A major Kenyan newspaper picked up the story about the plight of Haile Gebreselassie who abruptly ended his athletic career last week after competing in the New York City Marathon. Yesterday, the New York Times, quoting Haile’s own manager Jos Hermens, reported that the star athlete is facing blackmail and that his phone is tapped by the Meles regime. Will Haile, under pressure from Woyanne propaganda chief Bereket Simon, deny his manager’s claims, or will he have the moral fortitude to stand up for himself and for the people of Ethiopia by telling the truth? — Elias Kifle
Haile Gebrselassie allegedly ended career amid huge pressure from Ethiopian regime
(The Standard) — Claims surfaced in international media alleging that undue political pressure from the Ethiopian government may have compelled Haile Gebrselassie to announce his stunning retirement from athletics after November 7’s New York Marathon.
On Monday, reports from Addis Ababa said much to the relief of distance running enthusiasts worldwide that the world marathon record holder had rescinded his decision to quit the sport that has brought him fame and enviable fortune while elevating him as an inspirational figure among Ethiopian youth.
According to the New York Times, “His agent, Jos Hermens, said from Addis Ababa Gebrselassie had reacted emotionally after leaving the New York course at 16 miles of the 26.2-mile race. He also felt guilty for having dropped out of a half-marathon in New York earlier this year.”
‘Emotional decision’
However, he controversially “suggested that Haile’s emotional decision to retire might have stemmed in part from political pressure he was feeling in Ethiopia. His phone has been tapped by government officials and he has faced some sort of blackmail attempt,” the paper quoted Hermens as having said of his client.”
The report quotes the agent saying, “There is a lot of pressure on him in Ethiopia. I don’t know all the details.”
The Ethiopian Review, an opposition online journal based in Washington, reported this month that Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi’s wife and her associates were attempting to force partnerships with Haile on a new hotel that he had built and on other real estate ventures.
The mayor of Addis Ababa, an ally of the prime minister and his wife, had also recently ordered the confiscation of land that had been leased to the twice Olympics 10,000m champion, the journal reported, citing sources in Addis Ababa.
‘Mother of corruption’
“Zenawi’s wife Azeb Mesfin (commonly known as the “Mother of Corruption”) and her business partners are going after Haile’s enterprises with demands for partnership,” Ethiopian Review stated.
“For a long time, Haile has been heavily investing in real estate development and this year, his new five-star hotel in the town of Awassa was inaugurated. The four-story, 150-room hotel was built at the cost of 200 million birr (Sh2b). Haile is also preparing to build 200 condos in Addis Ababa on 40,000 square meters of land.”
It added: “Recently, Zenawi’s puppet mayor of Addis Ababa, Kuma Demeksa, a close ally and business partner of Azeb, has ordered the confiscation of the land leased to Haile. Apparently, his company, Haile & Alem Real Estate, is competing with other companies who have Azeb as partner.”
“All this pressure came out; he was emptying his heart,” Hermens said.
Haile, who has held 27 world records in a two-decade career, is expected to mark his return at February’s Tokyo Marathon, with the London 2012 Marathon and Olympic gold also in his sights.
12 thoughts on “Haile Gebrselassie ended career amid political pressure”
Haile you are our hero so long as you are behind the poor people of Ethiopia. Birtukan paid a heavy price for speaking the truth , even through you have been known in having people follow you this time you are behind Birtukan . Haile no one taught you how to advance in running ,but now learn some new things from Birtukan brother.One thing you should know is the people of Ethiopia loves its heros but if those heros neglect the love, every thing will change.
I feel sorry for Haile. He shouldn’t end his carrier in such devastated way. I rather want to see him win or loose then proudly announce his retirement. We all Know the TPLF thugs want to take everyone with them. They are trying to reach everyone intellectual, business people or professionals. They want them to lick from da SUGAR. Haile should have known this very well. As far as he is concerned Haile is expected to have prominent business or personal advisers who can clearly indicate any association with the thugs always costs. Now its too late
Azeb the gudit will get him… let alone haile even aboy sebhat was not spared …
Thank you to Ethiopian review the true colour of woyane is exposed all over the globe Haile will be our hero for ever no woyane dedebit retads will take that away from him
thank you Elias
ITS TIME THIS ARROGANT LEADERS STOP MIXING POLITICS WITH SPORT, BUSINESS, OR OPINIONS. I DON’T UNDERSTAND THEIR WISDOM. PRIME MINISTER, MELESSE ZENAWI, HIS WIFE(AZEB)-MOTHER OF ALL CORRUPTION, AND SIMON BEREKET NEED TO KNOW THAT THEIR DAYS OF ARROGANT LEADERSHIP IS NUMBERED. THERE IS A INTERESTING STORIE IN MY COMMUNITY, A YOUNG MAN WENT INTO FOREST TO FIND GOOD TREES TO BUILD A BEAUTIFUL HUT FOR HIMSELF. FINDING VERY GOOD TREES TO BUILD A KIND OF HUT HE LIKED, HE START CUTTING THEM ONE BY ONE. WHEN HE THOUGHT HE HAS ENOUGH FOR HIS DESIRE, HE TIED THEM AND TRIED TO CARRY. HE REALIZED THAT HE CUT THE TREES ABOVE HIS ABILITY TO CARRY. THIS STORIE REFLECTS WHAT THE SO CALLED LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS(TRIBE) ARE DOING IN OUR BELOVED ONLY COUNTRY ETHIOPIA. THEY ARE ELIMINATING OR BLACKMAILING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING THE IMMAGE OF ETHIOPIA IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. MELESSE AND HIS GANGS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COUNTRY OF MILLION BEGGERS THAN SUCCESSFUL AND SELF-SUFFICIENT ETHIOPIA. YOU KNOW WHY? ITS EASY TO BEG WITH POOR CITIZENS. IT WILL BE A MONEY ORDER FOR THEM TO DEPOSIT IT IN THEIR ACCOUNT IN EUROPE OR AMERICA. LEAVE HAILE AND OTHER ETHIOPIANS ALONE TO MAKE DECISION FOR THEMSELVES. HERE IS THE REALITY FOR MELESSE AND HIS PEER PRESSURES, TIME WILL COME FOR YOU AND THEN YOU WILL RUN BUT YOU WON’T HIDE. MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS MY COUNTRY ETHIOPIA AND ETHIOPIANS!
As much a I hate the Weyanes thugs, I simply can’t see any reason why they would interfere with whether Haile should retire or not! What do they gain if he is “Forced” to retire? But, it is Haile that has to come out of the closet, as it were and tell us the story, if there is any!
“Will Haile, under pressure from Woyanne propaganda chief Bereket Simon, deny his manager’s claims, or will he have the moral fortitude to stand up for himself and for the people of Ethiopia by telling the truth?” — Elias Kifle
People of my country,
Leave Haile alone. The fact that Haile’s mentor said so does not necessarily imply Haile’s position. That is just what his manager interpreted. Nothing less, nothing more.
Please, for God’s sake let us stop meddling in people’s life.
I think Haile Gebreselassie should leave Ethiopia and seek asylum in the UK or US. He should return to Ethiopia only when the veil of tyranny has been lifted from the country, i.e when Meles Zenawi’s tyrannical regime is finally toppled
Now he has to be very watchful about his own personal safety. This disgusting behavior by the goon and his scarecrow harem will be extremely damaging to their intimate relationship with the EU. Haile is an icon and has fanatical following in Europe more than he does in the USA. So if he comes out and confirms what his agent has alleged, the Dracula and his cactus drunk wife will not think twice about unleashing their hirelings to do harm on this hero. There is nothing in this world which is deemed displaceable that will make them cringe. Nothing at all!!! Back in 2005, when they found out that they were going to lose the election, they conspired to negate the will of the people and plan to kill anyone who will take to the streets to protest. And they did kill and maim in hundreds and thousands respectively. They sent their well-fed and hand-picked sharp shooters to the streets. They ordered ‘Kill!!!!!’. “Yes..that one..right between the eyes….and that one too …and that one….and that one….young and old’. By the time they are done almost 200 laid dead and hundreds maimed, scarred for life. They sent tens of thousands to unspeakable slammers that make gulags a cake walk. EU cried foul and they thumbed their nose at them. US State Department cried loud foul, and they did the same. You know why? Because they know they have hit a jackpot that was never won.. Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab will chop sacred hands and legs of humans that were beautifully sculpted by Allah(God) and this goon will keep robbing votes and when he feels like it, he will kill and maim. And there is nothing anyone can do about it. If he EU puts a brake on the donation, he has found another harvest of cactus trees ripe and ready to slice in Beijing. Didn’t he just call the recent election report by EU ‘trash’. My hero Haile better be very watchful from here on. First in line will be his property and then things may accelerate toward himself.
He has to get out of that country and sue the hell out of his advisors. This tagadlay government is sent to Ethiopia as some kind of punishment. Every body know the tegagadalay government is narrow nationalist,
Dear long distance runner Haile Gebreselassie looks sadndwiched betewwen his career and the current regime of Ethiopia , its own leader Melese Zenawi.Haile himself may make big mistakes by applausing the Melese party while Ethiopians remain stranded remaing out of justices, rights after all.In such case Haile may have been used as instrument on the regime’s side.In this case Geberselassie can make his recent story to get reached end twist.Or he will/ would/ perhaps tighten the noose on himself!
after few years weyane will start to drink ethiopian blood, their money is alread took by weyane.