The Beijing Olympics was opened with an extravagant ceremony yesterday. It was indeed the mother of all shows. Athletes from a record 204 countries marched proudly through the stadium carrying flags of their respective countries. Of course we eagerly awaited our Ethiopian athletes to do the same. Instead, when Ethiopia’s turn came, what we saw is reflective of the current ethnic politics in Ethiopia dominated by the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne).
Ethiopia’s superstar athletes such as Haile Gebreselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba and others were no where to be found among the Ethiopian delegation. Instead, the flag (with that ugly Woyanne logo in the middle) was carried by Miruts Yifter, a great Ethiopian athlete from the 1970s, followed by Ato Seyoum Bereded, a Woyanne cadre who has never done any sport in his life, and some individuals from Tigray whom we have never seen compete in any international athletic event. It is obvious that the only reason Miruts, who had retired from athletics some 25 years ago, was selected to carry the flag is that he is a Tigrean. In short, the so-called ‘Ethiopian delegation’ at the opening ceremony did not reflect Ethiopia at all. It was a delegation from one ethnic group where the ruling party claims to come from.
Under the Woyanne minority rule, ethnic politics is injected in every part of life in the country — politics, business, arts, religion, and yes even the Olympics.
77 thoughts on “Woyanne tribal politics rears its ugly head at Beijing Olympics”
I agree. It was a display of Tigrean supremacy by the ruling junta. What do most Tigreans get out of this? Nothing!! Nada! Zilch! Albo! Only scorn from other Ethiopians. And that is just what Woyannes wants in order to keep the people divided and Tigreans running scared.
A sad ugly and shamfull story.
Elias,
Do you really know who Miruts is? Miruts is indeed the greatest athlet ever produced in Ethiopia.
Can you please leave us connecting everything to your blind Tigaruphobia.
Peace.
Good observation.
Where is the Gejera, People are already being hyped to use it. Why dont we finish all Tigrayans. They are the source of all misery in our country. Rouwanda style, we should finish them.
I know that is most of you sick haters believe. The animal side of you is winning. We are not civilized anymore. Lets just do it. I see that you are preparing the country for the worst disaster and believe it or not it will happen because our country has great thinkers like you. I am proud that Miruts is carrying it. He never made money out of making Ethiopia a winner like the new generation runners. He deserves it. Go suck your thumb haters. You need to open your purses and wallets to support the hungry instead of spilling your venom.
#5 tezibt, It is the Tigrean generals, soldier, and cadres who are doing all the killing, raping, torturing of people and engaging in the destruction of entire villages in Ethipia. It is a Tigrean-dominated regime that is occupying a neighboring country and committing war crimes. And here you are trying to portray Tigreans as victims, and blaming the victims for the same crimes you are committing against them. Your audacity (አይን አውጣነት) knows no bound. Dedeb woyane.
I realized 100% you are sick prson.The athletes didnot want and didnot need to spend their important energy in polluted beijing.
It was very ugly, and disrespectful for the athletes and fellow Ethiopians in general.
I am sure our Ethiopian athletes will keep their moral up at high standard and will win every game they will participate in for there beloved People, Flag and Country, “ETHIOPIA”.
No Woyane tactics will deter the morals of Our famous world renowned athletes at all.
May GOD help our athletes to succeed in the olympics.
May GOD bless Ethiopia and its people.
Good luck to all our Athletes in the olympics.
I am sure Ethiopians across the glob were thinking the same way and shaking their head in disblief to witness only their country, in this breath-taking Beijing Olympics opening display, being represented exclusively by tribal crooked Wayane with their ugly and crooked Ethiopian flag!
I entirely agree with this assertions!Shameless woyane!!!
TPLF gangs are really a curse who have been sent to punish Ethiopians!!
The majority of oromos,amharas and other non-tigrean are throuwn to jails built accross the country while TPLF ganges are robbing the entire nation.
I have no reservation against Merus Yefter carrying our flag. He is indeed a great hero. An Olympic champion. I do not care whether he is from Tigray or not. He just deserve this honor. I was, however, wondering what seyoum was doing there? Is he in anyway connected to Ethiopian sports? I do not think so.
#6Dre
I am not dedeb.Actually I have proven that I am smart in many ways and one of them is not only my excellent achievement in aqcuiring prestigious degrees but I do so much to help the poor in my country without advertising it. I try my best to help so that kids get education and a developed brain. If you have a developed brain,again thatis if you can think critically, respond to what I said. I never defended the woyanes. I defended Mirut’s carrying of the flag.As to the gejera, you just said you have one at home. Send me the picture so that I can scare my tigrayan friends.ahyawun ferto dawlawn I am not ashamed to tell you that u need a developed brain even to be a smart hater.
Is it not the case that Ethiopian athletes who will actually take place in the real competition will only arrive in Beijing on Monday (11 August) so that they could prepare better at home?
I disagree the ER comment on Miruts Yifter, he is the living legend who won a gold medal at Moscow Olympics Haile,Derartu,Kenenisa…. came after him,If the great Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde were in life I certainly accept your comment while he is the only golden olyempied in life next to Abebe and Wolde.Rather what you call him Bereded has no point of history in Ethiopian sport rather he some an idiot opportunist poletician.
Gedu thanks – this is exactly the same sentiment I have. The athletes want to stay home and keep themselves afresh till the trakck events start.
But Elias has a real truth – why Seyoum Bereded, the liar and impostor??? He is neither an athlete nor a person in sports arena. He has no ethical mandate to go for the Olympics where there are many in the corrupt federation who can “represent”.
Elias – Miruts went back to Ethiopia from Canada after long time avoiding this government, for a reason noone knows. But I know he has not been in their good list. They even at one point accused him of red terror.
Best,
Noah
Ato/W/ro/W/t Dre,
Can you think back for a moment?
The Tigrean Generals have actually rescued you from a mouth of a man-eater, a modern reining monister. The generals are now defending the state of Ethiopia and all Ethiopians from destructive antiunity elements; not killing or raping. As a matter of tradition, raping, killing, torturing is aliegn to Tegarus. That goes to savages, the neanderthal men like you. The generals are there just to protect you.So that you can live to this date.
Meles Zenawi may go wrong. But that doesnot trnaslate into Tegarus. Meles is just an individual like you.
Bye.
The question is where are Haile, Kenenisa, Meseret and other athlets? We were really upset to see none of them
in the opening cermony rather Woyane none sportive cadres
Seyum Bereded and other ponys. Where are the athlets?
We saw all the athlets in the world on the openiong ceremony. We are not lucky to see our heros. Is there anyone who can tell us why ? I am afraid it is the same
ethnic poletics of Woyane. I hope this will not be. The only thing i enjoy of my country upto now is the achievement of our Ethiopian athlets. God bless Ethiopia
God forgive us !!!!!!!
I noticed that many of the atheletes were missing and some unknowns took their place. This is strange because out of their 36 athletes only like 8 were up their. Im not sure if they were “all” tigreans but if they were thats absolutly discusting.
I respect Miruts, he is Ethiopian hero. But, you are right who are these people? Are they from the embassy?
Death to tplf !!!!!!!!!!!
For once I agree with Elias. True, Miruts is an ethiopian legend and having him there was a good gesture….but come on ppl; not including the current record holders in the march was at best a poor judgment…and at worst like Elias put it a good example of Triablism.
Tizibt
You are yourself a woyane. No Ethiopian in his/her right sense will get into your trap. There is no enemity between the various tribes within Ethiopia. It is the politicians who are never freely elected even by the tribe they claim to represent promote such hate politics so that they prolong their tyranny and accumulation of wealth by a small group of mafia-type organized and intermarried Tigreans.
All the killers sooner or later will face justice that is what happenend with all previous to woyane and it will happen in the future. How dare to forget to all what happened to all dictators – Mengistu, Saddam Hussien, etc, etc
The so called traditional clothing is a disgrace. They might as well call themselves Pakistani. What they wore is not Ethiopian. I am glad our athletes wasn’t in it. May be they don’t want to wear that “comforter” in world Olympics. What do you say?
#5 tizibt is sounding like Melles after he killed hundreds of protestors and jailed hundreds of thousands of innocent people accusing them of tribal genocide intentions in 2005, if you are a Woyanne apologist say so openly otherwise when you write a transparent copy of Melles in this forum you will be exposed for what you are. #7 gudu; you are watching and reading too much of western propaganda against China, from what I could read and see Beijing’s air is much cleaner than your average western big city, I think the western media couldn’t accept the fact that the Beijing Olympics venues are much better than any site ever and the artistic and technological competence of the Chinese has baffled the westerners so all they can do is try to cut down the Chinese people by spreading negative propaganda against them.
Miruts deserve to be there. Why Seyum? Because he is close to TPLF. His brother, Fikremariam Bereded a Chemist by profession, is member of Election Commission and his uncle is Chief of Intelegence of EPRDF.
No one understands what EPRDF leader’s motive is.
To #5, I agree that people should not be hated because of their ethnic bacgrounds. To see a misplaced hate, go to Dhagahbur, Fiq, Kabridahar, Godey, Wardher and villages in Ogaden. There, you will see your TPLF in action and the true meaning of hate. The woyannes and their supporters are the real merchants of hate. Practice what you preach.
A mixiture of good and bad. I was always thinking why great men are always remembered after they pass away. This is a good move to have MIRUTS YEFTER, a man who make me cry when he wins at the Moscow olompic. He deserve even more than that. I have heard his recent interview, he said that national pride was the only thing he got during those days and he is content with that. But he is in the minds of every Ethiopian apart being a model to the heros and heroes of our day. Yes He, MIRUTS, like ABEBE BIKILA is a legendary hero.
The sad and more puzling thing is why the other Athlets didn’t appear, I wish I see them on the opening day. Though it is not important, their appearance means could convey something positive specially our unity in diversity with the beautiful and variaty of cultural dressing. There are millions of spectators both in the stadium and on TV. I think we missed one opportunity of showing the world or to those interested(or scholars, tourists) in culutre, dressing, etc to using our heros rather than officials. Surly there is a big difference, I can imagine who can have impresseion if Haile and one official were to be seen walking together on the streets of Europe or US.
The other thing is may be they have reason, lets think like that for the time being. We are Ethiopians with beautiful and diversified culture, I love it.
Hi, Elias!
Actually, the fact there were only about 8 athletes that came out made the current TPLF government look very bad.
What I thought was that the real Ethiopian athlete did not come out to show their protest against the current regime consistent with what they have been doing all along in the Great Toyota Runs in Addis Ababa.
The fact that there were only about eight athletes made the current TPLF regime look very, very bad in the eyes of the rest of the world.
That is my own take on what happened at Beijing on the opening ceremony.
i dont think it is a deliberate action by EPRDF and if that is the case, it is very foolish and nonsense. What the hell they get by showing off only one ethnic group to represent Ethiopia. I believe there is a ood explanation why our popular athlets were not included. Whatever the case is, it is not something worth discussing.
I’m so glad most Ethiopians are realizing in the end as to weyanes actions and stands for. Their #1 goal is to prove to every Ethiopian as to who the ruler of the country is and that’s why the midget man traveling all over the world for photo-ops; #2 the other reminder as to who the rulers of Ethiopia is when all the donated suit/tie is given to weyanes stooges and repeat what the midget man say day-in-and day-out, “democracy, development, constitution”, #3 for those who oppose the rule of the midget man directly or indirectly either they will be killed or brought to the kangaroo weyane courts later only to be useless to society; and #4 for those who knows weyanes hoodwinkling from all over the region and that includes Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan they will pimp for America to do their dirty tricks wich will fire back sooner than later!
At the end of the day, what will remembered is not who marched at the stadium but who actually won the medals..
i am really disappointed. i was waiting to see all the athletes. shame on woyanes.
Let’s not jump the gun guys; the Ethiopians athletes are still training in Ethiopia. They will go to Beijing 2-3 days before their competition which is due on the 2nd week of the Olympics. They want to benefit as much as possible from their altitude training (which increases their red cell count and thus maximize their oxygen intake).
The flag bearer, Miruts Yifter, is a great Ethiopian athlete, hence I rather have him hold the flag than, say, Seyoum Bereded or Al Amoudi hatchet man, Abenet G/Meskel (did I see him in the parade?). What do think?
Weru #23: you are right, their awful clothing has nothing to do with our traditions. It rather looks a cheap circus accoutrement bought from an Indonesian flea market.
By the way, what is Miruts doing in Ethiopia? Has he not bee n in Canada as a political refugee? Did he relinquish his status as a political refugee in Canada and went back or he is between the two countries illegaly? It is obvious he is serving the interest of his master woyane and meantime collecting social assistance from the Canadian taxpayers. One shouldnt allow this happen. It is an insult to all Ethio Canadians who toil day in day out to win and integrate their lives. No crime is worse than serving the interest of woyane criminals and thus Miruts qualifies to no better treatment at all.
Before we all jump and voice our opinion in haste, let us first see the facts.
1. Most of our familiar athletes were not present in the parade. Whose fault is that? Did the athletes themselves opt not to parade for fear of the weather? If that is the case, then let us give some slack to the Federation and the government. Let us at least give the athletes the benefit of knowing the most about their profession and their interest. If the weather is going to affect their performance negatively, that is valid reason for them not to show up.
2. Miruts Yifter. No doubt, Miruts is one of the legends among our athletes. I was under the impression that he was residing in Canada after applying for political asylum. But still, he earned to lead the Ethiopian athletes in the parade, no question.
3. Siyum Bereded. Is he supposed to be there? I watched most of the opening ceremony and I have seen the parade of nations and have seen people who could never be considered an athlete in the group of athletes. I am not sure but I imagine that they could be coaches, heads of their respective federation, athletes of the past (like Miruts), etc. If that is the case, I guess the inclusion Mr. Bereded is no exception. His political affiliation is totally another matter.
4. Is it really right for Elias to conclude that this is a showcase for Tigreans? Some of you have strong opinion regarding that but I really did not see that. If the athletes decided on their own that it’s best for them not to show up early for the competition, is it right for the government to force them to be in the line up? In short, there are so many obvious and real acts of the government that we should fight with all we have, but let us not make everything political. This is the time for our athletes to shine and make us proud and let us root for them.
tplfs,
rubbish cyber tegadeltis of tplf, stupid politicians of tplf, the mafia defenders of tplf, all of you are in fact fairly enough nonsense people created in present Ethiopia. Mirutse Yifter is a commendable Olympic hero and he deserves to carry the flag. What the hell you are thinking when rubbish people like seyoum bereded are there in the Olympic squad? Can you point out any reason why he is there other than he is from tigray? Do you really have a mind to critically think about such envious matters? You are really nonsense people created in modern generation but thinking like 18th century tigray mesafints.
God Bless Ethiopia!
Woyane openly has demonstrated its ethno politics even in Olympics arena.
I was watching the Beijing opening games last night eagerly awaiting the entrance of Ethiopian athletes to the ‘Bird Nest Stadium’; and when I saw what was happening, I was in an emotional turmoil. On one hand, I was really happy to see our Olympic hero Miruts Yifter as a flag bearer. If anyone deserved to carry the Ethiopian flag at these Olympiads, it definitely is Miruts Yifter. It looks like the TPLF killers, after years and years of belittling his achievement and even trying to criminalize him as a Dergue era ‘Red Terror’ criminal, have suddenly seen the light that he is a Tigrean after all and that is why he was chosen. I know they did it for all the wrong reasons, but I am glad and was really happy for him proudly carrying the ‘Woyanies Version’ of the Ethiopian flag (I think the group that rules Ethiopia next, needs to rip of that blue pentagram from our beautiful flag, on their First Day in power ).
I was looking for the familiar faces of Haile, Kenenisa, Tiruye and all the other and all I could see was TPLF fat slobs like Seyoum Bereded and the other Meles sychophants. It was shameful and disgusting and I truly believe this crime alone in addition to the desecration of our flag by stitching their traitorous logo in the middle of our flag; should be crime enough to hang all Woyanies and their apologists. We all know that the opening ceremony is the highlight of the event and to deny this joy to our star athletes is a crime. I am not accepting the feeble reasoning of TPLF apologists like Tezebit #5, that the weather in Beijing is so hot and the air so foul, that our real athletes have to hide themselves at the Olympic village and watch the ceremonies on TV.
Tizibt #5:
I see you are still bragging about your advanced degree and how you are feeding and educating the hungry of our country. Well, let me tell you Miss Goodie-Two-Shoes, Ethiopians are starving even as we speak and the misery index of our people has been rising faster than world energy prices. Apparently you and your master Meles, are not doing such a good job after all, advanced degree or not. Also, are you aware that advanced degree, unless it is coupled with an advanced mind, is nothing more than a meal ticket or a food stamp if you will.
Woyanie can pretend that Tigreans are the only people inhabiting Ethiopia today and fat slobs like Seyoum Bereded are world class Olympic athletes; after all they can call a cat a fish, but it is not going to swim.
95% of Army Generals are from one tribe-Tigrai
90% of the private economy is controlled by one tribe-Tigrai
90% of key ministry position are filled by one tribe-Tigrai
90% of Embassies around the world are occupied by one tribe-Tigrai
It has never been like this before in Ethiopian History.
We have only two choices:
Fight to change this by armed resistance or just shut up and be rulled by a Minority Mafia!
What can I say? I am once again gutted by Whoyanne apartheid policy!!!
The only person who deserves to be in Beijing’s parade was Miruts Yifter. Indeed he is a hero with no doubt about it and he is one of Ethiopia’s greatest athletes. Compared to Athens Olympic Ethiopia’s Beijing parade was a dismal failure. It is obvious that tplf planed the parade in a way not to reflect Ethiopian nationalism instead to glorify its tribal agenda,nothing new about tplf this is the only profession they are good at. I believe our hero athletes were deliberately kept out of the parade with a bogus excuse of Beijing’s air pollution as if all the other world athletes are not breathing the air to give the tplf cadres a place in the parade.
Elias,
Thank you. I was wondering where the “stars” were as I was
watching the woyane ponies with no charisma. Sick, sick!!
Than again as you said who wants to carry the woayne nazi flag. It ain’t a source of pride at all.
As a non-Ethiopian visitor,let me first appologise to my fellow Ethiopians for intruding on the topic of how your country needs to be represented at the beijing Olympics.
I don’t have any comment on that. However, I just couldn’t sit idle reading a rather garbage statement by the person so called HINGID WEDI RAYA. I just have to respond.
Wedy Raya, what proof do you have that the Tegray Generals saved Ethiopia from what you called “Man eaters”? Isn’t Ethiopia in a most worst political and economic situation under the leadership of the Woyane gangs? I have proofs to back this up. There are a handfull authentic documents that show that Ethiopia, under Weyane leadership, is a champion when it comes to gross human rights violations. The generals you refer as “Saviors” are actually mass murderers who:
1. In the 1998-2000 Eri-Ethiopia conflict raped and tortured Eritrean Women in the area they briefly occupied. To add salt to an injury, to show their true agly faces they destroyed Eritrean Martyrs’ cemetery and dug out their remains (skeletons).
2.In 2002-2003, they indiscriminately killed countless Ethiopian students for showing objections to the way the country was governed.
3. In May 2005, The woyane Agazi soldiers, under the instruction of the same generals you adore, killed hundreds of Ethiopian protesters who felt that they were cheated out of the election.
4. In 2006- present: Woyane soldiers occupied a sovereign nation under a pretext of “Terrorism” and inflicted so much human sufferings. The same soldiers, lead by the TPLF generals, have been accused of raping, torturing and killing countless Somalie women. The same, and even worst, atrosities was carried out on the people of Ogaden, according to Amnesty International and other reliable sources.
So, Wedi Raya, if you think your Tigray generals at any point in time defended and saved Ethiopia, think again.
I tried all my best to get the picture but no luck. How come Igaforum, Ben even Walta didn’t post one picture for the open ceremony? It looks so true that what Elias says. Oww my god, now I do see how we all are dead.
I was watching the opening ceremony and what I saw was some old guys carrying the flag.There was no any athlet.It is shocking that the respected athlets are not involved.
Why only Miruts from the veteran athlets?
Why other previously heroic runners are not invited?
I haven’t been thinking in the line of racial and ethinic discrimination,I now know what is going on.WOyannes really poisoned the country.
This is definately disrespecting and disregarding Ethiopian people.
To koster,Surafel,and to the rest of the confused that can only deliver lip service to their poor family and country.
First of all I would like to thank Elias for giving us this forum so that we can have political masturbation. I know Elias may be loughing to death reading some of this comments and playing games with little minds. First of all, there is more to presenting great ideas than just being able to play with your keyboards and spitting venom. A person who has love for his/her country is very patient and reserved in selecting words. Because it also says a lot about how one is raised.
Yes one who doesnt disapprove injustice is a living dead. But also one who exaggerates every issue hypocritically is worst. Many countries, including our neighbour Eritirea have not sent hopeful athletics to beijing not only because of polution but they also want to win;therefore, they want to buy training time in high altitude. There has to be certain level of civility. We have to understand and research before we run into conclusion.
Well, Guwad Shambel Miruts Yifter WAS good athlete. There are three things I would like to mention.
1. I am not sure if he is Ethiopian, for I know that he is a resident of Toronto, Canada.
2. Perhaps, as I read in other newspapers, the athletes will go later to avoid the influence of smog in Bejing on their performance. Maybe that is correct.
3. As to the DEDEB political cadres there…what can I say…ebab yednefachew!
Elisa this is not news. I recently visited Ethiopia. Now I say I visited Tigray. It is only the Tigreans who live in that starving country. From small to big business it is tigrean owned. they know that economy is everything and they have been doing that for long time. Now it is the time to show it up with confidence. Who is going to challenge them anyway?
Well if misruts was a non-tigrean he would have been languishing in jail by now. remeber what happend to Mamo.
On Haile Gebreselasse’s Endurance film(May 1999) the impact of Meruit Yefter on Haile and other athletes is well documented.
Miriut Yefeter deserves respect and he run for his mother country and I have no problem of seeing him leading Ethiopia’s parade and I care less for those who showed up for photo.
Other elderly Olympians like Mirut have led their country and bringing ethnicity here is insulting for many Ethiopians.
Didn’t we call for the late Mamo Wolde to be released and join our Olympic team in the past which was rejected by the TPLF.
Mirut Yefter(the Shifter) is part of our Olympic history and he belongs there. We will have many opportunities to see our athletes on their victory celebration. I applaud Mirut for motivating the current winners and leading them in the Beijing 2008 march.
The writer should instead tell us who was representing Ethiopia in the dignitaries desk ? We have seen foreign leaders waving to their athletes and the time will not be too far when we will have elected leaders who are not afraid or ashamed to be seen in public.
Here is my prediction of the 2008 Olympics.
Gold in women and men marathon.
Gold,silver and bronze in women and men 10,0000meters
Gold,slilver and bronze in women and men 5,0000 meters
Honory gold for Mirtus Yefter.
Silver in both men and women 1,500 meters
To Meles Zenawi and his inner circles we will award them the fake gold from Ethiopian National Bank. Ethiopians want to see the back of TPLF in the 2012 London Olympics and we are going to see Mirut Yefter as a leader of Ethiopian team.