Ato Elias Kifle,

In the last two years you have been calling me all sorts of names and deeds including the embezzling of Kinijit fund. All that you said did not bother me as it was far from the truth and the character you are talking about in no way “is me” nor “resembles me.” To all the allegations, insults and what nots, I have deferred taking actions as of now but would do so in terms and manner that befits the situation at a later date.

What forced me to write you now is your October 3, 2007 article “Solomon Bekele quits…” where you stated, “Shaleqa Yoseph has let it be known that if he goes down, Hailu Shawel will also go down over the corruption issue. If a thorough investigation is conducted, Ato Hailu himself MAY BE implicated in Kinijit’s missing funds, according to ER sources.”

Engineer Hailu Shawel, Chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party-Kinijit is a noble and patriotic Ethiopian of the highest integrity. He is beyond financial blemish and blackmail. He does not need Kinijit money for he has his own. In fact, he applied his vision and poured his own money into the grass roots work of democratization and development of the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP). Furthermore, dedicated to strengthening of the opposition, he led the merger of the four parties into one Kinijit; the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD/Kinijit). Engineer Hailu has proven himself as the Kinijit Leader that stood firm with the Ethiopian People that elected him and made the necessary sacrifices and continues to do so. Anyone who respects and loves his country does not denigrate the name of such a leader unless he is an “Enemy of the Ethiopian People.”

I will attest that Shaleka Yoseph Yazew, a courageous soldier who loves his country, and who has dedicated his service to it can stand his ground and does not need to drag anybody to defend/shield him. Shaleka as the man and the soldier will stand and protect his leader Engineer Hailu Shawel, the person he has extremely high respect and regard.

The Kinijit leadership while still in Kality replaced KIL and created KIC. Dr. Taye Wolde Semayat was one of the 11 individuals the Kinijit leaders recommended to be a member of the KIC. The newly formed KIC unanimously elected Dr. Taye Wolde Semayat as its Chairman. Dr. Taye who resigned his chairmanship post from Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA) to join KIC.He is an individual with the track record that has won the respect and admiration of our people and a hero to a good majority of Ethiopians. This hero is now being smeared with malicious innuendos r to detract him from the services he is providing his country. Be assured, Dr. Taye is a veteran in the struggle and no innuendos or smear campaign will detract him from serving his country.

By your own lame retraction, and Ato Solomon Bekele’s written response on www.kinijit.org “It is totally a fabrication of some individual or individuals trying to stir division and animosity within the Kinijit family.” This affirms the reckless level that your reporting has descended to. Even in the sleaziest reporting, there should be an element of truth, conscience and integrity.

Mogus Brook
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Response From ER Publisher

Ato Mogus,

Thank you for finally responding directly to me. I consider this a positive step on your part. If you have nothing to hide, why do you hide yourself and Ato Hailu Shawel from the media? I urge you, in fact I challenge you to hold a press conference with me and my associates at Ethiopian Review where you make yourself available for interview without any precondition. Also allow yourself to be audited by a credible accounting firm hired by the Kinijit executive committee. If the auditing shows that you are innocent, I will kneel down and apologize to you in a public square. I hope you will take me up on my challenge.