24. April 2010 by Assimba.

By Yilma Bekele

I am sure most of you have heard or read that the leaders of Medrek are on a tour of North America. They have held town hall meetings in Seattle, San Jose, Las Vegas, Washington DC and Atlanta and are coming to Los Angles this coming weekend. The delegation consists of Ato Seye Abreha, Ato Gebru Asrat, Dr. Negasso Gidada and Ato (engineer) Gezachew Shiferaw. All four gentlemen were ex members of TPLF, OPDO or AEUP.

For those not familiar with the alphabet soup, TPLF stands for Tigrai Peoples Liberation Front and OPDO is Oromo Peoples Democratic Union. OPDO is the brainchild of TPLF. That is neither paranoia nor a figment of my imagination. Other TPLF subsidiaries include ANDM (Amhara National Democratic Movement) SEPDM (Southern Ethiopia Peoples’ Democratic Movement) and other minor parties. They call them Teletafi (ተለጣፊ) They are organized as EPDRF (Ethiopian peoples’ Democratic Revolutionary Front).

The current Ethiopian Parliament is composed of 526 members and EPDRF controls 326 seats. That is actually not a true statement. TPLF Party control extends to all the so-called political parties organized as an independent for ‘Ferenjis’ consumption. Thus in reality the Parliament is TPLF’ Party’s’ private playing field. As the Chilean dictator Pinochet said ‘”Not a leaf moves in Chile if I don’t know about it”, nothing in Ethiopian Parliament happens without the permission of the one party state.

If you will forgive me I will start our current story with the 2005 general election as a background. To a majority of Ethiopians May 2005 is day one in the hope of our people for democracy and a better future. May 2005 left the Meles regime physically naked mentally dead and spiritually void of values. The total rejection of ethnic politics and cadre rule unnerved the regime. Meles and company panicked. They communicated with the Ethiopian people with snipers on every roof and concentration camps in every Kilil. The aftermath of 2005 election ushered the quest for a new understanding of the struggle for liberation under a totalitarian state.

Kinijit leaders were forced to forge a new path based on the experience of the 2005 debacle. Kinijit the dragon slayer was an amalgamation of different organization united for the purpose of elections. The two years in Kaliti jail dealt a heavy blow on the young party. The TPLF machine used every evil means at its disposal to create mistrust, mis-information resulting in disarray. Kaliti did a favor to the movement. It differentiated the men from the boys. Ledetu was officially recognized as a subsidiary. Hailu was exposed as spoiler. Merera and Petros became inconsequential. Berhanu reloaded and Bertukan decided to re-calibrate.

Our story revolves around Bertukan Mideksa. Upon her return to Ethiopia from her North American tour, she embarked on the formation of a new political party modeled after Kinijit. If you remember Ato Meles’s court have already handed Kinijit to some obscure individual named Ayele Chamiso. Thus Weizero Bertukan labored tirelessly to form Andenet Party. Despite the many hurdles thrown on her path she was able to dot the I’s and cross the t’s and form Andenet. It was a proud accomplishment that will be told and retold for a long time. Birtukan’s Andenet is a multi national party based on equality and resting on a strong bedrock of Democracy as its foundation.

Weizero Bertukan criss crossed the country forming headquarters in every region and managed to win the trust and respect of the Ethiopian People. Her rising star was eclipsing the faint candlelight of the TPLF cadres. That did not go well with TPLF. Chairman Bertukan was re-hauled back to Kaliti on some funky charge to be kept away until the 2010 election is over.

Her imprisonment created a void in the new party. It was not long before factions were formed and an all out war was declared. The young party was left without a rudder to steer the party in the TPLF shark infested ocean. The battle tested TPLF leaders exploited the weakness of the rookie leaders to the maximum. TPLF was not interested in killing the Party. It just wanted to deliver a crippling blow. It was not long before things degenerated to the extent that Andenet was forced to appeal to the TPLF regime for protection from its own members. Shame is an understatement. It was under these strange circumstances that Andenet joined what is known as Medrek. What exactly is Medrek?

Medrek is a coalition of different parties that include UEDF (United Ethiopian Democratic Forces led by Dr. Beyene Petros and Dr. Merera Gudina) OFDM (Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement led by Ato Bulcha Demeksa) A.R.E.N.A. Tigrai led by Ato Gebru Asrat, and Andenet led by Ato Gezachew Shiferaw. Please note Andenet is the only multi national party in the group. Andenet under the leadership of Chairman Bertukan is the only party with representation in all parts of the country and support organizations in the Diaspora.

The two independent individuals Ato Seye Abraha and Dr. Negasso Gidada joined the weak and wounded Andenet at this critical time. The void felt in the party due to the expulsion of some founding members created a fertile ground for the two ex-officials to assume positions of leadership upon arrival.

Thus, this is the Medrek that is currently touring North America. Some of my esteemed friends have used such expressions as ‘the rebirth of Ethiopia’ and ‘a new political culture in Ethiopia’ to explain the tour. Is this really a Hallelujah or Alhamdulillah moment? It is possible that both declarations are heavy on the cheerleading side but lacking in the friendly but critical assessment option.

The American expression ‘friends don’t allow friends drive drunk’ comes to mind, especially when one is a passenger in the vehicle. We are all passengers in this ship called Ethiopia. The action of the pilot affects the welfare of the passengers. The current tour leaves many questions unanswered and the timing is a puzzle to all well-wishers. The question of raising money is out of the question. The Diaspora is fighting a life and death battle to retain jobs, pay mortgages and raise expensive children. The Diaspora does not vote. Is it possible the expenditure of thousands of hard earned dollars in transporting, lodging and feeding the delegation is not a smart investment?

What exactly is Medrek trying to accomplish in the current election? The short answer is of course win. The next question will be is that possible? The simple answer is a resounding no. That leads us back to the first question, why participate in an impossible, rigged game where the outcome is pre determined? That the TPLF started the preparations for this election way back in May of 2005 is obvious to all. Meles and company vowed not to be caught with their pants down again. Thus the vibrant independent media was destroyed, capable leaders were killed, exiled or jailed, the Constitution was amended to include curbs on NGO activities, a law defining any opposition as terrorism and a new code of conduct was put in place.

In Election Ethiopian style the opposition cannot hold unauthorized meeting, cannot hold a rally, and cannot raise money from outside sources including the Diaspora. It is enough for you to say what a cockamamie idea? Wait there is more; according to the PM candidates cannot criticize the regime under threat of being charged with incitement or sedation. In emerging democratic Ethiopia the opposition cannot campaign except in a few large cities like Addis Abeba and Bahir Dar. Being a candidate or supporter of the opposition is a hazardous duty in most of the Kilils. The only exception seems to be Tigrai where the ex TPLF members can campaign in a limited areas.

Medrek has sacrificed plenty of candidates in this election. Human right activists, foreign correspondents such as VOA, Bloomberg and many others, have recorded party members being prosecuted, hounded in their villages, denied government controlled necessities and even murdered. Ethiopian politics is not for the fain hearted.

The 2005 election was proof that the minority-based regime is a paper tiger. It was resoundingly defeated where the ballot boxes were opened under the watchful eyes of the people and international observers. Thus the lesson learnt was it is not about the campaign but it is all about the counting of the ballots. What we see today is that the regime still controls the election board, recruited trained and is ready to deploy its own cadre observers and have drawn up a strict code of conduct for the Ferenji observers. It is like meet the new situation same as the old situation.

The simple question to Medrek is why do you exactly expect a different outcome when nothing has changed? The truth of the matter is actually things have change in a negative way as far as the opposition is concerned. With its star leader behind bars and its candidates and supporters terrorized by government goons how is it possible to contemplate winning when even trying has become a crime?

Why is Medrek giving legitimacy to a dictatorial regime by its involvement in a rigged game? Some will say half a loaf is better than no loaf, is that Medrek’s philosophy too? Is the idea to win a hundred or so seats in Parliament? Is that considered good whereas the regime with its majority control will continue the abuse of the few opposition members seated for show?

These are the questions Medrek have not addressed both at home and abroad. It was only last October that Ato Gezachew declared ‘The release of Birtukan Mideksa and all Political Prisoners is the main agenda for joining the 2010 Election’. What ever happened to that bravado? How come the political prisoner population of Kaliti and the Kilils has gone up let alone secure the release of our leader?

The lessons of 2005 should not be forgotten. Repeating the same mistake is definitely not a winning strategy. The Ethiopian people have paid a heavy price for an inferior and ugly outcome. We worry that what was done to us five years ago is in the process of being repeated. We ask Medrek to consider the ramifications of kowtowing to a totalitarian state that is hell bent in winning at all cost. We urge Medrek to listen to its constituents that wish it well and include their concerns in its deliberations. We have a very sick regime that considers politics as a game where winning is the only acceptable outcome. They have shown that they will kill to secure their ill-gotten power and wealth.

We feel the pain of the opposition candidates that have sacrificed trying to get involved in the affairs of their nation. We are horrified to witness the death of Ato Aregawi Gebre Yohanes, Ato Beyanza Deba and many other nameless Ethiopians whose crime was wanting to be free. We hope Medrek will take its role seriously and observe the Hippocratic oath like doctors that states ‘do no harm’. Our hope is that they contemplate if their actions bring good or harm on our people.

It is a good possibility the regime will orchestrate an election worthy of an African standard. It is also true that the US and the Europeans will declare ‘a few irregularities’ but ‘an essential first step’. Just like what happened five years ago Ato Meles and company will continue the rape and pillage of our country and sell what is left of it to the highest bidder. We hope Medrek will not be one of those parties that will sit silently in the kangaroo parliament and preach the gospel of ‘working together’ and such crap while dining with killers, psychos and future guests of the International Criminal Court.

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24. April 2010 by Assimba.

Getachew Reda

Please post this letter on your website until I come out with a commentary in Amharic (I am not currently on PC with Amharic font) regarding the Ethiopian Free Press Association lead by the Ato Kifle Mulat. Honestly speaking, I am angry, frustrated by the so many of the called Diaspora opposition media. Hate me or like me, this is my confession. I congratulate Ato Kifle Mulat for coming out from the cave he was hide as a Monk for several years and finally to my surprise appeared with his three page (supposed to be 13 looking at the PDF) (incomplete/cut out) reporting the Houston money contribution and prayers accompanied with a candle vigil to praise Bertukan Mediksa. That is all he can offer all those years of his hiding. What happen to his good writing skill as a journalist of exposing the repressive regime? I have never heard of his pen. Not only him, but also Mulugeta Lule. Are they retired from the press? I doubt. Are they still members of the press? Are they active? Are they on the Satellite TV- where only the elite viewers see them as they are the Geraldo Rivera and the Operah whinfrey show?

Now, Kifle Mulat is officially active on media for all of us to read him after he comes out from his hide out. The former Tobia Editor and president of the so called “Free Press” (?) Kifle Mulat a man who chained his arms with iron chain when he spoke on his public forum speech years back in the Diaspora has now coming out after many free press journalists who are languishing in Yemen, India, Kenya and elsewhere were looking for his leadership but nowhere to be found, (though, he might have contacted them here and there through his third party gangs around him. The man never even heard by the public whom he claimed to speak, represent and concerned to write about their pain and fate for a long time (may be heard and seen by his compatriots of the Diaspora who run gang politics that we all are aware spreading little spiral dusts sprouting to the thin air as if they are shooting canons to Meles Zenawi).

An amazing man! I thought this man was a decent press man who has a gut and humanity and professional, but I guess not.   No one, but he let the press to be swarmed by a “elite gangs” whose business is day in day out posting pictures of Negasso, Gebru, Seye, Gizachew, Merera and Al Mariam , Berhanu Negga and Bertukan, (even a single other prisoners pictures who are languishing for over 18 years never were posted for sample for one day even in the last 5 years) by ignoring posting pictures of citizens who are suffering in the economic, politics, religious, homelessness, sickness, starvation, injustice, racism perpetrated by the TPLF security and malfunction administration . This media gangs are crazily in love with such criminal political leaders. No one but he and his circles with their experience, let the press to failed and open the gate for them the press to be taken hostage by talkative and elite propaganda spreaders using “patriotism” to highlight a toxic elite image and toxic politics shaped by criminals and manipulators.

Here we are now, Kifle Mulat t coming out from where ever he was hide and post news that was heard repeatedly by the elite media pretending as if he is talking about the thousands of prisoners who are languishing in TPLF jail while he was in Addis Ababa (still in Kaliti and elsewhere). As press person, he failed to mention a “single name” of those who sacrifice their life and property and their life to save and defend Ethiopia’s dignity. Indeed, not unusual for papers like this to hold stories for a good news, but the timing served more than one purpose. The release of this story wrote from his pen brings the issue of elite image such as like him (coming out from his hide) into the spotlight. I believe such story is not new for readers to read it, but as I said this was done to elevate his faded image cleverly through the prisoner Bertukan Medikasa. Quite honestly, a very shrewd business , it is also a very irresponsible move on the part of this man by failing not to mention in his paper the so many popular political leaders and civic leaders, journalists in prison who also escaped harassment of TPLF security still continue harassed by TPLF gangs all over the planet.

While we have both the right and responsibility to question the actions the opposition press officials, there are also times when we have to trust them since they said they are talking on behalf of us/the public. But, if the Ethiopian public do not trust those who said they represent us with their press skills, then we need to get off our collective rear-end and replace for those we believe we can trust in future difficulties and challenges.

The media in the Diaspora (I do not know about the media in Ethiopia) is hosting elites not the public. They hijacked the majority fools and ill informed elements to use them on their agenda of pumping up “elite images”. This can’t continue forever like this. They need to know that they are accountable for their actions for what they print. Journalists have a responsibility to their readers (i.e. the ones who keep them in business), but apparently the editorial board and staff writers on Ethiomedia .com /Ethioforum.org/Abugida.org/Addis DimTs radio/Nazret, Abay media and their likes don’t think that responsible journalism is nearly as important as serving their own individual political interests. Those media mentioned above should not sacrifice decent information for the sake of business and circulation numbers. If they want to sacrifice their own decency and political agenda that’s their individual choices. I would appreciate it, however, if they would not sacrifice mine at the same time. My country is hold hostage by TPLF gangs in the country and here the Diaspora media is reflecting elite image by posting pictures and speeches of criminal elements day in day out to elevated them as our New Covenant. This is unacceptable, their action angers many victims.

Who is responsible for such elite hegemony in the media posing elite politics? It is the former press leadership who claimed themselves as “Free Press Journalist Association”. It is Kifle Mulat and the rest! Shame on you Kifle Mulat! Where were you when the journalists are still seeking help from your leadership? Can’t you at least write one paper to UNHCR and the rest of the Humanitarian organization to help journalist Araya Tesfamariam who is suffering in India with his ill 13 years old who have no mother but himself as mother and mother looking after her still harassed by TPLF SECURITY BY THE NAME “Hagos and other hidden spies)? Where were you hiding Mr. Press President? In Asmara or in the Diaspora?

Have you heard the Ethiopian Journalists cry? Did you read us when several friends and I sent you messages on your email provided to us by your close compatriots regarding journalists suffering and seeking to hear your voice? What is “Free Press journalism Association” mean Ato Kifle? Good luck in your hide out political circles where ever you are flirting around with. Finally, (leave my politics alone) I like to thank Dr. Negasso Gidada for helping journalist Eyerusalem Araya. He is the one who helped him to get financial help for his daughter‘s medical expense when he she is referred to India Hospital for further treatment. I thank you sir for your humanity and care for these young girl and her father in a darkest time of his and her life. I am sure; god will forgive you at least in one of your seen. I also want to thank Obang Metho, Addis Voice editor (Ato Abebe Gelaw) for promising they will write to UNHCR to let problem known and expedite his refugee asylum papers to a better country where his daughter will get treatment. I also want Tigringa speaking Ethiopians to hear Dejen radio (Ethiopiancommentator.com) conducted interview with Eyerusalem Araya explaining the crime of TPLF. I thank Dr. Hailemariam Abebe for doing great job on this matter (for your so many cooperation in this matter). I will translate it in to Amharic- stay tune. Let us work hard to expose the failing press in the Diaspora and inside the country. Getachew Reda Getachre@AOL.com www.Ethiopiansemay.blogspot.com

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