Firstly, I believe Meles Zenawi is a powerful dictator, I also believe Meles Zenawi is one highly popular in and out of Ethiopia with many powerful allies and friends around the world. He meticulously build his reputation of fair-minded and a rationalist leader around the world. Nevertheless he is a dictator for simple fact and that is he has being on power by by hook or crook for far too long. Although under the current Ethiopian constitution he was allowed to run for office for as many times as he wish.
The problem with Abebe Gelaw's madman yelling & knee jerk reaction
Know back to what happened during a G8 food confidence conference in Washington DC, specifically to the some what embracing knee jerk reaction or by Abebe Gelaw. Having seen the full video including Abebe Gelaw moments, It was so bad and distasteful I genuinely felt sorry for the Ethiopian opposition and Ethiopian journalist. At the same time I was relieved at-least the yelling journalist wasn't one of us Eritrean journalist.
What Abebe Gelaw did might be some kind of heroic to some naive and emotional Ethiopians. But to most people it was a disaster, it was a fantastically bad public relations (PR) to all freedom seeking Ethiopians and Africans. Above to all the damage is on Ethiopian & African journalists not on Meles, as you probably thought. Meles in fact played his part brilliantly; yes initially he was shocked and embarrassed due to the unexpected event.
But after the initial moments he played his game good, he probably realized soon after, what Abebe Gelaw did was very stupid and naive.
Abebe was given permit to enter the conference because he was a valued journalist, otherwise he wouldn't be given the permit. Abebe broke journalist code of practise and ethics in the worst fashion possible. In civilized world no one listens to unprincipled yelling, raging, madman.
This is one of the things that we Africans do not get, yes Abebe probably had some valid points but what he did, yelling like a madman dis-validates what ever he was saying, no matter how. When you get in in the conference building you are expected to put across your opinions or questions in a civilized and good mannerly way.
[url]Aebe could have done better job or damage to Meles in the eye of Ethiopian & foreign observers simply by saying or asking his questions with out yelling like a madman[/url], that Meles can not be trusted or Meles is anti freedom fony creature. But no, Abebe did a big favour to Meles by showing Meles in a good light as the principled angle and tolerant leader.
People sow Meles being ashamed on behalf of Abebe, as is fellow Ethiopian & African journalist giving bad name to decent African journalist.
Will continue.



