By Abebe Gelaw 
London May 17, 2006 (AV) West London’s Porchester Hall has obviously hosted so many plays and concerts. But for the Ethiopian community in London, the most moving or joyous performances ever staged in that hall would be unlikely to leave as enduring memory as Sunday’s first year anniversary of the May 2005 elections which was graced by the of presence prominent pro-democracy advocates such as Member of the European Parliament Honourable Ana Gomes, Steve Sinnott, Secretary General of the National Union of Teachers and Addis Ferenji, the French human rights campaigner. For such highly conscientious people, injustice anywhere, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, is indeed a threat to justice everywhere.
Like a great melodrama, the presentations deeply disturbed the audience as speakers took turns to recount the brutalities and atrocities being committed by the Meles regime which has turned a promising national election into one of Africa’s most tragic repressions. The tears shed by many in the audience were wiped off at the end with a colourful performance staged by a London based artistic troupe that honoured not only those who came to renew their commitment to freedom, justice and democracy but also victims of repression. Wrapped up with Ethiopia’s tricolour, Ana Gomes, Obang Metho, Addis Ferenji and Dr Giday Assefa injected joy and hope in the veins of the audience and revived their dream for a better future.
Member of the European Parliament and Chief of the EU Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia (EU-EOM) lambasted the Meles regime, which she referred to as rulers without the proper mandate to rule, for betraying the hope for democracy in Ethiopia.
In her moving speech, she said that she felt very privileged to witness the extraordinary quest of the Ethiopian people for freedom and democracy. “It was not by chance that I was picked up to lead the European election observation mission. One of the criteria was that I had no link whatsoever with your country. I was very fortunate to lead an extraordinary European team of around two hundred professional men and women.” She said a propaganda campaign was launched against the EU observation team by the government for declaring the election as marred by fraud and vote rigging. "It was our obligation, as election observers, to tell the truth no matter how bitter it could be to those who resorted to dirty tricks and violence to deny the Ethiopian people the right to be ruled by elected officials," she said.
Ms Gomes indicated that the observation team, which was deployed in various parts of the country during the elections, had a much better picture than diplomats and the international community who were mostly confined to the capital. According to the chief observer, wherever she travelled she was surprised to find out that even peasants in the middle of nowhere who were said to lend massive support to the ruling party were actually resenting its monopoly of land, unfair distribution and supply of fertilizer, as well as its oppressive hands that meddle their daily lives.
"It was evident that Ethiopians yearned for a democratic change. May 15th 2005 was a beautiful day that I will never forget in my life,” she said. Ms Gomes noted that the observation mission was alarmed by the disturbing developments in the aftermath of the elections when demonstrations were banned and the public media controlled by the ruling party started to provocatively sing victory to the incumbents before ballot papers were even counted and tallied.
Not only did the EU-EOM witness the historic elections but also the June massacres and gross human rights violations that shocked and moved the observers to date. “I can’t understand to this date how some world leaders can actually rub shoulders and pat the back of those responsible for the massacres,” she said.
“Three weeks after these massacres of June 8, Mr Meles Zenawi was hosted here, wined, dined and had his back patted by Tony Blair and other world leaders.”
She noted that Western leaders lacked the moral authority to talk about human rights and democracy while they turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Ethiopian people under tyranny. They should prove their sincerity by demanding the rulers of Ethiopia to release all political prisoners, human rights activists and journalists and stop committing atrocities, she said.
No matter how smart Mr Meles tries to appear, the chief observer believes that she can identify his devious methods. “I know that those who are at the wrong side of history will go at some point. Those who are for justice, human rights, the rule of law and democracy will prevail as they have prevailed in the rest of the world including South Africa.”
She underscored that Ethiopia would not get out of abject poverty and underdevelopment unless a democratic system of governance is put in place. The chief observer has expressed her personal commitment to do everything in her power to help the struggle for democracy and to press for the release of all prisoners of conscience including journalists and human rights campaigners. She stated that she felt responsibility for their suffering as she and her colleagues had made a lot of efforts to persuade opposition leaders not to boycott the elections and to have faith in democracy.
She urged Western governments to stop propping up friendly dictators and stand by the people of Ethiopia and urged Ethiopians to unite in their fight for justice, democracy and the rule of law.
Concluding her remark, she emphasized that there must be no illusion that outside support, despite its importance, is enough on its own to bring about a democratic order. “It is ultimately the unity of the people of Ethiopia that makes the difference to make the aspirations for democracy fulfilled,” said the eloquent and veritable parliamentarian. She also called on exiled journalists to speak the truth loudly and fearlessly.
Ato Andargechew Tsigie of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, whose leaders have all been jailed, promised earlier that every effort would be made to unify Ethiopians and intensify the struggle for freedom, justice, rule of law and democracy. Having analysed the current situation in Ethiopia, he disclosed that his party was charting strategies to provide a unified leadership in and outside of Ethiopia.
General Secretary of the British National Union of Teachers, Mr Steve Sinnott, said he was deeply disturbed by the appalling of repressions being perpetrated by the ruling party. He said that the repressions following May 15th elections were immensely disturbing. Mr Sinnot said that all the positive hopes for peace, development and democracy that many had cherished proved naïve.
“Those of us who put too much hope on democracy can be accused today of being naïve because those hopes, at least for the moment, have been shattered by the killings particularly by the killings school children.”
He said that the fact that Ato Kassahun Kebede of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association is in prison accused of genocide and treason was impossible to believe. “The accusation against decent human beings and decent trade unions is outrageous.” Mr Sinnott concluded his remark by echoing some of the slogans of protesters on May 8, Ethiopian martyrs’ day. “I couldn’t join the chanting because I would have wept out of emotion and my feelings to the people who were being remembered.”
Fighting back tears, he repeated some of the slogans the protesters were chanting outside the Ethiopian embassy in London: “The Ethiopian people shall triumph! Our martyrs are immortal! Victory to the Ethiopian people!”
The next speaker Dr Giday Assefa of the International Tigrean Democratic Association, made another hard-hitting speech and appealed to all Ethiopians throughout the world not to fall prey to TPLF’s divisive hate campaigns.
“Since the election day they have intensified their efforts to sow ethnic hatred. They are particularly driving wedge between Tigreans and Amharas. The international community must take notice and oppose this sinister act of Meles and his cohorts that can lead to another gross human tragedy in Ethiopia.”
Dr Giday accused Meles Zenawi and his close associates of betraying the Ethiopian people by holding a national election and resorting to massive scale crackdowns against dissidents.
According to Dr Giday, it is a historic irony that the true patriots and democrats are accused of crimes they never committed. “Meles Zenawi is the very person who should have been charged with treason and crimes against humanity and for betraying the interests of Ethiopia and committing genocide against the Anuak people and many other Ethiopians.”
Regarding the conduct of the elections, he said they were marred with wrongs from the very start. “The May 15th election was a choice between oppressors, who should have been charged with treason, mass murder and corruption, on the one hand and pro-democracy intellectuals who stand for justice, democracy, liberty and human rights.”
Obang Metho of the Anuak Justice Council spoke at length about the genocide perpetrated in Gambella and the need to strengthen solidarity amongst the peoples of Ethiopia as a multi-ethnic nation. He said that unless Ethiopians are able to forge a united front against tyranny there is little chance of restoring freedom, justice and democracy. He brought to the attention of the audience campaigning for the release of a
ll prisoners of conscience should be a priority as they have committed no crimes except resisting the tyranny an armed minority over the unarmed majority.
The courageous blogger and human rights activist Nathalie Margiotta, aka Addis Ferenji, who made a great deal of contribution to inform Ethiopian’s on current developments after the June massacre with her blog on Nazret.com, told the audience what she witnessed in Ethiopia until she was forced to leave the country. She asserted that the current rulers are corrupt and only interested in themselves. The audience erupted with laughter when she declared, with a sweet Amharic accent, “Weyane leba new. That is what they are!” which literally means TPLF is a thief. Out of anger and frustration, she too wanted to throw stones at those who were out to kill innocent civilians.
Addis Ferenji expressed her sadness that the Ethiopian people have been robbed of their votes in full view of the international community. After recounting the level of repressions against ordinary citizens including children and women, which she was able to witness first hand, she rapped up her speech with a wish. “I want to see the dictators standing trial at The Hague."
The event, which was organised by Ethiopians for Peace and Democracy, renewed the commitment of many Ethiopians who have been forced into exile by the regime because of their opposition to repressions.
The Ethiopian Embassy in London declined to give any comments. The ambassador's secretary told this reporter that His Excellency had no time to discuss allegations of human rights violations in Ethiopia.
----------------
Photos: Alebachew Desalegne
Reported by exiled journalist Abebe Gelaw, founding editor of http://www.addisvoice.com/. He can be reached at editor@addisvoice.com.
London May 17, 2006 (AV) West London’s Porchester Hall has obviously hosted so many plays and concerts. But for the Ethiopian community in London, the most moving or joyous performances ever staged in that hall would be unlikely to leave as enduring memory as Sunday’s first year anniversary of the May 2005 elections which was graced by the of presence prominent pro-democracy advocates such as Member of the European Parliament Honourable Ana Gomes, Steve Sinnott, Secretary General of the National Union of Teachers and Addis Ferenji, the French human rights campaigner. For such highly conscientious people, injustice anywhere, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, is indeed a threat to justice everywhere.
Like a great melodrama, the presentations deeply disturbed the audience as speakers took turns to recount the brutalities and atrocities being committed by the Meles regime which has turned a promising national election into one of Africa’s most tragic repressions. The tears shed by many in the audience were wiped off at the end with a colourful performance staged by a London based artistic troupe that honoured not only those who came to renew their commitment to freedom, justice and democracy but also victims of repression. Wrapped up with Ethiopia’s tricolour, Ana Gomes, Obang Metho, Addis Ferenji and Dr Giday Assefa injected joy and hope in the veins of the audience and revived their dream for a better future.
Member of the European Parliament and Chief of the EU Election Observation Mission to Ethiopia (EU-EOM) lambasted the Meles regime, which she referred to as rulers without the proper mandate to rule, for betraying the hope for democracy in Ethiopia.
In her moving speech, she said that she felt very privileged to witness the extraordinary quest of the Ethiopian people for freedom and democracy. “It was not by chance that I was picked up to lead the European election observation mission. One of the criteria was that I had no link whatsoever with your country. I was very fortunate to lead an extraordinary European team of around two hundred professional men and women.” She said a propaganda campaign was launched against the EU observation team by the government for declaring the election as marred by fraud and vote rigging. "It was our obligation, as election observers, to tell the truth no matter how bitter it could be to those who resorted to dirty tricks and violence to deny the Ethiopian people the right to be ruled by elected officials," she said.
Ms Gomes indicated that the observation team, which was deployed in various parts of the country during the elections, had a much better picture than diplomats and the international community who were mostly confined to the capital. According to the chief observer, wherever she travelled she was surprised to find out that even peasants in the middle of nowhere who were said to lend massive support to the ruling party were actually resenting its monopoly of land, unfair distribution and supply of fertilizer, as well as its oppressive hands that meddle their daily lives.
"It was evident that Ethiopians yearned for a democratic change. May 15th 2005 was a beautiful day that I will never forget in my life,” she said. Ms Gomes noted that the observation mission was alarmed by the disturbing developments in the aftermath of the elections when demonstrations were banned and the public media controlled by the ruling party started to provocatively sing victory to the incumbents before ballot papers were even counted and tallied.
Not only did the EU-EOM witness the historic elections but also the June massacres and gross human rights violations that shocked and moved the observers to date. “I can’t understand to this date how some world leaders can actually rub shoulders and pat the back of those responsible for the massacres,” she said.
“Three weeks after these massacres of June 8, Mr Meles Zenawi was hosted here, wined, dined and had his back patted by Tony Blair and other world leaders.”
She noted that Western leaders lacked the moral authority to talk about human rights and democracy while they turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Ethiopian people under tyranny. They should prove their sincerity by demanding the rulers of Ethiopia to release all political prisoners, human rights activists and journalists and stop committing atrocities, she said.
No matter how smart Mr Meles tries to appear, the chief observer believes that she can identify his devious methods. “I know that those who are at the wrong side of history will go at some point. Those who are for justice, human rights, the rule of law and democracy will prevail as they have prevailed in the rest of the world including South Africa.”
She underscored that Ethiopia would not get out of abject poverty and underdevelopment unless a democratic system of governance is put in place. The chief observer has expressed her personal commitment to do everything in her power to help the struggle for democracy and to press for the release of all prisoners of conscience including journalists and human rights campaigners. She stated that she felt responsibility for their suffering as she and her colleagues had made a lot of efforts to persuade opposition leaders not to boycott the elections and to have faith in democracy.
She urged Western governments to stop propping up friendly dictators and stand by the people of Ethiopia and urged Ethiopians to unite in their fight for justice, democracy and the rule of law.
Concluding her remark, she emphasized that there must be no illusion that outside support, despite its importance, is enough on its own to bring about a democratic order. “It is ultimately the unity of the people of Ethiopia that makes the difference to make the aspirations for democracy fulfilled,” said the eloquent and veritable parliamentarian. She also called on exiled journalists to speak the truth loudly and fearlessly.
Ato Andargechew Tsigie of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, whose leaders have all been jailed, promised earlier that every effort would be made to unify Ethiopians and intensify the struggle for freedom, justice, rule of law and democracy. Having analysed the current situation in Ethiopia, he disclosed that his party was charting strategies to provide a unified leadership in and outside of Ethiopia.
General Secretary of the British National Union of Teachers, Mr Steve Sinnott, said he was deeply disturbed by the appalling of repressions being perpetrated by the ruling party. He said that the repressions following May 15th elections were immensely disturbing. Mr Sinnot said that all the positive hopes for peace, development and democracy that many had cherished proved naïve.
“Those of us who put too much hope on democracy can be accused today of being naïve because those hopes, at least for the moment, have been shattered by the killings particularly by the killings school children.”
He said that the fact that Ato Kassahun Kebede of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association is in prison accused of genocide and treason was impossible to believe. “The accusation against decent human beings and decent trade unions is outrageous.” Mr Sinnott concluded his remark by echoing some of the slogans of protesters on May 8, Ethiopian martyrs’ day. “I couldn’t join the chanting because I would have wept out of emotion and my feelings to the people who were being remembered.”
Fighting back tears, he repeated some of the slogans the protesters were chanting outside the Ethiopian embassy in London: “The Ethiopian people shall triumph! Our martyrs are immortal! Victory to the Ethiopian people!”
The next speaker Dr Giday Assefa of the International Tigrean Democratic Association, made another hard-hitting speech and appealed to all Ethiopians throughout the world not to fall prey to TPLF’s divisive hate campaigns.
“Since the election day they have intensified their efforts to sow ethnic hatred. They are particularly driving wedge between Tigreans and Amharas. The international community must take notice and oppose this sinister act of Meles and his cohorts that can lead to another gross human tragedy in Ethiopia.”
Dr Giday accused Meles Zenawi and his close associates of betraying the Ethiopian people by holding a national election and resorting to massive scale crackdowns against dissidents.
According to Dr Giday, it is a historic irony that the true patriots and democrats are accused of crimes they never committed. “Meles Zenawi is the very person who should have been charged with treason and crimes against humanity and for betraying the interests of Ethiopia and committing genocide against the Anuak people and many other Ethiopians.”
Regarding the conduct of the elections, he said they were marred with wrongs from the very start. “The May 15th election was a choice between oppressors, who should have been charged with treason, mass murder and corruption, on the one hand and pro-democracy intellectuals who stand for justice, democracy, liberty and human rights.”
Obang Metho of the Anuak Justice Council spoke at length about the genocide perpetrated in Gambella and the need to strengthen solidarity amongst the peoples of Ethiopia as a multi-ethnic nation. He said that unless Ethiopians are able to forge a united front against tyranny there is little chance of restoring freedom, justice and democracy. He brought to the attention of the audience campaigning for the release of a
ll prisoners of conscience should be a priority as they have committed no crimes except resisting the tyranny an armed minority over the unarmed majority.The courageous blogger and human rights activist Nathalie Margiotta, aka Addis Ferenji, who made a great deal of contribution to inform Ethiopian’s on current developments after the June massacre with her blog on Nazret.com, told the audience what she witnessed in Ethiopia until she was forced to leave the country. She asserted that the current rulers are corrupt and only interested in themselves. The audience erupted with laughter when she declared, with a sweet Amharic accent, “Weyane leba new. That is what they are!” which literally means TPLF is a thief. Out of anger and frustration, she too wanted to throw stones at those who were out to kill innocent civilians.
Addis Ferenji expressed her sadness that the Ethiopian people have been robbed of their votes in full view of the international community. After recounting the level of repressions against ordinary citizens including children and women, which she was able to witness first hand, she rapped up her speech with a wish. “I want to see the dictators standing trial at The Hague."
The event, which was organised by Ethiopians for Peace and Democracy, renewed the commitment of many Ethiopians who have been forced into exile by the regime because of their opposition to repressions.
The Ethiopian Embassy in London declined to give any comments. The ambassador's secretary told this reporter that His Excellency had no time to discuss allegations of human rights violations in Ethiopia.
----------------
Photos: Alebachew Desalegne
Reported by exiled journalist Abebe Gelaw, founding editor of http://www.addisvoice.com/. He can be reached at editor@addisvoice.com.
