That Woman and the prisoners
People here say Meles Zenawi and Vicki Huddleston are two cheeks of the same backside. Everyplace the American Charge d'affairs goes these days, she is reminded of that by brave Ethiopians. On Friday, she and Donald Yamamoto went to Kahliti prison to meet five jailed CUD leaders; Hailu Shawel, Birhanu Nega, Mesfin Woldemariam, Befekadu Degfe and Yacob Hailemariam. I was told that they met them individually. Vicki Huddleston had to face the wrath of all of them. She was questioned whether it was customary for ambassadors to create surrogate political parties. When she asked if they would ask for amnesty to be released from jail, an angry Dr. Befekadu told her that the only force that should ask for Amnesty is EPRDF...and it shouldn't ask them but the Ethiopian people. Donald Yamamoto learned Vicki's post woman status with embarrassment.