The Washington DC-based Ethiopian Television Network has issued a statement saying that its press right has been violated after being prevented from filming Ato Hailu Shawel’s public meeting on Sunday.

Ethiopians in Washington DC said NO to dictatorship

Ethiopians in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area told Hailu Shawel on Sunday in no uncertain term that they do not support dictatorship.

The people expressed their opposition to dictatorship by not showing up at a public meeting organized by the Shaleqa-EPRP alliance (KIC) for Ato Hailu Shawel.

According to Ethiopian Review sources who were inside the meeting hall, only 300-400 people showed up. Of those who showed up, many of them were relatives and close family friends of Ato Hailu Shawel and his circle of crooked friends who have come from out of town. Ato Mogus Brook and friends have come all the way from Los Angeles for the meeting. Some of Shaleqa Yoseph’s friends from Dallas have also been observed. The rest were EPRP members in the Washington DC area and Mirchaw Sinishaw’s church members (yes, he has his own church named ‘Urael’ and a young priest).

The planned protest rally had been called off by the organizers after they observed that there were very few people who were coming to the meeting. Ato Hailu Shawel himself arrived two hours late. But there were 27 Washington DC police officers with riot gear on a stand by.

The audience was told that questions can be submitted only in writing. But later on, toward the end of the meeting, the moderator, Dr Taye, allowed six questions by those whom he hand picked. There was no effort by the organizers to even fake that it was a democratic meeting.

The funniest part of the event is the fund raising. Dr Taye announced that $120,000 have been pledged. This figure includes fake pledges ($1,000s, $5,000s and more) from paltalk rooms. An EPRP web site (ethiolion) pledged $1,000. Members of the KIC donated about $20,000 (recycling the money they stole from Kinijit). Wzr. Nigest G/Hiwot, whom Dr Taye brought from Ethiopia for the meeting, was promised two cars — one from New York and another from some where in Europe. Wzr. Nigest is scheduled to visit and hold similar meetings in about ten other cities. The way things are going, she can open her own car dealership and stay in the U.S.

Dr Taye was buying all these fake pledges from around the world, including some non-existent European country, and proudly announcing them at the public meeting. Where did Taye get his ph.d.? He should ask for refund.

There was also a financial report. Of the $1.2 million that the Shaleqa group diverted, only $12,000 remain, according to the report.

Ato Hailu made his speech 4 hours after the meeting started. It is hard to understand what message he was trying to convey. He was unfocused and incoherent. The medicines he is taking may be affecting him.

Sunday’s meeting was aggressively promoted by the EPRP web sites and radio programs. Every known EPRP member was present at the meeting. Without the participation of EPRP members, there would have been less than 100 old people. Even with EPRP’s participation, the average age of the audience is no less than 65 years old. Renaissance Hotel looked more like a nursing home on Sunday afternoon.

KIC (the new Derg) did not allow taking pictures, but Ethiopian Review was able to sneak out these photos below.

Shaleqa-EPRP public meeting in Washington DC, Oct. 14, 2007, 5:30 PM [photo: x]

Shaleqa-EPRP public meeting in Washington DC, Oct. 14, 2007, 5:30 PM [photo: x]

This is a refelction on Hailu Shawel and his new allay, the EPRP, by the Ethiopian Current Affairs Discussion Form.

Click here to listen >> Click here to listen

Or here.

This is one in a series of articles Ethiopian Review will publish in the coming few days to expose the betrayals and gross corruption surrounding Ato Hailu Shawel and his close friends. Up to now, many believed and hoped that Ato Hailu is an innocent victim of the Shaleqa gang. But Shaleqa Yoseph himself said recently that he did not do any thing without being ordered by his boss Hailu Shawel. The most recent actions by Ato Hailu proves the Shaleqa’s argument. To get a glimpse of the wrong path Ato Hailu chose to take, read this article (click here – Amharic)

Ato Hailu Shawel has betrayed those of us who had trusted him, and placed our hopes on him to provide an honest, principled, corruption free leadership. We were led to believe that he is a trust worthy, fair minded individual, a consistent, strong, unwavering leader. Little did we know that we were hoping against hope when all the signs were there — his crude betrayal of Prof. Asrat and all the other AAPO leaders. We were indeed fooling ourselves. The way things are unfolding now, it may turn out that he is the father of all corruptions, nepotism and bigotry.

Ato Hailu Shawel’s current betrayal of his supporters and colleagues bring memories of his betrayal of Professor Asrat Woldeyes several years ago. After quitting the All Amhara People’s Organization (AAPO) over a minor disagreement, when Professor Asrat was languishing in jail for six years, Ato Hailu did not visit him even once in jail, and had never participated in any type of activity to help release the professor. He did not even attend Prof. Asrat’s funeral service. For six years when Prof. Asrat languished in jail, Ato Hailu was making money and becoming a millionaire, without spending one minute of his time in Ethiopian politics. After Prof. Asrat died, Ato Hailu maneuvered his way back to the AAPO using his money. Once he became chairman of the AAPO, he had systematically pushed out many of the independent thinking leaders of the AAPO, including Ato Wondayehu Kassa, Ato Ali Indris, Col. Getahun Ejigu, and Ato Girma EnquSelassie using the power of his money against these individuals who were left pennyless due to several years of incarceration by Woyanne. Many of these individuals had languished in Woyanne jails along with Prof. Asrat.

As we look deeper into Ato Hailu’s past in trying to understand his current behavior, what we are finding is that his trail of betrayal, as well as his dictatorial behavior, goes way back. We will leave that for the history books. But what is now obvious is that when Ato Hailu told BBC’s Hard Talk two years ago that Ethiopians are double faced, we are now discovering that he was talking about himself.

By Daud Aweis
BBC News, Nairobi

As if Somalis do not have enough battles to contend with, their two leading politicians, President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi, have fallen out.

And as parliament marshals to take stock of the achievements of the two men since they took office three years ago, it looks likely that one will get their marching orders.

The formation of the interim government had been a time of hope; President Yusuf declared himself a man of peace.

Yet violence once again reigns in the capital, Mogadishu, following the December ousting of Islamists, who had ruled most of Somalia for six months last year, by Ethiopian-backed government troops.

Insurgent attacks proliferate against Ethiopian and government targets. Even the presence of African Union peacekeepers is failing to reassure the city’s residents, who continue to flee in their thousands.

The United Nations says in September alone 24,000 people left. In the same month some 300 people were admitted to hospital with serious gunshot wounds.

Donor fatigue

Neither Mr Yusuf nor Mr Ghedi has been spared the onslaught.

On a number of occasions Villa Somali, the president’s residence has come under attack, as has the hotel hosting the prime minister.

Some argue that the current leaders are hardly better than the warlords whose feuds fed the city’s violent disorder over the past 16 years.

Although the transitional government has the support of the UN and Western governments like the US, it has failed to win popular support on the ground.

There is also a growing fatigue, some foreign diplomats say, about picking up the tab for Somalia, in terms of government expenses, with no tangible returns.

Hence the clamouring call for a change of guard – and Mr Ghedi looks most likely for the chop.

He is seen as a political novice, installed as prime minister by the president with Ethiopian backing, who is now a stumbling block to progress.

While analysts complain that the cabinet it is made up of sycophants with little commitment to effect real change.

Fall guy

There has also been disappointment on the reconciliation front: the opposition – an alliance now based in Eritrea, which includes moderates of the Union of Islamic Courts – boycotted a much-touted reconciliation conference.

Instead the event turned into a cosy gathering of government supporters.

Without the opposition on board, analysts say there can be little chance for future stability.

Not prepared to be the fall guy, the president has garnered the support of more than 20 ministers and a large number of the 275 MPs who are calling for a parliamentary vote of no confidence in Mr Ghedi’s administration.

The prime minister is not taking this lying down and has forged an alliance with the Hawiye, a power clan which has been supporting the insurgency and long controlled Mogadishu where Mr Yusuf has always been unpopular.

The country is braced for a political duel.

But should Mr Ghedi get the boot, it may not be to the president’s gain as it will renew his rivalry with the Hawiye who want him and his Ethiopian allies out of Mogadishu.

Mr Yusuf, under pressure from donors, also needs another favour from parliament: he must convince MPs to change the Somali Transitional Charter to co-opt non-politicians into cabinet.

Given that most Somali technocrats have aligned themselves with the opposition, this means this too could compromise what grip Abdullahi Yusuf still has on the reins of Somali politics.

By Netsanet Yimetal

The busiest airport in the world had served more airline passengers than any other the last few years. Yet, this is the first time that the gigantic airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield, had the honor of hosting the most loved leaders of Ethiopia’s opposition delegation to the U.S., Wrt. Birtukan, Dr. Berhanu, Ato Biruk Kebede, Dr. Hailu Araya and Ato Gizachew Shiferraw.

Kinijit leaders in Atlanta [photo: Kinijit Atlanta]

Although the flight arrival time of 3:45 pm was not ideal, the Atlanta believers had trickled down to fill the arrival terminal. As I arrived at the terminal where the crowd was congregating, I could sense the strange yet exciting feeling of belongingness. Of course, as any gathering you can’t help but feel drowned in the beautiful Green, Yellow, Red flag. This great flag of ours maybe the reason I or any other Ethiopian would feel drawn to the crowd. My eyes started wandering around crowd and noticed that the green-yellow-red can be seen in different forms and shapes. Some carry it as a purse; others wore it as a wrist band; and others wore it as a hat; some more carried it as flag; few kids wore it as a scarf.

I could not help but wonder why all these people fought the hostile traffic of Atlanta to be here? This same question can also be raised for the other cities that hosted these leaders. I am sure each and everyone has their own unique reason why they are. There is; however, a common theme that is binding everyone, hope. Hope for better Ethiopia.

The creation of a state that is fair to all its inhabitants regardless of their background.

Wow!!! Fair to all…Isn’t that a radical concept for our people? It may seem a simple concept, but this is really what our people lacked since the dawn of time. At the risk of exaggerating, this is the kind of idea that is so exciting one feels like we are at the cross roads. Historically, most of the people who led us politically lacked the courage to stand for this concept. It does not mean we did not have people with this kind of wish for our people. Unfortunately, these people were too afraid to join in the fight for democracy because of mudslinging politics usually brings. That had changed for good in the election of May, 2005. I can’t help but thank the current government for allowing the election even though the intended consequence was far from what had transpired.

And next question that raced through my mind as I was standing among my people at Hartsfield was What about the rest of the people? Most people wanted to come here and welcome these courageous leaders, but there are others who chose not to come. Yes, as perplexing as it may sound, there are actually Ethiopians who are not supporting them. I guess what is puzzling to me is that what is not to support. These leaders stand for:

o Human rights for all Ethiopians
o Non-violence against the government
o Willingness to work with the current government as long us the ultimate goal is for benefit of the people
o Willingness to be incarcerated for cause of freedom
o Ethiopian based politics, not ethnic based

Obviously, I can go on and on but I am sure the picture is crystal clear. I hope people will come to the Ahaa! moment most of us already had passed and sees these leaders for what they really are. As a matter of fact, I dare say a reasonable EPRDF supporter would come to love the ideals of these leaders if and only if they come out of their shell…

Unexpectedly, the crowd at the Airport roared with scream and woke me up from my brief day dream. It is past 4 pm now in eastern standard time..and YESSSSSS, the leaders of the great movement in the Ethiopian history are here. I thought about the flawless description my hero, Dr. Alemayehu Gebremariam, had in his writing about the welcoming ceremony at the Washington airport. I just wish I could write like him to describe to you the awesome and exhilarating feeling one feels when seeing, for the first time, the unselfish and freedom-seeking leaders of the opposition movement.

The scream and shout of the crowd have changed into patriotic Ethiopian song in about five minutes of the leader’s arrival. I can’t help but be part of the singing bunch. What a feeling! What a Song!

Ethiopiaaaaaaaaaaaa Hagereeeeeeeeeee!!!

Ethiopiaaaaaaaaaaaa Hagereeeeeeeeeee!!!

Ethiopiaaaaaaaaaaaa Hagereeeeeeeeeee!!!

Memekiyaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Neshhh Kibreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Ere gud newuuu! Now, I know exactly what everyone of you out there felt when you had the privilege of welcoming the leaders in your neck of the woods. This will definitely be stamped in my heart for a long time to come.

Right before the Leaders were whisked away to their destination by the Atlanta organizing committee, I had an opportunity to take picture with the leaders. Right after my picture was taken, I turned to Dr. Berhanu, who was standing next to me, and said “THANK YOU!” and he nodded with “MINIM AYEDELEM!” I really think he thought I was thanking him for the picture opportunity. What I was really thanking him for was actually, for all what they have and continue to do for our country, for our people. I was thanking him for their unselfish leadership for the cause of FREEDOM and HUMAN RIGHTS!

Thank you again all of you for gracing our city with your presence!!!

Love and Respect from Atlanta, GA