The video below is about my recent visit with Ethiopian freedom fighters in the field. It shows training centers and fighters of Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front, Ethiopian People’s Front for Justice and Equality, Tigray People’s Democratic Movement, Benishangul Liberation Front, and Gambella People’s Democratic Front. – Elias Kifle

Ethiopian Review has asked scholars and prominent individuals what 10 things they would do immediately if they are elected president or prime minister of Ethiopia. The following is by Dr Messay Kebede. (Click here to read what others wrote.)

If I were president or prime minister of Ethiopia, I would fight for the following 10 measures, which I consider absolutely necessary for the revival of Ethiopia.

1. Supervise a transitional process that is free of any revengeful actions, promotes peace and reconciliation, liberates all political prisoners, and allows the expression of basic democratic rights.

2. Create a government of national unity composed of representatives of various ethnic groups, political parties, and major professional activities.

3. Reform the existing army with the intent of making it more representative of ethnic groups and depoliticizing it, thereby enhancing integration and its commitment to national unity and defense.

4. Establish a commission composed of representative ethnic and professional groups that will deliberate on the issue of national education and suggest ways and means to design an agreed curriculum that both centers Ethiopia and reflects its linguistic, cultural and religious diversity while also pushing for a type of scientific and technological education focused on the concrete needs of Ethiopia’s rural and urban populations.

5. Create a task force of experts that reflects on an economic policy with short-term goals targeting the reduction of unemployment and the prevention of famines and long-term perspectives designed to create favorable conditions for the reduction of poverty, the improvement of infrastructures, and the development of productive activities.

6. Set up a commission that writes a new constitution which, while preserving the gains of the existing constitution, emphasizes unconditional unity together with a decentralized system of regional or ethnic self-rule, defends individual and group rights, and establishes an autonomous judiciary system that resolves constitutional disputes and protects against infringement of rights.

7. Ask people to reflect on measures that are necessary to develop democratic culture in Ethiopia in agreement with its ethnic, religious, and national traditions as well as to promote a climate of reconciliation and mutual confidence between elites, classes, ethnic groups, and religious communities.

8. Launch a sincere appeal with firm and guaranteed protections to the Ethiopian diaspora–regardless of past political or ideological affiliations — so that its knowledge and resources are put in the service of Ethiopia’s development.

9. Use diplomatic means and concern for mutual interests to resolve peacefully conflicts with neighboring countries, including Eritrea, which will receive a special treatment owing to common history and heritage.

10. Reinforce international relations, especially with those countries eager to invest in Ethiopia by offering attractive conditions without however allowing any imperialist policy of exploitation or economic dependence.

(Dr Messay Kebede is professor of philosophy at The University of Dayton, Ohio. He can be reached at [email protected])

Ethiopian Review’s Paltalk Room this Sunday, 14 Feb. 2010, will have two programs:

* 4:00 – 5:00 PM (Washington DC time)
Discussion on the upcoming selections in Ethiopia

* 5:00 – 6:00 PM (Washington DC time)
Discussion on Ethiopians joining Eritreans in a worldwide march on Feb. 22 to oppose the UNjust sanction against Eritrea

Guests:
Ato Sileshi Tilahun
Ato Neamin Zelleke
Ato Fekade Shewakena
Dr Berhe H. Ghiorgis

Ethiopian Review has asked scholars and prominent individuals what 10 things they would do immediately if they are elected president or prime minister of Ethiopia. The following is by Ato Sioum Gebeyehou. (Click here to read what others wrote.)

If I were the president or prime minister of Ethiopia, here are the 10 things I would do immediately:

1. Revise / amend the Constitution that genuinely serves the interests of the ENTIRE people of Ethiopia.

2. Freeze / reverse the current secret land give away, long term land lease away and the sale away of Ethiopian assets in Western Capitals.

3. Abolish the current ethnic based Kilil Administrative Map and replace it with a new modernized map of administrative and economic programs by integrating subdivisions based on geographic location, natural resources, man-made features and administrative history.

4. Establish National Reconciliation and Reconstruction Program to heal the wound of religious conflict and repair the ruptured societal relationships caused by the ongoing Kilil experimentation as well as evident and/or assumed past human rights violations.

5. Open a transparent dialogue with Eritrean people for an economic integration through confederation, federation or integration.

6. Establish a National Planning, Tracking and Monitoring Commission for developing and implementing an integrated national long term and short term programs in the four Key Results Areas of economic prosperity.

a. National Peace Creation Program
b. National Human Rights and Justice Program
c. National Democratic Governance Program
d. National Capacity Development Program

7. Design “a one stop shop” to streamline, harmonize or synchronize the wasteful and fragmented budget allocations flowing from multilateral or bilateral nations such as of USAID, UNDP or World Bank loans or grants. This will assist budget allocations based on the integrated national priority programs instead of the current independent, redundant, overlapping or for “nice to do” programs.

8. Design a Diaspora Networking and Interaction Program to attract and facilitate their active and formal participation in the rapid economic development strategy of the nation for Policy and Technical Assistance in the four Key Results Areas of their strengths

a. Introducing Good Governance Programs
b. Attracting Global Resources
c. Transferring Knowledge
d. Developing Local Resource

9. Develop a Quick Win Initiative: Corruption Eradication Program. Unleash the power of Free Press/Freedom of Expression which is the only way to fight corruption by naming and shaming those responsible for it, but equally balanced Human Rights based policy and procedures to establish guidelines to protect whistle blowers as well as to be responsible and accountable for what is being said.

10. Develop a Quick Win Initiative: Export Revenue. By catering organic Ethiopian animal products to World Market by lifting the embargo through Sound Animal Health Programs and Standardized Testing. The three Key Results Areas of Management are

a. Animal Health Management: Animal Health to Enhance Livestock Production.
b. Forage Management: Forage Management and Amelioration of Land Degradation.
c. Marketing Management: New Marketing Strategies to Maximize Export Revenue. (Ethiopia has the largest animal population in Africa)

(Sioum Gebeyehou is a civil engineer and project management consultant currently residing in California. He can be reached at [email protected])

Hyattsville, Maryland — In celebration of Black History Month, the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, (ATHA) Inc. and the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation (CDC), in cooperation with the City of Hyattsville, are proud to present the premiere Maryland showing of TEZA, the latest release from world-renowned, independent filmmaker Haile Gerima. A one-week limited engagement of TEZA will begin on February 26th at Regal Entertainment’s Royale Stadium 14, at the University Town Center, in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Movie Tickets will be on sale at the Regal Royale’s box office or online at www.fandango.com or www.regalentertainmentgroup.com. Haile Gerima, a native Ethiopian and distinguished film professor at Howard University, wrote produced and directed TEZA, as well as the critically acclaimed 1993 filmSankofa, a historically inspired dramatic tale of African resistance to slavery. TEZA is Gerima’s eleventh work and seventh dramatic film. Reflecting on the full suite of the filmmakers’ work, Variety magazine described Gerima as, “one of the independent cinema’s chief chroniclers of the African-American and African Diaspora experiences.”

In bringing TEZA to Hyattsville’s Regal Royale, ATHA, Inc. and its partners support another cultural event for Prince George’s County. According to Karen Crooms, Executive Director of ATHA, Inc “this is a great example for like-minded partnerships coming together to offer highquality, culturally relevant arts and entertainment to further enhance the cultural heritage tourism potential of this area.” Stuart Eisenberg, Executive Director of the Hyattsville CDC, co-sponsor of the event said, “hosting this film is a great chance for us to celebrate Black History Month in Hyattsville with our partner, ATHA, Inc. Our community is woven from a rich tapestry of many identities from all over the world, and given the opportunity; we can learn just how intricate, engaging and recognizable that tapestry can be. Through TEZA, we have the chance to see that Black History is both a local and global phenomenon, and we are richer for the glimpse and the insights that the movie provides.”

TEZA, “morning dew” in Amharic, depicts the ways in which the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie affected Ethiopia’s history and society. The film, set in Germany and Ethiopia, examines the displacement of African intellectuals, both home and abroad, through the story of a young, idealistic Ethiopian doctor – Anberber. The movie chronicles Anberber’s internal struggle to stay true, both to himself and to his homeland, but above all, TEZA explores the possession of memory – a right humanity mandates that each of us have – the right to own our past. TEZA, according to actor, Danny Glover, is a “film that people of all cultures and background should
see.”

“Historically, we have found that the success of our most widely distributed films has been largely attributable to grassroots support from organizations like ATHA and the Hyattsville CDC,” said filmmaker Gerima. “Engaging with communities and groups that are large and small, and that are reflective of the full cultural spectrum is the most powerful tactic in our specific methodology of distribution. This intimate and accessible approach is also symbiotic with my vision of what independent cinema should be.”

TEZA is the winner of over 20 coveted international film awards, including the Special Jury Prize conferred at the 2009 Venice Film Festival; the UN-World Bank Special Prize; and Golden Stallion award for Best Picture presented at the 2009 Fespaco Pan-African Film Festival. The film made its U.S. premiere in Washington D.C. this past fall, and enjoyed an eight-week run at the Avalon Theater.

Starting Friday, February 26th there will be four screenings of TEZA daily at Hyattsville’s Regal Royale. The filmmaker will take part in question and answer session opening night at the Regal Royale Stadium 14. Show times are as follows: Fri., Sat. & Sun. at 11:30AM, 2:30PM, 5:30PM and 8:30PM; Mon., Tues., Wed., Thur. at 1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM & 10:00PM.

The Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (ATHA), Inc. is a public/private partnership dedicated to creating a competitive and sustainable heritage tourism destination within northern Prince George’s County, Maryland. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partners in the private, public and non-profit sectors to accomplish our goals and mission.

The Hyattsville CDC is dedicated to the revitalization and sustainable development of the Hyattsville community. Founded in the fall of 2000 by community activists, its mission is to develop arts, entertainment, and public spaces; spur economic development and the quality of community life; encourage widespread leadership for community revitalization; and to rebuild the City’s commercial corridors.