways to figure this all out, including how to bring new inclusion to the minorities and to the marginalized—like Ethiopian women, the disabled, the uneducated and others whose voices must be included.


With respectful dialogue, we can find workable solutions to our differences and grievances rather than dividing the country or seeing other people as our enemies. This is the time to talk to each other rather than talking about each other. In the last 20 years the only thing we have done, which was also advanced by the TPLF/EPRDF, was for some Oromo to talk about the Amhara and what they have done and for some Amhara to talk about the Oromo, decrying them as refusing to let go of what Menelik had done to them. In other cases, some Ethiopians do not openly say it, but they discriminate against some they do not consider to be “real Ethiopians” by not giving them opportunity. The people of the Omo Valley are good examples of that discrimination. Fortunately, more of us are realizing that there is no 99% Ethiopian; but instead that every one of us is fully Ethiopian.


We also must realize that there is no ethnic group that cannot claim being oppressed at some time; however, the name “Ethiopia” and the flag of Ethiopia have never oppressed the people. It has been the few elite in power and the dictatorial systems they set up which have oppressed us. There is no “us” and “them” in this land for we are one people. There is no need to separate the country when we can solve our differences through a genuine dialogue.  The ODF are now promising to do this.

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From the very beginning, the SMNE has always sought to work with anyone and any group who honestly was willing to advance the betterment of humanity rather than using these principles disingenuously while holding onto a hidden agenda. As the ODF begins to advocate for all Ethiopians, they are “putting humanity before ethnicity” and endorsing the belief that sustainable freedom will never come to the Oromo until it comes to all Ethiopians. I enthusiastically commend them on a job well done and look forward to the fruit of this contribution. We in the SMNE will do whatever we can to work with them and hope that others, including the TPLF, will come to the realization that this is the only way forward that gives us all a future.
To accomplish these goals, we must acknowledge the historical past with its injustice towards different groups of people, but we must also look forward to building a better future. We should also be willing to give up something for a bigger cause.


There is a price to be paid for a better future. It will cost us something which may include forgiveness, humility, compromise, and putting behind us some of our past grievances.
The Ethiopia we have now is not good for anyone; for example: the unemployment, the locking up of Oromo and many others, the displacement of the people like the Amhara and others from their land, the outflow of Ethiopian women to the Middle East as maids, the lack of a future with hope in Ethiopia which should make us think about why we are choosing to work as factions rather than together. We must ask why we are settling for so little when we could collaborate by doing our share rather than giving the burden to only a few. Together we could create a better country—more unified than divided, more livable than inhospitable and more caring about others than selfish about our own interests.

If each of us really took the initiative and was willing to commit to doing our share, we could be able to create a better Ethiopia rather than a beggar Ethiopia. Imagine if the two major ethnic groups, the Oromo and the Amhara, would stand together as one people for the future of all of us! Imagine if the Ethiopian youth saw themselves as human beings first rather than as a tribe and could stand together as future leaders of one Ethiopia rather than as one tribe making Ethiopia their own playground for their own tribal interests.

 Imagine all the Ethiopian women reconciling and working together as mothers who do not favor one child over another. Imagine Ethiopia’s religious leaders, like the Ethiopian Orthodox, the Evangelical Christians, the Ethiopian Muslims, Ethiopian Jews, animists and non-believers coming together as people of moral character to promote love, compassion, peace, honesty, integrity, good relations and respect for freedom and justice.

The evidence that the ODF and others are genuine will be seen in how they embrace others. Imagine an Oromo speaking up on behalf of the displaced Amhara, condemning it. Imagine an Amhara speaking up on behalf of the Oromo who have been unjustly imprisoned just for being Oromo. Imagine a Christian condemning the mistreatment of the Muslim. Imagine the Muslim doing the same thing on behalf of the Christians. Imagine if every group did this for others. Who would not want to live in such a country? This kind of Ethiopia would be much better than some of the countries where so many of our young people are running to in hopes of finding a better life, but too often are suffering or dying on the way.

The hope for a better future is within each of us. With God’s help, He can transform us and use us as tools to transform our country. It is a matter of putting these hopes and dreams into action. May God help more of us to realize, like the ODF, that we are one family, the Ethiopian family. May God help us not to be so judgmental and stubbornly fixed in our prejudices, but instead to open our hearts to accept each other; helping us to break down the barriers of suspicion that have kept us fighting each other and struggling to survive while a tiny minority has taken the power and are thriving at the expense of all of us.

May God help us to find a way to also embrace them, not excluding them either for they are a product of past mistakes and thinking.  If they change, we need to accept them as well for no one is free until we all are free. May the God who loves each of us, help us to see the beauty He created in our Ethiopian brothers and sisters.

Please do not hesitate to e-mail your comments to Mr. Obang Metho, Executive Director of the

SMNE at: Obang@solidaritymovement.org.

Ethiopia: Shadowboxing Smoke and Mirrors

By: Prof Alemayehu G Mariam

May 6, 2013


Meles Zenawi when he was alive and his apostles today ("Melesistas") keep playing us in the Diaspora like a cheap fiddle. They make us screech, shriek, scream and shout by simply showing their mugs in our cities. How do they do it? Every now and then, the Melesistas suit up a few of their bumbling and bungling zombies from central casting and unleash them into the Ethiopian Diaspora to "sell bonds" for the "Grand Meles Dam" to be built over the Blue Nile. Anytime these zombies show up to panhandle chump change from their supporters, a welcoming committee of defiant and patriotic Ethiopian activists show up to chase them out of town like campers at a national park chasing coyotes scrounging at the trash bin.

For the past several weeks, Diaspora activists have been routing these imposters across European and American cities; but incredibly, these brazen con artists show up in the next city like snake oil salesmen at a carnival. That really piqued my curiosity. Why do these scammers show up in city after city knowing that they will be confronted and chased out by young patriotic Ethiopians? Are they really fundraising by "selling bonds" in the Diaspora or are they using "fundraising" as a cover for something altogether different? Ummm!!!

First, the irrefutable facts about the Meles Dam hogwash. As I demonstrated in my March 11 commentary, "Rumors of Water War on the Nile?", the Meles Dam on the Blue Nile (Abay River) was the exquisite figment of Meles’ imagination, and now the phantasmic idol of worship for his discombobulated apostles. Anyone who bothers to study the facts of this so-called dam project will readily conclude that it is pie in the sky. It is "self-funded" because the multilateral lending institutions and private investors who normally bankroll such major infrastructure projects wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole standing a mile away. They have determined it is a white elephant. Egypt has also used its leverage to block funding sources. Egypt has contingency military plans to undam the dam if it ever comes on line.

The fact of the matter is that it is impossible for the bumbling regime in Ethiopia, which sustains itself through international panhandling, to raise the USD$6-10bn needed from the people of the second poorest country in the world. The regime does not even have sufficient foreign reserves to cover the cost of imports for three months. Its foreign debt exceeds USD$12bn; and despite windbagging about an 11 percent annual growth, the "fifth fastest growing economy in the world", yada, yada, unemployment, inflation, mismanagement and corruption have put on life support an economy addicted to international handouts.'

The idea that nickels and dimes collected from Ethiopians in the country by staging "musical concerts, a lottery and an SMS campaign" and a buck or two from Diaspora Ethiopians could build such a project is simply nutty. Because the dam builders live in a fool’s paradise, they think Diaspora Ethiopians are all "fools and idiots" who will buy fantasy dam bonds. (Just as an aside, those who are buying Meles Dam junk bonds should first consider buying the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.) Anyway, the Diaspora "bond sales" effort has been a total failure. The regime recently announced that it had collected $43,160 from its latest bond sales in San Diego, CA. Yeah! Right!

For domestic public relations purposes, the Melesistas’ strategic objective in pushing the Meles Dam hoax is to create patriotic fervor and galvanize the entire population around an object of national pride while deifying Meles and generating political support for themselves to prolong their lease on political power. The Meles Dam would at once be a hydrological temple to worship "Meles the Great Leader and Visionary" and a symbolic object of national unity that could rally massive support for the regime.

The Melesistas have convinced themselves that by talking about the Meles Dam 24/7, 365 days, they can convince the people that the dam is actually under construction. They blather about building the "largest dam in Africa" and Ethiopia becoming a middle income country and a formidable regional economic power in just a few years. They talk about their "visionary leader" and how they will blindly follow his vision to the end of the rainbow where they will collect their pot of gold in the form of Meles Dam bonds. They march on chanting their mantra: "We will follow Meles' vision without doubt or question."

They must really think the people are "fools and idiots" (to borrow a phrase from Susan Rice) to be fooled by their silly dog and pony show and talk of pie in the sky. The Ethiopian people may not know about a "pie in the sky", but they certainly know about the "cow they have in the sky whose milk they never see." But careful analysis shows the Melesistas have pulled this one right out of Joseph Goebbel’s bag of tricks: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State." Isn’t this exactly what the Melesistas are doing in Ethiopia now – repeat the dam lie, development lie and repress dissent and persecute journalist who tell the truth?

The Melesistas think they are so smart that they can hoodwink not only Ethiopians in the country but also those in the Diaspora. They put on a dam "bond selling" show to convince Diasporans that the Meles Dam is real and that it is the panacea to Ethiopia’s economic woes. "Buy dam bonds! Ethiopia will be rafting on a river of milk and honey once the Blue Nile is dammed."

But only a damned fool would believe that. According to the World Bank, Ethiopia’s "power sector alone would require $3.3 billion per year to develop" in the next decade. Currently, power tariffs are so underpriced that they range between "$0.04-0.08 per kilowatt-hour" and are "low by regional standards and recover only 46 percent of the costs of the utility."

For every dollar they spend supplying power, they lose 54 cents! In other words, these guys hawking the Meles Dam junk bonds and promising billions in profits are losing their shirts on the power they are selling right now! Why would anyone trust and buy dam bonds from those who can’t even make a damn profit from existing dams? Why would anyone buy dam junk bonds when the outlook for the energy sector in Ethiopia is so damn bleak? The Melesistas fantasize that they can pay off bondholders by selling power from the dam to the Sudan, Egypt and the Arabian peninsula. Why the hell would Egypt or the Sudan buy power from a dam that damns them by effectively reducing their water supply for agriculture and their own production of power?

The real aim of the Meles Dam is not the construction of a dam over the Blue Nile but to use the specter of the construction of a gargantuan dam on the Nile to inspire fear, loathing and dread of an imminent regional water war. Simply stated, the dam idea is an extortion scheme to scam the international community and downstream countries for more aid and loans as a price for continued regional stability, avoidance of conflict and maintenance of the status quo. Suffice it to say, one has to be a damned "fool and an idiot" to believe the Meles Dam will ever be built or buy Meles Dam junk bonds and expect a return. (Buying the Brooklyn Bridge is a much better investment.)


Shadowboxing Smoke and Mirrors

So, why do the Melsistas send zombies into the Diaspora on a fool’s errand? They know they will be shamed and disgraced and chased out of every American and European city like stray dogs at a bazaar. They know they will be lucky to squeeze a few hundred dollars at a Diaspora "bond selling" event. Do they do it because they are professional beggars and panhandlers?

There is a deceptively simple method to their madness. They send their zombies in the Diaspora to make us shadowbox smoke and mirrors. They are playing a simple but clever psychological game.

The Melesistas are getting hammered everyday by bad publicity. Hardly a day passes without some report by an international human rights, press or research organization documenting their monumental crimes against humanity. Just in the past few months, there have been numerous reports and press releases by Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists and a host of newspaper and television outlets, including Al Jazeera and CNN, on massive human rights violations, land grabs, ethnic cleansing, suppression of religious freedom and other issues in Ethiopia. Recently, the World Bank made public a 448-page corruption report on Ethiopia.

A couple of weeks ago, the U.S. State Department released its annual Human Rights Report on Ethiopia documenting the regime’s "arbitrary killings, torture, beating, abuse, and mistreatment of detainees by security forces, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, detention without charge and lengthy pretrial detention, illegal searches, "villagization" (pillagization) program, restrictions on freedom of assembly, association, and movement, interference in religious affairs…" This past week, they got clobbered in the international press for a kangaroo appellate court affirmance of the 18-year sentences of the internationally-acclaimed journalist Eskinder Nega and dynamic opposition leader Andualem Aragie.

The Melesistas have become international pariahs and desperately want to change the topic from Eskinder Nega, Reeyot Alemu, Woubshet Taye, Andualem Aragie..., corruption, ethnic cleansing, land giveaways, suppression of religious freedom and interference in religious affairs and critical human rights reports. They want to take control of the international public relations agenda. They want to shed off their international image as corrupt thugs who trample on human rights and steal elections. They want to reinvent themselves as anti-poverty warriors and statesmen of economic development. They want to be seen as the new "new breed of African leaders" toiling indefatigably to eradicate poverty and promote economic development and democracy.

In a Machiavellian maneuver, they have, to some extent, succeeded in getting Diaspora Ethiopians, particularly the activists, to promote their "dam development" agenda for them in America, Europe and elsewhere. Every time Diaspora activists confront the zombie junk bond dealers and brokers, they are seen talking (but saying nothing) about development, growth, infrastructure projects and how the Meles Dam will transform Ethiopia into an economic powerhouse. (They never mention the massive foreign debt, the USD$12bn that has left the country illegally since 2001, the massive youth unemployment, accelerating population growth, etc.). They always sheath their bloody hands in the glove of development talk.

When activists protest and confront these zombies, they appear to be anti-development obstructionist agitators. That’s is the exquisite trick of the Melesistas. They want the world to see Diaspora Ethiopians as a bunch of rowdy, wild, disorderly, loudmouthed, raucous, uncivil and intolerant bunch who will not even allow civil discussions of "development".

They aim to create and nurture the image of a few combative "Diaspora extremists" and an overwhelming number of silent (as a church mouse) regime supporters who are afraid to come forward (or attend their "bond selling" events) and show their support for fear of attack by the "extremists." In the mix are the hapless Diasporans who have to go back and forth to Ethiopia to secure their property and business interests. Those guys are toast; either they pay protection money (buy dam bonds) or get jacked up on some trumped up charge and lose their properties or worse.

The Melesistas’ strategy to counter bad publicity and capture the domestic and international public relations commanding heights is based on three principles: Distract, distract and distract some more. Distract Ethiopians inside the country from critical political, social and economic issues by bombarding them with inane development propaganda. State television (which is watched by virtually no one in the country) is filled with ceaseless barrages of nauseating and mind numbing amateur development propaganda. It is vintage police state propaganda aimed at convincing a largely illiterate population that famine is plenty, decline is development, poverty is wealth, dictatorship is democracy and the man who destroyed the country is its savior.

The second strategy is to distract Diaspora Ethiopians from vigorously pursuing an agenda that promotes democracy freedom and human rights. They unleash a few smooth-talking empty suits with empty heads and let them wander from one city to another in the U.S. and Europe just to get Ethiopian activists emotionally worked up about a fantasy dam and lose their focus on issues of human rights violations, abuse of political prisoners, ethnic cleansing, suppression of religious freedoms, and myriad economic problems. Some Diaspora activists react vigorously whenever they see these hapless empty suits at "bond selling" events react vigorously believing they are confronting the master criminals. Therein lies the trick. The Melesistas are so clever that they have succeeded in making some of us believe that the puppets are actually the puppet masters.

We need to be aware that the empty suits they send into the Diaspora to sell the dam bonds are just schmucks and buffoons who do what they are told; or "zombies" as the great African musician Fela Kuti would have called them ("Zombie go... zombie stop...zombie turn...zombie think..." ) They are bait and are offered as scapegoats to the Diaspora. By chasing the puppets out of town, some of us feel we have chased out the puppet masters. But the puppet masters laugh at us because our victory is the victory of the shadow boxer who knocked out the shadow.

The third strategy of the Melesistas is to distract donors and human rights organizations from criticizing them on their atrocious human rights record. They want to justify and convince them that the masses of ordinary Ethiopians are interested in the politics of the belly and not the politics of the ballot. Meles declared, "My view is that there is no direct relationship between economic growth and democracy historically or theoretically." They want to convince donors and human rights organizations that the masses do not care about human rights or democracy; they are concerned only about filling their bellies. To them, the masses of poor, illiterate, hungry and sick Ethiopians are too dumb and too damn needy to appreciate "political democracy."

Legacy of the great manipulator

Manipulation of the Diaspora is one of the chief legacies of Meles. Wikileaks cablegrams portray Meles as a slick, scheming, crafty and cunning hombre. He could have achieved greatness but undid himself because he was unable to tame his voracious appetite for extreme vindictiveness and revenge and could not bridle his bottomless capacity for maliciousness, viciousness and obduracy.

Those who claim to know Meles say he knew his opposition better than the opposition knew itself. Distraction, diversion, misdirection, hoodwinking, chicanery, paralogy and sophistry were the hallmarks of Meles’ strategy. The cunning dictator was able to shroud his corrupt empire for two decades by pursuing a propaganda policy of mass distraction and by staging one farcical political theatre after another.

As I have long maintained, Meles’ "attitude was that he can outwit, outthink, outsmart, outplay, outfox and outmaneuver boatloads of Ph.Ds., M.Ds., J.Ds. Ed.Ds or whatever alphabet soup of degrees exist out there any day of the week. He seemed to think that like the opposition leaders, Ethiopian intellectuals are dysfunctional, shiftless and inconsequential, and will never be able to pose a real challenge to his power." In a rare moment of candor responding to a journalist’s question about Diaspora Ethiopians protesting his overseas visits, Meles confessed, "We may be at fault in some way. I am sorry. That maybe we didn’t communicate well enough to those Ethiopians living abroad what is happening, what we are doing here." Meles’ apostles keep making the same mistake. Like shepherd, like sheep! Like Meles, like Melesistas!


Criminal violations in selling unregistered securities in the U.S.

There have been questions raised about the legality of the sale of Meles Dam bonds as "securities" in the U.S. Under federal and most state laws, a "security" is broadly defined and includes stocks, bonds, debt and equity securities, notes, investment contracts, etc. Unless exempted, all securities must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and/or relevant state agencies prior to selling or offering for sale to the public.

A security which does not have an effective registration statement on file with the SEC and/or the relevant state agency is considered an unregistered security. Buying or selling unregistered securities is a crime under federal and state laws. The SEC can prosecute issuers and sellers of unregistered securities under section 20(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 (which regulates original issuers) and seek injunctions if the Securities Act has been violated, or if a violation is imminent. Section 8A also allows the SEC to issue orders to issuers of unregistered securities to cease and desist and seek civil penalties under Section 20(d) if an issuer violated the Securities Act, an SEC rule, or a cease-and-desist order.

Like most states, California Corporations Code sections 25110-25118 set strict guidelines for any securities sold in that state. Any person or entity who willfully sells or transports unregistered securities through interstate commerce or buys such securities could face serious criminal liabilities under California Corporations Code section 25540, subd. (a) with penalties of incarceration for up to three years and a fine up to $1 million. California prosecutors, like their federal counterparts, could also seek injunctive relief and civil penalties.

There are a few limited exemptions to the registration requirement. One of them is an exemption "for certain foreign government securities brokers or dealers". Pursuant to 17 CFR 401.9, "A government securities broker or dealer (excluding a branch or agency of a foreign bank) that is a non-U.S. resident shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 15C(a), (b), and (d) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o–5(a), (b) and (d)) and the regulations of this subchapter provided it complies with the provisions of 17 CFR 240.15a–6…" In other words, the bond "brokers and dealers" sent to the U.S. to sell the Meles Dam bonds must meet the multifarious requirements of federal securities law and other regulatory requirements including full disclosure, proof of maintenance of required books and records relating to the bond issues and written consent to service of process for any civil action arising from disputes in bond related transactions. It is highly unlikely that the "brokers and dealers" selling the Meles Dam bonds in the United States qualify under 17 CFR 240.15a–6 and 15 U.S.C. 78o–5(a).


Fight the Power, not the smoke and image in the mirror

Diaspora activists should keep their eyes on the prize, not on the smoke and mirrors of the Melesista Road Show, Carnival and Circus.

Ethiopian Americans are fortunate to live under a Constitution that guarantees our right to free expression and peaceful protest. As citizens, it is our moral duty to exercise our constitutional rights. We have recently seen Americans using their right to protest by launching the "Occupy" protest movement. Historically, the civil rights movement relied on sit-ins, sit downs, teach-ins, rallies and marches as a form of direct nonviolent action to bring about change.

Nonviolent mass protests eventually led to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which ended racial segregation, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which removed barriers to voting. The anti-war and free speech movements relied on non-violent protests to defend expressive freedoms and end the war in Vietnam. Nonviolent protests were also used in the anti-Apartheid movement in the U.S. resulting in boycotts, divestments in corporations and spurring legislative and diplomatic action which hastened the end of Apartheid.

The main point is that Diaspora Ethiopians should be laser-focused on the prize and make sure that democracy will in the end triumph over dictatorship in Ethiopia; human rights are vindicated and human rights abusers are held accountable and any government in Ethiopia shall fear the people and the people shall never fear their government. We should not be distracted by empty suits with empty heads lurking in and out of town to scrounge up chicken feed. We should not be angry at programmed zombies at "bond selling" events because they are just wretched flunkies and bootlickers, who given the opportunity will make a beeline to the immigration office to file for political asylum. We should not mistake the puppets for the puppet masters. We should not confuse shadow for reality.

We should be aware not only when we are being abused but also used. We should never let them make us do their dirty jobs because they can cleverly manipulate our psychological disposition to righteous indignation. We should never react because that allows them to take control of our emotions and reactions. We should always act and never react. Most importantly, we should engage in proactive activism instead of reactive activism. When we are proactive, we plan things out carefully and strategically. Nonviolent protest is a highly disciplined effort.

Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. taught, "In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action." We should educate and train ourselves in the ways of nonviolent protest. When confronting the zombies, we should maintain a high degree of composure and display self-dignity in our expressions of defiance. At dam "bond selling " events, protesters should adequately prepare pre-event publicity. Serious attention should given to the development of press kits and talking points. Press and law enforcement liaisons should be trained and designated. Well informed and articulate spokespersons should be selected to give press interviews. Adequate attention should be given to post-event follow up activities.

It is a great disservice to oneself and to our great cause to engage in nonviolent protest without reading and understanding Gene Sharp’s extraordinary work, "From Dictatorship to Democracy" available online for free. An Amharic translation of Gene Sharp’s book is also available online free of charge (here) for anyone to download or print. Ignorance cannot drive out ignorance, only knowledge can. We must educate ourselves in the ways of peaceful protest, or our efforts will produce few results. We are less likely to be manipulated if we keep ourselves informed and develop critical analysis skills that cut through the blather of our adversaries.

While those of us in the older generation ("Hippos") wallow in self-pity and cynicism, it is inspiring to see young patriotic Diaspora Ethiopians ("Cheetahs") using their right to peaceful protest to resist the zombies of tyranny. Just as the task of building a fantasy dam belongs to the Melesistas, the construction of the new Ethiopia is a task reserved for the young Cheetahs. It is painful to admit that we Hippos have not been much of a role model for the Cheetahs. We have unkindly criticized the Cheetahs for their lack of engagement, apathy and single-minded pursuit of flash and cash. We grumble that the Cheetah generation is the lost generation and there is no one to save Ethiopia (but it has been a long time since we Hippos looked into the mirror without smoke).

I am afraid there is little that Ethiopians Cheetahs could learn from Ethiopian Hippos. Perhaps Ethiopian Cheetahs can get inspiration from other Cheetahs. In the past 2 years, we have seen inexperienced youth using social media bring down dictators or force them to make radical changes in governance in North Africa and the Middle East. The key to their success was their ability to get in tune and on the same wavelength with each other, and to be able to speak the same beautiful language of peaceful change and protest. As always, I believe Ethiopian youth united -- across ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, and regional lines -- can never be defeated!

On Ethiopian embassies

By: Teklu Abate

May 1, 2013

　
　
The website of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains that Ethiopia has 39 missions (embassies and consular offices) in Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. These missions officially represent Ethiopia and poise to serve the Ethiopian Diaspora and Ethiopian-origin nationals. They also intend to encourage and facilitate the transfer of capital, technology, and science to Ethiopia. Since recent times, missions seem to aggressively work on 1) winning the hearts and minds of foreign investors particularly from the Arab world, India, and China, and 2) collecting funds for the construction of the "Grand Renaissance Dam".

To what extent Ethiopian missions accomplish their missions? This is not for sure easy to answer mainly because information about the operations of the missions is not made readily available. But from media reports and mission-organized events, one could identify several areas where missions seem to perform inadequately.

In this paper, I highlight some of the weaknesses and limitations of Ethiopian missions, with a goal of inviting further discussions and then possible improvements in the way they do their jobs. Although missions might be somehow different in terms of their organizational capacity and readiness to change, it is argued that they do have several common traits as outlined below.

On Modern Slavery

Due to a whole set of socio-economic and political complications at home, Ethiopians are leaving their country in droves and for slavery. Thousands cross the Red Sea and the Sahara illegally and under life-threatening conditions. Several failed to make it to their destinies- they perished along the way. Several are stolen of their internal organs; several are raped, tortured, and indefinitely detained. Those who luckily reached their destinations are equally vulnerable to mistreatments of all sorts. They are forced to work under inhuman and hard-to-believe conditions. In a way, one could argue that Ethiopia is a witness to the revival of medieval period slave trade.

Several Ethiopian activists and some international organizations have started exposing such atrocities. What is surprising and worrisome is the silence of Ethiopian missions in relation to this titanic-big problem. Although everyone has that natural right to live anywhere in the world, it should be a moral responsibility to our missions to ‘cry’ for those challenged people. Missions were/are expected to make clear statements to the government in Ethiopia and even to other governments and international organizations. Moreover, they were/are expected to well support those Ethiopian victims, especially those in the Middle East and Africa.

Rather, there are several missions that sort of facilitate the immigration of Ethiopian teenage girls to the Arab world. To me, this must be one of the most embarrassing failures of 21st century diplomatic missions. If embassies and consulates do not care about suffering Ethiopians, who else is supposed to be responsible? One could argue that our missions do not have the organizational and resource capacity to do that. To me, this holds no water; if they do not have the resource base to accomplish tasks like this, it is easy to mobilize the Ethiopian Diaspora and other organizations. Resource is not and should not be a problem but motivation and readiness and belief is. Media are working a lot to mitigate modern-day slavery whereas missions are busy sustaining and scaling it up. Missions do not adequately support and galvanize even legally residing Diaspora Ethiopians, too.

On the Ethiopian Diaspora

As the websites of nearly all Ethiopian missions maintain, they have that responsibility to serve the Diaspora regardless of their backgrounds. Unfortunately, our missions intentionally exclude the majority. Mission-organized fund raising events such as those related to the "Grand Renaissance Dam" and even cultural festivities are reserved for government sympathizers and members. Partly because of this, the Diaspora are relentlessly disrupting those events.

This happened in South Africa, Europe, and North America. The latest and perhaps the most embarrassing one (to mission officials) happened in Norway (in Oslo and Stavanger) and San Diego where the opposition forced the cancellations of the fund- raising events. From video releases, it is easy to see how painful those happenings were to mission officials. If missions do not change tactics and strategies, their very existence is less justifiable- let alone contributing to the construction of the grand dam. Stated simply, our missions failed to accommodate the needs and expectations of the Diaspora. Expectations are clear and simple: to first dam injustices of all sorts. Excluding, by design or accident, the Diaspora has serious implications when it comes to political civility, development back home, and national image.

On National Image

Our missions, along with other duties, are supposed to create and maintain a good image of Ethiopia. But due to their failure to accommodate the now powerful Diaspora, the events they organize usually turned unsuccessful. Because of the opposition, they are forced to interrupt their meetings. The hotels where they rent meeting halls and the guests thereof see the tag of wars between the Diaspora opposition and mission officials. Such people see the wide gap between the missions and the Diaspora. This will surely create a bad impression of Ethiopian politics and Ethiopia generally.

On Knowledge Transfer

Ethiopia is one of the few African countries that is most affected by brain drain. Best educated and experienced Ethiopians are working in western institutions and in international organizations. Thanks to advances in information and communications technologies, it was/is quite possible to employ such precious brains to the development of Ethiopia. Our diplomatic missions have the possibility and moral mandate to mobilize the educated Diaspora. Unfortunately, only a limited number of the Diaspora are given the chance to serve their country while residing abroad. Several experts had applied to freely serve their people back home but their applications did/do not succeed for unexplained reasons. Instead, expatriates (from India and Nigeria) are flooding Ethiopian higher education institutions and are paid three times higher than the salaries of Ethiopian professionals.

One could argue that the educated Diaspora do not support the regime back home. My take is that one does not have to support a given government/party to serve his/her own people in his/her profession. It is indeed their natural right even to oppose the governing party. The government is our missions must adhere to genuine democratic governance and the rule of law. If these are fulfilled, many highly educated Ethiopian Diaspora would not hesitate to serve their people.

Final Notes

Ethiopian missions could, in addition to their consular/visa-related services, embark on ambitious and more significant projects. They do have all the opportunities to exploit the talent and resource of the Ethiopian Diaspora. They could learn from foreign countries’ democratic ideals and practices. In a way, they could be change agents when it comes to Ethiopian politics and economics.

This is possible if and only if they start to be dictated by logic, reason, evidence and principles of human rights versus party affiliation and mere indoctrination. Missions need not limit their missions to the service of governing parties: they are supposed to represent Ethiopia as a nation. They should also consult the government on such key strategic issues as the rule of law, democratic governance, and generally freedom of all sorts. But before that, they have to make sure that they themselves believe in and advance democratic cultures and alternative voices. Reducing ambassadorial role to 1) the collection of small funds from a limited number of the Diaspora, and 2) the invitation of foreigners to cheaply invest in Ethiopia is nothing but a miscalculation and misrepresentation of national interest

The violent, greedy and stupid Apartheid regime only choice is to surrender

Teshome Debalke

The notorious and corrupt ethnic Apartheid regime of Woyane ruling Ethiopia is pushing every button of Ethiopians. If any Ethiopian has an iota of doubt that Woyane is anything but a violet, corrupt and stupid regime in cover of Ethnic Federalism and development, he needs to get his/her head checked. The time has come for all Ethiopians with out exception to bury the ethnic Apartheid regime and move on to better alternative sooner than later. Ignorance of that reality or making up off the wall noises to divert the issue isn’t going to be an excuse anymore. It only proves as a desperate attempt to preserve something proven to be rotten or the goodies it provides for those that are willing to stoop at its level.

Unlike anytime, Woyane and its entourage of messengers-of-death and corruption are testing the limits of all Ethiopians. Surprisingly, the stooges still couldn’t figure out their stupidity is beyond anything we have seen in modern times; with the exception of a few brutal tyrannies in Africa and the Middle East. Tyranny is its own worst enemy because it congregates stupid people. Then again, tyranny wouldn’t survive without them.

Therefore, it is not unusual for Woyane to assemble violent, corrupt and individuals incapable of rational thinking. It seems, the messengers’ stupidity is getting out of hand and overwhelmed even the top warlord of the ethnic Apartheid regime that unleashes them to terrorize and robe the people with impunity. It appears the warlords are trying to restrain the same messengers of death and corruption they unleashed and used to get Woyane where it is to cause havoc on the population.

The recently reported ethnic cleansing of Amharic speaking Ethiopians from Western and Southern Region and the atrocity inflected on Ethiopians of the Muslim faith are some of the indication the Apartheid regime is running out of option to stay alive. In the name of development and fighting terrorism, Woyane is hoping against hope to cover up its corruption and atrocities to extend its rule one day at a time. It is a tragic reminder of how far Woyane is willing to go to incriminate the people of Tigray it claims to represent just because… it wants to continue its illegitimate rule and corruption in their name.

Few weeks ago, in unprecedented futility to hoodwink the public again, the Woyane ethnic Warlords that pause as Ethiopian People Federal Democratic Republic (EPFDR) completed their latest drama on the party’s ninth general assembly conference.

The circus with the same notorious TPLF’s ethnic warlords and their junior partners dressed up like clowns was an attempt to sell the public the next phase of Woyane’s strategy to lie its way out of its crimes and stay alive. Azeb Mesfin, the widow of the late tyrant Melse Zenawi and known as the queen of corruption was also part of the acting crew defending her late husband and partner in crime that died a destitute man with no bank account in his name, according to her. Was she attempting to make us believe there are some innocent ethnic warlords in the Woyane family or is it a sign some of the warlords going to bit the dust to save face? Regardless, her act was hilarious for those that knew the man as mastermind of Woyane’s corruption, but, for the blind Woyane supporters that are led by a blind man they may see selfless visionary leader to believe her.

When her recital wasn’t enough, the notorious ethnic warlord and President of the so called Tigray Region chastised his junior ethnic warlord; claiming his ‘Region’s development’ is due to good governance of his leadership instead of TPLF’s daylight robbery of the nation in the name of the hostages held in the Region he was appointed to subjugate. Before we know it, the shameless TPLF Warlord is going to say robbing the nation’s resources and collecting donation around the world to damp it in the Tigray Region is the visionary leadership of the late Melse Zenawi’s new Developmental State theory. Let’s face it; the late tyrant was good making his clueless stooges feel good about themselves in believing robbery is development. We must agree he wasn’t an ordinary tyrant we are used to in Africa.

The gathering of the clowns that make and break the law believe they can manufacture a drama and show it on the only television they control and to go on in their business of corruption and atrocity. Sadly to say, it worked before, and the collection of blind stooges and apologists go along with it and pretend they are living a life worth living on the expenses of Ethiopians.

Imagine what the hapless ethnic warlords are telling us. Apparently, they still couldn’t make up their mind who gave them the mandate to rule Ethiopia? They use to say, and still do; Ethiopia is TPLF’s war trophy willing to suck her dry until some one forces them to surrender. Another time, they told us Woyane is an elected government by 99.64% of the popular votes, thus, legitimate regime to rule. When that doesn’t work, they came up with yet another lam excuse; growing the economy by double digit entitles them to rule for eternity. When noting works and desperation set-in; fighting terrorism or bashing their favorite brand enemy, the Amahars comes in handy to justify their criminal rule. When everything is bleak; there are always the ‘extreme Diasporas’ that ‘hate Tigrians’ to cry about.

Fortunately, noting seems to work for the ethnic warlords except terrorizing and robbing Ethiopians in to silence with their death squad. Woyane warlords are like an obsessed man going ballistic for being rejected by a woman he saw and loved insight; terrorizing her to be with him or… else. In politics, that kind obsession to be loved by terror turns in to ugly episode like we see with Woyane’s out of control behavior. Civilized politicians take rejection with a grain of salt and move on to do better next time around, but not Woyane warlords. Instead, they lie to themselves and the public with straight face the entire population loves them and go out terrorizing the people to force love them or… else. It is the ultimate ugliness of uncivilized regime that is willing to kill when rejected by popular demand.

At the meantime, more revelation surfaced to show Woyane’s love for the late Fascist regime than Ethiopian rulers that humiliated it. By jailing patriotic Ethiopian that protested against Fascism that cost us millions of our people’s lives the shameless warlord showed their true color. Not one TPLF warlords came out in protest of Fascism nor Woyane officially or unofficially oppose when Rodolfo Graziani, the butcher of Ethiopia is honored in Italy while warlords goes out of their way to manufacture lies to dishonor legendary Ethiopian leaders and war heroes that buried Fascism for good to inspire the independence movements of the entire Africa and beyond. Nor we have heard anything from Woyane stooges and apologist protesting against honoring the Fascist warlord. The last and only time stooges were protesting was against Egypt for the rights of Ethiopia to use the Nile water in front of the White House in Washington DC. Indecently, the Italian construction company Salini is given an exclusive contract to build the Grand Dam as well as others in partnership with Woyane. Talk about selling the country in a hand basket.

Before we know it, Woyane is going to rewrite history; praising Graziani as a great and visionary leader of Ethiopia that grew the economy by double digit and built roads in the honor of Zenawi Asers, the father of the late tyrant that served Rodolfo Graziani. Better yet, his statue would come in handy on the African Union Headquarter as Woyane gift for Africans. As shameful as it may sound, noting is impossible under Woyane.

This is the newest low for Woyane even its stanch stooges can’t swallow the degenerated behavior of the regime they love to death. Once again, it proved for one and all, Ethiopia has been under the rule of Fascist sympathizers unhappy Ethiopians buried their hero for good.

Can this be the prove needed that would break the back of the collection of Woyane stooges that are hell-bent to defend the ethnic Apartheid and Fascist loving regime tooth and nail? Ethiopians can’t wait to hear from Woyane stooges and apologist that are afraid to come out of their hiding to tell us why their beloved regime flirting with the long buried Fascist regime? Most importantly, why are they associating the people of Tigray with Fascist loving Apartheid regime? More question, no answer.

The good news is Ethiopians from all walks of life are finally coming together to bury the rogue and Fascist sympathizer Woyane regime for good. The sign is on the wall when we see the nervous Woyane stooges running like mad dogs biting every Ethiopian. The Warlords are feeling the pain of the Apartheid system they set up coming to bit them. The apologists; after they buried the ethnic warlord extraordinary with drama full of crocodile tears are wondering what they got themselves in flirting with an ethnic Apartheid regime for this long.

Unlike many, I am a firm believer Woyane from the get go came out to destroy the people of Ethiopia via Tigray by faking to represent them. Already it damaged their image associating them as Ethiopian haters, corruptible, collaborators of treason and atrocities while branding them as lover of the notorious tyrant Melse Zenawi. If that isn’t an insult to the people Ethiopia in general and Tigrians in particular that supposedly elected the notorious TPLF as their sole representative we don’t know what it is.

Woyane cadres that amassed and laundered millions of dollars robbing Ethiopians is good example of how far Woyane will go to incriminate the people of Tigray. If we think about it, no one is public enemy # 1 than the messengers of the Apartheid regime bribed to destroy the people of Tigray’s image against their country. After all, tyrants come in all shapes and forms and go but, their willing massagers-of-death and corruption are the one that execute the crimes as the tool the regime as they did serving Fascist. Therefore, Ethiopians should look no further than the willing Apartheid regime’s cadres that are causing havoc on behalf of TPLF.

Our problem is everybody is struggling for its own as hyphenated ethnic, religious, region…group as the Apartheid Woyane wanted us. Without knowing it we helped Woyane to institute the Apartheid system that is foreign to Ethiopians just like Fascist Italy attempted and failed. Like father like son the late Melse Zenawi happened to be the mastermind of the whole Apartheid system. Talk about visionary leader, it is more the blind leading the blind.

The few exceptions that fight for united and democratic Ethiopia are smeared as the old establishment by none other than Woyane just like Fascist Italy did. Any one party or group that divide Ethiopians by religion, ethnicity, region is doing the Woyane bidding to undermine the people from coming together to end the Apartheid regime sooner; as our people did with the Fascist regime then.

The struggle of Ethiopians of Muslim faith is an example of Ethiopiawinet at its best and at its worst. At best, because Ethiopiawinet is in the blood of every Ethiopian; contrary to what the Apartheid regime of Woyane and rogue groups wanted us to believe. In our history no one group tolerated when any of our people assaulted by a rogue regime or anyone else, especially foreigners. For that, Woyane with questionable identity will pay dearly in the coming years. Likewise, contrary to what the rogue Woyane regime want us to believe Ethiopians of the Muslim faith practice true Islam and their love for country remains the center of their religion as proven again and again to the envy of the world. In fact, Ethiopians must teach the essence of Islam for the rest of the world than the other way around; as Woyane and its Godless mesengers are attempting to do through their Godless cadres. Therefore, Ethiopians at best as Ethiopians regardless of where, when and how.

At worst, unlike our tradition and history Ethiopians struggle should never be separately. We failed to close rank when it comes protecting our country and people first and open the door for the rogue regime and the like to break us apart to the point of asking permission to practice our Ethiopian religions and to celebrate our Ethiopiawinet. This blunder cost us a lot and contributed to institute the Apartheid system Woyane set up so that we see each other as enemy; segregated according to TPLF design. Our collective struggle to remain independent people was reduced by a rogue group that claims to represent the people of Tigray, a black eye in our history and on the people of Tigray. As the Ethiopian Imam from Canada put it ‘there is no religion without our country’.

The truth is Ethiopians must never ask the illegitimate Apartheid regime or anyone else to give us something that doesn’t belong to them. Our collective demand must be one and only one; surrender to the people’s will. Peaceful or violent, Woyane must and will surrender to the people will. So far our division; pandering to ethnic peddlers, political prostitutes and economic scavengers left our people venerable for Woyane and the like to run over us.

To achieve victory, the only thing we need to do is come together as proud Ethiopians once again and demand surrender for democratic rule. Whoever is on the way from bringing us together is the enemy of our people.

The self declared minority Apartheid regime and its scavengers’ worst fear is Ethiopians coming together. Therefore, making dramas to divide by instigating ethnic, religious and economic conflicts and diversion are the tool in its arsenal. Everything it did and does since its inception is against Ethiopians from coming together. Therefore, we will be fools to take Woyane’s led when it breaks us apart with propaganda, bribes and favor to use us as Weapon of Mass Distraction on our people. When we remain silent or celebrate the suffering of our people just because… they are not from our ethnic group and religion or region we are no better than Woyane itself.

Let us not drag our feet to extend the misery of our people under an Apartheid system that already caused so much pain and suffering to our people. We must come together to make anyone that harm our people and country pay the ultimate price for treachery.

Ethiopians will win; let the Woyane stooges know there is no choice but to surrender

Protest in City Heights of Controversial Ethiopian Consulate Meeting .Protesting Ethiopian Government’s Human Rights Abuses

Local Ethiopian Community Invited to Attend Meeting, Allege They Were Kicked Out for 

 By Anna Daniels

Lines of taxicabs were parked along Fairmount Avenue in City Heights yesterday afternoon–Sunday April 28


.

Police cars were parked in front of the Golden Hall East African Community and Cultural Center where approximately sixty people were holding a protest that spilled into the adjacent parking lot. Signs with “Stop Human Rights Abuses” were visible among the group waving Ethiopian and American flags.

According to protesters, the Ethiopian Consulate from Los Angeles was barricaded inside the cultural center with an undetermined number of members of the San Diego and Los Angeles Ethiopian Community. The Consulate was attending a widely publicized meeting to promote the purchase of bonds to build a controversial dam in Ethiopia that threatens the livelihood of thousands of indigenous peoples.

Protesters maintained that flyers advertising the meeting had been left in City Heights Ethiopian markets and restaurants. One woman told me that when the protesting group entered the cultural center they were met with invectives, hostility and intimidation before being dispersed from the meeting which had been publicized as open to the public.

Protesters were anxious to describe the current conditions in Ethiopia under a government led by the minority Tigray tribe. Someone handed me the 2012 US State Department Human Rights Watch which detailed the Ethiopian government suppression of journalists and bloggers and the alarming incidences of imprisonment and torture. There is no independent press in Ethiopia and dissenting political views are often treated as “terrorism.”



The enormous dam under construction in Ethiopia, undertaken by the current government/Tigray minority, has become a flash point for inter-tribal tensions. The protesters represented non-Tigray ethnic and tribal groups who described being left out of the dam planning process, despite the profound impacts it would have upon their villages.


Because the funding for the dam has not been fully secured, the government has demanded that the populace pay directly for the needed bonds. Protesters described the pressure brought to bear on businesses and individuals to make “donations” for the bonds. Protesters that I spoke with emphasized that dissenters are imprisoned under horrendous conditions. “We have freedom here in this country, but our families have no such freedom,” was repeated by men and women holding both the American and Ethiopian flags.


According to the Ethiopian Review, “The Ethiopian National Transitional Council (ENT) has sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demanding an investigation into the legality of the Nile dam bond sales that are being conducted in the US. The letter challenges the commission that the sales are in violation of the US trade laws and the Ethiopian Embassy in the US has no legal ground to do such business. ”

There were a few signs protesting the World Bank decision to fund the dam project. I asked protesters what response they feel is important from the US government. Many of them said that we cannot keep supporting the Ethiopian government politically and economically when we have reports outlining the extent and severity of human rights abuses there. They supported sanctions, if necessary, to pressure the government as well as a full fledged investigation of the legality of the bond process being carried out here in the United States.

While the protesters included activists from Los Angeles, the majority of the people were residents of San Diego, and more specifically City Heights, where so many taxicab drivers and their families live. Cars driving past honked their horns in support. At one point, parishioners from a local Ethiopian church joined the group. Protesters described a tradition of Muslims and Christians living side by side in Ethiopia. They emphasized that the protest was not a reflection of religious divisions. No one spoke about the Ethiopian government’s recent active persecution of Muslims.
Human Rights Watch describes the current situation in Ethiopia:


The death in August 2012 of Ethiopia’s powerful prime minister, Meles Zenawi, led to new leadership but seems unlikely to result in tangible human rights reforms. Ethiopian authorities continue to severely restrict freedom of expression, association, and assembly.

 Thirty journalists and opposition members have been convicted under the country’s vague Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, and security forces responded to protests by Muslim communities with excessive force and arbitrary detentions. The Ethiopian government continues to forcibly resettle hundreds of thousands of rural villagers, including indigenous peoples, as part of its “villagization” program, relocating them through violence and intimidation, and often without essential services.

There is perhaps an even larger story to consider here. The dam constructed in Ethiopia will have consequences upon another eleven countries which rely heavily upon the Nile for agriculture, fishing and electrical power. This raises the obvious concern that the next war in the region may not be about politics at all. It will be about water.


I am neither Ethiopian nor a cabdriver. I live in the community of City Heights a few blocks away from where the protest took place. I simply wanted to know what was going on, got out of the car and asked. As a San Diego Free Press writer, I wanted to provide documentation of an event that probably would not receive coverage in the local media outlets. We are all about community news.

I would like to add a few notes of clarification for readers. Sunday’s protest were directed at the Los Angeles Consulate’s involvement in selling bonds for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Hydropower Dam Project on the Nile river. The Nile basin includes Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Sudan and Egypt. The impact of Ethiopian dams is clearly not limited to Ethiopia.

Various treaties have been initiated since 1891 when Britain concluded agreements on the use and control of the Nile. The Renaissance Dam project is complicated, affecting eleven countries and 160 million human beings who are dependent upon the Nile for agriculture, fishing, hydro-electric power and drinking water. According to the Global Health and Education Foundation“… current water supplies are barely adequate, and demand will only grow as the basin’s population is projected to double during the next 25 years.”

The Renaissance Dam project is also complicated within Ethiopia. The Meles Zinawe government also began construction of a dam on the Omo river, which is wholly within Ethiopia- ie not part of the Nile. The Guardian articles cited at the beginning of my article refer to that particular dam and the impacts of its construction on Ethiopia’s indigenous peoples and neighboring Kenya. And those articles also raised the issues of government suppression of dissent and lack of local input and control of the project.

The protesters on Sunday were raising the issue of human rights abuses in Ethiopia, many of which are tied to civilian responses to the construction of the country’s hydro-electric dams. For the protesters, the Renaissance Dam Project and human rights abuses are clearly inseparable.
The initial article has been read by people with IP addresses in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Kenya, Germany and Switzerland as well as throughout the US.

  This international readership no doubt reflects the Ethiopian Diaspora throughout the world, the complexity of the issues, and yes–the high stakes involved. My Ethiopian neighbors in City Heights and the larger Ethiopian community felt it was important to voice their opinion in their new homeland here, which they praise for permitting freedom of speech and assembly. I have done my best to listen and understand.
San Diego Free Press

Ethiopia . Terrorism Law Decimates Media

By Human Rights Watch

May 3, 2013

　
　

Woubshet Taye and Reeyot Alemu behind bars as terrorists (Graphics: Ethiomedia)

The Ethiopian government should mark World Press Freedom Day, on May 3, 2013, by immediately releasing all journalists jailed under the country’s deeply flawed anti-terrorism law, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 2, 2013, the Supreme Court upheld an 18-year sentence under the anti-terrorism law for Eskinder Nega Fenta, a journalist and blogger who received the 2012 PEN Freedom to Write Award.

Eleven journalists have been convicted and sentenced since 2011 under Ethiopia’s repressive anti-terrorism law, including six in absentia. Three of the eleven are currently in prison. Two other journalists are currently on trial under the anti-terrorism law. Another journalist, Temesgen Desalegn, the editor of the now defunct independent magazine Feteh, is on trial for three offenses under the criminal code.

"Ethiopia’s journalists shouldn’t be spending World Press Freedom Day in jail on trumped-up terrorism charges," said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Freeing these journalists would be an important step toward improving Ethiopia’s deteriorating record on press freedom."

Since Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism law was adopted in 2009, the independent media have been decimated by politically motivated prosecutions under the law. The government has systematically thwarted attempts by journalists to establish new publications. Blogs and Internet pages critical of the government are regularly blocked, and in 2012 printing houses came under threat for printing publications that criticized the authorities. Mastewal Birhanu, the manager of Mastewal Publishing, for example, was charged under the criminal code for printing the editions of Feteh that were the basis for the charges against Temesgen.

Human Rights Watch has repeatedly raised concerns about the anti-terrorism law’s overly broad definition of "terrorist acts." The law’s provisions on support for terrorism contain a vague prohibition on "moral support" under which only journalists have been convicted.

One of the three journalists sentenced under the law who remain in prison is Eskinder Nega Fenta, a veteran Ethiopian journalist. He had been detained numerous times, and was sentenced in July 2012 to 18 years in prison for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, as well as participation in a terrorist organization. Eskinder’s sentence was upheld on appeal on May 2, 2013. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a panel of independent experts, concluded in November that Eskinder’s imprisonment was arbitrary and "a result of his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression."

Woubshet Taye Abebe, who is serving a 14-year sentence under the anti-terrorism law, was a winner of the 2012 Hellman-Hammett Award, administered by Human Rights Watch. Woubshet was the deputy editor of the Awramba Times prior to his arrest in 2011. He alleged in court that he was tortured in pretrial detention, as have other defendants detained on terrorism charges. The court did not investigate his complaint.

Reeyot Alemu Gobebo, a journalist for Feteh, was convicted on three counts under the terrorism law for her writings. Her sentence was reduced from 14 years to 5 years on appeal, and she remains in prison. Reeyot was recently awarded the prestigious 2013 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. She will miss the May 3 award ceremony in Costa Rica.

Members of the international media have also been charged under the anti-terrorism law. In December 2009, two Swedish journalists, Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, were convicted for "rendering support to terrorism" and entering the country illegally "to commit an act that is a threat to the well-being of the people of Ethiopia." They had entered the country without a visa and were arrested while investigating the situation in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region, site of a longstanding insurgency. They were pardoned and released in September 2012 after more than a year in prison.

"The journalists who have been detained and convicted have one thing in common – they were all exercising their right to freedom of expression, a right guaranteed by the Ethiopian constitution and international law," Lefkow said.

In 2012 Hailemariam Desalegn became Ethiopia’s prime minister following the death of Meles Zenawi, under whose leadership the country experienced a sharp decline in civil and political rights – including freedom of expression. Hopes that Hailemariam’s government would improve Ethiopia’s record on free expression have been dashed by ongoing arbitrary arrests and detentions of journalists and others.

Since January 2012, members of Ethiopia’s Muslim community have held regular protests in the capital, Addis Ababa, and other towns over alleged government interference in religious affairs. The government has harassed and detained journalists who have reported on these protests. Yusuf Getachew, former editor of the now-defunct Islamic magazine Yemuslimoch Guday, was charged under the anti-terrorism law and is on trial, though the trial is closed to the public. Solomon Kebede, Getachew’s successor at the magazine, was arrested on January 17 and has also been charged under the anti-terrorism law. Prior to charges being bought, Solomon spent more than two months in pre-trial detention at Maekelawi prison in Addis Ababa, which is notorious for torture, without access to legal counsel.

The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Ethiopian constitution, and in numerous African and international conventions, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Ethiopia has ratified. In November, Ethiopia was appointed to the United Nations Human Rights Council and as such has made a commitment to uphold "the highest standards of human rights as enshrined in the constitution of the country and in the international and regional human rights treaties that Ethiopia has ratified" – including rights to freedom of expression.

"As a recently appointed member of the UN’s Human Rights Council, Ethiopia should take swift steps to improve the media environment in the country," Lefkow said. "These include immediately releasing all journalists imprisoned under the anti-terrorism law, amending the law’s worst provisions, and ending the harassment of what little independent media remains in the country."

TPLF and the culture of violence

Friday, January 11th, 2013

By Yilma Bekele.

According to ESAT the FBI has foiled an attempt by the Ethiopian government to assassinate Ato Abebe Gelaw. Goosh Abera and his accomplices are under custody. Please note here I said the Ethiopian government since there seems to be no thin line between the TPLF party and the government. Why am I not surprised? I am not surprised because for the TPLF violence is sanctioned by the party leaders as a legitimate tool to achieve political, economic and military dominance.

The following weeks as we look closely at Goosh Abera and his criminal friends and the FBI presents a psychological profile of the alleged conspirators we are sure to find out certain telltale signs about TPLF and their bizarre psychopathic behavior. Individuals like Goosh are most probably equipped with basic rudimentary education if any and survive by their wit and ethnic fueled bravado. In Ethiopia they are known for carrying weapons conspicuously, brandishing them at will and revealing in their thuggish behavior. They are the kind that administers summary judgment on street corners, bars and clubs.

How was TPLF Chairman, the recently departed Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi able to achieve this goal in Ethiopia? The simple truth is by using violence to silence, intimidate, and eliminate his and the party’s actual or perceived enemies using any means necessary. You do not need to be a Sherlock Holmes to detect this pungent smell of gun powder around most Woyanes.

Mengistu Hailemariam prepared the perfect ground for TPLF to flourish. He has already disarmed the population, delegitimized the family system and used the lowest denominators to be in charge of the Kebeles. TPLF inherited a demoralized, confused and tired population to mold in its own image.

The first target of this terrorist organization was the educated citizen. The University was stripped of its most experienced and independent thinkers. By ’94 the University was a former ghost of itself. The political system was dealt in a harsh way. Professor Asrat was murdered in the most inhumane way possible. Teachers President Assefa Maru was shot against a wall execution style. Masses of independent publication owners, editors and reporters were brutally beaten, murdered, bankrupted,

　
intimidated, exiled or killed even in exile. Bank employees were fired in masse, telecommunication workers were discarded teachers and their unions were digested even Chamber of Commerce was not immune from TPLF take over. One thread common to all is that none of them were acquired peacefully. Violence was the main calling card of the TPLF.

Every opportunity he got the sick dictator used to trash our country and our history and every opportunity they got his security department used to bully, intimidate and made to cower with fear. My dear fellow citizens, you know there is nothing new in what I am telling you. Some have witnessed it, plenty have experienced it and a vast majority would try not to think about it. The shame is unbearable.

One thing about TPLF is it is not a behind the curtain type of organization. It practically advertises every hit and all illegal acts. They use their criminal action to send a clear message to the citizen. That is why they insist that all are aware and versed on their mode of operation. They use their Television news, their newspapers and radio to send warning messages before they take action. When the unthinkable happens some are heard to say ‘he/she was warned but refused to listen-they deserve it!" You see the victim assumes the blame.

They have been systematically killing any and all emerging Ethiopians. They have goon squads that go around intimidating anybody they perceive to be a challenge. They use beating and flogging opponents to shame them in front of family, friends and a whole village. They use blackmail as a tool. They use the law to break the law. Meles used to amend the Constitution in a weekend. Even the Constitution is not worth any respect. Once you trash the Constitution what is on your way?

That is what the FBI s telling us. Their dirty deeds have arrived in America. Under Meles they were content in infiltrating our organizations such as Political Party support groups, Eders, Churches, Sport organization and disrupting from the inside. There is no Organization in North America that has not been a victim of TPLF insider disruption. They are crafty, relentless and completely understand our frame of mind. They exploit our ignorance, selfishness and greed to keep us in a daze.

The new TPLF leaders are a little bit reckless. I understand that too. It comes out of desperation. The group is under tremendous pressure. The late dictator I am afraid was a very selfish person. The sun revolved around him. When he left the light went dim. I do not think any social or military organization can take credit for the current upheaval. In my humble opinion the stink is coming from inside.

I agree things are getting ripe on the outside and that could intensify the pressure inside the TPLF bowl. I am afraid the last CEO did not really care to what came after him. He was too busy surviving from day to day in this shark infested pond that he did not have the time and luxury to bother with outcome. He left an army with too many generals. Here in America there is a saying ‘all chiefs and no Indians.’ Debretsion, Bereket, Sebhat, Gebru, Abbay and a bunch of tin pot Generals are on their own trying to carve the biggest pie for themselves.

This desperate act of attempt to assassinate Ato Abebe here in the US is the work of a mad man. If the group was trying to send a message about the long arm of TPLF it is a very stupid and crazy gesture. We have been complaining about their disruptive activities in our midst but this mission of trying to kill is a little concerning. There is no question the FBI will get to the bottom of this incident. It should be treated as act of terrorism by a government and investigated to the full extent of the law and let the chips fall where they may.

I am sure the alleged conspirator will name names and tell us who gave the order for such criminal act. I doubt one individual will take it upon himself to take such mission. The Ethiopian Government under Dictator Meles routinely used to kill, rough up and intimidate its opponents in the African countries they are exiled to.

The new guys are a little daring. Prime Minister Debretsion and security chief Workeneh Gebehu Should be interviewed about the work of their agents and made to take responsibility for their actions. We hope the US government will take the necessary action of baring all Ethiopian Government officials and family members from entering the country before everything is known about this conspiracy to commit crime in the US. We should demand the US government protect us from the monsters they have been coddling.

This definitely is not their first time committing crime here in the US. They have been using every legal and illegal means to harass, bankrupt and shut down Ethiopian Review Web site. They have employed what is known as denial of service attacks (DDoS Attack) to block ER and various Web sites, they have hired attorneys to intimidate ER publisher and are present in every of our Churches sawing dissent and negativity.

As Ethiopians in exile we should take the actions of these criminals seriously. It is true there is no criminal without the victim. Sometimes it is unfortunate things happen but you really can’t leave your door open and cry about being robbed do you? It is time we accept responsibility. The Ethiopian people that are facing the brunt of TPLF abuse should wake up and face their coward enemies. By now it should be clear silence is not the answer. The one year anniversary by our Muslim citizens is clear indication the regime does not listen to reason. The steadfastness of our Muslim brethren should be applauded and emulated by the rest of us. The call by our Orthodox church in exile for every one of us to safeguard our religion and our country is a timely reminder

The fact that we have muscle now is a very empowering feeling. The cooperation between Ginbot7, Afar Front, anti Woyane activists in Tigrai, OLF, Patriotic Front and the formation of Ginbo7 Forces is the right direction considering the nature of TPLF. As I said before leveling the playing field is called for. That is one small step for our Fronts and one giant step for Ethiopia.

As for the Diaspora it is time we stop enriching the coffers of the evil regime. Any kind of involvement in their Ponzi scheme adds one day more to their life. As there is no little pregnancy there is no such thing as a little investment. It has to be a clean and complete break. This Abesha way of qualifying our illegal act is not good for our future. Your selfish action is hurting us and we ask you stop it. It is like MLK said ‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.’ It is something to think about.

We feel the pain and hurt of our friend Abebe and his family. He has never threatened those that have hounded him and his family from his beloved homeland. His only weapon is his pen and pencil and the power of reason to resolve contradictions. Exiling him was not enough. Now they want to kill him in cold blood. That is the only language they speak.

They have killed so many but they are unable to understand their violence has not resolved any of the outstanding issues. Don’t they see it? Don’t they know there are a lot more Abebebes as there were plenty of Asrats, Assefas, Eskindirs, Reyots? When is this madness going to stop? When is our country going to be a citadel of peace and harmony instead of a poster child for famine and civil war?

You know what no one gives you your freedom. You have to snatch it from those that want to make you their slave. No oppressor has ever said enough, I am going to leave you alone here go in peace. No, every oppressor faced by human kind was compelled to relinquish power by force. Not reason but force. The French revolution, the American revolution, the Russian revolution, the Chinese revolution, the South African revolution are all examples of the citizens taking matters into his hands and forcing the oppressor to step aside. Woyane dogs are not going to wake up one morning and pack and leave. You and I have to push them out. That is the only proven way. Anything else invites more abuse