By Yilma Bekele

No question I have to be careful writing this column. That is why I choose the title. Some of us are quick to take offense or assume holier than thou attitude when it comes to the subject I am gingerly trying to confront. I decided to approach the issue head on and let the chips fall where they may.

It all started after reading my friend Dr. Fikre Tolosa’s article regarding the Oromo question in our homeland. I was impressed and empowered by his lucid analysis. His grasp of our ancient history is second to none and his piece on the current situation was a showcase of his vast knowledge. The response to his presentation did not fit the gravity of the subject matter he so carefully laid out. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I expected a mature and open discussion so we can have clarity and help us see the problem that has confounded our people for quite a long time. There is nothing like looking at an old problem with a fresher perspective equipped with new knowledge and experience gained from learning and observing.

Thus with my disappointment for those that claim to speak for the oppressed and down trodden I left the subject matter behind and moved on to other things. But that nagging feeling of searching for an opportunity to put the matter into some perspective stayed with me.

I was making my breakfast one early morning when I heard Public Radio discussing the anniversary of the assassination of Medgar Evers and the Mississippi of 1963. I was mesmerized by the story. For those that are not familiar with the history of America and its race relations I will do my best to give you a snapshot of the period.

The 1960 USA was a different country from what we see today. The two races white and black might as well have been living on different planets. They claim the north was a little different whatever that means but in the south USA being black was not a small matter. The State of Mississippi was ground zero for racism in its ugliest form. It was not de facto apartheid but it was definitely de facto segregation.  The two races kept separate neighborhoods, separate schools and separate existence.

Medgar Evans, a veteran of World War II who fought for his country, a college graduate and a civil right campaigner applied to the University of Mississippi law school and his application was rejected due to his race. This was 1954. Mr. Evans continued his work in the civil rights movement by helping organize boycotts and setting up chapters of NAACP (National Alliance for the Advancement of Colored People) in his home state.

Some  white folks in Mississippi did not appreciate the likes of Medgar Evans that were trying to upset the norm. Separate and unequal was their philosophy. Thus on June 12, 1963 a white fellow that took the distorted view to heart shot and killed Medgar Evans thinking that his act will stop the march of history. Here is the lyric to a beautiful song by Bob Dylan trying to make sense of this tragedy.

A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers’ blood
A finger fired the trigger to his name
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man’s brain
But he can’t be blamed
He’s only a pawn in their game.

How true, the hapless individual with no name was just a ‘pawn in their game’. I felt a strong sense of attachment and empathy to Medgar Evans. He was not a complainer. He was an activist. Despite the danger to himself and his family Medgar worked to right what he felt was wrong. That was the story being told on the radio the morning as I was making my breakfast.

You see they were not discussing how awful it was to be a black person in Mississippi in 1963 but rather how things have changed due to heroes like Medgar. There was lynching, separate bathrooms, designated water fountains, unequal schools and a whole bunch of grievances to talk about but what was the point of dwelling on the negatives when one can construct on the positive? Slavery was an ugly period with the consequences still lingering until today. There is no denying that when you look at the America of 2013. But in that radio program they choose to take a positive approach. Remember the past but look what has been achieved in such a short time and build on that was the message.

And I thought here are a people brought with chains to serve, systematically dehumanized due to the color of their skin, psychologically whipped and untold atrocity visited on them but are triumphatically celebrating their endurance with hope and I was humbled. I was filled with a new sense of my ability to overcome and thrive. The sacrifice of Medgar Evans in Mississippi gave perspective to the suffering of my people in Ethiopia and the possibility of one day celebrating such a bright future in my ancient land. I thought of Professor Asrat that suffered for my freedom, I remembered Assefa Maru that was gunned in broad daylight for his resolve not to bow down, I stay up nights thinking of my brother Eskinder and Andulalem, Bekele, Wubeshet, my sister Reyot and many others enduring pain on my behalf. I dare not complain because it is a lot better to work harder so their sacrifice is not in vain.

My education did not end there. A few days later the same Public Radio brought out the story of race relations in the state of Alabama. This was another dramatic story with a positive twist. It took place in June of 1963 and the setting was another place of higher education. The person being interviewed is the daughter of the then Governor of the state and she was only a 13 years old girl at the time when the tragic drama took place. On that fateful day her father stood in front of the University of Alabama to block a black person from registering. The confrontation between the state and the federal government was a made for a picture moment. George Wallace the Governor lost but he made his point when he vainly declared ‘segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.’

Peggy Wallace the daughter is one of those rare human beings that are able to emerge from such a tumultuous period with integrity. Her father redefined himself in the later part of his life but what struck me most was her statement ‘I am a Wallace but I am different.’ In the radio interview she said ‘It has taken me a lifetime to step out from the shadow of the schoolhouse door….I decided I wanted to leave a legacy for my children … one of change. If you have the courage to find your own voice, you can make change. I wanted Burns and Leigh (her children) to know that their mother found her voice and had the courage to stand for change. That she wanted change. That she did change.’

The two stories lifted the feeling of hopelessness and the heavy burden I feel when I think of my homeland. It is good to know that individual action could galvanize a whole nation to stop and pay attention. Medgar Evans sacrifices on behalf what is right and George Wallace’s defiance against what is just made people realize change is necessary. The nation was confronted with the reality that evil things were happening and no one is free when others are oppressed.

My happy thoughts were jarred when I listened to a Voice of America interview with an individual presenting himself as an Ethiopian historian. Ato Gebrekidan Desta is other things but definitely not a historian. Listening to his bombastic analysis it is easy to tell that his whole purpose was to settle a score not to enlighten or find a meaning in a scholarly manner. It looks like he first arrived at a certain conclusion and went about looking for incidents to fit his theory. He reminded me of our Woyane leaders that never miss a chance to condemn the Derg while at the same time working hard to emulate and surpass the atrocity they so much hated and supposedly fought to get rid of.

Our friend Ato Gebrekidan passionately puts down early Ethiopian history and the leaders in his vain attempt to build the resume of Atse Yohanes. He dismisses all historians as tools of other Ethiopian kings while blindly forging ahead to construct his own reality regarding his favorite king Atse Yohanes. I was appalled when Ato Gebrekidan dismissed all previous historians as nothing but tools of the old regime. Such worthy intellectuals as Belaten Geta Hiruy Welde Selassie, Dr. Sergew Hable Selassie, Bahru Zewde, Richard Pankhurst, Donald Levine, Harold Marcus and other giants were all considered unworthy of respect.

I have not read or come across a historian worthy of his profession that has disparaged or dismissed the contributions of Atse Yohanes and the part he has contributed to enrich our ancient history. On the other hand there is no need to belittle and vilify others so as to put him high on a pedestal. Ato Gebrekidan speaks more like a hired cadre with a mission not like a professional, a teacher and seeker of the truth.

I am grateful to VOA for inviting Dr. Shumet Sishagne to give us a better perspective on how to look at history and how to talk in a civilized manner with the goal being to teach but not preach. Dr. Shumet, God bless him is a perfect example of what it means to be an expert on a subject. In a calm and reserved manner he was able to give us perspective on how we view our past and how we interpret the event that took place to establish what we call home today.

Whether we like or not, whether we approve or not there is a country called Ethiopia and there are over eighty million souls that are physically and politically recognized by the international community to be residents of that defined space. While countries still are waging wars to conquer and increase their physical size we in Ethiopia have actively been engaging in dismantling the big to create mini kingdoms. The first causality is Eritrea and thanks to the largesse of the TPLF party today for the first time in our history our country does not have access to the sea. Although the TPLF party’s main agenda was to create another enclave for obvious and other reasons it did not materialize. Unfortunately there are still a few that keep insisting on resetting the clock back to the last century to the time when we each tribe or ethnic group was isolated from their neighbors and ruled by a despot, a warlord or hereditary king.

That was the response to Dr. Fikre’s article which I mentioned at the beginning of this piece. Some were vividly remembering what happened during the period of nation building and presenting it as a crime. Fortified with imagination fueled with hate it looks like they want to settle a dispute which took place may be over a hundred years ago right now and today. Their emotional outburst confounds most that have a difficult time relating to a part of history that is old, outdated or not in the radar of the average person that has moved on to other things in life. It is sad to see some that supposedly have tasted enlightenment with college degrees to prove it and tasked with the burden of higher expectations by their people sink low and peddle ethnic politics for fleeting ego massage.

No one can turn back the march of time. The responsibility with the generations to come is learn from history so what was done wrong would be righted and educate themselves and their children to avoid future mishaps. The example I gave regarding Mississippi and Alabama are perfect examples where the responsible action of using the law and open discussion have resulted bringing about a just and fair system. The job is not done yet but looking at the foundation laid it is easy to predict that whatever comes next would be positive and a plus.

If such approach can overcome the hurt and hate that engulfed the black American population that was bought and sold as a commodity, held separate and systematically kept ignorant surely in our country where the different ethnic groups have intermarried, worship together and have so much in common the chances of building an all-inclusive society is not a fools dream. There is no need to go around looking for proof when all we got to do is look deep at our own linage and see the rainbow nature of our family tree.

It is easy to hate. It is a lazy persons approach to explain difficult situations with hysteria and moronic one lines. Giving a smart and reserved response requires knowledge and common sense. Some choose to cater to the lowest denominator among us and hurl insults or question a person’s character and integrity when confronted with the truth.

Dr. Fikre’s questions have not been answered yet. Those that advocate separation and going it their way have not made their case why such action will result in a better situation for the people they are trying to liberate. They have not explained the many important but grave issues of dealing with millions of people that will be caught in the middle. This article is not enough neither would it try to point out the many consequences of such drastic measures advocated by some but any discussion should address all issues that come with acts of national divorce. On the other hand the proven and successful means employed by the US, South Africa among others should be looked at closely to solve a national problem that needs to be dealt with delicately.

I also believe while not belittling the national question to me at this moment in time the number one question confronting our country is the issue of Democracy and respect for Human Right. Solving those two important questions would naturally resolve the issue of equality. Respect for individual right will translate to respect for right of nationalities. I believe our time and effort is better spent on getting rid of the Woyane group that is the cause of all problems and the source of disharmony among the children of Ethiopia. I urge you to please read the articles and video this piece is based on. The links are at the bottom.

http://ecadforum.com/ethiopianvideo/2013/06/19/ethiopian-history-discussed-on-voa/

http://www.zehabesha.com/amharic/archives/3573

http://www.zehabesha.com/amharic/archives/3758

http://www.songlyrics.com/bob-dylan/only-a-pawn-in-their-game-lyrics/

Seid Hassan- Murray State University  June 21^st, 2013

Introduction

The Amharic version of the Voice of America (journalist Solomon Abate serving as moderator) entertained a discussion on corruption which was broadcast on May 17 and 18, 2013. Participants included Messrs. Mulugeta Aragawi of Addis Ababa University, Abebe Gutta (attorney at law in Addis Ababa), Berhanu Assefa (Ethical Education and Communication Affairs Director of the Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission-FEACC) and I. The first two gentlemen who really knew the sources, extent and potential solution to the rampant Ethiopian corruption politely provided their views, including the approaches that the government has to take to fight the corruption that the government has admitted to be rampant. As expected and is customary of the members of the EPRDF, Mr. Berhanu Assefa of the FEACC was on the defensive and mostly on the attack mode, instead of listening to the complaints and suggestions of the two citizens.  As those who listened to the debate can easily attest, Mr. Assefa spent most of his time talking about unrelated to the topic of discussion –yes, you guessed it right: the same old and tired double digit growth rates that all EPRDFites like to parrot each other ad nauseam.  He also suggested that the current decision to fight against corruption is for real and the arrest of Minister Melaku Fenta, director general of the revenue and customs authority and his deputy Gebrewahed Woldegiorgis along with several officials and businessmen merchants should serve as proof and we ought not to discourage it.  I partially agreed with Mr. Assefa’s suggestion in that all of us have to encourage the fight against corruption, if indeed it is for real while at the same time expressing my serious doubts.

I will perhaps address this issue (whether Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s government is both serious and capable of fighting the rampant corruption in the country) with a separate short write-up. Delay such a commentary also allow us to give the current authorities a little more time and the benefits of doubt to show it to the world, as promised, that they have ended embarked on fighting against the debilitating corruption in the country. This and the next two (probably more) series of short commentaries instead focus on my soon to be published research findings related to the foreign-aid–corruption-nexus as applied to Ethiopia. These two forthcoming articles are included in the upcoming Ethiopian e-Journal for Research and Innovation Foresight-Vol.5, no.1-Special issue on the Ethiopian Economy which incorporates seven professionally written manuscripts. The contributors include Professors Abu Girma Moges (two articles: one on federalism and the second one on the extent of and the sham nature of calculating and indexing of poverty in the country), Minga Negash (on the peculiar nature of corporate governance in Ethiopia and the way forward), Getachew Begashaw (on the effects of landlockedness), Zeleke Worku (on Traditional Financial Structures such as Iqub, etc.) and I (two articles on the foreign aid-corruption nexus).  Both of my research articles are related but the first one tries to exclusively focus on the humanitarian aid-corruption nexus (that is, corruption when the TPLF was a rebel front) while the second one focuses on the development aid-corruption nexus (that is, corruption after the TPLF seized political power). They both are byproducts of many years of my extensive research and fact documentations regarding the nature and causes of corruption in Ethiopia. I expect readers of these articles to find the extensive literature, testimonials and interviews that I consulted to be highly beneficial to them.

The State Capture Onset in Ethiopia: Humanitarian Aid and Corruption. Forthcoming:  Ethiopian e-Journal for Research and Innovation Foresight-Vol.5, no.1-Special issue on the Ethiopian Economy.

Abstract:

The first part of this paper shows that a substantial part of the money that aid agencies gave to feed the 1984-5 Ethiopian famine victims, including those raised by Band Aid and Live Aid were siphoned off by the Tigrayan Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) to buy military weapons. I also use newly found evidences, interviews and testimonials accumulated over many years to show that famine aid scamming by the TPLF had gone beyond using humanitarian aid to purchase military weapons and feed the rebel Front’s red army. I show how humanitarian aid, as a resource in the midst of extreme scarcity, has enriched some quarters, fuelled corruption and intensified and prolonged conflicts among the warring factions of Ethiopia and legitimized the rebel fronts’ operations. Humanitarian aid lured the Fronts, particularly the TPLF, to parade hundreds of thousands of peasants to Sudan, which led to the deaths of tens of thousands of them (due to overcrowding, disease epidemics, lack of regular food supplies, poor water and sanitation problems, and from being exposed to targets for bombing). The documents I examined, the interviews that I conducted and the testimonials I have gathered over many years indicate that the refugees were abused by the TPLF both during their trek to the Ethio-Sudanese border which took 4-6 weeks and within the refugee camps. According to some ex-TPLF veterans, (and their claims to be indirectly proved by the written work of foreign nationals), a good portion of the humanitarian food aid was not made available to the starving peasants of Tigray. Their statements regarding this issue are indirectly corroborated by the field and research work of foreign nationals. By all these three counts, according to them, the TPLF has committed crimes against humanity (and, the International Committee of the Red Cross –ICRC agrees with them on this front). The documents I examined and the interviews and testimonials I gathered indicate that donors and aid agencies knew that the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) was the flip-side of the same coin- the TPLF and aid agency personnel knew a portion of the humanitarian aid that they were providing was being diverted for military purposes by the Fronts, indicating a violation of the principle of neutrality and impartiality on the part of aid agencies. There are also indications suggesting that the cross-border interventions by donors and aid agencies were against the multilateral agreements such as the Lomé conventions (Duffield and Prendergast, 1994).  This shows that the provisions and delivery of humanitarian aid have been used to violate and perhaps diminish the sovereignty of Ethiopia. Looked in a different way, a good portion of the humanitarian aid provided by donor countries to the TPLF and other fronts fighting the Derg regime was in part for the advancement of the diplomatic and foreign policy goals as well as political and military tools of donor nations and aid agencies.  It may be for this reason why they cared less about how humanitarian aid was spent or abused.  The literature that I examined also provides reasons why the abuse of humanitarian aid would be inevitable in conflict ridden countries such as Ethiopia. The evidence gathered have allowed me to inductively test one of my fundamental hypotheses: that humanitarian aid resources were and still are the sources of predation and capture in Ethiopia and that the culture of corruption and political malaise that we observe in today’s Ethiopia is a byproduct of what the TPLF/EPRDF learned and adopted when it was a rebel front and such a culture of corruption was aided and abetted by humanitarian aid.

Summary, Implication and Conclusion (abridged)   

The accounts of several donor agency personnel and the testimonials of ex-TPLF combatants indicate that humanitarian aid has showered the TPLF with more hard currency than the $100 million it received from Band Aid and similar activities. They include, for example, the millions of dollars that REST and its “employees” and supporters received for providing their services (transporting the donated food and related aid, as guides, etc.), from selling of “excess” humanitarian aid into the Sudanese and Middle Eastern markets, from scamming and defrauding humanitarian agencies such as  the $500,000 that Mr. Max Peberdy of Christian Aid was seen passing to Mr. Araya and others and the $2 million the Australians gave in cash to purchase food from local merchants, etc.)  However, my investigation is unable to determine the exact amount of money that the TPLF made from selling humanitarian aid. Both the fungibility of funds and the secretive nature of the Front also played and would continue to play as huge obstacles in ascertaining if and how much of those funds which have been allocated as described and as decided by the Front’s leadership were actually implemented I am further convinced that no one, including top leaders of the TPLF would be able to ascertain the exact allocations, expenditures and conversions of humanitarian aid for military purposes.

The second part of this article presented an abridged version of both the theoretical and practical case for aid to be a source for corruption and for prolonging conflicts among warring nations. I examined documents and the information obtained from various credible voices already aired by ex-TPLF veterans. I cross-examined previous testimonies provided by high level donor aid officials and aid agencies’ personnel who were deeply involved in the delivery of humanitarian aid at the time. I also sought out and investigated documents written by journalists who happen to report the extent of donor aid flow and to whom they were given. This led me to uncover one of the hard to find non-classified CIA documents, thanks to Google’s search engine, which in turn reinforced the claims made by donor aid officials and aid agency personnel who attested that humanitarian aid was indeed siphoned off to military uses by the TPLF.  The examination of the facts also indicates that both donor nations and aid agencies took a blind eye to the misuse and diversion of humanitarian aid to military uses. Some attribute this to the fact of channeling of humanitarian assistance along the Ethio-Sudanese border in the 1980s being partly political (see, Evil Days, pp. 356-62, for example).

The cross-examination of the documents that I gathered along with the testimonials of individuals also indicates that the TPLF skillfully captured humanitarian aid resources, with full intent. The desire to capture and use humanitarian aid resources motivated the Front to (in large part forcefully) parade already weakened peasants to trek to Sudan, which led to the death of tens of thousands of them (to the tune of 25,000 by some humanitarian agencies’ estimates and calculations and a lot more by ex-TPLF combatants) and to their increased suffering. This article has also presented the case in which the provision of humanitarian aid could have the opposite and damaging (largely unintended) effects on the recipient country and its people using Ethiopia as an example. To the extent that the desire to access humanitarian aid resources lured organized groups such as the TPLF to commit crimes against humanity, and to the extent that these same resources have benefitted the elites and have enabled the TPLF establish a highly corruptive and oligarchic system that we observe in today’s Ethiopia, we conclude that humanitarian aid resources were the basis for the onset of state capture that reigns supreme currently in Ethiopia.

By Tilaye

1. If you don’t like news coverage, in depth analysis,and hard hitting
   commentaries about the treasonous and tribalist group known as TPLF and
   its  origin and prefer to  agree with the apologist quarters who insist not
   to call TPLF (?) WOYANE but EPRDF
2.  If you still argue that the Woyane so called “constitution” is
   tantamount to “Ethiopian” constitution which is  adequate enough to rule
   pending reform.
3. If you still hope against all hopes that the Woyane–oops-EPRDF regime
   safeguards Ethiopian sovereignty.
4. If you do not trust or agree for a genuine pluralist and multi party
   political system but a dominant one party state.
5.  If you agree with the argument that stability is more important than the
   rule of law or democracy for economic growth.
6. If you are a FAN (-ATIC) of the late Herr Meles and his LEGACY
7. If you are a FAN(-ATIC) of the butcher Grizianni Mengistu who cowardly
   fled and hide in exile likewise.
8. IF  EPRP AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR IS A NIGHTMARE AND HAUNTS YOU AND NOT GOOD FOR YOU SANITY..
9. If you abhor the radical transformation of totalitarian state by means
   of REVOLUTION to popular sovereignty.
10. If you are one of those who argue and their life’s POLITICAL  mission
    IS to scapegoat that SELFLES GENRATION (YA TEWLID) FOR EVERY crimes
    committed against Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people.

****MANY PARTICUALRLY THE OPPOSTIE OF THE ABOVE TOP 10 REASONS YOU MAY LIKE TO LISTEN TO  FINOTE DEMOCRACY THE VOICE OF ETHIOPIAN UNITY!!!! IF YOU DID NOT UNTIL NOW, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. YOU CAN CATCH UP EASILY BY GOING THROUGH  ITS ARCHIVES.****

(Tilaye)

By Yilma Bekele

Meles Zenawi is dead. Meles Zenawi is alive. I am afraid in our case both statements are true. We saw the tyrant being buried or placed six foot under and the extraordinary sendoff orchestrated by his politburo in living color. The whole country was on stand still for a week or so to bury the warlord who was in the freezer for a month or so. We witnessed the bullying power of the TPLF party that forced every department, every keble and every household to send a representative and show sorrow for a person hated and reviled by all living Ethiopians.

Well he is not really gone. He is still directing the show from hell or wherever evil resides. It has been said that he vowed to leave us with the seeds of conflict, hate and chaos for a long time after he is gone. It looks like he is right. There is no escaping his presence. I don’t mean the life size posters of his ugly face in every corner of our country. I am referring to his toxic and useless ideas including his insane and childish plans that are trying to drive our politics and economy without him.

I am not talking about his ever chameleon Constitution that is still used to whip the opposition. I am not pointing out to the Kilil system that is creating a country of strangers. There is no need to mention the Keble system that is making every household an extension of the security service. Today I am focused on the use of the king of kings of all rivers, the great nurturer of ancient civilizations the one and only Abay River and its unfortunate use by the evil one to hurt our poor country.

The last week all the talk has been about Abay. We are fortunate to have so many rivers flowing out of our high escarpments that if you look at Google map of Africa you marvel and see how God has favored our ancient country. Our high mountains kept us isolated and free from invaders while nurturing our people when all around us suffered from lack of water. The great Wabishebele, the giving Awash, the beautiful Genalle, the fierce Tekeze and Mereb the homily Gibe are but just a few of our mothers milk flowing to keep us and our neighbors happy and strong.

What can be said about the great Abay? The mighty Abay is not just an Ethiopian phenomena. Good old Abay is the mother of the Pharos and the great Egyptian civilization. The wonder of the world owes its existence to the highlands of Ethiopia that made it possible for such a civilization to flourish. The Pyramids of Giza wouldn’t exist without the wealth made possible by the river Nile. Our Abay contributes two thirds of the Nile water supply.

Mount Gishe at 10,000 feet floats on a lake according to the priests that bless the spring that gives birth to the mighty Abay. It is here Abay starts its thousands of miles journey until it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Abay with its deep gorges numerous  waterfalls protected our land from European colonialists, Turkish invaders, Italian fascists and all those that wished ill to our fair land. From mount Gishe to the Sudanese border alone Abay meanders along for over 500 miles (800kM) never in a straight line like most rivers but encircling and hugging our land as if it does not want to leave. Our music and literature is full of praise for the mighty Abay and its force is recognized by all those who come near it and its power felt all over our country.

It is none other than this historic river that today is tossed around like a beach ball by Woyane bastards for their own useless dream and close your eyes lets us fool you story. This what Meles Zenawi planed before his death and this is what he is witnessing from the grave. When Woyane pulled the dam on Abay plan three years ago their leader knew it was his last goodbye wish to our nation that would seal his legacy of evil. It was never mentioned in the five year transformation blueprint they are so proud of. It was never discussed because the idea is so ridiculous any governing body will laugh it off. Thus Meles and company brought it out the last minute and claimed it was kept a secret. Why and from whom is not clear yet. But they damn well knew it was a crazy idea and no one will take it seriously.

Why do you think it is such an insane idea and not even worth refuting? Very simple, our nation is poor and living on welfare even for the food we eat we rely on alms thus no big and complex project like building a dam is possible without the help of outsiders whether the West or the East. No outside Bank or foreign government will finance such a project without adequate studies. Building a dam on a river that crosses an international border complicates the situation in a very big way.

Thus when the warlord came up with the idea that this humongous project was going to be financed by local resources it was time to appreciate the size of his balls for such bravado and empty jive. The claim is so bizarre there is no need to refute such bold face stupidity other than shaking ones’ head and keeping our collective mouth shut. People that survive on a few dollars a day, that look for outsiders to feed them and watch their young and able fleeing their home in droves facing unknown danger are going to save enough to finance a multi-million dollar project is not a good idea to put forward and wait for contributions to pour in. Logic says it ain’t going to happen even when hell freezes over.

Why do you think the dictator pulled this crap out of his hat knowing his days are numbered? He was focused on three important aspects of the future of our country after he is gone and both are shaping as he planned. One is harvesting more enemies for our poor land. Alive he has already managed to get our country entangled into two costly wars. The war with Eritrea that should not have happened has already cost us dearly in both money and lives. Over eighty thousand Ethiopians died and over twenty thousand suffered major injuries. Ethiopia emptied all its foreign reserve buying arms with cash since no weapon dealer accepts credit. For all that investment we won a barren piece of territory that today sits in no mans’ land.

The incursion into Somalia was a no win situation and it was not even in our national interest at all. The dictator to solidify his standing as a ‘terrorist fighter’ and use the situation to clobber the opposition at home had no qualms using Ethiopian lives for his selfish means in order to stay in power. Our solders committed so many war crimes in Somalia the bad felling between the two peoples will take years to wash away. Neighbors that will live for generations in close proximity do not normally engage in such activity that will create animosity and hate between our two people but our great leader was not concerned about that and he showed it by his callous decision.

The second reason for Abay dam madness is to shop for more enemies for our country. You see the idea of building a dam on Abay is not an original idea. Both the Imperial government and the Military regime have exhaustively studied the subject. There are plenty of documents to show their efforts for the project. They have reason why they did not pursue the matter. Today the Woyane regime propaganda makes it look like Meles came up with an original idea and they even coined a catchy phrase ‘Abayen ye defere jegna’ to hype the silly project. So what did he do? He came out with a dam project without asking the rest of Ethiopia or our experts to sit down and define what exactly needs to be done in our nation’s interest. We did not see Ethiopian engineers, hydrologist, geologists, economists, and environmental scientists, political and diplomatic experts being consulted before the ‘secret’ plan was presented in a take it or shut up situation.

Logically a dam on Abay river is a concern to all those upstream countries that rely on the river for survival. Of course the Egyptians did not take the news kindly. Is that a surprise? Put yourself in their shoes would you like it if someone decides to curtail your life line? Our country is not so strong and mighty that it could unilaterally take actions that would negatively affect the lives of so many millions. It was only yesterday in the news that the USA and Mexico signed a negotiated deal on the use of the Colorado river that starts in the rocky mountains of Wyoming and empties into the Baja California in Mexico. It is a shared river and the two governments consult each other on its use. That is what the Egyptians are asking us to do. That is what international treaties require us to do. This political chest thumping and arrogance behavior is not a sign of a great nation that wants to live in peace and harmony with its neighbors far and close. Meles Zenawi planted the seeds of this conflict before his exit.

The third and important reason for this hasty project is all about a Ponzi scheme to gather more money for our Woyane warriors. Where do you think the recently disclosed three billion dollars net worth of the war lord came from? In a nutshell it is all about EFFORT and its continuing quest to amass more money at the expense of our people and country. Mesfin Engineering and the privately held Italian outfit Salini Construction are the two main contractors on the Abay dam project. If you remember Salini is the same no bid winner on the Gibe dam project that had the tunnel collapse exactly one month upon completion. Salini is also the contractor that at the moment is involved building a dam on Tekeze river affecting Waldeba Gedam. Salini does not bode well for Ethiopia.

The current wild talk by the spooked Egyptian regime is creating a stressful and ugly situation to our Ethiopian citizens that are stuck in Egypt. Every ill-conceived idea by the Woyane regime always creates a backlash against our immigrants that are escaping the dire situation in their homeland. It is obvious Woyane cannot stay in power without drama. They always are creating enemy’s both at home and outside to deflect our attention away from their failure to build a sustainable economy, a peaceful nation and a just society. It is also a little depressing to see Ethiopians venting their anger at the Egyptians instead of questioning their own dictators why they are always creating havoc both at home and with our neighbors.

Our creator in his/her infinite wisdom has recalled one of his defective product to spare our country from further destruction but we in our feeble ways are refusing to bury his toxic ideas and burn the memory one and forever. We should pray for the strength to say no, leave us alone.  I urge you to watch a wonderful conversation on ESAT with Dr. Getachew Bagashaw regarding the Abay dam project. You can also read a beautiful analysis by the relentless Professor Mesfin WoldeMariam on Abay.

http://soilandwater.bee.cornell.edu/research/international/eth_pubs.htm

http://www.ethiofreedom.com/dr-getachew-begashaw-on-esat-discussing-the-abay-dam-issue/

http://www.ethiofreedom.com/%E1%8D%95%E1%88%AD-%E1%88%98%E1%88%B5%E1%8D%8D%E1%8A%95-%E1%8B%88%E1%88%9B%E1%88%AD%E1%8B%AB%E1%88%9D-%E1%89%A0%E1%8A%A0%E1%89%A3%E1%8B%AD-%E1%8C%89%E1%8B%B3%E1%8B%AD-%E1%88%8B%E1%8B%AD/

By Yilma Bekele

Last Sunday May 12 a Federal police officer opened fire and murdered twelve or eighteen people depending on who is doing the counting in the City of Bahr Dar by the shores of Lake Tana. It was a random killing and the only reason he stooped shooting was because he run out of bullets. What makes this crime unique is that it was committed by some one that is trained to protect and serve. At least in most places that is what we think of the armed officers that move around with loaded guns amongst us. I said in most places, our Ethiopia is not such a place.

The Federal Police serve the TPLF party that is in charge of our country. Meles Zenawi set up the Federal Police to be accountable to him and his party and used this force to quell down any kind of native unrest against his group. The Federal Police is the most fearsome weapon of the TPLF party. Like everything else concocted by the late criminal the Federal Police is a uniquely Ethiopian force supposedly created to resemble other Federal institutions in the developed West. The name is the same but the purpose and mission is different.

In Ethiopia the TPLF party’s Federal Police is an instrument of terror. Their motto is shoot first, ask questions later. You will not find a single Ethiopian that would not be engulfed with fear when the Federal Police is mentioned. The force was purposely designed to instill fear. From what I know of the Federal system here in the US the FBI does not involve itself in local matters. The local Police that are answerable to the Mayor or elected official is the first line of response. The State Police is under the elected Governor who is accountable to the citizen. There is a clear line of jurisdiction built into the system.

Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopia is different. The Federal Police force under him is the ultimate arbitrator of justice or injustice in this case. The Different Kililis or Bantustans have no power or authority on this rogue force. No sane Kilil head will challenge the power of the Federal Police. I can safely say that regarding all Killis except the Sovereign State of Tigrai. Abay Woldu would not allow a Kenbata, Oromo, Amhara or Somali Federal Police to roam around in his State with immunity.

When the late dictator copied the Kilil system from Mussolini with upgrades from the South African Bantustan system he made a few improvements of his own. Bahr Dar is the capital city of the Amhara Kilil. What in the world is a Federal Police doing in the streets of Bahr Dar with a loaded is gun is one of the peculiarities of the Ethiopian scene. That practice is one copied from Apartheid system. Why the local Police are not enough to keep the citizens of Bahr Dar safe is not clear at all.

Thus on the evening May 12 a certain Federal Police officer opened fire and killed all he can find in his aim of fire. No one confronted the individual and once he run out of bullets in his high capacity gun he left the area. Things got more interesting after that. First there was a lot of argument regarding the numbers killed. Apparently counting dead bodies lying on the street is not an easy task. Before the blood was dry on the highway Awramba a new and obscure Website here in the US that seems to be on the know felt it was important to label the ethnic origin of the killer as if that will make the heinous act more palatable or clear.

This childish attempt to misinform was followed by the TPLF party in a more bizarre press release that defiantly can only happen in a country where there is no independent press to raise questions and demand answers or by a government that does not have an iota of respect for its citizens.

According to the Ethiopian government the above is the picture of individual that committed the crime. His dead body was fished out of a river. They did not bother to name the river.  A body left in the water for a day or two will show all the symptoms of death by drowning. Our killer shows none of the effects of being in the water dead. His shoes are polished, his uniform is crisp and the blood on his face is not of someone left in water for any length of time. Do you think the rope tied around his feet is how he was dragged out? It is just curious he did not get dirty and with all that blood on his face no fish bothered to nibble. It is a miracle.

The story did not end there. While the Federal Police was displaying his dead body the Kilil administrator was issuing press release regarding the ongoing search to look for the criminal. It is just two versions of the same lie. The newly minted Prime Minter whose force murdered fourteen people did not even bother to go to the scene and console the victims’ families. He choose to send a high sounding message promising further investigation. What is the death of fourteen citizens when you can stay in the palace and play host to some Arab delegation? To add insult to injury several high ranking officers of the Federal Police in full uniform showed up at the funeral location the next day. I can see the whole drama from here with the officers arriving in their four wheel Range Rovers accompanied by zillions of security while descending on the poor folks sitting in a tent trying to console each other.

A week later the Federal Police put out a press release that they have detained ten members of their force for ‘neglecting and failing to act’. Do you mean to tell us there were armed police around while he was shooting randomly and they just watched, or did they know he was intending to do just that and they kept quiet which one is it my dear Workeneh?

No matter how you look at it the whole story is bizarre. Starting with the action of the insane individual to the conflicting press reports by the officials and the reporting by ETV that doesn’t even ask why the criminal’s clothes don’t show any signs of being in the water – it is vintage Woyane drama.

The report by the Diaspora press was something to behold too. We were told the citizens of Bahr Dar were fuming. They were showing signs of anger and were seating ready to let of steam. No adjective was spared to describe the mental and physical anguish of Bahr Darians. Thus I waited to see how this criminal act of an invading force was going to manifest itself by the citizen reacting back. Pictures of Palestinian citizens under the watchful eyes of the Israeli Army burying their dead clad in their beloved flag and defiant in their tone passed thru my head. I remembered the scene from Cairo where the citizens carried the dead bodies of their martyrs shot by the Mubarak’s police during the Arab spring as it flashed vividly in front of my eyes.

Nothing like that happened. Someone once said we Ethiopians have even lost our capacity to be angry. The best explanation that comes to mind is what was said by our Holy Father Abune Melkesedek explaining the silence of his people a while back as ‘Bechelema Gelmecha’. That is what took place in the city of Bahr Dar ‘Bechelema Gelmecha’. It must be very satisfying to the individuals but no one saw it. What is the point is a good question to ask. How is the evil doer going to understand the hurt inflicted on those families and the entire city? Is a simple defiant procession to protest and let the regime know the citizens feeling much to expect? Isn’t there one brave soul in the whole of Bahr Dar that is not afraid to respond in kind?

Well to settle the matter once and for all the Woyane government brought in ‘Special Forces’ unit to Bahr Dar to even control the thought of defiance let alone the act. I still do not understand the presence of all this armed groups in such an idyllic location. Bahr Dar is far from any border and currently there is no one threating the peace and harmony of the city. I just don’t understand why our cities are military camps during a peaceful time. I also don’t understand why we have so many people serving the military while so many of our schools are starving for teachers and books, our hospitals and clinics are poorly stocked and our children and grandparents are fed once a day if lucky. I guess it is all about priorities. The regimes first order is to protect itself from the people and it is perfectly understandable budget allocation favors security over anything else. As for the citizens of Bahr Dar I say to you no one can save you from yourself you just have to figure a way out of the current dilemma of occupation by an outside force of course in collaboration with you present day bandas. It has been done before and I have no reason to think you will not rise up to the challenge. We can echo your scream from afar but there is just no one like you to do the job. Good Luck!

By Habtamu Ayenew (OSLO) – May 20, 2013

TPLF (Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front) who is afraid of neoliberal idea, because it has no clue as capitalism is a means of development, job creation, increase competitiveness, encourage entrepreneurship, they chose development state theory for Ethiopia economic development, and use it for their own enrichment.

Chamber Johnson, the driver of developmental state defined the idea as “a state that focused a leadership ruthlessly committed to a national development (and not to partial interests or its own enrichment)” (Allen & Thomas, 2000).  The extremely corrupt TPLF leadership government in Ethiopia not only attempted to apply the theory and failed, but also from the beginning they are agents for the collapse of Ethiopia. Shortly after they took power through guerrilla war in 1991, before they get legitimate to represent the will and desires of the nation they facilitates Eritrean independence achievement (Meles letter to UN, 1991 ) and make Ethiopia Land locked.

Jeffry Sacks, an architect of the Millennium Development Goals reminded us how land locked states in general face the worst problem in economic development (Harrison & Huntington, 2000). This was another problem to face Ethiopia, the country which was remained largely separated from the world economy, and ruled by archaic monarchy and dictator Derge regime who failed to respond adequately to the national question in Ethiopia (Allen & Thomas, 2000). Because of failed to build institution to initiate development in the country, peoples grass root movement and political parties activities led to the down fall of the archaic monarchy and dictator Derg. Unlucky the TPLF lead government EPRDF (Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front) took power in 1991 and got praise as a good leader who can trust to bring development and democracy in land locked Ethiopia through ethnic federalism model.

                        After the toppling of the Derg regime and the gaining of power by the EPRP, the new regime was viewed with mixed feeling by the donor community. While few lamented the fail of Mengistu, there were apprehensions as to the new regime; with a background from a dawn-out guerrilla war, which until recently had espoused an explicit Marxist doctrine. On the other hand Meles was also perceived as belonging to a new breed of African leader (Borchgrevink , 2008)

Donor relation with corrupt TPLF largely connects Ethiopia with world economy. For example, after the establishment of TPLF lead government in Ethiopia World Bank approved a large emergency and reconstruction fund (Borchgrevink, 2008). Other follows on different motivation, my host country Norway and the other Nordic countries inspired by their welfare state “where the goal was to improve condition for poor and resource-weak groups in their own population” (Martinussen & Pedersen, 2005). But as I learned from the discussion between Norwegian politician and Ethiopian diasporas on Ethiopian development week here in Norway, donors seem to have weak to influence the TPLF regime to achieve their motivation. The regime used the aid money to do crime with humanity, to its own enrichment, and support political repression (the human right watch, 2010).

An article from The Economic shows how clear TPLF use developmental stat theory to achieve their own and loyalist enrichment. The article says to do business in Ethiopia you should be TPLF loyalist, “about 80% of supposedly privet business conglomerates controlled by state loyalists, the late prime minister wife runs the main one EFFORT, which dabbles in everything from banking and to metal, travel and cement all without public scrutiny” (The Economist, March 2013). This was the theory propose by late prime minster Meles for all Africa development, in his unpublished masters dissertation, titled ‘African Development: Dead Ends and New Beginning`, and now they want fake us to  defended the theory by arrest corrupt ministers which are not loyal to the TPLF regime in Ethiopia  (Reuters, May, 201)

 Our determination to fight the TPLF junta must continue by any means available like opposition to the Development Fund’s cooperation with the dictatorial ethnic regime in Ethiopia (The task force of Ethiopian for democracy and human rights in Ethiopia, May 2013). We should argue and tell donors is not simply because the obstinate character of the EPRDF regime, but  primarily because they have seen incapable of applying consistent and coherent policies  to take note on human rights, democracy , and rule of law first before economic development in their so called cooperation with TPLF tyrant in Ethiopia (Borchgrevink , 2008). For Peter Gitmark, a member of the main political opposition in Norway, human rights come first before development process. He said that there is wrong doing in Ethiopia since the crackdown of opposition in the aftermath of the 2005 election, he want see a tougher line from the Norwegian authorities (Utviklingsfondet, May 2013). Not only donors, Medhane Tadesse, an academic specializing in conflicts in the Horn of Africa who also acts as an adviser to the Ethiopian foreign ministry, admitted that, `there is a need for political reforms both to meet the democratic aspirations of the Ethiopian people, achieve political stability as well as the revitalize the much needed developmental state model` (Tadesse, October 2012).

These all show TPLF developmental state theory never much in reality, they failed to apply the theory, and instead they use it to repressed Ethiopian people.  We are in the right direction to fight the TPLF tyrant regime, we should continue what we are doing, and then nothing stops us to free our country from TPLF tyrant.

To reach me habtamu_a@yahoo.com

Reference

Allen, T. & Thomas, T., 2000. Poverty and Development into the 21^st century.

Borchgrevink, A. 2008.  Ethiopia, Aid and conditionality. Editorial, Forum for Development Studies, (2.08)

Harrison, L.F. & Huntington, S.P. 200. Culture matters: how values shape human progress.

Human Right Watch, 2010.  Ethiopia: Donor Aid Supports Repression. http://www.hrw.org/news/2010/10/18/ethiopia-donor-aid-supports-repression

Martinussen, J.D. & Pedersen, P.E. 2005. Aid- Understanding International Development Cooperation

Meles Zenawi. 1991.  Meles’s letter to UN http://welkait.com/?page_id=137

Reuters, May, 2013. Ethiopia arrests minister, 11 others over corruption.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/11/us-ethiopia-corruption-idUSBRE94A09C20130511

Tadesse, M., October 2012. Melese Zenawi and the Ethiopian State. http://www.currentanalyst.com/index.php/security-assessment/179-meles-zenawi-and-the-ethiopian-state

The Economist, March 2013. Ethiopia and Kenya: Doing it my way

http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21572379-ideological-competition-between-two-diametrically-opposed-economic-models-doing-it-my

By Yilma Bekele

We are witnessing a flurry of news from the TPLF party that calls itself the Ethiopian government. Why is the Woyane party so busy and why is the party pushing its cadres to be super active is a good question. That is what piqued my interest and I was forced to look around to figure out what exactly is happening both in Ethiopia and the Diaspora community to make the illegal regime work overtime.

I did not have to look far to see why the government is acting very nervous. It looks like for a change the progressive forces are on the attack and the reactionary regime is on the defense. Believe me this is a rare occurrence and shows the realignment of forces in our country. I will try to explain why later on but let us look at what is causing this shift. A few weeks back the regime carried out its ‘ethnic cleansing’ activity in the Beneshangul Gumuz Kilil. It was not the first time the TPLF led regime has done this criminal act but what was different this time around was our collective indignation. We were able to carry out a sustained and well organized push back from around the world. The opposition in Ethiopia cooperated by boldly demanding action and tried to collect evidence from the affected areas.

First the hapless regime paraded its toy PM and made him give some half ass explanation and dumped the crimes on their Kilil dog. The fact that the previous ‘ethnic cleansing’ activity was carried out in the South Kilil where the PM originated from was not lost on us. This rehearsed mea culpa did not impress anyone. It was back to the drawing board for the regime. Next In the clueless regime tried to divert our attention by planting rumors about the death of that other tyrant in Zimbabwe. We did not bite. After the failure of that story they again tried to engage us by removing the monument dedicated to our Holy Father Abune Petros.  Again we showed our unhappiness but did not take our eyes of the ‘ethnic cleansing’ crime. We were focused and relentless. We were just simply not crying but talking about taking the matter to the International Court of Justice and the UN.

After lots and lots of postponements and dragging the regime brought our political prisoners and decided to hand down their useless justice. We were supposed to drop all other activity and concentrate on Eskinder Nega and Andulalem’s miscarriage of justice. Something odd happened here. We did not follow the script. For the first time we were able to connect the dots and see the whole picture. The progressive forces decided to link ethnic cleansing, Abune Petros and our Political prisoners’ situation as one.

I was waiting for the next drama with heightened anticipation. What would they try now was a common question asked by students of Woyane theatre. Invading Somalia was out of the question since they have already learned their lesson. The demonization of Eritrea was becoming stale. Playing the ethnic card is what brought about the problem in the first place so that was a no go zone. What would the ‘great visionary’ leader do under the circumstances was in the mind of all TPLF cadres in leadership position. They dug deep, traveled back in their criminally ladened history and came up with ‘cannibalism’ as the way out.

So with great fanfare they went about arresting anything anybody they could find. The injustice Minister was hauled away. The guy with dark glasses that sat behind the tyrant in Parliament was arrested. The Revenue and Customs guys were escorted to their won prison with a few selected business people to add flavor to the drama.

I guess all this activity is supposed to impress us. A criminal arresting another criminal is meant to fill our soul with hope for the future. They are so clueless they don’t even know that the news is taken with such amusement that a soccer game between Buna and Giorgis garners more anticipation than their cheap drama. Why would anyone think that Melaku Fenta that spineless individual sitting under Gebrewhaid Giorgis is capable of making any decision let alone steal big? Like most sycophants that are serving as the face of their departments Melaku was just another mannequin for show while the TPLF boss under him runs the outfit. That game is played all over Ethiopia and in the Embassy’s outside. I bet you cannot find any worthwhile governmental body without a TPLF deputy in charge.

This new drama is meant to keep us guessing what in the world is going on inside the TPLF party.  We are supposed to guess which faction is up and who is down. The disinformation campaign by Debretsion keeps manufacturing different versions of their supposedly internal turmoil and some of us love nothing more than being instant experts in the inner workings of the mafia group. To hear some of our people go on the minute details of the party is mind boggling and a testimonial to the hopelessness of a few of our family and friends. They might have their own differences but do you really think that will stop them from their common goal of staying in power no matter what? Do you for second think they will not close ranks when threatened? Then why in the world are you wasting time and energy whether Azeb is fighting with Berket and if Sebhat is is not in good terms with Seyoum? Now if they really want our attention the best way to do it will be arrest Azeb or Abay Woldu not Sebhat or Seyoum since they already are near death.

The biggest joke of all is the claim that Hailemariam Desalgne was cleaning house. Let us see the PM that was handpicked by the dead tyrant and schooled in the art of servitude to TPLF, the PM that does not have a power base, the same PM that cannot even pick the guards outside his office is exercising authority on TPLF officials? Who would swallow such Mamo Kilo bed time story is a good question. Yes there are a few especially here in the Diaspora that are trying to put some lipstick on this pig of a story.

Some opined ‘EPDRF supporters speaking out’ while others declared ‘EPDRF undergoing profound changes.’ Well, well let see us what is giving these Woyane coddlers new life? What is different today that was not there yesterday is a good question. I read their writings very closely and tried to see what they were basing their new found euphoria on. I wanted to know what arguments they were bringing to the table to see if there was any validity to their conclusions. I couldn’t find any. It is all wishful thinking, self fulfilling prophesy and confused theories that is trying hard to fit a square peg in a round hole. The ones that are trying to see light at the end of the tunnel are the same people that advised wait and see attitude when Woyane conquered our capital and were willing and ready to serve the criminal organization. Their last miscalculation caused twenty years of misery to our people and country and here they are again advising us the presence of a non entity called EPDRF that is supposed to usher a new era of peace and prosperity. Give it a rest gentlemen and do not waste our time with your unfounded optimism. Why peddle a worn out theory this late in the game?

I am emboldened by three factors that have been added to the equation of fighting injustice in our dear country. The first and very significant addition to our arsenal of fighting for freedom and democracy is no other than our beloved ESAT. It has given voice to the voice less and opened our eyes to the reality that is what is ailing us. ESAT is the main reason Woyane misinformation campaign is falling on deaf ears. ESAT is the main reason the cry of our people in Ethiopia is getting a hearing. No matter what no sane Ethiopian can ignore the voice of our people coming thru the airwaves loud and clear. The tenacity and diligent reporting by ESAT that refused to fall for Woyane diversion kept the ‘ethnic cleansing’ criminal act in focus and thwarted their attempt to derail us.

The second factor is the gallantry of our Moslem citizens that have against all odds persevered for over a year their quest for freedom and independence. The many attempts to divide and splinter them by the illegal Woyane regime has been repulsed and the Moslem community is still standing together with one voice and one aim of protecting their right to run their religion free of government interference. It is a lesson to the rest of us to keep our eyes on the prize and not to let our organizations be the play ground of Woyane operatives.

The third factor that is emerging from Ethiopia is the beautiful new voice of Semayawi Party that is clear, clean and void of any clutter of the past that has been hindering our forward movement. From what I can observe from afar Semayawi is not encumbered by our past failures, weighed down by unnecessary dogma and geared to act and try newer stuff. That is what the doctor ordered. Why use beige and gray to paint when you can use bright blue and bring warmth to the canvas. The call by Semayawi Party to dress in black and show the discontent of our people during African Unions 50^th anniversary is a bold and timely call. That is all peaceful resistance is about. It is our duty to follow the advice of the Party and tell our family and friends to cooperate in showing their grief by dressing in black. Those of us that believe in peaceful resistance this is our chance to practice what we preach.

As times go by it is becoming clear that the regime is feeling the loss of the evil person in charge. For over thirty years the prince of darkness Meles Ashebari Zenawi has been the brain and body of the mafia outfit that has been masquerading as a political party. I am willing to give him the credit as the personification of Satan on earth. He has earned the title. His death has left the TPLF party void of someone to fill his shoes no matter how small it is. It is not the absence of idiots or sycophants that is lacking in their midst but they just seem to suffer from the mistrust the evil one has left them with.  That deficiency coupled with the emergence of new and daring Ethiopians schooled in the art of confronting the regime head on is what is causing headaches to the downgraded TPLF.

Life is beautiful. Our new found unity and purposeful march to the future is a hard won victory. The fact that it is Woyane in disarray and we are becoming hip to their many attempts to distract us is testimonial to our ability to learn and apply the lesson. There are still many voices that are constantly trying to derail our movement but the fact that we have matured and are able to separate the chaff from the wheat is our new found strength. We are not there yet but with all those strong and tested groups and individuals joining our movement there is no reason to doubt we are bringing the dark days to an end and new bright sun will rise up over our mountains and valleys. A luta continua-the struggle continues.

By Yilma Bekele

On July 29^th. 1936 Abune Petros was executed by the Italian fascist that were trying to colonize our country for his refusal to submit. On May 2^nd. 2013 the monument that was built to commemorate our Holy Father was removed by the order of the TPLF party that is currently ruling our country. Our Holy Father died for the first time. The murder by a firing squad was an honor and showed his deep love for his people and country. The fascist killed his body but he made his home in every Ethiopian soul for ever and ever. We all carry Abune Petros in our heart. ‘Abune Petros Adebabaye’, ‘Abune Petros Hawelt’ is not just a location but the symbol of our pride and the true meaning of sacrifice for a higher cause.

The order to Kill Abune Petros was given by the fascist Viceroy Graziani but the trigger was pulled by solders from the North that were faithfully serving the fascist invader. The order to remove our monument to our beloved father was given by the TPLF party but the backhoe and flatbed truck was driven by modern day Banda’s.

They claim the removal is temporary. That is not the issue. Was it necessary is our question. Could it have been avoided is our point. Aren’t there some things considered priceless is our contention. The same people that moved heaven and earth to bring back our stolen Obelisk and erect it in its rightful place felt no qualms about dispatching daily laborers to bring our hero down and place him in a warehouse. We rejoiced when our obelisk was returned because it is the symbol of our glorious past. Although their leader dismissed our joy and happiness and tried to claim it as his peoples private history we bit our tongue and dismissed his rudeness for immaturity.

I agree it is difficult to personally relate to a stone like an obelisk. Nevertheless it is the product of our ancestors and a symbol of their ingenuity for that period in our past. But Abune Petros is a living symbol every one of us would have no problem claiming, admiring and silently thinking ‘would I have courage to act like him?’

Abune Petros is what I always thought we Ethiopians were like. I was raised at a time when being an Ethiopian was something special. There was not enough adjective to describe our country and people. Yes I am aware that we had lots of problems to resolve after all forging a nation is not a cake walk. There were many that were left behind and quite a few that did not get a fair share of what was on the table. We are still trying to come to terms with that.

That still should not dampen our glorious past. Abune Petros was one of those bigger than life Ethiopians that added a positive value to our experience. He defined patriotism, resolve, love, spiritual guidance and commitment to the truth. He accompanied our Emperor and the civilian army to Maichew and confronted the fascist army. He witnessed the gallantry of his people and the savageness of the European invaders. They came with modern weapons and poison gas to scare us to submission. We lost the battle but it only made us realize defeat was not an option. Surrender was not the language of the Ethiopian at that time. Yes times do change. A visitor would have a hard time believing the current generation descended from those that even washed the shoes of the foreigners least they take our soil with them.

Abune Petros continued to fight the way he knew. His religion and his love for his country were his weapons. From the monastery of Debre Libanos to far away churches he continued to rally his people to stand up straight and took the cry ‘By any means necessary!’ to drive the invader out of our cherished land. During his interrogation this is what he told the fascist authority when asked to accept Italy’s sovereignty over Ethiopia or face death.

“The cry of my countrymen who died due to your nerve-gas and terror machinery will never allow my conscious to accept your ultimatum. How can I see my God if I give a blind eye to such a crime?”

His last words before the bullets tore our bishop and Holy Father were:

“My fellow Ethiopians, do not believe the Fascists if they tell you that the patriots are bandits, the patriots are people who yearn for freedom from the terrors of fascism. Bandits are the soldiers who are standing in front of me and you, who came from far away to violently occupy a weak and peaceful country. May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow to the Fascist army and its violence. May the Ethiopian earth never accept the invading army’s rule.”

His defiance and heroism became the battle cry of our patriotic army thru out the land and it echoed in our valleys and mountains from north to south east to west and the invader never saw a day of peace until they were driven out.

This was the man and his memory our new Bandas were trying to extinguish that day a week ago. They thought removing a statue would erase history. They tried to cover their mis-deeds with talk of progress. We are not against progress. We in the Diaspora contribute more than our share to help our country and people. As a matter of fact there would be no tall buildings, no dinner on the table and no profitable Ethiopian Airlines and no TPLF millionaire without remittance from the Diaspora. We just know that there are some things more important than others and our heritage, our history and our patriots cannot be kicked around wantonly. We are also well aware of TPLF’s habit of using wedge issues to divide us and hiding behind nation building while using a wrecking ball to destroy our history.

It is a sad sign of the times that our dear father’s memorial statue was removed without much protest. Those that preach about waging a ‘peaceful struggle’ against the new Bandas were nowhere to be seen holding a vigil. They were given an opportunity to unite and galvanize their people and use this Woyane insult against our history as a ‘teachable’ moment. Yes a little sacrifice is what is required to fight injustice. Yes there is imprisonment, injury even death in the struggle for freedom and dignity. People like Eskinder, Reyot, Andualem, Bekele Gerba , Abubeker and Woubeshet are behind bars because they choose not to submit to injustice and heed Abune Petros’s call to stand their ground. I am sure what gives them such determination is his everlasting pray “May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow to the Fascist army and its violence.” We shall overcome.

For further Info please go to:

http://www.ethiopianorthodox.org/gallery/todaysphoto/abunepetros/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCraAfrm0n0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBXRrVYgCgY

http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/28504

By Hama Tuma 

Che vergogna as the Italians themselves would say, what a shame! The new Italian center-left government included in its cabinet a Congolese born longtime Italian citizen, Madam Cecile Kyenge (she is married to an Italian and has two children), and all hell has broken loose with the foul side of Italian racism exposed for all to see. She has been called a “Congolese monkey” among other epithets. Another politician said “she can only be a good housewife and not a minister”. Speaking on the radio earlier this week, Italian politician Mario Borghezio from the Northern League party referred to the new government as a “bonga bonga government” and said that Africans “had not produced great genes.” Thereby denying tha fact that patriotic Ethiopians whipped their behind and defeated them at Adwa and even during World War II. Africa has produced so many great genes than the stupid racists could ever match. The racist Lega Nord party led by Bossi (a fascist to boot), an ally of Berlusconi, is adding insult after insult as is to be expected. The good lady has said “I am not colored, I am proudly black, and an Italian”. She has tried to find excuse to the racists declaring them ignorant. She is kind.

Italian racism, especially against blacks, has a very long history. Bossi, Fini, Berlusconi have all an affinity to fascism that they cannot hide or cover. Italian fascism was racist to boot. Even the Vatican said, in January 2010, that racism in Italy is a weeping sore that needs to be treated”.  It is a historical sore that is not done justice with the generalized question are all Italian racists? Mussolini’s fascism was based on fetid racism towards blacks, gypsies (Roms) and Jews. The fascist magazine of the time, La Difesa de la Razza, accused the French and the British of miscegenation, interbreeding with blacks and being influenced by Jews to explain their alleged degeneration and even colonial savagery. Nowadays, the Italian racists state that a Negro cannot be Italian and claim a historically that the Italian race is “pure”. Hitler did try something like that much to his own disaster. To insult blacks, Berlusconi said Obama is not black but “tanned”. The fascists, given due punishment by Ethiopian blacks time and again, are singed by shame. The defeat at Adwa is their albatross. Though they killed no less than a million Ethiopians (using mustard gas too) they were never able to defeat and occupy Ethiopia no more than five years. They had their “madamismo” (local concubines with no rights) and their native and Italian quarter and restricted education and job rights in Asmara but they were not able to sustain their apartheid and their “we shall not be a nation of half castes” true to word. Mussolini’s hordes killed hundreds of thousands in Ethiopia but they interbred, alas for them. When Italy declared that a quarter of a million of Italians would settle in Ethiopia British Marxist Biologist Professor Haldane predicted that there will for sure be interbreeding and African blood will flow in Italians. It has. There are now many, many African Italians.  Italian football fans shouting their vile racist epithets against black footballers are common sights, Italians like the famous footballer Mario Bartolleti had to endure disgusting racism for very long. The long held campaign to pressurize Italian women not to ever marry Africans and foreigners that are “tanned” has not worked at all. The Italian racists are just trying to hold on in the face of a historical flood.

They are not the only ones. France, accused by the Italian fascists of being lax and liberal, has yet to defeat the evil of racism. It has its own Lega Nord pseudo fascists within the so called National Front (FN) that is enjoying increasing support from the populace. Take the recent May 8 celebrations, the end of World War II, and there were no more than two African veterans being part of the cortege that Francois Holland shook their hands. The socialist president has yet to appoint black Africans as presidents, ministers, ambassadors etc. notwithstanding the token “Ns” as they say. My attempt to see one black face in the Republican Guard was without success. Europe’s neo Nazi groups and racists are becoming legion compared to the past and the status quo political parties are supporting them albeit covertly. All over Europe victims of racism are becoming many. The concept of Fortress Europe, a doomed program, fans racism and murder. Britain is trying to make its immigration laws tough and tight says David Cameron. Pathetic. The present world, still characterized by Africa being plundered by the West and the Asians, militates against the closed country dream. As the unlamented Khadafy used to say the “hordes will come to the shores of Europe in their thousands braving death”. No one can stop them. You come to us to rob us blind and we will come to you to find a way to survive. Tit for tat.

The Chinese, who claim to be superior and above yellow, black and white devils, nevertheless worship white. The famous Chinese proverb says “one white covers up a 100 defects”. The Chinese, like the Russians, are one of the worst racists. Ever since African students went on scholarships to study in China this blind racism was in evidence. The Chinese detested blacks and called any relation between a Chinese woman and an African “obnoxious novelty”. That is what Lou Jing, a pop star born from an Afro American father and a Chinese woman, had to endure in Shanghai so much so that she wants to leave and continue her education in Europe or the USA. China has now become an aggressive imperialist power plundering the wealth of Africa. This Chinese invasion that is not being countered by the corrupt so called leaders of Africa has exposed Chinese racism at its worst. A Chinese official interviewed on why Chinese construction diggers have to be imported from China declared that Ghana does not have “such skilled workers”. The Chinese insult Africans as lazy and, for example, the regime in Addis Abeba has given the Chinese the right to beat physically all “lazy Ethiopian workers”.  The Chinese exhibit such crude and foul racism that is one is reminded of the Boers and their apartheid and crude colonials.

Italy is shamed by its parties and political leaders. Asked on racism in Italy a Portugese woman who had lived in Italy had the following to say:

“I have been in many European countries but I never seen such a strong hate against blacks like the one I saw in Italy. I’ m not talking about skinheads or nazi skins groups, I’ m talking about average Italian people. Italians are friendly with white immigrants from all over the world but they really hate black people. I was so shocked when I came in Italy because in my  think blacks are animals, they are the most white supremacist people in the world and my advice for black people is to avoid that country at any cost”.

An exaggeration? Hardly. But my advice is not to go there but to go there en masse and flood them to no end. Berlusconi has time and gain defended the Mussolini invasion of Libya and Ethiopia. Italy has built a monument to Graziani the man who butchered thousands of Ethiopians and entertained the idea of cleansing Ethiopia from its people. Is fascism continuing and trying to revenge its defeat by being shamefully anti-black? In any case Madam Cecile Kyenge is a convenient scapegoat for old and foul Italian racism. And as she said, all Italians are not racists. But there are too many racists and “ignorants” in that country, in Europe, in China, etc and we blacks are targeted for suffering. A situation we should not and cannot accept at all. Invade and interbreed should be our slogan, maybe. After all, Berlusconi himself was doing his bunga bunga with North African girls.

Hama Tuma

The primary curse goes to that Angelina Jolie person. “Haro sur Angelina”, curse on that Joly who started out with much fanfare the adoption racket of Ethiopian children. The famous actress adopted an alleged orphaned child who was sold away by her own mother and a very cruel government that controls the adoption industry. The little girl was renamed Zahra and taken to Hollywood with the actress padding her resume as a “do gooder”. One fellow wrote that Ethiopians live under stone-age poverty (what exactly does this mean really? Were people starved during the stone- age?) and Angelina type of actions is God sent and to be praised. It is nowadays called Child Harvesting, using the suffering of parents to take away their children with false promises and money. Divas and actresses compete fiercely and Madonna made her foray in Malawi and adopted two children thereby giving the Malawi president then ( Dr. Bingu Mutharika formerly known as Brightson Webster Kyson)  the chance to shame himself, his country and all Africa by declaring publicly:

“I wish someone had come and taken 10,000 Malawi children because then I would know that 10,000 Malawians would have better education and opportunities”.

As I wrote years ago why don’t they adopt us all and put an end to our so called stone age-poverty?

And now it is the turn of Jennifer Lopez, the singer actress who reportedly insured a part of her body for a cool six million and received a jewel studded toilet seat worth 120,000 euros from her boyfriend of the time who is none other than another actor who got rewards for a CIA sponsored film that presents Iranians as savages and who claims to be concerned for the Eastern Congolese so much so he is living at $2.50 a day for two days as a show of solidarity. Call it slumming of a sort, fake and hypocritical, once again using us as pets and inflating their names and publicity in the process. Jennifer has now trekked to Ethiopia and adopted a rural boy (child) with priests present (these days Ethiopian priests could hold mass at any time of the day if ordered or paid well as they did for Beyoncé shaming the Church) and a humiliating ceremony accompanied by an oath and Lopez’s unconvincing actress tears. One more child sold and the whole process registered as a video and You Tube presentation. The director? No known but it is nauseating at least for us Ethiopians.

Ethiopia accounts for more than a quarter of the international adoption. Ethiopia’s cruel rulers sell children cheaper than the fertile land (the size of Belgium) sold or ceded to Arabs, the Chinese, Indians and Sudanese. The adoption industry is flourishing and very profitable. Ethiopia has many orphans (thanks to the wars and the political repression that takes away parents) and millions of children with poor parents. Dozens of orphanages are actually transit and trafficking agencies harvesting children from poor rural parents and selling the children to foreigners cheaper than Haitian, Vietnamese and Russian children. Ethiopian children are said to have “no future” and thus their sale is justified. The regime in Addis Ababa has been selling young women to modern slavery to the racist Middle Eastern countries that torture and even kill them.. The business nets millions to the regime that controls the option and the sale of women to the Middle East.  Foreign agencies and embassies are involved in the shameful process. One American woman who adopted an Ethiopian child testified that the American embassy in Addis Abeba told her to lie and to assert that the adopted child’s parents are dead. UNICEF had worked hand in glove with the Tigrean front (TPLF) when this criminal outfit was claiming to be a liberation front and enjoying the support of Live Aid, Geldof, War on Want, Grassroots International, World Vision, USAID, Norwegian Council of Churches, etc and even now this outfit is supporting the criminal regime on all fronts. Doug Webb, a UNICEF official in Addis Ababa, has bent backwards to tell us that the adoption racket, the new export industry that is bringing in in millions of dollars to the regime, is actually the work of “local cadres” and the regime is trying to correct the mistakes.. There is actually no “local” in Ethiopia. All is centralized, all is controlled by the ethnic Tigrean elite or ruling class. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the adoption agency body are all under the regime and headed by ethnic Tigreans. Shame on the UNICEF once more!

Talking of cover up we can go to mention the IMF, World Bank, the US Department. The Western embassies in Addis Ababa, that all are desperately trying to present the tyranny in Addis Ababa like Park of South Korea and the former dictator of Singapore as an outfit that is registering double digit economic growth in Ethiopia despite political repression and gross human rights violations. Statistics are numbers that one can manipulate. Imagine a country that is said to have a growth annual economic record more than China but has 12 million famine affected people waiting for food aid, more than 85% of the population below the poverty line, and as they say, afflicted by “stone-age poverty” and one can have an understanding of a people subjected to crushing poverty, absence of rights and, again as they say as they snatch our children, no future. Debilitating poverty like the one the rich actresses can never imagine or the millionaire actor who wants to try living at $2.50 per day for a few days can never envisage forces parents to sell their beloved children. Poor Ethiopian parents were/are never told that what adoption meant but informed that their children will go abroad, get all opportunities and will help them. Most of the parents were duped to say the least and have lost their children. The charade is promoted by the regime in place which is getting thousands of dollars per child and the number of Ethiopian children sold to adoption in now in several thousands. Ethiopian children have become favorites because they are cheap, sufficiently exotic, little wait time and scant control or checkup. A woman who adopted a child and beat him to death in Amsterdam went back to Ethiopian and easily adopted another. Here below are some other reports:

“A deputy Pennsylvania attorney and his wife have been arrested after their two adopted Ethiopian children were found starved and beaten to near death according to police.

Deputy Attorney General Douglas Barbour and his wife, Kristen were arraigned today after their 6-year-old boy was found malnourished with skin lesions and the 18-month-old girl having multiple skull fractures and being possibly permanently blind”.
“Hana Grace-Rose Williams came to Washington State from Ethiopia in 2008 with ringworm, cold sores, parasites and hepatitis B. But none of those things killed her.

Instead, Skagit County authorities say, 13-year-old Hana died because her adoptive parents chronically starved her, abused her and left her outside on a cold May night with inadequate clothing”.

How many children have been starved, beaten, sexually abused and sent to their deaths? The countries that are adopting Ethiopian children are the USA, Denmark, Sweden, France, Norway, Canada, etc. The countries that are enjoying the traffic of young Ethiopian women are in the Middle East including Yemen. Not a pip is heard from otherwise loud and shrill international human rights bodies. The sale of Ethiopian children is also passed in silence. Actors and actresses with more love for their pets than for black children adopt Ethiopian children. Adopting Ethiopian children is a la mode as the French would say—it is fashionable and they are cheaper than Cambodian, Haitian, Russian or Vietnamese children. Ethiopian law insists that children should be orphans to be adopted but these days the dollar/money kills thee parents when they are very alive. Parents duped and induced into handing over their beloved children are made to believe anything but the reality of adoption. Most do not know that their children are lost, sold away. The duplicity is backed by the regime, the so called adoption agencies, the child harvesters, the western embassies, who all claim great economic success on the part of the regime (to hide the incredible poverty of the majority of the people forced to sell their own children), and tolerate the violation of the human rights of children and of young women sold to modern slavery.

Indignation aside, we should perhaps heed the advice of the former president of Malawi and call for the adoption of all African children by foreigners to give them a chance for education and more opportunities. If a woman can insure her body part for millions of dollars she can surely afford to buy not one but a few thousands of children for adoption (and for sale if she so desires). That is life as the stone- age impoverished Africans have no life to talk of. If you want to buy fertile land at no cost and to have the right to beat, oppress and play slave master on workers go to Ethiopia. If you want to buy children cheap even if they have their parents go to Ethiopia. You can starve them to death, feed them dog food, beat, mutilate and kill them. No problem. Millions others are there for sale.

As far as I am concerned, my problem has to do with why these rich and self-proclaimed humanitarians are not ready to adopt all of us Africans repressed and impoverished by tyrants backed and supported by their countries. In Ethiopia we say “manew balesamint , in France they say a qui le tour, the English speaking say who is next. Who will be there and ready to adopt us with all the fanfare, tears, oaths, video, you tube and all?