As it does, both sides can seek allies to support their particular positions, but this rarely brings about resolution, instead, it usually just deepens the battle as it brings in additional casualties and misconceptions. As it does, the energy and effort spent against each other overcomes the energy that should be available to fight against the real opponent.

Right now, we all can see the evidence of such an insider’s battle within the Kinijit, but we do not know the specifics about the reasons for the conflict; nor do we know—at this point—how it could be resolved.

Neither do we know if all parties are willing to genuinely do so or to simply pretend and pay lip-service to the effort. However, what is very apparent to me from my own observations, as well as from countless Ethiopians who have called and e-mail me, is that the Ethiopian public wants the Kinijit leadership to tackle this problem immediately, thoroughly and wholeheartedly.

You would not be doing it only for yourselves, but you would be doing it for all of us. In the meantime, Ethiopians should not take sides and should instead remain calm and committed to supporting the effort until everything is more clearly understood. At that time the public can make their judgments and decide who and what to support, but not right now when so many rumors are flying around that might not be at all accurate.

I encourage you to take such action because I fear that the alternative would be like a wind that spins into a damaging tornado, tearing down what you and we have started to build. You showed how you sided with the Ethiopian public when you spent all these months of your lives in filthy, rat-infested prisons. You know much better than do I, the wretched conditions under which you lived. This should make it all the more important for you to stand on those same moral principles now and not to give up on what you have suffered for. You are still fighting a battle for freedom even though the chains that hold you are now invisible. In some ways the battle is now more intense, especially if some of the obstacles are ourselves or those close around us.

Please be motivated by remembering that there are Ethiopians who sacrificed even more than you. These are those Ethiopians who came out wanting change—only asking for their God-given rights, but when they came out onto streets, those who were supposed to protect them, were those who stole away their future. From the hospitals of Addis Ababa and other cities around the country, their bodies reluctantly gave up the fight for life and ended up instead in body bags. They were finally put to rest in their graves. These people have sacrificed more than any of us.

That happened in 2005; but, as you may already know about me, I personally got involved because people that I knew, also had their lives taken away before their time by the very same regime. In this case, it was not because they were protesting, but it was simply because they were “suspected” of being politically conscious. Wanting to demand their God-given rights, they challenged the Woyane to respect the people’s rights and to improve the way they governed. As most of you know, this all occurred in 2003, nearly two years before the election and before the formation of the Kinijit.

For those who really do not know, my commitment to human rights began on the morning of December 13, 2003 when a car was ambushed twenty kilometers outside of Gambella town. Nine people in the car were killed, including the Anuak driver. Eight of them were from the highland parts of Ethiopia. Their bodies were terribly mutilated and the police and the Ethiopian Woyane commander brought their bodies to Gambella town and reportedly urged the Anuak governor of the area to bring the eight dead people back to life. As we all know, only a miracle of God could do such a thing…continued on next page >>