Who do you stand with?
Tegbar (Ethiopian Democratic Action League) was formed in 1997 with a simple mission: To give voice to the thousands of political prisoners who languish in jail. Since that time we have created international awareness for the plight of political prisoners by staging protest rallies, peaceful civil disobedience, vigils, town hall meetings, and family events in several cities around the world. On the 25th anniversary of the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) in Washington DC, we ask you all to join us and give your voice to the millions of Ethiopians who are languishing under Meles Zenawi’s brutal dictatorship by boycotting all events sponsored by ESFNA.
ESFNA has recently announced that it has received a donation of USD$300,000 from Woyanne businessman Sheik Al Amoudi. By accepting the donation from the Woyanne sheik, ESFNA has made a clear choice to align itself with an individual who is a key supporter of Meles Zenawi’s brutal dictatorship.
The connection between Meles Zenawi’s terrorist regime and the Sheik includes, among many things, that they are being represented in the U.S. by the law firm DLA Piper. This is the same law firm that had represented Woyanne in a recent European Union parliamentary hearing on the political crisis in Ethiopia. Al Amoudi is a major business partner of the Meles crime family. Ethiopian resources, such as gold, are being mined and smuggled out of the country by Al Amoudi’s private planes without the knowledge of even the Meles regime’s own Ministry of Mines. Al Amoudi has also a corrupting influence on the Ethiopian society, particularly the youth, through his public drunkenness, having sexual relationships with multiple partners other than his wives, turning thousands of desperately poor Ethiopian teenage girls into sex toys for his business partners, friends, and bodyguards, using his ill-gotten money to buy Ethiopian artists, athletes and prominent citizens NOT to speak out against the fascist regime, etc. Al Amoudi is a lowlife corrupt businessman, on top of the fact that he is a key financier of Meles Zenawi’s killing machine. He is not a role model for young Ethiopians by any standard.
It is not secret to ESFNA officials that Meles Zenawi’s regime is currently increasing its military budget, spending millions on lobbyists, giving away Ethiopia’s land to Sudan, committing gross human rights violations in and outside Ethiopia, while subjugating, brutalizing, terrorizing and starving millions of Ethiopians and Somalis. Acceptance of Al Amoudi’s donation is an endorsement of Woyanne’s crime on the people of Ethiopia and Somalia by ESFNA. As clear as ESFNA’s choice to stand with the Woyanne terrorist regime, so must our choice be in standing with the millions of our oppressed people.
Taking a stand takes courage. It’s not always the easiest choice, but one that speaks volumes about what is most important to a person/organization. ESFNA could have accepted the donation and made a contribution for the exact amount to the Red Cross or other NGOs working to feed millions of our people who are currently facing starvation. They could have declined and encouraged the Sheik to contribute the money to address the famine in Ethiopia that is caused by the mismanagement of Ethiopia’s resources by the Meles regime. But that would have taken courage. The decision to accept the money shows the presence of obscene greed within ESFNA.
In the 2005 elections, millions of Ethiopians took a stand. Months leading up to that historical day, they came out in large numbers to show a desire for new leadership. When the time to vote came, they came out 26 million strong to stand up and vote for change. Their voices would, however, be muzzled. When they stood up after the election and protested vote stealing, Woyane’s special forces showered them with bullets killing and injuring thousands. Let us take this opportunity to stand for them.
A few years back, Teddy Afro took a stand. In a sold out event at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, he was told by Al Amoudi’s henchmen not to perform one of his songs criticizing Meles Zenawi’s dictatorship. The Sheik was not going to allow Teddy to criticize his friend and partner that night, no, not in his house. As his fans waited in suspense, Teddy Afro had to make a decision — he chose not to compromise his principle. As he currently languishes in prison, let us stand for him.
Tegbar is calling for the boycott of all events organized by the ESFNA. What we are NOT, however, calling for is the boycott of independent activities, such as concerts and conferences. A good number of hardworking merchants have paid money to ESFNA to provide goods and services and they should be supported. There are also many events including concerts and parties that are not sponsored by ESFNA that we can attend and enjoy.
Don’t embrace ESFNA’s choice by purchasing tickets to attend a concert or a soccer match it has organized. Instead, let us all stand up and be a voice to the voiceless.
Stop the Struggle, Join the Fight!
Tegbar.org
67 thoughts on “Boycott ESFNA events in Washington DC”
Please go ahead to stop collecting the money by ESFNA from the dictater trader that expoliting Ethiopian mines.
let us be together to slogan the poor people sound.
this is the simplest thing to do for the diaspora community
if we are really serious about our people back home
things have to be worked out to disminate this info. to especially the youth who are traveling from different states in US and canada for the event.I know many friends of mine are travelling from canada for this event ,will try to distribute tegbar’s call and its content.
This is what Ana gobezae meant when she said “fighting from out side” at the EU PARLIAMENT hearing.
The woyanae crimefamily and Al Amoudi have been working as one towards the distruction of Ethiopia in many ways, hence have been remaining the twin enemies of Ethiopia.
The two destructive aliens must be dealt with fierce resistance to remove them from Ethiopia as soon as possible.
Ethiopians shall win!!!!
As we all know Sheik AlAlmudin and TPLF are joined at the hip who are sworn to swim or drawn togather.They are sucking and tearing Ethiopia to the bone. They insult Ethiopian people intelligence; not to mention the shameful act they did with hired lobbyist this week, this one is the most underhanded skim they came up with. That pig, the Sheik, has no shame at all. He want to divert the real issue of Ethiopians by spending money on singers, fake flags and organizers castume.They have hired western media ready to cover it so they can show it back home and to the world as Happy Diaspora Ethiopians chase soccer ball wearing Al Alamudie’s uniforms. If i were to go there, i wouldn’t but if i do, i will wear” TEAM GINBOT 7″ T-Shirt with Ethiopian flag on the back ground. I would buy 4500000 dollars worth of T shirt like that and give it away to the mass. That would been a dream come true scene. since we cant to that. Stay home. Don’t this pig use us.
There is time to play and there is time for serious business. This one is serious business.
Regards!
Printers please make ” TEAM GINBOT 7″ T-Shirt . Let the voice be heard , help your people.
Aye Elaise and your little leauge tegebar groopes, the sheik has hired and gave a chance to millions in Ethiopia…but you and your groopes what have you done for the last 11 years since you created tegebar…simply put where is the beef, I would be happy if you could give us you could tell us what you have done Ato Elaise????
yes we will boycott the ESFNA ,they are a sale out.
Nonsense!
‘Change’ takes deed – an effort that goes beyond just typing up cheap talk. It takes reason, a clear message, planning, and organization.
“…we are NOT, however, calling for is the boycott of independent activities, such as concerts and conferences…” poof. What about the businesses that have already paid for the tents? The NGOs aspiring to save children who’d contracted the HIV/AIDS virus? And the sports teams’ volunteers? All those youth volunteers? Go damn with them all or they’ve been advised before they invested their scarce resources?
Boycott the recipient but not the donor!? Scratching the surface, jumping up and down to fan the symptoms, without daring to address the root causes? B.S. More B.S. than ESFNA is.
Riding the public domain just like that, like yesefer tej bet, is reckless.
Take this to the bank, tegbar.
YES, BOYCOTT esfna STAND UP FOR MOTHER ETHIOPIA !!!!!!!!!!
yes we ethiopian stand up waik up boycott,ydedboeache sbesbe yhonwe, ESFNA,gegnawe teiddy afro, shiake almudene esune kality prison dark room weste assrote esu ezhea spesial gust hono yesune melke kmamalket mmothe yeshalenale plz all ethiopian ymetweduit y hager ligeoch,b teddy afro namena betrboete, childerns,mothers, setulu atgbue or free tikit hono sweywene morede albene , y ethiopia hizb,amlke yefrdebete.Teddy Afro free, he is not crimanal lhagur bmezfunu almudene assarwe,teddyne ersanwe eko wegenowech,very sade ,
thx Elias for the good job you do .I will not Attend any event organized by ESFNA / .
Thanks Elias,
ECADF is also, campaigning, aggressively, to boycott ESFNA (ESFNA sponcored activities).
In fact, they are organazing some kind of organized action against the shameful, sell-out and corrupt ESFNA.
The arrogance and the cronic corruption in ESFNA
http://www.esfnawatch.com/esfnaemail.html
Dear all,
ESFNA is a mass organization and has no right to exclude any group as long th groug in question ethiopian. EPRDF supporters have to participate in the event. The event has to be non-partisan. Allowing Almoudi to participate is right. But taking care that EPRDF or Almoudi does not control ESFUNA is another issue.
ESFNA should bring together all ethiopian with different political persuasion. “Tegbar” is here wrong. We have to struggle for a better on the basis of what we have now. EPRDF is our political opponent, not an enemy from a foreign country. Almoudi might be corrupt. But this cannot be a reason to prevent Almouding from donating or wanting to support ESFNA.
Addis abeba1..”wesha bebelabet yechohal”your time will come.sooner or later.it is a matter of time.ESFNA is being driven by self centered corrapt oportunist simple business men, who have nothing to do with Ethiopia or Ethiopians,they use the name Ethiopia for thier trade mark.as simple as that.”the hell with them”.Alamude is a simple child molester.
While our people are dying of hunger it is disgusting for people in the Diaspora to feast over their dead Bodies.
The money spent on all these events and unproductive conferences in luxury hotels and expensive halls could have saved thousands of lives. The would be political leaders
and bsusy bodies running around the world at the expenses of the public, instead of being an example of sobriety and responsibility are showing vainglory and lack of conscience
vis a vis the grave crisis in the country.
The idea was good …but i think it is too late.
Great Tegebar League.
You presented a very simple test to challenge the Diaspora Ethiopians and ESFNA whether they are really Love their country and their commitment to fight for freedom and Democracy in Ethiopia or to align with woyane for the sake of simple and self-centered benefits from woyane
I like Good but….’s idea of G_7 T shirt
use all democratic,civilised means available to us in the
US which the people of Ethiopia back home are deprived off.
The people we call hodams there in ethiopia may be doing what they are doing out of no choices but the HODAM here in the diaspora are the really Asamas.Let’s root them out.
THE FIST OF GOD IS INEVITABLE ON WOYANE!
we should boycott. it is not too late
I say not only boycott but disrupt. tegbar’s this is in your back yard. If you cant win this, how could you expect to win the country.
To #6,Addis Ababa1.Are you Ethiopian or ….may be you must got “FEREFARE” from the alamude like some of the people whom we know.
There is no logical justiication for ESFNA to accept bloodmoney from the Sheikh who has been collaborating with members of the crimefamilies in robbing,exploiting,stealing,and of course,wasting the resources of Ethiopia in vain.
If we navigate the surrounding, the Sheikh has came into Ethiopia with dual purpose; namely, to fulfill his international brotherhood obligation via the tplfwoyanae criminal regime by acting Ethiopian on the surface while actively participating in tearing down the motherland in clandestine.
Two:When the tplfwoyane crimefamilies lost the 2005 election to the victorious Ethiopians,the Sheikh came out in anger through the backdoor of the crimefamilyhouse and publicly exposed himself, indeed who he was and who he would be through the lifespan of the tplfwoyanaecrimefamily.
Girls and cattles are both juicy and are in high demand in the middle east or in the gulf, or across the red sea. For $300,000, a lot of innocent little Ethiopian girls and boys can be bought. In Ethiopia, these little girls are going into and coming out of luxurious hotel after being served sweet and candy in exchange for their innocent soul. We lost them.
A few chief Members fo the ESFNA, in fact, have been in conspiratorial madness to be bought and accepting the sum of $300,000 foul and sinful money from the donor. This is a bad deal and a complete disrespect for 2005 victms of the tplfwoyanae criminals.
All Ethiopians must keep distance from chief members of the ESFNA and not to show up for the $300,000 bloodmoney drama because it smells bad.
Return the money to the exploited.
can we dimiss the EFSNA officials because they are out oftouch and don’t seem to understand the sentiments of the diaspora and Ethiopian people
Why is ESFNA hiding its records from the public?
http://www.esfnawatch.com/esfnaemail.html
The Sheik is a cunning mafia type business man. He never invests in business or sponsoring projects unless he is 100% sure that the investment will definitely bring back huge direct and indirect profites both in cash and in kind sooner or later. By investing IN ESFNA he is calculating to buy them slowly but surely. The guy is Wayane’s petty cashman and caters for Wayane political survival.
Boycotting is absolutely correct and justified. Otherwise what is the meaning of talking about the miseries and starvation of 80 million Ethiopians when such looters collect scarce national resources and go on spree and distribute them to whoever stretches his hands for crumbs from criminals.
We can use the gathering as a platform to send messages to TPLF and its supporters wherever they are including those who are joining us here to spy for the regime and its Washington financiers
A large crowd in the stadium can chant slogans denouncing the land transaction carried out between Beshir and Melese, call for end of the bloody occupation of Somalia in our name, the immediate release of Teddy Afro and denounce the hiding of the Famine in Ethiopia and contribute money for the humanitarian organizations not affiliated with TPLF and save our children.
The organizers of the soccer match have no control of the crowd and it is up to us to send our messages back to our people.
We remember how the “great run” in Addis Ababa turns in to anti-TPLF rally and the regime has no control over it and we could do much better here by involving in all events.
Let us prepare ourselves to rally behind our leaders in groups to lead us and make this week one of the memorable anti-TPLF week and we can do it by attending all events if possible. Each one of us can be active in the areas where there are not responsible people to lead the rally.
On top of that we should join the planned rally in front of TPLF embassy and show our solidarity with brave Ethiopians currently battling the TPLF and Janjawid/Derbish militias in our western front.
I have to say that I like the idea of good but, “Ginbot 7 T-Shirt” ESFNA bring Ethiopians togeter once a year, This is a chance to be heard and express your political openions. Boycoting ESFNA is like Leaving your owen house becase a rich gust just walked in to your house and started buying your kids and wife nice gifts. This is our home, our chance to be heard, don’t let him still our show by leaving the stage.
# 27 Tedla Assfaw,
Very impressive, I agree 100%
i think i do have diffrent view . i belive we must go there and tell this ppl i we hate what they do and we got to involve and take this assocation to for real ethiopian people
I comlpetely agree with this call!
Let’s not forget those kids murdered in their school compuond, those tens of thousands hauled to infested concentration camps. Soliciting money from an ardent supporter of woyane and providing him an opportunity to clean his name is a trade-off Ethiopian pride.
ESFNA should be held accountable
Those who happen to attend the event please get your camera and camcorder ready and capture the image of the fight for freedom so it ca be posted every one to see on the web. Pictures speak more than 1000 words. Every one has to do his/her part for Emeye Ethiopia. Take a good images. There is no shame coaching Angry Ethiopians to show their rage, be A Director.
ON the above what is written about “Boycott” me too on the side of you,because the person is also the murders group then , to take money from him is you are his group then your comment to boycott is a stand of a good ethiopan view!!!! I admire for your suggestion ,”LET WE STAND TOGETHER”
elias,
timely, and articulate. the teams come from all over America should set up a transitional committee for next year event until things shall settle up.
I do not think it is hard to do it. The money they get from Sheik should be given to the ngo as you put it rightly.
Bocott esfna’s money minded acts.
thanks
wey gize
Talk is cheap! WE have been talking the last 18 years without any action and we, new generation, are kind of selfish and we don’t want take action which will bring real result. The so called Woyane is used to our cheap talk and he will not change his action unless we committed ourselves to bring down Woyane through armed struggle.
This is a very moving article. I pray that we can come together for such a cause and take our country back.
I for you ,you for me ,let’s stand together because there is no one for me ,no body for you ,we are alone believe it or not it is our sole responsibility to stand guard for each other and kick this mercenaries out of ethiopia.
Look what is happening in zimbabwe,you think the atrocities there, are worse than in ethiopia-there is no one for one for ethiopian only ourselves can bring the mighty on woyane
Dear Ethiopians,
Now, we are told by the so -called ESFANA Board member Ato Fasil ( Addis Dimits Radio) they received the money.
This is extremely disturbing as this tycoon is the strong ally of the regime that killing our generation and destroying the very survival of our country.
Let us not only boycott but also tell these people unequivocally that they will be responsible for this kind of bloody game unless they express their regret and apologize.
The event is a one week expenses so why ESFNA a significant amount of management General expenses? How is possible you can have one year huge expenses and one year $0.00
A. Management General
Year Amount
2006 $106,732.00
2005 $59,864.00
2004 $76,071.00
2003 $12,593.00
2002 $3,546.39
2001 $3,909.00
2000 $0.00
1999 $0.00
1998 $0.00
1997 $0.00
Total $262,715.39
Did Sheik Mohammed private Air plane take ESFNA’s to the Seattle Tournament? 2004 was only $1,245.00.
Gas price was significantly high in 2006 than 2005.
Travel Expenses
2006 $31,827.00
2005 $42,352.00
2004 $1,245.00
2003 $30,491.00
2002 $18,156.98
2001 $8,788.00
2000 $13,800.00
1999 $19,603.00
1998 $15,264.00
1997 $6,188.00
$187,714.98
Necessary, but not sufficient. It worth contemplating and being careful for what ESFNA is doing. But I dont think we should to reach to the conclusion.
Let’s agree with Tedla Asfaw’s point.
God bless
A watchdog group has been formed to investigate corruption inside the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA). According to the group, which calls itself ‘ESFNA Watch’, board members of ESFNA are accused of underreporting earnings, exaggerating deductions and exemptions, and participating in questionable tax shelters. For details, click the groups web site, esfnawatch.com
YES FOR ESFNA AND NO FOR Sheik Al Amoudi!!!
NO FOR DICTATOR WOYANE REGIME (17 BAD YEARS)!!!
YES FOR HR-2003!!!
GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA!!!
NO ONE HAVE A POWER TO DESTROY ETHIOPIA !!!
The Shek is trying to control the diapora through the money his sucked from poor ethiopians. Boycott ESFNA and do a ralley for teddy and Join Ginbot 7.
Thanks Tegbar!
hi, thank u guys
absolutely, i am gonna boycott. thank u for the awareness. because he has money, the sheik thinks he can buy all of us. ethiopians are proud people(excluding some greedy ones who think in their stomach) wouldn’t exchange their life for money. God gives us the strength to fight woyanne and its gangesters till one day our country free. Amen!
It is a rprime time to stand in Unison to fight against these Self sold Mafia TYPE ESFINA with Blood money of Alamoudi. How many times can we tolerate individuals marketing us in the name of Sport and coming together of Ethiopians to advance their corupt egos and greedy interests. If we can not win this fight we are not realy Ethiopians who truely love our freedom and diginity.
THX. Tegbarawiyan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are with you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let us reorgnaize ESFNA in the coming months. Completely restracturing with a new democratically elected leadership a call of the day. Tolerating such corupt and irresponsible individuals in ESFNA no more acceptable. By calling a democratically elected ethiopian and ethio-American community respresentatives in DC in the coming weeks is call of the day. Please Never hesitate to support such noble mission to reorganize ESFNA .
Bertu Eneberta
It is time to show this thugs what we are made of. The disrespect they have is inconceivable. How long are we let them rob our historical and social events where we renew our love and commitment for our country and people. Who had the the stomach to go to their party at the melleniume knowing they killed our beloved young and old on the street of Addis? But we did a shameful act. We people in Diaspora advertises it like it was our wedding. We cheered the pig and his TPLF thugs like they were royal families.We danced, even some of us went from here to celebrate it. Sheik was the hero, their plan worked. Now the same thing again. Are we going to be fooled 100 times. What do they think of us who are willing to form alliance with us. Would the have the faith in us to be partners in time of adverse events. Do we have the spine to stand up for us and for our partners. We have to prove we meant business. No one want to be a partner with procrastinators. They have dividid us in to many KINJITS so we cant know who is who. The fight is not going to be easy, but it always has historic start. This could be it!!!!!!!! Be part of HISTORY. People die for their cause, showing unified resistance in a peaceful country is the least we can do for our people. Believe it or not people back home get ther cue form us. That is why TPLF is spending thousands of dollars for web site developers and hosts to confuse and disorganize Diaspora people. Our people are starving with no the energy to care about TPLF except to pray to live one more day. Lets shorten they suffering.
The resistance is popular, created cool T Shirt, merchandise and make a tone of money.
Stop the struggle, start the fight!!!!!
Regards.
don’t hate the man, hate the game! get a life
If you see ESFNA and EPRDF, they have so many things in common. They do not want others to participate. How can you be operating with openess when you have so much protest from all these Ethiopians.
If I am a member of ESFNA, I would seriously bring this to the executive committee meeting for discussion and bring about some change. I personally experienced mismanagement of ESFNA’s activity more than once and they have an attitude to take people coming to the festivities for GRANTED….very similar thinking like EPRDF…..thinking nothing happen to them.
We may not agree with everything, but we have to pull together on this one to make a profound statement not only to ESFNA but to any one with similar groups. It’s YOUR MONEY and make use of it wisely.