Renowned Ethiopian human rights advocate and scholar Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam speaks out on the ongoing leadership crisis inside Kinijit.
DW: Click here to listen [forward to the 16:00 minute mark].
VOA: Click here to listen [forward to the 27:00 minute mark].
Ethiopian Review begs to differ with the good professor on many points. His interview creates more confusion than solve problems or clarify issues…
– more on this later.
64 thoughts on “Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam speaks out – audio”
It does not matter if Prof Mesfin has issues with Dr Berhanu. Dr Berhanu is a big boy. I am sure he can take his criticism and work on it. The bigger picture is the future of kinijit. Mind you, the professor said there is a place for everyone in the party. I am glad he endorsed Birtukan Mideksa to lead us. With so much talent, intelligence, charisma and fierce skill, Dr Berhanu’s political future is as solid as a rock. As much as Birtukan Mideksa’s leadership is critical on this issue, Dr Berhanu’s wise and thoughtful decisions in the following days will be important. He, including the other members of the delegate, should help her consolidate power and lead the party. Birtukan should be helped by all to lead Kinijit to the future. Feudals who are willing to trash the struggle of the Ethiopian people just because everybody didn’t come to the airport to bow for them are discarded from our politics. Hailu Shawel’s behavior in the last few weeks has been offensive to our sense of Ethiopiawinet. Sheer selfishness at its worst.
I think most of you instead of trying to mediate, jumped to conclusion and formed opinion. “Yechekole Afeso Lekeme” I believe I didn’t here so far anything that resembles a difference in ideology, it is all personal. may be as professor stated clearly “power struggle”. The diaspora polaraization have a lasting damage on the diaspora movement at this critical time. Ethiopians in Ethiopia knows better what is really going on within Kinijit. Kinijit is wounded from inside. At this junction we need a people party, not a party of elites and intellectuals. There shall be a wisdom from the vice chairwomen
I agree with some of the comments above that Prof. Mesfin said NOTHING. He did not have a clear stance, no data to support his theory and his views are more theorethical that actionable. It is one thing to theorize about working together but at the end of the day you need results and accountability. There was no way one could deny that Berhanu is leading that way and Hailu Shawel’s is running away from responsibility and his feudalistic inclinications are beyond damanging. Prof. Mesfin did not speak about what exactly the problems are other than saying he heard this and that and there is power struggel. What does that really mean? may be more personal?
Dear prof mesfin. i wish all the best and tnx for your golden advice that w’r Birtukan medkessa is very talented leader,you do believe in her leadership capablity,but she needs more support from ethiopians. that we will do.but i have some more question ,1,the delegates are in usa and europe, becuase CUDP needs alot of funds to open and run all the offices, to support the victums families, it is not allow to have any publice meeting in ethiopia, so it was a right decision which is being taken by the delegates. so what is worng for that? 2.concerning power struggle, we are sure that Dr birhanu nega doesn’t have any power ambition ,simply he is trying to do his best to drive out ethiopia from deep rooted multiple types of problems.we know eng hailu is a power monger dictator since prof asrat.we have learned so many new things from Dr Birhanu nega’s book.so there is nothing wrong.Porf mesfin , With high respect ,prof mesfin, you do not have enough information about 1.2 m dollars which eng hailu’s gang’s group has snatched from kinijit and you are as human right defender , we , ethiopians in disapora have un limited right to elect our leaders in disapora to support the struggle for freedom and democracy at home.so why has eng hailu appointed Dr taye as a leader of kinijit in diaspora? i am very disappointed about your interview by VOA.
Reply to Getachew (29) and Belachew (42)
Dear Mr. Getachew and fellow Ethiopians
I think Belachew has partially answered the issue of “the power struggle” between Hailu Shawel and Berhanu Nega. Getachew, what you have to remember is that politicians are very cunning people. Most of what they aspire is somehow covered with some rhetoric that they know people are interested to hear. Deep in their heart of hearts they have big ambitions. How they fulfill their ambitions is through many calculative moves–– some are not so obvious.
Ambition is good, and that’s what Ethiopia needs–– ambitious people. However, if the ambition is self serving then you have a person that is going to undermine the grass roots effort. An ambitious self serving business man is another thing. As a member of an organization, individuals with grand ideas must work within the framework of the organization and its leadership. They must share their ideas and present it to the group to get the support of the majority. Sometimes they succeed and sometimes they fall short. Yet their struggle to help the organization flourish, must adhere to the set rules and regulations. Their determination and unwavering support to the grand plan, over a period of time will be recognized by their colleagues and they will advance to a leadership level because they have manifested political resilience, brilliance and fortitude. I personally do not see these characteristics in Dr. Berhanu.
Dr. Berhanu is a very wise man who has a lot to offer to Ethiopia. However, he seems to me that he’s opportunistic and to some extent cunning. While he was the mayor of Addis Ababa, I have heard that he has done some good (I do not know what), but he must have… for many people to praise him. And we should grant him that. His position brought him to prominence and national recognition that propelled him to the position he has now. He understands his fame, and recognizes that politics is all about timing. Do you remember a few years back when an astounding 93% of Americans had a favorable outlook towards Collin Powel for President? That was his time. Time to take advantage of his popularity–– we later discovered that he was a “yes man” and an “empty suit.” I think, Dr. Berhanu believes that he needs to step up as a leader while his political chips are high. Unfortunately, he may be tarnishing his image in the process, due to missteps that he, Birtukan and the three other fellows have taken so far.
If you think that Berhanu Nega is not the main person behind this upheaval, you’re politically naïve. It’s like Mengistu Haile Mariam was not maneuvering to become the dictator of Ethiopia while Aman Amdom was in power and then Tafari Bente. He ultimately killed both and became victorious. I AM NOT COMAPRING BERHANU NEGA WITH THE BUTCHER , MEGISTU. I am simply mentioning this to arouse your political senses so you can think deeply than just on the surface.
E. Getachew
Generally speaking, in the world we live in, everybody likes to have power and money. Those of us who don’t run for power, we don’t run not because we don’t like to take a power position, but because we saw ahead of running for a power position that our likelihood of success to take a power position is low, or we are unwilling to pay the price of a power position. Those who run for power position, on the other hand, are those who believe in their potential, and willing to pay the price to take a power position. Therefore, our lack of crave for power due to our knowledge that such a crave would not come to reality for us, does give us neither a moral nor a legal right to condemn those who run for power because they believe with their potential success and as a result, willing to pay price.
Therefore, Prof. Mesfin may most probably be right when he says the problem of Kinjjit is due to the power struggle between Dr. Birhanu & Engineer Shawel. For that matter, one doesn’t have to be extra ordinary genius to tell people who run for a “power position” to have crave for power. In fact, with out crave for power it is very unlikely for individual like Engineer Shawel & Dr. Birhanu or the others to tolerate a more than 2 years prison life. It is only because they saw the power sit they may take and the responsibility they may accomplish after the prison term, they came out of a 2 year prison with healthy physical and mental energy. Without the seeing a potential for success ahead of us, none of us want to spend our limited lifetime in a place like a prison. Especially, people who claim to love freedom the most, would not have the energy to spend at a place where they lose freedom the most.
The problem would be if they run for power when they don’t have crave for power. If they run for power when they don’t have crave for power, they may not appreciate it when they have it. If they don’t appreciate the power when the people give them, they don’t work with their full energy, talent, and commitment to accomplish their duty in power.
I believe when professor Mesfin blames the two individuals, he meant – they put their crave for power before the interests of supporters of the party, and the party’s principles. He doesn’t mean, crave for power is intrinsically wrong or evil.
The question at this point, however, should not be weather the two prominent figures (Dr. Birhanu, and Engineer Shawel) crave for power. It is natural and acceptable to have crave for power for people who run for power. There is no sin with such a crave. The sin is when people crave for power without demonstrating talent, character, respect for their followers, and all other qualities the power position they crave demands from them. As an Ethiopian who loves the good of my country, I side with the individuals that demonstrate qualities of a good leader, so that I may be a good follower.
Prof.Mesfin eng.Hailun tefi setew siabaru, Dr.Berhanun gin bekunticha astenkikew sirawun endiketil adrgewal. yekalemeteyku wana yzet
I have read the heart breaking news yesterday while I was in the shcool,I did not waste any time to go back home and listed the original version.Yes,it is heart breaking but We have to see things in perspective to find the right ways to follow.
I do respect and wish all the best to our professor,But I have some reservation here,As long as I know our prestigous professor was was their from the inception of the party upto recent days from membership to the position of indipendant advisor to the party.
Now the party is in problem as it is ,it needs some one who can risk the party rather than aggravating the problems.Now we need someone who who can heal the party.
I completely disagree with Prof. Mesfin W/Mariam
His message was full of ambiguity and brings a lot of confusion rather than unity and fraternity. I always have respected and will continue respecting Prof. Mesfin, however I felt so disappointed for the criticism he tried to make to Dr. Nega, and to my belief his criticism was unfortunate and lacks all kinds of commonsense.
1. First off all had Dr. Nega wants power, he could have gotten easily from Woyane, there is no need for him to go to Kaliti and to stay in harsh condition scarifying his life and the life of his families.
2. Any person who got a chance to read the book of Dr. Birhanu, will laugh with the statement of Prof. Mesfin “the book is written by Birhanu for Birhanu.”., allow me to differ father Mesfin, the book is about past, present and future of Ethiopia, and the author one more time demonstrated not only his talent, also his capacity to offer alternative for the complex reality of Ethiopian politics.
3. I appreciate your offer to support Birtukan, and in my belief all pro democracy and pro Ethiopia people will do the level of his best to do it so. However here again I colloid with you, leadership is not assumable by one person recommendation, it is by talent, experience, maturity, knowledge, and after all acceptance by the majority.
4. To my belief Nega is a visionary leader, with Knowledge, Wisdom, Courage and experience as to assume any kind of responsibility in Ethiopian politics, but that has to approved by the people of Ethiopia.
5. Finally to conclude I wish a speedy recovery to the father of Human Rights Organization, our hero Prof. Mesfin W/ Mariam. I might disagree with his position, but in my heart I will always consider him as a father and good son of Ethiopia
My 5 Cent Solution:
Here is my solution for crisis in Kinijit— Transitional Leadership
1)Make Temesgen Zewede, the chairman of Kinijit, inorder to save the Kinijit name and its legality. The chairmanship should last only for two months. New election after two months.
2)Appoint Eng. Hailu and Dr. Birhanu as advisors to the chairman
3)Keep Birtukan Midekssa as first Vice Chair, and Mr Muluneh Eyuel as Secretary General of Kinijit.
4)Make Ayele Chamiso as 2nd vice chairman and Ato Mohamed/Ali as asistance secretary general.
5)Add some people from the Ayele group(two) and Temesgen group (two)to the Executive Committee.
6)Add five people from the Ayele and Temesgen groups each to the Central Committee.
What do you all think?
Hi ER, readers,
comment #56 — nice and valid points
comment #57 — good summary of the interview
comment #60 — sounds brilliant idea but I am not a legal expert. I think the Kinijit leaders should consider something simple like this to save time and energy fighting with Woyane beaurocracy…
Kinijit shall rise again–this time without feudals and incompetent jealous members!!!!!!!
Dear Elias,
We are totally confused. We don’t know whom to believe. After all these people (Hailu, Berhanu…) are not tested politicians. Mother Ethiopia may bring us new people with better vision and commitment, we pray.
God bless mother Ethiopia
ፕሮፈሰር መስፍን የኢትዮጵይ ህዝብ የሰላማዊ ትግል አበት የሆኑ: እድሜ ልካቸውን የኢትዮጵያ ህስብ የስልጣን ምንጭ መሆኑ ተረጋግቶ: መብቱ ተክብሮ እንዲኖር የታገሉ ሀገር በቀል ምሁር ናቸው::
የኢትዮጵያን ህዝብ ምኞቱና ህልም ጠንቅቀው የሚያውቁ መንፈሰ ተንካራ ሰው ናቸው:: ዛሬም ያዩትን የታዘቡትን በህዝብ ላይ ተረማምዶ “አንቱ” ለመባል የሚደረገውን ትንንቅንቅ ማንንም ሳይፈሩ ለኢትጵያ ህዝብ የምስክርነት ቃላቸውን መስጠታቸው ሁላችንንም ነው ያኮራን::
ዛሬ ለኢትዮጵያ ህዝብ ታግለን ምን አመጣንለት ሳይሉ: ሃዘኑን ሳይካፈሉ : እግዚአብሄር ያጥናህ ሳይሉ በስቃዩና ሰቆቃው ላይ ተረማምደው አንቱ ለመባል በኢሮፕና በአሜሪካ በሊሞዚን እየተምነሽነሹ የአርስ በርስ ጦርነት የገጠሙትን የቅንጅት መሪዎች ድክመት እፍረጥርጠው ለህዝብ መግለጣቸው ያላቸውን የመንፈስ ጥናትና ድፍረት ነው የሚያሳየው: ለዚህ ውለታቸው አግዚአብሄር እድሜ እንዲሰጣቸው ከመለመን ሌላ ምንም አልልም: የህዝብን ሰቆቃ ተጠቅመው ስልጣን ለመቆጣጠር በመሮጥ ላይ ያሉት አድብ ግዙ ማለታቸው ለኢትዮጵያ ህዝብ ያላቸውን ወገናዊነት ያረጋግጣል:: የኢትዮጵያ ህዝብ አወኩልህ በአንተ ስም ልግዛልህ የሚሉትን ጮሌዎች አይፈልግም:: ሁላችንንም በኢትዮጵያ ህዝብ ስም ሊሞዚን ይቅረብልኝ: ተሰልፋችሁ ዘምሩልን የሚሉ የስልጣን ጥመኞች ሳይሆን ኑሮውን ኖረው: መደቡላይ ተኝተው ያላቸውን አካፍለው ከችግሩ የሚያላቅቁት አንጂ እራሳቸውን አንቱ ያሉ ዱልትና ሙገሳ ፈላጊዎች የሚሽከምበት ትክሻ የለውም:
የፕሮፈሰር መስፍን በአጭሩ
1. ህዝቡም እንባው ሳይደርቅ ዳንሱና ዳንኪራው በልክ ይሁን:
2. በእጅ ባልገባ ስልጣንንም ትንንቀ ይቁም: ነው: የተናገሩት ውነቱን ነው:
ፕሮፈሰር መስፍን የኢትዮጵይ አምላክ ረጂም እድሜ ይስጥዎት:: አሜን
I think we Ethiopian, doesn’t like openess and trasparency. For the sake of the current situation in the CUD we don’t want any elected member hide us the truth in the circle. this is not a husband and wife case. It is about the a country and it is about blood of young Ethiopians. Let the truth be exposed let us know them in and out, let us judge them. Ethiopia wake up!! For how long we shed our blood for stupid individual politics. We don’t have time as a country to comfort politicians who has a self interest.
good luck,
Matt