A challenge from a brave woman leader, Birtu Kahen !!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

George Bush and the flying shoes !!

Tedla Asfaw

Wow !!!, late night TV here in USA was overwhelmed by the flying shoe incident of George Bush in Iraq to be exact size 10 and I do not know its brand or the odor if it was toxic or not.

George Bush showed to the whole world he has a good knowledge of balls. Those who know him owning baseball team in Texas are not surprised by his instinct and dodging  the flying shoe what I call the "fast ball" send to his head by the Iraq "pitcher" who is now under the custody of the Iraq army.

If this was on the baseball field,dugouts will be cleared and many could be involved on fist fight. George Bush's  buddy, the Iraq prime minister failed to show any reaction on this incident and that shows he is not good at all in balls. Our Bush is a smart ball handler and that is why he did not panic and fall to the ground on the unexpected arrival of flying shoe from short distance.

The Iraq journalist "fame" on the wider Arab world is not unexpected . The Bush that was seen  holding the Saudi Royal's hand will surely now be seen together  with the flying shoe for all who opposes USA policy in Middle East and will be a permanent video which is part of the legacy of George Bush's war in Iraq that costs thousands of lives both Iraqis and Americans.

The billions of the USA tax payers money the war costs also  could have been  worth spending it here home or help many poor Arabs building their infrastructures and hence  flying flowers can  replace flying shoes and we all could have been winners.

For those who try to replicate this sign of protest maybe in Afghanistan you should be careful, however. President Obama is not only a good basketball player who can catch any ball on the air but can also  dunk it on your face.

"Election" 2010 in Ethiopia by Minga and Tsion

Dear writers,

I read your article posted on www.ethiomedia.com (Dec 16) on the so called the coming election of 2010. I want to remind you that Ethiopians are not  in any business of election and this is not an issue that worried most of our people at the present time. The only one that are worried are the ruling racist ethnic mafia of Meles' TPLF,  those who are sleeping in parliament paid by poor Ethiopians and those who are currently dancing around to secure a seat  by participating on the coming fake election of 2010.

How comes you failed to mention, living and breathing in Ethiopia is only allowed for card carrying TPLF members and few in the name of opposition who are allowed to make noise here  and there in hotels and offices under the watchful eye of TPLF security ? What makes you believe this will change in 2010? On the recent so called local election we witnessed that TPLF bought the rural and urban people and fielded millions of candidates and this is what to come in 2010 even if  foreigners are allowed to monitor the election as you suggested and surely TPLF will comply.

The preparation of the so called 2010 election is already underway and we know the winner is  TPLF by landslide. Educated people like you should be courageous to tell the whole picture and do not waste our time in teaching us the basics of election which by the way we also learned from TPLF websites. Our poor people have proven us all wrong in 2005 by their excellent deeds, they know what is good for them and do not need our lecturing of what an election is or should be. Election is an exercise by free people and as you well know the country you are residing, South Africa  did not end apartheid by election.


                                                                                                                                                Thanks,

                                                                                                                                                Tedla Asfaw
                                                                                                                                                          

Ye Ethiopia Adera Dimtse Radio

Tedla Asfaw

The December 10 program of "Ye Ethiopia Adera Dimts" program , posted on www.ecadf.com is worth listening. It  brought respected voices of the people that includes Eng. Hailu Shawel a popularly elected opposition leader, Obang Metho and Tamagen,  activists from  the Diaspora on  its program. I hope this young radio will continue to entertain voices that will  make real differences in Ethiopia and avoid the trap of being the voice of any party. The name "Adera" in Ethiopia has a big connotation.   One of the saying in Ethiopia in Amharic, "Ye Tesete Adera Ke Mitefa Ye Woledute Yitfa" shows,  promise/Adera  given to someone has much more value even than once own child and never to be abandoned at any circumstance. Radios who are the voices of  parties and other independent radios like "Adera" have  big job of mobilizing Ethiopians to battle the TPLF racist thugs on all fronts and they should be supported and encouraged by the public. Let us all promise to focus on the real enemy, TPLF,  and bring freedom to our people by respecting our differences. The next Monday (Dec. 15) rally in D.C. organized by different radio stations to call for unconditional release of Teddy Afro is an initiative  which has a full support of Ethiopians and let us come out in force, snow or rain, and show Ethiopian Unity for foes and friends.

Ziwaye Prison, Ethiopia's Abu Gharib !!!!

Tedla Asfaw


The military government of Mengisu Hailemariam, Derg, was  known for widespread killing of its opponents. Elimination of opponents was well choreographed then. The first official victims were  the sixty high officials of Imperial Ethiopia thirty five years ago. Since then many opponents lost their lives and we were accustomed to the accompanying musics/ "Shilela", the famous one was "Yefeyele Wetete/young goat Vs tiger" , the trademark of Derg's brutality.

However, the TPLF regime  is totally different. It has its own choreography. You do not hear official music/shilela before or after killing of opponents. Killing is usually followed by seating down with victim families and watch who is showing up and try to find out what the public is thinking about the killing and possibly find other enemies.

The killing is also going slowly in many prison camps as we speak. Young Oromo prisoners were gunned down few years ago under the cover of prison riots, however, the most common method of eliminating political opponents is by exposing them to unsanitary and deadly condition inside the prison. One of such prisons is the malaria infested  Ziwaye prison where  our beloved son Teddy Afro is rumored to be sent.

Why Ziwaye prison/ Abu Ghairb ? It is just to expose Teddy Afro to the deadly malaria that took many prisoners lives in the past. It is also a place where torture is carried out regularly far from  witnesses and we might not see Teddy Afro alive if he is sent to Ziwaye. We have to expose the deadly scheme of TPLF before it is too late.

TPLF racists can not sleep well until they shut down Teddy Afro's mouth forever and that is why they are going  to send him to his death cell in Ziwaye. Teddy Afro is not a criminal to be sent far from his families and millions of his admirers. TPLF wanted to preempt the weekly visit of thousands of Ethiopians similar  the elected Kinijit leaders while they were locked up in Kaliti few  years ago.

TPLF know that Teddy Afro has millions of followers, most of them young who would like to see him each week if he is in Kaliti. When Ethiopians are calling for Teddy Afro's immediate and unconditional  release in last month Great Run, sending him to remote  far prison not to be visited is an insult to millions of Ethiopians.

Hate is a force that is driving Meles and his racist circles. They are also experts in digging underground jails in Northern Ethiopia where they kept many EPRP leaders like "Debteraw" and  former Ethiopian army high officials  for more than two decades. The case of the Ethiopian Air Force pilots we recently learned about is fresh testimony to that.

Meles and his inner circles had "Phd" in "prison management" and have more than thirty years of experience  on how to brake opponents spirit using prison and in many cases these underground prisons also became a burying ground for many Ethiopian patriots. Ziwaye Prison is not underground but still run by the underground prison experts guided by the thick prison book/constitution of TPLF.

Human Right  Organizations should expose these prisons both underground and on surface for international community and held those who run this deadly enterprise accountable. Former TPLF founders like Ato Sieye Abraha, Gebru Asrat and many others who now  claim to be on peoples side should expose the "prison industry" of Ethiopia they pioneered to bring all who have blood on their hands to face justice.

Teddy Afro, our symbol of unity and tolerance !!!!

Tedla Asfaw


"Go out !!! otherwise, I will give you the maximum punishment", the TPLF made theater stage director, Cadre Leiul Gebre Mariam /Gebre Seitan  screamed after sending Teddy Afro to six years to jail  and  pay 18,000 Birr as bonus for Gebre Seitan  wonderful "Broadway" show that ended on this Black Friday, Dec. 5, 2008.

Let the celebration begun in TPLF's camp for their successful show that culminated by sending Teddy Afro, the voice and symbol of Ethiopia to their dark cell hoping Ethiopians will forget him like they forgot many patriots Ethiopians before. However, this time is different. Teddy's songs are now the rallying cry for Ethiopians and our young generations showed us the glimpse of what to come on last month Great Run, "Talaku Rucha" after paying 40 Birr to get a spot.

"Teddy Obama, Meles Asama/Hippo" , that was the rallying cry chanted by thousands on the streets of Addis Ababa. Political rally is a crime in Ethiopia and that is why the Great Run is billed as "Talaku Rucha, Bisote Megletchia" in Amharic meaning "The Great Run,  platform to speak our minds",  and that is how young, old Ethiopians showed to the world what the so called trial of Teddy Afro  has been all about for the  last eight months, a sham circus and a conspiracy by those "Asamas"/hippos who are eating everything on their way including their loved singer, Teddy Afro.

Teddy Afro is now a martyr and a symbol of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian masses have to pray for him in churches and mosques. This young man's song for tolerance among Ethiopian Christians and Muslims, nationalities not to fall to the trap of  hate propaganda by the TPLF's hippos for the last eighteen years was a remarkable achievement no prison can take it from us.

Locking Teddy in jail will not stop the resistance movement and those apologists who are telling us that TPLF is not enemy let them go and pray for the longevity of  their king and queen. Queen Azeb Mesfin avenged the humiliation she received in America when she came for an "award" few years ago by orchestrating the hit-and-run show to its successful end. She can now sleep good listening to Teddy Afro songs.

It is true, the queen  is not listening to Bob Marley's, "No woman No cry", because this time the one crying is Teddy's mother and millions of his admirers. It is indeed today is a day of crying in Ethiopia and also a  call for more martyrs to carry the Ethiopian flag until freedom.

Dancing with the Devil !!!

Tedla Asfaw

Judge Birtukan Medekisa and Ato Akililu Girgire of Andenet party, at the end of their European tour answered many questions on ECADF. For the question of responsibility for the destruction of Kinijit, Judge Birtukan put the blame more on the leadership of Kinijit than the TPLF organized terror that killed and imprisoned its supporters including herself and the other leadership.

It is very hard for those of us out of the country including myself  to put such blame on the young leadership of Kinijit,and the popular movement that won the election of May 2005 peacefully as Judge Birtukan did on this interview. We know that this was the condition set by TPLF for the release of herself and the other leaders from jail and guarantee not to go back to jail.

We heard also different arguments from TPLF cadres before that if Kinijit had been allowed to govern, Ethiopia would have been in total anarchy. How comes millions who voted peacefully overwhelmingly for Kinijit will then become ungoverned by the party they chose ? We know there were difference between factions of Kinijit,  but there was no disagreement on the peoples desire for change. No doubt, Ethiopians would have secured their basic democratic rights to organize and speak and challenge their  leaders who got their votes and help them become strong leaders.

If we take Judge Birtukan Medekisa assertions of failed leadership seriously, these leadership are now in three camps including hers. One is led by Eng. Hailu back  home, and the one led by Dr. Birhanu is out of the country. It is very hard to prove or disprove Judge Birtukan on who is responsible for destruction of Kinijit among these leaders of Kinijit  because our people are not allowed to speak and gather freely. They are living in a huge prison called Ethiopia that includes many mini-prisons where many Ethiopians are still languishing and many entering this jail daily.

The so called  rights to open offices  by the "oppositions" or allow gatherings in the controlled areas of Ethiopia by TPLF, what Judge Birtukan alluded to using all avenues, "Kedadwene Masfate" is the controlled right that does not allow our people to express freely their mind. That is why our people chose to express their outrage on the Great Run in Addis Ababa last week.

When it comes to war in Somalia, she was soft on TPLF too. She opposes the war, but failed to articulate the consequence of this war for the national integrity of Ethiopia by exasperating the situation in Ogaden. For the question of Ethiopian women suffering in Middle East, her answer  was clear that this was not an issue she is currently working on. This was the missing opportunity for her to get huge support from women in the Diaspora even from those who do not support her current engagement with the ruthless regime that declared officially that what Ethiopia needs is Development under TPLF/EPRDF for the next forty years.

Why bother then to have indoor political discussion, what I call "Hotel Democracy" when we all know that such right will cease to exist when you are on public parks and streets ? Is that not what happened last weeks to Eng. Hailu led party supporters in Addis streets. We have not heard Judge Birtukan condemning the regime for beating and jailing young people on the broad day light. Are we going to blame the victims once again ?





I

Official declaration of war on patriotic Ethiopians !!!

Tedla  Asfaw

 We saw the final episode of  the abduction and jailing of Teddy Afro yesterday wrapped in the name of Justice for the homeless man who was killed in a hit-and-run accident more than two years ago. We saw in the past, many Ethiopian patriots, the  likes of  the late professor Asrart Woldeyese abducted and held hostage until their death. Ethiopians are familiar with an Abduct and jail tactics of TPLF. For foreign bank rollers of the regime, the stage circus chaired by Cadre Leul Gebremariam ended by making sure that Teddy Afro will not see the light of the day until TPLF is in power.

The ball is now on the peoples court and no time to waste talking  nonsense before the next Teddy Afro is dragged to silence the pro Ethiopian forces and  flood the country with paid opposition forces, paid electorate to keep TPLF for the next forty years in power to finish yet their unrealized dream of destroying everything Ethiopian, the land and its people.

Ruling by blackmailing and terror can not be defeated until we change our tactics. TPLF butchers and cadres can not be defeated by condemning their injustices alone. We have to deny them the monopoly of terror and let them be challenged in  their green zone or safe heaven.

Teddy is gone for good and is now a hostage. The hostage takers are responsible for what is to come now. Crying terrorism can not save them as we saw in Somalia. We have to hit them back in the language they know and we have to be ready for the consequence. Ethiopian dignity is violated by this few racist thieves to cover their on going crime in Oromia, Ogaden and Somalia.

Meles declared war on patriotic Ethiopians officially and he should be answered in kind. Talk of peace has no place and we Ethiopians should give ultimatum for the resignation of Meles and to be brought to international court for crimes he committed in the last eighteen years while in power.

The wanted list of the criminal gangs of TPLF has to be official for the international community and until these criminals brought to justice, the war of resistance will continue. We want to make it clear too that those countries who are helping these criminals in any form are the enemies of Ethiopians who care less for justice, human right and democracy.

Truth or "Gehade" ?

Tedla Asfaw

- "Gehade" or "Hake" in Amharic means "Truth", first came out in Tigrena few years ago and is now translated to Amharic and is  sold in many Ethiopian centers here in the diaspora. The author, Ato Asgede Gebre Selassie, one of the eleven founders of TPLF was the host of Abebe Belew on yesterday's(Nov. 30) Addis Dimits. You can go to www.ethiomedia.com and follow the forty five minutes interview. Ato Tariku Dama should also be thanked for translating the book to Amharic . The book's main objective is to shed light on the "master and slave relationship" between TPLF and Shabia. The master and slave relationship after the toppling of Derg and Ethiopia's occupation was governed by the famous slogan. "Eritrea Yegelachene, Ethiopia Yegarachene", "Eritrea is for only Eritreans  and Ethiopia for all of us to plunder". The division in TPLF after Badme war, "the war between masters and slaves", Shabia and TPLF, the  involvement in Somalia by force two years ago by TPLF and Isaias' support for the Ethiopian and Somali opposition forces in Asmara was not covered in this interview. The master and slave relationship seems to evolve into who is going to be the master of the Horn of Africa. However, Ato Asgede avoided talking about the forces like EPRP that  were the victims of both TPLF and Shabia. Many Tigreans and other Ethiopians gave their life fighting  TPLF and Isaias/Shabia anti-Ethiopian forces.If the book is indeed is telling "the truth" the author has to take responsibility for its shortcomings and make the "Full Truth" in the future.

A cover for TPLF indefinitely !!!

Tedla Asfaw


Dr. Merara Gudina, the leader of Oromo National Congress(ONC) on Addis Dimts Radio( Nov. 22)  said that together with his friends are trying their best to stop TPLF/EPRDF from being in power for long time  that was declared to the public few years ago, do not dare life without TPLF. Dr. Merara said that  TPLF/EPRDF  wants "opposition" parties just to give it a touch of democracy for outsiders and it made it clear that power will never be shared with any one for years to come, forty plus years according the estimate.

According to Dr. Merara and his friends, they have no choice but to do their best while beaten and jailed to "organize" and ask support from the Ethiopian people. To that goal he said  he is joining others on how to form a united front and challenge TPLF/EPRDF on the coming election in 2010.

On his interview he  admitted that he and others like him have  no choice except to do what he is doing now even if the outcome of any so called "election" is clear for him and his friends. This is what I do not understand or should have been a follow up question. Why people like him do not resign and let TPLF do whatever is doing than be a tool for the regime year after year in participating in  fake elections ?

Dr. Merara and others like him in parliament are in business where they are sure will  break even and never try to make any profit because they know that there will not be any profit but also sure that they will never lose money. However, for poor Ethiopians the politics of business is deadly beyond losing  livelihood.

To survive in Ethiopia you have to become a registered  TPLF voter and officially we were told that membership is now in tens of millions. New college graduates have no chance to get a job without being a member and survival depends on  getting membership certificate.

If Dr. Merara and his friends chose to be paid for showing up in parliament, it will be hard for ordinary Ethiopians to follow them because they have no money to pay and without TPLF they themselves will be out of business. What we have in Ethiopia is a regime that officially declared to stay in power for many years to come  and so called opposition parties like Merara's party who have nothing to give for the people they claimed representing but give a cover for the regime in power for times to come by participating in all fake elections.


This is the peaceful or the safe struggle  Dr. Merara has chosen for the last eighteen years and willing to  continue for the coming years. One thing must be also clear, however, to Dr. Merara  that as long as he chose to be a cover for the regime he is not going to be free from the crimes committed by the regime he serves and willing to serve in future. 

Re: Kemer Yousef returns home

 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

The free for all, Somali coast !!!

Tedla Asfaw



Al Shabab spokesman Sheik Abdirahman promised to rescue Saudi Arabia's oil tanker Sirius Star which has $100 m value hijacked by Somali gunmen docked at Harardhere on coast of Somalia since last Saturday. Secret negotiation is underway to rescue the ship and the price tag  is going to be around $25 m a big profit in today's market for few days of job.

BBC reported for this year 90 vessels were hijacked so far and was paid $150 m . The hijackers of  Sirius deal if it goes through will bring more Somalis to the booming business on Somalia coast. Many young gunmen are going to join  this booming hijacking business until there is a legitimate Somalia where rules, both on land and sea will be preserved to give hope for these young Somalis.

Al Shabab or the hated government of Somalia in Mogadishu has no control of the Somali coast and the talk of fighting hijackers to retrieve the "Muslim Ship" is just a ploy by Al Shabab to get the support of Saudi dictatorship on the eventual collapse of the Mogadishu regime in the coming days or months.

The countries that are affected by the hijacking will support anybody in Somalia which will take action against the hijackers and care less on what is going on inside Somalia. However, Somalis politics have made it impossible to separate the sea from land and  that is why Al Shabab is jumping and wanted to control the sea when the Mogadishu regime is cornered in Mogadishu and Baidoa with its TPLF/Ethiopia support.

The TPLF of Ethiopia has no sea control because it has already surrendered Ethiopia's coast to Isaias of Eritrea with no force to support its stooges in Mogadishu from sea. Ethiopia has been pushed from the sea thanks to the Arab dictators in collaboration of their western allies.

The talk in Cairo of the so called countries from the surrounding area does not include Ethiopia and the new owner of Ethiopia's coast, Isaias is not showing up maybe he is represented by his stooges from the Somalia side. Weak and poor Ethiopia, stripped of its sea coast  is surrounded by countries that despise her for remaining independent while these same countries were under the rule of  foreign powers for their long history.

I will not be surprised if these so called surrounding countries of Somalia take the slice of the Somali coast under their control with the help of West and China in the name of fighting piracy for the coming future and that is a big possibility and great danger.


                                       

Scapegoat for defeat in Somalia !!!

The TPLF supported Somali regime is now cornered like rat in Mogadishu and Baidoa and to distract us from this defeat terror is declared on the  Oromo nationals and many respected Oromos from various fields  more than two hundred are locked up in jail in the name of fighting terrorism.

This is not a coincidence and it is the same TPLF tactics we saw many times. Who will forget the Christmas invasion of Somalia almost three years ago in 2005. That year was the year TPLF was told by million of voters to pack and leave power and what we got was more killing and imprisonment of thirty thousands of people in various prisons and many still are languishing in jail and thousands exiled.
Tedla Asfaw


Here we come after three years of adventure in Somalia,TPLF is told by Somalis to go home and who is paying the price here ? The Oromos who are accused of being OLF members and sympathizers.. Ato Bultcha's led OFDM  is peacefully challenging the regime and why is it now targeted ? This is just to divert us from the big event unfolding in our own eyes, the humiliation and defeat of TPLF in its own war far from home by Somalis.

We have also another diversionary story in the North of Ethiopia. Have you heard the killing of Shabia's forces by the Eritrean Afars who are fighting to take their land from Eritrea and join it with Djibouti? What a development, this story is circulated from the head quarter of the movement  from Tigray's  capital.

The battle in Somalia between Djibouti group, Asmara group, Al-Shabab and TPLF's groups will now  widen and it will be fought  in Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia and the major actors in these conflicts are Isaias, Meles and their puppets. What  Meles doing now against the Oromo intellectuals and leaders is to strengthen his Oromo wing by going after those who challenged him peacefully in his own parliament. We all know what Meles did to the then president of Somali Region of Ethiopia after defeat in Ogaden.

Fwd: Time with Andenet in London by Wondemu Mekonen

Brother Wondemu eloquently reported what he witnessed in London Ethiopians engagement with Andenet party, read it on www.ethomedia.com, you can also hear audio on www.abbaymedia.com for the event. It  is true as Wondemu said  Birtukan is a likable Lady for those who met her and for many like myself who followed her on USA trip in the past. I am not in any position accusing her for what she is doing now but if I were there in London I might say few words and ask some questions. Some individuals who claim to support Andenet here in the Diaspora are engaging on attacking opposition leaders like Eng. Hailu who is in fact pursuing the same "peaceful struggle" while they shut their mouth when TPLF is jailing the OFDM leadership in the name of terrorism at this moment. If Birtukan remains quite when leaders from OFDM are jailed, is that  going to help the peaceful struggle ? Why Andent until now did not organize a peaceful rally in Addis Ababa and major cities to challenge TPLF and chose what I call a "Hotel Politics" without engaging the public except few  we recently witnessed in some parts of Ethiopia far from international media. Is it not to embarrass  TPLF in front of its financiers and be the victim of its security forces? Peaceful struggle without the public participation is hardly any struggle and I wish to see Birtukan lead such peaceful rally. The Burma opposition leader who is now under house arrest for many years is for challenging the Burmese junta on peaceful rally and if Birtukan  does not want to take such risk then TPLF will stay in power for many years to come by organizing fake election.                                                                                  Thanks,                                                                                 Tedla Asfaw

Bravo London !!

I followed this week protest in London (Ginbot 7 Radio)  in front of the TPLF Embassy on the third anniversary of the killing of hundreds of our citizens by the TPLF killing squads for voting TPLF out of office. While many of us were swept by Obama fever you guys reminded us that without the sixties struggle for the right to vote in America almost 44 years ago the 44th president of America would not have ended by voting for the first Black to the White House. I hope it would not take us that long for Ethiopians/Africans to choose their leaders and sadly most of Africa is just like America more than 44 years ago. We can not vote and challenge our black masters camouflaging themselves as ethnic or national liberators.                                                                                                    Sadly,                                                                                              Tedla Asfaw

The New Era in American Democracy !!!

Tedla Asfaw

After forty four years blacks had been given  a chance to vote by the Lyndon Johnson Administration, the forty fourth president of the USA was elected yesterday by winning more than sixty percent of the white vote. This is indeed historical by any measurement for the whole humanity. America  fulfilled Martin Luther King's dream for people to be judged by their Character than the Color of their skin.

Character overcome fear, prejudice and defeated skin color by  52 percent to 47 percent margin. The world has never seen such celebration from east coast to west coast of United States by citizens of all colors celebrating as one people  without a single racial incident and that says much about the new America, America indeed the beautiful.

Barack Obama's, the forty four president of United States, portrait flashing on the giant screen last night in Times Square, New York in the middle of the forty three white male presidents among which twelve of them owned slaves is one of the milestone in America and in fact world history. In this planet earth there is no place where you could find respect for black race including our own Africa . Blacks are facing insults, beating and killing for exercising  their right to vote in any kind of elections by their own "black masters" who have  low expectations for their own black people.

The monkey chant in European stadiums and the street attack by white supremacists on European streets and the Asian countries prejudice against black people is all known and Americans by putting a black person as their leader has now challenged the world to show respect for fellow black people wherever they are.

I have no doubt, however,  it is only in America blacks can reach to the highest office through democratic election living as members of the minority community. This could not have been possible in Europe and you should not even think in Asia and that is what Americans did last night and we are all proud to call ourselves  Americans.

Obama is a Ben Carson of Politics

Tedla Asfaw

Americans are ready for smart intelligent leader who will pull this country from its current decline. I am almost completing  Ben Carson's book "Take The Risk". This internationally recognized neurosurgeon who grew up poor was considered as a dummy in his elementary school and with hard work and encouragement from his fifth grade science  teacher happens to be white and a strong belief form his "illiterate" mother that if he reads and stays out of trouble nothing is impossible. Professor Ben Carson has succeeded like many other African Americans to live a rich life and moreover Ben Carson's customers are coming from all over the world to get his service and they trust his judgment and no one has questioned his skin color. Obama might be the Ben Carson's of politics in America and many Americans black and white need his good judgment to pull out from the current economic mess. Like families who bring their children to see Dr. Ben Carson from all over the world, I believe Obama is the cure for  the economic sickness of America and the whole world. My worry is for our children in schools ground from elementary to university not to be a target of racists and the Federal government and local authorities should keep our young people safe by mobilizing resources. America is going to change for better this Tuesday and there is a risk with it not from lack of leadership but from few fringes who do not want to see black in the White House. With President Obama Americans will have bright future and those who are still blinded by color will lose big time and they might strike back.                                                                                                                                                                                       McCain or Obama? Stay up to date on the latest from the campaign trail with AOL News.

Obama Girl from Ethiopia !!!

Tedla Asfaw


She is an Obama girl from Ethiopia and her name is  Dire Tune and those of you who watched the London Marathon of this year you know what I am talking about. She is competing in this New York City Marathon this Sunday to beat other "old" experienced athletes like Paula Radcliffe. She  might not have much experience like her and others but she has the  the intensity and the power to win like Obama.

This is another Obama Girl not the cutey dancing and singing in the subway of New York City, "I have crush on Obama" but a cute 23 year old who is a winner like Obama and this Sunday she will lead by example and beat all those without or with experience like "John McCain", the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba and I am not kidding.

In the past athletic competitions, Ethiopians have performed very well after human made disasters. Let me take you to the Atlanta Olympics final event in marathon. A deranged man planted  bomb and we all were scared and the next morning in women marathon Fatuma Roba trashed everyone and won the Olympic Marathon.

Here in New York City after 9/11 devastation the worst on American soil the sad marathon went as usual in November and we know who comes in top in men's  marathon. It was Ethiopia's Tesfaye not only won but set a new record for NYC Marathon. This time we have  human made financial crisis in the Wall Street and America is looking for  a real leader and that leader is no doubt Obama and our Ethiopian Obama girl, Dire Tune  will show  him the way by example two days ahead of him. Let the Obama Girl from NYC come out open on the surface and sing  Obama is a winner like Dire Tune from Ethiopia.

Dire Tune's win in  New York City marathon this coming Sunday will be replicated by Obama  and he will be  in the  White House in 2009 trashing all stereotypes. He will bring back NYC as the financial center of the wold. The Obama Girl from NYC, however  should not be jealous for Obama picking the Ethiopian winner because he himself is the winner like her.

Root for My Father !!!

Hearing one of our family members seriously ill and not be able to see or hear him or her is painful for all who live far from home in foreign country. We all live and carry death within our selves and we are not sure when is going to be the final day for each one of us. Death back home in Ethiopia, however, is afflicting many of our people due to starvation, disease and war and I wonder how many of our people are in their eighties or nineties. I am one of the lucky ones who have elderly parents father and mother. My father will in a week or two will turn 94 years old and the last days however have been very difficult for him. The last time I talked to my father was on our new year on September and I am afraid that might be the last time to hear his voice and I need all of you to remember my father as as a good man and a patriot who gave one of his eyes fighting Mussolini in Southern Ethiopia and loves his country beyond anything else. Let us root for him to celebrate his 94 birthday in two weeks time. Thanks, Tedla Asfaw

Is Ogaden National Liberation Movement website prejudiced ?

Tedlla Asfaw

I am an Ethiopian who read ONLF website (English) regularly and get my information on what is going in Eastern Ethiopia, Ogaden. I am also a person who have first hand experience working in Jijiga and its surroundings in the 1980s. The poverty and lack of infrastructure development in the area is still fresh in my mind.

Ogaden suffered also immensely during Bari's invasion of Ethiopia in 1977 and its worst tragedy however has been unfolding since the attack by ONLF the Chinese Oil Company two years ago and the total war declared on Ogaden by TPLF. Since then I kept following the situation closely and wrote my view for all and some Somali websites put my piece to be read and I have not got such luck with ONLF site however.

I hope it is not censoring all of us who are not from Ogaden. My worry however is that maybe the case. We organized a rally this past Friday October 25 in D.C. to denounce TPLF and stand with Somali brothers and sisters in their difficult time and call for USA to stop participating on the killing and human right abuse in Ogaden.

It was my hope that ONLF website will cover the news this time at least to inform its readers what happened last Friday in D.C. Sadly ONLF failed to report about it. How comes a concern from US. Congressman Donald Payne has more weight than hundreds of Ethiopians who deeply felt the pain of Ogden brothers and sisters ?

The problem in Ogaden can only be solved in democratic Ethiopia where liberation movements like ONLF, OLF and all political organizations participate and tackle all their common problems without any preconditions and prejudice. Reporting without prejudice will help us create a conducive atmosphere for our future.

Successful Protest !!

Tedla Asfaw

VOA Amharic coverage of today's protest in D.C, Friday October 24, estimated by them more than one hundred against the killing in Ogaden, is available on VOA website and please click the evening program. This is the only successful anti-TPLF rally in D.C. this year and such united action is what TPLF and its cadres are afraid  and  should be encouraged in all countries where the Ethiopian Diaspora resides. No time to waste in fighting among ourselves while our people and country are bleeding. The enemy is TPLF.

We say No to contract signing with unelected regime in Ethiopia !!!

Tedla Asfaw

I read a news on Ethiopian web site, www.debteraw.com, posted on (Oct. 22) that Calvalley Petroleum from Canada  is reaching a production sharing contract with unelected regime of Ethiopia at a time more than ten millions of our people are starving and international organizations are calling for more aid to save lives. The greed of Western and recently Chinese companies to sign a deal with unelected tyrants is not new what is new that people said no to such deal and the recent experience of Chinese Oil company in Eastern Ethiopia, Ogaden was not taken as a lesson by company like Calvalley Petroleum.

No oil company is welcome in any parts of Ethiopia at this time. Poor and starving Ethiopia succeeded in bringing few millionaires in the  last eighteen years out of  the ruling TPLF who stashed millions of dollars in foreign accounts and we do not want to give our natural resources to put them in the class of billionaires.

We would like to remind Calvalley Petroleum that Ethiopians in the Diaspora have already started boycotting any businesses related to the ruling  TPLF mafia and this boycott might include companies like Calvalley Petroleum that is  doing business with killers and human right abusers.

We know what greed had done to the world economy by now and we advise Calvalley Petroleum to reconsider the signing of the deal with unelected regime in Ethiopia  and if not we we Ethiopians will come to its  head quarter to tell the stock holders that Calvalley Petroleum stinks.

Protest Rally in D.C.

There will be a protest in front of the States Department in Washington D.C.  Friday, October 24 at 9AM. The organizers expected each and one  of us who strongly believe in expressing our feeling on what is going on in  Eastern Ethiopia, Ogaden for the last two years to come by disregarding all distractions. Meles Zenawi  war  machinery that is defeated in Somalia is surely to take its revenge again on Ethiopian Somalis as it has already done in the last two years following the ONLF attack on Chinese Oil Company. Ogaden has not been the same since then, I personally characterize it as our "Darfur" . We Ethiopians have been quiet and TPLF thought that as endorsement and it is not late to challenge this wrong assumption and say NO !!! to killing of  Ethiopian Somalis in the name of fighting secessionists. Let us stand with Ethiopian Somalis in this difficult time and held Meles Zenawi accountable similar to Beshir for its atrocity in Darfur.Let us call for international community to bring Meles to International Court for his crimes in Ogaden.                                                                                                                                                                                Silence is not an option !!!                                                                                     Tedla Asfaw

Divisive Fund Raising in the name of Tigray

Tedla Asfaw For those of us who followed Addis Dimits Radio last Sunday ( Oct 12) we heard the noise in Sheraton Addis by those who claimed to raise money for the development of Tigray. Were those who pledged millions of Birr to build schools in Tigray contribute money also to the millions who are now starving in all parts of Ethiopia including Tigray? The language we heard in the name of fund raising was rather divisive and no Ethiopian is against school development in Tigray but when it is accompanied by wild partying and boisterous and divisive noise it shows that its intention was not to help build school in Tigray. The intention was to seed division between Tigrayans and others. Regional development including school construction by people of the region is not new what new is the divisive political cover it was given by TPLF supporters. Mind you when the people of Tigray was in danger in the Badme war in the 1980s many of those who were making noise in Sheraton did not go to the war front to defend the people. It was the sons of Ethiopia from all regions who went in thousands and sacrificed heavily about 70,000 of them never returned to their families. Did the fund raisers remember those Ethiopian children on their festivity ? Did they try to honor them by raising fund to help the community that gave their young to defend Tigray from Isaias' war machine ? The boisterous crowd in Sheraton were none other than TPLF die hard supporters who were partying by the stolen Ethiopian money in order to paint the image of TPLF as Tigray builder that deserves life support. We have witnessed such divisive projects going on for the last eighteen years in the name of Tigray people and the attempt to tell us openly in our face to seed more suspicion and hate is out of desperation by the very few racists. l

Lidetu Ayalew and Girma Wolde Giorgis on stage !!!

Tedla Asfaw


Have you followed the recent  fake democracy in action in Ethiopia and if you do not let me share with you by bringing the big two players of the circus. Girma Wolde Georgis the "President" of Ethiopia and Lidetu Ayalew the day time opposition and the night time collaborator of TPLF who lost credibility,  mind you he even did not try until now to call a "fake rally" to show to the world the right for free assembly in his "democratic" Ethiopia.

Ato Lidetu Ayalew is the only "opposition" member of the parliament that supported the December 2006 invasion of Somalia who is now calling for Meles' army to pull out immediately  because "Ethiopia can not "finance" this war indefinitely. Do we really finance this war ?

Let me ask you Ato Lidetu Ayalew a question. As a member of parliament, have you travelled to Somalia to assess the progress of the occupation ? If yes what did you hear from the young soldiers there ? If not, will it not be appropriate as the only supporter of the war from the so called opposition for you to resign by not doing your job ? Can you inform us the amount of money spent so far on the occupation and the debate that was conducted to "finance" this war  before you step down ?

The next drama on  parliament floor comes this week following Girma Wolde Georgis' speech to the parliament. Ato Girma spoke on the opening of the fake parliament and Ato Lidetu this time with the help of other known opportunists in the parliament are organizing a protest  motion against  the rosy speech of  Girma Wolde Giorgis on the economy and also  for ignoring Ato Lidetu's call for immediate withdrawal from Somalia.

This is a well staged circus to show democracy in action in Ethiopian parliament. Girma Wolde Giorgis' speech was not different than  several lectures of Meles Zenawi we heard this year. Economic growth of double digit and denying the current famine is not new and why then Ato Lidetu jumped now to organize a motion against the speech of Girma ?

Girma Wolde Geiorgis, the 'king" of Ethiopia, is only reading what TPLF handed  him and Lidetu's call for motion is also part of the well orchestrated drama. The fact of the matter is no Ethiopian is watching this circus and is just a waste of time and money like the Somali occupation.

Dr. Kinfe's frustration is understandable

Tedla Asfaw

Dr. Kinfe on the VOA Amharic(Oct.7) lashed out on tho ongoing boycott of TPLF and he purposely brought the Ethiopian Airlines which is currently not included on the boycott as an attempt to destroy Ethiopian asset and symbol by very few "unsophisticated" individuals. The boycott of Ethiopian made fresh Injera however is something he will agree for humanitarian purpose and the telephone card is beyond boycott for him. His argument  that such actions are only symbolical and will not at all make difference was refuted by Ato Mirchaw Sinishaw with facts. Moreover,  the anger and frustration of Dr. Kinfe  seems to suggest that TPLF and their supporters like him are worried that this is beyond symbolism and help our struggle by targeting  TPLF as the number one enemy of Ethiopia that has to be removed by all means including total boycott. We also know that foreign aid from West is going to reduce substantially because of international financial crisis and whatever foreign currency the regime in power is denied is a big plus.                                                                                No Business with TPLF !!!!

Eyewitness account of the killing in Gambella

Tedla Asfaw

Ato Umet Uman  an Ethiopian from Gambella who has  been living in exile for the last four years  eyewitness account of the genocide that took place in Gambella in 2002-2003 is chilling. We all remember forced by the wide coverage of the  killing  Meles  established his own "independent commission" and we all know the  cover up very well. Ato Umet Uman who served TPLF for thirteen years at various positions on Ginbot 7 Radio October 4 part one interview  vividly described the sexual assault of teens in front of their families by TPLF militia and is indeed very troubling to hear that as a parent. The TPLF officials he mentioned  Dr. Gebreabe, Bernabas and the then president of Gambella were all behind these atrocities and are still serving TPLF at various positions even traveling freely to the west to "educate us" on the development going on in Gambella and other regions of Ethiopia. TPLF atrocities on Annuak people was well exposed by Ato Obang Meto and the 2002-2003 massacre on other Gambella people was also well documented and similar atrocities were carried in Awasa, Harar, in many Oromo regions and recently on Wolkaite/Armachowe Gonder people and the defenseless Gambella region  ethnic cleansing is underway by the  collaboration of TPLF and Sudan's militia of  Beshir and South Sudan. The recent disclosure of weapons hijacked by Somali gun men on the Somali coast destined to South Sudan is very troubling if it is true.  We have to just look across our Eastern boundary in Somalia to learn a timely lesson. If Somalis can do it we can do it too. Well armed enemy can not win that was proved more than   seventy years ago by our gallant fighters breaking the backbone of fascist Italy. TPLF's fascism fate is similar if we act together soon.                                                                                      ,

Somali coast problem is foreign made

Tedla Asfaw

The so called Somali Transitional Government of Abdullahi Yusuf is asking Russia to take all the necessary actions on the Somali gunmen who hijacked the Ukrainian ship with twenty  Ukrainian and Russian crewmen on board week ago. Who are these hijackers? The Somali coast for the last twenty years has been a free coast for the United  Fish Looters (UFL) to come and fish on Somali coast and profit an estimated  $300 million per year at the expense of local fishermen.

The local Somalis organized a vigilante groups to scare away the UFL and they were not successful. These looters are carrying bogus flags of different countries and carry  fake licenses given by former Somali officials one of whom is Abduillhi Yusuf the current president of Somalia in Mogadishu who personally profited.

Somali coast has also become a damping ground for toxic wastes  and the United Nation which calls to fight piracy never addressed the issue of Somalis who lost livelihood to the well organized looters and did not take any action also on foreign companies that polluted the coast of Somalia and endangered the lives of many people.

Currently the Somalis has set up a strong thousand armed men who are moving on small boats to hijack ships and demand money. Some countries negotiate and pay and recently France sent a commando and rescue its people and capturing some of the hijackers.

The Ukrainian ship is rather interesting because of the 33 Russian made battle tanks it carry and the destination of the cargo that is still debatable, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia the possibilities. Recently Meles Zenawi was heard saying that he is worried about "piracy" on Somali coast. He might be worried this time more because he might lose the tanks if it indeed was destined for his war in Somalia as Somali Islamic fighters alleged and call the hijackers to burn the ship.

The American war ship is following closely the week old sea drama and buying time for the Russian ship which is still far to take on the Somali gunmen. From previous Russian rescue missions of hostages, the one ended up gassing everyone in Moscow might be the conclusion of this week old drama if Abdullahi Yusuf request is answered.

Such action will not stop future hijacking by gunmen in the more than 3,200 km coast of Somalia. The problem on the sea is not different from the problem of Somalia and unless Somalia is left alone from all outsiders and find its way to function as a country and control its resources the Somali coast will not be safe for anyone.

 

Boycott TPLF !!!!

Tedla Asfaw

The boycott of TPLF affiliated businesses which started recently spearheaded by Ethiopiawinet Radio in D.C. has now become a rallying cry for our people  back in Ethiopia because the news of the boycott has got coverage by German and VOA Amharic which is widely heard in Ethiopia. The boycott that started on the "Injera" originated from Ethiopia sold fresh by the distributors here in USA is now spreading to liquors and the TPLF affiliated restaurants are going to be affected by this boycott.

The claim by the distributors that they are not making money and their goal is to explore the market potential of Ethiopian "Teff" has not convinced anyone. The claim also of creating jobs for some Ethiopians  is hardly convincing anyone too.

"Teff" has been introduced for outside world years ago and we have not seen so far its other potential except for food. However,at a time the international community is struggling to feed millions of Ethiopians, the idea of  selling "Injera" for the Diaspora Ethiopians who have plenty of food to eat is too immoral and extremely selfish.

The boycott on products like liquors coming from TPLF owned businesses will surely deny foreign currency for a regime. We all know TPLF has moved huge money in various investments out of the country and would like to profit more from the Diaspora buying power in the restaurant related businesses which is growing very fast.

This economic boycott of TPLF surely will grow through time and will spread throughout the Ethiopian Diaspora and will encourage all to participate and be part of this huge struggle to free our people from tyranny by drying its finance.

Ethiopians back home will be encouraged and stay away from all TPLF controlled businesses which are now strangling our people from small kiosks up to big businesses. Such common struggle will empower our people and  and united them by actions since our people have no other platforms to express their frustration and anger like so many of us do here.

The regime in Ethiopia has a long plan to stay in power as former high official of TPLF Ato Gebru Asrat disclosed last week here in USA This is a regime who decided to stay on power for the next forty years to bring "development" for Ethiopia . For that goal they have already recruited  four million members and controlled all areas of jobs in "private" and "government". Their strategy is total control of production and distribution so that Ethiopians are under the mercy of TPLF for their survival.

The majority of farmers in rural Ethiopia are also hostages to the fertilizer and loan given by the TPLF owned businesses and if he or she can not pay back the loan the only choice is to leave the land and go to cities for begging or being hired as laborers for the profiting farms of TPLF affiliated so called private farms.

Ethiopians in the long run will just be servants of TPLF and that is their forty years plan and we have to do our part to shatter this wicked endeavor and bring an Ethiopia which is free for all its citizens. We have started by saying no to all TPLF businesses in the Diaspora and we are already seeing the panic on the enemy camp.

United Nations Gatherings

Tedla Asfaw

The sixty third gatherings of nations which is underway in New York at a time of natural and man made disasters unfolding should have encouraged us to find deliberation which will guide us to safety and harmony. The fact of the matter is that there is no leadership because this body had become irrelevant long time ago.

The "superpowers" who have the right to veto will not allow anything to be done which will jeopardize their own interest and even humanitarian aid becomes victim to such big power influence. Darfur just becomes talk because of China and Ethiopia and Somalia are slowly burning thanks to the failed policy of so called "war on terror" and people are forced to choose death with bullet or hunger.

Known human right abusers and killers like Meles Zenawi are dining here in New York while others with similar record are cursed like evil forces and the country they lead are threatened by force, Iran is one of such cases. Russia publicly and China with its surrogates are playing hard ball like USA and the rest of the world is just watching.

UN is condemning the recent bombing in Pakistan while ignoring the daily killing going on in Afghanistan and Somalia in the name of fighting terrorism.

UN is an organization used by veto card members for their selfish interest and we do not expect good coming out of it as usual.

                                                                                                                        

USAID representative playing politics

Tedla Asfaw

Micheal Hess of U.S. Agency for International Development(USAID)'s Bureau of Democracy,Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance after five days tour in the Somali region of Ogaden declared that "there is no  famine in Ethiopia this year". How is he sure about that only  after traveling in a restricted area  escorted by government aid workers that he praised as one of the main reasons beside communication that prevented famine for this year ?

Michael Hess himself said it is only 41 percent of the people in Ogaden that received the aid and it is amazing to come out with "No Famine This Year" believing his own figure that more than sixty percent of people have not received food aid.  Or maybe he subscribed to the plan of starving the Ogaen rebels and "their supporters" to death.

The Channel 4 News in UK video footage, however, tried to show us what Michael  Hess "missed" and the video footage clearly shows Ogaden is under famine for anyone who is not playing politics like that of Mr. Hess. Mothers with baby crying for food, a tall handsome man chest bone visibly seen, people travelling more than twenty miles to find water and  the carcasses of camels littered  the dry Ogaden desert that has not seen rain for the last three years.

Michel Hess is truly only worry about famine for "this year" because he is a politician to paint good pictures about his agency before he leaves for another job and do not want to have  stain on his resume for future maybe "Ambassadorial" position. His agency's failure is not only on hiding famine but also by working closely with unelected regime in Ethiopia that  declared war in Ogaden, invaded neighboring Somalia, killing thousands of innocent  people and drive millions as refugees surviving on his agency food assistance.

The more than one million tons of food delivered to Ethiopia so far has not stopped famine as Mr. Hess would like us to believe because other non political  agencies have come out to different conclusion. Meles Zenawi and his USA/UK partners  do not want our people to fight the root  cause of famine, unaccountable regime that rules our people by the barrel of gun supplemented by tons of wheat thrown on their faces to live for a day and do not worry about this year. For next year nobody knows including Mr. Hess..

Michel Hess' declaration that "there is no  famine this year in Ethiopia" is not different than that of George Bush who declared yesterday that "the USA economy is sound" amid the financial turmoil on wall street. 

The Rise of Power Sharing Government in Africa

Tedla Asfaw

Today on Straight Talk Africa TV program(Sept. 17) there will be a discussion on this week power share deal between Mugabe and his main opposition parties.  Similar such deal was possible at the beginning of this year between Kenyan warring parties and it is legitimate to debate if such mechanism can be a blueprint for other African countries.

Last week I called the program's host Shaqa and I commented that  the situation in Ethiopia is much different than the Zimbabwe's situation. In Zimbabwe similar to Kenya the quarreling parties accept one fact. Both accepted the existence of their country no matter who leads it. In current Ethiopia, the regime in power, only accepts the existence of a country called "Ethiopia" if it rules it and if not the country is designed to disintegrate into language driven so called states/Kilil.

The so called Article 39 of  the "Ethiopian Constitution" that was forced on our people gives  nationalities to go their  way and declare independence whenever they choose so. The ruling party TPLF in Ethiopia can  activate this mechanism whenever its hold to power is challenged or for that matter asked by its Western financiers to share power.  We have no such  wicked article in both Kenya or Zimbabwe for that matter in any other African countries.

The closest we have to Ethiopia's situation is the agreement signed by Sudan south rebels and Beshir which calls for referendum down on the road and arranged some kind of "power sharing" in the interim. Such deal in Sudan,however, is complicated because there is no agreement where the  boundary of future referendum in south to take place. The recent fight in Abeye in south is the sign of big trouble to come without even adding the Darfur problem.

The minority ethnic dictatorship in Ethiopia  will rule indefinitely and when its hold to power is threatened as it is now it will finally go to "north" to rule its own enclave if it can. The only thing on its way is Ethiopian nationalism that is still burning after seventeen years of anti-Ethiopia propaganda by the Meles apartheid rule.