Personal observation on the Annuak Justice Council meeting in Washington DC
By Emebet S. Bekele
On Saturday, Nov. 17, I attended a human rights meeting organized by the Annuak Justice Council. My knowledge of the Annuak people was very limited until I started following the movement of Kinijit through the Ethiopian Web sites. I learned of Ato Obang Metho through different media outlets and the fate of the Annuak people and their struggle for human right. On every platform I heard him speak about being an Ethiopian, about how to uplift each other from the madness that is engulfing us. I have heard him proclaim his Ethiopian nationality not only amongst those who claim to be unionist, but also amongst those who support and believe in the separatist movements. Obang’s message is a message of peace, love, mutual respect for all of us. His message does not have any hidden agenda. It does not exclude anyone or accuse any ethnic group. His mission is to introduce all the children of Ethiopia to each other so that brothers and sisters can stand shoulder to shoulder to love, respect and protect each other. This is the message I heard him introduce on every platform. So on that Saturday afternoon, I expected to see a lot of my fellow Ethiopians to support this man with a beautiful message.
What happened to Kinijit? Where were their supporters? I remember hearing the announcement of this meeting at the last Kinijit meeting. I clearly remember hearing the delegation saying that Kinijit will stand shoulder to shoulder with any organization that is working on the empowerment of the Ethiopian People. I listened to the leaders saying that the protection of human rights is one of the fundamental principles of democracy. So why were there no representative of this organization at the Annuak meeting? Wzt. Bertukan has assured us that her organization will work with all Ethiopian organizations to find a lasting solution for all our people. If Kinijit cannot take initiative to lead it’s supporters in laying the foundation for a grass root movement on human rights, it should at least lend support to organizations like the Annuak Justice Council who are trying to do the job. Unfortunately, on Nov. 17, Kinijit not only failed to lead by example. The big question is, if Kinijit cannot lend its ears to civic movements that are trying to help build a democratic system, how is it going to respond to political organizations that are vying to share power?
Where were you my brothers and sisters on the day that our Annuak brother rose up from the ashes of his people and stretched his hand to us? Where were you when Ato Obang Metho proclaimed himself the true son of Ethiopia despite the atrocities committed on him and his people by the central government? Why weren’t you there to hear his message of peace, love and mutual respect? Why didn’t you answer his call to stand with him and to make a reality his vision of creating a human right movement?
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The writer can be reached at [email protected]
22 thoughts on “The deafening silence of unionist Ethiopians”
Thank you Emebet for pointing out this issue. Obang is Ethiopia’s Marthin Luther King. It is embarrassing for us all and Kinijit is expected to take the lead. I am not onto the blame game. I am just saying let us learn form our misteaks please. This is a guy we need to stand behind.
Yenne Emebet
Did you hear Dr Berhanu’s masterful speech of Arlington? He asked us the same question!!!
Well,
I think their absence was politically calculated so that the Annuak Justice Council will mantain its picture of neutrality. With the presence of these mad dogs of HS accusing any one who was seen with Kinijit leaders as biased ones who took side (the assault on the great son of Ethiopia, Professor Al. Gebremariam in connection to the Kinijit adhoc committee being the case in point), I think, it is with this understanding that our leaders haven’t gone there. The Donqoro Taye-Shaleqa-EPRP front is poised at throwing the stone at anyone seen speaking about the truth (HS’s mocking assault on Dr. Fikire Tolossa and other similar incidents being the case) So I think our leaders have taken a strategical decision which, i think, is made with the knowledge of our brother Obang.
it is radicoulous to hear such things and it is a shame not to attend such a nice meeting which is a wake up call to all of us who always defame the ruling party but do not struggle hand in hand to overthrow it.
It is good to point at the weaknesses of political activities of Ethiopian oppositions. Justified critics must be considered and the right awareness and measure should be taken to heart by the opposition and act accordingly. I therefore appreciate the points that are indicated by Emebet. I believe, it is very essential that political activities should focus on multiple problems in our country, and make the public and institutions to be aware of the nature of this regime.
I heard too that there were a few of us at the meeting called for by brother Obang Metho. We are missing the target: the point of taking any Ethiopian human rights meeting as our own concern! What was unique about the meeting was that various speakers representing the entire Ethiopia had come, some as far as Toronto, to address the meeting. We were not there. We didn’t fail Obang; we failed ourselves. We failed the message of Kinijit! It shouldn’t be repeated. Never.
Selam Sister Emebet:
It is good you attended AJC meeting. If I were in DC I would have attended as well. However, do not compare and contrast. Kinijit supporters have done their best to support AJC. In the DC Kinijit meeting, money was raised for him. The Kinijit websites have promoted the meeting. So please do not generalize. If people are not coming then we must educate them. Let us not judge them.
Regards
Thanks Emebet for educating us about our own tragedy. The situation you described suggests how Ethiopians are divide from top to bottom. This division and weakness of ours is what sustains Woyane. They exploit the situation and they are good at it. On the other side, non-woyane Ethiopians are also slowly but surely realizing the weakness and are now educating each other. That is one great stuff to see happening.
We Ethiopians have not yet understood the message of standing together with any human being who has been wronged. (neg bene). It seems like the person has to be a relative, or from the same village, and or extremly known to others before we show any interest to doing some thing about it. I think religious leaders in this sense have failed us as well.
Tragic as it is, we have a long way to go to have respect and care for each other! Those of you who claim to feel bad need to re-organize a new fund-raising event!!
You are right Emebet. Not only Kinijit but all of us who support and admire Obang for his commitment for human rights and also claim to be Ethiopian ought to have joined him that Day. Let us now promise to stand by Obang and other committed Ethiopians like him from now on.
Regards. Semy
where was that oldest party EPRP AND IT’S AGENT DR KEYICI? WHERE WAS UEDF?, why do you need to point your finger towards KINIJIT when you know kinijit has so many enemies like EPRP AND under cover weyane agent dr keyici? we are sure that kinijit doesn’t have any problem to work with ato Obang, but kinijit should take time untill things become clear.
I was there and I found it to be very constructive and informative session. Obang has envisioned a different approach to tackle our problems. One of the things we need to do is to understand each other. To do that we need to be able to see things from the other person’s or groups perspective. I hope that Ato Obang gives it another try here or do it in another city.
I wish I was in D.C.
Dear Emebet
Let me express my gratitude for your heartfelt article and observations. Despite the lack of participations by Kinijit or any other opposition political parties, the Annuak Justice Council specifically its leader Mr. Obang Metho have stood and spoken for peace, unity and a transparent democracy for all Ethiopians. Prior to reading your article some of us have had a valid concern on such matters. I strongly believe that Kinijit driven by its political manifesto shall support and work together with civic groups such as the Anuak Justice Council. Keep in mind the term “Kinijit” doesn’t include renegade politicians such as KIC or Eng Hailu and his family clan for my analysis.
Dear Embet
Despite the lack of support at the meeting, one critical point is wildly shared among millions of Ethiopians. That is, Obang Metho is a bright young man with unequivocal leadership quality compared to many politicians of our time. He is a firm believer and has always focused on the Unity of Ethiopians from all walks of life, transparent democracy, Accountability and Justice for all.
Who knows one day this young man may well be a leader for our country!
Amen !
Thank you Emebet
Really you gave a big lesson for all of us, who are considering ourselves as a voice of opperessed people. On this historical time I was expecting at least one representative from all opposition parties or any other Ethiopian group to uplift the sense of unity among us. As you mention it I want to say where is Eng. Hailu, Dr. Birhanu, Dr. Taye…?
God bless you Obang!!!
Dear Emebet:
First of all I was amazed that you were surprised that O. Metho called himself an “Ethiopian”. Why shouldn’t he? What is there to be happy about him declaring himself Ethiopian if you beleive that he is Ethiopian? This shows about what you think of the Anjuak people. And herein lies your problem and answer. Kinijit supporters in the diaspora are no different than you. They don’t think the AJC’s cause is their cause although any movement that weakens EPRDF is good in their eyes, including Shabiya, OLF, ONLF, etc. Wake up and look into yourself and you shall find the answer. Have you seen any anjuak, afar, hadere, somali, tigre, sidama, kembatta, etc in the Kinijit meetings in North America? Why are they absent? If they didn’t care to show up for these meetings would it be surprising if they didn’t vote for kinijit in 2005 and in the future. The courageous Bitukan tried to takle this issue in her Minnesota meeting. She didn’t follow it up because she got hit hard by many in kinijit.
Emebet, I truely think that kinijit and other “unionist” parties should rethink and reengineer their view if they want to unite people. Otherwise it will be ‘wuha kida wuha melis” as was the case in the past 30 or so years.
Hard to swallow but it is the TRUTH.
We Ethiopians are so uneducated in one thing that we truely claim to believe in, which is UNITY!!! We think unity is to live in the same country or to live under the same map!!! Unity is much more than that!!!
If you really think about it, we have not stood for Ethiopians who are currently being murdered each day in Ogaden!! Therefore, even if the people do not support ONLF and its secationist ideas, they will have no choice but to support such a movement!!
But the reason people did not attend AJC’s meeting is that we Ethiopians, by nature, tend to pay attention to popular events even if it is one called by the keicy group by Hailu Shawel instead of attending meaningful, inclusive, constructive and promising events such as the one that Obang the great has organized!!!
Without our help Obang has produced a documentary film, written hundreds of articles, has given so many speeches, has testified infront of congresss, has traveled to Europ to talk to EU officials, and he has exposed us to this beautiful aspect of Ethiopianness that we have ignored were unable to recognized unfortunately to this day! Basically AJC and Obang have done more advocacy than most other political organizations such as UEDF, OLF, etc…
Emebet,
I know you showed disappointment with kinijit because we expect more from Kinijit than most other organizations, yes Kinijit needs to pay more attention to other organizations who stand for the wellbeing of all Ethiopians!!
AJC, it is not too late…lets do it again!! And see if Ethiopians ignore you!!
We need to
This is the main point that most political parties are ignoring. A multicultural country such as Ethiopia political parties should addres the issues of all tribes and be supportive of them. Otherwise the struggle will be futile. Look at what is going on in the eastn Ethiopia. Even (CUD) have not SAID ANY THING ABOUT THE CURRENT FIGHT B/N TPLF AND ONLF. WEAK UP GUYS
Don’t dramatize and associate any situation as tragedy. It is a wrong word to use here. There is no tragedy here. It doesn’t fit at all for one unsuccessful fund raising. And I’m sure Obang is above this. He only gets a better lesson from any unfavorable outcome. The AJC and the person behind the organization, Obang, does what he’s doing by conviction to benefit his own people. Of course we have to support him because he believes in one Ethiopia, democracy and equality for all, but he choose to go alone without any party affiliation. Nobody criticized him for that because the messages he conveys in his several speeches and writing looks genuine and inspiring. Brothers, sisters please hold on and don’t rush to compare Mr. Obang to the legend Dr. Martin Luther King. Don’t asphyxiate him with empty compliment. He only started the long and strenuous work to bring the longtime over due democratic change for our people and country. At this juncture no one individual merit any special attention. We need them all, these honest, capable Ethiopians those in the Kinijit party and the lone civil right defenders like Mr. Obang and Prof. Alemayehu. Regarding the meeting, which was primarily for fund raising, I believe the timing was not well thought out, considering that lately people raised lots of money for the visiting Kinijit delegation. It’s hard to think that people deliberately failed him.
kendie
Dear fellow men/women,
I think Emebet’s comment is genuine and innocent. If my feeling is correct, her opinion is appreciated. However, we need to take time and digest the very reason for the absence of Kinjit leaders. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE REASON WAS THE ONE INDICATED BY EMEBET. Let’s not take things at their face value.
well said