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”
This presentation adresses my feelings and beliefs and the reality in a precise manner. In the mean time I have been listening to an inerview with the Chairman of the Federation (Dawit) on the VOA Amharic. I was dissappointed by Addisu Abebe.
ESFANA is a non tigrina speaking WEYANE or HODAMS.
They should call themslves “Al Moudis YECHIN GEREDS”. I heard some do sleep with him on and off…
It is love between guys….FINAFINTS…
I have cancelled my flight to DC!If you are determined do like me.That is it!I will not attend the propoganda of woyane’s missionaries.I know people have two tongues,they promise but will not practice it.
We can boycott it.
I do agree with Tegbar. ESFNA has to do the following. The accepted money is their property by now thus either they have to donate it to Ethiopian NGO to hulp our people or give back the chek with a foot not ” You cannot buy us with the blood of our own people” If they don’t dare to say no to this guy they are collaborator’s just like banda’s at the time of Ethio-Italian war.
” Make choise!!” any one can make a mistake- recognise you mistake as soon as possible and try to do the right thing Ethiopians will forgive you if you don’t do that consider it your country is your money.
bye now
Yes, Lets all boycatt all the events by ESFNA, I and a lot of my family memebers and friends who live around washington, dc are already decided not to go to a single event organized by ESFNA, however there are several public meetings, sympoziums and other events around washington dc which keep us busy the whole week including the public meeting of UDJ, Ginobt 7, the public meeting of prof. almariam and others……NO MONEY TO ESFNA…..A GROUP OF GANGESTERS THAT ARE ORGANIZED TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE ETHIOPIANS…..HODAM ESFNA EXECECTIVES SHAME ON YOU….
Thank you so much guys, I was in a complete dilemma to come to DC with my families now i canilled the programm. please keep up the good works.
thanks
lets creat our own ESFNA.
tHAT IS THE SOLUTION
Fellow country men and women!
Boycotting the event and disintegrating the cultural, socio-
economic, political intercourse and disrupting the annual get together is the whole motive of the $300 000.
They achieved their goal! Therefore, before you mobilise about boycotting, why don’t you think ahead and deeper! Denounce the action of the individuals or committee for accepting poison wrapped with gold to divide the Ethiopians. Ask them to say “No THANKS!” and return it to him, or donate to the sick and starving children of Ethiopia. Make it public and make a point. But, don’t boycott the unity and the media of addressong current
burning issues of the existence of our Ethiopia. All it
takes is just $300 000 to kill the 25 year old event?
They would win, if you get into their trap by boycotting!!
Think again! What we need is unity of action to save our
home. Not to burn it down with the fuel they provided!
ESFNA is not a political organization. They can collect donations from any, any organizations and individuals as long as they do not involve in politics. This is the only time of the year for all of us “Ethiopians” here in the US and Canada to get together and spend good time. Come to the event, look for your old friends, enjoy and go home. No politics.
elias i never liked you but this is the first time you came with practical action.this we can do boycott the other face of meles.including avoiding from our community activities those who are working day and night to kidnap and exploit our diaspora for this purpose.boycott also al-amoudis servants here in washington dc.lets take esfna from handul thieves and dc streetboys .they can sale there wives,their personalities to him.thats thir business.not selling the strong ethiopian community.we have ethiopian pride getit;;;
Thank you Tegbar, Action not talk. This is the time.I was ready to attend this event,but I cancilled it. I will take my kids to different other activities/events not organized by ESFNA.The Shek thinks he can do what ever he wants because he has money ( Our money ). They know it is a blood mony but they are a good instrument. Let us show the world how we feel, send strong message. Let us take this opportunity to show our solidarity, we are proud people not what wayane thinks.
The main purpose of that cheque for a $300,000 is to kill the unity and harmony among the great Ethiopians and consequently to lead us into mistrust and antagonism in our organizations thereby,to dilute our Ethiopiawinet. Period.
Yes, members of the committee in ESFNA have sold out their responsibility for being bought out by that mafia sheikh whose close affilation with the tplfwoyanae robbers has been known for nearly and even more than 20 years.
Yes, there are a lot of capable,accountable,and responsible ladies and gentlemen who can tke the leadership and serve Ethiopians diaspora and the rest by safegurding ESFNA from tplfwoyanae supporters and looters and infliteratores.
In the future, all those candidates who would run for the assuming the position in ESFANA should undergo a through security background and make sure they are absolutely fit for taking ESFNA into a new stage and spot.
AS for that mafia Al Amoudi, he shall be dislocated to where he came from when the tplfwoyanae robbers are removed form the surface of Ethiopia.
First of all it is very shame to say boycot ESFNA
just because they recived 300,000 dollars from al amoudi.
I want to give you advice. please do not follow your emotion follow riality. go to ethiopia and see for your
self what changes has been achived durig the last 15 years
do not be devil’s advocate.
Guys the vendors paid $3200 and they are around 100 ,which brings the total to $320,000.00 imagine that. By the way we should continue to boycott the entire event by ESFNA and help the vendors sue this criminals with class action. The reason be after they got paid by the tujar + vendors =$620,000.00 they start charging parking $10.00 and entrance $15.00 , now tell me who will afford to go and spend more in ESFNA fiasco?
Botycotting is not the answer, that is what the Weyane and Al Amoudi wants us to do and their cronies on this forum! Instead of boycotting, kick out those who work for the Weyane and Al Amoudi in ESFNA commission and bring back the ESFNA that used to be, that unites Ethiopians, that helps Ethiopians. Don’t run away, speak out and take control of ESFNA for the Diaspora Ethiopians. You are giving strength once again for Weyane and Al Amoudi in America. Shame!
Shame, we don’t even have power and freedom in America, it is embaracing!
Kalubicha Zerbkud says:
You wrote “Yes, members of the committee in ESFNA have sold out their responsibility for being bought out by that mafia sheikh whose close affilation with the tplfwoyanae robbers has been known for nearly and even more than 20 years.
Yes, there are a lot of capable,accountable,and responsible ladies and gentlemen who can tke the leadership and serve Ethiopians diaspora and the rest by safegurding ESFNA from tplfwoyanae supporters and looters and infliteratores.
In the future, all those candidates who would run for the assuming the position in ESFANA should undergo a through security background and make sure they are absolutely fit for taking ESFNA into a new stage and spot.”
Speaking of ladies who can take the leadership and serve Ethiopians diaspora at esfna, yes we have many. Do you know the founder of the ESFNA non profit organization is a woman, YeharerWork Gashaw? She will be a great leader for esfna. YeharerWork is not loved by most esfna executive memebers as well as so call sub committee due to her priciple “Ethiopia and its people First”
Elyas Kifle, zereh yelemlem yagofta ko.