EPRDF CHALLENGES FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM: ARTICLE 39, KILILS, LANGUAGE AND THE ISSUE OF OUR SEA PORTS.

In my last open letter to EPRDF, I opined about several topics that challenge the EPRDF government as we begin the new Millennium. In a series of short articles, I would like to articulate my sincere opinion on what I feel about these topics

ARTICLE 39 MINUS SECESSION = TIMELY FEDERATION!

Don't get me wrong. The Right of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples has been fixed in stone and there to stay for good. These Nations and Nationalities have finally realized the fruits of their struggle for self determination and self rule.

The last 17 years have seen the tremendous empowerment of these peoples, the continued growth of their language and culture and our deeper appreciation of our diversity and beauty as we work our way out of the massive poverty and economic inequality that has ravaged our country for decades. Through it all, we have learned to live together with love and respect for the rule of law. More than ever before, we have become a close knit society.

It is, therefore, time to question the merits of a part of article 39 that has remained a thorn in many circles of God-fearing, flag waving, nationalist Ethiopians. That section is the one about secession. It is time for these Nations and Nationalities and Peoples of these different Kilils to start a dialogue about this issue, introduce bills in their respective parliaments and bring it all the way up to the Federal government for a decision of unity and hence, propose to rescind the word secession from the constitution. It is time for the EPRDF government to feel that the fruits of its struggle for the freedom of these peoples have finally ripened and allow the passage of such a bill with full unanimous support.

THE ISSUE OF FEDERAL LANGUAGE/LANGUAGES

Introducing a child to school with the specific ethnic language of the Kilil or the one the child was introduced to at home should continue to be the preferred language of instruction. Communication in a language common to all the Kilils is also the key element that brings closeness and understanding between the different ethnics groups in the Ethiopian society. To that end, Amharic has become the Federal language of choice. Just having it on paper and not implementing it in a productive fashion will not fulfill the intended purpose. It is my feeling that such a language must be taught from first grade on as a compulsory subject, right on to high school and college.

It is a documented fact that children can learn two or three languages without difficulty when these languages are introduced between the ages of 3 and 5. In fact it has been shown that any language or languages introduced at such an age, will positively impact the mental development of a child. It is my contention that not only Amharic, but also English, as the international language of choice, should be introduced at the same time and continued on to the later grades.

Such language-based ethnic barriers will then be broken to bring better understanding between peoples of different cultures and languages and lead to the removal of the concept of Kilils. This could finally lead to the removal of boundaries based on ethnicity and give way to geographic divisions of states.

THE ARGUMENT FOR A SEA PORT

Ethiopia is a land-locked nation. The historical premise as to how we came about to loose our ports is still a controversial issue among many circles. To deny this would be to bury ones head in the sand and refuse to look at the realities around us. Just this past year, our Shipping Lines lost over 26 million Birr. Many people are not even aware that we do have ships. These ships are leased to companies that use them to import and export products to Ethiopia and other countries. Our loss is partly minimized because of a law that forces these companies to exclusively use Ethiopian ships only to export our products. It is one thing to try to negotiate a deal with Djibouti or other neighboring countries for docking rights for our ships. But to down play the historical significance of Assab and ignore the need for negotiations with Eritrea to return Assab to the mother land would be to commit an irresponsible act that is detrimental to our country's economy. Ethiopia is a major power house in the Horn of Africa and deserves to have its sea ports back.

These issues are raised in all sincerity and love for my country. They are raised to encourage more debate on these and other issues that I strongly believe will lead to a more open society eager to get along with each other as we forge ahead to fight poverty and disease. It will also, in more ways than one, foster the essence of democracy and good governance in our country.

So, let us all work with a sense of unity and equality among our peoples and continue to challenge the EPRDF government to continue its commitment for democracy and good governance

AM I DREAMING OR IS THE DIASPORA IN DENIAL?

As some of you may know, there are quite a few of us in the Diaspora who frequent the so called chat rooms in Paltalk. Sprinkled between the religion rooms, love rooms and hate rooms are the political rooms where some of us cut our teeth and sharpened our tongues.

I spent a good deal of my time in the last two and a half years, fighting for the release of the CUD prisoners. Day and night we labored. I formed friendships and forged alliances. I met Ethiopians from different ethnic backgrounds throughout the world and enjoyed chatting with them on the side. We exchanged information as varied as the Eritrean border issue, the justification of the Somalia invasion, and even how to mix different drinks. Some of them have become best friends.

Through it all, I tended to bring the conversation back to the prisoners in Kality. I always did it in a peaceful and accommodative style. To most, my inclusive politics was untenable and I was routinely rewarded with the Paltalk vocabulary called "bouncing" and sometimes "banned" for good. The availability of a few more laptops and a bit of computer literacy has allowed me to continue to monitor and challenge the mind-boggling lies and innuendos so frequently heard even in the best of these rooms.

The help for my mission came in the form of a high EPRDF official, who was a guest in one of my favorite rooms, Ethiopians Forum for Political Civility. This individual made it a point to afford me his time and real brotherhood to answer my questions regarding the prisoners. When they were finally released through the hard work of the "Shimagiles" and the governments' good will, I was fortunate enough to be in Ethiopia and thank some of those officials who I believed had some role in their release

Fast forward to the "9^th of September" in Washington, D.C. and the Ethiopian community is going nuts over the visit of the CUD "leaders". No sooner had they arrived in the land of the free and home of the brave, than rumors started circulating about the feud between Dr. Berhanu Nega and Eng. Hailu Shawel. The paltalk rooms were partitioned along personality supports and narrow political opinions. If you happen to be in the wrong room and mentioned the name of the wrong person, you get the boot in no time. The issue of KIC and KIL that has been simmering for months is in the front burner again.

In my case, it did not take one of these "respectable" rooms to show me the door when I said, "Ethiopia is ruled by EPRDF." I am serious. That is all I said. Yes, here in the land of the free and home of the brave. Last time I checked, EPRDF was still in power!. I got a similar treatment a few months ago, when I said PM Meles Zenawi would be one of my choices for the Best Leader of Ethiopia Contest. After the release of the prisoners, and after that fantastic Millennium outfit, the other names I mentioned are falling far behind.

Actually, I also said there is a CUD party in Ethiopia and any one wanting to be a member has to join that party, or have another party registered in Ethiopia. Technically speaking, it should be wrong to refer to the visiting individuals as CUD leaders. I did not go past the first paragraph when I was bounced for the second time.

Am I dreaming or is the Diaspora in denial? I gave up and went back to edit the Kinijit Manifesto, to make it a kinder and gentler document. I am on page five!. Stay tuned.

FREE ADVICE TO THE DIASPORA PRIME MINISTER, DR BERHANU NEGA.

Hey bro, I have not been into this politics thing as long as you. But, I have lived long enough in the US to know how democracy works. I have lived it every day for nearly 30 years. I think that should qualify me to teach you a thing or two about how "our" democracy works here. A few years stunt at a mid-level university in Manhattan oesn't quite give you the knowledge base to trample on our hard won freedom and the democracy that took centuries to build.

You see, I may have been successful in making a good living here in the US of A and may have been spoilt a bit by the democratic system. But I have no illusions about the reality in Ethiopia and my regular visit to see my poor relatives is a constant reminder about my commitment to see the continuation of the democratic process that I saw a flicker of in the 2005 elections.

I was sooo hoping for you to join the parliament and work hand in hand with EPRDF toward a path of good governance that would benefit everyone in Ethiopia. Your imprisonment was a huge blow to the progress of that process. So, we fought day and night, in our own little ways, to see you free. We are mighty glad that you are free.

But please do not misunderstand the euphoria, and the fanfare surrounding your visit to Washington, D.C. We were celebrating your freedom. We were celebrating the return toward that process that you so rudely interrupted when you refused to join parliament. We were hoping that the 20 months in Kality had thought you a thing or two about democracy, in addition to that big volume you produced. It is still sitting on my table top, half read.

You seem to be preparing for something else. Whether you wrote it yourself or some one else did it for you, you were prepared for a speech of a life time. You were prepared to lecture us on the evil deeds of EPRDF and its leadership and you were doing it all in the name of democracy. Your unsuspecting audience was all wrapped up in the excitement of the moment to take note of your inflammatory words. Believe me they will hear it/read it again and again, until the cows come home if they have too, to digest it carefully and get the real message behind it. Let me quote a few sentences from that famous (sic) saber-rattling speech, mostly referring to the Prime Minister and EPRDF, that I believe left very little room for reconciliation, compromise and modesty:

" ...Ehadeg kinijitin lemaTifat wesino....EPRDF having decided to destroy

Kinijit"

"...eyetekoraru negirewunal.....He has told us with a chip on his shoulder"

"...yihinin hulu masiferaria alemeqebelachin asidenigiToachew ...scared of

our decision to ignore his numerous warnings"

"...yerasu maninet le democracy ginibata fitsum biqu yalihone....his own

persona disqualifies him for one fit to build democracy"

"....ketezefequbet Tiliq qijet wusT abano qesiqisoachewal...it has startled

them from the nightmare that they were deeply immersed in"

"...yemayigebachewun siliTan lemeyaz ke hizb yezerefutin genizeb

sayimelisu....having grabed the power they don't deserve and without

returning the money they embezzled from the people"

Forget gratitude, there is no respect for the government in these words. It was more like a revolutionary, back to arms kind of speech. Otherwise, how do you plan to sit down and talk to these officials?

The fundamental features of democracies include government based on majority rule and the consent of the governed, the existence of free and fair elections, the protection of political minorities, respect for basic human rights, equality before the law, due process, and political pluralism.

For your next speech, I advice you to revise it as follows. Be determined and confident. But get rid of the gutter language you seem so fond of coining. Elevate your speech to that of tolerance and accommodation. Tell your audience that you are very grateful for leaving Kality and hope to never go back there. Tell them that every one who worked for your release ought to be commended. Friends, family, "Shimagiles", the Diaspora, foreign nationals and nations AND the Ethiopian government. Yes the Ethiopian government, without whose good gesture you would not be here with us today. Tell them that a new chapter has opened in this Millennium and another opportunity has been handed to you to do it right this time. Tell them that you will form a new party or join an existing one to help continue the path toward building a system of good governance in Ethiopia.

If you do this, your speech will receive more standing ovations from the Diaspora, you will raise more money and you will then be in a position to build your party in Ethiopia to challenge the successes of EPRDF, fair and square. There is no other way of grasping that power that you seem so hungry for.

I am done, Sir. Thank you for your indulgence.

DR BERHANU NEGA, PRIME MINISTER OF THE DIASPORA, DELIVERS!

I watched it twice! It was long and deliberate. It was visibly forceful and emotionally charged. The audience in the hall seemed to love it and showed their repeated ovations.

It had a touch of typical American politics in its advocacy of democracy and won the sympathy of the crowd when he started off with the story of the 85 year Ato Biru and his two sons, Chala and Tulu, and how he was in prison for 8 years for allegedly hiding his two children who were supposedly OLF members. To add spice to his introduction, the injustice to Seye Abraha and Professor Asrat were thrown in.

This was followed by thanking the "Shimagiles", the Addis marathon runners and the Diaspora for their unrelenting support and struggle to help set them free. Even Anna Gomez, Donald Payne and Chris Smith were recipients of the message of gratitude. Do you see my blood boiling? Where are the other big players in all this? Where are the leaders of EPRDF and the other tireless brothers and sisters who labored day and night to make their freedom a reality? Do they get mentioned in passing?

The good doctor did not keep me wondering for too long. In his book, EPRDF and PM Meles Zenawi are anti-democratic forces who cheated and stole the 2005 elections to stay in power. He said that the PM told them in no uncertain terms and with a chip on his shoulder, that the democratic game was over, go home in peace and come back in five years for another fun game. The campaign of hate and ridicule was just beginning. He was just warming up. His emotional scale was getting a notch higher and the speed with which he was gulping the glass of water next to him was getting faster. No sweat coming from that big bold head though! Don't get me wrong, I am partly bold myself.

We then heard a series of self-congratulatory statements about how they are cold-blooded thinkers who were left with no choices but to head to Kality, with their head held high. A series of diatribes about the diabolic nature of EPRDF government in general and the PM in particular followed. He talked about how the PM trampled over every rule of law and lost the respect of the law-abiding world community. The government leaders were described as incapable and incompetent, the judiciary laughable, the government armed to its teeth ready to do harm on a whim. We were told that the government will be made accountable for holding power by force and for embezzling the people's money.

No. I was not laughing, because there was a sudden change of gear and a lecture on democratic values and the rule of law. How the eight point preconditions they had laid out before going to prison still hold. That the Diaspora should continue to help them achieve their goal of building a society that believes in a democratic and transparent culture.

And finally, the good doctor told us about respecting the rule of law and political equality. He ended up by warning us to beware of EPRDF which is hankered down to do an irreversible damage to the country before its own permanent demise. And for good effect he added, the alleged crimes committed by the Ethiopian government in Ogaden, in Oromia and in Gambella. It may have been payback time for AFD and Obang Metho.

His prescription: lay down low and fight with determination, confidence and modesty.

I am quite exhausted after this and would like to keep most of my questions for the good doctor for another time. But I would do you all an injustice if I did not throw in a few common sense questions.

Did you leave Ethiopia via Bale or Bole, Or is that a Fara question? Which party did you say you belong to or did you say you were going to establish one? Were you going to start a dialogue with the representatives of the Ethiopian government in the Diaspora or are you going to extend the same cruel remarks to them too? Are you planning to go back to Ethiopia to give the Olive branch to those officials you so ruthlessly attacked today or are you going to do it from the comfort of your office in Friendship College, or is it Neighborhood College? And finally, is this your personal opinion or is it supported by all the members of your delegation?

I am not done with you Sir! And no, I am not falling asleep either.

THE DIASPORA POLITICS CONTINUES TO BAFFLE ME.

Engineer Hailu Shawel, the previous Chairman of CUD finally arrived in Washington Dulles Airport among a confused commotion of supporters and a few detractors hoping to throw a rotten egg or two at him. He was well protected by Dulles police and even some of his party leaders were not able to get near him. He looked weak and fragile. His voice, however, carried some dignity. He was gentle with his words towards the other camp within his party, i.e. the Dr. Berhanu/Bertukan camp. It is rumored that he is on his way for medical treatment in a hospital in New York. God speed.

The DC Metro Kinijit Support Chapter had organized a large meeting at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia and successfully raised funds through entrance fee of $30 and other generous donations. The hall was packed and the speakers were lined up one after another. Ato Brook Kebede, Ato Gizachew Shiferaw, Wzt. Bertukan Mideksa , Dr Hailu Araya and Dr Berhanu Nega, who were among the visiting delegation.

Engineer Hailu Shawel, who was supposed to be the leader of the delegation decided not to show up and the gathering proceeded without him. Is a coup d'etat in the works? Are they trying to do it in a gentler and kinder way?

Dr. Berhanu Nega's speech was rather long. But the audience was hungry for it and took it all in, with awe and many a standing ovation.

Now, don't get me wrong. Don't run off saying, here goes Washera supporting advertising the deeds of his Kinijit friends. To be honest with you, that was the furthest thing from my mind. Some thing, however, is deeply palpable in the air about the Kinijit supporters in the Washington, DC area in particular and probably in the Diaspora in general.

To be honest with you, I am getting worried a little bit. I did not find very encouraging statements from Dr. Berhanu's speech about joining or forming a party in Ethiopia to sit down for a dialogue with EPRDF. I did not hear a sentence or a word about thanking EPRDF for their release from Kality. The same old rhetoric of blame the government seemed to be getting amplified again.

A few nights ago, I had a dinner where I met the visiting delegation and took the opportunity to chat with some politicians in the room. The visiting delegation members were gentle and did not say much about politics. But some in the room lacked the willingness to find ways to start a dialogue with government representatives in the Washington area.

I am worried that these delegates too, may not find it extremely important to design ways of going back into the political dialogue with EPRDF in a peaceful and lawful way. I am worried that they may be lost in the Diaspora and fail to fulfill their obligations to further our struggle for good governance in Ethiopia. Among some circles, they have acquired a hero status for their time in Kality. It is not an easy position to be in and it may be a bit too early to judge them. But if they fail to deliver, they will be deeply resented and quickly loose that hero status.

I am also worried for the Diaspora Ethiopians. They appear to be hungry for a leader of their own to keep here in the Diaspora, that they can drive around in a stretch limo and worship them like celebrities.

The realities in Ethiopia do not seem to penetrate their jaundiced eyes. Let me share a sentence from an e-mail sent to me by a good friend of mine from Ethiopia, more of a Kinijit supporter than an EPRDF sympathizer.

"The Ethiopian Millennium turned out to
be a great show both for the country
and the EPRDF. Never have
I seen so much mass and neutral
happiness in my life before.
Politics had very little space in the
celebrations. As an example, and to
the credit of EPRDF, in a huge poster
of all the last 8 leaders of
Ethiopia (exhibited at Meskal Square),
there was a more-than-life size
picture of none other than
Mengistu Haile Mariam. The funny thing
that I noticed was that all the younger
generation 'kids' were more keen to 
having their pictures taken against
Mengistu's background than any body 
else's. I guess Haile Selassie may have
been the second favorite, and
Meneilk II the third. Perhaps only there,
was the political
element seen in the celebrations."

Not only does it prove wrong the gloom and doom wishers of the Millennium celebrations, but it also gives credit where credit is due. The government is becoming more credible every day, and for me, the day the prisoners came out cemented my confidence in it's willingness to go the extra mile to do good. The democratic path is clear; the candle is lit. Let us all protect it and use it as a guiding light to do the hard work of helping our people.

REMEMBER THE MESSAGE OF THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER!.

Birtukan, Berhanu, Gizachew, Hailu and Brook, Welcome to America. The land of the free and home of the brave. Get some rest, visit with family and friends. Yes, rub shoulders with US congress people and celebrities. Enjoy the holiday food with loved ones. Treasure those incredible moments at the Dulles Airport, so mesmerizing described by Prof Al Mariam.

But don't be swept up by the euphoria and forget your mission.

Hanker down and begin the peoples' business. Begin by making a Millennium Resolution: To pardon, to tolerate, to treat your fellow human beings, with love, honesty, faithfulness and respect. Always respect the right of others to disagree with you.

You have achieved the status of stardom and that was unequivocally witnessed on your arrival at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. You have become famous. You will raise a lot of many during your various appearances to address the Ethiopian community in the Diaspora. Convert that fame and fortune into political capital back home in Ethiopia.

Despite his well articulated homage to you, Professor Al Mariam would like to tell you and the American public that "democracy is a crime in Ethiopia. If you win elections fair and square, you go to jail." Prove him wrong! You are the product of a democratic process taking hold in Ethiopia. There is no going back. Kality is history. Don't let detractors and hate mongers like Prof Al mess up your victory, our victory. We want to tell the American public about our budding democracy. We want to assure them of our ability to resolve our differences without foreign interference.

We have begun a new Millennium. In no uncertain terms, the leaders in Ethiopia have told us that they will protect and nurture the democratic process that has began on their watch. Let us give them credit for their achievements and build on it.

During your stay in North America and especially in Washington, D.C., you will be expected to resolve the simmering problem between KIL and KIC. You will be asked about your stand on AFD. No issue is more important to your supporters and detractors than this. The mediators you sent out here to resolve the problem between KIC and KIL have interrogated over 250 people to get to the bottom of it. They ended up at the bottom and have never surfaced, muddying the water further. Please do not waste too much time and energy on this issue. You have enough information to be decisive. Be decisive and let the chips fall where they may!

Your freedom from prison is partly the work of the "Shimagiles" lead by Prof Ephrem. But, I am sure you will agree with me that thousands of your Diaspora supporters played a role in one form or other to that effect. Prof Ephrem lives only a stones' throw away from the capital. Let us supplement his group with additional member from the Diaspora and continue the dialogue.

Those of us who have lived long enough in this part of the world are well versed in the American way. Let us treat you to our hospitality, let us make your stay comfortable. Move out from the fancy downtown hotels and move in with us. Let go of those stretch limos and let us take turns giving you rides. Our subways are also decent. Be like us, live like us and listen to us!

IT IS TIME FOR EPRDF TO TAKE STOCK AND BE BOLD!

We live in exciting times, both at home and in the Diaspora. Despite the confusion and mind-boggling disillusionment of Diaspora politics, I see another window of opportunity for EPRDF to make a bold move. It is time to take stock of your achievements and start listening to what the people were saying to the opposition. It is time to scrutinize what the opposition groups were advocating to their supporters to move them away from you.

The former Kinijit leaders visiting the Diaspora supporters have achieved superstar status. Wherever they go they are received with unadulterated love and bouquet of flowers. The internal division within the leadership, which has becoming overtly conspicuous, does not seem to deter these hungry supporters, who want to see them, touch them, hug them and talk to them. They seem so eager and willing to open their pockets and doll out those hard earned dollars, even without any clue as to what agenda these leaders my reveal before their return back home.

If one is to assess the direction of that agenda from the speech made by Dr. Berhanu Nega in Washington, DC, then I have news for you. There is a lot of disappointment festering within that euphoric crowd, waiting to express it as soon as the reality on the ground hits home.

They are not angry that they were released from Kality after an apology, but they do want them to give due credit to all parties concerned, including the government. They are upset with the cat fight going on between the top leaders and the apparent lack of respect for the Chairman and his own lack of leadership. Although he is old and fragile, they are upset with the division that is fast becoming a reality within the visiting group and the supporters themselves.

What is the message for EPRDF from this disarray within the Kinijit leadership and the dissatisfaction of the Diaspora supporters? Is it another angry response using words that will deplete the vocabulary in the usual cadre propaganda manual? Is it going to be another message of hatred and intolerance? Are we going to resort to another round of detentions and imprisonments? I hope not on all counts.

The EPRDF leadership should take this opportunity to rally support through some bold measures. They should re-examine the message from the 2005 elections. The path for democracy has been charted. There is no turning back from our pursuit of freedom, liberty and democracy.

The single most important message of the 2005 elections is to show tolerance to the emergence of different parties and party programs so long as they fall within the purview of the constitution and are done peacefully, for all intents and purposes. The reconstitution of the election board and the steps initiated to make it completely free of government or party influence should continues unabated. The media should open up more and both written and televised venues should be freely available to all parties.

The nations and nationality issues have been addressed sufficiently and the steps taken in the last 17 years have proved the effectiveness of that policy. People in the various Kilils have been empowered far beyond their expectations. But it is now time to concentrate more on individual freedom and to take steps that would foster good interethnic and intra-kilil relations. It is time to visit the merits of article 39 and consider revoking the word "secession" out of the constitution.

The liberalization of laws regarding personal property and private investment has triggered a new wave of young entrepreneurs perusing a diverse set of business opportunities. This measure cannot be a half-done deal. We have to go all the way. No red line. The full potential of these young capitalists has to be exploited to the maximum. Unoccupied land has to be freely bought and sold and not just owned and parceled out by the government.

Our relationships with our neighbors have continued to divide us. There is no consensus on the solutions put forward about the problems with Eritrea. The jury is still out on the issue of our ports. It is time to publicly debate the validity of those voices that claim Assab to be part of Ethiopia.

I do not claim to be an expert in any one of these areas. But unless we open up such pertinent issues for public discourse, we are liable to repeat the same mistakes of 2005. A significant segment of our society is looking for an alternative. You can remain to be that winning alternative provided you take some new bold steps in this new Millennium.

May God bless you and help you to make the right choices.

Sep 23, 2007

OPEN LETTER TO ENGINEER HAILU SHAWEL, THE "REAL" DIASPORA PRIME MINISTER.

It was quite a roller coaster ride. You missed out on the first wave of euphoric Diaspora supporters who overwhelmed Dulles airport with their enthusiastic welcome to the delegation lead by w/t Berukan Mideksa. Although they messed it up when this team did not recognize your leadership and failed to show up to welcome you at the same airport, you nevertheless received a hero's welcome by many of those same supporters that showed up the first day. To see you in such a fragile state after such a long trip was very sad indeed! It seemed that you needed to take care of your immediate health needs before making a long overdue speech to the Diaspora supporters. For this reason alone, I support your decision to decline the invitation to show up in front of the roaring crowd in Washington, DC. Even if your health had allowed it, the famous/notorious speech by Dr Berhanu Nega would have stolen the spot light from any remarks you may have had in mind.

What followed your arrival and subsequent to the initial anticipation of unity among the delegation was indeed a tragedy, if it were not laughable. You declined the invitation to appear in the DC meeting, but you did not show leadership when one was called for. You, as the leader of the delegation, were expected to put out a call to each and every one of the delegation member and decide on a revised itinerary of your stay in North America. You disappointed the Diaspora supporters when you went one way and allowed the other team members to go another way. When unity was needed most, you failed to unite and lead the team.

When private and public efforts were made to put out a call for your leadership, you continued to send mixed messages. The emotion-filled cry for help by w/t Birtukan Mideksa at the Boston meeting unequivocally showed that you were not in control of the situation. May be you needed to get your medical treatment first before meeting with the team and before facing the many questions that the Diaspora supporters would like to ask you.

The least that you can do for the Diaspora supporters is to call an immediate meeting of the delegation, resolve your differences immediately and join them in as many occasions as your health will allow, to meet with your supporters throughout North America. Where you cannot appear in person, make sure you have delegated the appropriate team member to represent you and the team, in successfully completing your stated mission to the Diaspora.

Any political problems between you and the other team members that cannot be resolved at this time should be taken back to Ethiopia and resolved there in the best democratic process possible. By so doing, you will be able to re-unite the fast dispersing Diaspora populace. Such an immediate uniting approach will have significant long term repercussions on the much needed Diaspora support. It may also reverberate back to Ethiopia and rejuvenate or damage the young and budding democratic movement. Your leadership decisions are needed much more so now than ever before.

As you travel throughout these United States, where you can speak your mind freely and fairly, we expect you to outline your intentions regarding resolving your differences with the EPRDF government. We want to hear you articulate, in no uncertain terms, whether you are willing and ready to accept the leadership of the Ethiopian government as the legitimate rulers of the country; to accept the existing constitution and abide by the rule of law and finally to participate in free and fair elections and join parliament to continue the peaceful struggle for freedom and democracy for our people.

As you indicated on many occasions during your campaign speeches back in 2005, you reiterated your belief in the ability of the individual to elect his/her own leaders or put them out of office if they find them incompetent. I have no reason to doubt that your beliefs have changed since. If you disagree with the above avenue for the struggle, then let us know what the alternatives are.

Finally, as you come to the twilight years of your life, you would want to leave a legacy of unity, respectability and uniformity behind you. You would want to live a message of hope to the younger generation and reassure them of the continuity of the struggle for freedom and democracy. You want to leave a younger, confident and dedicated group of leaders to follow your footsteps.

May your health return to you in good measure and allow you to spend enough time to sit through the many hours of debates and discussions that may be needed to come to a resolution and closure of this sad chapter in the Ethiopian Diaspora politics.

God bless.

WHAT EPRDF MEANS TO ME

I was driving to attend a panel discussion on HR2003 at the Ethiopian Television Network in Alexandria, Virginia, when a thought crossed my mind. My dad in Gara Kufa keeps bee hives in his back yard. He knows bees like the back of his hand. He knows how to nurture them, care for them and finally share in the product of their labors. I myself grew up on honey and milk. To this day there is Ethiopian honey at our home in Virginia.

So, as I was driving to the TV studio to debate the decadence of this thing called HR 2003, it occured to me that I was going to be labelled by my opponents, as an "EPRDF supporter" or even worse as a "woyane". My recent writings have started showing my true colors! I will debate the virtues of those labels at another time. But I wanted to concentrate more on "EPRDF" and what it means to. Trust me, the relationship of EPRDF and "bee or neb" did not cross my mind at that time.

In this metaphor, Ethiopia is the bee hive and EPRDF is the honey comb. The bees are the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. The bees pouring their honey into the honey combs of EPRDF are the hard working Ethiopians, in and outside government, who protect their queen and believe in working together to make honey. The simile does not end here. There are other bees that are fighting and killing each other, instead of helping out. These bees have not realized their role in the honey making process, but are educable and can have their day in the sun, pardon the pun, if they decide to be helpful and join the army of worker bees, before it is too late. Kinijit is like these fighting bees.

There are other bees, perched outside the hive on a tree branch near by. They are quietly buzzing around some "fake queen", plotting and waiting to occupy the bee hive some day. Some are occasionally sent to fight, but they never make it back. These are the OLF, ONLF, EPPF, SNLF and all the "LF"s trying to empty the hive by force and occupy it themselves. They cannot see what is going on inside the bee hive. They have no idea that the skeleton of EPRDF is being filled with muscle and tissues and all other essential organs to make it full. Even their occasional advisors, who also reside outside the bee hive, like Hibret and EPRP, pontificate day in and day out about the emptiness of the hive and how it will soon be occupied by progressive forces. But you do not see them progress an inch closer to the bee hive. Our bees are not only making honey, but also the next generation of well-nourished and protected caretakers. These bees will not break up and go to another hive, but work and live together. When the time comes to harvest the honey, they will have plenty left over to feed others.

That is my visualization of EPRDF, a strong back bone to our ever growing freedom and democracy movement. We want to build on what we have, not destroy it and start from scratch. We want to feel it up with our good ideas and mature political opinions. We want to be civil in our disagreements and have the magnanimity to invite the other Ethiopians in the opposition movements for a dialogue of ideas. Most of all, we want to be law abiding citizens, who can change laws if it does not fit us, but do it legally. We do not need an HR 2003 or its kinds to tell us what to do. Our ever increasing favorable relationship with the United States of America will not be taken hostage with any HR, pass or fail.

So, when I walked into that studio to trash HR2003, I was armed to the teeth with the essential ammunition to blow the opposition away. I hope you will all have a chance to watch or hear that discussion and make up your mind about which side has the winning edge.

THE CUD 8-P0INT POLITICAL SUICIDE.

So, I finally get it! The one thing the Diaspora CUD tourists are agreed on is the 8-point proposal to EPRDF before they join parliament to do the peoples business. The one they were elected to do in the first place, before they elected to join the Kality parliament instead.

Is some one briefing them on the developments in Ethiopian politics since they joined Kality? Is every one so taken in by the never ending festivals that these delegates are treated to as they criss-cross these United States, that they fail to see the fallacy of it all? Are we so blinded by the euphoria of the moment that we are unable to see through the well scripted poisoning message of Prof Al Mariam's dairy of their tour?

Well, if I am the soul voice of resentment so be it. I have nothing against the tour or the efforts made to raise funds for a non-existing party. I don't even care about the unfolding drama and division between the Chairman Engineer Hailu Shawel and the Gang of Five lead by Dr. Berhanu Nega. They are making a laughing stock of themselves without me having to clap on. But what I am more concerned about is the unanimous position they have taken on the so called 8-point talking points. Be patient with me and follow me as I examine these eight points that make mockery of democratic principles and rule of law:

1. Demands for an independent election board.

If memory serves me right, these has partly been accomplished by allowing opposition party members who have joined parliament after the 2005 elections, to nominate members to join the Election Board to start the process of democratizing it. I hope this board is better prepared or preparing itself for the coming elections. Can you make any demands on a functioning government as a non-party member?

2. Free press accessible to all political parties.

To me this is an issue of basic democratic rights to any political party, registered by the government and actively participating in parliament. I would rather hear such complaints from these parties. I also have confidence that the EPRDF government has made note of this and is working on accommodating these needs.

3. Release of all political prisoners.

All? How many are left? By whose count? The 100 or so as per Ms. Bertukan Mideksa or the ones claimed by OLF and Shabia? So you will not join parliament until the last one is out? Give me a break!

4. Professionalization of the police and military forces.

I am sure you expect for this to happen by the time you're done with your vacation in the Diaspora! Actually that is my dream too. But I have a different time line. I hope that some day, our military and police forces are so professional to not bow down to political party interests, but to national interests. That will require continued recruitment of Ethiopians of different ethnic backgrounds into our military over many years. Are you going to sit on the side lines and watch or are you going to join parliament and fight for more fund allocations to professionalize our police and military forces?

5. Investigation of post-election killings by government forces.

6. Establishment of a follow-up commission.

Very noble idea indeed! Lives were lost on your watch. You are partly responsible for it. You have signed and apologized for worse crimes than this. So, go establish a party, have it registered and approved by the government, run for elections, get elected, join parliament and challenge the report of the inquiry commission. All of those lives lost need to be accounted for. Their families deserve to be rewarded and we should all learn a thing or two to not repeat the same mistake ever again.

7. Rescission of undemocratic parliamentary procedures.

Please join parliament and fight for that. That is what you were elected to do in the first place. Instead you decided to head toward Kality and leave your supporters leaderless.

8. An independent judiciary.

Please see all of the above!

You have your work cut out for you. Go in peace and join the budding democratic forces in Ethiopia.

God bless.

CAN BERTUKAN MIDEKSA "OUR ETHIOPIA" SPEECH RESUSCITATE THE AILING KINIJIT AND GET BACK IT'S LOST GLORY?

It was the first speech of its kind that I had heard from Bertukan Mideksa, a mild-mannered graceful lady and Vice President of Kinijit (CUD). She was addressing Ethiopians in Minneapolis gathered for a fund-raising event for Kinijit. She started with words similar to the famous words of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence: "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Not quite in those terms, but that is how I wanted to hear it and took the liberty to include it here.

She used a century old story of a young man by the name of Negadras Gebrehiwot Baykedagn, a Tigrean from Adwa, to mesmerize her audience with her slow and measured delivery, and send a powerful message about how government stands for all people and not for a few individuals or ethnic groups. She alleged that with well articulated vision from their party, the Ethiopian people are ready to make a historic sacrifice for their freedom from oppression.

She explained how, during the famous 2005 peace rally, the now famous/notorious statements of Ato Bedru Adem, "We Will Return Them From Whence They Came: wede meTubet inimelisachewalen", was construed by government media to mean "Homes to Kebele, Tigreans to Mekele: Bet wede Kebele, Tigre wede Mekele", and broadcast many times so successfully that their party was forced to send out several statements refuting those allegations. In the same breath, she stated how disappointed she was in the conspicuous absence of Tigreans in the audience, in all of the cities that she had toured in these United States. She did not mention a straw poll or an exit poll taken to arrive at that conclusion. She then apologized for some frivolous statements posted on their behalf on a website they have very little control over, called kinijit.org. This is the website controlled by the "Shaleqa Group."

She then explained how her Kinijit party is free of religious or ethnic ideology and that it stands for all Ethiopians; that they believe in individual freedom without any bias to ethnicity, religion or sex; and that they advocate for freedom of assembly for any people

She mentioned a sentence or two about the problems in Somalia and Eritrea. Interestingly, she seemed to imply that Eritrea is a legitimate free state.

She concluded by mentioning about a certain fear among some segments of our society and that her party will not spend time hair splitting or parsing words about the nature of these fears, but instead will leave no stone unturned, to heal the perceived wounds and establish better relations with all for the good of our country and us all.

I must say that I am pleasantly surprised and pleased by these remarks. Unlike the twenty-some page rambling of Dr. Berhanu Nega

Thanks Bertukan, at least you are trying.

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED HAILU SHAWEL TOWN HALL MEETING TURNS OUT TO BE A POLITICAL DISASTER

He said he came for treatment and did not have time to talk to the Gang of Five. He complained about not being given a red carpet reception at the Dulles airport by this same group. The cat and mouse game he played over the subsequent two or three weeks kept us wondering about what he was keeping in his back pocket. He belittled the difference between him and the "tourists" and assured us that he will take care of it when he went back home.

But the pressure was building and he Diaspora voyeurs were not about to let him leave without a confession or a sermon. A date was fixed for a town hall meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. for Sunday October 14, 2007. All the major paltalk rooms were filled to capacity in anticipation of this unique occasion. A lot of PR had been going on the previous few days building it up or stripping it down, depending on who you listened to or where you read. There were lots of questions that needed to be answered for both supporters and opponents alike. After all, this was the guy preparing to take PM Meles' position and there may even be people in the government preparing to hear him. So he had two of his buddies, a certain Ato Bedru Adem and w/o Tigist G. Hiwot flown over from Ethiopia for a showdown in Washington, D.C. Flanked by two of his body guards, Shaleqa Yoseph and Dr. Taye W. Semayat, he showed up for the meeting two hours late.

The crowd was estimated to be some where between 300 to 2000, depending on who you listened to. No pictures were allowed and the ones sneaked out by some blogs were not trustworthy. Most people went just for the curiosity factor and they were treated to a political freak show. The meeting started with a mixture of Kality de ja vu by the guests from Ethiopia and a fund raising fiasco that supposedly raised somewhere between $30, 000 and $147,000. The report of the "stolen" kinijit money that preceded the fund raising drama was an accounting nightmare! I will defer my comments about that for another day. All of this was done in anticipation of what was dubbed as the "Great Speech" by the Chairman of CUD.

What a disappointment! The Chairman, the Big Boss, the Leader of the Leaders, the Kinijit Symbol the Honorable Engineer Hailu Shawel had nothing of substance to say except, except the usual back handed compliment or pure distaste for his compatriots in the other camp. It turned out to be nothing more than a glorified "buna were", coffee chat.

What an opportunity missed! Where are all those answers to why he was not making an attempt to meet with his team and resolve their differences? Where is the policy speech that he needed to deliver to all his supporters and detractors alike, at home and abroad? Not even a single page of written speech? Pal talk rooms, blogs, websites, VOA and other radio stations, were all waiting to broadcast the speech of your life. Some of us had serious doubts about your abilities for a long time, but there were many who wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, especially those that heard your low-pitched measured authoritative voice for the first time during your present visit to the Diaspora. What a waste of political capital gained by going to Kality. What a tragic end to a career that could have fared better if you had resigned and quietly walked away to your twilight years with your head held high.

In a way, I am very happy that your reign has come to an end. The political landscape looks clearer now. Dr Berhanu Nega and his gang have definitely stolen the show. If they played their cards well they may still have a chance to resuscitate themselves and get out of the fox hole they put themselves into as soon as they landed in Washington, D.C. I don't know how he is going to extricate himself out of his 22-page hate speech, his position on HR 2003 and his daring decision to sit next to ONLF, in the halls of the United States congress, but there is still some hope for Dr. Berhanu.

I see redemption for Ato Lidetu Ayalew and his AEDP-Medhin party and an opportunity to steal away some of those disillusioned Kinijit supporters. After all, they broke away from Kinijit very early on and every thing that Ato Lidetu has been saying about Kinijit and Engineer Shawel is coming true to the word. I also see EPRDF stopping the watching game and starting to show an active participation in building on their past successes. EPRDF needs to look into why people wanted Kinijit in the first place and try to satisfy those needs, whatever they may be. "Kinijit" will remain a symbol of opposition to EPRDF for a long time to come. Just eliminating the name will not solve the disappointment with EPRDF that some people have expressed.

In conclusion, I would like to remind us all that we are in very exciting times. We are seeing divisions, oppositions, realignments and regroupings in the Ethiopian political scene, at least in the Diaspora. If we do it right and look at this as a real democracy in play, we can all benefit from it and bring about a peaceful transition to our political turmoil, both at home and abroad.

Washera_2@comcast.net

Oct 15, 2007

LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES SENATORS Re:HR2003

Dear Senator:

I am flabbergasted at the progress being made in the US congress regarding a bill called HR 2003; otherwise know as the "Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act".

This bill, introduced last April by congressman Donald Payne has been nothing but a major campaign of misinformation about the state of democracy in Ethiopia.

Only recently, tens of thousands of prisoners were released including seventy or so opposition party members. This fit was achieved in the most part through the tremendous efforts of Ethiopian elders and many Diaspora Ethiopians. Foreign citizens and governments like the United States were pleased by the outcome of the negotiations that resulted in the release of these prisoners.

Such successful outcomes coming on the eve of our Ethiopian Millennium deserved commendation and encouragement by foreign nations, to continue on the path toward making Ethiopia a united, peaceful and democratic country.

Some may ask if the US congress has over stepped its authority by interfering in a free nation's internal affairs. Ethiopia is not a terrorist state. On the contrary, Ethiopia has clearly demonstrated its unadulterated support for America's war on terrorism.

Some may wonder if the Ethiopian government has used all its resources to educate the US congress about the remarkable step it has made in the last decade, to advance the same democratic values that those citizens of the United States enjoy. Have they used the best PR and lobbying support that is sometimes called for in situations like this?

Those of us in the Diaspora and especially those of us who are tax-paying citizens of this great nation would like to point out to you that we will use all avenues open to us to bring the negative implications of HR 2003 to your attention. We will send e-mails or write letters to our State senators telling them to leave the Ethiopian people alone to solve their own internal affairs by themselves. This we saw them do as part of an Ethiopian Millennium resolution, to resolve their political differences peacefully, guided by the rule of law. We would call upon all Ethiopian Americans of good faith, to help us in this campaign to educate our senators and congress persons.

In the name of democracy and freedom of speech, some former jailed leaders of CUD are openly criticizing the Ethiopian government using language unbecoming of some one who signed a letter of apology for the crimes that he/she were charged with. We feel the misinformation campaign of these former leaders and the uninformed rhetoric of some congressmen like Smith and Payne are causing a palpably painful, pardon the pun, division among Ethiopians abroad and in Ethiopia. This could be a far worse damage to the Ethiopian psyche than the twenty million dollars or so that you are threatening the Ethiopian government with.

We would also like to call upon the Ethiopians Prime Minister to get directly involved in this matter and use all his clout and credibility to talk to State department officials about the genuine efforts made in Ethiopia to bring about peace and stability in the entire Horn of Africa. We encourage him to use his contacts with former Presidents Clinton and Carter and his good working relationships with this administration, to negotiate his way out of this mess called HR 2003.

We will continue to applaud the Ethiopian government for the positive steps it has taken in the recent past toward democratization of its society and encourage it to open doors of communication and negotiations even with the most extreme elements like the OLF and ONLF.

Only through direct and peaceful negotiations, supported by all democratic nations in the world, will Ethiopia be able to resolve its internal political problems. No amount of coercion, arm twisting or carrot and stick policy will influence Ethiopia's resolve to do the right thing.

Let your gift for this Ethiopian Millennium be to avoid discord and discontent among Ethiopians at home and abroad, but instead to commend and reward these peaceful and peace-loving people, without any strings attached.

Please find a few minutes in your busy schedule to talk to me about this urgent issue.

Thank you and God bless.