Meet Dr. Birhanu Nega in New York City

Tedla Asfaw                                                                                                                                            August 31, 2007

 

It is possible to receive Ethiopian 'Esra Meete" or 2000 by welcoming the true son of Ethiopia freed  from two years in Ethiopia's jail to tell us what is like to live without the right to move, speak and meet loved ones and the fate of thousands of others who are still in prison because no one knows them or speak on behalf of them.

 

Keeping the visa debate aside may be dealt with if the abugidainfo web site is correct let us focus now on the coming meeting at New School in New York City with Dr. Birhanu Nega on September 6, 2007.

 

This up coming meeting has not yet been advertised very well and I personally forward freenega.org/talk to all the Ethiopian Internet sites and just today I see it in Abugida and Ethiopiwinet site and the first one to advertise before all of us is the pro Meles site Aiga forum.

 

Aiga instructed its followers to track down Dr. Birhanu and check with him if he is following the TPLF "constitution" and I will not be surprised if they come in force and try to control the debate and frustrate the discussion about the human right violations going on in Ethiopia since TPLF lost the May 2005 election and Dr. Birhanu and all the Kinijit leadership jailed for almost two years and thousands of their supporters  unaccounted for and many exiled and hundreds shot dead by the regime security agents in broad day light.

 

Ethiopians and their friends also contacted the Abyssinian Church in Harlem,  New York City to come to the meeting and meet Ethiopians and arm them with facts and also encourage them to visit areas in Oromo and Ogaden and meet with locals there and learn the truth when they go to mission next month in Ethiopia.

 

We also contacted Addis Dimts host Ato Abebe Belew to publicize Dr. Birhanu's appearance in New York City so that many from D.C. and Boston area can join us to welcome him and rally behind him and his party who gave  big credit for the Diaspora Ethiopians "united" struggle without which they might have been still in jail.

 

The respect we give to Dr. Birhanu is also to show support to the millions of Ethiopians who voted for him and his party and who are still not  allowed to make any political rally and were forced to show their admiration and love for them by organizing nonpolitical gathering like the one we saw in" Ferensai Legassion" last week in Addis Ababa neighborhood where Ms. Birtukan Midiksa grew up.

 

It will be shameful to disrespect Dr. Birhanu after he gave two years of his life separated from his children and wife to the struggle by listening to some Diaspora agitators who hated him for standing with the people.

The elected leaders and Diaspora politics

Tedla Asfaw

The politics of fragmentation is in full swing in theDiaspora and this has been the case for the last sixteen years in all so called oppositions to the ruleof TPLF in the diaspora and the armed movements.

Now the drum of splitting Kinijit in the so called wings of Dr. Birhanu and the veteran leaders has already started following the division started between KIL and KIC.The supporters of these groups may be in hundreds are making big noise and are now waiting to receive the elected leaders in their own camps.For that purpose the so called visa from USA was not issued for all of them to come together as planned and we heard now from sources Dr. Birhnau is in Europe and speculations are high.Why the veteran leaders/Eng. Hailu and others are not coming as planned together and is this designed by proMelese USA policy makers and how comes those senators who pushed for HR2003 were not asked to help if there was a visa problem and who is to benefit from this separate trip?The drama surrounding the release of Kinijit leadersis now going to its final conclusion and the Ethiopian people are watching and any movement of division to split Kinijit as Dr. Birhanu Vs Veteran leaders that has been orchestrated by selfish and some led byforeign nationals that are working for foreign interest will die here in foreign land and our heroeswill rise up from the ashes of May 2005 and get their freedom though it might take them a bit longer and many sacrifices.This is just another failed Diaspora politics unadulterated and backward that is in a collision course with Kinijit spirit for which millions in Miazia 30 two years ago came out and show their support which culminated on the victory vote of May2005 and for which hundreds lost their lives and many imprisoned and exiled.

Ambassador Samuel Assefa fails miserably

Tedla Asfaw
Ambassador Samuel Assefa's interview with Foreign Policy magazine clip posted on Nazret.com is really interesting. He might have been shocked with the first question directed to him.

Is Ethiopia a failed state? or it might have been rephrased and should be asked a failed state which comes to help another failed state Somalia and be an exemplary for being a good friend coming to an aid with good heart.

The best question might be is Ethiopia a contracted state run by USA and UK Embassies in Addis Ababa similar to the occupation forces in Iraq.

The Ambassador could not explain the reason for the gap between very few rich and the majority poor who can survive with 25 kilo subsidized wheat from USA.

The answer is simple as Gebremedhin Araya former TPLF insider puts it, TPLF turned itself from small farm and small business in to multimillion business by confiscating the property of government and private owned business which were confiscated by Derg.

The very few in Ethiopia are living at a level of the rich and famous like the Western world and they will never give up this luxury life peacefully.

Ambassador Samuel is a defender of our rich and "famous" in a failed country by doing so he himself failed miserably.

Bereket Simon's big lie

Tedla Asfaw

Bereket Simon opened his foul mouth in Tigreana and alleged that the elected leaders fall on TPLF shoes for forgiveness . What a joke!!, we will be seeing the video footage soon. Such person totally disregarded the role of Shiemagelis and our culture by angering millions of Ethiopians like me and he is responsible for starting another fire which he will not control for the future and this is summed by Ethiopian saying "Besewe Kusel Inchete Sededebete".

First of all he chose the Mekele media for his insult to try to divide the Tigreans from others and one thing he forgot is that the majority of Tigreans will never believe this lie and the insult he throw is on millions of Ethiopians including many Tigreans who voted for Kinijit.

Except showing his arrogance he will not get a single one convinced by him to believe otherwise and we know very well the TPLF intention to bring this elected leaders back to jail when they find suitable time and place.

It is also not a secret that TPLF agents will be watching the leaders trip to North America to document what they say and not say possibly to deny some of them return to Ethiopia and spent their life in exile.

Bereket Simon has also started the TPLF campaign for 2010 and his party will never sleep until the released Kinijit leaders leave politics for good and replaced by those cowards who are sleeping in the fake Parliament in the name of Kinijit.

It is sad the peaceful way of conducting change seems to be closing down and it is hard for the elected leaders of Kinijit to think otherwise and the young generation of Ethiopia will be forced to sacrifice to finish those arrogance once and for all.

Can red pepper trigger a revolution?

Tedla Asfaw

Forget about eating Berbere and better learn how to hate Berbere using some pseudo food experts because according to the news I heard from German Amharic service the price of kilo Berbere is now 60 birr jumping from 25 birr a year ago.

Buyers and sellers not see eye to eye and many disappointed buyers went home by buying a medical quantity of Berbere like gram and prepare a medicine home for their families.

It is not only Berbere, spices and food oil price is almost tripled and our people are going to celebrate our "Huleteshe Zemen" without their hot dish and that is indeed sad.

What happen to the demand and supply of hot Berbere.Can we believe that in one year the demand for Berbere shot up because many people all of a sudden switched to eating berbere, not at all.Our hot paper is now in great demand in cosmetic industries and is exported by our rich government connected merchants to increase their dollar investment and care less about our ordinary people who is surviving by eating Injera with hot wet. Are we going to hear from our "prime minister" similar deliberation to the previous shortage of cement in Ethiopia or our people have to forget Berber and it only "Alic ha".Or Berber might be a catalyst for change in Ethiopia like car oil price did in the 1974 revolution and that is my wish for our Halette Ammeter.

Kinijit's leadership and the Ogaden crisis

Tedla Asfaw

Ogaden Somalis are punished while we the Diaspora are now confused on how to welcome the elected leaders in North America at the end of this month and I want to welcome the elected leaders by firing a 21 cannon and followed by these questions.

My question starts with Ogaden and can we keep quite witnessing the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ogaden? What should we the Diaspora do to alleviate the crisis in Ogaden ? What will Kinijit do in their part?

These questions might be answered diplomatically for fear of being labelled as supporter of ONLF which is labelled as terrorist organization by the Ethiopian regime and Kinijit leadership would not fall in to the regime's trap and ignoring it is also not an option.

However, we the Diaspora community have nothing to be afraid and be selective in fighting for human right and respect of rule of law be it in Addis or Jijiga and some of us are already asking the elected leaders to denounce AFD where ONLF is working together with other opposition figures and Commander Assefa Seifu advice posted on Debteraw is one of such calls.

Who came to the aid of our Somali brothers and sisters ? and as far as I know no one except the OLF which is jointly battling TPLF in the Eastern part of Ethiopia and Kinijit and EPPF which recently pulled out from the alliance their contribution to the alliance was zero from day one because of pressure from their extreme supporters labelling ONLF and OLF as anti-Ethiopian and separatists.

The Kinijit elected leadership can not avoid question about AFD and its supporters as well the Ethiopian regime is also waiting for any statement made about AFD and according to Melese Zenawi any supporter of AFD will be locked up as supporter of " terrorist" movements.

Kinijit leadership first might focus to clean its house in the Diaspora and will refrain to say anything which jeopardise their return to Ethiopia and the only one who can freely campaign on the behalf of our Somali brothers and sisters are the Diaspora community.

If we do not care for the suffering of Ogaden Somalis why should the Ogaden Somalis care for our suffering and any action we take to address their plight and suffering at this time while we are preparing to celebrate the coming of our Huleteshe Amete will make a beginning of a promising relationship much different than the past of unequal and sometimes discriminatory.

I wish the elected leaders of Kinijit to have a good working visit in North America and a safe return back home and we know their role to influence the Ogaden crisis is limited however we will continue our struggle to stop the suffering of the Ogaden Somalis and others in Ethiopia and put pressure for the release of all political prisoners and start a hopeful Huleteshe Amete.

Defaming Haile Gebre Selassie

Tedla Asfaw

Ato Ibrahim Sirag piece questioning the releasedleaders and supporting Professor Alemayehu in Amharicposted in the Debteraw site might or might notconvince any of us by questioning the elected leadersmotive and what strike me most from this piece is ashort line of allegation made on Athlete HaileGebreselasase.Ato Ibrahim Siraj is claiming that his friend who justreturned from Addis told him that the Ethiopian peopleare angry about Haile Gebreselasses's role asShimageli and support for the TPLF regime.Haile supporting TPLF? for what ? for money like somepeople ? Ato Seraj should support his allegation withfacts and otherwise it is mud throwing to the belovedson of Ethiopia.Debteraw accepting such nonsense to be posted withoutany proof is also saddening and portraying HaileGebreselasse recently on Nazreth.com as Lidetu Ayalewfollower for which the writer apologized and now thisis pure hate or jealousy.Would you please leave our Athletes alone? suchdefamation might be an incentive for some athletes torun for foreign flags some would like to see and Ihope many Ethiopians should come out and defend Hailebecause he has no time for this empty unsubstantiatedaccusations by Ato Siraj and the likes.

Yechalal

Ethiopian Shimagiles vs. False Hope

By Tedla Asfaw

I followed Professor Yeshake(Isaac) more than one and half hour interview in Ethiopian Television Network from USA with the host Tamagene and I salute the host and the guest for their Ethiopian polite discussion between families and they made us all proud.

There is an Ethiopian saying which says "Yeteme Fitchew Duketen Amechew" and I heard this quoted by member of the elderly council on the interview the council members gave month ago. The released elected leaders should be thanked for accepting the role of Shimagelis rather than the many vistis tried by USA and Western officials because they believe from their heart that Westerners care less about our country beyond their own self interest.

I remember the long time King Haileselasse advisor the late John Spencer once said Ethiopia has no Western friends and the many battles among kings for the power in our history was a result of UK, French and Italian desire to colonize us keep us busy fighting by supplying guns and diplomatic support for different self proclaimed kings.
\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>When the Western ambassadors went to Kaliti try to secure the release of elected leaders almost two years ago they did not get any cooperation and practically the same goal was achieved through our elders and this is what you call it Ethiopian pride for which the elected leaders paid two years and this is not "stupid" like the Badme war ten yeas ago . \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>The elderly council surely helped to take the pressure from the Ethiopian regime and found a win win solution and by doing so the HR2003 bill is derailed so be it and I never believed that USA or UK administration changed their view towards our country through more than 100 years of relationship with them. \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Ethiopians are considered as stubborn and sometimes "racist" who look down on white people and should be punished accordingly and our miseries of not having a democratic institutions and political parties put us in vulnerable position and were forced to beg for Western help keeping our pride inside. \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Our continuous protest and lobbying in Western cities in the last sixteen years has not worked and hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians/Eritreans lives lost in Badme war between Ethiopia and Eritrea dubbed as stupid war by the West and an arbitration by foreigners did not bring any solution and still the two countries are facing each other possibly for another devastating war. \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>At present war in Ogaden and in the Oromo region is taking lot of lives and I hope our traditional way of solving problems should click here and bring many of our respected Somali, Oromo fathers and mothers to join hands and bring the Ethiopian regime to a negotiation table or "Shimigelena". \n\u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\> \u003c/div\>\n\u003cdiv\>Foreign engineered arbitration the one in Algiers ten years ago to bring peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea or be it HR2003 or whatever you call it has little to do in solving our problems and if there had been magic bills it should have been tested in an Iraq crisis unfolding in our own eye currently. \n",1]
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When the Western ambassadors went to Kaliti try to secure the release of elected leaders almost two years ago they did not get any cooperation and practically the same goal was achieved through our elders and this is what you call it Ethiopian pride for which the elected leaders paid two years and this is not "stupid" like the Badme war ten yeas ago .

The elderly council surely helped to take the pressure from the Ethiopian regime and found a win win solution and by doing so the HR2003 bill is derailed so be it and I never believed that USA or UK administration changed their view towards our country through more than 100 years of relationship with them.

Ethiopians are considered as stubborn and sometimes "racist" who look down on white people and should be punished accordingly and our miseries of not having a democratic institutions and political parties put us in vulnerable position and were forced to beg for Western help keeping our pride inside.

Our continuous protest and lobbying in Western cities in the last sixteen years has not worked and hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians/Eritreans lives lost in Badme war between Ethiopia and Eritrea dubbed as stupid war by the West and an arbitration by foreigners did not bring any solution and still the two countries are facing each other possibly for another devastating war.

At present war in Ogaden and in the Oromo region is taking lot of lives and I hope our traditional way of solving problems should click here and bring many of our respected Somali, Oromo fathers and mothers to join hands and bring the Ethiopian regime to a negotiation table or "Shimigelena".

Foreign engineered arbitration the one in Algiers ten years ago to bring peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea or be it HR2003 or whatever you call it has little to do in solving our problems and if there had been magic bills it should have been tested in an Iraq crisis unfolding in our own eye currently.
Professor Alemayhu's effort should be commended for educating the US policy makers to understand on what is going on in Ethiopia with tax payers money and however I support our elderly roles to bring some hope to our country and this is not Professor Yeshake Vs Professor Alemayheu but Pride Vs False Hope.

Professor Alemayhu's effort should be commended for educating the US policy makers to understand on what is going on in Ethiopia with tax payers money and however I support our elderly roles to bring some hope to our country and this is not Professor Yeshake Vs Professor Alemayheu but Pride Vs False Hope.

Haile Gebreselassie makes Ethiopian day in New York

Tedla Asfaw

This is not ordinary August in New York City weather wise it is unusually cool dramatic fall from days of heat and humidity. The race as you heard it was between Haile and Abdi and the Last year Boston Marathon winner from Kenya.

An Ethiopian runner who came out one of the top ten told me as we went home by train that most of the race 8 miles was run in the Central Park tough hills and once out of Central Park the Kenyan and Abdi a Somali born US citizen want to take over of the race and Haile step up to the challenge.

As you heard from Haile he was surprised by the pace and he has no choice but to take full control of it in Time Square and Haile was energized by those tall buildings and took his race to the West Highway.

The concrete of West Highway is another punishing race for all athletes and finally we received Haile in the Battery Park finishing line and what a crowd. Ethiopians not only from New York and the surroundings but also from Washington joined us with plenty of flags to wrap ourselves.

Haile has finished his race with new record 59:24 minutes and the singing continues. "Amora Seyeshe Wale Ye Haileye Neshe Eyale", Ethiopians stood tall and high in this day in New York City not only because of Haile but also three Ethiopian men got the top three place finish and our two women also finish the top ten.

The chase for Haile now started and about hundreds Ethiopians surrounded his resting hotel and waiting the coming of Haile and we told his security that we can not go without Haile. The singing continued while Haile was changing and preparing for the ceremony.

Once we spotted Haile protected by guards we went nuts and the chanting was deafening and we followed him for a walk better call it chase to the ceremony site and this is unbelievable chasing Haile in the Battery Park City and we all were emotional.

Other spectators and runners were attracted by our excitement and celebration and we made this year New York City Half-Marathon memorable not only for setting new record but wonderful celebration with beautiful flag and beautiful people.

Who do not want to be an Ethiopian today in New York City and how many parents are ready to name their new born "Geb" for Haile Gebreselasse. This is indeed a celebration which brought together friends we have not seen for long and meet fellow athletes in New York City who make us very proud .

The young Ethiopian female athletes who came few years ago from Ethiopia who did not run this year told me these are times which make all of us happy and went on saying that she wishes our politicians learn from our athletes to set a goal and work hard to achieve it.

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Gebrselassie Wins NYC Half Marathon
By RICK FREEMAN
NEW YORK - Haile Gebrselassie already showed he can make it anywhere; he can add New York to his list. Running in the Big Apple for the first time, the 34-year-old Ethiopian won the New York City Half Marathon in 59 minutes, 24 seconds Sunday _ the second-fastest time in the United States and his eighth win in eight half marathons.
"I was dreaming just to run in New York City. The dream has come true this morning," said Gebrselassie, probably the world's greatest distance runner. "Wow, I'm so happy!"
Abdi Abdirahman of the United States was second, more than a minute behind. Two-time Boston Marathon champion Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya was third in the second running of the race.
Hilda Kibet of Kenya won the women's race in 1:10:32, outsprinting defending champion Catherine Ndereba by 1.15 seconds. Nina Rillstone of New Zealand, a surprise leader until the final quarter-mile when the two Kenyans passed her, was 2.60 back in third.
Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, emerged from Central Park after the 7-mile mark, along with Cheruiyot Abdirahman. Gebrselassie and Abdirahman dropped Cheruiyot when the Kenyan went for water, and before the American knew it, he was in Gebrselassie's wake, too.
"I thought I was going to recover my surge and then just maintain the pace but it wasn't that way," Abdirahman said. "I didn't give up, no way. We know Haile's the greatest, but at the same time, this is sports."
Gebrselassie didn't see it quite the same way.
"Right after the park, I just said 'OK, this is my race,'" he said.
All that was left was a Sunday morning jog. He took a moment to gawk at Times Square, like any tourist would, as he breezed through, then he trotted down the West Side of Manhattan to Battery Park, occasionally looking back to see if anyone was gaining on him.
Of course, no one was, even though Abdirahman's time of 1:00:29 was a personal best. Cheruiyot was taken to a hospital as a precaution after he finished in 1:00:58. In October, the Kenyan slipped while crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon and spent two days in the hospital with a concussion.
The women's race wasn't decided until Kibet turned it on at the finish. The Kenyan, who said she will probably compete for the Netherlands in the 2008 Olympics, discovered her finishing kick this year in a race when she had to beat her sister over the final 100 meters or so.
"You know when it comes to sprinting, when you're just a few meters from someone, then you feel very strong," Kibet said. "You're just fighting to win."
Ndereba was confused by marshals pointing to different routes at the finish for men and women, and didn't see a sign indicating how close the runners were until 200 meters remained. It wasn't enough to catch Kibet, who also beat Ndereba by more than 30 seconds in a 10-kilometer race in July.
"I didn't know who to go with," Ndereba said. "I'm not disappointed. I never get disappointed for this kind of thing. ... I count it as something to work on."
The temperature was a comfortable 70 degrees after a week of oppressive heat and humidity, helping Gebrselassie set the course record.
Gebrselassie, who holds world records in the 10K and 20K, won gold in the 10,000 meters in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. His time Sunday (a half-marathon is slightly more than 21 kilometers) was second-best in the U.S. only to his own 58:55 in Tempe, Ariz., last year. It was the 16th-fastest half marathon.
In the days before the race, Gebrselassie soaked up the bustle of the city. On Sunday morning, he ran through mostly deserted streets.
"Yesterday, I was in Times Square. I was there," he said. "It was very busy. Today, nobody. Amazing."
Does this mean he'll run the New York City Marathon?
"Not this year," Gebrselassie said. "I'm thinking 2008 or 2009. I'm thinking I'll run the New York Marathon before I stop running, surely."
A service of the Associated Press(AP)

Oromo's Rally in Minnesota

Tedla Asfaw

I read a wonderful article by Mr. Obang on his recent addressing of the Oromo Youths in Minnesota posted on ethiomedia. The thousands strong Oromos from North America attended this rally and we can say surely that all were Oromos and few foreign supporters of the Oromo's cause.

The mostly young people were waving the Oromo flags with the placards denouncing the TPLF/Ethiopian regime and calling for the abuse on the Oromos to stop. I was expecting at least the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy(AFD) in Ethiopia to be represented and address the crowd.

The young Oromos would not like to be associated with Ethiopia and its flag and there was no Ethiopian flag and I am pretty sure that there was an American flag to show their respect to the country who gave them the right to protest.

I have no problem of the missing Ethiopian flag in the crowd and I believe this was not like a demonstration where every slogan is written by organizers and everyone is asked to follow the rules. If those who organized the rally call the rally only for Oromos they would not have any way to tell who is an Oromo, Somali or Ethiopian and it seems they succeed because we did not see any Ethiopian or other flags on the rally.

Had I been in Minnesota I would carry an Ethiopian flag andl march with my fellow Oromo Brothers and sisters because like Obang we have to tell our brothers that hate and disunity will not lead us to the promised land where we all live as people by the rule of law.

Sadly the Diaspora so called opposition leaders are not to be found to add to the united struggle and seem like the "Zemene Mesafint Power Struggle" in the 18th century is underway in North America and Europe.

Mr. Obang and some few others are putting our hope alive to take us to the coming "Huleteshe Amete" an occasion which surely will be ignored by our brothers and sisters in Minnesota like the Ethiopian flag.