Alemayehu G. Mariam
Ethiopians Unite!
The great Bob Marley always sang songs of African unity and liberation:
How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, To see the unification of all Africans. Africans unite for the benefit of your people! As it’s been said a’ready, let it be done!
“How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, to see unity among all Ethiopians!”
This past October, I wrote a commentary encouraging all Ethiopians to use the shield of unity against the swords of those who toil to slice, dice, divide and rule them. But that commentary was intended to be not only an exhortation to all Ethiopians to unite around a common purpose and destiny, but equally, a celebration of the very idea of unity among peoples of a nation. I believe unity is the most powerful gravitational force in the life of any people or nation. A nation divided by race, tribe and ethnicity is doomed to poverty, ignorance and strife. I have always marveled at the majestic opening phrases in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a perfect Union…” For all their flaws, failings and imperfections, the Founders of the American Republic succeeded in establishing a United States of America in 1787.
Fourscore and seven years later, when Americans faced a more certain disunion in the Civil War, they incurred great loss of life to keep their unity and national integrity intact. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln, a lawyer running for a U.S. Senate seat in the state of Illinois, had no reservations in defending the indivisibility and unity of the American people, including those who were not included in the original “We the People”. He admonished, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free”. In 1984, another Illinoisan named Jesse Jackson campaigning to become U.S. president explained, “America is not like a blanket — one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread.” In 2004, yet another lawyer from Illinois, Barack Obama, boldly declared: “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America – there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America – there’s the United States of America.” In 2009, in Accra, Ghana, President Obama blasted identity, tribal and ethnic politics as a canker in the African body politics and blight on the souls of all Africans: “We all have many identities – of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century.”
Is it possible for the Ethiopian house to be divided against itself and remain standing? Is there a place for tribal and ethnic politics in Ethiopia in the second decade of the 21st Century? Is there any reason why we cannot declare with pride and determination that there is not an Oromo Ethiopia, Amhara Ethiopia, Tigray Ethiopia, Gurage Ethiopia, Gambella Ethiopia, Afar Ethiopia, Ogaden Ethiopia and so many others, but just one Ethiopia for the Oromo, the Amhara, the Tigrean, the Gurage, the Anuak, the Ogadeni… the Orthodox, the Muslim, the Protestant and so many others? Is it not true that Ethiopia, like America, is also “many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread”? I believe that common thread to be “Ethiopia-nity”, which simply means Ethiopians held together NOT by their tribal, ethnic and religious affiliation but by the bonds of their common humanity, history and culture.
The overlords of divide and rule harangue us daily that we must put our ethnicity above our humanity. They tell us that they do not give a damn whether Ethiopia even exists at all. They shrug their shoulders with depraved indifference and benighted hubris and proclaim, “If Ethiopia disintegrates, so be it. It was not meant to be.” By whom was it not meant to be?!? Certainly not by Providence. Certainly not by the children of Ethiopia.
For the past two decades, they have been repackaging tribal politics in a fancy wrapper called “ethnic federalism.” They have segregated the Ethiopian people by ethno-tribal classification and corralled them like cattle in grotesque regional political units called “kilils” (literally means “reservation”) or glorified apartheid-style Bantustans or tribal homelands. They have auctioned off large chunks of the country for pennies to international land grabbers. They have secretly delivered large stretches of the country to a neighboring country. They have facilitated the breakup of the country and now stand as the fierce defenders of the national integrity and inviolability of the sovereignty of those who have chosen to separate themselves from Ethiopia. Yet these architects of division and partition have the audacity to proclaim Ethiopia’s unity was never meant to be!!
To some extent, they have succeeded in fraying the delicate fabric of Ethiopian society and ripping out the sinews out of the Ethiopian body politics. They have sown the seeds of ethnic hatred and watered it with violence, corruption and repression. They have destroyed the peace and harmony of the Ethiopian people and replaced it with the jangling discord of suspicion, distrust and fear. But the times, they are a-changing! Ethiopians are standing up and declaring kilil-ism, tribalism and ethnic antagonism were never meant for Ethiopia. What was meant for Ethiopia, they say, is liberty, equality and fraternity in national unity. They say Ethiopians are ordained to enjoy their Ethiopianity; they are not destined to be the helpless victims of the politics of identity and ethnicity or of the criminal practices of brutality and inhumanity.
Oromo Liberation Front Embraces Ethiopian Unity
In an extraordinary announcement following a National Council meeting in Minneapolis, MN on December 30-31, 2011, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) repudiated its “advocacy for the establishment of an Oromo state” and proclaimed its “new vision” and “aspiration to establish one country with other Ethiopians under a genuine federal arrangement that must guarantee the rights, equality and liberty of all Ethiopians…. The OLF would struggle not only for the Oromo people but also the people of Ethiopia suffering under the tyranny and oppression of the TPLF regime.” It seems the OLF declaration makes a simple but powerful statement: “Kilil-ism, tribalism and ethnic antagonism are not meant for Ethiopia.”
The OLF’s reasons for changing its long-held position on establishing an Oromo state appear to be premised on a number of self-evident facts: 1) the need to end the “suffering of the Ethiopian people under the dictatorship of Meles Zenewi” by “working with all democratic forces in Ethiopia”; 2) the necessity of “forming the new Ethiopia that will guarantee and protect the fundamental rights of all peoples in Ethiopia” and 3) the need for the establishment of a “federal democratic republic” that is “based on the free will and consent of all peoples in Ethiopia.”
The OLF’s National Council urged “all democratic forces to work in tandem to make Ethiopia a common home for all its people” and called “on the international community to desist from supporting the tyrannical regime of Meles Zenawi that is engaged in terrorizing the Ethiopian people, selling the precious resources of the country to the highest bidders” and disrespecting “principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law.” It challenged “fellow Ethiopians to work with the OLF in a spirit of trust in order to establish the new Ethiopia, where democracy, justice, respect for human rights and rule of law will be the founding values.”
Unity is the Only Cure for the Destructive Politics of Identity and Ethnicity in Africa
The OLF declaration is surprising, historic, refreshing and singularly instructive. But the historic significance of the announcement can be appreciated only when it is contextualized within the broader framework of contemporary African politics. In many parts of Africa today, we see individuals, political leaders, groups and organizations of all stripes stoking the fires of ethnic and tribal hatred, fanning the flames of sectarian and religious violence and instigating all forms of strife, dissension and enmity. Just over the past year, we have witnessed in some of the most advanced countries in Africa the consequences of ethnic and religious warfare. In Cote d’Ivoire, we saw Laurent Gbagbo divide the country by region and religion and sacrifice the lives of thousands of his citizens in a futile attempt to cling to power. He failed and is now facing justice at the International Criminal Court. In Nigeria today, we see violent confrontations orchestrated by individuals, leaders, groups and militias along ethnic and religious lines. In a disturbing pattern, it is becoming quite clear that increasing numbers of Nigerians are giving precedence to their ethnic identity and subordinating their allegiance to the Nigerian nation. Will these separatist movements eventually dismember the Nigerian nation along geographic and religious lines? Uganda faces threats by a vicious group known not only for its widespread human rights violations, but also for its utterly barbaric practices of sexual enslavement of women and abducting children to become soldiers.
It is in the broader African context that we can truly appreciate and admire the actions of the OLF in dropping its long-held demands for secession and public commitment to work hand in hand with “fellow Ethiopians in a spirit of trust to establish the new Ethiopia, where democracy, justice, respect for human rights and rule of law will be the founding values.” When the trend in parts of Africa is to strengthen tribal and ethnic loyalty and dissolve the bonds of national unity, it is extraordinary for the OLF to boldly declare its mission to work for the common humanity of all Ethiopians and usher in a new era of peace and national reconciliation.
It does not seem that it was easy for the OLF to finally come to this position. There appears to have been a great deal of give and take within the organization on the issues. Some members appear to have had reservations for a variety of reasons; but the leadership deserves much credit for having the vision to see the forest for the trees, for asking the tough questions and for understanding that the stale cynical political arguments of the past must be replaced with fresh forward-looking ideas that can produce results for a durable peace and genuine reconciliation. The leadership deserves much credit for being open-minded and for accepting the fact that it is necessary to change with the times and new realities. The realities today are different than they were ten or twenty years ago. Aligning one’s thinking and actions with changing realities and circumstances is a sign of wisdom and political maturity. It has been said that “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
Is there anything the rest of us can learn from the OLF’s declaration?
I have drawn many lessons about leadership, courage and the need to change with the times. In my thinking, the OLF declaration embodies the simple principle I have always upheld and fiercely defended: “Choose your humanity before your ethnicity and nationality.” Doing it the other way around is downright insanity. With its declaration, I believe the OLF has chosen to replace the old ideology of factionalism and secessionism with a new ideology of unity, cooperation and collaboration. It has chosen to speak not just for Oromos, but just as vigorously for all Ethiopians who have become voiceless, voteless, helpless and powerless. The OLF has chosen to speak for them in the common language of all humanity– equality, justice, democracy and freedom.
I believe a divided nation is a defeated nation. In unity there is victory. When the OLF declares that it “would struggle not only for the Oromo people but also the people of Ethiopia suffering under the tyranny and oppression of the TPLF regime,” I understand that to mean there is no substitute for the victory of democracy and human rights in Ethiopia; but the price of that victory is unity around a common purpose and destiny. Unity is the crucible for cooperation, collaboration and effective collective action.
The process of unifying a people is difficult and the road to unity is often littered with the debris of historical grievances, rancor and bitterness. That road must be repaved and repaired with good will and new values of dignity and equality in a genuine understanding of a common humanity. The search for and achievement of unity does not happen overnight, nor does unity by itself solve all problems. But where there is unity among the people, they are in a much better position to resolve disputes and solve problems. Where there is unity, the disagreement is never about the destination, only about the paths to be taken to that destination.
Unity in a given nation is always a work in progress. The Americans are still trying to make a perfect union 225 years after they began their journey. The work of unity in Ethiopia should be less cumbersome because seventy percent of the population is said to be young people. We can remain confidently optimistic that the new generation will replace the destructive politics of identity of the old generation with the transformative politics of humanity, equality, dignity and unity.
Even utopian Ethiopians know that as we work for unity, they will be working double overtime for disunity. For every act done to create trust, they will fabricate ten acts to create suspicion and distrust. It is said that a thousand mile journey begins with the first step. In making its declaration, the OLF has taken a giant leap for all Ethiopians. Each one of us must now take our own small steps for our Ethiopianity (humanity before ethnicity or nationality).
Fierce Urgency of Now
What time is it? It is high time for all Ethiopians to come together. If there is one thing we can learn from the OLF declaration, it is that none of us can survive without each other. None of us can hope to prosper while the rest are disenfranchised and subjugated. None of us can make progress while the rest regress or stand still. We are now faced with the fierce urgency of creating the conditions of unity now. Why? Because genuine national unity is a necessary precondition to feed the starving masses, those 12 million Ethiopians who survive on international handouts every year. It is the foundation upon which the proper education and nurturing of the youth which comprises sevety percent of the population. Unity is necessary to ensure a vibrant economy that provides equal opportunity to all and guarantee respect for human rights.
All organizations committed to democracy, the rule of law and human rights must unite and become an example for the people to unite. Pro-democracy leaders and organizations should come out, stand up, step forward and make a declaration of faith in the unity of the Ethiopian people and pledge to subordinate their narrow political or other interests to the cause of a strong united Ethiopia. They must pledge to avoid the politics of fear and smear and condemn the politics of identity and ethnicity wherever it rears its ugly head. It is an act of supreme courage to embrace Ethiopian unity on a foundation of our common humanity.
In 2012, we are living in revolutionary times. The “Arab Spring” continues to show the historic struggle people are undertaking to live in dignity– the right to choose their own leaders, to speak freely and to demand accountability and transparency of those who exercise power. People are making great sacrifices to live freely in a country where the government fears the people and not the other way around. Back in 1967, Dr. Martin L. King spoke of similar times: “These are revolutionary times. All over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression, and out of the wounds of a frail world, new systems of justice and equality are being born. The shirtless and barefoot people of the land are rising up as never before. ‘The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.’”
Revolutionary times demand courageous, enlightened and ethical revolutionary leaders who value the common good over private and narrow interests. Such leaders bring unity where there is strife; love where there is hatred; trust where there is suspicion; determination where there is hesitation; healing where there is hurt; reconciliation where there discord; wisdom where there is foolishness;knowledge where there is ignorance; truth where there is falsehood; tolerancewhere there is bigotry and prejudice; honesty where is duplicity; hope where there is despair and dedication where there is apathy and indifference. There is a fierce urgency for Ethiopian leaders with these very special qualities to come forward. We need “leaders tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”
Some are perfectly willing to cast the fate of Ethiopia to the wind and say, “If Ethiopia disintegrates, so be it. It was not meant to be.” But it is the privilege of the utopian Ethiopian to declare with absolute certainty and pride that the unity of all Ethiopians is divinely ordained. It is the dream of the same utopian Ethiopian to look forward to the day when Ethiopians– men and women, young and old, rich and poor, city dwellers and country folks, the learned and illiterate and those of diverse faiths and languages– will assemble and issue a Great Charter announcing to the world: “We, the People of Ethiopia, in order to form a more perfect Union…”
“How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, to see unity among all Ethiopians!”
Previous commentaries by the author are available at: www.huffingtonpost.com/alemayehu-g-mariam/ and http://open.salon.com/blog/almariam/
22 thoughts on “Africans Unite! Ethiopians Unite!”
Its wrong to refer american politics for solution for Africa or Ethiopia. in the case of Ethiopia the first problem is poverty poverty poverty. people have to be well being or at list eat twice a day then you can think about unification. i think former USSR or today Russia is appropriate example, nationalism with out food, respect and acknowledgement among citizen. in the case of Ethiopia the country have to facilitate multi culturalism because that is the country made of. i personally don’t like the name government it self, to me government is always part of all problems. in Ethiopia government have been in the past and even new government comes will be problem in the futures. so i don’t make my hope high regardless who ever government comes and goes.
I yearn and pray to see a constitution stating, “We, the people of Africa…”, within which, “We the nations, nationalities, interest groups, tribes (?), etc.”, legally and morally incorporated. Of course, this demands divine intervention as well visionary servant leadership of impeccable integrity and painful socio-political transformation. Africa has been craving for such a change since its golden days of independence. Without dwelling on blaming and forgetting our historic past, we can dream and devise a newly United nationalities and territories of Africa based on God-given principles of equality, fraternity, and justice. In the absence of such principles and values, Africa will find ourselves in a generational cycle of misery. May God help us! Melkam Yegeta Ledet Beaal! Merry Christmas!
Hello!! It is me again. I have told you all so many times before about the appointment my Oromiya has with destiny in 2014. I told you that she will be a freshly minted independent nation in 2014. And that is at the beginning of the year also. I am actively searching for a capable artist to commission for a portrait of our liberation hero the lion heart Kemal and his commanders crossing the mighty Wabi River on their way to Finfine. Jawar is our child and should be left alone since he is performing his intellectual duties. Oromiya is coming!!! Oromiya is coming!!!! Oromiya will be Africa’s 55th state and with a new seat at the UN following our brothers in South Sudan. I am making a last call to all Oromo engineers and scientists who work and live abroad to start packing now. I am 100% sure that you will be very happy to toil and sweat for their sweetheart we all call Oromiya!!!!
You, the so called ‘Amhara elite’ are helping the Tigreans one way or another. The Tigreans try to stay in power by any means. You Amhara elites are trying to divide the Oromos. Oromos are not Ethiopians in the first place. They become part of Ethiopia 100 years ago. Before that, there is no indication that they were Ethiopians. I want to ask you very important question , Why the Oromo people have to live with the Tigreans? When Oromos share their wealth with the Tigreans , what do they get in return from the Tigreans?
Hello, is there anybody who can answer this?
Big Dee replies:
January 9th, 2012 at 6:54 PM
100 years? where did you hear that?
Africa Unite!
Anon replies:
January 10th, 2012 at 3:33 PM
Are you saying that Oromos or Ormas are Kenyans who arrived in Ethiopia few centuries ago ?
Amare replies:
January 10th, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Why don’t you answer the question? I can’t believe , I have the question of the year,and nobody can answer it. I think , I am the best. Nobody can answer my question.
To answer the question for Anon, what I am saying is that, Oromos were in the same place they are now, but they were not part of Ethiopia. To proof this, just read history books.
Amare replies:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:51 PM
For Elias;
As you see it here, nobody has an answer to this difficult question. Please put it as one article and let the people discuss about it.
Elias!!! Arica and particularly the horn of African states- Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia, needs people like you. People that would work tirelessly for the common cause of their issues. I’m a strongly believer the horn of Africa must focus for the 21st century economic development rather than the, “BACK TO THE FUTURE”, weyanes dream and inventions. The horn of Africa transformation must begin today with out any external interference and with out a single bullet. Let all the weyanes be shielded under the mini skirt of Susan Rice temporarily.
Ato Alemayehu,
Your article is timely and inspiring, but the unity of Ethiopians as a whole is just the begining not an end to the suffering of the people. It is only a hope now. There is a tribal dictatorship in place in Ethiopia ruling with an iron fist, killing, maiming, raping and destroying the livelyhood of the people inside Ethiopia and that is where the real fighting should take place not from Ivory Towers in the west.
Every Ethiopian who stands for unity, dignity and independence of Ethiopia should support the recent resolution of the OLF, further more all Ethiopian political organizations who stand for an Ethiopia free of ethnic politics should organize a meeting and come up with a plan of action to oust the Melles family mafia from Ethiopia then follow up on the action of plan.
Melles will not give up power so easily, so all means should be applied to oust this hideous regime, there should not be bickering over peaceful or armed struggle, every option should be acted upon, yes there will be sacrifice paid by the people and the leaders should be there leading from the front not from western cities, in the process those leaders who are willing to pay the ultimate price for their beliefs will separate themselves from the cowards who will not put themselves in harms way. The Ethiopian people are like any people on earth who want freedom and dignity in their own land, the only part that is lacking is farsighted and united leadership who are willing to lay their lives on the line in pursuit of the noble goals of the people.
Ordofaa,
“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride”. “Deha behilmu qibe bayteta noro, ekek yikorartew neber”.
So my fellow Ordofaa, keep on riding your wish horse and drinking your dream qibe/butter. There will be no country called Ormomia, but Ethiopia.
Unity among Ethiopian nations and nationalities for freedom, equality, justice and democracy is not a dream, but an objective reality. The woyane trash-talk about past “forced unity” is already outdated and falling apart. Ethiopians are now saying NO to woyane’s “forced disunity” en mass.
Ordofaa, wake up, wake up, wake up!!!
Long live United Ethiopia!!!
Mario,
You want to bet with me over my prediction? Lets do it!!!!
The reports from the battle front I hear from friends who have close contacts with the liberation fighters back home is very encouraging. They have told me that the Shewa region is almost 90% in our freedom fighter hands. Hararghe, Illu Aba Boraa, Jimma, Arsi and Wollega have been ungovernable by the blood sucking Woyanes since the beginning of 2011. Gojjames have rallied on our side and were given the assistance they needed to start their own liberation struggle. This devil Meles is in deep creek and it won’t take too long to see his ass behind bars unless his own cohorts decide to let him meet his own bitter end. Do you think such an intelligent military man as Kemal left his comfy home back home and joined his brothers in the bushes with out precisely seeing the end is near for the Woyanes? He is George Washington in incarnation!!! He is Alexander the great in incarnation. He is a replica of Sun Tzu in military skills. He will liberate Oromiya and help the Amaharas throw the yoke they have been carrying around since 1991. If you are an Oromo, I highly suggest that you to start packing now. I am.
Oromiya is coming!!! Oromiya is coming!!!! Oromiya will be Africa’s 55th state and with a new seat at the UN following our brothers in South Sudan.
Obbo Ordofaa,
If you liberate the Ormos and “help Amaras throw the yoke they have been carrying around since 1991”, by extension you will also liberate all nations and nationalities. That means liberating the entire Ethiopia. Now, what are you going to call liberated Ethiopia after that? Oromia?
Please stop your bush mentality and learn at least from woyanes. You should ask yourself this: If minority woyanes rule the whole Ethiopia as Ethiopia, why can’t we majority Oromos? Why feel incapable? Why secession?
When you wish, wish big. “Yemignot kish kish yelewm”, as the saying goes.
If you predict, please predict the outcome most likely and logical. Please do not make it a prediction from the house of “Ayyo Momina”.
Long live united Ethiopia.
Advocacy of unity alone can do nothing regarding the problems disuniting Ethiopia for the problems we have to solve are more of practical nature than ideological. While you mention what the American leaders have said regarding United State, it would have been more helpful if you could research more on what they have practically done to bring everyone together. I believe that their practical actions are more instrumental in knitting all the states together than what they said. I believe that when they said what they said they are describing their plan of action or what they have already done in creating and maintaining the united states. We must go beyond quotes and draw relevant and practical lessons.
Ordoffa – you are a little Woyane cadre. What you are doing for a small leftover is very pathetic. Nonethles,don’t use our name for your stupid goals. i know you are not Oromo. We are not that stupid!!!!
Chaltu,
Why the need for insulting me? I am telling you and millions others about the pending independence of Oromiya in 2014 based on the facts on the ground. You should rather look what the dreaded Woyanes have been all along and recently in particular. They are taking the following steps as the last touch to go ‘on their own’ very very soon.
1) The have moved all heavy weapons from Negele, Dire Dawa and Finfine to their underground depots in Tigray. They are in the process of closing down the Bishoftu air base and All fighter jets have already been moved to airbases in Tigray.
2) They are carving out a huge territory that includes the Semein mountains in Gondar regions because their partners-in-crime Chinese have discovered a sizable deposit of lithium inside those mountains. Lithium is the new diamond as the world is poised to run cars and many other items on batteries using this mineral. They are gone.
3) They have done every possible evil act on our people who dare to speak out about anything unjust. If you are an Oromo and say something they don’t like, you will be instantly labeled a terrorist. Then you will spend months before you see sunlight or a day in court. Am I lying? Such atrocities unleashed on the people by Woyane bigots has done irreparable damage on union of the country. The Woyanes have also underground jails they bore through their barren mountains scattered throughout Tigray. These underground prisons are said to be teeming with thousands of political prisoners many held there for more than 20 years now. I bet you the majority of these prisoners are Oromos. That is why my people are enraged and took matters in their own hands. And they will get the independence they deserve and that won’t take longer than 2 years. When I say this it is not because I harbor hatred to our human beings from Tigray. Woyanes’ own crime against our people did not buy them an enduring love from the people they have enslaved.
So don’t call me stupid unless you are one of these smelly Woyanes.
Chaltu, replies:
January 11th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Odoffa,
your point about Woyane is the truth; and No sane man denies that. What is the solution then? Is it just fantasizing a two year victory againist the most heavyly armed enemy with billions of dollars at its disposal, or being smart and visionary about our struggle?
Our brothers in the OLF have been fighting for the last 4 decades; but because we are so disintegrated, divided, filled with old hatered of dead bodies (the Miniliks, who are long gone), etc.. We haven’t had a single victory. Only thing we did was filling the prisons you mentioned with Oromo women and children. The new vision is this: lets get rid off the Woyane, then we will decide what to do! Oromia is the land now mistakenly called ethiopia. Once we secured the victory, we can either keep others (if we and they like), or we will ask them to go split. Always remember that we are the stem, not the branch!!!!
Source of jamming against Eritrean satellite broadcast confirmed to be Ethiopia
Asmara, 10 January 2012-The source of the jamming being conducted against Eritrean satellite broadcast has been confirmed to be Ethiopia. Disclosing this fact, the Riyadh-based Arab Satellite Communications said that it has told the regime in Addis Ababa that the practice is illegal.
In connection with this, Mr. Asmelash Abraha, Director General of Eritrean Television, told ERINA that in continuation of its hostile policy of blocking information disseminated from Eritrea, the TPLF regime, with the complicity of external forces, is engaged in jamming and interfering activities.
He further reminded that the aforementioned organization that it has both legal and organizational responsibility to ensure uninterrupted service for the satellite broadcast for which Eritrea has made heavy investment, and thus take legal action against the Addis Ababa regime which is conducting illegal jamming activities.
Mr. Asmelash also underlined that “regimes that conduct such airwave banditry are those which lack courage and capacity to face the truth being disseminated.”
one advice to Elias,
do not give a forum for shabias like Ordofaa to spread their anti-Ethiopian propaganda. Here and also on the forum where people can start their own threads.
Zero tolerance for shabians and their anti-Ethiopian unity propaganda. These folks cant cheat anyone but we have no time and interest to read their propaganda trash.
Amare replies:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:44 PM
For your info, this is called dictatorship.
Yilma replies:
January 12th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
you are joking, these people are not citizens so as foreigners we should tolerate them as long as they are constructive to the Ethiopian cause.
Allowing them to spread their anti-Ethiopian progaganda here is foolishness. By the way most people above are shabians or also woyanes who are mad because of the recent development regarding OLF.
You Yilma!!! Who are you calling Eritrean spy? You are really confused and utterly lost. Do you want everyone here to believe that I and the rest of freedom fighters back home have chosen one beast over the other one? Just remember Meles and Afewerki are two faces of the same coin. You are insulting those so-kind down-to-earth people of my beloved Oromiya. Whether you like it or not Oromiya will be free, free of dictatorship and will have a democratic system that is a replica of an American system. If that offends you, then there is nothing that can be done to correct it. You are one of those confused people who get red-shots in his eyes when one even utters the word Oromiya. You should see ‘Doctor Hangman’ Meles with out any delay!!!! He has your medication ready for you!!!
And this is for Brother Elias;
As of lately I have read several stories of and accounts by former groupies of the goon Meles on this and other websites. They are ‘finally’ speaking out about the atrocities committed by their ‘adorable’ front, the TPLF years ago. They are telling us that those horrible crimes were committed by Meles and Meles alone. They want us to believe that this midget has a supernatural power to bring everyone around him into foolproof submission. And they waited more than 20-25 years to tell us about it. I have seen some of them giving evidences of Meles’ crimes right on TV. I am Ok with that and about time they start to crack up before they die or become homeless. I have no problem with that at all. The bones I am picking are with the people who interviewed them. No one was asking them about those hidden dungeons they might help build in some of the remote areas of Tigray. I politely ask Brother Elias, if he ever crosses paths with any of these so called ‘dissidents’ from TPLF, to ask them about these jails. I want him to hold their feet to the fire until they crack up about it. Ladies and Gentlemen!!! The worst kind of treating political prisoners is being committed right in the backyard of the beaten paths hidden from the eyes and ears of humanitarian world. And these ex-comrades of Meles should be well aware of it. Many of these prisoners might have gone blind from being kept in the dark for more years and even decades. This Meles and his inner circle have brought back how Emperor Yohannes IV used to treat his prisoners. In addition the cutting tongues and gouging out eyes, he used to keep prisoners in deep tunnel caves 24 hours a day and most of them became blind. That was how he killed the Emperor before him. Like him, these modern day buzzards have no compassion for a fellow human being. They should tell us all what they know about these cave dungeons and where they are located even though their knowledge is a few years old. If they want to talk, they should do just that: Talk and talk about everything they know. I have every confidence in Brother Elias’ tenacity that he will be able to crack them up. That includes the once-most-trusted lieutenants of Meles by the name Seye. No matter how grave the prisoner’s crime, no one should be treated in such inhumane and barbaric way. The good folks at ESAT should also ask these questions also again and again until at least one of them starts to open up.