Dear Toronto Star editor,
Who does not want to go home after twenty four years to visit a one hundred year old father and old mother ? No one, I myself have been out of Ethiopia the same time Kemer left his home country on foot, luckily I left by plane. However, the return of Kemer at the time when thousands of Oromos have been jailed and on top of that this week Amnesty International strong letter accusing Meles Zenawi for jailing Oromo professionals and demanding the whereabouts of many Oromos is not accidental. Kemer's visit is a well orchestrated propaganda for the unelected regime of Ethiopia and I can assure you that many Oromos will see him as a new cadre from Canada.
Interestingly, Mr. Kemer on John Godard piece on Toronto Star (November 18) accused the former Ethiopian regimes for being anti-Oromo, that is a big lie and the writer should not put such kind of slander for readers. The Mengistu regime killed,imprisoned and jailed all who challenged him to take power and for that all Ethiopians were victims and no Oromo was singled out. In fact there were Oromos who joined Mengistu and kill their political enemies,Oromos and others alike.
Kemer has chosen to join the current unelected regime for financial benefit while popular singers like Teddy Afro is languishing in jail for no crime other than singing for reconciliation and peace. Ethiopia has many Oromo heroes for that you just have to go and see the recent Beijing Olympics and the love these athletes have throughout Ethiopia and sadly Kemer Godard chose to serve the enemy of Oromos and all Ethiopians Meles Zenawi.
Tedla Asfaw
New York City
