Washington, DC (Ethiomedia) – Medrek, the eight-party Ethiopian opposition coalition, on Sunday April 18, 2010 drew the largest Diaspora audience ever since the arrest of prominent opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa.
Medrek leaders couldn’t have expected any better than what they witnessed in the nation’s capital. They addressed several questions, one of which is how, even if they win the election on May 23rd, would stop the ruling gang that stole the 2005 elections and used violence to silence and tormented the nation.
They were also asked the one and only question that has deprived Ethiopians of sleep over the last 19 years: What measures would Medrek take to restore Ethiopia’s sovereignty right over the Red Sea coast once the resented Zenawi regime is removed.
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is credited with turning Ethiopia into a landlocked nation, and it is nearly impossible to reverse Ethiopia’s landlocked status as long as he remains in power. Meles is an Eritrean by blood and conviction – and to keep the country under his control, critics say he even uses ‘food aid’ as a political weapon. Ethiopians are living under appalling conditions, and they would lend whatever it takes to empower the opposition.
Many observers pin their hopes of Ethiopian revival on this eight-party mammoth, whose de facto leader is Birtukan, a political prisoner behind bars but whose presence is being felt whereever there is an Ethiopian meeting around the globe.
