On Friday 18th May 2012, I voiced the anger, frustration and aspiration of the Ethiopian people in front of world leaders at the G8 food security symposium in Washington DC. “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!,” was the clarion call that I spoke to power. I condemned Meles Zenawi and his dictatorship in front of his pay masters and sponsors.
Ethiopia deserves better than a deceitful tyrant, who is brutally exploiting, abusing, jailing, torturing and killing our brothers and sisters in every corner of Ethiopia. We need freedom. That has been made clear to the whole world.
Following that eventful day, my fellow Ethiopians from around the world have been expressing their feelings. I have been overwhelmed with the response; praises and poems. Some are calling me a hero, others say I deserve honor. While I appreciate all the outpour of support, this is not about me. It is not about my heroism but the truth that must be told with utmost clarity. It is about our country, every ordinary Ethiopian and the freedom and dignity we deserve. The time has come to claim our God-given rights that nobody can take away, grant or deny.
Let us focus on the ultimate prize. We have to finish the job and declare our freedom. Then we can also proudly sing together as Ethiopians, equal as citizens, “Free at last, free at last…Thank God Almight we are free at last.”
I will say and write more about this and the next steps.
