By Teodros Kiros
On a beautiful Saturday night, September 22, 2007, Kinjit and its delegates arrived at an Armenian Church in Cambridge, MA. At this defining moment, the delegates gave a landmark performance to the calm crowd. This was Kinjit’s rendezvous with victory, fated to announce itself in the next election, if the party disciplines itself and is guided by intelligent visionaries with democratic sensibilities.
The balanced Ms Birtukan Mideska, a model of reason and style; the polished statesman Dr. Hailu Araya; the brainy economist, Dr. Birhanu Nega; the consummate politician, Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw; and the shrewd strategist, Mr. Biruk Kebede; were there as founders of a potentially major party, thinking, strategizing, and resolving their internal differences to a very civilized Ethiopian crowd.
Mr. Samuel Belehu, the master of ceremony, did succeed in organizing a major event elegantly and smartly, considering the tension in the room.
Consistent with her loving personality, Ms. Birtukan read a public letter to Engineer Hailu Shawel, the official chairman of the party, who was conspicuously absent from the Boston event as a function of a widely rumored split of Kinjit into the so called Berhanu/Birtukan and Hailu faction. She graciously invited the chairman to lead the party and to return to the table of reconciliation and dialogue. She addressed him affectionately as Gashe, the highest honor given to an Ethiopian elder. She stressed again and again that she admires and respects him, and wants him to lead the emerging party, the party of tolerance, the party of dialogue without domination. Her public letter was a model of love with dignity, of admiration of a job well done, of a legacy of service and sacrifice for an ideal, attributes that she so ably recognized in Engineer Hailu Shawel work for Kinjit. The crowd in return heralded her name, and sung her praises, and she gratefully responded with a generous heart and an inviting smile.
She brought the crowd to its feet with her contagious affection and her human goodness. The letter visibly calmed the crowd, and diffused the tension, and warmed the hearts and smiles of the would be detractors in the crowd.
The major speech of the night was “Development and Freedom.” Dr. Hailu Araya delivered that speech coolly and systematically to a very serious crowd. Following Amrtya Sen, an internationally acclaimed noble Laureate, Dr. Araya convincingly argued that true development must be grounded on freedom and the human self cannot produce its material necessities (food, shelter and clothing) under the condition of non-freedom. He noted that freedom is to development as love is to a functional relationship. Where there is coercion, there is no development. You cannot fool people by handing them condominiums and other commodities to exact their obligations to government. A lasting development must be founded on freedom — freedom of thought, of speech and assembly. Given these freedoms, he argued, the creativeness and energies of the people will flow and propel the engine of development. For him, Kinjit aspires to be the party of freedom, the party that will devote itself to the preservation of the dignity of the Ethiopian person. He credited the existing regime forsaking to spread this freedom, but not adequately. His party will translate some of the ideals of the existing regimes into practicable ideas.
Freedom, for the mighty doctor, is the pillar of the open society that his party seeks to give those Ethiopians who will choose Kinjit as their new party.
Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw’s carefully crafted speech thanked the crowd for their relentless support of the party. He wisely addressed the sensitive topic of the non-attendance of Engineer Hailu Shawel as an act of a misunderstanding and a matter of different manners of work. He also expressed his gratitude to the Ethiopians who voted for the party in the recent elections, a point that he underscored, when he briefly joined the guests at a dinner table and he sat next to two highly respected Ethiopian personalities in Boston, Mr. Getachew Selassie and Lt. Col. Shemeles Gelaye and his wife, Fesesework Cheirent while effusively socializing with them,
He said, “The kindness of our supporters far exceeded the sacrifices that we tried to make. Our supporters were too kind to us.”
His interactive abilities with the guests was a symbol of the type of collective leadership guided by respect for the masses that the party wishes to give the Ethiopian people when it comes to power. This particular leader was open, humble and unafraid to speak his mind.
The voices of Dr. Berhanu Nega and Mr. Brook Kebede emerge in response to important questions on tolerance and the prospects of a fair and free election in the next round of Ethiopian politics.
While reflecting on the theme of tolerance, a major topic in Dr. Berhanu Nega’s recent book (The Dawn of Freedom) written from prison, he joined forces with Dr. Hailu Araya’s project, and presented tolerance as the second foundation of an open society. He impressively argued that tolerance is the pivot to the preservation of an open society, and that the mental development of the human being cannot occur, if the individual’s freedom to speak, to think, and therefore to grow, is seriously curtailed. For Dr. Nega, the dignity of the human person requires the necessary and sufficient condition of the tolerance of opinions, views, and needs of the individual person. A major feature of tolerance is practicing of resolution of internal differences through dialogue and debates and not through guns. A repeated practice of these virtues will eventually produce the corresponding moral/ political democratic virtues. An open society must procure toleration with freedom as the foundation of an ideal democratic regime.
Ms. Birtukan’s public letter was an example of an appeal to the chair to return to the table of tolerance where differences can be resolved through reasoned dialogue.
Mr. Brook Kebede’s strategic abilities were evident in his carefully thought out counsel to members of his party. He teaches that building a party is hard work and that the ultimate forces are the people and not the leaders, and that the mobilization of the people for the success of the party is the key. For Mr. Kebede, important political virtues such as the loyalty of the followers can be secured only if the people actively participate in shaping their destiny.
Before the night ended at 12:30 AM, all the delegates agreed that the next election can take place freely and fairly only and only if Kinjit, as the emerging party, organizes itself effectively as the party of the people, not a party above the people. Expanding its base, and hence a function of its fundraising plans, must be given a top priority.
Ms. Birtukan, the accomplished lawyer, summed up the event by synthesizing the themes of the delegates, and stressing that a peaceful strategy of winning the next election is the singular purpose of Kinjit, the major Ethiopian party of the future.
The festive night graced itself when the gifted poet, Ms. Deberitu Negash, who is affectionately called Debere, hailed the gorgeous Ms. Birtukan. Debere’s finest words of adulation were when she acknowledged how Ms. Birtukan managed to sustain herself behind the bars of the prison with such poise and dignity. “We are committed to you, our heroine — and we shall never leave you,”
The poet heralded Ms. Birtukan name and the crowd joined the poet and sung the queen’s praises, and thus ended a night that will go in the annals of modern Ethiopian history as one great democratic party of hearts.
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Dr. Teodros Kiros can be reached at [email protected]
The high level delegation of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit) arrived at Oslo International Airport in Norway on the 20th of September 2007 at 10:00 PM. The delegation was received and accorded lively and warm welcome upon their arrival. And a brief but colourful reception ceremony was held in honour of the delegates and the sacrifices the CUDP leadership is paying to build a democratic system in Ethiopia. The ceremony was filled with emotions of joy and jubilation and it was uplifting to see the crowd singing and expressing their unwavering support to the causes the CUDP stands and struggles for.
Friday, September 21, 2007
The delegation started its official working visits by holding meetings with the Norwegian Immigration Officials at 10:00 p.m. The meeting deliberated on the problems Ethiopian asylum seekers are facing and the delegation brought the volatile political situation in Ethiopia to the attention of the Norwegian immigration officials. The delegation stated that the return of asylum seekers under the prevailing situation in Ethiopia is not recommendable.
The next meeting of the day was at the Royal Norwegian Foreign Ministry which began at 13:00 or 1:00 PM local time. Two officials of the ministry received the delegation and the deliberations commenced after a brief introductory speech.
The delegation briefed the officials of the Norwegian foreign ministry on the prevailing political situation in Ethiopia and the horn of Africa. Absence of the rule of law, political freedom, capability build up of parliamentarians and democratising the political space were among the issues highlighted in the briefing dwelling on the domestic arena. The delegation also briefed the officials on the prevailing situation in the horn of Africa with specific emphasis on the lingering border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia. They emphasized the importance of seeking just and peaceful resolutions to all regional issues. The officials of the foreign ministry on their part, mentioned the current roles Norway is playing in Ethiopia and posed relevant questions that were responded to by the delegation. The discussions were cordial and the meeting was held in an atmosphere of mutual interest and understanding.
The delegation devoted the afternoon of Friday the 20th of September 2007 to the general meeting with the members of Kinijit Support and Development Organization in Norway (KSDON). The chairman of the KSDON opened the meeting by making a brief speech of welcome and the secretary of the KSDON presented an extensive report on the organization covering its activities since its formation. The delegation expressed their heart felt gratitude to and briefed the members of the support chapter on the objectives of their working tours and the current political situation in Ethiopia. They reaffirmed CUDP`s commitment to the democratic and peaceful struggle. The forum was open for discussions and exchange of opinions and views. Wide ranging questions and views pertaining to the political situation in Ethiopia and the CUDP were addressed.
Saturday September 22, 2007
The wider Ethiopian public and friends of Ethiopia were campaigning and protesting to bring about the release of the CUDP leaders and all political prisoners in Ethiopia. Thus, the public meeting was arranged to offer the delegation an opportunity to thank Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia, explain the objectives of their mission and exchange opinions and views with the wider public. The meeting was cordial and was conducted in the spirit of cooperation and understanding. In the end, the chairman of the fund raising committee announced the collection of over 135, 000 Birr to be donated to the party for use in Ethiopia and thanked all who contributed.
Sunday September 23, 2007
An informal occasion meant for meeting with the public figures in the Ethiopian community and representatives of other opposition parties was arranged. The delegation had lunch with the individuals who showed up for the occasion and got the chance to be acquainted with them.
Monday September 24, 2007
This was the last date of the working visit of the delegation in Norway. The pre-noon part of the date was used to hold meeting at the Peace and Human Rights Center and Norwegian People’s Aid where the delegates briefed the officials of the respective organizations on the political situation in Ethiopia and their visits. The Peace and Human Rights Center is headed by Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former Prime Minister of Norway and the current UN special envoy to the Horn of Africa. The discussions at the center focused on conflict resolution, the Ethio-Eritrean border conflict and human rights.
The delegation concluded their working visits successfully and left Norway in the after noon of this date.
The KSDON was very happy to play host to the delegation and expresses its heart felt gratitude to all who had contributed to and cooperated to make the stay and visit of the delegation fruitful and successful.
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Kinijit Support and Development Organization in Norway.
The successful Kinijit fund raising in Boston last Saturday is putting the spotlight on Kinijit chapters in the San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland-San Jose) and Dallas, Texas.
The Kinijit delegation led by Vice President Bertukan Mideksa will arrive in the Bay Area next Thursday (Sept. 27) and Dallas (Sept. 30). Although it is said that Boston is Kinijit’s stronghold in the U.S., much more Ethiopians reside in Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area. So these cities must raise at least $50,000 each, or else the officials of the support committees may have to cough up the money themselves to reach the goal.
When the Kinijit leaders return back home, they face the monumental task of reorganizing the party through out the country. They cannot do that without money. As Americans say, “money is the mother’s milk of politics.”
It is encouraging that a very small Ethiopian community in Upstate New York has been able to raise $10,000 on Sunday. By that standard, the huge Ethiopian communities in Dallas and the San Francisco Bay Area can easily top $100,000 each. But it would be great even if they are able to raise $50,000. That will put the delegation on track to raise over $1 million by the time it complete its U.S.A. tour.
The delegates will arrive at Oakland Airport on Jet Blue Thursday, September 27th at 6:00 PM. Ethiopians from the greater Bay Area will give them a heroes’ welcome.
The delegates will spend Friday taking a rest and meeting with representatives of community groups.
The main event [see poster], may be the largest Ethiopian political event in the Bay Area, is on Saturday. The Kinijit Oakland-San Jose chapter has organized a town hall meeting and dinner from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Place: Greek Orthodox Church, 4700 Lincoln Ave Oakland, CA 94602
For Information: (510) 575-7931
The renown journalist, artist and the host of Addis Voice Radio, Abebe Belew, from Washington DC will accompany the delegates to Oakland and Dallas. Ato Abebe Belew will be the MC for Saturday’s meeting.
Early Sunday morning, the Kinijit leaders will fly to Dallas, Texas. They will arrive at 11:30 AM. Kinijit Dallas representative Dr Aziz Hassan is urging Ethiopians in the Dallas area to come to Dalls-Forth Worth (DF) Airport, Terminal A, at 11:00 AM to welcome the leaders.
Dr Aziz told Ethiopian Review that Kinijit Dallas has invited Ethiopians from neighboring cities and states, including Oklahoma. Artist Abebe Belew will join the delegates in Dallas as the master of ceremony (MC), Ato Aziz said.
Ato Dejene Assaye, Kinijit Dallas-Fort Worth chairman, told Ethiopian Review that Kinijit supporters in the Dallas area are excited and eagerly awaiting the arrival of their leaders. On Sunday, DF Airport will look like Meskel Square during Timket.
A Grand Public Gathering
Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007
Time: 3:00 PM to 8:00PM
Place: The Radisson Hotel
1981 N Central Expressway Richardson, TX 75085
For more info: 972 375 1334 or or 214 727 9995
Ethiopian Review will live live coverage of the events in both cities.
The Kinijit delegation to Europe has arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday, Sept. 24. Several Ethiopians who reside in Sweden warmly greeted the Kinijit leaders when they arrived at the Arlanda Airport in Stockholm.
The delegation, which includes Kinijit Secretary General Muluneh Eyoel, and executive committee members Ato Abayneh Berhanu, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, Ato Kifle Tigneh and Ato Aschalew Ketema, started its European tour in London on Sept. 9.
While in London, the delegates held meetings with representatives of Kinijit support committees and members of the Ethiopian community in the U.K. The delegation has addressed some organizational issues in regards to Kinijit U.K. and Europe.
The Kinijit leaders then headed to Finland and Norway before arriving in Sweden yesterday.
Unlike the delegation to the United States that is currently immersed in controversy, the Kinijit delegation’s visits in Europe is going smoothly and has so far been able to achieve all of its objectives.
Kinijit leaders arrive in Stockholm [Photo: Kinijit Sweden]
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Kinijit leaders arrive in Stockholm [Photo: Kinijit Sweden]
Kinijit leaders in Upstate New York [Photo: Alyou Tebeje]