The interview Ethiopian Review publisher Elias Kifle gave to ETN on May 24 is being received positively by the Eritrean community. Click here to read some of the comments.
The interview Ethiopian Review publisher Elias Kifle gave to ETN on May 24 is being received positively by the Eritrean community. Click here to read some of the comments.
20 thoughts on “Eritreans react positively to ER publisher’s interview with ETN”
Well – Elias u have done a good job and hope u will continue the same way. As an Eritrean – I wish Ethiopians become engaged in their country affair much like Eritrean that way they will not be manipulated by the rulers.
I also wish Ethiopian read and understand the reason behind Eritrean independence movement and why Eritreans prefer to be known as Eritrean than Ethiopian. As far as I know – Eritrean don’t hate Ethiopia at all – even though – at some given moment – Eritrean movement used anti Ethiopian slogan to achieve their goal – we should not be surprised that all political movement and organizations use such method to mobilize their follower. Please read the following articles regarding TPLF http://www.biddho.com/content/view/1141/29/lang,english/ and why the war in 1998 was important to the Weyane than to Ethiopians.
Eritrean knew that the honey moon between the Eritrean government and the Weyane would end up at any given time – the only problem was that we did not expect it to happen so fast. We all knew that the “Weyane” aspiration was to create a greater Tigray with its own port and to achieve this they need to start a fight with Eritrea.
In fact between 1998-2000 there were 3 major wars and the first two wars were conducted more or less by the “Weyane” army and once they knew that they were not able to achieve their goal – they brought Ethiopians to the theater claiming that they have to defend their dear motherland. As usual – people did not question the motive and Ethiopians thought Weyane would at least deliver Port Assab to them.
If that was achieved – the final beneficiary was the “Weyane” movement who has dreamed to create a nation. If one looks to Tigrian websites, it is full of Ras Alula, Yohannes, and Axumit Kingdom and so on. For me – I knew way in 1991 when a Tirgrian I knew told me that one day – the Tigrian will have independence with its own port. His justification was that since the Axumite kingdom used Port of Adduils 2000 years ago – the coast belongs to Tigray. Well – these are the same people that rule Ethiopia for the benefit of Tigray.
Ethiopians – please wake up and smell the dam coffee. You are stuck with blood suckers who will do everything to achieve their stupid dream.
Good luck my Ethiopian friends – your enemy is your own foreign government not Eritrea. We cannot wait to have normalization with Ethiopian and live in peace forever. Thank you!!
because they are beneficer on what you talk and dream they knew very well for who and what you stand for
I am getting convinced each passing day that the majority of Ethiopians are starting to get engaged in their affairs in a positive way. To give credit where it is due Mr. Elias is playing a curicial role in that endeavour. It is not easy to convince the majority of Ethiopians who have been fractured by ethnic, religious and other differences and have been fooled by propaganda of their past failed governments to come to an objective understanding of their situation and chart the right course for the future.
Mr. Elias, keep doing your good work, because of you and those who agree and support you the Ethiopian people will realize their dream of peace and prosperity, hold their heads high and be proud of themselves and their country. Peace and cooperation between peace loving Ethiopians and Eritreans will be to the benefit of all the people of our region. The road is not going to be smooth, the biggest challenge will be to unite Ethiopians under one goal to be in a position to frighten Woyanne and eventually send them where they belong, in the trash bin of history. The good thing now is that you have a friend in Eritrean government who has always been consistent and principled in doing the right thing by its people in particular and the people of our region in general. While the rest of Africa and the so called defeders of Islam, the Arabs abandoned the people of Somalia in their hour of need because they were afraid of the western powers, only Eritrea stood by them openly defying the western powers and their puppets in our region. This kind of principled stand is what makes Eritrea stand above the rest of the dismal African government (who don’t represent their peoples interest).
Eritrea is ready to stand by Ethiopians who want to live in peace and harmony forever, as long as Ethiopians believe in mutual respect and good neighbourly relations. All the propaganda about not being able to use Eritrean ports is also false propaganda, it is in Eritrea’s interest to let Ethiopia use our ports freely because it benefits both of us. The last three consecutive non-representative Ethiopian governments used the issue of access to the sea as an excuse to pit the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea against each other, they can’t work for the people so they have to use these type of propaganda to stay in power. All these has come to pass, now it is time to work together and be free once and for all. Victory to the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea!!!
Hi Elias,
I wonder about the response but it gives every Ethiopian some sense of understanding about the two dictators. Even though they are fighting against each other but they seem they are full filling what they were demeaning for forming tiny piece of great peoples. It is not from political background just looking what was said before and now some one can genuinely conclude these two dictators are meeting their objective on the expense of the remaining 70 million Ethiopian people for the sake of forming a tiny country in this 20 century. Where the westerns and others look forward to unit more and more in the contrary our politicians in the north take the chance to deploy the 19th century politics.
I am sorry Elias, I don’t like event hate both dictators and need some kind of joint political party (Ethiopia/Eritrea to fight both dictators from all angle possible even from another plant too to get red of them and their narrow minded selfish politics from the region as the whole. Both are accountable for all damages in the region and history will question that…
Thanks,
To Sym,
You have clearly put the ultimate goal of TPLF and the Eritrean dream. I don’t want to add anything on the basic facts that you put. However, I believe you missed one thing about SHABIA AND WEYANE, you know both dictators were strongly supported based on hates rather than clear political ideology supported by democracy, accountability and transparency. When both dictator’s shabia and tplf fought against derg, their supporters were highly influenced by emotional hates based on a few ethnic group especially the Amahars. Their supporters never tried to do a check and balance issues inside their party, while they gave a lot of their support for shabia and tplf just to win the derg by any means. Here is the failure of the people of tigray and Eriteria. Both people were assumed they would’ve gotten their independence as soon as they won derg, but the consequence was the other way round. As a result the leaders of both parties’ shabia and tplf started to abuse their own supporters who are scarified their life, time, money, energy and many things for almost two decades. At this moment it is very hard to blame only the leaders of their party, since the supporters had failed to clear their own party from corruption, and from being accountability and transparency. There was no leadership term in their party that would’ve stop or protect dictatorship ness among their party. Mean while most Tigrians and especially Eritreans were assumed their would’ve get everything they need including the basic democracy and justice right after they won derg. Again, it turned out up side down, and both the tigrians and the Eritreans are now has been severely suffering for the last 17 years with these dictators. Life is now much worse than in both tigray and eriteria than derg era.
There fore I urge all Tigrians and Eritreans NOT to be a part of these two individual dictator ship led by meles and esayayas. So, lets not support somebody just because we love him or just because he is from our ethinic group. Since that doesn’t answer the major human right questions including democracy and justice to our people. Enough is enough lets not be foul three time and start strengthening our selves by making our solidarity. I cant imagine that we call our seleves I am Eritreian, I am oromia, I am Tigraian,….kkkkk…sorry I had to lough since it is the biggest joke compare to a variety of proplems that we have and have to be resolved. Look at America, look at Germany and other European countries they have strengthening their unity long time ago and working to be best country in the world by strengthening their economy while we fight with silly reasons everyday among ethnic group. We have to stop all these complicated problems. Lets wake up all Ethiopian , Eritreans or other people who would be loved to called with your ethnic group rather than one big nation. Now it not a question of being eritera, tigray, gurage, amahra, oromo, sidama or hadere. It is up to the individual to be called by any thing he/ she wants to but we all have a basic problem including lack of democracy and justice that lead us to many problems including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, famine, HIV/AIDS and other major problems that needs to be fixed ASAP in order to save our people. SO LETS WAKE UP AND FIGHT BOTH DECTARS IN ASMERA AND ADDIS ABABA. WE CANT DO NOTHING BEYOND SHABIA AND WEYANE. LET’S BRING OUR UNITY BY MINIMIZING OUR SILLEY REASONS INCLUDING RACISIM AMONG ETHINIC GROUP. WE HAVE ALWAYS TO KNOW THAT OUR ENEMY IS NOT ETHINICITY, OUR ENEMY IS DECATORSHIP NESS
“I also wish Ethiopian read and understand the reason behind Eritrean independence movement and why Eritreans prefer to be known as Eritrean than Ethiopian.”
Can you list some of the reasons?
Ethiopians and Eritreans are well aware of what is the obstacle for peace in the horn. Weyane is the one single animosity between these countries. A while back, Weyane’s well oiled PR campiagn curbed and distorted, producing a distorted image of Eritreans. Without regard for future generations it painted Eritrean in the worst and most dividing methods that they figured could last indefinitely. ‘Cause, Weyane from the get go is a short sighted crippled entity with wealthy backers. That is a dangerous mix. In any case Ethiopians are hip to it all now, and they have seen the worst of it all….We are now healing wounds and forming a defined and lasting relationship. A blessed fire that will engulf only the chigarams and their cheerleaders is ignited!
Peace to the Horn!
Elias,
I had fun watching the following video but don’t think it was posted in ER
http://www.abugidainfo.com/?p=12
Pls post it here in a new thread if it has been done…
Elias,
There is no more I can say about you that has not been said by people who see farther than their nose. You are an exemplary person when it comes to the interest of the people of the Horn and thank you for being what you are and not being swayed one way or the other with the blowing wind. Let me just state that it is not easy to do and stand where you are when there are, oddly enough, many Ethiopians who sing they same song come what may. So for those Ethiopians, assuming they are:
Eritrea is gone as a political entity by the unbelievable sacrifices its people including Isaias did. That is history and there is no reason to dwell on meaningless debate whether Eritrea should have been this and that. It is a mute issue!
Eritreans have never, they don’t and no reason in the future that they might change their stand of respecting the Ethiopian neighbors. So, where is this Eritreans “Hate” Ethiopians crap coming from besides from the Weyane and their supporters? There is no reason to do that and there is plenty of reasons to co-exist with their natural neighbors. That is a fact.
ShaEbya and president Isaias have never wish ill to the Ethiopian people and have never advocated for the breakup of Ethiopia. There is nobody from the Ethiopian camp who can prove that. In fact, it is this very subject that created a crack in the then cordial relationship EPLF had with TPLF and that is a fact as well.
Eritrea is not going to eat its ports and of course Ethiopia was and is welcome to use them. In fact, Ethiopia has enjoyed an UNRESTRICTED use of the Eritrean ports until the ever-evil-minded Weyane decided not to use them in 1998! Of course in their tiny brain cells, the Weyane boys thought they would harm Eritrea by not using the ports among other things like stopping Ethiopian Airlines from flying to Eritrea.
So, it is amazing how some Ethiopians, especially those in the Diaspora who were expected to know more, act like a bunch of cry babies and anything and everything that happens against Ethiopia must have been the work of Isaias. My friends, Isaias and ShaEbya are one of the best things that have happened for both Eritrea and Ethiopia. You can either look at the facts for yourselves and you can remain doing nothing except to scream “Aqaqi zeraf”. It is your choice. My choice is to see Eritrea and Ethiopia burry the hatchet and start living peacefully for their mutual survival and benefit!
“Tigray is about to sink” by Weyane
Just read an article claiming that there are 4-5 million Ethiopian in need of food NOW. And this appeal is coming out of the government PR and it is interesting how they said it. The PR said the famine is occurring in the south where the land is good for agriculture. I found that to be funny. If there was a shortage of rain – then how come “Tigray” home of famine is immune? There has to be an explanation to it and it does not take much to imagine why. I read an article last week stating that grain was taken from south to north “Tigray” in the anticipation of famine in the coming month. How this could happen in Ethiopia when they tell us there is a free media – I don’t know. Where is the media when a day light robbery occurs? I am just mesmerized to know that the government uses famine just like the previous governments. It is also good to know that The King was accused of having a lavish birthday party while famine was severe, the military junta was accused for spending 10 million dollar to celebrate the overthrow the kingdom while millions were dying of hanger and NOW it is Weyane’s time to be accused of spending millions of dollar to celebrate the millennium while there was no food to eat, no electricity to power homes and factories and maybe no water soon. What a government!!! An economy that continues to grow without electricity and for me that is literally going green. Weyane Ethiopia is the only country in the world with positive growth without an input of energy. How do these bone heads calculate growth? Well – I forgot something – Weyane is good in begging – and that is considered part of the economic growth. “It is in the blood”
Let me go back to my topic – sorry people.
Just read that 25 Tigrayans from North America are setting up a brewery company in Tigray. Wow – this is the best money laundering that you can imagine. Take the money from Ethiopia and bring it back as American money and invest in Tigray. And I am sure they are registered as USA investors so that they will be protected from future uncertainty. Do they really come up with 35 million USD or just a peanut and the rest will be financed just like the gold bar – then take their profit while they procure brewery equipment in USA and Europe. I think the Tigrayan region got everything to become a fantasy nation and the only thing missing is a brewery factory. Bye Bye “sewa” here comes the “Beer”. I am just trying to remember what they are missing.
Aha – here are some and if they are already built – sorry is did not know:
• A TV Station – In case you get tired of ERI TV
• A Cookie Factory – In case you end up with a lot of Birthday party or become romantic
• A Candle Factory – In case there is no electricity
• A Winery Factory – In Case you want help on digestion
• Spring water – In case you want to mix drink OR you over ate too much and need to fart
• A Ship-yard – In case “Weyane” decides to have a flying ship
Well – u got my idea. Adios
I’ve ALWAYS believed and still believe that Ethiopians had been deceidved by their own leaders yesterday and today when it came to the issue of Eritrean people. If they would have handled the issue of Eritrea to the interest of of both brotherly people, not western interests, all the blood shed that took place could have been avoided; however, Ethiopian leaders continue to work for the interest of outsiders rather than what could be gained from both brotherly people; and the worst of all are the weyane thugs who are hiding behind the huge skirt of Dr. Frazer preaching democracy and on one hand and working for the greater state of Tigry on the other. This dream could only be a dream of Meles, Azeb, Seyoum, and the rest of the weyane thugs. Tigry can exist as independent nation only if they can establish diplomatic ties with the maritians some where in the universe; not by stealing and grabbing from the people of Eritrea, Gonder, Wallo; etc.. So my intake on the issue of Ethi-Eritrea is let peace and harmony take place between both nations and let the outsiders come ONLY at our invitations. Thank you
Well done Elias. This has been long over-due. A different angle at looking at solving multiple sided problems. It is really high time to get rid of this junta in Addis. As an Eritrean, hats-off for having the right vision to give momentum the already moving tide pushing the down fall of the woyane regime. I love Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people, thus its interest. If we look at problems this way, then borders will be only imaginary. Presidant Isaias has said in his recent interview that, It is natural and inevitable for the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia to live together. God bless Ethiopia!
Elias
What a courageous man you are …you are a true patriot.
It was a good idea to do that interview ..it shows how courageous and transparent you are.
You should run for Parliament in ethiopia when things cool down …
Thank you for taking teh time to inform us all
Geography questions for the Ethiopian children:
1. Is Tigray part of Ethiopia or part of Eretria?
2. Is Wolkait part of Tigray or part of Begemidre?
When I was learning Ethiopian geography under Mesfin Woldemariam at Haile Selassie I University in the early 1970s, professor Mesfin taught me that Tigray is one of the Ethiopian provinces, and Wolkait is part of Begemidre; Tigray is an arid land, but Wolkait has fertile regions such as Humera and Setit along the vast valley of the Tekezie River. Professor Mesfin is absolutely right, and I’m sure Meles Zenawi, except his children, also knows this fact until he has had the propensity to change the map of Ethiopia for his own aggrandizement and selfish motive.
I have never ever thought that Meles Zenawi of Tigray and Azeb Mesfin of Wolkait have had a proclivity to declare Tigray an independent “Republic of Greater Tigray” until I have read this morning the “1976 TPLF Manifesto,” thanks to the Ethiopian Review. The more I read the Manifesto, the angrier I become, and the angrier I become, the more determined I wanted to search for some woman of Endor anywhere in Ethiopia who is able to bring back those great Ethiopian heroes – Tewodros II, Yohannes IV, Menelik II, and Haile Selassie II – from their graves so that I could consult them for their advices how to unite a divided country like Ethiopia.
I have read in the Scripture that, when Saul, king of Israel, was surrounded by his enemies- the Philistines at Gilboa – he desperately wanted to talk to Samuel the Prophet, then a dead prophet, whether he would defeat his enemies, the Philistines or not. So Saul, in disguise, out of his desperation, consulted a witch of Endor to bring him Samuel the Prophet from his grave, which she did, and Samuel said to Saul: “The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors – to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The lord will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines” (1 Samuel 28:3-19). Though desperate I am, I may not resort to a witch to bring back those Ethiopian heroes to tell me about the future of my country, nor do I consult Abune Paulos or Abune Merkorios because the two patriarchs may not have the answer for enslaved Ethiopia at this time, so I may go to one of the Ethiopian monasteries, closed my door behind me, and for forty days and forty nights pray to God to show me whether it is by his will that Meles Zenawi is in power in order to disintegrate Ethiopia and render it a powerless country in Africa. Or is it his will that the Ethiopian people must be punished under the Dictator Meles Zenawi for not defending their Emperor who was ridiculed and finally murdered by Mengistu Hail Mariam? Punishment of this kind is called collective punishment; however, we know God will not punish the whole people for the sin of one person; rather, he punishes the person who committed the sin. In this way, God may punish Mengistu Haile Mariam for murdering King Hail Selassie and many other innocent Ethiopians but not the Ethiopian people even though, it seems, they are now suffering and crying to God to deliver them from Meles Zenawi’s tyrannical rule.
The “Manifesto” clearly tell me why Meles Zenawi has been transferring the wealth of Ethiopia to Tigray for 17 years: he has erected high rising buildings, built three colleges, built hundreds of apartments, built impressive embassy houses, villas, and big air ports among other things in Mekelle alone. Recently, he has moved from Debrezeit several fighters gets to Mekelle new air port and has stationed them there permanently. His main goal is to make Tigray the strongest and the most powerful country in East Africa economically and politically. He has also a plan to send the Ethiopian boys and girls as fighting soldiers to take the Aseb port from Eritrea, fooling the Ethiopian people that the port will be theirs; in fact, after the port is taken from Eritrea, he would put it under the control of the Tigray people, and Ethiopia will be still a land locked country.
After he has accomplished his plan, he will declare that Tigray is an independent country; this, of course, will happen after he has completely plundered the entire wealth of Ethiopia; then, he would leave Ethiopia in chaos without standing army, without weapon, without wealth, and without a leader. Sadly enough, weak Ethiopia, then, will be vulnerable to foreign enemies – Sudan and Somalia; Sudan will take Gojam and Oromia while Somalia will take Shewa and Harar regions. Of course, Meles will take the entire provinces of Begemidre and Wollo. After this shocking event, there will be no more Ethiopia, and these are the evil intentions of Meles Zenawi. America will be the first country to recognize Tigray as an independent country, followed by Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti. Eritrea and some other countries will never recognize Tigray as an independent nation.
The only hope for Ethiopia after or before Meles leaves the country and moves to Mekelle as King of Tigray is the Ginbot 7 shadow government that has to work hard day and night so that it could fill the power vacuum in Ethiopia immediately and run the country effectively. I hope every Ethiopian would read the “1976 TPLF Manifesto” and understand “The adversary and enemy…this vile Haman”- Meles Zenawi!
Dear Elias, would you please translate these interview clips into English for us who don’t speak Amharic??? Thanks and keep up the good job. You truly are a a source of pride for the people of the Horn of Africa. Thanks.
When one reads some of these comments made by ethiopians, he/she would agree that ethiopia have no hope. Why are you crying about ports, about Eritrean independence or even about Isaias????
The Eritrean independence or asseb issue are very much history and there is nothing you could do to reverse it except perhaps send in some more innocent teenage soldiers and waste another 50 yrs in a meaningless war. ethiopia had control of the entire Red sea during derg and hailesseliase rule, but having access to the sea didn’t do any good to the average ethiopian. Having a sea access didn’t prevent the 1984 great starvation in ethiopia.Even if ethiopia had two ports now, it would still be at the bottom of the list.
Now, whether you like it or not, Eritrea is an independent nation with two ports!!!!and Isaias or Eritrea or Asseb or Massawa are NOT ethiopian issues, so hush!
Instead why not focus on the core issues facing your country today. Issues such as the starving children in ethiopia, the various rebel factions, the various regions attempting to break away, the ethnic rule,the ethnic massacres, the endless poverty, the huge debt and how to tacle them.
Oh well i hope people like Elias who might have a functioning brain bring change in Ethiopia and save the future generation.
by the way Elias, a little translation or english subtile would be a great help, so please help an Eritrean person here.
I completely beleive that there is an opportunity,where the two brotherly people can live in peace.And the opportunity comes through dedicated and visionaries like Elias and some other Eritreans.
Eritrean Iam sorry Iam not fun of your president,but I see a light at the end of the tunnel.We can live in Peace.Iam 100% sure about it.But first we must get rid the Ethiopian parasite,Meles,who is creating so ,much division and animosity between the brothers and sisters.
now i belive woyane means testa de galini
Hi All,
I am sorry to say this from what I observe from the comment given from individuals on this listing. Hopefully, most of you are from Eritrea and I like your strength and courage since my childhood but see that you guys didn’t look ready for change that region requires. To say enough is enough for both dictators instead you guys are still with the old configuration were you keep promoting your dictator vs the other that is where I felt discouraged about you to deal with you guys on new ideas…… please walk up and start saying your president is also dictator too that the last 17th year only can tell without any election………….
Please stop preaching the politics you learn from the old gorilla fighters and keep open your mind to the 21st century ideas, principles and mostly the change we require in the world in general and in particular in our region. I know you will be smart enough to open your eyes and ears to explorer that…….
Thanks,
The stupid act of one person who sold a piece of Ethiopia to Italian missionary a few years ago should not be an excuse to wipe out thousands of years of history and objectively notable fact. I know mistakes were made that alienated our Eritrean brothers, including the treatment of Woldemichael in the hands of Alula aba Nega, but, please do not tell me, Ethiopia should not have a claim along the Red Sea coast. Think of the many years of battle Ethiopia fought inside Bahar Negash/Eretera to keep that part of Ethiopia free from the Ottoman Turks and other invaders. In terms of our sovereignity over part of the Red-Sea, we Ethiopians blame Mengistu Hailemariam. Remeber it is not Legesse Zenawi or TPLF who put us in this predicament but , it is Mengistu Hailemariam who just cared about his power rather than the power of the country. May justice catch up with him. I know Ereterians are deadly scared of Tigrians, as shown by the treatment of Alula towards Woldemichael, but to say Tigry is bad but the rest of Ethiopia is good is nothing but a crocodile tear.