Muzzling young democracy enthusiasts is not easy. Ask the Junta's leaders in Burma. Or Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Having failed to stop people using text messaging to organize during the election, the Meles administration had switched off the SMS service. It is back now; and so are the political exchanges. On Tuesday, just hours after the American House of Representatives passed HR2003, people started to text each other, expressing their delight. "Demachin Feso Aykerim. Enkuan Des Yalen Ethiopiayawiyan," one texter's message reads.
Since the Bill's passage by the International Affairs Committee of the house, a lot of young Ethiopians have turned into amateur commentators on the American law making process. Professor Al Mariam's statements about the Bill's progress on the VOA are qouted in the middle of conversations. Some are worried about President Bush's veto. But then they mention Al Mariam's analysis that Bush isn't a kind of leader who uses his veto power frequently and their faces flicker with hope. Some are concerned about what would happen to the Kinijit delegate members who supported the bill openly when they come back to Ethiopia. Some praise US congress members and marvel the democracy in America. They wonder how representatives from George Bush's party voted for the bill in the face of opposition from him. They know that in Ethiopia the law is what Meles says.
EPRDF supporters are furious. In their spin room at the Sheraton - the Office Bar - Costantinos Berhe and co. lampoon American politics. Rep. Donald Payne is a favourite target. His intellect is questioned. Ted Dagne's role in manipulating the congressman is mentioned. Self appointed investigators explain how Payne's sympathy for the Eritrean cause is what is behind his drive to see the Ethiopian government destroyed. But like the young democracy enthusiasts, the EPRDFites at the office bar aren't without hope. They claim that senators understand America's strategic interests in the Horn of Africa better than members of the house of representatives. They bask in the expectation that enough senators will say "Nay" to a bill which makes the Meles regime accountable to fundamental human rights laws and principles.
24 comments:
EPRDFiates are cockroaches. They disappear when the day light comes. Aaiga, Reporter, Walta et seq are their tentacles. Let a thousand flourish. They are forces of the dark times. A bat doesnot operate in the light. They will vanish into thin air. Year 2000 is the beginning of the Golden era. Gonna are their days. On spray is enough for a bunch of a thousand cockroaches.Time gave them a chance and did not utilized it.
Costantinos is advisory to Patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox church.More over he is the board member of African Humanitarian Action which is running in 15 countries and the chairman Dawit Zewde.So better to be on the side of the truth.Costini,please stand on your genunie concious not in your impressions.
I didn't know Rep. Donald Payne is "sympathetic to the Eritrean cause". Was he sympathetic when they were waging gorilla fighting or still is ?
If he was before their so-called independence, who cares about that anymore.... it is history.
EZ, first I have to thank you for
what you are doing to bring about democracy in Ethiopia. Long may it continue.
TPLF is not dead yet, but the passing of Hr2003 by 435 legislators of the worlds only super power without objection, is equivalent to putting a loose rope on the neck of Woyanes and nobody realises better than Woyanes about the snowball effect of this Bill. Simply, they are afraid of the concequence. War on terror-Somalia and now Darfur ,......., will not be an excuse!!
On top of that the kind of support the CUDP leders are gating where ever they go is scaring the sh*t out of them. Can you imagin, with a little bit of unity, and organisation, what this imense potential force can do? I will live it to you.
Please Organize...organize...organize
our dear Amb sammy is insane... in that really scary 'how low can an opportunist humiliate himself' kind of way.
But we wont you to resign, sammicho. stay. roll. frtch.
But if sammy, allegdely memebr of the very few "educated" TPLFites , resigns , who will replace him? the dedebit cadres? . He is the best woyane can offer. The nation is under seige- opportunits , morons , greedy pseudointellectuals are pillaging Ethiopia.
Errrrrrri bey agreeee
This is Ethioinfo again...Well Well Well. Zagol Do you see the light? Exposing problems of a few and magnifying it (see Gizachew interview) before the Kinijit leaders go to US to present themselves to the Diaspora and more importantly to Congress will be remembered as a major major blunder. You have lost your effectiveness by that silly interview -Collective Leadership. The Senators are more important that the Congress people and why would they stick their neck out when even the leaders of Kinijit can not get along. Is the light getting brighter now? Why would a sympathetic senator make an effort to convince his colleagues when the diaspora is not a major money donator? Are you blinded yet?
Delivertative-Indeed.
Dear Netters,
I know Costantinos Berhe (Koste) since his college days. Koste is a power monger dedicated to sell his soul for the smallest post available in the power room. Days after his graduation he came to Arat Kilo campus carrying a samsonite bag and telling every one he met that he has been employed as lecturer by AAU. During his time as a section head at the Forestry research centre, he filled all vacancies with people from Adwa with out any qualifications. He was licking the boots of all Derg cadres until he was missakenly thrown to Kerchele and got recruited for Woyane. Do not expect any use from Koste. He soon will change suit when the days of woyane is over, if not Kemilse tsegur yinekel.
Ambash
EZ,
One more info. I think if it means anything Constantinos is brother in law to Siyoum Mesfin. It seems a family affair on top of everything. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong but I am sure this is the case.
I am surprized many blogs in the diaspora made no comments about the factional struggle within CUD. They could have urged both sides of the conflict to restraint themselves and avoid the cannibalization currently underway within CUD. Instead, many are dumping on anybody urging moderation. In doing so, they are only satisfying themselves, not contributing to the democratization of Ethiopia. It does not take a lot of courage to criticize the the EPDRF in the USA. But it takes a courage to criticize the lunatics in the diaspora. They should save us from the empty potification from their comfort in the US.
With respect to the HR 2003, I would argue that it was ill-timed by the mere fact that Congress was pushed to pass this motion soon after the government released the leaders of the opposition and other 17,000 prisoners. The actions of the supporters of this motion shows that many of the leaders of the diaspora are not interesting in finding a solution to the political impasse in Ethiopia. By snubbing the government's gesture (however belated it is) they have chosen to escalate the political crisis that has engulfed Ethiopia in the past two years. It takes courage to sit down with your enemy and find a way of out an impasse.
If Ethiopians are to get out of the mess they are in, the government and the opposition have to talk to each other. The theatrics around HR 2003 only strengthens the extremists in both the government and the opposition.
anon 8:14pm
HR2003 does more to protect minorities than anything. A cool analysis should make this favorable legislation for the current rulers. Indiscriminate jailing and East German type control creates more ill will, nothing more.
You cannot reason with EPRDF/ TPLF bunch of thugs (supporters).
They cannot defend the undefinable tyrant and the failed state of Ethiopia. We all remember that how Samuel Assefa, Ethiopia's ambassador in Washington, was utterly and disgracefully failed on Foreign Affairs just to do that. So they have now started to gossip about conspiracy by individuals, such as the honourable Donald Payne and Ted Dagne.
SWDU
Anonimous said,
With respect to the HR 2003, I would argue that it was ill-timed by the mere fact that Congress was pushed to pass this motion soon after the government released the leaders of the opposition and other 17,000 prisoners. The actions of the supporters of this motion shows that many....
We say,
Too little to late!
Freedom is not Mr Meles's private property charitable as and when he wishes to the Ethiopian people. The message of HR2003 is free yourselves and others from dictatorial rule.
Abesh
EZ,
These days...the Weyane are going crazy !!!! Their family is highly disturbed! Their fate is hopeless.
They start to cry ...they are under a sentance of death.
Admach
The Tplfiest are trying hard to convince us that the HR2003 bill is pushed by pro-Eritrea Donald Payne. This is just an insult to our intelligence. Can the Tplfiests argue to convince people in a decent way without mentioning the word Eritrea once in thier life time? They were telling us the bill was already dead. Is there any tommorow in Tplf house? and whats wrong on being symphetatic to Eritrea? As an impartial American lawmaker can't one be both pro-Ethiopia and pro-Eritrea? Tplfiests would like to see blind supporters like Jendai Frazer.
The kidish weyane site aigaforum went nuts these days. In one of "investigative reports" aiga states that Mr. Gregory Fox who used to be a lawyer for Eritrean government lives in Los Angeles, and according to aiga's funny logic he must be coaching Prof. Al Mariam and Meron Ahadu just because they happen to live in the same city. Can you believe this? They even posted Ted Dagne's picture with Kinijit leaders in Congressman Payne's office. I don't understand the point they are trying to make. What does that mean? whats wrong with having a picture with kiniit leaders? Are Tplfiests normal? I suspect thier state of mind.
What is it with TPLFs and Eritrea? What jokers they are.
Nothing can remain hidden forever. TPLF's anger is now showing and exposing its true face.
Not all white Americans were convinced that hispanics and blacks were being mistreated by LAPD until Rodney King [beatings on video].
Likewise:
Now the whole world knows Zenawi is a Tyrant. Ethiopians knew TPLF was a fascist minority regime for a long while but it took SHIBERE DESALEGN and thousands of innocent Ethiopians' innocent blood to convince the western donors like USA government, EU and Angela Merkel, not to give bullets [including money for TPLF/AGAZI's thousands of killers and supporter cadres that live very comfortably both in Ethiopia and here in Europe and USA with USA and EU money] to Zenawi to kill more freedom loving innocents.
The Aigaities led by Zeru Hagos (AKA Aba Mela) are calling for
"The silent majority" to organize and support EPDRF.
Akkkk, The silent majority? Who is the silent majority? The TPLF supporters?
Indeed the majority of the Ethiopians who live in the diaspora detest the TPLF.
I don't know who the Aigaities are trying to hoodwink?
The EPDRF supporters opened a paltalk room known as the Ethiopians in the Diaspora Room.
The owner of the room is a TPLF apologist known as Bini. Bini tries to bring more Ethilopians to his pal talk room and creat confusion.
The Diaspora room is opened to counter the famous Pro Ethiopian, Pro Kinijit The Ethiopian Current Affairs Forum Room.
Shalequa Yosef Yazew and Ato Bedru Adem were interviewed in the Diaspora Room.
It is mela dramatic that the Shalequa was interviewed by the TPLF apologist Benyam Kebede from Ethiopia First.com
When push come to shove, the true color of Benyam Kebere came to existance. Now he is preaching the TPLF's ethnic federalism with Zeru Hagos and Negussie Woldemichael from Hager Fikir Radio.
Hager Fikir Radio run out of fund and it couldn't operate.
There is a rummor in the city that Kostantinos Berehe is not a PhD.
He only got a masters and he bestowed himself with a PhD.
Kosta, you need to face the reality.
Dr. Kostantinos? Akkkkkkkkk
I doubt if Kosta has a Masters leave alone a Ph.D
I know the TPLF apologist Kostantinos Berehe from our University days. Kostantinos is a bigamist who is fighting for "Human Right".
Kostantinos is married and has kids from his first wife.
He also has a second wife and he is a well know bigamist in the Meles/seyoum Mesfin's circle.
Kosta, before you fight for
"Human Right", you need to act up and settle with only one wife. But, which wife? Wife#A or Wife#B?
SOMA
The goal of kinijit is to bring freedom,jusctice,libetry,human right and democracy to Ethiopians.
These moto for the first time was manifested by its leaders determination to confront the dictatorial leaders of TPLF.
They have stood firm and stead fast under the threat of death or life imprisonment.
Today when they are shaking the foundation of tribal based TPLF dictatorial leadership we are seening split in kinijit.
The split is for good reason because the struggle is becoming intense and leading to the final show down bettwen tyrany and democracy it between criminals tugs and true states men and women.
I saw apicturial exibit of Behanu nega on ethiolion .com during celebreation of TPLF/EPLF victory in addis.
CHECK THIS ONE AND MAKE UP YOUR MIND
In these picture I saw strange bed fellows guse who SHEMAGLE PROF.EPHREM ,BERHANU NEGA ,BERHANU NEGA ,MELESE AND ISAYAS.
What really makes Dr. Constantinos a target of Ethiozagol?
Don't of feel ashamed when you are willing to tarnish the name of an individual because he happens to be not on your side?
That willingness to victimize somebody only because he is not with you makes you guys a scary bunch?
anonymous said...
"What really makes Dr. Constantinos a target of Ethiozagol?"
Which Dr Costantinos are you talking about?
If you mean Costantinos Berhe, son of Italian banda,Yes he is he is Mr Zenawi's spin doctor. We are not against his personality but his manipulative and destructive politics. No one can is indespensable this days, even spin doctors.
Arega
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