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.
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