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Resolving the ESFNA impasse

Posted on , Updated on by Fekade Shewakena

By Fekade Shewakena

Almost every year there appears to be some ritual around the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) of creating a dust up, on issues big and small. I have always found myself on the side of the Federation and defended it to the best of my ability. I did so, like many others, largely because I respect ESFNA as one institution that has survived multiple intra-community rancors to become the only long standing good Ethiopian Diaspora institution we ever succeeded in creating. None of the controversies ESFNA faced so far however, rise to the magnitude I am observing now around the accusation that it reversed its own democratically made decision to invite Birtukan Mideksa as its official 2011 guest of honor. Unless we do a reasoned and civilized discussion and solve this impasse and if we keep digging our heels on all sides, I am afraid this one could end up being the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Already, I came across some Ethiopians who are planning on a huge cultural festival in Washington DC during the same week that ESFNA’s is to be held. We will be making a tragic mistake if we hurt this long standing organization by either diminishing its usefulness or break it up altogether. A good part of the responsibility sits on the Federation. The suggestion that the debate is driven by tabloids, as the recent statement from the Board states, underestimates the community’s knowledge and concerns. We all know a widespread wave is developing. Let’s reverse it.

I assigned myself the role of a shimagille and took some time to do some research to look at the facts before making any accusation or suggestion. Like a good shimagille, I will put the facts as I see them, and in the best traditions of our Shimgillina, I will make my suggestions for a remedy in clear language. I will keep an open mind to be corrected and informed if I am mistaken. I want ESFNA to be stronger and live longer and I want to keep supporting my Maryland teams every year. Far more importantly, I also want the events ESFNA holds annually to be, enjoyable, lively and live up to its motto of “bringing Ethiopians together”. Holding the annual event is not an end in itself. Nothing may stop the Board from holding the Atlanta event in 2011, but it is possible that it can hold it without “bringing Ethiopians together”.

I have tried to straddle both sides of the argument without flunking the facts and the substance. I see a lot of over explaining of the problem from both sides of the argument. But more often than not, the explanations veer way out of the core issue of contention and confound the misunderstanding even more. ESFNA’s official press releases and statements were more of defensive and fail all tests of our past experiences with it. It is not helping us, its supporters, or itself. Some accusations against the Board and its members were in many cases over the top and, in my view, should be replaced with more reasoned debate.

One thing that I clearly came to understand as I tried to study the problem is that all the members of the Board are admirers of Birtukan Mideksa as a person, particularly as a young woman, who made sacrifice to fight for freedom and justice in our tormented country. I have found out that even some among those who are accused of being on the side of the decision to reverse her invitation are her admirers. A good number of the members of the board may not be politically minded but all of them are patriots who love Ethiopia and admire what Birtukan did and the inspiration she has become for a generation of Ethiopians, particularly the women of our country. In fact, all the members of the Board believe they are contributing their share to mitigating the divisive policies of the dictators who divide and rule our country and people. The reference by some individuals on the media to some board members as stooges of the ruling regime is off the mark and should stop. If anything, this kind of accusations pushes innocent Ethiopians away from the community mainstream. It is important that we stop trashing their names and services. We should not lose sight of their contribution even when we have to criticize them harshly as I do right here. ESFNA’s board members are like every one of us, members of our community, who love their country and the freedom of our people, and whatever problem that they have are problems that each of us have as members of the community. They make mistakes. End of story.

Clearly the board has mangled its decision making process big time. In fact, I was ashamed to find out that they didn’t even follow elementary procedures of parliamentary democracy when they decided this controversial case. This cannot happen even in private clubs let alone a public nonprofit organization. That this kind of careless disregard for basic procedure happens in America makes it even more damning. Many of the board members are intelligent people and should know better. There is a sound and legitimate procedure we follow everywhere for changing any decision involving collective responsibility. The board has simply stampeded all civilized discourse in this case. To its credit, the Board does not deny that this unspeakable thing happened. The problem it is in now is that it is trying to correct a mistake by another mistake.

In my view the problem is solvable without a lot of legalism and lawyering. The suggestion that the Federation will violate its 501(C3) status if it invites Birtukan is the lamest of all the excuses I heard and read about. I have been a director of a 501(C3) organization for over three years and know how it works. The only time you will violate your 501(C3) status is when you endorse the political view of a partisan political organization of the United States. I suggest that everybody drop this dishonest crap from the argument.

The only plausible argument to exclude a political partisan Ethiopian or a US politician, for that matter, could be only if the bylaws of the Federation clearly state that it will not make political personalities its official gusts. Only then would the argument not to invite Birtukan or reconsider the decision to reverse her invitation will have any merit for debate. But even then that would not prohibit inviting Birtukan as a former prisoner of conscience, that Amnesty International, other human rights groups, the UN and even the government of the United States so declared. Strangely, the bylaws of ESFNA are not on its website. I haven’t read it. But multiple members of the Board told me that that is not clearly stated in the bylaws either. By removing its bylaws from the website, the Board is looking like it has something to hide and should post it at its earliest convenience. Transparency disinfects many things. Moreover, that there were precedents of inviting partisan politicians to speak at ESFNA events, though, in my view, not substantively pertinent to this argument, kills the nonprofit status excuse. I have confirmed from some members of the board that the Board has changed its decision to invite Birtukan after some emotional confrontations took place right after the voting ended and Birtukan was elected and some Board members have already left the hall. It is one thing to reconsider a decision through a normal procedure of submitting petition and reconvening a meeting for reconsideration at a later date, it is another to reverse it simply because an impassioned quarrel occurred right after the decision and some board members have felt the need to quell it. I wouldn’t be surprised if such a decision is made in Ethiopia where it routinely happens, but in America? Com’on!

Another credible argument from the side of those who are for reversing the decision is that her invitation will open precedence for inviting politicians from every political side. One Board member rhetorically asked me what would stop the board if some day it decides to invite Abadula Gemeda or Bereket Simon to be gusts of honor by securing a majority vote. The most reasonable response one could give to this argument is that, yes, if Bereket or Abadula touched our hearts by doing some magnificent things for our people and merit our gratitude they can be invited. If, for example, Abadula stands up to Meles and demands that the thousands of Oromo political prisoners rotting in the jails be released and succeeds in bringing redress to the plight of these citizens, I will consider him a good humanitarian deserving being a guest of honor. If I am a board member I will vote for him. I mean this sincerely. As long as he or she shows a demonstrable achievement that can make us proud as Ethiopians and solves some problems, anybody can be invited in recognition of the specific contribution they made irrespective of what political position he or she holds.

Nobody is arguing that Birtukan be invited as a guest of honor simply because she is a favorite opposition leader or millions of Ethiopians love her for her globally admired sacrifice for our people. The center of the contention is that her invitation which was decided by a majority vote of the members of the Board is reversed unlawfully. We are given this amazing excuse that the people who nominated and seconded her nomination withdrew their nomination after the vote was counted and Birtukan’s election was announced and some board members have already left. I understand they did it to avoid a serious and impassioned conflict that erupted in the meeting hall. That is the truth. But we have to agree that this is a very primitive way of making a collective decision. It is shameful to say the least. We have enough of this kind of things in Ethiopia to be ashamed about: why add one here where we live in freedom? Do you remember when Kenyans were saying, “This is not Ethiopia!” when Mbeki stole their votes in 2006 and went out to fight back to reclaim their votes? We should understand that we have a country where people were massacred demanding that their stolen votes be appropriately accounted for. Wasn’t ESFNA’s condemnation of the 2005 massacre one of its shining moments?

Here is the problem. If the intention of the board was to avoid a political person from invitation, it erred when it let the nomination stand in the first place and we wouldn’t have been in this argument. The decision was legal and binding whether some liked it or not. What the Board does since then is trying to solve a mistake by another mistake. By so doing the members of the Board are disrespecting the community and themselves.

I have no problem with the Federation of accepting the controversial Sheik’s funding. God love the Sheik and add more money in his pocket for that. The only problem I will have is if he demands some sort of a quid pro quo and the federation decides to engage in that. He has every right to support or fund the federation and hold any political view he wishes. The quarrel over this rich man’s funding of ESFNA, we have had so far, is a useless argument as far as I am concerned. But the Board should be reminded of a big hole in its repeatedly stated position. The rich sheik, a self admitted activist and financier of the ruling party in Ethiopia, is sitting as a permanent honoree of ESFNA. This will be hard to stack up what the rationalization of some Board members to revoke Birtukan’s invitation. Are we watching a double standard?

Some Board members are telling me that “ESFNA survived many controversies before and will ride out this one too.” I see this one to be more difficult to ride out without fixing the impasse.

My suggestions:

1. Reinstate the invitation of Birtukan and diffuse the widespread anger in the community and avert an impending danger to ESFNA’s survival as a respected organization. Acknowledgment and invitation of Birtukan can be made by referring to her as a former prisoner of conscience declared by International Human Rights groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, including the government of the United States. Her invitation should not state or relate to her being the leader of UDJ. If avoiding political personalities in the future is the issue, amend the bylaw carefully and apply it as of 2012 and make the decision on the same minutes Birtukans reinstatement is made.

2. ESFNA cannot live in a bubble, completely separated from the social, political and economic realities of our country. That was why it had to take the appropriate and honorable step of condemning the massacre five years ago. The public participating at ESFNA events does not participate because it is a soccer fan. The Board, I believe, understands there is more to ESFNA than pure soccer. I am not suggesting that it become a political activist organization. But nothing should stop it from expressing its position on violations of human rights in Ethiopia, war and peace, poverty, corruption and the like.

I trust that the members of the Board will do the right thing and continue to “Bringing Ethiopians Together” and more closer to one another with every passing year.

(The writer can be reached at [email protected])

32 thoughts on “Resolving the ESFNA impasse”

  2. The most sensible comment and working suggestion ever made in reference to the problem we are facing around the issue of ESFNA and Birtukan’s nomination.
    Thank you Mr. Shewakena for informing the public in a very articulate manner and ‘chewanet’! Hope everyone will be able to benefit from this and suck up his/her pride and start working together again!

  4. ESFNA = Ethiopian Soccer Federation in North America.

    Thank you Feke for a wonderfull solution. ESFNA should accept your suggesion, and bring an end the on-going problem. Many of us who have been participating in ESFNA have been waiting to see people like you. We need people who bring all of us together. As there is so much that divide us, we don’t another one to be added.

    I always like your balanced stand, please continue the way you have always been. As for the shimgelina, I can’t think a better person than you. You seem to have an excellent relation to both sides. And only people like you can resolve the problem.
    Keep up the great work, we are behind you.

  5. Well said Ato Fekade. Let us hope the board accepts your recommendations. Above all let us hope Ms. Burtikan accepts the invitation after all the unnecessary brouhaha. The invitation would have been more appealing if it had been made with respect and without the uproar its revocation caused.

  6. the bigger picture is not the process but the principle. many sober people agree that the board made a mistake when it puts a political leader for the vote in the first place. even fekade seem to consent that. and the reason is most people want esfna and its yearly event to remain non political. believe me some people can make a case why abadula should be nominated, despite being numbered, and if we go by the rule their voice should be listned too. this is not what majority ethiopians want. the last thing we want to see is people like you shouting at the event. finally i am sure birtukan will turn down the invitation unless she is black mailed, on the ground of leaving this beautiful event free from the toxic politics.

  7. It is good commentary but it has a poor logic or analysis of inviting Aba Dula or Bereket. What is the criteria for you to evaluate one’s humanitarianism, just opposing Meles that is so poor argument.

  8. fekade,

    you are simply going around with out any substantial facts while you try to play a double ground……the blind truth is that we should demand esfna some vagabond alamudi servants and we should be able to create some sort of group that should challenge esfna few aladmudi servants in side esfna using some strong other board memebers and outside group in North America that would challenge esfna bring them to justice if needed not only for reversing thier decission but also for thier account that has never been audited! so forget this ato fekade shewakena crap…

    elias, please continue to work with some people as you should ask our support whenever needed,

    tnx

  9. ESFNA has crossed the wishes of the diaspora community it is supposed to serve – Period. We don’t need apologists for corrupt culture.

    With all due respect to Ato Fekade, his writings are similar to the so called “Shimagiles (Professor Efrem Isaac)” – Woyane apologists serving Melese Zenawi!

    It is time for Ethiopian Communities in North America to purge the “LUMPENS” who are currently dominating ESFNA – and bidding on behalf of the “Al Amoudi” – Get rid of Ayaya, Sebsebe and all those who are linked with them – for the re-birth of ESFNA free of these corrupt “cartton” characters!

  12. As one of the real founders of ESFNA I am very thankful that
    there are still some people like you who are neutral enough
    to articulate what should be done.Thank you Fekade!

  13. “Sheik’s funding” that answers the question why the board decided to disinvite the most famous politician admired and adored by millions of Ethiopians. Since the Sheik is a close partner of weyane in looting the country’s wealth, obviously he will not allow for Birtucan to be seen bigger than his midget buddy. We are all here because of the political situation in our country and I am sure ESFNA board memebers are no different, unles some of them are weyane stooges. Everywhere I go and talk to my fellow Ethiopians, all of them were mad as hell by the board’s decision to reverse the invitation. If the board thinks it represents the people’s interest, it should re-instate the invitation and apologize.

  14. Well said Ato Fekade!ESFNA should admit the mistake,rectify,
    and move on.By the way, some Board Members actually leave
    as soon as they cast their vote to catch a Plane.In some
    instance if some agendas took too much of their time some
    of them leave before they cast their vote.

  16. These individuals, in the so called board have comitted several crimes. They tried to practice dictatorship by physicaly threatning other members. They reversed a decission that was dimocraticaly decided. They don’t practice transparency, they hide their by- laws,undeclared account ,rampant embezelment of funds.undeclared source and amount of funds from foreign individuals and firms. All these should be clearly stated and presented to the government.
    If all these are not catagoricaly stated and cleared at the end of each phiscal year, they should know very well that the time has come to assume accountability and responsibility .
    These wicked individuals deserve to be impeached immidiately.

  17. <>
    Ato Fekadu: Would you please kindly tell us where your evidence is for your allegation quoted above?
    You very well know that just because you dont see it there now does nt mean that it was there before.
    Why would you want to use the word ‘removal’ ‘something to hide’ …etc without any evidence.
    One more thing: you’ve said you work with a 501 c(3) organization and because of that you know the rules. Should we automatically assume that you know the IRS rule just because of that? What about these Board and Executive members of ESFNA? They too work for a 501 c(3) organization.
    I thing it is better that we speak on issues we are very familiar or even somewhat familiar with. I applaud Attorney Shakspeare Feyissa.

  18. The interview with Meron, lawyer Fesil and Haile was interesting.

    I can not believe how Haile was covering up.

    I know the following facts for sure.

    ESFNAWATCH requested to get the tax return and ESFNA refused. Haile was lying that if any one request you can get it a false statements.

    The bylaw was removed after ESFNA was charge in court.

  19. I realy like ur explanation well done. I’m a memmber of team las Vegas our team vote for Birtukan I’m happy about it, but nobody talk to us (players) about it. That is not right. We as a team should choose who to vote for. What they did 2 or 3 self apointed commiti decided by them self. If they did not vote for Birtucan we all going to get blame for it. It is not right. So it is every where. What we need to do is stand up and fight this is “America” not “Ethiopia”. Thank’s. “every assosiasion need to be clean up”

  20. Ato Fekade Shewakena, I appreciate your concern and suggestions to “resolve” ESFNA’s issues. You have to understand, issues with ESFNA are already chronic.
    There is no year that wentby without the leaders of ESFNA apologizing subsequent to major blunder. It is high time now to contemplate a permanent solution, not a wishywashy short-term way-out for these vagabonds to give them another chance to guff.
    It does not matter any more whether or not they reconsider inviting Birtukan. That is not the issue any more. These organization has to change for good. We can change it. We have the ability and the power. GO FOR REOGANZING OR RE-ENVENTING THE ORGANIZATION.

  22. ESFNA is system designed to make money from Ethiopian diasporas and Alamudie using the slogan BRINGING ETHIOPIANS TOGETHER as a pretext. It is all about money that each board members steals every year after the tournament. The only reason why ESFNA would not invite our HERO Burtcan is because of Alamudi’s money they are getting every year. Even though as you Elias mentioned, it is true that there are woyanee board members in the organization.

  23. Well said Ato Fekade!I just want to add
    that the Board should get rid of those members who mislead them.They have to
    start with Ayaya Arega the mother of
    all crooks.

  24. Thank you for a balanced thinking.

    I read your article regarding ESFNA with great interest. In a nutshell, I agree with your assessment except for the so called Sheik.

    Having lived in Washington, DC area and having seen the first Amharic radio (Aend Ethiopia) in which I contributed my part for its existence currently serving the brutal regime – Woiyne, my feeling for ESFNA is soar if not bitter.

    In your article, I also read good news that some Ethiopians are planning to hold cultural event in Washington, DC during that time. I applauded those brave souls. I said to my self Welad be dibab tihid. Ethiopia has still brave souls. If that holds true, my plan for ESFNA shifts to my adopted DC with my family to be at the festival. I will start organizing in my area of NY/NJ. At least, I can get a van full of patriotic Ethiopians. If the event in DC will not take place, I rather head to Europe than participating on ESFNA’s event with this controversy hanging over them. They lose me forever. In the past, I tried to be part that event as much as I can. My family and I are addicted to it, but nothing comes before Ethiopia.

    I hope ESFNA will reconsider its decision per your suggestion.

  25. No birtukan no soccer. Why are we begging them after they did exactly what Meles did back home. How many times do we let our votes stollen. I sudjest the teams boycote this Al amudi meles tournament. Period.

  26. As good as Fikadu’s intention can be…..his effortsand suggestions canalso bear forward more questions than solutions. It says in the bible….. Mathew 6:24 One can not serve God and money at the same time. One or the otherand nothing in between or half-half.
    It o ly indicate how the ESFNA is so corrupt inherently that the best solution is to compromise with it. Period! How about the power of the people? Is there such a thing called “the power of the people?” Ordovician ESFNA respect the people’s choice or that of it’s own board? What else Can be more unifying than Birtukan for Ethiopians. In a country where dividing communities and ethnics is a daily political diet of the weyane’s divide and plunder politics, birtukan dared to unite and challenge the ethnic politics ofthe weyane….. and she got into a weyane’s dungeons doing so.
    As far as the venders, who pay their rent money to the ESFNA, are concerned, they will go where more people go & where more profit can be made. This is where the power of the people, who are labelled as “consumers” first and human-beings second, come to the equation. Everything, ultimately, boils down to money, profits, interests & ego, while principle & moral take a back stage.
    It sounds like the corridors of Capitol hill crowded by hundreds of lobbyist everyday to buy the congressmen, bypassing the people who elected them. That is called corruption in other countries but it’s institutionalised in the US and seems to rub it on ESFNA as a normal way of life. Arrogance, greed and lies……. But how long is it going to be sustainable for? Even that way of life is eating away the US from inside out. That might not be visible for some wallowing in a gluttony of corruption but it’s inevitable that it’ll come at you like an avalanche, BIG TIME! In UK, under normal circumstance, a charity association or organisation has to have or call an AGM every year to nominate and elect its MC or board members. But in a country wallowing in corruption as a norm in US, the case seems like if you got the dosh …. you can do anything and the people will follow the money is. As long as this is the trend, the impass will remain a more tangled impass.
    God bless the people’s struggle for a just justice.

  27. ESFNAWATCH requested to get the tax return and ESFNA refused. Haile was lying that if any one request you can get it a false statements.

    The bylaw was removed after ESFNA was charge in court.

    You are wrong here. ESFNAWATCH had everything he requested but not from us but from IRS. If you want you can request through your soccer club or directly from IRS… The only criteria is you have to identify yourself to IRS or to ESFNA secretary when you request financial statements. The by law was removed after it was amended by the board and it is with our legal council for review. If you are interested I have a copy and will be willing to share it with you. After all ESFNA is a public organization and there should be nothing that will be hidden from the public. The by laws, its financial statement and board of directors meeting minutes should be public..

  28. Selam Gebru,
    It is very interesting to read from you. As a founder of ESFNA and a long time board member from DC your voice has a lot of meaning to all of us who wants ESFNA to take the right path. The correct path now is to admit the mistake, reinstate the board of directors vote and remove those who are trying to destroy this organization

    Thank u Fekade for this great article. Your observation and suggestion will save this organization. My strong hope is all concerned ESFNA members and family will follow your suggestion. There is no other way… Respect the majority decision or leave ESFNA to those genius THIOPIANS….

  29. Gebru W.Amanuel says:
    As one of the real founders of ESFNA I am very thankful that
    there are still some people like you who are neutral enough
    to articulate what should be done.Thank you Fekade

    Gebru, A a founder of ESFNA and a long time DC board members we need you at ESFNA. ESFNA needs people like you and thank you for your input, we need to hear from all ESFNA founders.

  30. They have no choice but accept your offer.If they really
    want to improve ESFNA’S image the EC & the Board has
    to go a little further.Do not accept Ayaya & Sebsebe as
    D.C.representatives;the way they rejected Yosef Gizachew,
    when he tried to come back.From what I heard after the vote
    had taken and Judge Bertukan won; Ayaya came to the floor
    and start crying claiming that the Honorable Judge is bad
    for ESFNA.Then one of the BM -who really knows Ayaya-
    called him “hodam”,and at this moment Ayaya’s body guard
    Sebsebe charged to the BM to hit him.Then chaos started
    a couple of members said they changed their vote-which
    is illegal in their own by-laws.This is a summery of what
    happened at that meeting.Ladies & Gentlemen all these
    fiasco started because of Ayaya Arega & Sebsebe Asefa.
    I leave in D.C.all the decent members of D.C.Stars team
    have left the team after 2009 summer because of these
    two guys;now they have the team to them self.

  31. Why in earth did this Wayone dogs be memeber of ESFNA not alone in bord it
    is just Nazi be a memeber of socialdemokrat party or liberal party here in Europe we do not have that kind of probelm just because we do not let them be member in the organization

  32. I respect your point of veiw but I feel we are trying to grow tef in a rice feild.
    The federation should be left alone.Let them make their own mistakes; let them correct it whenever they see it as a mitake.Let us respect their wisdom: 27 years of service to the diaspora.
    let us not interfere in teir internal affairs(organizational).
    By the way this type of reversal of vote happens:watch “INVICTUS” the movie.

    long live sanity and tolerance!

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