Ethiopian Review’s Research Unit has learned that chairman of (KIC) Keysi, Dr Taye Woldesemayat, and his cohorts the Reverend Mirchaw Sinishaw, Wzr. Nigist Honda, Ato Bedlu Ademe and others are scheduled to arrived in Nashville on Friday to participate in a public meeting. The program has not been announced on their web site, but the Keysi representative in Nashville, Ato Tsehay Demeke, is making phone calls to selected individuals in Nashville inviting them to come to the meeting. They are keeping the meeting secret fearing a challenge by Kinijit supporters in Nashville who are angry at the Keysi group that is collaborating with the Iyasu Alemayehu faction of EPRP to attack the Kinijit leadership.
Keysi’s Tsehay Demeke wrote the following on the EPRP web site, debteraw, when the Kinijit delegation arrived in Washington DC on Sept. 9.
Here they come – the party is on but Where is Eng. Hailu Shawel?
By T. Demeke
The much expected CUD North America Delegate of 4 has arrived today and joined by Dr. Berhanu Nega at Dulles International Airport in Washington DC. I will take this opportunity to welcome them to North America.
Of the six delegates who has been appointed by the CUD, one colorful and admired leader is absent, and he is Engineer Hailu Shawel, the president of the CUD and head of the delegate. According to sources The Embassy of the United States of America and State Department has a hand on the reason behind his absence by delaying his entry visa process to the US. If there is a rumour of conspiracy, then let there be no doubt that The United States of America which is a close ally of the current government of Ethiopia is capable of doing that. In my humble opinion, member of the delegates who have spent 20 months of harsh prison terms with him should have been forming solidarity with this noble man and wait until the process is completed. but uncharacteristically to CUD leaders, that didn’t happen. Some even went to an extent of defending the action of the US Embassy by saying the delay was a technical issue and the reception at the Embassy was cordial.
Why the rush to North America with out the leader and before the Ethiopian millennium celebration is the question posed by many, and so far no good explanation has been forwarded. According to Eng. Gizachew Shifiraw (member of the delegate) – please see the interview on Ethiozagol blog – they are coming here for two reasons: #1) to thank the Diaspora Ethiopians in North America for the material and moral support they provided while they are in prison. #2) to resolve the Diaspora Crisis in North America which has engulfed much of the 2006-2007.
Although thanking the Diaspora Ethiopians is a good thing but not a major issue that demands prompt action, I would like to point out the second issue (resolving the crisis) is a delicate issue that needs precautions and a little bit of time. As we know, there are two groups in North America that are not co-operating but fighting each other for the same goal: The existing Kinijit North America which the leaders know before they went to prison and may have a link to KIC / and the current Kinijit North America which was created after the leaders went to prison and has its link with KIL. These two groups embarrassingly failed to resolve their problem and now I am afraid the spill may contaminate the CUD leaders themselves in Ethiopia.
It is important to point out here that of the six delegate members, only Eng. Hailu Shawel and Dr. Berhanu Nega has the experience and a good knowledge of the political dynamic of Diaspora Ethiopians in North America. While Eng. Hailu has a tremendous loyal group of followers in the existing KNA structure across the continent, Dr. Berhanu has a very good knowledge of the existing and the current KNA structure. So with out Eng. Hailu Shawel which commands a great respect of Diaspora Ethiopians, I don’t think the problem can be resolved with a simple theory of democracy that Eng. Gizachiew has explained in his interview. If that is the determination then I will say welcome to the crisis of North America.
The political problem in the Diaspora is like a spider wave. If you are in it then it is very difficult to get out of it. It can even destroy your mission and long term vision. So that is why we are asking precaution especially of from the non experienced member of the team. The sight should be in Ethiopia but not in the Diaspora. The CUD needs each and every one of us. Treat a support group as a support group. A divided support group means less material and moral support. You can not control or dictate a support group but if handled well there is a great potential of resources that can help the struggle and the people of Ethiopia.
As we venture in the Diaspora Crisis chapter of the drama book, the formidable enemy of the Ethiopian people Melese Zenawi is still busy killing a nation and destroying a society. He will be more than happy if we take away the action from Ethiopia to North America. All we are asking is to look at the biggest picture.