Re: A letter to Somali friend

Tena Yestelene, I read your piece you posted on awate.com on Feb. 29 and would like to share a letter I wrote to a Somali friend. I agree with you for all of us to stop the looming war between two tyrants in Addis and Asmara.

 

I was a little bit puzzled for you ignoring the barbaric terror of TPLF in Somalia and Ogaden while you express similar phenomenon in other parts of Africa.

 

Is it not much said in the world media on what is going on in Ogaden compared to the Darfur you mention and I hope you are not defending the regime in Addis Ababa and let me assure you without removing Isayas and TPLF there will not be peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea and UN is just a spectator like it was in early 1990s when Melese begging UN to give independence for Eritrea.

 

I am  happy for our Eritrean brothers and sisters to live in a free country of their own,however,their involvement in Ethiopia's affair will not help them in the future to live in peace with or without border demarcation.

 

Jumping over the boarder is not good for both Ethiopians and Eritreans and UN's role is limited as long as we respect your borders and abide by mutual respect not to get involved in our internal affairs and that surely will come through democratically elected government in both Eritrea and Ethiopia.

 

                                                                                              Regards,

 

                                                                                          Tedla Asfaw

 

On 2/28/08, Tedla Asfaw <tedla.asfaw@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Abdullahi Dahr Moge,

 

I read your piece, the Somali nation, TPLF's sacrificial lamb posted on www.nazret.com (Feb. 28)and saddened for exporting this terror to my brothers and sisters in Somalia while we have the power to stop it in our own soil in Ethiopia.

 

Your chronology of the TPLF's brutality from its inception to present time, shamefully , celebrated as the 33 years of TPLF struggle for "freedom and equality" by TPLF mafia this month at a time innocent lives are cut short daily in Somalia and  in Ethiopia's Ogaden  is outrageous.

 

USA and the west who are now busy to force the Kenyan opposition settle their differences to make Kenya on their holiday vacation list did not help Ethiopians when they were murdered in broad daylight in 2005 you mentioned in your articles  because they have an evil agenda for proud Ethiopians and Somalis.

 

After destroying the peoples revolt in May 2005 Melese Zenawi orchestrated religious conflicts in our communities and accused the Islamic Courts that took over Mogadishu from US sponsored warlords and start war which is totally rejected by Ethiopians  you correctly categorized as TPLF's war.

 

Fifteen months occupation of Somalia by TPLF brought destruction never seen before and at the same time Ogaden Somalis were bombarded and massacred and many lives lost as you correctly put it in the most barbarous way I and many compared it to the  genocide in the  Darfur population by Beshir of Sudan.

 

Ethiopians back home and in the Diaspora are against the crime perpetuated in Somalia in the name of fighting "Islamic terrorism" by the known terrorist regime of Melese Zenawi whose terror throughout Ethiopia mainly in Oromia and Ogaden is well documented.

 

Ethiopian armed oppositions like OLF and ONLF are defending their people and Ethiopians have to support these movements to remove the blood thirsty regime by rallying together in all western cities and educate foreigners that their tax payers money is wasted for killing women and children in the Horn of Africa.

 

I do believe freedom for Somalis and Ethiopians can only come by removing TPLF from Mogadishu and Addis Ababa and the resistance in Somalia should be supported by all peace loving Ethiopians as legitimate resistance.

 

Ethiopians and Somalis are brotherly people even if we had wars before we always see as one family.The occupation of Somalia by fascist TPLF soldiers is not acceptable for proud Somalis like it was not acceptable for proud Ethiopians more than seventy years ago during the fascist Italian occupation of their mother country.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                      Regards,

 

                                                                                                                      Tedla Asfaw

A letter to Somali friend

Dear Abdullahi Dahr Moge,

 

I read your piece, the Somali nation, TPLF's sacrificial lamb posted on www.nazret.com (Feb. 28)and saddened for exporting this terror to my brothers and sisters in Somalia while we have the power to stop it in our own soil in Ethiopia.

 

Your chronology of the TPLF's brutality from its inception to present time, shamefully , celebrated as the 33 years of TPLF struggle for "freedom and equality" by TPLF mafia this month at a time innocent lives are cut short daily in Somalia and  in Ethiopia's Ogaden  is outrageous.

 

USA and the west who are now busy to force the Kenyan opposition settle their differences to make Kenya on their holiday vacation list did not help Ethiopians when they were murdered in broad daylight in 2005 you mentioned in your articles  because they have an evil agenda for proud Ethiopians and Somalis.

 

After destroying the peoples revolt in May 2005 Melese Zenawi orchestrated religious conflicts in our communities and accused the Islamic Courts that took over Mogadishu from US sponsored warlords and start war which is totally rejected by Ethiopians  you correctly categorized as TPLF's war.

 

Fifteen months occupation of Somalia by TPLF brought destruction never seen before and at the same time Ogaden Somalis were bombarded and massacred and many lives lost as you correctly put it in the most barbarous way I and many compared it to the  genocide in the  Darfur population by Beshir of Sudan.

 

Ethiopians back home and in the Diaspora are against the crime perpetuated in Somalia in the name of fighting "Islamic terrorism" by the known terrorist regime of Melese Zenawi whose terror throughout Ethiopia mainly in Oromia and Ogaden is well documented.

 

Ethiopian armed oppositions like OLF and ONLF are defending their people and Ethiopians have to support these movements to remove the blood thirsty regime by rallying together in all western cities and educate foreigners that their tax payers money is wasted for killing women and children in the Horn of Africa.

 

I do believe freedom for Somalis and Ethiopians can only come by removing TPLF from Mogadishu and Addis Ababa and the resistance in Somalia should be supported by all peace loving Ethiopians as legitimate resistance.

 

Ethiopians and Somalis are brotherly people even if we had wars before we always see as one family.The occupation of Somalia by fascist TPLF soldiers is not acceptable for proud Somalis like it was not acceptable for proud Ethiopians more than seventy years ago during the fascist Italian occupation of their mother counry.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                      Regards,

 

                                                                                                                      Tedla Asfaw

Looking forward

Tedla Asfaw

 

I attended yesterday, Feb. 24, an informal gathering of New Yorkers in a round table discussion with Eng. Hailu, chairman of Kinijit, Weizero Negist, member of Supreme Council of Kinijit and KIC chairman Dr. Taye. The two hours discussion briefly touched the past six months and  mostly focused on where to go from here to fulfill the promise of the  Kinijt movement where all Ethiopians of different nationalities, accepting grievances from nationalities, try to build Ethiopia which is democratic and equal for her citizens.

 

We saw that words do not mean anything  in current Ethiopia under tyranny . Article 39 of the Ethiopian "Constitution" talks about the right of nationalities and what we saw is exploiting nationalities by organizing unaccountable organizations in the name of nationalities and foment hate and suspicion among Ethiopians going to the extent of declaring "Interhawe" in May 2005.

 

What did TPLF bring to the people it claims representing by putting itself as the only representative of Tigrayans and no other dare challenge its control of the people and the Geberu Asrat's new party  is "illegal"l in Tigray and Kinijit has been  accused as  "Amharas" who would like to bring the past and the "number one enemy of the Tigray people".

 

The OPDO that claims representing the Oromo people has failed miserably to convince the Oromo people that OLF is their enemy and in fact is doing the dirty job of TPLF by harassing and killing many Oromo activists and starting communal war within the Oromo community and the case of the war in the Gugi in Oromia is well documented.

 

Kinijit is surely one of the forces to be recognized by foes and friends  after it brought millions of its supporters in the May 2005 election and currently is preparing to convene its first general assembly.  Eng. Hailu yesterday explained  the process of calling the general assembly.Elected representatives of Kinijit from all zones through out Ethiopia will come together to decide the future path of the struggle.

 

Kinijit is peoples party and those who lectured us the impracticality of the call for general assembly failed to admit that imposing decision which matters to the millions of Kinijit supporters by few in Kinijit Supreme Council is not different than the TPLF or OPDO of imposing their will on the people, " I will deliver for You and do not worry". Ethiopians are worried for their future and they will not give their god given right of expressing their wish to live in a free contry be short circuited by few who scared to visit the masses in the first place fearing peoples power..

 

The ruling party and its affiliates know very well that the majority of Ethiopians rejected them in 2005 and now to bolster their future hold on power TPLF/EPRDFis claiming to have four million members of farmers and close to hundred thousands of students and of course one hundered percent of the Ethiopian army.

 

Kinijit knows this game and have to mobilize the masses that voted  before and many that are waiting the call in the future possibly on the general election of 2010 according to Eng. Hailu. That is why the general assembly is a must for Kinijit to bring representatives from all regions of Ethiopia and the effort to paint Kinijt as "Amhara's" party will fail miserably as it failed in the 2005 election in multi ethnic cites like Addis Ababa that gave their support for Kinijit 99.9 percent.

 

I and others who attended the round table discussion were convinced that helping hand for our people is a must and we can not impose leaders on our people but help the elected leaders of Kinijit do their job to bring the dream of our people to live in a free, democratic and equal Ethiopia.

 

The Diaspora Ethiopians after the last six months confusions have reached to reasonable conclusion in the last few weeks in North America that the struggle is home and they will be behind the Ethiopian people and their democratically elected representatives unconditionally.

 

 

 

 

 

Fwd: Support for the general assembly of Kinijit

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tedla Asfaw <tedla.asfaw@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 17, 2008 2:36 PM
Subject: Support for the general assembly of Kinijit
To: kinijitusa@kinijit.org

Dear Eng. Hailu Shawel,

 

I and many Ethiopians I know are happy that your health  situation is getting better and your yesterday's  Boston meeting with Ethiopians and today flying back to D.C to be on your final meeting with Ethiopians surely give us hope.

 

When you return to Ethiopia, the millions who voted for Kinijit in May 2005 would like to come out and receive you at the airport and wanted to assure you that the general assembly of Kinijit is the only one that can make decision on the future of Kinijit not the supreme council/"lealye Mekerbet".

 

The new "marriage" between Ato Temesgen(MP) and judge Birtukan Medekssa in the name of Kinijit has no popular support. Nor Ato Aeyele Chamiso's Kinijit who claims to field thousands of "paid candidates" to participate in the coming make-believe election.

 

Kinijit supporters have no one to vote for because the peoples Kinijit will not participate in this local "election" without freedom to assemble and free press.

 

The general assembly of Kinijit has to convene immediately under your leadership and start mobilizing its supporters and we know this is not to be a cake walk but we do believe that leader is tested on this difficult time and we will be behind the general assembly's decision to move forward.

 

                                                                Regards,

 

                                                              Tedla Asfaw

 

                                   

Sustained rally for free assembly an free press !!!

Tedla Asfaw

 

What happened to the struggle for freedom and democracy after the elected leaders of Kinijit were released six months ago? why is all the demonstrations and the lobbies through out the Diaspora ended after the release of the elected leaders. Is it because the struggle for freedom and democracy is completed after the release of the elected leaders?

 

These were the questions asked by journalist Eskinder who was released after two years in jail today on "Nestanet Le Ethiopia Radio" today (Feb. 17) and in fact he challenged all of us to rekindle the struggle for freedom and democracy irrespective of what happen to those who are sacrificing facing tyranny head on in Ethiopia.

 

The Diaspora Ethiopians have to organize ourselves and call for the right to print and assemble freely and denounce the make-believe election organized by TPLF/EPRDF this spring for the world community. We can not be quiet while our people are intimidated to vote for government paid candidates.

 

Can those who support different wings of Kinijit organize a sustained protest and be a voice of the millions of voiceless Ethiopians? All the oppositions, Oromo Liberation Movement(OLF), Ogaden National Liberation Front(ONLF) and other opposition supporters have to rally behind the right to assemble and organize  freely.

 

If opposition supporters do not agree to call for a sustained protest like they did for the release of the Kinijit leadership  and spend their times on  their own paltalk accusing each other it should be clear to all of us that such actions are not pushing our struggle one inch and TPLF/EPDRF will stay on power for a long time "winning" another victory for the coming "general election" of 2010.

 

Without sustained struggle for freedom, no tyrant will give power for its people and that struggle which was aborted six months ago here in the Diaspora should start immediately and be a catalyst for our people  back home.

Working with differences/Mechachal Yechalal

Tedla Asfaw

 

I watched Ato Tamagen Beyene two and half hours interview in Amharic, the producer of twenty four hours of Ethiopian Television(ETN), the first of its kind, on Abugida TV and was entertaining and informative to those of us who did not know him back home. He  is frustrated like many of us in the Diaspora by the old way of politics, "you  either follow me or you are  my enemy".

 

Ato Tamagen's call to work together for common cause narrowing our differences for the  good of our people and country has been advocated by  others in the last sixteen years without using the Amharic equivalent, "Mechachal Yechalal" with no success.

 

Moreover, "Yechalal" has also been a famous slogan of Athlete Haile Gebreselasse in the last ten years to challenge himself and motivate our athletes with tremendous success.  Ato Tamagen similar to Haile Gebreselasse tried to challenge our politicians using his TV power that the old way of politics has to change and  the younger generation has to learn from the failed "follow me or you are my enemy" way of politics that  has been proven wrong in our sixteen years of experience.

 

Ato Tamagen was deeply hurt  by the passing away of his father following the stolen election of May 2005 and I too cried with him like others who were there on that hall  because I have also a ninety three old father who is  hopping to see me one day and that day surely is getting  longer and longer and I know that time is not on my side too.

 

Tamagen was not only crying for his father but he was also weeping for mother Ethiopia who is now bleeding and surviving on borrowed time unless her children find cure by "Mechachal Yechalal" before TPLF/EPRDF time bomb take us all together.

 

I hope Ato Tamagen's message will reach to our politicians who are dispersed all over the continent and make "Mechachal Yechalal" a reality and save our people  and country. Ethiopians have shown  in their last  stolen election of 2005 that they are ready and the ball is now in the politicians court.

Save Ethiopian refugees!!!

Tedla Asfaw

 

I listened personal accounts of ten Ethiopian refugees in Libya who are currently abused in Libya's jail after running for their lives crossing Sudan and dangerous desert where some perished and women raped and while reaching in Libya did not get the same treatment Eritreans received on www.admits.com in Amharic last Sunday(Feb. 10).

 

How can this be allowed to happen in Libya who paid billions of dollars of compensations for the lives of Western bomb victims of Qaddafi sponsored terror?

 

Is it not the same Libya we heard last week calling for United Africa? what a shame !! If we assume the human right commission and other international organizations have not heard the plight of Ethiopians it is out there and they should contact the Libyan government to take immediate actions.

 

Ethiopians in the Diaspora should come out and save fellow Ethiopians by writing to all responsible organizations and the Libyan embassies to stop the abuse of our citizens who run for their lives after May 2005 election. Most of the interviewee were jailed following the election of 2005 being a supporter of opposition and they are political refugees.

 

We will also air the plight of these refugees in Libya's jails for foreign medias who are not aware of this despicable crime in a country who signed the international agreement for protection of refugees. 

 

For fellow Ethiopian refugees  in Libya we want you to know that we will not forget you and keep fight on your behalf.

Dotcom not Africom!!

Tedla Asfaw

 

United States  proposed African command(Africom) is ready to open offices in different parts of Africa according to VOA Amharic( Feb. 11).  Many Africans are suspicious of this "new interest" in Africa  whereas unelected leaders of the region who are now wrapping themselves as an ally on "war on terror" are welcoming such moves to continue their hold on power.

 

We have sixteen years of USA direct involvement in Ethiopia's internal affairs by its embassy in Addis   supporting  and promoting unelected TPLF/EPRDF disregarding the human right violations and extrajudicial killing and in fact the  relation after 9/11 went even further by arming the regime in the name of fighting terror and supporting the invasion of Somalia  a year ago.

 

What is Africom has to do now which USA embassies did not do before? Is it maybe to expand regimes like TPLF/EPRDF through out Africa by opening offices close by and working full time?

 

Rather Ethiopians and many other Africans need "dotcom" and expansion of information highway which the regime in Ethiopia and other dictators in Africa hate and block because information will challenge  their hold on power by educating the public. 

 

How can we believe the opening of new office by Africom will make difference while  program like VOA is jammed  not to reach  millions Ethiopians and USA officials never condemn such action. Can we believe such illegal actions will be controlled much closer maybe by Africom?

 

USA involvement deeper in to Africa is just not different than former colonialists rush to have foot hold on  Africa by sending their missionaries first and later the army. I do not believe Africom will promote democracy or alleviate our economic hardship as it claims.

 

USA should help promoting  free flow information by investing on Internet and broadcast its radio program free of jamming and not opening additional offices to work with the tyrants who care less for the well being of their citizens.

 

The least USA can do for Africa is not to finance unelected regimes in the name of "war on terror" and work on all the in formations available in public and make prudent decision which will benefit its interest in the long run, however, opening another office which will waste tax payers money is the worst choice.

 

 

 

Election fever or Election for Food ", Ben ??

Tedla Asfaw

Do really Ethiopians care about this coming so called election ? What about the day to day struggle for feeding families in soaring prices and no one is sure of the next day and are forced to look for "food for election program" which is underway as you claimed on your piece, the 25 million registered to vote who are suffering from "election fever" http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/
which I call "election for food".

You did not mention the four million fed and clothed TPLF/EPRDF candidates which cost the regime big time and no surprise survival is linked to election in this spring local election.

This local election/selection is preparation to win the 2010 general election by chasing loyal oppositions like Merara, Beyene and Bulcha from their constituents and replacing them with Lidetu likes from the splintered Kinijit party.

The intimidation of opponents was aired by VOA by interviewing these "parliamentarians" by hardly listened VOA to Ethiopians and international community is also is aware of it. The jamming of VOA and German Amharic is part of this spring local election circus to deny Ethiopians an alternative sources of information except government election related
propaganda.

Our country's hope of reconciliation is derailed and those who are using their guns, OLF and ONLF, to determine their future will have good excuse to go on their method of struggle and is also time of reflection and assessment for all of us who believe in peaceful struggle.

The recent election related crisis in Kenya has learned a good lesson from the Ethiopian election
experience of 2005 and power sharing deal is reached today between opposition and the ruling clique thanks to Koffi Anan mediation.

However, Ethiopia is going on a make-believe election track and surely will miserably fail and that might be the "fever" you are talking about and I hope innocent lives will be spared from its consequences.

Blood bath in Bosaso, Puntland

Tedla Asfaw

 

Twenty Ethiopians, sixteen Muslim Oromos and three Christians were murdered yesterday by grenades thrown while sleeping in their resting "hotel" waiting for the sea to calm  down before they embark on a dangerous travel to Yemen by boat.

 

VOA had interviewed an injured person who lost one leg and another one who was slightly injured and the carnage was also reported by Somali journalist working for VOA. The journalist saw many badly injured and also attended the burial ceremony for the nineteen dead.

 

The Islamist fighters in Mogadishu, Shabab, took responsibility for the killing and alleged that this was a hotel Ethiopians soldiers pass their leisure time and a legitimate target. However, these are poor Ethiopians who have come to Bosaso to cross the sea to Yemen and sadly their lives is cut short with this despicable crime.

 

This is indeed bad for all Ethiopian refugees especially in Kenya and Sudan. We recently witnessed the brutal killing of Ethiopian refugees in Kenya and the forced return of political refugees from Sudan and this killing is a wake up call for all Ethiopian refugees. Running from a  terror is not easy in a dangerous area of the Horn where terror is a method practiced by regimes in power and those who claimed to fight them.

 

Political instability in the Horn is going to make such crimes unavoidable  and I do not think the Puntland regime will bring those who committed this crime to justice because the regime is illegitimate and  needs a support of TPLF/EPRDF for its survival and the Ethiopian regime does not care for the death of innocent citizens wherever it maybe.

 

The involvement of Ethiopian regime in Somalia and political power under the hands of unelected regimes in the Horn will force people to cross borders for safety. However, Bosaso will not be the destiny of Ethiopians in the near future.

Birtukan's Kinijit undemocratic action !!!

Tedla Asfaw

 

The Capital from Addis reported the "wedding" ceremony between Temesgen Zewde(MP)and Judge Birtukan's Kinijit faction and understandably no one from Eng. Hailu's faction was  present . The ceremony was concluded by electing sixteen members of Supreme Council, fourteen from Temesegen supporters and four others including Professor Mesfin Woldemariam.

 

Judge Birtukan as reported on Capital  she  is trying  to make a "last minute deal" with Eng. Hailu's faction that was also reported on Ethiopian Review as a joint appearance with Ato Abayneh of Hailu's faction this past Monday which Ato Abayneh, acting chairman of Kinijit,  denied on paltalk radio but confirmed that elders are mediating between Hailu and Birtukan's factions  maybe for the last time before permanent split.

 

The Kinijit supporters anger in Ethiopia for what is going on within Kinijit is forcing these last minutes contact if it materialized and so as not to be seen in public as spoilers, however, deep inside the Kinijit factions are embarking to solidify their own positions in undemocratic way in case of Birtukn Medekssa

 

The call for the general assembly of Kinijit was ignored wisely by Birtukan's faction and rather try to reorganize it from top to down  by bringing new sixteen council members which will finally join with the other Supreme Council members of Kinijit that supports her faction.

 

This undemocratic action, avoiding the general assembly,out of "fear" for their deliberation which might be against her and her followers interest and finalize a "weeding" with Temesgen Zewede is a big mistake on her short lived political experience.

 

This might be a big blunder which might cost her big time form her die hard fans  in the Diaspora and by not learning from Lidetu Ayalew(MP) she might get the same treatment he got from the wider publicwhen hey sabotaged the formation of Kinijt after May 2005 election  by bringing flimsy excuses and later run for his life to the sleepy Parliament of TPLF/EPRDF.

 

Eng. Hailu's faction surely will call the general assembly using a legal cover of Ayele Chamiso(MP) who got the legal name of Kinijit and it is possible that the majority will show up to make an important decision for the future of Kinijit.

 

In all these political circus the millions who supported Kinijit are intimidated by the TPLF/EPRDF cadres to vote for the paid candidates that are fed and clothed  by the regime in power numbering  around  four millions in the spring local election.

 

It is sad the spirit of May 2005, the hope of electing  representatives that serve their people is now turned in to recruiting paid candidates by the regime and forcing the public  to vote for them and on the other side Kinijit's elected representatives that won the hears and minds of people end up splitting and betraying the people who gave them their votes.

 

The regime in power ultimate goal is to rule by preparing such make-believe election by denying  free press and assembly, however, if Kinijit did not come through the  general assembly and save the democratic hope of our people the action taken by Biruikan's faction to force new party from top will get the same fate as of Lidetu Ayaew's infamous party.

One is Greater than Eighteen

Tedla Asfaw

 

Who said eighteen is greater than one not in the desert of Arizona where Super Ball 42 was played or in the blue lit Empire State of New York. The Giant fans of chanting eighteen to one was answered in spectacular fashion last night and the celebration was under way to wee hours of this morning and we have to wait for the big one tomorrow in lower Manhattan.

 

I was watching the game with my three boys and let me be honest with you they thought me the game of foot ball and before they were born I never watched  the game because I did now the rules and to your surprise my mother who came to help me with my first child liked the game then without even knowing the rules behind it maybe she enjoyed the battle and the piling up of grown up boys on top of each other with tremendous force to secure the ball she called it "Yebuhe Dabo Yemesele".

 

Yesterday we watched the game as usual my kids converse while watching. Hey Eli , "do that and do not do that", challenging the umpire when he gives a penalty against their team.

 

We were confident the way the game started especially the Giant defense go after Brady the quarter back who led the New England Patriots to eighteen zero post season and the "rude" fans of New England  taunting us nineteen -zero for the whole week and no one was to be found to give interview after the game yesterday.

 

This is good for our family because this is the first time our children twelve, ten and eight saw in real life what winning is all about and the case of Yankees and Mets has been frustrating for them and now their first celebration has started.

 

In the last position after the New England got the lead we were a little bit worried and however after Eli the quarter back escaped being sacked and the spectacular catch of the ball by the Giant rookie we did not doubt that New York Giant were destined to win the game.

 

We were jumping up and down at 10PM when New York had a touch down and the Patriots dream of nineteen to zero is gone for good and I do not believe it will come again and Giant fans were right that it was eighteen to one and we might add  that one is much bigger than eighteen.

 

I told to my kids if your maths teacher is quizzing you to prove if  one is greater than eighteen  you have to bring the giant equation that is G is greater than 18P and prove that one win  in the Super Ball  is greater than eighteen wins in post season.

 

We hope 2008 to bring  victory for New York Yankees and Mets and we might see the world series to be played by these two New York teams or beat the "New England Red Sox"  to suffer another spectacular defeat for New England.