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My encounter with Berhanu Nega – Elias Kifle

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By Elias Kifle

On Saturday, Oct. 27, Kinijit North America, on behalf of the Kinijit delegation, hosted a special get together in Virginia for members of the media and representatives of Kinijit chapters. There were about 100 people all together. My associates and I were among those who had been invited.

The who’s who of Kinijit in North America was at the party. The delegates — Dr Hailu Araya, Ato Gizachew Shiferraw, Ato Brook Kebede, and Dr Berhanu Nega — were there. Wzt. Bertukan, who was sick with flu, could not make it. Ato Aklog Lemeneh, Ato Yilma Adamou and all the other officials of the Kinijit NA and DC, Ethiomedia’s Abreha Belai, Addis Dimts Radio’s Abebe Belew, EMF’s Dawit Kebede… were all there.

As part of the event’s program, the delegates gave plaques to representatives of Kinijit chapters in the U.S. in recognition of their tireless efforts in the past two years in providing critically needed support to the party.

Members of the Kinijit Youth League also received a special recognition as the current workhorse and the future leaders of the party.

Cultural songs were being played to entertain the gathering. It seems that the value of cultural activities, including music, in politics is well understood by Kinijitians. Most Kinijit events include songs from different ethnic groups.

Lastly, Ato Aklog, on behalf of Kinijit North America, expressed his appreciation to Ethiopian Review, Ethiomedia, Addis Dimts Radio, Abugida and other Ethiopian media for helping with the Kinijit delegation’s successful USA tour.

I had attended several of these kinds of events over the years. But none compares with what I have witnessed or experienced on Oct. 27:

1) I am impressed with the professionalism of the organizers — from the way they dressed up, to how they welcome and interact with the invited guests, and

2) The delegates exude positive energy, optimism and hope that is hard to describe. They are leaders to be loved, not feared. They were approachable and sociable. They were going from table to table to say hello and they even went to the stage and did some iskista and other traditional Ethiopian dances. It was a memorable experience.

But the highlight of the event for me personally was to finally meet with Berhanu Nega. It was our first face to face meeting. Even though I had been one of Dr Berhanu’s harshest critics in the past, I always maintained a great deal of respect for him as a scholar and political leader. My disagreement with him had been over strategy and organizational rules, not over character. I thought his position as the campaign manager of Kinijit two years ago did not allow him to make public statements contradicting the chairman of the party. If the executive committee of Kinijit disagrees with the chairman, the proper way to communicate the disagreement to the public, if deemed necessary, is through the party’s official spokesperson — the same way as it is done right now. Other than that, the tremendous contribution made by Dr Berhanu to the Kinijit movement was well noted.

I believe that it was the intellectual fire power of Dr Berhanu Nega and Prof. Merera Gudina of ONC (credit where it is due), joined by Ato Lidetu Ayalew’s oratorical skill, that left the Woyanne regime politically naked and led to its defeat at the polls in May 2005. This is not to say that others did not play critical roles, particularly Ato Hailu Shawel, who helped organize the countryside, Ato Andargachew Tsige, who was the architect of Kinijit’s election campaign, and many others.

Unfortunately, Merera and Lidetu sold out the movement and became Woyanne’s decoration in the rubber stamp parliament. The much respected Hailu Shawel sadly turned himself into a double-tongued dictator. On the other hand, Kinijit gave birth to new heroes — the likes of Bertukan Mideksa and Muluneh Eyoel — to join Hailu Araya, Yacob Hailemariam, Gizachew Shiferraw, Berhanu Nega and others in leading the movement forward.

Whereas Hailu Shawel and Lidetu have fallen off Kinijit’s freedom train in disgrace, Berhanu Nega stayed loyal to the cause. Instead of seeking power (he could have been the mayor of Addis Ababa), he chose to respect the people’s wish at great personal sacrifices. He thus proved himself to be a man of integrity in keeping the trust bestowed upon him by the people of Ethiopia. This is on top of the brilliant mind he has. Hopefully, he will stay true to the principles of democratic governance and continue to grow as a leader… Who wants to end up disgraced like Lidetu, Hailu and Taye?

It was with all this in the back of my mind that I met with Berhanu Nega on Oct. 27. As I was chatting with a couple of friends, he walked across the room and came to talk to me. That by itself says a lot about him. Which Ethiopian politician, or religious leader, or any prominent person do we know of who would walk up to his critic to say welcome and exchange greetings? Can you, for example, imagine Iyasu Alemayehu doing that? Or Hailu Shawel? Or Meles? In Meles’ case, his lawyers sought death penalty against me just for being a critic. The kangaroo court decided that death is too harsh and gave me life in prison instead, just for expressing my views on a web site. After witnessing how Ato Hailu Shawel’s gang mistreated members of the media at their Oct. 14 public meeting (fiasco) in Washington DC, I am certain that if he comes to power, there will continue to be no free press in Ethiopia.

My encounter with Dr Berhanu lasted for about 15 minutes. We agreed to get together some other time for further discussion on some of the issues we raised during our brief conversation.

Berhanu Nega and Elias Kifle
Berhanu Nega and Elias Kifle in Crystal City, Virginia, Oct 27, 2007

51 thoughts on “My encounter with Berhanu Nega – Elias Kifle”

  2. Elias,

    Speaking of Dr. Berhanu Nega, I am delighted that you met him. I was defending him and waged a war against two years ago in defense of Dr. Berhanu.

    What a smile???? He is beaming on the picture. I can’t believe he can smile with this radiance. His smile is just captivating. He does not look like he was abused in prison for almost two years. I have a feeling he is a very fun guy to be around especially in prison. I think you should smile more because you are here in American in the land of milk and honey as well as democracy.

  5. I am glad, Elias, you could see the true colour of Dr. Berhanu’s character. I fell in love with him after I read his book. I think what I should say is, I fell in love with his mind. I have never imagined that a human mind has this kind of thinking power. Dr. Berhanu made me reliaze that if we develop it and use it properly, the human mind has no limit.

  6. Who the hell do you think you are to talk to a person chosen by the people, worked so hard fighting dictatorship with utmost conviction to the freedom of all, not to mention his unwillingness to come out of prison despite his poor health? What a morale weakness domaine you are. Before long you will be dumb founded as your guys are ready to feast with the butcher. If that is not your motive, which I doubt you are. E.Kifle the truth shall come out soon as they all go back home and face the rightful people unlike you.Honey moon is over and your tail will be inbetween your legs where they belong.

  7. Hi Elias.Good job .Keep up the good work.be realstic as you are now.sometimes,the leaders might make mistake. Before giving any comment ,it will be good to look around and even predict the effect of the comment in the camp of the enemy.In short it is better to be cautious in your crtitics. because we are not living in democratic society like America.the ethiopian oppostion parties and the diaspora are dealing with stupid and sucidal enemy.finally let us protect our leader when it is nencesary.Good job elias we are proud of you.I like your critics.

    with respect

  8. Ethiopia needs more people like Dr.Brehanu & Elias who are open minded and brave. I enjoyed reading Elias’s your comments and waited always eagerly to read ethiopianreview more than any website. Elias, you are our hero and keep being the voice of the true sons and daughters of Ethiopia.

  11. Congra! Now you know him by heart who this brave and talented man is. I was also looking for you on the day of last meeting. I didn’t see you because I never saw even your picture before, but I am one of the addicted to ER. Until now I didn’t get any false message.Now it is great that I am looking your picture,and my curiousity somehow got relieved. Currently I am really surprised how kinijit could have such a leader( Hailu Shawel). How could they tolerate him?

  12. yeah good job Elias. i love coming to your web site and read what you had to say bad or good. the problem with us Ethiopians is that we only want to hear what we want to hear. i actually like to see someone challenge another person. that is the only way one can grow. crticizing one is actually is not a bad thing. that just shows we are giving that person an attention.
    Anyways keep up doing the great work regardless.
    long live Kinijit and the Ethiopian people

  14. I have also met Dr. Berhanu in person he is a true intellectual, unlike some typical Ethiopian intelletuals who are full of themselves,luck of articulation and Embarrassing petty scruples. Because of these and other reasons Dr. Berhanu and his friends deserve all the credit for changing the culture and raising the bar on others. However, they are yet to be seen how they will pull thru given what they need to accomplish or lead our people to overcome all the challenges ahead. With all due respect, I have some issues with this mega celebrity status some of us know what would happen to some. I am not saying they dont need a pat on their back. Lets not loose our focus, keep our eyes on the praise, THE POOR PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA!

  16. we are all with you and keep it up.
    truth always wins and that is why we always visit ethiopian review to find out the true picture of current events of our country.
    meantime, please advise the moderator to be far more moderator.
    br//

    yigermal
    11.02.2007.

  17. Elias,

    I am glad to see your picture for I believed I would never read Ethiopians that are as open minded and transparent as you are. Most of the Ogaden people would not hesitate to stay as part of Ethiopia if leaders like you (a liberal journalist) and Dr. Nega (a politician advocating for democratisation and respect for human rights) dominate the Ethiopian elite. Trust me, Ethiopians with dictatorial tendencis, like Haile Shawel and Meles, would only push the Somali people into persistent demands for secession, which is bad for Ethiopia. Please continue your aggressive reporting and truth telling — the only instrument for peace in Ethiopia!

    Good Luck

  18. elias good job brother much respect for u every day good guyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy i rembered one time they used to call u weyane those stupid dr siyum solomon and his freinds . but you came all the way that tells me your real man if that was me long time ago i will back off but you you man you didnt bertaaaaaaaaaaaa

  19. Elias you doing great Emama Ethiopia need honest and truthful citizen instead liar political scientist. I really like Dr Birhanu Nega, he is straight forward person. Keep up the good one.Kinijet is in a good hand right now.

  21. Pleaseee…Elias keep it up! you are in the right track. Dr. Birhanu is among the few Ethioian leaders devoted to the principles of democracy. Look very closely the trio also – Birtukan, Mulunh and Sileshi, all the three, the young and the restless,are fellows of this democrat man BIRHANU.

  22. Hey Elias,

    On top of being fearless…
    On top of being brave…
    On top of being full of courage…
    On top of being a nightmare to the likes of Atsie Hailu/Gudu Taye…etc
    ….
    On top of all the above and more…you are HANDSOME to.

  24. Now that I see your face. That’s good. I’ll save it and pass it over to all I know. It’s a matter of time. You will never get away with murder. I swear by the name of my people, if I happen to come across you, I will kill you and die.

  26. Elias,

    This is my First time to see you, can I say in person? Apart from that, I only know you by reading your website. You are the Voice of the Ethiopian People. Keep it up. May God be with you Always!!

    Gizew

  27. የህዝብ ነው ሀይሉ
    ተብሎ ያለቀለት የህዝብ ነው ሀይሉ
    ሆ! ብሎ ተነስቶ ለወደቀ ሁሉ
    ሀይሉን መልሱልን መብታችንን ሙሉ
    ተብሎ ሲደከም ሁለት አመት ሙሉ
    በዋይት ሀውስ ሜዳ በአውሮፓ አደባባይ
    በበረዶ ዝናብ በውርጭና አመዳይ
    እግዚኦ አዳምጡን ብለን ስንጮህ ለነጮቹ
    ሻማ ስናበራ ፍትህ ለሸሻቸው ለግፍ እስረኞቹ
    የመላው ህዝብ ጩኸት እንዲያገኝ ሀይሉን
    እጅግ ተደከመ እንዲያስከብር መብቱን
    ይሄ ሁሉ ሆኖ ብርሃን ሲፈነጥቅ ነጻነት ሲመጣ
    የህዝብ ሃይሉ ደክሞ መከፋፍል መጣ
    ጉልበታችን ዝሎ ሀይሉ ተዳከመ
    ጆሮ ዳባ ብሎ ከአጥፊ ጎን ቆመ
    ፋና ወጊ ብለን የመረጥነውን ሰው
    መሳለቂያ አረጉን ድንቄም ሀይሉ ብለው !

  28. berhanu the first kinijit leaders who voiced against TPLF’s mass murder in OGADEN.Children murdered in the streets, at their schools.TPLF justice?INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS ARE BANNED FROM OGADEN because of his opinion.TPLF justice? An innocent wedding party in ogaden massacred.TPLF justice?OGADEN,OROMO youth are murdered dailly.TPLF justice?ETHIOPIAs can’t elect their leaders.TPLF justice? Charity workers are not allowed IN PARTS OF ETHIOPIA LIKE OGADEN.TPLF justice? Can anyone else give examples of TPLF justice? Filthy sub human pathetic people masquerading as the pious.

  30. It was April 30, 1971(EC) Mogoribe, Barka in Eritrea.After the war with the TPLF, EPRA has left Assimba and taken refuge in Barka, which it was under ELF control then. Me and another EPRA member were told by the leadership that Berhanu Nega was no more the member of our organization and must leave the camp on that day. When we told Berhanu to go to the JEBHA people so that they will cooperate with him in crossing in to the Sudan, he was unconfertable.On that specific time the night was taking over and he thought he might be ambushed on the way. He covered our faces with his red big eyes and asked us “can I leave in the morning?” We replied no and escorted him with our eyes till he cross the Bogoribe sand river and submit him self to the ELF people.
    Even though I have never seen Berhanu for the last many years,his book has given me some sort of picture who he is at present. On the first pages of his book, he has tried to say a little about the EPRP which I have some resentments. Not to say his views were wrong but, he must have seen the problems of the EPRP much broader than glorifing his own experience.
    Berhanu’s view as a leader of the KINIJIT at this time is the result of his past experience as a young revolutionary. Mine and Berhanu’s generation could have learnd a great deal from our past experience of political participation. A party leadership who lack democratic charaters within it self never deliver a democratic system to s society. As to me, a political group must first assure it’s democratic nature before it even start to strugle un democratic government.If me Dr. Berhanu and thousands of those golden men and women of the EPRP would have done this then, that party could have been in a better place. Finally, I have became one of many who appreciate Dr. Berhanu’s maturity and his quest for democracy and I some times laugh by my self when I observe Berhanu still fighting Iyassu Alemayhu behind Eng. Hailu’s shadow.
    My advice to Berhanu: Please do not give an attention to Eyassu, it is just like an old dog’s barking with no energy to attack. If he woud not been in Paris after the EREMAT ENQESQASSIE you would been under the sand of Mogoribe.
    Good job Berhanu,Keep up yur strugle.

  31. Elias, we know that in most cases, the media people are busy in gathering and reporting about issues (news). In our case (Ethiopia), the propers like: like (ER, EMF, Adiss voice), etc. should look into how preventive things can be done.

    We want you to inform and share the issues of importance to the organization and the pbulics’ feelings. As a matter of fact, we all, the publice should be part of that.

    As all of you grow and work harder we stand by you and support you.

    We all for Ethiopia and all Ethiopians.

    NB. Eng. Hailu Shawel said to us, at the 14th Ocotbe meeting, “you all poor of the poors”, Melese said “shout up and eat your sandwithc”, the thing is both are begging us to contribute to the development of Ethiopia. What do we say about them. After all, no one wants to begg the poor.

  32. Amazing.
    This is how you look Elias! you look so great. But I find it hard to belive some of those critics and madness in the past are made by this graceful looking man. you are open,but sometimes you hurry to make judgements.otherwise you are fine!
    keep your good sides up and ammend the weaknesses.
    peace to you

  33. I was there at the other side of the hall and talking with my friends when Elias talking with Dr. Birhanu Nega. One of my friend said have you seen Birhanu is talking to Elias what Elias going to write tomorrow morning? I said we will see what is going to say. My friend was worried and said hope he will write something positive. When Elias was invited to the stage to say some words the first thing what he said was my website is different from others because I do criticized most of the time. That is positive and we have to encouraging that hope others also learn from you. One other thing what most of my friends says about you is “He is impatience”. Do you think can you buy that and attract more readers to your website?

    Thank you for your good work Elias

  34. woooooooooow i loved to see you guys side by side. Birhe no matter how big the dust the stupid are making you are Africas hearo. Be sure that there are millions of Ethiopians who are commited for the value you and your colligues stands for.

    Long live Democracy and down with dictators and ethnic minded old political game!

    cheeeeeeeeeeers!

  35. Elias what you did two years ago regarding Dr.Berhanu was absolutly right.We all had a fear that he will make a compromise to the Woyannes but we all proved to be wrong.Now he is one of the heros and we will support him in full as long as he keeps his words.By the way all CUD deligates are our heros.

  36. I have met you before in person some two years ago along with Solomon Tekalign, and you still look strong and energetic. I have never made a comment on this site before, but I have always admired your acitve role in Ethiopian politics, hard work and your practical liberal view. Keep it up, man, and don’t let fanatics derail you from all the contributions you are making to our country.

  37. Hi Elias,

    Funny enough you are with one of my best fovourite in Ethiopian Politics. Do you remember I asked you to take an aricle off from your site and you said you are demanding accountability. It is my big day to see my two favourites together…
    Zemeta

  42. what AWONDERFULL PICTURE!!!, YOU ARE BOTH TRUE AND GENUINE ETHIOPIANS. God bless you. SELAM biryeeeeeeee. we are with you. stand firmly. we know your former masters have been trying to spoil your good job and innocent name by fabricating baseless crimes, but bleive me you are not alone. millions of ethiopians all over the world .

  43. Elias, GOOD JOB, on facing those u criticized….but

    one thing must be clear. all of us in this commentary leaving notes of admire/agreement and or disagrement KEEP OUR MIND ON BEING NUTRAL AND KEEP FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT. I have noticed some people saying Dr. B is the best thing ever, forever etc..but the truth is we have said the same for Lidetu, and Hailu Shawel. So please lets not worship but support.

    Because it is when we worshiped a man , not his cause that we found ourselves surprised by the former cud(now woyana)lidetu and the estranged Chairman of cudp Hailu Shawel .

  44. When I saw Elias’ picture, the first word that came to my mind was HANDSOME. And that is what I said in my comment.
    I guess, the word “handsome” has more of a romantic tone, and so others has come with another word. Most people said he is GRACEFULL.
    And I like it. GRACEFULL is more appropriate. So, here is a framed picture of the GRACEFULL man who have captured the hearts of all Ethiopians fighting, tooth and nail, the corrupts and crooks of the Shaleka/Atsie Hailu/Gudu Taye…etc He is not only fighting the crooks but he is also doing his best to promote the true and honest leaders like Birtukan, Eyoel, Birhanu Nega, Mamushet, Hailu Araya…etc.

    Astie Hailu Shawel and Taye WeldeGehanem can use the picture as a background for their pc screen…
    http://www.freewebs.com/msraq/eliasedited.jpg

  46. what have you learnt from the flamboyant Dr. Berhanu?
    critics doesn’t mean insulting. it is fight over ideas by respecting people’s personalities especially those who have great place in the hearts of Ethiopians; Dr. taye & Eng. Hailu.

    regards

  48. Hello Mr Elias
    I am glad I got ur picture: now,it will be much easier for us to report u to FBI as one of the terrorist who is planning to plot an explosion in Ethiopia.

    u look terrorist too

  49. Elias
    I used to be one of your critics in the past when you sided with Ato Lidetu and reported insane stuffs against Dr. Birhanu, you ‘re man enough to come along now and praise Dr. Birhanu the way you did now, this shows that you ‘re a real journalist and politician, this is excatly what Ethiopia needs, an attitude of accepting wrong doings and redeem it by exposing yourself to the public by criticizing yourself. You are a great man Elias and a perfect team with Dr. Birhanu and that great, ideal woman, Birtukan, she is indeed Birtukan. God and the Virgin Mary Bless you all.
    Prof. Roberto

  50. Dear Elias:
    Thank you for the report on the most successful Kinijit meeting in Virginia. I was pleased to see that two of the most important Ethiopian opinion-makers met and agreed to future exchanges. Freedom-loving Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia need more constructive meetings of the country’s best and brightest. Keep up the good work!

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