Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam says Woyanne is
not the enemy of Ethiopia
Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, who is currently in Washington DC representing Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ, said at a meeting today (Sunday afteroon) that "we should not call a 'political opponent' like Woyanne an enemy." It's like a Jewish professor asking Israelis not to call Hitler or the Nazi party their "enemy."
In ridiculing those groups that have raised arms against Woyanne, Prof. Mesfin said at the meeting, which was held at the Marriott Hotel in Washington DC, that these organizations are sacrificing young Ethiopians just so that their leaders can come to power, arriving in Addis Ababa by plane.
Prof. Mesfin said that Woyanne will never give up power because 1) it has the blood of many innocent Ethiopians on its hands, and 2) it has amassed a great deal of wealth. Therefore, the professor explained, we must be able to forgive Woyanne for shedding the blood of innocent Ethiopians and that it needs to be allowed to keep the wealth it illegally amassed (plundered) if we want to see change in Ethiopia.
The professor was not done yet. He said we must be considerate to Woyanne. We have to try to understand the fears and concerns of the Meles gang.
Woyanne could not ever have done a better public relations job than what Prof. Mesfin did today to weaken the resolve of Ethiopians in the Diaspora against the fascist regime. He gave DLA Piper lobbysts and those Senators who are blocking H.R. 2003 a tool to use it against us. How is it possible now for the U.S. Senators to pass a law cutting aid to Woyanne when a prominent member of the opposition refuses to say that the Meles crime family is not the enemy of Ethiopia?
This is the very reason why Ethiopian Review wrote two weeks ago that the party Prof. Mesfin represents, UDJ, is a fake opposition party. UDJ is undermining the struggle by portraying Woyanne as a legitimate regime, at the same time campaigning against freedom fighters who are shooting back at Woyanne. UDJ turns out to be even worse than Beyene Petros's UEDF. At least Dr Beyene never attacks other opposition parties as Prof. Mesfin continues to do in every opportunity he gets.
Prof. Mesfin is a great scholar in the field of geography and a genuine and respected human rights advocate. For that we hold him in high esteem. But it is clear that he has no clue about politics or how to bring about political change in Ethiopia. Even worse, with all due respect, he has unknowingly become a tool for Woyanne. Meles, Azeb and gang can stop paying DLA Piper $50,000 per month since they now have a much more effective lobbyist in the person of Prof. Mesfin who is providing a free service.
In the next several weeks, Prof. Mesfin will visit several cities in the U.S. repeating the same messages to Ethiopians in North America. Those of us who support the brave Ethiopians who are shedding their blood to remove the Woyanne cancer from Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa will just ignore him.
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Sorry folks,
I am tempted to believe "Do we know what the hell we are doing"? If Weyane is not the enemy, who is please? How can the good professor compare the Demos and Reps in the US with the situation in Ethiopia? That is puzzling!!!
July 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Something is definitely wrong with the professor. He has
been flip-flopping with these types of assinine comments
for the last two years. I thought he said he was out of politics and once those who outshone him in Kinijit have left the party he is back in Andenet in the drivers seat.
masterminding the triangulation of a party that could have
played a role in Ethiopian politics. His eccentricity knows no bounds.
Yeah, if the fascist mafia is not the enemy of Ethiopia today, who is? Is it sinelity or sheer stupidity to compare
Obama vs. Clinton with the treasonous woyane, that is accused of war crimes and the muzzled opposition? Talk about
comparing apples to oranges. How sick!!!
July 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I think professor is getting older
July 6th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Hi Guys,
This is shocking and must be asked to explain what he wants
to say.
Regards,
Degu
July 6th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Selam All
The good Professor's real picture is coming in to light ! This is not new of Pro.Mesfin it was decleared after the death ofhead of Woyane's killing squad "Dehininet" Kinfe Gebremedhin by his words "ethiopia And Sew Atach "
So He has already destroyed his credential long ago !
Dehna koyu
July 6th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
When my old Geography Professor, Mesfin Woldemariam, expresses unfamiliar phrases to us in the diaspora such as ‘We should not call a “political opponent” like Woyanne an enemy,’ two words expressed in rage by Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, come immediately to my mind: maélet, maélet, means “Treason! Treason!” but I have to wait until I hear the whole thing.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
i think shemaglew bechechewal( hismental faculty is lil F**ed up")
July 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
We havent got the whole story of the meeting. Is nt it so early to comment before even we get the whole story?
Let us not rush.
cucusha
July 6th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Elias
Please try hard to understand what he was saying before commenting on his speech. Or atleast wait for a time to ask him this question to get further explanation before you supply ammunition for the woyanes.
Please, sir.
Thanks
July 6th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
The good professor is cosnfused. What does TPLF mean? Can anyone tell the professor that these people are working for one ethnic group? As their name clearly tells us, the woyanes are liberation fronts from the enemy others. Those others are we the non-tigreans. Well that is not and has not been only a name. They have shown us in the last long two decades what is in that evil name.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
No wonder the WOYANE hired guns "Piper Intl" suggested to Dr. Berhanu Nega that he follows the path Mesfin Woldemariam has chosen. Mesfin Woldemariam also enjoyed a very close relationship with Mengistu Hailemariam and with Haile Selassie before that advocating the same - mocking patriotic Ethiopians who laid down their life for free and democratic Ethiopia! It is time that he be heralded as a perrenial traitor or "BANDA".
July 6th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Elias,
Some people are asking you to wait for the full story. Please tell them that there is no justification enough, there is no reason enough, to come up with that kind sentence. The explanation doe not matter. If one says the Nazzis were not wrong, then we do not need any explanation to know a mental problem. How many people should die? How many should disappear? How many land should be confisicated from Wollo and Gondar and be given to Tigray and Sudan? How many teenage girls should be raped in Wolkayit and Ogaden by woyanie soldiers? How many of us should leave our country?
"Woyane is not enemy?" Call 911 please and let the ambulance take this professor to the hospital. He really needs help.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
The professor very well knows that woyane is the main enemy of the Ethiopian people. His speech is indirect. He just wanted to oppose the Ginbot 7 movement’s wise strategy and idea, currently become popular among rational people in the Diasporas. As one of my friends above says, the professor’s main enemy is those who outshine him, not woyane.
Better to ignore him. He is too old to deal with contemporary politics.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I think the professor is misquoted out of context. With out listening the whole speech it is unfair to put a judgment. Many people in our community are developing bad habit that is not wanting to listen any thing that we don't like. What is the point to engage in a discussion if we don't want to listen some ones point of view which could be different from ours? If we don’t agree with the other persons view, we can discuss it with respect and humility. It is not right to call the professor old or any other name just because we disagree with his view.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I did expect that he would say so.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
if weyane is not an enemy then it must be prof mesfin. i am sorry to recognise that he is weyane!
July 6th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Prof. Mesfin finally told the truth. I totally agree with his comments. The truth sometimes may suck, so I say take it like a man.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
He well knows that woyanne is the number 1 enemy, but he may not want to put as it is because of many reasons(from his party's point of view). He is telling us that Woyanne shed the blood of many innocent people with its gangs. So, only talking may provoke and aggravate the evil nature of the regime. And only action is needed rather than condemning Woyanne every time. The weakness of the opposition, the diaspora and the majority of the Ethiopian people in general make woyanne live longer. There should be massive public outrage and riot to overthrow the regime. This seems unlikely from the lack of patriotic nature of most of the people. This is the crystal clear fact. No event of history can be traced for the people to stand and attack those previous regimes. Yes, the people fought against the Fascist Italian colonialists for fear of its own regime. Now also there is a strong fear to stand against Woyanne. We need to change our culture and behaviour, and learn from other countries like Kenya. Otherwise, it is easy to talk a lot residing here in U.S.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Professor is getting it FINALY! A party (Woyane) that fought 30 +years on eliminating the DERG, and still continued fighting hard with the reminants here and there is not and will never be an enemy of Ethiopia. If WOYANE is going to be an enemy of Ethiopia then I think Ethiopia must not have a friend!!! Woyane is the best Ethiopia can get…Fighting to win on the root causes of POVERTY in Ethiopia…Justice in Ethiopia…
ER…OPEN UP before it is too late…
KURU ETHIOPIAWI..
July 6th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
good job Elias for exposing the truth .soon DLA piper stop
lobbying against HR2003 beceuase they have new lobbyst .
July 6th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
That is not what he said on his letter from prison, a little while back. "In the end those who are responsible for the death of the demonstrators will eventually get their day in court." What happened to that dear Proffesor?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
“Weyane is not Ethiopian enemy…”.Without contest, it is just a phrase.
What do you expect him to say? Majority of Tigreans support Weyane. It would be a mistake for him labeling Weyanes as Ethiopian enemies. It is simply politically incorrect and a blunder for his legacy with grave consequences for the country’s unity.
What surprises me is his analogy of Weynes’s savage attack on Ethiopians with Clinton vs. Obama campaign.
It is not his first time comparing apple and Orange. Many Ethiopians compare Weyane with Mussolini. On the other hand, Prof gives Weyane the comfort by telling them “you are not the exceptions; the previous regimes were also the same as you”.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I am not shocked at all. This is a professor in geography who is an expert in changing locations at a moment's notice. I was rather shocked when many of you were telling those 'glorifying' remarks about him. Some of you were telling me and million others that he was imprisoned by all consecutive regimes, including Haile Selassie. That is right, including Haile Selassie. KKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!How did he get out of the most dreaded prison of the Derg? How did he get out of the Derg prison and was able to 'sneak' out of the country more than once through Bole to Chicago to see his friend, the late Abraham Demoz? He never suspected that something harmful would have happened to him when he returned. Remember if the Derg thought that a person posed an intellectual problem, it would not give a flying tickling about the rest of the world. Quite often even if you decided to regret and beg for mercy. You would be gone in a flash. Hello?!!!!!!! He scrupled some notes about the Ogaden during the 'Dingay Dabbo Zemen'. Oh!!! That was like a word(words) of a miracle worker or rather of some one who is teh most intelligent person of his time. KKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! You are going to see the real him from now on. He may have to sneak in here during his next lobbying trips not because of EPRDF but to hide from Elias!!! Take this to the bank my friends!!!!
July 6th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Woyane din't even give a legal certificate fot UJD party to operate freely and it is making life difficult for them.
How come the good professor see the woyane/oppostion case the same as Obama/Clinton situation? Now this is too much for me, and I can't comprehend it.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
If Birtukan is a traitor, if ledetu is a traitor, Who is Prof. Mesfin? Does it exclude him from being one, the most power full tool for TPLF. Shiek phidophile is nothing compared to Prof. when it comes to poletical leverage. His speech is a tip of the ice thinking what he might have told prominent US poletician about Ethiopian politics in our(opposition) behalf. TPLF squezes any credibility from homeless not alone from well repected individuals like Prof. Mesfin. We need to ACT and tell them who they are and where they belong. No Yelugneta because he is old. " Komatan Komata Kalakew, nege lifetefit yinesal.", it's not poleticaly correct but it serves its purpose in Prof. Mesfin's case. Ethiopian politics is black and white, no grey area. Like the Texan idiot said "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists" What a shame to go down like this in history book. You wrote bad ending for yourself in a time where we need you the most. TPLF is robbing our love for our cherished people. Go G7.
Regards,
July 6th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
After long and bloody 18 years of TPLF's rule, do I need from Prof. Mesfin or anyone else for that matter to tell me who is and is not my enemy?. The answer is an emphatic NO.
With regards to those heroic Ethiopians who already made up their minds and took arms to fight against Woyanne, surely they would not entertain certain professor's lecture for they understood the Woyanner earlier and better than most of us.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hmmmmmm the great Ethiopian scholar professor mesfin woldemariam getting tired.?
July 6th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
My God,. what is the fuss all about? .. the Prof. is too intellect about how politics work, you all dummies dont get it,… thats all!
July 6th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Professor is changing strategy after long tine analyss,and life experience. The first and foremost principles of peacefull struggle is loving your enemys.While woyane says we are enemies it is corect to respond that we are not enemies but political opponents.It is not a liberation movement,it is how to resolve Ethiopian deadlocked politics,keeping what is acheved and moving forward without ever losing.
If enemity was the issue Mandella would have killed or at least kicked out all whites from South Africa.
The Ethiopian problem is not only the problem of the Government,it is also the people's.
Every one knows or made to believe that change of government is only possible thru armed strugle,and every one beleives that change of government guarantees social developement.Never.
Weather we like it or not EPRDF is now an addiction problem that does not go away without damage.
We donot have to kill the subjects of the addiction inorder to treat them.
This kind of struggle is difficult to accept but it is the only way,it will allow to slowly prepare the people for power,it will help strengthen the system before any one takes power first and start research later.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Now it is clear Wogenoche,
The only option we left is Ginbot 7 and other who are fighting in the name of one Ethiopia. Let us follow them.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
the good professor is right. If you think( or call at least) weyanne is enemy, there is no need for you to continue with peaceful so called struggle. you should get your own guns and go to the woods. most ethiopians don't know what the want. You call weyane enemy and at the same time expect it to be democratic. The same way I was puzzled about eritrea. most ethiopians think they belong to ethiopia but at the same time they consider them enemy and want to eradicate them from the face of the earth. grow up people.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
we r getting only one side of the story, we neeed to get the full part of this speech by the professor and we must be able to understand why he is saying all these new things. Something must be up. He knew something that he has never seen before about the woyangn gang. May be he sees the danger posed by woyan to destroy ethiopia, to escape accountablity. Woyang will do anything to get immunity for all the crimes they commited. One way to do this is to destroy ethiopia, so that no functional gov't will be there to press charges against them. The other way to get immunity by negotiotion, with the coming goverment or what soever.I guess the professor now fully realizes all these and wants to open dialogue with woyangn, to stop the regim from exercising distructive procedures to weaken Ethiopiansim and ethiopia.
GObez, let's wait and see don't rush to judge the professor…
he may have so many good reasons to change direction
July 6th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
What is the difference between the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Donald Yamamoto and Professor Mesfin Woldemariam when it comes to supporting the Meles’ corrupt regime? Both are the same: friends of the Woyanne regime and enemies of the Ethiopian people. Do you think both are promoting the Woyanne regime for free? Don’t fool yourself! They might have been paid millions of dollars to control the damages we the diaspora people have brought upon the Woyanne regime. The wealth Meles and his wife have amassed so far can change the Sahara Desert into oases, and so the Meles and Azeb stolen money can easily change the Professor’s mind from supporting UDJ to supporting the Woyanne regime.
It took us a long time to remove Hailu Shawel from our lists as our enemy, and now we have another headache more severe than the headache we got from Hailu Shawel and that is Professor Mesfin Woldemariam. The Prophet Micah is absolutely correct when he said: “… a man’s enemies are the members of his own household” (7:6). I’m frightened now than ever before that UDJ may have become an agent paid by Meles Zenawi to destroy Ginbot 7 and leave us without any organization that stands up against our common enemy – the Woyanne regime. We better avoid attending Professor Mesfin’s meeting and tell him that we are very disappointed to hear him say that Woyanne is our friend, not our enemy. What more do we want to hear from him? We have heard him from his own mouth that he is the friend of Woyanne, not ours; he has made us liars for speaking out that Woyanne is our enemy, but he is contradicting our assertion that Woyanne has indeed been our worst enemy; hour hope is now on Dr. Berhanu Nega, not on Professor Mesfin, who purpose betrayed us in front of a camera.
Bye, bye Professor Mesfin Woldemariam! You have chosen to support the rotten regime of Meles Zenawi, and it is your right to do so, but don’t try to meddle with Ginbot 7 led by Dr. Berhanu Nega, our supreme leader and the hope of all the Ethiopian people.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
If we have heard the Prof correctly he compared woyanes with fascist Italians who massacred thousands of Ethiopians but one thing we can't deny is, as he said, that they (woyanes) are Ethiopians - whether we like it or not. And he said what he said from that standpoint. I believe we have to understand him from that angle before we comment on his statements.
Thanks
July 6th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I found it interesting and a little disturbing that Prof. Mesfin spent a lot of time explaining that being jailed does not make some one a hero. Why did he have to dwell on that issue? I did not hear any of the other kinijit leaders claiming that they are heroes. Also I finding it telling about him that he was only worrying about the sacrifices his close family suffered by bringing him food to jail, while he failed to mention those students who were savagely beaten up and killed demanding the release of Kinijit leaders. He was lamenting the fact that his sister lost 20 kg, later jokingly saying that it may be for good. I found professor's speech today disappointing to say the least. He poorly represented his party. He speech was fool of contradictions. By the way, that other guy is much better. I think professor should stick to human rights.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Ethiopian Review, although this website delivers a lot of important news, it is heavily opinionated and thus your information loses its integrity, i come here to know what happened and i will make my own conclusions i dont need you to make them for me. That said i commend the staff who runs it because im sure its a daunting task running a news page. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and i wish we spent more time understanding eachother than becoming drumbeaters over a controversial statement. I believe the point the professor wants to make is:
1. If TPLF is alienated they will stick to their guns and we will regress to spilling the blood of young people therefore
2. It is better create an atmosphere where TPLF can be forgiven for their crimes and their excessive looting in order for them
3. Be open to the possibility of stepping down peacefully in a civil political arena (which i think is what he meant by the Obama reference)
Dear editors, i truly appreciate your hard work and im sure your efforts are widely recognized but there is always room for improvement. Insulting the professor's intelligence was not necessary anyway….
July 6th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
It is ridiculous to draw a conclusion with out getting the picture/context of his speech and argument. We are really in a very serious problem of not using healthy and constructive role. By the way, the well known people such as Professor Mesifin have no time to play with very silly ideas.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:02 am
May be the professor is trying to tame a wild beast who has been among herds of domestic animals by disguising itself. Obama and Clinton!!!!!!? I really couldn't comprehendwhat he wanted to say. One thing we need to do is tell Meles that your day is coming to be over and don't even think to take advantage of outdated philosophy of the confused professor.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I don't agree with the Prof. comment, but People, we have got to learn to TRUST our leaders. We all know the Prof. has spent all his life to bring about change in Ethiopia, for the better of the lives of ordinary Ethiopians. If we deny the Professor's commitment or wonder where he belongs to, we would never have one to lead.
ER, you guys should be more considerate b4 posting such kind of articles. I hope you will try to ask him,first hand, and brief us what he was talking about.
Thanks
July 7th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I do not trust Prof. Mesfin who infact has approved the massacre of 60 ethiopian Ministers and intellectuals during the Derg Regime as leader of Atari Commission. ! How on earth he tell us we should not see Weyane as enemy ?? The blood of 193 ethiopians massacred by Weyane Agazi Militia will hound him wherever he goes. He has to be flown from Addis to Washington tell us such garbage? dont we have any stronger fighters any more ? ay ethiopia.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Let the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of those murdered in cold blood decide if Woyyane is the enemy or not! Unless, of course, the good professor is suffering from
Alzheimer disease! I hope the professor would not be the presiding judge over the Woyyane criminals trial.
I'm afraid he would find all of them not guilty by reason of ….
It is one thing to support peaceful struggle. However,it is preposterous not to call Woyanne the enmey!
July 7th, 2008 at 1:11 am
This crazy "Professor" should be ashamed of himself. Weyanne and his sponsors are Ethiopia's mortal enemies, nothing more and nothing less.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Elias,
You're just against UDJ-Kinijit. That is all there is to it. Why do you take things out of context and confuse people. Prof. is being politically correct and trying to tell us the best way to do our thing. You're one dangerous human being. Ethiopia doesn't need you brother.
Go UDJ and G 7
July 7th, 2008 at 2:07 am
the so called prof mesfin has mastered the secret of surviving in ethiopian power house because this guy has worked and survived with haileselaise, mengustu, and now meles and he certainly will work with the future regimes. he has no principle or agenda but personal power ambition.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Dear Elias,
If possible, give us the full picture so that we can grasp the whole message of his speech. I am afraid, you are rushing to judge by taking just a sentence. It sounds that Prof. Mesfin is quoted out of context.
The only thing I do not accept is his comments about other opposition groups.
July 7th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Don't try to comment before hearing the full history. Elias, hope you heard what the professor said yesterday. Your report completely contradicts with what the professor said. You need to know first what enemy means and compare it with the words from the professor.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Another Garbage from ethiopianreview.com. What did the professor say actually? Do you have his speech. We can not come to decision just by reading your biased report. Let us hear or read his whole speech and we will be the judge. Whoever is writing this, Please have your own column in the site and anyone interested in your opinions can read that column. For those of us who need objective reporting, just write the news and we will be the judges. Again, please stop this I know better than the readers nonsense. This is a no brainer.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Gudfela!! we all know that kality is not a place for anyone to live in ofcourse there is no need for him to go back. Prof.Mesfine enjoying his freedom but he musn't get over excited,.. there are other ways to go about it…to be quite and get on his day to day life….what he is saying is very revolting to asy the least,…we all have grate respect to the Prof. his contribution to our country over the years but now he is back fireing,…I don't think any adult with a right mind would take his speech seriously….we will continue our struggle with all means,…for now for the Prof.is safe to go back home in fact he might have a red carpet treatment from the government.
July 7th, 2008 at 3:07 am
professor please retire u r 2 old 4 ethio politcs
July 7th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Prof. mesefen is compeleetely correcte and he is the right way
July 7th, 2008 at 3:53 am
For me, I gave up on the Prof. when I heard him lumping Berhanu and Shawel in same basket on his interview to VOA and blaming the split in kinjit on non-existing power struggle. To put it mildly, I found that to be an insult to my little intelligence. As we know now, it is the stubborn and dictatorial nature of Hailu Shawel, which was the cause of the split than any other thing. By the time the Prof, chose to speak out in such outrageous manner, we have had enough independent information from the prime source himself (Hailu) to decide, what caused the split. And now we have all this again from the professor. I am afraid the Prof. is suffering from a Melese syndrome - hatred for those who outshine him.
The Prof. has every right to say what he wants, but he should stop the his overt and covert negative campaign on G7, he should instead be focused on strategizing on how to get the little breathing space from Weyanes for the UDJ party of which I believe he is a member. The party desperately needs to get that from the merciless rulers of the current Ethiopia so that to start doing the smallest meaningful thing other than lending Weyane a helping hand to prolong its life on power and to consolidate even more political and economic power.
KY
July 7th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Eliase, Please read between the lines.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:07 am
This proffesor…..is confused a long time ago….when he say peacefull strugel not started yet…when he sent his chilgren and family in boston they are DR. and educated…while poor Ethiopian children massacerd by WOYANE…now this murderers are not ENEMY..???
GENBOT..7 is the only CHOISE…
July 7th, 2008 at 4:10 am
Dear Elias,
We are grateful what you are doing to put on light upon darkness. But I am afraid this time around you have started to work against Ethiopia. I think you want to direct the innocent Ethiopians in to your wrong direction. You are living far from Ethiopia and you want to control from remote. The battle field is Ethiopia. We don't accept what the ruling party is doing right now. But it doesn't mean they are enemy. Let us be human. No one is right perfect. We should give a room to see a good Ethiopia. Most people in Ethiopia support the idea of the Prof.Mesfin.We don't want to see blood shed in Ethiopia anymore. Those who think blood shedding from the remote we don't want to see you in Ethiopia with this mentality. We know you want power and we are not willing to give you. Elias, please stop to pretend like top politician. Everybody knows how the Prof.Mesfin is a great thinker. Don’t speak against him because he is not on your line of thinking. It makes you articles in the question. Let know help each other as an Ethiopians.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Dear Editor,
Would you mind posting a PDF version or a transcribed version of the speech, so that we all can see what he said (or what he did not say) for ourselves. Then only we can interpreate the meanining without the "good" mouth of a middle man.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:25 am
This is what Ethiopia has .Our intellectuals are destroying our beloved country, their thinking is far from reality and their PHD. Is on paper only .I am sorry to say prof. Mesfine is expected to mediate the CUD members rather he is pushing to go apart and now he is the owner of ANDNET PARTY, but we expect him to be political advisor not POLETICAL LEADER. All Ethiopians are in hunger of power why? A 78 years old man is seeking power why??? please don't push our youngsters to the next massacre by playing with TPLF….
July 7th, 2008 at 4:50 am
EPRDF will never give up power even if you forgive them.What is wrong with the honourable Prof. Mesfin?
July 7th, 2008 at 5:01 am
The Andenet party is a bunch of woyanne loyalists and we should not be surprized over the professor`s speech. Andenet is fast proving to be another arm of Meles Zenawi and serve him to improve his tarnished image.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Don't take someone's speech as it is….try to figure out and anlyse it…..
And, u r not in a position to criticise the great Ethiopian professor
July 7th, 2008 at 5:38 am
If Mesfin says Woyane is not an enemy, he better check a dictionary.
Woyane is a mortal enemy, an enemy that Ethiopians never encountered before including Musoloni, Turks, Arabs.
Meles is the worst enemy Ethiopia ever had.
Shame on the Prof. for prostituting to keep his skin out of jail.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Elias,
Can you pls post the whole report of Prof. Mesfin. I am confused, I want to read the whole story!
Tameru
July 7th, 2008 at 6:02 am
There is nothing bad as being ignorant of a subject matter. Gullible understanding of what a political process is, or how the process is different from the result in politics, leads people like ER editors to be erratic and arognat like this. Elias, you might be a good journalist with fanatic support to what you believe in, but, believe me, you need to learn a lot about politics.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:14 am
This is what I have been watching, during the meeting of Dr. Berhanu, Ana Gomez, in Europe, DLA Piper agent said, "why you Dr. Berhanu and the the like,do not oppose the Wayanne inside the country, LIKE Pro. Mesfine?"
I had a big question, that of today what Prof. said is understood by DLA piper agent. If blood is in their hand, justice has no place, people are running away, etc. What is this to Ethiopians and Ethiopia?
If at all the prof. wants to say, I may feel Waynnes are Ethiopians too, but they need to understand and respect other Ethiopians, as well.
The prof. has fundamental confflict of ideas, the power belongs to the PEOPLE, sooner or later, by wish or fish.
Prof. I think politics is not for you as it is not for me.
Good Luck Ethiopia with your truth loving Children.
I have no doubt Prof. loves his country, but,but,….
July 7th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Prof. mesefen is compeleetely correcte and he is the right way
July 7th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Would you mind posting a PDF version or a transcribed version of the speech, so that we all can see what he said (or what he did not say) for ourselves. Then only we can interpreate the meanining without the "good" mouth of a middle man.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:31 am
It is not "Woyane is not enemy " that i got destructive
rather his comment on armed struggle is purposely designed to divide the leaders from the people he tell us " they will come by plane to Addis after your sons die for Ethiopia" off course that is logic every body has his own responsibility for the armed struggle may be the one in the front may die or may not. Cool down prof??
July 7th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Dear Elias,
I am sorry, I don't think you understand what he is saying. What you wrote here is different from what he said (I listhened from your website). Is there any problem with you regarding UJDP? I am afraid, yes. You are totally biased.
Please others listen before commenting based on Elias's biased interprition!
Cheers
July 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I think Prof. Mesfin has clearly put the crimes of weyane in diffrent ways, however since prof. mesfin was speaking on behalf of UDJ an oppostion uses peaceful struggle in Ethiopia can not simply generalize weyane as an enemy in terms of words. So I urge everyone to think twice before we simply rush to conclusions. In stead what we should be worried is that what kind of strategy has been planned by UDJ to fight weyane especially in the up coming election 2010 from the major kinijit 8 points perspective and others. Listen action talks than words….so dont worry about the words and start focus on the pre-planned actions….I think let's keep giving the chance to Prof. Mesfin and other strong memebers of UDJ….
thanks
July 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
yetekeberu profin leteketatele(4 the the last 3 yeras)he is not doing well.he should resign from politics.Be ewnet elachihualew yeminagerut neger hulu eyewerede metual.Yeahunu zemecha gilts new G-7 eyagegne yemetawin teseminet lemadakem tasibo new.Any way to see the clear picture of the political situation in ethiopia please see Muluneh Eyoels speech on last saturday meeting arranged G-7
http://www.ethiopiazare.com/images/doc/pdf/speech/2008/080705_muluneh_dc_spech_g7.pdf
ethiopia lezelalem tinir
July 7th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Betam asazagn huneta!
What is the mission of Prof. Mesfin in the States? Did he come to tell us how Andenet will carry out the peaceful struggle or is he here to lambast other opposition groups who have taken alternative ways to struggle?
He is a typical 'ashmuregna shimagile' who is pointing fingers at others and sending poisonous message to supporters of other groups. Endet yaltadeln sewotch nen ebakachiu?
So, far, I haven't heard the other groups talking ill of the Andenet party other than telling us that everybody could struggle in the way and manner it so wishes so long as the end result is institutionalizing democracy in our country.
We wasted our precious time just to listen to alubalta and ashmur from a supposedly learned geography tutor.
Shame!
July 7th, 2008 at 8:38 am
That is our problem, we copy but not properly, we compare those that are not comparable. TPLF is not a party it is a liberation front but they are doing business at the expense of poor Tigreans who are victims of Meles tyranny like other brother and sisters all over Ethiopia.
Hitler or Mussoloni were also claiming to do good for their respective countries i.e. Germany and Italy. But one can not build the German or Italian nation by exploiting other nations or killing other people.
Meles and co are claiming that they are building a greater Tigrai and freeing other nationalities and claiming to be a better Master. But how long. It is no secret that the Federal regions are ruled by Tigrean cadres although some hodams (Guletchas) are just sitting claiming to be federal leaders.
It is my great conviction that the Tigreans will allow indefinately that a group of inter-married mafia groups trade in their name. They should fight with other Ethiopians to free from tyranny and poverty. Our brothers and sisters in Somalia (Ogaden), Southern regions, the Ormos, Afars and several nationalities in Ethiopia need freedom not a better master. A killer is a killer whether his name is Mengistu or Meles
July 7th, 2008 at 9:39 am
In my opinion, most people who write on this website as well as other print and broadcast media covering Ethiopian politics seem to have very little knowledge of Prof Mesfin. I have known the Professor for the last 35 years. To put it mildly he has always been the most controversial person. During his tenure at Haile Selassie University (the current Addis Ababa University) he has always been, one way or another, opposed to the Ethiopian Students Movement or no positive contribution except criticizing everybody. He was simply at odds with many of the then scholars including Drs. Eshetu Chole, Assefa etc. One contemporarey of his told me he is a man with no integrity - his arguments are always very destructive and "Oh yes" very Power Hungry - A critic simply to promote his ego. I don't know where this "great Professor" label came from…. maybe good enough to satify his insatiable ego but that is far from the truth!
To fill his power thirst the Emperor Haile Selassie gave him a position of District Administrator (Awraja Geji). He was then tested and labeled as a man who can talk but with no substance and he returned to the University. Again during the tenure of the Dergue, he assumed "Mermari Commission" position and got very close to Mengistu - by condemning intellectuals who dwarfed his ego and to win favor from Mengistu. Because of his lack of integrity, Mengistu also denied him a position of power. BTW he was very close to Mengistu and the rest of the Dergue hierarchy!!!
He is a very bitter man whose chauvinistic statements against Oromos, Somalis and all other non-amara ethnic group is well documented.
It is this man who is now trying to put down our heroes who are fighting woyane in the bushes and those inspiring us to do the same.
Could this be his chauvinistic awakening???
Long live the progressive leaders of tomorrow's Democratic Ethiopia - OLF, ONLF, Ginbot 7, the Ethiopian Patriotic Front etc.
__________________________________________________
July 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
According to Encarta dictionary the word ‘Enemy’ is defined as: 'unfriendly opponent, somebody who hates or seeks to harm somebody or something.'
Given this definition, I understand that Prof. Mesfin has confused between citizenship and unfriendly political opponent. What makes two groups enemies is not their citizenship; instead important is the way they manage their relationship.
What we all know and the professor also explained is that Woyane Agazi Army used military power against peaceful demonstrators and used trained sharp shooters to kill them.
So, in human world would it be possible for the victims to consider the Woyane Agazi Army as friends, and their action just a simple mistake?
Moreover, given all the atrocities committed by ‘Woyane’, I can not understand the moral ground for criticising those who decided to raise arms in self defence against their oppressors.
In a free country where the rule of law is ensured political opposition can be run without hate and without seeking to harm one another. But in Ethiopia the fact is different. There has never been the rule of law. Those in authority have never allowed any meaningful opposition. They are always filled with hate against their opponents and are ready to harm them.
I do understand professor Mesfin’s interest in getting the country out of the trap of this political culture of unfriendly opposition. I do appreciate his desire to see a political culture free of hate being practiced in a united Ethiopia. That is also what I’m dreaming day and night. I do also believe that a forgiving heart and mind is actually what we all Ethiopians need; and ultimately it is the only means to end the crises in Ethiopia. However, I think that achieving all these good objectives requires a genuine process of transition where all stakeholders are treated fairly with truth and understanding. 'Washito Mastarek' although it seems possible it can not be sustainable. We can not encourage 'Woyane' to accept peace and reconciliation by disregarding the pain of the victims. Justice should be done before the criminals are pardoned.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Hello Friends,
First I want to tell you that I didn't listen all what he said and I am not fully informed in his explanation. Because of that I am neutral and want to tell you that my opinion is also based on that.
Having said that what is going on here … listen where are you living? Are you guys living in this world or in another planet?
Every body has his own opinion and based on that Professor Mesfin like any citizen explained his belief. That belief could be wrong or right. As such if in this world there is "absolute" right and wrong thing exist.
So what we have to do is open up for dialog not for personal attack(that will help the woyane significantly in their propoganda, we also saw that a lot in the past, please guys try not to repeat the same mistake).
I guss atleast Professor Mesfin in his heart he knew that they are the enamies of ethiopia and ethiopian. But saying that only will not take ethiopia anywhere so he might be creating a new strategy that help us how to avoid enamies without telling them that they are our enamy.
If that strategy is working I won't have problem by calling them enamy or not, because the main target is avoiding woyane from power, once they destroyed: there is rule and regulation, the people of ethiopia may decide to put them in the war criminal court at Hague - Swizerland or will get justice at home.
Therefore, guys please remember one thing from our old way of saying I will quote " MUYAA BELEB NEOW".
Even if his beliveve is unattainable lets respect eachothers' point of view and be open for dialog and new ideas that you might think better or best.
And lets try to develop this kind of behaviour that this specific opinion is his opinion. I may buy it or not .. period. Everybody is entitled free thinking and opinion, nobody has to take it from anybody … ALLAH/GOD given right. If we believe on that accept the reality!
We saw it in the past and we are seeing it now again and again that I want to assure you personal attack will help and strengthen Woyane more than anybody!!!
"Bertatune Yestenee !"
Toronto
July 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
The problem of the ER and most who are wrting against the professor is lack of using a proper language in your day to day activity. Because your problem is on the proper interpretyation of the word "enemy".
July 7th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I think most of you have no idea about what Enemy mean. The professor is trying to make it clear. I wouldn't call enemy someone who have a wrong policy. I wouldn't call enemy if someone has a different idea than mine.
If you call woyane as enemy, what do you expect the woyane will do. Woyane is far better from Enemy.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
To give a good judgement about the vocabularies of prof. Mesfin w.m. one has to listen to his speech carefully and properly.
On my personal understanding he has anylysed the behaviour of the Woyane gangs. He mentioned how they are suffering from anxiety, paranoid and jingoism. The characteristics of Woyane was thoroughly expressed. What do we deduce from his speech depends on how we interpret languages.
In Ethiopian political landscape there appears occasionally misunderstanding and phrase-mongering.
This has hurted the struggle for togetherness.
Eventhough the Woyanes came to power by boasting of crashing the "enemy army" of Ethiopia and sowing the seeds of hatred among the people, Our people did not allow them such stupid thought to take the upper hand.
We have to be proud of our people.
Woyanes are doing against Ethiopian people as equal as any foreign enemies.
They build roads and buildings because they are preparing to pass over the country to different interested foreign nations later. to accomplish this job Milas Zenawi is the appropriate person. If we know that we have to deal with resolving adamantly.
he says there must be a genhine struggle and opposition not show off. That's all.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Bravo Prof. Mesfin use your wise mind and forget rubbish Criticism
July 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I think it is an excellent presentation.
Probably some of US hate what the Woyane people are doing but we are not willing to sacrifice our five minutes to challenge them. How many of us went to attend any of the anti-woyane meetings held in the last two or three days in DC area? So, who do we have to do that for us? Do we really have the moral to criticize anyone of these people? I don't have that.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I think this professor is out of his mind. He needs to be sent to a mental asylum institution. What amazed me most is the prayer that he made at the begining of his so called speech.Is he really serious about it or he is trying to get some sympathy? Is Ethiopias problem as simple as that which can be solved by a prayer? or the prayer of the professor is special one that can go to the heaven directly.I strongly belive in God But I am ashamed of what the professor did.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Yes the professor is right. Woyane is not the enemy! So what?
July 7th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
elias;
I was one of your critics about your suggestion udj for the last 2 weeks.
I found out I am wrong atleast about prof. Mesfin.
the problem is his ego is too inflated like he tries to belittle others.
so long.
we gud
July 7th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I think Proffesor is trying to act like "kirstos samera", a mediator between GOD and the Devil. He should learn from the first mistake they learned in Kaliti. We better advice him to be couregeous and tell the truth that Meles and his gangs are "the Bandist group" riding the Devil, with an End being consumed by the Devil(Agazi). He should never forget also that Meles in his own words declared himself as a leader of "Interrahamwe = Agazi" during the 2005 election. Proffesor Mesfin I give you a very great respect as one of the great scholars of modern day Ethiopia. Please don't let yourself to be fooled again….
July 7th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Well, No. 72 explained evrything about Prof. Mesfin's character.Those who knows him will agree on this.What he is forgetting is that, this time everbody is ahead of him in politics .Please tell him that people of Ethiopia are not blind anymore. We changed after the massacre of 60 Ethiopian ministers.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
please tell this man as we have respect for every thing that he has been doing till this resent day.But now he has come with a very dangerous idea that probably may not be worse than what Hailu Shawel and his gang members have done.Stop it.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Elias,
You are woking against Woyane; Great!!! Please stop working against Ethiopians!!! There is nothing unwise statment from the speech by Professor Mesfin.
Be fair!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Don't underestimate the wisdom of the professor.The wisdom is a product of three things ;experience,experience and experience.In addition you can disagree with the professor but how about the name calling.As for woyanne,if the diaspora wants to cure Ethiopia from this cancer you don't have to kill the patient,Ethiopia,while doing a major surgery.
July 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Ethiopians, the question is not what enemy means. my problem is if we label weyanne as enemy in our political programme, then we do not need to continue with so called peaceful struggle. If you label someone enemy, you do not want to sit with them to bring about any kind of change. what you want to do with them instead is to eliminate them. So the questiion is are we ready to do that?
July 7th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
i listen the whole speech , what is wrong with him? the messege of unity, forgiveness and freedom.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Elias as much as I like your controvercial approach on reporting,this time I think you completily put your own spin on what the Prof said.The worst part is many of them started bashing the Prof. by just following what you said please be careful!! for you have a very powerful tool(media)in your hands.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Elias,
His messege is for you. Go back and listen to his speech. Maybe you will see his wisdom.
Good luck
July 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I first thought Elias was sensationalizing the story till I heard the poor Professor words in my own ears. It is ridiculous and shocking beyond imagination. What the hell is wrong the guy? I mean, what is he thinking? Does he know what kind of message exactly he is trying to convey? Forgive me for saying this but I have a problem with older political leaders. I find them to be at times a bit rigged and delusional.
I support both peaceful and armed struggles. They both can be functional side by side. You run elections peacefully, you ask the government to step down and if it doesn't, then you use alternatives means(wage war through the organized forces that you developed while going through the peaceful struggle). If you are so weak and don't have any military power behind you, it is unlikely that a regime like Weyane will just transfer power to you peacefully.
I think the problem with us(Ethiopians)is very complicated than most people would like to think
We have a twisted culture that had shaped our way of thinking. When I think of Ethiopians, I think of ignorance, rigidness, egocentricity, selfishness and of course emotional. Some of our behaviors that are often reflected on us are I think a part of our DNA structure. I know behaviors are learnt through environments, cultures and/or parents but the trends some what made me to believe our problems are deep rooted to our biological structures - DNA
If you take the poor professor as an example here, He doesn't really believe in the statements he made. He was just upset and jealous that Genbot 7 got more attention in few weeks than any other movements that are alive. He had to make people believe focusing on armed struggle is a waste of time and convince them to believe the only way to heaven is UDJ and acknowledging the ruthless and illegitimate government. You don't have to be a genius to figure out which behavioral category he is reflecting himself as being a typical Ethiopian.
We all have problems. You and me and everyone else. I believe it takes probably a generation or two to bring about a true change. For now however, we have to work towards creating that atmosphere for the next generation. There is no one page answer to everything but the first critical and important step is to get rid of our number one enemy - The Weyane Regime. It is the most difficult task at hand but we have to face it, with them in power, we can't go anywhere. How can we get rid of weyane? Well, you don't have a choice but to come together with other opposition parties and face weyane through Armed struggle in more organized and dedicated way. How can we accomplish that..? you start from yourself… When you wake up everyday, you have to tell yourself to learn how to compromise and work with people that you don't necessarily agree with. Tell yourself to be more humble and force yourself to read more and inform your brain with current affairs and global news. If you fail to do that my friend, you must know, you didn't just fail yourself but you failed your country,her people and the next generation.
By the way, I am a typical Ethiopian who suffer from all those behavioral problems that I just mentioned above. The good news is that, I am working on them. I hope you would do the same as well.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I Would like to hear the proffessor speech again and how much it is painful to accept though it is true.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I think what this so-called professor is trying to tell is this: Woyanne is not a beast unless 'provoked'. Those young and adult age innocent people who were cowardly gunned down in the streets and alleys of Addis Ababa in 2005 might not have died if they did not 'provoke' Meles and his gang. They should have stayed home or rush to the streets and tell Meles and cohorts that they did the right thing in rigging the vote. The professor is telling me and all 'stupid' Ethiopian citizens both at home and abroad that the vote may have not been fixed. The opposition is somehow the cause of random killings of hundreds and wanton imprisonment of thousands. This is the mother of all conclusions from a twisted mind!!!!! You see…nobody except him can see that. I hope his daughter will tell him to talk about praying only. In silence is better!!! Haile Selassie had figured him out correctly. He gave him a turf to shine but all what he saw in this 'educated man' was talk, talk and talk. Kebero besew ig yamir seeyizut gin yadengir. I respect him as an elderly person as my deep-rooted culture has taught me well. The worst this I can say about him is 'arege juwaje' He is losing his marbles. Mobutu Sese Seko had amassed huge wealth. Was he supposed to be left alone and not to be called an enemy? Saddam, South Korean generals, Chiang Kai Shek all were filthy rich. What happened to them politically? Am I being told that wealth in Ethiopia gained through robbery and corruption is not the same as these countries? Being wealthy in such a way is just being wealthy in the same method anywhere. I think Mr. Elias and others must fold down their websites and stop calling Woyanne an enemy. Just kneel down and submit to Meles and his gang. Why? Because 'he' said so. The only one Ato Mesfin!!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
elias kifle .you are always on the point.profeser mesfen is always confusing the public by his eko .i am sick and tired of him being always nice for weyane.17 years ago when ethiopians envaded by weyane he is the first person who stood up and said let us welcome weyane.he knows how to play the game in haileslase,derg,and weyane he does not want to pay the prise but always critsize those strong ethiopians.elias keep up the good job before this old fox damage the real opposition.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I think the good professor is turning senile. I am sorry to say that for I respect him like my father. But he seems confused and tired. I blame those UDJ leaders who sent him to represent the party. I don't want to remember the professor like him.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I think the Prof. got nut. Am sorry to say so. But so is the reality. He doesn't even know what he was talking about. This is really sad.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:11 am
I think the professor is raising good points. We need to hear him first with out being biased and then debate about it.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Please dear Professor, why do you claim to represent a party that stands for justice (Unity for Democracy and Justice) and yet you talk about not holding Woyane leaders responsible for the murder of all those innocent Ethiopians? What is your definition of justice, if you let mass murderers go free without any accountability? I did not expect this from you professor. I am very disappointed.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:00 am
As always, Professor Mesfin played the odd. I do not understand at all what are in his minds. I knew Professor Mesfin back from my student days at H.S.I.U. He was one of the most reactionary intellectuals at the time who stood against changes and worked in the interest of the existing regime. He knows how to time and take a populist stand. When he realized that the H.S government was on its way to abyss, Professor Mesfin took the historical moment to his opportunistic needs and pretended to play the role of a midwife to the revolution. When the Dergue seized power and was trying to build its base, this same professor has been one of those few intellectuals, which not only gave the Dergue the benefit of doubt but also went beyond that as being a prominent member of the Inquiry Commission, which recommended the physical elimination of the former rulers.
When Mesfin realized that the Dergue days was about to come to an end, he organized the Ghion negotiation forum, where he tried to appear anti-derg and as always provocative. When the Woyannes came to power he realized that they do not need him around and hid himself under the guise of human rights advocate. That also came to an end, where he for a moment thought that Hailu Shawel and co. were about to snatch political power from the Woyanne. He created disunity and mistrust inside the Kinijit by sewing suspicion and fear among the rank and by promoting a highly defeatist position.
I for one think that Professor Mesfin has always been working as an agent for an international intelligence agency and against a popular change in Ethiopia.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I don't get it. What happend to the proffessor? I have a big respect to him he did a lot to his country but now things are getting wrong. How could we let a government to go on while he confirms that woyane had a blood of innocent people and plunderd money of innocent Ethiopians.
I don't see the logic.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Aye Abesha,
You all rush to critic without getting the substantive points made by the professor
Elias is doing his because of his bias of UDJ, don't defame and respect the values of people. Lets develop TOLERANCE
July 8th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Prof. Mesfein work hard to divided KINJIT even from India. Now he has got another mission.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:48 am
#25 Good but….. says:
"the Shiek (is) phidophile" . Do you mean pedophile? Is this a public secret and/or knowledge?
I think we deserve to know! Please tell!
July 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Dear EgoCentricMoron,
I agree with you that we Ethiopians are unique in our culture and in our behaviors, and some of our cultures are detrimental to our making business with the outside world.
For instance, I have observed correctly when I was young that if a metal-worker father’s son comes to play with us, we will call him “Yebiret ketikach Lij.” If he is the son of an animal-skin (a hide) tanning father, we will call him “Yekorbet fakie Lij.” If his father is a jar maker, we will call him “Yeshehila serie Lij.” If his father is a farmer, we will call him “Yegeberie Lij” or “Yafer-gefie Lij.” If his father is a priest, we will call him “Yekies Lij.” If his father is a medicine man, we will call him “Yemedihanit kemamie Lij” or “Yeasmategna Lij.” If his father is a black person, we will call him “Yebaria Lij.” We also have the culture of “Yulunta” that prevents us from telling our needs or wants to other people. Because of “Yulunta,” an Ethiopian gentle man hesitates to say that he is hungry even though he has nothing to eat in his house. These are some of our “twisted cultures” that need some changes, and it is hard for Professor Mesfin Woldemariam to work with some of us the children of the above occupations. Of course, “barinet” is not an occupation; it is rather a stigma given to another human being by some people who think their race is superior to any other race.
Even in our worship of God, we Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are different from some of the other Christians; for example, we never eat breakfast if we are going to Church on Sunday morning and especially if we are going to receive the Holy Communion. Why is that? Because it is our culture or tradition, and we can’t change it. If we try, the other Ethiopian society will condemn us.By the way, is there any connection between taking the Holy Communion with an empty stomach and between going to have a surgery without eating any food or drinking any water?
One of the good cultures we have is that we respect people, some times too much; we also give our first priority to education, and we believe in hard work, but we have to avoid our bad cultures, especially the “Yulunta.”
July 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
For for many reasons known only to me I decided not to be part of any political group or party and spent the the 4th of July week-end at home. It kills me to see so many money hungry bastards prfitting at the expenses of Ethiopa and its people. Pride, honor and dignity as we know them have become things of the past. Now reading your article on Professor Mesfin left me speechless. I refuse to accept your accusations of this distiguished scholar to be so careless to make such repulsive statement in public or in private. This, I have to hear it myself from the horse's mouth. Rest assured that I will make sure to find out where his next stop is and be in the front seat to make sure I hear every single word he utters. Till then, please hands off the good professor.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Ethiopian Review seems to label every one that has a difference in opinion with their usual "hard line" of hate filled rehetoric even when it is people like Prof. Mesfin who have been in the trenches while the likes of Elias were in diapers. When are you going to give up your political diapers and grow into political manhood? Who do you think will pick up arms, fight and liberate Ethiopia, so that the likes of you can, as the professor says fly in (first class of course) to rule the Ethiopian people? From your own writings your genocidal intent against those you consider woyane etc are clear. For those of us who have seen enough bloodshed in our country and believe not one drop of blood needs to be shed, our ears are open when elders of our people like Prof. Mesfin speak.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Professor Mesfin has an outstanding knowledge of politics of all kinds; including domestic and international. The problem is, we don't just take time to understand what he says and the mechanism of his thinking. People differ in the way they think and analyse the given situation from different perspective differntly. We must know that error in perception can lead us or will lead us to making mistake in our thinking.
We can defeat woyanaetplf if we think differently and stepping out of the old thinking and see the whole situation in such a way that we can achieve measurable results.
How about this: woyanaetplf is our political enemy? can we direct our attention to this specific senario or idea and build another idea so that we can arrive at a situation where we can gain success over our politica enemy?
Woyanaetoplf is an illegal organization ammasing a large amount of wealth and plays a game in the poliitics it thinks it can't lose or thinks its opponents can't defeat it. That is how woyanaetplf thinks, we guess; but, when there is politics, there is violence; as far as the politics of woyanaetoplf is concerned,it is a bad politics that they are in and playing init. So, can't we change our way thinking and chalange the regime by thinking strategically; well, as long as we want measurable result leading us to victory over the woyanae regime, we must accept constructive ideas, openion, and defferent approach to different thinking henace, alligning our vision while doing things differenttly.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
ETHIOPIAN REVIEW EQUAL TO AMERICAN FREE PRESS,ITS AMERIAN THING,ITS IN U.S ARCHIVE.ITS CALLED FREEDOM OF SPEACH,PRESS.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam is one of the pioneers of the Ethiopian peoples struggle for freedom for the past four decades. He has paid his dues through imprisonment, banishment, harrasment and dehumanization through three successive Ethiopian governments. However, the editors of Ethiopian Review, true to their "struggle", born of comfort, in a posh office in VA, want nothing less than the single minded Derg-like, "support us or else" policy of demonizing all those who have opinions genuinely different than their party line - even when such opinions are generated by veterans like Mesfin Woldemariam. When will we ever learn to respect each others opinions without resorting to the cackles of redicule and disrespect?
July 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
In the last seventeen years Ethiopians from Tigray to Sidamo and from Ogaden to Gambela have tried all peaceful means of political struggle and engagement with TPLF/Woyane to bring about democratic governance and the rule of law. Unfortunately, TPLF/Woyane was (still is) unwilling to respect the will of the people and engage in peaceful political discourse. Ethiopians now are experiencing extreme form of tyranny, intimidation, imprisonment, torture, terror, and treachery. TPLF/Woyane as we see it now is increasingly and aggressively engaged in state sponsored terrorism against Ethiopia and Ethiopians including committing treasons of historical proportion.
According to the professor TPLF/Woyane has the blood of many Ethiopians in its hand and a lot of money. As a result Ethiopians don’t have the capability to defeat the TPLF/Woyane thugs. In other words, TPLF is very rich and invincible to be defeated. So Ethiopians should obey, beg, and hope for TPLF/Woyane to change.
The statement of Prof. Mesfin is the most ridiculous and unfortunate ever made by an individual that loves his country. I used to respect and like to hear what the professor had to say regarding our Country and the challenges we always have. But now, I have serious reservation about his intentions. According to the good professor Ethiopians should only use peaceful means of struggle. This includes:-
1. Even if Ethiopians are being terrorized, murdered, raped, and tortured every day.
2. Even if the Country is being disintegrated, undermined, torn, and divided every day.
3. Even if this method has proved (in the last seventeen years) to be the most ineffective and impotent method of struggle with TPLF/Woyane.
I have two possible explanations for this. First, psychologists say, people who have been abducted and tortured will start (unknowingly) to like and identify themselves with their abductors and torturers as soon as they are released. This is what they call the “Stockholm Syndrome”. Could this be that the professor is suffering from the “Stockholm Syndrome”? I suspect this because no one in his right mind would say what the professor said about the TPLF/Woyane being invincible or beyond the ability of Ethiopians to defeat their historical enemy and liberate themselves and their country. The second explanation is that the professor’s ability to understand, analyze, and interpret military history may be very limited. For one, TPLF/Woyane’s military might has never been proven. It fought and presumably won a leaderless, spent, unmotivated, and untrained army of the Derg. Nobody should take TPLF/Woyane seriously as invincible for this. Secondly, TPLF was unable to conclude a war even after loosing 70,000 citizens. These are not in any way proof of TPLF’s invincibility. To the contrary, these are evidences of weaknesses and short comings. The bottom line is, people that love life more than freedom should not deserve freedom and Ethiopians throughout their history loved freedom than life itself. They will fight and free themselves and their country no matter what and no matter whom!
July 9th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Dear Contributors,
We all agreed with the idea that The Ethiopian people and friends people should work together to place Democracy and Freedom to our people. The problem comes how? Professor Mesfin (may be his party also) has chosen a way to give the current regime time and space to strategically change the minds of the gangs to think.
He pointed out two things:
1. They are killers and they know that if they leave their power peacefully, they will go to prison because of the crime they committed
2. They have money which is accumulated illegally. They can not use this money anywhere.
The strategy he followed is let's give them a chance that they can be pardoned for ill deed they did if they peacefully and democratically transfer their power to the public.
When we hate them (The simplest thing in the world that every body can do it)they will become more fierce and terrorized. When a powerful person is terroized and full of fear he lose his mind… He do what makes him stay in power. This will worsen the sacrification of our people.
He, prof, is most worried about the smooth transition of power in Ethiopia. We should patiently think about the strategy very well. If you want to attck your enemy very easily, make him your friend.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I am very sad that the so called educated persons speak what ever they want and every body accept them when they speak with out logic but the thing that we know(owner poverty, our unity ,our love, and so on). Let us tell them who they are and what they know. For example let us take the current speech of the professor, it takes 1/3 of his speech before it stars his main speech. and also just hear what ever he said u can't find a single word which is new.
At last for him and for others who look like him, i would like to hear music by Eyobe Mekonen "YKONEKA FELASEFA”
July 11th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I think it is to his and other Ethiopians benefit that he releases a very good translation of all his speeches, and especially the ones he will be doing in North America in the recent future.
In my humble opinion, he had left a very important speech to Ethiopians any where. As much as I was puzzled about what he could have done to mend the Kinijit conflict and that I have a few points that I do not agree with him, he should not be harshly criticized on this speech.
-As a five years old boy who witnesses to the cruelty of Grazianne, he compared Woyanne as equally bad.
-As a champion for human right causes, peaceful struggle and a legitimate democratic computation, the way he interjected, “Woyanne is not an enemy” is in that sense. True, it did sound contradictory from what he defined Woyanne to be.
- In many ways and in several of his recollection of recent and distant past, it is very clear that he denounces what they do, but does not label them an “ENEMY”. A figure of speech or a “Scientific attitude’?. The next journalist who interviews him might have at ask him for clarity.
-Peaceful struggle had proved a result, though painfully, but armed struggle can not be ruled out for those who choose to follow that path. It is as much their right to struggle that way as would be for those who choose peaceful ways.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Elias;
I have few points to riase:
. Can't you advance your philosophy of political change while loyally opposing/negating the professor's idea?
. Going to the extent of ridiculing the professor with a phrase "… it is clear that he has no clue about politics…" shows how desperate you are.
. As the professor illuminates the facts on the ground, the hollowness of your bla bla would be exposed. That is why you are throwing every thing you can on him.
. The funny thing is your desperate attempt to divorce him from politics by repeatedly telling us about his field of specialization.
. If politics is run by political science students, I think Dr Taye Woldesemayat should take the driver's sit. I know you are fierce enemy of him.
. Does your argument make exception to you (who is a journalist) or Dr Berhanu Nega (economist)?
. Please give the professor at least one tenth of the respect you have for President Esayas.
Shame on you Elias.
July 12th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Dear Bloggers,
I am neither a politician nor a son of one. However, I appreciate those who can maintain their "integrity" as a politician. I have never met Prof. Mesfin but admired his controversial speeches and statements through the years. One of such was when EPRDF controlled the country in 1991, his plea was for peace and reconciliation. He recommended that a consortium of "shimagueles" (elders)representing every ethnic group in Ethiopia should form a provisional or transitional government. In the meantime the process of making peace was to start with the motto "yiqer le-Egzer" (forgive the person and let God deal with it). To me, a sincere Christian, this is a fascinating principle that I have advocated. Knowing the atheistic Marxist philosophy which the professor had espoused and propagated during the Dirgue reign, I could not take him at his word then. I thought it might have been for political expediency. But, I know it works for I have used that biblical principle in my work as as strategist for peace, justicce and reconciliation in southern Africa. The rest is history.
I personally respect the professor for who he is what he worth. He is a man of great intellect but may be lacking when it comes to moral integrity as we all may. Whatever he said should not be taken out of the context and blown out of proportion. I believe I have heard his speech in its entirety. Most of you have analized or synthesized it in as much as you understood. I may be biased by his former stances. What I understood from the speech is what the principle of peaceful struggle may require; i.e., that you must accept the person and work from where he stands in his thoughts. If you undermine the person, there is no room for any negotiation becuase you threaten his very existence. I do not think he is a messenger of the ruling party, sent to woo the Diaspora as some have suggested. He has passed that age. If he is, he will be making a big mistake and that defeats the purpose. Mind you, this is a man who singlehandedly (probably with others, as well) stood for human rights and abuses in the eve of transition in 1991. We should respect him for that, to say the least.
The other point, I beg to express is our conempt and disrespect for differences, seniority and intellegentia. Democratic virtues are all extract from the biblical priciples of justice, equality, freedom and unity. Diversity and unity are inseperable dichotomies. We cannot have true unity at the expense of diversity. In real world they should complement each other. Otherwise, there is no growth. Everything will be static or chaotic. Now in the process of building democracy in Ethiopia, there is bound to be made mistakes. Polititians, including Prof. Mesfins, Ato Meleses, Ato Eliases, etc., are human being that are liable to make mistake as well. The most important thing is to avoid making mistakes while working for the good of the people. But, if we do make mistake, it is "jegen-net" to admit our mistake publicly and apologize, correct and forgo. This is a good nugget that we lack our political and cultural menu.
The other thing is that all leaders are visionary. They may not see what their counterparts see. Ato Mesfin and Ato Meles see different pictures of Ethiopia and Ethiopians. They should be given a forum to discuss their differences and let democracy take its course. They do not need to kill each other. We should not allow that to happen becuase we need both, with their extreme views. It is up to the people to choose or not to choose. But God reigns with justice eternally.
Finally, it is my prayer that, as the professor said we should not let Ethiopia be a failed state taken over by ethnic or religious warlords. In this cosmomanic (I just coined the word for "global extremism")world this can easily happen if we refuse to respect and accept each other. Let reason, rather than mere emotion, reign our thoughts and actions.
God bless Ethiopia and Africa.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Prof.Mesfin is just like John Mcain(Presumptive rep. nominee for U.S. president) both of them sometimes loose their minds, they dont know what they are saying and they dont know how to say it.Prof.Mesfin you should retire and do humaniterian job not poltics.
God bless Ethiopia.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
It was a great and sincere speech by Professor Mesfin. It seems so many people are posting comments without even listening to the speech. It is sad to see so many of you in the diaspora waging war from the comforts of your homes in Europe and America. How many of you are actually willing to send your sons to fight in the war? How many of you will go directly to fight the woyannes? There is no point in talking the talk. The culture of bloodletting should stop in Ethiopia. Professor Mesfin is right - we need to renew our minds. Otherwise, we will never break out of the vicious cycle we are trapped in.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I agree with ER,UDJ has to stay away from critisizing others.I am afraid they are losing thier support.proffesor Mesefen:,with all due respect,just mind your business.we have the right to choose what form of struggle we follow.we are sick tired of African specially Ethiopian poleticians telling us they are better than the others.I call this an insult to our conciouse.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
It is the right of the editor of ethiopianreview not to agree with what the respected professor had to say, but it is offensive and respectless to say the professor does not have any clue about politics.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
ER/Elias,
I hope you will post this comment. I was in a big rush when I did my last post. This is lengthy comment, but Proffesor Mesfin will be doing more tour/speeches. He is political, but not viewed as a politician. As far as Geography as his field of expertise, his in put could be called for on the case of Ethiopia vs Woyanne, Ethiopia’s land to Sudan.
To promote and guard his party is one thing but to justify its existence at the cost of its former allies is not called for from him. Some of his comments over a period of time since his release had been irritating
-In regard to his speech relating to UDJP, his comment, “ ANDENET, THE ONE THAT REPLACED Kinijit” was not only irritatingly false, but also spoke how much Professor Mesfin might have played in what some people called, “the coup of the splinter” against what still continues to be Kinijit.
- It dismissed the 800 delegates who recently met in Addis as Kinijit representing an average of 4000 to 5000 Ethiopians from different Kilils and Zones.
- It dismissed thousands of Kinijt members out side of Ethiopia.
- He is also aware that Kinijit as it exists had taken Ethiopian Election Board to court to continue using the name and symbol.
-A a rising “politician” like W/t Birtukan Medekssa dismissed the existence of the original Kinijit after her vice presidency to the same was threatened, and declared, “Ethiopians know the real Kinijit” after several confusing attempt to be Kinijt’s president, and the splinter took an official name as Andenet.
- Ethiopians are watching how UDJP came into existence. Followers and supporters of this party might share similar values, but IT DID NOT REPLACE KINIJIT.. When some one like Proff. Mesfin says it, I wonder if he really believes that or segments of his speeches at times get contradictory exposing a different side of him.
- The emergence of UDJP emerged out of Kinijit ( although most of its members might still be the former short lived Kestedemena). ANDENET DID NOT REPLACE KINIJIT. Ginot 7 movement leader Dr. Birhanu put it as it is, “we evolved out of Kinijit”/ ‘ Ke Kinijit wustte niw ye wettanew.
-Another truth is, if there was a power struggle between current Kinijit president Engineer Hailu and Dr.Birhanu as Proff. Mesfin stated, the more obvious was, W/t Birtukan in power struggle to be president of Kinijt or in a short cut rush to replace Kinijit President Hailu Shawel.
-??? It is better that UDJP go forward in its own and the country’s affairs than be provocative in Kinijit vs UDJP in their speeches.
-He concluded his speech recalling a discussion on armed struggle with Ethiopians in the diaspora long time ago. If money left over from self care and /or indulgence ( as he put it) supports peaceful struggle like his own party Andenet and others, why not to armed struggle if one chooses to?. I think he over simplified “armed struggle” to the extent that he made a mockery of such choice. One of his concern on the subject was, “where do you get the people?.. you need willing people to fight”. True, but armed struggle should not be undermined (it already exists and the “soldiers/patriots” formed a front to resist and defend brutality, direct oppression on them selves and their families (including kidnapped wives, rape etc). It is more complex that it needs good research and debate from experts, eye witnesses and those Ethiopians who joined EPPF based on legitimate reasons for defense. Some of its members like Ato Mellkay Mengiste ( according to an interview to him in 2007), five members of his immediate family members were killed by Woyanne. What can you say to people like him who choose armed struggle?. Some Ethiopians including myself hesitate because the front operates out of Eritrea. The fact of the matter is that Woyanne itself came to power through armed struggle.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:39 am
ERE TEWU
why is it that every time somebody says somthing that's slightly out of line, we must react so violently and we ready ourselves to easily outcast such a decorated and experienced individuals. we must learn the art of discussion; the professor may or may not be wrong. he may have some good reasons why he's saying what he's saying. why dont' we give such a person the benefit of the doubt and let him explain himself? instead of being ready to outcast every member of the opposition? If we don't adopt such a culture of discussion, who are we gonna be left with to trust? should we start doubting ER for publishing such divisive commentaries on literally every member of the opposition? ERE TEWU
July 20th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I can understand the fears of the Professor, but it should not be at the cost of poor Ethiopians who had given their life for their rights. One of those who had paid that preciouse cost is Professor Mesfin himself.
We are not going to forgive a brutal regime like Woyane, and leave them to continue their harrassing and brutally rule there must come a change by any means. The peaple is paying a high cost to secure his dignity, right , and rule of law.
This is not the first time that we are paying sacrifices and we will continue to do so. If not this regime will never give power in peace. They will go forth on weakening the country economically and politically. This is the objective of Woyanne.
God will save Ethiopia from being a desperate and disintegrated country.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:30 am
ET_Truth,
Your comment might include my post as well. There are some accomplishments that honor Professor Mesfin. Society might have a tendency to view its heroes and idols to remain the way they were perceived, but that does not necessarily mean that, when that is not the case, we zip up. It is tough love to comment on people like Professor Mesfin if one views him as an exemplary citizen, leader and teacher. In my view, his best accomplishment is being founder of Ethiopian Human Right Council Organization. He had done some research on hunger etc that is also good.
I kept up with his interviews and speeches and some of the articles he wrote. He is best when he nails down what Woyannes are and the way he guards Ethiopia.
As far as internal politics, consistently, he had sent a message that generalize AEUP, pre Derg era mentality, and certain segment of society just by its very title of its members is bad. He gets provocative to the point that it works against him and thus the party he is trying to promote as its member. He is a controversial person and as a member of the committee under Derg that made a critical decision on the lives of so many with out trial can be recalled if he keeps saying every person with a title of the feudal era is oppressive and bad. He had said it during his interviews, as a lead speaker on the establishment of Andenet party, his speech in Boston etc. Why not just go with the new and convince people what is taking off in this present time, like Andenet.
He will be touring some more states, not only such comment will be redundant, but it will give him away too much and also breed some hostility instead of embracing the new party.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm