systematically removing all potential opposition, they have officially placed the key to the Church on the blood-socked hands of Aba Gebre-Medhin.
On their treacherous journey toward the Woyanne camp, members of the DSKM board had forgotten to clear one obstacle — the Idir — which is the only organized group that could rally an opposition to the board’s mission. Indeed, many members of the Idir are active participants in anti-Woyanne groups. So when the Board launched an offensive against the Idir recently, it was not with the intention to take control of it and run it properly, but to eliminate the threat it is posing.
The Idir was created 7 years ago when the DSKM board started complaining about church-goers giving contributions for funeral services on Sundays whenever some one dies. The board did not like to compete with families of dead people for money. Hearing about the complaint, some of the church members got together and formed the Idir. The group then asked the DSKM board to use the church’s bank account and the meeting hall once a month. When there is a death among families of the Idir members, they receive $7,000 from the Idir, which has no other expense. It is a very simple operation.
The Idir has been operating like this for the past several years without a hitch — until a couple of months ago when it was announced that the DSKM was handed over to Paulos the diabilos — thanks in large measure to Drs. Aklilu Habte (former chairman of the board), Almaz Zewde (current board member and also a member of the Shaleqa mafia) and Getatchew Haile (the self-anointed ‘acting patriarch’). These individuals, along with Ato Billilign Mandefro and a few others, are the real bosses of the DSKM. The recently ‘selected’ chairman of the board, Frew Bulbula, is the Girma Wolde-Giorgis of Dr Aklilu — a puppet.
It is noteworthy to mention here that according to reliable sources, Dr Aklilu Habte is in Meles Zenawi’s short list of candidates for the next president of Ethiopia when Girma Wolde-Giorgis’ 5-year term ends next year.
Unlike Frew Bulbula, Billilign Mandefro and cohorts, officials of the Idir, Ato Seyoum Garedew, Ato Tadele Gebre-Wold and Ato Solomon Bedasso, who are facing $1 million lawsuit by the DSKM board, have been active participants in the effort to stop Woyanne atrocities back home. They have also been among the first to volunteer for humanitarian activities organized by the Washington DC area Ethiopian community. Because they stand up for our people back home, and because of their selfless and tireless service, these three jewels of our community are being persecuted by the DSKM board that is in the service of Tagay Aba Gebre-Medhin.
By the way, DSKM is not the only Ethiopian church in the Diaspora that is facing such a crisis. Ethiopian orthodox Churches around the world are under siege after being infiltrated by Aba Gebre-Medhin’s agents. From Washington DC to California to Africa, similar battles are raging as Ethiopians started to fight off Aba Gebre-Medhin’s mercenaries who have infiltrated church boards.