Yes it is indeed Land Grab and illegal too !!!!

Tedla Asfaw


The TPLF/EPRDF Foreign Minster Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn on Indian TV, ITMN, with Vickram Bahi was asked serious question. What is the guarantee for foreign investors on long term land lease in years to come ? Mr. Bahi pressed the question when Mr. Hailemariam tried to evade it. As correctly put by the host, the Domestic Concern of giving land to foreigners will put investors in awkward positron who would like to make money on  long term. Who will guarantee their hold on the land ?

Mr. Hailemariam promised the rule of law and the democratic system to take care of this concern. However he rejected the domestic concern because according to him land is not a domestic issue in Ethiopia. He goes on to say that this is the issue of the Diaspora and foreign NGOs. Foreigners/Diasporas accusing the land lease as land grab is totally wrong because he said TPLF is giving uncultivated land, that  means no land is taken away from farmers to be given to foreigners and calling it land grab is inaccurate.

If you go to foreign country and take land whether it is unoccupied or under farm and make it yours for long term lease up to ninety years what do you call it ? It is indeed land grab because foreigners totally control it as theirs and those who leased it  might not be there tomorrow but according to Mr. Hailemariam foreigners hold will be defended by the rule of law  specifically he said by the court.

That is totally absurd. In a transparent system first of all this long term land lease would never have materialized. This transaction of land is carried out by a regime that is in power by force and where are no independent institutions the courts and free media are nonexistent. As far as Ethiopians are concerned whatever deal foreign land grabbers made with TPLF/EPRDF is null and void.

Though the concern of Mr. Bahi is valid he did not get satisfying answer from his guest. In fact if the host had good information he could have put the question of why farmers are now pushed from their holdings in Gambella, Beni Shanguel as was reported in VOA Amharic and BBC to clear the land for foreigners. What will Mr. Hailemariam answer for the people who were interviewed on BBC and VOA who were told to clear the land for those who leased/bought it. It is mine You have to Go !!!!

The truth is the regime in power is making fast cash for cheap land transaction. Foreigners are gambling on the cheap offer and take a risk like any investment.Here is where the sellers and buyers come together. But there is a huge discontent in Western part of Ethiopia currently silenced by army and militia. The Diaspora is just airing the voice of the voiceless Ethiopians for those who are on land bonanza to stop hurting our people. There is a great danger coming, when ? no one  knows but is coming.

The regime who sold land cheaply will for the time being can give protection for these foreign landlords but what happened in Madagascar few years ago is surely can happen in Ethiopia. The Madagascar people rose up on those who sold their land to Koreans and if Mr. Hailemariam thinks this will never happen he will be surprised like he was surprised by the fast Indian development.

Shabia and TPLF Western Sponsored New Alliance !!!!!

Tedla Asfaw

Who is giving order for the Eritrean Colonel Fitsum  to hand over EPPF without any fight to TPLF ? The only opposition groups I know who rejected taking orders from Asmara are the Somali opposition leaders of Somalia who fled to Asmara after the invasion of their country by USA contracted TPLF in Christmas 2005/6.

Asmara's ambition of creating another TPLF/EPRDF had been creating havoc in all opposition movements who got "shelter" in Asmara for some time. The likes of General Kemal Gelchu who defected after the killing of Ethiopians for rejecting TPLF in the 2005 stolen election  and now Colonel Tadesse of EPPF are few among many victims.

I strongly believe and which is now also confirmed by WikiLeak a plot to overthrow Isaias and put pro TPLF regime in Asmara is underway. Only a new alliance of Meles led TPLF and a regime replacing Asmara by another warlord will start the failed policy of looting Ethiopia  under the domination of Tigrayans in both side of the Mereb River.

Eritreans has already moving in large numbers to Ethiopia as refugees and are allowed to take the benefit of all that is in short supply for Ethiopians, food, work,education  and shelter.

Is this not the beginning of the new alliance designed by West to marginalize the Ethiopian masses by bringing the tyrants of Asmara and Ethiopia  together for long hold on power to "stabilize"the Horn of Africa for Westerns interest and foreign exploitation of their natural resources.

It still is not too late to understand the coming danger and for Ethiopian oppositions in Asmara do something before their movement is handed over to TPLF without any fight. Elias Kifle editor of the Ethiopian Review diagonalized the problem accurately on his latest piece Dec. !7. But his prescription will not save the patient/oppositions only gives them few months or year to survive.

It is time to attack the problem before it spreads beyond the Mereb River. It is only a united struggle free from Shabia and TPLF control that will give us our liberty. The  new Western made bridge between TPLF and Shabia is not a freedom bridge it is a bridge to slave the proud people of Ethiopia for years to come.

 

 


   
     
     
     

  

   
                   
   
 
   

     







   

 
 
 



     




     

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The Emperor Retired and the Prince is in Charge !!!!

Tedla Asfaw


The Forty First New York City Marathon on a chilly Sunday yesterday brought us warmness. The men's  marathon was packed with top athletes including Haile Gebreselassie running  for the first time and a rookie Ethiopian 26 year old Gebre Gebremariam who won many long distance running this year and who came to test the field of marathon for the first time, get experience and no one including himself  expects win yesterday.

The elite runners packed together among them Haile Gebreselassie and the defending champion Meb kilfegzie until Queens Borough Bridge the 16 mile mark. Haile was forced to back down because of a knee injury we all were informed at the beginning of the race. Haile told New Yorkers on starting lineup that he had "minor" inflammation on his knee and promised to do his best. It was at Queens Borough Bridge Haile Gebreselassie  and Gebre Gebremariam met, Haile said,  "Go Gebre you can not stay far behind"  and I am done, the call that motivated Gebre like the call of Abebe Bikila in the 1960s Mexico Olympic to keep Marathon for the third time in the Ethiopian hands. The late Mamo Wolde won and that victory is commemorated by the famous song "Maraton Leeltewha" "Marathon the Queen".

Gebre Gebremariam's  idol Halie Gebreselassie retired yesterday from his colorful career not matched by anyone so far. Haile Gebreselassie is indeed the greatest athlete of the world have ever known, ended his career on the bridge looking Manhattan from distance. The tall buildings of Manhattan once tall are now eclipsed by other tall buildings built in Asia nothing to stay the "best" forever. Aging is a natural process and we accepted Haile's  retirement with grace and big smile, Haile's Smile.

Gebre Gebremariam shadowed by two Kenyans battle in the pavement of Manhattan for the next ten miles. The elite pack  melted away and for the first time we saw an elegant young Ethiopian with hat and glove jogging in Manhattan. The Kenyans seem confused, there was no Haile the shortest we have a taller guy never saw him before. Is he serious ? The third Kenyan seem to fall behind and the battle for the gold was between Gebre Gebremariam and the other Kenyan.

Gebre throw his glove followed by his hat and he meant business today. The Ethiopian flags were everywhere and the cheers were deafening "Berta" Go !! Go !!. Gebre kept on hammering the hills of the park and the Kenyan was left behind and it is now Gebre with the clock. The handsome elegant young rookie stormed and won the  Forty First NYC Marathon in 2:08:14  with Haile Gebreselassie's smile and Abebe Bikila like style of running.

This is the beginning of Gebre Gebremariam Marathon career and there are many marathons to come. Surely he promised to come and defend his title next year. That time he will not be a rookie but a defender. The Emperor had retired here in New York City but he  the baton  was passed to the young Gebre Gebremariam and many other young Ethiopians.

Derartu Tulu my favorite athlete I call the "Haile of our women"  failed to defend her title but no one could take anything from her glorious career. She is a decorated Olympic Gold medalist and the London Marathon winner and age is catching up with her too like Haile. However, we are seeing  young Ethiopian women following on her footsteps.

The story of Haile Gebrselassie not running on difficult marathons as was alleged by NY Times corroborated  by our Kenyan rivals rest here in New York. Haile tried to win it in one knee yesterday but that was not meant to be. I say to our beloved Haile Gebreselassie and Derartu Tulu thank you for inspiring our young people and wish you the best.

Ethiopian Movement VS Amhara National

Tedla Asfaw

I followed two interviews by the members of Ethiopian People Democratic Movement(EPDM) later on changed to Amhara National Democratic Movement(ANDM) on two pro TPLF stations, Hagefiker and Selam Radios both from Washington D.C. area. The interview was billed as the 30th anniversary of ANDM and the guest on the Hagerfker Radio was a Major General Alemu Ayele working in New York for the regime and Weizero Genet Tadesse who has been a member of TPLF parliament for the last two decades.

Both interviews spent most of their time on their armed struggle against Derg that started 30 years ago which ended in "victory" in Ginbot 20 by establishing a TPLF led government which both guests described the happiest moment of their lives. One thing which was wisely avoided was the name change from "Ethiopian People" to Amhara National". Is the name Ethiopia left exclusively for TPLF controlled EPRDF ?

The name change which was ordered by TPLF is not by accident. The Ethiopian People Revolutionary Party (EPRP) which both guests mentioned several times on the interview was the movement that led the struggle of removing Derg more than 30 years ago and paid huge price for being "Ethiopian Popular movement". It was attacked by TPLF on one side and Derg on the other side. These brave EPRP fighters were accused by TPLF as "Abbay Ethiopia/Greater Ethiopia " and were forced to evacuate their base in Tigray/Asimba and retreat to south.

No surprise then the anti Ethiopia TPLF will not allow the name "Ethiopian Movement" to be carried even on the movement it controls. Simon Bereket and Addisu Legesse, EPDM leaders, took order from TPLF to change the name to Amhara National Movement. Those who conducted these interviews dodged this question because they know that the so called EPDM turned to ANDM was no longer an independent movement borne out of former EPRP fighters.

Major General Alemu claim that his movement formed alliance independently with anyone including TPLF. That is a big lie. ANDM is made in TPLF and has no life without it. He and Weizero Genet failed even to mention the top leaders of the movement working on behalf of TPLF. You can not talk about TPLF without mentioning Meles and his inner circles and where are the names of ANDM leaders ? The face of ANDM is Bereket Simon/Adissu Legesse while the real boss of this movement is TPLF. ANDM is the Amharic wing of TPLF like OPDO is the Oromo wing of TPLF.

The 30th anniversary of ANDM is anniversary of serving TPLF loyally. However the Ethiopian people on May 2005 defeated TPLF including all its wings, ANDM, OPDO etc soundly by popular vote. The struggle which started 30 years ago finally culminated on May 15, 2005 without firing a single shots still unable to defeat tyranny.

Our people since then are ruled by brute force similar to Derg which both ANDM members claim replacing on Ginbot 20 two decade ago. Names here have changed indeed from Derg to TPLF but no freedom to our people. Our struggle to free our people will continue until we all live in a free and democratic Ethiopia.