In a letter he wrote to Seyoum Mesfin on December 9, 2005 (Hidar 30, 1998), Fisseha reported that the protesters were supporters of CUD’s “street violence.” According to him, what made the November vigil different from the others was that some of the participants were building homes and investing in Ethiopia as well as staff members of the Ethiopian embassy in Washington. Fisseha mentioned Ato Fassika Belete, Ato Mesfin Teferra and Ato Mersha Yoseph by name as regular attendees of protest rallies and vigils.

The ‘Minister’ also reported that the protesters condemned “our Prime Minister and other senior government officials”. He listed down a number of slogans chanted by the protesters including: “Meles is a terrorist, Meles is Ethiopian Bin Laden, Meles Zenawi is a murderous dictator, Meles got to go, Stop the massacre….”

Fisseha noted that it was difficult to get the full names of all the participants at the vigil. The most ludicrous part of the letter says: “We have already started work to have photo prints from the video we have recorded.” However, he said that 20,000 USD was needed to have the job done and demanded that the cash to be sent through ‘colleagues’ who were coming to Washington.

The amazing letter, which was sent with two video cassets, one tape and a four-page list of names, went on to state that administrative measures were taken against some members of the embassy staff who participated in vigils and rallies. Fisseha also said that the matter was going “out of control” and demanded the ministry to give directions for a tougher measure against embassy staff members who were out of line.

The letter is one of the many documents leaked to the media recently that reveal how Ethiopian embassies are uselessly misused by the ruling party to spy on and undermine Ethiopian citizens who are opposed to tyranny.

“I have been amazed to learn that our embassies are wasting their time, energy and the poor taxpayers money writing garbage in the name of reports,” said Mesfin Birhanu.

The exiled lawyer underlined that it was illegal, corrupt and useless to spy on members of the opposition, be it in exile or at home. “The TPLF seems to have lost directions. They think that there are two main categories of citizens. Those who are TPLF members and supporters are the chosen ones committed to peace, development and democracy. Those who are opposed to tyranny are, in the little minds of the TPLF leaders, anti-peace, anti-development and anti-democracy.”

He said the ruling party needs to start facing the truth. “The Meles regime must start facing the reality. The conflict in Ethiopia is between those minorities who want to kill, maim, jail, rob and oppress with impunity and the majority that say enough is enough.”

Mesfin said that it was outrageous to demand 20,000 dollars on useless list of names and photos. “I heard that, some 200 Ethiopians took part in that particular vigil. It means it cost the Ethiopia taxpayer, $100 per a name and photo of an innocent citizen who has every right to protest against injustice. That is outrageous and corrupt. The money should have been spent on feeding the hungry.”