ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (Addis Fortune) — For a change, and after several months of political doldrums, the landscape has begun to churn. Not surprisingly, the recent deal signed at the Sheraton Addis in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa between leaders of the four political parties, including the incumbent’s, has struck up the debate at the various gossip corridors across the city.
However, none of the political leaders is facing the sizzle of frying pan more so than Hailu Shawel. It is fast becoming a trying task just to find defenders of his, these days.
It seems apparent that the coming national election will hardly be harvest time for Hailu and party. The situation makes it painfully obvious that he will need to employ an abundance of damage control exercises in the few months ahead – all the while paying a huge price, much more so than any of the parties in the deal.
Negotiators from his party, the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP), did not surrender easily after what was an exhaustive, two-month long inter-party dialogue.
Negotiators from the ruling party [in large part] and those from the other opposition parties [to a certain extent] have demonstrated unusual patience in keeping AEUP’s negotiators at the roundtable held inside Parliament. The latter were proven to be extremely wooly, with all the list of questions they would bring the following day, purportedly from Hailu.
The chief negotiator for AEUP was Yacob Leekie, brother of Senay Leekie, a Soviet trained Marxist. He was killed in the mid-1970s inside Menelik’s Palace, during a shoot-out between those who had supported Mengistu Hailemariam and others stood against him. Senay was a prominent personality in the early years of bloody political struggle within the junior military officers and the leftist politicians around them.
Yacob is also known to have been raised with the family of Kassa WoldeMariam, president of the Addis Abeba University, during the Emperor’s rule. His daughter, Yeshi, also a great granddaughter of the Emperor’s, is married to Hailu Shawel’s son, Shawel Hailu.
Nevertheless, none of the four negotiators of AEUP were as forceful and close to Hailu as Mamushet Amare. Once a captain in the Derg army, he was calling the shots during the negotiations.
Revealing the identities of those on the negotiating front on behalf of the ruling EPRDF is proved especially relevant: Bereket Simon, Hailemariam Desalegn, Sekuture Getachew and Muktar Kedir.
The Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) had been represented by its president, Lidetu Ayalew, as well as Mushie Semu and Mesfin.
There was a huge uncertainty, down to the very last day, as to whether or not Hailu’s party would actually sign the deal. They had threatened to drop out of the deal on several occasions. Reason being that they had wanted to talk about broader issues, they had felt would affect the coming election, and not simply the code of conduct. It came as a surprise to all when Yacob Leekie came around to agreeing to the signing at the end.
The final point of concern among negotiators was the supposed unpredictability of Hailu fearing he would go for a microphone in the presence of Meles Zenawi. Negotiators from the ruling party had gambled, too. They were not to be disappointed as they watched Hailu say what has earned him onslaught from his supporters and appreciation from his opponents across the aisle.
Praised, he was, at a dinner party which the ruling party, Woyanne, hosted. The party was hosted inside the Addis Top View Hotel, near Ras Amba Hotel at Arat Kilo. It was held to celebrate the deal on the electoral code of conduct the very night it was signed. Several political leaders from all the four parties were seated mingled at tables which looked designed to let them feel one another out.
25 thoughts on “Hailu Shawel dines with Woyannes after surrender”
hailu is dumb.we don’t have to talk about dead person anymore.
worada shimagile. afer yibla!!
Dr Seenaa Liki was an oromo by blood and his ancesstors were originally came from Dambidolo area (Western wollega)and Jote Tulu, his grandfather was king of Leqa Qellam.
Dr Seenaa was born and raised in Gore, Iluu Abba Boraa and did his phD in engineering not in the Soviet Union but in the USA.
Even when he signed an agreement with them, they do not stop. Hailu Shawel is being attacked by TPLF gang for fear he might garner a lot of vote.
Engineer Hailu might have done wrong in signing the agreement but you all becareful from being infected by TPLF virus and attacking the wrong bacteria.
If Hailu Shawel wrestles few seats from TPLF, I am ok with the result.
Folks, we should be tolerant toward other people’s decision to run or not to run. I think and strongly believe that Hailu and others have an inalienable right to decide which way they like. With this understanding, then those who want to criticize them for their decision to run will have the leeway to do so. It is a fair give and take. I prefer to wait until the next election and see how it is going to play out. Enough with wars and bloody violence. Hey name callers! Do not call me Weyane! I am gonna be very upset as much how the editor of this website would be upset if someone calls him a Weyane too.
Hailu is Opportunist and arrogant. Don’t ever talk about him. It is giving him credibility. Just ignore and stop writing about him.
I felt like I was hit on the head when I first heard Engineer Hailu signed up to be another agent of Meles. It was heart-breaking for me as person since I trusted him for so long.
Then he came back and insulted the whole Diaspora Ethiopians after we did so much for him and looked up to him as one of our leaders who would get us out the mess TPLF has put Ethiopia in. Now again, he is dinning with TPLF gangs. He is getting worse by the day.
May God Protect Ethiopia from traitors.
I know Ato Hailu Shawel I went to school with his kids He is a good man! I will wait and see how he does.
Senay Likee was a drug smoking hippee. Senay Likee recruited most bourgeois kids that were in school in USA and turned them against their parents.Even the government who sent them for higher modern studies promised them 1,000,000 if they stop joining the revolution. Senay said he could get more by taking it from the bourgeois himself so he continued in organizing young students into communism. Inside information says they were and some of them still are no different than weyane when it comes to advantages for themselves. These were a bunch of rich kids who turned into ruthless , bloodsucking , selfish , idiots that worshiped Senay Likee and would do anything to gain personal recognition within their peers.
Most of us can definately agree who Yacob Likee is. My question is ; Was the late Dr. Senay Likee a hero or a coldblooded criminal??
Mamo,
Are u Mamo the “Mamo Kilo” what in the hell are u talking? Hailu is a bacteria that we need to fight, in fact, he is a virus, not just a bacteria.
mr Asyegn i think we have the right to criticize ato Hailu as he is critcizing others and undermining those falks who pledged to destroy woyane by any other means including armed struggle.So what is wrong in criticizing Hailu when he derail the struggle and surrender to our #1 enemy,woyanne.As long as he play under the tag”Ethiopia” and Ethiopian people he is subject to harsh criticism .There had been time when we appreciated him and stood along his side when he did good.Now Ato Hailu has lost all his credibility owing to creating anti-diaspora front with woyane and satellite parties.Thus it is our right to confront and expose Hailu’s-Woyane sinister move.This is high time for diaspora to join hands and force Hailu and his hench men in AEup to resign before destroy AEUp and do extensive damage.
After all this blackmailing Hailu Shawel did anybody who support him is nothing but die-hard woyane.Yes, Asgegen you are a woyanea.
Ethiopians, Just focus on the problems your country is facing today. Hailu is just a peanat in the Ethiopian Society. I am Eritrean and I always wanted to see a free prosperous Ethiopia that is friendly to Eritrea. Afterwards the sky is the limit. But dont be strayed from your struggle line. Focus and think how to get rid of your commen enemy. In a struggle even 95% of the people could be traitors, cowards, hypocrats … but if you have a 5% focused visionaries, thouse are the people who bring change.
BK
To Anonymous :
What are you telling us: Dr Seenaa Liki??
Illu Aba Bora.
You need to concentrate on accomplishments and facts. I have a great deal of respect for all Oromos, but I see you disperatly struggling to get acceptance by proofing that Senai Likie was/is Oromo. Do not suffer; there are many smart people from the Oromo tribe. So it is so silly to go out side the issue and try to philosophise root of words in order to get acceptance. Any way Senai Lekie was a looser, as well as Mengistu.(May be now you will think how to denounce him…)
Hailu Shawel
A soap bubble
We give him air all
He become a big rain bow circle
In a tick of a second
He committed sucide
He is dead
dead dumb dead
Empty
Vanity
Mamo is right, Gutu is wrong.
The concerted attack against Hailu Shawul has a very eery feeling to it. I do not support Hailu Shawul but I don’t feel the need to go an all out war against him. Why should I? Why would the opposition do that? Ginbot-7 has not released anything against the Engineer.
I agree with Mamo, TPLF is coordinating this propoganda attack. No doubt about it. If we join the cadres and attack the engineer, obviously we gain nothing. However woyane will have a lot to gain, first by having us at eachother’s throat and second by gaining a lot in the election legitimately or illigetmately. Don’t think our stupid civil-war is not frustrating the ordinary people.
Let us leave the engineer to his fate. If you really hate him, enjoy the fact that he might end up in TPLF dungeon again. Otherwise, stay neutral. Do your own job, support G7, EPPF and the rest of the warriors.
I am always confused with who senai leeke
was.now people told us different personalities of him.which one is true?
Let us all be optimists about all,and Hailu’s pain will also be ours.It is simple to critisize others.What is our duty to our ethiopia?We have to worry about ethiopians living in Ethiopia.
I want to ask you guys a simple question. For a party like AEUP, which has decided to fight on all peaceful means within the territory of Ethiopia, is there any other alternative left other than discussing with the ruling party on how to proceed with the coming election? Do you call it an alternative to sit and watch while woyane plays with puppets like lidetu on an empty field? or it would have been better if AEUP prefers to seek solution by armed struggle? What would be the fate of AEUP if its leaders decided to sit quietly by saying we will not discuss with woyane? do you think that organizing the people nationwide will that be easy?
It’s easy to give comment over the internet or shouting from abroad. Fighting with woyane here in Ethiopia is not that easy. As a poletician you’ve to be wit. You may be needed to shake or dine with your enemies. Come on Guys! Let’s give Eng. Hailu a try! He’s a geniune guy. Let’s wait and see. Woyane is doing a character assasination. They will confuse us and make us refrain from supporting someone who’s truly struggles to bring light to our motherland.
Please, let’s act as a civilized people.
There is no organization as AEUP, which outreaches the rular areas of Ethiopia with a number of branch offices, which struggled with woyane for the last ten years or so and keep struggling with difficult conditions.
For a party like AEUP which is catagorized by western as “Hardliner”, I don’t think there is much alternative out there that would fit for its size and shape.
Guys, let’s get back to our minds!
Long live Ethiopia!!!!
As to Dr Senay Like, it is true he was the leader of” Wez league”, but the circumstances of his death are really controversial. Reading a recently published book “Neber” in Amharic gives you this impression that the Mengistu group was also ready to make use of the opportunity to eliminate him. It needs closer investigation
On the Birthplace, I would like to give you information, (If necessary, this had to be left for the family). Dr Senay Like (Liki as his father’s name is locally known) was born in a place called Yubdo, (Wollega) before his family moved to Gore. His Father Liki Abbaa Galan was son of brother of the renowned Dajazmach Jote Tullu of Leqa Qelem. (Abaa Galaan’s given name is Tibbaa). So He is Senay-Liki-Tibbaa-Tullu. Dr Senay’s mother remained in Gore after the death of Kanyazmach Liki, where she brought up Dr Senay. Dr Senay did not have the chance to enjoy his distant aristocratic background, due to untimely death of his father, and above all since the Jote family were already routed out by Emperor Haileselasse partly for their support/ connection to Lij Iyassu.
Therefore, please be ware that Dr Liki had no any blood connection with Hailu Shawel and others, moreover he educated in the USA, not in the former Soviet Union.
“Hodam Zemed Yelewem” ale yagere sew,
“if people are angry at you,you have a chance to servive,but,if people start laughing at you for what you did,concider your self as dead person” now we start laughung at Hodam Hailu,he will die soon fro natural death anyways,let him rot in Hell.
Please have patience and once for our life time support anybody who tries to make changes in the Country. Ginbot7 leaders are teaching in different universities and live their life. But Ato Hailu is trying, you guys do you think he hates his country, I don’t think so and let us give him our support and let us not confuse the people in Ethiopia.I don’t think fighting Ethiopia along with Eritreans is a solution where they haven’t any kind of election.
God Bless Ethiopia!
Mr(s). Anonymous:
Please re-read what I wrote above. First you should respect Hailu’s right to run or not-to-run in the next election and then you can criticize him. Such democratic culture should be allowed to sprout and flourish. Otherwise, ‘I am the only one who is right and all others are wrong’ will not cut the mustard. All what it leads to is and environment such as the very next door – The doomed Somalia. The culture of working together has completely disappeared on a national level. I hope and pray such atmosphere will not start leeching across the border into our country. AS far as I am concerned I have decided to wait and see until the election. Isn’t that my inviolable right Mr. Anonymous?
It is sad. Eng. is a shame. The woyanes are laughing on his action. Do you know what they said? ” Amhara ligele hedo be migeb yitalelal::” Even if I don’t agree with their Amhara hate speech, Hailu is a disgrace.