US Cannot save Ethiopia from TPLF By Amanuel Biedemariam

Does Ethiopia need saving and why? For those that follow the region closely, the signs are clear that Ethiopia faces imminent instability. Absent of divine intervention there appears no credible movement that can bring peaceful change in Ethiopia. The people of Ethiopia tried for years unsuccessfully to have their voice expressed at the ballot box and found it impossible.

In its response to Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG) Ginbot7 one of Ethiopia’s leading opposition groups wrote,

“Ginbot 7 was formed as a political movement in order to advance justice, freedom, and liberal democracy in Ethiopia. Ginbot 7 believes that no meaningful and genuinely competitive elections can take place in the country due to the prevailing and ever worsening egregious human rights violations, the closing of political space, the harassment and persecution of members of the legal and peaceful political opposition. Furthermore, an entrenched minority ethnocratic dictatorship in Ethiopia has determined to perpetuate its hold on power by all and any means necessary.”

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) remains hell-bent on staying in power by any

means necessary.  This dichotomy has been pulling the nation apart for some time. These and other factors are threatening to splinter Ethiopia in ways that can re-shape the geopolitical, strategic makeup of the region and influence US policies in many ways.

The latest “Ginbot-7-tplfs-minority-ethnic-monopoly-of-the-armed-forces-in-Ethiopia” report on moral of the Ethiopian military personnel and, leadership composition states,

“There is widespread discontent among the regular army as well as rank and file officers that is predominantly drawn from the large non Tigrean ethnicity some of whom are referring to themselves as becoming slaves to a Tigrean dominated system. For several years now there is widespread and simmering discontent with this domination but questions related to these issues are not normally raised or discussed in public, for fear of prosecution.”

The report continues,

“According to this survey, the existing military governance system is highly skewed to one minority ethnic group, TPLF Tigrians. In general, the survey indicates that the system being followed by the current TPLF government is comparable to the old colonial and apartheid military organization systems, which now have become relics of history.”

The South African (SA) apartheid era army was considered amongst the most powerful in the world. The countries in the region posed no threats to it. The SA military was full of black South African mercenary foot soldiers that brutalized their kind. Similarly, the TPLF army’s core leadership is from Tigray when the majority of Ethiopian armed forces are comprised from other ethnic groups. And like the SA army the TPLF uses the military as mercenary forces that use brute force to quell revolt.

History shows that the apartheid army of SA failed and as such the TPLF minority clique will fail. The difference however, unlike the South African army which was established, independent, rich and possessed nuclear armaments, the TPLF army is very-dependent on aid, beset by internal and external threats and when it fails will take the country down with it.

Ethiopia is mired with-inner conflicts that are artificially-muzzled with brute force, intimidation, coercion, bribes etc… Recent Amnesty International report details repression and brutality the Oromos face. Currently Ethiopia faces simmering conflicts in the South with the Oromo, in the west the Benishangul, in the East the Ogaden, in central Ethiopia with the Amhara’s and in the north with the Tigray People’s Democratic Movement TPDM.

The conflicts Ethiopian (TPLF) forces are engaged-in are directed against the people in all regions of Ethiopia. The TPLF does not represent the people or the interests of the people; they are interested-only, to hold-on to power by any means necessary. The aspirations of the people are immaterial to the TPLF.

On the other side, the struggles and conflicts the people of Ethiopia wage are directed against the minority clique from Tigray TPLF-lead apartheid army.

The TPLF cannot exist in peace based on democracy and with-in a united Ethiopia. It needs constant state of conflict to survive. To that end, soon after assuming power 1991, TPLF divided Ethiopia based on Ethnicity, handed every region flag and declared Article-39 which gives every ethnic-region the right to self-determination and right to declare independence, setting the template for division.

Ethiopia faultiness is not limited to ethnic divisions. The TPLF is not afraid to use religion for political or financial gain from the West. The TPLF has been instigating conflicts with Ethiopia’s religious communities for a while. Ethiopia’s Muslims have over the last 6 years, demonstrated in huge numbers citing various grievances.

These simmering tensions are alive in all aspects of Ethiopia’s political, economic, social, ethnic, military and other-life threatening the very existence of the nation.

The massive land leasing/sales program the TPLF is engaged-in is displacing Ethiopians in large numbers further escalating tension between indigenous Ethiopians and the ethnic minority Tirayans led by TPLF which is using brute force to push populations out of their land.

Unfortunately, Ethiopia’s existential threats are not only confined to its borders. Irrational, short-sighted adventures have made the TPLF a regional pariah thus target. The TPLF clique is from Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Since 1991, they have worked as mercenary foot soldiers of the West and engaged in conflicts with countries in the region pursuant of Western interests in the name of Ethiopia and at the expense of the interest of the countries thus people of the region.

The TPLF was propelled to power by Eritrea. As soon as they were able however, made Eritrea their first target, waged a devastating wars and created seemingly insurmountable-permanent state of conflict called, “No Peace No War” designed to weaken Eritrea into submission.

The TPLF miscalculated by assuming it will take 6 months for Eritrea to fold. It declared regime change, recruited individuals and groups and committed aggressions. They trained terrorists, established government(s) in exile, recruited regionalist, religious extremists, susceptible individuals and declared war to topple the government of Eritrea. The TPLF has been openly hostile to Eritrea while crying wolf and occupying sovereign Eritrean territories in violation of international laws.

However, the opposite became true. Eritrea’s resilience has turned the table on the TPLF.  The genocidal dictator Meles Zenawi is dead and the No War No Peace agenda he put on place has become an albatross that it could not dislodge.

The adventurism of Ethiopia continues unabated. In 2006, the TPLF committed another huge blunder when it invaded Somalia a sovereign nation in violation of international laws under the pretext of fighting terrorists and extremist Muslims and destabilized Somalia. Eight years later, after loses of countless lives and distraction, Somalia is in worse position. Ethiopia, touted by the West as Christian nation, invaded an Islamic state on Christmas and nurtured unnecessary enmity with the people of Somalia.

The TPLF adventures have placed Ethiopia at odds with Egypt by playing politics with the Nile which poses existential threat for the people of Egypt.

Recently, at the behest of the US, the TPLF attempted a regime change-heist in South Sudan (SS). The attempt threatened the lives of the leaders and perpetuated the instability in SS. It also placed Ethiopia at odds with SS with long term security implications.

The SS leaders took some major steps to protect their interests. They opted-out of the mediation held in Ethiopia, demanded negotiations moved to Tanzania, reaffirmed their commitments to China, and signed military agreements with Uganda and Egypt. This agreement gives Egypt backdoor to Ethiopia. The SS have also expressed their discontentment with Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) a regional organization that Ethiopia controls and uses for sinister motives and minimized Ethiopia’s place in it.

As a host nation of the African Union, when dealing with African matters, Ethiopia was supposed to play a neutral role. By overplaying its hand the TPLF damaged Ethiopia’s future roles as neutral location for Africa.

Many factors could propel abrupt change. Ethiopia is the second poorest nation in the world prone to famine and other calamities. Addis Ababa is beset by power outages and the streets are littered with beggars. Recent reports placed the number of orphans at 4.5 million, which is 5% of the total population. Ethiopia remains heavily indebted and it depends on foreign aid which makes-up-to 97% of its annual budget. Ethiopia receives aid primarily because it serves as a foot soldier to western interests. When the West decides they cannot pursue their interests through Ethiopia it is unlikely that the aid will be forthcoming at the current level.

Additional regional developments could divert western attention away from Ethiopia. For example, recent developments in Yemen could play game changing role. These developments can influence events in Saudi Arabia; change how the US acts in the Baab Al Mendeb, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea; it can change US stances in Djibouti for budgetary or other reasons.

These and other factors can influence western decision makers on how they finance Ethiopia. When they do the TPLF is effectively done because it depends on Western aid for its life.

Conclusion

The situation in Ethiopia is unsustainable by all standards. Ethiopia is a pressure cooker. The central government is wrapped by destabilizing factors inside and outside the country. Anything can spark unrest thus instability in Ethiopia. Instability in Ethiopia will spell disaster for Western presence and influence. It will wreak havoc and become a breeding ground for terror and extremism that will influence the region and beyond.

The consensus has been that Ethiopia is large and strong. That perception is serving the people of Ethiopia poorly because it shields the vulnerabilities-the-reality from the international community and denies Ethiopians real solutions.

The West and particularly the US has so far been irresponsible in the way they manage Ethiopia. Their actions belie the undercurrent that will engulf the nation and by extension the region. Ethiopia is a ticking bomb ready to explode and almost too late for anyone to save it from its own misdeeds. It will spell disaster if the US fails to change direction. The atrocities the people of Ethiopia and especially Tigray could face will be devastating long term.

Awetnayu@hotmail.com

Esat Scores-die-in-southern-ethiopia-due-to-a-conflict-between-mezhenger-and-highlanders,

Ethiopia’s armed forces are comparable to the apartheid military structures of the past

Masreja Justice Center launches masreja.com

Masreja Justice Center has been launched with Masreja.com. The center has human rights activists and legal professionals as its members. The main purpose is to collection information, documentation, and material evidence on crimes against humanity, extra judicial killing, illegal detention, and torture that have been committed by government officials, security and police operatives, and military unit commanders.

It puts justice and the rule of law as its primary mission by bringing the perpetrators of human rights violators to the spot light to account for their crimes. And to bring them to face justice in the Western countries. Please read the Masreja’s About US for details.

We are hereby requesting all pro-democracy and freedom web sites to support and promote this noble mission of Masreja by putting its banner at the left or right hand side corner of your web sites permanently, and also on the link section of your website. Doing so will enable for tens of thousands of Ethiopians go to the web site on a regular basis to provide us with the needed information, documentation, evidences without which Masreja’s mission will not possibly succeed. The public’s participation is extremely essential to collect information on human rights violating criminals in Ethiopia at various levels of state power.

Ethiopia 2014: I Always Remember in November and in…

by Alemayehu G. Mariam*

Oh, Cruel November 2005!

In 2005, Ethiopians faced unspeakable horrors. Following the parliamentary elections in May of that year, hundreds of Ethiopian citizens who protested the daylight theft of that election were massacred or seriously shot and wounded by police and security personnel under the exclusive command and control of the late regime leader Meles Zenawi. An official Inquiry Commission established by Zenawi documented that 193 unarmed men, women and children demonstrating in the streets and scores of other detainees held in a high security prison were intentionally shot and killed by police and security officials. An additional 763 were wounded**.

Every November since 2007, I have written consecratory (sanctifying) memorials in remembrance of the hundreds of innocent victims of the Meles Massacres. In my first memorial tribute in 2007,“Remember, the Ethiopian Martyrs of June and November, 2005 Forever!”, I reminded my readers that it was our moral duty “to bear witness for the dead and the living” in Ethiopia, to borrow a phrase from Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor.

We must remember the victims of the Meles Massacres because, as Elie Wiesel said, we have “no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”

I must confess that November is the cruelest month for me. If I could, I would skip straight from October to December. If I had the power, I would outlaw November. If there were no November, I would not have to remember. Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” He was wrong. If you tell the truth you remember everything, especially the lies, the cries, the crimes and the massacres.

It is important for me to remember and to tell the truth about the crimes against humanity committed by the late Meles Zenawi and his criminal enterprise known as the Tigrean Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). When Meles Zenawi ordered the massacre of hundreds of unarmed protesters in June and November 2005, he wanted to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Ethiopian people that he is so ruthless that he will kill, slash and burn on an industrial scale to keep himself and his TPLF in power forever. Meles Zenawi was an astute student of Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler: “The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don’t ask for their love; only for their fear.”

Meles and his TPLF gang have always used the weapon of terror from their days in the bush; and today they practice terror using their so-called anti-terrorism law. Meles sought to command respect by committing acts of unspeakable cruelty and depravity. He did not get respect; he got the contempt and derision of the overwhelming segment of the Ethiopian population. Meles and his gang always wanted to be feared. They are not feared; they are loathed and despised by the Ethiopian people. That is just the naked truth!

When Meles massacred the hundreds of unarmed protesters in 2005, he had no idea that he had transformed a detached and disengaged Ethiopian academic and lawyer some nine thousand miles from Addis Ababa, who had not been to Ethiopia in over three decades, to become his most implacable and unappeasable adversary and relentless critic. The Meles Massacres turned out to be defining moments in my life. I realized that even though I had permanently moved out of Ethiopia, Ethiopia had not permanently moved out of me. It has been said that in desperate times we either define the moment or the moment defines us. In my case, it was both.

I did not choose to be a human rights advocate; Meles Zenawi chose me when he ordered the massacre of those unarmed Ethiopians. I never chose to become a witness for the victims of the Meles Massacres; the victims of the Meles Massacre chose me to be their witness. That is why I have testified on their behalf before the court of world opinion every single Monday, without missing a single week, for eight years.

Before 2005, the late Meles Zenawi was just a miserable scalawag African dictator who did not even deserve my dismissive contempt; after he ordered the 2005 massacre, he became the apotheoses of evil, the Biblical Beast, in my mind. I must fight evil because evil never dies. I must fight evil above all because I have no doubts whatsoever in the final victory of good over evil.

That’s why every November, I must remember. I must remember the evil of November, December, September, October….

I must remember the evil Meles Zenawi and his TPLF gang have done in Ethiopia. I must remember what they have done to dismember Ethiopia. I must remember how they continue to divide the people just to cling to power. I must remember the billions they have stolen and stashed in off shore bank accounts while the people starve and languish in poverty.

I must remember the living victims of Meles Zenawi and the TPLF. I remember my brother Eskinder Nega, the internationally-celebrated Ethiopian journalist, languishing in solitary confinement at the Meles Zenawi Prison a few kilometers outside the capital. I remember my young sister Reeyot Alemu, jailed by Meles Zenawi because she dared to ask questions about his white elephant projects. I remember my brothers Andualem Aragie, Bekele Gerba, Abubaker Ahmed, Woubshet Taye, the young Zone Nine bloggers, Temesgen Desalegn and so many others.

Why do I remember?

If I do not remember, who will be there to remember? I remember because if I forget, the crimes and the criminals will be forgotten. If I forget, how will history remember? History remembers only when there is someone to remember. So, I must remember. I must remember by bearing witness every Monday in November, and in December, and in January, and… I must remember for Ethiopia’s “youth of today, for the Ethiopian children who will be born tomorrow. I do not want the past to become their future,” to paraphrase Elie Wiesel.

No cheerfulness for me in November. True, November is a cruel month. In the melancholy verse of Thomas Hood:

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member–
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November!

In my own free verse, “No Justice for the Victims of the Meles Massacres”:

No justice for the hundreds Meles massacred,
No redress for the countless men, women and children,

No restitution for the survivors or victims’ families.
No reprieve for the tens of thousands illegally jailed,

No trace of those who disappeared,
No atonement for the crimes of September, October, November….
No absolution for the Meles slaughter of November…,

No repeat of November,
November is to remember.

To forget the massacre victims of 2005 would be to forget the monstrous crimes committed against them and excuse the barbaric criminals who committed them. To forget the massacres is to assure the criminals they will never be held accountable because the crimes have been forgotten. Ultimately, to forget is to extend an invitation to the criminals in power to commit the same crimes again and again and on a greater scale with impunity.

I remember because I cannot and will not forget! Never!

I remember the victims of the 2005 massacres. I remember each and every one of them. They are not numbers for me. The late Meles Zenaei and his TPLF gang would like to make their victims nameless, faceless, bodiless, friendless and families obodies. For me, each individual Meles massacred and maimed is special. I remember the young women who will never get to be mothers. I remember the young men who will never get to be fathers. I remember the orphans whose parents were massacred. I remember the fathers and mothers who will never get to see their children and never have a chance to see their grandchildren because Meles massacred them all.

I do not forget the criminals. I remember the 237 policemen by name who pulled the trigger; the mastermind and arch criminals who pulled the fingers of the policemen who pulled the trigger.

I will always remember in November, and in December and in January and in February and in April…

Rebuma E. Ergata, 34, mason; Melesachew D. Alemnew, 16, student; Hadra S. Osman, 22, occup. unknown; Jafar S. Ibrahim, 28, sm. business; Mekonnen, 17, occup. unknown; Woldesemayat, 27, unemployed; Beharu M. Demlew, occup. unknown; Fekade Negash, 25, mechanic; Abraham Yilma, 17, taxi; Yared B. Eshete, 23, sm. business; Kebede W. G. Hiwot, 17, student; Matios G. Filfilu, 14, student;Getnet A. Wedajo, 48, Sm. business; Endalkachew M. Hunde, 18, occup. unknown; Kasim A. Rashid, 21, mechanic; Imam A. Shewmoli, 22, sm. business; Alye Y. Issa, 20, laborer; Samson N. Yakob, 23, pub. trspt.; Alebalew A. Abebe, 18, student; Beleyu B. Za, 18, trspt. asst.; Yusuf A. Jamal, 23, occup. student; Abraham S. W. Agenehu, 23, trspt. asst.; Mohammed H. Beka, 45, farmer; Redela K. Awel, 19, taxi Assit., Habtamu A. Urgaa, 30, sm. Business. Dawit F. Tsegaye, 19, mechanic; Gezahegne M. Geremew, 15, student; Yonas A. Abera, 24, occup. unknown; Girma A. Wolde, 38, driver; W/o Desta U. Birru, 37, sm. business; Legese T. Feyisa, 60, mason; Tesfaye D. Bushra, 19, shoe repairman; Binyam D. Degefa, 18, unemployed.

Million K. Robi, 32, trspt. asst.; Derege D. Dene, 24, student; Nebiyu A. Haile, 16, student; Mitiku U. Mwalenda, 24, domestic worker; Anwar K. Surur, 22, sm. business; Niguse Wabegn, 36, domestic worker; Zulfa S. Hasen, 50, housewife; Washun Kebede, 16, student; Ermia F. Ketema, 20, student; 00428, 25, occup. unknown; 00429, 26, occup. unknown; 00430, 30, occup. unknown; Adissu Belachew, 25, occup. unknown; Demeke K. Abebe,uk, occup. unknown; 00432, 22, occup. unknown; 00450, 20, occup. unknown; 13903, 25, occup. unknown; 00435, 30, occup. unknown. 13906, 25, occup. unknown; Temam Muktar, 25, occup. unknown; Beyne N. Beza, 25, occup. unknown; Wesen Asefa, 25, occup. unknown; Abebe Anteneh, 30, occup. unknow; Fekadu Haile, 25, occup. unknow; Elias Golte, uk, occup. unknown; Berhanu A. Werqa, uk, occup. unknown.

Asehber A. Mekuria, uk, occup. unknown; Dawit F. Sema, uk, occup. unknown, Merhatsedk Sirak, 22, occup. unknown; Belete Gashawtena, uk, occup. unknown; Behailu Tesfaye, 20, occup. unknown; 21760, 18, occup. unknown; 21523, 25, occup. unknown; 11657, 24, occup. unknown; 21520, 25, occup. unknown; 21781, 60, occup. unknown; Getachew Azeze, 45, occup. unknown; 21762, 75, occup. unknown; 11662,45, occup. unknown; 21763, 25, occup. unknown; 13087, 30, occup. unknown; 21571, 25, occup. unknown; 21761, 21, occup. unknown; 21569, 25, occup. unknown; 13088, 30, occup. unknown; Endalkachew W. Gabriel, 27, occup. unknown.

Hailemariam Ambaye, 20, occup. unknown; Mebratu W. Zaudu,27, occup. unknown; Sintayehu E. Beyene, 14, occup. unknown; Tamiru Hailemichael, uk, occup. unknown; Admasu T. Abebe, 45, occup. unknown; Etenesh Yimam, 50, occup. unknown; Werqe Abebe, 19, occup. unknown; Fekadu Degefe, 27, occup. unknown Shemsu Kalid, 25, occup. unknown; Abduwahib Ahmedin, 30, occup. unknown; Takele Debele, 20, occup. unknown, Tadesse Feyisa,38, occup. unknown; Solomon Tesfaye, 25, occup. unknown; Kitaw Werqu, 25, occup. nknown; Endalkachew Worqu, 25, occup. unknow; Desta A. Negash, 30, occup. unknown; Yilef Nega, 15, occup. unknown; Yohannes Haile, 20, occup. unknown; Behailu T. Berhanu, 30, occup. unknown; Mulu K. Soresa, 50, housewife, Teodros Gidey Hailu, 23, shoe salesman; Dejene Yilma Gebre, 18, store worker; Ougahun Woldegebriel, 18, student; Dereje Mamo Hasen, 27, carpenter.

Regassa G. Feyisa, 55, laundry worker; Teodros Gebrewold, 28, private business; Mekonne D. G.Egziaber, 20, mechanic; Elias G. Giorgis, 23, student; Abram A. Mekonnen, 21, laborer; Tiruwerq G.Tsadik, 41, housewife; Henok H. Mekonnen; 28, occup. unknown; Getu S. Mereta, 24, occup. unknown;W/o Kibnesh Meke Tadesse, 52, occup. unknown; Messay A. Sitotaw, 29, private business; Mulualem N. Weyisa, 15, Ayalsew Mamo, 23, occup. unknown; Sintayehu Melese, 24, laborer; W/o Tsedale A. Birra, 50, housewife; Abayneh Sara Sede, 35, tailor; Fikremariam K. Telila, 18, chauffer; Alemayehu Gerba, 26, occup. unknown; George G. Abebe,36, private trspt.; Habtamu Zegeye Tola, 16, student; Mitiku Z. G. Selassie, 24, student; Tezazu W. Mekruia, 24, private business; Fikadu A. Dalige, 36, tailor; Shewaga B. W.Giorgis, 38, laborer; Alemayehu E. Zewde, 32, textile worker; Zelalem K. G.Tsadik, 31, taxi driver; Mekoya M. Tadesse, 19, student; Hayleye G. Hussien, 19, student; W/o Fiseha T. G.Tsadik, 23, police employee; Wegayehu Z. Argaw, 26, unemployed.

Melaku M. Kebede, 19, occup. unknown; Abayneh D. Orra, 25, tailor; W/o Abebch B. Holetu, 50, housewife; Demeke A. Jenbere, 30, farmer; Kinde M. Weresu, 22, unemployed; Endale A. G.Medhin, 23, private business; Alemayehu T. Wolde,24, teacher; Bisrat T. Demisse, 24, car importer; Mesfin H. Giorgis, 23, private business, Welio H. Dari, 18, private business, Behailu G. G.Medhin, 20, private business; Siraj Nuri Sayed, 18, student; Iyob G.Medhin, 25, student; Daniel W. Mulugeta,25, laborer; Teodros K. Degefa,25, shoe factory worker; Gashaw T. Mulugeta, 24, student; Kebede B. Orke, 22, student; Lechisa K. Fatasa, 21, student; Jagama B. Besha,20, student; Debela O. Guta, 15, student; Melaku T. Feyisa, 16, student; W/o Elfnesh Tekle, 45, occup. unknown; Hassen Dula, 64, occup. unknown; Hussien Hassen Dula, 25, occup. unknown; Dejene Demisse,15, occup. unknown; Name unknown; Name unknown; Name unknown; Zemedkun Agdew, 18, occup. unknown; Getachew A. Terefe, 16, occup. unknown; Delelegn K. Alemu, 20, occup. unknown; Yusef M. Oumer,20, occup. unknown.

Mekruria T. Tebedge, 22, occup. unknown; Bademe M. Teshamahu, 20, occup. unknown; Ambaw Getahun,38, occup. unknown; Teshome A. Kidane, 65, health worker; Yosef M. Regassa, uk, occup. unknown; Abiyu Negussie, uk, occup. uk; Tadele S. Behaga,uk, occup. unknown; Efrem T. Shafi,uk, occup. unknown; Abebe H. Hama, uk, occup. unknown; Gebre Molla, uk, occup. unknown; Seydeen Nurudeen, uk, occup. unknown; Eneyew G. Tsegaye, 32, trspt. asst; Abdurahman H. Ferej, 32, wood worker; Ambaw L. Bitul, 60, leather factory worker; Abdulmenan Hussien, 28, private business; Jigsa T. Setegn, 18, student; Asefa A. Negassa, 33, carpenter; Ketema K. Unko, 23, tailor; Kibret E. Elfneh, 48, private guard; Iyob G. Zemedkun, 24, private business; Tesfaye B. Megesha,15, private business; Capt. Debesa S. Tolosa, 58, private business;Tinsae M. Zegeye,14, tailor;Kidana G. Shukrow,25, laborer;Andualem Shibelew, 16, student; Adissu D. Tesfahun, 19, private business; Kassa Beyene Yror,28, clothes sales; Yitagesu Sisay,22, occup. unknown; Unknown, 22, occup. unknown.

Police and security officers killed by friendly fire (security officers killed in each other’s crossfire): Nega Gebre, Jebena Desalegn, Mulita Irko, Yohannes Solomon, Ashenafi Desalegn, Feyisa Gebremenfes.

List of prisoners massacred while trapped in their cells at Kaliti Prison on November 2, 2005:

I remember…

Teyib Shemsu Mohammed, age unknown, male, charged with instigating armed insurrection. Sali Kebede, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Sefiw Endrias Tafesse Woreda, age unknown, male, charged with rape. Zegeye Tenkolu Belay, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Biyadgligne Tamene, age unknown, male, charges unknown. Gebre Mesfin Dagne, age unknown, male, charges unknown. Bekele Abraham Taye, age unknown, male, charged with hooliganism. Abesha Guta Mola, age unknown, male, charges unknown. Kurfa Melka Telila, convicted of making threats. Begashaw Terefe Gudeta, age unknown, male, charged with brawling [breach of peace]. Abdulwehab Ahmedin, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Tesfaye Abiy Mulugeta, age unknown, male, charged with instigating armed insurrection. Adane Bireda, age unknown, male, charged with murder. Yirdaw Kersema, age unknown, male, no charges indicated.

Balcha Alemu Regassa, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Abush Belew Wodajo, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Waleligne Tamire Belay, age unknown, male, charged with rape. Cherinet Haile Tolla, age unknown, male, convicted of robbery. Temam Shemsu Gole, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Gebeyehu Bekele Alene, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Daniel Taye Leku, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Mohammed Tuji Kene, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Abdu Nejib Nur, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Yemataw Serbelo, charged with rape. Fikru Natna’el Sewneh, age unknown, male, charged with making threats. Munir Kelil Adem, age unknown, male, charged with hooliganism. Haimanot Bedlu Teshome, age unknown, male, convicted of infringement. esfaye Kibrom Tekne, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Workneh Teferra Hunde, age unknown, male, no charges indicated.

Sisay Mitiku Hunegne, charged with fraud. Muluneh Aynalem Mamo, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Taddese Rufe Yeneneh, charged with making threats. Anteneh Beyecha Qebeta, age unknown, male, charged with instigating armed insurrection. Zerihun Meresa, age unknown, male, convicted of damage to property. Wogayehu Zerihun Argaw, charged with robbery. Bekelkay Tamiru, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Yeraswork Anteneh, age unknown, male, charged with fraud. Bazezew Berhanu, age unknown, male, charged with engaging in homosexual act. Solomon Iyob Guta, age unknown, male, charged with rape. Asayu Mitiku Arage, age unknown, male, charged with making threats. Game Hailu Zeye, age unknown, male, charged with brawling [public disorder] Maru Enawgaw Dinbere, age unknown, male, charged with rape. Ejigu Minale, age unknown, male, charged with attempted murder. Hailu Bosne Habib, age unknown, male, convicted of providing sanctuary. Tilahun Meseret, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Negusse Belayneh, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Ashenafi Abebaw, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Feleke Dinke, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Jenbere Dinkineh Bilew, age unknown, male, charged with brawling [public disorder].

Tolesa Worku Debebe, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Mekasha Belayneh Tamiru, age unknown, male, charged with hooliganism. Yifru Aderaw, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Fantahun Dagne, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Tibebe Wakene Tufa, age unknown, male, charged with instigating armed insurrection. Solomon Gebre Amlak, age unknown, male, charged with hooliganism. Banjaw Chuchu Kassahun, age unknown, male, charged with robbery. Demeke Abeje, age unknown, male, charged with attempted murder. 58. Endale Ewnetu Mengiste, age unknown, male, no charges indicated. Alemayehu Garba, age unknown, male, detained in connection with Addis Ababa University student demonstration in 2004. Morkota Edosa, age unknown, male, no charges indicated.

For the Record: There is a certified list of at least 237 police and security officers known to be directly involved in these massacres.

I remember Yenesew Gebre.

Yenesew Gebre

On 11/11/11, Yenesew Gebre, a 29 year-old Ethiopian school teacher and human rights activist set himself ablaze outside a public meeting hall in the town of Tarcha located in Dawro Zone in Southern Ethiopia. He died three days later from his injuries.  Before torching himself, Yenesew told a gathered  crowd outside of a meeting hall, “In a country where there is no justice and no fair administration, where human rights are not respected, I will sacrifice myself so that these young people will be set free.”

Massacre after the 2015 “election”?

There is no question that TPLF and its leaders will massacre, slash and burn to stay in power. They know they will win the so-called 2015 election by at least 99.6 percent, but they are running scared. They are jailing journalists and dissidents  and shuttering independent newspapers. They are harassing opposition parties. Why are they afraid?

They are afraid because they know they have no support from the Ethiopian people. They know their hold on power is tenuous. They are afraid the people will one day turn against them and uproot them from power. They believe the only way they can stay in power is by maintaining a terror state where they have no opposition (opposition parties and dissidents) , no criticism (free press) and no free and fair election.  They seek to rule by sheer fear, terror and violence.

Will the TPLF massacre, slash and burn to cling to power? Hell, yeah! They got away with hundreds of murders in 2005, and they feel perfectly at ease that they will get away with thousands more in 2015. That is just the way thugs roll!

If we do not want a repeat of 2005 in 2015, we must get up and stand up and fight for the rights of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. Each and every Ethiopian  in the Diaspora must stand up, speak up, face up, back up, pull up and act up  against the crimes of the TPLF.

Fight collective amnesia, remember the victims of Meles’ Massacres….  

Join me as “I remember the killers, [as] I remember the victims, even as I struggle to invent a thousand and one reasons to hope.  Because I remember, I despair. Because I remember, I have the duty to reject despair. Hope is possible beyond despair.” Elie Wiesel.

Remember the Meles Massacres of November, and December and….

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For additional data on the victims of the Meles Massacres, see Testimony of Yared Hailemariam, Ethiopian Human Rights Defender, “CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY IN ETHIOPIA: THE ADDIS ABABA MASSACRES OF JUNE AND NOVEMBER 2005” before the EXTRAORDINARY JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITTEES ON DEVELOPMENT AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND SUB-COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS May 15, 2006.

** The Inquiry Commission completely exonerated the victims of the massacre and pinned the entire blame on the police and paramilitary forces.  The Commission concluded, “There was no property destroyed [by protesters]. There was not a single protester who was armed with a gun or a hand grenade as reported by the government-controlled media that some of the protesters were armed with guns and bombs. [The shots fired by government forces] were not intended to disperse the crowd but to kill by targeting the head and chest of the protesters.”

The Commission’s list of 193 victims includes only those deaths that occurred on June 6-8 and November 1-4, 2005, the specific dates the Commission was authorized to investigate. The Commission has an additional list of victims of extra-judicial killings by regime police and security forces which it did not publicly report because the killings occurred outside the dates the Commission was authorized to investigate.