Ethiopian diaspora overflows with love for Kinijit

By Anteneh Assefa

March 1, 2006

Wagaye won the auction for $4000. A joyous Metti honored Wagaye with a chain of gold

The audience responds with a standing ovation

SEATTLE – Hands were up in the air to tug the price for an Encyclopedia Etiopica which was being auctioned off at one Sunday meeting in south Seattle.

It was the largest ever meeting which drew Ethiopians from Portland and Vancouver BC, and of course hundreds from Seattle.

The auction was started and oiled into full throttle by the witty Solomon Bekele, one of the touring Kinijit fund-raisers, along with Major Yosef Gizaw and artiste Tamagne Beyene.

At $2,800, there were voices that sounded like the sky was the limit, and would go to the end. And then Solomon sensed a slowing down of the auction machine when bidders eyed each other. “C’mon guys! What the heck is $200?” yelled Solomon, “Get it together, and let’s settle for three grand!” But again, the bidding flew past the $3,500 mark! Finally, at the staggering price of $4000, a young Ethiopian woman was declared a winner!

With hands in the air as a sign of victory, Wagaye Moges headed onto the podium with a jubilant mood, and the hall reverberated with thunderous applause. Right there, the 24-year-old Wagaye was followed by another Ethiopian lady, Ms. Metti, who was overwhelmed by the occasion, and wanted to honor Wagaye.

Metti threw a pretty, Ethiopian-made gold chain around the neck of Wagaye, giving the podium the look of an Olympic gold medalist being decorated for world-class performance. All the while, as photographers dashed to capture the sensational event, the stunned audience was accompanying the moment with a standing ovation.

Tracing the footsteps of earlier bidders, an 11-year-old boy also offere his $15-watch for auction. It was snatched for a whopping $500.00.

The meeting had its sober moment as well.

Renewed Commitment – The Seattle fund raising event was held on February 26th with great fanfare and the participants renewing their commitment and bowing to fight the brutal Woyane regime and its lackeys to the finish. Ethiopians from around Greater Seattle area and as far as Portland and Vancouver flocked to the Holly Park Community Auditorium to meet, discuss and listen to the leaders of CUDP North America Chapter. Shaleqa Yosef Yazew, the chairman of CUDP NA, Ato Solomon Bekele, member of CUDP NA, and artist Tamagne Beyene received continuous applause and a standing ovation when they arrived at the packed gathering. The chairman and Ato Solomon reiterated what has been accomplished so far in the struggle to combat the massive human rights violations and what needs to be done in the future. The chairman also said ‘CUDP NA is now stronger, organized and united more than ever to continue the struggle with more vigor and commitment until all the political prisoners are released.’ The crowed responded with a continuous applause and standing ovation. The meeting was said to have attracted the biggest Ethiopian crowd in Seattle’s CUDP chapter history. (Report by Seattle CUDP Support Group Chapter. The photo above was taken during a reception at Ibex Ethiopian Restaurant)

Organized by Artiste Tamagne Beyene, a TV footage showed the June and November 2005 killings of protesting civilians in Addis Ababa. Mothers wailing around hospitals, at funeral homes, and cemeteries left many of the Seattle attendees fighting back tears.

The people who voted for democracy were cut down short by the forces of tyranny. The people who saw a better future for Ethiopia were told bluntly that nothing good would come to that country, and they better flee the country to save their lives.

The elected leaders of Kinijit were the highly educated, peace-loving and law-abiding citizens the Ethiopian people had entrusted with the task of pulling the country from beneath the debris of social pestilence, backwardness, hunger and disease.

But that would not come at an easy price.

Ethiopians who believe the key to solving Ethiopian problems lies in the hands of Ethiopians and Ethiopians alone have intensified the struggle to support and promote the political program of Kinijit, the one and only party that stood up against an organized criminal group and said, “Enough is enough! Without firing a single bullet, we can bring about a regime change for the common good.”

Mr. Meles may count on his gunmen to crush the struggle of the Ethiopian people for peace, democracy and justice. He may lock up Kinijit leaders, journalists, lawyers and human rights activists. He may go on spreading terror throughout the country with the hope to killing off the people’s devotion to Kinijit. However, the spirit of Kinijit has already engulfed Ethiopian communities around the globe, and if there is one truth, Mr. Tyrant is fighting a lost war.