Out of curiosity I dogged deep into Elias Kifle’s workmanship in his Eritrean Review diatribe: In a 4 hours interview with the paid agent Elias Kifle of Eritrean Review (cunningly what claims to be an Ethiopian website) Tyrant Issayas Afeworki mockingly portrays himself as a defender of what he calls “Ethiopian unity”.

We all clearly know well that this interview is intended to cover-up and deceive Ethiopians to give support to Ginbot-7 and appears designed to allow Tyrant Issayas Afeworki appear in disguise. The truth of the matter is that no other person has worked so tirelessly for the demise of Ethiopia as Issayas Afeworki. Tyrant Issayas Afeworki has never been supportive of Ethiopian unity as his current efforts at destabilization make all too clear. We are well aware of what he has been saying about Ethiopia all along and well privy of that. (1) Does he forget what he said of Ethiopia as “… there is no such thing as Ethiopia and what there is, is no more than a shadow of a country – a country that cannot be taken seriously as a state.” (2) Does Afeworki forget what he to the American, Paul Henze, on 11th March 1991, before he entered Asmara stating: “The only reason that there is an Ethiopia is that the US needed it for the Cold War, and recreated it, otherwise it would have disappeared at the end of World War II.”

Well now he is badly caught red-handed as the ring-leader of arms trafficking and piracy operations to create stronger bandits against the world community that he portrays as undemocratic, imperialist, and biased toward “Eritrea”. And Elias Kifle of the Eritrean Review is working hard to legitimize this very reality and trying to come up with more of his usual diatribe.

This is a much deserved criticism of your cavalier attitude towards journalism in general and Ethiopian politics in particular. If you ever thought that people flock to ER for edification by the ill conceived and shallow minded views and analysis of its editor, you are more of a fool that I thought. Let me tell you, most people come here for the timely aggregated news and your alleged investigative reporting (dirt digging) and nothing else.

Elias, you have been playing so unintentional and deep-moving negative roles on the Diaspora politics. I believe you have already caused significant damages on Ethiopian struggle. For example, during the split of Kinijit several times you poured cold water on the Ethiopian struggle; as a result, you made people feel sad.

Elias please listen to what people are trying to communicate with you and apologize about your negative effects on our struggle.

As far as Elias Kifle is concerned we have been observing and noting the following
traits of him all along with his ER-tabloid:
1) Any person or group that has different views and positions on the form, place, type, and time of the struggle for democracy and justice from his is labeled and becomes the primary target of Elias Kifle’s malicious attack. Please see the recent articles about the formation of UDJ and its leaders.
2) Elias Kifle flip-flops on many issues along with any emerging political movement.
3) Elias Kifle’s unwavering support for the other ‘Pinochet of Eritrea,’ Mr. Issayas Afewerki, who was the God father of the dictator in Ethiopia is manifested on many occasions. No one believes Issayas Afeworki will be the reliable friend and neighbor of Ethiopia who loves to see a strong Ethiopia next door. Otherwise, he would not have fought for 30 years to separate the ancient and historical province, Bahre Negash (Eritrea) from Ethiopia.
4) Elias Kifle’s unsubstantiated support for ethnic-based armed struggle is so astounding that it does not seem that he has understood the consequence of it unless he has a dream of seeing a dismantled Ethiopia. Again, it should be clear that no form of atrocity and genocide is acceptable no matter which side did it. The argument is that the support that is (to be) given to ethnic-based oppositions that bear arms should be based on their strong position for the establishment of a democratic society in that country and on defending the territorial integrity of the country.
5) The soldiers that are killed in Somalia by the order of their brutal leader are called ‘woyane mercenaries,’ as if they are not sons and daughters of Ethiopia. Elias Kifle is extremely happy with their horrific death. The news he wrote about the headless bodies of the Ethiopian soldiers being dragged in the streets of Mogadishu was too clear he lacked the minimal sympathy for those poor Ethiopians who are obviously the victims of the enemies in power in Ethiopia. This position is similar to the position of TPLF that disarmed, dismantled and demoralized what was one of the most professional armies on the continent. The enemy regime has even sentenced members of the Black Eagle of the former Ethiopian Air Force pilots to death. What did they do other than obeying orders? Here, it should be clear that it doesn’t mean there were no specialized forces, who like ‘Agazi,’ were trained and equipped to harass, kidnap, torture, and kill citizens of the country.
6) Although we understand the situation of the country under mercenary Meles, Elias Kifle is obsessed with his own idea of having a government in exile, and now an opposition in exile, and once again a government on exile under the leadership of Ginbot-7; with Birhanu Nega and Andargachew as likely candidates to lead us through. The question is who is paying the utmost sacrifice at home? What are his historical and current references that justify his argument? Was Mandela in Europe when his country was liberated from apartheid? Is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in exile when fighting for democracy in her country - Burma? Where is Morgan Tsyangirai of Zimbabwe? Where is Birtukan Mideksa? Elias Kifle must be ready to review his stand and stance along with improving his ER-tabloid once and for all. How long can Elias Kifle remain to be the boot-licker of Tyrant Afeworki unless he is a paid agent?

http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2009/05/ethiopian-review-asmara-trip-video/

How do we measure the popularity of political parties? What makes some parties real and others fake? I might not give you the answer for these two questions, but I can at least say the following: The ER editor has neither the moral background nor the empirical authenticity to publicly declare that Issayas Afeworki is the “Man of the Year” unless he is a paid agent. How dare a man who like me enjoys burgers at the comfort of a “drive-in,” calls Birtukan Mideksa the leader of a fake party with no political constituency? Which constituency are we talking here? Isn’t Birtukan the one who challenged TPLF for truth sake? Isn’t Bertukuan a lady who with no fear confronted Zenawi’s wicked legal system in her professional life? Didn’t this same relentless defender of democracy wasting more than two years of her precious young life in Kaliti prison for our common cause? Isn’t Issayas Afewoki the one who killed bright sons and daughters of EPRP only to replace it wit TPLF and other ethnic-affiliated LFits among us and keep Ethiopia in endless troubles? How can a true Ethiopian even see Afewoki on the face leave alone to sit with and conduct interview with this world known bandit? Regardless of how hard they try to destroy Ethiopia we have hundreds and thousands of the likes of Bertukan and other dedicated Ethiopians who keep on demonstrating their undeterred will to endlessly stand for the true cause of democracy in Ethiopia. Yes, we will win and keep Ethiopia in tact by all means. Shame on Elias Kifle who acts as a neutral outsider and sitting with Ethipia’s number one enemy Issayas Afeworki!