Ato Lidetu Ayalew is one of those very able and relatively far-sighted opposition leaders in Ethiopia. He is a democratically elected opposition parliamentarian who defeated Minster of Education W/ro Genet Zewde in the election with a landslide. He is also one of the top and very popular CUD officials, the General Secretary of the United Ethiopian Democratic Party & a Spokesperson for Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD). He has passed through a serious of hardships due to his political outlook for the last 10 years and recently EPRDF’s brutal security henchmen illegally surrounded him in his office, thereafter at his residence & put him under house arrest for nearly 40 hours without food.

Furthermore, his Ethiopian passport was taken away from him too, so that he wold not be able to address the Ethiopian community and raise funds for the democratic and peaceful struggle that was recently scheduled in London, England for 12 June 2005, other European and North American cities as well.

In general, he has proved himself as a seasoned politician and has become a nightmare to TPLF leaders, particularly to Ato Meles Zenawi.

However, the question is why resigning now as CUD Spokesperson? Whatever a persuasive argument is advanced for his resignation, it is not at all timely. Ato Lidetu, you could be a chairperson of CUD let alone its spokesperson while having a different position than that of the majority of council members. Your resignation at this crucial moment is a failure. The Ethiopian people would like to see CUD as a strong opposition party and responsibility for anything should rest in all of the council members’ shoulders as one. Many considered CUD for Ethiopia as a guardian angel.

I don’t have to tell you that the struggle for creating a democratic society in Ethiopia bound to be a painful, if not impossible, transition, and it could come at the cost of your patience and perseverance.

Ato Lidetu, it was you who had openly unmasked the true face of the current regime, introduced the beauty and humour of political debate for the public, the first to fight the current regime almost alone, have continuously tried to alert Ethiopians that the current Ethiopian regime’s policies and practices are potentially dangerous to the unity and democracy in the country. You always based your argument on figures and facts, not on fictions and heresies. That is why your name is permanently printed in the minds of TPLF leaders and cadres as scary and nightmare. Ato Meles and his henchmen prefer four thousands opposition leaders than one Lidetu. This is the fact every Ethiopians long understood and proud to have you. My heartiest congratulations!

No one can effectively represent your party as its spokesperson as you did. We need your words, we need your leadership, and we need your active presence. Don’t step back, never and ever! No turning back! We all know you could convince all the 15 council members of the CUD sooner or later while still retaining your position as your party’s spokesperson. Please Ato Lidetu. We Ethiopians clearly understand your position and know that the TPLF/EPRDF government starts its deadly game,

• First by blocking peoples’ constitutional right for demonstration,;
• Then by executing more than 40 unarmed civilians in day light;
• Then shooting a promising young parliamentary-elected UEDF member (Arsi Negele);
• Untimely and unethical transfer of Oromia’s capital back to Addis;
• Putting thousands of people in jail because of their political outlook;
• And finally irresponsible changing of accountability of key bureaus of the Addis Ababa City Administration to the Federal Government.

We all know that the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has continuously proved itself as EPRDF affiliate. Recently, it decided that those critical election results that show the defeat of top EPRDF henchmen such as Ato Bereket in Bugna and Ato Junedin in Iteya is worth investigation. What a shameful decision! Even EPRDF representatives in both cases had confirmed their defeat with their signatures.

The Federal Judiciary has also proved itself of EPRDF affiliate. The recent two cases against Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ban on demonstration and against NEBE’s provisional election results showed the Judiciary’s tragedy. We aren’t ignorant of the fact that it is for this kind of critical time that lawyers like Ato Kemal Bedri and Ato Menbertsehay were first handpicked by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

But still we insist your active participation as CUD spokesperson. The majority of Ethiopians are behind you now and tomorrow. Don’t fail us! God bless you!