KINIJIT NOW ANDENET - The Way of Peace & Ethiopiawinet

Dear Ethiopia First Editor:

Before I jump to the main topic I would like to discuss in this writing, allow me to share with you that the domain name of your website (Ethiopia first) is the name I like most. What we are missing in Ethiopia these days are perspectives that put Ethiopia first in deeds.

As a regular visitor of your website I have observed a unique and different standard of assessing situations in Ethiopia. Though I strongly disagree in some of your reporting (which I will detail later), your continued advocacy for peace and reconciliation is something that need to be applauded and appreciated.

On August 7, you wrote: ”Again, I want to thank P.M. Zenawi & the rest of the administration, CUD leaders and Shemagelewoch for giving reconciliation a chance. It is high time for all media outlets - inside the country and in the Diaspora - to act responsibly. Let us not be part of the problem, but be part of the solution. Yichalal! “

I do agree with your plea and join you in calling for a new beginning. We all must do all our best to positively make contributions and make this embryonic peace and reconciliation initiative grows. I do agree, we should not be part of the problem but be part of the solution. You are absolutely right, it is possible to have new directions and change the unfortunate destiny of our country. Yes, indeed, if there is the will and the honesty from all sides “Yichalal”. We can make Ethiopia the FIRST.

However I respectfully bring to your attention some troubling trends I have lately observed in your website. To illustrate my points I would list one concrete example that has forced me to speak out against ethiopiafirst.com. I am doing this out of respect to your contributions and hoping your would take our discontent seriously.

On August 9, I listened to the interview of Ato Bereket Simeon with horror. To my surprise this interview is linked at the top of a webpage, many of us believed was genuinely advocating peace and the well being of ‘Emmama “ Ethiopia. In this shameful interview, Ato Bereket said:”We (The EPRDF) have made the CUD leaders kneel down before us and beg for mercy.”
Does ethiopiafirst.com editor think that such rubbish talks from the part of Ato Bereket et colleagues are helpful? Is that being part of the solution when ethiopiafirst itself posted and publicized such demonic interview at the top of its main page? Is this not poisoning the efforts of the elders (shemageles) whom we admire and respect for what they were able to accomplish (be it as mediators or emissaries)?

The EPRDF officials, even while prisoner of conscious were still in jail, unleashed massive propaganda campaigns against CUD leaders solely to humiliate and embarrass them. Contrary to the spirit of reconciliation, they continued arrogantly their politics of intimidation and deception. [1][2]

Such actions surely have cornered the elders and made their efforts very difficult. If elders were seen with suspicion by many Ethiopians, it is because of such negative actions from the part of officials in Arat Kilo and the failure of the elders themselves to correct and clarify distorted misinformation. Tough, the high regard I have for them have not diminished, I believe elders have made serious mistakes one of which is their absolute silence in front of the “brouhaha” of the Arat Kilo officials.

CUD leaders refused to be dragged in this politics of hate and empty arrogance. For the sake of peace and reconciliation, they refrained from striking back and from responding in kind to the propaganda campaigns of the ruling regime. Instead they deferred all matters to the brinkmanship of elders out of their determination to turn around the history of Ethiopia from its history of bloodshed and break the cycle of violence and hate to peace and love once and for all. They stayed above the fray.

As far as the letter they signed prior to their release, they have clearly indicated that the letter circulated by the EPRDF (that was linked on ethiopiafirst.com) was not the letter they signed. In their first official post Kaliti statement CUD leaders said:” Even though the statement released by the government is different from the agreement reached between the elders and us, it is our belief that the elders will make public the true content of the agreement at a time and in a manner that is convenient to them” [3]

Has ethiopiafirst.com made efforts to acquire the true document signed by CUD leaders from the elders themselves? If the answer is “No”, then would that help the reconciliation effort when ethiopiafirst is being used as a tunnel to transmit deceptions and misinformations? Is that being part of the solution? Would it not be helpful to tell Ethiopians the truth?

I think ethiopiafirst.com and other media outlets must recognize that the role they play is a very critical one. I think they must not let those who are not interested in the well-being of our country define the politics and agenda of Ethiopia.

The defeat or victory of the “weyanes” does not bring solution in our country by itself. All of us have to be winners. All of us have to be part of the solution. Therefore our goals must not be on damaging or helping the regime but on working for Ethiopia. Let our politics not be the politics for or against the EPRDF but the politics for Ethiopia. Let us not be content in seeing the humiliation and embarrassment of other fellow Ethiopians. Instead let us take the pain of others as ours and hold hand in hand together to lift up one another.

With honesty, positive attitude and good will from all parts, I believe we can turn around once and for all the bad and unfortunate images Ethiopia has been having in today world.

WE CAN, INDEED, DO IT.