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Iyasu Alemayehu’s latest target: another innocent Ethiopian

Posted on , Updated on by Elias Kifle

By Elias Kifle

The Iyasu Alemayehu faction of EPRP has a new enemy — an independent Ethiopian publishing company named Tsehai Publishers. Why? Because it has published former president Mengistu Hailemariam’s book.

Iyasu wants to punish Mengistu by copying and distributing the book for free. What he doesn’t care to understand is that Mengistu doesn’t need the few thousands of dollars that the book may generate in royalty. What Mengistu wants is for his book to be read by every one, not the money. But Iyasu’s action will definitely harm Tsehai Publishers, and it will also set a dangerous precedent where other Ethiopian writers, scholars and publishing companies could face a similar threat of bankruptcy.

The interesting thing is that Iyasu and gang are NOT waging the same kind of campaign against the real enemy, such as Bereket Simon, who recently published a book. It is a normal practice for them to always target only innocent Ethiopians. But never Woyanne. Tsehai Publishers is their latest victim.

Elias Wondimu has put his sweat and blood into building Tsehai Publishers from the ground up during the past 15 years. He is one of the hardest working and most decent Ethiopians I know who loves his country. Tsehai Publishers is currently the only successful independent Ethiopian publishing company that has published over 50 books on Ethiopia. Any Ethiopian political leader who claims to fight for the interest of Ethiopia needs to support and nurture such enterprises built by Ethiopians.

I am singling out Iyasu Alemayehu in this case because after talking with some members and supporters of EPRP these past two days, I learned that they have no part in the action. The campaign to bankrupt Tsehai Publishers is being coordinated by Isayu Alemayehu and a small circle of friends. So I don’t want to accuse the whole EPRP of this despicable, criminal act.

It is this kind of destructive behavior by the likes of Isayu Alemaheyu against innocent, hard working Ethiopians that has made our country the poorest in the world. What a shame!

I urge all members of the Ethiopian free press to take a stand against Iyasu’s action and express solidarity with our colleague Elias Wondimu of Tsehai Publishers.

The book can be ordered online. Click here.

106 thoughts on “Iyasu Alemayehu’s latest target: another innocent Ethiopian”

  1. This has been the role of Iyasu and EPRP for a long time now. What we see now is not the old EPRP Tesfaye Gebreab wrote about today. It is the new generation EPRP that is being misled by Iyasu and is stupid and deaf. All they know is how to sabotage our struggle against Weyane. The reason is they are not capable of thinking more than one step like children. When they have a problem, they don’t think impact and consequences as well as collateral damage so to speak. They look only one way like an ass. That is why they are failing in everything they do.

    Believe it or not, Iyasu and EPRP are one of the main reasons Weyane is still in power. They helped abort the Kinijit movement. Now, they are working hard to abort another promising struggle. I don’t know why Zenawi does not pay them. If Zenawi is listening, he should help them because he owes them for the tremedous support he is getting from EPRP.

    One stupid EPRP member recently said that he would rather see weyane rule for one hundred years than seeing Ginbot 7 and Dr. Berhanu Nega in power. Can you imagine these level of sickness and stupidity? I don’t think even Monster Zenawi hates Dr. Berhanu that much.

    We must declare war on Iyasu and EPRP. They are good for nothing. They are a bunch of losers and cry babies. I will not allow EPRP members to baby sit my dog let alone give them a responsibility to govern. How on earth such a great party EPRP who had great people as members, including me by the way, turns into a group of immature morons who are good for nothing? Unbelievable!

    Anonymous replies:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 10:45 AM

    Well said brother. I can add no more.EPRP is thinking on yester years not now. They coudn’t learn from their mistakes they are so rigid. How come a political party fr more than 30 years without any tangible result. They should learn to change with the change political dynamics of the world.I can repeat what you said ” Woyane has stayed this long due to the presence of divisive EPRP”.

  2. Why don’t EPRP do us all a favor and no longer exist. they exist but they really don’t. They are still fighting against the “atsaw” as they call Hileselassie long after he’s gone…

    they are stock in their youth age and are good for nothing. R.I.P for all the innocent and Ethiopian loving young men and woman that died during their strugle but as of now, they are no longer effective…

    Hagere Simagn replies:
    March 26th, 2012 at 10:20 PM

    As long as the Ethiopian Spirit is there, EPRP will exist. You can say whatever you want to belittle the EPRP but that is immaterial,

  3. Elias:

    I think we should name names. It was a person with a Facebook user name Fibus Niggli who initially posted on his Facebook account the information that the book can be down-loaded online. I do not know the guy personally. He requested me for a friendship. I read his posts, which look like anti-woyane. I accepted his friendship. But after I read his post about the book, I blocked him.

    You could tell from the quality of the book that Elias Wondimu has put much effort, in terms of time, labor and money, to publish it. It looks like he has spent all this to no avail. Had it been in another country, a person like him would have been encouraged and awarded for his great work. But we are not lucky as a nation. Because, unlike other countries, it looks like it is the bad guys that always win in our nation.

    I think we should start reversing this trend. Every Ethiopian who considers himself or herself as honest and who believes in the encouragement of hard work should avoid the temptation, and should rather buy the book. The book is informative. Therefore, I feel that every body should suspend his or her bias or judgment against the author for a while and read the book.

    As you well know, the law enforcement agencies in this country (the US) are very strict about copyright issues. Even though Elias is a publisher, I think he should consult lawyers regarding this sad affair.

    Aradaw replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 4:03 PM

    Why don’t you buy hundred books and distribute it for free as a patriot to help Rojas and co.? Working hard to give Mengistu a plat form is giving Nazi a chance to explain his action. This is how the disgruntled people like you want us believe about Mengistu.

    tezibt replies:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 2:38 AM

    It really is sad when a hard working man like Elias Wondimu wastes hsi time on Mengistu. We really need to support a publisher, probably, the only Ethiopian in the U.S.. Now the issue is that Mengistu, a criminal who, during his as a military dictator has killed 55 generals and resided over the murder and disappearance of thousands of people in Ethiopia, should have been in jail. Thanks to the west, he has every thing necessary to fascilitate his comfortable life in exile. Now, at an old age, he has written a book. For what ? He is a lier. He was asked if he knows the where abouts of Baalu Girma. His answer was ask Mulugeta Lule. Did Mulugeta Lule run a prison or intelligence ? No, he was really scoring with Mr. Lule because Mr. Lule had written a book called “atfito metfat”. Of course he wrote the book to cleanse his bloodied hand, score with his enemies and change public opinion. Do you believe he will write about the secret killings he committed ? I would read mengistu’s book if he has written it after a court conviction. Then he has nothing to fear. Some of you are naive. It is like asking a criminal to write a book and allow the jury to read it so that he sways their opinion. I some times feel that Ethiopia is land of criminals and thugs. How many people does one have to kill to be considered a criminal. If some of you think mengistu is criminal why do you believe the criminal would write honest story. How could one believe a coward criminal like mengistu, write a book that would benefit society ? EPRP or its leader may or may not have the morar authority to distribute the book free but these is not an easy subject for everyone. Some of you do compare it with Bereket’s book, well he has power in the country and for now he can but distributing his book free is a favor because the sheik will reimburse him after it is read by many. I don’t think any one will buy his book so dont worry about his similarly full of lies book.

    Anonymous replies:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 10:48 AM

    If you really like Ethiopia why don’t block Berket’s book or put it online.

    Tes replies:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 5:51 PM

    Elias,

    I think you have enough feedback to go ahead and post Bereket Simon’s book on line. Come on show every one that you are a courageous Ethiopian and not a coward ER.

    tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 2:47 AM

    Some people say that EPRDF doesn’t kill like Derg. Everything criminal has to be stopped. One needs to list the crimes of Mengistu to refresh your memory. Bereket is also a criminal but posting his book for free on line would only promote him. The Ethiopian banks are in his pocket. He is not short of cash. Of course, there are ways to discourage his book’s acceptance. Why don’t you come up with a strategy to stop his book.

    Hagere Simagn replies:
    March 26th, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    The difference between those years and today for Ethiopia is a change of one dictatorial regime with another, a dismembered Eritrea and ethnically divided country under the guise of self determination and federalism. In actual fact the all power is with one man, one party, all the same like those days. Killing, Torture, imprisonment are still widespread in the country. Ethiopia continued to be a large prison state like it was during the Mengistu era. This is the political dynamics even the most ordinary Ethiopian like myself could easily see and feel. The fact that 30 years have passed and we still are in the same situation does not justify the Mengistu nor the Woyane regime. In fact it amplifies their oneness and calls all forces to rise with a new spirit of unity and against all forms of dictatorship past and present.

    EPRP opposed the Mengistu regime for its anti democratic stands that continued for seventeen years. A large portion of that generation of Ethiopians followed the EPRP and paid a lot of life sacrifices during the early part of those years struggling against the regime. The 17 years culminated with the fleeing of Mengistu to Zimbabwe at the command of foreign powers not even telling his people as to what he was doing. We Ethiopians know what had happened but we were/are voiceless and Mengistu is is trying to justify his actions by writing a book and his publisher looking for a huge financial gain out of this. What a shameless greed and luck of morale responsibility; The EPRP may have to learn from its mistakes but not by surrendering its values for petty little gains. The struggle will continue.
    Truth will triumph in the end; cheats and opportunists will bow down at that time. That may take time but it is bound to happen. A new generation of trustworthy young men and women will rise and free the country of all forms of dictatorship and lead it towards unity and freedom. God bless Ethiopia! Down with divisive forces and dictators!

    Anonymous replies:
    January 31st, 2012 at 12:14 PM

    @T. Adane, why do you pretend as if you are caring about copyright law??? I am sure you have saved Mengistu’s book on your computer illegally. As a matter of fact you are one of those, who admire a killer like Mengistu. Shame on you!!!

  4. We live in a civilized world, we talk of democracy but still are governed by the law of the jungle. I am eager to hear from Iyasu Alemayehu and the justification. We should also be fair when we blame Mengistu/DERG, we should not forget also EPRP/MEISON and their criminal role in the red and white terror.

    tezibt replies:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 2:47 AM

    While I believe the comment is good, I do not believe it is right to compare and contrast crimes of criminals. A crime is a crime. I believe they have all committed crime and most of them keep lying about it. But what makes mengistu a real criminal with out ideology rather thirst for power is how he killed everyone the king, feudals, nobles, his colleagues, great generals, ordering the bombing of civilians in Eritrea and Tigray just to divide a country he recieved as one into two. He is responsible for the migration of so many educated people. Well I believe we should read his book, because he never killed even a fly. Lets ban Iyasu’s book if he is a criminal. But I believe the guy may have been in the U.S. during that time. If I am wrong I stand to be corrected.

  5. I hate to agree with on that monster’s Mengistu case,as far as Iyasu goes,what can I say,he is simply one sick trouble maker who is busy throwing stones on other,others who he thinks, who disagree with him.he is one frustrated loser who wasted 3/4 of his life confusing his supporters (foot soldiers)and his family.what a guy.when is he going to grow up?

  7. This adds salt to the already volatile diaspora politicians. When is the time to come together and work for a better Ethiopia. I am too sad to be part of the Current politics in our country!

  8. A million thanks to Elias for spotlighting on what has to be said and emphasized. For speaking the truth and the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Mr. Eyasu should never be spared from being exposed for his deeds if we are to remain true to our beliefs in morality and political correctness. Nothing good has ever come out of Eyasu Alemayehu. Ah..I forgot his grand father’s name ” Ayitagesu” , meaning Mr. Intolerant. He can not infringe on publisher’s rights. Can he? He is prooving once again his criminal behaviour on top of his past serial crime of gunning down innocent people in Ethiopia while running a mafiosi organisation that called itself Ehiaapa. He is now teaching petty crime and political hooliganism (like woyane’s hooligans who once snatched the great Ehtiopian professor Asrat Woldeyes’s bag on the order of the reclusive Woyane security chief, the late Kinfe Gebgemedin (slained with a rather wild form of settling of account within Woyane). Iyasu is the CheGuevara of political anarchy.

  9. Elias:

    Probably, you may have a close friendship with the Elias Wondimu and you are trying to protect him. You have to know that Mengistu’s book isn’t your average book. We had one leader during the revolution and that was Mengistu and there will not be any precedent. First of all, publishing Mengistu’s book is a slippery slope. Since he may have legal issues in the future, in his book, he will write the false nothing but the whole false. He may try to score with some of his enemies and rivals, past and current using his book as a weapon. Other than that I don’t believe any truth will come out of Menge, a man that claimed to have never killed not even a fly. I have never seen or I do not know Eyasu Alemayehu. I have no special interest in defending him. But I believe that you are wrong when you compare apple and orange. Bereket Simon’s book is published in addis and the Ethiopian people will decide on that. Iyasu can’t have access. I could see your point but the publisher knows that he got into the mother of all controversial publishing of a book in our country. Of course, die hard EPRP members may believe that they owe it to their fallen comrades to stop people like Mengistu from profiting this way. The solution may be to get these two parties to talk it out. This is a very sensitive stuff and to jump into writing this kind of article is no less than pouring gasoline into a fire. Everyone’s side is very understandable. Elias, like you said, he is a very hard working person. Hard working people also make a controversial decisions but it means they need to resolve it through discussion. Until the standard of our culture developes to the stage where anyone friend or foe is able to voice there opinion through any medium, we have to resolve it through any type of dialogue that is civil.

    T. Adane replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 6:36 AM

    Tezibt:

    First of all, your answer assumes that the people, i.e., the readers of the book are ignorant, that they do know nothing, and thus they should be guided or directed by the action of an all-knowing party or person.
    That is the main problem of paternalistic organizations or persons like EPRP and you. But you should know that the people are rational and reasonable, and thus they can make their own informed judgement or choice.

    I have lost my brother and mother because of EPRP when I was one. I do not think my brother would approve your statement that the people who are committing this gross error “owe it to their fallen comrades.”

    I do not like Mingistu ( for that matter, I do not like EPRP). But I still read the book and arrived at my own opinion about the book and the author.

    If EPRP does not like the book, the best course of action for them would have been to write another book or a review (critique) of the book as a response. But as usual, EPRP chose the low road. What a shame?

    Eloid replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 1:55 PM

    @Tezibt;

    If it were to protect the people from the harm the book could cause, I`d also personally oppose the publication of the book. But the fact is different; whatever the content of the book is , they know Mengistu won`t write in favour of Meles or Bereket. So, basically it is not to stand for the people who will be deceived by the info the book conveys, rather just not to see anything that criticise Meles. FYI I have not lived in the era of Dergue regime, the only people who tell me the crime of Mengistu are TPLF`s media and Civic Education text books. TPLF taught me that there is no way to express my feeling in public or question them whatever they do. They`ll just tell me that they`re better than Mengisu, I don`t give a shit about Mengistu , I want to see a better way of doing things. Leave the crime of Mengistu to the court and to historian and give Ethiopians the right you gave to the Tigrians. There is no way to resolve through dialogue —I think you do know nothing about TPLF or you`re one of the members who taught me civic education (“resolving issues on democratic way” bla bla–only on paper and you had also copied that statements here ).

    tezibt replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 7:18 PM

    Your response to my comment made me pose for a moment but still any killers Mengistu or Meles deserve their day in court and not freedom of spilling their venom. They are responsible for crime against humanity. If you are innocent, I support your freedom of expression to the point of worshiping them.

    tezibt replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 7:20 PM

    I meant to say pause and not post.

    tezibt replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 10:44 PM

    No, I do not assume readers are ignorant because I am one of them. I am against the idea of giving killers like mengistu and bereket the stage to dump their garbage when they have to defend their accusation in COURT. You are wrong, I want meles not defended but but any killer to get his day in court in a civilized manner rather than one like Gdafi and at the same time a killer must be deprived a stage. You are not mengistu and I don’t think any one, if you are innocent, should deprive you the right to express your self, I have not said that. A gain you are wrong when you said “give Ethiopians the right you gave to the Tigrians”
    You sound to me like a prejudist. If you meant to say “Ethiopians the right you gave to the woyanes.” and if you are not calling the whole tigres woyane then I can respond by saying, no I never gave the right to neither, even if I have power to do so I won’t do so. Don’t misquote me, I said dialogue between Iyasu and Elias Wondimu and not other parties. You would do your self a favor by reading the contents properly and responding accordingly. You assumption about me doesn’t matter because you just want to bicker, argue and accuse some one for the sake of doing it. You are some one who would enjoy reading “my struggle” Hitlers book. I oppose the publication of that book too.

  10. Shame on Iyasu Alemayehu:: Elias Wondemu is a decent hardworking Ethiopian in the interest of free press.

    tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 4:13 AM

    The Supreme Court found that New York’s Son of Sam statute violated the First Amendment in Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of N. Y. State Crime Victims Bd., 502 U.S. 105 (1991). The Court found that New York had a legitimate interest in “ensuring that criminals do not profit from their crimes,” citing Riggs v. Palmer, and also in “compensating victims from the fruits of the crime.” But it concluded that the statute in question was too broad. “It would have escrowed payment for such works as The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which describes crimes committed by the civil rights leader before he became a public figure; Civil Disobedience, in which Thoreau acknowledges his refusal to pay taxes and recalls his experience in jail; and even the Confessions of Saint Augustine, in which the author laments ‘my past foulness and the carnal corruptions of my soul,’ one instance of which involved the theft of pears from a neighboring vineyard.” The Court concluded that “the Son of Sam law clearly reaches a wide range of literature that does not enable a criminal to profit from his crime while a victim remains uncompensated.” Because the statute singled out speech based on content and was not narrowly tailored to compelling state interests, the Court concluded that the statute violated the First Amendment.

    The California Supreme Court struck down California’s Son of Sam law in 2002, applying logic similar to Simon & Schuster in Keenan v. Superior Court. In light of Simon & Schuster and Keenan, it seems likely few of the original Son of Sam laws would withstand a constitutional challenge. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, “[n]early one-third of all states have not altered their notoriety-for-profit statutes following the Simon & Schuster ruling. Some states that have amended their laws have not addressed the Supreme Court’s concerns. However, a substantial number of states have attempted to revise their laws to make them constitutional.” New York amended its statute in 1992 and again in 2001 to create, as one author has described it, “a never-ending threat of suit” applying to those “under the watch of the criminal justice system.” So in some states criminals can write books or give interviews about their crimes and earn money for the stories; in others criminals cannot profit from their crimes.

    Of course, earning money and keeping it are two different things. As the Simon & Schuster court noted, criminals remain liable to victims and their heirs. The cases of O.J. and Robert Blake show that a person can be acquitted of a crime but still be held civilly liable. If the victims fear that the killer will dissipate assets before they can get a judgment, they can try to get an order freezing those assets (this is called pre-judgment attachment). So even in cases where criminals elude statutes meant to keep them from profiting, their victims and the victims’ families can still see to it that they don’t.

  14. What else can one expect from EPRP. This is classic EPRP in its old fashion. 39 years and still irrelevant except their anti Ethiopia ideotic actions over the years. We all know the lowest time for EPRP was when they sided with Somalia and Ziad Bare aganist Ethiopia when we went to war to defend the invasion by Somalia.. Shame on them.

  15. Can some one explain what this article all about? Am not living in USA but wondering how the editor is lurching the web between business and politics. This article really hurts the web more then iyasu.

  16. Iyasu Alemayehu and company fought against Ethiopia in support of Somalia and the Eritrean and Weyane rebels in the past. It is not surprising to see them fighting patriotic Ethiopians once again: it is in their DNA.

    I have maintained for a long time that Elias Kifle has been playing the same role as Iyasu Alemayehu has done now, but reading his recent objection to what Iyasu has done, I may change my mind. I think Ethiopians should rise in unison to get rid of this maniac, Iyasu Alemayehu.

    tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    Sorry, your hero isn’t my hero. Mengistu isn’t patriotic. Mengistu got two countries and made it two. Mengistu gave Eritrea to shabea on a silver platter. Today Eritreans are suffering more. Mengistu gave Menilik palace to EPRDF on a silver platter. He is responsible for what is going on right now. His slogan was “we will fight until one gun and one person is left.” Months before, he prepared his escape.Leaving the real heroes confused. If he was a good man, he would have listened to his generals who knew him very well that he is a coward, he should have listened to them. Instead, he killed them. He doesn’t know mercy. He is the opposite of king Theodros, who was man of his words. He is a lier and a coward. I would have respected and worshiped him if he had died fighting.

  17. Why doesn’t EPRP try this stupid thing on Bereket Simon’s new book? They are afraid that DLA Piper lawyers will knock on their doors. So they go after some one who doesn’t have the financial wherewithal to hire powerful lawyers. What a bunch of cowards. EPRP is a cancer on Ethiopian society.

  18. Hello Elias Kifle,

    Mengistu and his thugs killed 54,000 people in Addis Abeba only and half-a million people in whole country , this is from the red terror museum
    Do you think that Mengistu has to benefit form the blood money?

    Elias replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 11:27 AM

    Eyob,

    The book doesn’t make Mengistu a significant amount of money. He doesn’t care whether the book is distributed freely or sold. But Iyasu’s action, if it is acceptable in our community, will harm Ethiopian writers and book publishers. Any politician or political organization that doesn’t like a certain book can scan and make it available for free, bankrupting the publisher.

    Bubu replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 1:45 PM

    Elias!

    Do you really consider this mass murderer to be a writer? I do not think this butcher can read and write. He might have hired some one with the stolen money to write for him. If Iyasu has done that, he has all the right to fight this criminal to the last. This butcher’s hand is soaked with the blood of our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. I will download this toilet paper and give all the people I know to use it in their rest rooms. But Elias if the story of this butcher has to be written, it has to be done by other people not by the buther himself. Thanks!

    Anonymous replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 9:50 PM

    Then how do you get to hear his side ? Every story has three sides. Open your eyes and let yourself see what has really happened here for the first time in Ethiopia History! This never happend before, none of our leaders got tis chance. Now your kids have a GREAT book to refer to.

    Let us appreciate the publisher’s contribution to our history, please think or the generation to come.

  19. Dear Elias, many thanks and a huge RESPECT for you! What these the so called EPRP did is not different from what Woyanne is doing here right now. Woyanne has distroyed free press in Ethiopia..because,it fears TRUTH more than any thing else in this world. The same is true for EPRP!…their shame history has exposed in the recent book of Mengistu. They don’t have good history to write a single sentence…because we Ethiopian knew very well that they were mercenary of Ziad Bare and Shabia. So they don’t have an ability to defend themselve. What they have done now is an additional testimony for us – they were/are anti-ethiopian,arab-mercenary, envious!…tsere-hager MIKEGNA!

  20. Is all this discussion about a piece of garbage full of lie written by the most notorious coward individual on earth? Shame on you guys. Colonel Shasho’s book is not worth a bathroom tissue. I am sorry about the publisher who took all this risk to publish a toilet paper as a book. In any business the profit you make depends on the risk you take. If he couldn’t make a profit due to any reason, it is because of the wrong risk he took. The publisher would for sure make good profit when he publishes a book that people would love to read, but this one is a piece of $h-t.

    ayyyyyyy replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 9:31 PM

    Let people decide for themselves, whether they are reading a pieces of garbage or not …but not an individual who dares instil his nightmares onto others.

  23. Thanks to some people who distributed the book for free that I have it in my hand for free. It would be very stupid for me to buy Mengistu’s book. I just wanted to read it without paying even a single cent, and I have it now. Mengistu’s book is not worth paying any cent!

    Pat replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 12:06 PM

    The time it took you to read 500 pages of book has no value?

    Anonymous replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 12:12 PM

    See this is what makes me wonder about our society, how can you be so empty headed and thik this small and narrow? Gosh I am glad there are so few of you on this earth! Please grow up broaden your tiny head and try to learn from others.

  24. I think this is literacy terrorism. I don’t really care that much about the book but I care a lot about freedom of expression. No one, I mean no one, should be denied this Allah given right. The Almighty has given his unique creation, Mankind, the ability to speak and understand each other. This Allah given ability should not be curtailed unless it is deemed destructive and pose real danger to society. I feel sorry for the publisher that he is caught in such damaging scenario. Who ever did is not a friend of the right of expression and should be correctly identified and exposed. He/she should be condemned for doing so. The victim is not Mengistu but this small time entrepreneur who has the right to publish any thing based on the principle of democracy. I am not really sure if the former dictator is in dire needs of money since he is good hands with Mugabe but I strongly believe that as long as he is alive he has the same right as you and me to write books or give interviews. Let the readers judge. How about me, one of you millions who has the right to read anything legally published? This is piracy and the publisher should seek counseling right away and take the bootlegger’s jackass to court. If SOPA is designed to protect small publishers like this innocent guy, I am with it and for it.

  25. Give me a break, what do you learn from reading a book written by Mengistu the criminal. I like Elias Wondimu but his association with the criminal Mengistu, No!No.
    Mr. Alemayehu of EPRP has the right to continue fighting Mengistu in any way or fashion including the publication and distribution of the book.
    Elias, did you say Mengistu does not need the money from the sale of his book? Who told you that? Mengistu not only he needs the money, he wants, if possible become president and continue the massacre from where he stoped. I have no mercy for that criminal.

    bisrat replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 2:49 PM

    I think you should be open and let people read and judge for themselves what Mengistu have written is true or not. If you are calling what Eyasu/EPRP did is fighting Mengistu, you need to wake up. Mengistu did defeat EPRP and destroyed them in Ethiopia. Yes it wasn’t the way we wanted to be as far as innocent people being killed but EPRP also have killed innocent people too. Let’s be fair here. Like Elias said the publisher is the victim here. Why can’t Eyasu write a critic and let people read it and see his side of the issues. But I understand it was never in EPRP’s blood to see fairness and justice.

    tezibt replies:
    January 22nd, 2012 at 2:53 AM

    In other words, you want to read his book to see if he is going to write in his book about how he killed or how many he killed or if he ever killed.

    Anonymous replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    Again had you read more and teach yourself a bit more you wouldn’t see the publishers work as association, you would admire the real publishing/ journalism and editing ability. A true journalist reports what is the truth so is a great publisher. Please let’s educate ourself and appreciate our talent nd gift. STOP pointing fingers, start appreciating.

    tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 3:03 AM

    There is no doubt that Elias Wondimu is a great man. I have enormous respect for what he has done for our community. I would never imagine for a second that he is doing it out of association with mengistu.
    My problem with the book is that Mengistu has proved to lie in his first book. When asked on the where abouts of Baalu Girma, his answer was “ask Mulugeta Lule.” I have never heard Mulugeta Lule running the intelligence or a prison. Do you see how he was trying to pass the
    blame? 500 pages would definitely have 500 lies. Don’t people got better things to do rather than read the lies and get confused.
    Otherwise, it would be a good reference. Mengistu has confused, killed and destroyed the psyche and fabric of the society. His hunger for power equals notorious dictators. I never wish him the death penalty for I am against it but I want him in court before he writes his lies. As a publisher, I think Elias Wondimu chose a very controversial person and I am sure he knows he made a very difficult decision. I bet you though, if his father or siblings were one of the thousands of victims of mengistu, he may not have done so. “Letekemach semay kirbu new”, alu abew siterritu.

    Anonymous replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    Maam it looks like you are writing out of emotion, slow down and think please plus ck your story before you’re debating. SLOW DOWN!!!

  26. I would forgive for Iyasu Alemayehu if he was on dipper
    But he is not, even his organization gust celebrate
    There 40th year waste of time birthdays.Can you help me to calculate Iyasu Alemayehuage age at this time.Let assume he was 25 when he joined the eprp; So Iyasu Alemayehu probable now(40+25=65)year old (+ or-5 SDV).Can you image a 65 years old man Tiring to act like 18 years old gangster?

  27. You manure! Why are you spoiling the name of brave Ethiopian-“meysaw kassa”?…while you were/are an anti-Ethiopian,Arab-mercenary! Wether you believe it or not, We,true Ethiopian are always ready to defend our Ethiopia and its geniune citizens from mercenaries of your kind! We will die for that! No doubt! We knew very well that Menge was a true Ethiopian hero who fought with anti-ETHIOPIANS and anti-unity of your like through out his life. He struggled throughout his life to bring equality in Ethiopia soil. But,thanks to those MANURE, shabia and ziad bare-mercenaries(EPRP, woyanne) and the Weastern(especially US)…the struggles of Menge and those gallant true Ethiopian heros ended fruitless. But, know that history and God never forget those true Ethiopian heros…that was why Menge has still lived in good health and you have still kept on terrized when you hear his voice…shintam banda!

    Gerisa replies:
    January 20th, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    Ethioboy!

    Do you know that your “hero” wears a diaper because he can not controle it, since he ran away from the woyanne/shabia goat shepardes (they were not real soldiers). But he didn’t mention the diaper in his book. Is this coward in a diaper your “hero” who gave the contry on a silver plate to woyanne/shabia group. Is your “hero” the one who is writing a garbage hiding in a hole like a rat? When your “hero” left the country an azmare in a tej bet where your “hero” came from sang like this:
    “YENEMA MENGYE ACHERU QECHINU
    YEBEQOLO QIZEN WOREDE BECHINU”

    Is this Your “hero” or your “zero”?

    Elias! please do not cut this comment, because I think Ethioboy is the same coward who wrote the book. Therefore he should know what other Ethiopians think about him.

  28. I really disagree with elias and his commarade in arm former tplf high official gebreab on this issue: to bigin with what is the proof the so called eyasue done this? the killer mengistue has a right to air his view? the publisher has the right to earn profit from the death of a million people? we have to be fair. i think i biggan questioning the whole political body affair of elias. I don’t care for eprp but truth must not ommitted for the sake of self political gain. Im sorry elias u r wrong indeed.

  29. Elias,

    That was exactly what came to my mind when I saw the pdf circulation on the internet. I was surprised Iyassu doesn’t still learn after 40 odd years. EPRP is exactly what is wrong with Ethiopia. The incapable and rotten leadership needs to be told to stop being a stumbling bloke in all manners of new initiatives taken by the young generation. Coming back to the book, I for one have bought the book and have encouraged others to buy and read it. Tsehai Publisher needs to be encouraged and nurtured.

    Don’t hesitate to tell this douche the truth as much as you focus your attack on TPLF.

  30. The EPRP and The Derg are two faces of the same coin. Both fought for power and did untold mercinery acts on ethiopian people.The both didnt know what a human right was and never hesitate to kill and destroy fabrics one to stay on power and the other(EPRP) to grab it greedily and abrubtly to install a more monestrous socialist government on the state machinary. EPRP knows no respect for human Right, As the Dergue did , EPRP also killed many innocent citizens, it is so amazing that the EPRP still barks fighting the TPLF when both came from same river, the old archaic idealogy, The “Only We”, arrogance. For them the 21st century clicked not.They still are crying from “victory to victory”. Dear Elias this is the EPRP, Eyasu and EPRP are the same. If we really want to fight the TPLF Minorityt rule, we need to distance from them and their venomous activities. There will come a time when the EPRP and all those killers will stand for accountability. If you come across their broadcast by accident , you never believe if they have any thing from this modern age of our world, the are from ancient, unchanged so orthodox unwilling to learn. Dont be frastrated Elias WOndimu the Bublisher , they will not win.
    Sincerly

    tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 3:40 AM

    Dear Kassa:
    I enjoyed your comment until I reached few lines before the end; therefore, I am editing it.

    The EPRP,The Derg,Woyane and Shabia are four sides of a a square. All of them were nasty and wanna be communists who were as blood thirsty as Stalin. All of them didnt know what a human right was and never hesitate to kill and destroy, even a pregnant woman is a threat to to their sick ideology one to stay on power and the other(EPRP) to grab it greedily and abrubtly to install a more monestrous socialist government on the state machinary. EPRP knows no respect for human Right, As the Dergue did , EPRP also killed many innocent citizens, Both EPRP and Woyane should remove them selves from the Ethiopian mind and stop being nightmares. There will come a time when the EPRP,DERG, SHABIA AND WOYANE will stand for accountability. If you come across their broadcast by accident , you never believe if they have any thing from this modern age of our world, they are from ancient, unchanged so orthodox unwilling to learn. Dont be frastrated Elias WOndimu the Bublisher , the great man you are, this will be a learning process for you. Even though this book will be a loss to your company, it will make you famous. Most people will learn the great works you did before and they will understand the mistake you made on publishing Mengistu’s book. In the mean time I can tell every one I do not hate mengistu but I want him to face justice. I know he is also a victim of the conspiracy by outsiders. Still, I can’t forget the many kids he made fatherless.
    Sincerly

  31. Mr. Binyam,

    I think you are right in some way but I am afraid you are resting your arguments on not-so-right convictions. Yes you are right Mr. Alemayehu has the right to take his fight to Mengistu legally and if that is his intention, then Mengistu should be his subject not this publisher. When he shoots he should shoot straight at Mengistu. Other wise, he is going to victimize the innocents. That is called carelessness and when it is deemed intentional it would bear some of the attributes of wickedness and even terrorism. He can critique the book with facts. If he wants to take legal action against the publisher, he can do that and the court is open for him everyday of the business week. We should all learn from the South American countries of what they have done and came through the 1980-90’s. I am not a fan of Mengistu. I despised him for what he had done to that country and he should be sentenced to the fullest extent at the court of law. He should be accountable for what was done to thousands of others during the time he was in power. Again, in a fair and unbiased court of law. But his right of expression should be respected in tact until he dies. Mein Kampf is still sold legally, right? What is worse than that? (I just double checked if I am right and Amazon.Com has it on sale). The right and freedom of expression should never be touched unless it is intended to conduct terrorism. We have enough of such ills back home perpetrated by none other than the goon from Dedebit.

    Anonymous replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    Ittu Aba Farda…….. You convinced me with Your arguement that even “Mein Kampf” almost 80 years after it was first written by non other than the monster of the last century, Adolf Hitler, is still sold via Amazon……
    Despite the fact that I hate Mengistu, it’s vital to read the book from his perspective which he is expected to highlight on the crimes perpetrated by eprp famously termed as the ” White terror”…..
    Perhaps, EPRP are trying to divert that by freely distributing the e-book mainly to discredit the author more than their desire to hurt the publisher…… I would like to see books written by them that highlights the “Red Terror” perpetrated on them by Mengistu……

    tezibt replies:
    January 24th, 2012 at 2:30 AM

    Mein Kampf was published in 1925, which is kind of the inspiration or philosophy of the chosen race BS. Hitler didn’t write it after his crimes so as to cover up and sway and confuse public opinion but Menge is doing otherwise. Do we have any books written by exiled dictators? Yes some books are around that were written by murderous dictators before they committed their crimes or while committing their crimes like Augusto Pinochet’s Geopolitica,The Doctrine of Fascism 1933 by Benito Mussolini, Little Red Book” 1966 Mao Tse Tung, The road to power by Stalin. The books were written while they had popularity or by using their power. I would like to get it strait, could some one tell me if Mengistu is popular? Is he using his power? We are having an honest debate or is this just a waste of time? Reading history and also using my own eye account from an eight years old’s perspective at that time, EPRP is also responsible for crimes on humanity. Any member of EPRP that has killed during that time also be held responsible. I am not trying to exonerate anyone here. A crime by EPRP, DERG, TPLF and SHABIA are crimes. I do not discriminate crimes and criminals. But most dictators live in hiding or die while trying to safe their power. Mengistu is really funny. While his kids grew up to be doctors, he made many kids fatherless and the result was that some of these kids became prostitutes and pickpockets and deprived kids, by the way I have nothing against his kids. They are innocent as innocent can be. Our merciless dictators are shameless. Just because we don’t have a proper government doesn’t mean we forgot. I can see that Mengistu, not only is he notorious dictator but he is also Mamo kilo. He wants to be the first evil dictator to write a book, profit from the sale, send the money to the people he hurt to pay for therapy and go back to ethiopia to replace the already shaken tplf.

    Ittu Aba Farda replies:
    January 25th, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    Dear Tezibt:

    I am 100% with you in regards to crimes against humanity and those who perpetrated should be held accountable in a court of law. In our case that includes ELF, EPLF, WSLF, EPRP, TPLF, MEISON and OLF (For its wanton crime against innocent civilians in Hararghe and Arsi). Human life is human life and exclusively The Almighty’s miracle. Except in a fair and justifiable fight, no one, I say no one has the right to take it away. Also, people and organizations who committed such horrendous crimes should not be allowed to profit from their crimes. That said, this one gives us a rare opportunity to hear it from the horses mouth. This thug have successfully escaped justice and from what we can see he will never face judges in a court of law at all as long as this Dracula from Dedebit and Mugabe are in power. Then his right to write a book is still in tact until he is arraigned and convicted in a court of law. People like me even though I despise this thug who made tens of thousands of women widows, fatherless and childless also should not be denied the right to read any books they wish save books intended to conduct terrorism. The burden is on the publisher. He should have forewarned the public about the book when the plan was hatched and tell everyone what it is going to do with the profits. I hope the publisher was not blinded by the burning desire to be 1% of population overnight from the sale of this book. It should have come out with a plan how part of the proceedings would go in a charity account to benefit survivors of the Red Terror. This would have gone a long way. I still have not heard from the publisher and it is still letting others to speak for it. Circulating the pan will not cut the mustard for the publisher. Overall, I am in agreement with you but please allow me to differ in this one aspect. Like you I have lost friends by the actions of this dictator and his cabals. Their images still haunts me and sometimes I sometimes see them in my dreams. He did not only devoid us of friends and loved ones he also gave us a nightmare that will remain with us until we die. But now we have this. The book is already printed legally here in the USA. You, I and many others have the right to read it. But first we have to buy it. God Bless!!!!!

  32. So my old belief is right ? all those more than two decades old political party is cancer for struggle against TPLF. They are stubborn and, old-fashioned and their existence benefits Woyane more than any one!
    But thousands of innocent Ethiopians died for those parties and those existing today have blood on their hands.

    DEATH TO ALL OF THEM,

    I am very sorry for the publisher

  33. Sometimes it is so ironical to see the very editor who muzzle dissenting articels from his websight advocating for a grand goal-advocating freedom and speech rights.

    Dear Elias,

    rightteousness starts from one’s own backyard. It requires skin deep commitment and I dont think neither EPRP nor you are good candidates for this. After EPRP’s exit muzzling and marginalizing dissent has been EPRP’s history and the actors are not onnly EPRP but also you.

    I am with Tsehai publishers. It is sad that they have to experience this but, hey, it is a general problem we face as people by these never changing crook politicians.

  34. EPRP faction specially that of Eyasu is a dark history of Ethiopia and long vanished like a thin air , as one comment puts it, it is litracy terrorism of toothless lions from somewhere in Europe Tnx Elias the brave son of mother Ethiopia

  35. Your note was too late for me. I already printed 500 pages of the book and gave it friends without realizing the consequence of hurting Elias (the publisher). I got suckered by EPRP once again. I hope this aged creminals vanish and live us alone. I will promise you not to make another copy. By the way they justify their deed with so called the “Son of Sam” law. If you need it i can forward you the website link.

  37. these are a group of people who ceased growing mentaly,they do politics to pass time,as a spare time work….just for fun. The goodness is that, they are so disconnected with the reality in the country that,the vast majority of the people simply do not understand them.the luck of democracy in the country is also serving them as jungle to hide,cause there is no a platform whereby a genuine debate can take place.This type of events would have brought their end long time ago,as presenting a viable program and giving anlaysis is not as easy as chanting slogans. Even an opportunity like the pre 2005 election will bring an end to them. Because,if you have noticed most of this gangs have nothing to say more than a sentence starting with “our generation…” and ending with nothing. i just wonder how long it takes for one to understand woyane is not gonna go anywhere with a saturday and sunday gossip while dinning. so i think there is no a point to engage with this dudes at any form. In fact writtitng and talking about them will present them a perfect platform to be remembered. hmmmmmmmmm was it Enachenfalen/Enashenfalen?

    tezibt replies:
    January 24th, 2012 at 2:35 AM

    So are you saying….

  39. good job Eyasu & EPRP!!!

    The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It’s the age-old struggle: the roar of the crowd on the one side, and the voice of your conscience on the other. lat them cry those derg esapa

  40. እኔን የሚገርማኝ አንድ ነገር አለ! ኢሕአፓ መቼ ነው መልካም ነገር ሰርቶ የሚያውቀው። ያ ሰም የማጥፋት ዘመን አልፏል። የኢሕአፓ ግዝፈት የነበረው ሰውን ማሸማቀቅ፤ከሚሰሩ ሰዎሽ እገር ሰር ሄዶ መነጠፍና፤መሰናክል መሆን ከፍተኛ የስልጣን ጥማት መለያ ባህሪው ነው።
    ኮለኔሉ ከዚህ መፅሃፍ ሽያጭ $10፣000 እንኳ አያገኙም። ሸርሙጣ ሲያረጅ አቃጣሪ ይሆናል የሚባለው በኢሕአፓ ላይ እየታየ ነው። በዚህ ተግባራቸው የሚጎዳው አሳታሚ ደረጂቱ ነው። ኮለኔሉ የሚያውቁተን ፅፈው ለታሪክነት ቢቀርስ ምን ችግር ይኖረዋል። የህዝብ መማሪያ ይሆናልለ 17 አመታት ያቺን አገር መርተዋልና። ፀሃይ አሳታሚ ደርጂት ደግሞ ማንኛውንም መፅሃፍት የማሳተም ግደታ አለበት፤ ምክንያቱም ህዝበን የማሳወቅ መብት አለውና።ህዝብም የማወቅ መብት አለውና! አንዳንዴ ሳስበው እነዚህ ኢሕአፓች የአገራችንን ስልጣን ቢጨብጡ ኖሮ ምንም ነገር መናገርም ሆነ መፃፍ ይከለክሉን ነበር ማለት ነው። እነሱ ካሰቡት ውጪ ያሰበ ሁሉ በእቶን ሰንሰለት ይወገር ነበር ማለት እኮ ነው። ደግነቱ እባብን የልቡን አይቶ እገር ነሳው አይደል የሚባለው!

  41. Dear Editor,

    I respectfully disagree with you on this one Elias ! weather it is EPRP, Eyasu or who ever that is, they have done the right thing. I commend them for the job well done !! Have we already forgotten what Megistu had done to thousands of Ethiopians, if not millions ?? ….and Elias Wondemu who is a publisher of Tsehay didn’t obviously care much about those lives lost or cut short by Mengistu. He was out there trying to make money, by publishing a book about one of the most ruthless dictators in Ethiopian history !! you are here trying to defend about piracy ? please !! I agree that they/EPRP/ should DO the same with Weyane publishers too, like Bereket. As far as Mengistu’s book is concerned , they have done the right thing.Mengistu is a mass murderer , who does not have an iota of truth to tell Ethiopians ! he doesn’t not deserve any one to read his story , period !! Tsehay publisher should have known better, that we Ethiopians never forgive and forget what Mengistu had done to Ethiopia !! Tsheay has learn t his lesson the hard way , too bad !!

  43. I am not sure if you are helping the publisher or Eyasu’s (EPRP)motive. I didn’t know megistu’s book is available for free download, you just publisied it for all your readers; mind you there is no a day I missed your articles because your website is in my tool bar because you are honest ,courageous and well informed and I apploud you every day. But knowing that you have 15 to 20 thousand readers everyday
    (from your interview at ESAT) you just advertised free download. Makes me think does Elias realise what he just did; Helping Eyasus motive or the victim publisher?

  44. Please, NO, NO. When the run away old lion roars from the deep jungle in Harare, he emits or gives off halitosis which spoils the fresh air over Ethiopia.

    Atlu replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 5:54 PM

    Ermias!

    KaKaKaKaKaKaKa……..
    Is that an old lion or an old stinky rat?
    KaKaKakakakakakakaka……..

  45. So many EPRP patriots fought and died for the good cause “enat ager”.
    Sad Eyasu a.k.a Hama Tuma lost his zeal and focus and is probing in the dark. Time for someone to take him headon and time for his stupid and blind supporters to join the more decent EPRP D and work for our common Motherland cause and its good citizens like Elias Wondimu.” Enough ” dictum also applies to mr Tuma whose writing lately is pompous, rusty, destructive (as evidenced in the opposition camp) and of little significance like “shimmoot – in Amharic – dinkem”…Time for Hama(including the pen- name) to retire with good French wine in Paris; and stop taking the history of EPRP’s ghost down the gutter!

  46. I don’t see any different between Mengistu and Eyasu both comminist and killer.Eyasu killed innocent brave student in Assimba.this book is history for Ethiopian peopel.everybody want to know what happen then.Mr. Eyasu why don’t right a book about your old communist theory.I will order a book you should do the same learn from it.I can’t believe you guys still thinking like 60’s grow up.
    sam

  47. @ Gerisa….you’ve posted such a silly comment full of lies! Which azmari sang that song? May be I was not moving around tej-bets like you did! So, I have no idea…about the songs of your azimari. The main reason why Menges’ struggle ended in failure was due to the existence of yours like manure, anti-ethiopian agents of enemy both at higher office and in the army. If that were not the reason,and If we were working hand in hand, the VICTORY on Somalia would be repeated in Mekele and Asmera as well. But…that has passed now…HOWEVER, don’t forget that “HISTORY always remember both mercenary of yours like and us, those who gave bone and blood for equality and Ethiopian unity! Late me repeat once again…I hate shintam band more than enemy…TELATIMA MIN GIZEM TELAT NEW ASIKEDIMO MEGIDEL ASHOKSHAKIWIN NEW endetebalew….Go and drink your tej in ferensay legasion…shintam banda!

    Gerisa replies:
    January 21st, 2012 at 6:21 PM

    Ethioboy or Colonel Shaho!

    When you say “shintam”, it makes me laugh more because the ki-enam like you who ran away dispersing 500,000 armed soldiers has the audecity to call others with names like shintam.Kakakakaka…
    I know after twenty years you still change your diapers twice in your hideout before you finish reading my comments.
    Shasho! don’t you still know that you are the one who killed imprisoned ,eradicated, etc. the true Ethiopians and prepared the groundwork for shabia/woyane? How moron are you?
    Shasho! I assure you that you are the worst anti-ethiopia in the history of our country. “AEND SEWNA AEND T’EYET ESKIQER” Who is more shintam? You or the 80 million Ethiopians who stayed in the country? Kakakak..
    Shasho! please change your diaper before writing your next garbage!!!!

  48. mMengistu is not a only a murderer he has killed writers and never allowed the freedom of press during his dictatorial 17 Years. the publisher thinks he will be allowed to publish freely at the time of MENGISTU? Why should he give him a chance he never gave to others? If Ato Iyasu has done that I say bravo! Well done. Please do the same to Berkets book.

  49. Ittu Aba Farda’s arguement is very convincing that even the book, “Mein Kampf” still selling at Amazon almost 80 years after the monster of the last century, Adolf Hitler, wrote the book…..
    It’s obvious that Mengistu would be highlghting the crimes of the “White Terror” perpetrated by EPRP more than his own crime of “Red Terror”……. So I have a feeling that Eyassu or his EPRP sub-group are more interested to discredit what is written in Mengistu book by distributing it in the form of e-book more than it wants to hurt the up
    & coming Tsehay publisher…….
    What I want to see is the EPRP write similar story highlighting the crimes of Mengistu so that the readers get to know both perspectives……..

  50. In the past ECADEF using Dr.Getachew and onother commentater have made disparaging and false accussations about Iyasu Alemayehu.I am surprised the same is hapening here in Ethiopian review.No wander Eyasus’s EPRP oposed the postion taken by G-7 regarding OLF.It appears that EPRP’s stanse on this issue must be the reason behind the critc’s campaign aginst this organization.Iyasu’s EPRP has said it loudly th by any organization that claims to free Ethiopia.Whether one agrees with this spostion and an atempt to peacefully disagree with it onething,blind denouncation of Eyasu and his party is completely another.I am always intrigued how and why Ethiopians are drawn in to such controversial topics that has the effect to nutralize one another.Is there any hope that we as a socity will learn to practice tolerance and inclusivness than to give vent to secterian and parochial politics. I feel like many of us have a negative bent of mind,and seem to rush for criticism with out any evidence .One by one every comment ,with the exception of TIgist, went down in the above case in condemening Eyasu.Think of this how do you receive it if I set out to run a dirty campaign about every one of you?Will you take it kindly;I dont believe so.Then,would not be easy for us to abide by the Golden rule,as in below.

    “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets”Mt.7:2.
    At least let us get the facts first befrore us, weigh the case well before we run campaign about it.

    tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 4:05 AM

    We are all victims and full of pain and every thing we say and do is full of emotions but it is also good to see how the U.S. justice system views some criminals benefiting from their works. Below you will find enlightening stuff.

    The rule isn’t universal, but judges generally do try to prevent people from profiting from their own wrongs. A classic case in this respect is Riggs v. Palmer, 22 N.E. 188 (1889). Palmer had poisoned his grandfather because his grandfather intended to disinherit him. Under New York inheritance statutes, Palmer was entitled to inherit all but a small portion of his grandfather’s estate. The statutes required valid wills to be enforced, and provided no exception that would prevent a killer from inheriting from his victim. The validity of a will is determined at the time it is executed (signed). When the will was executed, Palmer had done nothing wrong.

    The court looked to the maxims of equity for an escape from a result it saw as unjust. It wrote, “He now claims the property, and the sole question for our determination is, can he have it?” The court decided he could not, noting that on top of ordinary law, there were “fundamental maxims of the common law.” The court elaborated, “No one shall be permitted to profit by his own fraud, or to take advantage of his own wrong, or to found any claim upon his own iniquity, or to acquire property by his own crime. These maxims are dictated by public policy, have their foundation in universal law administered in all civilized countries, and have nowhere been superseded by statutes.” In other words, the court decided that public policy required it to read the statute to bar Palmer’s claim.

    The Riggs court didn’t come up with this idea on its own. The principle is much older and is still around today, although most states have codified it in statutes. For instance, Scott Peterson, a convicted killer, was recently prevented from receiving benefits under his wife’s life insurance policy by California Probate Code section 252:

    A named beneficiary of a bond, life insurance policy, or other contractual arrangement who feloniously and intentionally kills the principal obligee or the person upon whose life the policy is issued is not entitled to any benefit under the bond, policy, or other contractual arrangement, and it becomes payable as though the killer had predeceased the decedent.

    This is one form of what is called a “slayer statute.” California has statutes preventing killers from inheriting from their victims, obtaining title to land by murdering a joint tenant, or receiving life insurance benefits from policies insuring their victims, and includes a catchall for “any case not described . . . in which one person feloniously and intentionally kills another.” In such cases, the statute says, “any acquisition of property, interest, or benefit by the killer as a result of the killing of the decedent shall be treated in accordance with the principles of this part.” Every state has a similar slayer statute or a common-law slayer rule, according to research discussed by the Supreme Court of Alabama in Plumley v. Bledsoe (2005).

    More recently, states have enacted laws entitling crime victims to the profits from stories criminals tell about their crimes. States enacted these “Son of Sam” laws after rumors that the serial killer known by that name, David Berkowitz, had received financial offers from publishers. Son of Sam laws were designed to prevent killers from profiting by selling their stories and to compensate victims. But most of the statutes are probably unconstitutional.

    The Supreme Court found that New York’s Son of Sam statute violated the First Amendment in Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of N. Y. State Crime Victims Bd., 502 U.S. 105 (1991). The Court found that New York had a legitimate interest in “ensuring that criminals do not profit from their crimes,” citing Riggs v. Palmer, and also in “compensating victims from the fruits of the crime.” But it concluded that the statute in question was too broad. “It would have escrowed payment for such works as The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which describes crimes committed by the civil rights leader before he became a public figure; Civil Disobedience, in which Thoreau acknowledges his refusal to pay taxes and recalls his experience in jail; and even the Confessions of Saint Augustine, in which the author laments ‘my past foulness and the carnal corruptions of my soul,’ one instance of which involved the theft of pears from a neighboring vineyard.” The Court concluded that “the Son of Sam law clearly reaches a wide range of literature that does not enable a criminal to profit from his crime while a victim remains uncompensated.” Because the statute singled out speech based on content and was not narrowly tailored to compelling state interests, the Court concluded that the statute violated the First Amendment.

    The California Supreme Court struck down California’s Son of Sam law in 2002, applying logic similar to Simon & Schuster in Keenan v. Superior Court. In light of Simon & Schuster and Keenan, it seems likely few of the original Son of Sam laws would withstand a constitutional challenge. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, “[n]early one-third of all states have not altered their notoriety-for-profit statutes following the Simon & Schuster ruling. Some states that have amended their laws have not addressed the Supreme Court’s concerns. However, a substantial number of states have attempted to revise their laws to make them constitutional.” New York amended its statute in 1992 and again in 2001 to create, as one author has described it, “a never-ending threat of suit” applying to those “under the watch of the criminal justice system.” So in some states criminals can write books or give interviews about their crimes and earn money for the stories; in others criminals cannot profit from their crimes.

    Of course, earning money and keeping it are two different things. As the Simon & Schuster court noted, criminals remain liable to victims and their heirs. The cases of O.J. and Robert Blake show that a person can be acquitted of a crime but still be held civilly liable. If the victims fear that the killer will dissipate assets before they can get a judgment, they can try to get an order freezing those assets (this is called pre-judgment attachment). So even in cases where criminals elude statutes meant to keep them from profiting, their victims and the victims’ families can still see to it that they don’t.

    Hann replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    Tezibt or Iyasu Alemayehu, or whatever your real name is, you do not know what you are talking about. As usual, you, EPRP members, are confused and very extreme leftists. You call America imperialism. You used to say, “Down with imperialism.” Your vision has been building communism in Ethiopia. But now you are invoking the laws of America to justify your heinous crime. What a farce. For that matter, you are not even invoking the various Federal legislation and case laws that are currently in force in the US regarding copy right issues. As usual, your perspective is narrow. Please, leave the analysis to professionals like Professor Alemayhu.

    Tezibt replies:
    January 23rd, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    To Hann,

    First of all, just because you are lazy, you didn’t read the case. Lazy people are menace to society. Secondly, do not behave like a mad dog and bite everyone around you. I don’t even know Iyasu Alemayehu and I am way too young to be a communist and too young to ever participate in the dirty politics of the derg era. I read well though, and I know my history very well. No, my perspective isn’t narrow. How do you even know, because you have no perspective at all. You are a wall to yourself. You can hang the picture of Prof. Al in your bedroom wall, that isn’t my business. Go to school. Do not ideolize a man. Do not suffer from inferiority complex, achieve. I won’t tell you, but I am educationally and professionally well achieved. Most of all, i read and understand, I lesson carefully before I jump to respond. Hope fully you will cure yourself from this type of disease otherwise, it will reuin your,marriage, friendship,social life and interest in life. Learn to read and pay attention to what you are reading. This really is a brotherly advice.

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