The coming together of opposition parties means the end of the Woyanne era

Ethiopian Review
May 20, 2006

A historical conference is underway in Holland since yesterday between Kinijit, UEDF, OLF, EPPF, ONLF, and SLF. If participants of this conference agree to work together, it would mark the end of the Meles tyranny that has been tormenting our people for the past 15 years.

Currently, the Meles regime is left with no base of power. The people of Ethiopia have rejected it completely. The international community is turning its back on him. Its revenue sources are drying up fast. Its officials and ambassadors are defecting left and right. It is a regime that is as good as dead. The only reason Meles and gang are still in power is because the opposition has been unable to come together and push it aside. The division of the opposition parties has been the biggest asset of the Meles regime all along.

Ethiopians inside the country and around the world are awaiting for the result of this conference with much eagerness. It is a conference that could drastically change the political landscape of Ethiopia. The Meles regime, on the hand, is waging an all out effort to make sure that the conference is derailed. Those of us who wish to see the removal of the fascist dictatorship that is murdering and torturing our people have a responsibility to rally in support of the conference and urge all the participating parties to narrow their differences and come out united. The failure of the conference means victory for the Meles regime. The success of the conference creates a life time opportunity for Ethiopia to be on the road to recovery, democracy, justice equality, peace, and prosperity.

I think you have analysed everything correctly. My fear is that woyane would do everything to make sure that no common agenda comes out of this meeting. Ofcourse this first-time face to face all-round meeting by itself is a victory to all people in ethiopia. One way or the other some of this groups do have aready forged some sorts of collabration (ONLF, OLF, EPPF). The emergence of new collaboration by including CUDP and UEDF would be a plus.

The Ethiopian people have been robbed of their pride and human dignity by brutal ethno-fascists who have unleashed the most vile form of attack on the population without discrimination.

Let's salvage the dignity of our people and deliver them from the evils of fascism.

We have the capacity to do it and our organisational and personal interests are negligible compared to what the people have to go through year after year in a cycle of repression, murder, rape and famine.

Years of division among the opposition camp either inadvertently or through woyane's trickery, has not helped the Ethiopian people or the organisations we represent to achieve anything. That is how things will remain for the future if we do not change our attitude very soon and join hands together to solve our common problems.

The lack of a unified struggle has made us ineffecticve and prolonged the agony of our people who are looking for leadership and help in their fight.

We have been the laughing stock of the fascist ethnic junta for years as ineffective and weak zealots who are good for nothing, who only fight among themselves and ones who can easily be fooled to do their biddings. That is how the ethno-fascists and their sponsors still see the opposition. We have to change that image.

The Ethiopian people have been let down badly in the past, but now their hopes are raised again and expect better things, better vision from the opposition.

Lets move with public opinion, lets listen to what the Ethiopian people are telling us. They are behind us , we only have to show in acttion that we are with them.

It is high time we support the struggle for democracy and freedom, to be free from the tyrant regime at Addis Ababa. Ethiopians, as history witnesses, should come together and support the effort of all our oppositions forces, that they come up and stand for unity against Meles's dictatorship.

We must unite and standoff against dictatorship and West's hypocracy!!!

Ethiopia and true democracy shall win!!!

May God bless those children of Ethiopia who are willing to sacrifice their lives and material possessions to liberate their people from the fascist Woyannes.Everybody who wishes good to Ethiopian must support this undertaking financially and morally since talk alone brings no result.

Dear the Publisher, yor premises are true but your conclusion, "it would be a life time victory for woyane" is wrong. Therfore your argument is unsound. Their cooperation defenitly fast the downfall of the fascist regime, but the failure of cooperation (amongest the opposition) in this confrence is not the lifetime victory of the woyane. Woyane will go sooner than later.

NO UNITY, NO VICTORY. IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

this is the breaking news for all Ethiopian who are denied for development, peace and democracy. it is the right time take such unified action to getride of the raceist melese zenawi. the parties have to do their level best to narrow thier differences and work on their common enemies. please let them know that the whole ethiopian people is ready to join them.

That is good news.

EliasK keep up good job

Tainaman and anti-holigans,
You are not supposed to be writing here.This forum is for human beings, and not for bush monkeys and boot lickers. I know that you are annoyed b/c you now beginning to realize that woyane is indeed heading to the grave, and you too. Lemayet yabkash kimallam hullu.

this is the dream of all ethiopians.we hope that once we all become together and throw out those burden.

I have witnessed in the past that the so called party leaders failing to stand together to remove repressive governments to please their mothers who cry day and night for their beloved ones are being massacred or about to be massacred at the doorsteps of their homes since the early days of the Derg. They have always been the cause for the continuing prevalence of dictatorship in the country. I hope they will realize this now to come to gether to solve the problems of all the mothers in Ethiopia. God bless those who bring their country and their mothers before their personal interests.

This is the good and bad news. It is good news for all Ethiopian who are denied for development, peace and democracy, and it will be bad for those who are sucking the national resources. It is the right time takes such unified action to get ride of the raciest melese zenawi. The parties have to do their level best to narrow their differences and work on their common enemies. Please let them know that the whole Ethiopian people is ready to join them.

We have been crying for United Front and now it seems we are on the right direction to achieve it. United we Stand.

I am not sure whether to praise or condemn the effort by these organizations to come together. That Wayyaanee must be defeated is a necessary condition for democracy to preveil in that empire and for nations and nationalities to determine their fates. One of the ways to do just that is for the opposition to come together in pursuit of that end; i.e: defeating Wayane. In that sense, it is a no brainer to praise the coming together. Howevere, defeating wayanee does not necessarily bering democracy. "What more is needed?" you ask. What is needed is a clear idea of what the opposition parties plan to do after victory. Will they be fighting amongst themselves after Wayane is gone over in what direction to lead the empire, or do they have a common plan for after victory? A common future plan requires that the CUD accept the rights of nations to self-determination upto independence. It is also required that OLF, ONLF and SLF let their respective peoples to decide their fates as opposed to imposing the wills of the organizations. Short of this kind of compromise, this coming together may help in deposing Wayane but will not bear fruit: democracy for Ethiopians and self-determination for other peoples in that empire.

The fact that TPLF dogs are crying at the possibility of unity among the opposition is a good sign, because they are scared out of their Sh...t! If they do not want to Sh..t on themselves out of fear, then they should go to the TPLF website and post their cries.

Go Ethiopia, and down TPLF and its kinds!

"United We Stand - Divided We Fall" Laurete Tsegaye G/Medhin

If the opposition parties come together, that is great. However, a political party such as OLF has to change a lot in that regard. It has to drop its quest of self-determination up to secession. I don't think the OLF leaders understand the chaos that they would create, if they got their way. We will be watching!

A call to all organizations fighting against the Fascist Meles Regime:

Don't lose this historic opportunity to rid Ethiopia of this murderous tyrant. Be united now on a minimum programme and fight together. Your differences can be reconciled later through a democratic dialogue. First things first. Get rid of Meles and his thugs. Ethiopians will never forgive you if you miss this opportunity and you will have no one but yourselves to blame!!!
Aberra

Both parties benefit from the unity, commonsalism.
Each party can hurvest the ever maximum yield if they united. If they disagree , no need for weyane to deploy additional force. Those parties fight each other and the resultant force that can attack weyanne approachs to zero.

This is a great steep forward to freedom for all Ethiopians in the South, North, East and west. It true that there is only one truth, that is Ethiopians are desprately need to be free from Woyane's haterad politics, ruthless oppression, killings and imprisonment. Freedom lovers who stand for the Truth,should work togather. Opposition parties have no more time to wast Wrangling each other while the whole peoples of Ethiopia are tormented by the evil sprit of Woyane.

This is great news - when we are united we will win against tyranny and beyond - against povert, disease, misery by working together as Ethiopians.

Gurraacho Silgaa - talkes about a future ... 'A common future plan requires that the CUD accept the rights of nations to self-determination upto independence'. here you go again. We have already done this experiment at the expense of the misery of our people - as much as Isayaas does not care for Eritreans freedom (remember the the truggle for freedom from colonialism - now Eritreans would all come to ethiopia if Isaayas lets them), and Zenawi for Tigrayans, there is no reason why any other ethnic representative cares about his subjects.If they are so genuine, they would care for all other ethnic Ethiopians oppressed by tyrants. you want thatIf youwant that in your constitution, you have TPLF for you why bother.

I want you Gurraacho to be concerned about all Ethiopians who have suffered through all these tyrants as much as all other Ethiopians should be concerned about Oromos. It is only then that we as a people will get out of our misery and no local ethnic chieftain will be in charge of my right based upon which group I belong to, rather I want a leader that respects my individual right as Oromo, Tigre, Amhara, etc. whether I want to use my language, stay within my 'kilil', move freely to other regions looking for better opportunity. because all of Ethiopia belongs to all of us. Were those ethnic discriminations real, yes of course. were the Amharas better off economically when Haile Selasie was in power? Of course not. Even to this day, go to Gojjam, gondar, Showa, and you will see they live miserable life like any other ethnic group. Go to Eritrea and tigray and see how the peasants live under their ethnic leadership, they are no different than the rest of us. Yes indeed, the cadres are doing just fine - those are the ones we want to get rid off.

You see, it is easier to get rid of Meles by Ethiopians than Isayaas by Eritreans because we are not enslaved to the ethnic politics of meles as most of us are products of multiethnic heritage. I am convinced that any ethnic based right leads to the same oppression as the tyrants will be the protectors of the ethnic right as they see it rather than individuals of their own right.

This has been said many times, while Europeans are coming together after 2 world wars among themseleves to better the opportunity for their people in global economy, we are going backward to tribal kingdoms.

In fact the Oromos being the most populous, have a better chance than any ethnic group in a united ethiopia to advance freedom for all - think about it. If you continue to care about your ethnic group only, then the suspecion by others as we have seen how it goes when people advocate for one ethnic group.

TO ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES
Please your agreement will help us. work for the people of ethiopia. Not for individual interests.
You may have different agenda, which will be retified after the downfall of EPRDF through democratical movement in the Country. where you will present your plans and programs, the people will decide - not individual parties.

Sorry Guys,

It happened again for a moment. I went back to my little box where darkness, extreme and dillusional hate, narrowness, and above all confusion and despair are the mere friends. I prayed for peace and love. And now the almighty set me free; may be only for a moment again. I may sleep back to my darkness again, please fellas bare with me. For HE said, they don't know what they are doing or why for that matter when they are in that dark box.

And in the meantime I praying for equality of all makind. And the light that can shine upon them if they go hand in hand with trust and love. And forgive eachother for the minor mishaps be it pat, present, and future. After all HE said, 'to air is hunane, to forgive is divine'. Please bare with me again.

I hope this is true and it will bear fruit. To me the most important thing is not the perfection of their unity or the soundness of the programme they might produce to guide their struggle. It is rather the trust in dialogue and the commitment to use only peaceful means for the struggle. If these two aspects are present the Ethiopian people can hope for the best. If they are not, the lessons from the history of the Derg and the EPRDF indicate the struggle will not be worth the price.

Meles and his cadres are in power not because they are stronger but because we are weaker. The fact OLF and few ethnic groups are talking with the other other prominent parties ...it is a progress by itself.

However one need to know that this meeting is called for by OLF under the tacit approval of Issayas. Kinijit declined to participate in the CHicago Forum when it is called by Ethiopians living there. Now it accepted an invitation of OLF.

Could the pressure of the people because of CHicago Forum caused the heart of change of North America Kinijit ..????

You are using some quotes from Bible and you are pretending to be Thomas H from radio....So if you understand what is written in the bible then the first word is Don`t lie,Don`t pretend and be yourself.I wil tell you the story of one priest who is the supporter of CUD.When he applied for asylum,he lied many things in his applications and I asked him whether it is ethical for him to lie intentially.As a priest he shouldn`t do that but he said there is no ethics in CUD camps.For him as long as he gets benefit he will do anything.So it is an open secrete that all CUD supporters are liers and thieves.What surprised me of all is that you are praying for all humankinds to be equal?Are you serious?You want EPRDF supporters to be treated equally like CUD supporters?This should be "JOKE OF THE YEAR".In my view the Ethiopian Government should give a land to all CUD supporters and you can create your own republic RMDP(The Republic of Mentally Disabled People).I promise that I will be the first one to come and visit you as a tourist.

Can somebody explain to me how the coming together of Kinijit, UEDF, OLF, EPPF, ONLF, and SLF can be acheived? Is there any press release by any of these parties to confirm the news or it is another tactic by the TPLF regime to implicate CUD with other armed wings?

What kind of work they want to do? Is it co-ordinating struggle such as demonstration or creating a coalition? How could CUD will be able to arm itself? Or is it another creative idea by EPRP to once again expose the Ethiopian youth to massacre? It is a kind of vague and confusing.

How would Kinijit & EPPF work together or create a coalition?

How would OLF an armed wing with a presence in Ethiopia can work together with the UEDF north america branch?

I am sure, the Kinijit leadership in North America and Eurpoe can confirm the facts of the meeting. But, even if there is a small ray of light, a mere initial talk among the various opposition group, it will be a milestone for the democratic movement. This is about the defeat of ethnic politics in Ethiopia. It has massive psychological value. The trend is reversing. Ethiopia was not built in one day. Every little act of unity, every little act of rejection of tribalism is one step foreward for united Ethiopia. This is about the unity our nation. Any political organization must prove to the people that it is capable of uniting with others to convince us that it can unify the nation. This is how every organization is tested. It is that simple.

No Unity, No Victory!
Unity, Victory !

It that simple.

it is good to hear such kind of starting. however we should be calm and wait to see the outcome. our problem is that we finished before we started. it is the beginning of the meeting and we don't have to predict the result. need and fact are always different for us. the first thing we should focus on the main thing we want. what is our need? we shoud outline the main thing we want and we should put the issues that attribute to our main goal. we always had a problem in the attributes than the main goal. if the attributes are contradicting to our main goal egnore them. now our responsiblty is to support the political organizations to come close to each other. if we are sucessful on these we will do the next step.

kechinu:

What is the worst case that could come from this meeting? A status quo, which is they may disagree on all issues. But that itself is a step foreward because then we would know what the differences are among the organizations.

But this is a decisive strategic step one can not avoid, that is only through a united opposition will we be able to remove or replace Meles and be able to govern a stable Ethiopia.

There is going to come time when people begin to realize that there is a difference of heaven and earth between 'my organization' and our Ethiopia.

Good start. This is a big step forward for Ethiopian people. If the whole oppositions can work together, it means they have developed a democratic culture. This is good because they will start to address the public issue instead of focusing only on grabbing power. This will assure the Ethiopian people that power will not go back to Derg or other power greedy groups. Hope the meeting will have a good outcome. Lets keep our finger crossed.

Dear Arat Kilo,

Your question might be reasonable. But it is possible. UNITE for victory. YES IT IS POSSIBLE. I HOPE KINJIT WILL PUBLISH PR ON THIS ONE.

I have a different view from you guys. Look, just reaching to an agreement among opposition leaders does not mean and might not be conducive to working cooperatively with each other. Everything dependence how they are going to present the agreements reached and mainly also on their convincing power towards the general public – their supporters.

Tamralech Akalework
Gavdos, 21 May 2006

NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE
Nonviolent resistance is based on this second model of power. If our consent is necessary for us to be ruled, than we challenge the power structure directly by withdrawing our consent, in every possible form. better yet, we can instead use our power to build alternative structures to those we disagree with.
How many ways can you consent from an oppressor? Ask sharp. and he'll provide you just short of tow hundred.
Strikes are a form of nonviolent resistance based on withdrawing your labor, Boycotts are a withdrawal of economic support. One aim and one destine.

To Arat Kilo:

May be this is a trend only on this Forum because I did not check other sites. Some Kinijit supporters do not like things that is not done by themselves and I sense negativity. That is the exact opposite of playing a leading role. That is my observation.

It is a good start I believe,but the out come will be positive if and only if CDU is accepted as a leader
of this historic time.

My simple reason is becouse CDU is the only organizaton who has got the mandate from ethiopian people by the last election and hence can be trusted .

Mind you, what I am saying is CDU must lead the struggle to over throw Weyane. I dont mean it should lead the country after that. who will lead the country after that should be decided by the people i.e by election.

If anyone who believes or has different political program, and believes is a democrat must accept this and fight under this condition first, and then work later to win the heart of the people and get their vote inorder to lead the country.

At this time smart political organization shouldnt be worried about who leads the struggle to win Weyane, rather how should a democratic system will be built or the situation could not be kidnapped again after victory.We must learn from history and stop creating Girigir now.

Honestly thinking the real fight among democrates,who has no hidden agendas, starts after the over throw of the tyrant regime other wise its nonesense or "Grigir Le Leba Yimechal"

That time "Yeleyal Gudu"

Ye Ethiopiawinet wegu ana maaregu yihe new. Histprically, what we know is, no matter what the differnces they have among theselves, they always stood together to fight their enemies. Ye ethiopia lijoch,
get up , stand up togethter to fight your enemies.
Andinet hyle new.

ER' report is good. But it gives high expectations and wrong conclusions. If indeed Kinjit is part of this discussion,it shows its democratic nature as a party elected by the majority of the Ethiopian people.
However,ER' statement" The failure of the conference means victory for the Meles regime."is a wrong coclusion. Knowing the cession element of OLF it is unrealistic to give that kind of impression. If all parties will come out united on one united Ethiopia, it would be great. However, I don't think if OLF shares that vision. Therefore, wether they agree or not, the downfall of EPRDF is imminent. While there unity will bring the victory faster,we should not make it the ultimate factor for victory.

Let all of us push for unity. Unity is the only power behind each organization. Every organization,be it small or big should come under one umbrella to be heard loud and remove the tyrants for good. Let us remeber: "UNITED WE STAND,DIVIDED WE FALL" We have to listen to the people. The people want us to unite and end their misery.The people are to lead the organiztions and not the organiztions to decide for the people.Let us hope the outcome of this conference will be a stronger united front.Then we get the jailed politicians free,get our united country,bring the tyrants to court.

It a eureka! for opersed abused mass of ethiopian all over the corner's of ethiopia. It is a sohke to wayne and it's afflite org. From our father and African stragle one thing alwys true is that we havet to stand together to leaft the sacke of operesion and hold fredom. Once we getride of wayne,for sure we ethiopians can live peace fully with basic human right fredom spech and right of all ethincity respcted ethiopia will move on the right direcation I will not for second doubut we ethiopians can achive what good given free dome. good blse those who lost thier live on the stragle aginst wayne at election time and ever where aginst wayne! Good Bless Ethiopia!!!

This is an important news item which most cyber media outlets could consider a headline news item. Ethiopian people single worst enemy is "woyane" and all popular struggle must be directed against this fascist group. The removal of this gang of butchers is a victory to all Ethiopians which by itself guarantees democracy and unity. The age old problems of the people such us disease and poverty will definitely be uprooted once the people are united and democracy reigns. Obviously, our country's human and natural resourse potential is immense and effective utilization requires democratic rule.

Opposition parties do not have to be as such "united". What is required of them is to set aside "differences" for now and work together with a common objective of targeting their joint struggle against common enemy - the woyane gang. Once the enemy is gone, let them present their policies and programmes to the people.It is upto the ballot and not the bullet to decide on which ever is better

Arat Kilo I am hesitant like you about this story.Way any of the parties didn't say some thing about it on thier web sites.Mr.Elias could you veriefy your source?.Is it the work of woyane to implicate kinijit with armed insurgency?

God bless Ethiopia

I am very skeptical the alliance of opposition groups like olf ,and others the so-called Libreation fronts because their main agenda is to break away from Ethiopia or self determination.I think it is a wrong equation and a recipe for disintegration.All Ethiopians there is a catch behind olf,and others to break away from Ethiopia don't let them fool you.If you need evidence look at their web site and read their mission statement that says self determination.The oppostion is making serious mistake to allign itself with this groups.

Peace

You guys said the same thing when Elias posted on the new CUD-world leaders. Now he is proven right. Arat Kilo said Meles was overthrown the same day Elias posted on CUD. Arat kilo never appologized. Let us judge who is right or wrong.

It is a big victory for all who are stugling for unity and democracy. When we talk we know the difference bettween us(The party). If we know the difference we can find easly the solution.even those who are cried corocodile cry they suggested to TPLF all the time have a seat and talk, (dialog). This is by itself one big victory for all the nations Excepts for the burden.

Victory for all Ethiopians!

I have difficulty in believing OLF to be a true partner in promoting Ethiopian causes. Tactically, they have alligned themselves with the Dergue as MEISON, with EPRDF as OLF and now with the future opportunity. Is this any different from that of the past, or may be they think they can get ahead of other opposition groups in grabbing power this time?As repeatedly said, the problem with the OLF is its core belief and agenda to be exclusive for the Oromos and their INDEPENDENCE. Can they try to accomodate the rest of the ethnic groups? Otherwise, the meeting might end up to evaluate each other's stance.

Lets accomplish things not dream. Lets solve, not simplify. Underestimating our enemy will be a weakness. Woyane is not an easy defeatable enemy.

It has always been our lack of confidence in ourselves and lack of trust on others that has helped Weyane tighten the noose on our nakes, emboldened Weyane to do what is has been doing so long etc.etc.
We all know the way out of these. If only they could listen to their consceince and bring us together to do what we know how to do it. Pull the rug under Weyane. Ah, Ethiopia!!

i do support the unity in order to over throw the facist ruler. asGURACHO concerned ,will cud accept
the right of oppressed people right of self determi
nation with no cup on it? if yes i will congradulate
them coming out of thier long dream. if not,it is not
arocket science to figure it out 1992 will repeat it
self for limited or unknown party gathered. if cud will not agree on such issue ,will peace and stability
be achieved? personaly i dont believe it. my recommendation is that cud should change its manifesto and go forward working with those organized party of ,o-l-f , o-n-l-f and s-l-f to bring peace and stability .plus giving right to people
to decide on thier fate.

The ordinary people of Ethiopia never been divided; only and only a few politicians are trying all their best to divide and rule ! so Let's all of pray so this conference be a success !
God bless Ethiopia !