Where is Senator Obama?

Tedla Asfaw
The violence in Kenya following this week presidential election needs straight answer from the Democratic candidate of USA, Mr. Obama and a test for his foreign relationship credentials.

Moreover he is also respected in Kenya as their own because his father is a Kenyan and it will be
interesting to hear from him here and and in Kenya too.

Senator Obama is quite may be Kenya is not important in the presidential debate but for many people who questioned his international credential it would have been better if he comes out and take stand on what is going on in Kenya following the contested election.

Some of the candidate might only know Kenya as land of Safari and it is not at all important and the USA media have not shown so far any interest.

For those of us from Horn once again like the 2005 election of Ethiopia the region's hope for a model is gone and we are left with no alternative.

If peaceful election does not bring hope to our region we will be left out only with armed struggle and military coups as we have been accustomed for many years.

Victory for our people in 2008!!!





____________________________________________________________________________________
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Bhutto's Dynasty?

Tedla Asfaw

 

Today the Bhuttos are gathering to pick a successor for the late Benazir Bhutto according to BBC news hour and this is also compared by some to the Kennedy's, Bushes and Clinton's and however this comparison is not correct.

 

In USA no one  inherits power from their families rather elected to represent their party by the  Democrat or Republican caucuses. What we have seen in Bhutto's family in Pakistan is a feudal power transfer since the independence of Pakistan.

 

The possible inherits of the power are the nineteen year old son of Benazir  Bhutto, her husband or her sister and I am surprised the Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP) has no role to pick the leader of their party and how can an organization bring democracy to its people without electing democratically its own leader?.

 

Such transfer of power is now become a norm also in undemocratic countries and we saw it in Jordan and in Egypt the son of Mubarak is now groomed to rule Egypt. Such practice will give an ammunition for Islamic extremists to wage war in the name of Islam and the disenfranchised masses will be left out of the power game..

 

Without democratic institution and transparent deliberation within parties it is impossible to bring accountability and fight neptoism and corruption and people are going to worship leaders and that is bad for democracy.

 

On this first anniversary of Saddam Hussein execution nothing bright has come for the Islamic world and still most Islamic countries are run by dictators and that will not bring peace and stability in any region of the world and inherited power is neither different.

 

It is sad a woman who preaches democracy and accountability while alive her death is not hope for Pakistani democracy rather an excuse to keep Bhutto's legacy and the winners on all these will be the undemocratic forces led by Musharraf and Islamic extremists.. 

Does it matter, Dialogue or outrage for the Kinijit's sickness ??

Tedla Asfaw

 

I read Ato Fekada Shewaena's well written piece about the current predicament of Kinijit, once a very popular party getting the support of millions of Ethiopians, remember the "Miazia" 30/ May 2005 rally a week before the election  and now in a disarray fighting in two camps in Addis to secure "office" and name for KInijit "legally" posted on addisvoice.com.

 

The whole world knows that millions voted for CUDP/Kinijit and now TPLF is telling us that we must be stupid because there is no party called Kinijit and even those who got a seat for their safety in the "parliament" Ayele and Temesgen do not know which party they represent.

 

On top of that Hailu and Birtukan factions are not allowed to mobilize supporters while they have been given stages to destroy each other. We have now four Kinijit parties begging for recognition from TPLF and TPLF is now roaming Addis and many cities to win the local election for the coming spring and preparing to win the landslide victory for the so called "election 2008".

 

It does not matter who will get the certificate of recognition for Kinijit and this will not change the fact that TPLF will compete with the loyal oppositions led by Bulcha, Petros , Lidetu ,Ayele, Temesegen and you can add Hailu, Birtukan on this list and the so called fair and free election under TPLF is gone for good whether Kinijit remains undivided or not.

 

What Hailu and the other Fives have done after their release is destroying the Kinijit spirit by their examples we heard in their interviews and deeds. They might be educated people but not good leaders in any measurement you take.

 

The millions in Ethiopia who voted for Kinijit hoping  better future and that future no doubt is hijacked by TPLF and  failed leadership of Kinijit paving the way for another rule for TPLF dynasty, 2010--2015 and whether we engaged in dialogue or outrage it does not matter any more the damage has already been done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Birhanu Nega Vs. Bereket Simon on "Bravery Scale"

Tedla Asfaw

 

I read a short armed struggle account of EPRP and the role of Dr. Birhanu's contribution according to " Adal Isaw "not a real name posted on Aiga(Dec. 28) titled "EPRP and Dr. Birhanu Nega:"Like father,like son" which accuses Dr. Birhanu as cowardice and people like Berekit Simon an adviser of Melese Zenawi who was defeated soundly on May 2005 election as hero.

 

It would have been up to Bereket Simon to bring your allegation of cowardice on the debate and ask not to vote for Dr. Birhanu and other CUDs because they are not as "brave" as EPRDF/TPLF fighters and ask  for another five years.

 

The writer accusation of Dr. Birhanu being "a scary cat" was also pointed by others against Melese Zenawi and he was accused of never seen in war front and in fact run from battle field and it would have been relevant for your readers if you were "brave" enough to comment on that.

 

Dr. Birhanu on his book "Yenestanet Gohe Sikede" clearly put his role as a young person like many of us a desire for a change including an armed struggle and admitted that he did not participate in any battle and left for Sudan.However, Bereket Simon and other former EPRP officials join TPLF and now  reaping the fruit of their "bravery" for being more TPLFites than TPLF officials even if he and othes  lost an election and if that is also bravery it should be called "bravery of cheating"

 

 

The future of our country is on the hands of our people and those who accepted the verdict of our peope in the polling booths are the winners and let our people vote on who is a hero and a coward and killing innocents demonstrators on the streets of Addis Ababa while hiding in the Menelik Palace is surely not a heroic action.

 

 

 

 

Fwd: Musharraf has to go !!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: tedla asfaw <yenenehe@yahoo.com>
Date: Dec 27, 2007 11:08 AM
Subject: Musharraf has to go !!!
To: tedla.asfaw@gmail.com

Bennizar Butto is a courageous woman and whoever is
behind this heinous crime is a coward. The
beneficiaries of this crime might be dictators like
Musharraf who failed to protect her and wanted to stay
in power claiming fighting terrorism.

This is the time for Musharraf to go and Pakistanis to
elect accountable government to remove the threat of
terror once an for all with the full participation of
the public.

                                    Sadly,

                                 Tedla Asfaw




     ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Ethiopiafirst with Addisdimts host

Tedla Asfaw

 

Another educational interview on Ben's Radio and  Ethiopiafirst.com . Ben interviewed Ato Abebe Belew the host of Addis Dimts on current political situation in Ethiopia except the occupation of Somalia which in fact should have been part of the interview because its impact on future politics of Ethiopia is huge.

 

Educational interview is hard to find in a polarized paltalk shouting, cursing or worshiping interviews in the Diaspora and this one will not scare many Ethiopians including TPLF supporters and opponents to listen without worrying too much.

 

Ben has his own view sometimes different than Ato Abebe but this has not made each one of them to be an enemy and swear never to talk. Such tolerance is hard to find in our Diaspora political culture and if it is exported to Ethiopia it will negatively affect the future democracy we all want to establish in Ethiopia.

 

Free media which is totally non existent in Ethiopia as Ben proved beyond doubt from his recent trip to Ethiopia is not different than the Diaspora polarized media serving as a propaganda machine with the exception of very few.

 

If you want to know who you are in the Diaspora the litmus test is which website and media you are visiting. Ato Abebe Belew will get many emails and calls for appearing on Ben's Radio and many will  label him as TPLF agent to solidify their on going accusation against him.

 

I do not know if Ben's site is blocked in Ethiopia and I can assure you that this interview will never be allowed to reach a large audience in Ethiopia and if it reaches Addis Dimts will get many supporting emails and letters from Ethiopia. 

 

I also listened interview Ben made with the families of those killed by the TPLF forces two years ago possibly after he interviewed Ato Abebe and I would like to know what Ato Abebe has to say about this disturbing interview if he has heard it.

 

One thing I do not like  to see is to exploit the dead families for political gain and such actions by Kinijit leadership will be a disrespect of the dead.

Somalia Islamists are more popular now than a year ago!!

Tedla Asfaw

 

The United States occupation of Iraq and all its implications squarely rests on George Bush and the public is informed daily on the casualties of this occupation and its cost to the tax payers and the 2008 election will much be determined on who will bring the troops back home safely.

 

Today is the first anniversary of occupation of Somalia by "Ethiopian" soldiers and in direct opposite to the occupation of Iraq, let alone the public the so called parliamentarians do not now the number of "Ethiopian" soldiers who died in this adventure and where  the money is coming for this war, and  how much this occupation has cost so far?

 

We have not heard debate in the Ethiopian "parliament" similar to the USA Congress to fund the war and this surely proves that this money is not coming from tax payers of Ethiopia and it is probably tied up with the so called counter terrorism agreement with the USA administration.

 

Do we have the names of the dead ? Is that also a military secret like most things in Somalia? Can anyone tale me how many Somalis were killed? we are hearing sometimes hundreds of dead Islamic fighters and does anyone believe that Somalia is much stable and is free of "terrorists" than it were a year ago?

 

It is in fact the opposite. After one year of illconceived adventure the Islamists have many Somalis on their side fighting for their "national" pride and one thing this occupation did is to bring all Somalis together.

 

The impact of this occupation for the future instability is great. Somalia either will go to the 1990s clan fight or Islamists will capitalize on the current Somali nationalism and rally the people and establish an Islamic state hopefully which has no ambition for neighbores territories.

 

I have no doubt, like the Hamas of Palestine and Hezbollah of Lebanon tested in war times they will also be popular in Somalia. However, the Somali Islamists should not miscalculate and call for Jihad on neighboring countries especially Ethiopia encouraged by outsiders who are now only giving lip service to their resistance.

 

The "Ethiopian" army unceremonious departure by next year will be filled  possibly by India and Muslim countries to stop the killing and Somalis have to be ready to live with the Islamists and the Islamists have to realize their dream in their own territory and declaring "jihad" across the border against Ethiopia will sabotage Ethiopian people struggle for freedom and equality and be an excuse for the dictatorial regime of Melese Zenawi to stay in power. 

 

Ethiopians are true friends of Somalia and the hundred  thousands of Somalis displaced by war never felt as foreigner living in Ethiopia and no matter who comes to power in Somalia that should be the foundation of our future relationship.

 

 

Merry Christmas Greeting to a Friend

"Wondeme", "Kena Seta Yemelemaele Gobata" in this day of communication it is hard to leave the field for the very few and be spectator and that is what I did my part in 2007.

How could one be a spectator when ones country and people held hostage by very few and their foreign backers who claim to be especialist for our problems.

Was it not a very few patriots like "Ras Abebe Aregaye" and others who draw a line during the Italian invasion while many were lined up to eat Spaghetti?

This time is not different, we saw many of our friends lined up to buy property walking on the bodies of our dead and enjoy the food and "women" of Ethiopia with our current fascists.

"Wondeme", if you and me can not draw a line on good and evil who can do it for us?

TPLF is afraid of paper and ink and the only weapon we have right now and we have to use it to bring change for our people back home.

I finished reading a book by the widow of Danny Pearl, "Mighty Heart" who was beheaded in Pakistan after 9/11 while he was in mission to report the under working of Islamists and it is a moving story and if you have not read it please pick it up.There is also a movie about it by Angelina Joline, the "mother" of Zahara from Ethiopia.

I wish you and your family a happy holiday and the coming year to reach to our goal to live in a free and democratic Ethiopia.


--------------
I have enjoyed checking in on you at Addis Voice. You are doing a fabulous work on creating forum on matters affecting us and our country. Thank you for sharing your ideas and for your objectivity in your comments. I appreciate you energy. I look forward to seeing you next year. Keep up the excellent work. Keep it coming. I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved
family a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

No Money !! No Honey !!

Tedla Asfaw

TPLF started another fight this time not by gun by money. The millionaires party, TPLF, is drafting a new law to ban all contributions out of country and crippling parties that survive from the Diaspora contributions.

The three hundred thousand dollars raised from KIL supporters lat month might be the victim of this new law and this new law is going to completely shut down all opposition activities.

The new law, by demanding the names of the contributors, it will scare most people back home not to give money for fear of reprisals.

How are we going to mobilize supporters without money? impossible and all the money raised for the opposition parties have to go underground and in this time of suspicion and division in the Kinijit leadership this new law with the banning of free assembly and speeches will definitely kill the hope of peaceful struggle in Ethiopia.

Divided Diaspora that can not raise money legally will not help the cause of millions of our people hunger for change.

I hope such war waged on our people by TPLF might unite the splintering Kinijit factions KIL and KIC offices before they shut down for not paying rent and other expenses, no money no honey.

Eid al-Adha, Festival of Sacrifice

Fellow Ethiopian Muslims with other Muslims all over the world are prepared to celebrate the Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice tomorrow and this holiday ritual is also embedded in the heart of Ethiopian tradition both Muslims and Christians.

As in many of our religious holidays like "Fasika"/Easter and new year celebration, wedding and
others, Ethiopians Muslims and Christians buy sheep to slaughter for a feast.

Our family has to follow our father and do this ritual and this experience from child hood until now never lost and still remember asking my father as if today, why do we slaughter sheep?.

The answer was straight and simple.My father answered to us "when God asked Abraham/Ibrahim to sacrifice his son he never hesitated to do it. God saved Abraham's
son and gave him a sheep to sacrifice ".

Here in the Western world we still follow that ritual. A decade ago for my wedding my father and father-in-law have to go to New Jersey to buy sheep.

Here is the funny thing. The Muslim merchant has to make his prayer "Besemelahe" and my father and father-in-law jumped with him saying "Besmaeabe Wewelde" and hold his hand and slaughter the sheep.

All of us laughed on the incident but one thing is true, we all believe in one God in our own way and I wish my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters a happy Eid al- Adha.

Tedla Asfaw

"Long Live Senator Inhofe" !!!

Aigainfo.com posted few supporters of TPLF photos standing at Oklahoma Senator Inhofe's office and holding placards against HR2003. "Long live Ethiopia, long live USA " and then the funny call is "long live Inhofe".

How long ? wishing him to be a life term senator like TPLF supporters wanted to be Melese the life term leader of Ethiopia. "long live Melese Zenawi" should be added with "long live Inhofe" to be fair to your leader. Ethiopians voted out Melese in 2005 and he is now living with stolen time and I am longing for his departure from Ethiopian politics and as for Senator Inhofe he will go after his term is finished and the TPLF supporters can find him a job as life term adviser.

Long Live Freedom!!

Tedla Asfaw

The infamous number sixty in Ethiopian politics.

Tedla Asfaw

The number sixty brought our memory of the sixty
Ethiopian high officials of the Imperial regime of
Haile Selasse who were massacred by Junta Derg in the
1974.

After more than three decades the number sixty comes
again in our politics this time when we debate the
crisis in the Kinijit leadership.

I read on EMF the "master list" of the Supreme Council
Members of Kinijit happens to be sixty and as we know
when the leadership was thrown to jail two years ago
this council ceased to exist. Some were jailed,some
hiding, some in exile and some left Kinijit for good.

After the release of Kinijit leadership four months
ago few less than twenty are engaged in power struggle
in two camps, Hailu and Birhanu/the Fives and are now
campaigning other Supreme Council and executive
members to join them in the fight while the millions
supporters of Kinijt following the saga on VOA and
German Amharic.

Engineer Hailu Shawel on this week's interview with
VOA confirmed that there is no Supreme Council of
Kinijit and it is dead.

It is true that the sixty council members and the
whole Kinijit movement are dead politically thanks to
the TPLF banning of peaceful politics combined with
the leaderless Kinijt train.

Kinijit supporters can not peacefully demonstrate and
is hard to gauge their reaction. However, if you do
your own survey it is not surprising to find that
people demand readership change in Kinijit and for
that Hailu and the Fives and all the members in the
leadership position have to go. I hate number sixty
and hopefully Kinijit will look for another number and
mobilize its supporters by all means to keep the
spirit of 2005 alive.

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Melese Zenawi, the next President of Ethiopia

Tedla Asfaw

 

The Russian prime minister Putin has nominated his buddy to replace him and his successor would like to put Putin as President of Russia and you can call it give and get more. Why not TPLF emulate this to the Ethiopian situation?

 

Prime minister Melese if he kept his words, this will be his last term as prime minister and by the 2010 our country will have another member of TPLF as prime minister in the coming TPLF controlled election.

 

The president of Ethiopia is ceremonial as President Girma Wodlegeorgis said  in his recent appearance on New York Public Radio and compared it to the "Queen" of England. The Ethiopian "Parliament" could change that and make the president to be more active in internal politics.

 

Following Russia's Putin the Ethiopian "Parliament "next step is to nominate prime minister to be our   next president of Ethiopia by huge majority and if there is any law against that TPLF will use its super majority and make a new law.

 

TPLF can not survive without Melese Zenawi and they have to thank Putin for bringing this new model to be emulated by our life term leader to jump from one post to another and we should not forget Musharraf's conversion from the Army chief to be president too.

 

While Ethiopian popular party Kinijit is now splintering and leaderless TPLF should not worry about organized protest in any form and the new position of president for Melese Zenawi might indeed be a big possibility TPLF supporters will talk about   in the coming year or two.

 

"President Melese" will use his years of contact and experience to be our official president and unofficial "prime minister" of Ethiopia and Kinijit's failed leadership might make this alternative more interesting for him and we will hear from him soon and of course retirement is out of question Mr. President.

Poverty and educatin in the rich nations

Tedla Asfaw

 

On BBC news hour (Dec. 13) I followed the study done by the British regarding poverty and education. Children at the age of seven from poor families who are bright end up as adult in poor school with no  future probably ending much poorer than their parents.

 

This is not peculiar to Britain and here in USA family income and children education has strong correlation.Children from high income family end up in good private schools and pay their education in college and take well paying jobs and the majority of children from low income families end up in poor public schools, some drop out in high schools and the lucky one end up in community college, and very few  in good colleges which is a license for good job opportunity.

 

Born from poor family seems a curse and things are not getting better for the poor of the world, and if the west can not tackle this inequality in education it will prepare itself for many underclass citizens with less paying jobs or no jobs that will trigger crime and  will cost them huge amount of money to fight these crimes.

 

Rich nations should be better off spending money for quality public education and tap the potential of  bright children from poor families and wasting it as they do now is immoral.

 

                                                                                                                  

Fwd: Certificate of Expulsion for Dr Birhanu and Judge Birtukan Medekssa

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tedla Asfaw <tedla.asfaw@gmail.com>
Date: Dec 12, 2007 9:24 AM
Subject: Fwd: Certificate of Expulsion for Dr Birhanu and Judge Birtukan Medekssa
To: webmaster@nazret.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: tedla asfaw < yenenehe@yahoo.com>
Date: Dec 12, 2007 9:24 AM
Subject: Certificate of Expulsion for Dr Birhanu and Judge Birtukan Medekssa
To: tedla.asfaw@gmail.com

Engineer Hailu's KIC or call it "Kinijit" on its
December, "Thaesas" declaration barred Dr. Birhanu and
Judge Birtukan Medekssa from Kinijit membership.

The official declaration "let us go our own way and
let them go their own way" by Dr. Birhanu last week on
the paltalk got an official reply from Engineer
Hailu/Dr. Taye.

The Diaspora supporters of Dr.Birhanu will call call a
meeting and establish their exile organization to be
lead by Dr. Birahnu and back home the returned
delegates Ato Gizachew Shifereaw, Dr. Hailu Araya and
Ato Biruke will continue their battle under the
watchful eye of TPLF with the Engineer Hailu groups.

The Ethiopian masses who voted for Kinijit in 2005 is
out of this power struggle and should not choose
anyone of the warring groups.

We have not heard last time when the masses gathered
for "Talaku Rucha" in Addus  root for Hailu or Birhanu
and for them they are failed leaders and the "Derg"
like proclamation will not drive them to create
suspicion among themselves who are now suffering under
the brutal regime of TPLF.

The May 2005 movement looks crippled for now but the
masses who were mobilized in millions for Kinijit
support in "Miazia 30" two years ago will pick leaders
to replace the failed ones and move for a change.

Here in the Diaspora the majority of us who rejected
the two camps and call for reconciliation have to
denounce those who would like to lead us from exile or
dividing our people back home to hostile camps and
guarantee years of rule under TPLF tyranny.






     ____________________________________________________________________________________
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KIC's "Lekaberew Aredute" statement

Tedla Asfaw

 

I listened on Andent Radio the Dec.8 KIC statement regarding the call Dr. Birhanu made on the paltalk radio that Kinijit warring factions have to go their separate way. How could  this be news to us? We witnessed it when the Kinijit delegates arrived separately in September until they left divided in November.

 

Dr. Birhanu's " let us go our way and let them go their own way" is not going to be a surprise for millions of our people who followed the sad story of KInijit since their new year and the KIC statement is like "Lekebarew Aredute".

 

We can go back and read the recent statements of KIC except  "Kinijit is one" in words their actions like the Birhanu groups, KIL had achieved the breaking away of Kinijit and all the festivals and parties had not gone from our memory to deny that.

 

The elected leaders of Kinijit are now paralysed and forbidden to reach their constituents and the gathering of few elected leaders in the name of Kinijit is not different than the Kinijit we have in the TPLF parliament which communicate by remote control with its "constituents"

 

Why should KIC worried about the call made by Dr. Birhanu on the paltlak and didn't we hear getting a new name for Kinijit from Eng. Hailu  which is not different than splitting Kinijit? It is clear for all of us the KIC group will have a new name and the KIL will take another name and that was declared few months back here in USA.

 

The Ethiopian people "Kinijit" has to rise up with new leaders from the ashes of KIC and KIL and this people power has to take its own course and "Talaku Rucha"  has shown us the glimpse of  what to come.

Eritrea is not Somalia

Tedla Asfaw

 

I read ethiomedia.com editorial Eritrea is not Somalia, Dec. 10, 2007 and I agree fully on the analysis that backed Melese's assertion that he  will not go to war with Eritrea  "without full scale of invasion" by Isayas of Eritrea.

 

This is true because both tyrants are strategical friends and the current tactical misunderstandings which led to Badme war ten years ago and cost more than seventy thousands of civilian lives do not bother them at all because no one question these warlords and had we lived in a free country we would have damped these guys long ago.

 

Strategically both are moving to their goal of fracturing Ethiopia beyond repair. The last Christmas war of going to Somalia is not because Somalia had launched full scale invasion against Ethiopian the litmus test presented by Melese for Eritrea but because that was a contractual obligation of war against terrorism by the dictatorial regime of Ethiopia for the Bush Administration.

 

By going to war he invigorated the historical enmity of Somalis toward Ethiopians and that together with the Ethiopian Somalis fight for equality might lead in the long run for the break away of Ogaden which is the strategic goal of Melese and Isayas.

 

The division within Kinijit which is encouraged in Addis Ababa as a government policy and Asmara not officially but by eliminating all patriots like the late Kassahun Hunde and many others is  the coordination  of the strategic goal of Melese and Isayas.

 

Sibhat Nega and Melese Zenawi had said several times in public for Eritrean audience that no one  better than EPRDF/TPLF will come to power in Ethiopia to secure their independence and warned that the coming of Kinijit and others is the end of Eritrean Independence.

 

To support this strategic goal Ato Abrahm Yaye recently alleged on hagerfikerradio.com that the "Amharas bombed Ayder to split the Tigrean and the Eritrean people" in the Badme war.

 

From all these what any layperson can conclude is that Melese and Isayas by destabilizing the rest of Ethiopia by detonating all the ethnic bombs on their way out they believe they will build their ultimate home "The Greater Tigray".

 

The Oromos who are the majority, dispersed in large areas of Ethiopia and the rest of nationalities should take this threat from both Melese and Isayas seriously and avoid like they do now  any animosity towards each other.

 

The Somalis currently occupied by Melese's forces should realize  this strategic alliance between Melese and Isayas and protect their leaders both in Asmara and Addis Ababa and they should not buy what they hear in Asmara and as they witnessed to their amusement there was no Eritrean fighting force who stood with them in the last Christmas invasion of Somalia.

 

Moreover  the Somali leaders in Asmara should ask one question, why Isayas is not opening another front in the north to help them out eject Melese's soldiers from Mogadishu ? What is one year of empty talk in Asmara acheives for them?.

 

The answer to all of those questions is clear that the regimes in Asmara and Addis Ababa survive only on war footage and if that is gone they will go too and they will not do anything that will jeoparidize their strategic goal of leaving the rest of us in turmoil while defending and building "Greater Tigray". 

 

 

 

Fwd: The brutal killing of Kassahun Hunde

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: tedla asfaw <yenenehe@yahoo.com>
Date: Dec 7, 2007 9:10 AM
Subject: The brutal killing of Kassahun Hunde
To: tedla.asfaw@gmail.com

I was saddened to read on Dec.7 on ethiomedia.com , a
day I arrived here in USA twenty years ago escaping
tyranny to live in freedom, the death of Ato Kasshaun
Hunde on the hands of brutal killers.

I saw Ato Kassahun on Eritrean TV after he escaped
TPLF imprisonment following the May 2005 election and
on that interview he admitted that he was a Kinijit
activist.

This brave man lost hand as a result of gunshot but it
did not brake his fighting spirit and after escape he
joined those who took up arms to defend themselves to
fight for "freedom" in the northern Ethiopia.

This brave man killers are now out there to kill
freely thinking Ethiopian patriots wherever they are
be in Ethiopia or Asmara.

The tyrants in Addis Ababa and Asmara would not like
to see brave patriotic independent Ethiopians the
likes of the late Professor Asrat or other young
patriots like Ato Kasahun Hunde and what they want is
individuals or organizations who take order from them.

Both tyrants are threatened by patriotic Ethiopians
and organizations and would do all they can to destroy
them and they are also exploiting  the difference in
the democratic and patriotic organizations until they
are paralyzed and becomes toothless.

If those who are challenging TPLF by arms are taking
direct order from Asmara it will not be different than
those who are sleeping in the parliament while Melese
is lecturing.

The division in the Ethiopian Patriotic Front(EPPF)
which we heard in the paltalk room is not much
different the one we see in many Ethiopian political
organizations and what makes it different is it has
outside sponsor, the Eritrean regime.

Patriotic Ethiopians in the north of Ethiopia are
squeezed from TPLF and the Issayas regime while the
mass movement of May 2005 let rote in the drama played
under the watchful eye of TPLF in Addis Ababa.

To make matters worst young patriots like Ato Kasahun
Hunde life is cut short with no one being accountable.

                                            Sadly,

                                         Tedla Asfaw






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Quality education in Ethiopia is a victim of politics.

Tedla Asfaw

 

I followed Melese Zenawi's discussion in Addis Ababa University with the higher institute community posted on ethiopiafirst.com and it was interesting.

 

Melese Zenawi pointed out that quality education depends on the economy of the country and he said, "since we have limited government financial resources for  higher educations, students and educators have to understand this and try  their best to achieve quality education in the difficult circumstance they are now ".

 

The fact is that the quality of education is going down the hill because of political decision made by the Melese's administration for putting its priority to establish universities through out the country and boasting about it and care less whether these institutions are equipped to produce quality human power.

 

If the prime minister's  assertion that higher universities is mostly financed by the government is true how comes we are focusing on the quantity at the expense of quality and ask more sacrifice from the students and teachers ?

 

The prime minister believes that quality education is based on quality teachers and he said that we have to produce quality teachers which he said are the one who produce other quality professionals.

 

There was very interesting question by a woman who challenges the prime minister and got wide applause. She said that the education faculty in Addis Ababa is recruiting low achievers to be trained as teachers and  how could we expect such teachers to produce high quality engineers, doctors etc?

 

She also said that the discipline of students in the campus and lack of disciplining those violating the code of conduct is no longer there and that has threatended the security of the teachers and it is impossible to produce quality students in this atmosphere.

 

The prime minister did not answer why the education faculty is recruiting low achievers but he said the government tried to reward teachers even if symbolically by giving them more money than other graduates of the same degree to recognize teachers and educate the population about the service they give to our country.

 

This discussion was organized to make us and others believe that universities in Ethiopia are free learning centers. However, from picking the universities president and recruiting teachers it has been all political. All the universities are now run by pro TPLF administrations and the lack of recruiting good teachers has not been possible after TPLF dismissed more than forty professors for their political believes more than fifteen years ago.

 

Now after all these years  Melese Zenawi is talking about quality of education after it has been politicized from day one of his regime. I can give you one example.I know an Ethiopian soil scientist who got PHD in Belgium in 1988 who was teaching in Alemaya for few years and was appointed as the President of Mekele University rather than teach soil in Alemaya or wherever he likes, and I would like to hear form the prime minister if such political appointment helps the quality of education?

 

Our universities should function freely without government intervention by professionals and remove all the cadres from education establishments which are threatening the safety of our students and teachers and then we will talk about quality education.