EDP Leaders in London

By Wondimu Mekonnen

Dr Admasu Gebeyehu, the Chairman of Ethiopian Democratic Party and Ato
Lidetu Ayalew, the Party’s General Secretary held a productive
meeting with
Ethiopians in London on Sunday 8 September 2002.

The meeting was organised by EDP Support Committee in London. On behalf
of
the support Committee, Ato Alemayehu Erqie opened the meeting with a
warm
welcome to the delegates and the audience.

Ato Alemayehu reminded the audience that few dedicated young Ethiopians
who
had a burning love for Ethiopia but less experienced started EDP less
than 3
years ago. Within this period, the party had grown out so much to the
extent
of being recognised as one of the strongest parties in the country.
EDP,
which started its political activities in Addis Ababa, has now opened 6
more
offices in other parts of the country, and even managed to hold a
public
town hall meeting, in the heartland of Tigray, in Maqale. Ato Alemayehu
said
that EDP’s success stems from the fact that EDP picked up the
issues that
the people were raising.

The regime that used to boast by saying: “Had there been a strong
opposition
in the country we could have gone half way to meet,” had shown its
true
colour by killing, imprisoning and harassing party leaders and members.
The
current assassination attempt of Ato Tamirat Tareqegn is a good example
of
the regimes campaign to destroy EDP.

Ato Alemayehu reminded the audience that EDP believed in the Ethiopia
that
treated her children equally. Nobody should be seen as a child and a
stepchild. Ethiopia should be a mother to all.

Ato Alemayehu reminded the audience that Ethiopia is on the verge of
destruction. EDP’s call was motherland’s call. Every Ethiopian
should gather
around the party of his own choice and crusade for the salvation of
motherland. The EDP Support Committee had organised itself to support
those
who face murder, jail and harassment. In order to support those who
sacrifice themselves to save Ethiopia, Ato Alemayehu asked the audience
to
support the support committee to be able to support EDP..

After this Ato Alemayehu invited Dr Admasu Gebeyehu, the Chairman of
EDP to
address the audience.

Dr Admasu Gebeyehu thanked the audience for sacrificing their Sunday
and
coming to the meeting. Dr Admasu reminded the them that it was the
third
time EDP delegates had visited London. Dr Gebeyehu himself, Ato Mushe
Semu,
EDP Public Relations Officer, and Ato Lidetu had visited London in the
past
on various occasions and addressed the public. The communication
technology
had narrowed the world and EDP wouldn’t be a stranger to the
Ethiopians in
London. Dr Admasu also thanked EDP Support Committee in London for
making
that meeting possible.

Dr Admasu stressed that EDP was a young party – 2 years and 9 months
old.
The reasons behind EDP’s creation were:

(1) The failure of TPLF upholding promises it gave in coming to power
(2) The worsening problems of the country instead of getting better
(3) The need to address issues that were not addressed by other
political
organisations.

Members of EDP came from 3 directions:

(1) Ex members of existing political organisation dissatisfied with and
disillusioned by their organisations
(2) Members of civic organisations
(3) Those who were not involved in any organisation but sitting were
burning
from love of the motherland.

Dr Admasu stressed that EDP was built on the principle of equality. It
supports free market economy. Peace and pan-Ethiopianism
(hibrebihErawinet)
were its guiding principles

Dr Admasu indicated that EDP followed three directions of struggle

(1) To bring down TPLF on its knees by popular movement
(2) To get rid off backward anti progress thoughts
(3) Close collaboration and networking with other opposition political
parties

As it was repeatedly stated, Dr Admasu said, EDP was the youngest of
all
political parities. The following are some of its achievements:

• Within 7 months of its creation, EDP had participated in
  elections and won parliamentary seats and 14 Addis Ababa region council seats.

• Within a year of its life, it forwarded 1283 candidates and
  exposed TPLF
  sham democracy to the whole world.

• In its Second General Assembly, it successfully held its own
  elections and
  transferred leadership batons to others.

• It had managed to unite with Ethiopian Democratic Action Group
  (EDAG)
  and about to unite with EDUP

• It had made more than 20 town hall and 2 open-air meetings.
• It had issued 26 organisational reports
• EDP had 20,000 members and 8 offices. It has its cells in 28
  cities and
  towns.

Within such a short span of life, EDP had turned to be one of the
parties
that had popular acceptance among Ethiopians from all walks of life.

EDP had paid already numerous sacrifices. According to Dr Admasu,
several of
EDP members have lost their jobs. Members like Tewofiq Lale and Lelisie
Gadissie had been shot and killed by TPLF murder squads. One of the
brightest executive member, Tamirat Tareqegn had narrowly escaped an
assassination attempt with severe wounds. Currently, he is recovering
from
his wounds.

Dr Admasu vowed to the audience by saying that EDP had no limits to the
sacrifices. EDP is ready to pay any sacrifice in the struggle to free
Ethiopia from dictatorship.

Dr Admasu acknowledged that the Ethiopian problems are intertwined,
many and
very difficult to solve. EDP’s targets to the solution of such
complicated
problems were based on removal of hatred, the desire for revenge and
extremism. Dr Admasu said that EDP had no dream of running alone and
wining.
EDP also believed in differences, which were to be natural. However,
EDP
strongly believed in unity up to complete union with political parties
that
had similar nationwide programmes. EDP struggled to remove
confrontation
and violence.

Dr Admasu believed TPLF is ruling the country based on our weaknesses.
“If
we Ethiopians do not prepare ourselves to die a little bit in the
struggle
to free our country from tyranny, TPLF is going to rule, not only our
children, probably our childrens children,” said Dr Admasu.

Dr Admasu concluded his speech by re-promising the promise that EDP has
already promised. He asked every one to promise too.

PEACE AND PAN-ETHIOPIANISM (HIBREBIHERAWINET) ARE EDP’S OBJECTIVES

Dr Admasu went back to his seat in the middle of loud applaud.

Ato Lidetu Ayalew, the General Secretary took the floor to entertain
all
questions coming from the audience.

However, before opening the floor for questions and discussions, Ato
Lidetu
thanked the audience for coming to the meeting. He also reiterated the
fact
that although EDP was created not long ago, its members believed that
the
party had come up with new thinking. In the country, the people have
now
recognised EDP and gathered around it. Unfortunately, Ato Lidetu
observed
that abroad there was a misunderstanding of what EDP stood for. Ato
Lidetu
invited the audience to ask questions regarding what EDP stood for what
EDP
was. He said all questions would be answered, frankly. Ato Lidetu
reassured
the audience that there would no question EDP would hesitate to
respond. Ato
Lidetu also told the audience opposing views were welcome. He allowed
two
questions at a time from each of the inquisitors.

The first question came from a lady, who asked if EDP had made known
its
objectives to the International community. Ato Lidetu expressed joy to
see
for the first time the first question being asked by a lady. To begin
with,
he was so happy to see a good number of female audiences. He said while
travelling he did see few female participants everywhere except London.
He
had met and discussed with brave sisters everywhere they went but that
meeting was the first time for a lady to ask the first question. In
response
to the young lady’s question, Ato Lidetu explained that one of the
main
objectives of their tour of America and Europe was to meet
international
human rights organisations, journalists and government representatives.
Wherever they went, they had just done that. Ato Lidetu explained that
on
Monday, next morning, they were going to visit the Foreign Office of
British
and Commonwealth. That is as far as the mission of the delegates was
concerned. Ato Lidetu said the biggest role in that regard rested on
the
shoulders of every country loving Ethiopian that lived abroad. In the
diplomatic mission, it would be easier for the Ethiopians living abroad
than
those living in Ethiopia to play decisive roles.

To the question from another audience regarding the challenges EDP had
to
face during campaign for election, Ato Lidetu indicated that one of the
main
reason of EDP’s participation in the election to expose the sham
democracy
TPLF was boasting about. TPLF was talking giving what it called
Constitution, and every Ethiopian had the right to elect or be elected.
EDP
put that to test. EDP had participated in two elections. It faced
similar
problems and challenges in both the elections.

– Primarily, lack of Electoral Board thaat could have treated every one
equally. The so-called Electoral Board was actually the body of the
ruling
party. It was created to serve them:

– The mass media was in the hands of thee ruling party. There was no
free
press. There were few free newspapers but those news papers never went
out
of Addis Ababa, the seat of all Diplomatic missions. TPLF monopolised
the
government media for its own benefit alone, although that media was
financed
and maintained by taxpayer’s money.

– The other common problem EDP faced whiile campaigning was the
harassment,
intimidation, murder and imprisonment of the candidates and supporters.
TPLF
cadres did cheat in the election process by swapping election cards

– After all that, wherever EDP won, the election boxes were looted, and
houses of the candidates and supporters were burned down to ashes.

To the question how deep EDP had gone to the grass root level, Ato
Lidetu
replied by acknowledging the fact that for any party to be serious
about
politics, it should be able to distribute its programmes down to the
level
of the grass root and explain itself. Given that EDP was only 2 years
and 9
months old, it had opened 2 offices in Addis Ababa and 6 officer in
other
regional towns. Although EDP started its activities it had started
creating
its centres throughout the country. Ato Lidetu vowed that EDP would go
soon
to the woreda and Qebele levels. The only thing that
prevented EDP from
going further so far, was lack of resources. Once the resources would
be in
place, EDP is ready to go deeper into the grass roots.

To the question about those who had been expelled from the party, Dr
Admasu
responded by his surprise why the latest sent a shockwave across the
glob as
that was not the first time party members were expelled from the
organisation. The party had already expelled more than 142 members due
to
breach of party disciplines. In doing so, the party had clearly put its
own
party programmes. EDP had its rules and regulations that governed its
own
activities. When the weight of trespassing reached the level where one
should be expelled, EDP did expel them. Dr Gebeyehu explained that
there
were 27 permanent and 9 temporary Executive advisors. In addition, EDP
had 9
Executive members. These members could only be expelled by the General
Assembly. If such members committed serious breach of party policy,
they
would be suspended until the General Assembly would be called. But
those on
Wereda level need not wait for the General Assembly, but local
authorities
could take action on the spot. EDP had Disciplinary Committee. Those
committee members could take their own action, after investigation. Dr
Admasu explained at one point EDP did expel 64 members due to breach of
party discipline. EDP had a valid reason in doing so. No voice of
protest
was heard then. This time, when top delegates left the country for an
international tour, Dr Admasu couldn+IBk-t understand what was all the
fuss
about, in taking measures on 11 people who violated the party
discipline.

To the question about the future relationship between Ethiopia and
Eritrea,
Dr Admasu stressed that there was no difference between Ethiopians and
Eritreans whatsoever. He said that people were united geographically,
culturally, economically and socially. It was Woyyane and Sha+IBk-biyya
that
created the so-called differences and sever them apart. Once Woyyane
and Sha
+IBk-biyya left the scene, and replaced by a group of people who would
advance
the cause of the country than self-enrichment, EDP believed the people
would
reunite again like before.

Regarding Ethiopian’s rights to the Sea Outlet, EDP had gathered
150,000
signatures and submitted to the United Nations, OAU, European Union and
representatives of the Security Council, 136,000 of them. EDP opposed
The
Hague project designed to delineate border between Ethiopia and Eritrea
because it was based on dead and already buried colonial treaties.
Although
Woyyane and Sha’biyya loved to resurrect these treaties as a
yardstick to be
used on the shameful act of betrayal, EDP believed in the long run,
that was
going to hurt the interest of Ethiopia. That was why the February 2002
huge
open-air public gathering was held at Maskal Square.

To the question about the Woyyane’s shameful act at Awassa in
disturbing EDP’s peaceful gathering to on the Hague betrayal that denied Ethiopia
the
Sea-Outlet, Dr Gebeyehu spoke with satisfaction about the outcome.
There
were eight Woyyane cadres that disturbed the peace of the those who
came to
the meeting. Seeing their intentions, EDP videotaped their actions.
Instead
of going ahead with the town hall meeting, EDP decided to send of the
delegates but took the video film to the members of the international
diplomatic mission proving how undemocratic and tyrannical Woyyane
authorities were. Dr Admasu said treacherous action cost Woyyane too
much.
EDP gained more than it could have achieved had the Awassa Conference
was
gone ahead as planned.

EDP did not promise to the nation that it had the power to obtain Sea
Outlet
for Ethiopia. EDP was rallying the nation to keep the candle right of
Ethiopia keep on burning. Dr Admasu stressed that the question was
relevant
to be raised then, filed properly passed over the next generation.

As to the question with regards to the role of women in the struggle to
free
the country from TPLF tyrannical regime, Dr Admasu responded by
confirming
that it had reached a good stage but not as much as desired. The role
of
women in politics on the international arena had increased. In
Ethiopia,
role of women was relatively alright in comparison. 25+ACU- of
EDP+IBk-s members are
female. Elsewhere they are less. Therefore, Dr Admasu believed EDP was
relatively satisfied with the role of women, but more work should be
done to
bring one more.

Ato Lidetu interjected here. EDP had been making an effort to bring up
women
leaders as well. According to Lidetu, six of the Central Committee
members
of EDP were women. When it came to election, EDP would go for the
candidate
that would win them a seat. However, 3 places have been reserved for
candidate women. Ato Lidetu indicated women were actively participating
in
politics only in cities and towns. He would love to see that spread to
the
villages as well. To increase the role of women in rescuing Ethiopia,
Ato
Lidetu encouraged every one to participate and consider the issue
seriously.

Ato Lidetu made an elaborate explanation on the question about unity
and
co-operation among the opposition political organisations. He refers to
the
question of unity and co-operation of parties as a popular question.
The
question of unity and co-operation was one of the early questions that
EDP
took as its own agenda in drafting its political manifesto. EDP aimed
not
only co-operation but also complete union with parties that advance the
same
political programme. EDP did not just express its desires, but would
like to
play a leading role in that respect.

Ato Lidetu expressed how shocked the delegates were to learn in North
America that EDP was portrayed as anti unity, which dreamed to run
alone and
win. That was absolutely out of this world accusation. Ato Lidetu asked
one
crucial question. The question of united front among the opposition
parties
had been on the table for the last 11 years. EDP came into existence on
2
years and 9 months ago. Ato Lidetu asked, if EDP were the obstacle as
claimed to the creation of the United Front, how come the opposition
parties
couldn’t create that unity before EDP was born? To the contrary,
Ato Lidetu
claimed, EDP had been crying for unity among the opposition parties
from day
one it came into existence. EDP didn+IBk-t just called for unity. It
showed the
way by action. During the election campaign, EDP was one of the 5
opposition
organisations that united to campaign jointly. The EDP that was in
front of
the audience was the union of EDP that was created 2 years and 9 months
ago
and “Edehak”, an organisation created 11 years ago. It was
because Edehak
preferred EDP to remain the union name, but that EDP qualitatively and
quantitatively differed from the EDP created 2 years and 9 months
earlier.

Ato Lidetu expressed his joy to get a positive response for union with
EDUP.
EDP and EDUP had already signed documents for voluntary union. Ato
Lidetu
said that union was about to take place in the very near future. With
those
parties organised on ethnic lines, EDP could co-operate. However,
complete
union is out of question for technical reasons. As Ethiopians, however,
Ato
Lidetu saw, it could be possible to establish a close working
relationship
and join force to tackle common problem.

Ato Lidetu was frank in admitting that there was a problem during The
Hague
campaign. EDP invited all parties to co-operate in going out to the
open-air
public gathering and oppose the decision. After agreements were
reached, EDP
was asked to cancel open-air public gathering. As EDP had already done
a lot
in that regard, the party didn+IBk-t want to cancel it. EDUP accepted
the
invitation and joined the rally. However, the remaining three stayed
away
and issued their own communiqu+AOk-. When EDP demanded why that
communique was
not done jointly, the three simply accused EDP of not accepting their
demand
when they went ahead with that public gathering at Masqal Square.

Ato Lidetu said EDP didn’t leave the floor of unity after that.
Four
opposition political parties got together and discussed the matter
thoroughly and went ahead with the creation of common front for
co-operation
and working together. According to Ato Lidetu, EDP believed that there
would
be good news coming up one of these days.

While touring North America, there was another surprising question the
delegates were asked. The question was, why EDP was one of those 9
parties
that would participate in “The All Party Conference’s” – EDP
delegates heard
about that only when they reached North America. EDP delegates searched
and
found the organisers. They asked them why they were not invited. The
organisers told the delegates because EDP refused. The delegates
demanded
how and when EDP was invited. The organisers responded that EDP was
invited
by a fax. The delegates asked for the copies of the fax. The copy was
not
found. They suggested they would invite them then. EDP delegates were
very
happy to accept. They requested to make that formal. They were sure
they
would join them. In the mean time, Prof. Merera Gidina and Dr Beyene
Petros
arrived while EDP delegates were there. The two professors informed EDP
delegates that they were there to participate on the “All Party
Conference.”
They asked if they could join them. When the question was put to the
organisers, they were told that the Conference didn+IBk-t include EDP,
therefore, if EDP wanted it could only sit and listen but there would
be no
platform provide for them to speak. EDP accepted that too,

Ato Lidetu said the people were asking for unity. The people deserved
an
answer. According to Ato Lidetu, there are two main obstacles that
prevented
the opposition from uniting.

– INDIVIDUALS
– if parties weree united, there will only be on
Chairperson and
on General Secretary. Unfortunately, political leaders wouldn’t
like unity
unless they would be the leaders. EDP would try to change the culture
of
possessing political parties as ownership over land (rist).

– LACK OF ORGANISATIONAL STRENGTH.
Today, in Ethiopia, there is no a
strong
political party. EDP itself is young and lacks experience. EDP is too
you to
claim. The only reason people gathered around EDP is due to the
matching of
its ideas with the mass. Had there been a stronger party in the
country,
TPLF would never have had a chance to step on our heads and rule over
us
with an iron fist. Some parties are composed of few individuals –
composed
of one chairman, one secretary, one office and a few chairs and probably
one
computer. Stronger parties are needed to create viable union and shake
the
system from its toots.

Demanding party unions alone cannot be a solution to the problem. Ato
Lidetu
believed it would be possible to create a stronger party if each and
every
individual gathers around a party of its choice and makes meaningful
effort.
It is wrong to believe that organisations free people. No one would
free any
one. The struggle for freedom starts from the individual. EDP did not
claim
to free any one. “Free yourself,” says Lidetu.

The desired unity is not the unity of organisations as such. What is
needed
is the voluntary unity of individuals. The union EDP wished was the
union
that would unite the society around an organisation to bring meaningful
change. Ato Lidetu pleaded with every individual to join the political
party
in the locality and strengthen it. EDP does not promote the politics
dropping one and promoting another. According to Ato Lidetu EDP
believes
strengthening itself and struggling together with the other members of
the
society.

The other question that Ato Lidetu tackled in depth was the one that
asked
EDP delegates what advantage the did hit by going to Mekelle, apart from
serving Woyyane propaganda machine of being seen as a democrat. Ato
Lidetu
explained first why was it needed to travel to Maqale. Ato Lidetu
explained
the main objectives of EDP were to pick up the popular question and go
back
to the people to seek solutions and to share its own suggestions. EDP
delegates did not just pick up their bags and baggage and travelled to
Mekelle. The party leaders prior to departure also raised the question
that
was raised in that hall. There were members who warned that going to
Maqale
was like playing with fire. The other fear was, although the people of
Tigray were Ethiopians to the bone, they may not risk the wrath of TPLF
and
wouldn’t come to the EDP town hall meeting. Those who supported the
idea of
probing Tigray came up with a strong opinion saying, unless they took
the
risk of going to Tigray and shared their ideas, the struggle would
reach
nowhere. To avoid the possibility of one day the people of Tigray
pointing
fingers at EDP and asking where were they at the time they needed other
Ethiopians for partnership to get rid of tyranny, EDP needed to risk
and pay
whatever sacrifice needed and travel to Tigray. After weighing the
advantage
against the disadvantage, EDP decided to address members of Ethiopian
community in Tigray.

Ato Lidetu said with a strong voice, where ever they went or whenever
EDP
decided to hold a meeting it had never asked permission from the
regime’s
representatives. All it had been doing so far was to let the
representatives
of the authority know that EDP was going to hold a town hall meeting or
public rally on a specified date and time and notified them to take
whatever
measures it had to make. Permitted or not permitted EDP never bothered.
Notifying them was the only thing EDP had been doing. Therefore, like
it had
been doing everywhere, EDP sent the notification to the authorities in
Mekelle. After that, EDP tried to hire a hall but couldn’t find any.
Finally,
they found The Maqale Town Hall. Unfortunately, those in charge of the
hall
demanded 800 birr per hour to rent the hall. That was too much.
However, for
Mekelle, EDP didn+IBk-t hesitate (aynachinin alashenim) to
enter into contract.
EDP sent Tamirat Tareqegn (the hero that is now recovering from the
assassination attempt recently) to organise before the delegate’s
departure.
After assessing the situation, Tamirat surprised EDP leaders informing
them
that the people of Mekelle couldn’t wait to see them. Therefore,
Tamirat
instructed them to drop everything they had been thinking about Tigray
and
travel there at once. One of the clever moves the party would claim was
that
from the beginning EDP declared that it saw TPLF and the people of
Tigray
separately. Ato Lidetu confessed his feeling on the plan to Mekelle
imagining
how many angry faces (yetekosatere ginbar) he would see at the airport
on
landing.

Ato Lidetu explained in graphic detail his first impressions of setting
his
feet on the land of Tigray. Just like everywhere in Ethiopia, Taxis
competed
in taking the passengers to the town. One offered a better deal and
they
mounted it and started they headed to the town. Nervous Lidetu asked
the
taxi driver which hotel would he suggest. The taxi driver thought for
sometime and suggested that the best hotel for them would be Emperor
Yohanne’s hotel because it was nearer to the hall they hired.
Lidetu couldn’t hide his shock and asked the driver how did he know who they
were. The
driver told him that the whole city had been waiting for their arrival
and
every one at the airport knew who they were and welcomed him to Mekelle.
After putting down their luggage in the suggested hotel, they
couldn’t sit
quietly in that hotel, so they wanted to check their feet and see
around.
They went into one of the local tearooms. Surprisingly, the tape was
playing
Shambel Belayneh’s popular song called “Tariq Yifreden.”
After enjoying the
songs and wonderful tea and coffee, they called the hostess to pay the
bill
only to find out that it was already paid. When asked who paid it, the
host
pointed at the near table. The people sitting at the next table grinned
and
said welcome to Maqale and expressed how happy they were to see them.

Tamirat briefed them any difficulty he encountered. There was none
serious.
The only incident was one night+ADs- some one at night removed their
notices put
at one area during the day.

TPLF cadres called their activists upon the arrival of delegates for a
meeting. Some good-hearted individuals who did attend that meeting
briefed
the delegates. The leader of the cadres started this speech by saying
“Our
enemies, sons of feudal, remnants of the Dergue and ESEPA cadres, have
dared
to step their feet on the soil of Maqale. What to do about it.”
Some
suggested they would not want to see their faces. Others asked after
letting
them in why should they ask them now but the third group bravely
confronted
them by saying, if the “government” claimed to be a
democratically elected
government of Ethiopia, Maqale is part of Ethiopia and had the right to
come
to Maqale just like it had been travelling to other parts of Ethiopia
and
trying to sell its ideas.

Ato Lidetu remembered one person who searched for the delegates and
took
them aside and talked to them very concerned. He told them that TPLF
had
been going around and intimidating the people never to attend that
meeting.
He warned them that they may not get a single soul going to the town
hall.
However, that shouldn’t discourage them because the people would
love to
come out in bulk listen to them but the fear of TPLF’s reprisal
would be the
only obstacle that would deter them. They thanked the individual and
went to
bed wondering how many brave people would turn up.

In the morning of the meeting EDP delegates went out to have their
morning
tea and breakfast, only to be disturbed by a gasping individuals, who
alerted them that they were being sought everywhere and with a relief
to
find them there. When they asked what was up, the individual told them
that
Maqale Town Hall was full and thousands of people were scattered all
over
the compound as there was no place inside. They were the only once
being
waited for. When they rushed to the hall, the delegates couldn+IBk-t
believe
their eyes. The town caretaker was pleading with the people upstairs to
climb down as it would crash and life could be lost. The delegates
pleaded
with the caretaker for the people outside to get into the hall and sit
on
the floor. Ato Lidetu described the scene people sharing one seat for
two
others sitting on the floor, people sitting over one another until the
meeting was completed.

After a brief presentation by the delegates, a question and answer
cession
started, that clearly showed where the people of Maqale stood. The
first
speaker was an elderly Muslim man. He said, it was so painful to see,
Tigray, the cradle of Ethiopian history, the land that produced of
Emperor
Yohannes, the land that gave birth to Alula Aba Nega, Mengesha Yohannes
and
many others, becoming the cause for Ethiopian destruction and giving
birth
to children that would deny her historical sea outlet and make her
landlocked. As the elderly man finished his emotionally tensed speech,
the
whole went into a deafening applaud and approval of what had had said.

The second speaker was given a chance. He was a cadre. He started his
rhetoric by claiming that the delegates were enemies of people of
Tigray.
They were there because they were denied by brave TPLF their status of
ruling Ethiopia and suppressing the people. After ranting the usual
TPLF
rant, he sat down. A couple of weak applaud followed and died out.

The third speaker was given a chance to speak out. She was a lady. She
too
started uttering the same line of argument but was booed by the
audience and
was silenced. EDP delegates begged the audience to calm down but to no
avail. They people started speaking out with called upon, by protesting
against the earlier two speakers. They were heard saying they had had
enough
of them. They had listened to them for the last 11 years. They have
been
used and abused in the treacherous betrayal of Ethiopia by TPLF.

Ato Lidetu expressed the shock of the delegates and amazement about
what
went in that hall. No single soul from the audience raised the trouble
of
Badme, Shiraro, and Zalambessa. The concern of the people was beyond
that.
Every one was hurt by the fact that Woyyane was the cause for Eritrea
to
break away, with all Ethiopian sea outlets. People after people were
saying
that it was not to serve the desire of Eritrean cessation that their
children were sacrificed. It was not to land lock their country. All
that
was one big betrayal of the cause of the martyrs.

One elderly man told the audience that he had 5 sons. All the five sons
were
lured by TPLF and perished in the battlefield. However, he, their
father had
been robbed of his land by TPLF, who branded him portraying EDU beliefs
policies.

Ato Lidetu then touched his own opinion about the developments in
Tigray,
which was actually later of challenged by Cmdr Assefa Seifu. Ato Lidetu
admitted that there were development projects that were siphoned to
Tigray.
Ato Lidetu believed that didn+IBk-t bring much benefit to the ordinary
people of
Tigray. He said that the people of Tigray are just as worse of as the
rest
of Ethiopians elsewhere. Those giant projects were meant to fool the
people
of Tigray that created an illusion that TPLF was doing something worthy
for
them and line them up for future sacrifices in its future greedy goals.
The
people of Tigray were used as backbone from where Woyyane emerged to
prolong
its tyrannical rule of the rest of Ethiopians. In reality, according to
Ato
Lidetu the fruits of those projects would only be meant to uphold the
advantage of corrupt TPLF officials and their servants. Ato Lidetu
pointed
out that the entire commercial sector in Tigray was in the hands of
Woyyane.
Woyyane cadres had marginalized individual traders in Tigray. Compare
to
Maqale, one could see in Addis Ababa independent traders. In Tigray,
everything belonged to TPLF/MLLT.

The degree of greed shown by Woyyane was amazing. Ato Lidetu gave an
example
of how Tigray was over taxed by Woyyane. For example, Woyyane had
dismantled
a cement factory from elsewhere and had installed in Tigray. Now, one
quintal of cement produced in Tigray was sold in Maqale to the ordinary
people for 69 birr. It transported the same cement to Bahir Dar and
sold it
for 65 birr. Ato Lidetu asked why was that? Did TPLF prefer the people
of
Bar Dar to Maqale? The answer was lies in the fact that the people of
Bahr
Dar get cement from Mugar and elsewhere in Ethiopia, but in Maqale
cement
trade had been monopolized by TPLF and the people had no choice but pay
whatever TPLF asked them.

Ato Lidetu found it incredible to talk to the ordinary citizens of
Maqale.
The people of Maqale would tell you that they were dominated by people
form
Adwa. Ato Lidetu guessed, if one goes to Adwa, probably the people of
Adwa
would tell from which Woreda would the dominant group hailed.

The people they talked to in Maqale were very grateful EDP visited
their
town. They cautioned the delegated not to be overwhelmed by the degree
of
acceptance and admiration they saw in Maqale. They should have seen how
much
they were appreciated and would have been overwhelmed by the amount of
support they could have seen in the countryside. The people of Maqale
told
the EDP delegates that the people of Tigray had reached the stage where
they
have started missing Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam.

Ato Lidetu was informed how TPLF translated, duplicated and distributed
to
every household in Tigray the article by Prof. Tilhun Yilma, adding its
own
version of the story. The cadres were busy threatening the ordinary
people
of Tigray and Eritrea, unless they stood with Woyyane and
Sha’biyya, their
fate would be to be cut off like a cancer and thrown by +IBw-Amara
chauvinists”.
The trip of EDP delegates showed them that that campaign is no more
working.
Woyyane cadres are busy trying to create another bogyman with which
they may
scare the people Tigray to remain under their clutches.

What made EDP to be able to hold such a successful town hall meeting in
the
heart land of Woyyane, Maqale. Ato Lidetu claimed it was Woyyane+IBk-s
blunder
in Awassa that made it possible to travel to Maqale. In Awassa, EDO
videotaped how Woyyane cadres disturbed the meeting and that was shown
to
embassies of donor countries located in Addis Ababa. That mistake did
start
biting back Woyyane. When EDP decided to travel Maqale, it was a
bombshell
dropped on their doorstep. Had they gone ahead with doing what they did
in
Awassa that would have cost them millions of dollars. Therefore, EDP
was
able to capitalise on the past errors of TPLF and did what it had to do
in
Maqale.
As Ato Lidetu completed the Maqale question, Dr Admasu took over
replying to
the rest of the answered questions. Dr Admasu addressed the question
how the
Ethiopian in Diaspora could take part in the struggle to free the
motherland. Dr Admasu reiterated that the battlefield to free Ethiopia
lies
there within Ethiopia. What ever mean of struggle one chooses, be it
peaceful or armed, being physically there should carry it out.
Ethiopian
living abroad could take part in the struggle in two concrete areas.
One
area is support would by providing resources and logistics. Money is in
a
short supply to hit the desired goal at home. Those who live abroad is
found
in a better position that those who live in Ethiopia. Dr Admasu
indicated
the other area where the Diaspora could play a decisive role. That
would be
the diplomatic mission. Dr Admasu believed that those who live abroad
had
the access and could do better jobs in that respect.

As to the question how they see those who organised along ethnic lines,
Dr
Admasu replied that EDP believed if individual freedom was respected
group
freedom could automatically be respected. EDP didn+IBk-t believe
solving
Ethiopian problems by organising along ethnic lines. However that EDP
does
not oppose those who are chose to organise along ethnic lines as long
as
their line of struggle did not contradict the survival of Ethiopia as a
nation. We actually go to the extent of co-operating with those
organised
along ethnic lines to bring democracy and justice to Ethiopia. EDP
didn’t
have a problem working with organisations organised along ethnic lines.

The goal of EDP is not just the removal of TPLF. TPLF may extend its
life if
managed to produce good job for the country. EDP+IBk-s mission is
mainly
concerned with alerting the people of Ethiopia realise their rights,
demand
and get them. EDP+IBk-s struggle is to produce a generation that would
never let
dictators take away its rights and assert the fact that the source of
power
comes from the people. EDP struggles for the united society where one
stands
for all and all stands for one.

Dr Admasu called upon those of us living in the world to stop the
international community handing over the sticks to TPLF with which it
whips
the Ethiopian people. Dr Admasu+IBk-s plea implied that every Ethiopian
living
should be an ambassador to his/her country and people. EDP rests the
role of
the diplomatic mission on the shoulders of those who live outside the
country.

Answering to the question if union with EDU wouldn’t create a
problem, Dr
Admasu didn’t see any problem union with EDU would create. EDU is a
pan
Ethiopian party that waged its armed struggle in Gojjam, Gondar, Wollo
and
Tigray provinces. Dr Admasu spoke of EDU as the only pan Ethiopian
party
functioning in Ethiopia that had its grass root support down to the
farmers
level. Union with EDU meant going to the countryside through the
already
established channels of communication. Dr Admasu expressed what EDP
found
about EDUP and what EDP was painted by others was completely different.
EDP
found EDUP actually had similar programmes and there would no problem
at all
for union.

Ato Lidetu took over and started addressing other questions. Answering
to
the question why EDP chose peaceful struggle against the regime that
came to
power through the barrel of gun and that believed still to stay there
with
its arms might, Ato Lidetu reiterated EDP believed in total peaceful
resistance. Ethiopian history is built on wars. Wares waged to
safeguard the
sovereignty of the country should be always honoured respected and
remembered from generation to generation. However, wars waged and
claimed
lives a brother killing a brother to bring change of one government by
the
other should be discouraged and eliminated. It is difficult, very
tiresome
and taxing but somebody should start somewhere at one point. EDP had
chosen
to be that somebody and the time are now. The construction of a statue
commemorating the killing of a brother should be stopped. EDP had
started
its long journey of peaceful change of government. It would be
difficult.
Our people had accepted war as part of its culture. Although it is a
very
difficult task, EDP has taken it upon itself as its goals. EDP
doesn+IBk-t
believe waiting in an ambush and pulling a trigger and killing a bother
as
heroism. EDP had chosen to confront those who a gun without being
armed. It
is possible and probably easier to bring down a dictator with use of a
gun.
However, bringing down a dictatorial regime through armed struggle may
not
guarantee a lasting peace and the creation of democracy.

Ato Lidetu stressed that those who started armed struggle to challenge
Woyyane were not people addicted to war. They were denied the right of
advancing peacefully their ideas and beliefs for their country. They
ran out
of choice and resorted to armed struggle. For that, it only TPLF to
blame
and EDP wouldn’t blame them. The responsibility for doing so
depends
entirely on Woyyane for any armed conflict that may arise. EDB blames
TPLF
for denying the right for peaceful struggle to that group.

EDP+IBk-s constant calls for National Reconciliation were meant to
solve that
aspect of country’s problem. Ato Lidetu points out that EDP had
clearly seen
the problem that those who chose armed struggle are facing. EDP
appreciated
their struggle. EDP attempted to step in their shoes and see the world
from
their angle. Unfortunately, those who chose armed struggle did not seem
to
step in the shoes of those who chose peaceful struggle and tried to see
the
world from angle. Those who chose armed struggle to change the regime
kept
on telling EDP+IBk-s choice of peaceful struggle would portray TPLF as
democrats
and made their struggle harder. They complained, had EDP didn’t
come up with
its so-called peaceful resistance, the international community could
have
had a good picture of undemocratic TPLF and enabled to isolate the
dictators
and easily remove them. What EDP argued was, in the first place who
armed,
strengthened and put Woyyane in that position? The other issue EDP
raised
was, had EDP and others didn’t try Woyyane by its own so rights of
citizens
and “constitution” and got killed, imprisoned, harassed
intimidated, how
could it be possible to expose the hidden dictatorial nature of
Woyyane? In
a nutshell, Ato Lidetu reiterated, whether one chose peaceful or armed
struggle the field is right there in the country any way. EDP
didn+IBk-t believe
in the change of one dictator by another dictator. What EDP wanted was
to
organise a society that wouldn’t hesitate to rise up and demand its
God
given rights. The removal of Woyyane alone is not the goal of EDP.
Leave
alone Woyyane, even the Roman Empire had collapsed. Woyyane would
collapse
sooner or later. The goal of EDP is the bringing of a better system of
administration.

Dr Admasu topped later this issue by saying every one should free
himself
from hatred politics. In the peaceful struggle, EDP targeted the idea
and
not the people. Peaceful struggle manifests itself in the popular
uprising
to fend the rights. One cannot free him by killing and overriding the
other.
Bullets cannot remove poverty, ignorance and lack peace. Their forms
and
substance wouldn+IBk-t let it possible to solve their prevalence by
bombs and
bullets.

With regards to role of EDP in working among the University students
Ato
Lidetu insisted on leaving the academic institution free of politics.
That
campus should be an academic area and should remain like that. Saying
that,
university students could join the party of their choice outside that
campus. EDP wouldn’t want to make EDP its island. EDP believed in
the
academic freedom of the institution and it would remain that way.

Regarding to the question of opening an office outside Ethiopia, it was
not
in the plan of EDP. However, EDP has got Support committees of
volunteer in
Europe and North America.

As to the question if EDP had a channel to solve internal problems,
through
dialogues and discussions, rather than expelling from party, Ato Lidetu
explained that they did have. Those who were expelled from EDP were not
expelled due to difference in opinion. EDP didn’t claim that its
programme
was perfect. The problem EDP had with those expelled was fundamental.
Those
who were in charge of looking after the party’s well being
wouldn+IBk-t sit idle
and see when its enemies try to destroy the organisation from within.
Those
who were expelled were those who were caught red handed while doing
their
jobs of destruction and no amount of dialogue would have saved them.
EDP had
a wonderful channel of dialogue in place. Those who would like to
express
their opinion could do so freely and nothing would touch them.

Dr Admasu topped up Ato what Ato Lidetu said that in order to solve
misunderstandings by dialogue and discussions they had well prepared
documents and committees in place. According to the party documents on
disciplinary measures the following two points would lead to expulsion
of a
member from EDP:

– EDP does not allow being a member of aanother political party.
– Any one has the right to support or opppose proposals in the decision
key
issues of the party. Once voted, the opinion of the majority should be
withheld. In case a member whose ideas were outvoted by the majority
tries
to work internally to prevent the majority’s decision from
implementation
that would lead to expulsion.

Dr Admasu explained those who were expelled from the party in the past
were
expelled based on the above two guidelines.

The final question referred to EDP’s participation in the election
and being
able to travel safely to Tigray and get back. These things would
portray EDP
as an organisation that worked in collaboration with TPLF and what ever
EDP
did, some people believed that it did with the blessing of TPLF so that
TPLF
would look like a democrat. Ato Lidetu was upfront with the answer to
that
allegation. As the trip to Tigray was already widely covered, he was
not
required to go back on it. However, Ato Lidetu stressed that
participating
in the general election would in no way tantamount to collaboration. It
was
not only EDP that took part in the election. The Southern Ethiopian
Peoples
Democratic Union (SEPDU – I think) did participate in the election,
challenged Woyyane, and exposed the hypocrisy that the regime was
trying to
hide behind. Lives were lost people were imprisoned, houses were burned
down, properties were destroyed in the process. Ato Lidetu asked if
those
brave sons and daughter from Southern Ethiopia could be seen as Woyyane
collaborators after paying all those sacrifices? ONC also took part in
the
election. Ato Lidetu asked if those were also collaborators with
Woyyane.
AAPO also took part in the election and scored some victory. Ato Lidetu
asked if AAPO could be branded collaborators. Taking part in the
election
process didn’t mean collaborating with TPLF but rather exposing
TPLF to the
rest of the world how undemocratic, corrupt and dictatorial to the
bone.
Ato Lidetu simply said those who try to paint EDP as a Woyyane tool
must be
Woyyanes, themselves.

After receiving some advices on how EDP should must go ahead with its
future
struggle, meeting that started at about 2:30 in the afternoon was
dispersed
at 7:30 in the evening, everyone happily chatting and discussing
without any
sign of fatigue, on their way home.

Back to
NewsPage