Article 1 Section 2 accepts the current Ethiopian constitution. It says: “Convene an inclusive conference to establish a workable arrangement on the basis of the frame work of the Ethiopian Constitution.”

I believe this is directly contradicting the Manifesto of Kinijit. I do not understand why the acceptance of the ethno-centric EPRDF constitution is added in the document.

The section calls for an all-inclusive conference but in reality is undermining inclusiveness. Those who oppose the current ethnic federalism and the right of Nationalities until cessation would automatically be excluded from the Alliance.

If the Alliance is truly an Ethiopian and inclusive alliance, this section needs to say something like: “An inclusive conference to establish a workable arrangement on the basis of mutual understanding and the long term interest of Ethiopia”

Secondly, let me take you to chapter 6, Article 3. It says that the governing council is the highest organ of the Alliance. From chapter 6, Article 4, the governing council shall consist of representatives of each member delegated by its organization from among its leadership. Each member organization shall be entitled to three representatives on the Governing Council, and each representative shall be entitled to one vote.

Since there are five parties, the Governing Council will have 15 members out of which only three are from Kinijit. On May 15, 2005, Kinijit won the Election. How come Kinijit will have the same delegates as OLF, ONLF or any other group? This is unacceptable. I don’t understand how in heaven a Kinijit delegate would sign such agreement. This document is technically ignoring the historic May 15th election.

I understand now why UEDF did not like this agreement. UEDF with 14 parties in it, each of them as strong as the other parties in the Alliance (except of course Kinijit), would have gotten only 3 delegates when they could have gotten 32 (14×3) delegates.

Let me take you to Chapter 11, Article 1. The Statutes may be amended. However, it can be amended by a two-third majority of the Governing Council. All of the members of the Alliance are based in Asmara except Kinijit. Therefore, these Asmara-based groups shall have a 4:1 majority in the Governing Council. Three of them are separatist and ethnic groups. Therefore those ethnic groups have a 3:1 majority. There is no way for Kinijit to play a big role in this arrangement. Wouldn’t this be an insult to the people who voted for Kinijit?

Our leaders may be in prison. That does not mean Kinijit has become any regular party. Kinijit is in the heart of the people. Kinijit is the choice of the people; therefore, any agreement should put that into consideration unequivocally.

Therefore, in my good Ethiopian conscience, and the stronger Love I have for Kinijit, I cannot and will not support this document as it is now. I challenge Kinijitites to come out from their closets and start asking hard and critical questions. Kinijit belongs to all of us, not to the few.

Let this Alliance correct its mistakes and come forth with true, Ethiopian document. In so doing I suggest the process involves the participation of the people and be transparent. The behind the scene deals and imposing the will of the few on the majority are politics of the past.

Remember the example set by Kinijit leaders in Kaliti. To make a decision about entering the EPRDF Parliament, they first consulted the people. They could have decided themselves; but they respected the people. They went to the People for the people were and have been their power.

Kinijit is not struggling to remove the TPLF regime but to establish a united and democratic Ethiopia where its citizen’s rights are respected regardless of their religion, gender and ethnic group.