The American embassy in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has invited opposition groups for discussion on current developments in the region, Addis Neger reports:
The embassy says that public uprisings, originating in Tunisia and Egypt, are expanding throughout the region to countries such as Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, Yemen and lately to neighboring Djibouti. According to embassy sources, the US government has expressed concern that similar uprisings may begin in Ethiopia, and that symptoms of such uprisings are already being revealed.
The opposition groups in Ethiopia will be ill-advised to start any kind of negotiation with Meles Zenawi other than demanding his immediate and unconditional resignation.
76 thoughts on “US embassy in Addis to host discussion with the opposition”
anyone who belives the US will be help in the cause is mistaken.
Well we don’t care about the opposition parties. When we come out this time, we don’t need leaders. We will lead ourselves. It is up to the government to make concessions before we go out to the streets. Once we go out, there is no return until we kick out that tiny blood sucker man at 4 kilo
LET US GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they have to be smart on this circumstance. it is not helpful any dialogue with this fake government, they are already collapsing.
This is a confirmation that Woyanne’s Ethiopia is an official colony of good ole USA. They pretty much abandoned all pretenses this time ordering the the fake opposition leaders to their brand new embassy in Addis Ababa. Are they going to threaten them or bribe them to play “loyal opposition” this time?
Because, oppositions think twice!
I concur with Elias, there should not be any kind of negotiation what so ever other than the immediate removal of the tyrant. I am dying to see him and his covetous wife pack up and leave the country.
Enough is enough; this is another way of buying time for woyane.American embassy you better to stop cheating of the ETHIOPIAN people which you have done it during the 2005 election time. It is better for American that the people of ETHIOPIA will be with American than the melese administration because they will be gone SOON. If you are not with the ETHIOPIAN people you are going to create another problem in EAST Africa which is not good for your interest and you will go to lose a lot of money to control the region. Any way the thing which is going to come is not in the hand of opposition leader it is in the hand of the ETHIOPIAN people period.
Enough is enough; this is another way of buying time for woyane.American embassy you better to stop cheating of the ETHIOPIAN people which you have done it during the 2005 election time. It is better for American that the people of ETHIOPIA will be with American than the melese administration because they will be gone SOON. If you are not with the ETHIOPIAN people you are going to create another problem in EAST Africa which is not good for your interest and you will go to lose a lot of money to control the region. Any way the thing which is going to come is not in the hand of opposition leader it is in the hand of the RTHIOPIAN people period.
Will the Ethiopian opposition steps into this US trap again? Based on their infamous history, they probably will be trapped like a mouse again. And we won’t be surprised. They are playing their destiny and historical mission. Serve Zenawi as a fake “legal opposition”.
We Southern Sudanese seperated from north because of barbaric administration but not our choice to do that. However, I sugest Mr. Meles must stop what he’s doing in gambella region. This is exactlly what happened in Sudan.Southern were considered as second citizens. He killed Anyuaks, and he’s selling Anyuaks land. Think twice mr. Meles!
Warning!!
The opposition must use the highest level of intellegence and wisdom not be trapped by Meles Zinawi’s tactics.Knowing Ethiopians are mobilizing their full force and unbreakable unity to oust Zinawi,this must be fully understood by the oppositions and apply full care not to submit people’s revolution.In most cases Ethiopians will lead the revolution to its victory;therefore,the opposition must fully realize this determination of Ethiopians and must strategically apply good practice of thinking and intellegence.Victory for all Ethiopians.
This is a chance for ” loyal opposition partys ” to tell the truth what’s going to happen in the country, unless woyane take a major stape. Free all poletican prisnors, free court system, free media, free electoral board, free parlament, free peacefull protest, free to organize civic socity, and also declaire any Ethiopian can live, work in any region of Ethiopia.
It would be madness to believe U.S for any freedom loving Ethiopian.
The US has its own interesst ,they dont care about ethiopian people…..so USA this is an ethiopian problem not yours…..basta,,,,,
I actually don’t understand americas double standard and why is it now want to talk this forged opposition
party. they don’t even represent the people any way i think this is another US GOVT game to highjack the
peoples attention deliberately and i still don’t know how much hate the US want to see against Meles the
people show that time to time and it’s time for a democracy that will benefit everyone in ethiopia/
US is the cause of all trouble in Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia. The unconditional support and allegiance of successive US governments with murderous tyrants defies description: They preach democracy and spread tyranny and suppression by collaborating with evil dictators like Meles, Mubarak and Museveni. Thus no one will trust this evil government to come up with a solution beneficial to our people. The opposition should be very careful in dealing with evils on both sides!
We must not talk with the woyane regime. Meles and Co. must go. The US government is the worst and egoist government in the world. They are the ones who nurture dictators. The US must go out of africa. All Africans must kick out the US embassies from our Africa.
Let us start our revolution this week.
Ethiopia will be the first.
Uprising is the only way for Ethiopians to reclaim their country.
The opposition leaders should reject any compromise from EPRDF. The only solution is a free and fair election within 6 months. Their strong stand on nothing less than free and fair election will provoke EPRDF to take to jail opposition leaders. That will deffinately trigger EPRDF’s fall. So these days EPRDF’s leaders may be amassing their foreign bank accounts with billions of dollars. Indeed these are the last days of EPRDF’s 20-year dictatorial rule.
We must not talk with the woyane regime. Meles and Co. must go. The US government is the worst and egoist government in the world. They are the ones who nurture dictators. The US must go out of africa. All Africans must kick out the US embassies from our Africa.
Let us start our revolution this week.
Ethiopia will be the first.
Yes in did the americans are now trying to fix some damage what in the past decades did. actually they never do any good good things in africa BESIDE giving a weapon and money to dictators to keep their benfit as usuall. As we stand together not amerca, european or any other nation will protect the dictators. i hoop i will be there when the time comes to fight with my fellow ethiopians. My fellow Ethiopians there will be no peace without a conseqquense.LET’S STAND TOGETHER and get ride of this tiny dictator,mercenary from our country
good bless ethiopia
After old CUD, is there an opposition in Ethiopia today??
I will never and ever trust Americans. To engage a discussion about domestic politics with American diplomats is committing another political suicide.
There is one truth American should learn and accept if they want peace in America in particular and the world in general “America should stop supporting dictators”
Be careful not to be trapped by american embassy in Addis. The only demand the opposition should raise is the resignation of wayane regime. Wayane should go by whatever cost.
Remember the roles of Western Embassies spearheaded by the American one in previous elections?
The gullible opposition believed,to their own detriment,that these Western ‘negotiators’ were impartial.They were not.
Time and again they have demonstrated and made it abundantly clear that they would go to great lengths to rescue the Meles regime from being replaced by the democratic forces.
So the opposition should not be eternal fools and fall again for the latest trap.
Still,one is realistic enough to anticipate that some opportunist groups and individuals among the opposition would be quite keen to attend the Embassy meetings.That is fine.None of them are likely to have any clout on our people not least on our youth,anyway.
The outstanding thing we have seen in the revolutions of North Africa is that the movements of the people were spontaneous upsurges that came into being with out any leadership being given from the organized legal opposition rendered impotent by the dictatorships that prevailed in those countries.
The movements were and still are self determined and free.They embody the unconstrained will of the people.
Therefore you may be able to control the divided and weak opposition but that does not mean you can stem the impending popular tide.
The wave is ever closer to us and it is only a Djibouti away.
US must be warned and advised not to intervene any more. We advised them several times to stop sponsoring billions of dollars to the weyane regime to kill our people. Our people from all parts of the country will no more listen to thei foolish strategies. Rather we advise them to refrain or take measures and prepare the way out to Meles-his pupet.
We advise their citizens in Ethiopia to take care.
We have no more time. Our brothers and people have been killed, prisoned for the last 20 years. US has been silent. They laugh when innocent people have been murdered by the coward police and weyane troops.
We are now ready to do what ever it costs. And we know it is very easy.
May God Bless all nations of beleoved ethiopia who endured suffer, hypocrycy, objection, killings, suffer, hunger, nepotism. Time is very near.
We are happy to hear also the movement that has already began in some parts of the country. We are happy to hear also Groups of the weyane troops (military and police)- their readiness to shake the regime internally- Anyway tbomb is exploding….
One more attempt to rescue Meles.
This is well planned by the thugs (woyannes). I don’t trust the whole process. The oppositions should go with list of demands including the resignation of the Crime minster Tagay Meles. IF the oppositions are not ready to put their weigh on the table we will do it ourselves. We all remember how the opposition end up empty handed after the negotiation took place after the 2005 election. In my view….. the following demands has to be met with NO condition
1. All Political prisoners should be realesed
2. Disolve the current parliament and form a transition government.
3. Abolish the current Constitution and re-write a new constituion.
4. Diaspora Political parties should be allowed to return and re-form their party.
5. Election should be held within 6-9 month.
6.
7. etc.
My only message to the so called oppositions group is to stay out of it. I just want to remind them the critical role the US embassy played to rescue the regime which was totality rejected by the people of Ethiopia back in 2005. One can safely says Viki, the ambassador then, worked like one good TPLF cadre. She openly exploited the respect and trust Ethiopian political elites placed in US as beacon of democracy and champion of human right. She was overzealous in protecting the regime than the USA national interest required. USA may be a powerful nation, but the revolt in Egypt and Tunisia should teach them a good lesson that no amount of power can stop a resolved nation from toppling a regime.The so called opposition should be candid in letting the US know that they have a better friend in Ethiopian people than the tyrannical regime. In supporting the regime in Addis so actively, they are being complacent in the crimes that are being committed by Tigrian minority regime in Addis on daily basis. The majority of Ethiopian people are forced to watch few chosen people from the north getting filthy rich at their expense. It is ironic that a regime which forced on throat of Ethiopian people an ethnic based federal system, has totally marginalized the biggest Ethnic groups from the decision making process. The longer the regime stays in power the more the bloody will be the revolution that will invariably come one day. What the US should do is to unplug the life line that they are giving to this regime. When the army of Hodams will seize to get their wage, which BTW comes from the AID money, they will stop supporting. Remember hodams do not have loyalty to no one but their hods. They usually switch side once they know that the other side is winning.
Uprising in Ethiopia is imperative to reclaim our country and build democracy for all.
Kedetu and the other defector who bowed and shacked the devil’s hand have some potential to dampen water on Ethiopians revolution. The devil will use them through government monopoly controlled means of information: television, radio, and print media. They will serve the devil again. These two have become public enemies. As Ethiopian-American, I say my government shall not elevate these two renegades. They will dampen Ethiopian revolution. In this demonstration placard in my position reads my government shall stand with pro democratic revolutionaries. A democratic government is good for the long-term interests a dictator Meles is not.
Message to US Embassy >> Thanks but not thanks.We know you very well.You and your puppet EU did damage to Ethiopians by Co-oprating with our killers.Now you are again trying to save your midget in 4 killo who is in life support.Now it is time for you to shut up and watch the game.Time for American and European dominance will be over soon.Inshalah time will come gogmangog (Chuna) and Punjabi(indians) domination will be history in Ethiopia.US if you wanted to help us please take meles and his relatives with you.We don’t like you,We hate you !!!
The message for the “opposition leaders” who are planning to show up at USA Embassy is clear. You better go out on streets to demand the freedom of assembly. Assembly by the few in foreign quarter is not what our people demand. Their slogan in 2005, “Tebaberu Weyem Tesababeru” meaning “oppositions unite or disband”.
In 2011 the Ethiopian people slogan is “Atageglnue Weyeme Zewerebelu” meaning “Lead the popular uprising or not conspire in our back”.
For USA the message is clear warn Meles’ security not to fire to protesters like you demanded the Egyptian army and recently the Bahrain security forces after they gunned down protesters.
We say no to AEUP, UDJP, MEDREK, EDP and others who are conspiring behind our ack. We have learned good lesson from 2005. Never Again !!!!!
The right to protest is the fundamental right the people of Tunisia, Egypt now Bahrain won on their struggle. True leaders will join the peoples rally or Meles rally there is no other rally, their will not be rally organized by USA Embassy to bring freedom to our people.
Atagelenue Weyeme Zewerebelu !!!
What oppositions? The people have lost faith in the so called oppositions a long time ago when they abandoned the people they were supposed to lead and started infighting for power grab. They are outdated; old and useless. This is the internet revolution era and will be led by millions of youth, not a handfull hodams. The US can bribe them; threaten them, or do whatever they want, at this time they are all errelevant. When the time comes, the US will side with the winner as they did with Tunisia and Egypt.
The Americans are doing the right thing. Sooner or latter, the heated ethnocentric governement will disapear in to thin air. The real ally of the Americans are Ethiopian ppl, not a few woyane criminal elites.
This time around we have got the formula from arab states in our hands.Unfrotunatly,in the new formula the opposition leaders are not in the equation. They do not represent x or y. They have been representing no body but themselves. So now, they have to do a favour by not crowding the high way.
I am wondering how we missed this simple and workable formula. It is simply “leave your house and camp in at Meskel Square and do not leave until melese leaves”
I think the meeting should be held outside of Ethiopia, so the oppositions leaders who reside outside of Ethiopia can participate. That narcissist blood sucker tyrant won’t leave Arat Kilo peacefully and if he ever leaves, I have no doubt that he will make sure that our country is divided and dismantled like the former Yugoslavia as the tyrant promised in the past. Seeing distractions is what Meles lives for.
THE OPPOSITION SHOULD REMEMBER THE 2005 NEGOTITATION.
THE AMERICANS AND SOME EUROPEAN NATIONS ENABLED MELES TO REMAIN IN POWER BY OUTSMARTING THE VICTORY OF THE 2005 ELECTION.
WHEN THE OPPOSITION CALLED FOR MASS PROTEST AND SHUT DOWN THE ACTIVITY OF THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT, THE WETERN EMBASSIES RESCUED MELES ZENAWI BY CONVINCING THE OPPOSITION TO NEGOTIATE WITH HIM. AND NOW THEY ARE BACK AGAIN WITH DIFFERENT APPROACH WHICH PROBABLY RESCUE THEIR PARTNER IN WAR AGAINST TERRORIST AS THEY CLAIM.
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT NEED TO KNOW MELES IS TERRORIST AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE AND IS NOT A RELIABLE PARTNER TO ANY INSTITUTION.
AMERICA SHOULD EITHER BE ON THE SIDE OF THE OVER 85 MILLION PEOPLE OR GET A HELL OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE WHO ARE STARVING FOR DEMOCRACY FOR THE LAST FIVE GENERATION.
THE U.S NEED TO KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA WILL GO EXTRA MILE THIS TIME TO DO AWAY WITH DICTATOR IN CHIEF MELES ZENAWI AND HIS TRIBAL BASED LEADERS.
ITS NOW OR NEVER! IF U.S DECIDES TO BE ON THE SIDE OF THE DICTATORS IN ETHIOPIA, HISTORY WILL JUDGE THEM AND ITS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT AMERICANS ARE NOT OR NEVER BEEN PARTNERS IN PRACTICING DEMOCRACY IN ETHIOPIA.
The Validity of the opposition’s parties is still in question, what have you done for Ethiopia? What did you accomplished and what is your tactical and strategically goal? You have been in and out of the American embassy in the past as we know but there is no concrete solution a road map for the Promised Land. We can judge the future by looking the past and you have been judge………
As Patrick Henry said: It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
It is when the rhetoric and propaganda of the politicians fails revolutions happen. The type of upheaval we saw in 2005 was generated mostly by the literate youth of Addis. What happened in Egypt and what they fear in Ethiopia is the tooth and nail visceral public whose stomach ETV and TPLF cadres have failed to fills. It makes sense, neger migib ayhonim.
Consider this. We have at least lost 50 years total because of incompetent dictators and terrorist false messiahs like TPLF/EPLF and Derg. On one hand we pay the price by the hands of murderous regimes that lie to us and cheat/murder us. On the other hand, foreign aided terrorists like Woyane wage war/fuel war squandering what little resource the country has in the name of the people.
When people say it is enough, then that would be the day. This is what we saw in Egypt and this is what we may see in Ethiopia.
To that end, no amount of meeting with “opposition” leboch will do the trick. If the US State department has any sense, they will stand with the PEOPLE of Ethiopia and invest in long term relations.
Which opposition? Siye, Gebru and Aregash? It is funny. I have always been wondering how the interest of US contradicts the interest of 80 million Ethiopians. Why US tends to be in the wrong side of history when it comes to Ethiopia? But I hope this time they will do some thing different. This idea of negotiation, I think, might be requested by Woyane. Otherwise, it seems to be the end of US’s ‘son of bitches’ through out the world. Meles is not more than Mubarak as far as US interest is concerned. Woyanes know this very well.
And I believe it is right opportunity for Obama to support our people’s (Africans) struggle for freedom, peace and justice. This is our day! We have been waiting this day for so long, now I believe God has made it! No one can hinder us from using this Golden opportunity.
The US ambassador in Addis as well as the state department should not repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. If not the Ethiopian revolution should start from DC.
God Bless Ethiopia!
This is a good gesture move, and we should all take it and improve our country’s living standard. EPRDF is ready to engage the people with a serious concern, and they have shown several times how ready they are to work with the opposition, it is the opposition that is not coming to one single voice. If the opposition is united and present their concern the Prime Minister and his party are willing to engage them and resolve the problem. Raising the euphoria for protest is not the answer, and has never been the answer in the past, many people are going to get killed and the opposition will take the blame.
American Embassy is taking a very important initiative, and this initiative will produce a good result, if the opposition is serious about their concerns and demands. If the opposition is not serious, then we will see the same trouble we saw five years ago. Majority of Ethiopians want solution to a problem not protest, they need food prices go down, and they need jobs and work for Ethiopia’s development but some elements in the opposition are looking for confrontation and chaos.
Even Siye Abraha is willing to work with the government after being imprisoned, he went to jail for 6 years and he was Meles’s closest minister, the opposition leaders for igniting chaos resulting in the death of 200 people only got 2 years, they should not be bitter. If the opposition do not have a leader, then by all means make Siye Abraha the leader of the opposition and fight for a political reform respecting and using the constitution.
What is going to happen is is a couple of the regime’s supporter will go to the embassy including some demogags and spies pretending to be opposition groups.And you know the rest.It is a face saving drama
WE WILL NOT AGREE WHAT EVER US SAY. WE NEED CHANGE BY ANY MEANS. WEYANE MUST OVERTHRUGH. WE NEED NEW GEVERNEMENT NOT WEYANE. WE NEED FOOD NOT PROPAGANDA. WE NEED NEW GENERATION NOT A GURILA FIGHTER. WE NEED NOT 20 MORE YEAR DICTATERS. WE NEED 4 YEAR NEW ADMINSREATER. WE NEED BREAD NOT A GUN . BUT WEYANE ALWAYES SAY WE WARNED YOU WHY. IF WE SAY WE DO NOT WANT YOU. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. GOD BLESSS ETHIOPIA.
43#.pro Ethiopia,
Yes, even in Tunisia Beni Ali’s cliques were asking if any one is ready for post Ben Ali period and if there is any one to replace. And then agin the same thing in Egypt, Mubarak’s cliques asking if there is any one ready for post mubarak era. The same in yemen, Bahrain, Lybia, etc.
During the white colonialism of Africa, Asia, Latin America, etc. Liberation fronts were being asked the same questions, as to who the hell is ready to replace the civilized and civilizing colonialist rulers. Colonialists and dictators always make themselves MOST Indispensable living creatures just like Hosini Mubarak claimed that the country will absolutely descend in to chaos and anarchy if it were NOT for his BINDING PRESENCE.
It is a biggest mistake to trust American embassy as honest mediator. Whatever kind of administration you can call it republican or democrat all are the same when it comes to foreign policy. They always put American interest first and they are right, the so-called human right, democracy and openness are BS. In American history as far I know they always put their hand when there is their interest threatened. Why we all ask ourselves is America interest serves in Melese administration? If our answer is yes, so do you expect they will care about Ethiopian people and her interest? So my fellow Ethiopian if we need a change let us make it ourselves, Egyptian did it against American help, revolt, we know there will be a killing, we know there will be so many unseen fate after the revolution, but be it. The other thing we the Diaspora will not put our life in line the people who live in Ethiopia are. the one who will change Ethiopia future are the one who live in Ethiopia so let the Ethiopian raise up our responsibility as an Ethiopian support our people back home. Once the revolution starts and if the western for the most part if American find out they can’t save this regime they will drop him as hot potato and they will change their mind. They did it all the time take a look recently what they did in Egypt Mubarak was their boy, they loved him for 30 years, he was their favorite boy but did not take them a week to let him go. If you go and ask them about Mubarak they will ask you back who is Mubarak? So let us not dream false dream. If we want to change our life and our country, let start forget about U.S. and what they think about it….
BTW which oppostion they have a meeting with? Forgive my idiotic question…
Opposition parties should stay away from any negotiation with the puppet governement. They have tried their part and thay have failed. This is going to be a revolution lead by youth and ordinary citizens. The only way to get our freedom and country back is through the public uprising.
“Egziabher Ethiopian Yibark” !!
I know this day will come. Dear Ethiopians please don’t trust Americans. America isn’t our ally. Americans are the one who is backing dictators all over the the world and as if he was a good leader they let him meet @ G 20 summit. We want Melese to leave.We want him to leave with shame and we wan him to stay and stand trial. you know what forget what i say we want Melese to leave dead or alive.
Why are they trying,the US to contact and call the opposition at this time which they reffered them (the opposition) as “disorganized and out of touch of the common/ethiopian people” in thier recent leaked diplomatic cables. What is being changed over night if that is the real analysis of the US givernment. Why do they want to rely on the weak donkey than the stronger horse-the people of Ethiopia. The US is out of touch of the current political tide in the Middle east and Africa as the opposition does in Ethiopia.What is happening in this region shows not only the ineffectiveness of the US Policy in the region but also of the wrong assessment the US policy makers would make of the information they collect from the region like the one they announced on the Egyptian government’s stability few days before the demise of Mubarak.
So better if the US stop to meddle in the affairs of Ethiopia while they are still proping up thier dictator-Meles. We would like to tell the opposition the struggle for change is not in the US Embassy but in the streets and villages of Ethiopia.