Ethiopian opposition leader condemns government, just hours after pardon and release
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – Ethiopia’s opposition leader condemned the government Friday, just hours after he and 37 others were pardoned and released from jail, saying he signed a formal apology under duress.
Hailu Shawel, leader of the main opposition party, said that he had no apology to make for protesting 2005 election results because, «for us it is a normal political protest.
14 thoughts on “Hailu Shawel said he signed apology under duress”
There you are again. No excuses. This guy never admits defeat.
He had the right not to sign if he did not agree with the content of the memo. He admitted guilt and signed. It is too late for PR work.
Let’s put everything behind us start a new begining. Hailu Shawel should be removed and someone with sane mentality should start leading the movement.
He is right…Ethiopians know that the leaders of CUD never committed a crime. There was a lot of pressure on them to take partial responsibility. Meles had promised them the Government also would take responsibility for what happened. However, as usual, he deceived everybody and published only the letter signed by the CUD leaders.
Mr. Hailu, we know that you didn’t commit any crime
Dear Hailu shower are you still running your mouth?
Yes, Meles released the prisoners from pressure coming from the international community and the diaspora. A bill is passing to hold Meles’s nose for his crime against humanity. World Bank withdrew its direct budjet asssitance and transfered the assistance to the Woreda’s. EU suspended it’s annual direct budgetary asssistance. Bliar did same. Every body kicked Meles’s ass.
This is all because of Hailu Shawel’s determination for his cause. He is a typical firm and strong politician who stands for his cause. Yes, they signed the letter just to save Meles. Meles begged them to do it, so that he would be free of his criticisms.
Hailu is a great leader.
May God give him the wisdom and the strength to continue the struggle.
Long live Ethiopia!
Hailu shawel is a person of mediocrity and lacks political insight and maturity. He cannot tell when to keep a low profile and when not to. I heard him say ..we/Ethipians are deceptive, just to make a point to a BBC journalist about the stolen election. He is a big moron and should retire. But I doubt it, as I see him as one of those endless power monger Sick idots.
Bundech!
What a moron! Elias i know you are mad at ato hailu’s comment. It is a known fact that he is not capable of leading a grand party such as CUD. He is too old, inarticulate, he lacks political insight as bundecha said. I just saw a press confrence by ato lidetu and his party, and was so amaized how persuasive and believeable they are when making thier point. Politics is all about communication and be able win an argument, win peoples’ heart and you guys know Ato hailu has none of that. He and all the other old leaders should just retire and assign the young and capable dr birhanu and birtukan to run the party. Reform and huge change with in the party is vital for the survival of this wonderful party.
Why should we believe or care what Hailu Shawel says. The man does not know the meaning of honesty, even if it smacks him in the face. Remember,his interview with hard talk, when he lied about the length of time he served under mengestu. He went on to say, he stayed that long hoping to change Mengestu Hailemariam to be a better leader and also because of his children. What a leader!
Thanks
Atsede
Guys,
Don’t you know that the AEUP whcih had two million members is Hailu’s Party? He is the person who led the struggle since 1991 succussfuly and consistently emerging as CUD and as a strong party towards the election. It was because of AEUP that CUD won many of the seats in Amhara and south, the strong hold of AEUP. CUD without Shawel is a nonsense.
If all the supporters of Shawel’s party disassociate from CUD, CUD will reduce to a party in Gurage zone.
Hailu shawel should lead the struggle to freedom!
Dear cadres,
I read what you wrote about Hero Hailu Shawul, you are the ones who are morons, who even don’t know how to express your ideas. You should be shame on yourselves. Who are you to give comment on this hero. Hero Hailu is the leader and will stay as the leader of CUD. Please learn from your past mistakes and try to do the right thing. There is nothing that i can say about you except saying that you are doing your job as a cadre.
congradulation to all ethiopians.
I know engineer Hailu Shawul,I met him once in US where he held a meeting with the diaspora;in my opinion this gentleman has a quality of leadership,however he has his owen defects in expressing his dilema using the English colonial language,that doesn’t mean he is totally ignorant of this language,may be he lacks experiance. The criteria to be a leader is not only the ability to speak colonial language,but it is the wisdom to lead the people to fight for their right by speaking simple local language of the people that they can understand easily to follow the right path of current politics.Based on this fact Hailu was relentlessly working abroad and at home that contributed a lot for the estabilishment of strog Kinijit.In addition to this, Hailu played an important roll in exposing party liquidators and renegades like lidetu and the co.from infesting Kinigit.For this and many other reasons Hailu elected buy vote to be the first Chairman of Kinjit.Make no mistake Kinijit is not a party that run allways by a single person;it changes its leadership every six months,if Iam not mistaken.Cadres of EPRDF please give up your hope, Kinijit is no more divisible do not try to paint Hailu Shawul with falls colors.He is astaunch Kinijit Chairman whose party comrades never ignored his dedication to kinijit.He is a man of deeds.
My feeling is that both the TPLF gov and the opposition signed for shared responsibility inorder for the opposion to get their ticket out of prison.
That the agreement be also kept tight sealed. What we saw is the TPLF is releasing a twisted version of the agreement to public to look like it is champion.
Time will tell exactly what had happened so pls. people lets just move on to the next task of solving our countries problems and that pay any price to keep our country from sliding further towards disaster.
Lets just mark this day as the beginging and look forward.
Just venting
In my opinion the guy (Hailu Shawel) should stay away from ethiopian politics he’s no good leader and he’s the one who is responsible for all that happened after the 2005 national election. hope we all do remember what he said abt his plas to overthrow the government… “we will sacrifice 10 -15,0000 ppls and break in to the national palace and bring Meles out….” what d u all expect from a stupid man lke this??? he Influenced the other cud leaders only because he got the biggest party in the coalition and changed their strategies and we’ve seen what the results… and now he’s trying to be smart in a very stupid way… so i guess he should stay away!!! and please….let’s stop standing one aganist the other just because of our ethnical and religious diffrences and political views… and leave no more space for hatered…. one love!