The Beijing Olympics was opened with an extravagant ceremony yesterday. It was indeed the mother of all shows. Athletes from a record 204 countries marched proudly through the stadium carrying flags of their respective countries. Of course we eagerly awaited our Ethiopian athletes to do the same. Instead, when Ethiopia’s turn came, what we saw is reflective of the current ethnic politics in Ethiopia dominated by the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne).
Ethiopia’s superstar athletes such as Haile Gebreselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba and others were no where to be found among the Ethiopian delegation. Instead, the flag (with that ugly Woyanne logo in the middle) was carried by Miruts Yifter, a great Ethiopian athlete from the 1970s, followed by Ato Seyoum Bereded, a Woyanne cadre who has never done any sport in his life, and some individuals from Tigray whom we have never seen compete in any international athletic event. It is obvious that the only reason Miruts, who had retired from athletics some 25 years ago, was selected to carry the flag is that he is a Tigrean. In short, the so-called ‘Ethiopian delegation’ at the opening ceremony did not reflect Ethiopia at all. It was a delegation from one ethnic group where the ruling party claims to come from.
Under the Woyanne minority rule, ethnic politics is injected in every part of life in the country — politics, business, arts, religion, and yes even the Olympics.
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FORUM | 77 Comments
I agree. It was a display of Tigrean supremacy by the ruling junta. What do most Tigreans get out of this? Nothing!! Nada! Zilch! Albo! Only scorn from other Ethiopians. And that is just what Woyannes wants in order to keep the people divided and Tigreans running scared.
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:48 AM
A sad ugly and shamfull story.
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:51 AM
Elias,
Do you really know who Miruts is? Miruts is indeed the greatest athlet ever produced in Ethiopia.
Can you please leave us connecting everything to your blind Tigaruphobia.
Peace.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:08 AM
Good observation.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:08 AM
Where is the Gejera, People are already being hyped to use it. Why dont we finish all Tigrayans. They are the source of all misery in our country. Rouwanda style, we should finish them.
I know that is most of you sick haters believe. The animal side of you is winning. We are not civilized anymore. Lets just do it. I see that you are preparing the country for the worst disaster and believe it or not it will happen because our country has great thinkers like you. I am proud that Miruts is carrying it. He never made money out of making Ethiopia a winner like the new generation runners. He deserves it. Go suck your thumb haters. You need to open your purses and wallets to support the hungry instead of spilling your venom.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:13 AM
#5 tezibt, It is the Tigrean generals, soldier, and cadres who are doing all the killing, raping, torturing of people and engaging in the destruction of entire villages in Ethipia. It is a Tigrean-dominated regime that is occupying a neighboring country and committing war crimes. And here you are trying to portray Tigreans as victims, and blaming the victims for the same crimes you are committing against them. Your audacity (አይን አውጣነት) knows no bound. Dedeb woyane.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:33 AM
I realized 100% you are sick prson.The athletes didnot want and didnot need to spend their important energy in polluted beijing.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:43 AM
It was very ugly, and disrespectful for the athletes and fellow Ethiopians in general.
I am sure our Ethiopian athletes will keep their moral up at high standard and will win every game they will participate in for there beloved People, Flag and Country, “ETHIOPIA”.
No Woyane tactics will deter the morals of Our famous world renowned athletes at all.
May GOD help our athletes to succeed in the olympics.
May GOD bless Ethiopia and its people.
Good luck to all our Athletes in the olympics.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:55 AM
I am sure Ethiopians across the glob were thinking the same way and shaking their head in disblief to witness only their country, in this breath-taking Beijing Olympics opening display, being represented exclusively by tribal crooked Wayane with their ugly and crooked Ethiopian flag!
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:07 AM
I entirely agree with this assertions!Shameless woyane!!!
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:20 AM
TPLF gangs are really a curse who have been sent to punish Ethiopians!!
The majority of oromos,amharas and other non-tigrean are throuwn to jails built accross the country while TPLF ganges are robbing the entire nation.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:24 AM
I have no reservation against Merus Yefter carrying our flag. He is indeed a great hero. An Olympic champion. I do not care whether he is from Tigray or not. He just deserve this honor. I was, however, wondering what seyoum was doing there? Is he in anyway connected to Ethiopian sports? I do not think so.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:44 AM
#6Dre
I am not dedeb.Actually I have proven that I am smart in many ways and one of them is not only my excellent achievement in aqcuiring prestigious degrees but I do so much to help the poor in my country without advertising it. I try my best to help so that kids get education and a developed brain. If you have a developed brain,again thatis if you can think critically, respond to what I said. I never defended the woyanes. I defended Mirut’s carrying of the flag.As to the gejera, you just said you have one at home. Send me the picture so that I can scare my tigrayan friends.ahyawun ferto dawlawn I am not ashamed to tell you that u need a developed brain even to be a smart hater.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:45 AM
Is it not the case that Ethiopian athletes who will actually take place in the real competition will only arrive in Beijing on Monday (11 August) so that they could prepare better at home?
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:59 AM
I disagree the ER comment on Miruts Yifter, he is the living legend who won a gold medal at Moscow Olympics Haile,Derartu,Kenenisa…. came after him,If the great Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde were in life I certainly accept your comment while he is the only golden olyempied in life next to Abebe and Wolde.Rather what you call him Bereded has no point of history in Ethiopian sport rather he some an idiot opportunist poletician.
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August 9th, 2008 at 4:36 AM
Gedu thanks – this is exactly the same sentiment I have. The athletes want to stay home and keep themselves afresh till the trakck events start.
But Elias has a real truth – why Seyoum Bereded, the liar and impostor??? He is neither an athlete nor a person in sports arena. He has no ethical mandate to go for the Olympics where there are many in the corrupt federation who can “represent”.
Elias – Miruts went back to Ethiopia from Canada after long time avoiding this government, for a reason noone knows. But I know he has not been in their good list. They even at one point accused him of red terror.
Best,
Noah
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August 9th, 2008 at 4:57 AM
Ato/W/ro/W/t Dre,
Can you think back for a moment?
The Tigrean Generals have actually rescued you from a mouth of a man-eater, a modern reining monister. The generals are now defending the state of Ethiopia and all Ethiopians from destructive antiunity elements; not killing or raping. As a matter of tradition, raping, killing, torturing is aliegn to Tegarus. That goes to savages, the neanderthal men like you. The generals are there just to protect you.So that you can live to this date.
Meles Zenawi may go wrong. But that doesnot trnaslate into Tegarus. Meles is just an individual like you.
Bye.
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August 9th, 2008 at 5:13 AM
The question is where are Haile, Kenenisa, Meseret and other athlets? We were really upset to see none of them
in the opening cermony rather Woyane none sportive cadres
Seyum Bereded and other ponys. Where are the athlets?
We saw all the athlets in the world on the openiong ceremony. We are not lucky to see our heros. Is there anyone who can tell us why ? I am afraid it is the same
ethnic poletics of Woyane. I hope this will not be. The only thing i enjoy of my country upto now is the achievement of our Ethiopian athlets. God bless Ethiopia
God forgive us !!!!!!!
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August 9th, 2008 at 5:16 AM
I noticed that many of the atheletes were missing and some unknowns took their place. This is strange because out of their 36 athletes only like 8 were up their. Im not sure if they were “all” tigreans but if they were thats absolutly discusting.
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August 9th, 2008 at 5:21 AM
I respect Miruts, he is Ethiopian hero. But, you are right who are these people? Are they from the embassy?
Death to tplf !!!!!!!!!!!
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:05 AM
For once I agree with Elias. True, Miruts is an ethiopian legend and having him there was a good gesture….but come on ppl; not including the current record holders in the march was at best a poor judgment…and at worst like Elias put it a good example of Triablism.
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:46 AM
Tizibt
You are yourself a woyane. No Ethiopian in his/her right sense will get into your trap. There is no enemity between the various tribes within Ethiopia. It is the politicians who are never freely elected even by the tribe they claim to represent promote such hate politics so that they prolong their tyranny and accumulation of wealth by a small group of mafia-type organized and intermarried Tigreans.
All the killers sooner or later will face justice that is what happenend with all previous to woyane and it will happen in the future. How dare to forget to all what happened to all dictators – Mengistu, Saddam Hussien, etc, etc
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:55 AM
The so called traditional clothing is a disgrace. They might as well call themselves Pakistani. What they wore is not Ethiopian. I am glad our athletes wasn’t in it. May be they don’t want to wear that “comforter” in world Olympics. What do you say?
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August 9th, 2008 at 7:35 AM
#5 tizibt is sounding like Melles after he killed hundreds of protestors and jailed hundreds of thousands of innocent people accusing them of tribal genocide intentions in 2005, if you are a Woyanne apologist say so openly otherwise when you write a transparent copy of Melles in this forum you will be exposed for what you are. #7 gudu; you are watching and reading too much of western propaganda against China, from what I could read and see Beijing’s air is much cleaner than your average western big city, I think the western media couldn’t accept the fact that the Beijing Olympics venues are much better than any site ever and the artistic and technological competence of the Chinese has baffled the westerners so all they can do is try to cut down the Chinese people by spreading negative propaganda against them.
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August 9th, 2008 at 8:46 AM
Miruts deserve to be there. Why Seyum? Because he is close to TPLF. His brother, Fikremariam Bereded a Chemist by profession, is member of Election Commission and his uncle is Chief of Intelegence of EPRDF.
No one understands what EPRDF leader’s motive is.
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August 9th, 2008 at 9:09 AM
To #5, I agree that people should not be hated because of their ethnic bacgrounds. To see a misplaced hate, go to Dhagahbur, Fiq, Kabridahar, Godey, Wardher and villages in Ogaden. There, you will see your TPLF in action and the true meaning of hate. The woyannes and their supporters are the real merchants of hate. Practice what you preach.
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August 9th, 2008 at 9:39 AM
A mixiture of good and bad. I was always thinking why great men are always remembered after they pass away. This is a good move to have MIRUTS YEFTER, a man who make me cry when he wins at the Moscow olompic. He deserve even more than that. I have heard his recent interview, he said that national pride was the only thing he got during those days and he is content with that. But he is in the minds of every Ethiopian apart being a model to the heros and heroes of our day. Yes He, MIRUTS, like ABEBE BIKILA is a legendary hero.
The sad and more puzling thing is why the other Athlets didn’t appear, I wish I see them on the opening day. Though it is not important, their appearance means could convey something positive specially our unity in diversity with the beautiful and variaty of cultural dressing. There are millions of spectators both in the stadium and on TV. I think we missed one opportunity of showing the world or to those interested(or scholars, tourists) in culutre, dressing, etc to using our heros rather than officials. Surly there is a big difference, I can imagine who can have impresseion if Haile and one official were to be seen walking together on the streets of Europe or US.
The other thing is may be they have reason, lets think like that for the time being. We are Ethiopians with beautiful and diversified culture, I love it.
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August 9th, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Hi, Elias!
Actually, the fact there were only about 8 athletes that came out made the current TPLF government look very bad.
What I thought was that the real Ethiopian athlete did not come out to show their protest against the current regime consistent with what they have been doing all along in the Great Toyota Runs in Addis Ababa.
The fact that there were only about eight athletes made the current TPLF regime look very, very bad in the eyes of the rest of the world.
That is my own take on what happened at Beijing on the opening ceremony.
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August 9th, 2008 at 9:50 AM
i dont think it is a deliberate action by EPRDF and if that is the case, it is very foolish and nonsense. What the hell they get by showing off only one ethnic group to represent Ethiopia. I believe there is a ood explanation why our popular athlets were not included. Whatever the case is, it is not something worth discussing.
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August 9th, 2008 at 9:51 AM
I’m so glad most Ethiopians are realizing in the end as to weyanes actions and stands for. Their #1 goal is to prove to every Ethiopian as to who the ruler of the country is and that’s why the midget man traveling all over the world for photo-ops; #2 the other reminder as to who the rulers of Ethiopia is when all the donated suit/tie is given to weyanes stooges and repeat what the midget man say day-in-and day-out, “democracy, development, constitution”, #3 for those who oppose the rule of the midget man directly or indirectly either they will be killed or brought to the kangaroo weyane courts later only to be useless to society; and #4 for those who knows weyanes hoodwinkling from all over the region and that includes Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan they will pimp for America to do their dirty tricks wich will fire back sooner than later!
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August 9th, 2008 at 10:08 AM
At the end of the day, what will remembered is not who marched at the stadium but who actually won the medals..
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August 9th, 2008 at 10:49 AM
i am really disappointed. i was waiting to see all the athletes. shame on woyanes.
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August 9th, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Let’s not jump the gun guys; the Ethiopians athletes are still training in Ethiopia. They will go to Beijing 2-3 days before their competition which is due on the 2nd week of the Olympics. They want to benefit as much as possible from their altitude training (which increases their red cell count and thus maximize their oxygen intake).
The flag bearer, Miruts Yifter, is a great Ethiopian athlete, hence I rather have him hold the flag than, say, Seyoum Bereded or Al Amoudi hatchet man, Abenet G/Meskel (did I see him in the parade?). What do think?
Weru #23: you are right, their awful clothing has nothing to do with our traditions. It rather looks a cheap circus accoutrement bought from an Indonesian flea market.
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August 9th, 2008 at 11:44 AM
By the way, what is Miruts doing in Ethiopia? Has he not bee n in Canada as a political refugee? Did he relinquish his status as a political refugee in Canada and went back or he is between the two countries illegaly? It is obvious he is serving the interest of his master woyane and meantime collecting social assistance from the Canadian taxpayers. One shouldnt allow this happen. It is an insult to all Ethio Canadians who toil day in day out to win and integrate their lives. No crime is worse than serving the interest of woyane criminals and thus Miruts qualifies to no better treatment at all.
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August 9th, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Before we all jump and voice our opinion in haste, let us first see the facts.
1. Most of our familiar athletes were not present in the parade. Whose fault is that? Did the athletes themselves opt not to parade for fear of the weather? If that is the case, then let us give some slack to the Federation and the government. Let us at least give the athletes the benefit of knowing the most about their profession and their interest. If the weather is going to affect their performance negatively, that is valid reason for them not to show up.
2. Miruts Yifter. No doubt, Miruts is one of the legends among our athletes. I was under the impression that he was residing in Canada after applying for political asylum. But still, he earned to lead the Ethiopian athletes in the parade, no question.
3. Siyum Bereded. Is he supposed to be there? I watched most of the opening ceremony and I have seen the parade of nations and have seen people who could never be considered an athlete in the group of athletes. I am not sure but I imagine that they could be coaches, heads of their respective federation, athletes of the past (like Miruts), etc. If that is the case, I guess the inclusion Mr. Bereded is no exception. His political affiliation is totally another matter.
4. Is it really right for Elias to conclude that this is a showcase for Tigreans? Some of you have strong opinion regarding that but I really did not see that. If the athletes decided on their own that it’s best for them not to show up early for the competition, is it right for the government to force them to be in the line up? In short, there are so many obvious and real acts of the government that we should fight with all we have, but let us not make everything political. This is the time for our athletes to shine and make us proud and let us root for them.
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August 9th, 2008 at 12:22 PM
tplfs,
rubbish cyber tegadeltis of tplf, stupid politicians of tplf, the mafia defenders of tplf, all of you are in fact fairly enough nonsense people created in present Ethiopia. Mirutse Yifter is a commendable Olympic hero and he deserves to carry the flag. What the hell you are thinking when rubbish people like seyoum bereded are there in the Olympic squad? Can you point out any reason why he is there other than he is from tigray? Do you really have a mind to critically think about such envious matters? You are really nonsense people created in modern generation but thinking like 18th century tigray mesafints.
God Bless Ethiopia!
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August 9th, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Woyane openly has demonstrated its ethno politics even in Olympics arena.
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:06 PM
I was watching the Beijing opening games last night eagerly awaiting the entrance of Ethiopian athletes to the ‘Bird Nest Stadium’; and when I saw what was happening, I was in an emotional turmoil. On one hand, I was really happy to see our Olympic hero Miruts Yifter as a flag bearer. If anyone deserved to carry the Ethiopian flag at these Olympiads, it definitely is Miruts Yifter. It looks like the TPLF killers, after years and years of belittling his achievement and even trying to criminalize him as a Dergue era ‘Red Terror’ criminal, have suddenly seen the light that he is a Tigrean after all and that is why he was chosen. I know they did it for all the wrong reasons, but I am glad and was really happy for him proudly carrying the ‘Woyanies Version’ of the Ethiopian flag (I think the group that rules Ethiopia next, needs to rip of that blue pentagram from our beautiful flag, on their First Day in power ).
I was looking for the familiar faces of Haile, Kenenisa, Tiruye and all the other and all I could see was TPLF fat slobs like Seyoum Bereded and the other Meles sychophants. It was shameful and disgusting and I truly believe this crime alone in addition to the desecration of our flag by stitching their traitorous logo in the middle of our flag; should be crime enough to hang all Woyanies and their apologists. We all know that the opening ceremony is the highlight of the event and to deny this joy to our star athletes is a crime. I am not accepting the feeble reasoning of TPLF apologists like Tezebit #5, that the weather in Beijing is so hot and the air so foul, that our real athletes have to hide themselves at the Olympic village and watch the ceremonies on TV.
Tizibt #5:
I see you are still bragging about your advanced degree and how you are feeding and educating the hungry of our country. Well, let me tell you Miss Goodie-Two-Shoes, Ethiopians are starving even as we speak and the misery index of our people has been rising faster than world energy prices. Apparently you and your master Meles, are not doing such a good job after all, advanced degree or not. Also, are you aware that advanced degree, unless it is coupled with an advanced mind, is nothing more than a meal ticket or a food stamp if you will.
Woyanie can pretend that Tigreans are the only people inhabiting Ethiopia today and fat slobs like Seyoum Bereded are world class Olympic athletes; after all they can call a cat a fish, but it is not going to swim.
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:16 PM
95% of Army Generals are from one tribe-Tigrai
90% of the private economy is controlled by one tribe-Tigrai
90% of key ministry position are filled by one tribe-Tigrai
90% of Embassies around the world are occupied by one tribe-Tigrai
It has never been like this before in Ethiopian History.
We have only two choices:
Fight to change this by armed resistance or just shut up and be rulled by a Minority Mafia!
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:20 PM
What can I say? I am once again gutted by Whoyanne apartheid policy!!!
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:29 PM
The only person who deserves to be in Beijing’s parade was Miruts Yifter. Indeed he is a hero with no doubt about it and he is one of Ethiopia’s greatest athletes. Compared to Athens Olympic Ethiopia’s Beijing parade was a dismal failure. It is obvious that tplf planed the parade in a way not to reflect Ethiopian nationalism instead to glorify its tribal agenda,nothing new about tplf this is the only profession they are good at. I believe our hero athletes were deliberately kept out of the parade with a bogus excuse of Beijing’s air pollution as if all the other world athletes are not breathing the air to give the tplf cadres a place in the parade.
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Elias,
Thank you. I was wondering where the “stars” were as I was
watching the woyane ponies with no charisma. Sick, sick!!
Than again as you said who wants to carry the woayne nazi flag. It ain’t a source of pride at all.
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August 9th, 2008 at 1:52 PM
As a non-Ethiopian visitor,let me first appologise to my fellow Ethiopians for intruding on the topic of how your country needs to be represented at the beijing Olympics.
I don’t have any comment on that. However, I just couldn’t sit idle reading a rather garbage statement by the person so called HINGID WEDI RAYA. I just have to respond.
Wedy Raya, what proof do you have that the Tegray Generals saved Ethiopia from what you called “Man eaters”? Isn’t Ethiopia in a most worst political and economic situation under the leadership of the Woyane gangs? I have proofs to back this up. There are a handfull authentic documents that show that Ethiopia, under Weyane leadership, is a champion when it comes to gross human rights violations. The generals you refer as “Saviors” are actually mass murderers who:
1. In the 1998-2000 Eri-Ethiopia conflict raped and tortured Eritrean Women in the area they briefly occupied. To add salt to an injury, to show their true agly faces they destroyed Eritrean Martyrs’ cemetery and dug out their remains (skeletons).
2.In 2002-2003, they indiscriminately killed countless Ethiopian students for showing objections to the way the country was governed.
3. In May 2005, The woyane Agazi soldiers, under the instruction of the same generals you adore, killed hundreds of Ethiopian protesters who felt that they were cheated out of the election.
4. In 2006- present: Woyane soldiers occupied a sovereign nation under a pretext of “Terrorism” and inflicted so much human sufferings. The same soldiers, lead by the TPLF generals, have been accused of raping, torturing and killing countless Somalie women. The same, and even worst, atrosities was carried out on the people of Ogaden, according to Amnesty International and other reliable sources.
So, Wedi Raya, if you think your Tigray generals at any point in time defended and saved Ethiopia, think again.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:09 PM
I tried all my best to get the picture but no luck. How come Igaforum, Ben even Walta didn’t post one picture for the open ceremony? It looks so true that what Elias says. Oww my god, now I do see how we all are dead.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:47 PM
I was watching the opening ceremony and what I saw was some old guys carrying the flag.There was no any athlet.It is shocking that the respected athlets are not involved.
Why only Miruts from the veteran athlets?
Why other previously heroic runners are not invited?
I haven’t been thinking in the line of racial and ethinic discrimination,I now know what is going on.WOyannes really poisoned the country.
This is definately disrespecting and disregarding Ethiopian people.
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August 9th, 2008 at 2:47 PM
To koster,Surafel,and to the rest of the confused that can only deliver lip service to their poor family and country.
First of all I would like to thank Elias for giving us this forum so that we can have political masturbation. I know Elias may be loughing to death reading some of this comments and playing games with little minds. First of all, there is more to presenting great ideas than just being able to play with your keyboards and spitting venom. A person who has love for his/her country is very patient and reserved in selecting words. Because it also says a lot about how one is raised.
Yes one who doesnt disapprove injustice is a living dead. But also one who exaggerates every issue hypocritically is worst. Many countries, including our neighbour Eritirea have not sent hopeful athletics to beijing not only because of polution but they also want to win;therefore, they want to buy training time in high altitude. There has to be certain level of civility. We have to understand and research before we run into conclusion.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Well, Guwad Shambel Miruts Yifter WAS good athlete. There are three things I would like to mention.
1. I am not sure if he is Ethiopian, for I know that he is a resident of Toronto, Canada.
2. Perhaps, as I read in other newspapers, the athletes will go later to avoid the influence of smog in Bejing on their performance. Maybe that is correct.
3. As to the DEDEB political cadres there…what can I say…ebab yednefachew!
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Elisa this is not news. I recently visited Ethiopia. Now I say I visited Tigray. It is only the Tigreans who live in that starving country. From small to big business it is tigrean owned. they know that economy is everything and they have been doing that for long time. Now it is the time to show it up with confidence. Who is going to challenge them anyway?
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Well if misruts was a non-tigrean he would have been languishing in jail by now. remeber what happend to Mamo.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:29 PM
On Haile Gebreselasse’s Endurance film(May 1999) the impact of Meruit Yefter on Haile and other athletes is well documented.
Miriut Yefeter deserves respect and he run for his mother country and I have no problem of seeing him leading Ethiopia’s parade and I care less for those who showed up for photo.
Other elderly Olympians like Mirut have led their country and bringing ethnicity here is insulting for many Ethiopians.
Didn’t we call for the late Mamo Wolde to be released and join our Olympic team in the past which was rejected by the TPLF.
Mirut Yefter(the Shifter) is part of our Olympic history and he belongs there. We will have many opportunities to see our athletes on their victory celebration. I applaud Mirut for motivating the current winners and leading them in the Beijing 2008 march.
The writer should instead tell us who was representing Ethiopia in the dignitaries desk ? We have seen foreign leaders waving to their athletes and the time will not be too far when we will have elected leaders who are not afraid or ashamed to be seen in public.
Here is my prediction of the 2008 Olympics.
Gold in women and men marathon.
Gold,silver and bronze in women and men 10,0000meters
Gold,slilver and bronze in women and men 5,0000 meters
Honory gold for Mirtus Yefter.
Silver in both men and women 1,500 meters
To Meles Zenawi and his inner circles we will award them the fake gold from Ethiopian National Bank. Ethiopians want to see the back of TPLF in the 2012 London Olympics and we are going to see Mirut Yefter as a leader of Ethiopian team.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Dear Elias! that is wonderful obeservation
Merutse is a hero no one denies that, but it is because his from Tigeray that he is chosen to carry the flag. The tyrant TPLF regime doesn’t give chance to all heroes that deserve to be respected . Do U really know what Mamo woldie did for his country? He didn’t get such a privilege as Mirutse due to the only reason that he was not from Tigeray. Instead he was thrown to Kaliti.
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:32 PM
They will continue to show their ignorance and narromindedness and will never stop abusing Ethiopia and its people. This is the nature of Barbarians and ignorant creatures. Let us pray to God so that he allows us to see them when the weather changes.
Only Woyane Forgives the Woyane!!
We are watching and laughing at hem!!
Temelkach
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August 9th, 2008 at 3:52 PM
The point is not whether Miruts was a great athletic hero. Yes, he was. But that is not the issue here. Rather, the sad issue Elias is trying to point out is that the Weyane tribalists would not have selected Miruts to be the bearer of the flag if he were not a Tigrean. The proof for that is the fact that almost everyone else who marched representing Ethiopia at the openning ceremony was ethnic Tigrean. The message Woyane tribalists are sending by that image is not aimed at the international community, but at Ethiopians. In their backward and crude ways, what they are conveying to Ethiopians is that tigreans are the glorious masters of the land.
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August 9th, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Elias
Bravo!!!
Good observation.
Now I know Why the so called ethiomedia took the link to your website off. By the way, ethiomedia has never been anti-woyane but anti-meles.
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August 9th, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Mirut Yifter is a convention refugee in Canada . He got the status for the case he made against the current Government of Ethiopia. Onother refugee story…….
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August 9th, 2008 at 4:25 PM
When I saw the Ethiopian flag with that blue emblem in the middle, I was disgusted and feel like throwing out, whe i saw Miruts I said what a hell he is doing there is he not a refugee in Canada the I saw a fat mulatu looking ugly lady and the dingay ras hodam Bereded, I said thanks god our heroine athlets are not there with these disgusting people carrying Woyannes flag.
Woyanne knows how to spoil a party.
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August 9th, 2008 at 4:25 PM
ወይ ወያኔ ያመጣዉ ጣጣ ቁጭ ብሎ ህዝብ ሊያጋጭ የማይፈትለው ጉድ የለም:: እረ ለመሆኑ ይህ ሁሉ ሰውን ሲያተራምሱ ተው የሚል አንድ ወያኔ ይጥፋ
የሀገር ሰው ተጠንቀቅ ወያኔ አላማው አገራችንን ሊያጠፋ ነው እያነዳንዱ ኢትዮጵያዊ በሚችለው ለትግሉ ማበርክት አለብት እያወሩ ብቻ ቁጭ ማለት አይቻልም
እንበርታ
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:10 PM
If there is an Ethiopian who doesn’t believe that we are the Woyannie Tigraian colony by now, he/she got to be dreaming and living in the pre 1991 Ethiopia.
The Woyannie Tigraians have every say in every decision made in the country. Look who is getting more scholarship and sent outside of the country, look who are the top level army Generals in the country, look who are the top ministers advisors and decision makers in the country, look who owns all the businesses and the money …
Is it an accident that Meles, Sium Mesfin, Bereket Simon, Sibhat Negga, Samora … top business owners and many many more speak Tigrigna as their first language? Can you show me a single high ranking Oromo, Amara or Ogadieni … none! zip!
Told you, we are Woyannie Tigraian colony.
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:45 PM
To those who say that Miruts lives in Canada and therefore shouldn’t have been the standard bearer, I will say this: We don’t care if Miruts lives in Mars and has become an extra terrestrial Alien; he deserves to be in Beijing bearing the Ethiopian standard. The shame is on TPLF and NOT Miruts. Shame on TPLF for dragging such a great hero into their ethno-centric dungeon!
To Beijing air pollution experts:
What is so unique about our athletes that they cannot breathe the same air the rest of the world athletes and the ninety four thousand people at the stadium were breathing last night, not to mention the 1.6 billion Chinese? According to your lame brained excuse, our real athletes, instead of coming to Beijing earlier and acclimatizing themselves and getting familiar with the venues, and taking part in the greatest of all the events, have chosen to stay back home to breath the fresh air of Addis. Apparently they will be arriving in Beijing just minutes before their competition, wearing a masks and carrying clean air canisters (packed with high altitude air from Tigrai) on their backs. You know, this is exactly why all Ethiopians hate and despise you, chronic bullshit and feeble reasoning.
Some of you TPLF cadres are shocked that people are reacting like this, but please understand that the Beijing opening ceremonies was the last place we expected to see TPLF cadres. Ethiopians don’t want to see your face anywhere; they want to see your backs and don’t let the door smack you on your way out.
Tizibt:
Now that we are talking about ‘how one was raised’; is talking about masturbation to complete strangers in a forum like this part of your upbringing or just part and parcel of your training towards your ‘Advanced Degree’?
Hingid Wedi Raya:
Let’s face it, ever since Woyanie assumed power in Ethiopia, they have been runing things as if Tigreans are the only Ethiopians that are capable of running anything and everything. Our athletes are the only people that they couldn’t replace with Tigreans, until last night that is, for it requires a talent and God given ability that the world does notice. TPLF Generals defending Ethiopia and saving Ethiopians, please let’s not go there. For one thing a TPLF general, trained and anointed by Shabea and defending Ethiopia, is an oxymoron. If by TPLF generals you mean those gonorrhea and HIV ravaged bandits like Samora Yenus and the like, give me a break!
TPLF, in its zeal to replace our best trained air force pilots with their cadres has totally and completely destroyed the Ethiopian Air force, once known the best in Africa. These crossed-eyed and bug sighted would be TPLF top guns, have crashed more jets and training planes in the last 15 years than all our pilots combined both in training and combat over the last 60 years. Ask any non-TPLF air force personnel and they will tell you an earful.
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August 9th, 2008 at 7:14 PM
My wife and I were eagerly waiting to see the Ethiopian athletes marching in Beijing Olympics caring our flag. When it was the Ethiopian’s turn, we could not tell who is in there, we do not know any of them. We though we will see most of the athletes who have been getting the gold and other medals recently. The commentator called Abebe’s and Hail’s name not Miruts name. I would think Hail would be a good candidate to carry the flag of our country because of the following reasons
1. He has won more gold Medals
2. He lives in Ethiopia
3. He is an example of the future new generation of athletes
4. He is doing more for the country such as investment, helping the poor etc.
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August 9th, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Amir,
I totally agree with you. Weyane is trying to target and upset Ethiopians living abroad or inside. They know that Ethiopians are proud of their “natural” flag, and costume therefore, the only way to get to Ethiopians is by doing the opposite. They know that Westerners don’t recognize or don’t care who real Ethiopians should be (color of rainbow) not just a Tigrayan ethnics. Indeed Weyane is targeting Ethiopians. Weyane is at war with not Somalia but Ethiopians who are proud of who they are. Weyane detest that and are jealous of this. This means they never consider themselves as inclusive Ethiopians. They heart is full of hate and resentment. The truth is that I don’t know why they have that feeling. If they are targeting Amara then, they can still be bias towards Amara (not promoting that) because Amara had been in power. But this has something to do with resentment against the entire Ethiopians ethnicities. Perhaps they believe that however the rest of Ethiopians are, they see Ethiopians in the reflection of Amara? I don’t know. I will leave that answer to you and Weyane.
Peace and harmony to ALL Ethiopians.
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August 9th, 2008 at 8:17 PM
we have to consider woyanne and those tigrians who support it as mad people who are subnormal in their mind. Meles himself is a mad man who takes pleasure in killing people and sucking their blood. I think, he is psychotic.
i think, as far as the olympics is concerned, we need to focus on the victory of our athlets and let us pray that they will get multiple wins and victories.let us prepare ourselves to celebrate their victories, as we always do.
Let us also be ready to bury woannes and their thugs in their tombs in the days and years to come.
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August 9th, 2008 at 11:32 PM
To: Hingid Wedi Raya (#17)
You and your TPLF gangsters are either so intoxicated in the power that you have today which you may have envisaged while fighting in your Tigray hills or are irrationally and blindly indoctrinated in believing that you are actually doing something good for Ethiopia. You seem to be in disblieve and asking youself why Ethiopians are not so thankful that you are ruling them. It is as if you consider everybody in the country as belonging to the Tigray tribe and therefore appreciative that you ascended to power and are sharing the loot with them.
You need, however, to grasp the reality and come to terms with what Meles and his TPLF gangsters did to Ethiopians in general and Ogadenis in particular over the 17 years of your rule. When the time comes, and it is not far, you will come to your senses and finally find out what your generals were doing to others and how much hatred they sowed for
themselves. You seem to be out of touch with reality or foolishly arrogant enough not care adding injury to insult. But there are those who have been working hard to prove you wrong and have already smashed the myth of your invicibility in where it actually matters most and that is in the battlefield. There is no doubt that the day of judgment will come and on that very day you will be or rather be made sober so that you will answer for your crimes. And it does not matter how long it takes as long as the wronged have their day either in the battlefield or in a court of law.
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August 10th, 2008 at 12:51 AM
#39 you said it best!!!!. talk is chipe do some thing about it. you know that Woyanes are KILLING the people of Ethiopia the country what more do you need to see and hear?.
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August 10th, 2008 at 2:45 AM
You are telling us that we do not have a developed brain. Huh! You know what? You are the one who were conceived and borne in hunger and misery. It is most proably you who do not process a developed brain.
You are telling us we are haters? If you had a developed brain you wouldn’t say that because you would have known what tplf really means. Is it not a liberation front? Liberation from others? So, why are you guys wanted to continue with the people you do not like in the first place? Why is your liberation taking so long? The answer is simple, you are colonizing! You really need to suck resources in oromiya and other places. So, are we expected to love colonizers? Are we expected to give any benefit of the doubt for the people who instiutionalized their hatred by the name tplf?
Let me tell you one more thing. You wouldn’t be a tplf if you had a developed brain. Look Mr. “critical thinker”, you wouldn’t dare to compromise the unity of the empire where you are the most beneficiary from the union.
So now are you convinced that you are a dedeb woyane? Before anything else, try to know the meaning of tplf. It simply means hatred.
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August 10th, 2008 at 4:09 AM
reality,
Woyane Tigreans have one serious conundrum. They want to become the Israelis of Ethiopia, i.e., a small minority group that has managed to establish dominance over the much larger Arab population in the Middle East. But the only claim to fame of the Woyanes is the gun. Otherwise, Woyane Tigreans comprise basically unpolished and half-baked school dropouts and semi-literate peasants. They suffer from a severe inferiority complex, particularly vis a vis Amharas and Eritreans. While they have a love-hate relationship with the above two, they honestly look down upon every other ethnic community in Ethiopia. For example, all other ethnic groups in Ethiopia have intermarried, and many Ethiopians take pride in their mixed ethnic heritage. But Woyane Tigreans largely stand alone, because of the closed nature of their culture and the parochial prejudices they harbor towards non-Tigreans, in particular towards Oromos and Southerners. The despicable conduct Woyane Tigreans show towards Ethiopians is a result of this messed up passive-aggressive psychology. They either hate, resent, or look down upon other Ethiopians. They think the psychological war they are conducting against the Ethiopian population will help them break their resistence and rule over them for ever. If they only knew how ideotic those assumptions are!
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August 10th, 2008 at 7:30 AM
#5 tezibt
Shame on mother ethiopia 2 have a birth people like you
Ante leba Weyanie simihin enaukwalen benazret .com …others
blogs just to womit here
atleast be a man ta say i´m Weyanie
just shut up Dingayras
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August 10th, 2008 at 2:03 PM
As much as I love my country, I hate the flag that was carried into the stadium. I do not understand the meaning of the huge ugly star in the middle. I did not see any recognizable athlete in the line. I am suspecting the likes of Haile, Meseret, Tiruniesh etc refused to come into this clown show. I am sure they didn’t feel like representing the dictatorship of Ethiopia by carrying its flag for the world to see. I am glad they didn’t show up. If I was in their shoes i would also not show up because I do not believe in that ugly flag as well.
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August 11th, 2008 at 1:18 AM
Mirus has a lot to explain to the Canadian tax payers if he is still planning to come back to Canada to collect his welfare . I totally disagree with his role as a flag bearer after his big story of political persecution in Ethiopia in order to secure a refugee status in Canada. We all have to know the impact of his action on other assylum seekers who are currently going through the process.
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August 11th, 2008 at 1:54 AM
It is the ugliest logo put in our flag to desecrate it. It is a good thing the likes of Tirunesh and others refused to carry it.
By the way Mirutse was recruited from Eritrea by the then Imperial Ethiopian Air Force.
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August 11th, 2008 at 2:25 AM
I am happy that other people also observed the situation. It was really shameful even the narrator couldn’t say much about Ethiopia, whereas he could have said a lot had Kenenisa, et al were at the march. I have a very high respect for Miruts Yifter he is also a hero! But what about the others who did a marvelous victory during the past olympics? Besides, they were passing like lekesetenoch! Of all the people Bereded? Who the hell is he in the sport field! This is not a show case after all it is olympics! Have you you seen other countries how many personalities were marching! May the Almighty God help our country!
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August 11th, 2008 at 4:44 AM
Meto Aleka Miruts Yefter is a hero. I got nothing but respect and luv for him. As for the rest of the woyane marchers shame on them….
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August 11th, 2008 at 9:03 AM
I am ashamed of the way our Country is presented In Beijing . I have seen a lot of Olympics before, but i have never witnessed like this one which humilates our country.
Why Miruts is there? he is not even living in Ethiopia. why not Belayneh Dinsamo, Abebe Mekonnen or Mammo wolde. What is that fat woyane women is doing with the delegates , i hope she is not a runner because she is too fat. What is the secret that the real runners were not there?
Each and every activties of wayane is to destroy Ethiopia. Those who supports them please wake up.
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August 11th, 2008 at 12:14 PM
May the God of Ethiopia bless the real information hero our Elias kifle and the Ethiopian review team.
It is because of Elias and ER that we can respond, speak and read all comments made by our own brothers and sisters from all over the world.
Now we know why the Woyanees hate Elias Kifle and the one and only Ethiopian Review. we love the Ethiopian Review and keep up the good work. Best wishes to our Olympians in Beijing.
God Bless You
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August 11th, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Men and women of my country!………………..
why do you think that TPLF is acting this way? snd doig all this blunder fast? This is because their time is running out. Therefore,before their time is over and out they wanted to act like they do now.Infact,be it someone or
regime he/or it wants to make history of his/its own.The woyanes do understand this very well.They do understand also history will be recorded for good or bad. but they fooled themselves when they failed to perceive good history could could not be made vicariously by isolating oneself from the people.All what one could achieve merely is bad history. Any ways good history or bad histort,it doen’t matter to the Woyanes.After all they have already failed for the good one.From now on they only aim for the bad one.
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August 11th, 2008 at 6:20 PM
thank god i finally found a place to say something. i respect meruts to he fulest.in my opinion he represent my ethiopia. wether we like it or not he is our hero ethiopian hero.what i dont get is who are those chiwawas? especially that women? is she a sumo wrestler? i didnt know we have. n’ways what i witnessed that day is absolutly disugsting.
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August 15th, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I am waiting for one of the athletes to have a courage to pull some sort of protest in front of the world community the way the black american athletes raised a black power fist on the podium a while back. How about sneaking in a real Ethiopian flag and waving it instead of the fake woyane crap?
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August 18th, 2008 at 3:09 AM