The estranged chairman of Kinijit, Ato Hailu Shawel, will travel to Washington DC this coming weekend to attend a public meeting organized by the Shaleqa-Taye group. Several Ethiopians who believe that this meeting has an anti-Kinijit purpose have met last night to discuss what actions to take. Participants include representatives of youth, civic, and media groups.
Last night’s meeting has decided to organize a protest rally outside the Renaissance Hotel (999 9th Street, Washington DC) where the Shaleqa public meeting will take place on Sunday, Oct. 14, starting at 2 PM.
The peaceful protest will challenge Ato Hailu to respect Kinijit’s democratic principles. It will demand that the Shaleqa group return the funds they diverted from the party. The protest will also ask Taye Woldesemayat to stop his illegal activities through his group, the KIC (keysi).
It will be the first Ethiopian protest in Washington DC against an opposition leader. It is a result of the frustration and anger of the Ethiopian community at not only the massive corruption on the part of Shaleqa Yoseph Yazew and cohorts, but also Ato Hailu Shawel’s recent dictatorial behavior and his attempt to cover up the Shaleqa’s corruption at the expense of the whole Kinijit movement.
Between today and Sunday, various statements will be issued by the group that is organizing Sunday’s protest.
The group, while acknowledging and respecting the right of every individual to attend meetings, urges all Ethiopians who are working to develop a genuinely democratic culture in our society to stand up against dictatorship and corruption by boycotting the anti-Kinijit meeting on Sunday in Washington DC.