FALKIRK, Scotland (AP)— Two runners and two hurdlers from Ethiopia were reported missing Tuesday after leaving their hotel before a track and field meet in Scotland.
The four are Betelhem Shewatatek (women’s 200 meters), Feleke Bekele (400 hurdles), Hagos Tadesse (men’s 400) and Tirehas Haileselassie (hurdles).
Scottish Athletics chief executive Geoff Wightman said his organization reported their disappearance to the police.
The Ethiopians were to compete Wednesday in the Falkirk Cup, a meet also featuring England, Ireland and Scotland. The four athletes are not regulars at major meets.
“My colleague actually tried to restrain two of them but they ran off,” said Dagmawit Amare, who is part of Ethiopia’s team management in Scotland and has been working with Scottish Athletics. “This is such a sad thing to happen for my country and the sport.”
16 thoughts on “4 Ethiopian athletes missing in Scotland”
This is such a sad thing to happen for my country and the sport.” Said Poor Dagmawi. Which country and which sport is he talking about? The guys have done the right thing he (Dagmawi) should do the same. Thse brve guys are forced to abandon their beloved country and sport coz of the dictatorial junta in Ethiopia.
Good luck in your second democratic and free country guys, and keep the sport activities alive. you are Ethios brave sons and daughters any way where ever u are
hey guys,
This is sad what ever reason they have, it will be in the history of our beloved country. I don’t have to remind you how much we are happy of kenenisa… it was not about him, it is not about woyanne. it is about Ethiopia. Whatever story they make up it will be unacceptable. There is less probable this folks will have the common woyanne theory. I hope you understand what I mean. it is shame shame shame, representing your country and betraying by making up story, again let me repeat it is unfortunate for Ethiopians to take this. we have to disapprove what they did… irrespective of their story.
my two pennies.
to poor Aklilu
you don’t understand how hard is life in scotland…these Ethiopians should run and win poverty…they can live a very luxurious life in Eth unlike you poor fellow….
Funny, I did not know Tigrians also seek asylem too.
At least these two are Tigres or Eritreans ….Hagos Tadesse (men’s 400) and Tirehas Haile Selassie (hurdles).
Dagmawi said- This is such a sad thing to happen for my country and the sport. After all what competence makes you to hold the position? All missing athlets are Tigre, No oromos are among those missed. Now we clearly now who love emye ethiopia and die for her.
Good luck habesha
After few days or months, the Ethiopian ambassadors to foreign countries will be missing, followed by the Ethiopian parliamentarians, followed by the Ethiopian army generals, followed by the Ethiopian high business officials, followed by the Ethiopian university professors, followed by Azeb Mesfin and her children. Finally, Meles Zenawi will be caught at the Ethiopian Air Port while trying to flee the country.
It is very sad. Akilu H for which country do you think they will run for Ethiopia? weyane is not getting a thing out of them it is Ethiopia that is recognized. Look at Kenenisa and Haile do you want them to run for Italy, USA or England. Some times let think befor we write gobez.
I know woyane supporters have justification for the defection of theses athletes. “It is economical not political”
Just like soccer players used to defect to their host countries during Derge era it is happening again under Woyane’s regime. This shows how unhappy people are. You cannot hold people hostages in their own country; they will take full advantage when opportunity like this comes to get away from the wretchedness imposed upon them.
good job our beloved poor Athlets,tell the world the intire Ethiopia is suffering under iron fist of Murderiouse ethno centeric fascistic regim of Woyane which has no respect for the poeple or our mother land.why give good immage for this corrapted gangister group of Meles?Meles and his clan care only about the publicity they get when our hero athlets get more trophies,so that the world thinks Ethiopia is doing fine.Ethiopia is not doing fine,Ethiopia is sick,very sick.actualy Ethiopia is dying.we have to tell the world this reality.every thing is for sale as far as Tigray base woyanes(looters)are concerned,including our athlets great victories, even though they know they are doing it for their mother land.
To SolFkr
Yeah solFkr every time I hear Meles saying our economy is progressing with 11% I realize that Ethiopia is more prosperous than scottland and life is much easier in Ethiopia than in Scottland. The guys who sought asylum must have missed this reality. If u know what i mean :) Did u say “they can live a very luxurious life in Eth unlike you poor fellow….” Hmmm As if luxureous life ( I mean materially) is good enaugh to live in Ethiopia. I bet the director of ETC and other brainy ethios had a much beter life than that of mine and your in diaspora,how ever they ended up resigning in foreign countries
And you senait I agree with you that these athlets should run for Ethiopia unforunately Ethiopia is run by a notorius dictator, hence every Ethiopian is taking any advantage to leave the country abondening his/her carrier and nation. It is sad but that is the reality in todays Ethiopia.
By the way are u sure that Kenenisa , haile and the otheres will not do the same if the dictator continues his ethnic brutality,, God blees
To Senait
Actually I want Haile and kenenisa to run for Italy.
the military trained most of ethiopian athlets before woyane most of them are dissapeared from dictator derg.woyane military trained agazi it is danger too athlets if anybody try some thing againist woyanes to do.sport fedretion known as the same like churchs woyane theatr stage.
The following is a joke that Egyptians made in late 1960s about their then president Gamal Abdinasir who was a brutal dictator:
One day the president’s motorcade passedby the passport office in Cairo and he noticed a long line of people at the passport office. He then asked his companions why people were queuing?. He was told that they wanted to have passports and leave the country. He then asked where they were going to? He was told abroad.
The president then told his driver to stop, got out of the vehicle and joined the queue.
When passport applicants noticed that the president joined the line up, they all left and went home. When asked why, they said that they were running away from him and if he is leaving the country then everybody will be happy to stay at home.
Now that it seems that every Ethiopian who has the opportunity to fled the country is doing so, perhaps Meles should leave on his own will (and in the process spare Ethiopians from the hardship)before it is too to do so.
ታምሩ ወርቁ
በመጀመርያ የሩጫ ነገር ወደት እያመረ መሆኑ አሳሳቢ ሁኒታ ነው .በመቀጠል አሁን ጠፎ የተባሉት 4 ሴቶች ለዘህ እሩጫ መተው መጥፍት በጣም አሳዛ
ኝ ዜና ነው
This is the crime some failed and hopeless Diasporas in Europe committing.
More than 90% African Immigrants and mainly 99% of the Educated are not making any meaningful life in Western Europe. Many of them have lost their very important life (age) for nothing. Many of them have forced to lose their knowledge by doing jobs that are not compatible with their qualification and interest. Many of them are living to eat and when they get food, cloth, housing and the like’s basic needs, then, their life in Europe is achieved.
The system is intentionally created to treat them this way in order the immigrants do not make any living such as having a family life and children and be part of the present and future in Europe. Ask and observe each and every one especially the well educated life in Western Europe.
Yet, these failed people are not telling the Truth back home(Africa) about life and circumstances they are living in order to save others making them not come to Europe. USA, Canada and the likes are too different for African immigrants than Europe. Not only you but your future generations will be considered as immigrants and they will be subjected to the bottom of the ladder for something good and on the top for something bad as it is going on right now.
I feel sorry for the Athletes. They are now entering in a life time hell on earth by choice.
Tell the truth about life in Europe. Save the innocents by making them to think twice and deciding not to come in Europe as immigrants. The world is changing very dramatically and the economic crisis is fastening it very rapidly. Stay at your home (country). Work with China, India, Japan, USA, Russia and others for your sake. Coming to Europe is now considered to be coming to the grave place in life.
Europe is now the past despite its past history was not good as Europe was the only one started the worst human tragedy in human history such as slavery, colonialism, racism and any thing bad against blacks and Africa done by them.
I am a former New Zealand runner now living in Britain.I was surprised that these athletes left their team. Representing your country is a huge honour, despite the troubles all nations have. This is the Ethiopia of Solomon and Sheba, Menelik…Lalibela…and the great tradition of Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde, Yifter, Gebreselassie and Bekele.
They will find Scotland very cold and England not much warmer in the winter. I hope they do the right thing and get some informed guidance.