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June 25 E W P DEthiopian Women for Peace and Development (EWPD) 5505 Commecticut Avenue,NW, Washington, DC 2005 ewpd@ewpd.info or ewpd@yahoo.com To All Peace Loving People: We would like to bring to your attention the current situations and particularly the suffering of women in Ethiopia.
Our organization has been advocating for peace and the respect of human rights in general and women's rights in particular since its establishment in 1991. It is our belief that the current situation in Ethiopia is a sum total of all the failed policies and human rights abuses by governments in Ethiopia. We appeal to the international community and to all peace loving people gathered in this conference to urge your governments to pressure the Ethiopian government
The Ethiopian people have suffered for too long because of lack of good governace, continuous palitical turmoil, wars, poverty, and human rights abuses. A government that respects the rights of its citizens and upholds the rule of law would help establish a democratic society, address the chronic economic problem and alleviate the misery of the peaple. Without such a government, peace in the country and in the region will remain an illusion. Please help us achive our goal to have a just peace in Ethiopia. Together, we can make a difference!! May 09 We should stop Ellias as soon as possible!
Birhane Mewa, The MANThe first time I came across the name Birhane Mewa was when he was the chair of the Ethiopian private Industrialists Association. I read an article on the reporter by a famous young libertarian, criticizing Birhane for suggesting that the government should give protection for Ethiopian infant industries who were really struggling against the competition from Chinese manufacturers. A week or so latter, I had an opportunity to talk with the man on a panel organized by the Ethiopian Economic Association. The man was articulate, knew what he was talking about. I was quite mesmerized. Afterwards, Birhane moved on to chair the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce. I watched him closely. He was one of the very few leaders of an association who was not the imposter of EPRDF. The organizations he led were always independent of government influence, reflecting what Birhane thought were the interests of its members. With his profile always increasing, he gained the public’s trust as a man of principle, integrity and independence. As a public person, he had to constantly rise above the mud slinging and muck racking. Oh, boy he did. That I, believed, put him in EPRDF’s blacklist; and when he was accused of tax evasion, not even the party’s members really believed the story. As it had done to many nationalist, dignified and competitive Ethiopians, EPRDF was aiming its arsenal to destroy Birhane. In fact, the reverse happened. The politically motivated charge enhanced Birhane’s reputation as a people’s man. When he left Ethiopia via Kenya after being released on bail, people were sad that a capable, Ethiopian-loving man was leaving Ethiopia yet again. Yet the formation of Kinijit and Birhane’s role as a representative of the party in the US has returned Birhane back to where he belongs – public life. The measured and articulate interviews he constantly gives on VOA these days have made him a hero in Addis. So I was really surprised when ER started a smear campaign against Birhane. I chatted with people who worked under him to know if he had any skeletons in his cupboard. Their opinions about him were almost unanimous. He might be a fierce believer on some values and principles; and naturally, this kind of people may sometimes be uncompromising. Some people may not like that. Nevertheless, you could not accuse Birhane of obsessive squabbling and backbiting. He is grander than that. Elias Kifle should stop smearing the unsmearable. Birhane’s moral high ground is so high that Elias would not stand the rockslide while digging to destroy The MAN. Elias Kifle vs. The Majority
First of all, let me express my sympathy with the whole situation Elias Kifle brought up to take the struggle away from the mind of Ethiopians in Diaspora. The Elias controversy had undoubtedly caused a little bit of damage to the struggle for the Ethiopians in Diaspora unity to free Ethiopia from Meles tyranny regime. Ethiopians suspect that his recent attack and the previous ones by Elias and his groupings have been aimed at the CUD North America office and its leaders, Berhanu Mewa and Dr Seyoum, in general, and at CUD's strategy in particular. Ethiopians throughout the globe have, publicly, made very clear their anger at the actions of Elias and his group responsible for the damage which they are trying to spread on the struggle. Elias and his group have made it clear now that they are not part of our struggle, but why do Elias and his group persist with the claim to the title that they are "leaders" of CUD? The erroneous claim by Elias and his group to be the "leaders of CUD" is a good indicator of exactly what they are about and the motivation behind their actions. Prior to the spread of their damage, they were given the opportunity at the meetings to put their suggestions and comments to delegates elected by and representing the entire membership of CUD in North America. Their views on the strategy and direction of CUD were rejected by the vast majority of those delegates. Having failed in what was essentially a bid for "leadership" this individuals then resigned from the struggle and, in a very deliberate and calculated way, set about trying to undermine both the duly elected leadership of CUD-NA and the strategy of the struggle which had been agreed and endorsed by the members. Their lack of credibility among the support base has caused them therefore to seek to gain legitimacy by trying to hijack the struggle of Ethiopians in Diaspora, and, by extension, trying to put themselves and their views ahead of the main issue. Elias and Merchaw have done only disservice to the CUD cause. They have no coherent political strategy, they are not a credible alternative to the Ethiopia situation under Meles Regime. under this circumstances, Elias and Merchaw should stop name calling and they should do so sooner rather than later. From the outset they exaggerated their numbers in their groupings and made a succession of sensational claims as to the scale of supporters, but they have little impact on struggle of Ethiopians to free Ethiopia from Woyane Regime. Arguably, actions that Elias group have carried out have been designed and timed, not only to derail the struggle under CUD, but also specifically to damage the whole Ethiopians struggle. It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest we should allow them in interfering within our struggle. What we have to ask ourselves however is this: was it mere coincidence that at the point in history when our struggle was at its strongest, such seemingly reckless actions were carried out, actions which could only have the effect of damaging our struggle? People can draw their own conclusions on this. WHEN WILL ELIAS LEARN? who is Elias Kiflea?
When I asked who would come out as victorious in the in-fighting between Messrs Berahne Mewa and Elias Kiflea, I had pretty much a clear gut - feeling of who would be the winner. What I did not know was that the winner could be declared this quick. Elias lost it again. AN ACCIDENTAL ACTOR If only people appreciated the sense of humor, Elias is the new face of EPRP in the era of the internet savvy generation. Always head-on for a stifle no matter he has a scant chance of winning it. Have you seen a bull in the herd? Just like that. What we are seeing today is a tale of the review on the revision. Elias was admitted as a double-crossing sidekick in our "gentlemen club" when he fell apart with the editorial committee of the then Ethiopian Review magazine of whom the large chunk of the editors went on to publish their own magazine entitled the Ethiopian Register. What happened as a result of this action is no secret. Elias was marginalized and his Ethiopian Review crowded out of the market literally. So he is now a kind of the come back kid, with the online version. Yet since then he is prone to fall out with all his own blood and flesh, politically speaking. I don't believe this is an accidental acting. It must rather be the way he is programmed. GIVE HIM SOME CREDIT THOUGH Judged on the scale of an adrenaline-junkie, he is a bona-fide success story; the mercurial firecracker presence of him in some of the most satisfying political process of the past one year or so. However, when set against the patriotic and popular hierarchy of the broad church coalition of the opposition, he remains in the hierarchy of Professor Afeworke Gebreyesus compared to Belaye Zeleke, Bekele Woyae, Jegamma Kello and Abedissa Aga, Umere Semeter and the list goes on this side for infinity. Or to put it another way, Eliase being Eliase he is always so good at melting into the wrap and woof of the political process that he can be sometimes overlooked or confused with others. He has no one to blame other than himself for this! A BIT OF AN ADVICE Elias has been proved to be a distracting agent once again. Technically he would do a lot of service if he stays on the supporting role instead of peering over the fence and mud-water the other side of the same body. When you don't have the knack; being a leader will crash and burn you but as a character and supporting actor you can be around forever. Over to you for your own choice. May 03 Ethiopia - Open letter to the Ambassadors’ Donors groupMonday 1 May 2006 04:30.By Engida Fanta*April 28, 2006 — Your commitment to help Ethiopia’s long term development is commendable. I, as an Ethiopian American want thank you for you good will and concern. I am also pleased you are for strengthening the democratic process and a multiparty system.Your moral indignation at those who threaten “those who are seeking to advance Ethiopian democracy” is encouraging. Speaking with moral clarity and impartiality is the foundation that strengthens your relationship with Ethiopia and Ethiopians. However the moral standard you use should be the same for the weak and for the victor. As you know close to a hundred have been killed and thousands have been arrested. Innocent opposition leaders, civic society leaders and journalist are in prison. You know most of those opposition leaders in person. You also know the court system is controlled by the party of the Prime Minster. Yet you call for their “speedy, transparent and fair” trial. The verdict was given sometime in August. It is an open secret that the Prime Minster has already informed some of you that they will be found guilty. Some of you are hoping for pardon or amnesty. Do you really believe that? Your position on the issue of the prisoners seems to betray the moral clarity that you established in your statement. The issue of the prisoners is the single most important issue that requires your principled attention. You should do what is morally acceptable: Demand for the immediate and unconditional release of the prisoners. Blaming and pressuring those in prison to accept the dictates of the powerful and turning a blind eye to injustice undermines your standing among the Ethiopian people. The political space has shrunk appreciably. Ethiopians have not heard you calling for the respect of the constitution and an open political system. Some of you have publicly questioned the exercise of rights guaranteed by the constitution. Some have even questioned whether Ethiopia is ready for democracy in spite of a peaceful and large turn out. Appeasement is not morally acceptable and politically viable. Stability and prosperity are not the byproducts of a repressive regime. Your tolerance of the brutality of the government and the imprisonment of the elected leaders are taken as consent by the government and abandonment by the Ethiopian people. Governments come and go. Ethiopia and your countries will outlast the current government. You should be friends of Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia. As representatives of your governments we ask you to see beyond the temporary interest of some and support the aspirations of Ethiopians. We are confident you agree with me that freedom is universal. The freedom you supported in Georgia and Ukraine is what Ethiopians aspire. Sincerely, * Engida Fanta can be reached by writing to Engida.fanta@yahoo.com EPRDF?s "divide" strategy for Ethiopia
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