Legesse Zenawi (aka Meles) must have felt the sense of greatness in the name of Ethiopia and
rubbed shoulders with great leaders of the world when he was appointed to co-chair climate finance
group in London on 31 March 2010 by Ban Ki-Moon, the misguided chief of the United Nations.
However, he must have also sensed what will be cooking up for him at Downing Street as he
knows well what London Ethiopians are capable of doing from his past experience.
Thank God the
tyrant had no power to unleash his Agaazi murderers into the streets of London to round them all up and
lock them up in Qaliti and throw the key. These are true patriotic Ethiopians! To his nightmare, they
are living in a democratic country! After denying their sister and leader, Judge Birtukan Mideksa, the
right to see a medical doctor, he must be out of his mind to come here to rub shoulders with leaders
of democratic nations. After admitting jamming VOA Amharic Service programme to prevent
Ethiopians from tuning in to an independent source of information, it is ironic that he comes here with a
straight face, representing Africa. It is absolutely ridiculous that a killer who enjoys spilling the blood of innocent people has to be nominated by Ban Ki Moon as co-chair of the Climate Finance Group. These
and others were the issues that brought out angry and noisy Ethiopians to protest at Downing
street, residence of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Ethiopians came as far as from Leeds. There were also Ethiopians from other
countries who were in London for a visit but joined their brothers and sisters at Downing Street. To begin with, few
people who have stayed away from the struggle for the last few years due to
minor personal grudges against each
other shelved their grievances and came
out on this day for a common cause. The
organisers are so delighted to see them
welcome back the sisters and brothers.
That is one nightmare Meles wouldn’t want to know. If only Ethiopians could leave their squabbles
aside and come together like this, talk to each other, Meles could not have had any chance to rule
over Ethiopia this long. Ethiopians could have removed the tyrant a long time ago. Meles started his
diabolic mischief by dividing Ethiopians along every possible avenue, most notably along ethnic and blood lines.
Now that cared is almost burned out.
Brother and sisters are coming together
again. The other interesting event of the day was some supporters of OLF who have never been on
such demonstrations came out for the first time to confront the tyrant together with their brothers
and sisters on the mainstream. There is a progress. The organisers encourage that trend to continue.
The other most striking event is the joining of our brothers and sisters from the neighbouring
country of Somalia. The Somalis opposed to their current regime came and joined Ethiopians in
condemning the butcher of Horn of Africa. That was unthinkable some years back. The presence of
the Somalis was another progress. They all joined forces and rocked the Downing Street with their
slogans: “Down! Down Meles!” They demand freedom and democracy in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopians had permission to demonstrate in front of the Prime Minister’s residence, Downing
Street from 10:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. but the London Metropolitan Police that well knew the plight
of Ethiopians from a number of past demonstrations turned blind eyes and let the protest continue
up to 5:30 p.m. – one-hour and thirty minutes after the designated time was over. Another most
touching thing was the rank and file police officers were taking opportunity to talk to the
demonstrators in a very friendly way and finding out what was going on in Ethiopia, whenever the
commanding officers were not around. That was why they turned blind eyes after the time was over.
Meles came to 10 Downing Street to the booming sound of protestors at 2:30 p.m. He was quickly
whisked by his smart looking dump chauffeur. The speed at which the gates were opened and he
was driven in was hard to believe. It was as if he was pursued by an Angel of Death. There
was too much commotion. Armed Police force sprang everywhere. The Police were on alert. Yes,
Ethiopians must have sent a cold sweat down the spine of the coward. Ethiopians continued their
noisy protest for the next 30 minutes.
Thirty minutes later, four delegates from the ranks of the protesters were allowed to go inside Downing Street to hand in their
protest letter. The security was very tight, but knowing Ethiopians were so disciplined, once they
passed the security checks, no one followed them to their short walk to House No. 10. There were
two guards on the door. The guards suggested the delegates take their own pictures in front of
No.10. They did. One of the delegates, Zelealem Tesemma, knocked at the door of the Prime
Minister using the wring for the purpose. The door swung open. Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s
aide came out with broad smile, greeted the delegates, received the letter and promised that he
would deliver it to the Prime Minister. He was also happy to take a picture taken with delegates.
To the surprise and amazement of the delegates who were sent in, there were three Woyyane
journalists and Meles’s driver inside the compound of Downing Street. Astute Zelalem was the first
to spot them. Initially, the delegates were not sure they were Ethiopians. As they drew closer, they
heard them chatting away in Amharic. Once they realised the delegates were heading for No 10
were Ethiopians, they went into schtum – silence. Their video cameraman started videotaping the
delegates as they went straight ahead. Once the delegates handed over their protest letter to be
passed over to the Prime Minister and received assurance from his aide, the delegates turned their
photo camera on the Woyyane newsmen. To the delegates’amazement, the three Woyyane
newsmen covered their faces and turned their back on the delegates and faced the wall. Two men
and one female coiled with fear and shame and could not face the delegates’ camera. The driver,
who was sitting in the car, buried his face. The delegates waited and waited just in case they would
brave the camera but in vain. Poor souls! One of the demonstrators who had snapped the picture of
Meles Zenawi exactly a year ago at G-20 Conference had already snapped the pictures of
unsuspecting four servants of Woyyane earlier before they knew it.
After they finished their mission, the delegates returned to the waiting London based Ethiopian presses,
at the gate. The delegates explained the content of the letter submitted at 10 Downing Street and the general spirit
of the demonstration. Even the Burmese junta did not commit such cruelty against Aung San Suu Kyi as compared to what
tyrant Meles Zenawi is doing to Judge Birtukan Mideksa. The delegates explained that the letter that was submitted
was explaining to Gordown Brown to stop appeasing the Ethiopian dictator, and to use his office to secure the
freedom of Ms Birtukan Mideksa as her health has deteriorated to a critical condition. He was also
urged to secure the release of all political prisoners in Ethiopia, such as Abera Yemane Ab, Tsegaye
Gebremedhin, Sitotaw Hussien, Aberash Berta and many others.
Meles is not just a dictator, but also the face of tyranny. In a country where there is
repression, fair election is unthinkable. His tyrannical action has been confirmed by the
incarceration of Judge Birtukan Mideksa and holding her in subhuman condition.
Meles is punishing three generations. Hale, the daughter of Birtukan, is five years old.
She needs her mother, but her mother is in jail. Weizero Almaz Gebreigzihabher, the
mother of Birtukan is now too old; she needs help herself, let alone to look for her five-year-old grand daughter Hale.
She needs the help of Birtukan but Birtukan is in jail.
This is a crime that everyone should fight
against. The demonstrators were saying Birtukan Mideksa was a symbol of glory of their past history,
a symbol of their current struggle for freedom and a symbol of their future hope. Therefore, until
every political prisoner is released, until they would see the back of tyranny from their country,
Ethiopians vowed in one voice never ever to give up on their struggle for freedom, equality,
democracy and justice.
There were many dignitaries inside 10 Downing Street. However, only Ethiopians were protesting in
the vicinity. The visit of the delegates from the developing countries was a highly guarded secret.
However, Ethiopians dug out the venue although they were not sure of the time. Woyyane
representatives in London were very worried when they learned the length of time the
demonstrators were going to stay. They stayed as long as it took. The noisy demonstration attracted
the attention of both locals residents as well as international tourists. Everyone approached the
demonstrators to find out what was going on. Ethiopians grabbed the chance and explained. There
were many people who were taking pictures. Some of them were professional photographers from news
agencies. Others were simply onlookers. Everyone stayed to the end to see what was going on.
Here is a story what this writer encountered. There was a family who just stood next to the
demonstrators. A boy of 10-12 asked his dad: “Dad! Why are they shouting at Prime Minister
Gordon Brown so bitterly? What has he done to these people?” The knowledge of the father was
stunning. The mother and a daughter gathered around the dad. He started talking.
“My heart goes out to Ethiopians. Terrible things are happening there. After getting rid of
a military dictator the people ended up in the hands of separatist group called the TPLF.
TPLF’s leader is led by ‘Meles Zenawi’. He is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He is a very
bad person. Ethiopians have been fighting to get rid of this tyrant over the last 18 years.
They are unable to get rid of him because of various reasons. Getting rid of him by election
is unthinkable. When his party lost election in 2005, he killed many people. He locked up
all opposition leaders that won parliamentary seats. Now, there is this charismatic young
lady. Her name is Birtukan. She is a threat to his power. He locked her up. On the other
hand, the dictator is the favourite man of Gordon Brown. These guys are now saying to
Gordon Brown how dare he sits with such a tyrant! They are shaming him for siding with a
dictator rather than the people. He is going to come out. Let us go closer and take a good
look at him when he comes out.”
With that the family crossed the road and stood by the gate of Downing Street.
It was already 5:15 PM, which means 1:25 hours after the demonstrators
should have been dispersed. They defied the call of the Police to do so and stood their protesting.
The Police just left the demonstrators to continue. There was commotion again. Three motor bikes arrived at the scene, and remained in the middle of the road. Armed military police took up key
positions. The police tried to contend the crowd. The crowed went mad. Five minutes later, one head of the
delegates came out. Ethiopians sent out deafening screams of protest. It
was not Meles. One motor and the car disappeared. Ethiopians went on protesting, blowing horns
and whistles and shouting “Shame on you, Gordon Brown, for wining and dining with blood tainted
dictator.” Another five minutes went by. A second delegate came out. The second motor cycle led the
way. Ethiopians ran after him. It was not Meles. Another five minutes went by. The inevitable
started happening. First the three newsmen of Meles boarded a black van. That is it! Meles’s car
followed, driven by the poor unlucky but well dressed up chauffeur. The deafening sound of
Ethiopians, the whistles and the horns made a hell a preferable place than the Downing Street. The
husband and the wife of the family that crossed the road took a good look at the tyrant while he was
driven by. Some managed to escape the police and started chasing after him. A third motor bike led
the way. The coward disappeared. We will catch up with him one day. That is a promise.
— The writer, Wondimu Mekonnen, is a human rights activist living in London. He can be reached at [email protected]
