Ethiopian civic and media groups in Washington DC are organizing a public gathering today, August 18, to honor and express appreciation to members of the former Kinijit International Leadership.
Several Ethiopian civic and media groups are sponsoring this special event which is scheduled for Saturday, August 18, 2007, at the Unification Church in Washington DC, starting at 3 PM.
The Kinijit International Leadership (K.I.L.) had been operating on behalf of the leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit) until they were released from jail on July 20 last months after 21 months of incarceration.
Although the K.I.L. faced persistent leadership crisis caused by the disgraced former chairman, it was able to accomplish a few but crucial tasks.
One of the K.I.L. major accomplishments is creating international awareness for the plight of the jailed leaders, which contributed to securing their freedom.
K.I.L. was able to do that while its former chairman was busy stealing money from the organization and later on airing a radio broadcast calling some of the top officials of the K.I.L. ‘Woyanne agents.’
Under the leadership of Ato Andargachew Tsige, the head of organizational affairs, K.I.L. was also able to help facilitate the democratization of Kinijit chapters around the world and the creation of several new chapters. As a result, currently there are over 50 Kinijit support chapters in North America, Europe and Africa.
Considering the enormously difficult conditions under which the K.I.L. operated, it is a remarkable achievement, and Ethiopians around the world owe them a heartfelt thank you for keeping the Kinijit movement alive.
The groups that are involved in organizing the event include Ethiopian Review, Netsanet Le Ethiopia Radio, Addis Dimits Radio, Mebt Radio, Ethiopian Current Affairs Forum, Tegbar League and Kinijit DC Metro. More groups are expected to sponsor the event.
6 thoughts on “Ethiopians in Washington DC express appreciation to former members Kinijit Internatinal Leadership”
What is appreciation. I am not really satisfied with their achivement. Particularly after I heard the interview with one of the women prisoner on Mebet radio. They used the interview to discredit the other group, are not those who have bosted of the “big” achivement responsible for this. Why only Shaleka. Haven’t we given money in the name of the prisoners repeatedly. Didn’t they take more than 40,000 from the kingit account.We shouldn’t be blind and un fair. Wasn’t the whole period a period of discrediting Shaleke than fighting the woyane. Wasn’t the morale and the spirti of the struggle totaly cripled. Their era was more of a shame and disgrace. I really object these event. Why Shaleka wants to take that position. How was the conflictresolved. Did the “genuine” group resolve the problem genuinely. Or did they creat gangs to defame other and boycot other discussions. I have watched the first meeting called by the Shaleke the Gangs were trying to disrupt the smooth discussion. For your information the same gangs full dressed in black were the Fedral police of DC in the meeting held by the “BIG GOOD..”what ever you name them.
We have experianced in their era the biggest frustration,the poorest unity, the worest participation. We are comparing them with the Shelakas activity after he has beeen crippled by false propaganda. Not by what should have been done and seen.I and my friends has been to all the demonstrations out of due cosern of our leaders not the organisers respect. They shouldn’t take the credit from our side. Had it not been to the true and deep respect of the leaders, their good will that forced every and each ethiopian in and out to cry for their realese, the struggle of your heroes would have late our leaders stay in prison. So late us give the chane to the leaders to investigate the case aned late them judje. Then they will be my hero. Don’t biase the people, Idon’t think our leaders will be biased.
But it is a shame to be part of the organiser.
Appreciat the leaders that has showen real path and suffered the suffering of our people with our people.Not those who were paid to work and has divided the diaspora in to two. Not those who have collected money in the name of the prisoners and didn’t give no coin back. Not those who interview the prisoners for not receiving money to discredit others forgeting that it was their responsibility too. We should wait our leaders comment to appreciate. Don’t try to biase us
I really appreciate the news and reflections presented in this website but I regret on the main issues presented for it causes bias on the concept of Kinjit in the general population of Ethiopia. Ethiopians support Kinjit being the party that reflects the heart beat of us. However, the diaspora Kinjit members were not at the same wave length as in relation with the people live in Ethiopia. I believe woyane uses the diaspora Kinjit to show his forgiveness. Please be informed that the people of Ethiopia in general pleased with the release of Kinjit leaders but did not consider the action of woyane as a forgiveness rather to diffuse the tension that formed between the woyane and the entire people of Ethiopia. It will be the good thing for your media to reflect the peoples heart felt thought rather than wasting your time by dealing the diaspora blinds and their futile clash within the same spirit of Kinjit left them out. Do not tell us your bias and confusion.
Thank you
Elias,
I admire your rentless effort to dig up the news and make it public every minute and hour.
However, I hate too much your character of defaming people whom you don’t like.
Let the leaders find out who was wrong!! Celebrating Berhane Mewa now does not make him hero. He was not doing anything effective since the incarceration of the leaders. I accept he is a genuine person whom we can put as a treasurer but not as a leader. Period.
It is a good practice to give recognition for their service. we all say thank you.
God Bless!
It is curious what those individuals who freely dump criticism on KIL leaders might have done better to feel justified to criticize. They will do us a favor by sharing their contribution to the struggle. As we have learned a lot from the KIL leadership that kept the promise it made to the jailed leaders and the people, we can learn more from those who might have contributed more. Thus, if one feels that he has done more and better than these leaders, let him show us the way by imparting his wisdom and contribution with us.
If one cannot demonstrate what he has done for Ethiopia, it is better to repeat the criticism to himself and stop attacking those who work. On the other hand if the criticism is an extension of Woyane’s tactic to discredit our leaders, it will not work.
Giving respect and recognition to those who stand with and for the people is a culture to be encouraged.