“Aneleyayem” We are Inseparable!

by Tedla Asfaw

“Anelayayem Egna”, “We are inseparable”. Who are We? The Ethiopian Muslims and Christians. This rally cry had indeed worried the Ethiopian regime cadres after a quarter million people went out to streets of Addis Ababa this past Sunday, June 2, 2013. The response from the regime for we are inseparable is that you are separable. The regime cadres accused the rally as led by “Muslim Extremists”. Christians Vs Muslims!
Who were the extremists ? The young men and women who posed for a picture together. Young women wearing hijab taking photos with “inseparable” sisters with no hijab. That is a crime for the minority regime of Ethiopia. You call for the release of jailed Muslim leaders you are extremist too. The rally on Sunday brought tens of thousands from Sunday masses to join the rally.
Many Ethiopians go to church on Sunday.This Sunday for most, their prayer was not in church. They went out to be the Voice of the ethnically cleansed Christians from Beni Shanguel. They heard from the victims what the regime did to their communities. Farms were looted, schools were sacked and churches were abandoned. Ethiopian Muslims took it as their own loss. Call it Extremism, who cares.
Yes, Ethiopians are Extremely United. That signals the beginning of the end of ethno apartheid regime of 22 years. The fake documentary of “Jihadawi Harakat” was totally condemned by both Christians and Muslims. Ethiopians back home and in the Diaspora are united more than ever. Evil forces in Ethiopia are now trapped and no matter what they will not succeed in starting Christians VS Muslims war to keep us busy while they loot billions of dollars to stash it on their “Loot Dam” out of the country on foreign rivers.
No fake trial of corruption in court of thieves or talk of Building Dam will distract Ethiopians from the Freedom and Justice Struggle that was brutally repressed eight years ago. Yes indeed Ethiopians have awaken. !!! No detention of our leaders will stop us in fact for each jailed there will be thousands of voices back home and in he diaspora.
The more than one hand half year old Ethiopian Muslims struggle for religious freedom was not stopped by locking up bright young and patriotic Ethiopian Muslims. “Wene Yelelew YeHager Shekim Newee”, “Unpatriotic Ethiopian is a burden for our country” the reply of young Muslims and Christians. That indeed has been true here in the Diaspora Ethiopian Communities. Those who live in fear in a free country are shame not for their birth country but also for the currently they are residing.Most came to free country to be free not to “pray” and “pay” for those who are abusing their people back home.
We want to make it clear that like the regime back home those who want us to be silent in our worship place here in Diaspora, priests or sheiks are the enemy of our people. We will take the march from our churches and mosques to the streets wherever we live. Ethiopian Muslims and Christians stood together more than anytime in our history, united to defeat criminals on Western Suits.
Let the “Hodeader” priests and sheiks worry about their “Firefaris” leftover from the double digit growth.The young Ethiopians have to take back their country by their united action to benefit the more than 70 percent young people of Ethiopia. “The revos” of the 60s will take the back seat and follow our young leaders. It is time not to mess up the battle field like we did it eight years ago in 2005. If we had the Unity of Ethiopian Christians and Muslims like it is now this regime would have gone eight years ago,
We have also learnt a good lesson from June 2, mass protest in Addis. Our protest for the last eight years in the Diaspora was to be the Voice of the Voiceless by bringing our peoples voice to foreign powers who are doing business with the thieves in Ethiopia. Now the Voiceless are coming out bravely led by the Blue Party(Semayawi) of Ethiopia and other opposition parities participation, Diaspora should take our churches and mosques back from Woyane sympathizers and apologists on Sundays in support of the Historical Sunday Mass Protest by Addis Ababeans.
Let us bring a United Rally to foreign streets and Capitals in a Motto of “Aneleyayem”. God is Great, Allah WaKiber, Egzeabher Yetekebre Yehune, Yekeber!

SMNE Calls on Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to Lead Ethiopia Towards Change by Answering the Demands of the People

June 3, 2013
His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn,
Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. BOX – 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dear Prime Minister Hailemariam,

On behalf of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE), I, as the SMNE’s executive director, am writing to you regarding the peaceful rally that took place in Addis Ababa yesterday, June 2, 2013. We highly commend you and the TPLF/EPRDF for allowing the rally to proceed without interference. Even though freedom of assembly is allowed under the Ethiopian Constitution; since 2005, Ethiopians have been denied this right. For the first time in eight years, after some negotiation with the Semayawi (Blue) party’s leadership to change the date, the TPLF/EPRDF government agreed to provide the permit that allowed the Ethiopian people the right to express their beliefs without arrests, brutality or death.

In response to this opportunity, an astounding number of Ethiopians came out—estimated at hundred of thousands—all to show their support for change. No one expected such a response, even the leaders of the rally; but it serves as an important revelation to all of us as to the deep thirst for freedom, justice, peace and opportunity that is within the hearts and minds of Ethiopians. That same thirst has united Ethiopians of different ethnicities, religions, genders, regions, socio-economic levels and political alliances in their call for change.

Peaceful demonstration in Addis Ababa organized by Semayawi or Blue Party | June 2, 2013

First of all we truly commend you, Mr. Prime Minister for allowing this rally to go forward. It shows a different kind of leadership—even though it is under the same TPLF/EPRDF government—because it takes strength, principle and wisdom to hear the discontent of the people. You may also better understand the risks of ignoring the very real rumblings of the people on the ground, which will not go away until they are genuinely addressed. It is even more important in this changing world where support from the people makes a difference in a government’s ability to function and be secure.

Like your predecessor, Meles, you could have ordered TPLF/EPRDF security forces to gun down our young people, arrest the leaders of the protest or to detain large numbers of demonstrators; however, you did not. We believe you, and other members of the TPLF/EPRDF, only allowed this rally to proceed because you may be more ready to listen to the people than ever before.

This should not only be applauded by us, but should also be recognized by others such as national and international human rights groups, civic organizations, donor countries, religious leaders and defenders of the law and freedom who have been wanting good governance, democracy and respect for human rights to come to Ethiopia.

Secondly, the rally itself was historic in nature by being very peaceful and we want to give credit to the police and security forces for not interfering in the peaceful demonstration. Though they were present, they treated people with respect. No one was arrested or detained and no one was harmed, harassed or threatened to our knowledge. This is exemplary.

Thirdly, we give enormous credit to the hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians who came out from their homes to show their support for change. Regardless of what political viewpoint one might hold, we should all be proud of how well they presented themselves and in doing so, represented all Ethiopians as they shouted during the rally the following: “We cannot be divided by our ethnicity! We cannot be divided by our religion.”

The rally was carried out with great discipline, respect, civility and basic good manners towards others. There was no bloodshed or destruction. From start to finish it was peaceful. It makes Ethiopians a shining example to the world and is evidence once again that we are not people of violence, but people who seek a better future for the country we all share and love. Congratulations to the people!

Fourthly, we believe the Semayawi (Blue) party leadership, who called for this rally, should be commended for their extraordinary leadership in organizing and carrying out a peaceful protest where the diverse people of Ethiopia could demand the God-given rights of all Ethiopians.

First of all, their name, Semayawi, which means “blue”, denotes the calm and peace one sees on the colour of the clear sky and gentle flowing of the deep sea waters. The name reflects the nature of the movement as one that seeks to move an inclusive Ethiopia forward, but not by turbulence or violence but peacefully and with determination and persistence. Their expectations of participation were for several thousand participants. They were obviously greatly surprised with the huge numbers of people who came out.