The town hall meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 30, due to Hurricane Irene. The place and time remains the same. Only the date has been changed.
Regime change in Ethiopia – A town hall meeting
Ethiopian Review will hold a special town hall meeting in Washington DC on Saturday, September 3, 2011, on the topic of “Removing and Replacing the dictatorship in Ethiopia.” The meeting will focus on how to remove the regime and who to replace it with. A list of guest speakers and more details will be released shortly.
Place: Washington Ethical Society
Address: 7750 16th Street Northwest, Washington D.C., DC 20012
Time: 5:30 PM
More info:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 703 828 4821
83 thoughts on “Town hall meeting – postponed”
Elias, if U take the responses U receieved here as a kind of indirect statistics, then it´s obvious the ethiopian people are sick and tired of this backward and viciously criminal regime. Taking this fact as a jumping pole, one can come to the conclusion that this regime is soon out. What is a regime after all, if the people want to spit it out? It is NOTHING!
Josef comment 42 My message is a respond for one day dreamer woyanne comment 12 and exactly the same like you,woyanne gang leader is not an ally rather appointed by late Paul hinze a top cia agent but as there is no permanent political stand now after arab spring their forein policy seems to be short sighted rather than long so that is what i am trying to say, five attacks in the capital can end woyanne
rule with in short as the whole peoples are against the gang even those who are serving these group for the sake of survival can change their bullet back to woyanne overnight even though they can not escape justice for the last 20 years missery they have done.
#50.tezibt,
You are simply a planted and frightened cadre trying to soften the pressures building against your tyrant dictator. What a fox preacher!
You don’t need to be making differentiations as be white, black, gray, green, Arab,Indian, Chinese, Irish,etc. to fight for or not fight against tyranny and criminal human rights violations.
Criminal human rights violations and genocides are always criminal human rights violations and genocides universally anywhere at anytime whether in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, etc.
And the resistance and struggles against criminal human rights violations and genocides are also both human and universal regardless of ethnicity, religion, region, gender, etc. variations. That is also why the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT is there to take care of criminal tyrants committing crimes against humanity in any part of the world with NO differentiation of ethnicity, region, religion, gender,race, etc.
You deliberately forgot the fact that the criminal human rights violating Ethiopian dictatorship is receiving huge amounts of material, financial, logistical, moral,etc. generous supports, assistance from various FOREIGN sources while you are cunningly turning around and trying to tell and fool the embattled Ethiopians even not to take working ideas in favor of democracy and human rights from the environment.
“When a fox preaches, take care of your geese” Wise proverb
come on Elias! don’t try to fool us. how you gonna remove them elias? Do you have missiles? Do you have tanks? Do you have billions of dollars? Do you have jets? Do you have hundred thousands of soldiers? Do you have supporters in Ethiopia? Do the people of Ethiopia even know you? The answer to those entire questions is “NO IDON’T HAVE ANYTHING JUST A WEB SITE.” BUT MELES HAS ALL THAT AND MANY MORE.
Tezibt,
I so much agree. I remember when Ethiopian diaspora formed organization for change in Ethiopia for the election and their campaign copying Arab spring, although I am so excited the is now youth organization to bring democracy to Ethiopia, the way they mobilized based on Arab countries as a model was very weak. The youth needs to tackle on unity, we all need to tackle on the unity we are no longer unified since TPLF took power because our unity they know is the demise of TPLF. OLF is very much helping TPLF indirectly or directly and adamant on maintaining its difference from the rest of Ethiopia. There are also die hard Amaras who want to deny Oromos rights. I am so thankful to G7’s negotitation with ONLF and OLF but G7 must be careful not to completely be embed in the false ideology of extreme thinking. Outsiders are also secretly negotiating with OLF and ONLF because there is oil in Ogaden now. Any moment, I will not even be suprised if U.S and UK like they did TPLF will support OLF and ONLF for their own self interest and everyone becomes happy meaning, the West will get its resources and Ethiopia will no longer be a threat when other nations uses her as a symbolic for indpendent nation, for TPLF it will form its Greater Tigray by probalby getting rid of Isayas or they can rule together, for ONLF, it will probably form its nation or probably join somalia, for OLF its dream of Oromia will finally be formed. So as far as these top they will be quite happy with non existence of Ethiopia. For Ethiopians? It will be disenfranchised, broken, Ethiopia as an ancient country and what it should be as in the Bible will be gone but it has been written and so it shall be done. God not even Ethiopians will punish those who broke Ethiopia and the pereptrators will realize they have made a huge mistake. So it is all up to us and getting the world believe that the existance of Ethiopia crucial, like Israel as Bible says and it is everyone’s duty to preserve this. When I say this it doesn’t mean the existance of status quo but reforming, federalizing Ethiopia so that it will have a long las peace, democracy and development with respecting of eachother.
Long live the biblical Ethiopia!
ER,
Here is what will excite you since it involves Eritrea. It is about this brilliant professor who lives in Africa and don’t want to name him also. He is Eritrean but a very unique one that is, I don’t believe he agrees the secession of Eritrea and believes few greedy people are exploiting the colonization to divide the people of Ethiopia as a whole, including Eritrea. I think he believes this. He has done many conflict transformations throughout the world, I think we need people like him here in the diaspora when we do our discussion with eachother and G7 needs such people when discussing with OLF and ONLF because, such expert professionals identify our miscommunication and disagreement where we are not able and they are able to bring countries, groups, ethnic groups, etc together and at peace. I think, when ever such meeting gathering happens we need to invite conflict transformation, communication experts to observe our discussion and mediate. This is the way to go forward and solve our differences. These professional have solved many disagreements, conflicts, etc.. Please address this issue to G7 as well.
Long live biblical Ethiopians!
50. Melaku
If you were a mentally healthy person, you would attack my point with your civilized wisdom. But they say that one can see an empty skull though an open mouth. I sense that you are either bipolar/schizophrenic. People like you are the results of the student movement. Your types are the cowards, who can only talk but no guts to sacrifice. That is why it took 20 years to over through Woyane. Yes, I know your types,shit on your pants when the going gets tough. My types, we don’t talk much and we don’t use foul languages unless bothered by the sick one’s like you. When needed, and when we believe, we don’t look back. We sacrifice. I am trying to soften you. You are already a softy. The way you attacked me is a teller. Any ways I don’t really worry about paranoid subjects like you. You are a piece of sh*t.
@ #54 teferi….Well said bro!
We Tigrayin fought for decades to free our people and help other Ethiopians to govern their (state)”kelil”…. So, now just shut-up and enjoying the true freedom we tigrayin brought you!! LongLive Meles… the son of Great Tigray.
OROMO: you got your freedom more than ever. Remember those Amharas were calling you Names….and treated you crap! Now, you got Addis Ababa, you can speak Oromiffa,and you have Girma Wolde-Giorgis, (the Great leader and father of Ethiopia) We love him so much!! So, please don’t listen to those losers who want Oromo to be vanished.
TIGRAY: listen all tigrayan, we have to be united and ready for everything that comes ahead. Remember what happened in Adwa, Shire…etc. during Derg… People like Elias are just jealous, and want to get power disparately. Then, they will kill you as they did before. BE AWARE!!
Eritrean: stop helping those killers who finished you people for 30 years, raped you mother/sisters. When that was happening, we Tigrayan were the one who stand and helped you. Remember we lost our heroes in your soil. We are very aware that you are financing, and arming those garbage (Derg–leftover). I don’t know why you are allowing them to operate from Asmara? They are well known terrorist. That’s the reason why U.S.A trying to put more sanction on your country. Stop supporting ONLF/ OLF…..they are professional Terrorist.
May God Bless Meles,
Long-Live Tigray
What if there is no collective(consensus) agreement on who replaces woyane? Would it not be rubber stamping the other side?
This is it ER good going. Now we are reaching a critical mass and the qualitative change is inevitable whether they – the defined enemy – likes it or not. Be ware of short falls and make it transparent. Make sure it is broadcast on all media inside and outside Ethiopia. The idea alone is already sending crippling psychological waves to the tyrant syndicate. Press on. Don’t waver till Total Victory! !!!!!!
Here is an idea to Oromos especially to those mainstream Oromos who want to live side by side with their brothers and sisters of other ethnic groups:
Form Oromo party that is holistic. You can call it Oromo rights and leadership movement or what ever you want to call it. This party most likely have parallel believe from both OLF and the rest of Ethiopia. That is this part understands past and present oppression of the Oromos, they know that the extreme narrow view of blindly saying secession not only is it detrimental to the rest of Ethiopia as a whole but also to the Oromos. This party also knows the so called OLF is nothing but instrumental to Eritrea and TPLF to oppress Ethiopians and Oromos further and has been collecting money from Egypt and West from afar and creating animosity among Ethiopians. This party understands it is time genuine leadership takes place by Oromo within Ethiopia and it means it has to involve itself in every discussion that concerns Ethiopa and Oromos. It also recognizes the plight of the Oromos without propoganda and must struggle towards not just rights and equality of Oromos but also in leadership of Ethiopia. Such party allows the voice of all Oromos in all spectrum who want to be included for being Ethiopian at the same time protecting the rights of Oromos. This movement can play a great role in moderating the extreme OLF views. This party will definitely be opposed by tPLF because this means strengthening unity in Ethiopia and weakening the extreme belief of OLF. The Oromo party understands also, it has been too simplified by OLF Oromos involvement in Ethiopia that Oromos are not just the bread and butter of Ethiopia, they have defended it from outside invaders so, to just give away Ethiopia because such extreme parties such as OLF are too hateful and lazy to participate in Ethiopia’s issues. This party will also change extreme views of die hard Amaras who wants to dominate Ethiopia disregarding the ethnic groups of others.
LOng live Ethiopia.
Elias, you are singing cydelic tunes that Woyane’s opposition in diaspora want to hear.
What has been raised and discussed in “town hall in Washington DC” will remain and be buried there. What you Ethiopians need is ‘ACTION” not town hall discussion. Wake up guys.
Tunisia, Egypt, Libya… have paid their sons and daughters to topple their respective regimes. But Ethiopians, specificly Amharas want a comfortable life and keep away from trouble. In general Ethiopians are best at talking. While you keep on talking, Woyane will suck Ethiopias entire resources and then hand you over the degraded and empty Ethiopia. Wake up and act now.
ERITREA is a big lesson.
#61.love,
“This movement can play a great role in moderating the extreme OLF views. This party will definitely be opposed by tPLF because this means strengthening unity” you wrote
Come on, you are not thinking of strengthening unity but shredding others in to pieces, strengthening your small tyrant self and grabbing power from behind the scene. No one is sleeping and snoring!
What makes the demand for equality and justice or else complete divorce to be termed as extreme?
You sound most extreme yourself because you sound exactly like that of Afghanistan’s Taliban extremists movement who says that, “You neither get divorce nor equality but ONLY obey my totalitarian dictatorship like always. THAT IS TO SAY, “MY WAY OR NO OTHER WAY”
They are NOT saying that we want to dictate the heel out of your ass and rule you in the same way that you have dictated and ruled over us by brute force.
“love”? kikikikiki…
አመለ ክፉ በስም ይደግፉ!
thankyou mr elias for trying to open many blind ethiopian eyes,eyes wide open but they dont see. you try many times to awoken the people still you have long way to go .ethiopians you need one thing nothing eles and that is Acccctttiiiooonnn{ action] .nothing eles. you can call meeting million times but if it is not acompanied by action it is wasting time. look at the middle east the so called rebels that bring down these huge govts are few hundreds in numbers .today the world depends on social media not in tanks and solgers,etc .my ethiopian freinds with the potencial you have if you united ,meleses contrat with ethiopia can be ended in a matter of days .because meles is not deady to die for ethiopia bcause he never think himselfe as ethiopian. meles is the ceo of the tigray companies who are in ethiopia sucking the poor ethiopian blood very fastwithout mercy . because they know their time is very short . so he dont have time and gut to shed blood to defend ethiopia. so mr elias lets pray on sep 3 all the ethiopians that attend this meeting cameup with one word one decition and that is ,getup fight for your right.
58. Weyanetay!!
Looks like there is an error in your comment. You may need to look at your comment again. Looks like you wanted to say we Ertireans and you wrote we tigrayans. In the end specially, instead of saying long live Eritrea, you said long live Tigray. I don’t think you would make that kind of mistake purposely.
Asfawesen,
I know your job here is to confuse what one wants to say therefore, I don’t know what you are blabbling about. You are just talking, talking, opposing with no action. As I said, your job is to make people misunderstood. Look around you, everyone even tribal Africans who have not had equlality have now understood that they need to be united to develop and address their differences while continuing development of their country. Therefore, the only country is Ethiopia whose leaders have been bought by outsiders trying to create havoc. Again, address what I said rather than disagreeing. People are not going to die just because few selfish people like you want to take control.
Long live ancient Ethiopia
65 Tezibt,
Why, are you afraid finally the true colors of the TPLF is coming out that now you are trying to cover up that Tigrayans like Weyanetay are Eritreans? Trust me that is the way tPLF has been thinking and as time is nearing they are threatening Ethiopian people, the problem they themselves caused and which they got Tigrayans involved.
ER/Elias,
Here is some input on the meeting to try to get the meeting effective and not allow which I am sure some implants trying to ruin the meeting:
When addressing parties such as anti Ethiopians address them as their acronyms say TPLF, OLF and ONLF, we are being misdirected and believing that all those Liberation Fronts are all Tigrayans, Oromos and Somalis therfore we are giving legitimacy to these anti Ethiopian elements. Of course, I am not saying to antagonise the liberation fronts especially OLF, ONLF or even TPLF, with these groups, Ethiopians G7 , etc need to continue their negotiation. Therefore on the meeting or any where the Liberation Fronts need to be addressed as they are and not as Tigrayns, Oromos or Somalis. This is the reason, the OLF and ONLF will never support or unite with the rest of Ethiopians because TPLF and Eritrea have given them legitimacy and even have support outside.
Emphasise the necessity of unity, unity, unity in order to end TPLF regime and giving examples of why Arabs in N. Africa are united despite their tribal and geography difference.
An interesting debate,everybody has something to say. Great!! but will you guys go for action??What is the use of attending endless meetings and delivering brilliant messages?? Is any of you ready to put his hand in his pocket and come out with some dollars for the cause? let alone to leave his /her confortable life abroad and do something constructive for the liberation of Ethiopia?? No,Nada,Nyete. The day we start to do something tangibal, freedom is just around the corner. Have you seen the Arabs??? they fought against Ben Ali,Mubarek,Gadafi,they are fighting against Asad. Beleive me. Thoses dictators are far worst than Meles. Give me a shout the day you are ready to fight it out,back there(Sorry ,not in DC)in Ethiopia. Oh yes,if you are not going there,bring the dollar,it will be used to free Ethiopia. Were Were were bicha menem aytekemem
By the way,bravo Elias. At least you are trying.
IF SOMETHING HAPPEN IN ETHIOPIA THE MILITARIES 90 PERCENT MIXIXED WITH THE PEOPLE,I BELIVE.GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA
#68.love,
You have the right to your opinion but please trust me that your much cherished UNITY drumming alone will not come to be realized unless you, yourself also learn to address all of the diversities first and foremost as background positions to form the needed unity.
Keep in mind, the phrase, “BACKGROUND POSITION” because that is what colors and leads the style of communication, the direction of communication, the success and or failure of communication during negotiations between all of the negotiating parties. You are drumming a lot about unity but at the same time pointing your fingers at Ethiopian anti tyranny groups and knowingly or unknowingly spread disunity among Ethiopians. You can not eat your eggs and still keep them in a storage. :)
Now is the time for the winner Love! Already the Sept 3 idea is sending shock waves 10x stronger than the earth quake felt in DC to the criminals in Arat Kilo who frequent the bathroom visit 24/7. Big wanted for murder poster should be displayed in the hall. We never forget the thousands massacred all over plus the well documented death of the 193 innocent souls in the streets of Addis in 2005 Judge Frehiwot should testify again with the presence of all international media including C N N Al jazeera BBC and others like the ICC. And live broadcast the proceedings to Ethiopia in all the major languages in luring Tigrigna for the gilgel woyaneyans and gujilees!!!!!
68. love
“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”: President Roosevelt on his first Inaugural Address used this quote to emphasize the importance of defying fear.
My friend, hiding behind computer screen, we spit so much venom at each other. In my view, we are a bunch of cowards who can’t even use real names to voice our opinions. As a society of WWW users, it is turning us into hypocrites. If you see me in person you may shit in your pants let alone fear you or your types or vice versa. I tend to have certain level of decency when it comes to jumping on someone that I have never seen before. I usually jump on ideas that I don’t agree on.
In my view, I don’t think either the Tigrayans or the rest of Ethiopians are afraid of anything. We are talking about a whole society who got nothing to lose. I tend to suspect the people who use the word “fear” often are afraid. What is there to fear. The tigrayans have gone through hell to be afraid of anything. The same goes to the rest of Ethiopians or for that matter Eritreans, I feel that every one is numb. So I advice you to get read of fear if you have one otherwise you will lose focus and extend our misery for another 20 years. Why rush now. Where were you sleeping for the last 20 years. Does it take 20 years and arab revolt to wake your a** up? Did you just learn the atrocities in Ethiopia? Do you have any clue what I have done in those past 20 years? Are you man enough to go give your life for the struggle? Do you understand the center of our problem? Do you believe bluff equals rockets and bullets? Do you believe weak propaganda and psychological warfare will strength or weaken woyane? Rhetoric that is not backed by some type of action has been the blood line of woyane and it keeps it going. So are you willing to be an idirect supporter of woyane till the cows come home? I would be so happy to hear your answer. Forget the two lines weak comment and think critically or stay put.
Asmamaw 71,
What you are saying is the same slogan as OLF and indeed you are brainwashed. I think you and OLf are sitting in your comfort zone while Oromos are starving and say unless we talk, talk, talk, about equality first, there is no unity. Well, I though you were with TPLF what did they promise you? I know you are waiting for that day for secession. Well, you had 20 years even after Mengistu has been claiming unity and you were lucky with TPLF who is campaigning division so tell me, why aren’t you materilaizing your dream? You are sitting as an idle doing nothing. I though G7 was discussing the issues you wanted did that come to fruition? Wow, OLF now turned to G7 and ethiopians when they realize TPLF betrayed them giving Oromos lands to foreigners. Too bad, what land is there for you OLFs to fight anymore? Are you going to fight back against outside aggression when you couldn’t even claim your so called “freedom”? Have you really been doing research lately who Menilik and Haileselasie were? They were part Oromos, I guess you are going to deny them also because they are not Muslim OLFs.
Therefore, I will emphasise, UNity is the way against TPLF and Shaebia. I think the enemy of Oromos and the rest of ethiopians is getting clear now, OLF and ONLF. Of course, like Libya, because there is oil in Ogaden, UK and West talking with them for their liberation maybe that is why you are sure. Ethiopia will exist so it was written so it shall be. I have never seen OLFs lists of demands, all they say is liberation, freedom, determination. What does this mean? Ellaborate. List what your demands are or just say you will fight until secession. It has never been clear what they want. Besides, Oromos don’t need a demand, they are package and part of Ethiopia and they have to and need to be leaders within Ethiopia. Perhaps OLF is really alien like TPLF that is why it listens to outsiders rather than understanding and standing for the right of its people. All the Liberations Fronts are exactly what they are aliens, disconnected to the people of Ethiopia including their own people. TPLF has to buy its people by alienating against their brothers and sisters the rest of Ethiopians giving them privileges.
Long live united, biblical Ethiopia!
74. Love
“I think the enemy of Oromos and the rest of ethiopians is getting clear now, OLF and ONLF. Of course, like Libya, because there is oil in Ogaden, UK and West talking with them for their liberation maybe that is why you are sure.”
Some times you do make sense.
#74.love,
What are talking about? In fact I am neither an Oromo nor any olf. You mast be day dreaming just to win a small piece argument. You know that time and tide changes to the extent that even none Oromos can talk like Oromos since we can not keep blaming the victims like always even when we are trying to build new unity for the new Ethiopia.
If you and your types want to hear the specific demands of Oromos and their representative go to the town hall meeting and the other unity meetings to hear from themselves rather than trying to prevent them even from coming to the negotiation table with their own ideas while at the same time turning around and condemning them for pursuing their own freedom. You damn them for their good intention to fully participate in the main stream Ethiopian politics and also you damn them even more for their desire to escape from tyrannical dictatorial rule in the absence of participative environment. What you want is crystal clear though. Just slave servants like always. What a shame!
This 21st century social and political change does not allow such decadent medieval positions. If you really want to save Ethiopia I advice you to give other stockholders just what they want so that you may also get exactly what you want. Simple formula!
#75.tezibt,
Take it easy and don’t get overexcited and paranoid desperado.
There are lots of oil, gas, strategic minerals and metals, Gold, platinum, abundant virgin agricultural farm lands and forest, etc. across the entire country. That is not what the country is missing. If it is a matter of abundant wealth and abundant natural resources none in Africa excels the violence ridden unstable country known as the Democratic Republic of the CONGO.
What Ethiopia is missing is a genuinely viable and trust worthy representative PLURALISTIC DEMOCRATIC government and good governance with justice and equality for all. In reality the enemy of Oromos and the rest of Ethiopians is yourself and your types who are incapable of seeing reality in the face and speak the truth as it is. While you know very well the fact that OLF and ONLF are faithfully negotiating as we speak with all the good Ethiopian opposition parties you turn around blaming them and fighting to isolate on grounds illusion.
Even in Libya it is not lack of resources and abundance of wealth that unleashed the conflict but complete lack of representative and participative democracy and justice for all where the tyrant and his small family circles were the police, the arresting officers, prosecutors, the witnesses, the judges and the prison guards, all in one and the same body. Don’t blame the west for Gaddafi’s 42 years of dictatorship. Enough is enough! Beka!
The more you ignore them,lie BIG and fight them the more you lose and the more they win. Don’t think again that I am Somali or Oromo but only concerned individual Ethiopian democrat.
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Why are you deleting my comments? Don’t we have the right to speak? Or Tigrayans are not allowed here?
LongLive Tigray!!
Love is the winner folks. Case is closed!!!!!
#12.Anonymous,
It is much more easy to remove this hated tyrannical paper tiger government. There was much more and huge all round aid from the Western countries flowing for dictator Ben Ali of Tunisia and tyrant Mubarak of Egypt both of whom were thrown away within few short days by the decisive and determined popular resistance who are NOT only accustomed to lousy chatter box and pessimist coward like you.
IMPOSSIBLE IS ONLY IN THE GRAY MATTER BETWEEN YOUR TWO SMALL EARS! or else tyrant Meles has paid you to demotivate the brave Ethiopians soon to grab his palace and drive him deep down in to a fox hole in the Adwa desert just like Gaddafi. Please search for a scape hole before he gets captured. I mean it! :)
#79.Azeb,
You are absolutely right to say that LOVE IS THE WINNER because it then means that those who do not love the entire Ethiopian people under their 2o years iron fist domination, hating and starving them to death needs to leave the governance. አራት ነትብ!
Molotov Melaku #80 please stand up and shine! You indeed have the laser beam of St. Mikael who slaughtered the evil dragon in the heavenly fight and threw it to earth. It is the impersonation of the evil – doers that is the root cause of our misfortune all over. If we only use the super weapon we pocess between our ears (sans fear) we shall see a better day tomorrow. Stop bikering and tinkering and just say no to fear and dictators!!!
77. Bizunesh Mulugeta
Honestly speaking you didn’t make sense at all or I didn’t get your point. If you understand quotes ” ” I quoted anther person because I liked his point. If you are telling me you are not from this ethnic or that ethnic, so what. They are all Ethiopians. Trying to get your point, I can summarize point by saying that just say you are Ethiopian. Also please don’t count your chicks before they hatch. Negotiating about what? How long does it take to train an old dog. I would rather get a puppy and make a dog out it. Don’t try to brain wash me about the the dechassa and welfare fattened senior citizens of OLF and OLNF. I would give a little bit of credit to OLNF. Even if they are lost in the woods, they can fight well. OLF is a loughing matter.