This is the second part of my series on the Ethiopian Prime Ministers Interview with local and international reporters. The Interviews took two hours with the local reporters and an hour and half with the foreign press. Most were repetition of the same theme therefore I will deal in detail with the few issues I feel are important for us to have a deeper understanding.
Today I will deal with the explanation given regarding Judge Bertukan Mideksa’s second arrest and imprisonment to serve a life time sentence by Judge Adil Ahmed after the so called pardon grant by the government. I felt it was important that the reader follows ‘the individuals account’ verbatim and I have offered the entire transcript of his response. I apologize for the length of the article but it was necessary.
Unlike the answers to explain the Somali invasion or the state of the economy where he was constantly looking at the monitor on his desk, ‘the individual’ answered the question on Judge Bertukan from memory. From this it is possible to extrapolate that the issue is personal to him and the exact similarities of the answers both in Amharic and English show that it has been rehearsed at length. Here is the twenty-seven seconds question and a little over seven minutes answer.
Question woman ferenji reporter:
I would like to ask about Bertukan Mideksa, when your government had any discretion in deciding whether to proceed with action on her problem, her breaking the pardon conditions, if you had any discretion and what your attitude would be if you didn’t have discretion how you feel the political effect of being this tragic event?
Answer ‘the individual’
Uh..You are not asking the substance of the dispute and therefore I assumed you are informed enough not to need
Reporter: Mr. Bereket explained it to us.
Answer ‘the individual’
“So I will go ahead with the explanation now uh…uh..I can tell you uh..I was not enthused by uh.. the fact that this lady is in prison uh.. there is nothing that I personally or the government as a government will gain from the incident but I feel we were put in an almost impossible situation uh.. Politically and legally. Legally the law says that if a pardon is given under false pretenses it has to immediately be annulled that is what the law says uh..now when this lady says that she did not ask for pardon that this was a political gain not a legal process as such then it put into question the very decision the pardon had. It means that the initial request is wrong. It was not true or false. If the initial request is false then the law says it has to be, the pardon has to be annulled automatically. So legally there was not much room for maneuver uh.. so the only room for maneuver we could create for ourselves was to take time in implementing it and we took time in implementing it. Uh..we took time in implementing it in a sense that as soon as she arrived after making the statement we notified her of the implication of her statement uh..we notified her about the need for her to reaffirm her pardon request and therefore to correct the statement that she made abroad and to do so in a timely manner. So she was given I think adequate time to think and save all of us the headaches setback that would necessarily have resulted in. Now unfortunately she was not as cooperative as I would like her to be. She refused to correct her statement. After she refused to correct her statement we have no legal discretion what we could do uh…uh…what the law of pardon says. Politically too we have very little room for maneuver uh.. because it was in my view practically why she would refuse to reaffirm a sentence a statement that she had signed in front of the court in front of witnesses uh.. other than the assumption that the government would not dare to register the court sentence. She must have assumed that the government would not dare do that and I think that assumption have been based on the hope and expectations that she might have felt that she had powerful friends in powerful positions who would have been in place to press Ethiopian government to make sure that they do not that the government does not put her back behind bars again. Uh..uh.. She might have felt that she could create enough havoc by imprisonment to create enough havoc for the government to be punitive about taking a step. Now had we indulged her in that assumptions the message could have completely be something … would be if you are a bigwig nothing happens to you no matter what you do, if you have the right name in the right places you can ride roughshod on everything and you will still arrive safely when you arrive home. That message I think is a very dangerous political message to convey in an emerging democracy. The rules of law and equality of everybody even bigwigs before the law are central to the healthy development of the political processes in our country. Have we dilly dallied about this I think we would have endangered uh… the healthy political process so I think we were not given that much room for maneuver politically or legally”
Out of force of habit his first inclination was to bully the reporter and demean her and reinterpret the question. Unfortunately this time the reporter was a ferenji and she had the nerve to interrupt his cynical attempt to put her down. He was clearly taken aback and threw his hand in surprise.
As explanations go it seems to have a logical flow. The problem is in the details. The choice of the word ‘enthused’ is very perplexing. Why anybody would find arresting and jailing a fellow citizen as interesting experience is beyond me. The fact the government follows the uttering of individuals thousands of miles away during a town hall meeting with fellow Ethiopians is by itself very strange.
To think that a government serving eighty million people that are in dire need of the basic necessities of life has the time and energy to spare to deal with one single person to set the record straight is the height of ‘much ado about nothing’. So according to ‘the individual’ all this involvement by the Federal Police, the court and the Prime Minster’s office is to uphold the rule of law and serve justice. Let us take this at face value and agree with the regime. The question arises, is it acceptable practice to break the law in order to uphold the law?
Judge Bertukan was summoned by the Federal Police Commissioner to appear in person. Being a law-abiding citizen she showed up by the appointed time and demanded explanation for the summons. The Commissioner demanded an explanation regarding her statement in Sweden and threatened to revoke the pardon granted by the President of the country. As a person of the law Judge Bertukan simple response was to ask why it was the business of the police to demand explanation since the matter belongs to the court. His response was ‘this is not an academic matter and she should not ask questions.’
She was again summoned to appear using a messenger instead of a legal court order the law requires which she ignored. The Commissioner was forced to send two police officers with legal documents. Again the discussion centered on her ‘statement’ during her foreign visit. Again she stated her belief that this is a matter for the courts not the Federal Police, whereas the Commissioner gave her an ultimatum stating that if she does not disavow her ‘statement’ regarding her pardon within three days she will be taken into custody. Please read Judge Birtukan’s statement regarding this unfortunate situation at http://www.ethiopolitics.com/pdfiles/birtukan_english.pdf
‘The individual’ is substituting his own overblown and runaway imagination to read the state of Judge Bertukan’s mind. Without the benefit of a court of law in the presence of defense lawyer and a hearing he gathered his kangaroo pardon commission and decided the case in one weekend. It has never been explained where the Federal Police got the authority to interpret the law and take matter into its own hands and throw a citizen in jail. The President of the country on whose authority the pardon was granted, the Justice system that approved the process were nowhere to be seen in this tragic drama. In his haste to protect the workings of ‘an emerging democracy’ he sent his private police to arrest a citizen from a street corner roughing up her friends and supporters as an added bonus.
The long-winded explanation and the attempt to sound rational is nothing but one mans attempt to hide illegal and abhorrent behavior behind noble sounding words void of meaning. The fact of the matter is Judge Bertukan does not have an armed group behind her, have never threatened the peace and stability of the country and on numerous occasion have spoken loud and clear of her desire to bring about change using peaceful and legal means. When you consider the fact that the country is experiencing over 14 million citizens requiring immediate food aid, conflict in the Ogaden, stalemate with Eritrea forcing the regime to station thousands of idle solders on the border, forty to sixty percent inflation, acute shortage in foreign currency reserves it is the height of folly to force conflict on society. A responsible leader rallies his people to gather together and confront the emergency knocking on our door.
‘The individual’ says he does not understand why she refuses to agree with his interpretation of the so-called ‘pardon’. The simple fact that she might be right in her assertion does not even enter his mind. The logical move to gather the ‘elders’ that facilitated the process and arriving at a mutual accommodation is completely foreign to him and his associates. It is my way or the highway mentality at work. But can a government use its resources to prove a point no matter the consequences? Is governing a task of balancing the many needs and conflicting demands of society or an exercise in the use of intimidation and coercive methods to stay in power.
It was the great mountaineer George Mallory who said ‘because it is there’ when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. That is good for mountains, but governments do not arrest and torture citizens because they are there. Just because you can do something it doesn’t mean you should. It is only children and immature adults that give in to their impulses and suffer the consequences of their hasty deeds.
So where do we stand now? Judge Bertukan is in solitary confinement denied visitation rights by family and friends, books, radio and consultation with her attorneys. It has been fifty-eight days since her arrest. The regime is pretending that the matter is closed and we should all go home and forget about the injustice. It is just a wishful thinking on their part. The Ethiopian people are silently witnessing another bizarre behavior by not elected cadres masquerading as legitimate leaders. The Ethiopian Diaspora are using all available resources to remind the world of the injustice and possibility of a man-made disaster in our ancient kingdom. The European Union, the US government and Congress are demanding her immediate release and respect for human right. International organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders are recording their displeasure and asking for an all out effort to secure hers and other political prisoners release.
After everything is said we again ask Prime Minster Meles to find the time to step out of this bubble prison he has managed to insulate himself for the last eighteen years and try to see the real Ethiopia he has forgotten. Meet the other seventy-nine million five hundred thousand who can only manage one meal a day if at all, the mothers that witness their children die of hunger in their arms, the families that can not even dream of a better tomorrow for their children, the fathers that work on a plot of land as big as a basketball field day in and day out but can not even grow enough to sustain life, the young ones whose mal-nutritioned body with their bloated stomachs are waiting for death, the youth who are not capable of envisioning a better life and waste away in front of their families, and those that make a deal with the devil and attempt to cross rivers and oceans to far away places based on rumors of the possibility of work and decent living but end up as dinner for wild animals or sharks while a few are found washed away on strange shores. We say to you life and living is not a test of ones will and a stage to prove ones might and manhood. Our country has seen cruel usurpers, benevolent monarchs and misguided solders that have brought calamity and hardship on our people. They are all gone but their misdeeds are etched in our psyches and minds for generations to come.
We ask you to see the bigger picture and remember the promise and oath you made when you assumed that powerful position which entitles you to have the power of life and death over eighty million people and stop this path of destruction and ruin that you have chosen.
Thus the argument goes that she refused to cooperate and accept ‘one man rule’ because she thought she has powerful friends. The fact of the matter is she does have powerful friends all over the world. Their power is not measured in armed solders, guns or tanks but in the strength of their character and their determination to stand up for what is right. Our sister, mother and leader knew the cost of fighting for freedom in a hostile environment. She knew there was risk involved. Leaders are willing to pay the price. She is following the footsteps of Gandhi, Marin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi. This episode is the third time Judge Bertukan Mideksa is being tested. We promise the regime we will not stop our struggle to free our people from the clutches of dictatorship and fascism and we are sure that in the end we shall overcome. That my friend is never in doubt!
Most of you know that Ato Meles Zenawi has recently granted two interviews. We have all read the twenty-second sound bites offered by the media. In the interest of fairness to the interviewee and his subjects, I thought it would be better for all of us to look at it closely and peer into that murky brain of his. The first one lasting almost two hours (110 minutes) was with Ethiopian reporters (most of whom are his cronies probably wearing diapers scared of wetting themselves by asking the wrong question). The second interview was with the ferenjis, and lasted an hour and half (85 minutes).
Given the length of the interviews my analysis will be done in more than one article. This is the first installment.
I hope most of you agree that two hours is a long time for an interview. It becomes specially long when the interviewee, the fearless one, if not an eloquent leader who repeats himself ad nauseam without even changing his wording. For him, twenty minutes should have been more than adequate. In addition, he is constantly looking to his right as if he has a little monitor that he is reading from or as if someone is feeding him talking points. If they were, it was an absolute waste because they were not telling him anything different or worthwhile.
He is not comfortable looking directly at the questioner or at the camera to reach his audience. His eyes are either down cast, moving around, or looking towards his desk on his right. His responses were longwinded and the ideas clashed constantly. If you remember Sarah Plain’s interview with Katie Couric, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txfqWzGMgmY) you will get my point. After reading one of her interviews, Dick Cavett wrote on the New York Times “It’s admittedly a rare gift to produce a paragraph in which whole clumps of words could be removed without noticeably affecting the sense, if any.” Due to the length of the responses the listener can forget the question. It is difficult to defend what is universally agreed to be a fiasco and a monumental failure in the annals of the history of intervention.
In his interview with the local reporters he reinterprets the questions, demands more explanations in an attempt to intimidate the individual reporter. Follow up questions are not allowed, which allows him to get away by not answering the original questions.
On both interviews, he was unwilling to refer to Judge Bertukan by her name and referred to her as ‘the individual’ in English or ‘gelesbua’ in Amharic. I assume it is his way of trying to dehumanize her. I find it very disrespectful to refer to the leader of the largest opposition party, and a potential future Prime Minster of Ethiopia, in such way. Thus, to give him back his own medicine, I will refer to Ato Meles as ‘the individual’ in this article. I believe the correct way to address him will be Don Meles since he is the head of the TPLF crime family and I believe that this is the way that they the refer to each other in the syndicate.
I want you to know that sitting through the two interviews was one of the ugliest jobs that I have ever performed. As an immigrant, I have done plenty of ugly jobs that I would not want to repeat. But as one of my bosses used to say, “It is a dirty job, and some one has to do it.” In the interest of informing my fellow Ethiopians, I sacrificed myself. His accent is atrocious, his grammar non-existent and he likes simple clichés and saying to show his mastery of the language. I also want you know that by the time I was done with listening to the interview my brain was a basket case, confused, angry and very sad for my country. So without further ado here is ‘the individual’ dispensing his ideology, world-view and clarification to the outside world regarding his misconceptions, ill conceptions and outright lies.
On the invasion of Somalia
Question #1 ferenji Reporter:
“The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement have described the intervention in Somalia as successful, I want you to elaborate more about that given that that Sheik Ahmed is now the President of the Transitional Government and was declared two years ago as a Jihad in Ethiopia and radical Islamists are in control of much of Southern Somalia. So has the Ethiopia’s intervention positively affected things on the ground there for Ethiopia and second could you define more clearly the cost to Ethiopia that the intervention. I know that Ethiopia has a highly developed statistical agency and if you go to the agency that they will give you the result of the harvest down to single last quintal so I was wondering if you could tell us how many causalities the Ethiopian forces suffered there both in death and injuries and the cost in dollars?”
Answer ‘the individual’:
“Our operation in Somalia has been highly successful for two reasons. 1st we made that clear when the intervention was initiated. We did not think that Al Shahab offensive…would be an isolated act. We indicated that there are three important forces involved. 1st the Eritreans government as the organizer of what we call ‘front of destabilization’ in the Horn of Africa. 2nd. The Jihadists in Somalia at that time who were with their victories achieved and appear to believe that nothing and nobody could stop them anywhere and 3rd it was those Ethiopian groups in Ethiopia armed groups who are supported, trained, equipped by Eritrea. The idea and strategy was that the Shehab will be the tip of the spear and some armed Ethiopian elements will join it this will be combined with the activities of the so called civil disobedience in Ethiopia and you have to remember it was a few months after the civil disobedience program in Ethiopia had subsided. This is happening nine months after that and it was hoped that this pressure begins to weaken the resolve of the government the final blow will come from Eritrea…I think two years after we can confidently say that the conspiracy has been successfully foiled…elements of destabilization inside the country…the Jihadists…and the Eritrean government are weaker than two years ago….let us leave the statistics to the statisticians….”
After this he goes on for another 15 minutes to talk about mounting and dismounting horses and the usual diatribe against terrorism.
That is his story and he is sticking by it. Unfortunately it does not jibe with reality. The whole theory and explanation is based on ideas that reveal themselves during deep hallucinations that can be a byproduct of chewing Kat. ‘The individual’ and his friends have conjured up an alternate reality. It is wrong on every count and there is no data that will support such a claim. The listener is forced to assume that the interviewee needs help. To say delusional is an understatement. It is a sure sign of paranoid personality disorder.
Ethiopia and Somalia’s enmity goes way back in history. Somalia gained its independence in 1960. Border disputes erupted into war in 1964 with the Imperial regime. Another war between the two countries was fought in 1977. It was a war that involved the two super powers toying with these two Stone Age nations. It was fought with Soviet and American weapons of destruction. Tanks and Soviet Migs were the preferred weapon of these two poor nations who cannot even feed themselves. The Cubans were thrown in to spice up the confrontation. Breznev flexed his muscle and Carter blinked. We were royally screwed. In 1977 the dictator Siad Barre died and Somalia started its downward spiral. It has never been the same.
The Bush administration and the war against ‘terrorism’ again converged on the horn and the Ethiopian minority government was happy to exploit that.
Thus when the TPLF regime invaded Somalia there wasn’t an organized and able force to contend with. The US was broadening the war against al-Qaida and it assumed that Somalia, due to its failed state status, could be used as a base. According to the New York Times ‘the operation was likely discussed during the visit …of General John P. Abizaid, commander of the US Central Command (Centcom), to Ethiopia. According to the New York Times, Zenawi assured Abizaid that Ethiopia could cripple the Islamists forces “in one to two weeks ….Abizaid was well aware that an Ethiopian invasion would “create a humanitarian crisis across the Horn of Africa” according to Centcom officials. US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Frazer has also admitted that, “If this thing goes to a military fight, it’s a bloodbath.”
The US decided to do preventive action and fight al-Qaida away from its homeland, the Eritrean government wanted to give their cousins to the south a bloody nose and the Ethiopian regime leveraged its front line status and sacrifice to silence the talk of democracy and human right at home. The foreign policy was made to serve the needs of the Defense Department’s war on terror. Ordinary Somalis and Ethiopians were caught in this ugly web.
‘The Individual’ allowed general elections in Ethiopia and lost miserably. He was forced to declare a state of emergency and his special forces killed unarmed civilians protesting his broad day light thievery of the elections in both June and November of 2006. He jailed over forty thousand civilians all over the country, including all the leaders of the opposition party that won the parliamentary elections. He imprisoned freely elected representatives of the people.
Due to protest by the Diaspora, the European Union, the US Congress and the silent protest by the Ethiopian people the minority government was cornered. The invasion of Somalia was a godsend. When ‘the individual’ says that they bought time and space, he is correct. His TPLF party was running out of options, and the silence of his US and European benefactors allowed him to tighten the reigns around the neck of Democracy in Ethiopia. The interviews were directed at the party of the faithful and not to the rest of us.
TPLF forces intervened to install the so called ‘transitional’ government by destroying the emerging ‘Islamic Court’ movement that was brining peace and stability to a war weary population. The invasion turned out to have unimaginable consequences to both Somalis and Ethiopians. We were both victimized. Our Somali brothers and sisters were condemned to hell on earth. According to the international aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), more than 10,000 people have died due to the invasion, and more than one million have been left homeless with over 3 million on the brink of famine. This is what the ‘individual’ calls a success story.
The TPLF army was forced to retreat back across the boarder with the Islamists at their heels. It was a very hasty departure with a lot of US surplus arms left behind. Woyane Generals were in Addis while their poor peasant southern army was left behind to fend for themselves.
If you notice the question regarding the loss of life and money was hush hushed. That is not important to our fearless leader. He has sacrificed thousands of Tigreans recruited to fight for Eritrea’s Independence, he is responsible for the death of over eighty thousand Ethiopians for a worthless conflict over Badme and now god knows how many of our people perished in the deserts of Somalia in the service of the US and TPLF mafia.
In an emerging democracy the people are not mature enough to be told how many of their brethren died in the service of their country or how much of their money was spent towards carrying out their will. The few that govern on their behalf will decide on such matters. It is very unnerving to watch ‘the individual’ smiling while dismissing such an important issue, as if it is incidental matter.
Today Sheikh Sharif, who is the founding member of Islamic Courts, is the new President of Somalia. The Eritrean government is still in power and the Ethiopian oppositions are still waging all sorts of struggles to get rid of the minority TPLF government. ‘The individual’ is wrong on all points!
In a real Democracy leaders that miscalculate and bring disaster onto their nation, either bow out gracefully or are unceremoniously kicked out of power. Those with an iota of conscience will beg for forgiveness from their people and spend the rest of their productive live making amends. In a few traditional cultures, they commit Hara Kiri, as in Japan, or suicide, as Emperor Tewodros did in Ethiopia to demonstrate enormous psychological courage, which is a way of winning back some measure of honor even in defeat.
Alas no such luck here. We are surrounded by paper tigers or wanna be dictators that present a fierce and brave image hiding behind their specially trained security forces, high walls and underground bunkers even in their lavish palaces. When the going gets tough, they fly the coop and leave their minions to face the music. I hope the minions are listening because there is no airplane big enough to haul your criminal behind out of Africa.
Resources used in preparing this article:
· http://www.hrw.org/home?t=africa&c=ethiophttp://www.hrw.org/home?t=africa&c=ethiop
· http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
· http://www.nytimes.com/
· http://www.ethiomedia.com/abai/ethiopia_inquiry_commission.html
· http://www.oduu.com/news/index.php?news_id=1143
The economic downturn is taking a toll. There is a scarcity of capital. Both demand and supply are out of whack. Thus, factories are operating at reduced capacity. States and cites have their workers on forced furlough to save money. Here in California, the biggest and wealthiest State, the Governor had ‘ordered more than 200,000 state workers to take off the first and third Friday of each month without pay to help deal with the state’s cash shortage’ according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The recession is causing hardship across the world. The New York Times reports that the US “industrial operating rate was just 78.9 percent of capacity in April, the poorest showing in more than three years.” What does it all mean? Simply put folks are hurting. If the factories are closing there will be no jobs. If there are no jobs there will be no consumer spending. If consumers are not purchasing goods and services factories will stay closed. It is what is called a vicious circle. The solution that President Obama and responsible leaders are searching for is a formula to increase both demand and supply. They want the factories to operate at full capacity and the consumer to earn income so he can spend. That is all the ‘stimulus’ is all about.
What is clear is that ‘operating at half capacity’ does no body any good. It has to be avoided. We are faced with the same problem in Ethiopia. Our immediate headache is the lack of Democracy and a representative government in our country. Our main goal is to correct this imbalance in the body politic of our motherland. We have a sick country with a malignant tumor called the ‘TPLF’ infecting our body politic. If we consider our country as a human body, for such malignant tumor as the TPLF the possible treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these procedures.
When it comes to a nation and its social problems the possible treatments to get rid of this parasite must include unity of purpose and a clarity of goal. There is no question that in the battle to get rid of the evildoer Unity is one of the pre-requisite for success.
What is also true is that to achieve a quick and decisive victory in a short amount of time it is vital that one operates at full capacity. Why we in Ethiopia are operating at a quarter capacity to get rid of the apartheid regime is a good question to ask with the goal of finding ways to rectify the problem.
What is missing is the full participation of the Diaspora woman and the Diaspora church in this epic battle to regain our independence. I am not including the Diaspora mosque because I do not have first hand information regarding that body. What is very perplexing is that both groups, that is women and the church have always been in the forefront of the war against foreign invaders and local tyrants. What went wrong this time?
Starting with the legendary Queen Saba to the many queens through out the century to the beloved Taytu Betul women have played a leading role in our history. Empress Taytu was an advisor to Menelek and played an important role in formulating the treaty of Wuchale. When the Italians invaded our country, Taytu marched north with the imperial army. Empress Taytu took up position close to Amba Abba Gerima ‘commanding a force of cannoneers at the historic Battle of Adwa which resulted in a humiliating defeat for Italy in March of 1894’
Ethiopian woman have participated in the fight for democracy along side their male counterparts. Women were present in the student movement of the 60’s and led the call ‘Land to the Tiller!’ In the struggle against the Derge women were involved as leaders, fighters, mothers, nurturers in all the Liberation Fronts and Parties.
In today’s Ethiopia our women carry the burden of chauvinism both by the State and society. AID’S is rampant, due to the culture of prostitution around every corner and it is decimating the young population. Women are the primary victims. Even in the rural areas, Orphans are part of the landscape. There are not that many options for a young girl. Our sisters and children are flocking to the Middle East to work as maids. There is no shame in that. It is honest work. The problem lies in the fact that once they leave Ethiopia they have no protection to shield them from harm. So many have been abused and traumatized to the point of jumping from high-rise buildings. They preferred death to imprisonment and abuse. So many children without mothers are a sad testimonial to the incompetence of the current regime. Excuse is not a valid reason for failure.
In the political field women have managed to lead by example. Judge Bertukan is on such person whose integrity and solid character have won her the admiration of her fellow Ethiopians and freedom fighters everywhere. Like her sister Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, Judge Birtukan is setting the standard for Human Rights fighters everywhere. Publishers, editors and reporters like Serkalem Fasil who was imprisoned with no just cause and was forced to delivered her son while at the infamous Kaliti prison are examples for all our daughters and sons. Self less fight is in short supply in Ethiopia and then we have people like these heroines to make us realize that a few brave women are paying the price for all of to be free.
What is missing here is the voice and leadership of the Diaspora women. It is true that there have been a few that have been actively participating and leading the movement for democracy. Beautiful strong sisters like Ayalnesh, Meron, Lulit to mention a few are playing a positive role in the struggle against injustice. But when you consider that women make over half of the population their number in the struggle for Human Right leaves a lot to be desired. Most meetings and conferences are still a majority men affair. The absence of any large group from the decision making process is not healthy. A strong and vibrant women’s organization is a vital component of the struggle. Decision makers are always impressed by the diversity of the group advocating a change. Diaspora Ethiopian women’s participation will surely enrich the organization. It is not a lot to ask our successful and thriving Ethiopian women to please get involved and share the burden with their fathers, husbands and children. It is also important that men encourage and push their wife, sister or daughter to get involved in building the future.
The Diaspora Ethiopian church is another weak link that needs to wake up and assert its rightful place to save the motherland. It is true that there should be a wall between church and state. No one should insist that the church be involved in partisan politics. It is not correct for the church to support one party over the other. But the church should always be concerned about the value of human life. Like the Catholic ‘liberation theologians’ of Latin America the Ethiopian Church should defend the flag while advocating justice to all her children.
The Ethiopian Church has played such a role in our history. Arada Giorgis marched north to Adwa with the Emperor and the troops. That fateful day before the battle at Adwa ‘Archbishop Abune Mattiwos of St. Michael’s church stepped out of the Holy of Holies in the middle of the mass and announced that the time had come to lay down lives for God, Emperor and Country. The Imperial flag was dipped before the altar as the Archbishop held up his cross and blessed the people, and granted them absolution for their sins.’ Abune Petros was murdered by the fascists for refusing to bless their conquest. Our nation is indebted to the Orthodox Church for safeguarding our cultural heritage and independence.
It was with deep regret that we witnessed the despicable act by some church board members in Los Angles during the Temket festival that called the police against fellow Ethiopians for holding a candle light vigil on behalf of the many political prisoners. The same people who were dressed in colorful national costume, and holding our flag high were willing to turn a blind eye towards the abuse of fellow citizens in the hands of the petty tyrant. They wanted to criminalize the cry of their fellow Ethiopians for justice to all regardless of party affiliation or tribal allegiance. It is important to note that the Diaspora church is an orphan without a strong and vibrant Ethiopian nation. We humbly ask Ethiopian church board members not to lose sight of the bigger picture and let their members exercise their god given right to stand by their country and flag in this time of uncertainty.
The full participation by both groups will ensure the fight for Democracy and Human Right will be based on solid ground. The presence of women will bring commonsense and clarity of goal to the organizations. The involvement of the church will give moral strength and sense of hope for the future. There is no question that it will make the struggle short and decisive. One cannot enter a car race with only half the pistons firing, nor go to battle with half strength. We cannot enter a struggle against an evil force like the TPLF with a quarter of our capacity.
This is one battle where invitation is not necessary. Whether we like it or not we are all in the same boat. We survive as a vibrant country or sink as a bankrupt clueless Woyane nation and fail our mother during our watch. It is up to each one of us to be a positive force and get involved or sit on the side and lament the luck of a strong organization, trustworthy leader and such other nonsense. Never doubt that your presence will make all of us look good.
Please note that Judge Bertukan has been in Woyane prison for forty-nine days. She is in solitary confinement, with no sun light, cold concrete floor and unruly peasant cadres watching her every move and reporting to the Prime Minister’s office who seems to have deep seated need to reassure his grandiosity by inflicting pain and suffering on his perceived enemies. By our silence and indifference we sacrificed Professor Asrat. Are you going to let it happen again?
The African heads of states held a meeting in Ethiopia. When it was established in 1963 the Organization of African Unity (OAU) as it was then named was a time of hope and a new beginning for Africa. The 1960’s ushered in a period of decolonization of the continent. There were two contending ideas being debated by the new leaders. The ‘Casablanca Group’ led by Kwame Nkrumah advocated a Federation of all African States while ‘The Monrovia Group’ as led by Leopold Senghor of Senegal envisioned economic cooperation as a spring board towards the eventual goal of a united Africa.
At the urging of Emperor Haile Sellasie of Ethiopia the two groups met and formed the OAU in May of 1963. There were 32 founding members present to sign the Charter. The OAU served its purpose very well. Among its many accomplishments; the most notable were firm a firm stand against colonialism and its eventual eradication, support and training of freedom fighters from Southern Africa, including South Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Angola, Mozambique and South Africa, closing of African sky’s to South African Airways and denying African Ports to South African ships. It should also be noted that the combined African vote was instrumental in ejecting the Apartheid regime from World Health Organization (WHO).
Organization of African Unity was replaced by African Union (AU) in 2002 and again renamed to African Authority (AA) at the urging of Mohamed Gaddafi this last meeting. I have no idea what the reasons are for this constant change of name, but the following chart will give you an idea of who these distinguished leaders of Africa are and how they got to weld such power.
Name Country Date in Power Method
El Hadj Omar BONGO Gabon 1967 Coup
Muammar Guaddfi Libya 1969 Coup/for ever
OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO Equatorial Guinea 1979 Coup
Eduardo De Santos Angola 1979 Liberation war
Joao VIEIRA Guinea-Bissau 1980 Coup/sham elections
Hosni MUBARAK Egypt 1981 Sham elections
Paul Biya Cameroon 1983 Sham election
Idriss DEBY Chad 1990 Sham elections
Meles Zenawi Ethiopia 1991/2005 War/sham elections
Umar Al bashir Sudan 1993 Coup/sham election
Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH Gambia 1994 Coup/sham election
Denis Sassou-NGUESSO Congo 1997 Coup
Francois Bozize Central African Republic 2003 Coup
The above are but the most egregious serial violators of the peoples trust. The rest not mentioned here, with the exception of a handful do not fare any better. Killing, torture, imprisoning without due process, deportation of citizens, a robust security and the presence of border conflict or civil war are the hallmark of our all-knowing ‘strong men’ leaders bestowed on Africa. The individuals being murdered, tortured, denied basic human rights by these despots are real people. They have families, a wife a husband, children, mother, father, uncles and neighbors that love them. Where their voices are silenced we speak for them. Thus it will be correct to say that there were plenty of scavengers in Addis this last weekend. I am sure Hugo Chavez will smell burning human flesh instead of sulfur if he was in that hall. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=binMjEiS8AY)
Lots of words were spoken regarding Africa. The speech by the Ethiopian Prime minister was a tour de force. He did not speak about Ethiopia. In fact he did not even mention Ethiopia. Ato Meles was focused on higher matters. Little Ethiopia was too inconsequential or very provincial. He used the forum to expound his knowledge of economics and confrontational politics.
The first half was all about doom and gloom. After thanking the conference official regarding ‘strict adherence to rules and regulations’ (a curious statement from some one who has his Kaliti dungeon full to capacity without regard to the law and his own Constitution) went on to warn us about the coming global economic crisis. He lamented about the rising unemployment (40%+ in Ethiopia without any safety net) and predicted low growth and volatility. This is how he foresaw the near future:
“… the fate of countries and continents is likely to be determined by how well and how fast they adjust to the transition and unavoidable structural change. Those who have the financial and technological resources to adjust and the necessary leadership with the appropriate insight and implementation capability are likely to succeed. On the other hand those who lack these resources and capabilities are likely to suffer and may even fail to adjust.”
As an African I am glad to hear that we meet one of the two requirements set by the PM. Finance and technology are out of our reach, but we are blessed by ‘strong’ leaders with plenty of capability to make their wish be the law. We are talking muscle here.
With the prediction of global warming, falling commodity prices, reduction in remittances and a drastic cut in foreign aid Ato Meles laid down his solutions to save Africa. He asserted that all our problems are due to the lack of ‘adequate policy autonomy’ given to African leaders by donor nations. He went on to lecture his captive audience the following words of wisdom:
“We have to demand that Africans should be given real voice not the token one we currently have and that to me this is very important that the institutions should be reformed to limit conditionality based on dogmas and to limit arbitrary exercise of power in determining resources flows. Voice and vote without such change in the modus operandi of this institutions is not going to be good enough.”
In other words what Ato Meles is saying is just give us the money and we will decide what to do. As the rest of the world comes to a universal conclusion that ‘institutions’ without adequate supervision are a recipe for disaster, our esteemed ‘strong African leader’ is telling us to give him the key to the vault and trust his judgment. The new international catch phrases are transparency, accountability and robust regulation. Isn’t the PM standing the solution on its head when he demands blind faith in the ability of African leaders to do the right thing? It is surely strange to hear him decrying ‘arbitrary exercise of power’ by his benefactors when he has single handily squashed all opposition in the country and is currently using torture and denying the human right of the Chairman of the opposition party Judge Birtukan Mideksa among other victims.
Next on his plate of complaints is the unfairness of the ‘bailout of banks and major industries’ by the developed countries. He tells us that the bailout proves that the meager amount of aid to Africa is not due to budget and resources constraints. He found this insight to be a ‘eureka moment.’ The conclusion is a little puzzling. The understanding in all circles is that the ‘bailout’ is not a gift rather the governments are investing in the companies until they return to healthy status. Some even call it creeping socialism. When Ato Meles demands Africa to be treated as important as the banks, is he asking for the West to buy stocks in our government? Do we give them sits in parliament or have them serve as Ministers? It does not seem to be a well thought idea. I fail to see the wisdom of increasing aid handouts without accountability when their own economies are a crisis mode.
Last but not least the PM presented a typical TPLF philosophy of coercion and Kilil mentality. It was vintage Meles. He theories that the coming UN sponsored ‘global carbon exchange’ conference to be a good opportunity to lay a guilt trip on the industrialized west and wrestle some real cash. He said:
“Africa has contributed virtually nothing to global warming but is going to suffer ….it is only fair that those who have created the problem pay us to mange the consequences of the problem that they have created … we should ask to be paid compensation for the damage to our economy”
Thus we can even leverage our backwardness to demand unfettered aid. Where over eight million citizens need food aid, where the vast majority of the youth is uneducated and unemployed, where thousands risk their lives trying to flee poverty and hopelessness by drowning, or being eaten by wild animals, abused and enslaved by degenerate oil rich neighbors, instead of mia culpa (my fault) by our leader we are conniving with other worthless despots to finagle spare change. The question what exactly did you accomplish in the last eighteen years you have ruled without opposition can not be answered with any credible statistics.
It is easy to see the quality of leadership and mindset if you compare the plan for action envisioned by leaders such as Mr. Obama and Ato Meles. Obama used his podium to ask the American people and humanity to think outside the box. He urged all of us to use this economic and social calamity to re embark on the search for new knowledge and new social contract and emerge leaner and stronger. Ato Meles sees it as a new opportunity to brazenly demand more handout and unfettered power to decide the fate of millions. Instead of rallying his people and Africans to reach higher and go further, he ignored his own population as irrelevant and spoke of forming a ‘single voice’ representing dictators, usurpers and garden variety thieves to demand ransom.
The only positive things that keep the country afloat are remittances from those forced out of their motherland, aid by donor countries and loans and grants by the IMF that must be paid back. We are still a commodity exporting country, we have no industrial base, and our population is growing faster than our capacity to feed and house and the repression is continuing unabated.
All land is owned by the regime and used for control and bribe. The government is the number one employer in the country. Employment is used to control and intimidate the citizen. Citizens are not allowed to own and operate Television and radio transmission. Internet is regulated and the government is the only service provider. Content is censored and Diaspora Ethiopian sites are blocked. Private newspapers are constantly playing a game of hide and seek with the government. Printing paper, ink and distribution network is used to discourage circulation. Editors and reporters are mysteriously found dead, forced to flee the country or co-opted. Individual imitative is frowned upon and the only enterprise allowed is that which benefits those in power.
The TPLF regime used Dedebit as a primary level school to practice the art of control. Tigrai can be considered their secondary level education where villages were used to sharpen the level of coercion. Taking state power was definitely college level work. Legitimacy was achieved. The new maze included eighty millions subjects closely monitored. Invading Somalia was graduate work and definitely a specialized study under the mentorship of Professor Dick Cheney. This new endeavor of ganging up with other African dictators to demand aid with no need of regulatory agency is surely a PHD level attempt. TPLF have come a long way indeed. What a shame to graduate with such honor but to have nothing to show for it.
I see the glass half full instead of half empty as the PM sees it. I see a bright future where its own contradictions is causing the demise of the TPLF entity and a united front called by Professor Al
Mariam (http://www.ethiomedia.com/aurora/9724.html) and Obang Metho (http://www.ethiomedia.com/aurora/9566.html) stirring the sleeping giant Diaspora into action. There is Ginbot7 laying the groundwork for a sustainable and smart organization, and Andenet is exposing the hollowness of the minority regime’s Constitution.
What do you say my friends, are you going to answer the call of your country and your people? Are you going to have your words matching your action? Love for Ethiopia should not only be expressed by flying a big flag, a bumper sticker on back of a car, a once a week visit to the church or mosque and an endless war of words while sipping latté at Starbucks. Loving Ethiopia is protecting her from those that harm her and saying no to brutal, self-centered dictators that use tribal allegiance, personal greed and our good old stupidity to co-opt our weak nature.
Remember our eternal hero Abune Petros who uttered this fateful words facing the fascist firing squad “… May God give the people of Ethiopia the strength to resist and never bow down to the fascist army and its violence. May the Ethiopian earth never accept the invading army’s rule.” They murdered him but he lives forever in our hearts and minds.
‘To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.’ President Obama
The American president was speaking about the TPLF regime in Ethiopia. So it seems. All indications are that the American Ethiopian and the Ethiopian community’s involvement in his election was a well-recognized contribution towards his victory.
Ethiopians contributed money, worked in voter registration, stuffed fliers in mailboxes, went out on support marches and generally talked the ears of their family, friends and co-workers on behalf of Mr. Obama. Ethiopians all over the US worked and supported Obama because they were convinced that he would be a positive force for change. Mankind in general and our home land in particular are better off due to his election as the president of the most powerful and rich nation in the world.
We acted on our belief and worked hard to make it come true. That we acted for our own selfish reasons is true. But this selfish act was not for personal gain rather for the sake of mother Ethiopia. It is true that Mr. Obama will not fight our battle to liberate our country. On the other hand his sympathy and understanding will go a long way towards nudging those traveling in the wrong path to join the road of democracy.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his “I have a dream speech” in August of ’93 said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Now it is our turn. Today we say Barack Obama’s election will help usher a day where the sons and daughters of Ethiopia will be judged by the content of their character rather than their tribal allegiance or party affiliation.
January 20th 2009 is a very special day. It is a day where the most oppressed and the most abused were given a chair in the dining room table. Not just a chair, the head chair. It is a day where the whole world celebrated in unison the dawn of a new era. Millions watched the inauguration ceremony. Millions cried tears of joy. Billions were filled with hope. On this particular Tuesday at exactly 12:00 Noon the earth stood still.
Aretha sang ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thee’, Lincoln smiled and MLK rejoiced, happy in the knowledge that the seed they planted is taking roots.
Hold on a minute, we got a little problem here. It looks like someone is trying to rain on our parade. It is none other than his Excellency Ato Bereket Simone, Member of Parliament from Wollo, first advisor to the Prime Minister and newly appointed head of miscommunication bureau.
Ato Bereket speaking on behalf of his partners in crime in the TPLF politburo was dispensing his usual muddled, incoherent and irrational theory regarding ‘sovereignty’. As usual our peasant bush fighters upgraded to leaders of a nation are in a state of complete disarray due to their impulsive action of jailing Judge Bertukan Mideksa, Mrs. Liberty herself. The adage ‘think before you act’ is a shortcoming of all bullies, retards and mentally unstable individuals.
This is what Ato Bereket said regarding the opposition by Ethiopians, Donor nations and Human Rights Organization regarding the enactment of the NGO bill by the PM’s rubber stamp Parliament: “If anyone is breaking the law, it’s their problem and not our problem. Ethiopian government believes government has a mandate and an obligation to ensure the rule of law in Ethiopia. So it’s an unwarranted accusation and criticism…. No matter what the times might be, these Congressmen are telling us not to enact laws that are useful to Ethiopia. They are going to put pressure on us because we enacted our own laws. This is Ethiopia; it’s a sovereign state. I don’t think any Congressman can tell us what to do,”
See what I mean. Never mind his fantasy regarding being given a mandate, I will let it go since by sheer force and terror TPLF has managed to declare itself a winner. I am more focused on his assertion regarding ‘sovereignty’. When Ato Bereket claims ‘Ethiopia is a sovereign state’ is that a true statement?
I beg to differ. A simple example from my town can shed light on this dilemma faced by the politburo. Here in Oakland our town has what is called “Housing Authority’ run by the City. They build and manage apartments for low-income people that are unable to pay market rate rent. Housing authority is responsible for screening prospective tenants and determines eligibility based on income, family size and criminal records among other requirements.
For accepting such generous subsidies to reside in city housing projects, the tenants agree to certain rules and conditions. The tenant agrees not to get involved in drug dealing or consumption, not to allow non-registered individuals to co-habit, refrain from any criminal activity and allow the housing authority to have access to investigate any suspicious behavior by a tenant. In return for accepting aid from the taxpayer the individuals trades off a certain amount of their civil liberties.
This brings us back to our dear and beloved Ethiopia. The assertion that we are a ‘sovereign’ state under the TPLF runs into a brick wall when in fact certain subsides are offered and accepted like our section-8 tenant. Where our economy is under life support and more than 40% is dependant on Donor’s good will is such an empty bravado called for? The NGO’s are in our country because we needed all the help they can offer. They are doing the job the government is supposed and expected to do. While the regime is squandering the little amount we raise by selling our raw products like coffee and flowers, on across border wars, payments to internal police and security and good old corruption, the NGO’s are taking care of business. Accepting handouts and subsidies has a price. One of them is losing your independence and sovereignty.
My question to Ato Bereket and company is when you are trying to assert ‘sovereignty’ by telling your benefactors to go to hell, have you thought of how you are going to replace the needed service they were fulfilling? Has bullying unarmed civilians, war weary citizens, populations numbed by over thirty years of conflict and abuse given you such a hot head and hot temper that you dare insult US Senators and Peoples representatives as ignorant and not informed individuals? Isn’t it one of the requirements of a Communication Czar to use his language carefully, weigh all consequences before uttering such a response to representatives of other nations?
On the other hand if the TPLF regime was a true representative of the people supported and coddled by the citizen and able to grow the economy, satisfy the material and spiritual needs of the nation Ato Bereket can shout and scream at the ferenjis to leave us alone. But we know better. The cadres cannot even leave the palace with out armored vehicles, Federal Police protection and citizens not allowed to venture out until they pass. The regime is afraid of its own citizen. The regime is terrified that the people will do it what it did to them.
First Samuel 17 in the Holy Bible is the story of David and Goliath. The Philistine and Israeli army were facing each other for battle. Goliath a giant of a man dressed in full armor mocked and challenged the Israelis to fight him. King Saul and his army were terrified. Little David volunteered to fight the giant. Dressed in his simple shepherd garb and carrying his slingshot and a pouch full of pebbles, David went to battle. Goliath hurled insults and approached to tear David apart, but little David reached into his bag and slung one of the stones that sank into the giant’s forehead. He fell face down.
We all identify with David because he was the underdog. Goliath was a bully with all his faith in his armor cloth and mighty sword. David was sustained by his strong belief in his god.
Thus when President Obama says ‘To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds’ and our communication director replies ‘no thank you’ aren’t we reversing David and goliath. Big powerful US is offering a helping hand and little poor Ethiopia is responds by insulting those who are concerned for our welfare.
The one and only, the mighty sovereign TPLF regime has asked the IMF for US $50million grant to prop up a failing economy. We Ethiopians should write, phone and encourage the opposition to unite and demand the IMF and World Bank to refrain from supporting such undemocratic and sick regime. A government composed of a few individuals and not representing the interest of 80 million people is a drain on the resources of the bank and a disservice to humanity. How could the Ethiopian people rise up and confront a few when they are given millions to subsidize their coercive machinery?
Once again we ask the minority regime to listen to President Obama when he said “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.” This should be our sentiment. The Ethiopian people are longing for peace and are willing to leave our tumultuous history in the past and move forward united and ready to salvage what is left of our old nation.
It is up to the cadres to choose the road of peace and prosperity or the inevitable outcome of their defeat and humiliation. Our salvation might be next month or next year but we are certain that good will triumph over evil. We are willing to wait. We are willing to sacrifice. As I write this Judge Bertukan Mideksa has been in prison for 25 days 2 hrs 6 minutes and our dear son Teddy Afro has been languishing for 281 days 23hrs and 37 minutes for a crime he did not commit. It is up to each one of us to get involved and fight injustice. If you want to get involved please follow the links at the end and do your share. Unity of all against the few is the only way out of this nightmare. Please do something. If not you then who?
You break into the Bank of England via computer,
then transfer the money electronically
just seconds before you set off the GoldenEye,
which erases any record of the transactions.
– Ingenious.
– Thank you, James.
But it still boils down to petty theft.
In the end, you’re just a bank robber.
Nothing more than a common thief.
This dialogue is from the James Bond movie ‘Golden Eye.’ It is based on a plot by the Russian mafia in collaboration with an ex British agent attempt to control a space based weapons system. The device named Goldeneye works by exploding a nuclear device in orbit. The electromagnetic pulse from the explosion will result in crippling ground based communication systems. It is a very powerful, theoretical but possible future weapon.
You would think anybody who gets hold of such weapon would have the world trembling at his feet. But lucky for us the criminal mind works in mysterious ways. What brought about this brooding is the report by Indian Ocean Newsletter titled ‘Dignitaries in Business.’
It is both an alarming and telling story. It is a story that requires us to question the meaning of sacrifice, commitment and certain amount of good faith. It forces us to examine the nature of the struggle against injustice and the role we all play to bring about change and progress.
Our country is one of the poorest in the world. Our economy is based on agriculture, accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. Our industrial output is so negligible that it does not even deserve any mention. Thus when we discuss or speak of wealth and accumulation of it, it is a very insignificant amount we are dealing with.
So when we read the Indian Ocean Newsletter report it brings so many questions to the forefront that beg a logical and rational response from each one of us. The first and mother of all questions is why exactly do we fight against injustice? Is it because we value the right of a fellow human being to live free or do we think of a payoff at the end of the struggle? Are we ready to sacrifice all including our life and the lives of our neighbors and friends because of a deep seated belief in freedom and dignity or is it a means for future reward be it money or fame? Is the reward to see a peaceful and prosperous life with equality for all or is the reward measured on personal level alone? Is the real question of a protracted struggle, what is in it for me or what is in it for us?
The Newsletter seems to give us the answer in a very vivid way. We can see it; we can feel it and some of us are victimized by it. First and foremost are those of our brothers and sisters that gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cause. They were left behind in unmarked graves in the fields, valleys and deserts of so many battlefields. There are those whose lives were disrupted, those who lost parts of their body and those that were scared for life with a never-ending nightmare and mental anguish.
On the other hand what the Newsletter does is bring out in plain view the lie that is told in the name of our eternal heroes. The pomp and ceremony waving the flag, the building of massive statues, the constant proclamations mentioning the dead is nothing but a smoke screen to hide the shame and dishonor. Now it is all clear that there is nothing there except good old human greed camouflaged as commitment.
Where exactly does it say that thousands died so a few can accumulate obscene amount of wealth? Where exactly is the connection between commitment to equality and freedom and fattening one’s bank account? Was that what the struggle was about? Was all this death and destruction so a handful can eat three times a day, wear Armani suit, drive a Range Rover, build a thirty two bedroom mansion, bully a whole nation and have secret bank account in all four corners of the world?
What is so depressing is that all of the above minus the bullying part can be accomplished with lesser effort and with no sacrifice to others. We Ethiopians have shown that it is possible and doable. Our success is told and written in all six continents. We have business people in all wake of life with more money than all of Woyane put together, we have industry heads with responsibility for millions of dollars, we have scientists in the fields of nuclear research, energy innovation, we have Doctors heading some of the most prestigious medical hospitals and research centers, we have leaders in the new technology of computers and World Wide Web and University professors in some of the most acclaimed schools on earth. We have thousands of our people leading a quiet productive life contributing positively and enriching their neighborhood. We are a very resourceful people that left our homeland with our clothes on our back but managed to survive and thrive. We accomplished all this the old fashioned way; we earned it!
It is also incomprehensible that some think that they could get away with murder and theft. In this day and age where individuals are held accountable for their actions by international conventions and treaties, it is the height of folly to think that one is above the law. It is good to look back and see the feeble attempts by such notorious criminals as Ferdinand Marcos, Shah of Iran, Mobutu Se Se Seko, Augesto Pinochet and a few others that tried to hide their ill-gotten wealth with disastrous results to their children and relatives. Forensic accounting is a highly developed field. What is gotten today using illegal means will be taken away tomorrow-using legal means.
Those of us that are victims of these ordinary criminals have a responsibility to expose them in the eyes of public opinion and use the resources of a free society to accomplish our goal. There is a world wide international protest to demand the unconditional release of Judge Bertukan Mideksa and our brother Teddy Afro. Find out the closet site and participate. There is a petition drive to present to the new Congress the deteriorating Human Right condition in our homeland. Please sign the petition. There is the campaign by Ginbot7 to raise funds for political work at home, please give what you can. We do all this not because there is a financial reward but because it is the right thing to do.
So we say to those who use State power to rob and steal, at the end of the day ‘you are nothing but a common thief”
