Feature Stories
May 13, 2001
EPRDF’s
Political Crisis Deepens as noted Human
Right activists are arrested and Meles’ own security chief is killed by a
TPLF major. (Ethiopians.com, 5/14/01)
The
week that begun with the violent arrest of Ethiopia’s leading human right
activist, Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam (shown left) and Dr.
Berhanu Nega, an economist and a recent returnee to Ethiopia
culminated with the shooting death of the government’s chief security
officer, Ato Kinfe G/Medhin’s by a TPLF army officer. TPLF’s
and its top leaders vulnerability and increasing weakness was dramatically
exposed as the chief of security himself was shot and killed in early
morning. With the crack in the TPLF now extending to the army and
top Meles men being eliminated, the country is ripe with speculations that
perhaps these developments are signaling the end of the EPRDF era. Earlier
in the week, a top army General with TPLF roots had confronted Ato Meles
on the necessity and constitutionality of a hastily
called meeting Ato Meles had arranged with the army officers.