Dr Yacob Hailemariam
A senior member of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (Kinijit), Dr Yacob Hailemariam, has informed his colleagues that he will not present himself for the top leadership of the party after the general meeting this coming weekend.
The main reason Dr Yacob, an international legal expert who had prosecuted genocide suspects in Rwanda, is that the Meles regime in Ethiopia has left open no political space in the country for opposition parties to operate. Dr Yacob, however, will remain as member of UDJ, according to ER sources.
This coming weekend, UDJ will hold its general assembly meeting to decide how the party should move forward and to also elect new leaders. So far, five of the party's most senior leaders, Ato Muluneh Eyoel, Dr Befikadu Degife, Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam, Dr Yacob Hailemariam, and Ato Seleshi Tena, have made their intention clear not be part of the leadership, citing the extremely hostile political climate in the country created by the U.S.-financed dictatorship of Meles Zenawi.
The decision made by Dr Yacob, Ato Muluneh and others not to play a leadership role under the circumstances demonstrates their high moral character and integrity.
The other UDJ leaders need to make the same decision, and suspend all their activities in Ethiopia. They need to also withdraw the application they submitted to the fake election board, tear it apart and put it in a trash bin as a form of protest.
Suspending their operation doesn't mean disbanding the party. It only means that they do not accept and submit to Woyanne's lawlessness.
This coming weekend, at the party's general assembly, UDJ needs to demonstrate that it stands for the rule of law, and represents the interests of the people of Ethiopia by doing the right thing — do not give legitimacy to the Woyanne fascist regime. Instead, the UDJ general assembly can do the following:
1) Pass a resolution stating that the Meles dictatorship has no mandate to govern and must step down.
2) Decide that UDJ will not operate inside Ethiopia as a political party due to the gross political repression. Suspend all of the party's operations, except informal meetings, and occasional press statements exposing Woyanne's crimes.
3) Release all Kinijit support committees around the world from their obligation to UDJ so that the support committees will decide their own future course of action — preferably joining the Ginbot 7 Movement while maintaining their legal status as Kinijit support committees.
It must be noted here that Ginbot 7 is a political movement and it has only one mission — to remove Woyanne and install a transitional government with a 2-year term. UDJ could reclaim its name, Kinijit, and participate in that election, and the support committees would play a major role at that time. For now there is nothing they can do. Other organizations that are rallying behind or creating alliances with Ginbot 7 can do the same thing when a fair and free election is held after Woyanne is eliminated.
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I can give a 101 crush course book from the archieves of EPRDF titled "introduction on how to engage in political struggle"
June 13th, 2008 at 3:09 AM
Clever thinking!!!!!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 3:29 AM
Eliase,
What do you think of Eng.Hailu Shawels' position on this issue. He is now disturbing and intimidating using medias
here in Addis. Can any body say something,his interest?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:59 AM
Hilu Shawell is nut
June 13th, 2008 at 6:42 AM
Dr yacob`s move is a smart one and others should follow the same path.It is pretty clear that there is no space for peacefull political strugle,UDJ knows how weyane made it difficult for them even to secure a single rental office let alone other activities through intimidating those who agree to rent their buildings.So in such condition how do they expect us to support them?
I agree with elias view that they should let all the support groups free so that all the people can come together under Ginbot 7 movement.
Please note that this writer is one of the millions who were actively participating and supporting kinjit during 2005 election
June 13th, 2008 at 7:49 AM
Thank you DR.Yacob in the country were there is no justice no need for a lawyer.Liars like Zerawi aka wenazi plenty of them.Great move.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Concerning Eng. Hailu Shawel, he will do it again. He will organize, mobilize, and encourage the people of Ethiopia as he has done it before. Arbenaw Hailu Shawel will not call it Quit.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:53 AM
Eng.Hailu Shawel the true son of Ethiopian remain a hero at the end and lead Kinijit to victoty and form a coaltion governmebt that lead Ethiopia to the better acheievment
Trust me !!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Dr. Yakob thanks for all you have done for the ethiopian people, history wont forget your best credit. I hope you will continue to do the best in the situations that fits you. By the way, can some body tell this moron hailu shawel to stop dancing with the same music. The ethiopian people problem is changing with the worst situations everyday while he still singinig the same music that he has sung here in America for six month in a row with some hope less EPRP memebers that hasn't moved thier ass for 35 years except distrubing best political figures everytime. Ato Hailu SELE MEDIHANIALEM ARFEH TEKEMET BAKEH….they said KAREGU AYBEGU
June 13th, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Hailu Shawel is not a nut. He is a leader of a major party in Ethiopia.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Ithink most of the popular leaders taking the right step and the rest of the leaders also follow this action as soon as possible.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Is there some who can show me a hope in Ethiopia, that there will no be a dictator forget hunger and war?…is there anybody who looks forward and see clearly there will be fair government in Ethiopia at least in the coming 50 years(if me or the next generation can see)…but me I am doubtful..i am becoming pessimist.because because..I see Ethiopia divided(thanks to woyane) even if woyane leave..he has put the country in to so many mases..they divide people with race..they give land to sudan(which we are expected to fieght to return)he burnt peaceful ethiopian Somalians home in ogaden…so they feeling now separating from ethiopia..) i didn't forget effect of creating a racially divide region) …so let me tell you everybody…the solutions is simple and powerful…that is pray to the almighty God…he is the only chance we have…sory to tell you this…i stop atleast for the time being to think a unit ethiopia but my fear and pray is to the people that are suffering,dieing with hunger, war…i am thinking to the young people who never see a peaceful life…i am worrying to kids who were and still are dieing of hunger and malunitration…i am praying to the people who have been opressed and killed for no good reason…i am crying to the people die of diseases ……….
June 13th, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I agree 100%. There is no point in posing as an opposition in a place where opposition is banned. I don't have anything to add to the points Elias outlined. They should announce their situation to the Ethiopian people and let the struggle exile. Armed struggle has become the only way to liberate our country. Ginbot7, OLF, ONLF, EPPF, and the rest should join together.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:01 PM
It is a very weak and crippled way to try to change Kinjit's name. The name of the party elected by 26 million people should not be changed by order of Weyanes in the first place. Birtukan made big miscalculation to attempt to change the party name. The worst part is that she went to the country side to collect signatures. Why you need signatures again?? Why cant we be smarter than weyanes? Dont we understand Weyanes will never give up power peacefully. There is no such way to operate legally under TPLF rule. Kinjit must now organize itself in underground just like ANC south africa did for 27 years and won finally! I believe Eng. Hailu's group has filed suit to get back the party name. We shall see what happens in weyane controlled courts.
At this time, we should support all those who are fighting TPLF provided they support ethiopia's unity.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Wayane will never nevr give up power peacefully
We must fight for our right
please follow Dr. Berhanu
June 14th, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Underground insurgency in the urban areas and outright war in rural areas is the only way to liberate the country. We should drive this idea. It might take time, but it is the only way.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:12 PM
I think Hailu Shawul is dead.Why should we care about the dead one.leave him and the dead will baried him.It is time to rally a round Ginbot 7 and others to kill the fascist Woyane.
Thank u Dr.yaekob arriving on that decision and I hope u will join Dr.Birihanu and his collegues.
thanks
June 16th, 2008 at 4:31 PM
I think quiting is not a solution. Let UDJ be active in Ethiopia and woyanne will again repress it and this will justify then the strugle of Ginbot7.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:45 AM