I had sent you an article recently, admittedly not well-composed, to respond to the views of Neamin, as viewed by an informed person who is out here in Ethiopia living in the thick of political reality with our oppressed people. It was not designed to tear UEDF apart, but to make it stronger by advising the members to develop a modality that is realistic and workable; it was targetted at the members of UEDF in the Washington conference. Fortunately, United Ethiopia picked it up, and, believe me, all my concerns are for Ethiopia and Ethiopia alone, and a united opposition, and not to safeguard any group or individual interest since I am well beyond that in every sense.
Having said this, I still appreciate that you have the forum even though you may appear to be slightly biased. Please always remember that the blood and toil needed to liberate and democratize Ethiopia comes almost totally from those actively engaged within the country and not from people who talk and talk nicely in Paris, Wahington, D.C. or London. This is not to denigrate the value of talking, but to empahisize that talk is not as important as action which is what you find at home, and it is that perspective I have wanted to convey. Indeed, talk has not been fruitful over that last decade for lack of elite felxibility, honest national commitment and a realistic appreciation of the holistic home environment.
Of course, I realize that you are the ultimate judge of what is to be published and what is not, but, given your past practice, I have had this impression that you stand for balanced discussion of national issues and related matters. I would have been indifferent if any of my former articles had been rejected since they were simply thrown in for general discussion, but not targetted to a specfic audience as in this last case. I am not suggesting that you publish it now since it will now be almost useless to do that !
Despite this, I very much appreciate your effort to serve our bleeding and starving Motherland.
When more of such articles that unjustifiably hammer the opposition parties to pieces landed in our mailbox, Ethiomedia exercised caution. To persist on ironing out differences and bridging the gap between the various parties is one thing; to persist on driving a wedge between the opposition parties is quite another. We may have practiced this view at the cost of offending such valuable contributors like you. Our apologies for any incovenience we may have caused in our desire to see the triumph of a cause for the commongood of the Ethiopian people.
