Tedla Asfaw
Some doubted this past weekend letter, "Kale", sent by the honorable judge Birtukan Medeksa means business. The letter challenged not only the fascists in power but all Ethiopians back home and in the Diaspora. Birtukan for many of us is more than a traditional Ethiopian name with its English equivalent "Orange" for its deliciousness and a common traditional fruit that is carried in urban Ethiopia when we visit families and friends in hospital.
Millions of Ethiopians who closely know her admire her and gave their confidence to lead them to freedom in May 2005. She and other leaders of Kinijit were jailed for two years and released because of pressure on the foreign supporters of the regime. Since then I have admired her confidence in the middle of men's club of Kinijit and hoped she will be a bridge between factions of Kinijit to keep the hope of May 2005 alive.
Who will forget the "Gashe" Hailu appeal in USA and her travel to visit him when he was seriously sick while some considered unworthy to visit a "dead man" ? This is a lady of principle and Ethiopian decency all melting together which many of us including leaders lack in the opposition camp.
I was not surprised by the weekend letter, "Kale" meaning My Voice for drawing a line on the sand and expose the "pardon" fiasco designed by fascist clique of TPLF to escape full responsibility for the killing hundreds of citizens in broad day light and put blame on the opposition leaders.
TPLF, however, changed its tactics and printed voluminous pages recently to defend its crime committed against the Ogaden civilians when it was accused by human right organizations because it could not find Ogaden Somalis to sign him a letter for "accepting" responsibility for killing their own family members.
The Meles regime killing has all been documented for the last eighteen years and will be charged for all the crimes sooner or later. The new theater in the name of the law that has started by throwing our strong teacher or "Kahen "to jail for life is not Birtukan the orange but "Birtu Kahen " to deny us a charismatic leader and also to distract us from TPLF's defeat and expulsion from Somalia, the on going protest throughout the Diaspora for the freedom of Teddy Afro and all political prisoners which is now gaining momentum day by day.
Ethiopians back home are very sad and a letter posted on one website is asking the Diaspora to do something because the email said "Ethiopians can not do anything home". The reply from one Ethiopian was unambiguous, "live or die ".. Birtu Kahen/Birtukan has done her part and it is the men surrounding her that have to come out and lead because as one sister put it no more hiding behind women's skirt.
However, I commend Professor Mesfin for what he did to protect his "loved daughter", Birtu Kahen not intimidated by fascist "Kalcho" and gun as we heard him on VOA interview Yesterday. On the other side I was disappointed by Pastor Daniel who was close by and not brave enough to stand to the outlaws.
To other leadership of Birtukan's party, Andenet, I urge them to be an example of a peaceful struggle they are pursuing and call Ethiopians on street for peaceful protest and face the consequence. This is what peaceful struggle is all about beyond making good declaration on safe conference rooms and hotels. The other faction of Kinijit, AEUP, led by Eng. Hailu should rally behind our Birtu Kahen and mobilize its supporters similar to "Miazia " 30 million people rally on streets of Addis Ababa. Former members of the ruling mafia, the Negaso Gidada and Seye Abraha's who were received as heroes on UDJP/Andenet conference in Addis last month should join the street mass protest if they are serious about peaceful struggle.
Those of us who were supporting Kinijit and now splintered in three or more camps or neutral, immediately mobilize the Diaspora under the banner of Birtu Kahen 's word , "Kaleshe Kalachene" and not seat idle while she is locked up. We know very well the enemy strategy is to kill us separately. We can bring the never dying spirit of Kinijit of 2005 and answer to the challenge of the honorable and brave woman leader.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Friday, 26 December 2008
Looking for love in a wrong place !!
Tedla Asfaw
Dear Brother Girma Kassa,
Most of your writings usually end up with call for love/Fiker and your current piece in Amharic "begging" TPLF/EPRDF to rescind its three days ultimatum it gave to judge Birtukan Medeksa to "RE APOLOGIZE" or face jail brings me to question the love and its new preacher Tamerat Layne you quote. First, I do not agree with Tamerat Layne turns "Pastor" preaching about love. It is too early and too soon for a man who has blood on his hand to preach about love, seems to me the quick turning of TPLF from Albanian Communism to American capitalism eighteen years ago overnight . Let "Pastor" Tamerat Layne confess for his past sins, for taking innocent lives and urging in public for elimination of Amharas in Eastern Ethiopia where you grew up, as his new religion demands.
I can agree with you that Judge Birtukan deserves real love. However, you are looking for love in a wrong place. Not on the vocabularies of TPLF what you prefer to call it for "love" sake EPRDF, "Melketefu Beseme Yedegefu". I have not read the TPLF Constitution you declare a good document and I have serious doubt however if there is anything written about love for an individual or country there. Is article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution about love ?
If you are selectively accusing TPLF for blackmailing you are also wrong too. Judge Birtukan is a young promising leader so do Weizero Mesobewerk Kitawe the editor of "Andenet" newspaper who is thrown to jail last week. How comes you who are calling for Tamerat Layne's kind of love not to speak on behalf of the other woman. Does she not deserve love too ?
Love do not discriminate Ato Girma and I want you to speak forcefully or beg on behalf of Weizero Mesobewerk, Teddy Afro, many others and the hundreds of Somali refugees who are thrown to jail by TPLF as we speak. I pray for your success brother and keep on loving you.
Dear Brother Girma Kassa,
Most of your writings usually end up with call for love/Fiker and your current piece in Amharic "begging" TPLF/EPRDF to rescind its three days ultimatum it gave to judge Birtukan Medeksa to "RE APOLOGIZE" or face jail brings me to question the love and its new preacher Tamerat Layne you quote. First, I do not agree with Tamerat Layne turns "Pastor" preaching about love. It is too early and too soon for a man who has blood on his hand to preach about love, seems to me the quick turning of TPLF from Albanian Communism to American capitalism eighteen years ago overnight . Let "Pastor" Tamerat Layne confess for his past sins, for taking innocent lives and urging in public for elimination of Amharas in Eastern Ethiopia where you grew up, as his new religion demands.
I can agree with you that Judge Birtukan deserves real love. However, you are looking for love in a wrong place. Not on the vocabularies of TPLF what you prefer to call it for "love" sake EPRDF, "Melketefu Beseme Yedegefu". I have not read the TPLF Constitution you declare a good document and I have serious doubt however if there is anything written about love for an individual or country there. Is article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution about love ?
If you are selectively accusing TPLF for blackmailing you are also wrong too. Judge Birtukan is a young promising leader so do Weizero Mesobewerk Kitawe the editor of "Andenet" newspaper who is thrown to jail last week. How comes you who are calling for Tamerat Layne's kind of love not to speak on behalf of the other woman. Does she not deserve love too ?
Love do not discriminate Ato Girma and I want you to speak forcefully or beg on behalf of Weizero Mesobewerk, Teddy Afro, many others and the hundreds of Somali refugees who are thrown to jail by TPLF as we speak. I pray for your success brother and keep on loving you.
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Asimba, the home of the braves !!!
Tedla Asfaw
Forgive me for not be among the braves who went more than three decades ago to Asimba to make real their dream of united and equal Ethiopia. I have to be honest with you that I came for the first time to see this historical mountain because of the writing of AFP correspondent, Emmanuel Gujon on Dec. 22 about the Irob community at Asimba 's determination to keep their Ethiopian land and identity no matter what.
The writer focuses on the last ten years of the Irob community history and did not ask questions what Irob looks like before TPLF and Shabia controlled the surrounding area militarily eighteen years ago. Before them there were young Ethiopian visionaries who came to Asimba from all areas of Ethiopia to realize their dream of free and united Ethiopia and start an armed struggle from their base at Asimba about which many songs and poems were written.
The Irob community joined this struggle by feeding and sending its young sons and daughters. The main reasons for Irob people's determination to be courageous now facing two enemies, Isaias and Meles is the historical bond it had with the rest of Ethiopia and the close relationship it developed with other Ethiopians fighting fascist Derg, TPLF and Shabia in its recent history.
Young students from colleges and high schools, professionals all joined hands to fight for freedom and paid a high price together with the sons and daughters of the Irob community and that relationship which was temporarily broken by TPLF anti-Ethiopian clique failed to destroy the bond of love for a country according to the piece, "Tiny ethnic group claims Ethiopian allegiance " by writer Emmanuel Gujon (Dec. 22).
However, this Irob community is now a bargaining piece for TPLF. It can be sold any day and time for TPLF's own survival. The only thing which stops this transaction is finding a reliable buyer in Asmera. Meles Zenawi who told us in his own sleeping parliament about the generous Sudanese who received Ethiopian land as a gift could say the same on giving back Ethiopian Irob community and all the land to his beloved Eritreans one day.
This love of Ethiopia by our Irob community we have witnessed and recently disclosed to the whole world through the foreign journalist will not be different if foreign journalists were sent to our western boundary and talk to the people of Metema and south to Gambella. The people on those areas like the Irob in north have resisted giving away their land and identity and are now fighting to remain Ethiopian.
The role of those EPRP visionaries, love for a country and freedom, in our western front thirty years ago was also written on their blood and it is now one of the motivation factors to fight both TPLF and Sudanese militia. Many like me who have not contributed to this struggle as fighters in Irob/Asimba, and western Ethiopia should come out from our closet and honor these gallant Ethiopian fighters.
I thank the foreign journalist for writing about the Irob community and waking up many like me to research our own recent history of heroism which is still going on long after many died and forced to leave Asimba. I salute the website Asimba and Asimba paltalk room for carrying this historical name and educating Ethiopians about our beloved country struggle for freedom and equality. I also suggest for this website to post mount Asimba on its home page permanently to honor those brave Ethiopians and the Irob community who are still continuing the struggle.
Forgive me for not be among the braves who went more than three decades ago to Asimba to make real their dream of united and equal Ethiopia. I have to be honest with you that I came for the first time to see this historical mountain because of the writing of AFP correspondent, Emmanuel Gujon on Dec. 22 about the Irob community at Asimba 's determination to keep their Ethiopian land and identity no matter what.
The writer focuses on the last ten years of the Irob community history and did not ask questions what Irob looks like before TPLF and Shabia controlled the surrounding area militarily eighteen years ago. Before them there were young Ethiopian visionaries who came to Asimba from all areas of Ethiopia to realize their dream of free and united Ethiopia and start an armed struggle from their base at Asimba about which many songs and poems were written.
The Irob community joined this struggle by feeding and sending its young sons and daughters. The main reasons for Irob people's determination to be courageous now facing two enemies, Isaias and Meles is the historical bond it had with the rest of Ethiopia and the close relationship it developed with other Ethiopians fighting fascist Derg, TPLF and Shabia in its recent history.
Young students from colleges and high schools, professionals all joined hands to fight for freedom and paid a high price together with the sons and daughters of the Irob community and that relationship which was temporarily broken by TPLF anti-Ethiopian clique failed to destroy the bond of love for a country according to the piece, "Tiny ethnic group claims Ethiopian allegiance " by writer Emmanuel Gujon (Dec. 22).
However, this Irob community is now a bargaining piece for TPLF. It can be sold any day and time for TPLF's own survival. The only thing which stops this transaction is finding a reliable buyer in Asmera. Meles Zenawi who told us in his own sleeping parliament about the generous Sudanese who received Ethiopian land as a gift could say the same on giving back Ethiopian Irob community and all the land to his beloved Eritreans one day.
This love of Ethiopia by our Irob community we have witnessed and recently disclosed to the whole world through the foreign journalist will not be different if foreign journalists were sent to our western boundary and talk to the people of Metema and south to Gambella. The people on those areas like the Irob in north have resisted giving away their land and identity and are now fighting to remain Ethiopian.
The role of those EPRP visionaries, love for a country and freedom, in our western front thirty years ago was also written on their blood and it is now one of the motivation factors to fight both TPLF and Sudanese militia. Many like me who have not contributed to this struggle as fighters in Irob/Asimba, and western Ethiopia should come out from our closet and honor these gallant Ethiopian fighters.
I thank the foreign journalist for writing about the Irob community and waking up many like me to research our own recent history of heroism which is still going on long after many died and forced to leave Asimba. I salute the website Asimba and Asimba paltalk room for carrying this historical name and educating Ethiopians about our beloved country struggle for freedom and equality. I also suggest for this website to post mount Asimba on its home page permanently to honor those brave Ethiopians and the Irob community who are still continuing the struggle.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Reject TPLF and the West democracy experiment for 2010 !!!
Tedla Asfaw
The coming "election" 2010 has now become an issue in some quarters and this debate also reached to the ears of Ethiopians back home through the VOA Amharic interview this past week. Ato Teklemichael Abebe former Addis Ababa University President who supported participating on the coming election and Ato Azale Desta member of EPRP who opposes any participation on the election debate was first posted on the www.ecadf.com website this month and the VOA program (part one) hosted by Alula tried to continue on that debate which was unheard in Ethiopia because of censorship of websites by TPLF.
Both Teklemicahel and Azale agreed that in TPLF's Ethiopia, it is not possible to conduct any free and fair election and what was then their main difference ? Teklemichael believes that election is part of the struggle to expose the crime of the regime for the world community. However, he failed to mention which new crimes the world have not known so far that he would like to expose.
Let us assume that the world community found new crime in Ethiopia related to the coming "election" of 2010 and then what ? What did international community do to the crime committed by TPLF in the 2005 election ? Is the hundreds life lost, thousands jailed and many exiled is not enough a crime that warrants action from the West that motivated Ato Teklemichael to conduct another election experiment to get sympathy for poor Ethiopians from the West ?
Is this not what the West have been doing for the last eighteen years in poor Ethiopia and paid the loyal opposition to do ? "Participate in any election, gradually, slowly and peacefully TPLF will comply with the peoples will and hand over power to the people ". Election to "expose" TPLF and educate the West about the undemocratic and tyrannical behavior of TPLF was tested in 2005 and TPLF learnt a big lesson and would not repeat such mistake again and gladly has already started the election campaign.
The Ethiopian people have also learnt their lesson and will not be part of such experiment again in 2010. The rejected election experiment of 2005 should not be repeated again and we have to test a new hypothesis, the total boycott of TPLF including the coming 2010 election.
Ato Teklemicahel's new call to bring the rejected election experiment as if it is new will not convince anyone except the known opportunists who are paid to sleep in the parliament and maybe recruit new comers. The West as usual care less for democracy experiment in Ethiopia and is unwise to repeat the same experiment to satisfy their interest and on the way buy five more years to expose our people for more killing and abuse.
The coming "election" 2010 has now become an issue in some quarters and this debate also reached to the ears of Ethiopians back home through the VOA Amharic interview this past week. Ato Teklemichael Abebe former Addis Ababa University President who supported participating on the coming election and Ato Azale Desta member of EPRP who opposes any participation on the election debate was first posted on the www.ecadf.com website this month and the VOA program (part one) hosted by Alula tried to continue on that debate which was unheard in Ethiopia because of censorship of websites by TPLF.
Both Teklemicahel and Azale agreed that in TPLF's Ethiopia, it is not possible to conduct any free and fair election and what was then their main difference ? Teklemichael believes that election is part of the struggle to expose the crime of the regime for the world community. However, he failed to mention which new crimes the world have not known so far that he would like to expose.
Let us assume that the world community found new crime in Ethiopia related to the coming "election" of 2010 and then what ? What did international community do to the crime committed by TPLF in the 2005 election ? Is the hundreds life lost, thousands jailed and many exiled is not enough a crime that warrants action from the West that motivated Ato Teklemichael to conduct another election experiment to get sympathy for poor Ethiopians from the West ?
Is this not what the West have been doing for the last eighteen years in poor Ethiopia and paid the loyal opposition to do ? "Participate in any election, gradually, slowly and peacefully TPLF will comply with the peoples will and hand over power to the people ". Election to "expose" TPLF and educate the West about the undemocratic and tyrannical behavior of TPLF was tested in 2005 and TPLF learnt a big lesson and would not repeat such mistake again and gladly has already started the election campaign.
The Ethiopian people have also learnt their lesson and will not be part of such experiment again in 2010. The rejected election experiment of 2005 should not be repeated again and we have to test a new hypothesis, the total boycott of TPLF including the coming 2010 election.
Ato Teklemicahel's new call to bring the rejected election experiment as if it is new will not convince anyone except the known opportunists who are paid to sleep in the parliament and maybe recruit new comers. The West as usual care less for democracy experiment in Ethiopia and is unwise to repeat the same experiment to satisfy their interest and on the way buy five more years to expose our people for more killing and abuse.
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