Skip to content

Tegbar respectfully disagrees with Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

STATEMENT FROM TEGBAR
June 16, 2007

In his interview with Ethiopian Current Affairs on Sunday, June 15, Ethiopia’s most distinguished human rights activist Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam has made some assertions that Tegbar for Unity and Democracy (Tegbar) respectfully disagrees with.

Issue 1: Prof. Mesfin said: “Ethiopians have not yet started the ‘peaceful struggle’.”

Following the 2005 elections, Woyanne had rounded up 80,000 Kinijit supporters and detained them in Nazi-type, disease-infested concentration camps. Thousands were brutalized and killed. All of Kinijit’s top leaders were thrown in jail. What more does the professor wants from the people of Ethiopia after he and the other Kinijit leaders had abandoned the struggle when they were led to jail without making any contingency plan on how the struggle can continue in their absence? The people of Ethiopia did not fail to struggle or to follow their leaders. It is Prof. Mesfin and colleagues who failed to lead. Now after tens of thousands of Ethiopians paid all that sacrifice, many of them with their lives, the professor tells us that the “peaceful struggle did not start yet.” Tegbar rejects that assertions.

Issue 2: Prof. Mesfin said: “Woyane canceling the recent UDJ meeting in Addis Ababa was a victory for Ethiopians.”

The professor, while failing to acknowledge the huge sacrifices being paid by the people of Ethiopia, now tries to tell us that getting dispersed by two police officers without any argument or semblance of resistance is a victory. What the professor and his colleagues at UDJ are currently engaged in is not peaceful struggle. It is submission to tyranny.

The professor also said in the same interview: “The fact that Woyanne prevented the UDJ meeting from taking place over the weekend will expose it to the world.”

We found this statement to be less than convincing because every one knows about Woyanne’s crimes against the people of Ethiopia and Somalia. Two policemen illegally and arbitrarily dispersing 400 delegates of an opposition party without any hint of resistance exposes the weakness of UDJ’s leadership more than it exposes Woyanne’s lawlessness. Because the world has already witnessed Woyanne as it engaged in mass murder of civilians, including recent satellite photos that show entire villages burned down by Woyanne troops. How much more Woyanne can be exposed?

Issue 3: Prof. Mesfin tried to explain that 400 people taking orders from two Woyanne security agents to shut down their meeting is “Ethiopiawi Chewanet.”

Our forefathers who fought tooth and nail to keep Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in the world, must be rolling in their graves to hear such a statement from a senior leader of an opposition party.

Issue 4: Prof. Mesfin said: “People and organizations that don’t participate or only follow the peaceful and non-resistance path come from the neftegna culture.”

The professor is telling us that self-defense is a “neftegna culture.” By his definition, OLF, ONLF and other freedom fighters are “neftegnoch.” We disagree. It is a natural right for people to defend themselves against tyranny using any means available to them.

Issue 5: Prof. Mesfin said: “Ethiopia’s feudal culture is an obstacle to the process of fighting Woyanne.”

We find this statement to be off base since a large portion of Ethiopia’s population is under 40 and has not lived through the feudal regimes of the past. In addition, it is this young demographic group that is paying the most sacrifice in the fight against Woyanne.

The professor further explained that organizations that don’t participate or only follow the peaceful or non-resistance path want to take Ethiopia back to the old feudal governance.

One should then ask the professor the following questions: Is self-defense feudalism? Are freedom fighters such as OLF, EPPF, ONLF, TPDM and Genbot 7 fighting to bring feudalism back?

According to Prof. Mesfin, the reason freedom fighters in Ethiopia are chasing Woyanne from all corners is because they want to bring feudalism back. Not because Woyannes are massacring Ethiopians; Not because Woyanne is stealing from Ethiopia’s children and making them hungry to then turning around and use them to beg from its masters.

As much as we respect Prof. Mesfin, we strongly disagree with a series of statements he has made during his interview on Sunday denigrating the sacrifices of Ethiopia’s freedom fighters. The professor can continue with his non-resistance, but when he goes out of his way to label those who are paying sacrifices with their lives as fuedals and neftegnas, we are obligated by our conscience to speak up.

We urge the professor to focus his criticism on Meles Zenawi’s terrorist regime, not the freedom fighters who are fighting to liberate our country from it.

Stop the struggle! Join the fight!
Tegbar

44 thoughts on “Tegbar respectfully disagrees with Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam”

  1. ተግባር, ምናለበት ነገር መሰንጠቁን ትተን ቀና ቀናውን ብናስብ??? የምን relativity ነው????? የማትስ ህግ የፖለቲካ ህግ አይደለም!!!!

  2. By any means, respect the old professor and learn his wisdom: patience. Give him a space and let him share his experience and wisdom with his audience – all of us.

  3. Dear Tegbar,

    To disagree is everybodies right. It is a good culture to disagree with someone peacefully like you did now.

    What Professor has said is his opinion. Instead of writing what you disagree with him I suggest you to develop a new idea which was the best way to act agianst woyanes dicision.
    It was not a matter of two or three polices. What you have to see is that who sent the dicision. Not the police. But woyanne. The police came to tell the message sent from Woyanne.
    He didn’t say that arm struggle can not be a solution. What he has said was that the peaceful struggle has not yet completed.
    Finally let’s wait and see how he thinks to conduct peacful struggle. Let’s ask them to show us the peacful struggle. I think the struggle should start now. Let’s help them. It might work. If it doesn’t then let’s change to another form of struggle.

    Thanks

  4. i donot understand why profeessor is trying to discourage those who determined to fight woyanes by any means available
    including with hatchet.As the adage goes,”awkesh awksh siluat metshf atbech’.Professor is making a diservice to our people .His condemnation is tantamount to condemning our forfathers who defended our country and jelously guarded our independence from colonial forces.So what is wrong if our people raise up arms against the home brewed colonial like woyane brutal regime ?Does professor want to see when Ethiopia dismantled in our very eyes by the American and British stooge woyane?Please mind your own so called “peaceful struggle”

  5. Even though I disagree with some points made on this press statement by Tegbar League, I applaud you for this matured and respectful argument. This is the way to respond to the things we don’t agree, not by insult or labeling. It is a good start.

    Good job! Always keep it positive, even when you disagree with somethings.

    Thank you, Tegbar and its leadership.

    Unity is the way to victory!

  8. Let these grown up men beg for TPLF to give them a day and time to do nothing but sit on their asses talk.TPLF won’t even give them a ok to go ahead and meet and talk crap what a wonderfull gov.UDJ are nothing but a bunch of losers and cry babies.The way they’r going and thinking it will take them 100 years to be free from slaver of TPLF.TPLF came on power by fighting and killing and stealing not by beging.Why can’t you CUD,G7,UDJ,and others united and start fighting TPLF.Oh my bad why fight? why bother? Keep beging TPLF my friends.No heart feels guys.I am sure your God I mean the the God of Ethiopians will watch over you.I wish you the best.

  9. Why is Prof. Mesfin so friendly with the woyanne security office? To receive the usual instructions on how to tame the opposition? Why is he discouraging armed struggle? Woyane is always preaching peaceful struggle. Is it possible to make peaceful struggle without the existence of democratic institutions? perhaps this is possible in the world of Prof. Mesfin and woyane security office!

  11. Dear Tegbar,
    I would like to thank you for expressing your disagreement with Prof Mesfin with the respect that he deserves. Our problems are very complex & not one person or group will have all the answers. Therefore, it is a sign of maturity to work together on issues that we agree with & to respectfully debate those issues that we do not agree with. Thank you!

  12. I have not heard Prof. mesfins interview. If the the quotes in this article are really his, he is out of line. While it is his right to advocate a peaceful struggle, name calling others who decided to defend themselves as neftegnoch is outrageous. The peaceful struggle he is talking about is as crazy as hallucination to me. What kind of peaceful struggle is he talking about?

  13. I DON’T WANT TO SOUND AN EDITOR BUT TEGBAR SAY ” STOP THE STRUGGLE, JOIN THE FIGHT”. WHAT IS THAT MEAN? WHY WOULD YOU STOP THE STRUGGLE TO JOIN THE FIGHT?
    RESPECTFULLY QUESTIONED, STILL ER IS THE BEST!

  15. Elias some times we have to understand the age of the proffessor he is too old now and things might difficult for him . instade let us think more about the other leaders there are the one who matters thx for your understanding

  16. The Professor is getting senile and not in touch with reality. This old man and the UDJP will be the loyal opposition to the TPLF. Yemayategib Enjera kemetadu Yastaweqal. On the other hand I call on Elias Kifle to cease attacking Hailu Shawel and Co. who are fierecly
    anti-TPLF. It is understandable that as the fun of
    Birtukan and Co.,you are getting embrassed by their cowardly course of action. It is good that you are not hiding your frustration over their direction of forming another loyal party to escort the TPLF.

  17. This message for all ethiopians who want fight or struggle peacefully. Both ways working to overthrough the TPLF. Therfore we should be wise, we do not afford by making a difference between two but having the same idea. Let make big time for TPLF in both ways. Donot forget we Ethiopian millions, we let him TPLF kneel down with Ginbot7,OLF,ONLF,EPPF & others. Inaddition to that TPLF are working hard to make a big gap between us. Donot be folish by TPLF

  19. This is a good way and culture of expressing disagreement with whoever`s opinion.Regarding the respected and distinguished professor`s opinion about means of struggle i totally disagree with him.Any person who very well knows and understands the current political situation in our homland wouldn`t have any morale ground to oppose those groups who choose using all means available to end the tyrannical regime of seitanawi.

    we should strongly express our disagreement with such opinions as it has its own role in weakning our struggle to freedom.

    Bravo Tegbar,I really appreciate your move.

  20. It is not the first time the distinguisged and respected Professor made such a controversial opinion.Recall the interview he gave to VOA from India about the problem occured inside kinijit leaders immediately after their release from prison.He gave us a picture that there is no any problem rather it`s only between Eng. Hailu and Dr. Birhanu(Yesiltan Shikucha).

    I remember how much this play in dividing the supporters of kinijit into two groups untill the time the fact has clearly revealed and every body understands that the problem is not between two persons rather it was between those leaders who want to exercise democracy inside the party and those who prefer to breach that.In other words it is between Eng Hailu`s group and the current UDJ leaders(including the professor himself).

    That is why i appreciate tegbar`s brave immediate response to such opinion against using all means available to fight the weyane tyranny.

  21. Professor Mesfin has the right to express his opinion. He is a tough Ethiopian with an unwavering stand against tyranny. What is unique with the great Professor Mesfin is that he always lives with his people, suffered with his people, protect his people, teach his people. For those who would like to help the Ethiopian people it will be more sensible to live with the people and help rather embarking to criticize those who defend their people at home.

  22. I like the approach Tegbar used in getting its ideas across.

    My view, though, is that anyone (Professor Mesfin, those who prefer other routes of struggle, or whoever) could be correct from their perspectives but should not engage in belittling the approaches of others. The most important thing is that they have to come up with workable strategies in the circumstances and their preferred approach. While I understand the frustrations of some regarding the hope for peaceful struggle, I do personally realise that no armed struggle thus far has challenged Meles to the extent that the peaceful struggle did. Why? Why didn’t the armed struggle grow strong enough to pose that level of challenge? And with that level of challenge, why was it impossible to succeed in the peaceful struggle? I think a synthesis of the answers to those questions allows us to realize the merits of not limiting imaginations of others to fit into those of ours. Let any one choose their own way and try, as the saying goes “some folks are wise, some are other-wise”.

    An excellent army commander may be the worst politician in a peaceful struggle and the best politician may be the worst in other routes of struggle. Thus our solutions to problems should not be “either this or that, but not this and that”. Both could be quite ok. Just let any one use his/her own “meklit” and yield results.

  23. Thanks Tegbar:
    This is the way to criticize people. We all have a right to criticize anybody not by losing our temper and “ETHIOPIAWI CHEWANET” Bad criticism and name calling doesn’t take us anywhere. The main problem I have with ER is the way it is criticizing our elders and our leaders. It shows me his maturity on this one. Keep it up the good criticism and Prof. Mesfin is not above the law. I agree with you Prof. Mesfin should not call feudals and Neftengas the people who died because of his luck of leadership during 2005 election. I advise him he must leave others who fight for freedom alone and just do his struggle. I also support his struggle as far as he focuses his issues on woyane than the oppositions.
    Thanks Tegbar
    Kume

  24. My question and suggestion to those who are saying peaceful struggle is over:
    Why don`t you organize and start to fight weyane instead of wasting time and focusing on the propoganada to accuse and attempting to disperse members of the former Kinjit or UDJP chapters.It is estimated that those Ethiopian in the diaspora is around 3-4 millions. So I suggest you to work hard in organizing and recruiting new members for the non peaceful means of struggle.
    Elias and co.please, don`t try to implement old communist slogal called ” Without destruction there is no construction”. You know that Ethiopia and its people are the victim of those politicians who has been carrying this ideology that killed our traditional culture , unity, respect of others and trusting of each other e.t.c
    So the campaign against peaceful struggle must be stopped and taking other alternatives parallel to it will help to the success of our goal i.e. to librate Ethiopia from tyranny.This is said to be mutual benefit in Animal Kingdom.
    Thanks!

  27. Folks:

    There are limits to loyalty and respecting elders because the country, freedom, democracy and justice for all needs to come first.

    The fundamental problems of Ethiopians being endlessely enslaved and ruled by a tiny unjust dictatorship may be due to known and elderly opportunist formal and informal so called leaders who are only there for themselves alone and like professors Mesfin working under and for all dictators while thousands of Ethiopians were/are perishing like flies.

    The professor is using “his good name and social status” as an instrument of taming the Ethiopian people for slavery and keeping them under the brutal feet of the slave owner dictators.

    If we Ethiopians are not able to call a spade a spade and break away from professional and cunning old opportunists and go on building the new Ethiopia we will only suffer and keep suffering endlessely and without viable unity and viable state.

    This is not personal because I love the professor from my heart personally as an individual human being. What I hate most is his chameleon style self serving cunning fox trying to live and prosper under any dictator by using the cunning man’s opportunist war camouflage known as “human rights” just for hiding his bottomless self serving opportunism at the total cost of the 80 million Ethioians.

    This amounts to insulting the intelligence of the Ethiopian people simply because he is thinking that it is him who is a professor, but not other Ethiopians.

    He is trying to take the struggle for democracy and freedom as his hostage in cooperation with dictator Wayane having the temporary power, money,status, etc.

    Just look at the pathetic condition of the opposition forces and the arrogant and reckless behavior of the minority Wayane dictator drumming its chest and riding on Mesfin’s back to demoralize the Ethiopian struggle for democracy and freedom. The professor sales hismself to whoever have the power, the status and the money.

    That is what he has always been doing, regardless of his make believe human rights badge and dove painted public face , meant only for garnering public support and nominally pressuring dictators so that they may throw crumbs to him just like Wayane is currently doing.

    Folks: I am not writing this piece because I have any partisan political motive or disrespect for the good professor but only to provoke and problematize the issue and provide perspectives for encouraging the young to believe in themselves and boldly chart new roads and solutions for the new Ethiopia rarther than waiting for miracles from some cunning old opportunist folks who have already done their own share of the struggle, burried their fighting spirits while waiting for the final day to come. Hmm…!

  28. Yebelatew

    The proffesor’s precious time and wisdom is once again wasted on criticizing the enemy of his enemies. The fact that we respect Prof. Mesfin does not mean that he is always right and everyone has to follow his path. Once his admireers came to know that he is only a human being like the rest of us, we will not be flabergasted by his un helpful commentary. There are times when he had said that ” we should give some credit to the Woyane rulers for allowing opposition parties to operate in Ethiopia and compete in the election.” Opposition movements and Parties not falling in line with his chosen mode of struggle are labeled the same way as Woyane labeles them. Where is the frredom of people’s and individual’s choice that we,including Prof. Mesfin, have been advocating?

    I was expecting Prof. Mesfin to express his outrage in relation to the refusal of Woyane to hold the much eagerly anticipated UDJ Convention. Not a single word. Perhaps this is due to “yeferehat Qofen”. We expect solidarity among the different opposition parties, not counter productive comments and criticism. Having said this, my respect for the Prof. remains unchangeed. To disagree with him is not to disrespect him.

  30. Thanks Tegbar for liberating us from feudal allegiance to this professor who is either losing his head or incapable of understanding the Ethiopian ‘chewanet’ which he reiterates on every opportunity. Many people who disagree with his views preferred to stay quiet in order not to put benzine on blazing fire; but the professor seems to have taken the wrong lesson–invincibility of his arguments–from this. Now, Tegbar has tolled the bell and we should tell this man that he is overstaying “Hotel Ethiopiawi Chewanet”.

    The professor is telling us repetitively that peaceful struggle hasn’t started yet! May I ask when that is gonna to come? Semenetegnaw Shih or when Obama is crowned? To me there couldn’t have been a more opportune moment to confront Woyane peacefully than the moment when the professor run to sign the plea for mercy to Meles Zenawi through the mediacy of Ephrem Isaac. If he was true to his words he should have dug his heel there and then and established his moral superiority over Woyane.

    Professor, I know this world has seen great men that showed peaceful form of struggle to work–all of them have paid more dearly than two years imprisonment. Put simply, you are not one of them. If you think you can bring about change through your preferred means of struggle, just continue–I wish you all the best; but please refrain from igniting internal strifes within the family of movements struggling against the tyranny of Woyane. If your ego hasn’t yet recovered from the bashings of the two years’ imprisonment, the courageous direction to look towards to is Meles Zenawi plc.

  31. Elias,

    It puzzles me how you understand what is meant by ‘peaceful struggle’. Public disobedience and political struggle should not necessarily be physical friction. Whether two or two hundred policemen, the point of the matter is that the dictatorial leaders have said that the meeting can not be held. Period. Are you saying that the four hundred participants should have ignored the message and be thrown to akaki, accused of ‘mengist gilbeta sera’ or face the sharp shooters of agazi? Being extremism does not help anybody. Please, please direct your criticism and name to the center of the problem: woyane. Mesfin and co. have paid more than their share and they are still scarifying themselves for the good of that country. Do yours in your way and let them continue their in their way.

    Thanks
    May God Bless Ethiopia.

  32. You have the right to oppose Prof. mesfin’s way of understanding and way of believing towards the fight with weyane. However, you guys need to come down your temper since prof. mesfin and other strong UDJ leaders has done a lot for their country and are doing their best practically using peaceful struggle. You guys have the right to fight weyane in the principle you believe in either armed or what ever. BUT STOP ATTACKING EACH OTHER lets not be another tool for weyane as hailu shawel was. The major thing that hailu was failed to understand was just easily becoming a tool for weyane stupid propaganda. Therefore, every time you strongly oppose offensively prof. mesfin or others, the first thing weyane would say is look at the oppositions they are attacking each other. There fore as they said MUYA BELEB…lets start criticize around the back not be a best tool for weyane when we expose our emotions in to the public. For god sack please stop criticizing in public. Let’s respect each other and continue to fight weyane in the principles we believe in. At this point I strongly disagree with tegbar statement even though they have some truth, but just because they become very defensive you guys are making the gap for accretions and confusion. Tegbar don’t respond emotionally any more, be smart. Have you seen any weyane’s criticizes each other in public, no way they do it very secretly since they don’t want to be exposed for others, instead they want to show they unity for the people they assume as outsiders. Lets take the lesson.

  33. ተግባር ፕሮፈሰርን መቃወም አንድ ነገር የራስን አማራጭ በጠራ መልኩ ማስቀመጥ ሌላ:: ፕሮፈሰሩ ላገራቸው ብዙ ያበረከቱት ጠቃሚ ነገር ያለውን ያህል ለወደፊቱም በህይወትና በትምህርት ከበለጸገው እውቀታቸው ብዙ እንጠብቃለን:: የሚጠቅመንን መርጦ መውሰድ የኛ ድርሻ ነው:: ትኩረታችሁን አለን በምትሉት የትግል አማራጭ ላይ በማድረግ ለተግባራዊነቱ መታገል እንጂ የለሎችን አፍ እየጠበቁ መጮህ የሚፈለግ አይደለም

  34. I appreciate the TEGBAR’s comment over Prof. Interview, in a good manner, but I personally do not see any wrong doing of Prof. Answers because I put my position as he is now. Prof. and his friends believe they can do more on a peaceful way and that is the noble idea. We, the one we have a different idea, helping them forced the dictator in a different way. “ yetem fechiw duketun amchew”. Brothers have different idea but supporting each other takes us a better place. As discussion matter it is ok to walk on it.

  35. Dear Hagos Araya, all you said would be agreeable to me except that it is not pointed in the right direction. It’s Professor Mesfin who opened a frontal attack on those movements that are letting their blood in the fight against Woyane’s tyranny, only because they are not toeing the professor’s half baked line of peaceful struggle. Tegbar’s and other commentators’ views against Mesfin are disproportionately measured and muted compared to his wilful usage of rude and irresponsible languages and phrases to undermine others. What is even more appalling is that you rarely see this professor using such languages against Meles Zenawi plc. He becomes Anbessa only in the surrounding of people whose deference to him he takes for granted.

  36. With all due respect for the professor, I am appaled by his distorted and half baked self serving assertions about Ethioipa, Ethiopian political culture and democratic thinking and practices.

    He contends repeatedely that ordinary Ethioians have no democratic political culture since they are/were used to obay feudal lords, aritocrats and dictators.

    Similarly political leaders are said to be power mongering and leadership seeking individuals who are only eager to command rather than to serve the people.

    These sweeping characterstic description basically applies to the Abyssinian segement of the population but not to the others like The Oromos, constituting some close to 50% of the Ethiopian population who have been leaving under the democratic Gada political system where leaders used be elected to office only for 8 years.

    However imperfect the system have left centuries of indegenous democratic tradition and democratic culture that favours electoral democracy still prevailing in the genes and genetics of people.

    Hence,I urge the good professor to broaden his definition of Ethiopia as well as his understanding of democracy and political culture otherwise even foreign professors reccomending the principles and some features of Gada democracy to the US congress might laugh at him.

  38. In my opionion,TEGBAR is teaching us how democracy works. If someone disagrees with somebody’s opionion, one can express his/her ideas without character assassination, just the way Tegbar did it.

    It is not fair for Professor Mesfin to be invited in public on this sensitive issues. The blame should go to those who invited him for this interview.

    I understand UDJ had setback on its meeting. Meles tried to humiliate them by telling them that you cannot do anything without my permission. At this point in time UDJ cannot do anything except to follow his order because their struggle is peaceful.

  39. Well, it may be good to read Tegbar criticism against Prof. Mesfine. I do agree we need to develop a culture of debate and critics as long as it will contribute to our understanding of the current situation. But, in this case it seems a personal attack towards Prof. Mesfine which I think it will harm the struggle to bring unity/solidarity. I do think that most Ethiopian know the work of Prof. Mesfin, he is the persons who has been committed himself for the respect of human right and democracy in Ethiopia. He has demonstrated this in practical terms by confronting the Derg as well as the EPRDF regimes. Let’s not forget we are all make mistake as well the Prof. could make mistakes but let us not reduce and discredit everything at a time. It will be useful to question who we are in concrete terms? How many of us are ready to pay our life in the dirty politics like in Ethiopia? There is a saying that “when you pointing one finger there are five fingers pointing at you”! Let us contribute to construct not to deconstruct to our solidarity.

    Thanks.

  40. I do not understand what we are looking for. What should we expect from the father of our nation [ from professor mesfin]? He has beeen fighting three dictators and was arrested by three dictators and still at the age of 78 he is in the front line.when we the young generation could not do the job, we started to point our finger at our father. Our Professor said the truth. PPl with feudal mentality became an obstacle for democracy like hailu shawul. what we need is. let all fronts sitt together and form one united front if we want to punish TPLF VERY WELL AND free our ppl from salvery. The rest there is no need to focus on UDJ. let them do their job by using any methodes. kene eskiwota ye abateh baria yigezah.

  41. የፕሮፌሰሩንና የሰሜን አሜሪካ ቅንጅት ውይይት አዳመጥኩት፡፡ የተግባር ሊግ በመግለጫው በብዙው ነገር ላይ ተገቢ ምላሽ ሰጥቶበታል፡፡ የማተኩረው በደንብ ሊተች በሚገባው አንድ መሰረታዊ ጉዳይ ላይ ነው፡፡ ጠያቂዎቹም ሆኑ ፕሮፌሰሩ ደጋግመው ሲናገሩ የተደመጠው ሰላማዊ ትግል አብቅቶለታል የሚሉ ወገኖች እንዳሉ፣ እነዚህን ወገኖች አጋጣሚውን በመጠቀም መኮርኮም ነው፡፡ በጣም የሚገርመው ይህ የጠያቂዎቹም ሆነ የመላሹ ጥያቄና ምላሽ ያተኮረው በማን ላይ እንደሆነ ግልጽ ነው፡፡ ኦነግ ኦብነግ አርበኞች እነዚህ ላይ አይደለም፡፡ እነዚህ ድሮም የነበሩ አሁንም ያሉ ናቸው፡፡ የእነዚህ የትግል ስልት ዋና አጀንዳ ሆኖ አያውቅም፡፡ ሰሜን አሜሪካ ቅንጅትም ፕሮፌሰሩ የእነዚህን ድርጅቶች የትግል ስልት አሳስቧቸው ተጨንቀው ሲተቿቸው ሰምተን አናውቅም፡፡ ስለዚህም ዳር ዳር ቢባልም ትችታቸው ግንቦት7ን በሚመለከት እንደሆነ ግልጽ ነው፡፡ ይህ እስከሆነ ድረስ የግንቦት7 መግለጫዎችና የመሪዎቹ አስተያየቶች ሰላማዊ ትግል አይሰራም፣ ወያኔ የወሰዳቸው እርምጃዎች ሰላማዊ ትግል እንደማይሰራ አረጋግጧል ሲሉ ተደምጠው አያውቁም፡፡ አሁንም የአንድነት ፓርቲ የስብሰባ ፈቃድ ስለተከለከለ ሰለማዊ ትግል እንደማይሰራ ማስረጃ ተገኘ ብለው ጮቤ ሲረግጡ አልታዩም፡፡ ግንቦት7 ያለው አንድ ነገር ብቻ ነው፡፡ በሃገሪቱ ህግና ህግ መንግስት አለ፣ የተደነገገው ህግ፣ በመንግስት ባለስልጣናት፣ በህግ አስከባሪወችና በህግ ተርጓሚዎች በስራ ላይ ይውላል ተብሎ የሚደረግ ሰለማዊ ትግል አብቅቶለታል፡ ነው ያሉት፡፡በተወሰነ ደረጃም፣ በተሸራረፈ መንገድም ቢሆን የህግ የበላይነትን ባለስልጣኖቹ ያከብራሉ፣ ህሊና አላቸው፤ እግዜርን ይፈራሉ፣ ህዘብ ምን ይለናል የሚል ምንተ እፍረት ይኖራቸወል በሚል ተስፋ በሌሎች ሃገሮች ውስጥ የተካሄደው ሰላማዊ ትግል በሃገራችን ሊካሄድ አይችልም ምክንያቱም የኛ ገዥዎች ከላይ የተጠቀሱት ነገሮች በሙሉ የሌላቸው ድፍን አረመኔዎች፣ ያልሰለጠኑ አፋኞች ናቸውና ነው ግንቦት7 ያለው፡፡ ስለዚህ በኢትዮጵያችን ሰላማዊ ትግል ለማድረግ ካስፈለገ በሃገራችን ላይ የነገሱትን ገዥዎች ማንነት፣ ለራሰቸው ህግና ህገ መንግስት የማይገዙ፣ በስልጣነቸው ከመጣ በመቶ ሺዎች ሊግድሉ ሊያሰሩ ምንም የማይቸግራቸው መሆኑን የተረዳ የአመለካከት የአደረጃጀት፣ የመታገያ ስልት የቀመረ ሰላማዊ ትግል መተለምና በተግባር መተርጎም ይጠይቃል፡፡ ይህ ደግሞ በቀላሉ ምን ማለት ነው፡፡ በአደባባይ ህገ መንግስታዊ መብቱን በመጠቀም ለመደራጀት የተከለከለ ህዝብ ህገመንግስታዊ መብቱን ለማሰከበር በድብቅ በመደራጀት አቅሙን ማጎልበት ይኖርበታል፡፡ በአደባባይ የተነፈገውን ነጻ መረጃ የማግኘት መብት በሚስጥር በሚዘጋጁ ጋዜጦችና በራሪ ወረቀቶች፣ ከውጭ በሚሰራጩ ራደዮ ጣቢያዎች አማካይነት ማካካስ አለበት፣ የድርጅት አቅሙን ብስለቱን እየገመገመ ደረጃ በደረጃ የሚያድጉ የህዝባዊ እምቢተኛነትን ሰለማዊ እርምጃዎች እየወሰደ ትግሉን ማጠናከር አለበት ማለት ነው፡፡

    ሰለማዊ ትግሉን በሚመለከት ያለው ልዩነት እዚህ ላይ አንጂ ይሰራል አይሰራም የሚለው ላይ አይደለም፡፡ በኢትዮጵያ የሰላማዊ ትግሉ እንዲሳካ ዋስትናው የወያኔን ማንነት በሚገባ የሚያውቁትን ነገር የኢትዮጵያ ህዝብ አንደቅጥል ቢረግፍ ጥቅማቸውን እስከተጠበቀ ድረስ ጉዳያቸውን ያልሆነውን ምእራባውያን ፍረዱን በማለት አይደለም፡፡ በምርጫ 97 ፕሮፌሰሩ በተገኙበት ስብሰባ አንድ ገበሬ አውን ወያኔ በመርጫ ካርድ ይወድቃል ብሎ ለጠየቃቸው ጥያቄ የሰጡት መልስ ምን እንደነበር ወደኋላ ተመልሰው ቢያሰቡት ዛሬ የውጭ ዲፕሎማቶች በሃገራችን ለሚደረገው ሰለማዊ ትግል አዎንታዊ ሚና ሊኖራቸው ይችላል የሚል አንደምታ ያለው ንግግር በላደረጉ ነበር፡፡ ከማንም በላይ የኢትዮጵያን ህዝብ እንደ አለምአቀፉ ህብረተሰብ የከዳው የለም፡፡ አሁንም እየተወራ ያለው ወያኔ ስለሚሰጠው ፈቃድ በህገ መንገስቱ ስለተደነገገ ደንብ፣ በስራ ላይ ሰለሚውል ደንብ ነው፡፡ ግንቦት7 የፈራው ይህንን ነው፡፡ ይህ ከሆነ ሰለማዊ ትግል እየተባለ ያለው ነገር አይሰራም ነው፡፡

    በሌላ መንገድስ በድብቅ በሚስጠር ተደራጅቶ አቅምን ዘዴንና ጥበብን በስውር አካብቶ ደረጃ በደረጃ እያደገ ለሚሄድ ሰለማዊ ትግልስ፤ ግንቦት7 ያለው እንዲህ አይነቱ ትግል ውሎ አድሮ ትልቁ ወያኔን ማንበርከኪያ መሳሪያ ነው ብሏል፡፡ የግንቦት7 አመራሮች ለቀድሞ በልደረቦቻቸው ካላቸው ቅርበትና ወዳጅነት እስካሁን ጠይቀው መለስ ያልሰጡት ጉዳይ ቢኖር እንዲህ አይነቱን በድብቅ ከወያኔ ፈቃድ ውጭ የሚደራጅ ሰለማዊ ትግል ለማደራጀት አንድነትም ሆነ ሌሎች ህጋዊ ድርጅቶች የማያችሉት መሆኑን ነው፡፤ በወያኔ የህግ ጥላ ስር ሆኖ በድብቅ ማደራጀት ቀላል ባይሆንም ቆርጦ ለተነሳ በጥንቃቄና በጥበብ ለሚጓዝ የሚሳነው አይሆንም፡፡ የኢትዮጵያ ህጋዊ ተቃዋሚዎች የተሰባሰቡበት ህጋዊ መድረክና በውስጣቸው ይህንን አይነቱን ሚስጥራዊ የድብቅ አደረጃጀት በስራ ላይ ለመዋል እንዳይችሉ የሚያደርገው የአመለካከትና የአስተሳሰብ ወጥነት ማጣት ሁሌም በወያኔ ፈቃድ ላይ የተመሰረተ ስራ ከመስራት ውጭ አማራጭ አይሰጣቸውም፡፡

    ይህ ደግሞ በቀጥታ ወያኔንን ከመለመን አመላጅ ከመላክ ደስ ሲለው በሚፈቅደው ደስ ሲለው በሚከለክለው የመደራጀትና ሃሰብ የመግለጽ ነጻነት አጥር ታጥሮ መኖር ማለት ነው፡፡ ይህ ሰላማዊ ከምንለው ትግል ጋር ግንኙነት የለውም፡፡ይህ ሰለማዊ ትግሉን ገዳይ አንጂ ነፍስ የሚዘራበት የሚያጠናክረው አካሄድ አይሆንም፡፡

    አሁንም ክርክሩን ማጣመም አቁመን ክርክሩ መሆን ያለበት ሰላማዊ ትግል ይሰራል ወይንስ አይሰራም ሳይሆን፣ አሁን የኢትዮጵያ ተቃዋሚዎች ሰላማዊ የሚሉት እንቅስቃሴ እውን የሰላማዊ ትግሉ አካል ነው ወይንስ አይደለም፡፡ ሰላማዊ ትግል በኢትዮጵያ ፕሮፌሰሩ ባሉት መንገድ፣ አትሰበሰቡም ሲባሉ በኢትዮጵያ ጨዋነት በሰላም በመበትን የሚረጋገጥ ነው፡፡ በውጭም በሃገር ውስጥ ሰላማዊ ታጋዮች ሁሌ በአርአያነት የሚያነሱት ጋንዲ ቢሆን እሽ ብሎ እንደ አንድነቶች ወደ ቤቱ ይለመለስ ነበርን፡፡ እንግሊዞች በህግ የከለከሉትን ጨው ህግ ጥሶ ጓደኞቹን አስተባብሮ ጨው ማውጣት ሲጀመር እምቢ ብሎ ሲታሰር፣ ተከታዮቹ በሰልፍ ቆመው ቆመጥ ይዞ ወደ ሚጠብቃቸው አረመኔ እየተጓዙ አናታቸውን እያስመቱ እምቢ አንነቃነቅም በማለተቻው የህንድ ጨዋነት የጎደላቸው ሊባሉ ነው፡፡ አይመስለኝም፡፡ የአንድነት ሰዎች በህገ- መንገግስቱ የተሰጠ የመሰብሰብ መብት አስከሚከበር ከሆቴሉ በራፍ አንነቃነቅም የሚል አቋም አልወሰዱም፡፡ ድንኳናችንን ማፍረስ መብት የላችሁም ብለው ድንኳናቸውን አንቀው አንነቃነቅም ለምን አላሉም፡፡ ይህ ድርጊት የሚያሳየው አንድነቶች አወቁትም አላወቁትም የወያኔን ሀግና ህገመንግስት ተማመምኖ በህግ ስም በጽናት መቆም ጉዳቱ ከጥቅሙ በላይ ነው የሚል ምክክር ያልተደረገበት መደምደሚያ ሁሉም መድረሳቸውን ነው፡፡ ይህ ባሆን ኖሮ ጋንዲና ወገኖቹ ህግ ጥሰው በሞራል የበላይነት ብቻ ከባላንጣዎቻቸው ፊት መቆም ሲችሉ፣ አንድነቶች ግን በህግ የተደነነገገ መብታቸውን እንኳን በድፍረት ለማሰከበር መጋፈጥ አልደፈሩም፡፡ የወያኔ ማንንነት ሊያደርስባቸው የሚችለው ጉዳት አነስተኛ አካለዊ፣ መንገላታቱም በህግ ከተመጠነው በላይ አልፍም ብለው ቢያስቡ ኖሮ፣ ትንሽ ተኮርኮሞ ትንሽም ቀን ታስሮ መውጣቱን በጸጋ ተቀብለው አንደጋነዲ ሰዎች እምቢ ማለት ይችሉ ነበር፡፡ ያልቻሉት ወኔ አንሷቸው አይደለም፡፡ ወያኔ ደጋግሞ እንዳሳየው ዱላ ለማያስነሳ ጉዳይ ጥይት የሚተኩስ፣ ፖሊስ ጣቢያ ለማያስደርስ ትንሽ ነገር ሰው አስሮ ሃሰት ክስ መስርቶ ሞት ማስፈረድ የሚችል መሆኑን አስቀድመው ስላወቁ ብቻ ነው፡፡ ይህ በእውነታ ላይ የተመሰረተ ፍራቻ በህጋዊነት ክልል የሚደረገውን ማንኛውንም ሰላማዊ እምቢተኛነት ሳይጀመር ገድሎታል፡፡ በዛሬይቱ ኢትዮጵያ ሰለማዊ ትግል መካሄድ የሚችለው ከህግ ከላለ ውጭ በመወጣት ነው፡፡

    ሌላው ትልቅ ቁምነገር ሰላማዊ ትግል መች ተጀመረና ነው አብቀቶለታል የሚሉት በማለት አሁንም የፈረደባቸውን ግንቦት7ቶችን ለመሞገት ሙከራ ያለ ይመስለኛል፡፡ ግንቦት ሰባቶች ሰለማዊ ትግሉ አብቅቶለታል በሁሉም መንገድ ተሞክሮ ከሽፏል ሲሉ ሰምቼ አላውቅም፡፡ እንዲያውም አልተሞከረም፤ እንዲያወም የመርጫ 97 ድል በወያኔ ፋቃድ በተገኘ መድረክ የተገኘ ድል እንጂ ተቃዋሚው በደንብ ባደራጀው የሰላመዊ ትግልና ህዝባዊ እመቢተኛነት ላይ ተመስርቶ የመጣ አይደለም ነው ግንቦት7ቶች የሚሉን፡፡ የ1997 ምረጫ ውጤትና ድል ሰላማዊ በሆነ ሁኔታ የተገኘ በመሆኑ በሰለማዊ ትግል ከተገኘ ውጤትና ድል ጋር አናምታታው ይሉናል ግንቦት7ቶች፡፡ ወያኔ የፈቀደውን መድረክ ህዝብ ለመሰብሰቢያና ለመቀስቀሻ መጠቀምና ወያኔ የዘጋውን መድርክ በሰላማዊ ትግል አስከፍቶ ህዝብን ለመሰብሰቢያና መቀስቀሻ መጠቀም ትልቅ ልዩነት አላቸው፡፡ በእዚህ መንገድ ካየነው ሰላማዊ ትግል በሃገራችን ገና በሚገባ አልተጀመረም፡፡ የእውነተኛ የሰላማዊ ትግል ጅማሮ የታየው ወያኔ ምርጫወን ካጭበረበረ በኋላ በነበሩት ጥቂት ወራቶች ውስጥ ነው፡፡ ከሰኔ 7 1997 እስከ ህዳር 2 1998፡፡ በተደራጀ መንገድ የፖለቲካ ደርጅቶች ህዝብን ለሰላመዊ ተቃውሞ ጥሪ ያደረጉት ሁሉን ነገር ሞክረው ምርጫውን ከወያኔ ማጭበርበር ማስጣል ሲያቅታቸውና ወያኔ ሰልጣን ላይ በጉልበቴ እቆያለሁ በላበት ወቅት የተጠራ ነበር፡፡ ህዝብና ቅንጅት በህገ መንግስቱ የተቀመጠውን ሰላማዊ ተቃውሞ የማድረግ መብት ተጠቅመው የወሰዱት እርምጃ ያስከተለውን መዘዝ ሁላችንም እናውቀዋለን፡፡ ዛሬ ህዝባዊ አምቢተኛነትን ያካተተ ሰላማዊ ትግል ህግን ከላላ አድርጎ ማካሄድ ይቻላል ወይ የሚለው የህዝብና የግንቢት7 ጥያቄ የመጣው ህዳር 2 ቀን ህግን ከላላ አድርጎ ቅንጅት ለጠራው ተቃወሞ ወያኔ የሰጠውን ምላሽ ከማየት ነው፡፡ ግንቦት7ቶች ህዳር 2 ቀን የሰለማዊ ትግሉ ተሞክሮ ያበቃለት ቀን ነው ብለው ሲናገሩ ሰምቼ አላውቅም ፡፡ እንዳውም ገና አልተሞከረም ነው የሚሉን፡፡ ሰለማዊ ትግል አይሰራም አላሉም፡፡ የሚሞከርበትና የሚሰራበት አግባብ ግን አሁን ፕሮፌሰሩና ጓደኖቻቸው በሚሉት መንገድ አይደለም ነው የሚሉን፡፡ ከጨዋነት በመነሳት ግንቦት7ቶች በአደባባይ ያልተናገሩት፣ እኔ ግን የሚመስለኝ

    ግንቦት 7ቶች በኢትዮጵያ ገና ያልተሞከረውና ያላበቃለት የሚሉትን ሰላማዊ ትግል ማደረጃትና መምራት የህጋዊ ፓርቲዎች ስራ ሊሆን አይችልም፡፡ ቢፈልጉም ሊያደርጉት አይችሉም፡፡ ምክንያቱም ስራው ህገ መንገስታዊ መብትን ለማሰከበር የወያኔን ህገወጥ ትእዛዞችንና መመሪያዎችን በየግዜው የሚያወጣቸውን ከህገ መንግስቱ ጋር የሚቃረኑ ህጎችን ጭምር በመጣስ ብቻ የሚከናወን በመሆኑ ነው፡፡ ይህንን በመጣስ ለመንቀሳቀስ በሚፈልጉ ላይ ወያኔ ሊወስድ የሚችለውን አስከፊ እርምጃ የሚያውቁ የቀድሞ የቅንጅት መሪዎች ፕሮፌሰር ይሳቅን በአማለጅነት ከመላክ ያለፈ ነገር ሲያከናውኑ ለማየት እቸገራለሁ፡፡ ከእዚህ በላይ ባያደርጉም በምንም አይነት አልፈርድባቸውም፡፡ ነገር ግን አሁን በያዙት መንገድ አምባገነነንተን ማስወገድ አንደሚቻል አድርገው ማቅረቡንና እንደግነቦት7 የመሳሰሉት በብዛት በሃገር ውስጥና ከሃገር ውጭ የሚገኘው ዜጋ የሚደግፋቸው ንቅናቄዎች ፕሮፌሰሩ የተላበሱትን የፖለቲካ እውቀትና ብቃት ከማጣት ወደጥፋት እየሄዱ ነው የሚል መመጻደቅ መቅረት አለበት እላለሁ፡፡ እግረ መንገዴን ቃለ መጠይቁን ያቀረቡት ሰዎች የተለያዩ ጥያቄዎች ለፕሮፈሰሩ ሲያቀርቡ፣ ወያኔ ሰሞኑን ለሱዳን ያስረከበውን የኢትዮጵያ መሬትና ሰለማዊ ትግል ያለቸውን ግኑኝነት አልጠየቃቸውም፡፡ በኦጋዴን ህዝብ ላይ የፈጠመው ወንጀል ወያኔን በሰው ልጆች ላይ በተፈጸመ ወንጀል የሚያስጠይቀው መሆኑን ህዩማን ራይት ወች ያወጣው መግለጫና ኢትዮጵያዊ ጨዋነትና ሰለማዊ ትግል ስለሚኖራቸው ግንኙነት አልጠየቃቸውም፡፡ ለምን ድርጅታቸው በእነዚህ ጉዳዮች ላይ መግለጫ ለመስጠት እንዳልቻለ የተነሳ ጉዳይ የለም፡፡ እውን ሰለማዊ ትግል አድርገን ወያኔን ወደ ወይይት መድረክ አምጥተን መለስ ዜናዊ ለሱዳን የሰጠውን መሬት መልሶ እንዲያመጣ ማስገደድ እንችላለን፡፡ ወንድሞቻንን አህቶቻችንን ወያኔ ቢገድል ለሀገር ሰንል ለሰላም ሰንል ቂም በቀልን ለማሰቀረት ስንል ይቅር ልንለው እንችላለን እውን ሃገራችንን እየገደለ፣ ማንም ገዢ በታሪክ አድረጎ የማያውቀውን አይን ያወጣ ከሃዲ መንግስት ኤፍሬም ይስሃቅን አማላጅነት በመላክ የመደራጂያ የመሰብሰቢያ ፈቃድ ስጠን ብለን መለመን እውን የስልጣኔ የአርቆ አስተዋይነት የኢትዮጵያዊ ጨዋነት መለኪያ ነው፡፡ እንዲህ አይነቱን አረመኔና ከሃዲ መንግስት ደሜን እያፈሰስኩ በመፋለም ቀደምቶቼ በከፍተኛ መስዋእትንት አስረክበውኝ ያለፉትን ሃገር ለልጆቼ አስተላልፋለሁ ብሎ መሳሪያ የሚያነሳ፣ ደም የጠማው ቂመኛ፣ ኋላ ቀር ደንቆሮ ነው፡፡ ትልልቅ የሃገር ጉዳይ ቀርቶ፣ ድንኳን አፍርሶ በመሄድ ስለተገኘ፣ ሽንፈትን ላለመቀበል፣ ውርደት እንጂ ድል በማይታይበት ቦታ ድል አንደተገኘ አድርገው ፕሮፌሰሩ ሲናገሩ ተው የሚላቸው አስተናጋጅ በመጥፋቱ አዝኛለሁ፡፡

  42. You go your way and let the Professor go his way. The point is ” Yetim fichiw duketun amchiw new”. As long as Tegbar and the Professor are fighting the notorious Woyane, for me they are doing a great jobb. In the struggle against Woyane all methods of resistance should be employed including peaceful resistance from within. Struggle can have different forms and let every one and every political organization follow the form/way of struggle as they see it fit. So all opposition groups should support one another and channel their energy and resources towards battling Woyane in whatever way they think is feasible. God bless all opposition to Woyane!!

  43. THANK U ER FOR YOUR MODEST COMMENT ON PROF. MESFIN TO START WITH.THE ETHIOPIAN PPL IS UNDER NAZI RULE SINCE MELES COMES TO POWER,AND PROF. AND THE LIKES TELL US RESISTANCE IS FUTILE IN ‘UNI- POLAR POWER’ WORLD.THIS BARBARIANS(TPLF) WHO PRACICED CANNIBALISM(IT IS A GREAT TABOO NOW) DURING THIER STRUGGLE WITH DERG , HAS NO BOUNDARY FOR THE CRIMES TO PERPETUATE ON THE INNOCENT AND GOD FEARING PPL OF ETHIOPIA.STILL OUR EDUCATED ELITES ENJOYING LIFE IN ADDIS ARE TELLING US ‘KEEP QUIET AND DIE’.THE ETHIOPIAN PPL IS LIKE UNDER NAZI LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH PURPOSE SINCE WOYANNE RULE;FOR TRIBALISM,DISEASE OF ALL SORTS,MIS EDUCATION,LOSS OF ITS ETHIOPIAN IDENTITY, AND NOW THE LATEST ARTIFICIAL FAMINE.WHAT DID IT TAKE TO RISE UP ARMS MR. PROF.-OUR EDUCATED ELITE.THE PPL OF ETHIOPIA HAD ALREADY DECLARED WAR LIKE IT OR NOT,LONG LIVE GINBOT 7.

  44. my friends /blame not the professor as we fail to understand what he is trying to tell the world.from the current situation ,it is kinijit which has prevailed by succumbing to patience and strong will which the leaders have demonstrated on june 14.woyanne knew if they dont give the go ahead to hold the general meeting ,he will bitten again or denounced by the world .patience is a vertue and this is the lesson of the day from the professor .

Leave a Reply