Kinijit chairman Hailu Shawel has arrived in Washington DC this afternoon after a few days stay in Minneapolis. Close to 1,000 Ethiopians greeted him at the Washington Reagan Airport as he exited the terminal on a wheelchair provided by the airport. The shaleqa group, including Shaleqa Yoseph himself, Dr Taye Woldesemayat, Ato Solomon Bekele, Ato Merchaw Seneshaw and others, accompanied him as he greeted supporters and headed to his car.
Members of the Shaleqa group, which is joined by EPRP and other ani-Kinijit elements, have been distributing a pamphlet at the airport that says: “Kinijit will move forward with Hailu Shawel’s leadership!” The pamphlet accuses other Kinijit leaders of being Woyanne agents without mentioning names. The pamphlet caused an altercation which stopped after police intervened.
Officials of the Kinijit North America, including its chairman Aklog Lemeneh, and the Washington DC Metro Chapter, as well as the former head of the Kinijit International Leadership, Dr Moges Gebre-Mariam, were present at the airport to welcome Ato Hailu, but the Shaleqa group did not allow them to approach him.
The crowd gave Ato Hailu a warm welcome and followed him to a public park near the airport where he gave a brief speech. Addressing a gathering of about 700, he remarked that Kinijit is one, which received roaring cheers.
After concluding his speech, the crowd started to chant: Hailu yegna naw! Kinijit aend naw! Shaleqa leba naw! Merchaw leba naw!
Ethiopian Review spoke with several individuals who were at the airport to welcome Ato Hailu. Almost all of them were there to thank Ato Hailu for the sacrifices he made, while objecting to his recent actions.
So this was how Ato Hailu was greeted in Washington DC today. From the small number of turn out, it is clear that he has wounded himself politically.
5:30 PM
Ato Hailu Shawel gives a speech in a public park near the Washington Reagan Airport.
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[photo: Tewodros Mekebeb]
5:25 PM
The car carrying Ato Hailu and his wife has now entered the park. Ato Hailu went out of the car. He is accompanied by Ato Solomon Bekele. He is heading to a chair and table where he is about to make a speech…
5:10 PM
Hundreds of people are now gathering at a park near the Reagan Airport. Ato Hailu Shawel and his wife, Wzr. Almaz, are waiting in a car until the people who greeted them at the airport arrive at the park. Dr Taye, Shaleqa Yoseph and others are standing nearby talking among themselves. Merchaw Sinishaw, a radio host who has been campaigning against the Kinijit North America and International Leadership has the microphone and is saying some thing to the crowd. The number of people who are in the park right now is about 500, but more people are coming… – read more
4:52 PM
Ato Hailu Shawel and entourage are arriving at a public park near the Reagan Airport. He is surrounded by mostly unknown individuals other than the Shaleqa group. None of the Washington DC area Kinijit activists can bee seen close to Ato Hailu…
[photo: Tewodros Mekebeb]
4:45 PM
Ato Hailu is now heading to a public park near the Reagan Airport off of George Washington Parkway where he will give a speech. Close to 1,000 Ethiopians greeted him at the airport when he arrived a few minutes ago…
4:35 PM
Ato Hailu has now arrived and is being greeted by by hundreds of Ethiopians at the Reagan Airport. He is on a wheelchair. He is being accompanied by… Shaleqa Yoseph Yazew, Ato Solomon Bekele, Dr Taye Woldesemayat and other members of the shaleqa group…
4:25 PM
There are currently about 600-700 people awaiting the arrival of Ato Hailu Shawel at the Reagan Airport. A few minutes ago there was a brief altercation when some individuals started to distributed a flyer.