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Note
from the Editor
Mitiku's Article here posted represent the
best in writing with insight and universal appeal. I recommend that
readers, especially Ethiopian readers, take time to ponder what
Mitiku is telling us in his beautifully written article. I am not
exaggerating at all when I write that Mitiku's article is philosophical
mega statement about the fragility of the human condition but also its
triumph. TH
To
Win Gold And Not Lose Silver Sat,
23 Aug 2008
By
Mitiku Adisu
Here
are Tirunesh and Elvan (a.k.a. Abeylegesse). Truneshand Elvan are not
chasing each other. They are chasing a dream. Tirunesh is trailing. What
goes through their minds at this point in the race is not difficult to
guess. Both know one of them will shortly
be
declared the winner. Both are determined to beat the other to the finish
line. (No one competes for the fun of losing.) Both run fully aware of
their humanity, national origin, youth and what is at stake. Both
gracefully bear the pounding. Both realize the hurdles involved to make
it this far; that it takes leaving behind fellow athletes vying for the
same prize.
Are
Democracy and the Rule of Law Necessary for Ethiopia?
By:
Dr. Seid Hassan, Murray State University
August
15, 2008
The
purpose of this short article is to show that there are indeed quite a
few economic policy lessons to be learned from the experiences of
Southeast Asian countries. Second, if the last 18 years that Ethiopia
has been under the EPDRF are any witness, this country is neither in a
position to mimic these countries and bring about measurable economic
change, nor is the political and economic phenomena of Ethiopia
comparable to those countries. In the process, I refute the argument
that is being presented by the EPDRF representatives on both factual and
empirical basis. I do so by briefly presenting the economic, social, and
political experiences of the Southeast Asian countries and by comparing
and contrasting them with that of the Ethiopian economic situation and
political realities. I then present a series of conjunctures on why the
regime wants us to believe that democracy is unnecessary for Ethiopia.
Kenenisa
Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia:
The
Greatest Athletes in the World
Congratulations,
Kenenisa and Tirunesh!
You are the greatest distant  runners the World had ever seen.
Once again you set new Olympic World records in both men and
women ten thousand meters. Kenenisa successfully defended his Olympic
10,000m title winning the Gold, with his countryman Sileshi Sihine
winning the Silver. The other great Haile Gebre Selassie was fifth,
despite his advanced age, the asthma, and the Beijing stifling humidity
and smog. The previous day Tirunesh Dibaba, the Golden Girl, won the
Gold setting a new Olympic record, followed by her countrywoman, Elvan
Abeylegesse running for Turkey. These men and women are real
“Champions” in a real sport that requires great endurance, courage,
and strength. The ten-thousand-meter-run competition is neither a
child’s play nor it is splashing around in bath tub as some countries
make such a big deal of. Kenenisa Bekele’s new World Record is 27
minutes, 1.17 seconds, breaking his own World record he set four years
ago. Tirunesh Dibaba, still a young woman of 22, set a new Olympic
Record. Editor
EDITORIAL:
August 10, 2008
Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin: The Great Nationalist
By
Tecola W. Hagos
Go for it, Putin. You are doing the right
thing in protecting the vital interest of the People of Russia. You have
done the right thing by standing up for  the
economic interest of the People of Russia. You have done the right thing
by blocking the carpetbaggers from looting the wealth of the People of
Russia. Now, move in and take back all the old territories of the Soviet
Union, now states, ceded by traitors. That scheme of ceding territories
and creating puppet states did not help alleviate any of the political
or the economic problems facing the ordinary citizens of such regions
Putin defends Russia's Ossetia incursion, slams Georgia over 'genocide'
By News Agencies
2008 Olympic Games Preview
 10,000 METERS
Two world record holders seek to lift Ethiopia's hopes on and off the track. Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenenisa Bekele have courage, endurance, and blazing kicks. What else do you need?
By Adam Buckley Cohen
How to describe Ethiopia? A country roughly twice the size of Texas with three times as many people. A complex blend of massive highlands and dissected plateaus divided by the Great Rift Valley. One of the oldest inhabited areas in the world, perhaps the seat of all human migration. Or, if you're a track fan, the alpha and omega of distance running. At the Athens Olympics, in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, Ethiopian men and women took home seven of 12 medals, improving on the six golds they won four years earlier in Sydney. So how does a country that constantly battles droughts and famines of biblical proportions beat out the combined total of every other country in the world?
Dr.
Fekadu Bekele August 7, 2008
Dr.
Fekadu Bekele August 4, 2008
Sudan
sentences 22 more 'Darfur rebels' to death
by Abdelmoniem Abu Edries Ali
Thu Jul 31, 10:26 AM ET
KHARTOUM
(AFP) - Sudanese courts on Thursday sentenced another 22 alleged Darfur
rebels to death over an unprecedented attack on the capital last May in
which more than 222 people were killed.The sentences from two special
courts, set up to try those arrested in a crackdown following the May 10
assault, bring to 30 the number of alleged members of the Justice
and Equality Movement (JEM) condemned to death
House
apologizes for slavery and Jim Crow
The House on Tuesday issued an unprecedented apology to black Americans
for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered
under slavery and Jim Crow segregation laws.It says that Africans forced
into slavery "were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized and
subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and
heritage" and that black Americans today continue to suffer from
the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow laws that fostered
discrimination and segregation.
A Few Reasons Why some of the Ethiopian Diaspora Community Members are
not Interested and/or against “Investing” in Ethiopia: A Summary of selected
conversations over coffee and by telephone.
By Dr. Seid Hassan Murray State University-
July 28, 2008
Despite the importance of Diaspora FDI, however, remittances are much larger (for example,
remittances from Africans working abroad between 2000 and 2003 averaged roughly 17 billion
dollars per annum, according to a 2005 report by the United Nations Office of the Special
Adviser on Africa. Ethiopian Diaspora remittances exceed $1.1 billion per annum in the last few
years.
[The
article/interview on the voidability of the Algiers Agreement of 2000 and
the future of Assab that was posted in The Reporter was brought to our
attention by Paulos Fasil of Canada. Tecolahagos/Ethiopia Website
greatly appreciate Paulos Fasil and all concerned Ethiopians who
forward articles/essays/interviews to our Website www.tecolahagos.com
that concern Ethiopia's territorial integrity and Sovereignty. Editor]
FROM THE DESK OF DR. FIKRE TOLOSSA
Dr.Fikre Tolossa's feature film, "Multicolored Flowers", a coming of age drama with comical and satirical overtones and undertones, will be featured in Los Angeles, California on Sunday July 27, starting 3:00 PM at the Jewish Community Center. If blacks "acted white" in the past to fit in, now whites "act black" to fit in, in this movie, which witnesses that times are changing.
In the spirit of artistic cooperation, in addition to Dr. Fikre Tolossa, the young film-maker Mekdelawit
Tadesse, will present a one hour documentary on the lives of a few movers and shakers Ethiopians residing in the United States, entitled, "Immigrants". Moreover, a budding poet, Asfawossen
Alemseged, will premier his latest book entitled, "Tsehay
Tiwotalech" , reciting a few verses out of it. Ethiopians living in Los Angeles and its surroundings are welcome to feast on this unusual combination of artistic extravaganza.
Some
Doubts on the Veracity of the Torah or the Old Testament Stories
July. 12, 2008
The idea of Moses receiving the commandments from God on a
mountain was taken from the Persian legend related to Zoroaster - One
day, as he prayed on a high mountain, in the midst of thunders and
lightning’s (“fire from heaven”), the Lord himself appeared before
him, and delivered unto him the 'Book of Law'. While the King of Persia
and the people were assembled together, Zoroaster came down from the
mountain unharmed, bringing with him the 'Book of the Law', which had
been revealed to him by Ormuzd. They call this book the Zend-Avesta,
which signified the Living Word.
Sudan’s president to be charged with genocide
First attempt by international tribunal against sitting head of state
By
Colum Lynch and Nora Boustany
updated
9:32 p.m. PT, Thurs.,
July. 10, 2008
UNITED
NATIONS - The chief prosecutor of the Internationals Criminal Court will
seek an arrest warrant Monday for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir,
charging him with genocide and crimes against humanity in the
orchestration of a campaign of violence that led to the deaths of hundreds
of thousands of civilians in the nation's Darfur region during the past
five years, according to U.N. officials and diplomats.
A BRIEF NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF THE AMARA AND
OROMO
By Fikre Tolossa
Pertaining
to the Amara language, it had already begun to evolve as far back as
3000 years ago.In fact, it had existed long before Geez. Menelik the
I declared Geez as the official language of Ethiopia about 2950 years
ago to honor and empower the Agazi, a tribe he brought from Gaaza
which fought for him when Ethiopian tribes warred against him treating
him as a Jewish "keles" who had ambition over the
Ethiopian throne. Indeed, it had developed and evolved more than
3000 years; i.e, a while before Geez was decreed by Menelik I as
the official language of Ethiopia by imposition
Ethiopia: Government Prepares Assault on Civil Society
Repressive New Legislation Should Be Amended or Scrapped.
Ethiopia’s government has already made meaningful public engagement in governance impossible in many areas by persecuting its critics and cracking down on freedom of expression and assembly. The clear intention of this legislation is to consolidate that trend by taking the ‘non’ out of ‘nongovernmental’ and putting civil society under government control.
Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch
Ethio-Sudan
Border Affairs Committee (Press Release)
Source: Abbay
Media
Remembering
Asnakech Mekonnen (1961-2008): The voice of resistance
By
Teodros Kiros ( Ph.D)
Her life begun when she chose at a very young age to be a liberation fighter, when she left her beloved home to fight the Ethiopian Derg’s oppression by joining the Ethiopian liberation force, and moved to Sudan. Her handsome brother, Yohannes Mekonnen of Cambridge city, who himself was a liberation fighter, remembers saying farwell to his sister, when he himself was fourteen years old. Yohannes, her heart broken brother remembers her as gallant, kind, and unafraid to speak truth to power.
Shame
on you Meles Zenawi! June 25, 2008
 By
Tecola W. Hagos-What is alarming is
the fact that this traitor is running around dismantling our
Ethiopia that was built over the Centuries with great courage and
sacrifices of our parents and forefathers. He is arrogantly
throwing his half-cooked juvenile ideas in our faces, and we are
doing nothing about it. The recent secret agreement he made with
the Sudanese Government ceding Ethiopian territories, which was
settled and effectively controlled by Ethiopians and previous
Ethiopian governments for over hundreds of years, has angered
Ethiopians from all walks of life. We need to do more than just
register anger and protest against Meles Zenawi and his
Government. We must excise this cancerous growth and threat to our
very existence as a people and a nation, by all means at our
disposal. This is one of the reasons that I support the call made
to all of us by patriotic Ethiopians, Ethio-Sudan Border Affairs
Committee, to a Conference and a Demonstration on July 2 and 3
against Meles Zenawi and his secret agreement ceding Ethiopian
Territory to the Sudan.
Failed leadership, not a failed state
By Raffique Shah June 01, 2008
These
shortcomings and many more are justification for many to refer to the
country as a “failed state”. But again, I register my dissent with
this view. When New York and many other cities in the US were riddled with
crime, was America declared a “failed state”? That country’s health
system is in crisis. Millions cannot access free medical attention, have
no access to health care the way we do. And in spite of the crime levels,
thousands flock restaurants, bars and clubs nightly. Night concerts are
sold out: witness the recent Plymouth Jazz Festival.
By
Obang Metho-The failures of the Meles regime are rapidly accumulating and not only Ethiopians know about it now. The news and incriminating evidence is reaching out into the international community and it will soon become increasingly difficult to suppress and excuse the behavior of this oppressive dictatorship.
Human rights violations incorporated in this 30th Regular Report are based on complaints received from victims, evidence gathered through onsite investigations and testimonies of witnesses. As could be gathered from the report, there still remains much to be done to improve the human rights situation in the country. The fact that many of the violations are being perpetrated by government security forces and other agents of the state with impunity makes the situation even more worrying. Thus, EHRCO urges the government to respect and protect the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the country.
Genocide in Sudan
U.S., activists decry genocide in Sudan
AP Associated Press, Tues., June. 17, 2008
The United Nations so far has been unable to bring peace to Sudan or to prosecute its alleged war criminals. Williamson pointed to 2 million people dead and more than 6 million displaced in Sudan's north-south civil war.
Is Ethiopia Really Enjoying Economic Development?
By Dr. Seid Hassan June 16, 2008
On the other hand, Ethiopians, including those of the members of the Diaspora
experience increased squalor, disease, unemployment (known to be way over 50% in urban
areas), hopelessness, unnecessary deaths, chronic poverty, these same filth and misery and
chronic poverty increasing over time. Every time the members of the Diaspora visit their country
of origin, they observe that the people they used to know and their own families are growing into
abject poverty. Most importantly, they read Ethiopia being listed at the bottom of the world
country rankings.
Dr.
Fekadu Bekele
Zenawi
lied and it is Darfur Style Scorched-Earth Land Grab
By
Desta Woldemariam
The
relationship between the dynamics within states in the Horn of
Africa (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia) and the
distribution of power among them is constantly changing. The
Global, Regional and Sub-Regional situations and dynamics
temporarily strengthen one or two states in the Horn, while it
exposes and exacerbates their failing on many occasions. The
states in the Horn are getting too weak and poorly governed to
address challenges within their borders and cannot prevent then
from spilling out and destabilizing all surrounding states
Abugida
invites you to check out a poem dedicated to the victims of 2005 massacre
by the blood thirsty zenawi's regime at http://www.abugidainfo.com/video/index.php/documentary/
international.html
A
film depicting memorable political events in Ethiopia in the month
of "GINBOT",it can be seen here http://abugidainfo.com/video/index.php/documentary/
documentaryeth.html
Border Demarcation with Sudan Causes Anger in Ethiopia
By Alisha Ryu Nairobi 05 June 2008
Residents and community leaders in western Ethiopia say thousands of people in several border regions have been displaced by Sudanese troops in recent weeks, following what they describe as a secret, illegal deal between the governments in Addis Ababa and Khartoum. Critics say the secret deal to demarcate the border gives Sudan the right to occupy areas Ethiopians historically consider sacrosanct. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has details from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.
Ethiopia
and
Sudan
Border Issue Committee
June 2, 2008
We,
the representatives of Ethiopian political, professional, civic,
social and cultural organizations, would like to bring to Your
Excellency’s attention worrisome developments concerning the
demarcation of the common boundary between
Ethiopia
and the
Sudan
. We are gravely concerned that this important subject which
affects the lives and welfare of millions of Ethiopians has been
approached, at least on the part of the purported representatives
of
Ethiopia
, in total secrecy and in complete disregard of relevant treaties
and the historical rights of
Ethiopia
.
Does land
swap bring peace, or does peace bring land?
Source Reporter
Famine,
Hunger, and Public Action: Consolidated View*
May 30, 2008
Teodros
Kiros (Ph.D)-These subtle
words apply to the recurrence of  famine and perpetual hunger in
Somalia now and soon in Ethiopia with unprecedented urgency. If
you asked any Ethiopian legislator why famines occur with such
consistency, he might look at you in surprise, and reply that it
is a natural mishap manifest in crop failure, and the sluggishness
and cursed existence of the victims. Of course, some of our ardent
critical revolutionaries seek to advance what they call structural
explanations. The latter explanation is the correct one.
PART
TWO
Sudan
Annexing Ethiopian Territory:
The Moral Imperative and Principles and Norms of
International Law
May
22, 2008
By
Tecola W. Hagos-This effort of Meles Zenawi to justify his treasonous  ceding of Ethiopian territory by redefining and limiting what constituted
Ethiopian territory is the same type of treasonous
“judiciousness” he used often defending the interest of
Eritrea against that of Ethiopia in endless speeches, interviews,
and formal papers to such ridicules extent even the
Ethiopia-Eritrea Border Arbitration Commission found it necessary
to point out the fact that Meles’s submission has declared a
particular Ethiopian territory in dispute to be part of Eritrea
and that the Commission had no other choice but “to
adjust the Treaty line so as to ensure that it is placed in
Eritrean territory.”
----
Famine,
Hunger and Public Action: Modest
Policy Proposals for East Africa
May
17, 2008
Teodros
Kiros (Ph.D)- Most importantly,
legislators must be advised to avoid costly wars that plunder
value creating economies. Peace and prosperity for all must be the
goal of the hopeful
Ethiopia
. Famines and hunger can be eliminated by the actions of a morally
sensitive market and systematic public action. Diversification and
peace must be the engines of change in a new
Ethiopia
.----
Editorial:
Response
to the Press Release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
On
the Annexation of Ethiopian Territory by Sudan
May 15, 2008
By
Tecola W. Hagos- Press Release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has alleged that the
Government of Meles Zenawi is simply concluding what was laid out
by previous Ethiopian leaders as part of a lengthy negotiation
with the Government of the Sudan, especially pointing out the
treaty of 1972 entered during the Government of Emperor Haile
Selassie. This is an absolute lie, for Emperor Haile Selassie did
not enter any such dishonorable and treasonous treaty to cede over
ten thousand square kilometers of fertile and productive Ethiopian
territory to the Sudan.
Ethiopian
Territorial Integrity and Ethiopiawinet:
Sudan
annexing Ethiopian Territory.
By
Tecola W. Hagos-It
is extremely difficult for me even to imagine  ceding
an inch of Ethiopian territory let alone such huge tract of land.
The insidious activity of Meles Zenawi is not limited to such
treasonous crimes against the territorial integrity of Ethiopia,
but was extended to the violations of fundamental rights against
the People of Ethiopia who have lived in those areas for
generations. They were forced to defend their homes while
Meles’s security force members were standing by watching
Ethiopian citizens being driven off their homes and land. Shame on
you! Shame!.-----
Einstein letter calls Bible ‘pretty childish’
Famous scientist also dismisses belief in God as product of human weakness
Editorial:
May 12, 2008
On
Posting the “Official” Statement of the Government of Meles Zenawi
By Tecola Hagos-The
fact that there was negotiation and dispute or challenge by Sudan in the
past does not completely negate the principle of territorial acquisition
as laid out above, which entitles Ethiopia with the rights and privileges
of a Sovereign to all the territory that is illegally being annexed by
Sudan now. Meles’s Government has repeatedly shown its skewed ideas of
what is meant by negotiation in international conflicts in the Sudan as
well as the Eritrea border disputes. There is no “absolute” in
international claims of limited starting point, except what one claims to
be the case. Thus, the Ethiopian government must claim as extensively as
it is possible even to the extent of all land all the way to ancient Meroe,
rather than assume these stupid pretensions of judiciousness at the
expense of our interest. I
shall elaborate all the issues raised in this Editorial and elsewhere in
other essays I have written dealing with the issue of Ethiopian territory
and Sovereignty, in my upcoming article “Ethiopian Territorial Integrity
and Ethiopiawinet: Sudan
annexing Ethiopian Territory:
Ministry refutes hearsay ''Ethiopian territory given to Sudan''
Addis Ababa, May 11, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - The ministry of foreign affairs said some mass media and irresponsible bodies have been disseminating groundless information by saying that the government has given a part of Ethiopia’s territory to Sudan.
In a statement it sent to ENA on Sunday the ministry said that it refrained to respond to the hearsay as border issues need to be dealt with great care and as it believed that it is unnecessary to respond to such groundless rumor.
The
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Foreign Affairs and National
Security Policy and Strategy
Ethiopia
's policy towards Somalia May
12, 2008
Our
fundamental policy remains to persistently work towards the birth of a
peaceful and democratic
Somalia
. But in light of the continuing instability, the policy we pursue should
essentially be a damage-limitation policy to ensure that the instability
does not further harm our country, the region and the people of
Somalia
. If the instability is not stopped, the only option left is to limit the
damage that may be caused. There are three main options to limit the
damage.
The Causes of the Current Ethiopian Soaring Inflation Rate: A Non-Technical Analysis.
May
11, 2008
By Dr.Seid Hassan
The most significant and daunting problem facing Ethiopia today is the rampant
inflation rate. As reported by bloomberg.com, the Ethiopian Statistical Agency has reported that inflation
for March 2008 has risen to 29.6%, food price inflation being even higher (39.4%). Some reports
indicate the inflation rate in January 2008 to be in the range of 36%. According to Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi, the causes of this rampant inflation rate are a growing economy, greedy
merchants, and/or farmers who happen to demand higher prices for their products or an increase
in demand.-----
Larger map
ETHIOPIA'S
DIRE TUNE: THE NEW BOSTON MARATHON 2008  CHAMPION
CONGRATULATIONS, DIRE TUNE FOR WINNING THE BOSTON MARATHON 2008.
YOUR COURAGE, STAMINA, AND FAITH RENEWED US ALL IN OUR
ETHIOPIAWINET. YOU MAKE US ALL FEEL GREAT, WE ARE ETERNALLY
GRATEFUL TO YOU AND ALL THE ETHIOPIAN LEGENDARY GREAT DISTANT
RUNNERS AND MARATHON RUNNERS, AND WORLD AND OLYMPIC
CHAMPIONS. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU SOME MORE, ALL OF YOU OUR
GREAT HEROES AND CHAMPIONS.
SYSTEMIC
AND SYSTEMATIC CORRUPTION IN
ETHIOPIA
UNDER MELES ZENAWI: A VIEW FROM THE SILENT DIASPORA. April
22, 2008
By
Wardoffa Banti
It
is also necessary to continue equipping the political, social, and
pressure groups that have a stake in our country to hold rational and
reasoned policy and political positions that would challenge the political
leaders into realizing the ideals of fairness, justice and equality that
would lay the foundations for a sustainable nation. It would be a matter
of time before the (outwardly strong but decaying) TPLF to acknowledge
that there is more to equitable and democratic governance than political
expediency of consolidating political tyranny insulated from the
interests, will and participation of its subjects. The growing
brainstorming and crystallization of the foundations and mechanisms of the
TPLF's driving rolled TPLF to crack because of internal rust, its
paralysis to change and absence of rational and reasoned agenda and
backing.
Reading William Easterly’s The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good (2006)
April 21, 2008
By Getachew Mequanent-
To conclude, Easterly isn’t really talking about the “ills” of aid, as the title of his book suggests. He is talking about the problems of aid management. As I read the book, I kept remembering a man who was the president of the Canadian International Development Agency in the 1970s, speaking at a conference, angrily asking, “why did we fail the world’s poor children?” Having spent sixteen years at the World Bank, Easterly’s writing style combines both passion and experiences of frustration, as you can see from this quotation (p. 368) telling donors what to do:
Discard your patronizing confidence that you know how to solve other people’s problems better than they do. Don’t try to fix governments or societies. Don’t invade other countries or send armies to one of the brutal armies in a civil war. End conditionality. Stop wasting our time with summits and frameworks. Give up on sweeping and naïve institutional reform schemes.
NES
COMMENTARY No.17
Network
of Ethiopian Scholars (NES) (April
17, 2008)
From
the Edge to Over the Edge: The root cause of the food crises is the
endemic governance crises in
Ethiopia
!
Very often and invariably, this is what the regime does to the people when it plays the so- called democracy game: the regime invites the people for an election charade only to disabuse them when they vote for the candidates or parties of their choice by harassing those not toeing the official line backed by the military and police might at its disposal. Why the regime prefers to go through the motion of an election, when it has literally zero interest or commitment to honour the choices and voices of the people particularly when they vote for opposition party candidates, strikes any impartial observer as nothing else but activities that are supremely diversionary, opportunistic, cynical and immoral.
Some thoughts on Understanding What Lies Ahead for Ethiopia
By Wardoffa Benti (from Germany)-
April 16, 2008
The title chosen
for this short abstract of a bigger idea is daunting and beyond the reach
of the intelligence and capacity of this author. The idea is to tip a
discussion on the manner of political discourse in the political community
for scrutinizing the real issues on political transformation of
stakeholders. When people come into some kind of union (unitary, federal,
confederate or other forms of governmental structure), the basic notion is
that these peoples have agreed to forge a formula where they would strike
concessions and compromises that would be fair and workable for the groups
and classes of people to be bound by that structure. Thus a Constitution
of a country, which in essence means a tool where the various
constituencies of people who are living in a relatively coherent and
adjacent geographical entity, agree to come under some form of union after
by a majority (super-majority) of their people or their elected
representatives.
-----
COMMENTARY
Paradigm of poverty and humanism: Undoing Ethiopia's
modernity
By Prof. Tecola W. Hagos -
 [Because the crucial issues discussed some five years ago in an article titled “PARADIGM OF POVERTY AND HUMANISM: UNDOING ETHIOPIA’S MODERNITY” (July 25, 2003) posted in this Website are still the most acute issues concerning Ethiopia, we have decided to repost or up-link that article in our archive one more time. Readers are invited to take a fresh look at the article with the current political and economic reality in Ethiopia in mind.]
Instead of revisiting the same old political and economic programs that have been the main stay of every political group and aspiring political leader since the 1960s, I suggest that we start with new approach within a rubric of a Humanistic-Poverty Paradigm. A paradigm is not in itself a political ideology, but a way of looking at distilled consistent and compatible ideas. It has the advantage of satisfying all ideas of truth. This in itself is remarkable. It should not come as a surprise to us, for the humanistic paradigm, after all, reflects the ethos or the zeit-geist of a people (period). Another additional factor to consider is the fact that the Paradigm is not a liberation movement, but rather a creative process; unlike other liberation movements the struggle is not against the State of Ethiopia but against poverty, ignorance, pestilence, greed, exploitation, dehumanization, oppression et cetera.
What the election of Barack Obama would mean to African politics
April 7, 2008
By Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-As an African-American of a Kenyan ancestry, I am reminded of my father’s dream, the dream of putting Kenya on the world map, as a player in world politics. I wish every African nation to abide by International law, and treat its citizens with dignity, with inviolable human rights, and call upon Ethiopia’s Meles Zenawi to treat Ethiopians with fairness, respect and dignity. I demand that African leaders either be transparent or move out of the way. No African nation should get our aid if it intimidates, tortures and imprisons its citizens.
-----
March,
30 2008
The
Beautiful People: Champions of Edinburgh 2008
Tiruniash
Dibaba -
Gold Medal;
Kenenisa
Bekele - Gold
Medal
Genzebe
Dibaba - Gold Medal
(Women Junior)
Ibrahim
Jeilan -
Gold Medal (Men Junior)
Congratulations!
You all are the pride of Ethiopia. You brought glory and respect
to all of us. This
is the quintessential fabulous Ethiopian team winning first place
in all divisions. One thing for sure, the Edinburgh highland
weather, with its rain and mud, should not have been more
welcoming to the Ethiopian team. The Ethiopian cross-country
runners were defeated by the stifling tropical weather of Mombassa
of last year’s contest. This is a comeback performance.....
PART THREE: March,
29 2008
THE UGLY AMERICAN:
HOPE AND REDEMPTION FOR ALL
By Tecola W. Hagos-It seems we are hearing the voice of reason and witnessing in the person of Obama the emergence of new generations of Americans—coming-of-age, of exquisitely beautiful new generations of Americans who seem to go beyond such contentious racist narrow view of the American identity, who seem to take “the color of water,” if I may borrow an apt phrase from a book title. [James McBride, The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, Riverhead Books (1996).] In that book McBride’s White Mother uttered the phrase “the color of water” in reference to God as being not black or white but all, as the color of water that picks up the hue of its container. This philosophy is radically different than the militancy of the civil rights movement; it is not accusatory and vengeful, but refined understanding of the human condition, thus is a precursor of Obama’s generation of African American individuals who see beyond the injustice of white America but the hope of a just and harmonious society due to the healing power of understanding and direct
actions.....
Saudis
Gone Mad: Violations of Human Rights
March,
30 2008
A
woman was beaten up and shot dead by her father for talking online
with a man she met on the website Face book.
The
case was reported on a Saudi Arabian news site as an example of
the "strife" the social networking site is causing in
the Islamic nation. It said the man shot his daughter after
discovering she had been chatting online to a young man she had
met on Face book.
PART
TWO: The Ugly American
THE
HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE:
MELES ZENAWI
AND MOHAMMAD AL-AMOUDI
March,
23 2008
By
Tecola W. Hagos-The
secret for our future political success is to be found in our
capacity to create bridges of relationships connecting the newly
formulated political organizations with all other opposition
groups, such as those of Kinijit, Beyene Petros, Merara Gudina,
Lidetu Ayalew et cetera. One must find important common interest
such as questions of civil rights, territorial integrity and
sovereignty, law and order et cetera to champion. Most
importantly, the opposition group must identify and focus on one
or two personalities in the present Ethiopian government and from
those that are collaborators rather than direct its opposition in
a generalized form to the entire group. One must be able to create
division and dissension within the Government of Meles Zenawi.
Meles Zenawi and Mohammad Al-Amoudi must be identified as the two
most dangerous individuals who are threats to the very existence
of Ethiopia and as enemies of the people of Ethiopia.....
..
Prince Rasselas, Fact of
Fiction?
A Glimpse at our History
By
G. E. Gorfu-March,
22 2008
 That
then is why traditional kings and queens of
Ethiopia
were highly educated people. Atse Libne Dingel had assumed the
throne as a young boy with his mother, Queen Eleni, as Reagent and
Caretaker of government. His army, we are told, used to spear
Mount
Bokan
near Dukem, begging and praying for war. He never saw Wohni Amba,
and had a poor grasp of his own history or tradition. This, some
historians say, was the main reason why he lost his throne to
Ahmed Gragn, who defeated him, chased him, and besieged him for
several years on Mount Debre Damo, in Tigray, until his death by
thirst and hunger.......
The
Tigre Question March,
20 2008
By
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-There is a
serious problem of stereotyping with grave consequences, which we
Ethiopians must correct, if we wish the motherland well. That not
all Tigreans are beneficiaries of the wealth, the power and the
connections that the regime in power has amassed for the members
of its inner circle, some of whom happen to be Tigrean-Ethiopians.
That is the first fundamental truth that we must own, that we must
keep mind, when we meet Tigreans. That some of these Tigreans are
dirty poor; others have comfortable incomes, and very few are
conspicuously wealthy. Our scholars need to have the hard facts
and disseminate them among us, so that we can think intelligently,
factually, and truthfully. That is the fundamental feature of a
genuine Ethiopian. We need not open our mouth, until we have the
facts on our finger tips.....
Return to the
Source: Aleqa Asres Yenesew and the West. March,
15 2008- Messay
Kebede-For Asres, Westernized Ethiopians may know many  things
about the West, but they are pretty ignorant when it comes to
Ethiopia. In rejecting Ge’ez, they make themselves unable to
understand Ethiopia and to use the treasure of accumulated
knowledge to further its interests. All they can do is read
Ethiopia through the lens of alien and borrowed concepts with the
consequence that they come up with distorted notions. Far from
being the scouts of the society, renegade intellectuals carry the
viewpoint of the colonizer, and so replace real knowledge with
critical declarations. Grandfather,
1974
Collection of Ethiopian National Museum 32 x 30 cm oil on board.) Their so-called knowledge
does not emanate from their society’s history and defining
features; it is made of normative pronouncements deploring the
extent to which their society failed to develop the features of
the model society, i.e., the Western society........
ANDENET
is sparking interest among Ethiopian Readers
March,
14 2008-By
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-However,
given the complexities of the problem i.e. the intransigence of
the government, the ossified experiences and centrifugal
tendencies of some significant opposition groups, the not so
conducive international (security more than democracy) and
regional (surrounded by authoritarian regimes save Kenya) context,
the politics of ANDENET won’t be an easy one.
EDITORIAL: March,
13 2008-
Mourning
Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho
 We
share in the sorrow and anguish of all Iraqi Christians who are at
this moment under tremendous persecution by local fanatical Sunni
Moslem thugs and the Shiite led Government of Iraqi. We deplore,
condemn, and totally reject any form of discrimination and
persecution based on religious differences. The persecution of
Christians and other religious groups throughout the Arab World,
especially in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and also in Iran
is the gravest under-reported violation of fundamental human
rights and of social injustice in the World for the last thirty
years.
Paulos
Faraj Rahho of Mosul. Our condolences also to the
families of Faris Gorgis Khoder, and Ramy and Samir, three of his
assistants (driver, bodyguards) who were martyred in the process
of the kidnapping of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. Requim Eternum.
VATICAN
CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Thursday condemned the death of
the kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Iraq as "an act
of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human
being".
BARACK
OBAMA AND YE-TEBARAKETCH ETYOPIYA
March,
10 2008- Donald
Levine-'Such
concerns were central to the recent mission of General Siye Abraha
to Ethiopian communities in the United States. The message of
candidate Obama is in this vein: do not fear to talk to one
another, and see what can be done if you work together. As he
expressed the point in a talk given at Martin Luther King's old
church in Atlanta, 'We can no longer afford to build ourselves up
by tearing each other down.' If the US presidential campaign can
produce an inspiring figure like Barack Obama, who projects that
transformative vision for Ethiopians, I cannot imagine anything
more salubrious.'.......
Reconciliation
and Change are the languages of ANDENET
March,
9 2008 By
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-My
dear Ethiopians: there is a misconception of power within our
society. The current regime has successfully tied power or
leadership of the country with a privilege that comes with one’s
ethnicity. For a long time, Amharic and Tigrigna speaking people
of Ethiopia have been portrayed as elites who govern the country.
In fact the current regime has successfully blamed the oppression
and atrocities of the past regimes on Amharic speaking people in
general. This illusion has brainwashed some Tigreans, who have
been led to believe that Amharas are indeed the privileged enemies
of all other Ethiopians.
THE
UGLY AMERICAN
AND HIS JEWEL BOX March, 3 2008
By
Tecola W. Hagos- Tocqueville wrote, with
keen insight, about the national characteristics of Americans,
which characteristics are a far cry from that assumed by Americans
themselves. He wrote:
Americans,
in their relations with foreigners, appear impatient at the least
censure and insatiable for praise. The slimmest eulogy is
agreeable to them and the greatest is rarely enough to satisfy
them; they pester you at every moment to get you to praise them;
and if you resist their entreaties, they praise themselves. One
would say that, doubting their own merit, they want to have a
picture of it before their eyes at each instant. Their vanity is
not only greedy, it is restive and envious. It grants nothing
while demanding constantly. It is entreating and quarrelsome at
the same time.” [3]
Andenet
(Unity) and the Political Imaginary of Adwa
 by
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-Menelik
was a shrewd sovereign, who intuitively what he had to in order to
save
Ethiopia
from foreign aggression. In
the language of MAAT, the African female principle of governance
through political goodness informed by compassion and uprightness,
the Emperor managed to control his ego and engage his former
rivals and enemies and invited them to join him to overcome a
deadly enemy. He appealed to the people for help, for
understanding, and the people joined him to do the work.
The Emperor himself internalized reconciliatory comportment
and put himself in the mood of work guided by
Ethiopia
’s common good. It is precisely this kind of shrewdness that the
prevailing Sovereign in
Ethiopia
is desperately lacking. The prevailing is intent on rejecting
reconciliation and intent on doing everything by Orwellian
political cruelty and a short-lived arrogance that would one come
to haunt it.
 ANDENET
(UNITY)
by
Teodros Kiros (PhD)-The
hurt and the divisions are so deep that only time can heal us all,
so that we can all willingly live as a united people of a historic
nation- drinking from the fountains of Ethiopiawinet mediated by
ANDENET. So understood ANDENET for now is only an ideal, but once
the wounds of NE are healed, ANDENET can be a realizable idea.
Ethiopiawinet, as I understand it, would have to be grounded on
Andenet, for the idea to function as a vital force that can unite
the Ethiopian people, who remain profoundly divided by negative
ethnicity.......
Editorial:
February 16, 2008
Continuation of Diplomatic and Economic Disaster in Ethiopia
By Tecola W. Hagos- If the Eritrean Government moves into the area
 that the Commission had identified on paper and later has asserted that it constituted as the “virtual demarcation” of the boundary, Meles will only protest to the United Nations Security Council, and the Eritrean Government will counter by claiming that it violated no Ethiopian boundary but only is occupying what the Commission has
Larger
Map
designated as Eritrean territory. The Security Council will be hard pressed in accepting that claim by the Eritrean Government since to do otherwise will be contradicting itself. The maximum reaction by the Security Council might be a very mild censor of the Eritrean Government on protocol (procedure) that it should have waited for a formal diplomatic note rather than marching on its own. Thus, Meles would have once more completed his diabolical mission against Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people. This is very serious challenge to the Sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Ethiopia.......
For
those who do not approve the arrival of Siye Abraha:
Thinking
the Unthinkable
February
15, 2008
B y
Sabataa Dubbii-Are
you ready to think unthinkable? What if the current army as a
whole may be supporting what had been argued by Siye group prior
to 1998 war between Ethiopia and Eriteria? I believe the situation
in all its forms and continents in Eritrea could have angered the
armed forces for the last decades; what is your reason that Siye
could not play a central role in bringing in such a boiling energy
into action if he becomes a formidable force against Meles Zenawi?
Meles Zenawi and his government does not wish any confrontations
with Eritrea as it has been demonstrated in Tunis at a round
table. Meles might have been negotiating with Eritrea to remain in
power by burying the central issues of democracy with war cries
from Jubilee Palace.....
Why
I write? February
15, 2008
By
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-I
enjoy writing from the margins, where there is so much pain, so
much abuse, and yet, as long as my words flow from the depth of my
heart, and are monitored by the Transcendent, and the writing is
right and beautiful, I will have obtained a sense of fulfillment
which money cannot buy. My recent writings on Seeye are motivated
by a single idea, and that is, at this particular moment in time,
Seeye, the reconciler, the insider, who has decided to tell it all
by risking his life, and correct the mistakes that the party that
he and the other members of Woyane made, will save Ethiopia from
the path of destruction. Seeye is a symbol of change, of a new
beginning, of a new rendezvous with Ethiopian history.
Saudis
to execute woman for 'witchcraft 'Human rights group appeals to
Saudi king to stop execution
The
Associated Press-Human Rights
Watch's statement came a day after Yakin Erturk, the U.N. special
investigator for violence against women, wrapped up a 10-day visit
to Saudi Arabia during which she highlighted another controversial
case that has attracted international criticism.....
Mr.
Seeye Abraha deserves a better treatment other than Surveillance.
By Teodros Kiros (PhD) February
12, 2008
The
Ethiopian regime in power continues to persuade the western world
that it is a democratic government, which is honoring human
rights, thereby protesting against the passing of HR 2003, the
sharp edged blade, which is aiming at shaming the regime and
exposing its undemocratic ways...
Seeye
Abraha in Virtual House Arrest
February 12, 2008
Chairman of the Human
Rights advocate of the horn of Africa
By Desta Hagos-We have received evidence that Ato Seeye
Abraha, a 
bridge to democracy in Ethiopia, appears to be under house
arrest. We have come to this conclusion because government personnel have
taken it upon themselves to screen individuals who come to visit him. Upon
his return from a successful visit to America, where he met with Senators,
Congressmen and other citizens, to tell them about human rights abuse in
Ethiopia, from his own personal experience, visitors to his home have been
intimidated at his front gate...
NES
COMMENTARY. No.15
Mammo
Muchie-
 There
is a pervasive and corrosive phenomenon characterized by the
gratuitous trading of insults that we believe has been
disorientating the Ethiopian opposition lately. Though the
opposition is passing through a difficult phase at the moment and
life has not been certainly easy, it is clear that it remains
(whether it acts fragmented or in a composite fashion!) still
strong having entered a state of reflection to find insights with
new and invigorated foresight to make realignments that can work
better than the alliances that seem to have unraveled with so much
public and open hostilities.
Security
Council extends UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
Un
News Center 01/30/2008
In
a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council called on the two
sides to “show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat or
use of force against each other, avoid provocative military
activities and put an end to the exchange of hostile
statements.”
The 15-member body also emphasized that
“Eritrea and Ethiopia bear the primary responsibility for
achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the border
dispute and normalizing their relations.”
New
revelations about Eiraeiro [Eritrea] prison camp - “The
journalist Seyoum Tsehaye is in cell No. 10 of block A01”
"Independent
journalist Seyoum Tsehaye, the most recent winner of the Reporters
Without Borders - Fondation de France press freedom prize, is
still alive and is being held in a secret prison camp called 'Eiraeiro,'
located near the village of Gahtelay in a mountainous desert
region north of the Asmara-Massawa road. Seyoum is in cell No. 10
of block A01, which is reserved for the most sensitive political
prisoners. Reporters Without Borders learned this and other
details this month from an Eritrean who has had access to the
prison, where many political leaders are held. The source must
remain anonymous for his protection."
Meseret
Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba:
ETHIOPIA'S
GREAT DAUGHTERS: CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!
Meseret
Defar, Ethiopia's great and World champion won the women's
two-mile run of the Boston Indoors on Saturday, January 26, 2008,
in Boston breaking her own record. Tirunesh Dibaba, another
Ethiopia's great and World champion, won the women's 3,000 during
the Boston Indoors, Saturday, January 26, 2008, in Boston.
The
Beauty of Faith : The Most Beautiful Cross in the World - The Lalibela Ethiopian Cross
By
Tecola W. Hagos-One may
generalize that the genius of the Ethiopian
artists who created the Lalibela Cross is not limited to their 
great structural abstraction, but also extends to their absolute
control of the religious symbolism integrated in the cross from
overwhelming the over all design. There is absolute balance
between each part of the Lalibela Cross. In fact, the Cross seems
to be contained by far more profound and subtle narrative just
touching the subconscious represented in the general matrix of the
artifact. However, one should not forget the fact that the
Lalibela Cross is an item of devotion, thus essentially
utilitarian. Is that not what religion is supposed to be?
...
Siye
Abraha's
Groundbreaking Tour of the United States
Laeke
Gebresadik
January 26, 2008
Demolishing ethnic barriers-, Siye
spoke eloquently, nothing like a slick politician trying to
dissipate the lingering question on his role as a former official
of the EPRDF. I found it quite a treat to listen to a very sincere
man who put such a difficult and complex mission before any
political agenda. He was able to engage his audience with his most
important mission of demolishing the ethnic walls that, no doubt,
Ethiopians themselves helped the EPRDF build around them. After
all, Siye did not go to the EPRDF and plead to do away with its
divisive ethnic policies. Instead, he came to ordinary Ethiopians
and challenged them to do it themselves as the first step for
dialogue and nation building.
...
Ethiopianity
January
26, 2008
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-The modern Ethiopian state is composed of this classical idea, Ethiopianity. Ethnic rivalries are increasingly denuding us of our rich history. Our Ethiopianity is too splendid to be watered down by a one hundred years history of self-determination, a tool of dividing the nation into ever hostile language and ethnic groups.
Ethiopianity is to clean our hearts and unapologetically express our differences and similarities as Ethiopians born to different practices born out of culture blended with customs. The new topic of Ethiopianity must pay close attention to the reconciliation and change that Mr. Seeye Abraha is calling from the depth of his heart, without
motives......
Unveiling
the Anatomy of Desperation January
26, 2008
Teodros
Kiros (PhD)
-By
using reason in concert with will and conscience Ethiopians
recently filled the corridors of gatherings in Boston, DC, Denver
and Seattle, and they responded to Seeye’s message with a
resounding yes, and proceeded to begin organizing civic
associations and salons of discussion wherever and whenever they
can. These actions
have frightened the regime, and it is sending its handlers to
attack writers with the cheapest means at its fingertips. Needless
to say the abuse have not stopped the abused writers from the use
of the of the silent power of the pen, thanks to the mighty
Lord.
...
Haile Gebrselassie ran the marathon in two hours four minutes and 53 seconds.
Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie has won the Dubai Marathon and the winner's purse of one million dollars, although he failed to beat the world record time he set in Berlin.
1. Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) 2:04:53
2. Isaac Macharia (KEN) 2:07:16
3. Sammi Korir (KEN) 2:08:01
Women:
1. Birhane Adere (ETH) 2:22:42
2. BMC Ezun Unefh (ETH) 2:23:09
3. Tafa Askale (ETH) 2:23:23
ILLUSIVE
PEACE IN EAST AFRICA: MUHAMMAD MEGALOMMATIS
ADVOCATES GENOCIDE AGAINST
ETHIOPIANS!
[ Paper
Submitted for the Emergency Meeting, Afrikan Unity of Harlem, Inc,
19
January 2008]
By
Tecola W. Hagos- The type of
attack that Megalommatis
is waging against Ethiopia can be identified as a variation of the
old form of “divide and rule” tactics used by both earlier
colonizers and the present day neocolonialists. The effort of
Megalommatis against “Amharas and Tigrays”
who make up the majority of the diverse
people of Ethiopia is far worse than anything seen on the African
Continent, except the Rwandan and Darfur Genocide. Megalommatis
is not even an Egyptian, but a mercenary of Greek nationality (by
his own admission) and yet he is advocating of the elimination of
close to forty million Ethiopians. One thing is obvious that such
individuals if left unchallenged would sow the seed of strife
among the many people of Africa. ...
SEYE ABRAHA: MYTH AND
REALITY
 By
Tecola W. Hagos-I
see in Seye a river, a courageous individual willing to serve his
people and his country. Seye made it absolutely clear that his
role is that of a bridge builder between warring political groups,
between antagonistic political leaders, aggrieved people against
traditional Ethiopia et cetera. And I believe in his sincerity,
and I think that he is the right person who will be able to bring
about unity, reconciliation, and understanding to all of us his
people by helping build a bridge, but also by becoming a bridge
himself for us, his people to walk all over him to safety......
Seeye
Abraha, Ethiopia’s National Treasure, speaks Truth to Power: An
outline of Seeye’s New Thinking.
By
Tedros Kiros, PhD January 7, 2007-
Ladies
and gentlemen, he said,
“
I developed my country’s leading party, the EPRDF, the very
party that I founded has now criminalized me. I was imprisoned,
but thanks to my loving people, who protested and wrote on my
behalf, I am now free. I will not rest, however, until all those
political prisoners who are languishing in prison are released, as
there are hundreds of them. The regime falsely calls them hoodlums
and criminals. I call them political prisoners, indeed, they are
prisoners of conscience”.
Beyond
The Fence--Double Agony
January
06, 2008
Almaz
Mequanint-We
need to fight and address to the Ethiopian Environmental
protection authorities for the adoption and implementation of
appropriate, ecologically sound, and socially equitable policies
to satisfy our needs for such necessities as water, health, food,
education and information to our society. Let’s make a
difference which will transform the lives of so many victims in
Wonji, Wonji/Shoa & Metehara.
Editor’s
Note: This is a belated posting on the subject of the
Ethiopian Millennium Celebration. The reason for posting it is to
bring to our readers and visitors a different and interesting
perspective, not so much on the celebration but on the evaluation
offered by Paul Henze (an expert on Ethiopia and a long time
friend of Ethiopians) on both questions of economic and political
development underway in Ethiopia since 1991.Having said all that,
I believe that on one important fact Henze should be highly
commended for his reservation on the 2000 Algiers Agreement, which
makes him a “brother” to me and all fair minded Ethiopians. At
any rate, this is a piece worth reading. Tecola
W. Hagos.
ETHIOPIAN
MILLENNIUM:
Trip
Report
By
Paul Henze-The
excitement of Millennium celebrations did not obscure the serious
problems Ethiopia faces in Somalia and with Eritrea.
The two have actually become linked, for Isaias Afewerki
has been trying to combine Somali Islamists with anti-EPRDF
groups, such as the Oromo Liberation Front, to build an
anti-Ethiopian alliance under his control.
ETHIOPIA
IS BEING CIRCLED BY ITS ENEMIES:
Oppose Ould-Abdallah’s Proposal to
Deploy Saudi and Pakistani Troops
. By
Tecola W. Hagos
December
26, 2007
One
important national concern that is above everything else is that
our people are being divided by party affiliation, ethnic groups,
religious sects et cetera. When we are divided we lose our
patriotic zeal. As individuals, we can be broken easily one by
one, but united we can withstand any assault on us by Jihadist and
fanatics or neo-colonialists. My appeal is to all leaders, both
political and religious, to set aside differences and focus on our
immediate security needs.........
SETTING
THE RECORD RIGHT: December
26, 2007
ALMAZ
MEQUANENT AND FLUORIDE POISONING
Editor’s Note:
The
letter addressed by Almaz Mequanent to Aseged Tefera (whose
“article” appeared in The Reporter of December
19, 2007) is meant to correct several grossly misleading
statements in that article and to inform the reader the true donor
of the 500 wheelchairs and the organizer of the whole process. The
“article” by Aseged Tefera is a good example of ‘yellow
journalism’ at its worst, enduring characteristics of most
Ethiopian newspapers, online journals, blogs et cetera including The
Reporter.
The article by Aseged Tefera of December 20, 2007 in The
Reporter shamefully did not even mention this great lady
or the donor The Free Wheelchair Mission in that misleading
article. TH
Editorial:
Honoring Almaz Mequanent, a Great Ethiopian Lady
By Tecola W. Hagos- December 16, 2007-
Almaz
Mequanent is like the Biblical pearl of great worth that we  Ethiopians
should hold dear close to our hearts. Almaz waged a lonely, but a
most honorable fight for the rights of much trodden and overlooked
Ethiopian victims of HVA agro-industrial greed in Awash Wonji and
Metehara Sugar plantations and processing industry. The mission
that Almaz undertook is pure and unadulterated personification of
civil responsibility and love of fellow human beings (not just
Ethiopians). What Almaz did was an act of great selfless love that
only a “mother” is capable of giving.
Ethiopian
groups in Israel to rally against 'apartheid'
Dec
11, 2007
Ruth
Eglash, THE
JERUSALEM POST
 A
wide cross-section of Ethiopian groups is planning to protest
Wednesday in Petah Tikva against what is sees as a policy of apartheid
adopted by the education system specifically and Israeli society
in general. The demonstration, which is set to kick off at 10 a.m.
opposite the town’s municipal building, is to express the
community’s anger over the revelation last week that a Petah
Tikva school had been keeping four Ethiopian second-grade pupils
separate from the rest of the student body. “This phenomenon of
apartheid by the education system should be a cause of concern to
all the Israeli public and not just the Ethiopian community,”
commented Avraham Neguise, head of a coalition of Ethiopian groups
in Israel.
“As Jews, we moved here to be part of Israeli society and not to
be kept separate. ”Among those expected to participate in the
rally are Ethiopian community spiritual leaders, heads of
community welfare organizations, students, Knesset Members and any
one who believes in justice, wrote Neguise in a statement. Ethiopian
children hold sign reading: "There is no hope for Ethiopians
in Petah Tikva." Photo: Benny Voodo
THE CONCEPT OF FORGIVENESS: A CHALLENGE TO A JUST SOCIETY
By Tecola W. Hagos- December 4, 2007
In
a political rear-view mirror, things that appear to be near,
profound, and honorable may be in reality remote, ordinary, and
even corrupt. When speaking or writing about social justice or
injustice and the development of civil society, one must restrain
oneself from going blindly overboard, in praising or condemning
any one individual or any one particular event, especially when
one is being carried on the crest of populist political waves.
This is easier said than done, for I too in the past have written
essays overlooking some of the virtues of some leaders.........
The
Poors of Ethiopia: who will feed the poor of the poorest in
Contemporary Ethiopia?
By Teodros Kiros (Ph.D).
December 4, 2007
The
poors of Ethiopia feel like plucking out their envious eyes and
remove their ears. They condemn themselves for being born and
promise not to be born. They say in their hearts with Gubena-
Aleweledem. The regime does not
know what to do with the poors; it throws them away in tin houses.
Even those tin houses are not available anymore. Diaspora
Ethiopians have enough in their hands. They cannot stretch their
hands any further..
....
Wherein
the law is enforced by the art of brinkmanship, injustice reins
free
Tafere
Hailemariam,
When faced with
challenging issues, they dread it and their resentment kicks in to
high gear resorting to threats and bassets not realizing the fact
that cyber hectoring does not bear practical jurisdiction outside
Ethiopia. Constructive criticism and talking about the need for
reform is not of a good test to our statesmen; which is a clear
signal that the regime is steadily drifting into a Sultanate style
absolute monarchy, that of Brunei where opposing voices are
considered taboo.
.
Full
Text
EDITORIAL:
Meles Zenawi, Dump the 2000 Algiers Agreement, and Void the
Boundary Commission and Its Decision...
SUMMARY
- EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL:
Meles Zenawi, Dump the 2000 Algiers Agreement, and Void the
Boundary Commission and Its Decision...
By
Tecola W. Hagos
 There
is nothing Meles Zenawi would lose that he had not lost already by
being a “good boy” to the United States and letting the
Boundary Commission enter its final demarcation on a map the
Commission had threatened to do by the end of November 2007, an
illegal procedure in itself because the Commission has no
authority to create such new procedure. Proactively rejecting and
invalidating the Algiers Agreement and voiding the Boundary
Commission and its decisions, Meles would have created a unique
situation that would only benefit Ethiopia. If Meles for once
become an Ethiopian patriot and take formal steps thus
invalidating, nullifying, and voiding the Algiers Agreement and
the Boundary Commission and its corrupt decision, by such simple
act of real politick and legitimate legal maneuvering, he would
have taken Ethiopia to its original position before the signing of
the Algiers Agreement. There is no need to be encumbered with one
more illegal procedure of markings on maps. Act now!
 
EDITORIAL: HOW TRUE STATESMEN PERCEIVE ETHIOPIA
By Tecola W. Hagos- November
11, 2007
 The
United States Congress should have brought up such consideration
for discussion in the House to build monuments for friends of the
United States; instead, what we received is the insulting and
scurrilous Bill H.R. 2003. It is my remembrance of such glorious
history of friendship and loyalty of Ethiopians to the American
People that infuriated me, especially when I see some ersatz
Congressman, a Johnny-come-lately, campaigning against such great
friendly nation as Ethiopia. The greatness of America cannot be
determined or measured by such individuals, who come into office
at some point in the American government, especially by
individuals who take advantage of particular circumstances to
subvert the truth and the great legacy and current struggle of
Ethiopians of the past and those of the present.
 
Development
and the control of Political space that is miserably failing in
Contemporary Ethiopia
By Tedros Kiros, PhD
November 4, 2007
EDITORIAL: NO WAR AGAINST “ERITREA” October 28, 2007
By Tecola W. Hagos-
After all, it is a fact
that the United States is behind the land locking of Ethiopia, the
alienation of its territory in the guise of creating an “Eritrea” out
of Ethiopian historic territory, and it is also currently harboring ONLF
leaders and supporters here in the United States or is blind to the
terrorist attack of the ONLF on Ethiopia’s military forces and citizens
living in the Ogadeen area. The history of the relationship between the
United States and Ethiopia of the last one hundred years shows clearly the
fact that the United States Government, at all crucial moments in the life
of Ethiopia except in the case of the 1977-78 invasion of Somalia, has
worked without fail against the interest of Ethiopia. Simply put, the
United States Government is not the friend Ethiopians think it is, but
rather has been acting as if it is the number one enemy of Ethiopia.,.....
By
Dr.
Fekadu Bekele
Introduction
to Eros and Revolution.
By
Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)-Eros and Revolution
is bound to be the manifesto of all those voices of freedom who
are fighting for a new world as the old world is slowly dying, and
the new world is struggling to emerge......
Text
of President Robert Mugabe's speech at 62nd
Session
of UN General Assembly
Your
Excellency, President of the 62ndSession of the
United
Nations General Assembly, Mr. Srgjan Kerim,
Africa
has
not called for a Nuremberg trial against the white world which committed
heinous crimes against its own
humanity.
It has not hunted perpetrators of this genocide, many of whom live to this
day, nor has it
got
reparations from those who offended against it. Instead it is Africa which
is in the dock, facing
trial
from the same world that persecuted it for centuries.
In
conclusion, let me stress once more that the strength of the United
Nations lies in its
universality
and impartiality as it implements its mandate to promote peace and
security, economic and
social
development, human rights and international law as outlined in the
Charter.
 Congratulations Vice President Al Gore!
We believe in your great work. We are greatly indebted to you for courageously reminding us that we are at risk of losing our extremely fragile world—a world the great artist and poet Gebre Kristos Desta of Ethiopia described in one of his poems as ‘dew suspended in space’—that we share. You fought for all
humankind, for our
habitat, for life itself. Your foresight and courage is exemplary. You taught us by your words and actions to be a citizen of the world, for we all are in it. You pleaded with us to stop polluting and defiling our only home risking extinction, which advice often fell on deaf ears specially those of the greedy industrialists and financiers whose only interest is to make money at all cost. In this award, we commend the Nobel Committee for bestowing the Nobel for Peace Award on you who truly deserved the recognition and applause. Thank you, AL Gore, for all your work and congratulations.
Tecola W. Hagos , Editor
ISAIAS
AFERWERKI - FROM STATESMAN TO DESPOT AND WRECKER
Recollections
- A Historical Puzzle
Paul B. Henze-
Reading my record of this meeting more than 14 years later.
I find it hard to understand why this man proceeded to fan
tensions with Sudan, Yemen and Djibouti during the years 1994-1197
and then finally to invade Ethiopia in 1998.
Since Ethiopia defeated his armies in 2000 he has pursued a
program of implacable hostility.
Instead of welcoming aid for developing Eritrea, he has
harassed and finally forbidden most international agencies and
private organizations from operating in Eritrea.,.....
Reorienting a fellow Ethiopian: A reply to “The Irrelevance of the Millennium”
October
10, 2008
By Dan Bahta-f you look back at our history, it is all about dignity we never demeaned ourselves. Neither do we recognize anything as better than us. We celebrate what is uniquely ours. And we celebrate passionately, not superficially. We are reasonable; we celebrate because we have defended as well as preserved our
honor, integrity; our cultures and social values, for thousands of years. Why couldn’t you see that Ethiopia is a land of struggle and survival as well as pride? Not enough for a cause to celebrate?
Statement on the passage of “H.R.2003” by the Institute on
Religion and Public Policy.
October 7, 2008
 President Joseph K. Grieboski of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy (Washington, D.C.) released the following statement on the passage of “H.R.2003, Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007” by the House of
Representatives: The House of Representatives does nothing to advance human rights and democracy by imposing H.R. 2003's restrictions on aid to Ethiopia. Such limits serve to hinder Ethiopia's ongoing battle with religious extremism in the Horn of Africa and to deter Ethiopia's capacity to continue the ongoing assistance and support it has provided both directly and indirectly in the global fight against terrorism.,.....
QOSHITE:
ETHIOPIA’S POLITICAL PUZZLE
By
Tecola W. Hagos PART
ONE-
October
5, 2008
 Both
written presentations of October 2, 2007 by Judge Bertukan Mideksa
and Dr. Berhanu Nega, at the Subcommittee on Africa and Global
Health hearing chaired by Congressman Donald Payne, were carefully
crafted documents avoiding any support of H.R. 2003 by name or by
inference. What they both did was recount the fact-based numerous
violations of human rights and democratic rights of Ethiopians by
the Government of Meles Zenawi. I do not find any reason to hold
them criminally accountable for their statements as a violation of
any Ethiopian criminal law. I may consider their appearance at
that hearing, however, a lapse of politically sound judgment,
which fact may disqualify them in the eyes of many Ethiopians at
home from being leaders for they have breached the single most
sacred duty of all Ethiopians—to keep Ethiopia in freedom and
independence. It is very troubling to me to watch or hear any
political leader compromising the honor and sovereignty of
Ethiopia either directly by his or her actions or by his or her
association,.....
Editorial:
Opposing H. R. 2003
[1] October
1, 2008
By
Tecola W. Hagos-Just
because one nation is poor or lean or  starving
and the other rich and bloated or overstuffed, does not mean one
has to suffer through some disrespectful relationship. It is
simply unacceptable. After all it is the people of Ethiopia who
are suffering, thus how is it legal or moral for the Congress of
the United States to behave as if Ethiopia is some Ghetto within
United States that they end up drafting such insulting resolution
and legislation. Wealth neither undermines nor exaggerates the
humanity of an individual anywhere. Just because your belly is
full, it does not mean that you can go around pushing and
insulting poor people in Ethiopia or elsewhere in the World. I
challenge the Congress of the United States to withdraw this
insulting draft bill, HR 2003, from its list and apologize to the
people of Ethiopia.....
Of"
The Opposition Pentecostals" & Road Ahead
By
Mitiku Adisu-
How dare
[DEKI ALULA] THE IRRELEVANCE OF THE MILLENNIUM - by Teodros Kiros (Ph.D) desecrates my heritage?
Dr Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH September 20, 2007
Why should Ethiopia carry the placenta of such geniuses who do not produce any vision nor any strategy to share their creativity except curse every one.
The Irrelevance of the
Millennium September 17, 2007
by Teodros Kiros (Ph.D)
What
is it that Ethiopia just celebrated? Celebration must have a
cause. What is our cause? Reasonable people celebrate because they have achieved a
dream, realized a goal, and exacted a plan. Ethiopia has not achieved any of these, since the days of Axum
and Lalibela, pillars of classical Ethiopian history.....
Constitutional
and Human Rights Violation in Tigray - TPLF dissident supporters
face assassination attempts and arrests
Dekialula.com
Editorial September 14, 2007
The Government of Meles Zenawi is trying to intimidate all
would-be members, the leaders, and those active supporters of the
new party of the former TPLF officials and their supporters. For
example, last month an assassination attempt had been perpetrated
on Gebre Medhin Gebre Yohannes, one of Gebru Asrat’s previous
bodyguards, who was actively engaged in collecting signatures for
the formation the new party. It was at 11:00am in the morning that
the assassination was attempted. The unidentified individuals who
fired at Gebre Medhin while he was entering his home, which is
located in the center of Maichew town, may be a separate group of
death squad than the Police. It was miraculous that he was not
murdered, for the roof of his home was badly damaged by several
astray bullets targeting him.
EDITORIAL:
I would rather celebrate “Ethiopia”
by Myself
By Tecola W. Hagos-
The whole program is manipulated and distorted by the
same obnoxious group of people and their gullible followers, who
have for decades usurped our Ethiopian legacy and drove our
country into the hands of brutal leaders such as Mengistu and
Meles. Starting from the very top of the program, where they have
deliberately tried to promote the interest of a particular ethnic
group, what I see in the Celebration program are Mahel Sefaris and their spawns, with distorted and corrosive
revisionist “history” of Ethiopia, promoting the limited
particular ethnic interest or cultural connection......
The Love of Ethiopia Heals Us All
August
11, 2007
By
Tecola W. Hagos- People of
my generation, let alone those of the generation of my seniors,
ought to shelf any political ambition we might have. And we ought
to look at our current political and economic situation with clear
eyes. We need new blood infusion of new leaders. Is there some
magic formula that we can use to alleviate the suffering of our
people? There is no single ideology that will solve all of our
problems, but there is starting foundational bedrock that we can
all stand on to start the reconstruction of our country. There is
no need to cast the difference in approach to solve such political
problem as some kind of a feud, and even more so as a conflict
between the young and the old. The Aristotelian “laws of
contradictions” will not work either in our circumstances. We
have to deal with so many twists and turns that we hardly could
see any clear picture of our political situation. It is very
difficult under such current Ethiopian political processes to deal
with categorical syllogisms........
Justice
Teodros Kiros (PhD)-Change under the tutelage of a just leader, or better still organized by a social movement, must be tenacious, resolute and populated by numbers. Consider the following example. In the Ethiopian condition, millions of people live in tin houses, millions go without food and clothing, and yet 1% of the population dances away and eats away at fancy hotels. By the standards of MATT’s comportment, this pre-political condition is so unacceptable that it must be protested against by the people in revolt...........
A Brief Response: "Anatomy is Destiny" August
3, 2007
Tecola
W. Hagos-There is this one
pathological disease that defenders of Meles suffer from, which I
have identified as “ye
qomatta bet birqe ttat syndrom,” which syndrome is a real
block against any enlightened discourse. From morning to sunset,
what I see and hear Meles Zenawi doing is being involved in
twisted conspiratorial activities either to marginalize his equals
in his party leadership, or undermining the interest of Ethiopia
and selling off our legacy to Sudan and other hostile nations
around the area. There
is nothing mysterious or profound about the fact that Meles Zenawi
survived by out foxing so many courageous individuals, most of
whom a better of him ten fold, to get where he is now. The people
who helped him to this level and stage of prominence are all cut
from the same type of cloth whose characteristic is marked with
deceit, deceptiveness, conspiracy, treason, egotism, and short
stature,.........
 August
3, 2007
An interview in Amharic conducted by Dr. Fekadu Bekele with Woizero Zenebech, an Ethiopian lady who spent a couple of months visiting Ethiopia. Woizero Zenebech has made some penetrating observations of the political and economic situation in our beloved country. Dr. Fekadu's questions and comments are to the point, informative, and educational.
The
march of Genuine Democracy. July 25, 2007
Teodros
Kiros, PhD- We must stop
producing self-perpetuating rulers with morally disorganized
selves. All our leaders now are morally dysfunctional and must be
fully medicated by MAAT. Where they pretend to be moral educators
they merely throw at us meaningless slogans about democracy,
Neither the regime in power, nor CUD, not even the emerging new
parties has linked the struggle for genuine democracy with the
foundational cement of organizing principles.
Hastily erected five year plans, ten year plans, or badly
written empty manifestos organized by the principles of ethnic
dirt and hate are no substitutes for carefully thought out,
plainly written principles, which can be digested by a literate
citizenry and serve as the public reason of the citizens. The
latter require the use of moral intelligence, the language of the
human heart, as the seat of thinking..........
Which way Ethiopia?
July 24, 2007
Teodros
Kiros (PhD)-I suggest once again that all those who are flooding the
airwaves take the notion of MATT seriously, translate the concept in to
our native languages and let the people choose their future leaders not by
their ethnic garbs but by the depth of their thoughts and their infusion
of MAAT in their character and soul structure. I challenge all those who
are writing in the air waves to respond to the calls of MAAT, Africa’s
ancient language of moral intelligence.........
EDITORIAL:
Mane
Amno Yewotal Ye Sembelett Mama…
The
CUD/Kinijit Opposition Leaders: Life Sentence/Pardon
July 23, 2007
Tecola W. Hagos- I am glad the political prisoners are free. However, let us not forget the fact that the process of having an extra legal procedure is never a democratic process. The wanton disregard of law and order, the blatant abuse of power, the violation of fundament human rights, murder and mayhem et cetera is still the hallmark of Meles Zenawi and his system of government. Tens of thousands of Ethiopians are in detention, and some of them imprisoned for over a decade. Centuries of brutal elimination of the best and the courageous has resulted in a community that could be characterized as a community of opportunists, subservient, and cowardly individuals creating thereby a society lacking those qualities that makes up a great community............
WELCOME
SEYE ABRAHA: JUSTICE LONG OVERDUE
July 14, 2007-By
Tecola W. Hagos-There is no question that Seye Abraha was a victim of
Meles Zenawi and the Mahel Sefaris. The Mahel Sefaris who
are now Meles Zenawi's "elfign askelkies," effectively
demonized Seye Abraha and other truly national heroes starting in 1991 in
collaboration with a small band of double agents by labeling such heroes
as narrow ethnicists accusing them of working for the supremacy of a
narrowly defined Tygrei nation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Seye fought for Ethiopia at great sacrifice to his family (father executed
by Mengistu's thugs, brothers dying fighting for freedom). It is not
without reason that Berhanu Nega, the leader of the Opposition held him
with such high regard.....
Illegitimate advocates and illegitimate regimes
(In response to Dr. Solomon Terfa’s “solution” of handing over Badme to Eritrea)
July 4, 2007
By Laeke Gebresadik- Ethnic extremists think all Ethiopian institutions benefit the Weyane and do everything to deny it the benefits. They make these institutions their main targets, including social and economic infrastructures to further their ethnic political agendas. They affix the term “Weyane” to the name of any of these institutions. They call the Ethiopian army the “Weyane army”, giving the wrong impression that it is composed of mainly Tigreans.
There are some tenets held by the ethnic extremists as the foundation for their hate politics against the Tigray ethnic group. These tenets largely explain the profanity of their ethnic politics. They portray the TPLF and the people of Tigray as one and the same for political expediency, hence an ethnic minority group ruling over the rest of Ethiopia.....
REVISITING
THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION: On the Conviction of CUD Leaders June
25, 2007
Tecola
W. Hagos-When
an individual becomes a public figure, the personal life is held at bay.
One must think of one’s actions in terms of the impact it may have on
the public, and because of that, one may have to sacrifice the private
life and all self-interests. It is easy to prescribe different course of
actions than the one taken by an individual who is immersed, body and
soul, in a struggle, for someone from the comfort of one’s own home. As
the saying goes, “Letekematch
semai qrbu.”....
EDITORIAL: Part Two: On the
Interview of Sebhat Nega
Dumping the Decision of the Boundary Arbitration
Commission June
10, 2007
By
Tecola W. Hagos-I
have not even began to discuss the disastrous regional turmoil that would
affect the United States Government’s presence and influence in the
Middle East during this period of upsurge of Arab nationalism and Islamic
fundamentalism. Ethiopia is the only reliable ally of the United States
in the region. Eritrea will be swallowed up by the creeping presence of
Islamic fundamentalists within and on its borders. It is highly
irresponsible and juvenile for anybody to advocate the imposition on
Ethiopia an illegal and fraudulent decision and thereby weaken, even
destroy, Ethiopia in this time of conflict and tremendous resentment for
the United States in that part of the World. The argument and attention of
statesmen should focus on empowering and stabilizing Ethiopia. Such wise
statesman-like approach must include throwing the decision of the
Commission of 2002 and the Algiers Agreement of 2000 into the “dust bin
of history.” ..
EDITORIAL: Part One: On the Interview Given by Sebhat Nega
By Tecola W. Hagos-The
responses of Sebhat Nega of May  28,
2007 to questions asked by a friendly interviewer are against the
territorial integrity of Ethiopia in the extreme, which would send any
patriotic red-blooded Ethiopian into uncontrollable rage. When Sebhat was
asked how far the TPLF was involved in promoting the independence
movements of Eritrea, he answered with arrogance that the TPLF even more
than any Eritrean political organization had put tremendous effort and
resources within Ethiopia and outside of Ethiopia in order to effect the
breakup and independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia, even going against the
desire of the EPLF to reach a negotiated settlement with Mengistu and his
government...
Who
Speaks for Ethiopia and Why? May 30, 2007
By
Mitiku Adisu-Let me first make a few observations. I do not think
anyone disagrees that diversity of thought is a necessary right; in fact,
any restrictions on thought are bound to under-nourish public
conversation. None of us has the final word on procedures or how they turn
out; time has a way of shedding light on matters that conspire to leave us
in the dark. Finally, it must be stated that people generally understand
what works for them if and when the terms are clearly presented........
THE
ETHICS AND POLITICS OF FORGIVENESS:
A CHALLENGE TO A JUST SOCIETY.
By
Tecola W. Hagos-In
a political rear-view mirror, things that appear to be near, profound, and
honorable may be in reality remote, ordinary, and even corrupt. When
speaking or writing about social justice or injustice and the development
of civil society, one must restrain oneself from going blindly overboard,
in praising or condemning any one individual or any one particular event,
especially when one is being carried on the crest of populist political
wave. This is easier said than done, for I too in the past have written
essays overlooking some of the virtues of Ethiopian leaders I severely
criticized. Ours is a period of great disappointment and as a result a
time of self-examination and of genuine reevaluation of all events that we
have held sacrosanct for some time now. The quotation above seems to
indicate that Immanuel Kant the greatest philosopher of moral certitude is
having second thought about our human moral condition. Thus, it is only
commonsensical for me to revisit one of our current controversies—the
concept of forgiveness. .......
Dr.
Fekadu Bekele
From
Structural Adjustment to WTO membership! Squaring poverty!!
Dr.
Fekadu Bekele-The
introduction of the free market policy and especially the program of the
structural adjustment in Ethiopia in 1993 is a historical turning point in
the socio-economic conditions of our country. With the introduction of the
SAP, it was from the outset clear that such kind of a wide range policy
will create new social conditions and social relationships that our
country has never experienced before. By creating new conditions, and
formulating new laws, and practicing new policy that are totally different
from the policy of the previous government, the policy makers were
convinced that Ethiopia and its people will march on the road of market
economy that brings prosperity and eradicate poverty once-for-all.........
The
Curse
of Factional/Fractional Politics in Ethiopia and the Imperative for
Consensus and Convergence
Assafa
Endeshaw, London, England- February
24, 2007-
The
serious question that needs to be tackled today consequently is whether
there are any political forces with a sufficient depth of grasp of, and
firm commitment to, democratic values that can single-handedly or in
cooperation take hold of the state and transform it into a democracy? It
may come as no surprise to the reader that we do not find even a single
force that qualifies currently for such a historical task....
PART
TWO:
The
Role of Religion in the Political Life of Ethiopia:
The
Ethiopian Orthodox Church “Synod in Exile”
February
18, 2007-Tecola W. Hagos-In
Ethiopian politics of struggle for power, there are not just two or three
sides to a story, but several layered more bizarre dimensions than can be
imagined. The tragedy is that this breakup of the Church was not
necessary. And the victims in all these recrimination and fracture are the
faithful people of Ethiopia who have no voice in the matter. At any rate,
I would not have been that much concerned if the breakup was due to
ideology or on points of reformation. The Ethiopian Church is in need of
serious reformation starting with the election of Patriarchs and the
investiture of Abunas (Bishops)...
ETHIOPIA
’S
VITAL INTEREST: NATIONAL SECURITY VS. POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY
.
February
12, 2007-Tecola W. Hagos-I challenge anyone to show me how
diversified the current Diaspora Opposition leadership is. What I am
observing is the aggregation of “birds of the same feather” closely
bunched and allowing no space to the larger community of Ethiopians from
outside of Addis Ababa and vicinity, and not reflective of the diversity
of religion and ethnic background of Ethiopians. This is a very serious
setback that must be reversed if one wants to avoid horrendous bloodshed
in the future...
THE
SOMALIA CRISIS: EYE ON THE BIG PICTURE
By
Hanna Yohannes-
In
order for peace, democracy and economic growth to permanently settle in
Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government should do all it can to ensure that law
and order prevail in the country and its neighborhood.
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) did tremendous damage to the
Ethiopian state and its people by challenging Ethiopia, its territorial
integrity and the authority of the Ethiopian government among other
things. Most direct, the UIC
declared war on Ethiopia. But
even more menacing were its constant pokes to drag Ethiopia down to the
chaotic level of Somalia. ....
Editorial:
“Kinijit”
and the Somali Crises
January
5, 2007
Tecola W. Hagos-The true essence of Kinijit
Press Release is its hunger and blind greed for power. Here we have a
situation that is a threat to the very survival of the state of Ethiopia,
and this opposition group is lamenting its loss of the election of 2005.
It is unbelievable to see such blind hunger for power by individuals who
had such terrible sense of timing and no political savvy. No matter how
the election of 2005 was lost, the continuation of a struggle based on
such loss in disregard of the current Somali crises is in itself poor
political judgment not to mention its damage to the security of the
Ethiopian State. The danger of the Islamic Courts must be appraised as a
danger to Ethiopia not to Meles Zenawi and his government. ....
Letter
to the Editor
I
wish you a happy new year first. It was with keen interest that I read
your article dealing with the Somali crisis in which you pointed out the
dangers facing Ethiopia. While appreciating your efforts to analyze
the situation in terms of your own perspective, I wholly disagree
with your calls to rally behind the vehemently anti Ethiopian regime
of Meles Zenawi......
The
Execution of Saddam Hussein: A Lesson We Never Learn, But Should.
 By
Tecola W. Hagos- This brief essay is not a
eulogy or a requiem to a brutal tyrant, but a sad observation of life in
its specificity and in its generality too—as Unamuno would put it, “a
tragic sense of life.” I cry for all of us, for all human kind, what a
sorry figure we cut even in times of our greatest triumphs. What all these
condense to is that one group of people are dancing in their streets after
hanging their former President, while another group of people in another
part of the world are giving a dignified send-off, a State Funeral, to
their former President who lived to the ripe old age of ninety three years
pampered and indulged...
Echoes
of war and the imperative to mobilize our good senses
Mitiku
Adisu- December 28, 2006
Editor's
note- Even
though it is overtaken by recent developments on the ground, we have
posted Mitiku Adisu’s article on the current Somali Crises in this
Website because the views expressed are different than the views held by
the Editor of this Website on the Somali crises....
IS ETHIOPIA A COMMON POOL RESOURCE?
December 28, 2006-
Michael Seifu-If
we let Ethiopia continue to be a common pool resource and if we do not
stop believing that the Ethiopian entity is not beyond a simple sum of its
individual parts then our tragedy ends in a failed state.....
ON WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU? ETHIOPIA AGAINST THE WORLD
December 26, 2006
By
Tecola W. Hagos- I need not
remind my fellow Ethiopians, that
the current crises in and war with the Jihadist Islamic Courts is the
beginning of a well organized attack by Ethiopia’s historic enemies and
newly minted ones to destroy Ethiopia completely.
 Ethiopia
has every right to defend itself from Jihadist attacks no matter who
started the conflict. We must separate the two issues dealing with the
leadership of Meles Zenawi and the defense of the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Ethiopia, in order for us to reach a decision that will
preserve our national interest.
Ethiopia is being choked by its historic enemies on all
sides with no outlet to the outside world except through Kenya. The Port
of Djibouti is now in the hands of Dubai and Qatar, two utterly obnoxious
enemies of Ethiopia ever tightening the noose of destruction around
Ethiopia...
Darfur
Note: For the archives of Tecola Hagos,
please see the Tecola Hagos Page.
|
Zimbabwe:
Calls for Mengistu Extradition.
Opposition
representatives, top human rights lawyers and church leaders in Zimbabwe
have called for the extradition of the former the Ethiopian president
Mariam Mengistu who was last week convicted in absentia for crimes of
genocide by a court in Addis Ababa.
MENGISTU
HAILEMARIAM:
NO SAFE PLACE
FOR DICTATORS - FOUND GUILTY OF GENOCIDE
Tecola
W. Hagos
 Finally,
Mengistu Hailemariam, the little fraction of a man with enormous appetite
for murder and mayhem, was found guilty of genocide, crime against
humanity, murder, abuse of power et cetera on Tuesday, December 12, 2006
in a trial held in Addis Ababa fifteen years after Mengistu run away,
abandoning his bloody government, in 1991 in fear of the EPRDF forces on
his heels. Mengistu Hailemariam, also known widely among Ethiopians as the
“Butcher of Addis Ababa,” over a period of seventeen years in power,
had committed genocide, crime against humanity, murders, torture and
illegal detentions, et cetera on biblical scale....
Understanding
the Ethiopian-Somalia Relations & seeking Permanent Solutions to the
Conflict in the Horn of Africa.
December 10, 2006
Ghelawdewos
Araia PhD.Ethnic-based
politics is dangerous not only to the existence of a supra-national state,
but it is also detrimental to the very existence of the clan or ethnic
group itself. As in the former Yugoslavia , the Somali experience clearly
demonstrated that clan warfare or sub-clan fratricidal wars (as in the
case of Ali Mahdi and Farah Aideed) can easily destroy the nation. The
center cannot hold in a clan-based politics; the pillars that support the
clan superstructure inevitably collapse as it happened in Somalia ....
‘A
Question of Justice?’
What
is social justice and what would a socially just society look like?
November 15, 2006
Tekue
Woldemariam-Aside
from being necessary, such changes may eventually even become desirable in
their own right, to prevent the weight of years and escalating lack of
momentum from suffocating an otherwise bright and dynamic society.
Nevertheless, grassroots action within individual spheres of influence is
always going to be the driving force and lasting impact of any worthwhile
change towards a more socially just society....
Ethnicity
and National Identity in Ethiopia
November
12, 2006
Harvard
Law School, Pound Hall, Room 101
1563
Massachusetts Ave.
Schedule:
“FAITH
IN SCIENCE” - COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AT
MONTGOMERY
COLLEGE (26 October 2006)-
The
Ethical Limit of Knowledge:
Principles
of Plenitude and Continuity
Tecola
W. Hagos (panelist) What I see
most encouraging despite Darfur, Rwanda, Bosnia et cetera, is the
undeniable fact of genuine development of ethical principles and
sensitivity to the needs of the poor, the oppressed and the disfranchised.
Despite the inhumanity of war and destruction in the Middle East, Africa,
Europe and the Far East, I see hopeful signs that we are, after all,
breaking new grounds on fellowship, knowledge, and universalization of
ethical principles.....
President
George W. Bush and Darfur
Tecola W. Hagos
October 12, 2006
The President of the Sudan, Omar
 al-Bashir,
should be indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, and
crime against humanity, as well as for war crimes. Bashir is trying to
hide his international crimes by claiming that the atrocities committed in
Darfur were not committed by his government’s soldiers, but by Arab
militias, the Janjaweed. However, that does not exonerate him form
prosecution. As head of the Sudanese government, he has the duty to
safeguard and keep safe every single Sudanese citizen.
 President
George W. Bush and
Darfur
Tecola
W. Hagos October 1, 2006
Millions
of Sudanese citizens, the people of
Darfur
, are driven out of their homes and land; hundreds of thousands
have been murdered, and countless number of women raped. All
these atrocities and crimes were committed by the Janjaweed,
armed and assisted by the Sudanese Government. The Government of
Sudan itself was destroying scores of villages, murdering
uncountable number of people using its army and advanced weapon
systems of helicopters ......
In
Defense of Pope Benedict XVI: A Case for Freedom of Thought and Expression.
Tecola W. Hagos-
September 16, 2006
 This
attempt, painted with broad strokes, at a critique of modern
reason from within has nothing to do with putting the clock back
to the time before the Enlightenment and rejecting the insights
of the modern age. The positive aspects of modernity are to be
acknowledged unreservedly: we are all grateful for the marvelous
possibilities that it has opened up for mankind and for the
progress in humanity that has been granted to us......
Post-Election 2005 Ethiopia--A Sketch of Political Trends and Follies
Assafa Endeshaw (United Kingdom)-For
a nation that has been constantly in decline for many decades
and in a world with rapidly changing economic and technological
parameters, it will not be enough to have a transfer of power
from one group to another. The millions of people afflicted with
poverty, illness and the gruesome struggle for survival need and
deserve the creation of the broadest coalition of all possible
forces to be able to start the journey towards a more decent and
respectable livelihood. The era of single issues and small
groups fighting for a portion of the pie should come to an end......
Reflections
on ‘African Development: Dead Ends and New Beginnings’
Ghelawdewos
Araia-August 23, 2006 The
objective of this article is to critically examine the overall
thesis of Meles Zenawi’s paradigm shift with respect to
African development. It is, in effect, an overview of the theme
under discussion and the tenets and points of view incorporated
in the preliminary draft presented by Meles Zenawi (henceforth
MZ), the Prime Minister of Ethiopia....
 Emperor
Yohannes IV of Ethiopia
ATSE
YOHANNES IV HIGH SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY
Bereket
Kiros-In celebrating this
Anniversary of the establishment of the only high school named
after Ethiopia’s great Emperor Yohannes IV in that part of
Ethiopia of our Tigrai no less than four million people we need
to reflect on the painful journey we Ethiopians have to travel
to this point in our lives in the Diaspora. I am wag in between
great satisfaction, of celebrating the anniversary of the only
monument of some note to one of Ethiopia’s greatest Emperors
(who defended Ethiopia against all foreign and domestic
disruptive forces), and sadness, .... ...
The
Martyred King of Kings: Emperor Yohannes IV of Ethiopia.
Ghelawdewos
Araia July 3 2006-
After
Emperor Tewodros, Emperor Yohannes IV is another great visionary
whose person is characterized by unparalleled altruism,
incomparable sense of justice and humanist principle at its
core. By his utmost commitment to his people and his country and
his indefatigable patriotism, Yohannes makes every Ethiopian a
dwarf-thinking animal.
THE
MEDUSA AND THE NUDIBRANCH:
An
assessment of the political life of Ethiopians
Tecola W. Hagos-
May 22, 2006- It
is in light of such looming disaster of civil war, even worse
stagnation by being caught in the eternally recurring loop of
oppression and poverty that we suffer, that I am suggesting this
particular solution of imported leadership. I realize that it is
insulting to our Ethiopian pride even to think of having
foreigners leading us let alone formally suggesting it in a
website for all the world to read. Beshitawon
ye debeke medhanit yelowm. We have to save
Ethiopia
from destruction even if it means having to swallow this last
bitter pill of humiliation of importing leaders. The benefit of
importing leaders greatly outweighs the temporary setback of
lost national pride. The imported leadership will act as a
buffer between warring groups, and would give us time and
guidance to organize truly democratic political parties,
introduce discipline on democratic governance, and lay out
traditions of democratic political process. We must also know
that imported leadership is not a long-term feature for our
nation, but an anomaly of short duration of a generation or two
in order to give a number of young talented Ethiopians, some
still in school, to mature and crystallize their democratic
sentiments.
DARFUR: Shame on You, African Leaders.
Tecola W. Hagos- May 3, 2006
EDITORIAL:
DARFUR
GENOCIDE - SHAME ON YOU AFRICAN LEADERS
The
people of Darfur should not accept the manipulation and white-washing being
pushed by the so called "wise-men" of
Africa
lead by a technocrat, Mr. Salim A. Salim. These negotiators are
simply polarizing the issue of genocide and self determination.
At any rate, their effort is simply a temporary
time-getting scheme helpful to the genocidal government of Omar
al-Bashir and his collaborators. The Sudanese Government is
fully responsible for the genocide committed on the people
of Darfur wherein no less than half a million people have been
murdered, burned, dehumanized, brutalized, raped, tortured, and
over two million people of Darfur are disinherited and chased
out of their homes and their ancestral land. Countries like
China
and members of the Arab League are equally guilty of the
crime of genocide just as the Sudanese Government is for
their camaraderie and close relationships with the Government of
Bashir of Sudan. The United States, even though acting timidly
and not like a Superpower, is the one country that has brought
the issue of genocide to the world forum. Even if the
US
effort to have the Security Council of the United Nations
to sanction four individuals as responsible for the Darfur
genocide may be seen as a half-hearted and amateurish
foreign policy, the fact is that the
US
is at least trying to do something on behalf of the people
of
Darfur
. We condemn the Sudanese Government and specially its
President, Omar al-Bashir, for genocide committed against the
people of
Darfur
. We stand in solidarity with the great and beautiful
people of
Darfur
!!
ABOUT
TIME!!: Yohannes Mengesha, Assistant Secretary-General (UN)
May 1, 2006
Tecola
Hagos-I hope this great recognition of our
brother is an uplifting occasion for all of us and all the
people of our Continent. In these depressing days of our
political and economic situation back in
Ethiopia
, we need to grasp at every strand of hope-giving event that
comes our way. From the short sketch given by the United Nations
announcement of the appointment of Yohannes Mengesha, other than
the fact of his outstanding academic record graduating from one
of the finest Universities in the world,
Cambridge
University
, even more important his work experience tells us a lot more
about his integrity and discipline. Yohannes Mengesha is an
outstanding Ethiopian. What we have here is a nugget of gold
tested with fire, and coming out of that fire of real life
examination as pure as they come.
The
Future of Our Legacies
Mitiku Adisu
April 26, 2006 I
submit legacies of our leaders have become the Achilles’ heel
of the nation. We pride ourselves on having a rich cultural
heritage. The same heritage, however, is too fractured,
unrepresentative or irrelevant to grasp our predicament. It
should not come as a surprise for example that the lion, the
symbol of our indomitable spirit, was deliberately used to
enfeeble the public, induce anger or de-memorialize the past.
Not minding the past squanders the future. Reframing the past
could redeem the present. The lion may yet represent hope and
the desire to overcome life’s persistent challenges, and not
simply conquests. Legacy intimates vulnerability, continuity,
and the termination of power or death. Ethiopian leaders evade
the reality of these events. The present for Ethiopians seems to
swing between suffering and waiting and between instant
gratification and non-committal. The acquisition and loss of
power has been mostly violent and unpredictable.
AFRICAN LEADERSHIP? AN OXYMORON [April 20, 2006]
(Comment by Tecola Hagos)
Extract from the Nixon Tape: Conversation between President
Nixon and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan – then U.S.
representative to the United Nations – on the ability of
Blacks (Africans) to lead nations. October 7, 1971, 10:32 –
10:58 am. Conversation No. 10-116, Cassette No. 1049 and 1050,
White House Telephone.
Nixon: I think. Now what I
am getting back the wrong way around is this: I think something,
I think something could be, uh, that is eventually gonna come
out here is this – that – and it’s right beneath the
surface, this whole black-white deal is gonna come out the fact
that. . . Asians are capable of governing themselves, one way or
another. That we and the Caucasians have learned it after
slaughtering each other in religious wars and other wars for
many, many years, including a couple in the last…this century.
The Latins do it in a miserable way, but they do it. But the
Africans just can’t run things. Now that’s a very, very
fundamental point in the international scene. See my point?
[White House]
Moynihan: Oh boy, you sure
see it around this place! [At the United Nations]
Nixon: Well, of course you
do, you see them – You know, I have mixed feelings…I receive
their ambassadors, they change all the time, and I’ve had in
the past… I love ‘em, they’re so kind, and so nice…and
they’re children!
Moynihan: Yeah.
Nixon: Children…
Moynihan: [Laughing] Yeah…and
they always want something like children…
MONTGOMERY
COLLEGE
COMMUNITY COLLOQUIUM:
NAVIGATING
UNCERTAINTIES*
How
do you discover and correct errors in your beliefs?
Tecola
W. Hagos- April 14, 2006-
I think mankind’s “Golden Age”
is in the future. The achievement of science in our time is
unparalleled by any other period in human history. This
technology is no less than revolutionary, totally transforming
the world and people all over the world with hitherto unknown
universalized humanism. What is happening in the world now is
analogous to the coming of age of mercantilism into the
industrialization period of the Nineteenth Century. The new
world is being born in political structures, economic systems,
technological capacities, new sciences et cetera. To some of my
contemporaries and people in general, the present world
situation may be terrifying due to wide spread conflicts and
wars, famine, natural disasters et cetera. Some may feel that
they are losing control of their lives and destiny. The fast
paced change taking place all over the world may be overtaking
millions of people without giving them any chance to adjust to
their new circumstances. As a consequence of such tumultuous
time, people may seek clear directions, even dogmatism, and
strong-hand guidance from those who are responsible for the
upkeep of our political, religious, and economic institutions.
1
dead, 17 wounded by knife-wielding assailants
So
much for religious freedom, this is what you get when you have
fanatics and intolerant individuals. Ethiopians of all faiths
learn greatly from such incidents in Egypt and other Arab
nations whose intolerance of other religions criminal and
antidemocratic. The United Nations must call an assembly with
the outlandish and barbaric persecution of people in Arab
nations. Darfur is another Genocide being carried out based or
religion and race by the Sudanese Arab Government. And
the world, is watching doing nothing. Shame on you all for
allowing such barbaric persecution of individuals and groups
for practicing their own faith.
A
New Development Theory or Ending Poverty by means of Foreign Aid
?
A
Comment on Prof. Jeffrey Sachs's Book: The End of Poverty
Fekadu
Bekele-
March
21-2006
In order to end poverty from the
African soil we must see the problem through the mirror of
physical economic principles which is the only viable scientific
instrument that brings real economic development in many African
countries. Since almost all African countries have never
attempted to dissociate themselves from the destructive policies
of the IMF and the World Bank, only the destruction of the
ideological basis of this policy will have the power of
redeeming the African people and use their natural creative
power to develop a harmonious and well functioning society. The
eradication of poverty is possible when African governments are
guided by this principle, and see poverty as a part of an over
whole economic and social underdevelopment.
 Ethiopia’s
Greatest: Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin (1936-2006)
Tecola
W. Hagos- March 12-2006 Consider the great poet to be
a man of the people because most of his plays and his poems have
qualities that may be considered down to earth and primordial.
This is not meant to imply crudeness or simplistic, for Tsegaye
in his work was extremely sophisticated and post-modernist. I am
sure that a number of people would disagree with me on this last
point also, for Tsegaye is often identified with romanticism
because of the fact that he often addressed issues dealing with
courage, nationalism, freedom et cetera.
...
A SYMPOSIUM AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, 11 FEBRUARY 2006
ETHIOPIA: PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRACY:
Tecola
W. Hagos-February
21, 2006- The
current federal structure of
Ethiopia
that divided up “
Ethiopia
”
into nine ethnic “States” is at the very center of the
political crises in
Ethiopia
.
(See Articles 46
and 47, Constitution, 1994) Unless some drastic step is taken
now, the federalism of ethnic based “States” will certainly
deteriorate to a point of no return and
Ethiopia
will disintegrate into several mini states. In the process of
disintegration, horrendous atrocities will be committed by the
majority ethnic group on minorities within each “State” of
the current federal structure of
Ethiopia
.
In order to counter both disintegration and ethnic based
atrocities against minorities within such ethnic enclaves, we
may need to look for and find solutions even unorthodox ones.
ETHIOPIA:
PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRACY
A SYMPOSIUM held SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 11, 2006 Harvard
Law School, Pound Hall, Room 1011563 Massachusetts
Ave. Panel
1: 10:30 - 1:00 pm Panel
2: 2:30 - 5:30 pm
Fail to spell your name properly, someone will misspell it for
you and you will have no one to blame but yourself.
Mitiku
Adisu February 1, 2006-
Michela Wrong (hereafter, Michela)
encapsulates for us the power of a media that have cast a long
shadow on our public image. The choice of her is coincidental
and nothing more. A high-caliber journalist, Michela does not
need anyone’s permission to do what she does best. Similarly,
we reserve the right to question the validity of her writings as
they pertain to our history. The objective here is four-fold: to
question few of the author’s assumptions and the impression
her book is bound to leave on the unsuspecting and ill-informed
reader, to highlight the power of the media and the
opportunities they present, to show some of the ways we shoot
ourselves in the foot, and to point out the subtleties of
policy-making from the seemingly mundane happenings.
...
Empowering
Africa Through eLearning
Supporting Open, Distance and eLearning (ODeL) in African
Universities"
eLearning is high on the agenda in Africa. Governments and
educational institutions look at eLearning as the only option to
achieve one very important Millennium Goal which is “Education
for All”. In many countries new ambitious infrastructure
programmes form the basis for unprecedented “great leaps
forward” in providing access to and outreach in education and
training. Seminar on May 24, 2006
The
Greatness of Ethiopia: Witness of History
Tecola
Hagos,
January 12, 2006- There
is no other country in the history of the world that had seven
of its emperors accepted as "Saints" or "Tsadikan"
by a conservative religious organization or a Church at that,
any where in the world. In fact, in the case of Emperor Caleb
(Ella Asbaha) (AD 514-540) what we have is a declared bona fide
saint for all three Christian Churches, including the Roman
Catholic Church. We find it exhilarating to have such profoundly
ethical leaders in our past where even hostile denominations
found our leaders as great moral agents. This should not come as
a surprise to us. We find in the earliest recorded history of
mankind, in the writings of none other than the father of
history Herodotus, that Greek Gods would travel to remote
Ethiopia because they preferred the company of Ethiopians than
anyone else because of the high ethical standards of the
"blameless Ethiopians." How far have we fallen
from our illustrious past that we are now pawns in the TH .....
FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS: Questions on Treason Charges
Tecola
Hagos,
January 12, 2006 The events of the last six months have brought the many
irresolvable issues and problems in the implementation or
interpretation of the 1994 Constitution of Ethiopia dealing with
elections, the political structure, the role of courts, the
power of the executive et cetera in sharper focus than
previously pointed out in articles and books by several lawyers,
scholars, and political scientists. The most important question
to all of us citizens, legal scholars, political scientists et
cetera is the question of who interprets the constitution and
gives us guidance or resolution in case of controversy dealing
with constitutional rights, fundamental or otherwise.....
 EDITORIAL:
WE GRIEVE AT THE PASSING OF ABUNA YESEHAQ, OUR GREAT
CHURCH FATHER OF
THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Tecola
Hagos, January 01, 2006 Abuna
Yesehaq died at the Beth Israel Hospital in New Jersey on
Thursday at the age of 72. We celebrate the exemplary life of
Abuna Yesehaq, a life of service and compassion, of one of the
great Fathers of our Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Let us all
remember the life he lived and be lifted from our daily grind in
the glory of God’s infinite grace for favoring us with the
service of one of his most dedicated and humblest servants,
Abuna Yesehaq. Let us not be discouraged in his passing, but be
uplifted by his Christian life’s work. For he had dutifully
followed in the footsteps of the Christ in the service of his
fellow man, he continues to live in the heart of all of us......
ETHIOPIA-ERITREA
BOARDER DISPUTE: Challenging the Opposition
Tecola
Hagos, December 30, 2005 The
Ethiopian community in the Diaspora is overwhelmed by deformed
presentation of the political situation in Ethiopia and the
future of Ethiopia by few agitators controlling the most heard
Radio Stations and Websites. Such outspoken individuals who seem
to speak on behalf of the Opposition are seeding hate and
destruction. It is up to the Opposition to issue again and again
“Press Releases” explaining their official position on very
many issues that are being polarized in discussion groups and
Radio commentaries and editorials. Within Ethiopia, we are
struggling against an oppressive government, and as a reaction,
we have now the most divisive political agitation going on
within the country supported and fuelled by an overwhelmingly
outspoken group of Ethiopians in the Diaspora.....
 EDITORIAL:
Wishing All Ethiopians Everywhere a Great Christmas Holiday and
a Great New Year, 2006.
Tecola Hagos,
December 22, 2005
A New Year celebration
is not a simple marker of the end of the old year. The New Year
comes with great hope and anticipation on our part for better
opportunities and fulfillment than the previous one.
It is a crucial moment to set our resolutions and wish
list that reflect our priorities for the New Year.
"The
Ethiopian," 96" X 60" (1970) Oil on
Canvas by Tecola W. Hagos, Photo
by Ephrem Girma (www.blengrafix.com);
Debre Hayq Ethiopian Art Gallery
 CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE,
TRUTH, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
PART TWO: Sections II & III
Tecola Hagos,
December 17,
2005- Too
often, our voice is a voice in the wilderness when we challenge
minorities and ethnic groups demanding special considerations
that effectively breach the peaceful coexistence of the many
constituents of the whole. In an attempt to show how the
principles of human rights are universal principles cutting
across the entire human spectrum let alone one country, I have
also addressed the misapplication of principles of
self-determination that has spawned a number of “liberation
movements” in Ethiopia. I have included pertinent citations at
the end of this article that would be a good starting point for
more extensive research. .....
EDITORIAL:
On Political
Discourse
Tecola Hagos,
December 7,
2005- Labeling people
with their alleged ethnic identity such as Tygrean intellectual,
Oromo politician, Gurage businessman et cetera or labeling
people with negative identification such as anti-Amhara,
anti-Moslems, anti-Oromo et cetera is not helpful in
enlightening anyone. Such labeling is empty of substance. How
about bringing out the basic material that led anyone to use
such labeling and discussing it fully if there is a problem? At
any rate, it is unfathomable to me to see how our national
interest can be advanced by such negative polarizing labeling,
rhetoric, or argument .....
The
May 2005 Ethiopian Election: A Post-Mortem
Getachew
Mequanent-December 7,
2005-There is no doubt that the heated debate on the
election has polarized public opinion in Ethiopia and abroad.
Amid this situation, political observers and intellectuals
should have played a critical role in helping to understand
political issues and encouraging dialogue and understanding of
the pros and cons of the debate. It is unfortunate that this
does not happen, as the majority of outspoken observers and
intellectuals have taken political sides....
THE
AROMA OF CHANGE IS IN THE CLOUDS
Amare
_December 6, 2005-With
each passing day the Ethiopian government is finding it hard to
believe that power is slipping out of its hands as fast as it is
attempting to cling on to it. I sincerely believe that the
"Time has come" for the modalities of governing in
Ethiopia
. I don't really have a strong opinion one way or another about
how best this transition would take place. Neither do I labor or
lose sleep to figure it out. I leave it in the good hands of the
Almighty. ...
Editor’s
Note: I often observe a type of
reasoning, identified by logicians under the general name of argumentum
ad hominem, used by a number of Ethiopians writing
essays posted in Websites or writing synaptic remarks in
Internet Chat groups on political issues, such as Getachew Reda
and others. I find the piece by Getachew Reda, which is posted
herein below, most illustrative of such logical malady. Despite
the fact of misleading quotations offered out of context by
Getachew Reda, we posted the article as an illustrative
example that will help us focus on issues and not personalities.
However, I am not undermining the force of this form of fallacy
because on first blush, at least on the surface, appears to be
an effective tool in exposing the error of an opponent, but is
disappointingly hollow on closer scrutiny....
You
Have not Changed Far Enough. Change is Difficult
Getachew
Reda-November
28, 2005 As readers and you remember, last time on
EthioMedia. com, I have written a response to your critique of
the opposition and in general the current political atmosphere
in Ethiopia and the Diaspora opposition groups. (This time I
SENT YOU THIS ARTICLE TO BE POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE BASED ON YOUR
COMPLAINTS LAST TIME FOR NOT SENDING IT TO YOUR WEBSITE TO BE
POSTED). As you well remember also, it looks you didn’t bother
too much to response to my questions knowing there were some
issues needed a response. ...
ETHIOPIAN
PEOPLE’S POSITION:
Mankelklot Haile Selassie (PhD)
November 28, 2005
- Whether one likes it or not, the regime is going to rule
at least five more years. Therefore the bottom line of the
struggle ought to be to create a situation where Meles would be
forced to step down within the coming five years. He should not
be left alone while he is destroying the nation and its
interactive social and cultural fabrics that took hundreds of
years to bring it to the exiting level. Nationalism is being
developed in Ethiopia. Had it not been for this process of
development strongly moving forward, the wishes of Meles, which
was and still is to destroy Ethiopia would have come to
fruition. The regime must be stopped from eroding it. For this
is one of the main reasons for the removal of the regime in
power is very critical. Having projected this important point,
Ethiopia would not become like Somali or Rwanda, as some would
like us to believe.
....
CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE, TRUTH, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Tecola Hagos, November 24, 2005
- The correct evaluation of our current political situation
is necessary before making any kind of suggestion as a solution
to our crises. It is quite disconcerting and even down right
depressing when I read articles supporting either Meles Zenawi
and his political organization or the Opposition [CUD] by
casting the current political situation as a fight between “Tygreans”
and “Amharas.” When confronted with such scene, my first
reaction is to shout out, “What about the other ethnic groups?
How about class struggle? How about ideological conflict? How
about selfish individual ambition?” My criticism and
opposition to Meles Zenawi and his Government has nothing to do
with his identity as a member of a particular ethnic group.
....
A
Sober view on the roots of Ethiopian Crisis
Amare
November 17,
2005- Webster's
defines an aggressor as one in the "practice of making
attacks". Doesn't the government fit the definition? The
police and the army visited massive violence upon the people.
When asked about the death of innocent civilians, the PM
said “I will reserve judgment as to
whether sufficient or excess force was used in controlling
riots. I have no doubts as to whether riots have to be
controlled or not. Riots have to be controlled. The police
forces have to put and end to them, and on that point I have no
second thoughts." There you have it.
....
IN PERSPECTIVE: The
Politics of Opposition
Tecola
Hagos November 7,
2005- Politics
is a process of deflecting what maybe immediately hurtful
without totally discarding it because it is possible that there
could be aspects that may be salvageable in the future for good
use. Ethiopia is going through tremendous change, thus, we need
to be careful what we discard and what we save. It is this same
fact that led me to the conclusion that all political groups and
their leaders are after power rather than bringing about freedom
and liberation to the people of Ethiopia as a whole. On a second
thought, maybe they were overwhelmed by the loyalists and former
cadres of Mengistu who joined them in droves on seeing such a
political opening—a chance to move their stalled resistance
movement with a political cover and respectability behind men of
notable history of struggle....
Response
Letter From Readers
 RESPONSE
FROM READERS
November 4,
2005-The
entire propaganda of the CUD-chauvinist group has been and is hate
on Tigrean ethnic group. If you ask any young boy/girl in the
streets of Addis Ababa will tell you that they are protesting
against Woyane-Tigre. If you ask grownups, the reason of the protest
all they say is “Tigre.” Please check some websites and you will
see what they declare. A lecturer in Addis Ababa University told the
Reuters that the police killing people in the street are not
Ethiopians, they are Tigreans and people can not communicate in
Amharic with them. Poison !
...
Tecola
Hagos November 3,
2005-It
is beyond reason that so many Ethiopians have to lose their lives in
order to maintain in power a man who has decimated Ethiopia's
territorial integrity and sovereignty.
There is no justification for the military and security
forces to be used against their own people. They are to be held
accountable for every Ethiopian life they have extinguished, every
life they have wounded, and every life they have tortured and
detained....
Tew Simagn Agere" by Tecola W. Hagos,
Oil on Canvas, 50cm X 96cm (1969)
 POLITICUS
ETHIOPICUS
Tecola
Hagos October 30,
2005-Now
seriously, what I want to hammer into all Ethiopian politicians,
whether from the EPRDF or the Opposition, is the fact that they all
are responsible as leaders to all of us and not just for some of us.
There can be no Ethiopian to be considered as a step-child by any
politician. There can be no privileged Ethiopian based on either
ethnicity or social status or wealth. All aspiring political leaders
must not forget the fact that they are responsible for all
Ethiopians, I mean every single one of us no matter where we may be,
or what religion we follow, or what social status we have, or what
economic niche we occupy...
The Politics of Leadership Vs. The Ethiopian Political Culture
Zewge Fanta October 9, 2005-Once
again, in the recent events as were in 1991, there may be external
elements who would like to see the political progress made by
Ethiopians reversed. Ethiopians have managed to bring profound
political changes that is about to alter the face of Ethiopia with
new social and economic programs. The environment in Ethiopia today
may not tolerate the political party leaders who may dare to betray
and let down the Ethiopian people by submitting to the spoiler
schemes of the enemies. ....
Trust
and the redemption of Ethiopian politics
Mitiku Adisu
October
7, 2005-
7, 2005-Trust
is essentially a state of mind, a nurturing interaction spurred by a
mutually beneficial outcome; it is having respect for each other and
acting on the basis of, what I would call, ‘a word and a hand
shake.’ It means placing confidence in a Transcendent (God) or a
person or a thing and expecting a positive return. ....
|
EDITOR'S
NOTE:
The views expressed herein in the Article by author Tesfaye
Habiso is solely that of the author's. This Website does not
endorse or support such views. However, we believe some
important issues are entertained by the author that should be
carefully considered and critically evaluated by readers
interested in the direction and development of Ethiopia's
current politics and economy. TH |
The
Politics of Democratic Transition and Consolidation:
Overcoming
Dilemmas and Disillusionments
Tesfaye Habisso October 4, 2005-
Democratic
movement in the first place was born out of a unique set of
conditions prevalent in the Western world. Some of the ingredients
necessary for the evolutionary birth of a democratic order are
believed to be: (a) industrialization; (b) rise in literacy levels;
(c) abundance of resources; (d) isolation from negative outside
influences and, (e) political theoreticians whose vision spans the
past, present and future and who have a grasp of the physical
disciplines required in that particular age....
ON
THE QUESTION OF THE SOUTH AND SOUTHERNERS: An Open Letter to A
Friend in The Diaspora
Magane Sumbullo October 4, 2005- The
loss of identity and dignity, the lack of self-confidence and
courage to stand up for one's own rights, the psychological trauma
of self-hate and inferiority complex is, as you rightly argued, the
direct and indirect consequence of political domination and cultural
imperialism suffered by all colonized peoples the world over,
further exacerbated by the complete alienation of their lands by the
conquerors, and land, as we know, is the only source of dignity in
all traditional societies....
 REMEMBERING
AND HONORING SIMON WIESENTHAL 1908-2005
September
20, 2005- We
honor the memory of the sage Simon Wiesenthal, the great fighter,
humanitarian, and true hero to all freedom loving people around the
world who died this Tuesday September 20, 2005.
Heroes are never about themselves, and they do not even know
they are heroes. And such is the life-affirming story of the
uniquely courageous, dedicated, humanitarian Simon Wiesenthal. We
honor the life of Simon Wiesenthal because his life served all of
humanity. There is a singular lesson learned in the effort of one
lone courageous human being who devoted all of his life to bring to
justice individuals who committed atrocious crimes....
|
Meles’s
Infantile Delusion
B.
Solomon- September 10, 2005-EU-EOM
went to observe the election and certify whether the election
process is free and fair and meet the international standard. It
simply means that they have to take note of everything during
this process to report to the parties’ involved and
international community. But for Meles that is strange or “a
lie”. For Meles a change of the parliament procedure,
transferring the police force and resources from Addis Ababa
Administration to Federal Government, reducing tax in Addis up
to 90% for the coming year has nothing to do with the election..
...
|
DR.
JOHN HATHAWAY SPENCER, 1907-2005
 WE
GRIEVE ON THE PASSING OF DR. JOHN HATHAWAY SPENCER, A GREAT JURIST
AND DEDICATED FRIEND OF ETHIOPIA. WE ADMIRED AND RESPECTED
DR. SPENCER FOR ALL HIS GREAT FIGHT ON BEHALF OF ETHIOPIA THROUGH
OUT HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE. IN A WAY, DR. SPENCER WAS MORE OF AN
ETHIOPIAN THAN MOST OF US ETHIOPIANS HERE IN THE DIASPORA. THE
TRUE MEASURE OF A MAN IS HOW HE FIGHTS FOR THE DISFRANCHISED,
THE VOICELESS, THE DOWNTRODDEN AND THE HOMELESS. DR. SPENCER, FOR
NO PROFIT TO HIMSELF, FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. WE REGRET HIS
PASSING BEFORE THE LIBERATION OF ETHIOPIA AND ITS PEOPLE. HE
HAD LIVED A RICH, FULFILLING, AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE IN THE SERVICE
OF HIS FELLOW MAN. WE EXPRESS OUR HEART FELT CONDOLENCES TO ALL
HIS CHILDREN AND TO ALL FAMILY MEMBERS. MY GOD BLESS JOHN H.
SPENCER AND KEEP HIM SAFE. WE CELEBRATE YOUR GREAT
LIFE.
|
May
15 Election.(Amharic pdf) Fekadu Bekele (August
22, 2005)
 BOOK
REVIEW AND COMMENTARY
Fasil
Yitbarek, The Texture of Dreams, Chicago IL: Nyala
Publishing Chicago, 2005. [pp310] [US $15:95]
Tecola
Hagos- (August
22, 2005)The book seems to have an element of autobiography,
as is the case with all good novelists’ first narrative works. It
is both technically wise and cognitively plausible to base a story
line and keep it moving chapter after chapter, page after page
having oneself as a companion running along the entire course. Fasil
has structured and developed his narrative in highly engaging
manner. Usually most current authors indulge in using several
threads of story lines where the characters in confusing manner are
weaved in and out of such narrative threads. Fasil used far simpler
and easier to follow narrative structure compared to other
contemporary writers......
Beyond
the protests, the needful thing
Mitiku
Adisu-(August
20, 2005)-Time is of the essence here: our
unending disputations over ‘what might have been’ do not readily
translate into ‘bread and water’ for the people we vow to stand
for. Time is slipping away and we are not growing younger. Indeed,
we may be losing the chance to enjoy the fruit of our labor or see
it espoused by the new generation. That is sad. It is time to speed
up our efforts and get off the political merry-go-round that
promises the illusion of taking us somewhere. It is also time to
revive or build on good practices no matter who initiated them......
 A
MOMENT OF RECKONING: THE SURVIVAL OF ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES
Tecola
Hagos-
(August 15, 2005)
One must recognize the indisputable fact
that Ethiopian Airlines is quintessential Ethiopian and represents
the best of Ethiopia. It is our national symbol and must remain so
being represented by Ethiopians at all level. This new Ethiopian
Government policy of hiring foreigners in order to undermine the
legitimate demand of the workers of the Ethiopian Airlines opens up
a door towards the destruction of the quintessential Ethiopian
symbol of success—the Ethiopian Airlines.......
Homage
to the Greatest Athletes in the World
Tirunesh
Dibaba of Ethiopia (C) and her compatriots Meseret Defar (L) and
Ejegayehu Dibaba compete during the women's 5,000 meters final at
the world athletics championships in Helsinki August 13, 2005.
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Tulu
the inspiration as Dibabas keep it in the family
A
Constitution should work for the people and not against them
Amare
-(August
12, 2005) Ethiopia expects wise and
selfless leadership from all parties. Self serving action of any
party is a recipe for destruction. All Parties, the EPRDF, and the
opposition, must first place the interest of the country and its
people ahead of their parties interest. The current situation is a
unique one. Many mistakes have been committed before and after the
election.. ...
Press Release No.
11
From
Hard Choices to One Choice: Here goes the NEBE again…
Network
of Ethiopian Scholars (NES)-(August
10, 2005) In a series of
press releases, we have tried to strive, seek and discover a way
that will bring the best possible climate to facilitate the
production of a future that rehabilitates rather than a future of
violence and poverty that kill in our ancient country. We have shown
an unyielding determination to the argument that, what the people
achieved must not be stolen or lost. We have tried to unmask the
abuse of power and dismissed the arrogance of the high office
holders as wholly unbefitting to the challenges of building a free
and open society in Ethiopia.. ...
Editor's
Note: On the Current Political Bottleneck and UEDF’s Program
Tecola
Hagos-
(August 9, 2005)
Private individuals and an
association of Ethiopian scholars have been expressing their views
as posted in our Website on the future political resolution of the
bottleneck situation in Ethiopia. So far, two distinct approaches
seem to be evolving out of such discussions on the issue of the
structure of the future government of Ethiopia.. ...
A
PROPOSAL TO SOLVE THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS IN ETHIOPIA
UEDF
(August 5, 2005)Tackling
these and similar problems requires a settled political atmosphere,
an accountable government and popular belief in the rightfulness of
the government that demands their obedience. The leaders of the G-8
countries, at their meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, have recently
made clear the urgency of promoting democratic and legitimate
governance in Africa if the problems of underdevelopment and poverty
in the continent are to be seriously tackled ...
Hiroshima
and Nagasaki
Ralph
Raico- This
excerpt from Ralph Raico's "Harry S. Truman: Advancing the
Revolution in John V. Denson, ed., Reassessing
the Presidency: The Rise of the Executive State and the Decline of
Freedom (Auburn, Alabama: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2001),
is reprinted with permission. (The notes are numbered as they are
because this is an excerpt. Read
the whole article.)
How
long does it take to accept the truth?
Seifeselassie
Sibhatu
(August 6, 2005)
-When
political parties participate in democratic election of a given
country the first objective is to win the thrust of the citizen and
form a legitimate government. Otherwise, the alternative is to
become a loyal opposition in the parliament
“…loyal not to the specific policies of the government, but to
the fundamental legitimacy of the state and to the democratic
process itself.” [See Ref. 2]. Not only winning or loosing of
an election, parties should be prepared for the post election
realities of a democratic process as well. The winning party has the
mandate of the people to govern based on its vision of the country
in terms of the foreign, agricultural, economic, defence, etc
policies. ...
 Blue
Nile Treaties : for Ethiopia or Egypt ?
Getachew Sisay
(August 4, 2005)
-Ethiopia has never ever accepted
unilateral agreements for their perilous prejudice. According to
Hillawi (1998), during 1959 it claimed, “Ethiopia has reserved the
right to utilize the water resources of the Nile for the benefit of
its people, whatever might be the measure of such waters sought by
riparian states”. Irrespective of the type of regime in Addis
Ababa, the position of Ethiopia is one and one - to have a win- win
solution and legitimate right to use the Nile water for the
socio-economic development of the country ...
How
to deal with regime Defiance of Vote and Voice: The Hard Choices
Confronting Ethiopia
NEC
(July 30, 2005) The
ruling party would use the outcome from its violence, riggings and
the deliberate mismanagement from the national election board to
extend its authoritarian dictatorship with democratic façade. The
people and the opposition will build on the gains they have scored
to turn every gain as an arena of struggle to realize the elusive
dream of scoring a historic achievement for the first time ever in
the nation’s long life: democratic transition that prepares a
national reconciliation condition to prepare the nation’s total
energy to eradicate the chief source of its humiliation: conflict
and poverty....
III.
Corruption, Disinformation And Duplicity, Inalienable Elements of
Treason
Laeke Gebresadik (July
30, 2005) The EPRDF by its
treasonous nature is well adept to deceitful use of information in
facilitating its crimes. It never refrained from fabricating
information to mislead or influence public opinion in an attempt to
execute its objectionable policies. The blatant use of deceptive
information is transformed into coercion when eventually met by
strong public opposition as in the border fiasco....
The YARA Prize And Corruption: Meles Zenawi With A Purse of Two
Hundred Thousands Dollars?
Why Not a Million Dollars!
Tecola
Hagos - (July
28, 2005) This article is a
criticism and open accusation of wrongdoing and of criminal
activities by the Yara Foundation and its Board in declaring Meles
Zenawi as its first “African Green Revolution Yara Prize"
winner with a purse of $200,000.00 and an art work of undisclosed
value. American corporations, such as Dupont, Lucent, Motorola et
cetera, often acclaimed for their business practices, are directly
affected by any corrupt practice by their European competitors in
the chemical, fertilizer, and telecom businesses worth trillion of
dollars in Africa or elsewhere in the world.....
Ethiopia's
Future in The Next Five Years: Seize The Moment And Seize The Time
Network
of Ethiopian Scholars
- (July
26, 2005) History does not open
critical political moments easily and frequently. Such historical
moments are rare especially in countries like Ethiopia where
political change has been for a long time under the grip of a
particularly virulent and violent authoritarian selection. Critical
political turning points offer opportunities or dangers, and
sometimes also opportunities that can turn into dangers, and dangers
that can turn into opportunities. They become indeed a country’s
dilemma and historical crossroad, bearing on the balance of
probability, bad or good, wrong or right direction in shaping and
articulating a country’s political future....The
t
A
MOMENT OF REFLECTION: FORGET THE ETHIOPIAN ELITES AND THE KUPAMANDUKAS?
Tecola
Hagos - (July
23, 2005)
Condemning an entire ethnic group for the misdeeds of the corrupt
few of its members, without making any distinction between Meles
Zenawi (and his associates) from the Tygrean population, who are no
less victims of the regime just like other Ethiopians, is a
destructive process. It has become exceedingly clear to me that Ethiopia has very few
heroic and selfless sons and daughters especially in the Diaspora.
What Ethiopia has given birth to seem to be mostly stillborns?
I am using such harsh terms because I am disgusted with the
selfishness and often-amateurish behavior of our politicians,
especially in the Diaspora....The
t
 “APOCALYPSE
SOON.” REALLY? AND WHO CARES?
Tecola
Hagos - (July
16, 2005) The
idea of a “just cause” to go to war may be distinguished from
the idea of a “just war.” In the sense that a “just cause”
may deal with problems involving the leadership in carrying out its
executive duties and commitments, whereas a “just war” involves
the nation as a whole on questions of national survival and serious
threat to the existence and security of a nation. In that sense
going to war for territorial acquisition in the past may have an
element of a just cause, for example, but it does not necessarily
constitute a just war...The
t
|
No
act of violence would solve the suffering of millions of
people under brutal dictators, religious fanatics, and
ideologically corrupted systems around the World. The problems
of the World are far too complex that violent terrorist means
to solve such problems would never succeed. We condemn in the
strongest terms the senseless terrorist violence on innocent
civilians in London transit systems of the 7th of July 2005.
We pray for all those who suffered and those who were hurt. We
pray to all those who died and offer our heart felt humble
condolences to the families of the victims of terrorism. There
is no room for such form of violence in a civilized world. We
urge all nations to examine the reasons and the existential
factors that would turn human beings into instruments of such
cowardly, vicious, and brutal actions against innocent
ordinary individuals. The Editors. |
How The West
Can Help Best
Temam
Ahmed (July 14, 2005) -The main
responsibility lies in ourselves and we should be the ones tackling
the issues of good governance, poverty or underdevelopment.
The materially rich west is in pursuit of its own selfish interest
and the handouts we receive from them either in the form of loans or
aid, have not gotten us a step ahead...
Response
to Editor's Note (My Turn on The Ethiopian Election Debate in
Diaspora)
Getachew Mequanent (July
12, 2005) -This experience has made me aware of the benefits of
Ethiopia’s ethnic, cultural, religious, geographic and linguistic
diversity. I have also become increasingly interested in new ideas
and thinking reflective of our time as well as responsive to the
enormous political challenge that Ethiopia faces. That is why I
suggested that we should continue to debate on the current federal
system and I trust that Professor Tecola and others will agree with
me....
Editor's
Note:
(July
10, 2005) -When I offer a
criticism it should be read in context and limited to the issue
under discussion. There is a sad tendency of a number of Ethiopian
readers and website visitors to jump into a generalized conclusion
based on specific incidents. We must be careful not to read more in
a statement that is of limited scope.....
My
Turn on The Ethiopian Election Debate in The Diaspora
Getachew
Mequanent (July 10, 2005) -Today the country is one of the three
poorest countries in the world. And EPRDF is blamed for it! The
truth is that the Ethiopian economy had suffered from decades of
government neglect. Emperor Haile Sellassie had an ambition to be
one of the richest men in the World and so he was busy appropriating
the country’s wealth, while the ruling class and state bureaucrats
divided what was left among them. Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam
created a brutal and corrupt regime which destroyed the social and
economic infrastructure of the Ethiopian society. It is too bad that
all the debate is focused on EPRDF vs. the opposition and we are not
considering we can learn from Ethiopia’s past.
.....
The
May 15, 2005 Ethiopian Election: A retrospective Analysis
Seifeselassie
Sibhatu (July 6, 2005) -We can argue about the level and nature of
the stage the country has reached from whichever perspective we are
observing. In Ethiopian political landscape, today more than ever
one thing has become as clear as day light; Ethiopian and Ethiopian
will never be the same again. The level and nature of the stage the
country found itself became a make or break situation. The initial
assumption, at least of mine, prior to the election date was the
election would be more of idea, dialogue and discussion about the
current and future political, social, economical and other issues
Ethiopia faces. However, contrary to this assumption we have been
forced to discuss the political, social, and economic and other
issues of the country’s past.....
|
Editor's Note:
The view expressed by Amare B. here below on the Press Release by the NES is not the views endorsed or supported by this Website. The reason we want this point clearly understood by all readers is due to the fact that we
received few notes protesting the views expressed by NES as if this Website had endorsed that view. We have a different stand from that of Amare B and the NES on the future of Ethiopian democracy, the EPRDF, and the
Opposition. TH
The
Implied Intent of Messer's Muchie et el Open Letter to The G8
Amare
B- (July 6, 2005) We call upon the G8 leaders to impress the
historic importance of constructing an alternative to forming
a Government either by the incumbent or aspirant alone, given
the election has been mishandled badly and the people who
voted for either side would feel cheated if either side
becomes a winner takes all." I would say who cares if
they feel cheated so long as the people's voice is respected?
Mind you elections are meant for the people to express their
will and not for the contestants to whine.....
|
 Azurit
Hailu
Yeshiwondum- (July 3, 2005) Though
the gist of this article is to remind opposition parties to
reevaluate and reform themselves in line with the rapid changes, it
is appropriate to reveal some of the irrational and contradictory
attitudes that need to be extirpated. Political parties have to
cease exploiting prevailing double
standards that reinforce prejudice in the society. It
is not enough for political parties to detach themselves from some
of the double standards only as a half-hatred diplomatic posturing. The
Ethiopian people have demonstrated time and again that nothing can
challenge their unity and their love for each other. The people have
done the right thing during and after the election.....
|
Public
Announcement Statistics For June 2005: We
are glad to announce that our Website had another record
number of hits in June of 2005 of 1,423,428 (one
million four hundred twenty three thousand and four hundred
twenty eight) hits, exceeding the one million hits of May by
almost fifty percent. The two maximum numbers of hits recorded
for hits in a single day of 24 hours were on June
9 of 67,976 hits and on June 8 and 14 of 66,390 hits. We
invite all to participate in this website that is dedicated to
serve all Ethiopians and the World at large. Your comments,
e-mails, et cetera are welcome as always. We thank our
Contributors, readers, and visitors for a momentous month. |
Opposition,
EPRDF, Supporters And Critics
Abegaz Bellete (July 1, 2005) Professor
Tecola’s recent article, ”Forget the Opposition with Negede
Gobeze” is instructive although it looks a bit heavy handed
criticism. We know that Negede’s party (MEISON) is a member of
UEDF and we know that no one opposed it at the time of formation of
UEDF. As a member of UEDF, Negede may have the right to be
represented in UEDF’s activity. Yet, the main issue I think the
professor wanted to show has been that people that are not clean
(obviously destructive) during the past regimes should hold low
profile within the opposition. This is a positive comment and the
opposition should learn from it...
NES
- The Role of the Opposition Inside and Outside Ethiopia
By
the Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES) - Scandinavian Chapter
June 30, 2005- In
a democracy we know there are many types of people who wish to stand
for election, some of whom may be people we may not agree with or we
may even have fought against in the past, but once these people
submit for election through a free and fair voting procedure and
system, it is not for us to judge them as fit or unfit, or bring up
what we believe to be their past history to ridicule the democratic
voice expression that legitimated them.........
“Don't
Throw The Baby Out With The Baby Bath Water”
Gelaye,
Onlooker from Jijiga (June
30, 2005) Nevertheless, a
credit should go where it is due. Observer has made a great point.
Observer noted, “It is no secrete what role Negede and co and
other remnants of the past regime had played in the Ethiopian
politics.” As a victim of the Derg regime myself, I understand
where the Observer is coming from. We need to bring criminals to
justice. For that to happen we need to have a democratic government.
Individuals like Negede can not disappear from the screen of the
broad masses of the Ethiopian people....
Response to the Editorial: "Forget the 'Opposition'
with Negede Gobeze" From Readers
Nolawi
- (June
29, 2005) Negede’s was a
different tone with a different “lyric”. Both his tone and “lyric”
were too wild and too weird.
To start with he was so angry that his facial expression was
already telling more even before words came out of his mouth. In his
hateful reaction to the very question he dared to clearly say that
there was nothing he would apologize for. He said without hesitation
all what he did was right, no questions asked.....
Response to the Editorial: "Forget the 'Opposition'
with Negede Gobeze"
Amare
- (June
28, 2005)
In spite of the screaming
and the shouting we hear from the different political persuasions
and their loyalist, one fact always remains true and unchangeable.
That is this: The
majority of Ethiopians both at home and abroad want peace and
peaceful transfer of power from one political group to another based
solely on the verdict of the people on the ballot box. We all should
contribute in whatever way we can to the coming to fruition of this
long standing aspiration of the Ethiopian people. We must expose and
object any group or group of people that is set to frustrate this
aspiration......
EDITORIAL:
FORGET THE “OPPOSITION” WITH NEGEDE GOBEZE
Tecola
Hagos - (June
27, 2005)
My
Fellow Ethiopians, we are rapidly approaching or reaching a point of
no return. Here is where our Ethiopian sensibility is being tested.
The reason I had reservation at the very outset on the 2005 Election
is being reinforced day by day. Since May 15, 2005, I have been learning
more and more about the characteristics of the Opposition. The
Opposition is becoming simply a den of aged former ex-officials, old
Red Terror participants, Mengistu’s Cadres, WPE members, rejectees
from an assortment of liberation fronts et cetera. The
association of such unlikely groups is not a healthy one. It is
their common hate to Meles Zenawi that is the driving force and not
an undivided devotion or love for Ethiopians or Ethiopia......
Ideology,
Class Struggle, And Ethiopian Politics
Tecola
Hagos - (June
27, 2005)As
members of the human family, Ethiopians too suffered similar
fracturing and preemptive social disassembly as the rest of the
world (humankind). It is only within that world-context of the
larger community of diverse peoples of the world that we could be
able to make sense of our peculiar problems. If we lose sight of
such world perspective, we will start thinking that our pedantic
problems are world-shaking problems and start mistaking the anthills
of our discontent for mountains of insurmountable adversities. We
are not unique in our suffering of injustice, deprivation and
exploitation in a desperate neck and neck struggle with an
exploitative class represented by all formal structures of
suppression and oppressors called governments.......
Response
to Abegaz Belette on Al Amoudi
Hannah Yohannes-(June
27, 2005)In trying to defend Mr. Al Amoudi’s foray into
Ethiopian politics at such a critical juncture, some individuals
have suggested that he should be thanked for his employment
practices. Apparently, forty percent of Mr. Al Amoudi’s companies’
employees are female and he employs individuals regardless of
religion and ethnicity. Although I would like to note that this is
the first time that I have read such data on Mr. Al Amoudi’s
companies (and it was not satisfactorily cited), I have no reason to
doubt the accuracy of such data........
[Editor's
Note:
We did not post the Press Release/letter of Sheik Al Amoudi of a few
weeks back because we found the content of that letter to be a
childish tantrum for being rightfully criticized for supporting a
brutal and violent Leader, Meles Zenawi and his Political Party, the
EPRDF. We are posting Abegaz Bellete's article herein because it has
ideas of public concern on the subject of the responsible use
of the media and not because it involves Al Amoudi as a subject of
discourse. TH ]
Mr.
Al Amoudi is not a ' Sacred Cow'
Abegaz
Bellete-(June
25, 2005) Slightly dissenting views were not entertained
including this article. As editorial, commenting on current issues
and taking timely positions would have increased much admiration.
While we agree that editorials are always expected to provide
balanced views, they cannot ignore the widely accepted wishes of the
public and hence should be accountable to matters affecting the
public. They are the defenders of the people........
 Meles
And Co. Pathetic Strategy Towards Tigreans
B. Solomon-(June
23, 2005) It sad to see
EPRDF sink to this level and distribute papers calling others to
rise up against Tigreans to make Tigreans feel insecure so that they
could rally behind a failing tyrant. What if some fools start
believing this evil propaganda? Does it worth such evil plan to keep
Bereket and Addisu on power, who are rejected at the polling
station? This is the most shameful crime that Meles, Addisu and
Bereket have committed against Tigreans......
Response
to "Ethiopian Reality: Quo Vadis..."
Ethiopian Reality: Quo Vadis* Opposition? [Ethiopian
Reality: Where to From This Point On?]
Tecola
Hagos - (June
13, 2005)
In order to build the
Ethiopia of our future, we need to be cognizant of our
past and current history in order to learn to avoid
similar mistakes of our predecessors. We need to use
history in a creative manner to solve future problems.
We should not be held hostages by our history or put in
a straightjacket of history. We should be able to
communicate with each other in a non-confrontational
manner to resolve political and economic problems. Our
national security depends on how well we work with each
other. This seems to be a new beginning for all of us.
Some of us have hurt Ethiopia much more than others;
nevertheless, there need be a change of attitude from
feelings of being victim to feelings of empowerment. For
whatever has happened in our past, in some way, we all
are collectively .......
 Amnesty
International urgent action Appeal
Large
numbers of demonstrating students have been detained in two
days of protests following the announcement of provisional
results from the parliamentary elections of 15 May by the
National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Amnesty
International fears that, as after university demonstrations
in 2001,
Celebrating
Brad Pitt: A Better Warrior Than Achilles
Tecola
Hagos - (June
8, 2005) Brad
Pitt is not just another “celebrity,” but also a man
touched by the hand of God or providence, if you will. Most of
us have heard about Brad Pitt’s visits to Ethiopia, but
never really saw much in pictures or television the details of
such visits. About a year ago, I heard from individuals that
Brad Pitt was quite taken by the suffering he saw in Ethiopia,
at times, I was told that he was moved to tears.
 Editorial:
The Beginning of The End: EPRDF's Government Brutality Against
University Students
Tecola
Hagos - (June
6, 2005) We
are witnessing the beginning of the fall of the violent and
dictatorial Government of Meles Zenawi. History is repeating
itself, and we are looking at the beaten paths that all
dictatorial regimes traveled of crackdowns on demonstrators,
detention of university students for expressing democratic
views, unleashing of brutal security and military unites on
peaceful citizens et cetera.....
 Expulsion
of Saudi Arabia From The United Nations
Tecola
Hagos - (June
4, 2005) The
State Department has identified Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar,
and United Arab Emirate in its 2005 Report as nations
trafficking with human beings that the Secretary of State
identified as no different from modern days slavery. It is to
be recalled that the four Arab nations mentioned above, along
with most of the other Middle East Arab nations, as well as
some African nations (Egypt, Sudan, Somalia et cetera), were
identified as notorious
violators of human rights with records of religious
persecution of Christians and Jews, atrocities, slavery et
cetera by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch,.....
London
Protestors Condemn Ethiopian Vote Rigging 6/2/2005
By Abebe Gellaw
Public
Announcement: We
are glad to announce that our Website had a record number of
hits in May of 2005 exceeding one million hits in one
month. The two maximum number of hits recorded for hits
in a single day of 24 hours were on May 19 of
56,396 hits and on May 16 of 49,407. We thank our readers and
visitors for permitting us to serve you.
 Editor's
Note:
We
have been critical of the public comments made by Former President
Jimmy Carter on dates prior to the election applauding the Ethiopian
Election 2005 as democratic. The linked report by President Carter
shows far different assessment of the election and the political
leadership of Meles Zenawi than was suggested in previous interviews
of President Carter. Thus, in fairness to all we have linked the Report
of President Carter
for the benefit of our readers. We do acknowledge that President
Carter seems to be mending some of his earlier remarks about Meles
Zenawi. Had he disclosed some of his judgment about Meles Zenawi
earlier, it would have helped us all Ethiopians to advance our
democratic causes much faster than creeping along for fifteen years.
Nevertheless, we welcome the Report of President Carter as a good
stating point for further enlightened and enlightening reports and
comments by President Carter.
 Saving
Ethiopia: A United Call For Tolerance
By:
Bereket Kiros-(
May 30, 2005)-The
May 2005 election probably have stopped the bleeding of our country,
but the wound must be cured. On the other hand, all hate and bigotry
in the name of saving Ethiopia cultivates the seed of future
destruction and will not heal the wound. Ethiopia has suffered not
only by Meles but under the brutal leader Mengistu as well. We
are now living in a volatile political situation and an economic
disaster looming all around us. We are surrounded by our historic
enemies and newly minted ones that are getting stronger by the hour.
Those of us in the Diasporas have a moral obligation not to promote
ethnic conflict and harmful propaganda on the supremacy of any
ethnic group thereby inflaming further a situation that is highly
charged with hate and conflict already.......
May 26, 2005 Washington DC. Demonstration
 Editor's
Note:
We
fully support the demonstration of concerned Ethiopians of May 26,
2005 at the State Department, Washington DC. The concern we all have
about the confirmed voting irregularities perpetuated by the
Government of Meles Zenawi is absolutely correct. The immense fraud
and violence against the Opposition and its supporters is a reality
that should not be denied by anybody including the officials of the
Government of the United States.....
 Post
Election Developments in Ethiopia: The UN Should Come In.
By:
Abegaz Bellete - (May
27 2005)- The
NEB has proved to be an offshoot of the EPRDF and its neutrality has
been disproved now beyond any doubt. In the face of this blatant
mischief by EPRDF, we hope the international community will not
press the opposition and the EPRDF in the same manner. The
international community should not be misled that the NEB and the
legal system can bring any justice when the head of the ruling party
is heard to announce its victory ahead of vote count. How
independent and courageous are these organs to undo the claims of
the ruling party?.....
 Political
Leadership and Legitimate Power in Ethiopia
By:
Ghelawdewos Araia- (May
23, 2005)- There is no doubt that the present political
climate in Ethiopia is promising, although we cannot for sure affirm
that Ethiopia is on the threshold of a full-fledged democratic
system. If at all, the popular elections manifest a fledgling and
not a robust democratic system, and with respect to the latter we
are toddlers at best and infants at worst. However, we must not fail
to recognize the positive contributions of the current elections
irrespective of the impetus (domestic and international) behind it......
 Ethiopia
The Phoenix: The New Caretaker Government:
By: Tecola
Hagos- (May
18, 2005)-
The Opposition has played a major role to bring to Ethiopia a degree
of hope and solidarity in the face of treason and betrayal of a
people and their utter humiliation in the world’s stage by Meles
Zenawi for the last fifteen years.
However, the election result has far more implication than just
counting ballots and declaring winners and losers. The importance of
the election should not be seen in light of such limited purpose for
establishing a new government.......
Editorial:
The Dawn of Ethiopia: The Struggle For New Leadership
By: Tecola Hagos-(
May 16, 2005) We
have declared the Ethiopian election of 2005 to be invalid and
illegal and not binding on any Ethiopian. In anticipation of his
winning the election and knowing the illegal method he used to win
the election and the inevitable peaceful massive demonstration
against his government, Meles Zenawi has taken over the command of
his repressive and brutal Police and Military Forces nation wide
including that of the city of Addis Ababa as of Sunday evening. All
governments that want friendly relationship with Ethiopia must allow
the current political upsurge of the people of Ethiopia take its
natural course.
. .......
Is EPRDF
Sincere to Build a Free Democratic Nation?
By:
Abegaz Bellete-(
May 13, 2005 )-The
TPLF-EPRDF so far has obviously become insincere to build democracy
in Ethiopia. It persecutes and terrorizes citizens, lies and
deceives the public, creates disparity among Ethiopians, spurs
ethnic hatred, denies the “full right to private property and
legal protection,” promotes corruption, bad governance and
executive dictatorship. EPRDF used government resources,
administrative structure, security, militia and military to the
disadvantage of opposition parties. .......
 Editorial:
Election 2005, Ethiopia: No vote for Meles Zenawi!
(
May 10, 2005 )-After
carefully studying the record of the governments of Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi for the last ten years, as well as the transition
period of 1991 to 1995, we have reached the unequivocal conclusion
that a vote for Meles Zenawi and his party the TPLF, and/or
associates on May 15 ‘05 is a vote for the destruction of
Ethiopia. [There is no real separation between the many members or
satellite organizations of the EPRDF and the controlling group of
the TPLF.] We want a unifier, a person who gives us all hope and
pride not someone who is constantly engaged in adversity against the
interest of all of us.
......
 Editorial:
Celebrating The End of Nazism and Fascism (World War II) Sixty Years
Ago Today
(
May 8, 2005 )-We,
Ethiopians, have suffered the destruction of our nation and the
death of millions of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in the hands
of the Italy’s Fascist regime for five horrible years. With our
courage, and despite the sanction against us by Europeans, we single
handedly won over the Italians a second time. [The revisionist
history written by Westerners about Britain coming to Ethiopia’s
rescue is a very bogus claim. The British were there as mercenary
soldiers to help restore Emperor Haile Selassie to his Throne, which
he had abandoned, not for the purpose of Ethiopia’s liberation or
freedom. Through the great patriotic fight of five years launched by
Ethiopians against the occupation forces of Italy and its Askaris]......
 (
May 6, 2005 )
[Editor's
Note: We do not know if the statement contained in the Afar
Radio Report linked here under is true or not. We have no way
of ascertaining the veracity of the existence of such agreement
restricting or in anyway affecting the sovereign rights of Ethiopia
on its river Tikur Abai (Blue Nile River) signed on April 17, 2005
between Meles Zenawi and Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt. If there
is any such agreement even remotely resembling the one alleged to
have been signed, Meles Zenawi is committing another treasonous act.
At any rate, it is up to the Government of Ethiopia to deny or
explain the assertion of the existent or non-existence of such
agreement. In the absence of such official government denial, we
must assume the worst. Therefore, let it be known to the Egyptian
Government and the people of Egypt that the Ethiopian people do
not recognize any such treaty or agreement by Meles Zenawi or
anybody else that undermines Ethiopia's full sovereign rights
to use the Blue Nile River appropriately under international law and
principles. No nation on Earth can impose any encumbrances or
legal restrictions on the sovereign rights of the people of
Ethiopia.]
Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak
discussed about Nile
 The
Splendor of Hope:George B.N.Ayittey And His Book [Africa
Unchained: The Blueprint For Africa's Future, palegrave, 2005]
Tecola W. Hagos-(
May 5, 2005 )
[Simply
put, Sachs’s solution is to throw more money at a problem, and
Ayittey’s solution is to throw in more leaders, but from a
different group. Neither solution on its own would bring about the
change that both authors want for Africa’s poor. It seems that
there may be a crucial fact that has eluded us all thus far, about
Africa and its diverse population, which fact may have retarded
not just European type political and economic development but any
meaningful accumulation of knowledge and the building of highly
interconnected and interactive social or political systems and
institutions. Without discovering that subtle reason that is
hindering us from solving our social, economic, political et
cetera problems, any suggestion by anyone, whether distinguished
or charlatan, would simply be like shooting in the dark blank
bullets to hit a target that may not even be there.].......
THE SPLENDOR OF HOPE: Book Review and Commentary
 Tecola
Hagos- March
27, 2005 )
Jeffery Sachs is an extremely valuable a person to be wasting his
great compassion, talent, and abilities defending and giving
credence and comfort to third-rate dictators and corrupt leaders in
the developing world. He must learn how to separate his personal
friendship with leaders of developing nations, which friendship I
find demeaning to such a distinguished and moral person, from
overshadowing his objectivity as to the value of the leadership of
such leaders to their people and not how agreeable they maybe to
Jeffery Sachs or the Western nations. It is a fact that power is
seductive not only to those who posses it but even to those who are
exposed to it—we all must be on our guard at all times.......
Articles of Interest
Stiglitz's
book review
|
|
Editorial:
The Return of the obelisk of Axum
Tecola W. Hagos-( April
27, 2005 )
We did not post the news of the return of the second largest Obelisk of Axum because we sensed that Meles Zenawi was timing that occasion to boost his election. We did not want to be a party to any such pathetic political manipulation by anyone whether it is the current Ethiopian Government or anyone else.
We posted Dr. Ghelawdewos's article now because it is highly
informative and educational and not a propaganda piece. It
reinvigorates our appreciation of our past. Thus, we welcome our
piece of heritage back to Ethiopia.........
The
Magnificence of Aksum: Revisiting Ethiopian Civilization
Ghelawdewos
Araia-( April
27, 2005 )
The return of the Aksum stela, after sixty-eight years of
hiatus, has once again revitalized the Ethiopian sense of their
heritage. Unlike the prodigal son who returned home on his own
volition, the Aksum stela finally headed home after an incessant and
immense pressure on the Italian government by Ethiopians and friends
of Ethiopia.........
Germany’s
Ratzinger elected Pope
Tens of thousands of people cheered as
Ratzinger, the first German pope in centuries, presented himself on
the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after the announcement to give
his first blessing.
We
Condemn The barbaric Execution of six Somalis by Saudi Arabia!
Editorial:
Tecola
Hagos- ( April
20, 2005 )We
condemn the barbaric execution of six Somalis by the government of
Saudi Arabia under its primitive legal system. A human life is worth
more than all the taxis driven in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Government
is one of the most corrupt and human rights violators in the World.
It is a shame that the United Nations has maintained as a
"member" such a government as representative of a state
that is more of a family holding than a responsible state in the
community of Nations........
FAIR
REACTION ON 6 SOMALI BEHEADING CASE IN SAUDI JUSTICE SYSTEM!
Congratulation
to the Great Ethiopian Athletes of Boston Marathon Winners of 2005!
Ethiopian
Hailu Negussie won Boston Marathon, taking $100,000 home. And
Ethiopian Elfnesh Alemu came second in the Women's Marathon.
Kenyan Ndereba won the women's race for a record fourth time. BOSTON
(Reuters) - Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia ended Kenya's dominance of
the Boston marathon on Monday by winning the 109th running of the
world's oldest annually contested marathon.
Negussie finished in an unofficial time of two hours, 11 minutes and
44 seconds. The course record of 2:07:15 was set by Cosmas Ndeti of
Kenya in 1994.
WE EXPRESS OUR SORROW ON THE PASSING OF POPE JOHN PAUL II (1920-2005) WHO HAS BEEN THE MORAL BEACON FOR OVER A BILLION PEOPLE BOTH CATHOLICS AND
NON-CATHOLICS. WE ADMIRED HIS COURAGE IN FACING AND SPEAKING TO POWER IN DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. HE WAS A GREAT MAN WHO ENRICHED AND ENNOBLED US ALL THROUGH HIS EXEMPLARY LIFE OF SERVICE. OUR CONDOLENCES TO HIS CLOSE FRIENDS AND FELLOW CATHOLICS ALL OVER THE WORLD. POPE JOHN PAUL II, WE THANK YOU AND CELEBRATE YOUR
LIFE.
Pope
John Paul II Biography
March
26,2005
The
Impact of Current Trade Relationships And Strategies For Improvement
Fekadu Bekele, PhD
March 16,2005
If
we see the reality of the last 50 years this theory can't take so
many relevant issues into considerations. First of all the power
relationships in many Third World Countries is out of this
theoretical model. On international level prices of raw materials
are being dictated by cartels and certain multinational firms. If we
look the situations in many Third World Countries the peasants and
the seasonal workers are reduced to slave like situation......
Memorandum
[Editor's
Note: We condemn all politically motivated [and/or
arbitrary illegal] violence, murders, detentions, tortures,
disappearances, kidnappings perpetuated against Ethiopians by
the brutal Government of Meles Zenawi. We condemn all forms of
debilitating political, economic, and cultural interferences by
foreign governments in Ethiopia whether disguised as humanitarian
assistance or subtle coercion. With such concern in mind, we have
posted the Memorandum sent to our website by EAO believing it to be
an Ethiopian concern for the welfare and political and economic
liberation of all Ethiopians.]......
The
Rastaman Cometh, So Will 55 Days of Lent
By
Mitiku Adisu- March 1,2005 Let
us not forget the million-strong Diaspora navigating the Seven Seas.
What do Ethiopians want? When will they ever find rest? The
Ethiopian Lent season may be the opportune time to reflect on such
deep matters of ethics, community, and morality. And for this
Ethiopians need not look farther than the living church and their
humble abode.
Prostitution
in Ethiopia: Two Dollars With Or Without A Condom (Video)
Tecola
Hagos- February
24, 2005 ) The
video titled Two Dollars With Or Without A Condom seems to be a
limited study of prostitution and the effect of poverty and
political oppression in Addis Ababa. The video was financed by a
Swedish charity organization aimed to garner awareness of the plight
of young Ethiopian girls living on the streets of Merkato and at
times practicing prostitution. It also draws our attention on the
devastation of AIDS in the country. Successive Ethiopian Governments
were/are also responsible to the state of affairs of the nation
sinking into the present social, political, and economic crises. The
current government of Meles Zenawi is responsible for the endless
political as well as economic crimes committed against Ethiopians.......
February
9, 2005 Editor’s
Note: Fekadu Bekele, PhD, has provided us a book review of
Emmanuel Todd’s famous book [Super
Power America: Posthumous], on the decline of the United
States as a bulwark of democracy and world leadership. In his review
of the book, Dr. Fekadu Bekele has gone far beyond the role of just
being a reviewer, and has provided us with a fresh perspective and
insight on the decline and corruption of the United States in recent
years and of its bleak future. The implication to Ethiopia is
obvious. We recommend highly that people read Todd’s book with the
benefit of its excellent review by Fekadu Bekele. [You may try a
different title by the same author, After the Empire – The
Breakdown of American Order (2003)]......
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Editorial:
Participation in the
Upcoming Ethiopian Election
Tecola
Hagos February
9, 2005
We
call upon the leaders of the opposition political
organizations and their support groups to set aside their
differences, personal ambitions, and narrow political
interests for the duration of the election. The single most
unifying interest should be to save Ethiopia from destruction
in the hands of Meles Zenawi who is bent on ceding Ethiopian
sovereignty and territory piece by piece to neighboring
nations. The crime he has committed against the people of
Ethiopia can only be remedied by removing him first from
office......
Participation
in Meles's Drama
Woyessa Feyissa
February
8, 2005
Meles
Zenawi the uncontested boss of TPLF and loyal servant of EPLF
has dashed, not unexpectedly, the hope of holding a fair
and free election by rejecting the demands of the
opposition for an independent national election commission.
I was not surprised by this and other events surrounding the upcoming
election. It is an illusion to expect a dictator who seized power
by force to relinquish it through a ballot box.....
Government
Neglect and the Rights of Citizens: The HVA Case at the United
Nations
Tecola
Hagos January 15, 2005 At
the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations’ Human
Rights Commission Sixtieth Session, the Ethiopian Government
was contacted to respond on the issue of pollution and the
effect of chemical residue (florid) affecting Ethiopians at
[Wonji, Metehara] sugar processing plants. It is the
responsibility of the current Ethiopian Government to preserve
and promote the wellness of its citizens. Rather than spending
tremendous resources in hosting international conferences and
building airports and buying expensive cars et cetera the
Government of Meles Zenawi should have concentrated on such
serious matters that had affected the lives of tens of
thousands of Ethiopians. It is a shame that such government
leaders,....
Historic
Meeting in Chicago :Ushering Reconciliation
On
January 9, 2005, a spirited public me | | |
is
giving us alternative views and approaches: a challenge to
opposition parties and the EPRDF on how to achieve a democratic
Ethiopia through peaceful political processes. He introduced a set
of analytical tools and frameworks that show how to navigate on
the unchartered and risky political sea of our Ethiopia. He laid
the basis of a modern political process through reconciliation and
understanding of our political and cultural diversity.