By Elias Kifle
I am encouraged by the positive feedback I am getting from many people who attended my debate with Ethiomedia’s editor Abraha Belai Saturday in Qale Ethiopia’s Paltalk room, which was attended by some 400 people Saturday. The following is one of the many comments I have received:
Dear Abraha and Elias:
As luck had it, I listened to your insightful debate over Qale Paltalk yesterday.
I salute you for taking the initiative to debate and the civility with which you conducted it. Thank you also for responding to the popular call for unity by declaring your plan to organize a conference for Ethiopian journalists to get together and advance your common cause.
You are right, media matters and I am sure you can make a difference!
Thank you again and have a great day!
“Zare Tibibir, Nege Wedidir”
Abate Kassa
Many others expressed similar views as Ato Abate that the discussion was a good beginning since both of us agreed to focus on issues and strategies that we agree on, which, by the way are many.
I am satisfied with Abraha’s position that Woyanne/TPLF as an organization cannot be reformed and thus must be removed.
One of the things Abraha proposed is for all Ethiopian media to come together and jointly organize public forums and town hall meetings where the opposition’s next move is discussed.
I was surprised by the number of people who attended the debate/discussion since a World Cup game was going on that the time.
My approach during the debate was a bit confrontational for some people’s taste while Abraha was polite and avoided confrontation. My view is that Ethiopians need to express their anger and be outspoken in order to overcome the paralyzing inertia that has plagued the anti-Woyanne, pro-democracy camp.
In the end, both Abraha and I agreed to work together for our common goal, i.e., the immediate removal of Woyanne from Ethiopia. As a first step, he put Ethiopian Review’s link back on his site.