Ethiopian Review readers have voted Prof. Alemayehu Gebremariam as “The 2007 Person of Year” who made the most significant contribution to the betterment of Ethiopia in the past 12 months. He was voted as “Person of the Year” for his relentless effort to help pass H.R. 2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007) in the United States Congress. He is a leading advocate of H.R. 2003 and an effective spokesperson for a coalition of Ethiopian groups that are laboring hard to get the bill passed.
Congratulation, Prof. Alemayehu.
The choice of Alemayehu Gebremariam as “Person of the Year” by 35 percent of those who voted has two messages: First, Ethiopians strongly believe that H.R. 2003 will help bring about a positive change in Ethiopia; and second (the obvious one), Prof. Alemayehu and his coalition of activists have been highly effective in the face of an all out efforts by the Woyanne regime, its high-powered lobbyists, and the U.S. State Department to kill the bill, which was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives and is currently pending in the Senate. It is an awesome achievement.
But that is not the whole story. The result of the poll also reveals the fact that we Ethiopians overly rely on the U.S. to help us win our freedom. H.R. 2003 could be helpful to the struggle IF it is approved by the Senate and signed by the President. But it will not be a determining factor in bringing about change in Ethiopia. The only way freedom and democratic rule can prevail in Ethiopia is when Ethiopians stand up in unison and fight using any means available — coordinated political, military and diplomatic battles must be waged by a coalition of opposition groups.
The nucleus of this coalition already exists. It is called the “Alliance for Freedom and Democracy” (AFD). AFD’s current objective is to facilitate a national reconciliation dialogue. If Woyanne continues to reject dialogue with the opposition, AFD’s next step could and should be to prepare for an eventual fall down of the Woyanne regime by creating a transitional government in exile.
Ethiopian Review believes that the only route to regime change in Ethiopia is the one that is being followed by AFD. Because of this reason, Ethiopian Review’s choice for Person of the Year for 2007 would have been the chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Ato Daud Ibsa, who was instrumental in the creation of AFD.
Unfortunately, AFD could not achieve its objective of organizing a reconciliation conference so far because one of the main opposition parties that make up AFD (Kinijit) has been going through a leadership crisis and is unable to decide on its role inside AFD. The conference could have led to the formation of an all-inclusive transitional government by now.
The fact that AFD exits at all, however, has completely changed the Ethiopian political landscape over night by bringing ethnic-based, heavily armed groups like OLF and ONLF to the mainstream Ethiopian politics. As a result, OLF and ONLF now enjoy wide support among non-Ogadeni and non-Oromo Ethiopians as well.
Under the visionary leadership of Daud Ibsa, OLF has been transformed into a powerful political/military force that even non-Oromos are starting to rely on to help bring change in Ethiopia. With its military wing led by a professional officers corps of generals and colonels, and with a matured and highly experienced political leadership, OLF has become a leading player in Ethiopian politics. When the fast-decaying Woyanne regime falls apart, the OLF military alone can step in and maintain order, let alone joined by the other opposition parties such as Kinijit, ONLF, EPPF, TPDM and others.
OLF leader Ato Daud Ibsa has played a key role in the realignment of forces in the Horn of Africa region. His visionary leadership has contributed significantly to the recent paradigm shift in Ethiopian politics. We therefore believe that Daud Ibsa has been the most consequential person in 2007 as far as Ethiopia is concerned.
The second and third place winners of “The 2007 Person of the Year” poll are Kinijit vice-chair Bertukan Mideksa and Addis Ababa Mayor-Elect Berhanu Nega with 29% and 22%, respectively. This is not surprising since both Wzt. Bertukan and Dr Berhanu spent over half of 2007 in jail unable to function. And yet the combined votes they have received amounts to 51 percent. This shows the strong popular support Kinijit continues to enjoy.
The most talked about part of the poll for “Person of the Year” is the inclusion of Eritrea’s President Issayas Afeworki. He has received 19 percent of the votes — which is significant considering decades of enmity between Ethiopians and Shabia. As a result of several steps taken by Issayas Afeworki, the enmity is being replaced with friendship and a spirit of cooperation for mutual benefit.
What did Issayas do to gain the friendship of Ethiopians?
During the 1998-2000 catastrophic war, Issayas Afeworki and the Eritrean leadership have observed that when Woyanne engaged in an ethnic cleansing of Eritreans, it was the people of Ethiopia who gave them shelter and protected them from Woyanne thugs who were confiscating their properties and forcibly deporting them. This has no doubt left an indelible mark on the Eritrean psyche. Ever since, Eritreans have stopped looking Amharas, Oromos, Guraghes and other Ethiopians as enemies. For the past seven years, the Eritrean leadership has been cultivating a better relationship with the people of Ethiopia. In return, several Ethiopian opposition groups, such as OLF, EPPF, ONLF, TPDM, SLF, and others have established close ties with Eritrea. Many opposition leaders have visited Eritrea in the past few years — some secretly, some in the open. For example, OLF and ONLF leaders make frequent visits to Asmara. The late chairman of ENUF and distinguished scientist Dr Kitaw Ejigou had been to Asmara for talks with Eritrean officials. Journalist Demis Belete, artist Solomon Tekalign, EPPF’s former head of International Committee Ato Zewdalem Kebede and a delegation of several Ethiopians have visited Eritrea for several weeks last year. The disgraced former chairman of Kinijit North America, Shaleqa Yoseph Yazew, had held meetings with Eritrean officials in UAE and probably in Asmara in the Summer of 2006.
After the May 2005 elections, when Woyanne unleashed its Agazi snipers and killers on Kinijit supporters, it was the Eritrean regime that had provided food and shelter to the thousands of young Ethiopians who fled the Woyanne terror campaign, while Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya deported back those who took refuge in their territories. Eritrea’s TV and radio stations have aired detailed accounts of the atrocities that were being carried out by Woyanne on Ethiopian civilians. These reports will no doubt be helpful for future war crimes trial of Woyanne leaders.
It is going to take time and a great deal of nurturing for the friendship of Eritreans and Ethiopians to fully realized. Woyanne will try any thing in its power to stop that, but it will fail. After 17 years of brutal rule by the tribal junta, and particularly after the atrocities it has committed following the 2005 elections, most Ethiopians now believe that any one is better than Woyanne, let alone our own Eritrean brothers and sisters who are willing to lend their hands. Woyanne’s divide and conquer tactic does not work any more.
Ethiopian freedom fighters have a powerful ally — the Government of Eritrea. If this friendship continues to grow, there is a real chance that 2008 will bring about the end of Woyanne rule, and Issayas could be chosen as “Person of the Year.”
It seems that Woyanne is determined not to allow Kinijit to survive in Ethiopia as a viable political party. Woyanne is using all instruments of coercion and repression to push out Kinijit from the political stage inside Ethiopia. Kinijit is not without options. If it is unable to open its offices inside Ethiopia and freely operate, it may decide to move its main office to Asmara and operate from there. The fact that Kinijit has such an option available to it will send chills through the Woyanne spine. Just imagine how Woyannes would react if Dr Berhanu Nega or another high profile Kinijit leader goes to Asmara and set up an office there? ‘Think outside the box.’
The person who won the 4th place is Ato Obang Metho, executive director of the Anuak Justice Council. Obang is a positive influence on Ethiopian politics. His consistent message of unity and cooperation has earned him respect and admiration from every quarter of the Ethiopian society. In 2007, he had visited several cities and participated in numerous public meeting where he urged Ethiopians to unite for a common purpose — freedom.
In conclusion, hopefully this poll has motivated others to contribute to the betterment of Ethiopia in 2008. Thank you for participating.
38 thoughts on “Result of the poll to choose the 2007 Person of the Year”
Elia;
After reading what wrote, the respect I have for you has increased by two fold. It is very appropriate you acknowledge the work of OLF and Shabia leaders in helping us fight the Woyane parasites. You have also reinforced the importance of working together rather than to confine oneself into one ethnic group that would create further tension. Therefore, I will nominate you for this person of the year!!
Thanks brother Elias for your effort to cement the weathered but natural bond that existed, in spite of the evil weyane’s criminal activities, exists and undoubtedly it will continue to exist. My hat is off for some visionary media outlets like the ER. Having said that though, it saddens me to hear and see how many Ethiopians have been brainwashed so badly by the weyane and their handlers that the minute one mentions “Eritrea” let alone the honorable president “Isaias’, they go into some frenzy of hatred. Only time will tell that you and I (among many others) are right on the money to state that Eritrea is THE natural friend of Ethiopia. PERIOD! And as far as I am concerned, there is no force that would make us enemies of each other unless we want to be in the service of the weyane.
perfect analysis!
Thanks a lot.
well articulated. I always admire you result oriented approach to matters that are dear the hearts of Ethiopians!! Congratulations for your unflintching stand against the vampries of addis and sooner or later the dedebit gangs will face justice!! Let aiga.com jump up and down now later it will flee like tortured dog tagging his tail between his legs….meokoyet bezu negre yaseyenal!! Tena becha!!
I agree that Eritrean and Ethiopian live togethere forever. We have to work togethere for good not for dislike each other. I thank you Ethiopianreview.com.
Dear Ato Elias Kifle,
This is a well written and argued case. Many thanks. Please do keep it up!
Best wishes
Biri
I put the blame for the current shape of Ethiopia, tyranny and poverty, mainly on the opposition. For years, they allowed EPRDF a free role. They have been deafeningly silent and visionless. The only thing that could bring EPRDF down to its knees is unity among the opposition. We all have seen how EPRDF freaked out when Kinjit emerged. It is still in a state of shook. An organization like EPRDF that has no goal and vision except a lust for power and blood could only yield when the opposition band together. Kinjit is a very good start and gave everyone some good lessons. 1) the importance and benefits of embracing the peoples’ call for unity among the opposition. 2) the role of the citizenry in the struggle for democracy and justice. 3) the power of unity.
What I can say about AFD is only that it is a good initiative. I do not believe AFD is the last and the best form of unity among the opposition. It, at least, showed that parties like OLF have started to embrace the Ethiopian call. Despite its size and support among people of the oromo origin [I included], OLF has not found itself in a good position as a party because it alienated itself from other peoples of Ethiopia. However, I believe that OLF has learnt its lesson; there is no fight without support and there is no home without neighbors. The Ethiopian cause [democracy and justice] is shared by all. Democracy and justice is not the question of oromos only nor they are the only ones dying for it. It is a promising start for OLF to recognize this and to start thinking broad; i.e. the struggle for democracy and justice is shared by all Ethiopians and they all deserve it. OLF still need to clarify its positions on so many issues. Also, it should come out to the light and do a lot of publicity. Otherwise, it remains a horse in the dark.
All in all, all opposition parties should learn from the positive experience of Kinjit; embracing unity! The next few months and years should be the time to work on unifying; one cause, one goal, one people, one country!!!
First and foremost Hooray to Professor Alemayehu!
Elias – Your analysis is very timely and an eye opener to all of us longing for freedom and democracy for our beloved country. Please call upon all opposition political and armed groups to design a plan to liberate Ethiopia from Woyane Thugs by noting the state of weakened Woyane forces in Somalia and the anticipated military confrontation with Eritrea. It is a very critical time for a coordinated action!
I believe the opposition has to take note of the possibility of war breaking out in the near future if not any day now. This could bring or create both an opportunity and challenge for both the armed (OLF, ONLF, EPPF) and non-armed (CUD, UEDF) opposition – not to be caught offguard, it is imperative on the part of the opposition to understand the timing and its implication and lead the Ethiopian people to freedom and democracy from the yoke of woyane tyranny.
The opportunity comes from the fact that the enemy of my enemy is my friend – and recent positive engagement of the opposition with the government of Eritrea is a testimoney in that regard. This certainly creates a solid foundation and access to coordinate the military engagement of Woyane by eritrean forces –
1) through spying on woyane forces and military strategy and sharing the information with Eritrean forces,
2) campaigning among the non-Tigrean portion of the Ethiopian Defense Forces to turn the gun onto Woyanes,
3) cutting supply routes within Ethiopia,
4) striking at woyane establisments within Ethiopia,
5) calling on mass uprising,
6) call on students and teachers to protest,
7) to strike against all woyane thugs and criminals who are killing and maiming people in Ogaden etc,
8) to free all prisoners of conscience.
If the opposition is determined to work and plan on the general themes mentioned above, Woyane will be history within weeks – and Meles and other criminals will be brought to justice!!!
The challenge on the other hand is to be aware of the wolves in sheep skin within the opposition – the likes of Hailu Shawel, Lidetu etc.
Elias: Please create a forum for a dialogue among the opposition how the opposition should respond in the event of a war breaking between Woyane forces and Eritrea
Your views represent hope and the future. As you said, the Weyanie war on Eritrea with the ethnic cleansing that followed, and the massacres of Ethiopians by the Weyanie after the 2005 election have silver lining. Both Ethiopians and Eritreans have come to realize that the Weyaie is the scourge for both of them and we can hope for better relations after the demise of the common enemy.
ER keep telling the truth and we will all prevail in the end.
Now Ethiopian politics is cristalizing very well. The opposition camp against the fascist Weyanes is devided in to two:
– the backward unitarists, who want to forge unitary Ethiopia of one language, one people, one culture, one religion, one ethnic dominance and one flag under one God.
– the forward oriented unionists, who want to form a union of free nations in Ethiopian region in which both individual rights and collective national rights will be respected.
Mind you the word UNITY has got double meaning! Unitarists want to hide behind the word unity, eventhough the true unity is the free union of all citizens and nations based on their free will, what the unionists try to achieve.
Parties which belong to the unitarist camp are: AEUP of Ato Hailu, EPPF of Ato Meskerem, EPRP of Ato Iyasu and UEDP of Ato Lidetu.
Parties which can be categorized in the unionist opposition camp are CUDP, OFDM, OLF, ONLF, SLF, UEDF of Prof. Beyene and UTSD (Arena Tigrai).
Surely the backward conservative group will loose, whereas the progressive 2nd group must be smart to cooperate and coordinate their efforts in order to get rid of the fascists from Finfinne palace.
Weyanes are very much terrified of the second camp, that is why they do now support the first camp, eventhough their policy differs very much!! At the moment Ato Hailu, Ato Meskerem, Ato Iyasu and Ato Lidetu are taken by Weyane as the hopefull saviors of Ato Meles Zenawi’s fascist government by trying to neutralize or eliminate the second camp.
The best solution would be the transformation of Unitarists in to Unionists! That meanse people in AEUP, EPPF, EPRP and UEDP should stop dreaming and talking about bringing back the old unitarist Ethiopia and they should accept the NEW union of free nations in Ethiopia (NEW Ethiopia). This could unite all the opposition groups under one umberella to fight and get rid of fascist Weyane!!! Hopefully they will come to their sense to do this, otherwise they are the dying species in Ethiopian future politics!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Professor Alemayehu Gebremariam !!!
Prof Ale You deserve all the respect from millions of Ethiopians you are a true son of Ethiopia.
God Bless Ethiopia !!!
elias this is really a good analysis. continue on this way. i have a dream ertrea and ethiopia will live together with love, prosperty. but meles and esayas will go to the hell! time will show us. all this mess is due to meles and esayas not the people of ethiopia and ertrea. so keep it up
Dear Elias,
I admire your efforts and the clarity with which you present the positions you believe in. However, I have some issues (agreements & disagreements) with your analysis here and please allow me to point them out to you.
1) No question that Professor Alemayehu Gebre Mariam deserves to be Person of the Year as a champion of human rights and freedom of speech for all Ethiopians. He worked very hard to have H.R. 2003 passed by the House of Representatives and I hope he will continue to lead our effort to have it passed by the Senate as well. This bill, as we all know, doesn’t infringe on our country’s souvernity and those who cry foul are either elements of the TPLF regime or beneficiaries of the ethnocentric junta’s handout.
2) Most of us agree that it is the TPLF junta (not the people of Tigray!) that is responsible for all the miseries in our beloved country and it requires our concerted effort (of all Ethiopians without regard to gender and ethnicity) to get rid of these bad apples. They maybe “freedom fighters” (tegadalay) of yesterday, but they have turned into blood suckers and they have to go!
3) I agree with you that Ethiopians and Eritreans are brothers and sisters, but I don’t buy your description of Isayas Afeworki – the NUMBER ONE ENEMY of both the Ethiopian and Eritrean people. This arrogant dictator is no different from his friend in Addis and please don’t forget that he has imprisonned people who fought with him for over 25 years in a freight container for pointing out that “it is wrong to fight and kill your own brothers and sisters”.
Elias, I like your directness in many aspects, however, it is an insult to our intelligence when you praise a man who is equally responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians and the systematic destruction of Ethiopia as if he cares about the well being of our country. If he was genuinely concerned about the unity of Ethiopia, where was he in 1991? Had it not been for their carzy and arrogant policies, we would have solved more than half of our social and economic problems by now. His offer to harbor the so called “Liberation Fronts” is the only “trick” left in his outdated Shabia book and no genuine Ethiopian should be fouled by it in this day and age.
4) I think the only solution – both to Ethiopians and Eritreans – is to pursue peaceful struggle to get rid of both regimes and replace them by progressive, accountable and democratic systems that respect the rights of citezens to work and live with dignity.
Peace and love to all,
Yigermal T.
A good analysis Elias, but you have to recognise the vote of your readers as the vote of Ethiopian review!!! Thanking OLF and ONLF is one thing and vote is another thing!!!
Yigermal,
What makes you “More Catholic than the Pope” to state that Isaias is #1 enemy of Eritrea and Ethiopia? Exageration and hearsay aside, let’s work together for the benefit of our peoples. I happen to believe that the overwhelming majority of Ertreans and many many Ethiopians do not have any qualms with Isaias. melkam msht and happy New Year!
Elias will be remember as the lighting rod of peace who is much known for his no nonsense- ” a spade is a spade” approach of things! It is a rare to find such principled person in this day and age where truthfulness and honest is in short supply. No wonder his principled stand has put him in crooked Wayane’s black list!
Congratulations to the professor and ER. AFD is the way, and we Ogadenis are ready to give it a chance. Let us join hands and remove this bloody mercenary. Viva Ethiopia! Viva ONLF!
I disagree upon your resoning why Issayas had changed from enemy of Amhara’s gurages etc.. to friend after the deportation of Eritreans. Shabya made clear that claiming separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia has a totaly different political history and foundation compared to TPLF’s claim of greater Tigray. Before the fall of derg EPLF made in different political debates clear that TPLF should stick and fight for the Unity of Ethiopia. And ethnic politics could lead the area to dangerous situations. Shabya is aware of this ethnic fenomenon due to the political organisation of Jebha (ELF Eritrean Liberation Front). Jebha was more ethnic oriented than shabya. This is one of the reasons why Issayas left Jebha to form EPLF with durable political agenda in uniting the more than 9 Ethnic groups and two majore religions. And look what happened to Jebha now. Issayas was from day one for ethiopian unity. Ethnic Politics is not shabya’s politic. He does not practice it in Eritrea neither. This a pure TPLFist’s state of minde and propaganda. Most Eritreans believe in independence. On top of that we wish for a bigger sister economically stronger where we can make goed busyness with. The bigger sister whith fertile land and a bigger market is a durable ally than a fragmented neighbour which is a marionette for the west.
I completely agree with your analysis. AFD is the future of a strong, free, democratic, united and prosperous Ethiopia. It laid the foundation for this bright future of Ethiopia. AFD has already made a tremendous difference in the political landscape and bodypolitics of Ethiopia. The paradigm shift that the formation of AFD set in motion is sinking in the minds of the Ethiopian people thereby crystallizing a new beginning and firing up a new hope. The changes the formation of AFD is bringing about is noticeably evident among the majority of the Ethiopian people, it takes time for its full effect to resonate and be felt around the country, across the region and indeed in the entire world. One thing is certain though. The wheel of AFD has started rolling and gathering momentum by the hour. It is wise to give credit where it is due. I also respect the choice of those who want to wait to see the full effect of something started before giving credit.
Ferede
first bravisimo to the professor and ER,it was a huge work to create afd,but now is done,for many of us ethiopian unity means peoples unity and respect each others in the city i was living the oromo dont say hallo to the amara just something like that you now specialy europe are so small but tell the truth ,Afd,bring our people together,now at list there is smile we say hei ,to each other,but what is sad is the double standard game of eprp,and meison [uedf] .why they dont join meles,legaly,its clear their are paid meles ,be wendemochachew dem yalagetalu,ay temero andal temare.
Well said Elias. You are a true lion of Ethiopia.
I particular;y like your olive branch offered to our brothers Eritreans. You have opened a new page in our relationship with them. After all we need to have peace with them in order to prosper . Those Ethiopians that are calling for war against Eritrea are sitting comfortably in their living room outside Ethiopia..if only they could be there down the trenches …How many of them know a brother , a cousin , a father killed in the two wars against Eritrea which claimed close to a million Ethiopian souls ? How many?
I wonder what the war-mongerer Ato Siye would be saying tomorrow …Let’s make a bet …nothing new …same old rhetoric !
Send him packing!!!
I strongly believe that the Eritrean and Ethiopian people will live together in peace for ever. Positive thinking always creates conducive atmosphere for anything you want to do in life. As long as we think both of us positive, there is no force that can stop us from building and nurturing our brotherly friendship.
Keep up the good work.
Kidane Habteselassie ( Eritrean ), U.S.A.
Elias what can I say a man of vision who deeply care about our country’s wellbeing.I know it may not be appropirate to put Elias on the lists but my brother you deserve to be the man of the year.Beleive me I do mean it.Our country is blessed to have you.
One final note:Can somebody tell our brothers in the ethiomedia that appeasment does not work with weyane and its supporters like Siye and co.
As usual, great analysis!
Congratulation proff. Alemeyahu,God bless you. He deserves it.
If our academicians are willing to play effectively and efficiently like him, Ethiopia will prevail soon.
Most importantly, Dr. Beyene and Dr. Merara would have been learning something from him and come back to their normal mind. Then they will have some contribution to the struggle of the Ethiopian people rather serving the TPLF regime by sitting in the KG/the so-called “House Representative”/.
Elias, like your advice to others to think outside the box, you also need to think outside the box. You went a great length to cover Esays Afeworkie crime against Ethiopia, yet you are denying an ear to listen what Seya Aberha has to say. Please tell us what did Esays do so magnificent that you want us to be lovey dubey with shabia? Let me make one thing clear, I am not saying we all should support Seya without asking the tough questions first and get an answer for it but we should give Seya the same chance you are giving to Esays. I sometimes wonder your own stand if you really believe in democracy. I said this because I found it hard to swallow your support for the Ertrean regime which is as worse as weyane in Ethiopia. Or is it the enemy of my enemy is my friend approach? I tell you that is not wise. Why would Kinijit open an office in Asmara and allow itself to be controlled by Shabia? You must be joking.
I hope you post this otherwise I am going to assume you only post comments that confirm with your thoughts.
Elias – Please find below a quote from what has been written about Siye and Ethiopian Review on “Ethiomedia”:
“Ato Siye Abraha will address Ethiopians in Washington DC on January 5, 2008. With the exception of Ethiopian Review, whose editor did not have kind words for the former defense minister, major Ethiopian websites like Abugidainfo, Ethiopian Media Forum (EMF), and Ethiomedia … have posted the meeting notice on their front page.”
This was posted by no other than “Girma Kassa” or aka GK – who used to spew his venom and hatred of AFD with underlying chauvinism towards the Oromo, Somalis, Sidamas using the Ethiopian Review web site – Now that he miserably failed to divide the Oromos and Amaras, he changed his tactic by asserting himself with concern to Siye Abraha. The Siye case was exhaustively discussed on ER thanks to you and visonary platform – where the crafty woyane messengers had little chance of success – we call that democracy.
ato elias //thank yu for the details .i would however wish to make some comment on your issues about AFD .we recognize you are an ardent critic on those who oppose the alliance of kinijit with afd opposition parties .the premises of the alliance is neither clear and hides some essential isues on nationalities question ,ethiopiawinet ,language etc etc .these things are very important issues to ethiopians.the agendas of the other opposition parties now member of afd wish to declare their independence from ethiopia .there is no common ground to dicuss .for afd to work they have to be ethiopians and then move forward.kinijit at this stage has its own support and clear agenda and wishes to achieve it via peaceful dialogue and denouncing arm struggle .you are pushing the afd agenda and fully support the idea of arm struggle to bend the woyannes .you cannot be the answere for all ethiopian questions ,you are an individual ,i respect you,but you cannot be an authority to pressure us and the elected members of kinijit to adopt your agend of arm struggle etcetc.just because you have the media in your hands .you need to be sober and instead creat a forum for the ethiopians to battle on the agenda and see the benefits of afd for latter subission to the kinijit leaders to view our points from this end .they are the authority and we need to help them and not provoke them.they need your help and all others ,just because an individual fro atlanta writes about an issue ,he expects kinijit leaders to adopt it .if not he insult them .this should not be the way .we nneed to sit down and discuss the agenda ,debate on it ,need be call proffessional lawyers to assist us in our meditation to formulate a working policy to KNA.we need to go that route .unless the olf ,onlf etc dennounces arm struggle and separatist agenda and joins for a peacefull struggle under the umbrella of ethiopiawinet ,there cannot be afd and so is ethiopian review.olf,onlf etc have to believe in becoming ethiopians and must be willing to defend and protect the values and interests of the ethiopian people and not eritreans. at this stage melese and isayas are one coin with two faces .thank you
It is time for change. It is time for us all to think out of the box. It is time for us to reflect on the past and devise strategies for the way forward to bring democracy and freedom to our country. I believe change is happening in OLF as much as it is happening in other pro-ethiopianist forces in diaspora and at home. Let us all be part of the solution than always being part of the problem.
This is my new year resolution
Thanks for your detailed and enlightening analyses, Elias! I guess overall I think the right person won.
Alone no OLF nor CUDP win Woyane ,but togather AFD is greater force.
Elias thanks
Congra Professor and others who won the vote. I believe it is important to acknowledge such individuals success with all our hearts. I think it will definitely encourage them and others to work more harder and harder. I would like also to say thank you ER for giving the opportunity for the public to show their support for these Sons and daughters of Ethiopia.
I know that our problem is very complicated. Even if I openly support Kinjit, I doubt their approach through dialogs and peaceful means will work with Weyane. I think Meles and his regime will do everything in their power to remain in office. I don’t think they will ever be ready to pass power just like that. I am not being pessimistic here but realistic. Most likely Kinjit and other opposition groups will win the next election as they did in 2005 but I am pretty much sure they will either be thrown back to jail again or may be this time a more serious action will follow. I just hope God protect them. Having said that ladies and gentle men, the answer is not simple but Kinjit and other parties need to start considering other alternatives. Even if war is the last thing we want to be engaged in, it looks like we don’t have much of a choice. I think armed struggle is the answer at this point. I remember before 2005 election, I spoke in one of the politics room in paltalk how I felt about the election and what will be fate of the opposition leaders who would win the election. I predicted almost exact same situation they went through and I was called a pessimist and attacked right and left. It is unfortunate that whatever I predicted happened. My prediction was based on simple facts that are laid for us to see. The reality is simple. Weyane will stick in office regardless of the weather outside, till you go in and throw him out. Period. Don’t make a mistake, if this meles goes, another meles will replace him. Ethiopia is dying under the tplf leadership and it is time for us to wake up and save her through the only possible means available at our disposal that is war…(I am not a warmonger but I know that is the only way out)
While knowing what we need to do to get rid of Weyane we need to be careful with who and which groups which we are working with. AFD is great and all but I wouldn’t support it cuz it doesn’t fight for Ethiopia and Ethiopians. If you can’t agree on the primary values that we all stand on, it would be a disaster to align ourselves with such groups.
As an eritrean I assure everybody that this notion that there´s enmity between the PEOPLE of Eritrea and Ethiopia is the product of the west politics of divide and rule. If one checks the different articles written by western reporters one continuously reads something to the tune of “….Eritrea, the archenemy of Ethiopia…” etc. THIS is what´s called war mongering. For ethiopians to hear it from the horses mouth I say, eritreans never hated ethiopians per se but the system they were living under and the destruction that system created in Eritrea. I bet every ethiopian would feel the same about an eritrean regime if the case was the other way around. Meaning, if an eritrean regime had denied ethiopians self detemination. So yes, eritreans hated the regimes of H.S. and Menghistu but NEVER the ethiopian ppl because that would be nothing short than stupidity! Finally, I wish ethiopians success and freedom.
Congradulations Prof. Alemayehu. While we are on the dark you are trying to light our future. Let GOD be with you. Please take care of your self as you are our treasure.
The colaboration with Shabia is the issue to be handled with care. Personally I do not see any difference between Woyane and Shabia. They are two sides of a coin. The former knows that it can not exist unless the other lives and vice versa.
Elias keep up the good job. Please invite analysts to comment on the strategic importance and reliability of Shabia for the success of the opposition armed struggle. I suggest such forces have to take the necessary precausion before basing the armed struggle from Eritera.
Thank you Elias for making people think out side the box.I was surprised when I saw the 19% vote.Yes, people start to realize. What ever happend happend Period! there is noway of changing it.Isayas is our neighbor, wake up!At this right moment who is damaging Ethiopia ? We are in war with our neighbors and are suffering under woyane.Let us chang the future, We need the change and learn from history.
Elias you are great. Van gough did not get appreciation in his time, but now people realize how genius his work was. You’re gonna be in the good part of the history book when all these bad times pass. Again Congratulation for the good work for both Eritrea and Ethiopia and keep up the good work. Have a prosperous and healthy 2008 and many years to come to you and your family.
P.S. Hopefully we’re gonna see you in Asmara one day. Where the land of the peace is and pride of all blacks in the world.
Hi Elias
You have done an outstanding job of analyzing the current situation, along with the many other participants in this forum I too will take off my hats in appreciation. But, I think what is even more courageous is that fact that you risked an avalanche of savage attacks by those that are having a hard time with reality and dream of turning back the clock some 17 years.
I was also surprised by the comments that followed, it shows that the silent majority of Ethiopians, Somalis, Eritreans and the people of our region’s maturity level has indeed grown leaps and bound.
As a former soldier in the Ethiopian army I have witnessed the gruesome realities of war and the pain and suffering inflicted on both the armies and the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia. We must be able to say ‘Enough is Enough’ and abandon the savage tradition of war, for cooperation and development.
As individuals we are able to pack up and leave. But countries can’t and threfore must learn to live as good neighbors. In this regard, I think the Eritreans have shown their maturity and willingness to bury the hatchett. Believe me that’s not an easy task, surley there will be some Eritreans who’ll always harbor hostility towards any thing Ethiopian. It would be difficult to blame them. However, I hope they also know that Ethiopians have also lost their loved ones and many of us were forced by the government to participate in the savage acts of war.
An interesting pick and analysis. First of all to include Isias and to call him a friend of Ethiopia is beyond my comprehension. Isias for his own reason has always sought to drive a wedge among Ethiopians by forcing them like the Woyanes to organize by tribes. I believe that is the case now too. To use, Solomon Tekalign and others as indication of raprochma with Isias is very far fetched. Solomon unquivocally has found eritrea a fertile ground for anti-Ethiopian forces, instead of just anti-Woyane. Ethiopian flag was trampled.
Some of the remarks and writing of EEFP also attest to that. I know Doud Ibsa has made tremendous strides, but if he needs to get such accolade he needs to reeducate OLF forces, invite more Ethiopian cadres denounce the idea of seccession, preach democracy, respect human right for all Ethiopians.
Good try, Elias.
Dawit Hailu