It’s been a long-held tradition of Ethiopian Review to choose “Person of the Year.” The person who is selected by Ethiopian Review’s publisher, in consultation with associates and readers of the journal, is believed to have contributed the most to the betterment of Ethiopia in the past 12 months.
For the year 2008, Ethiopian Review has selected President Issayas Afeworki of Eritrea as “Person of the Year.”
The choice was an easy one. But it is expected to create a great deal of controversy because of a relentless propaganda campaign that the tribalist regime in Ethiopia, the Tigray People Liberation Front (Woyanne), has been waging to make sure that relations between Ethiopians and Eritreans will NOT develop and improve. It’s the same tactic that Woyanne uses inside Ethiopia and through out the Horn of Africa region to turn people against each other.
The Woyanne propaganda has been effective only to a certain extent. Through an aggressive counter campaign by the media from both the Ethiopian and the Eritrean sides, such as Ethiopian Review and EriTV, as well as the Eritrean government’s tireless effort, a great deal of improvements have been made in improving the relationship between the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea. This has been a nightmare for Meles Zenawi’s Woyanne, as well as those tribalists such as the Siye Abraha group that strive take over power after Meles is gone.
The person who is leading and putting the resources of his government behind the effort to create friendship and lasting peace among not only Eritreans and Ethiopians, but all people of the Horn of Africa is Issayas Afeworki.
Under President Issayas’ leadership, Eritrea has opened up its doors to Ethiopians who are fleeing Meles Zenawi’s bloodsucking dictatorship. There is no country in the world, perhaps with the exception of the U.S., where the rights and freedom of Ethiopian refugees have been fully respected and protected as much as Eritrea.
Freedom fighters such as EPPF, OLF, ONLF, TPDM and others are given shelters in Eritrea so that their wounded receive treatments and their leaders hold meetings unmolested by Woyanne agents, thanks to President Issayas. These freedom fighters are gaining ground every day and will succeed in removing the Woyanne cancer from the Horn of Africa. Only then Ethiopia’s unity can be saved, and a lasting peace in the Horn of Africa region will prevail. The humiliating defeat of Woyanne in Somalia — brilliantly masterminded by Issayas Afeworki — is a major step toward that goal.
While Woyanne-controlled radio and TV programs transmit daily barrages of propaganda that promote ethnic division, under the sponsorship of the Eritrean government, EriTV and Eritrean Radio are aggressively promoting Ethiopian unity — despite the tens of millions of dollars Woyannes spends to jam them. Issayas Afeworki has also authorized a publication named ‘One Ethiopia’ for the purpose of countering Woyanne’s anti-Ethiopia propaganda.
Why would Issayas Afeworki and his government want to help Ethiopian freedom fighters to free our country from the Woyanne cancer?
1) Between 1998 and 2000, Meles & gang have carried out a massive ethnic cleansing campaign against Eritreans. During this campaign, over 500,000 Eritreans, most of whom were born and raised in Ethiopia, had been stripped of all their properties and expelled from Ethiopia. Their homes and other properties were distributed among Woyanne officials and members. Because of forced family separations, it is estimated that close to 1 million Eritreans are affected by the Woyanne ethnic cleansing campaign. The ethnic cleansing that Meles, Seye & gang had carried out against Eritreans is a crime against humanity by any standard, which the United Nations has completely ignored. Getting justice for these Eritrean victims of ethnic cleansing alone is a good motivation for the Eritrean government to help Ethiopian freedom fighters eliminate Woyanne.
2) Eritreans are well aware that the endless ethnic and religious conflicts that the Woyanne regime is instigating in Ethiopia will continue to keep them in a perpetual state of war. They have seen it first hand how monstrous evil Woyannes are. Eritreans have suffered more during the Woyanne regime than through all the wars during the Derg regime. Currently, Woyanne has created a transitional Eritrean government based in Mekelle and is arming and training over 20,000 mercenaries. It is preparing to invade Eritrea and put a puppet regime in Asmara as it tried to do in Somalia. Getting rid of Woyanne, in collaboration with Ethiopian freedom fighters, is a matter of survival for Eritreans, not a just a kind favor for Ethiopia.
The reason why Woyannes have turned their backs on Eritreans after the Eritrean People Liberation Front helped them come to power is more psychological than any thing else. By nature, Woyannes are ravenously greedy (like hyenas), and more importantly, they suffer from chronic inferiority complex. That’s why they are extremely violent and ready to flex their muscle over every little disagreement.
For Ethiopian freedom fighters to fight and successfully defeat the Woyanne mafia, cooperation with Eritrea’s government is necessary. Those Ethiopian opposition leaders who have understood this fact have been doing that for a while now and in the past few months a great deal of progress has been made.
It is not an easy task to defeat Woyanne. Because unlike in Somalia, there are too many fake opposition figures in Ethiopia that create confusion. The only genuine Ethiopian opposition groups at this time are those that are shooting or ready to shoot real bullets at Woyanne.
For those who are able to see through the smoke that Woyanne propagandists are producing, it is easy to arrive at the same conclusion that Ethiopian Review has reached that Issayas Afeworki has contributed the most to the fight to remove the cancer that is eating away at Ethiopia in the past 12 months. President Issayas has been able to throw out of whack the Woyanne master plan of creating ‘Greater Tigray’ and fragmenting Ethiopia into 8 small countries with their own puppet regimes serving the ‘golden race.’
The visceral hate toward the publisher of Ethiopian Review by not only Woyanne, but also those who want to remove Meles but keep Woyanne in power, is caused by the knowledge that Ethiopian Review is succeeding in exposing their tribalist agenda. The selection of President Isayas Afeworki of Eritrea by the #1 Ethiopian journal will surely drive them more insane than they already are.
Let 2009 bring freedom and peace to Ethiopia and all the people of the Horn of Africa.
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FORUM | 112 Comments
A wonderful and brilliant selection Mr. Elias.
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January 1st, 2009 at 3:15 AM
I agree completely with the Ethiopian Review’s choice of President Isaias Afwerki as person of the year for the simple fact that he has done so much good for our freedom fighters. To me, a true friend is someone I can rely on in times of grief, struggle and hard times, and Isaias Afwerki has proved to be a true friend that the Ethiopian people can count on. Long live Ethiopia-Eritrea friendship.
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January 1st, 2009 at 3:59 AM
A friend in need is a friend in deed.
Isayas Aferwerki has offered any ethiopian to come and live and work in Eritrea without any problem. The govt. of Eritrea cooperates with any ethiopian who wants to invest in eritrea.
We ethiopians in diaspora dont even have the opportunity to go back to ethiopia, live and work freely.
One thing must be clear Isayasss will not fight for ethiopioans. Isayass can not send his own army to fight Weyanes. We must do it ourselves. Afterall he has given territory, medicine and foood to the freedom fighters.
Isayass is the only proud leader in Africa who has rejected help from USA to trade eritrean pride and identity.
He said eritreans dont need handouts. We survive by ourselves well. Unlike ethiopia, ethnic cleansing is forbidden in Eritrea because all people are encouraged to work and live together in harmony. Tens of thousands of ethiopians currently live in eritrea. Many of them have already joined EPPF. This has been major Nightmare to TPLF.
Ifyou want your country to be free, support these patriots more than ever so they can kick TPLF out. Start EPPF support group in your area with your friends. Collect goods and medicine medicine, tools and some money to send. Look at the pictures of the patriots and mission at http://www.eppfonline.org
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:35 AM
Isaias is the father of the tribalist woyanie. are you out of your mind?
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:49 AM
Could not wait the day Ethiopians and Eritreans work together to make our countries prosperous in Africa.
Happy New Year.
Thanks for the Eritreans for helping Ethiopians and Somalis
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:52 AM
You are putting foundation of friendship and brotherhood among the Ethiopian and Eritrean people.
I agree strongly the choice of ER selecting the visionary president of Eritrea.
Mamo
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January 1st, 2009 at 5:02 AM
LOL…Ethiopian Review puts FOX News to shame.
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January 1st, 2009 at 5:59 AM
Elias I’ m going to change your name to COURAGE.
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January 1st, 2009 at 6:02 AM
I was against Isaias Afeworki until recently. But now after I saw the extreme crime what Woyane did on Birtukan Midekssa, I totally agree that Isaias is much pro-unity to Ethiopians than the arrogant and greedy Meles. At the same time I am surprised to see some Eritreans like Bereket Simon to be one of the architect of all the crimes on Ethiopian people.
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January 1st, 2009 at 6:04 AM
Ato Elias,
First, I would like to wish you, your family and members of the Editorial Board of Ethiopian Review, a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Second, I applaud your decision to name President Issayas Afeworki of Eritrea as “Person of the Year” for 2008.
The Ethiopian people have been imprisoned, tortured and murdered by the minority ethno-apartheid Woyane regime for the past 17 years. During this period, the only person and government that stood with the Ethiopian people and gave sanctuary to Ethiopian political leaders, fighters and ordinary citizens, who have been persecuted by the fascist Woyane regime, is President Issayas Afeworki and the Eritrean government.
The decision to name President Issayas Afeworki as “Person of the Year” for 2008 is indeed a courageous move and one that would further help bring Ethiopians and Eritreans together and strengthen their alliance to get rid of the CANCER OF THE HORN-the minority ethno-aparthied Woyane regime.
God Bless you and God Bless the People of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Happy New Year to all Ethiopians & Eritreans!!
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January 1st, 2009 at 6:21 AM
Bravo Elias. You did it again. I accept fully the decision of Ethiopian Review to select President Issayas Afeworki as the man of the year in Horn of Africa. While the whole imperialist world was collaborating with the ethno fascist mafias of the TPLF mercenary forces to exterminate Ethiopians from the face of the earth, especially following the 2005 election in Ethiopia, Eritrea was the only country which has been trying to expose the atrocities committed by the tribal fascist junta in Ethiopia. In my view only the Woyanes and their secret agents in the Diaspora (so-called Ethiopian opposition forces) and those individuals who have a hidden agenda, will oppose this timely and appropriate decision of Ethiopian Review’s “The 2008 Person of the Year”
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January 1st, 2009 at 6:36 AM
In my humble opinion President Afeworki should be the person of the year too; I wish all of the horn of African leaders would follow his wisdom; that is if there are! I hope this coming year would bring to the whole region of the East of Africa and especially to the people of Ethio-Eritrea peace, tranquility, mutual respect, an stoppage to the unnecessary blood shed, hate, and the outsiders intervention. Lets hope the horn of Africa unite for our own survival, for our own good, for our own respect, for our own benefits, because too much blood shed did not lead us nowhere but to humiliation and destruction; and my final pray to god: LETS HOPE THE WEYANES AND THEIR EVIL MISSIONS/IDEALOGIES BE ERADICATED FROM THE FACE OF THE PLANET! PEACE TO ALL OF YOU PEACE LOVERS
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January 1st, 2009 at 7:20 AM
I just wondering. was the nomination was from all over the world or from ethiopia or from eritrea and what was the criteria to get this nomination? just question.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Brvo..!!! Elias you are 100 % CORRECT.. and the fact is Isaiyas Aforki is ER the man of the Year 2008 and Elias Kiflu is the man of the year to me and my family… If we had some courage leades like Elias Kifle in political arena Ethiopia have been cured from Woyanne cancer a long time ago.
God bless you and Happy new year Elias.
Thank You.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Finally someone being honest and telling the truth! Thats is why RthiopianReview is best 2008 ethiopian website! keep telling the truth. people are starting to wake up! God bless!
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Good job. It’s reasonable, fair and balance.
Thank You so much Elias.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Taking the road less traveled and going against the grain is much more difficult than “kissing up” and following the crowd. This is precisely why I admire my president and now, Elias and the ER team.
Happy new year!
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Elias
Either you are naive of politics or you just want to be a meverick. Do you think that Isayas works for the sake of Ethiopia? Who is the designer of the disintegration of Ethiopia in 100 years time? I dislike Meles, but I dislike Isayas too. The two are two sides of the same coin. If you admolish meles, there is no way to praise Isayas. Look, there background and history, one is the student of the other.
Please, come to your senses
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:21 AM
This is really appreciable and admirable. It is a perfect analysis. No one can object all the facts that you mentioned. Those folks who are still shouting by remembering the past friendship between woyanne and shabia should wake up because the Eritrean government is giving such a golden sanctuary and commitment for the freedom fighters of Ethiopia. No more facts can be traced than those documented above by the ER publisher.
Thanks to ER for exposing such an amazing contribution of the Eritrean government.
To those who still doubt, ask or question the superior cooperation being gained from Eritrea, please wake up and let’s fight the real enemy.
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:50 AM
You make my day…LOL. what is the text One Ethiopia on top of the guy’s pic head to do with him? Your boldness highly appreciated :D, thu its full of hallucination.
PEACE, Elias!
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:55 AM
President Issayas is the only leader in the entire Africa who tells it like it is. It seems that some patriotic Ethiopians are coming back to their senses. Woyane came to power through the muzzle of a gun and can only be deposed in the same manner. Absolutely good choice ER.
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Does any body know mr.Issayas Afeworki’s religion?.
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Let us help President Issias Afewerki bring an everlasting peace and good relationship between the sisterly countries Eritrea and Ethiopia. And we can even go furhter into incorporating Sudan, Djibouti, Somailia and other African Countries into our circle of selfrelience and mutual companionship. So that the citzens of those countries will be allowed to work, live and travel free in the member states.
Happy New Year Ethio-Eritrea relationship. And to all the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia at home and in the diaspora.
As for ER’s Elias Kifle, you are the Man!
I am a reader of ER, but I did not vote for the person of the year 2008, so that not to anger other Ethiopians.
God/Allah Bless both countries.
Amen/A’min
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:13 AM
i agree with you 100% TULU
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:42 AM
The honest truth is that, contrary to the self-betrayingly shrill claims of President’ Issayas Afewerki’s foes and the TPLF regime, Eritrea is in perfectly good hands. President Isaias’s extraordinary credentials as a freedom fighter and his performance as our nation’s leader in the post-independence period, is open to review and examination by anyone.
Anyone who would care to look into the President’s record would find the following undeniable and self-evidently vivid facts:
* a leader who is fiercely committed and devoted to the betterment of his people;
* a visionary leader who espouses a practical, sensible and non-bankrupting approach to nation building –
* fairly balanced and universal sharing of work and responsibility,
* prudent management of resources,
* minimum resort to borrowed assistance (prevents mortgaging the country’s future to creditors),
* the exercise of appropriate frugality in all areas of endeavor;
* a leader who is a true ‘people’s leader’ —
* one who is not affected by any elitist aspirations or leanings (Just a plain, honest-to-God, ‘President of the people’, who can actually see, feel and sense the people’s pains, troubles and aches — sounds exactly like what the good ‘doctor’ ordered for Eritrea’s hard-done-by masses!);
* a leader who is bold, decisive and honest — honest enough to call a spade a spade to anyone’s face (some people attempt to pontificate and attach all sorts of imagined stigmas to possessing this rare virtue.
The truth is: honesty is honesty, is honesty, any day, any place! When you get down to the real nitty-gritty of things, honesty is the only thing that will count);
* a leader who is untouched by corruption and who works hard, even at the risk of being accused of subverting justice, to banish this ruinous scourge from government and society;
* a leader, who, above all, has a tremendous self-confidence — one who is neither intimidated by the enormous challenges and sacrifices that face our nation, nor distracted by the various, sinister saboteurs and obstructionists, from doggedly pursuing his ultimate national call as Eritrea’s leader, of putting Eritrea on the right track of progress and better future;
* a leader who, by setting the right example, inspires confidence and trust in his people, barring a few misguided promoters of defeatism and negativity, who lead relatively comfortable lives in their cocooned existence in the Diaspora and know nothing better than to attempt to sabotage and obstruct our government’s genuine efforts to ameliorate the conditions of our people.
* And on and on.
These and more of the same is what awaits the examination of anyone who cares to look into the exhaustive ‘report card’ detailing President Isaias’ remarkable attributes and his on-the-job performance. I would say these are all precisely the sort of leadership qualities that any self-respecting ‘connoisseur’ of the ‘art’ of good leadership would prescribe for a country such as ours.
Besides mounting an all-out effort to blacken President. Isaias’ good name, the unyielding foes of the President go to incredible lengths to paint an extraordinarily alarming picture of Eritrea, in an effort to discredit the man at the top. They try to overwhelm Eritreans with all kinds of depressing, scary news and information in the hope that they would be driven to lose confidence in their government and president.
Unfortunately for the bearers of bad tidings, most Eritreans are not that good at mentally conjuring up situations that don’t exist in their country. That unique talent is the exclusive property of the originators of the false stories — the TPLF junta and false prophets of ‘doom-and-gloom’. Average Eritreans and especially those who live inside Eritrea, are simply incapable of relating to the fabricated scenarios of misery, tribulations and chaos that the TPLF cadres disguised as anti-government zealots like to peddle by the spades. Eritreans do, however, relate to the things that they can see, touch and feel with their own eyes and senses — things that almost always contradict the far-fetched tales that are told by the ‘cyberspace disinformants’. Thus, they invariably refuse to take the bait.
This causes desperation and despondence, in turns, in the weyane regime, who mount renewed, feverish attempts to convince, nay compel, people to accept their version of events and circumstances. It is quite common to see these people go into uncontrollable fits of aggressive/ abusive behavior whenever people beg to differ with their views They simply put themselves into high gear and furiously try to sell the notion that Eritrea is in extremely dire circumstances and very close to an implosion or explosion of some sort. If people tell them that they don’t see such a situation, they become enraged and turn ugly, rude and obnoxious.
God Bless both Ethiopia and Eritrea.
May the New year bring lasting peace and prosperity to both nations and the brotherly neighbors.
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:44 AM
All our neighbors are friends of woyanne.
Do you remember, Kenya returned the defected
members of the EPRDF back to Woyannes?
Erterea is the only safe place for the opposition.
ER , good job!
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Elias,
Your moto seems to be “Yetelate Telat Wedage Bew”, but this doesn’t make sense.
Who is the God father of Weyane/TPLF? Ofcourse, it is EPLF.
Both, Isayas Afeworki and Meles Zenawi are Kleptocrats.
Isayas Afeworki is responsible for what is unfolding in Ethiopia. It is Isayas Afeworki’s master plan to divide Ethiopia in to smaller ethnic enclaves like the bantustas system in South Africa to benefit Eritrea at the expense of the rest of Ethiopia.
If it was not with the help of EPLF, TPLF couldn’t have beein in power in Ethiopia.
EPLF was financed by the arab petro dollar to secede Eritrea from Ethiopia. Isayas claimed Eritrea to be an arab state and a muslim state and the arab countries like syria and Iraq were funneling petro dollar to the EPLF to secede Eritrea from Ethiopia
Naming Isayas Afeworki Person of the Year on Ethiopian Review is appaling.
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Isayas is proud leader of his people and we wishes to have Ethiopia the same, his action speakes loader than all the Talks !!!!!
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Thise does’t go beyond the old saying” The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. It may work sometimes,but not always. What do you think?
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January 1st, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Amazingly I found the right judgment from this forum after numbers of biased articles and comments. There are some who use their mind to put the truth and reality before their pre-fixed mindset on issues.
Bravo for the good analysis and the election. Isayas is a vital resource to push out Wayane and its disastrous leadership.
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January 1st, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Elias, the truth and your principled stand make you “person of the year” as well! It’s your well known habit of telling the truth that’s making people to rush to your website.
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January 1st, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Haileselassie says:
For those who still are in doubt about President Issaias’ uncompromised commitment to lasting peace and far-reaching economic developement in the Horn of Africa, please subscribe at 1-888-988-5288 to Eri-TV for $15.00 a month and you will witness for yourself history in the making. In fact, one could foresee easily that once the notoriously treacherous Weyanes are gone, this time for good, the Horn which has had more than its share of bloodshed, agony, death, starvation and any malice that you could think of, will be striving tirelessly for a lasting peace and economic cooperation among all those nations in the area.
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January 1st, 2009 at 2:50 PM
I AGREE a 1000% WITH this brilliant assessment of the Eritrean president how has said no to what the west and woyanne think east Africa should be and told them now we will decide its outcome not America no more colonization this is 21st century.
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January 1st, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Wow! You nailed it on the head..! You must be a student of “Dale Carnegie, How to win Friends and Influence People” book.
You’re indeed a person of courage and must love Ethiopia dearly! Ethiopians are very proud and courageous people yet they never had a true leader other than those self-serving by dividing the people and country through various schemes.
Today, on this beautiful New Year day, I see you as genuine Ethiopian leader who didn’t care what the many will say to you or portrait you. May be –just may be- the many will soon start to see the problems Ethiopia is faced with though your crystal lenses in order to save it from its sure bet demise unless corrected immediately. For this to stop, first and foremost, these have to be reversed.
1. Ethnic based districts to an all Ethiopian based ad ministration.
2. Stop the chronic foreign dependency (never helped and never will); Ethiopia is abundantly endowed (both in natural resource and human capacity). If well run, it could feed whole Africa let alone itself!
3. Halt dehumanizing societies but promote equality among all citizens (very fabric of a healthy nation).
4. Avoid unjustified bloody wars rather invest immense resource in educating the underdogs.
Happy & Healthy New Year to all!
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January 1st, 2009 at 3:05 PM
President Issias has seen and thought about the evil conspiracy of outsiders in the horn for too long. A casing point is when he embarrassed the American and western govs, when he managed to broker peace deal between Al Bashir’s gov and the eastern sudan that decimated many millions, and the west spent unaccounted billions for nothing. The same goes with the situation on Darfur, where they spent billions, including paying the agazzi butchers. People need to understand, the policy is still divide and concur. It is about time Africans work together to better our selves.
Thanks Elias.
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January 1st, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Elias,
Most of the time, I like your maverick outlook but this time I disagree with you on your determination of choosing the 2008 person of the year for the following reasons: First, I thought when we talked of the 2008 man of the year, I assumed that your dicision would be within the Ethiopians but not on the golbal level. Second, Mr. Issayas was the master mind of creating our current dilemma dividing Ethiopia by ethinicity. Thirdly, he is rather helping Ethiopian opposition groups for his own narrow interest . In my opinion, he is as generous as Meles. I do not think my enemy is my friend theory will fit here.
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:05 PM
As Eritreans the honerable tegadalai Issaias Afewoki have been our men of the year for 40 years.He could ask any sacrifice from his peaple & we do it gladly becouse he leads by example sacrificing his youth his energy ready to give his life for freedm &dignity for the peaple he loves &cares.Forthat i wish our ethiopia brothers & sisters to be blessed with aleader who cares. S Some one like ELIAS KIFLE thak you brother on behalf of ERITREANS & ETHIOPIANS HAPPY NEW YEAR & PEACE.
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:12 PM
well done my true friend!!!!!! to me i believe you have done the fact findning mission and above all it seems to be a slap in the face to those who have been instigating a misleading propaganda and tried to put the brotherly peoples in a smoke screen of terror,hatred and illusion just to be in power.guese what! this is the first threat to the TPLF gangs ever seen bcs as we have wittnesed on a daily bases that they have been puting milions of resources to drag the two peoples into non existense war in the last 17 years,let alone the ethnic polirization of the ethiopian people.for the reason that we dont understand the TPLF gangs have not expected this would be a reality in the 21st century let alone in the early beginning of this century bcs they thougt that they have succeeded in polarizing the nations and nationalities in the region but thanks to the brave courage, firm commitment,petience of the eritrean people and govt that the TPLF gangs would get the worst and chronic headace in thier history.
no matter what the difference ideologies,believes,and poletics we have towards one another,i mean like what the other peacefully living neghbouring countries have, we reached to the point that this is a building block that every concerned citizen in this counrty shouldnot miss,bcs this would be remembered as foundation factor in the few years to come.
“Elias min libelih?… ketilibet bicha.kegna yemifeleg kallem wedhala anilim. mikniatu bendezih yemesele guday lay
tikit sewoch kamenu , lelaw teketay new ena,tikit sewoch agern yadinalu, agerm ende weyane liyatefu yichilalu ena.
silezih gifabet!!!!!!!!!!!
deel le tsikun!!
widket le tsekagn!!
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:20 PM
In a single strike, in the year 2009 new year morning, Elias and his team at the Ethiopian Review broke and torn asunder the old way of thinking and ushred a new era of understanding, friendship and mutual respect between the Eritrean and Ethiopian people. Amen to that.
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January 1st, 2009 at 4:57 PM
I am from Tigray, Ethiopia. I do read ER and I agree for what you have said about The president of Eritrea. From the beginning of the Eritrean struggle he had stood for Ethiopian Unity. The Meles struggle was to have his own separate country — Greater Tigray. But the leadership of Shabia with the leadership of Issayas refused to accept the separate state. This choice of ER for the person of the year is the right one for Ethiopia.
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January 1st, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Elias, Melesen gedelkew. This is the best politics… you will see, every one and the other media will follow you… Happy new year
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January 1st, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Just like north and south America or Europe for that matter the horn of Africa will live in peace in near future. You are doing a great job Elias,but we Eritreans,Ethiopians, Sudanese, Somalis,and the rest of the people of the horn need to contribute our/ their share. So Happy New Year to you Elias, your family and the peace loving people.
Cheers!
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January 1st, 2009 at 6:22 PM
As the introduction to the selection stated, this choice is going to garner ER a great deal of controversy and booing. Be that as it may, it’s a good choice.
Isaias Afworki won’t win any award for democratic governance at the moment. But his policy towards Ethiopia since independence has never been been characterized with anything other than pragmatism, good neighborliness and the inescapable understanding that Ethiopia and Eritrea are bound by much more than just their recent bitter history.
I commend Ethiopian Review for taking making this selection. This is the sort of courage in journalism that is sorely lacking in the mass media these days.
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January 1st, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Dear Editor,
Well, i respect the personal judgement of individuals whatever his/her way of relegious, economical, cultural or poletical thinking is… However, there is somehting that makes a society better than a society… the one that strives for truth and judges a thing based on a tangible reasoning gets itself better off than the other one that lags behind… It has become clear that the struggle for justice in Ethiopia should be accompanied by all options at stake .. and i do also believe that Eritrea can have a paramount role for the Ethiopian struggle gets nearer to its goal..However, comparing personalities for best contribution to the nations is far more than picking just an individual… it should be supported by acceptable reasoning even for ordinary/ average mind… there are many many many Ethiopians that have contributed too much that is extraordinary for ordinary citizens even to think….Honestly, i felt shame reading that the Eritrean president is person of the year (that you claim the selection is based on the contribution one has made for the betterment of Ethiopia). Shame on You!
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January 1st, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Wise choice and very well explained, Mr Elias. I applaud your honest contribution to the fact regarding this selfless leader of Eritrea.
Happy new year to you and all the truth loving people.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:07 PM
We need people like you Elias. The horn of Africa needs someone who tell the truth about what is going on in that part of Africa. We need a leader who will stand for the people of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and sudan. The choise of The ER is right at the point. The U.S.A , U.N, AU and the Meles leadership can not stand Issayas for telling the truth about thier policies in the horn of Africa and what they have done to distruct the peace. Meles has used this apportunity to have strong relationship with the west by liying and tourturing the Ethiopian and Eritrean people. We Ethiopian are loving people. We do have high respect for our neighbors especially the Eritreans. If Meles and TPLF did not have ill plan toword the Eritreans, we most likly be one Strong Nation in the horn of Africa. This year will be the end of the leadership of Meles and all Habesha people will have mutual respect for the better of the life of our people. Happy New year Ethiopian Reviews. Thanks for the open analysis of the Horn of Africa. We have to honort our people for what they are doing in that part of the world.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Elias, choosing President Issaias for ER’s ’2008 Person of the Year’ is absolutely appropriate.
I applaud your honesty and courage. Your commendable efforts to bring out the truth about Eritrea and President Issaias, and to destroy the myth of perceived Eritrean animosity and hostility towards Ethiopia is highly commendable. Your efforts are beginning to bear fruit,in that so many more Ethiopians are now beginning to see Eritrea as the well-meaning and genuine friend of Ethiopia that it truly is. As an Eritrean, I can sincerely say that once the Woyane cancer is eliminated, the sky is the limit for the development and flourishing of mutually beneficial friendship between our two peoples. Thanks to you and your team, the Hellos, Ato Geremews, Tulus, Salus, etc., pitiful people with one-dimensional minds, who can’t think legibly or coherently, other than to endlessly repeat the time-worn drivel of ‘Shaebia and Woyane are one-and-the-same’, are growing less and less in number. Elias, once again congratulations on your wise and courageous choice!
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:20 PM
I love my president Isaias Afeworki and trust him in my life. I agree that he has done more to Ethiopians to free themselves from TPLF gangster. But as Wedi Afom said it is the responsibility of our brothers and sisters of the people of Somalia (Ethiopian) to put their house under order.
To those who went to know about my president Wedi Afom, watch this sort clip of an interview of Wedi Afom,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O12tdvyPOyY&feature=relate
My Personal invitation to see my president with his people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy8kEm8T4&feature=related.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Here we go, Elias is becoming the main focus that all Ethiopians should notice and learn from. Hope based on the facts mentioned by Elias a new idea will introduce to all Ethiopians in this new year and remove the cancer for the better of our horn region.
Elias on top of what you have said, the roll of Eritrean president in bringing solution to the Eastern sudan should be mentioned as well.
Believe me Elias, you are playing a very important roll and keep up the good work.
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January 1st, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Mr. Elias, thank you for the courage you displyed in this choice, above all it will wake up the majority of Ethiopians who have no ill will towards Eritrea and enhance the support for all the true opposition groups who are doing the real fighting inside Ethiopia to get rid of the cancer that is Woyanne, it is about time the majority of Ethiopians in the diaspora wakes up and supports those true patriots inside Ethiopia, the only way to support these patriots is through Eritrea because only the Eritrean people and their government are the ones standing with the freedom fighters in Ethiopia. You have ushered a new era in Ethiopian body politic and at the same time enhanced Ethio-Eritrean relationship while dealing a painful blow to Woyanne and the ineffective peaceful opposition with no direction whatsoever.
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:32 PM
wow, what i can i say your an honest man. it takes a man to stand up for what you belive in. and you sure are right issaya should be the man of the year.
the President is working hard to bring peace in the horn of africa. he is one of a kind. we all know by now that he is not a sell out. if we all can look back to what he said about somalia, before meles go in to somal..everything issayas was saying is now somming to light. he is a man who stand for what he belive.
my peace come between the ppl of eritrea and ethiopia.
and if we all fallow his foot step there is no doubt that we will succeed.
keep up the good work Ethiopian Review’s .
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Dear Elias,
You gave me hope for the first time, in a long time. I now have a high hope that one day, both ppl will be friends again. I admire your honesty, knowing this will be controversial and you might even get a lot of criticism. But that is what leadership is, and that is why I agree with you choice 100%. I don’t agree with Isayas on some issues, but with out any doubt, he is one of the most courageous leader in Africa today, and he tells it like it is, whether you are super power or not super power. All he wants is that ppl of Africa are given a chance to make their own destiny, without any external interference, failed or succeed.
Just like you and Isayas, I wish we have more African Leaders who are honest and can tell the truth regardless of the consequences.
Thanks for teaching us to be honest and objective, not emotional.
Happy New Year for you, your family and the PPL of eri and ethio.
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I love my president Isaias Afeworki and trust him in my life. I agree that he has done more to Ethiopians to free themselves from TPLF gangster. But as Wedi Afom said it is the responsibility of our brothers and sisters of the people of Somalia (Ethiopian) to put their house under order.
To those who went to know about my president Wedi Afom, watch this short clip of of Wedi Afom observing and making sure that Eritreas self reliance policy became reality. Eating and drinking with his people. Wedi Afom is not only ERs man of 2008, but Eritreans beloved son forever.
http://www.eastafro.com/Post/2008/11/25/video-president-isaiass-inspection-tour-of-gerset-fanko-dams-nov-24-2008/
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January 1st, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Yes,Issaias is better for the people of the Horn than the rest of the leaders.Meles should be in jail and the Hague for his crimes against the peoples in Somalia and Ethiopia.Atleast Issaias didn`t sell his soul and his young soldiers for money.Keep up the good work Elias!
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Somalis thank Elias and Isaias.Two brave men who confronted this devil Meles and his TPLF Agenda.President Isaias Afework is a true friend of the Somali people.May the new year bring peace to our people in the HOrn
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January 1st, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Elias along with the overwhelming majority of the commentators regarding the selection of President Isaias Afeworki as the ER person of the year, I too congratulate you for the courageous choice. As we recall, the Eritreans did not go on the revenge after winning the war of indpendence and prevented the woyanes from murdering hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians for their role in the Mengistu regime. Inspite of being betrayed by the ungrateful, short sighted and savages in power in Ethiopia, still maintained a principled stand by advocating for the unity of Ethiopia. All i can say is thank you for your courage and most appropriate choice.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 AM
The Ethiopian cyber world is starting to reverberate as the sound of this historic and courageous principled selection by the ER team. For far too long we have been blinded by cheap Woyanne propaganda and by some opportunist elites who toy with our emotions for their own financial and political gains.
If history is our guide, there are times where some individuals rise to the occasion and make history and ER’s action today is one of those moments in history. Now, that the door is wide open, the Eritrean and Ethiopian peoples should move forward together as partners. For the Tribal Junta it may be hard to decipher it, but what is good for Ethiopia is good for Eritrea too and vice versa.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 AM
May God bless President Isayas Afeworki and the heroic people of Eritrea and goodwill to the long suffering, proud people of Ethipia. May the innocent victims of the regime in Addis Abeba, the people of Somalia, find peace. If we all follow the examples set by the editor of ER and and the unwavering resolve of Isayas to speak truth to power, the potential for peace and prosperity in the entire region of the Horn is easy to imagine and realize as we are poised to tackle the challenges ahead. We have a well endowed, combined arsenel of talent, resourcefullness and a burning desire to see our people live in peace if we decide to put our differences aside and work toward the common good. One condition for this to work is that we have to agree to be honest. No hidden agendas, no tricks. These are the very insidious instruments that the Woyane and it’s handlers have been using against the people of the Horn for too long. The outcomes have beeen disasterous. We need new imaginative and positive approaches for the new century.
May the new year bring peace and harmony to all the peoples of the Horn of Africa.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 2:55 AM
Thanks elias for choosing the right person. Despite setback from international media and communities Isayas will continue to be an icon for those who love truth and freedom.
If i could, i would reward Nobel prize for the man who has vision Africa to be freed from neocolonialist. Sadly in the name of free media and democracy African people paying the price through beggars African leaders who only filled their stomach for their individual. The only person who foiled the western conspiracy is Isayas.
Long live Isyayas and happy new year!!
I would like to thank you also for elias and his colleagues for ur determination for truth!!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 3:05 AM
Elias eventough ELF and Esayias are the one who back upp woyane I have great respect to Esayiasfor his commitment to his aim,people and contury.Especially for not serving America like Meles .He is realy a hero over Derg and now America. I have great hope that he can do something against Meles in the near future
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:18 AM
Elias what a courgous selection. I admire and appald your thoughtfullness. You are one hell of a man. I did not expect the selection but it was one worth to mention and take on board. You play the game ahead of anybody else.Go MAN!! You are real ETHIOPIAN!!!! We need one more like you.
God bless you and bless Ethiopia!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:29 AM
Yes we do love our president no doubt!!like we love our Eritrea. We wish all of you Ethiopians elect a true leader you respect and love too.
Everyone has realized that the TPLF’s are the evil of the Horn of Africa. They think they can sit in power by simply manupilating ethnical differences and divisions, which is an old European colonial type of game that doesn’t work this time of the day.
Yes it is true that we fought Col.Mengistus Marxist regime to bring about change to all of us, given ours need being our independence or to govern ourselves, and that Ethiopia brings about lasting peace and democracy to all. Slowly but surely we saw Tamerat Layne going to jail and the war with us, the cracking down of OLF/ONEG leaders and the Somalian issue, yes all Horn of Africa must support and bring about poverity and hostillity to the curve and challenge the world with mutual respect.
Let’s change and respect our needs, one for all and all for one!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 6:52 AM
To all Ethio-Eri, Somalis, Djoubitis, Sudan, and other horn of Africa region, if we are to survive the 21st century we must unite against our common enemy that had been destroying our region for so many centuries; and those enemies of our region and people are, 1- ignoranse, 2- luck of leadership, 3- mistrust, 4- outside interferense, 5- luck of respect, 6- the brain-drain, 7- luck of wisdom/education, and lastly, 8- slave mentality. There is no doubt Ethio-Eri relationship should never have taken the shape it is in right now; we are not much of different people, culture, belief but a minor of differenses; and in my humble opinion I will say those differeses were created mostly by outsiders which took Eritreans to take matters into their own hands when provoked. When we all thought let the by gones- be- by- gones look who is taken the people of Ethio-Eri back to the feature, look who is ticking the clock backwards, look who is using the old divide and rule mechanism that used by the enemies of our region, look who is back stabbing who, look who wants revenge and avenge for the new generation: IT IS NOTHING BUT THE WEYANE LEADERSHIP LED BY LEGESSE Z., HIS AND HIS MASTERS FOR LIFE ERITREAN TRAITORS. INORDER TO HAVE PEACE AND FOCUS TO 21ST CENTURY WEYANES AND THEIR MISSION MUST BE ERADICATED FROM THE FACE OF THE PLANET! PEACE TO ALL OF US!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 7:50 AM
Dear Ethiopian Review,
We need people like you who advocate for the truth.
President Isaias stands for:
1) The Unity of Eritrea
2) The Unity of Ethiopian, assisted the Ethiopian revolution againts all odds ( Emperial gov. of Haile Sellasie, Derg , and now aginst the traitors Weyane, who tried to stay in Tigray only and not to advance to the rest of Etiopia and get rid the Derg in 1991 after they freed Tigrai. It was only because of the now Presidet Isaias Afeworki´s great effort that they advanced to Addis Abeba.)
3) Peace and stability of the Horn of Africa by the people of the region and without intevation of foreig forces.
4) Believes on dependence of his people in all aspectes, political, economical and socialy.
5) Respects the rule of law. With Yemen de obeyed the werdig of arbitration and with Etiopian the ruling of the international tribun.
We the people of Eritrea wish you all Ethiopian Brothers nad Sisters Happy new year and may peace prevail in Ethiopa, Eritrea and the whole Horn of Africa.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Elias wandimachin.
Are you sure you chose this decision wisely?
This man, Isayas Afoworki, has and always will be apart of the destruction of Ethiopia.
He supports organizations that hate Ethiopia.
Meles and Isayas are both equally the enemies for the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
If Isayas was truly open for Ethiopia TELL HIM TO HAVE A SPEECH IN AMHARIC praising the great Ethiopia and Ethiopian nation.
That will be a big way to see his support
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January 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 AM
I travel a lot for business. One strking fact that never fails to amaze me is how Ethiopians or Eritreans will ALWAYS try to go out of their way to help ANY “habesha” person specialy in the hospitality businesses such as hotels, rentals, restaurants, resorts, hospitals, airlines, parking, you name it. Yet another proof that Ethiopians and Eritreans just want to live in harmony! Down with Woyane and those propping it up.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 AM
I remember Elias Kifle’s interview with ITN in May 24, 2008. When Hillary Clinton seemed to be edging in all the polls against Barrak Obama, Elias correctly predicted that Obama would win the democratic presidential race, much to the chagrin of ITN’s Gizaw “Chalabi” Legesse. Gizaw threatened to mock and embarrass him if Hillary won instead. Elias stood his ground, was true to his assessment and excellent judgment, which has served him well throughout the years. This is unlike many Ethiopian “intellectuals”, including butcher Meles who cannot stand behind what they said the previous day.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 10:47 AM
The Eritrean president is not a perfect leader but compare him to the other African leaders he always stand for the truth. He needs to give his people freedom as much as the people of Eritrea love him. Meles and Isayas have been in power for almost 17 years. Mengstu was in power for 17 years but he ends up in forigne country for the rest of his life. I think the time is coming to these leaders if they do not want to share the power with the people they may end up in Libya or USA.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:33 PM
We need people like you Elias
President Issayas is the only leader in the horn of Africa who tells it like it is. I admire you.
Happy New Year for you and your family.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Yonas you said
“Dear Editor,
Well, i respect the personal judgement of individuals whatever his/her way of relegious, economical, cultural or poletical thinking is… However, there is somehting that makes a society better than a society… the one that strives for truth and judges a thing based on a tangible reasoning gets itself better off than the other one that lags behind… It has become clear that the struggle for justice in Ethiopia should be accompanied by all options at stake .. and i do also believe that Eritrea can have a paramount role for the Ethiopian struggle gets nearer to its goal..However, comparing personalities for best contribution to the nations is far more than picking just an individual… it should be supported by acceptable reasoning even for ordinary/ average mind… there are many many many Ethiopians that have contributed too much that is extraordinary for ordinary citizens even to think….Honestly, i felt shame reading that the Eritrean president is person of the year (that you claim the selection is based on the contribution one has made for the betterment of Ethiopia). Shame on You!”
thank you very much brother i can’t say it any better.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 4:09 PM
first of all merry Xmas and happy new year to you and your family.
your are the only Ethiopian Website publisher with right poltitical ambition to change the woyane regime from power. president isias is the best thing it can happen to Ethiopia because in his history he never double crossed you that is for sure he said what he means, what you see is what you get . again the choice is excellent Elias
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January 2nd, 2009 at 4:25 PM
He deserve it ..i am sure he will be glad to find out …he is going to lead this country to a better place …he will be the only true African leader who fought for a better Africa …we love him and long live Essayas
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 PM
I can say,President Issayas Afwerki is a good person and he contribute many things that is very important to both countries Eritrea and Ethiopea.So we have a great role to do support the system of this president.Wish peace and developement to both country.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 6:36 PM
This is a masterpiece political writing. It is Lincolnesque. I predict that it will be in the history books of Ethiopia for generations to come as a piece of writing that has shattered the wall between Ethiopians and Eritreas by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and its puppet-masters. Great job, ER!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Wow Finally some one who can understand the truth. Yes Issayas is the man of the horn of Africa.He has been fighting for freedon all his life and we need to have some one like him who doesnt sell himself.Long live people of Africa.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Legesse Zenawi and Bereket gave us some thing to talk about by arresting Birtukan. Ethiopian Review came back at them by naming Isaias Afeworki as man of the year. Now every body is talking about this. And the Adwa mafia is getting a heart burn on the first day of 2009! I am not Afeworki’s fan, but this is just great.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Yes indeed ….he is the man
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January 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Well, for us Eritreans and many Ethiopians, as we can see it from the comments, it was/is clear all along that Isayas Afowerki stands always for the truth. A selfless leader in par with Mandela and Ghandi– The only difference is that Isayas does not give his left chick when slapped in the right chick. As for ER team, you are courageus to tell the truth– real students of Isayas. We need you and Isayas if we are to have our dignity intact before the sellout woyannes and the likes degrade the pride of the peaple in the Horn.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Elias you are great, and I totally agree with you, I doin’t have to like Isaias,but his full support to our fighters is appreciate. I would like also to agree with one of the commentator, you are the person of the year and continue the good work.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Hi 1st thanxxxx 2 Eth– Review /// H.E Pres–ISAISE //Wdi Afom// The lion of Nakfa// We proud of u we love u emmmewa// n Long live to Eritrean n Ethiopian ppl peace be with u all
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January 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 PM
It’s really,really a good selection. Isayas afework of eriterea has to be the man of the year. Elias kifle; I realized now that you are a honest Jornalist!! History will remember you. You made a right selection. We understand,Ato Isayas is a true friend of Ethiopian.We are ready to fight with these arrogant Hayenas to Re-establish our unity;to bring back Ethiopianism!! The History of our brave,patriotic fathers should NOT be spoiled with the act of diz “kimalam woyanne”. Any ways thanks to Ato Eliias Kifle for recognizing Ato Isayas Afework as a man ,and a true friend of Ethiopian. Last but not least for Ato Isayas and all leaders of EPPF,OLF,ONLF; please,please Just Ignite the war,then we will show you how to punish “buchilas”of woyanne the so called Federal, Dehninet, gazi…..Thanks!
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January 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 PM
The Ethiopian review has chosen the right person who has been fighting for peace friendship tranquility of the whole fraternal people of the horn of Africa. so president Issayas has been deserving for the person of the year.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Well First of all Happy New Year to all Eritrean and Ethiopians. I agree with the selection Man of the year. He is a leader with a vision and he doesn’t believe in kneeling down for freedom . Eritrean knew and fought for decade with his leardship all race ,religion and ethick eritrea inside and outside the country. What the ethiopian needes to do togheter united to support morally ,fanicaiclly to the freedom fighters and Remember the figthers are giving up thier live so that the rest of ethiopian can leave peacfully.
Lastly ,Let me give you short history… when eritrean rebel liberated Eritrea…eritrean people gave and help DERGE troops freely with harming and send them to Sudan for Redcross. We love to see ethiopia under smart leardership none ethinicaly learderership and with vision on self reliance just like Eritrean President.
VIVA Eritrean and VIVA Ethiopia
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January 3rd, 2009 at 2:04 AM
Selam,today I feel good to hear my Ethiopian friends to accept
the true fact who President Issayas is? A person like him comes once in a blue moon.I have only a simple question to my Ethiopian friends why do not you invite him to speak infront of you and question him who he is? Does he believe in Ehtiopia unity? What will be the future stand between Ethiopia and Eritrea will be? Then you will get the right answer from my hero.We Eritrean’s fought for 30 years for our independence. No human gave us our freedom except the men and women who gave their lives. And against all odds we got
our independence. That does not make us not to be friends to our Ethiopian neighbors. We can live peacefully and helping each other side by side and protect other outside enemies.
We are not Arabs we are pure black Africans, we are not looking for identity because we are Eritrean’s.
This is my first time to your review and I hope I will vist it if we can give a rich ideas and learn from each other.
Thank you very much and I hope 2009 will bring peace in the two nations.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 AM
Iseyas told the woyanes the reginalism and federal government on the base of race don’t work for the Ethiopian reality befor the woyanes come to power. The ferst problem with eritrea was this also befor the border isue. Isayas always was for the unity of Ethiopia since it is for the benefit of the region economicaly politicaly and ever lasting peace but the woyanes since their start was for the great tiray not for great ethiopia so as an Ethiopian now I agree with the selection of Isayas afworki as a man of the year even he predict in advance that the woyanes are aganist the unity of ethiopia
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January 3rd, 2009 at 6:17 AM
those who do not have anything for themselves…
how can they give …to other?
plz let us base our arguments in reality …
so that we can say we give witness for for see and heard with
our own intelligence. let us not listen for others.. and imitate them specially for bad examples. like….
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January 3rd, 2009 at 6:23 AM
Meles would not like at all to see Ethiopian people and Eritrea people live peacefull side by side. The reason is simple, in order to be a hero and true Ethiopian in Ethiopian eyes he has to wage continues war and hate against Eritreans or among Ethiopian. Ethioreview your courage, vision and maturity is clear. Eventually, I am sure the two sisterly neighbors who have a lot in common would gain a lot if they break the old hate and start a new chapter which needs a courage and wisdom.
Victory to the gallant EPPF fighters who are fighting against weyane for peace and democracy.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 AM
I agree on this selection regardless of the critrea if and oly if Essayas Afewerki is Ethiopian natioalist.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Elias I think this is the way forward to Ethio-Eritrean relation, In 1991 my thought was that Issaias would be ethio eritrean president but he didnt realise this concealed by woyane.Now it is time to look forward to live in a harmony with our brothers.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Eritreans are the most lucky people to have an intelligent, visionary and most of all uncorrrupted leader. Personally I have followed this man for many years and as ethiopian I dislike him but at the same time I admire him so much and always wish to have some one like him who Is so nationalist who cares so much about his nation and people. If we had a leader like him, with all natural resource we have, Ethiopia would be a bread basket and a richest and powerful nation in Africa. But unfortunately we are the most unlucky people in the planet. The president speak many languages such as tigrina, tigre, Arabic, Italian, English and including amharic. So elias, pls lead all our jornalist and invite the president for interview with our jornalist and we strive to know the fact and the truth from this man of the year.
Victory to people of Ethiopia!!
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January 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Mr. Elians point well taken. I am an Eritrean. I have some problems with President Isaias. However, he does things that are very important for Eritrea and our reign. I am certain that he does not have an ill wish toward Ethiopia. As Mr. Elias perfectly put it he is helping the Ethiopian freedom fighters as much as he can. He is doing is not because to see Ethiopia divided, but with intention and determination one day there will be true Ethiopia leaders who want to create a good friendship with its people and its neighbors, also I have to be candid in here, he does not want to see any less then the Ethiopian people the woyane gang to stay in power.
I personally wish to see one day we can work together for greater achievement. I agree with one of the Eritrean commentator, who mentioned to invite the president. The only why to assure to some of the skeptical fellow Ethiopia brothers and sisters about the leadership of Isaias is to interview the Presidne and ask him questions about our reign in general and bout Ethiopia in particular. Therefore, I advice you, Mr. Elias, one day to interview the President.
Most importantly, I must argue all patriotic Ethiopian brothers and sisters who wish to see free and developed Ethiopia, it is your national duty to help your freedom fighters financially and morally. It is the only way to get ride of oppressors and enable the fighter to march to victory.
Thank you,
Victory to the fighters and the people of Ethiopia.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Elias,
If your intent was to stick to Woyanes by nominating Essayas as a man of the year; I am sure it has worked. Naming Essayas a man of the year is not the problem I have with you- even Hitler was man of the year of time magazine in 1939. But it is the content of your article upset me so much. You have disappointed me and many true Ethiopians. Essayas is not a saint as you make him out to be. Essayas and Meles are one and the same. These two men are one of many reasons Ethiopia held backwards from developing. Essayas and Meles have bitten the very hand that fed them. They were educated by Ethiopian tax payers. Essayas fought all his life to separate from Ethiopia and got it. And now you want to tell us that he is working hard to unite Ethiopia —PLEASE!! Do no try to fool us. Many poor Ethiopian soldiers have died fighting these two evils.
The best thing that happened to Ethiopia is that these two devils are not getting along anymore. God forbid if these two cousins were getting along, I wonder what worse
thing could have happened to Ethiopia. The only reason Essayas is helping the opposition group is because of his hate towards his cousin Meles.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 1:41 PM
okay ! these is a bizarre that all the above 84 comments
given are a creating confusion on us.you people from
eritrea we know u that u are trying to convince us that esayas the authocratic leader in africa is a person of the
year this is really ridiculus both esayas and meles has
leading the country to entortos. you fool thugs. don’t you
feel ashamed of yourself on trying to put such thing deep
in to our mind.how on earth esayas would be a person of the
year what things he brought to the destitute people of eritrea. shame on u……..
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January 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY OF YOUR PERSON OF THE YEAR IN 2008. the problem is most of the ethiopian people doesn/t trust president issayas. the answer is not a mystry. he was the architect to put woyanne at menelik palace.
president issayas may be smart and a hero, but that is only for eritrea not ethiopia.issayas supporting oppostions or willing to help to get rid of woyanne,,realy just for ethipian people? is this b/s he is so concerned about the ethipian people or he just hates woyanne. it is obvious,,no body misses this.
it is only because meles is a rogue kid. he just wanted to punish him.that is all. if for some reason meles appologizes him and they make peace,,the next day he will close all oppositions offices. u see,,there is no way issayas can prove he realy mean it. elias, i guess u are not naive and u know that too. i have more respect and admiration for issays,great for his own country. unlike,meles dividing people in ethnic line,,working day and night to destroy the country,,we ethiopians are so unlucky.but,whatever it takes,,one day we will be free.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 PM
I like the fact that the people of ER are open minded and suprised everyone with the person of the year.
I’m eritrean myself and my only wish is for us ethiopans and eritreans to live in harmony and in peace.
Look at europe who went through the whole 2nd world war, if they can do it why can’t we?
Africans should work together for a better future and get rid of all the hate and blaming. Remember the white men will never see a diffrence between an eri and ethi, so why all the conflicts? We as africans should think better than the rest of the world and start making progress instead of making war. Because no one will help us cleaning up the mess. We are the next the generation and the future, esspecially the ones in the diaspora.
I also would like to wish everyone a happy new year and pray that 2009 will be a good year for all of us.
P.S question number 11 of eth…..
The president of eritrea is 100% Christian Orthodox
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January 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Hi our Ethiopian brothers and sisters:
In reconfirmation to all those supporting comments listed above, you are kindly invited to witness for yourself H.E. President Issais Afwerki giving extensive LIVE, yes LIVE interview on ERI-TV, on Sunday, January 04, 2009 beginning at 12:00 (Noon) Eastern Time. The various topics of discussion are expected to include local and international issues.Please see the phenomenon, selfless, un-corruptible, one-of-a-kind and most of all distinctly truthful father of modern Eritrea answering various questions courageously and without any prejudice or bias. IT IS HIGH TIME THAT YOU WITNESS THE EVENT FOR YOURSELF. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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January 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Elias,
Some of your reader ignore that Isaias is half Ethiopian and brought up in Ethiopia. Please tell them his cause was Justified by the time and situation.Now we are indifferent time and situation.So far we have learnt a lot about the importance of co existance.We are causines there is no good reason to fight each other.Let bygone be bygone and see the opportunity we have forgone because of our ignorance.
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January 3rd, 2009 at 6:11 PM
This is very nice ER. Our only chance of liberating the horn Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular from the TPLF/ Woyane criminal juanta is to stand with our brothers to the north, Eritrea. I am 100% sure that once the woyane/TPLF criminal juanta is eliminated, there is a lot to be gained, such that: Just like we used their port before the outbreak of war with a minimal charge, we can work on to gain the trust we have lost back then.
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January 4th, 2009 at 4:35 AM
As a follow-up to a previous comment, aplauding ER’s excelent choice for its ’2008 Person of the Year’, I would like to add the following observations. While it is very clear that ER’s choice has won the support of the overwhelming majority of Ethiopians, it is astonishing to see some who, despite all the hard facts to the contrary, still persist in repeating the foolish blather of ‘Shaebia and Woyane are one-and-the-same’, ‘Meles is at the service of Eritrea’, ‘Issaias is out to destroy Ethiopia’, etc. I find this level of infantile stupidity on the part of some Ethiopians simply unfathomable! Then, there are the likes of the character called Berhane M. Tekeste (Messoud Filli), the disgraceful Awate gang, and various other individuals and groups, who masquerade as true Eritreans, but are in fact out-and-out traitors who have sold their bodies and souls to Woyane and are actively hatching Eritrea’s destruction from within Ethiopia and the Diaspora. These people, of course, do not constitute an ‘Opposition’ in any political or military sense. They simply are a bunch of self-serving and self-alienated lost souls, who have decided to sell their services to the worst enemy of their country, solely driven by hatred, jelousy, and an immoral quest for personal gain. Compare the diabolical and obscene conduct of these people with President Issaias’ exemplary and stellar accomplishments in his life-long, devoted service to his country and people, and right away, it becomes crystal clear why these people are loathed and hated by all Eritreans, and the President, on the other hand, is admired and loved by all, bar those who fraudulently call themselves the ‘Opposition’. When it comes to the question of the credentials that validate President Issaias’ worthiness for ER’s ‘Person of the Year’ title, one need not look further than Bealu’s exhaustive and elloquent narrative further up. Commentary #25).
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January 4th, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Elias,, I do agree with you and we Eritreans love him becouse of he work for the sick of peaple and country not like legese when the peapl of ethiopian starved and suffered he preached the economi isgrow ??
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January 4th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Free press can choose who ever want to be the person of the year, If truly there is a free press and freedom of expression under President Esiais. I am proud of the Eritrean people and what they achieved, but what they aspired for they never get after Independent due to the arrogance leadership of the president. He is stuborn, know it all, Mugabe to be and arrogant. The Esiase as gurella leader yes deserve to be the person of the years… Not the Isaias as president in my opoinion to be P/of the year. He need to transfer power to the best and brightest Eritreans 18 years is long time to lead a country under one man rule. I don’t understand ER how they piced him as Person of the year. Wedi Gudagudi
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January 4th, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Elias, you are very bold and a man of integrity. I will never forget what happened in 2005 election. The only leader who stood up and condemned the Woyanee-Tigraian bandits was Issias Afework, the only people and friends who called and consoled our grief during the massacre and chaos in Ethiopia were our Eritrean friends and neighbours here in diaspora, while the supporters of Woyanees and Agazees were dancing and beating their war drums on the bodies of our brothers, sisters and parents back home.
Besides, Eritrea and Eritreans are the only people who have recognized the justified armed struggle of the Ethiopian people against tyrany and Woyanees tribalism. Only Eritrea recongizes that Ethiopians are suffering under an Aparthied regime.
Yes, only in Eritrea can a fleeing Ethiopian get a passport and is allowed to travel wherever he/she can. Who would have thought this eight years ago.
May god bless Ethiopian Review and may a united Ethiopia live for ever.
Debretabor
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January 4th, 2009 at 9:04 PM
With the start of the new, the old politics is out and the new politics is in. The official diaspora line of bringing Eritrea back to the motherland and drive the Eritreans into the Red Sea shelf life is over. Now is time to focus on the main issue facing the nation, and that is the removal of the Tribal Junta. This task can be accomplished in collaboration with our Eritrean brothers/sisters. With the President in command the task seems easier and victory certain. Thus, ER’s radical move is what the doctor ordered to cure the Ethiopian malaise.
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January 4th, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Elias, The ER team has dug a big hole in the Wall of deception and destortion that has been erected by the sponsors of the Apartheid regime in Woyaneland. Besides the diplomatic cover provided to their treacherous mercenary regime,they have been spending millions of dollars to mask the truth that President Issayas, as the Eritrean head of state or the leader of Shaebia, has always strived for the long term sisterly relationships between the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea on one hand and the peoples of the Horn on the other.
Elias, Happy New year and Melkam Gena to your family and your colleagues at ER.
May the struggle and sacrifice of those who dared to stand for TRUTH bear fruit in the NEW YEAR.
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January 5th, 2009 at 2:56 AM
I have never liked Isayas Afeworki but now I am having a second thought thanks to you Elias, I want to like Isayas for the sake of hating woyannes, I hope Isayas will stay in his stand for the better future of Ethiopians and continue working to bring together the great people of Ethiopian and great people of Eritrea, I have good Eritrean friends whom I wish I could see ourselves and support one national football team and athletics together, that’s my dream
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January 5th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Preident Isayas is the modern ‘Dagmawi Tewdros’ of our region, one who stood for liberation, unity of the people of the “Horn of Africa”. ER Wise choice, he is a true leader of the people, who did not came with fake elections. His leadership is tested in bad and good times. Let it be Peace and development to our region.
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January 5th, 2009 at 3:22 PM
vote..for ELIAS K. as ETHIOPIAN PRESEDENT..vote
I was reading an article by Joe in NAZI.com…u know what i mean i choose to answer it ER…
“How is it possible for a dear to protect it self from wolves by becoming friend with hyenas? How in the world one proves itself as true Ethiopian by associating itself with Ethiopian Enemies?” By Joe
Dear joe Get Your head out of ur Fat ass pls so that u be able to c this article ..there is no Hyenas in this cartoon film u r writing about this is not Madagascar two…there is a Dear u gott that right and wolves as well if u want to know how the dear should protect itself… by self reliance it needs to be strong and learn how to jump and run and run and run fast like a Forest-Gum …if the dear found a friend offering it help it should analyze and accept it …u Dick head the only real help Ethiopia is getting at the moment is from Eritrea …u r slashing the only help u have …As Eritrean I hate Meles…i mean he is really really bad man …the guy send home 500000 Eritreas with out a penny…to understand it think of US government corners all Ethiopians in DC and send them home in one day …u know most Eritrean in Addis had money home and life…and they all loved Addis ..what am i talking about YOU never been to big city like Addis u r FARA wedi ADIGRAT …we hate the asswhole my dear he has done things he shouldn’t have ..he messed with us BIG TIME ..and we dont like to be messed with..we ll take our time , he and any one who has similar thoughts like him should be hunted from east Africa let alone to have power …at the moment we r seeking a good decent Ethiopian leader …to find that Animals like u has to go first …u think u know it all but u have no idea …Meles has played with our martyrs grave…in Eritrean terms that is a NO NO NO …i think he will do worse if he stays in power …actually comparing what he has done to Eritrea …he is a friend to Ethiopian ppl..so u telling us we still want this dick head …what we don’t want is an Amhara or Oromo virgin of Meles …and ppl like u r cultivating this hate and promising falls hopes (ASEB) I see extension of hard times ..the Eri/Ethio glory times might be delyed…we both will suffer a little bit more ..tanx to dick heads like u …luv DG
vote for ELIAS to be ETHIOPIAN PRESIDENT ..
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January 5th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Your choice of Afeworki as “p.o.y” was, for a first time visitor like me, unexpected, intriguing, dangerous, risky, but oh so perfect! Good job, ER! Say the truth and drive “Ehadig” crazy! Death to EPRDF and Seye Abraha!
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January 6th, 2009 at 6:17 PM
This clearly shows me the extent of your hatred to Woyane!!!
Yetelate telat endetebalew honobachu yimeslal ….
LOL anyways!
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January 8th, 2009 at 6:33 AM
TD AFRO THE SOUL AND A PERON OF THE NEW GENERATION IN ETHIOPIA WHO HAS GAVED HIS LIFE TO HIS PEOPLE.AND HE IS EVERYTHING FOR THE FUTURE.THEREFORE LET’S ELECT HIM A MAN OF THE YEAR AS WE ARE SO HAPPY ACCEPT THE HERO LEADER PRESEDENT ESSAYAS OF ERITREA.THANKS.
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November 27th, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Hello, its good to ask the salve master to know how to kill the slave. Isaias is the father of TPLF. that is why we have to work with Issayies to kill Melese and Bereket
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December 30th, 2009 at 4:52 PM
selam from america
i wish to both eritrean and ethiopian have a wonderfull peacfull time , but i dont agree with both of prisednts
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January 13th, 2012 at 6:46 PM